Lost not Broken

Chapter 12

Lance's POV

My phone started ringing, the obnoxious ring tone I had set for Keith going off. Pulling over to the side of the road, I answered it. "Aw, you called for more help?" I teased. "Yes, but not for me!" He sounded really stressed. "Then who for?" I asked. "Pidge!" I felt cold. "What? Why, what's going on?" Anxiety started to kick in. "She hasn't eaten, drank or slept for a week, and she just sorta shut down." He said. "Are you serious?! Where's everybody else?!" I panicked. "Shiro and Coran left to go get Matt and Sam, Allura and Hunk are trying to reprogram the cryopod to help someone with these conditions and I'm calling you." Keith replied. "Why me?" I frowned. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because YOU'RE HER FRIEND?!" He snapped. "Okay, I'm on my way." I hung up the phone, slamming on the gas.

Why didn't I realize?! I shouldn't have left! I shouldn't have left her by herself, not in this state! What was I thinking?! God, I'm such an IDIOT!

I blamed myself as I sped home. Suddenly, a cougar ran across the road. I hit the brakes, skidding to a halt. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" I shouted at it. The cougar looked at me with narrowed eyes, as if I were about to be it's next meal. I couldn't kill it, I'd feel awful. But if I didn't get back... "Please... I need to get to Pidge..." I begged, even though I knew it couldn't understand me. The animal's tail twitched before it saw something in the woods, darting away. I continued driving, finally arriving, later than I wanted.

I ran down the halls, crashing into the walls a few times. "Where is she?!" I snapped at Keith. "In the med bay, where else?" He snorted, as if I had just asked him a stupid question.

Which you did, moron.

I thought as we walked in the med bay. "H-How is she?" I stuttered. Hunk and Allura gave me a sympathetic look. I felt my heart stop beating for a moment. Shiro, Coran, Matt and Sam walked in behind me. Matt made a weird crying-croak noise, seeing the white sheet on the table behind Allura. "I'm so sorry. We tried, but the cryopod didn't accept the new programming." Hunk apologized, his head hanging in shame. Allura walked up to Pidge's family, giving them each a hug. I couldn't move. I stared at the table, not a single thought going through my head. "Please tell me this is a joke! This has to be a joke, right?!" Matt cried. Nobody moved. "First mom, now Pidge..." He whispered, slowly crumpling to the floor. "What happened?" Sam asked. "From the readings on the cryopod, she hadn't eaten, drank or slept in a week. I'm assuming that she was grieving for the loss of her mother." Allura spoke quietly. "Oh, Katie..." Her father started to cry. "Lance?" Keith walked over to my side. "She's dead..." I croaked. "I'll never get to see her again..." I whispered, only loud enough for him to hear. "I know." He replied softly.

"Why is somebody always dying around here?" A voice interrupted. We all turned to see Storm standing in the doorway. "Storm? Wha-" "Quiet. I need to concentrate." She walked over to the table. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" Matt screamed, being held back by Shiro. "Matt, please, listen to her." Keith begged. "Why should I?!" He retorted. "Because it's not her time." Storm replied. "H-Huh?" Matt fell silent, watching the Meif'Wa. Closing her eyes, Storm gently set a hand on the sheet. There were small golden sparks, followed by a blast of light. When it died down, Storm was on the ground, struggling to sit up. Everyone raced over, either to the table or Storm.

Keith's POV

"Storm what did you do?!" I panicked. "Ever heard of cats having nine lives?" She coughed, giving me a smile, blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth. "PIDGE!" I turned my head to see the small paladin being held in an upright position by her brother. "W-Why a-re y-you all c-ry-ing?" She croaked. "Oh thank god you're okay Pidge!!!" Her brother pulled her close. I turned back to Storm. "Y-You okay?" I stuttered. She swatted my hand away from hers. "I'll be fine. Just give me a bit." She growled. "Whatever you say."