53) Kaidan Alenko, Earth Systems Alliance.

xxxXXXxxx

Shepard wasn't unreachable. She was a woman and, after helping to steal a ship, being accused of fraternization wasn't his worst concern. All he had to do was to enter that room. Ignore everyone else (not that anyone was looking) and ignore his baggage (because Shepard sure as hell wasn't Raina).

"Something wrong?"

Shepard stared from beyond her room's threshold. Her uniform still hadn't been replaced and her expression showed clear surprise.

"I was wondering," if you needed company. "Do you need anything? Have you eaten?"

How can anyone be so bad at this? God help him, he was useless.

The open door was a barrier. It would be so easy. He could reach out; she was just a woman like any other.

"I don't need anything, Lieutenant. Thank you."

Only she wasn't. In his eyes, she was the woman with his life in her hands, with that ship and a civilization clinging to her shoulders.

"I'll go see how long until arrival, Commander. Joker should have an estimate."

He didn't see Shepard's hand moving to touch him. And he definitely missed the way it hesitated before falling to her side as the woman turned and reached for her armor.