Once I was certain he was out, I briefly abandoned my post next to Lance to check in with the rest of the team. As we congregated in Sven's room, Hunk informed me that he had already filled Sven in on the evening's events.

"He's finally asleep," I announced about Lance.

"I never knew he was so depressed. If I had known, I would never have gone off at him yesterday." Sven's voice was thick with regret.

"None of us knew he was that bad. Not even me," I sighed in response.

Pidge asked the inevitable question. "What's this going to do to the mission now?"

"I don't know, but I'm still holding to my ultimatum. If they dismiss Lance, they will lose me as well," I reaffirmed.

Pidge looked down at his feet. "Hunk and I were talking, and we feel the same. Lance is part of the team, and so are you. We stand with you, no matter what."

"Thanks, Pidge, but you shouldn't abandon this opportunity just for us. I have ulterior motives for staying with Lance. You don't."

"Maybe not, but we sure as hell won't trust another commander. You're the best we've ever seen, and you give a damn about us, too. It's not every day you find a commander with both a head and a heart."

"I will stand with you also," Sven unexpectedly stated. "This team has been my family away from home. I can't imagine feeling that way with another group. If Lance is dismissed, they will need to replace us all."

It finally became apparent to me just how much we all meant to one another. We had forged a bond so strong that it could be the key to defeating the Drule Empire. The Garrison knew this well. If any one of us left the team, the mission would most likely fail, and the Garrison would face the embarrassment for years to come. Hope filled my heart that we would remain united.

x~x~X~x~x

"Unacceptable!" Space Marshal Graham exploded from the video screen.

I stood before the committee with Hunk and Pidge at my sides. Sven joined us through video conference from his hospital bed, as did Graham who was off the planet. Petersen mediated the meeting, which also included a Garrison psychologist and two long-term mission specialists. "Your resignations are invalid!"

"Then we will leave the Galaxy Garrison dishonorably, sir."

"This is outrageous! Lieutenant McClain has committed irrevocable violations that place the mission in jeopardy. He cannot be allowed to retain his assignment."

"On the contrary, sir, I believe Lieutenant McClain has shown tremendous growth and strength over the past few days that demonstrate his and our ability to survive any unexpected situation this mission throws at us. Our ultimatum stands. If Lieutenant McClain is dismissed, we will walk away from the mission and the Garrison."

"Sir," Petersen chimed in, "perhaps we should hear from Major Delski about the lieutenant's overnight breakthroughs. Major?"

The tall, curly-haired psychologist presented her findings. "Because of doctor-patient confidentiality I cannot reveal the basis for Lieutenant McClain's decisions. However, I can report that he has already made significant progress that will aid in an easier recovery. He will need to go through extensive psychological counseling before he is deemed fit for the mission, but I see no reason why he would need to be eliminated from the team. He has a strong will and is determined to right his wrongs."

"Is he a liability to the mission?"

"With proper treatment, he will make a full recovery. He will be no more a threat to the mission than he was from the day you chose him for it."

"Sir, if I may speak freely?" I asked impatiently.

"Go ahead, Commander Kogane. Say what you must."

"We've all gone through shitty times in our lives. But we worked through them and became stronger individuals as a result. The timing of Lance's troubles is unfortunate, but I believe he will emerge from them stronger, more determined, more centered, and more humbled than before. He will become more of an asset to our mission than he ever was. Letting him go would be a great disservice to the people of Arus and the Denubian Galaxy."

"We will consider what you have said…and your ultimatum…as we make our decision on the future of Lieutenant McClain. We will call you back in the room when we have reached a consensus. You are dismissed."

We filed out of the room and hovered nervously just outside the conference room door. I called Lance for a video chat.

"What did they say?" he asked immediately.

"They're having the final discussion right now. Hopefully it won't be much longer."

"How do you think it went?"

"Graham seems pretty vehemently against letting you go. Petersen and the psychologist were on your side. I have no idea what the other two were thinking. It really could go either way."

Lance sighed. "Okay. Call me again when you know." He looked downhearted.

"Hey, it's not over yet. Keep your hopes up."

"I'll try. I'm going to go. I don't feel so well."

"Take care. I'll be back soon."

I ended the call and waited another hour before Petersen emerged from the room. "We have a decision."

