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Dr. Gorma peered down at Keith's eyes through the scope. "Damn." He muttered to himself.

Keith lay very still, a cold sweat breaking out over his body. "What is it?" He asked.

Gorma didn't answer him. "Brenda, take a look at this and tell me what you think."

Brenda examined Keith's eyes and sighed. "There's nothing we can do about the left, but the right might recover."

"Hmmm…." Gorma placed a few drops in Keith's eye. "Don't move General." He ordered. Keith froze, holding his breath as a bright red light flashed in his vision. "All right, now close your eyes, count to ten and open them slowly.

Keith did as he was told, then took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "Tell me what you see." Gorma asked.

Keith blinked a few times. "Nothing, nothing at all…Wait." The room started to come into focus and he could make out his aunt and the doctor looking down at him. "I can see you." He let out a sigh of relief.

Brenda smiled. "That's my boy."

Gorma shone a light into Keith's eyes and frowned. "What about this?" He peered closely into Keith's left eye.

Keith shook his head. "Nothing. Shades of grey. But I can see almost clearly through the right." He swallowed audibly. "What's wrong?"

"How did you get this?" Ignoring the question, Brenda ran her hand lightly over the bruise on Keith's left cheek.

"I walked into Haltor's fist." Keith replied.

Gorma put his tools away and helped Keith sit up. "I won't lie to you Keith. The glass from your previous injury partially severed the optic nerve. If we had had the time, we could have repaired it without problem. As it is, you were captured and the poison you were given seems to attack the body's strongest and weakest parts. Plus, when Haltor hit you, the impact seemed to completely sever the remaining tissue. I'm sorry."

"So I'm blind." Keith stated flatly.

"Not totally. You are seeing at 80 percentthrough your right eye. I expect that will improve over the next few hours." Gorma answered.

"But not the left."

Brenda shook her head. "I'm sorry honey." She told him quietly, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Keith shook off her touch and ran a shaking hand through his hair. "I'd like to be alone for a while."

"As you wish." Gorma carefully placed a patch over Keith's eye and then started towards the door. "Since I know it is futile to try and keep you here, I want you to go to the kitchen and get yourself a decent meal, then find yourself someplace to rest. That's an order from your doctor General."

Keith nodded in reply as Gorma left the room.

"Keith? Honey?" Brenda sat down next to him on the bed.

"What else is wrong? What else aren't you telling me?"

Brenda took his hand. "Nothing Keith. I promise."

Keith held up his hands. "What about these? And my back? I got shot, but it doesn't hurt."

"The bandages on your wrists are for chafing from the manacles. The shirt you were wearing was some type of armor, and it absorbed the laser. All the blast did was open some deep scratches on your back."

"Gift from Haggar." He was quiet a moment. "And the poison?"

Brenda shook her head. "We're still running tests, but there seems to be no lasting effects."

"Other than my eyes." Keith sighed. "Please Aunt Brenda, just leave me alone." Brenda sat there a moment longer, then kissed him lightly and made her way out of the room.

Keith sat there, his head in his hands, then got to his feet. He looked around the nearly empty room, opening the small closet, then slamming the door so hard it rocked off its hinges. "Dammit! Clothes or not, I'm getting out of here." He muttered angrily to himself.

"Looking for these?"

Keith's head snapped up. "Dirk!"

Keith's younger brother stood in the doorway, a bundle of clothes in his arms. "About time you decided to join us again." He tossed Keith the clothes and Keith quickly pulled them on. "Welcome back from the dead Bro." Dirk stepped forward and embraced his brother tightly. When he stepped back, there were hints of tears in his chocolate eyes. "Thought we really lost you this time."

"Somehow I always manage to turn up. What are you doing here?" Keith asked.

"Mom called to tell me about the fight, and Dad's accident. When I got here, they told me you were dead." Dirk choked back the lump in his throat.

Keith stared long and hard at his brother. "Dirk…"

Dirk waved his hand. "Look at me, blubbering like a girl. You're back, that's what's important."

