21…
22…
23…
24…
25…
26…
27…
28…
29…
30…
Two rescue breaths
Repeat.
That's what repeated in Lance's head as he provided compressions. Center of the chest right on the sternum. His movements are rhythmic.
"You're gonna feel the cartilage around their sternum break."
Shiro's words came back to him full force. He had felt the sternum break a while ago. The feeling had startled him, but he had forced himself to stay consistent with compressions. He swallowed the Bile that rose in his throat and fought to keep his tears at bay.
He grit his teeth, determination settling in. It was just supposed to be a picnic. A simple lunch in a field of flowers with the sun angled just right. He had even bought a fucking ring to propose with. But then…
It was an ambush. One moment Lance was enjoying a beautiful day with the love of his life and the next he found himself pulling them both for cover. Only it was too late. He hadn't been fast enough and a couple blasters found their mark.
When the blasts had first cleared he lifted himself from Pidge, he didn't get the chance to ask if she was okay when he noticed something was incredibly wrong. Blood splatter littered her face. Pidge's wide opened eyes had a light that was fading quickly. Her middle was soaked with blood. A secondary blood soaked area was noted to her collar bone.
After his momentary panic Lance stripped himself of his shirt and applied pressure to Pidge's middle with a hand, while checking for a pulse. There had been a faint pulse that he found in Pidge's neck.
That was before he had lost it, and the real panic set in. So here he was, hands dyed red, providing CPR to Pidge Gunderson. The girl he was going to propose to today. He could still feel the ring in his pocket, a silver band with an emerald gem.
Prior to starting compressions he had sent a distress signal to the castle of lions. That had been ten minutes ago, and he was beginning to question if they even received the signal. His arms were aching and his shoulders, he could barely feel any more. Sweat beaded his brow and his vision blurred with new tears when his eyes wandered over to Pidge's were.
Then there was a roar.
He looked up in relief as he recognized the black and red lions in bound. A few more seconds and they landed close by. Keith and Shiro getting out of their lions like their life depended on it. They staggered to a halt at the sight before them. They were in full paladin uniform Bayards at the ready. It seemed like an eternity passed before Keith ran back towards the red lion and Shiro ran towards Lance. In one smooth motion Shiro removed his helmet and dropped to his knees taking over the next cycle of compressions.
Lance fell back on his feet, his arms like jelly. A few seconds passed and Keith returned with a vial. It was a concentrated liquid of the essence from the healing pods. It was used for stabilization in the field before transport to a healing pod.
It was under 15 min by the time they made it back to the castle of lions. Keith took Pidge and ran as fast as he could to the infirmary. Shiro hung back with Lance as they ran at a much slower pace. Lance had no energy left. His arms still felt like jelly, he had to look at them to see if they were still attached to his body.
They were just outside the infirmary when the loud sound started. Flashing red filled Lance's vision and he came to a dead halt. It could mean only one thing, he was praying the entire time in the field it wouldn't come to this.
"The healing pod is unable to save her." Lance said just barely above a whisper. "She didn't get help fast enough."
Shiro caught him as he dropped to his knees the ring in his pocket like a weight he was unable to hold.
"I didn't get her help fast enough."