I know I forgot to mention a vital thing; my Shepard here is Earthborn/Sole Survivor/Soldier. And she is not the same Shepard from my fic Shattered Hopes And Memories. Just to make it clear. Oh and they didn't land on Alchera, they landed on a nearby planet close to a Alliance colony. Hope that clears a few things, sorry for any misunderstandings :-)
-X-
Once the Alliance vessel landed, Hackett and Anderson stepped out only to see the Normandy crew sitting around, some injured and some not. The medics immediately went to inspect the injured ones as he and Anderson looked around, searching for any sign of Shepard or her crew. Anderson's heartbeat was frantic as he looked for her but couldn't find her anywhere. Finally, she and lieutenant Alenko stepped out from the rest of the crew. Both saluted to their superior officers.
"Admiral! Captain!" Shepard said trying hard to hide her fear and exhaustion, but Anderson knew her. He knew she was tired and scared as hell.
"Shepard, what the hell happened?" asked Hackett as he crossed his hands behind his back. Shepard lowered and shook her head as she tried to remember everything in the right order.
"I don't know. We were cruising outside Alchera when suddenly something attacked us. We had no chance of saving the Normandy." She didn't dare look up at them. Anderson knew how she must feel right now.
"It's okay, no one blames you for not saving the ship. Casualties?" She lifted her head but her eyes darted elsewhere.
"A few officers of the lower deck died, as well as Navigator Pressly." Hackett walked away to take a good look at the others. She saved everyone who could be saved, still losing the Normandy was a hard blow.
"You did everything you could Commander. The loss of the Normandy is significant, but most important is that everyone who could be saved, was saved." Kaidan nodded and turned to Anderson.
"What now Captain? I mean it's obvious we have to investigate what or who attacked us." Anderson nodded in agreement.
"I agree. I will take this matter to the Council, ask for any help we can get."
"I will send a crew to inspect the Normandy on the crash site. Maybe we can find out what type of weapons the enemy used." Hackett silenced and took the moment to study Shepard; she wasn't well at all, as well as the others. "But for now, Commander, you and your team should get some rest. You look clearly exhausted." Shepard nodded then saluted, Kaidan did the same.
"Aye aye Admiral." They said before they walked past Hackett and Anderson.
Once they were alone, Anderson turned to Hackett, the worry clearly written on his face. "This must be some advanced technology ship. According to the crew, they didn't even had time to activate the shields properly."
"The Normandy's detection systems failed. Otherwise I think they could save the ship in time." said Hackett with a frown. Letting out a sharp breath, he turned fully to Anderson. "You try to get the Council on our side. If not, we will have to do this on our own." Anderson modded before going back into the ship. He searched for someone particular because he needed to hear what exactly happened.
-X-
Kaidan sat in the tiny free room the crew spared him. He thanked them and retreated to his new quarters after he took a very hot shower. The hot water managed to ease his tense muscles a bit, but that did nothing to calm his raging thoughts and heart.
Sighing, he ran his hand through his still damp hair as he remembered the terror while he got everyone to safety. He remembered the screams of agony and the dead bodies flying around him as he made his way to Shepard. That was the first thing he did after the attack started. He ran to see if she's fine, and a large boulder fell from his shoulders when he saw she was alright.
But now, she wasn't alright. After he showered he bumped into her in the large hallways of the ship. He greeted her but she wouldn't even look at him. All he got was a ghost of a smile before resuming her walk towards the female showers. He didn't follow her of course, but his mind screamed at him to go and check on her now. She was probably done with the showering and relaxing in the room, if she could relax at all that is.
Suddenly he heard a knock coming from his door. He hastily grabbed some sweatpants and shirt (because he was sitting in nothing but his boxers) before calling the someone in. He was surprised though when he saw Anderson entering his tiny private quarters. "Captain," he said saluting but Anderson shook his head.
"At ease Kaidan, I'm not on a formal visit here." Kaidan sighed and looked away, clearly worried about something. "How are you holding up?"
"I don't know," Kaidan admitted the truth. He didn't know how or what to feel except terror and fear. "I mean something attacks us all of a sudden, and the next thing we know is getting everyone to safety because the Normandy is falling apart." He sat down on the bed and leaned his elbows on his knees. Anderson sat down next to him as he looked at the door.
"I understand, it was a terrible experience, but you and the others are alright."
That brought a bitter smile on Kaidan's face, "Yeah...we're alright."
Anderson noticed the note of sarcasm and he turned around to face him, "How is she holding up?" Kaidan blushed because he knew that Anderson knew about them. Shepard insisted she tells him because Anderson was like a father to her. He didn't want to tell anyone, but he understood so he agreed with her.