Keith clasped his brother in another hug. "Come on, I'm getting out of here." Together they started out the door. In the doorframe, Keith paused and gasped at the sight before him.

People were lying in every available space, and cots had been brought in when the beds had run out. Med-techs were attending to them, and barely looked up at Keith and Dirk as they stood there.

"What the hell happened?" Keith asked, stunned.

Dirk placed a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Easy Keith. There were alot of casualties. This Haltor bastard knew what he was doing."

Keith took a shuddering breath and turned to his brother. "I have to get to the Control Room. I need to know what happened while I was out."

"All in good time. Let's go let Mom know you're awake first. She had a bit of a breakdown between you and Dad." Dirk led Keith to a small room off the main room. "Hey Mom, look who I found."

Cassandra looked up from her husband's bedside. "Keith! My God, Keith!" She rushed into her son's arms and held him tightly. When she finally pulled back, she wiped the tears from her face and looked at him closely. "How are you feeling? Are you all right?"

Keith nodded. "I will be Mom. How's Dad?" He nodded towards the sleeping figure on the bed.

Edward lay still and pale, IV's in his arm. "His back was broken in four places, but the doctors were able to repair the damage." Cass smiled. "They just gave him another treatment to fine tune the nerves. Brenda said he should be up and walking before too long." She sat down and took her husband's hand in hers. "He claims he'll be up and running before Cliff. It seems they have a bet going."

Keith looked puzzled. "Cliff? What's wrong with Cliff?"

"He was pinned in his ship and they had to amputate his leg."

"WHAT!" Keith was stunned.

"Keith baby, I thought they told you." Cass's voice filled with compassion. "It was all they could do to save him. Cinda and…Dorma did all they could for him, but they had to take the leg." His mother told him.

Keith didn't catch the hesitation at Dorma's name. He started towards the door. "Mom, I'll see you later." He marched from the room.

"Keith wait." Dirk caught up to his brother. "Dammit Keith!" He pulled Keith to a stop. "We thought you were dead! Between you and Dad, Mom almost lost it. Can't you just spend a few minutes with us, for God's sake?"

Before Keith could answer, Kim rushed up to him. "Keith! You're alright!"

"Kimmy…" Keith held her close as she burst into tears. Finally she calmed down and smiled up at him. "How's Cliff? I just heard."

"He's doing much better. They're going to fit him for a prosthesis in a few weeks."

Keith looked from Dirk to Kim. "I need to find Lance and get filled in." He once again started towards the door.

Kim and Dirk fell into step beside him. "He's probably still with Allura. Last I knew, they were finalizing Pidge's funeral service." Kim told him.

Keith stopped dead in his tracks. "What…What did you say?" He asked, his face ashen, making chocolate eyes even darker.

Kim brought her hand up to her mouth as her hazel eyes again filled with tears. "Keith, I'm so sorry. I thought you knew."

"What happened to Pidge?" Keith asked hoarsely.

Dirk placed a comforting hand on Keith's shoulder. "Keith, he's dead. I don't know any of the details. I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Keith's mind reeled and the room unfocused for a minute. Dirk grabbed him by the arm and steered him to a seat. "Easy Keith." He turned to Kim. "Go get me a doc."

Kim nodded. "I'll find Mom."

Keith shook his head. "No, no. I'm alright." He got to his feet. "I need to find Lance. Stay with Mom and Cliff." He ordered.

"But—" Kim started.

"No. Stay with them." Keith turned on his heel and marched down the hallway, pausing every once in a while to survey the damage around him. Damn Haltor. And Haggar too. He finally made it to the Control Room and taking a deep breath, opened the doors and stepped inside.

There was a flurry of activity inside and no one noticed him at first. Then one aide looked up, elbowed some one next to him and slowly the room grew quiet.

Allura and Lance looked up last. Allura's blue eyes opened wide in shock. "Keith…" She whispered. "Keith!" She rushed into his arms, sobbing.

