Stone Cold

F i f t y n i n e

"Lance!" Chloe bolted into the room but was immediately hushed by Axca who was reading on the other side of the room as Zethrid and narti walked behind the children.

"Is he okay?" Milo peaked over at his big brother as the boy was sleeping heavily. Dani's heart sunk seeing the bruises and cuts on her brothers face and paled at the wrappings around his arms and one of his legs.

"He's just tired, he has a concussion so we have to be quiet okay?" Dani told her little sister as they walked over. She gently shook her brothers shoulder but didn't expect lance to jump away immediately at her touch with wide eyes of fear. She's never seen him like that.

"Oh, hey guys," lance blinked seeing it was his family, he relaxed and smiled as Chloe tried crawling up to him but Axca took her off the bed shaking her head.

"He's in a lot of pain right now, no bed," Axca told her but lance reached for his baby.

"No it's okay, come here, I need a chloe hug," lance touched her head as Chloe smiled hopeful and Dani helped her get on the bed.

She was careful now to sit on the bed but he opened his arms for her to feel okay, she smiled and hugged him with his arm that wasn't shot wrapping around her tightly as lance buried his face in her hair. Tears slid down his face as he inhaled her scent deeply as Chloe leaned against his shoulder never wanting to let go.

"where did you go lance? I was scared," Chloe sniffled as she laid her head on his chest, Lances breath hitched in pain but didn't let her know, everyone else was ready to take the child off him seeing the pain but he glared at them shaking his head.

"I had an accident, I'm okay though," he kissed her head gently but Milo stared at the bandage around Lances bicep seeing there was a little blood staining it.

"We're glad your okay," Dani touched his hand but lance grabbed hers.

"I'm so sorry I left, I didn't mean too," he looked at her wide eyes.

"It's okay," Dani whispered and leaned down to kiss his forehead.

"Yea we got to hang out with Lotor, I like his apartment, it's super cool!" Milo built up enough courage to stuff his negative emotions down for his brother.

"Yea I liked it too," he chuckled but bit his lip at the movement that caused pain.

"Am I hurting you?" Chloe asked noticing this time.

"No no, just a leg cramp," he lied but the elders knew better.

"Do you guys want to go get some ice cream? I mean I could use some jello, I'm pretty hungry," lance smiled brightly like nothing was wrong in the world as he looked at Milo and Chloe.

"Yea!" They both smiled. Zethrid picked Chloe up so she didn't move the bed to much and the elder women left the room. Dani stayed.

"Are you okay?" Lance looked at her as they were alone in the room.

"Am I okay?" She rasped as tears were threatening to spill in her eyes.

"Lance look at you!? How can you ask if I'm okay?!" She yelled but stopped immediately seeing his eyes close at the noise.

"I'm sorry," Dani whispered.

"Lance i thought you were dead," she cried quietly.

"I'm sorry," he sniffled wiping his cheek.

"I know I should've been better I tried Dani, I tried to-to- I couldn't.." Lance choked up as his little sister looked afraid of him.

"Lance you got kidnapped, that's not your fault, what the fuck are you talking about?" She wiped under her nose as she pulled up a chair to sit with him.

"I couldn't do anything to save them, any one, and I just-it hurt so much and I was so useless, now everyone is-is-" he covered his ears shaking his head a little. It was to loud, the gunshots were to loud.

"Lance lance stop, look at me, stop please," Dani grabbed his wrists to pull them away from his head.

"He shot Nyma and rolo in front of me, I didn't even cry, he shot ezor, Lotor never left, I lost them all, every time I close my eyes- I can't stop," he sobbed with his head bowed down as Dani watched him break down. She's seen her idol have panic attacks and cry before but not like this.

"The doctor said you might suffer from ptsd but.. this isn't what she said," Dani whispered. "I'm sorry you went through that lance,"

"I barely cried but I was so scared," he held onto her hands tightly. "I want to get out of here,"

"You'll be released tomorrow from the hospital," Dani clung onto him gently.

"No no I want to leave Illinois, I can't stay here anymore, it's not safe, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you kids, I can't keep living like this, I don't want it for you guys," he grasped her hands between the two of his and held them under his chin. Dani could feel his hands shaking as he held her.

He was in pain. Mentally and physically.

He been cracking every day for the past 18 years.

But now.. He was broken.

The world finally broke lance mcclain.

"Yea, let's go," she agreed sitting on the edge of his bed.

"You, me, Milo and Chloe, it's always been the four of us," he nodded rubbing his thumb over her hand. Dani smiled at the thought.

"Zethrid and narti and Axca too right?" She gulped. He nodded.

"I know you've been wanting to leave here for the longest time, let's do it lance, I'm tired of this place," Dani sighed and leaned on the bed next to lance as they laid on their sides together. Like when they were little and shared a room with Rachel.

"Even if we leave the others of the family?" He whispered.

"your my family, you've been my mom, my dad, my guardian, you raised me, Milo and Chloe, with more love and guidance than any of the others have, you've protected us and I know after this you'll become the same lance that's been there for everyone, I just hope this lance will be able to be happy with himself instead of hiding the parts of him that have been dying, we won't survive here, not with Maria and marco and the others," Dani blinked away some tears as lance closed his eyes and nodded.

"Marco was going to leave anyways, everybody always leaves," lance pulled his blanket to his nose looking down.

"Let's leave them then, tomorrow?" Dani smiled softly.

Lance thought for a moment. He was silent as the idea sank in that he could finally leave here with his family. The thing that tore his first love relationship apart and kept him from being selfish to find love again.

He nodded.

"Tomorrow," he whispered.