Again, I don't own Voltron, so please don't sue me!

Lance whistled as he walked down the Castle corridors. It had been a little over a month since the battle and Pidge's death, and things were starting to get back to normal.

Some things.

Lance paused in front of Keith's office door. He raised his hand to knock, then punched in the security override instead, and stepped inside.

Keith was standing looking out the window, his hands clasped behind his back. He didn't look up when Lance walked in.

"Hey Cap, how's it going?" He asked cheerfully.

"What do you want Lance?"

"The 'rents are leaving sometime tomorrow. Cliff and Kim are going with them. Annie has a colleague that specializes in Bio-genetics. She thinks he might be able to help Cliff with his leg."

"I know. She told me." Keith replied flatly.

Lance was startled. "You talked to Annie? When?"

"I talked to her a few days ago."

"You did? About what?"

Keith shrugged. "About Pidge mostly. They had talked about getting married in a few years, when she finished school."

Lance grew thoughtful. "I didn't know that."

"No one did. I managed to convince her that Pidge would want her to finish school, and then if she still wanted to come back to Arus, she'd always be welcome."

"Thanks for taking care of her Keith."

"Hey, that's what big brothers are for." They stood together, looking out over the lake waters. "I got the inquiry results." Keith said quietly a few minutes later.

"Inquiry? What inquiry?" Lance asked.

Keith gave him an exasperated look. "Lance, an Alliance associated planet was attacked as was a Garrison ship, and officers were killed and wounded. Did you thing there wouldn't be some kind of investigation?"

Lance digested this for a moment. "So, what did they conclude?"

"That Haltor was acting under his own power with no help from the Druhle Empire and that nothing we did encouraged his attack."

"Good thing they cleared that up for us." Lance said sarcastically. "So, if that's the official word, why are you in such a foul mood then? I mean aside from the usual." Lance grinned at his friend.

Keith turned back to the lake. "On my desk."

Lance walked over to Keith's desk and picked up and official looking envelope. He opened it and began to read the letter inside.

To General Keith A. Montgomery:

We have received the results from your injuries acquired

during the recent events on planet Arus. In lieu of these

results, we have determined you unfit for active duty at this

time. You will retain your current rank and title, but will

desist from taking part in any official Galaxy Garrison military

exercises.

Thank-you for your many years of service.

Sincerely,

Marshall Lawrence Washburn

Head of Military Affairs Personnel

Lance looked up in startlement. "What the hell is this?"

"Just what it says, I've been taken off of active duty. There's another letter there from Marshall Graham telling me that the place on the Council is still open if I want it."

"Dammit Keith! They can't do this! For God's sake, Cliff lost his leg, and HE hasn't been removed from duty!" Lance paced the length of the room. "If Annie's friend can do something about Cliff's leg, they can do something about your sight."

Keith shook his head. "It's no use Lance, it can't be helped."

"You don't know that!"

"Yes I do." Keith sighed. "I've had two surgeries already, trying to repair it. They didn't work. The nerves are gone." He said quietly.

Lance shot him a dirty look. "You had surgery? And you didn't tell anyone?"

Keith shook his head. "There was no point in getting everyone's hopes up, mine included."

"This is ludicrous. You know damn well that you can fly circles around any of them, blind or not!"

"I failed the psych tests." Keith said softly, not looking at Lance.

Lance was stunned. "What?"

"I failed the psych tests. I'm considered emotionally unstable, and therefore unfit for duty." Keith replied too calmly.

"That's a load of crap." Lance said vehemently.

"Is it Lance?" Keith said sharply.

For the first time, Lance looked closely at his friend. Lance was taken aback at how thin Keith was, and how dark the circles were under the one eye not covered by the patch.

"Haltor only had me for three days, but in my mind it could have been years. Those drugs they gave me…" Keith shivered. "I drifted in and out of reality. Half the time I didn't even know where I was. But he was there to remind me. How long he'd waited to get me in his grasp. How he wanted to kill me, but Haggar convinced him this way was better. That when I was a Robeast, how much he'd enjoy watching me kill you all, then he could take his time with me." Keith faced Lance. "When you showed up, I wasn't sure if you were real or if this was just a new way Haltor had figured out how to torture me."

"Keith, I didn't guess…"

"You weren't meant to. I thought I could handle it. Obviously, I was wrong."

"You need to talk to someone. A professional I mean."