He held her close, tears in his own eyes, and breathed in the scent of her. "God Allura, I thought I never see you again." He said hoarsely as he tightened his grip on her.

Lance cleared his throat. "All right people, you all have work to do. Clear out."

People started shuffling out of the room. A few called out to Keith as they left.

"Welcome back General."

"Good to see you Sir!"

Soon, only Keith, Allura, Lance, Coran, Admiral Harrison and Hazar were left. Coran walked over and took Keith's hand. Keith hid his shock at how frail the old man had gotten in the week since he had last seen him. "Coran."

"Keith, thank the Lions you're safe." Coran's hand shook in Keith's.

Keith smiled at him. "I knew my Team would get me out. Never had any doubts."

Coran held his hand a moment longer, then released it and faced Allura. "If there is nothing else Allura?"

"No Coran. Go get some rest." Allura smiled gently at him.

They watched Coran walk slowly from the room, his shoulders slumped forward. "Allura, go with him." Lance told her.

She looked up at him startled. "What?"

"Go with him. He shouldn't be alone."

"But…" She looked from Keith to Coran, visibly torn.

Keith squeezed her hand. "Go, we'll talk later." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead then released her. She smiled tremulously, then followed Coran out the door. Keith faced the others. "What in hell happened while I was gone?" He demanded without preamble.

The Admiral grinned. "Glad to have you back son." Hazar said nothing, only stood nearby watching Keith with a grave look on his face.

Keith stepped up to the computer console. "I want to know what happened."

Lance sighed. "What do you know?"

"I remember the Robeast knocking you and Cliff to the ground, then going after Pidge. Next thing I know, I'm trapped aboard Haltor's ship and he's telling me you all think I'm dead and I'm his next Robeast." He took a shuddering breath at the memory.

Harrison placed his hand on Keith's shoulder. "Easy son."

Keith shook off his hand. "Then you show up with the cavalry to get me out of there and I wake up God knows how many days later, to find out Pidge is dead, Cliff and my father are severely injured and now I'm fucking blind!" Keith exploded, all his pent up fear and frustration finally breaking through. He stalked off across the room.

Harrison sent an inquiring glance to his son. Lance shrugged and nodded towards the door. Harrison nodded. "Lance, you finish up in here. I've got to check in with Jeff and the others." He turned to Keith. "Get some rest son, or Brenda will have my head."

Keith looked up and nodded as the Admiral left the room. Hazar walked over to Keith and placed a hand on his shoulder. Keith started. "Belie sovt Keith They cannot touch you again." At Keith's puzzled look, Hazar continued. "Haltor is dead cochova. You are safe." He gripped Keith's arm once more, then followed the Admiral out the door.

"Well, you certainly made an impression on him." Keith turned to face a grinning Lance.

Keith scowled and the grin faded from Lance's face. "What in hell happened Lance? How long was I out?"

"You were gone for three days before we figured out you were alive and brought you back. You've spent the last two days in Sick-Bay, drugged to the teeth according to Mom." Lance told him.

Keith frowned then shook his head. "Forget about me. What's the story with Cliff's leg?"

Lance sighed. "The crash pinned the computer console against his bad leg. It crushed the femoral artery or something like that. Dorma, Crick and Cinda all tried, but it was no good. They had to take the leg to stop the bleeding. If you want all the gory medical details, ask Mom."

"And you?" Keith asked, taking in Lance's arm and the bruises on his face.

Lance shrugged. "Courtesy of your buddy Haltor. I got concussed and broke my arm in the same crash with Cliff. Luckily my wife likes me and got me back together. Unfortunately, I took a bad hit off of Haltor's cannon and did it all over again. Needless to say, Dorma wasn't impressed."

"What about the rest of the casualties?"

Lance filled Keith in on the damage to the nearby villages. "Most of our fighters were taken down, some serious injuries and about a dozen were killed." Lance told him.

