I tried to tidy up my laptop and found many of these stories stashed in my "secret" folder. Decided to clean them up too and finally put them together. So yes, just an excuse to write more Mshenko fluff.
Warning. As a not native English speaker, so grammar sometimes gets to me.
Disclaimer - Obviously I don´t own Mass Effect, Bioware does. However, if I did lot of things would be different.
Chapter 1 : Old times
Shepard's POV
The star observation room sure looked peaceful. Even if Kaidan .Shepard turned to leave, happy he finally managed to finally talk to Kaidan and properly welcome him abort the Normandy. However, when he headed for the door, he noticed major following him. Surprised, Shepard turned to glance back at him. Kaidan raised his hands in defence, and offered him rather shy smile.
"Before you came, Joker told me to get my spectre ass to the bridge. He mentioned something about teaching me new set of rules for the Normandy?"
Shepard snorted. "Sure he did."
They left the room, together chatting about some trivial things as ship status, mission. When the elevator door the stopped, Shepard glanced at Kaidan, who immediately went for the bridge direction.
"Later, Kaidan," said Shepard, walking to his terminal.
"Yeah," Kaidan nodded, continuing in the bridge direction.
Shepard turned his terminal on, glaring at the pending messages. Expect he never got a chance to read it, because very familiar raspy laugh of Major Alenko reached his ears.
He followed the sound, noticing Kaidan standing next to of the newest crew members, Hackett assigned to Normandy right after their route from Palaven.
"Petra, " he heard Kaidan gasp. "I had no idea you were assigned to Normandy. I thought you were still at SSV Hastings."
"Admiral Hackett transferred me only recently. Before the events on Tuchanka. I am currently acting as first assistant to Doktor Chakwas. Apparently someone had forwarded the commendations, " she said smiling at the major.
Kaidan returned the smile. Still looking at them, Shepard frowned. In moments like this, he was really happy he had infiltration training, because what he was sure that what he doing here was be considered gaping. However thank to his training he was still able to type on his terminal without looking too much as a vicious stalker. Not that he was one. Doesn´t matter his eyes were locked on the scene before him, his eyes carefully observing the object.
"All I did was to mention your name. How are you finding it?,"
"It's a great honour to be aboard the Normandy. Thank you, Sir. And I am glad that I got a chance to work with you again."
She stepped back, and as Shepard noticed she examined him in an extremely personal way.
"And how are you, sir? I was worried after I heard what happened on Mars."
Shepard brow creased, now completely unable to ignore their conversation. So, she was worried, while he was fucking dying from worry. Exactly what was between those two. It couldn't be…..
"Well," Shepard heard Alenko mutter." It's much better know. Definitely don't want to go through that again,.. "
"Doctor Chakwas mentioned there were problems with your L2 implant."
"Well yes. But it´s all right now. "
And she knew about that too?! Wait a minute. How? Did he tell her that? He didn't even tell him back on the old Normandy, Shepard had to practically force it out from the doctor.
Shepard suddenly realised he was glaring at the terminal, his message about the volus donation to the turian fleet, opened in the front of him completely forgotten. Suddenly he had no intention writing anymore. All he could do was think about who exactly was this woman was. And why she was so familiar with Kaidan. And why the he actually cared.
Shepard did his best to ignore the conversation, but the fact it was happening only few meters from him, wasn´t helping. And also there was the fact that the young woman was smiling at major in such a flirty way.
Kaidan posture was relaxed and there was a hint of smile on his lips. The woman was rather good looking and cute, with gentle voice and with long dark hair that curled on her shoulders and big brown eyes. Shepard stopped for a moment, wondering why the description was so familiar. A memory of Kaidan talking about one particular Turkish girl crossed his mind and he realised this woman is exactly his type.
Message forgotten, Shepard had a hard time ignoring tingling sensation that suddenly occurred in his stomach. Alenko had been on Normandy for a few hours, and he already had girl oogling him. Ok, Major was a handsome man, dark and silent type and he had that cool and reserved aura surrounding him, something that apparently worked very well on women too. As Shepard remembered, even Ash had a thing for him too. But he was never really sure from Majors side. There was that unbreakable wall of emotions, and as Kaidan mentioned to him one day, he had his reason. He couldn't remember Kaidan using such a familiar tone with a crewmember back on SR1. Well except Shepard, but that whole another matter.
Shepard eyes returned back to his terminal. It wasn't his problem. If Alenko wanted to start something with a crew member, it was not his right to judge. Shepard was fine about these things. As long as they do their job properly….
"And as I remember I still owe you that drink," came a sweet voice.
