After
Chapter Eleven: A human thing
Shepard watched as Chakwas moved about the med-bay – silently doing reports, cleaning things, and tending to anyone who came in and complained of some small aliment.
Most of her memories were escaping her, but she kept finding new ones every once in awhile. She remembered Saren shooting himself in the head. She remembered Kaidan breaking into her quarters and the nudity which followed. Her own death was even present in her mind – her final moment before being pushed away from the ship. The look on Joker's face. Then she remembered the look on the very same man's face as she saw him standing next to a window that led to the SR-2. Her first moments after waking up from her death-nap lingered in the back of her mind. Jumping out of the Collector Base. The basics were there. Little thoughts kept seeping into her head, filling in the details.
"How are you feeling, Commander?"
"Like the time I was kicked in the back by a donkey," she frowned, before smiling.
"New memory?"
"From my childhood."
"Good...well not good that you were kicked by a donkey."
"It was quite exciting. I actually flew."
"Only works if you're wearing a cape, Commander."
"Sadly I wasn't."
Chakwas smiled, before tapping on her data-pad.
"How am I actually doing?" Shepard asked, sighing slightly.
"Honestly, better than I thought. Those cybernetics that Cerberus put in you saved your life."
"I thought Kaidan saved my life," she narrowed her eyes, before making the connection that they both played a part. Having a hazy mind was starting to get on her nerves.
"They both did."
The med-bay door opened, revealing Joker on his crutches – who instantly shot the Commander a wide grin. She quickly returned it.
"Weird to see you actually relaxed."
"You slept on my couch," she retorted, the memory slipping into her mind upon view of his leg brace, "You've probably seen me sleep."
"Actually I passed out before you did, then woke up in here," he pointed to the med-bay.
"Right..."
"Anyway, Chakwas? I believe today is the day."
He eagerly sat down on the bed beside Shepard, as Chakwas held up a scanner to his leg.
"Indeed it is, Jeff. The bone looks whole yet again," she smiled, as she began detaching the leg brace.
"So how long are you stuck in here, Commander?" Joker asked – Shepard noticing a slight pained expression on his face.
"No idea. Chakwas?"
"Honestly I'm not sure either. I've never dealt with someone with such advanced cybernetics. Your bones have already begun to meld. Organs are cleanly healing."
"Fancy," Joker commented, as the leg brace was slid off his leg. He gasped slightly at the cold air touching his bare leg.
"Nice to be free?" Shepard asked, as Chakwas placed the brace behind her.
"Amazing," he smiled, as Chakwas excused herself to the restroom.
"Joker...can I ask you some questions?"
"Of course, Commander. Heard your mind is a bit fuzzy. I'd be happy to fill in the gaps."
"No idea if you'd know this...but how do I feel about Kaidan?"
Joker frowned, not liking the question she had chosen, "Kaidan?"
"Yes. Alenko. I keep remembering counter-thoughts on him. In one I'm happy with him, others I want to set him on fire."
"I'm not sure either, Shepard. You went on a post-Horizon date with him recently and he called the Normandy not the Normandy – which meant you weren't Shepard."
The conversation rang in the back of her head, causing the woman to roll her lips in, "Oh...right."
"But he saved your life."
"I didn't remember the date until—"
The memory of her and Joker sitting in Starboard Observation Deck flooded her memory. Their conversation about how their nights hadn't gone as planned. Kelly. Kelly had done something to Joker. 'What...?'
"What did Kelly do to you? I can't remember."
"She slept with me," he said without hesitation, eyes on his feet, as he sat on the edge of the bed beside Shepard.
"Right...right! Right..." she frowned, remembering the emotions associated with that entire night, "Sorry I brought it up."
"It's fine. Glad to see you awake, Commander."
–
Time slowly passed for Joker around the Normandy. They had done a few small 'missions' to various planets with Miranda in charge. She normally took Jacob and Kaidan with her – dominating whatever they found with their biotics. Joker silently sat in the cockpit, making conversation with EDI more than he used to. Today was no exception.
"Jeff, are you alright?"
"What's wrong with me, EDI?" he flatly asked - noticing how EDI would ask a vague question first. She was slowly figuring out how humans communicated. It was a bit creepy, honestly.
"You appear to be performing at a higher capacity than normal."
"Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
"It is unusual, therefore notable."
"Just focusing on work today."
"The latest medical report from Doctor Chakwas suggests that the Commander will be able to leave the medical bay by the end of the week."
Joker frowned, wondering why EDI would bring that up, "Glad to have her back soon."
"Yeoman Kelly is headed toward the cockpit," EDI suddenly warned. It had taken some time, but he had trained EDI to announce whoever was headed in his direction before they could arrive. Quite handy – especially with a lack of Shepard visiting him.
A few seconds later, he heard a knock on the wall – as if asking permission to enter the cockpit.
"Afternoon, Kelly."
"Hi Joker," he could almost hear the smile in her voice.
"What can I do for you?"
Their interactions since 'the night' had been limited, even if their bunks were right next to each other. Nothing more had been said than friendly remarks and occasional small-talk.
"Just wanted to say hi," her voice dropped slightly, as she walked further into the cockpit – leaning on the back of his chair in a similar fashion that Shepard normally did. A strange pang ripped at the back of his mind.
"Hello," he greeted, shooting a side-glance to EDI, "Say hi to Kelly, EDI."
"Good afternoon, Yeoman Kelly Chambers."
"How are you doing, EDI?"
"I'm currently making two-hundred-thousand-million calculations with dynamic variables. I am performing quite well today."
"Good to hear, EDI," Kelly laughed.
Joker smiled at EDI's second sentence. It was almost endearing on how she attempted to throw in human remarks.
"So Joker..." Kelly began, leaning a bit harder on his chair. He would have just turned and faced her, but she seemed insistent to just lean there.
"Kelly?"
"Want to check inventory in the storage room with me again tonight?" she asked – her voice so sweet, he would have missed the sexual implications if it hadn't been for their encounter a few weeks ago.
He paused, honestly not sure. The fact that she was passed around the ship like a bong made him a bit uncomfortable. Then again his mood had been so dull lately. He visited Shepard whenever he got on and off of shifts. Sometimes she would be sleeping, and he'd just leave a note saying 'hi' by her bed. He noticed that Kaidan was also doing something similar – which irritated him and often soured his mood. Shepard's memory was mostly back, though she seemed distant. Weak. Sad, even. He always tried to think of new and exciting ways to fix her mood – but nothing ever worked that well.
Now as he glanced up at Kelly – who winked at him – he couldn't help but be tempted.
"I get off my shift in four hours."
"See you in four and a half," she winked, before disappearing.
EDI waited until Kelly was out of earshot before asking, "Jeff, I already have a full inventory of what lies within the storage room. Your work with Chambers is not needed."
"No one takes inventory in their, EDI."
"My censors were damaged in their within the first week of the Normandy SR-2's flight, Jeff. I can't know everything."
Joker laughed slightly, "It's just a human thing, EDI."
"I don't understand."
–
AN: I love EDI. I love Joker. Their relationship is fascinating. For those of you who think it's out of character for Joker to say yes to Kelly after his reaction last time...I''m a college student. I have watched this 'mental arch' happen more than once. At first they're shocked by their actions. Regret it. Feel dirty. Over time, however, they accept it and even repeat it. It's weird. I can see this happening to Joker by talking about sex with Hadley, Donnelly, and crew. Especially bored from a lack of Shepard and constant presence of Miranda. Next chapter will be a long one. Just warning you all.
Rated M for: Language, future sexual situations, future violence, and so I can have freedom without fear of scarring a teen for life.
Oh – and I don't own anything ever.