Oh why not upload this now, I already part wrote this when I wrote chapter one and I'm proud of myself for getting it done so quickly. You will have to bare with me trying to upload new chapters. Work sort of takes priority, which is a pain in the ... well enjoy :-)

Chapter 3: Nightmares

Spectre Kaiden Alenko watched his crew as they hurried about the ship. Many new faces that he now had to get to know. However, the loyalty that bound Shepard's friends had remained. They were a family, none wanted to leave the Normandy. Kaiden was not going to force them either. Shepard's death had strengthened the bond between them, they shared in the love of their Commander, and the grief of her passing.

Adjusting to being in command of the Normandy was difficult. This was Shepard's ship. Her memory, her essence, remained here. Kaiden drew strength from that fact. He had learned a great deal from her. She was a good woman, who helped and listened to her crew. She was missed a great deal. Kaiden had also learned forgiveness.

When he first heard about her and Garrus, he felt betrayed. He knew it was his own fault. If he had not treated her the way he did back on Horizon, all those years ago, she would probably have never sought comfort with Garrus. He loved Shepard, and losing her due to his own callousness was his biggest regret.

He had no ill feeling towards his Turian shipmate. Even Kaiden knew true love when he saw it. Garrus had always been there for her, so it made sense she would reach out to him. Species had nothing to do with it. Seeing Garrus heartbroken after Shepard was declared dead made him sympathetic to his rival. He knew how it felt to lose her, how alone he had felt. He had swallowed his pride and comforted his ex's lover.

Despite everything they had sacrificed, things were finally starting to come together at last. It had taken almost seven years to get over half the Mass Relays working. The Council had expanded, now it included the Quarians, The Volus and not surprisingly the Krogan, plus a few other races. Each race, having proved themselves where it mattered, now had a place on the Council.

"Kaiden, there's an urgent transmission coming in from the Council."

Kaiden turned and almost ran to the Comm room. No doubt another Relay had been finished and needed testing. That was pretty much the Normandy's function since they had managed to find their way back to the Sol system.

As he approached Vid Comm he quickly caught his breath and steadied his demeanour. Tidying his hair he activated the key pad.

It was Admiral Hackett, or Councillor Hackett as it was now. The battered war veteran saluted Kaiden, and Kaiden returned the gesture.

"Looking good Alenko, I figured you'd be more of a mess after that last relay test."

"It was rough sir, I admit it. But, hey, I have one heck of a crew."

"That you do son. She'd be proud of you all."

Kaiden desperate to change the topic, coughed.

"You... er... wanted me Sir?"

Hackett seemed a little uncomfortable, but gave no trace in his voice.

"I have a mission for you and your team. Top secret."

"I'm listening Sir."


Garrus loved calibrating the big guns. It was a welcome distraction from everything else that was going on. The main battery was always his favourite hiding place. He heard the doors open and lifted his head. There she was. The red haired beauty smiled as she moved towards him.

He held out his arm to touch her..

To feel her soft skin, her shoulder length red hair. He wanted to kiss those red lips and gaze lovingly into those pale blue eyes.

But his hand moved right through her. He tried desperately to hold a part of her...

Suddenly tears began to fall down those beautiful pale cheeks, as she burst into flames...

Garrus cried out. It was a dream. Only a dream.

He recalled his last night with his love, when she had woken with a start.

"Bad dream?"

"Do you ever get them?"

He had told her that he didn't. That he expected the worst. He told her that dreaming about bad things were just a waste of good sleep.

Now the dreams kept coming. If only he had avoided that damned vehicle, she would never have had him evacuated from the fight. He could have saved her...

Or, at least, joined her at the bar.

He had planned their future so many times in his head. True biology probably wouldn't co-operate, but, Shepard would have been an amazing mother. He had planned, before she destroyed the Reapers, to propose. He even bought her a ring with some rare Turian gems, but he lost his nerve. Now he wished he hadn't. He wished he'd married her there and then when they were on shore leave. He had so many regrets.

The door opened, startling him. It was just Kaiden.

"You OK, Garrus?"

"Me, I'm fine."

Kaiden knew better, but he wasn't going to push him.

"You never showed for the briefing, I assumed you were down here."

"I..um..fell asleep."

"Well we finally got some action. Hackett's assigned us to look for a missing kid."

"Kid? Well I suppose it's a refreshing change from Relay testing."

"We have to go to some hidden base in the Sol system to get a proper brief."

"They couldn't just do it over the comm?"

Kaiden shrugged

"Probably the same reason the base is such a secret. We'll see soon enough. Joker says we'll be there in a few hours."

With that Kaiden left. Garrus stood and rested his hand on the big gun. He needed to calibrate something.

The mission was a mystery, it involved saving some poor kid. Garrus chuckled to himself

"Your kind of mission" he said, staring at the woman sat in the centre of the picture he had hung in the battery.

The picture Shepard had insisted on having taken, in her apartment, after the whole incident with her clone. She looked so beautiful, so carefree. He had sat beside her, full of love and passion. What he would give to hold her again. To breath in her scent.

"Spirits, I miss you" he whispered.