A/N so yah the next few chapters may be a little low on the jolly side of things. I have just departed so you know how it is saying goodbye to loved ones ect can dampen your mood. Thanks again for the support, any suggestions or anything would be great and thanks again a million to JULES HAWK for being a great beta and having the time to correct my terrible ramblings.

Disclaimer: Mass Effect is not mine I just like to run around the citadel pretending it's from Mass effect.

Chapter 7

CO and XO…..What was that?

Nihlus lay there, in his final moments all he could feel was betrayal as the blood seeped from his head. He prayed that his spirit would find Commander Shepard and give her the strength she needed to complete this and then darkness swept over him.

The year 2163 CE, Digeris

'Nihlus, it's all about the moment. You hold steady and wait, patience and discipline can give you more than just approval but can also give you the perfect aim.' Saren stood next to Nihlus who was aiming his rifle at a target located in the distance. He waited, held his breath and fired.

This was the first time that Nihlus had really listened to a superior, it was an honor that he was serving under Spectre Saren and he wanted to be as good as him, he wanted to find a place to belong to just liked him. He despised being forced into service but this was something he could achieve with his own free will and have no one to answer to apart from the council, and he liked that idea. When Saren took Nihlus under his wing he believed this hot-blooded young cub had potential and well he warmed to the lad, he reminded him of himself, so eager to prove himself, a thirst for knowledge and a certain disregard for the rules.

'Well done Nihlus, see there are times when discipline of a certain nature can help us to achieve our goals,' Saren picked up his own rifle strapping into his armor before handing a drink over to Nihlus.

Nihlus sat quietly as he drank, yeah he thought I think I finally found a place I belong and its serving right next to Saren until I am honored enough to become his equal.

Present day

Saren put down his gun, he did not blink he did not even question that he had shot the very Turian he trained and mentored like a son, this was for the greater good. Something far more important than a bond of friendship. He would understand and as he walks through the plains of death he will see that he has done this for a greater reason and know that his death was a necessity. With that he turned and walked away.

Shepard could not believe her eyes as she watched these deformed human creatures come alive before her, they were not human anymore but still she did not relish the idea of slaughtering them all. In her mind she imagined that any of these could have been the parents of Jenkins and it tore her apart to think that maybe Jenkins was better off dead than knowing what became of his home. It made her damn sick and someone was going to pay for this big time! This was just becoming worse by the second. After only finding a handful of survivors they arrived to see Nihlus' body face down with blood still pouring from the gunshot wound at the back of his head.

'Shit!' Shepard ran over to him turning his body, she knew he was dead as she saw the empty hollow eyes staring back at her. She placed her hand over his face and though she was not religious herself she closed her eyes and hoped he was at peace with his god. Behind her there was a noise and all the Marines drew their weapons before a dockworker put his hands up showing them that he was unarmed.

Kaidan stood listening to the dockworker tell his story of another Turian called Saren who shot Nihlus. This was disturbing; this was pretty damned messed up. He glanced over at Shepard who had taken off her helmet and her face was like a statue, no sign of any emotion,but as she turned to look over to him and Williams she had one betrayal of her emotions and that was her eyes. Kaidan could not explain how he could see that behind the emotionless face. There Behind her eyes held all the emotion she had pushed away and it scared him, they were filled with rage and he wondered what the hell this woman was capable of. She was too unpredictable, too wild and too much of liability in cases like this but she was good. He had never seen someone fight like her, she moved liked a cat, sleek smooth and perfect. Her aim was precise and natural and when she unleashed her biotics it was like being swept away in a storm. Now she had used them he could feel the energy coming off her and it reacted with his own energy, this was a natural occurrence between biotics and was the reason they tended not to put too many together. Two powerful energies merging together was bound to cause some reaction and he felt a tingling sensation run through his body and wondered if she felt the same. No, she was not a cat she was a predator she was a goddamn lion.

The next few minutes put Kaidan's tech skills were to the test, disarming a series of bombs whilst Shepard and Williams provided cover fire for him to work his magic without fear of getting shot. As he disarmed the final bomb Shepard came up behind him.

'Good work Alenko,' he couldn't help but smile to himself, an N7 praised him that was something to be a little happy about even if it was by a crazy one.

As they approached the Beacon it was emitting a strange glow, Williams told them it had been moved and now it was glowing so the chances that this Turian Saren had already used it were looking very high indeed. Shepard hailed the Normandy for pick up and the collection of the bodies, behind her Kaidan was staring at the beacon.

'I can't believe this is real working Prothean technology I mean this is huge!' As he said that his body started to tense and suddenly he couldn't move.

