A/N: I've updated the chapters, hopefully they're more readable and enjoyable, please leave any feedback to help improve it, thank you.

SSV Einstein 2

Chase Jarrett

"What's up?" She said in an innocently.

"Look, the doc told me that you're refusing to talk to anyone, and apparently you even threatened them if they moved you. Shep, talk to me, what's going on?"

"Did you just call me 'Shep'?" she said, in a quizzical manner.

"Yes, it rolls off the tongue a lot easier, now stop trying to change the subject, why won't you talk to anyone but me?".

"Well…" she hesitated, "I talk to you because I know I can trust you, even though I don't even know you now that I think about it. And I just…" she trails off,

"what?" I interrupted.

"It's just I don't want to talk about it, I just want to forget everything that happened and look forward and move on, I don't even want to think about it, and I don't want their pity, it'll just make me feel sick and mad, ya know?".

Damn, I guess I should have seen this coming, but forgetting isn't moving on.

"Look Shep, I understand why you want to just forget and move on, I do too. But, forgetting about it isn't moving on, and it'll just make it worse, maybe not now, but in the future, it'll all come out and we won't be able to deal with it then. That's why they have professionals to help us through this. Plus, there's this saying that my dad use to say, 'Don't ever forget about your past, especially your hardships, because those trying times are what forges you into the adult you become', and for us Shep, that's this."

She didn't say anything for a few minutes, just staring at her feet, then she raised her head to me. If that didn't convince, I'm in deep trouble, I have no idea what I'm doing, and that's my best advice.

"Your right I guess, though can't I just talk to you about this? You seem to know what you're talking about." She questioned.

I immediately put up both of my hands and wave them side to side. "Oh no, I have no idea what I'm doing, I'm a firm believer in the 'fake it till you make it' saying, I have no idea what I'm doing. You need to speak with someone who knows what they're doing."

She seemed to not like my answer. "okay" she replied, "but what's going to happen to you and me when we get to Arcturus?".

Damn, I guess it's only right that I have to brake the bad news. "Well they're giving me an apartment for 3 months, and a little bit of credits to start over. You though, are going to a foster care facility until they find a family that will take you in, of course you have a choice, they won't make you live with someone you don't want too." I replied.

Damn, talk about making her feel bad, I don't think I've seen someone so sad. I stand up, signal her to do the same, and wrap my arm around her shoulders.

"Come on kid, I'll show you the ship, and we can go grab you a bite to eat." I stated, with a smile on my face. I think it worked, she's looking at me a little less depressed now.

"Did you just call me 'kid'? I'll have you know that I'm 16, turning 17 in a month. How old are you anyway" she said, with a huge smirk on her face.

"I'll have you know that I'm 20, still older than you" I rebutted, smiling like I won that argument. "

Your barely three years older than me!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, and don't you forget that!" I deadpanned.

Me being a tour guide of the ship was a little uneventful, it's just so massive I don't think that we'd have time to view it all, and I don't know what the hell I'm doing. There were a few points that she had to correct me on, apparently, she's pretty decent with tech. So much so that I traded omnitools with her, and that seemed to really brighten up her day. The tour was near the end, well at least we were near the cafeteria, so I was going to end it here. It lasted about an hour and a half, we just had some small talk throughout, and she did talk a little about her family. We reached the cafeteria, and went and grabbed some lunch. I had a chicken sandwich and fries, and she went with some pizza and some fruit cups.

"So, I do have a choice on who adopts me?" She asked out of the blue.

"Well, I'm not one hundred percent sure on how it works, but you can refuse people that you don't like, but I don't think that there's some catalogue of people to choose from".

She nodded, "So who can adopt me?".

"Well, I'd imagine anyone who's an adult can technically adopt you, but they probably want some family over an individual."

"Why do they prefer families?"

"I don't know, but I guess they'd try and get you into an environment your familiar with, so they're likely to try and get you paired with a new Family."

She looked down at her food, clearly sad at the news I was breaking to her. "I don't want a new family, I already had a family, and I don't want someone to try and replace them, regardless of their intentions."

I couldn't help but nod in agreement, I wouldn't want to replace something like my Family, especially if I had just lost them all. As I'm drinking my water she throws me a question out of left field.

"Would you take me in? At least until I'm eighteen?" she asked.

I immediately spit out all my water to my right, and looking at Shepard she's clearly surprised by my reaction.

"Wow, Shep, I don't think I'm capable of taking care of a cactus, let alone a 16-year-old girl, I just, I just don't know. That's a lot your throwing at me. Plus, I plan on joining the Alliance, I don't think that would work. I…"

"Look" she butted in, "I know I've thrown a lot at you, and asking even more from you. I know I probably have no right to ask, especially given how much you've done for me already. And I'm not expecting an answer right away, I was just hoping that you'd mull it over until we reach Arcturus." She said, puppy eyes mode engaged.

"Alright, I'll think about it, just don't hold your breath, it's a lot for me to think about, okay?"

She nods her head, clearly in a better mood than just a few minutes ago.

"Let's go back to the med bay, I know the doc's been wanting to talk to you, okay?" I said.

We both get up, empty our trays and start walking towards the med bay. During which she locks her arm around mine, and holds it in a tight embrace. Oh god, she's going to guilt trip me into taking her in, damnit.

