2 days passed, and nothing. That was a lie of course, Shepard's infection and burns were healing nicely thanks to her cybernetics; but she still hadn't showed any signs of waking. It was enough to keep Kaidan in a constant state of pessimism.
James, Garrus, Liara, and even Jack – despite an earlier spat between herself and Kaidan - took turns either keeping him company or watching over Shepard for him. Many of the others were around as well, but their leadership positions kept them from visiting as much as they wanted. Tali took it especially hard - Shepard was like a sister - but she knew she had to work with the Admirals to coordinate the Migrant Fleet now that they were stuck in the Sol System indefinitely. Garrus did what he could to comfort her, promising to send updates on Shepard's progress.
Kaidan sat alone in the room, trying to keep his mind away from the pain in his heart. He tried not to give up hope, but despite the defeat of the Reapers, the galaxy looked bleak. Earth and the other home worlds were in chaos, the Mass Relays were non-functional, and the woman he went to hell and back with, the woman he'd loved and lost…and had the great fortune to love again, was laying in a coma before him.
"Please, not now, not after all of this. Please don't take her away from me again." he whispered, voice grave.
"When you told me your relationship was complicated, I knew it had to do with someone else in the Alliance, but I never expected this."
Kaidan jumped at the sudden intrusion to his silence, and looked up to see his mother.
"Ma! You're ok!" he jumped up to embrace her
To his relief, she looked much the same as the day he left her in Vancouver, but he could tell the war had a toll on her. Her grey-streaked mahogany hair was tossed in an unkempt bun atop her head and her eyes told him she hadn't had a good night's sleep for days….possibly weeks. He didn't blame her, her husband was MIA and she only just got word that her child was alive and on Earth.
"I got here as soon as I could, K. I'm so glad you're alright."
She turned in his arms to look at Shepard.
"I'm guessing things aren't going so well?"
"We…don't really know yet. They say it could go either way."
"I'm so sorry, love."
"It's, I'm…as alright as I'm going to be. Come on, let's go talk somewhere else."
He opened the door for his mother and gave a nod to James, who was playing bodyguard outside of the room again. He nodded back to Kaidan and gave a polite smile to Mrs. Alenko.
"I'll be back in a bit."
Vega sat in the Major's former seat and took Shepard's hand.
"Lola, Lola, Lola. Without you, he seems so lost. We all do, I mean you've done so much for all of us, you know? Ah, damn it, I'm no good at this." he sighed, shoulders dropping in defeat.
"Any word on dad, yet?" he asked as they sat down, coffee in hand.
"Not a one. I'm afraid there's not much hope sweetheart." She wiped her eyes before tears could spring from them.
Kaidan knew how she felt, but he didn't have words for her. It was one thing to mourn for his father, but to see his mother go through it….no one wanted to see that.
He wrapped his hands around hers.
"I love you mom."
"I love you too, dear. Always. I'd be lying if I said I've made peace with your father's death, but I haven't forgotten what I have left. My only child, you are the best thing I've done with my life. You know that, right?"
"Ma…"
"Give your old mother something to take solace in. Besides, I'm sure your Shepard would agree?"
She gave him a wry smile and cleared her throat.
"Commander Shepard then, hm? So that's who you've been sleeping with."
Kaidan nearly lost his drink out of his nose.
I have a short little fic about the fight between Jack and Kaidan coming up soon. I'm planning on doing a few short stories on things I want to include with this fic, but decided to leave them as their own little one shots.