His entire body suddenly felt so heavy and was being dragged towards the beacon then abruptly he felt nothing, he was lying on the ground looking up. He saw Shepard hovering in front of the beacon and he ran to drag her away but Williams pulled him back. It felt like his entire heart had exploded with fear as he watched Shepard collapse, after what seemed like the longest seconds of his life. As the Beacon exploded he ran over to her and threw himself over her unconscious body to shield her from the blast. Kaidan did a once over and when he believed it was safe to move her he picked her up gently and carried her away.

Kaidan sat next to the bed staring at Shepard's face, he noticed so many different things about her as she lay sleeping, the way she had small freckles dusting her small delicate nose, her lips so full and slightly parted. No one could believe looking at this sleeping woman that she could snap your neck in two without breaking a sweat, like this she looked small, frail and human. This shook Kaidan he felt guilty for having been so cold towards her and judgmental. He of all people should know you should never judge a person like that but he couldn't help it, she was so damn reckless. Why the hell did she drag him away from the beacon? He was the one who deserved this, he was the one who set it off not her. And now here she was lying unconscious because he was being damn stupid and she had to play the goddamn hero and rescue him. No, he still hated her, but he respected her and that in his eyes was a hell of a lot more important. He didn't quite understand why he stayed in the med bay, he used the excuse that his field medic training could assist the doc but they both knew she didn't need the help, but he felt…guilt maybe? Failure? A little lost? He didn't know. All he knew was that he lost a comrade and nearly lost the XO at the same time. This was a damn mess.

'Doctor I think she's waking up,' Kaidan shouted over as he watched the woman before him stir and slowly open her eyes.

'How do you feel?' Dr Chakwas asked as she shone a light into Shepard's eyes.

'Like I just ran head first into the backside of Krogan and then drank a shit load of vodka to make the pain go away and then…'

'So like a normal weekend for you then?' Chakwas smiled as she noticed the concern on Alenko's face.

Shepard laid back, her hand covering her eyes

'Yah pretty much apart from I'm missing the fun parts and just getting the morning after.'

Kaidan coughed slightly and Shepard glanced over trying to avoid rolling her eyes as she did so…she was waiting to hear the list of regs he had neatly documented for her to read later. But instead he just looked at her with his brow creased and god damn it his hair was still in perfect place does this guy paint it on or something, she must look like a right gronk* next to poster boy. But when he spoke she didn't see any of that only true concern and worry for her….or maybe his job she hadn't decide how cynical to be yet.

'Commander, are you ok? I wanted to apologize it was my fault that this happened, I must have tripped something or activated it somehow, I don't know but….'

Shepard raised her hand, as much as she would like to see poster boy drool at her feet in apology, she had decided right now she wouldn't be mean and after all he did a damn good job down there considering. 'Alenko…..shut up!' He looked totally stunned at her response and it made Shepard smile to see him so shocked. 'It was not your fault, you did not do anything wrong blah, blah, blah. Look I am pleased with the way you performed down there. Intel screwed us over and going into an unknown situation I could not have asked for more from you. As for the beacon, it could have been set to trigger by anything or anyone so don't panic and go shave or something,' she waved her hand away as she lay back down closing her eyes.

Kaidan stood there totally in shock over what she had just said. That sleeping peaceful woman woke up and as soon as she opened her eyes she began to get right under his skin again and what the hell was that about, go shave? He rubbed his hand over his cheek; he shaved this morning it can't be that bad. But as he was contemplating this Captain Anderson walked into the med bay

'How's my XO?' He asked as he crossed the room. He had wanted to run towards her as soon as she was brought back on board but restrained himself. He promised he would treat her like any other XO on board in front of the crew, but god he was worried sick that she wouldn't wake up.

Shepard looked up at Anderson, she wanted to tell him what happened but would he think she was mad? Just then Anderson dismissed Kaidan and he left the room, Chakwas followed him something about getting coffee.

As Kaidan left the medbay followed by the doc he just so happened to glance behind him and he wished he never did. The med bay blinds were slightly open and he watched Anderson walk over to Shepard, place his hands gently onto either side of her face, her hands, with a softness Kaidan could not imagine from her, reached up and gently placed them onto his own. He then lowered her head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before embracing her tightly. He could see Andersons lips move as he was talking to her but Kaidan couldn't make it out. All that was going through his head was OH MY GOD! He turned around quickly and walked off, his mind going crazy with what he just witnessed! His captain and his XO are…are they together? I mean that would explain why she was here if she was shagging the captain but he never saw Anderson like that and was appalled that he could be won over by a good pair of legs and pretty eyes. He paced the corridor up and down, does he confront them? Does he report it or ignore it? DAMN IT he thought this is getting seriously messed up.

A/N please r and r it would be great to hear from you guys.

Navy slang translations aka: Jack Speak

Gronk- ugly female