Out Of Reach

4: Treasures

Lance followed Rosa out onto the porch.

The cold air was soothing and Lance found his mind clearing quicker. Chasing his dream, or perhaps a memory, from his mind entirely.

But old habits die hard and he felt Red stirring in his subconscious as he watched the headlights of the car turn off.

The door opened and Marco smiled over towards them.

Lance frowned.

"Ah." Rosa said softly as she stepped away from Lance and down the steps.

The other car door opened and a woman got out for the car. She offered Rosa a wave and then went to the back of the car.

Rosa reached her just in time to take a small child into her arms.

Marco was striding across the drive with another child, who's head was solidly on his chest. Asleep.

"Hey." Marco clapped him on the shoulder his voice was soft and calm. And the contact helped Lance's muscles to relax. "Sorry I'm dropping this on you now but this is my family."

"You're a father." Lance blinked. He was surprised, not really.

He had been gone for so long at the had expected a few changes. That and his mind was still muddled with the dream, or more accurately the memory.

Marco gave a weak laugh. "I love how you're not surprised that I'm married but rather that I had kids."

"Earth was a war zone." Lance reminded.

"Yeah well, you know how things work and when Abigail found out she was pregnant-"

"Marco." Rosa said softly, a warning to her tone and Marco closed his mouth with a click.

"How do you put up with him?" Lance teased glancing to the woman. Abigail.

She smiled. It was weak and tired looking but it was a smile. "It's tougher than you think."

Marco rolled his eyes and disappeared into the house. "Come on, I want you to meet Silvio and Izzy."

"Silvio... That was..." Lance hesitated his head was buzzing.

"Yeah, it was grandads name." Marco nodded glancing back at him. "You okay?"

Lance nodded. "Just a... Bad memory."

Marco's expression soften and he looked suddenly a lot younger. "You coming?"

Lance glanced between the two sleeping children. "Shouldn't we wait until the morning?"

"Aren't you going to go back to sleep?" Abigail whispered. "It is very late."

Lance shrugged. "I um... I don't always sleep the best."

Abigail's hand was delicate as she placed her hand on Lance's arm. "It can't be easy."

And for a moment Lance didn't feel like the youngest of the McClain kids, but rather he felt like a complete individual, someone detached from Voltron and the Garrison and the Atlas and he was just Lance.

Another car rolled in.

"How many kids you got?" Lance asked and Abigail laughed but it quickly faded.

It was a garrison car.

Ryan Kinkade jumped from the front seat. He met Lance's gaze.

"What's going on?" Abigail asked softly. She was very softly spoken.

Lance patted her arm and moved around her. He met Ryan halfway.

"You're needed at the Atlas." He informed briskly.

"At this hour?" Lance was trying to make light of the subject but Ryan didn't look impressed. "I'm with my family."

"I was told you know what to do with this." Ryan grumbled holding out a device to him.

"What's wrong?" André asked from the porch.

Marco appeared next to him. "Why don't we head inside?"

Lance let Marco guide him in and he was aware of everyone's eyes on him, or more specifically eyes on the device he held.

"What does it do?" Luis asked Ryan as they all arrived in the kitchen.

The kids were no where to be seen and Marco had whispered something to Abigail who nodded back to him.

Lance set the device on the table and drummed his fingers again the wood. "Who gave this to you?"

"The alien."

Lance frowned. "That could literally be any of them."

"The um..." Ryan shifted looking evidently uncomfortable. "Tall with a... Mustache."

"Ah, Coran." Lance nodded. "I thought it was going to be Pidge at first, she's the one who normally owns all the tech."

The kitchen remained silent. Lance took in a small breath then tapped it.

"Lance!"

Coran's voice came through sharply and everything jumped. Everyone save Lance who didn't even batter an eyelid.

"Hey man." Lance smiled. "What's up?"

"I could use your assistance." Coran admitted. "With Pidge and Keith on a mission I wondered if you could come to the Atlas."

"I didn't know they were gone." Lance frowned.

"They went yesterday." Coran explained tiredly. "Keith got a transmission from Kolivan and he went to investigate."

"Right." Lance nodded. "What do you need my help with?"

"Sendak." Coran frowned. "He triggered Shiro into a... A rather uncomfortable confrontation."

Lance held his gaze through the hologram. "I'll be right there."