I always knew that you'd come back to get me
And you always knew that it wouldn't be easy
"Shepard! Where are you?" Kaidan stumbled across the debris, his head still reeling from the explosion. He'd been lucky to make it out alive and in one piece. His ears rang and his migraine was worse than ever, but he couldn't stop looking.
"Shepard! I told you I'd be here, you bastard!" He doubled over, the screaming taking its toll on him. His lungs felt filled with smoke and dust, kicked up from the blast that sent everyone flying. They had been advancing on the beam when a Reaper descended. He'd never ran so hard in his life. The Commander was only three meters ahead of him when the blast hit. They had almost made it.
"Major Alenko, do you read?" The voice over his comm made him jump out of his skin. "Kaidan, are you there?"
"I'm here. Is that you, Garrus?" Another fit of coughing, which expelled more dust. He spat in the dirt.
"Yeah, it's me. Where are you? Did you make it to the Citadel?" Static was beginning to interfere with the comms.
"No, we got hit before we got there. Everyone's gone." There was silence at the end of the line. Kaidan looked out across the slope, wondering where everyone had gone. The Makos were little more than rubble, and he had only found the bodies of two Alliance marines. He looked down at his armor; battered and broken in places, it was barely holding together. Specks of blood covered it, most of which wasn't his. He ran his hand through them. I wonder if it's Shepard's...He couldn't bring himself to think about it.
"What about Anderson or the Commander?" He knew Garrus would ask, but he wasn't ready for the question.
"I...I don't know. They're not here." He slumped to his knees, all the energy depleted. He felt detached from his body, kneeling there in the dirt. Taking off his gauntlets, he rubbed his forearms and stared at a rubble pile in front of him. He just can't be dead. That bastard promised me. Tears ran through the grime on his face, leaving streaks. The pain was becoming too much to bear, like a crushing weight on his shoulders. He bent over at the waist, pressing his forehead to the ground.
"Dammit, Shepard. You know I can't do this..."
"Kaidan!" He jerked his head up, swiveling around to find the voice calling for him. It was coming from the other side of the rubble in front of him. He quickly sprinted over it, bounding to the top, and peered ahead through the fog. Standing knee deep amongst the debris was James, bent over and throwing rock behind him. He jumped down the rubble and started helping him move the debris. He could see an armored figure who was in obviously bad shape. The metal had been at such temperatures it had melted in places; other pieces simply weren't there, exposing burnt skin beneath.
He told himself not to hold his breath, but he couldn't help but feel hope. When he saw the N7 dog tag, he lost it. Flinging rock behind him faster and faster, he ignored the cuts he hands were getting. Vega worked beside him, just as determined to unearth the man as he was.
Finally the rubble had cleared and he could see Shepard's face. He was bruised and bloody from the head down, but with his eyes closed he looked peaceful. Kaidan's hope began to fall, until he found a weak pulse at the carotid artery. He quickly pulled up the comms and tried to reach Garrus, but got nothing but static.
"Fuck!" He banged his hands on his knees, looking around and thinking about the options. He looked to James. "Vega, go get help as fast as you can. Now!"
"You got it, Major!" Vega sprinted off, kicking up dirt as he did.
Kaidan looked back to Shepard. Slowly, he slid his legs under him and cradled his head in his lap. He ran his hand over his cheek, wiping away the dirt and blood. Something black was staining his skin, and it seemed to be radiating from under his chest piece. He thought about pulling it off but was too scared of injuring him more.
"Please don't die on me, John. I need you here." He bent over and kissed his forehead. He couldn't lose hope now. Not after everything. Holding the Commander's head still between his hands, all Kaidan could do was wait.
Well your dreams, they're reality
There's no pain, there's no misery
Just polish the blood and the bruise
For there's just no way you can lose.
But I wish it was true
Author's Note: So I thoroughly despised the ending of ME3 (not gonna spoil it for anyone), and just really wasn't ready for the end at all. So this is my closure. If it's enjoyed I'll continue.
As a side note, my Shepard was named Matthew, but for the sake of the story I'll stick to John. :P
Song Credits: Top, "Lost in You" by Three Days Grace; bottom, "Wish It Was True" by The White Buffalo
