Thank you everyone for the reviews, alerts, and favorites. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the story still. I went back to before the start of ME 3. I wanted to see more of how Kaidan interacted with his students. Also I think that his students would have asked him his opinion of the situation. Though as you'll see if is a bit reluctant to talk about it. Happy Reading and enjoy!

"Open Door Policy"

Kaidan rolled his shoulders. His muscles were tight. They weren't quite used to the strain he had been putting himself through lately. His implants hadn't acted up in a while, which did surprise him. He had thought with starting this command, the stress of the new position would have triggered more headaches, but so far only two in the past four weeks. Not bad.

"Sir!" Kaidan's head jerked around coming toward him were three of his students. Two boys and a girl; Privates Myles and Mein and Corporal Baines. The trio was off duty as was he. They had just finished a training session and in two days' time Kaidan had received word that they would be off on their first mission. These three were his most promising students' potential wise, but Mein and Myles' displays of attitude and cockiness had held him back from promoting them. Baines had a leader's instincts and the others did look up to him.

Kaidan stopped and waited for the group to catch up to him. "Privates, Corporal," he stated as they saluted him. "At ease. What would you like?" He nodded at them.

Mein and Myles exchanged a look before glancing at Baines who shrugged. "You guys wanted to ask, so ask." Baines waved his hand at them.

"Hmm…we were just curious, Major." Mein said pushing a strand of black hair out of her bright blue eyes. Kaidan had established an open door policy with his students. He wanted them to be able to think for themselves and react on their feet. But, mostly he wanted them to trust each other, to have each others' backs. Something he had learned from Shepard.

"About what?" He motioned for them to follow him. He didn't want to think about Shepard at the moment. He had heard the news. Her trial was playing over every vid channel he could find. He didn't want to watch any of it. He didn't want to discuss any of it. He most definitely didn't want to see any of it.

"You served with Commander Shepard, right?" Myles asked unexpectedly, Kaidan steps faltered. He hurriedly tried to catch his hesitation.

"Yes?" He asked a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice. So much for not discussing any of Shepard's trial, suddenly he wished he didn't have that open door policy.

"Well, they have blasting her trial all over the vids and people are talking…that she's a traitor. What with her working for Cerberus and blowing up the Alpha Relay," Myles spouted quickly.

Kaidan sighed. "That's what everyone is saying." He agreed. He should have put a stop to the line of Shepard questions right then. But, Shepard. He wasn't certain what he thought about everything? What would did his students think of her? Did they think she was a traitor, like everyone else? Kaidan had never personally discussed Shepard with them. And he didn't want to either.

"Do you think she did it, sir? Do you think Shepard is a traitor?" Mein voiced innocently. Kaidan balked. He hadn't let his thoughts drift to Shepard in a while. He hadn't really let himself think deeply on Shepard. Not since Anderson had messaged him about the Normandy turning itself back over to the Alliance. He had wondered what Shepard was thinking, and what her plan was. But then he had gotten the news about the destruction of the Alpha Relay and how she had been involved. Shock, anger, and lastly disappointment had raced through him at the news. His Shepard would have never done anything, so...malicious. But then the report had across his desk…Anderson had forwarded it to him. Shepard had tried to warn the colony, but there hadn't been time. Still, it hurt thinking about Shepard. Did he think she was a traitor? He wasn't certain. It had been two years. He had changed. Maybe, at one point he could have trusted her blindly, but now? No, he couldn't. He wanted too. A large part wanted to believe her and trust her full-heartedly, but the practical side of him wouldn't...couldn't.

Kaidan stopped walking and turned to look at his students. He kept his expression reserved and collected. "I think Shepard is an amazing person. She is the Savior of the Citadel and a Star of Terra recipient, but even heroes are just human. She makes mistakes. The important thing is to own up to those errors and try to make them right. She destroyed the mass relay, killing hundreds of thousands of people. The batarians aren't going to stand by and let Shepard off with just a slap on the wrist. As to working with Cerberus…she did that too, but do I think she is a traitor?…I don't know." He replied honestly. Students always trusted an honest person and answer over a liar.

Mein and Baines exchanged a glance. Myles cleared his throat and looked at the floor. "But if she isn't a traitor then why did she do all those things?"

Kaidan ran a hand through his hair. "Because I don't think she had a choice. Sometimes, and you'll learn this, we don't always have a say in certain matters. We might get a mission that really sinks. But you do as you're told. You don't have to like it, but it's your duty and job to follow orders. Even Commander Shepard has to be held accountable for her actions."

"But she's a Spectre. Spectres can do want ever they want." Myles again, this time with a bit of attitude clipping the edges of his voice.

Kaidan shook his head. "No, Spectres are still held accountable by the Council. Just because the Council might not like what a Spectre is investigating, they still are held responsible for that Spectre's mission." He paused and pointed a finger at Myles. "Private, it doesn't matter what we think of Shepard or the fact that she's an actual hero. The problem is Shepard confessed to the destruction of the relay and to working with Cerberus. She's going to be held responsible for her actions. If she's really a traitor or not isn't up for us to decide. That's the Alliance Brass' call to make."

"But, sir," Baines started. Kaidan waved his hand dismissively. He didn't want to dwell on it anymore.

"Enough, just let the Brass decide these things, we will have own worries soon enough." Kaidan replied turning away again. Starting down the hallway, his students trailed after him.

"You didn't really answer our question, sir." Mein commented as they caught up to him.

"Because I'm not really sure about the answer myself, Private, that's why." Yeah, that open door policy was coming back to bite him in the butt.