Katie placed a hand on Shiro's, "Easy Shiro. He just passed out." Shiro sighed, "See? And he says I have no reason to worry." Katie giggled a little, "You sound like Matt when we'd argue." Shiro smiled a little at Katie, "Can you stay there for a minute while I go get some more stuff for him?"

"Of course I can." She smiled at him. Shiro patted her hand and left. Katie helped Keith down so he was reclining on some pillows, 'Poor Keith. But poor Shiro. They both are having such a rough time.' she thought to herself, 'You have to get better Keith, you have to." Katie sat with the unconscious red paladin for a while.

Shiro came back a while later. "Hey Shiro. He hasn't moved." She informed. Shiro nodded, sitting down again, "Thanks for staying with him."

"Of course. Anything for my fellow paladins." She smiled. Shiro smiled at her and reached out to ruffle her hair, "You're a good girl Katie."

She giggled happily and fixed her hair. "Go on, I can handle him from here."

"You sure? I don't have to go."

"It's almost time for bed anyway. And you've been here all day, you deserve a break." Shiro nodded and hugged Shiro. Shiro hugged her back, "Goodnight Katie. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight Shiro. Thanks." She smiled before turning to leave. Shiro smiled and settled down at the end of the bed to keep vigil over Keith. Keith stirred slightly. Shiro rubbed his knee soothingly, hoping Keith would be okay. Keith slowly tried to open his eyes, "Sh..." he breathed. Shiro moved closer, grabbing Keith's hand on his. "I'm here Keith. I'm here."

Keith weakly squeezed his hand. Shiro smiled faintly at the effort and brushed his hair back, "Wanna try some more water?" Keith shook his head. Shiro sighed but didn't argue with him. "W-wea..." Keith stuttered.

Shiro nodded, "I know. Don't worry. We'll find a planet soon to get you help and get your strength back."

Keith nodded and smiled a little for his brother, so tired of being like this. Shiro brushed a hand against Keith's cheek, "You don't have to smile just for me. Save your strength." The smile fell and Keith nodded lightly again wanting, wishing to tell Shiro how he felt but the words escaped him and he didn't have the strength. As Shiro watched Keith he began to see the fear that Keith was hiding away. Keith looked at Shiro, his barely opened eyes filled with tears at the corners.

"Keith... I know you are scared buddy."

Keith looked away a little, overwhelmed with everything.

"We will help you brother." Shrio squeezed Keith's hand gently. Keith nodded lightly, a lone tear fell down the side of his face. Shiro wiped the tear away, his hand gently against Keith's pale cheek. The teenager closed his eyes and leaned against Shiro's hand and nodded off again. Shiro wiped his own face and sighed, sick and tired of Keith's condition. He wanted the tough headed, energetic, cool kid back in his life.

He wanted his brother.

As the night grew long the lights in the room automatically dulled and faded out softly. Slowly Shiro fell asleep holding Keith's hand. The next day Shiro woke up in his own bed, a not stuck to his forehead reading: Thought you looked uncomfortable last night. Don't worry, Lance and I can handle Keith for the day -Hunk.

Shiro smiled a little at the niceness of the boys and got up, going to the control room to check on the planet scanning process. Allura was at the controls, talking to Pidge who was fiddling on her laptop. "Hey guys." Shiro smiled and rubbed his eyes. Allura looked over at him, "Good morning Shiro."

"Good morning Allura, Pidge." He smiled and walked over, "How is the progress." Pidge didn't look up as she replied, "Not so great. We're moving the castle so we can scan some more planets."

"Oh." Shiro frowned at the report, "So I assume nothing is working." Allura sighed, "Unfortunately it seems we are in a very unadvanced part of the universe." Shiro nodded,

"Okay, so what is the plan? Just to move the castle." Allura nodded, "Normally we'd wormhole to a more advanced area, but the wormhole generator is having mechanical difficulties. Coran is trying to get it working again."

"I see. Maybe I can help him and get it fixed quicker since Hunk and Lance are busy."

Allura smiled, "I'm sure he'd love the help Shiro." He nodded and ruffled Pidge's hair before leaving. Katie ducked her head and fixed her hair.

Shiro went to help Coran, "Coran?"

Coran's head popped out of a panel in the wall, "Good morning Number One!" Shiro chuckled, "Hi Coran. Came to help you fix the wormhole generator and get it working so we can help Keith."

"Rightio then! First thing you can do is hand me that yertilu on the table there." They spent a few hours picking away at the mechanics and soon got it up and running. "Brilliant Shiro! Let's go tell Allura." They walked to the control room and reported the good news.

Meanwhile Lance and Hunk sat on the floor in Keith's room, playing cards. "Ha! I win." Hunk smiled and laid down his hand. Lance groaned, "Oh man, that's the fifth time in a row!"

"We can just try a different game Lance" Hunk said shuffling the cards, "We have been doing cards for three hours."

Lance shrugged, "Eh, it's no big deal." He glanced up at the bed as Keith spasmed a little, "Hey Hunk, does Keith look different to you?"

"Hm?" Hunk followed his gaze to Keith, "I mean he is spasming."

"No no, Look at his skin. He looks... a bit grey."

Hunk stood and went over to Keith and looked at him and his shoulders slumped, "Yeah. More sickly than usual." Lance followed Hunk up, frowning deeply. "This isn't good Lance. Do you think..."

"Think what?" Lance asked quietly, his voice much lower than usual.

"May-maybe he is.. Giving up?"

Lance sighed, "I don't know buddy. But I really don't like his coloring. He looks like... nevermind."

"What?"

"Nah. It-it's nothing." Lance said quickly, hoping to change the subject, "Come on. Let's play some more rummy." Hunk raised an eyebrow and nodded, sitting back down. Lance seemed distracted throughout the game, glancing at Keith worriedly every few minutes. "Lance? Can you just tell me?"

"Hm?" Lance said distractedly, looking back at Hunk from Keith. "Tell me what you said before. I want to know." He said seriously to Lance. Lance sighed, bringing his legs up and rested his chin on them, :You remember my Grandpa?"

"A little. Didn't he die when we were little?"

Lance nodded, "I was eight when it happened."

"So? What does he have to do with Keith?"

Lance stared down at the floor, "I visited him every day, he lived right down the street. I... saw him die. The dew weeks before he died he really went into a downward spiral. And... his skin looked like Keith's does right now."

Hunk bit his lip and reached over to put a hand on Lance's shoulder, "Any other similarities?" Lance nodded, "Sleeping a lot. Hardly eating or drinking." HUnk nodded solemnly and patted Lance's shoulder, "He will be fine."

Lance swallowed nervously,

"I hope so Hunk. I hope so."