Hackett tries to tell him more about what's happening, about what all his squad members are doing, something about the Normandy but Shepard tunes it out. Once he notices, he makes his excuses and starts to leave, mentioning something about a meeting.
Just before he exits the room he turns back "We need some good new Shepard, something to give the population hope. We've been keeping the fact that you're alive under wraps."
"Afraid I'd die on you?" Shepard managed to huff out.
"Honestly? Yes, Announcing the we'd recovered the greatest hero in galaxy only to have him die would have tanked what little morale is left. We'll tell everybody you're alive. We want interviews, news stories. Will you do it?"
Shepard closes his eyes. It's the last thing in the universe that he wants but...
"Yes"
"Thank you. This'll make a hell of difference."
The next day he hears two of the nurses talking about it. The announcement was huge, and as Hackett predicted it had massive effect on morale.
"I'll check if we can bring in a screen or even just an omni-tool and let you see what's happening Commander." says Nurse Conway.
"Thank you" His voice had improved, the pain in his throat lessening.
"Sure, no problem, Commander" Conway moves away.
That's when the commotion outside door to his rooms starts. It sounds like arguing. He wonders if it's Al-Jilani trying for another one of her interviews, till he remembers that she was on the Citadel.
The door opens and Shepard can see a guard outside his door, she's speaking to a blond woman
"Sorry Ma'am but your ID isn't checking out. I'll speak to somebody and see if they can confirm it"
Shepard can't hear the other woman's reply. The guard turns to call somebody on her omni-tool, the other woman brushing past her, coming into the room, letting Shepard gets a good look at her face and
time
stands
still.
It's Kelly. The shock feels like he's been dumped into a ice cold river, the only other time he's ever felt anything similar was when he realised the was running out of oxygen.
He's half out of bed before he even thinks about it, the guard starts yelling and pulling a pistol, nurse s moving towards him and Kelly, walking towards him, a look of pure bliss on her face.
He staggers, his feet almost going out from under him, but manages to make it to Kelly, arms wrapping around her, pulling her in tight.
The guard points her pistol at them
"Sir! Move away from her! Sir, move away, now!"
He manages, with some effort to untangle an arm from Kelly, to grab the guard and pulls her in close
"Shut the fuck up and if you don't point that fucking gun somewhere else, I'll kill you"
It's an empty threat. He can barely stand, the only reason he hasn't fallen over yet is the death grip Kelly has on him and the one he's got on the guard. The scared look on the guards face means she believes otherwise.
"Sir? But the ID's fake, we have no idea who she is or who she's with!"
"She's with me. She's with me. Now lose the gun!" he snarls, seeing red.
The guard slowly and reluctantly holsters the gun.
"I came- I knew, I knew -" murmurs Kelly into his chest. He lets go of the guard, and strokes Kelly's back.
The world begins to narrow, focusing on Kelly's face and he falls...
It's late when he wakes up, the light dimmed for night. He thinks for a second that seeing Kelly alive again had been a dream. It dies when he spots her curled up in a chair besides the bed, a blanket covering her and her gorgeous green eyes focused on him.
"Kelly, I... I thought you.. you were dead. Your name.. was on a casualty..." He breaks down crying. Kelly's out of her chair and has her arms wrapped around him immediately.
"I'm here, Shepard. I'm alive. It's all going to be okay."
It takes a little while but he manages to get himself under control, the warmth and comfort of having Kelly beside him helping immeasurably.
"How did you survive? Why are you listed as being missing?"
"I'll tell you later how I survived, okay? It's nothing interesting." Kelly's eyes, and the scratches and bruises on her face, tell a different story.
"Okay"
Kelly relaxes a little, and the wild look in her eyes subsides.
"and?"
"You checked under Chambers. Not Hannigan?"
"I'd forgotten"
He laughs and after a few seconds Kelly starts laughing as well, the most beautiful sound in the universe.