Again, thanks for all the reviews!

As per normal, my idea of what would happened, and the character's ideas did not match. So, this then, is their story.

Any errors are my own. If there is something egregious, let me know.

I admit, Hunk is my not-so-secret favorite… at least in this version of the universe!

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Chapter 4

"So, Cap. While you are all receptive and answering questions, where did you read that story? I have never run across anything like it when researching the lions."

Keith tried to raise his arms above his shoulders, winced and lowered his hands to rest with fingers interlocked over his stomach. "No, you wouldn't. You know how, in ancient Earth history, we have gaps in our knowledge because something was part of everyday knowledge and not written down?"

"Like how to drag huge block of granite across the desert and put them together in such a way as no gap existed?"

"Hmm. Exactly. It was a tale that "everyone" knew. Someone's granny would tell it in the evenings before bed. A story teller would end an evening of entertainment with the tale and it never occurred to anyone to write down the tale."

"Right right. Got it. But, oh master of the oblique sideways statement that dodges the question; HOW do YOU know?"

The young king lay quiet so long, Tsuyo began to wonder if he had fallen asleep. "Keith?"

"Help me up. Allura will be arriving soon, and it is best if I am not on the ground when she arrives."

The larger man held out a hand and pulled his friend to a sitting position. He watched as Keith swayed momentarily before letting his breath out on a sigh. "Ok, step 2." Tsuyo stood and waited while his friend bent his knees and held out a shaking hand to be pulled upward. Swaying once again, the man closed his eyes until gaining his balance and letting go of Yoshi's hand. With slow, unsteady steps, he moved back to the chair he had left earlier and gingerly sat down. "Doc?"

Dr. Gorma moved over to the chair and picked up Keith's left arm and began manipulating the hand and shoulder. When Keith's breath hissed out as he raised the arm sideways, he paused before lowing the arm again. "Forward ok?"

"Hmm."

"Scale?"

A longish pause followed the question. "Just get me through the next fifteen?"

"Then you report to Kayla."

"Fine," came the mulish response, "Deal."

Gorma smiled and walked over to his bag, pulling out an injector. Walking back over, Keith tipped his head to the side, allowing the doctor easy access to the vein. Tsuyo watched in fascination at the exchange. As Gorma walked back to his back to return the injector, the yellow pilot watched as Keith suddenly looked better. He sat up a little straighter and when he opened his eyes, they looked brighter and pain free.

"What the hell did he just give you?"

Keith raised and lowered his shoulders and then rotated his neck around, "A concoction based on new research with Obreck. Gorma has managed to discover more about Agappon's effects and properties in the last few months than the monks have learned in the last thousand years. Part of that is outside eyes but more because Gorma is a flat out genius in research."

"Not a genius. Merely stubborn, persistent, and asking the right questions at the right time."

"And overly modest," the king continued smoothly. "At any rate, they found a concoction that contains some Agappon which can give a temporary boost which they can tailor to last for anywhere from 30 minutes several hours without too many side effects."

Tsuyo snapped his fingers, "That's how you made it through the ceremony. I wondered at how well you looked compared to the next day."

Keith nodded, "Exactly. I needed to function enough to finish the investure process without keeling over, and the council would not be delayed any longer. So Gorma and the Obreckians put their heads together and came up with the concoction. They have since refined it further, since the first time, had some. . . unanticipated effects."

Gorma snorted, "Nothing like scaring your new bride. ."

"Doctor." Keith did not say anything further, but exchanged a heated look with the doctor before Gorma nodded slightly and Keith inclined his head. "As I was saying, they have refined the concoction to allow a temporary boost. Essentially, it grants a false sense of well-being."

"So, why do you. . ."

Before Tsuyo could finish his sentence, the door to the Solar opened and Allura came rushing in the room. "Keith! Are you ok? They told me Gorma rushed out of the clinic."

If Yoshi had not been watching closely, he would have missed the very brief tightening of his friend's jaw before he stood up and turned toward his wife. "Everything's fine, Allura, just a minor flare. Nothing to worry you." He held out his hands, and she took them, examining his face closely, "Are you sure?"

Nodding, Keith pulled her toward the corner of the room and the pair started talking in low tones.

Turning his back to give the couple the illusion of privacy, he joined Gorma. "So, if I ask questions, are you going to dodge them as well as our young monarch over there?" he asked with a head gesture toward the man in question.

Gorma shrugged. "Ask your questions, and I will give you what answers I may."

"Soooooo," the yellow pilot drawled to gather his thoughts in order, "I noticed when you gave our fearless leader the first injection his back showed evidence of multiple injections at the site. I also know you have started forcing sleep on him, and there is a definite undercurrent of communication I can guess at. For example, I am guessing the deal you made obliquely before giving him the Agappon injection had something to do with therapy that he either feels he does not need or does not want to add more to his plate. I also surmise you are struggling to have him eat enough calories or stay engaged enough to participate more fully in his own recovery. I also am guessing you are keeping these things close to the chest because the idiot over there has ordered you to on basis of doctor-patient confidentiality." He paused and looked at Gorma, "Need I go on?"

Gorma shook his head and closed his eyes for a long minute.

"Allura! Just STOP!"

Both men looked over at the raised voice filled with obvious frustration. They saw the captain run a hand through his hair and take a deep breath. The room filled with tension as the four people stood unmoving, waiting to see where the drama would go. Letting out his breath, Keith leaned back against the wall and opened his arms. Allura leaned in, with both hands on her husband's chest, her head under his chin. Keith wrapped his arms around his wife and stood for a moment, before lowering his head to whisper in her ear.

The tension in the room dropped and both the doctor and the pilot let out breaths they did not realize they had held.

"I need to settle the king before the booster wears off. Come to my office in an hour and we will talk."

"Can do. I just need to check in with Saria."

The doctor nodded absently, and then picked up his bag. "Will you bring the king to the clinic when he finishes talking with the queen?"

"Great. Leave me with the impossible task. Thanks, doc." Tsuyo grumped.

"You just volunteered to become involved. Perhaps you can help me find how to help."

Nodding, the pilot turned to tidying up the room as the doctor left. Pulling out a data pad, he began scrolling through the notes and mails that had piled up in the last several hours, sitting in one of the comfortable chairs. After a few minutes, the door opened and closed, and he looked up to see his friend still leaning against the wall, eyes closed, and right hand massaging his forehead.

"Cap?"

With a heavy sigh, the king walked to sit in the chair next to the yellow pilot. "Gorma left you to babysit?"

"Nah, mostly to pick up behind you or hide the bodies."

Keith snorted and leaned his head back, "She means well, but . . ."

"But?"

Another sigh and the king closed his eyes, "It is very tiring, sometimes."

"Well, you did almost die. Several times."

"Tell me something new."

"Lance has been seen exiting Naeve's room at odd times."

"I said something new."

"Last panels in the solar plant went on-line today."

"Good. That was the last one needing restoration."

"Gorma has decided I volunteered to help and that I should escort you to the clinic."

"Volunteered, huh?"

"Evidentially."

"Fine. Whatever." Keith opened his eyes and stood. "C'mon then. This booster will not last much longer, and I may as well take advantage of an easier trip to Gorma."

"Lead the way, Cap."

"Update me on the status of Alania."

"Right then." The two walked out of the door and down the hallway. "You know they will be staying in the bunker for the winter. Well, one of the crèche nurses….."

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