~3 weeks later~

3 weeks following Keith's breakdown, his bond with Lance grew stronger, his nightmares finally subsided, and he was finally able to sleep soundly at night, but his mind was never fully at ease.

One seemingly normal day, Allura's voice echoed through the halls of The Castle of Lions, calling the Paladins' attention to the main control room.

"Paladins, we have just received a distress signal from a nearby planet, their prince has been captured by the Galra and he is being held prisoner along with some innocent citizens who were captured trying to rescue their prince. Your mission is to free the planet from the Galra's hold and free the Prince. It will be very dangerous, be very aware of Galra soldiers around every corner" Allura explained. "All right everyone! It's time to suit up!" Shiro exclaimed, everyone ran to where they keep their suits of armor, once they were suited and ready, they went to their lions' hangers and flew to the nearby planet. When they landed, everyone exited their lions and inspected the planet. "This place looks deserted" Lance exclaimed "Yeah, uh, Shiro, are you sure we're on the right planet? Maybe we got lost" Hunk added nervously. "We're not lost, Allura did say that the planet had been taken over by Galra" Shiro said, a slightly annoyed tone in his voice, Keith stayed quiet, his eyes darted around from one tree to another. "Keith?" Lance asked, snapping Keith out of his daze. "Huh? Oh, no I'm... I'm fine. I thought I heard something." Keith answered, tightening his grip on his bayard, he jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned around fast and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. "Calm down, Keith. It's only me" Lance said with a smile. "All right, guys let's split up. Keith and Lance will go through the forest and to the nearby village, Hunk, Pidge, you two will head North, if you find any citizens, ask where they might be holding the prince. I'll fly around in my lion to keep an eye out for any Galra. Remember, stick to your partner and be very careful."  Shiro said, making his way to his lion, Pidge and Hunk went the opposite direction while Keith and Lance walked through the forest, Keith staying on high alert.

Lance's POV:

Keith is acting a bit jumpy, like he's expecting something to jump out and attack. Then I hear a gun go off. "Lance! Look out!" Keith yells, jumping in front of the gun to take a bullet for me. Next thing I know, Keith is bleeding from his head and about to hit the ground. In a panic, I quickly catch him and rush back to where our lions are. "Guys! We have a situation here! Keith's been shot We need to get him to a healing pod, now!" I yell through my helmet, trying to hide my panic. I blink away the tears welling in my eyes and wait for a response, then, I hear Shiro's voice. "Okay, Lance, get to your lion and fly back to the castle, we'll catch up" He didn't have to tell me twice. I quickly get in my lion and set Keith down in a chair beside me. I fly back to the castle in no time. I quickly rush inside and start yelling for Allura and Coran. "Allura! Coran! I need help!" Allura rushes over to me with Coran following closely behind her. "What happened?" Allura asks, giving me a worried look. I gently lay Keith down on the ground, Allura and Coran exchanged worried looks. "I'll fire up a healing pod and he'll be just fine," Coran says with a reassuring smile. He walks away to turn on a healing pod. "Okay, bring him here" Coran calls out, I pick Keith up and Allura helps me get him in a pod, just as Shiro and the others walk up to us. "Is he going to be okay?" Hunk asks. "Of course he will, a few hours in here and he should be good as new" Coran replies with a smile, patting the side of the healing pod. I stood in front of the pod and pressed my hand against the glass, a few tears rolling down my face. After a while, I felt everything was going to be okay. I begin to walk away when suddenly the alarm on the pod starts to go off, Allura and Coran rush to the pod in a panic. "What's happening?!" I ask frantically. "His heart stopped and he isn't breathing. He's gone into cardiac arrest!" Coran replies, a fearful and worried look adorned his face. "What?!" Me and everyone else all yell in unison. "Out of the pod! Now!" Allura instructs. No... No... This... This can't be happening. I can't let Keith... I can't let him die! Not like this. I think to myself as I watch Shiro try desperately to run to Keith's pod, Hunk holding him back by the arm, Allura and Coran work as fast as they can, trying to open the pod and lay him down on a medical table, me and the rest of the team watch with teary eyes as Coran gives him electric shocks to restart his heart, my heart thumps rapidly against my chest, hoping Coran his able to save him. "Come on, Keith. Come back to us" Shiro says softly, his voice shaky as the tears roll down his face. "Come on, buddy, the team needs you. I need you" I say, the last part came out softly. Then, to my amazement, Keith sits straight up and gasps for air, Coran places a hand on his should to steady him. "Easy there, number four" He says with a gentle smile. I watch as Keith looks around confused, as if he didn't know where he was for a second.