Now wait a minute…
Hitting escape button on the terminal he quickly (and very casually) approached them. The crewman known as Petra – The Kaidan oogling girl saluted him as he spotted him. Kaidan turned to him.
"I take it you know each other," he started, happy to realise how normal and commander like his voice sounded.
Kaidan nodded.
"We met when I served on Tokyo. About one year and half ago. She was one of the best medical officers there. "
The crewman blushed at Kaidan´s words. It was barely visible, but Shepard was good at observing people and he definitely noticed. She quickly collected herself and saluted again.
"Medical officer sergeant Petra Kubriczky. It´s an honour, sir. "
"At ease. Good to have you on board. I didn´t know Hackett forwarded us such an experienced staff, " he replied, playing his commanding role.
"He said something along, with all the crazy stunts Normandy gets into every day, they are gonna need every damn medic Alliance has, " she immediately realised what she said. " Ehm, every medic commander. "
Hearing that, Kaidan laughed again. Shepard was quickly getting annoyed by the sound of it. Especially if it was directed to someone else.
"He may be right about that," Kaidan said, the smile still on his lips.
"I should get back to my duties. Excuse me, commander." she looked at Kaidan again. "It was good to see you Major Alenko," she said.
"Yeah you too. "
Shepard let her pass. When he looked back he found himself looking right into the Kaidan´s marvellous eyes. He stared into them for a second, brown eyes returning his stare.
"Going to the bridge?" Kaidan asked.
Shepard nodded, breaking the eye contact and walked with Kaidan on his side. He could pretend he actually meant to get to the bridge.
"So, you know each other?, "he asked, realising he already asked this and immediately felt as an idiot. Fortunately Kaidan didn´t seem to be bothered by it.
"Yeah. From Tokyo. We ran along to each other pretty often. She is expert on biotics. Saved my guys couple of time. "
"I see, biotic expert. Huh" answered Shepard, again wondering what happened to his famous charming use of words. He coughed. "Any luck finding you students?," he glanced at Kaidan. "Not much. But they are good. I trust them. "
The major face darkened, the worry lines around his eyes more visible now.
"Not much. But they are good. I... believe in them. But being here is important to me. " he said and smiled at him.
Shepard returned the smile, unable to hide how much Kaidan´s words meant to him.
The door to the cockpit opened, concealing them from rest of the ship. When they entered Joker immediately turned, fixing Kaidan with a stare.
"About time. So get here and listen. You missed a lot while on your beauty rest. "
"Maybe that´s one thing you need too Joker, have you thought about that?," Kaidan answered, without missing a beat.
Shepard smiled, remembering when it used to be the same on the original Normandy. He picked up datapad nearby, going through the calculations. With one ear he listened to Joker listing his demands (mostly along The first rule of Normandy´s pilot is this leather chair is only mine and mine only). His eyes occasionally glanced at Kaidan. The biotic was smirking and actually looked relaxed. It was nearly like old times. The silent Normandy hum, Kaidan bickering with Joker on the bridge.
"And one last thing," Joker finished. "Do not touch EDI because I know you tech nerds are into that sort of thing, and do not touch any of her circuits either. "
"Believe me I have no intention of doing that. I had enough heart attacks for today. "
"What?,"asked Shepard, surprised.
It was EDI´s voice that cut through the silence.
"Major Alenko and I had some minor misunderstanding before. Apparently, seeing my body caused him to panic. "
"I did not panic. I was merely stunned. "
Joker snorted. "Yeah, as if. "
Kaidan turned to Shepard, his face flat.
"You could have warned me. "
A memory of Kaidan being smashed against the shuttle by Eva Core flashed in his eyes. He felt his heart clench again. He looked away, hiding his uncomfort.
"Ah, I didn´t realise. Sorry"
"Don´t worry about it, Shepard. "
"Commander," Edi spoke again. "Specialist Traynor and I finally managed to trace down the crash site of the Primarch´s Victus son."
Shepard raised his head.
"So what are you waiting for, get us there Joker. ASAP. "
"Aye Aye sir, " Joker said as he pressed buttons, directing them to nearest relay.
Shepard turned to Kaidan. Despite the mission he was smiling. His smile grew when he noticed that Kaidan returned it.
"Ready to get into some serious action, XO?
Kaidan raised his eyebrow.
"XO?"
Shepard shrugged, his hand immediately reaching for his shoulder. A habit he did often apparently. Moving closer to him, Kaidan looked directly into his eyes. There was power, the strength, the integrity, the determination and kindness in his eyes. Everything Shepard loved. Shepard breath hitched.
"Always ready, commander. "