Touch

A/N: It's after the war and the Commander is pushing through her post-traumatic habits. What better way than to end it?

I'm not an English Major. I will have flaws! I'm just doing this for the hell of it.

Prologue

Under strict procedure of relocation protocol; Shepard is shown off the ship with Admiral Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy in arm. Shepard dips her head nervously when the full glare of the sun overshadows her in an aura of low heat and a shimmer of her auburn makes her hair redder. She procrastinates until the Normandy's pilot and 'assistance droid' presses her down into docking.

"This all wouldn't have happened without you, Jane." Tali begins and her hold on Shepard becomes tighter, more defined in a protective nature of this certain human. Shepard holds her breath then exhales the rising stress of post-traumatic tendencies, and she, too, smiles a little note that warms Tali greatly. "Welcome to Rannoch. Welcome to your new home, Jane." Tali presents the greatest gift – belonging after the tides of war.

EDI analyzes' her surroundings – taking note on the environment that surrounded the Normandy in a display of neutral colors and incredible backdrops of beautiful oceans; white noise of crashing seas against rocks could be heard in the distance. "Impressive. Your people colonizes quickly. And your culture is quick to adapt with the Geth. This progress is reassuring for Shepard's stable health." EDI drones her metallic voice, blissfully smiling over the calm.

The group begins to move through the small section of tents that bloomed, soon these tents will be paved over with promising new homes. Joker latches onto EDI's side and she helps him cross gravel trailing behind Shepard and Tali. "Daunting as it is – we've progressed rapidly. Some have even taken to strengthening their newfound immune systems with help from the Geth. We're nomadic, EDI. We are a strong family race – we'll settle anything."

Two tents came into view, both equipped with a beachfront view. The flaps from the tent fluttered against the gentle breeze. "This – this is where our homes will begin, Jane. My house here and yours right next to mine." Shepard said nothing but kept her distant smile brimming. She could hear a flooded emotion in Tali's voice. "We will build our homes together. And we will thrive."

Remembering

"I don't know, Kal." Veetor begins, humming nervously behind his visor. Veetor taps the glass from his helmet, he hesitates, then drops his hands back down to his sides. "Perhaps – I can do this another day. Just not today."

Kal's eyes glower at the younger man, "Look. I'm doing it an hour a day to build up my immune system. It's recommended you do the same. You can't always be scared of everything that bites you in the ass." Kal leans in to unlatch his visor but Veetor leans away from the military-driven man; in retort, this earns Veetor a harder frown from Kal. "Damn it, man."

"Just not today." Veetor utters behind his comm. The light of his helmet radiating a pale light from all his nervous humming.

"You'll only make yourself sicker with all this worry. It's simple, take off your helmet and enjoy the ocean breeze. The smell of sea is damn amazing." Kal attempts to pull the visor off but Veetor simply takes another step back from his grabbing hands.

"You can't always rush people." The distant voice found humor in these two men. Kal quickly erected his posture, turning his full attention to Tali who called from across the field. She had a human latched to her arm – a very alive, and a very human Commander Shepard.

Veetor dwindled with his fingers, tilting his head to the side to capture the picture of two women approaching him and Kal. "Ma'am!" Kal begins but with Tali's free hand she waves off his formalities and proper etic when addressing a diplomat. Tali has taken off her visor and Shepard stood there holding said visor in her grasp.

"At ease." Tali smiles, her purplish lips dawning north. "I noticed you two in quite a heated discussion. Whatever it was had you grabbing for Veetor mask. Explain." With humor, Tali kept her smile stained on her lips and with Veetor's use of name he politely inclined his head to the two females.

"I've tried explaining to Veetor that he needs to build up his immune system. You're not going anywhere if you're always caught up in a bubble. Bottom line, ma'am, I'm just trying to help him out." Tali walks in closer to the two men, trailing Shepard close behind her.

"Or maybe he's just not ready." Shepard simply stated, her words draping from her pink lips. Tali only nodded her head; Shepard tilts hers, "Good to see you again, Veetor." She spoke drolly, her lovely hues of emerald not entirely there. Veetor noted that the Commander looked and seemed different – he mostly remembered her for her compassionate nature towards his people.

Her hair is a lot longer, cascading natural curls of red that flooded over her bared shoulders. Her eyes gleamed a certain meaning – though assumed dead in conversation – she's seen a lot he figured. She's wearing something loose, a pearl-shaded dress that touched her knee, her bare feet digging into nature.

The man from behind the mask stutters over her tone, her dawning eyes catching glimpse of his squinting eyes behind the fogged mask – bashfully he's smiling now, twiddling with his fingers, averting his vex to the ground. He's always had this secret fixation with her. "And you, Shepard vas Normandy." Perhaps it was the exotic thrill a human could give to other species; Silver-tongued and honey-kissed words.

"Heard about your relocation, Commander. Must say, it's an honor to have you on our homeworld. Surprising, really. What brought you to our turf?" Silently, Veetor wanted to thank Kal to break up the attention placed on him. However, he still watched the way her eye placement moved and he was rather fond with the shade of green.

Military intentions were drilled into her and the three Quarian's watched the way Shepard erected her position, proudly showing her neck, her arms crossing behind her back. "They insisted on making me an Admiral. Can you believe it? No offense, Tali. They were going to take away my ship from me, put her up on display as the Ship that slayed Reapers. Out in space I do not have to worry about the politics and slander of news press. So, I did the next best thing. I reassigned. The galaxy has no need of me and what better way than to start new than to devote my life in helping a bunch of nomads reclaim their roots." With that, her smile grew huge. "Admiral, hah. More like a damn desk jockey. I'm a solider."

"Mhm." Tali hummed, and Shepard laughed. "I assume you're going to miss the military life."

"I miss my adopted baby before I miss a damn rifle in my hand."

"Grunt." Tali and Shepard spoke in union and they both smiled at that note.