"I have been. It doesn't seem to be helping."

"Dammit Keith! Then talk to me!"

Keith whirled on his friend. "I can't! Don't you see! I can't keep this up Lance! I can't deal with this, first Allura, then Cliff and Pidge, now this! My life is falling apart at the seams. What am I supposed to do now?" Keith yelled desperately.

"I…I don't know." Lance shook his head, for once in his life at a loss for words.

"If you don't know, how should I…" Keith turned back to lean on the window sill, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"What can I do?" Lance asked quietly.

"Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do."

Lance grew thoughtful. "Have you talked to Allura?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

Keith shook his head. "I can't—"

"Yes you can. Look Keith, you two have to talk. Whether you decide to get back together, or break it off for good, you need to talk. The gossip all over the Castle is how you're spending your nights over in the old hunting lodge. Aria asked me just today when I thought her Daddy would be home." Lance told him.

Keith looked pained at that. "She wouldn't talk to me." He said quietly.

"Have you even tried!" Keith didn't answer. "I thought so. You're being a first class, pig-headed, head up your ass, idiot."

Keith glared. "Lance…" He said warningly.

"Keith." Lance replied in the same tone. "Look, I love you like a brother, and that's the only reason why I'm saying this. Don't let your stubborn pride get in the way."

Keith didn't answer, so Lance pushed on. "OK, say you decide to continue to ignore this whole situation. What happens a few years from now? What happens if you meet some one else? Or she does?" Keith's hands clenched into fists and Lance felt the first stirrings of panic. Please don't hit me! He took a deep breath and nodded out the window. "She's right down there. Go talk to her."

Keith followed his gaze down to the garden. He spied Allura walking with one of the Garrison officers who had been here since the attack. His forehead creased in a frown. Lance stood very, very still. Finally, Keith swore under his breath, and without a word to Lance, turned and marched out the door.

Lance waited a few minutes until he saw Keith walking through the garden, then he grinned to himself. "Jeff, you owe me twenty credits." Whistling, he walked down the hallway.

Keith stormed through the gardens until he reached Allura. Both she and the Garrison officer looked up in startlement.

"Keith!" Allura exclaimed.

"Allura, a word if you don't mind." Keith said, ignored the officer.

Allura drew herself up proudly. "I do mind as a matter of fact. Lieutenant Defoe and I were discussing security measures for the planet."

"Discuss it later. I need to talk with you." Nodding at the Lieutenant, Keith grabbed Allura by the elbow and practically dragged her from the garden.

"Keith what are you doing? Let go of me!" Allura demanded, trying to pull free.

Keith ignored her and pulled her towards the stables. He whistled shrilly, and a few moments later, Balthazar galloped up to the gate. Keith looked from Allura to his horse for a minute, then pulling a knife from his boot, advanced towards his wife.

Allura started to back away in fear, but Keith stopped her. Grabbing her long dress by the hem, he sliced it almost to her waist, then threw her on Balthazar's back. Climbing up behind her, he nudged his heels into the animal's side and they galloped out of the paddock.

Two others watched from another part of the gardens.

"Have you told him?"

Dorma looked up at her brother, confusion in her eyes. "Told him what?"

Hazar frowned. "Do not be coy with me, fladrea, it does not suit you."

Dorma sighed. "No, I have not said anything. Hazar, it may not happen."

"Fladrea, Robeast poison leaves no room for error. He is going to die."

"We do not know that for certain. He has made a remarkable recovery." Dorma's eyes followed Keith and Allura as they left. "I have spoken to the doctors. They will give him a treatment of antidote every six months. He will be fine."

"Dorma, why do you deceive yourself?" Hazar asked gently. "I too care for him, for all of them, but we cannot mislead them. Too much has happened due to mistrust already."

Her violet eyes filled with tears. "I cannot Hazar. They have had so little happiness in their lives."

Hazar pulled his sister close. "As have we." He sighed. "All right, it will be as you wish. I will not say anything to him."

"Thank-you cochova." She smiled up at him. "Besides, as Lance says, "We may all get hit by a bus tomorrow.'"

Hazar laughed. "He is a wise man, your husband."

"Do not tell him that. He is hard enough to live with as it is. Come, let us find him and see what has happened." She and Hazar started back into the Castle. The sky darkened and it began to rain.

"Fladrea, what is a bus?"