Don't You Trust me?

Choices

Lance had retrieved the cloth from around her neck and was holding it against Keith's wound. It wasn't long before she could feel the cloth being entirely soaked. Brushing Keith's sweat-soaked hair out of his face she glanced towards their cell door.


"Come on Keith stay awake for me," Lance said. She placed her hand on his forehead only to feel the warmth against her skin. She was out of options. Kieth wouldn't last much longer and she realized she had left her communicator on the floor of the strange room. She was stuck in an impossible situation, and it was getting worse by the second. She brushed her sleeve against her forehead wiping away the beads of sweat that decorated her tan skin.


As if her thoughts were heard the cell door slid open and in stepped a masked druid. In his hands, he held a small tray that was covered with a cloth. He paused a moment in the doorway taking in the sight before him. Lance had tensed up and was about ready to leap at the druid. Her mind was almost made up when he suddenly spoke. She was stuck in an impossible situation, and it was getting worse by the second.


"I wouldn't move unless you want your friend here to bleed out," he said coming father into the room. The cell door slammed shut behind him locking him in the cell with Lance who was more than willing to fight the druid right then and there.


"That's far enough!" Lance growled, "If you're smart you'll leave now and take whatever is under that cloth with you!" Her eyes narrowed and her jaw tensed. If she had to fight the druid herself then, she would if it meant neither one of them had to be tortured by the galra.


The druid shrugged, "I mean if you insist-"


"I do," Lance growled, "Now get out!"


"Alright," The druid turned to go, "I'm certain I could find some other use for these medical supplies..."


Lance's concentration faltered for a split second upon the words. Shaking her head her eyes narrowed once again, "If you think I'm accepting anything from you bastards then you can go to hell," She replied her voice quavering with rage.


"Very well," the druid departed from them the door slamming shut behind them. Leaving them alone once again.

XXXX

"We've got nothing!" Shiro said pushing away from the table. The paladins and Jarep and been trying to locate the possible location of the battle cruiser Lance and Keith were supposed to infiltrate and return with no trouble. They ended up with nine agents with a bullet through the head, however, and a note with Haggar having no desire for a ransom only for suffering. As was her usual way and absolutely no plan for rescue. Everyone was starting to get frustrated with one another, leading to ludicrous arguments about the most random things.


"All right, everyone calm down," Jarep held his hands out palms down glancing between everyone. "Let's take a break. Come back in a few minutes and let's not see if we can find something useful?"


The Paladins grumbled their agreement and disappeared to find some food. Turning from the room Jarep made his way towards his office. He entered not bothering to latch the door behind him as he settled himself into his desk. The desk itself was bare, except the few papers that were hastily pushed aside. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a small cherry wood box. The four sides were plain and simple, and the lid had a wave carved into it. The box itself was about five inches on all sides and about four inches three inches deep. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a small cherry wood box.


The box contained was very simple yes and could be sold at a very low price but what it contained was beyond priceless. Pulling an item out Jarep held it in his hands his fingers running over the faded picture. In the picture Lance had been wearing her usual blue baseball tee except it ended just a few inches above the waistband of her jean shorts exposing her middle slightly. Her jacket was wrapped around her waist, and her feet were adorned in her high top black converse. She was trying not to laugh as she tried to stop him from taking the picture. It was a night he was never going to forget. How could he? Every time he closed his eyes he saw the moment over and over again her bright oceanic eyes smiling at him.


Smiling softly to himself, he set the picture to the side and picked up a dried white flower. Being held in the box allowed it to dry out, even now a few petals fell from the stem landing on the picture. He closed his eyes and sighed before gently placing the picture and the flower back in the box. The night she found the flower was the same night everything changed. He clasped the box shut and returned it to its spot deep in the recesses of his desk drawer.



He placed his head in his hands and tried to clear his mind of any feelings he might still have toward Lance.


She was right to break it off. There was too much at stake. I had screwed up and almost killed both of us...If only I had identified it sooner...



XXXXX


Keith fought to stay awake his head lolling to the side. He opened his eyes squinting at the blurred figure that he perceived was Lance kneeling before him. He could see her lips moving, but he couldn't register what she was saying. Keith shook his head trying to indicate that he didn't understand. He felt nauseous and there was a fire in his shoulder that never subsided. He shifted subtly and immediately cried out his face screwing up in pain as the fire in his shoulder erupted into ablaze. Biting his lip to keep from crying out anymore he looked to Lance hoping to keep his mind focused on something other than the pain.


He knew he could trust Lance. He could trust her to get themselves out of this mess without getting either one of them killed. He reached out and gripped her arm as another wave of pain rippled out throughout his body.


"Guards!!"

Lance's cry had sent him into a panic mode and he jerked up away from the wall of the cell that had been giving him support. Lance, expecting some sort of reaction, had been ready to seize him by his uninjured shoulder and forced him to lie back again. He fought with her a moment or two, before finally giving up and slumping back against the wall.


"I've see you've changed your mind..." the druid from before spoke instead of a sentry. In his hands, he once again held the tray with the cloth covering it.
"Oh shut it and get in here," Lance yelled back, "I don't regret it."

"Very well."

Keith did his best to prevent either one from laying hands on him but in the end, the amount of blood he had lost had left him weak and vulnerable and his body quickly gave out. His eyes closed his body too weak to keep them open. A sharp smack to the face from Lance jerked him awake and he groaned.

"You're not dying on me Keith Kogane, not if I have anything to say about it!"

Keith wasn't sure if it was because he was delirious or legitimately was aware, but he could've sworn he heard in Lance's voice her trying to hold back tears.