We made our way back into the tensely silent room. In addition to Graham and Sven, Lance looked back at us from the video screen. Graham spoke first. "Though I cannot understand your recent behavior, Lieutenant McClain, nor the intense unity of your teammates, we will retain your position with the Garrison and with the special ops mission for Arus."

I smiled broadly as Hunk and Pidge high-fived each other. On the screen, Sven nodded in approval and Lance's hands folded over his face.

"However," Graham continued as Lance wiped his tears away, "you must undergo intensive psychological counseling for the next three weeks during which you will also be training with your team members. Thanks to his injuries, Sven will need at least that long to recover properly. Before your departure for Arus, you will be reevaluated by the psychologist who will have the ultimate say in whether you are mentally fit to go. A back-up team will train alongside you in the event Lt. McClain is deemed unfit for the mission. Do you understand these directives, Lt. McClain?"

"Yes, sir. I will exceed your expectations, sir."

"I hope so. There's a lot riding on your shoulders now."

"I won't fail you, sir," Lance spoke with newfound determination.

"The committee is hereby dismissed," Graham ended before terminating his transmission.

I stared at Lance's video feed on the screen. The long-lost spark flickered in the back of his eyes once more.

x~x~X~x~x

Three Weeks Later

I waited in the mental health clinic's waiting room, my leg shaking with impatience. I never knew what to expect when Lance emerged from the psychologist's office. Sometimes he was somber. Sometimes he was shouting inane accusations at the psychologist. Most of the time, he left with a satisfied smile.

But today was his big evaluation. After undergoing written exams, several interviews, and a physical, he now met with the psychologist to go over the final results. None of my Buddhist training could calm the anxiety I felt for him and the rest of the team.

The door to the back offices opened as Lance and Major Delski said their final words to one another. Lance, standing with his back to me, hugged the psychologist tightly. He turned around and walked towards me with reddened eyes. I sighed heavily, deducing that my days with the Garrison were over. "So, what's the word?"

"I'm sorry, Keith—"

"It's okay. We have our whole lives ahead of us, right?" I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck nervously.

"You didn't let me finish. I'm sorry that we'll be gone from planet Earth for so long. I passed."

I stared incredulously at him. "We're going to Arus?"

"We're going to Arus!" he exclaimed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as we strolled out of the clinic.

"We have to tell the others!"

"I've already arranged a dinner for the team tonight to tell them everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything," he repeated, stopping and turning to face me. "I'm ready to tell them."

He looked uneasy. "Hey, I'll be there with you, okay?" I reassured.

He nodded. "Keith, you've been there for me through all of this. I don't even know where to begin to thank you. Or how."

"You don't owe me anything, Lance. That you're standing here next to me, still in my life, that's enough."

"Yeah, I am a pretty awesome person, aren't I?" He smiled proudly.

The cocky son-of-a-bitch I knew him to be was back. Screw humility; I missed this side of him. The side that held no fear of what the universe handed to him. The side that always managed to bring a smile to my face, even on my darker days. The side that—

"Earth to Keith: we miss you," Lance suddenly announced, waving a hand in front of my face and breaking me out of my reverie. "Thinking about a tall, dark, and handsome Norwegian?"

I blushed and mumbled, "Already tried that."

Lance's eyebrows rose sky high. "Oh? Do tell."

"Why? Jealous?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I miss hearing about my best friend's exploits."

"You ever gonna tell me about Todd?"

Lance, of all people, turned red and looked down.

"Anyway, there's nothing to tell about Sven. He's not gay."

"And when did you finally figure this out?"

"After I tried to kiss him—wait, you knew and you still encouraged me?"

A smug grin spread across Lance's face. "So, about this kiss…"

I socked him hard on the arm and stormed away quickly through the parking lot.

"Remember, Keith, you love me!" he shouted as he caught up with me at my car.

"Yeah, yeah. I love you," I said rolling my eyes.

He beamed at me and I could only laugh back. "Let's go. We have a lot of final prep work to do."

We hopped into my car and drove eastward into the rising sun of a new day.

THE END

A/N: And so we reach the end of the journey. I hope you enjoyed this little piece. Ideally, I would write it's counterpart from Lance's perspective, but time is not on my side. Do check out the fun, M-rated epilogue "Happy Birthday to Me." ;-)

And, of course, thank you to Dia for beta reviewing this chapter!