Tired from running on the treadmill breathing heavily into a sensor that registered how well her lungs were doing was not the way Shepard typically spent her birthday. On this, the 6th anniversary of the Mindoir attack she wanted to be there at the colony with the other survivors. All fifteen of the others were supposed to come that year but she had to miss it because she had decided to come to Elysium with her squad to bond. Now here she was alone in a hospital hooked up to so many machines because they had to make sure she was in top shape in time for an award ceremony. A damn ceremony, she cursed in her mind.
A voice passed through the clear glass window, "You're doing great, Shepard. Keep it up." The man behind the voice was Dr. Ivan Thomas. Her preferred doctor left just the day before. She found herself slipping into that memory away from the exhaustion and the heat of her current task.
"Shepard, have you thought about your options and my offer?" Captain Anderson stood beside her outside the rehab room Dr. Chakwas had walked down the hall to give her chart to Dr. Thomas once more.
"Yes, I've given it serious thought Captain and I know it's what I really want to do. It's more than an option for me, Sir. It's a duty to be the best I can be and I know I can be better than I am now."
Anderson's face remained stoic for a moment but then his arm shot out and grabbed hers and a full bellied laugh issued forth from him. "I knew you would, Shepard. I knew it I just had to make sure you knew what you were getting into otherwise you might regret making the commitment."
Shepard smiled back at the older soldier shaking his hand vigorously. "I understand, Captain. You had to make sure I was ready and willing and now," she said looking over her shoulder at the little girl who was trying to spy on them from around the corner. "Now I'm ready to do anything."
Dr. Chakwas walked up to them handing the Commander a nutrient bar. "I suggest you get in there. He says you do an hour today, two tomorrow, increasing the intervals until you leave. It's now or later and I think you'd prefer now to when you're able to see your friends." Turning to face Anderson the doctor said, "We should be leaving, Captain. Our shuttle leaves within the hour… That is if you're sure you won't let me stay and help heal your facial scars, Commander."
Shepard smiled at her and shook her head, "No need, Doctor. Besides, it makes me look a little more the part. Don't you think so Captain?"
He nodded and answered, "You'd be a hero no matter what you looked like but the scars… suit you. Alright, Doctor we should be going. I will see you at the ceremony. Don't forget to catch your transport at the end of the week."
Thinking about the time she was given to run Shepard shook herself out of her daze in a hopeful way. When she looked down, however, the count said twenty more minuets and she groaned audibly. Through the glass door the doctor did not show any signs of noticing the commentary and she ran on, visibly tired of the monotony.
Spoon in hand Shepard piled food into her mouth hoping not to drip anything but too hungry to care. She hadn't had Chakwas to sneak her nutrient bars for a few days so she was running on fumes. At least it's a decent food tonight, meat loaf, she considered pitifully. She cringed to think that it might have instead been their horrible excuse for beef and broccoli with overcooked rice. Even fake meat deserves better than to be made into that horrible dish.
Behind her she heard the sound of metal against tile floor and she looked back to both a welcome and a sad sight. On metal replacement legs Kyle stood supported by hand braces as he walked slowly towards her.
Shepard smiled seeing the glee in his eyes as he was able to move around the hospital for the first time since the attack. His face and neck would never fully heal leaving him with intimidating scars but she thought they weren't as bad as some. "Hey, finally escape your nurses?"
"Yep, kicked them in the teeth and fled the scene. If anyone asks I've been here all day with you." Behind him and through the door she could see a nurse watching over him and she nodded indicating that he could leave.
It was late for dinner so the hospital commissary was pretty empty aside from the two friends. Shepard rose to help Kyle get into a seat across from her and motioned the lone commissary worker to bring them some more food.
The two joked and laughed about their combined rehab efforts. Shepard had run for four and a half hours that day while Kyle was starting on his balancing exercises. She laughed as he explained his failed attempts to walk across a foot wide board in a strait line.
"I guess you think its easy keeping your balance on struts and pulleys," he exclaimed.
"Not easy, Kyle just… well maybe just a bit," she said giggling behind her hand.
"Well it isn't. These damn legs they fitted me with are harder than anything to work. I don't think I'll ever get used to them. I guess I should have joined up with the Alliance. At least then I'd get some useable prosthetics," the last statement was full of bitter venom.
His seriousness sobered Shepard's jovial mood. "I could talk to some people, Kyle. I could help get requisitions…"
"No," he interrupted. "Fuck no, Shepard! You think I want to beg for a hand out? You think I want them to fix me because you ask for it? The big hero of Elysium gets her little friend some new legs. Bet they'd pin a medal on you for that too."
She was silent and looking down at her empty plate but anyone could have told she was angry. Blue energy rippled off her like waves but she held it back. Her aura of blue dissipated and then in a calm voice she said, "You are just as much a hero as I am, Kyle. You're the one who deserves the Star of Terra… it's all just bullshit politics. I'm Alliance so I get the medal and the only thing you get is a lifetime stipend that will pay for your housing and a lifetime on a pair of metal legs… I can't say how sorry I am but I can't do anything about it. It's just…"
"POLITICS! I know. That's all the Alliance is! Politicians and bureaucrats telling the little guys to give them money. Where was the Alliance when we were attacked? Where was the Alliance when my parents burned to death in that apartment? Where were they when I lost my legs?"
"I was here, Kyle. I was here when all that happened and because I was here with my squad over 98 percent of the colony made it. I'm Alliance and I'm not a politician, Kyle," Shepard's voice was quiet calm and steady to match his vicious yelling. "I'm sorry your parents died and I'm sorry this colony got attacked but it's not the Alliance's fault and it's not yours and it's not mine. If anyone is to blame it's the pirates."
Looking away from her, hurt and trying to hide his tears Kyle began to get up. His crutches held firm to the floor as he pushed himself from the chair and made his way across the room. Shepard could only look after him. It was their last night together and he would not speak to her.
The next morning she left a note with her extranet contact on it and an apology on his table, careful to not wake him. Sarah clung to her leg as she went out the door but Shepard managed to pry her off and promised to visit on her next leave; and she did. She returned the next leave she had and every leave after like a silent promise between comrades.