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Chapter Three: The Commander and the Lieutenant

Year: 2183CE

Location: SSV Normandy SR-1

What had he done?

After ten years in the military, he had made one big rookie mistakes today: Approaching a strange device without even scanning it with his omni-tool. Not only had it result in the destruction of the Prothean beacon, Commander Shepard had been seriously injured from saving him.

The XO of the ship he was serving on was hurt because of his mistake. That would put a spot on his otherwise spotless service record. Although right now Kaidan was more worried about the commander's well-being than his own career.

It had been more than fourteen hours and Shepard was still in a coma in the Med Bay. Doctor Chakwas had found no signs of physically damage, yet Kaidan didn't find that news comforting. Damages done to the human brain could take a while to manifest, and the results could be just as devastating and crippling as physical injuries or even more. He should know; he had the infamous L2 chip sitting inside him, although he was damn lucky to have only migraine as the side effect of having the old implant, unlike other L2s who suffered from complications like insanity, mental disability, and crippling pain.

Kaidan let out a sigh and stared blankly at his coffee cup. Was it his fourth, or fifth cup? He had lost count. His report had been sent to Captain Anderson, and the captain had ordered both him and Williams to take a break until they reached the Citadel. It was a considerate gesture, but Kaidan wished he could bury his head in his work instead. Anything would be better than sitting here waiting hopelessly for Shepard to recover.

He still couldn't believe Joker was right on the money with his paranoid prediction. First there was the Prothean beacon, then Spectre Nihlus was murdered by another Spectre. And they had lost Jenkins to the Geth. If anything happened to Shepard, he would never be able to forgive himself.

"Lieutenant," someone called for his attention and took a seat next to him.

Kaidan looked up and saw Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. "Chief."

"Don't tell me you have been up all this time. The captain ordered us to get some rest."

"Yeah. Can't sleep."

Ashley glanced over at the Med Bay. "She's still unconscious, huh?"

"Almost fifteen hours now."

"Dr. Chakwas is monitoring her. And the captain said if she hasn't recovered by the time we reach the Citadel, she'll be transfer to the hospital there. I've heard they have some of the best facilities."

Kaidan shook his head, the knot between his brows tightened. "It's my fault."

"It's an accident, sir. The doctor already said there's not physical injuries. We just need to wait for her to wake up."

"I felt the force myself when it pulled me in, Chief. It was stronger than any biotic, and it's certainly strong enough to fry a human brain."

"But she's not just any other human; she's Commander Shepard. That woman graduated from the brutal N7 program and held off an army of batarian slavers by herself. I'm sure she'll make it."

As much as he appreciate her effort to cheer him up, Kaidan couldn't fully convinced himself. "The commander is very skilled and well-trained, but she is still very much just a human like us."

"Not according to the extranet."

He knew she was joking, yet he felt a need to defend the commander. "You can't believe everything you've read on the extranet, Williams. Those things they said about her are simply not true."

There was a mischievous smile played on her lips. "And how do you know that, sir?"

Kaidan simply shrugged. "She told me."

"Of course she'd say that, Lieutenant. She's downplaying it. But mark my words, one of these days, when we are on a mission and we're pushed to a corner, all out of ammo, she'll save us all by shooting laser beams out of her eyes."

He had to chuckle at that mental image despite how absurd it was, or perhaps because of it. "Yeah, I'll pay to see that."

Ashley grinned. "You and me both, L-T."

"Thanks, Williams. I'm glad you're with us."

"Hey, I'm just glad you vouched for me in front of the captain. It's an once in a lifetime opportunity to serve in a ship like this. So thanks."

"Don't mention it. You've proven your skills, you deserve to be here." He gave her a friendly smile. "You know, I think I should go check on the commander."

"Again? What is it, like the fifth time?"

Kaidan chose not to answer. "Thanks again for the chat."

"No problem, L-T. Don't beat yourself up. I'm sure Shepard won't blame you."

"I hope you're right."

The Med Bay was quiet when he entered. Dr. Chakwas glanced up from her datapad at the sound of the opening door, then gave him a knowing smile and a slight shake of her head, indicating her patient was still in a coma.

"No improvements at all?" Kaidan asked quietly.

"Still the same. Her vitals are stable, no signs of physical trauma. But I've noticed an increase in rapid eye movements, the commander is dreaming in her sleep. Speaking of sleep, have you gotten any, Lieutenant?"

Kaidan didn't answer.

The doctor sighed. "I kicked you out of the Med Bay just so you could take a nap, Kaidan."

"I can't sleep, Doctor. Not when she's still like that."

"And what good would it do to the commander if you fell over from exhaustion? You know your migraine could return anytime under this level of stress with no rest."