Keith paced the room again. He stood staring out one of the windows for a long while. "Tell me about Pidge."

Lance sighed. "I was already out of it by that time. Hunk said he saw the Robeast grab Red and toss him over the cliff. He flew down to get him, but Pidge was already gone. Mom said it looks like his neck broke on impact. It happened instantly Keith, he never felt a thing."

Keith leaned forward, resting his hands on the windowsill. All at once he became aware of how much he ached, his back, his head, his heart. Tears ran down his face and he was unable to stop the sobs that shook his body.

Lance was at his side in an instant, and took an unresisting Keith into his arms. Lance held his 'brother' tightly as tears ran down his own cheeks. Finally Keith's sobs subsided and he pulled back from Lance.

"Out of all of us, I never thought it would be Pidge. I just can't believe he's gone." Keith whispered hoarsely.

"Neither can I." Lance took a shuddering breath. "Hunk brought him in seconds after we heard about you." He began to shake. "Dammit Keith, we thought…I thought we'd lost you both!" Now it was Keith's turn to comfort Lance.

When Lance composed himself a few minutes later, he looked up. "Keith, I swear, I thought we'd really lost you this time. First Rocky and the others, then you and Pidge." He shook his head wearily. "I've never been so scared in my entire life. Don't do that to me again."

"I don't plan on it, it was no picnic for me either." Keith replied.

"Here, you could probably use this." He handed Keith a cigarette. Keith eyed it dubiously. Lance shrugged. "Dorma hid all mine, I had to steal these from Cliff." The silence grew between them until Lance spoke up hesitantly. "Keith? Blind?"

Keith sighed and turned away from the window. "I can barely see out of my right eye, and the nerve in my left is completely severed."

"But can't they repair it? I mean, with all the progress there's been in nerve reconstruction over the past fifty years."

Keith shrugged. "You know as much as I do." He sat down wearily with his head in his hands. "It's all my fault Lance. Pidge, Rocky, this whole mess, it's all my fault."

"Don't be stupid Keith." Lance retorted. "It was Haltor's fault, not yours."

Keith refused to look at him. "He wanted me. If I had never have gone after Lotor, this would never have happened."

Lance shook his head in disbelief. "Keith, don't start this again. You know damn well Lotor had to be stopped. And who could have known he'd have a psychotic son just waiting in the wings."

Keith sighed dejectedly. "But if I had just let GG take care of things—"

"'And if wishes were fishes, we'd walk on the sea' as my grandmother used to say." Lance interrupted. He knelt down next to his friend. "Look Keith, you didn't know what would happen, none of us did. Not even me." He smiled. "There was nothing any of us could have done."

"It shouldn't have been Pidge. It should have been me."

"And that would've made us feel better? Mourning you instead? Keith, stop beating yourself up over this. You're letting Haltor win."

Keith didn't reply and seeing the anguish on his face, Lance's heart went out to his friend. "Keith? C'mon let's get some food into you, and get you to bed." He said, changing the subject.

Keith didn't reply, but got to his feet. At the door, he stopped and just stared at it for a moment before turning to Lance, a haunted look in the one chocolate eye Lance could see. "Lance, I can't. I can't deal with people right now, I just can't." He said hoarsely, a touch of desperation in his tone.

Lance placed a comforting hand on Keith's shoulder. "Easy Cap. Tell you what, go to my quarters, you can stay in Troi's room." Keith started to shake his head. "No choice pal, either that or back to Sick-Bay. Look, Troi's been bunking with Hans and Zarana has been staying with Aria and Nanny. No one will look for you there and besides, even it they did, they'd have to get through Dorma first."

Keith didn't answer for a moment. "Lance? I'm sorry about before…about what I said to you. I didn't mean—"

"I know you didn't Keith. Stop worrying. You're always trying to take care of the universe, let the universe take care of you for a change."

Keith smiled hesitantly. "Thanks Lance."

Lance grinned back. "None needed brother mine. Let's go."