All right. New Shepard, new story.

This will be the first of a three part series featuring a FShepard/Ashley romance. If you read Healing, Shay will have some things in common with my other Shepard, Kallian. Thanks to dajohu, sadbluegirl, Hattu, OEMoose, and GlaDOS-01 for the go-ahead. I do hope to edit/finish Healing eventually as well.

Shay stepped down from the stage grinning. She quickly made her way to the bar where she ordered another beer.

"Hotel California. Really Shepard?"

Laughing, Shay glanced at the bartender, "It's a classic, Paul."

The man looked at her. "If you say so, Shepard. I don't think any of these clowns knew it."

A woman stepped up and put her hand on Shay's shoulder. "He's right, Shepard. And I know you can sing way better than that."

Shepard sipped her beer. "It's karaoke, Lindsay. I'm not here to showoff."

"Collins! Shepard!" A tall man dressed in Alliance fatigues approached the two women.

"Hey, Benton. Dooland finally let you off your shift?"

"Just in time to hear you kill The Eagles, Shay."

Shepard and the man fist bumped and Shepard turned to Lindsay. "See, Collins. Danny gets me."

The corporal rolled her eyes. "You two are ridiculous…Shit. Shepard check your six."

Shay turned around and then quickly turned back. "Oh fuck. That who I think it is?"

The other woman grinned. "If by that you mean the hot redhead you used to sleep with then yes. Hey, Carly! Over here!"

"I will kill you, Corporal."

It was too late. The redheaded woman had seen the three friends and made her way over. "Commander Shepard. It's been too long!" She sloppily kissed the smaller woman's cheek and Shepard grimaced, wiping the lipstick she knew was smeared there off her face.

An uncomfortable silence following during which Danny looked mischievously at Lindsay before they both disappeared. Sullenly, Shepard stared after her "friends" in resignation.

"Hey, Paul. Can I get-" Shay stopped mid-sentence when she realized Paul was already pouring her a glass of jack. She smiled gratefully at the bartender before downing the whole drink.

"So…How have you been, Carly? Still working at The Red Harp?"

Carly had not removed her arm from around Shepard's shoulders and she beamed in response. "Yes. I haven't seen you there in a while. I remembered you used to come here a lot so I've made this my usual."

"Listen, Carly…"

"How was your last mission? Anything exciting happen?"

"Not really, no."

Meanwhile, Shepard's friends had decided to take pity on her and come back. "Hey, Carly, sorry. Our squad is having an exclusive party and we are in need of our great leader. She'll call you tomorrow?" Lindsay said, Danny nodding solemnly in the background.

Carly pouted for a moment but agreed. Before leaving, she pulled the commander to her and forcefully pressed their lips together. Once she was gone, Shay closed her eyes for a few seconds before opening them to glare at the other two soldiers. "Was that really necessary? I hate her!"

Lindsay smiled smugly. "Yeah well you should have thought of that before you slept with her."

"I was drunk!"

"Come on, Commander. She's not so bad," Danny interjected. "You always find something wrong with them eventually."

"We are so not discussing my love life right now," Shay responded. Then she laughed. "Come on. We only have a couple weeks leave and I plan on getting drunk tonight. When's the rest of the squad getting here?"

Danny smiled. "Some of them are already here. The rest will meet us later; I told them we'd be here all night."

"All right. Let's go."

…

Several drinks later a very sweaty Shepard was dancing and singing with Lindsay on stage. Danny and the rest of the squad were cheering for their commander and corporal from the dance floor.

When the song ended, Lindsay dragged the other woman down with her. They ended up rolling on the floor laughing before being pulled up by the others. "Shit, Shepard. No matter how many times we do this I always forget how much you suck at dancing."

Shay shrugged and began dancing awkwardly towards the bar. "Now you know how I feel when we sing together!"

Glancing at Linsday, Danny grabbed the commander and the two began swaying side to side. "Don't worry. We'll always love you, Commander. Even if you do dance like a seal on drugs." The rest of the squad cheered in response.

"How the hell do you know what a seal looks like on drugs, Benton?" The commander asked.

"By watching you dance, I can get a pretty good picture."

"Ha. Ha." Shepard responded. "I'll be right back, I'm going to grab another drink."

Lindsay joined Shay in heading back to Paul, and the two sat together at the bar.

"You seem good, Shay." Lindsay smiled at her friend.

Shepard returned the smile and nodded. "It's good to be on leave."

"That's not what I meant."

The commander laughed. "I know. And thanks."

"So, I got my new assignment."

Shepard's eyebrows rose. "You did? That makes everyone but me then. It looks like I'm being transferred."

"You going to be okay without us?"

"Of course. I'll miss your regular bouts of insubordination, but I'll keep in touch."

"Yeah, you'd better." The corporal smiled. "It won't be the same without the three of us being together. It's been four years."

Sipping her beer, Shepard nodded. "Feeling sentimental, Collins?"

"Oh please. As if you aren't? You can play the not taking anything seriously card all you want, Commander, but I know you."

Wrapping her arm around her friend's shoulder, Shepard kissed the side of her head and whispered, "I know you do."
…

They were interrupted by the arrival of a sergeant in full uniform. He saluted the commander crisply before speaking in hurried tones. "Orders for you, ma'am."

Lindsay and Shay shared a look as the commander returned the salute. "Go ahead, sergeant…Welton, is it?"

"Yes, ma'am. You're to report in to command. ASAP."

"ASAP? Like now?"

Blushing, the young sergeant shrugged. "I'm sorry, ma'am. That's all I know. Captain Anderson sent me."

Groaning, Shepard looked to her friend. "I'd better go, Linds. Tell the others?"

"Sure thing. Love you, Shep."

"Love you too." Lindsay hugged her friend quickly and watched her leave before heading back to Danny and the others to give them the news.

…

At her apartment, Shepard logged onto the network and scanned her messages.

TO: COMM. C.S SHEPARD.

FROM: CAPTAIN D.E ANDERSON

Shay,

Welcome home. Sorry to interrupt your shore leave, but something's come up. Meet me at 0600 Docking Bay 7d. Tomorrow.

-David.

Glancing at her watch, the commander saw that it was already past midnight and sighed. So much for shore leave. Looking through the rest of her messages, she made note of the all plans she'd have to cancel since it seemed as though she'd be leaving Arcturus the next morning.

Ignoring the time, she made a quick call. "Hey. It's Shepard…"I know it's late, but listen. I have to leave tomorrow…No, I don't know where I'm going…I just got the orders. Rain-check on dinner?...I miss you too. Bye."

Shay sighed and looked around her tiny apartment. It was barely lived in, and it looked as though she wouldn't be staying there long this time either. Sometimes she wondered why she didn't just tell the Alliance to give it to someone else. It was only a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom. The kitchen and living room were connected by a half wall, making it seem a little less cramped.

There were a few pictures of Danny, Lindsay and her in the living room. Some paintings hung on her bedroom wall. Besides that, there wasn't much else besides for a few more photos next to her bed. Already not having many possessions, Shay had never felt the need to buy more, especially not for decorating a place she hardly went to.

She quickly decided not to bother sleeping that night. Grabbing her duffel from her closet, she threw some pictures and clothes into the bag and zipped it up to leave it by the door. Then she took a quick shower and changed into uniform. Her fridge was pretty much empty, but she had a few old ration bars in a cabinet. She grabbed the least offensive tasting one and wolfed it down.

Looking at the clock, the commander saw it was a little before three, three hours before she would have to be at the docking bay. Exhausted, she slumped onto the couch in her living room and rested her head in her hands. Danny and Lindsay would be so pissed she was leaving without saying goodbye.