TITLE: Chase Me, Until I Catch You
Chapter: 4, Who'll Stop the Rain?
LOCATION: City Park, Vancouver & NR-2 Normandy
I went down Virginia,
Seekin' shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable,
I watched the tower grow.
Five year plans and new deals,
Wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder, still I wonder
Who'll stop the rain.
"Race you to the top!"
"You're on. Be prepared to loose."
They raced to the top of the path laughing and dodging back and forth trying to block each other from making it to the top first. She almost made it, but the lieutenant grabbed her from behind, lifted her up and swung her around. Her smile, affected him as it always did, by his body responding to her physical presence. The marine held her still with his large hands, a moment longer than normal, and waited for her reaction. Awakened, in the night, from another dream about her, he'd made a decision. He would show her how he felt about her. It was time to test the temprature of that fire.
Instead of resisting she slid her hands up his forearms and looked around. She said quietly, "This is our place. I'll miss it when this all ends...and you. I want you to know how much I appreciate your company."
He tilted her chin up. "You just let me know how and when you want me to be ready to accept that appreciation." He said, with a grin.
"I have nothing to give you...no future...nothing."
"Far from it, Red. You have yourself and we have this moment. I believe in you. I know those Reapers are coming. Let's just take time for ourselves right now."
"You're right. The uncertainty is maddening and so is the fact, that right now, there's not a damn thing I can do about it."
James framed her face with his hands. "I've been waiting a long time for the right moment to kiss you."
As Shepard stepped into the welcoming arms of this man who'd become her friend and her confidant. She noticed a man standing several yards and slightly behind the marine. His dark hair and eyes were familiar. With a sharp gasp, she straight armed the lieutenant and took a few involuntary steps toward the stranger.
"Kaiden?" Then she was running from Vega and throwing her arms around the handsome dark haired man. The lieutenant watched him catch Shepard and return the affectionate hug. They were smiling into each other's face's with the familiarity of two people who knew each other very well. Vega's arms fell to his sides. He tried to shut out what they were saying to each other.
"Kaiden! Where did you come from?"
Laughing, he said, "Been keeping an eye on you. I noticed you jog through here often."
"It's so good to see you. I've been losing my mind here. No word on a trial date, no attorney, no nothing. Where's the Normandy?"
Vega cringed inwardly, always nice to be referred to as "nothing."
Major Alenko called out to Vega, "What's your name, Lieutenant?"
"James Vega, sir."
"Lieutenant Vega can you give two old friends a moment?"
"With respect, Major. You can have as many moments between the thirty minutes we have left until she has to return to her cell and my orders which explicitly state I may not take my eyes off her while she is out of her cell."
Major Alenko deliberately gathered Shepard in his arms and with one hard look at the Vega bent his head to kiss her.
In spite of himself, Vega turned away, as he was painfully reminded of his place in the world. Any desires he might have nurtured about the beautiful redhead, who haunted his dreams, were quenched by that kiss.
The jog back to Alliance HQ was silent. Vega stayed quiet, his jealousy and frustration churning into anger. Shepard, oblivious to Vega's reaction, mused about seeing Major Alenko again. Her thoughts were full of her crew and her ship. When they arrived back her cell, he simply nodded to his relief and turned to leave.
"James, are we still on for poker tonight?" Shepard called out to his retreating back.
"Sorry, Shepard. Got plans tonight."
"James, wait."
But he was gone, disappearing around the corner. Shepard said goodnight to the ensign and slowly withdrew into her cell. Making a mental note to talk to Vega in the morning, she showered and settled in for another restless night.
The next morning turned into early afternoon and still no sign of the lieutenant. Leaning against the window, with her forehead resting on her arm, Shepard watched the little girl playing below.
What had gone wrong yesterday? James had been about to kiss her. Then Kaiden had shown up. In her happiness at seeing him, she'd forgotten about Vega. They'd been about to share something special. He was so much more than just her guard now. How much more? The time they'd spent together had taught her to trust. She'd shared things with him no one else knew about her. Shepard hadn't just let her guard down with him. He'd figured out a way to get under her carefully constructed barriers.
But this time, had she blown it? Well, he would stop by eventually and they would talk about it. No. Guys, she remembered, especially marines, didn't like 'talking thigs out.' She decided to show him just exactly how she felt. So when he finally did walk in she was ready for him. But she stopped in her tracks at his salute and formal greeting.
"Commander."
"You're not supposed to call me that anymore, James."
"Not supposed to salute you either. We gotta go, Defense Committee wants to see you."
"Sounds important. What's going on?"
"Couldn't say. They just told me they needed you now."
To further compound the mystery, Admiral Anderson approached them from the other end of the hallway. Shepard fell in stride with the older man.
Vega let them continue on ahead and found himself stopping next to Major Alenko. Vega called to Shepard as she walked past, "Good luck in there, Shepard." Vega held on to her hand like he didn't want to let it go. His eyes conveyed all he could not say.
Shepard turned away only when Admiral Anderson called to her. Vega watched her walk past the Major without acknowledging him.
"Don't you know the Commander?" he said, without bothering to hide his sarcasm.
"Used to."
As the two men waited for the outcome of the meeting, the tension in the crowd around them increased. People quickened their pace and the quiet talking grew louder. Then suddenly the building shook and one or two windows from the upper floors shattered.
Someone screamed, "The Reapers are here!" Vega and Alenko rushed to the window and watched the descent of two of those horrible insect looking ships. The lieutenant had never seen one before.
"Are those Reaper ships, Major?"
"They sure as hell are. Damn them, why didn't they listen to Shepard? Orders or no orders I'm heading to the Normandy. We'll need to prepare a defensive posture and be ready when the Commander arrives."
"Permission to come with you, sir?" The Lieutenant locked eyes with the Major, daring him to deny his request. Impatiently, Alenko nodded his consent and turned to go. No one knew better than he did how compelling Shepard could be. She made you want to prove yourself and be a better person. As an officer and a soldier she never stopped testing herself. That was a powerful role model for those around her. She was also a beautiful woman and a guy couldn't help but wish, maybe just once, he could soften up the look in those intense blue eyes.
By the time they made it to the Normandy, Admiral Anderson was calling for pick up. Joker got the Normandy within range of the two men and lowered the loading dock. If they didn't hurry, the whole bunch of them would be blown out of the sky. The Normandy's pilot didn't have to think too far ahead to know their destruction would signal the end of Earth's last best chance for survival. Then Anderson called him to move off. With skilled hands, Joker moved the Normandy out of harm's way and into space. He heard a familiar voice over the comm link.
"Hey Commander."
"Is that you, Joker?"
"We're on our way out of Earth's orbit now. We need to get out of here."
"Make it happen, Joker. Good to hear your voice."
"Yes, ma'am. Welcome aboard."
She found her uniform and gear laying on a nearby workbench. The dog tags Anderson had given her slid over her head. Tracing the familiar outline of the N7 insignia, she called out, "Let's get geared up everyone."
Who'll Stop the Rain?
Long as I remember
The rain been comin' down.
Clouds of myst'ry pourin'
Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages,
Tried to find the sun;
And I wonder, still I wonder,
Who'll stop the rain.
I went down Virginia,
Seekin' shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable,
I watched the tower grow.
Five year plans and new deals,
Wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder, still I wonder
Who'll stop the rain.
Heard the singers playin',
How we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together,
Tryin' to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin',
Fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder, still I wonder
Who'll stop the rain.
Who'll Stop the Rain? CCR: youtube dot com /watch?v=lIPan-rEQJA