A woman in her early twenty's with long brown curled hair had entered Commander Shepard's quarters. Looking around his comfortable looking living room she felt at ease that he was given a fair treatment. The Alliance could not deny Shepard's military record was if not anything amazing- and brave.

She hadn't noticed he had stepped out of his bedroom.

''Kayla?'' The surprise in his voice made her smile.

She turned around to see her brother with a towel in his hand drying his buzz cut hair. She smiled brightly at him, happy to see him well and most importantly safe. Even though considering the circumstances he was in, were far from ideal for his career and his own safety.

''God, it's good to see you!'' He neared her with two great strides across the room, embracing her tightly against his chest. She chuckled, struggling in his strong hold for a bit, ''Hello, big brother.''

Giving her one final squeeze he released her, placing his hands against her shoulders while looking at her, ''You look well.'' He smiled at her, it made Kayla feel good that she was able to surprise her brother like this.

''I am, how have you been?'' He shook his head, not giving her any chance to answer he said, ''No, wait how did you get in here? I am not allowed to have any visitor's for the time being.''

Kayla turned to look out the window, ''Let's say I pressured Anderson enough to let me see you.'' She heard her brother chuckle softly, ''That man always had a weakness for you.''

She smiled briefly as she saw a little boy playing with a model of an Alliance space fighter.
''He's like a father to the both of us, Michael. He promised me that he would give me some time with you. I missed you, you know.''

Michael found himself at a loss, confused as to how to act now that his baby sister was standing in front of him. He hadn't contacted her, hadn't let her know that he was stationed on Earth now. He didn't see what good that could do, considering he wasn't allowed to have any visitors. ''Kayla, I didn't mean to keep you in the dark.''

Turning to look at him she gave him a reassuring smile, ''I know that, big brother.''

She didn't know the specifics of why her brother was incarcerated on one of the Alliance' bases on Earth. The only thing she knew was that the whole Batarian race had been eradicated. The Alpha relay in the Bahak system had blown up, people had gone rigid the day it happened, blaming her brother for killing an entire race was something she heard on a daily basis now. Making the name 'Shepard' poisonous for many. Dubbing the man a murderer instead of a hero was something she knew must pained her brother.

''Michael?'' He looked up at her, clearly being somewhere else with his mind.

''Are you all right?'' She walked up to him grabbing his hand to make him sit down on the couch with her. His 'big brother' role immediately kicked in, caressing her hand as if he was the one that should comfort her and gave her a faint smile.

''I'm fine, Kay.'' She scanned his eyes then, noticing the real truth in them- that he was far from okay.

''I heard about the Bahak system, what happened Michael? Every Batarian out there cringes at the name 'Shepard'''.

Michael sighed, ''I know.''

She waited for him to continue but he remained silent. And for a moment the silence seemed to take a toll on him. The memories were still there, they were never going to stop torturing him.

''I can't tell you exactly what happened. Only that it was a deep cover op that went south and that I was the only person Hackett trusted enough to send. So… Of course I agreed on doing it.''

The screaming.

The soft hushes of whispers.

Michael frowned as he saw the Reaper artifact flashing before his eyes. Dozens of soldiers and scientists indoctrinated, the sacrifices they were willing to make in order to stop him from advancing.

He felt a soft squeeze on his hand and found Kayla's comfort smile.

He sighed, ''Long story short, I stopped a Reaper invasion.''

Kayla's eyes grew wide at him, ''What..?'' her voice barely a whisper. Reapers. Nobody knew where they came from or what they really were, an alien race that had the sick twisted idea to destroy the galaxy. They had used Saren for their first attempt, but failed in doing so thanks to her brother. Yet, no one believed him. No one besides his closest friends- Anderson, Hackett, his former crew and Kayla.

''I tried contacting the Batarian homeworld. But I was too late..''
Kayla couldn't help the look she had on her face- one of disbelief. Were they that close of being wiped out by ancient aliens?

Thinking that Michael would probably look the same way his sister was looking at him now he chuckled without humour, ''Yeah, I know.''

''But.. The Alpha relay was destroyed? How did you…?''

Michael shrugged, ''There was this science facility build on an asteroid, I used it to destroy it.''

