Wait (Keith Kogane X OC)

Chapter 3

Four days later, Sarah's wish to leave was granted.

The doctor had waltzed in and announced, "Your injuries have been healing nicely, and apart from your missing memories, your head is doing well. You can leave today if you feel up to it." He made a few notes on his clipboard.

Sarah sat up quickly with a wide smile. "You mean it? I can really leave?"

The eagerness in Sarah's voice made the doctor laugh. He shut his notebook and nodded. "Yes, Sarah, you can leave. You don't need to come back, in fact. Your head is healing well, and while your memories haven't come back yet there seems to be no serious damage. Just take it easy for a few days and come right back if you're not feeling well, okay?"

Sarah nodded eagerly. The doctor removed the bandages from her head. These bandages had no blood, meaning the bleeding had stopped. Once the bandages were gone and there was no more pressure, she jumped up, gathered her new clothes - the garrison uniform - in her arms and hurried to the bathroom to change.

The uniform felt stiff on her body. She tugged on it here and there to make it look just right before exiting the bathroom and leaving her hospital room. Hopefully she wouldn't be returning any time soon.

Walking - and skipping - quickly through the halls, Sarah dodged nurses and patients to find someone she knew. When she no longer smelled disinfectant and the stench of scrubbed disease she was energized further. Then, remembering Allura telling her that she and their friends met every evening for dinner in the cafeteria, Sarah headed there.

The way to the cafeteria was always her favorite. The hall with the most direct path to it was on the outside of the building and lined with windows from top to bottom. At night fiery sunsets were visible; during the day the sky was the clearest blue; in the morning a pinkish sunrise. Sunrise was her favorite. When she reached that part of her journey, she slowed to a walk and took her time to look at the sunrise. It was beautiful and her heart ached like her favorite thing was missing for the longest time.

Ahead of her was Keith. She unconsciously rubbed her ring finger with her thumb when she saw him. He stood, motionless, pressing his hand against the cool glass and staring up at the fiery red and orange sky. His lips moved, though Sarah couldn't hear his words until she got closer.

"The sunrise is your favorite part of the day." Keith spoke slowly, quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You missed the sunset the most. I promised you that you would be able to see it again, and..." and you don't even remember.

Sarah slowed her pace and stopped a few feet away from him. Looking outside, she saw that the sky was more beautiful than usual. She swallowed. "I'm really sorry."

Keith flinched and whirled around to see who had disturbed him. He was surprised to see her but welcomed her presence. "Don't be. It's not your fault." Keith took a deep breath and looked at her with an intense gaze. "Are you going to dinner? I was on my way there but I... got distracted."

Sarah forced herself to smile. If she was the one to keep her memories and Keith lost them, she'd be upset too. Suddenly she felt guilty. Keith would be a lot happier if her memories were still intact and whatever happened to her was probably her own doing. "Yeah, I am. Are you?" Embarrassed, Sarah realized that Keith had already said that he was. "I-I mean, I-"

"We can walk together," Keith interrupted. He offered a small smile and the panic Sarah felt disappeared.

Walking side by side was so foreign yet so familiar to Sarah. To her recollection they hadn't walked together since they were 15 and it was refreshing to be able to at last. She felt comfortable enough to ask the question she'd been thinking about since Keith came to visit her when she woke up several days before. "Keith?" she dared and was surprised by the softness of her own voice. "Um... why didn't you visit me? Everyone has, but you-you-" Sarah huffed, frustrated at her own hesitation- "Look, Hunk told me we were together. If we were, are, whatever, why didn't you come to visit?"