The huge marine stood on the other side of the brig's barrier impassively. His build was freakishly large, covered with bulging muscle upon bulging muscle. His neck was almost as big around as Shepard's waist. Shepard wondered what kind of genetic enhancements he'd received to be so enormous.

"Hey, Vega. Got anything good to drink out there?"

"Ma'am, you know I can't give you any booze. Stop asking." Vega rolled his shoulders, loosening up the muscles stiffening from the hours spent standing and watching. Shepard supposed that some might find his physique appealing if they were into that sort of thing. Which she wasn't. That didn't stop him from eyeing her, though. She didn't care enough to make him stop.

"I won't tell if you don't. C'mon. I'll even tell you where my secret stash is." Vega perked up a little at that, but quickly schooled his features.

"No can do."

At least they'd removed the biotic suppression cuffs. Those things were damned annoying. Of course, the Alliance didn't realize that they weren't effective against her Cerberus-improved biotics, and she wasn't going to tell them. Shepard lay back on the small cot, staring again at the ceiling. She'd memorized every imperfection there, and now spent her time transforming them into larger patterns, finding faces or shapes among the pock marks and swirls. And various parts of human anatomy.

The Alliance allowed her little in the way of diversion. Her personal effects were all stowed in a foot locker, to be held until the tribunal decided her fate. She'd asked if they'd move Space Hamster down into the brig with her, and nearly punched the lieutenant who laughed at her for it. Aside from the one message Vega had let her send out to Ashley, she was denied any correspondence in or out. She regretted not asking Ashley specifically to let her mom know what was happening, but eventually assumed Ashley would do so on her own. Not much for mom to be proud of now.

With nothing to do, she exercised almost constantly. Even that grew tiresome after the first few days. There were only so many handstand push-ups she could do without getting bored.

The officer who had taken command of the Normandy - My ship, goddammit - provided her with Alliance fatigues to wear. She didn't miss the Cerberus uniforms she'd been wearing, but she didn't feel worthy to wear Alliance issue. Not while she sat in the brig. She would have preferred sweats and a tee, but then the Alliance wouldn't have been able to remind her of its claim on her.

As she felt the familiar vibrations of a mass effect relay jump, she steeled herself for whatever awaited her on Earth.

OoOoO

Vega disabled the barrier, tossing in a set of dress blues and instantly bringing the barrier back up. "You need to wear these."

"Fuck you." Shepard made no move to pick them up. "I'm not Alliance."

Vega threw his head back in frustration. "Mierda. Can't you just cooperate for once?"

Shepard didn't budge. "Should have given me my bourbon, Vega. I'd be much more helpful if you did."

"Cojeme. I can't do anything about that now. Please?"

Rolling her eyes, Shepard picked up the uniform. "Fine. But you owe me, Muscles." As Shepard began unbuttoning her fatigues, she noticed that Vega was doing a poor job of not looking. She stopped and glared at him. "What, is this something you've been looking forward to seeing?"

At least Vega had the decency to duck his head in shame before averting his eyes. "Ma'am, no ma'am."

Shepard finished dressing, smoothing her now long, unruly hair down as best she could with her hands. Apparently a hairbrush was also considered a weapon. Then she sat on the cot, ramrod straight, hands resting in her lap. And waited.

OoOoO

Ashley had been left off the duty roster for the day. Taking advantage of the free time that she had so little of these days, she put on a sleeveless compression tee and shorts, and went for a long run along the water's edge. She'd put nearly ten miles in and was running on the return path to the base when she noticed an unusually large ship on approach to the docking bay at Alliance HQ. The ship had a familiar shape, although she couldn't remember having seen its like before. Her pace quickened of its own accord when the ship was low enough for her to make out the lettering on its side. SR-2 Normandy.

A crowd had gathered at the dock by the time Ashley got there less than ten minutes later. Word of Shepard's crime had reached Earth days prior, and it appeared that the chance of seeing a fallen war hero was too irresistible to pass up. Ashley was drenched in sweat, stray hairs plastered to her forehead and neck. She didn't care. She pushed her way inartfully through the soldiers waiting to catch a glimpse of the former Savior of the Citadel.

