Note: BioWare owns all of the toys, we just like to play with them. Especially Kaidan.

Warning: This story chiefly consists of fluff, angst and sensual content without much real plot. Read at your own risk. :p

A big thank you to Sialater who was kind enough to agree to beta this for me. Your help is very much appreciated. :)

Note on "mood music": I will be including before each chapter a song or two from Kimbri's music player on the Normandy that she felt went along with those particular moments.

Mood Music: "Tomorrow" by SR 71

On Ice

Shepard sat on the edge of the bed in med bay, hands on her knees, her eyes picking out a spot on the floor. In the days that followed the battle on the Collector's base, she couldn't help but notice it when she looked in the mirror. She never really considered herself a coward before, but she was afraid to look up at the doctor. She guessed it was because she knew what the medical officer was going to say. Kimbri just didn't want to face it. But Commander Frakking Shepard didn't get this far in life by taking the easy route. Shepard looked up into Dr. Chakwas's steely eyes, "Give it to me straight, Doc."

"Shepard, I'm afraid that your implants and grafts are undergoing degeneration due to the unusual amounts of stress you've place upon yourself over the past several weeks."

Kimbri shrugged, wincing a little since she forgot how sore her shoulders muscles had become after the beating she had received in that last battle. "So I use this thing again," she pointed her thumb behind her at the dermal regeneration instrument Chakwas had installed, "What's the big deal?"

Dr. Chakwas looked steadily into her Commander's eyes, which Kimbri knew now showed telltale signs of a red glow behind the irises. "The difference is that it was designed for cosmetic changes in your appearance. Not to stop wholesale apoptosis of your tissues."

Kimbri lowered her blonde eyebrows and scrunched them together over her blue eyes. "You lost me, Doc. Could you speak English?"

The doctor turned and started pacing, like an instructor talking to her class. "Apoptosis. Programmed cell death. The healing process of your body upon your…resurrection was never complete in the first place. Your body hasn't had a break since that time. You awoke to battle. You charged into several missions, guns and biotics blazing over and over. Even on this ship you had to break up fights. You don't sleep properly. I know about the nightmares, Commander." Chakwas turned to look at her patient, her eyes holding compassion. She placed a hand lightly on Shepard's shoulder. "And don't try to tell me that your run-in with Commander Alenko hasn't added to your burdens, Kimbri."

The Commander jerked out from the doctor's touch, her back turned. "I'm fine. And that's none of your business," Shepard growled.

The doctor stepped quickly, pivoting to stand directly in front of her. "Like hell it isn't. Anything that jeopardizes your health is, by definition, my business." Chakwas appeared for a moment to carefully consider her wisdom in antagonizing Shepard who was, after all, a biotic. The doctor's expression of consternation grew as the edges of the commander's skin glowed a faint blue. Kimbri closed her eyes, mentally pulling in the reins on her temper before the doctor herself would require medical intervention. She may be angry but she didn't want to hurt her friend. Shepard took a deep breath and let it out, feeling a slight release of the tension in her body.

When Shepard opened her eyes, the blue aura had faded and her eyes were a deep blue rather than the stony blue that usually went with her "Commander" persona. "I can't do anything to fix that now. I sent him a message before going through the Omega-4 Relay. There's been no reply. Besides, I have more important things to worry about. Like the Reapers coming."

"I hope you weren't too hard on the man, Kimbri," the doctor gave Shepard a searching look, "or on yourself." Chakwas sighed at the stubborn expression on the CO's face and changed tacts. "Shepard, it took Cerberus 2 years to rebuild you and you're bound and determine to cause your body to completely break down in less than 2 months out of sheer pigheadedness."

Shepard's eyes widened. "It's that bad?"

The doctor nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so, Commander. We're going to have to take some drastic measures or you won't be in any shape to fight the Reapers. And we need you in top form, Shepard."

Kimbri took another deep breath and let it out, resigned. "Okay, Doc. So what'll it be? Extensive reconstructive surgery? Immersion therapy in medigel? Do I have to go to a special clinic? What?"

Doctor Chakwas looked directly into Shepard's eyes. "We'll start with the immersion, yes. Then we'll try the regeneration again." Shepard was nodding in agreement until, "And then you have to take some time off."

"I-what?" Kimbri's expression was one of pure incredulity. The doctor's look of suppressed amusement at Shepard's shock didn't help the younger woman to control her temper. Despite this, however, she could tell that her chief medical officer was dead serious.

"You heard me, Shepard."

Kimbri's "Commander" persona slammed into place. "Absolutely not."She jumped down off of the gurney and began pacing the room. "We have too much work to do. I have to return to the Citadel, talk to the Council. Work things out with Anderson…" she paused, tallying her list in her head. "You'll just have to make do with what can be done while on the Normandy between errands."

The doctor's body relaxed, but her facial muscles tightened, her lips a thin line, and her eyes went icy. "EDI, please make an official report. Commander Kimbri Shepard is officially relieved of all duties for the next two weeks. She is medically unfit for duty until further notice. Please commence lock down of all secured ship functions for her account minus access to her quarters."

Blue light flashed in the room. "You have no right to do this, Chakwas!"

The doctor remained calm. "EDI?"

A blue orb popped up from the alcove in the wall. "Doctor Chakwas has the authorization to suspend any member of the team or crew from duty provided it is for a medical reason. Who do you name as your acting CO, Shepard?"

Kimbri's shoulders slumped a bit. She didn't miss that the AI had neglected to use her title. She wasn't going to be able to bully her way through this one. But perhaps with a little persuasion… "Doctor, I respect your opinion. And I certainly don't want to put the remainder of our mission at risk. But I have things that I have to do at the Citadel. I have to report to the Council. Perhaps they will finally see reason…"

"No, Commander. That won't happen—not yet. This ship is still barely operable from our attack on the Collectors. It won't make it to the Citadel. We'll have to make port at Ilium. Liara has agreed to arrange for repairs to be made. Joker has informed me that this will likely take at least two weeks. Hence the furlough that I have prescribed." She went to her desk and made a few keystrokes. "In fact, I have the perfect place for you. On Eden Prime. She turned back to Shepard with a sad but ironic look. "It was going to be my retirement home, actually—after I decided that I could no longer work for the Alliance and before Cerberus contacted me."

Shepard opened her mouth to protest, but Chakwas placed a finger over her lips. Her eyes displayed a rare depth of warmth and friendship that was unusual for the older woman. "I insist. Use it well, My Dear." With that, she bodily turned Kimbri and gave her a gentle shove toward the door.

When the whoosh of air from the closed door announced that the room was secure, she hit the intercom. Kimbri could still hear the doctor's voice through the door. "Joker?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Is everything set for Shepard's R&R?"

"Ten-Four, Doctor."

Kimbri heard the sound of the doctor falling into her chair by the desk, "Excellent."

Mood music for Chapter 2: "Never Surrender" by Skillet