[The Andromeda Initiative doesn't happen in my headcanon. Not because Andromeda was a bad game, but because, if technology is at a point where it takes 600 years to get to Andromeda, there's no point going yet. When Shepard comes back, the Council gives him the Tempest. Also, Legion didn't die on Rannoch and rejoined Shepard out of gratitude for choosing the Geth.]

Shepard comes to in his bed on the Tempest. Cora notices him stirring and stands from his couch. By now she knows better than to ask how he feels. She brings him up to speed. Despite the ambush, they'd managed to extract the target and get away with no casualties. She gives him the run down on his injuries. Mostly superficial, Lexi gave him a skin graft to correct the burns caused by the blast that had knocked him out. When she says 'skin graft' his eyes go wide.

Despite her protests, he tears the bandages off his chest and his heart sinks.

There had been a tattoo on his chest. A large letter J made of thorn covered vines. In the center was nestled an S. Every year on their anniversary Jack added another thorn. She would have gotten something similar, except she didn't have enough canvas left. She'd settled for tally marks next to the N7 on her ass.

As he looks down at the ugly patch of pink skin in its place, a crushing thought settles on him.

He'd cherished that tattoo dearly. It represented the fact that he alone had braved the thorns and found his way to the place she guarded most. And that if anyone wanted to get to him, it would take one hell of a fight.

And now it's gone. Another piece of her, just gone.

Not just gone, there was now a permanent reminder that it's gone.

Gradually, hurt turns to anger, turns to rage. He stands and makes for the door. Cora follows, knowing what's going on. She knows she can't stop him, so she tries to remind him that they need the guy. He responds without turning.

"I don't."

He walks into the storage room in the cargo bay they'd locked the guy in. He's tied in a stress position. Shepard tightens it further. The renewed pain makes him stir. He starts writhing and begging when he sees the apocalyptic look on Shepards face.

Despite just waking up after taking a grenade point blank, it doesn't take much effort to get a screwdriver behind the fuckers kneecap.