Ashley had bullied her way up to the front of the crowd just as the airlock door opened. A line of MPs kept a path open from the Normandy to the hangar. Her heart felt as though it had stopped beating and she could not summon a breath as she waited. A man that appeared to be the ship's captain - It's her ship, not his - exited first, followed by an absurdly over-muscled marine. That must be Big Ape. Ashley leaned to the side, trying to look beyond the behemoth for a hint of familiar copper hair. There!

Just as Shepard took her first step off the Normandy, Ashley was barrelling down past the MPs towards her. Ashley stopped just short of the giant soldier, suddenly unsure of what to do. Shepard stood tall, her lean and powerful frame accented by the cut of her dress blues. Her hair was a couple of inches longer than it was the last time Ashley had seen her. She looked tired but didn't let it affect her iron posture. Her jaw was set and her eyes stared straight ahead. Ashley's heart simultaneously ached and soared at the sight. And then she saw the biotic suppression cuffs on Shepard's wrists.

She wheeled on the marine who appeared to be guarding her. "The fuck? You shackled her? What is wrong with you?"

Shepard turned her eyes to her lover, softening as Ashley returned the look. Quietly, for her ears only, Shepard reassured her. "It's okay, Ash. They have to put on a show."

By this time, one of the MPs had approached to remove Ashley. Vega waved them off, indicating that he had everything under control. He stepped to the side, allowing Ashley to stand next to Shepard while he blocked both of them from view of the crowd with his mass.

"Thanks, Muscles." Shepard moved even closer to Ashley, a lopsided grin on her face. "Goddamn it's good to see you, Ash. I see you dressed up for me."

Overwhelmed by Shepard's proximity, Ashley leaned in for a hungry kiss, holding Shepard's face in her hands. Shepard returned the kiss with equal fervor. "You came back to me, Sloane," Ashley breathed into her ear.

"Don't mean to interrupt, ladies, but we should get the commander into the hangar before we attract the wrong kind of attention."

"Enjoy the show, Muscles?" Shepard needled.

"I don't know how to answer that, Commander. I'm pretty sure anything I say would get me into trouble."

"Don't call me that." Shepard used her shackled hands to take hold of one of Ashley's, tugging her along as Vega lead them to the hangar doors. When he made no objection, Ashley walked next to Shepard, still holding her cuffed hands. They conversed quietly as they went.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Ashley. But I sure am glad you are. How'd you end up on Earth?"

"I got orders a few weeks ago. Good timing, for once. What's next for you?"

"I really don't know, Ash. I've fulfilled my end of the bargain. I gave them the ship and turned myself in -"

"You wouldn't know it by the way they're parading you out here in cuffs." growled Ashley.

"I know. It's not exactly what I expected, but I can't change it. Nobody will tell me what happens to me now."

They reached the hangar. Vega once more positioned himself in front of them. "I can only give you a few minutes, Commander."

"For fuck's sake, Vega. Don't call me that. But thanks."

Shepard raised her hands to Ashley's face, the cuffs making the touch awkward but no less heartfelt. "I love you, Ash. Always." She kissed Ashley softly, allowing herself to savor the familiar taste of her lips. Ashley wrapped her arms around Shepard's waist, pulling her hips tight against her own, deepening the kiss. And for a few moments, there was nothing but the two of them, together. No shackles. No guards. No crowds. Just lips and tongues and hands and hearts.

"Commander - "

Shepard's response was automatic as she pulled unwillingly away from Ashley. "Don't call me that."

"Sorry, ma'am. But the brass is coming over to formally take you into custody. Your friend had better go."

Ashley stole one more kiss. "I love you, Sloane."

"At least we're finally on the same planet, Chief. I'll see you soon."

Ashley melted away into a corner, not ready to leave but knowing she could not stay. As soon as she was out of sight, Shepard stood tall once more, shoulders back, chin jutting defiantly forward. She strode confidently out the back of the hangar, flanked on all sides by armed MPs, looking nothing like a prisoner, but every inch a commander.

Ashley did not see Shepard again any time soon.