Authors Note: This is my first FanFiction story, reviews are appreciated. My Shepard is a Paragon/Colonist/SoleSurvivor, but I don't describe what she looks like so you can fill in any blanks.
Disclaimer: Mass Effect and Characters belong to Bioware.
Shepard ran across the barren ground of Akuze screams and gunfire filling the air. She leapt to the side as a Thresher Maw burst from the ground in front of her; jumping back to her feet she fired her assault rifle futilely at the towering monster as she backpedaled.
"Shepard…"
She looked around for the source of her name, but her search was cut short as she tripped and fell backwards. She leaned up and saw that she had tripped on the body of her commanding officer; his body was a mass of blood and acid, his glazed eyes staring fixedly at the sky.
"Shepard…"
She ignored the voice calling her name as she scrambled backwards, the continuous firing of her assault rifle blocking out the screams of the rest of her squad as they died. The Thresher Maw loomed over her as it reared back, preparing to cover her with the deadly acid; Shepard kept firing resolutely even though she knew she was going to die. She screamed as the Thresher Maw attacked.
Shepard jerked up right in her bed on the SSV Normandy; she struggled at the arms that were wrapped around her torso until a familiar voice came from behind her, "Shepard calm down it's me!" With a sigh Shepard relaxed against Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams.
"What was it this time?" Ashley asked, concern coloring her voice.
Shepard shuddered as she remembered the dream, Ash's arms tightened in response to her shudder as she waited for Shepard's answer. Shepard took a deep breath, "It was Akuze, I was running from the Threshers as they attacked my squad, but it was different from what really happened."
"How was it different?"
Shepard turned to see Ashley's concerned face, "The Thresher Maw killed me." Ashley said nothing as she pulled Shepard into another tight embrace. They sat in silence until Shepard pulled away, "What time is it?"
Ash looked at the clock as she replied, "0200." Shepard raised an eyebrow questioningly, Ash broke eye contact and looked away sheepishly, "I was in the Mess when I heard you." Shepard cupped Ash's chin in her hand and pulled her into a soft kiss. When they broke away Shepard looked into Ash's brown eyes, "Thank you Ash."
Ash just smiled in return as Shepard pulled her down next to her with an arm wrapped around her. Silence filled the cabin as they lay in each other arms until something dawned on Shepard.
"Ash?"
"Yes Shepard?"
"You heard me in the Mess Hall?"
"Yeah."
"These walls are soundproof Ash."
Ash just giggled quietly and snuggled closer to Shepard, a content smile on her face.