A/N: end of the week...ha... I am quite hilarious sometimes.

As always, comments are fantastic and make me do a happy 'I got a comment' dance whenever I check my e-mail and see one.

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As Shepard had promised the computers were ancient and slow. Sam spent most of the day trying to get them in some sort of feasible running condition. "C'mon old girl," she whispered to the computer. "Just run."

The computer screen blinked. "Not old," Samantha corrected quickly, "mature." The screen went blank and she rested her head against the desk. "Dammit."

"Does talking to it make it run faster?"

Sam turned sharply and saw Lucy leaning in the door. "In my professional opinion, yes. Yes it does. Case in point: I've insulted this one and it's stopped running."

Lucy smiled, "Bri wanted me to come down here and check up on you."

"I have everything, I think."

Lucy nodded, "wonderful. So- uh- you and Bri...you know each other?"

Leaning back in her chair Sam sighed, "yes, from years ago. She's an amazing woman."

"That I can agree with. She just showed up one day with a plan to turn the city around," Lucy said. "She never says much about her past."

Sam could sense the question hanging in the air. She sighed. Obviously the woman was fishing for information about Shepard. Like Sam and every other person aboard the Normandy she had been drawn into her orbit. It was involuntary, and unintended in every case. Shepard didn't even have to try to attract people who would fight to the death for her; they found her. Lucy had fallen under the same spell as any member of Shepard's crew on the Normandy. Sam contemplated a response. "Sh- Bri and I have a complicated past. Very complicated."

"How do you know each other?" Sam glanced up and saw Lucy had taken the other chair in the room and was leaning forward eagerly. "I've never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you."

For a moment Traynor couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Shepard had spent nearly half a decade with these people. Lucy had been there to help when she had still been trying to help get the Normandy up and running again. She wished she could have been here. She should have been here for Shepard. Obviously, she had been needed. Lucy had been here for Shepard instead. "I think if she hasn't said anything, perhaps I shouldn't either." She smiled to make her words less harsh. "She's certaintly an interesting woman."

Lucy nodded soberly. "I've spent about a year working with her. Came back home to re-build and found a pile of rubble instead. Bri gave me a job, treated me like...like..."

"Like her family," Sam filled in. "She was like that when I knew her to." Chakwas had told her once, when she first boarded the Normandy, that she treated her crew like the family she had never had."

"Exactly. And she's done more than just what you see here. A couple years ago she organized enough people to start rebuilding some of the housing. It's like...like she doesn't even have to try to make people work together."

Sam smiled. If only Lucy knew that the founder of the shelter had created one of the largest galactic alliances to defeat a threat to all sapient life she would understand why getting a few people to cooperate on a building would be simple, comparatively. "She is charismatic, isn't she?"

"Why don't you grab a cup of coffee? A bunch of us are taking a break. You can meet the rest of the staff."

Sam shoved herself back from the desk and nodded, "'might as well."

Lucy headed for the door, "I used to do that job. Trust me, that computer can be stubborn. Sanity breaks are required."

"I've noticed."

They headed for the small back room in the kitchen where she had eaten with Shepard earlier. Now, instead of being nearly empty the table was surrounded. Shepard was leaning back looking down at the infant born earlier that morning. She glanced up and nodded, "hey Sam. Coffee?" The machine had been set it he middle of the table and so Sam sat in the first available seat just across from Shepard.

"Who's the new kid?" A grizzled older man seated to her right asked.

"Wally, this is Sam, she's going to be handling supply chains. Sam, Wallace, don't take him seriously. Wallace and Anthony handle construction."

Sam nodded, "pleasure to meet you."

She gestured towards a you get man with the build of a brick wall. His black hair was done back in a pony tail. he glanced up from the cup of coffee he was nursing only long enough to nod. A scar ran from shoulder to elbow, thick and ridged and stretching from shoulder to forearm. "Know how he got the scar?" Wallace asked.

Shepard smirked, "here we go."

"One of them brutes. First day the reapers invaded. Some kid was out in the street and Tony here took the hit. Nearly tore his arm off, but it was worth it, right?"

Anthony sipped his coffee and rolled his eyes. Wallace pointed his thumb at the other man. "He doesn't talk much. More of the strong silent type. "

Shepard shook her head, "gonna have to try harder Wallace." She looked at Sam, "he makes up a new story everytime we ask. Last time he took shrapnel from a harvester blast. Think he's hoping to impress some girl straight into Anthony's bed."

The tips of Anthony's ears turned red.

She glanced around the table, "you already met Lucy. Elias runs the clinic." A curly headed younger man nodded at her. "You met Gigi earlier in the kitchen. Ali's resting, but she generally manages housing arrangements." She cradled the child closer, "and this is Sean David." She smiled. She glanced back up, "like I said, Sam will be managing supplies. Whatever you need, talk to her."

Elias nodded, "good, we're running low on-"

"Eli," Shepard interrupted, "Within reason and maybe not on my coffee break."

Gigi laughed, "watch out boys, she's grumpy today."

Wallace turned to Sam, "she's always irritable when it gets cold out. I swear to god there's as many aches in her joints as an old man."

Shepard rolled her eyes, "that's right guys. Just make fun of the boss."