Sighing, Kaidan's shoulders slumped down as well as his head, "I don't know. She's been avoiding me ever since. I mean-" Kaidan lifted his head to look around the room, unable to bear Anderson's gaze. "She almost died back there. She stayed the last along with Joker. If they were only a minute late-" The lump in his throat didn't allow him to speak. Instead he lowered and shook his head again as he realized he was being emotional towards his superior. "I'm sorry, I don't want to bore you with this."
"It's okay. I'm here if you need someone to talk to." Kaidan smiled then lifted his face to look at him.
"Thanks, but I'm okay, for now. Fully functional marine." Anderson stood up but before he turned and left he searched for something in his pocket. He took out a card and Kaidan lifted his eyes to meet Anderson's in confusion as he held the card out to him.
"This is the key to every crew quarters on this ship. Go and check on her, but wait till night time." Kaidan hesitantly took the card and stood up before nodding.
"Thanks...Anderson." Anderson nodded and gave him a strong pat on his shoulder before he turned and left the room. Once he was alone he lied down on the bed and stared at the card, wondering what Shepard is doing right now. He so wanted to be with her all the time, but this wasn't the Normandy. Hell, no ship would be like the Normandy because it was the ship he experienced all his first times with Shepard. The first kiss, the first night together, the first time they showered together. Now, the Normandy was gone.
Suddenly his mind drifted off to the future and he wondered if the crew would stay the same. It would be logical for them to stick together so they can continue their search for a way to destroy the reapers. But he was a bit skeptic there. If the Council barely believe them, what would happen if the Alliance doesn't believe them as well? Kaidan feared for the worst, which would mean he would be reassigned to another part of the galaxy, far away from her. His heart clenched at the thought of that and he desperately hoped they would not get separated.
-X-
Two hours later...
She was alone in her quarters thinking about the events of the day. She met Kaidan when she made her way to the women's shower, but she couldn't just smile and pretend she is alright. Not when her home was destroyed. What's even worse, they almost died...she almost died. She wasn't sure if Joker noticed it, but the second beam was very close to tearing her apart as well.
She never was afraid to die, she always faced death with courage but somehow always managed to evade it. Yet something was different. She didn't know what exactly, but she guessed it had something to do with Kaidan.
"Kaidan..." she whispered his name as she cradled her face in her palms. Her heartbeat was still frantic when she remembered that he refused to go, she had to practically order him away from the ship. If he stayed maybe a minute longer he could've been dead. Her body shuddered at the thought of him dying on the Normandy.
Letting out a long breath she folded her hands underneath her chin, thinking and nothing but thinking. She was replaying the scenario in her mind, again and again, just to make sure where she failed so that doesn't happen again.
Suddenly the doors to her private quarters slid open, and she spun around, but when she saw Kaidan entering the room, she couldn't help but feel relieved. "Kaidan, how did you get in here?"
He let out a long before locking the doors with the card Anderson gave him, "Anderson gave me the security card, he told me to check on you." He took the remaining steps towards her before stopping inches away from her. Her eyes fell on his chest before he pulled her into a hard embrace. She hugged him back too, both holding the other so hard they almost chocked the other. "I'm so glad you're well and alive."
"And I'm glad you listened to me to get everyone to safety," he broke the hug and cupped her face to place a long, passionate kiss on her lips. When he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead on hers and inhaled deeply. She used a new shampoo now and he hated it.
Leaning away, he opened his eyes to gaze deep into hers. There he saw the sadness and fear she hid from anyone during the day. "Are you alright?" He didn't even had to ask because a tear escaped her. He saw that, and his heart clenched. "Hey..."
She wiped the trail the tear left away before looking at his chest again. "Sorry, it's just," she managed to toughen her voice before continuing, "the Normandy was our home and when I think about the casualties-" he interrupted her by placing his finger on her lips.
"I feel the same way, but don't take this all on yourself, please. It's not your fault and you did everything you could." He cupped her face again and gazed deep into her eyes as she swallowed the big lump down her throat.
"I almost lost you..." she whispered, her voice shaking with fear.
"And I almost lost you...but we're here, and we're safe. So please stop worrying about the things that can't be changed." She nodded before she guided him to the bed. She sat down and he followed her. Then he pulled her into his arms again when he felt her shaking. He kissed the top of her head and breathed in her scent as he gently rocked them from left to right.
He would do so until the crew would get up, then he would return to his own quarters because they couldn't be seen together. The entire situation was killing him though because he didn't know what would happen to them. They would arrive at the Citadel in two days, then they would know what will happen to them.