When we get back to the med bay, the doctor takes Shep back into his office. This leaves me to my own devices, so with nothing to do, I quickly pull up my omnitool and start having fun. This thing is surprisingly simple, and apparently Google's still around. After about 20 minutes I've downloaded about 10 gigabytes of music, I'll pretty much listen to anything that doesn't yell, so no metal. Though I do have a few select songs from metal, I like country, rap, rock, and pretty much everything else in between.

I spend the rest of my time looking up the futu- history of earth. It's not the future anymore, it's the past. Nothing big, countries still bickering at each other. Though, the U.S.A. doesn't exist anymore, at least not as it used to. It's now the United North American States, and other than the Systems Alliance being chartered, and sea level rising 2 meters, nothing too big. But my home in Florida doesn't exist anymore, cause its part of the ocean now, so there's that.

Shep finally steps out of the doc's office and walks towards me.

"So, how was it?" I asked.

"It was okay, I guess. Definitely not what I was expecting. Could've been worse I suppose. Anyways, the doc wants to talk with you next." She said with a grin and a wink.

"What did you do?"

"I wouldn't have any clue as to what you're talking about." She said, head held up high.

I just glare at her as I walk towards the office, trying to think if she did say something, or just messing with me.

"Hey doc, what's up?"

"Ah, Mr. Jar- I mean Chase, please take a seat." He says as he points to the seat in front of his desk.

"I must admit Chase, your taking this whole situation rather well, why do you think that is?" he asked.

Damn, straight to the questions. "Honestly doc, I have no idea, maybe it's because I didn't lose anyone in the raid, that and I like helping people. Maybe helping Shep is helping me, ya know?" He nodded.

"Yes, that could be it. Either way you're an interesting case, you have a very strong psyche to deal with this, and most people would require years of counseling."

"Most people?" I ask.

"Yes well, to be honest, I don't think talking about any of this will work for you. It just hasn't really affected you, but don't worry, you're perfectly sane, just that everyone reacts to these kinds of situations differently." I nodded, though I didn't really understand that well, but I didn't want to push the topic.

"How about Shep? I know it's none of my business, but how long would she need counseling?".

"Well that's difficult to pin down, maybe a year, but it could depend on factors like her living conditions, happiness, etc., as to how long she'll be in counseling."

"So" I started, "would if I took her in, at least if I became her guardian until she turns eighteen? Would that help, or would being around me hurt her recovery?"

He just sat there for about a minute, clearly thinking on what to say. "Well, I don't see it hurting her recovery in any way. Though it could make it easier for her, especially given the familiarity between the two of you, and you two have clearly bonded to one another. But let me ask you this, was this her idea, or yours?".

Damn this guy is good. "Well, she asked me about it when we were eating, and I'm on the fence about it to be honest, though if it can help her than I'll do it, I'm not saying that it'll be easy, but I want to try if I can help."

"I see, I think that kind of arrangement would be beneficial to both of you, and if you want I can let family services know, along with my endorsement of course, that you'll be taking guardianship of Ms. Shepard."

I mulled that over for a few seconds then looked at the doc, "Do it doc", he nodded and started typing away on his omnitool. I walked out back towards the med bay, Shepard laying on the bed next to mine, looking at me.

"We arrive in Arcturus in about 12 hours, let's get some shut eye." She nodded, and turned over, and I about fell into my bed, talk about an emotionally draining day.

About 8 hours later I wake up, see Shepard's still asleep, and I'm hungry, so I head over to the cafeteria to grab some grub. I grab my food, pancakes of all things, if all Alliance ships are like this, I'm going to love the Alliance. About halfway through the doc notices me and sits in front of me.

"Good news Chase, they're allowing you to have Guardianship of Ms. Shepard. Also, they have your apartment ready for you. You should receive a transfer of credits when we get to Arcturus. And while on the topic of credits, since your taking custody of Ms. Shepard, you'll receive 1500 credits a month to help take care of her, until she's 18. I also left your clothes in a duffel bag next to your bed. They got out the blood and dirt out, but the damage is still there."

"Thanks a million doc, I'm going to tell Shep the good news, I'll make sure we come say our goodbyes before we head out" I replied.

"Nonsense Chase, I'm just happy to help" he said to me as I was walking to the door.

I placed my tray on the counter. I make my way to the Med bay and see Shepard's still asleep.

"Wake up Shep, we need to talk" all the while I'm slightly rocking her to wake up.

She turns over, sits up, and says "What's up?".

"Listen, I given some thought about you asking me to take you in." I had to put my hand up to stop her from interrupting. "I'll take you in, but I want to make some things very clear." She nods her head, looking so happy I can't help but smile. "First off, we're in this together, I'm not looking to be your parent or the person in charge, but I do expect a certain level of respect, as I will show you the same. Also, you will be returning to school, and I expect you to pass all your classes with flying colors, consider it you paying you rent with 'A's. And most importantly, no lying to me, or me to you, is that acceptable?"

She nodded, but then put a finger up, "can I make one request though?" she said with those damned puppy dog eyes, "can you have me trained in biotics, I never knew I had them until, well, you know."

Yeah, I do. "That's fine, but only if you go to all your counseling, deal?".

"Deal!" she screamed, jumping at me with a tight hug.

"Okay come on, we'll be arriving soon, we need to get ready."