Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters.

Beta: Thanks again to Dawn! I haven't run her off… yet. ;-)

This is the second installment in my "Chivalry" arc. 1. Chivalry, 2. Lion House Restored

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU in flavor but is AU in some ways. If you've read Chivalry, then you have a 'feel' for the setting. Hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter Five

Keith felt a light touch on his arm and opened his eyes to see the smiling face of Dr. Gorma by his bedside. Pressing himself up and wincing, he reached for the bed controls. "Thanks for coming to see me, Doc."

Pulling up a chair to Keith's bedside, he asked, "Not a problem, Lord Kogane." Chuckling at Keith's reaction, he said, "Okay, Keith." At Keith's nod, he continued, "Tell me why you've locked your family out of your room." Seeing Keith's surprised reaction, he said, "That's what they are you know, whether you are related or not. I know that you don't have any family left back on Earth, but you have a family here and they're worried about you. So tell me, why are they stuck on the other side of the door?"

Giving Gorma a half-smile, Keith said, "I thought you were just a medical doctor. I didn't realize you were a shrink as well."

"Well, I've had to wear many hats over the last few years. Are you trying to evade my question?"

Keith closed his eyes as he lay back against the pillows. "You, better than anyone but Allura, know how close I came to dying at the Right of Challenge…. You know, I could feel it… my life just slipping away… the difficulty to draw breath after he punctured my lung… the warmth of the slippery blood as it coated my chest… how my eyes lost focus so that I could only see a pinpoint of light." He opened his eyes and looked at the doctor. "I've been close to death before and I can honestly say that I would be over it… if it weren't for the fact that I know I will be back in a situation that is similar. A situation NOT of my choosing, but the choosing of some spirits that feel that they can run my life." His voice grew very soft. "I feel like I'm out of control; that I have no control."

Dr. Gorma watched his patient pick at the sheet that crossed his lap. Everything was coming into focus for him. "Hmmm, I can see how that would be difficult for someone like yourself. But is there more?"

Keith glanced up from the lint he was picking off the sheet to the doctor's eyes. "I feel vulnerable. And when I feel out of control and vulnerable… well, that's just a combination that invites disaster."

"Disaster for whom, Keith? I don't think your friends see you this way."

Closing his eyes and leaning back, Keith thoughtfully said, "You're probably right, but then that just makes things more dangerous. They count on me. I could be snatched to this other place at any time. They shouldn't count on me now."

"Tell me, Keith, when you are brought in here for me to patch up, do you expect me to do my job?"

Keith opened his eyes and looked suspiciously at Gorma. "You know I do. You know we all count on you."

Leaning forward with his arms on his knees, he said, "Then maybe you shouldn't." Leaning back, he continued, "Every time one of you is brought in injured, I never know what will happen. Sure I know all the things that could happen and make some plans. But I have to be confident in my skills and those of my staff. I have to trust that we will make the best choices for our patients. If I waited for feelings of complete confidence and invincibility… well, I think you would have been dead months ago."

Keith cocked his head to the side as he replied, "You know, I hadn't thought about it that way."

"I didn't think so. Do you trust your friends, your family, to make choices in your best interest? Do you trust their skills?"

"You know, I think you missed your calling, doctor." Keith sighed as he said, "Any idea how I can patch things up with them?"

"Talk to them. They're all waiting outside."

Groaning, Keith said, "I bet they're angry at me."

"Not really. They understand that you've been through a lot in the last couple of days. Don't underestimate how much they care about you. I think you'll be pleased with what they've accomplished while you were recovering."

Curiosity warred with his shame over his attitude. "What did they accomplish?"

Smiling, Gorma stood up. "How about we let them explain. Do I have your permission to let them in?"

Keith took a deep breath and grabbed his ribs. "All right, let them in."

Walking to the door, Gorma opened it and said, "His lordship bids you enter." Turning, he gave Keith a quick wink and exited.

Keith watched his friends enter apprehensively. The guys and Coran all filed in and took up positions around the room while Nanny rushed to his bedside.

"Ach! What are you thinking!? Locking us out of your room. You need your family now. Don't be pig-headed just because you have a title now." Nanny's tone was indignant and loving at the same time.

Lance chuckled and said, "Oh, Nanny, you know that he was already pig-headed. I think it came with the title of 'commander.'"

Keith smiled and looked to the door and saw Allura enter. His smile and gaze faltered under her scrutiny. How could he face her now? The dream that he knew they both had shared when he was given a title, was now shattered like glass from a broken window on the floor. What was left for them?