"I know, Doc. But every time I close my eyes I saw her being lift into the air then blasted away and landed in front of me like a... a rag doll. I keep thinking, maybe if I were fast enough with my biotic, I could have shielded her and softened the landing. Or something. I don't know..."

"The commander suffers no physical damage beside the usual scraps and bruises from the mission. With or without your biotic to help her, the result would be the same."

He knew the doctor was right, but for once his brain and his heart were currently misaligned. "I wouldn't be able to sleep even if you kicked me out of here again. Look, Doctor, just let me stay here. I won't disturb the commander."

Chakwas shook her head. "Ten minutes, then you will go and try to get some rest. Or I'll give you something to knock you out."

"Thanks."

He approached to the unconscious form of the one of the most famous soldiers in the Alliance Navy. Ashley had help the doctor to remove Shepard's armor. In plain uniform, Shepard looked less like the extranet legend, more like the normal soldier she claimed she was. And lying here in the Med Bay with equipments around her monitoring her vitals, the commander looked quite vulnerable and, well, strangely beautiful even when she was unconscious.

Kaidan immediately halted this inappropriate train of thoughts. He was not blind; the commander was beautiful with stunning blue eyes and full pink lips. And he had to admit that he would turn his head and check her out if they were just two normal people on the street. But they were not. She was his commander, and she was in a coma because of him. Besides, he was certain Shepard would kick his ass all the way back to Earth if she knew what he was thinking.

Although, truth be told, he was more than willing to let the commander beat him up if she would just wake up.

It was as if Shepard could hear his silent offer, her brows twitched as she began to stir. It was the first sign of movements since he had carried her back to the Normandy. Kaidan held his breath and waited for another few seconds. Soon enough, Shepard's arms started to move as her eyes struggled to open.

"Doctor! Doctor Chakwas! She's awake!"

Shepard blinked a few times before she pushed herself up and held her head in one hand. The commander did not utter a single sound of complaint, but from her body language, Kaidan could tell she was in pain. More specifically, she was suffering from a headache. Kaidan winced for her, he could sympathize with that type of killer headache.

The doctor rushed to the bedside. "Easy there, Commander."

Shepard lifted her head from her hand and looked around in confusion. "What the..."

"You're back on the Normandy," Chakwas explained calmly.

"Where is the beacon?"

Kaidan had to deliver the bad news. "Unfortunately it's destroyed."

Shepard scowled, perhaps out of both pain and dismay. "The captain wouldn't like it."

"The captain is more worried about your well-being, Commander," said Chakwas. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Shepard answered too quickly that Kaidan suspected it was no more than a reflex, an automated response.

"You don't look too well," he commented.

"Just a terrible headache, it's not going to kill me." Shepard held her head in her hands again, covering her face.

Kaidan guessed she was sensitive to the lights in the Med Bay due to her headache. He took the initiative to lower the light setting. "Better now, Commander?"

Shepard looked up from her hands and blinked, the knot between her brows began to ease. "Yeah, thanks... How long was I out?"

"Fifteen hours," said Chakwas.

Shepard started at the doctor in shock.

"You were knocked out by the beacon."

"I'm sorry, Commander," he apologized. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have approached the beacon without even scanning it first. I must have triggered some sort of security device and activated it by accident."

Shepard glanced over at him. "It's not your fault. There's no way you could have known. Even if you didn't trigger it, whoever retrieved the artifact later would. I'm glad you're okay."

The sense of relief was almost overwhelming, Kaidan couldn't hold back a warm smile. Not only did Shepard not blame him, she was even concerned about his well-bring in her current state. He started to see why Captain Anderson had chosen her to be his protege, it had to do with more than just her combat prowess.

"Your vitals are fine," said Dr. Chakwas as she double checked the readings. "But I've noticed an increase of rapid eye movements when you were unconscious."

"I had some... weird dreams."

"About what?" asked the doctor while she was recording the new data.

Shepard was lost in her thoughts for a moment then shook her head. "I saw... I'm not sure what I saw. Death, destruction? Nothing that makes any sense."

The door opened and the captain stepped in. "How's my XO doing, Doctor?"

"The commander seems to be doing fine beside her headache. She'll be fit for duty after a bit of rest."

"Good. I'm glad to see you're up, Shepard."

"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry about the beacon."

Anderson waved a hand. "About that, I need to talk to you in private, Commander."

Kaidan gave the captain a salute. "I'll be in the mess if you need me."

He felt Chakwas patting his back rather maternally as they both exited the Med Bay. "Get some rest, Kaidan. This is a direct order from your ship doctor."

A huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Kaidan finally could feel the fatigue kicking in. He smiled at the doctor who somehow reminded him of his mother. "Aye, aye, ma'am."