Gone. They were all gone. Why? Why couldn't they have listened to her warnings, why hadn't they believed her? Maybe, maybe then they could have saved more people, have Earth evacuated, anything! Instead, they all just sat around on their asses and did nothing, and now innocents are going to pay. Children like Austin, the little boy who loved visiting her, listening to her crazy stories and dreaming to be like the great Commander Quinn Shepard. She watched Austin and more die, and she could nothing about it.
She felt the hot tears roll down her face. No, no I'm not crying. Not in front of him. She shut her eyes tight. Stay strong Quinn, come on you can do it. Breathe, just-
"Shepard?" his voice was soft, softer than a whisper and sweeter than candy. She took a shaky breath. "Quinn?" there it was again. That soft sweet voice that was more addictive than anything. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. His whiskey colored eyes were full of concern, she felt more of the tears fall from her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
That's when her resolve came crashing down. All the years of having that wall around her heart, only one person ever got through, and after the incident on Horizon, she put that wall back up, but she made sure it was stronger, and here he was, still able to rip that wall down without even trying.
She sobbed into his chest, violently shaking, but he held onto her tight, whispering soft nonsense words that had no real meaning. For the first time since she woke up, no scratch that, since Horizon, she felt safe, warm, loved. She felt as if she knew for certain they were going to win this, and then suddenly without any warning, he let go, like she didn't need him.
She groaned in protest, "Kaidan, please don't—"
"Nice to see you're alright Commander," his voice was cold, angry, noting like it was just five minutes ago. He turned around and walked away, his shoulders tense, his walking quick but choppy. She felt cold again, lost. She had no idea what brought this sudden change of attitude was about, and she didn't care at the moment.
She had a galaxy to save.
Quinn wiped the tears from her eyes and headed for the bridge.