Sighing he got up, wiping his hand over his face in frustration. ''I could only contact the Normandy right before the communication tower shut down… Kayla you know I don't particularly like Batarians. But all those innocent people.'' She eyed her brother, pacing around as the weight of countless deaths of the Batarians haunted him.

''Michael, you are not a murderer you sa-''

Michael held his hand up, ''Stop. The things I have done…'' Struggling to find the right words, he looked away from her. He didn't want Kayla to see him in a bad way, but on the other hand that could have been done already- thanks to other people. Some people were scared of the name they both carried, while other had build resentment. Keeping her safe was something that he had done all this time, even though he wasn't around much. She was always shadowed by the Alliance for her own protection. But now, he was admitting to her that what people dubbed him was the truth.

He was a murderer.

But when Michael looked at her, her eyes showed that was not what she saw.

''It doesn't matter anymore.'' She eyed him curiously, ''I turned myself in to the Alliance, I gave them the intel I know about Cerberus, their recourses- the ones I know of at least. And stepped down as the commanding officer of the Normandy.''

Kayla went silent for her bit. She wasn't really sure she was understanding completely what he was saying. But she was a smart girl and it didn't take her long to realise what Michael meant.

''Wait, does that mean you'll be put on trial?''

''I'm sure Anderson is doing everything in his powers to make the Alliance go easy on me, but yes. I imagine that eventually I will have to answer for what I've done. The remaining Batarians wish me dead, Kayla.''

''No,'' Kayla jumped out of her seat. ''Screw them, Michael. What Batarian raiders did to Mindoir- to us, that's what they should have been put to justice for. You bought who knows how many races the time to build up their defences against the Reapers.''

''To a threat they don't even realize to be true, Kayla!'' His sudden outburst startled her.

The fact that he had given up had surprised her.

Why was he so willing to accept his faith? Clearly Anderson had done something to not make the Alliance act immediately of stripping him from his uniform and all his rights.

''And what the raiders did to us, is wrong. There is no doubt in that. But those innocent Batarian people had nothing to do with that. I am ashamed you think that way.''

Kayla knew her brother was right, shame made her look away from his glaring eyes.

The knock on the door both caught them off guard, but even so, Michael did not turn away from her as she still felt his eyes on her, ''Come in.''

''Commander Shepard, sir.'' Michael recognized the voice immediately.

''Vega.'' He said, giving his younger sister one more look before turning around to greet the Lieutenant.

''You're not suppose to call me that, Lieutenant.'' The man in front of him saluted, ''I am not suppose to salute you either, sir. But hey… What the hell, right?''

Michael smirked at the man as he shook his head, ''What is it?''

''The defence committee has requested your presence sir.'' Vega looked passed him, only now noticing the person behind Shepard.

''I'm sorry…'' His eyes went from Kayla to Michael, ''Am I interrupting something? You were not allowed to have any visits, sir.'' Michael half turned looking over his shoulder to see Kayla ignore his eyes on her still. ''She's my baby sister, actually.'' He motioned Kayla to walk over to him and despite the way she was clearly feeling she approached him.

Standing next to him she acknowledged Vega with a brief nod, ''I'm Kayla Shepard.''

''James Vega, Miss.'' Vega then looked to Michael again, ''I will see you outside, sir. They did tell me not to waste any time, Commander…''

''I'll be out shortly.'' Vega saluted him again, watching the door close behind him he turned to Kayla.

''Look… We will talk about this after I get back.'' Kayla rolled her eyes at him,

''If you come back.''

Michael frowned, she had a point. But since he was stuck on Earth he really wasn't going anywhere this time.

''Normally, that would have been a very good point. But this time I'm not going anywhere, Kay.'' She sighed folding her arms, she looked so much like their mother when she did that.

''I guess we'll see, won't we?''

Michael had no time to get into another argue, ''I don't have time to indulge you with useless arguing, Kayla.'' Shaking his head impatiently he walked towards the door, ''I love you. No matter what.''

And without looking back over his shoulder Michael left.
Kayla would have gladly kicked something only so that her anger would have some way to vent. But she settled for a loud short grunt while throwing her hands in the air.

How come her brother was blind to her fears? He was such a damn mule sometimes! She stormed out of his quarters nearly bumping into an officer. It was then that she noticed that everyone was in such a hurry. Not paying any more thought to it she walked towards the elevator.

I guess this visit didn't turn out as I expected it to be.