"We had better watch out or she'll start stealing essential equipment," Eli said, "again."

"Eli, for the last time," Shepard exclaimed, "you didn't need ten lab coats and we were out of bandages. And it's called reallocation."

Lucy took a sip of coffee, "I think I'm with Shepard on this one. Last I checked you can only wear one at a time. Besides, that was months ago."

"Feels like longer," said Gigi, "but then, it's me and Ali who do all the laundry. Are you going to let anyone else see that child, Bri?"

"Nope."

The banter continued. It all reduced down to a pleasant buzz as Sam watched Shepard smile. Watched her be happy. It wasn't the first time. They had taken brief shore leaves together, but there had always been the dark undercurrent of the war. The sharp agonizing thought that every time they were together could be thier last.

There was never this type of ease. Shepard had never looked so relaxed. For a moment Sam wondered if it wouldn't be better to walk back out of the shelter, board another ship, and let Shepard have this peaceful life she so obviously wanted. For a moment she wished she were selfless. But no, Sam had to face the truth, barring Shepard sending her away, she had to stay. She had to have this question settled.

"So...business," Shepard said leaning back in her chair, "it's going to snow tonight. How are we on blankets and clothing?"

Lucy hesitated, "temporary housing is full up."

"Do we have room in the annex?"

"If people don't mind sleeping in supply areas."

Shepard nodded, "get it ready, just keep things locked up. Gigi, you mind keeping the kitchen open with hot tea and coffee tonight. We always get a few late night stragglers on nights like this."

The larger woman nodded, "I've got at least one girl looking for extra hours."

"Good. Wallace, Tony, keep an eye out for some more permanant accommodations for Sam. Sam, why don't you let Eli show you around his clinic. I can already tell he's just itching to tell you how he really does need a state of the art research lab."

Sam glanced across the table and raised an eyebrow. Shepard was trying to avoid her. For a moment the two women locked eyes. Shepard glanced down at the table studying her fingers intertwined around the coffee mug. "Tomorrow we can find some more time to talk, maybe."

Considering it, Sam nodded, "I'd appreciate that."

Shepard nodded, "alright people, back to work."

The group was slowly disbanding when Shepard handed the baby off to Lucy and then stood. She groaned and steadying herself against the table. "Goddamn," she muttered. Elias was by her side almost instantly.

"Where's the pain." His voice had taken on an almost detached sound.

"Just my leg cramping up again." Shepard was gritting her teeth.

Eli shook his head, "I want you in the clinic first thing tomorrow. Have you been taking the painkillers I prescribed?"

Shepard was silent.

"Of course not, because the best part of hiring a medical professional, is not listening to him."

Shepard shook her head, "I'm fine. I've just been on my feet most of the day."

"Then take a break. Take the pills. Rest. You hire competent people and we can take care of things for a night."

Shepard hesitated, "you'll call if you need-"

"Anything," Lucy filled in.

Shepard hesitated and then headed for the door, the limp Sam had noticed earlier more pronounced.

"I still expect you in the clinic tomorrow, Bri. Seven sharp."

Shepard hesitated, then nodded, before disappearing through the doorway.

Eli turned to Sam, "why don't you come with me? I'll show you around." They entered the kitchen, "So you and Bri...?"

"We worked together."

Sam tried not to think about Shepard offering her the House, the picket fence, the kids, the dog. Circumstances had changed. They both realized that.

"Hmm, I figured. She doesn't trust most people right off the bat." He sighed. "She's a good woman. I only wish she were better at following orders."

Sam had to stifle a laugher that. Instead she said, "she's always had her own way of doing things. How did you meet her?"

"I used to work at a hospital down the road. One of the best in the nation. A harvester destroyed it in the first attack." They were both silent, remembering the devastation of earth. "In any case, after the war I tried to help. Bri was better at it so I joined her staff. I admit, most days I miss having all the resources I had before the war, but I have a chance to make a real difference here. And Bri...she needs help sometimes."

"Her leg?"

"And other various ailments. The war hit some harder than others. Sometimes I think she throws herself into her work here to forget wherever she came from."

"What do you mean?" Sam remembered Shepard's breakdown as she talked about her former squadmate the sudden display of temper when Sam had used her title. It was only understandable that she be in pain after their deaths, but something about the rawness of the emotion left her feeling uneasy.

Eli hesitated and then shook his head. "I don't know the whole story, and I really shouldn't talk about it. Stick around long enough and you'll see for yourself."

They were in the clinic now. Traynor realized that it was essentially performing the function of an ER. A few men and women in scrubs were moving around the partitions that created rooms. "What all can you do?"

Eli looked around, "honestly, barring some major surgeries, quite a bit. I've set bones, treated stab and bullet wounds, even performed a few surgeries." Eli beckoned her farther in, "we function as an ER for most people."

One of the workers stopped by and they spoke in low tones. She handed him a chart and Eli studied it, nodding slowly and beckoned Traynor towards a partition. "I need to check on a patient."

Sam entered the room behind him. It was an older man. "Couple guys found him last night half conscious and frozen to death. He's been awake on and off."

As if to prove the truth of his word the man moaned. Eli stepped over to the bed. The man opened his eyes. They were pupil-less and husk blue.