Lauren started for the decon bay to leave the ship when she saw Kaidan leaning against the bulkhead there. It had been several hours since she had brought him to the medbay with a migraine, but he still looked tired.
"You ok, Kaidan? The doctor said I should help you home," she said.
"I'm ok...those drugs always do a number on me. I'm not even sure how I was steady enough to hold that pistol. Sorry about aiming it at you."
"I would have done the same thing. Honestly, it was pretty damn badass that you and the doc were ready for whomever came out." Lauren gave Kaidan an approving wink.
Kaidan smiled and they made their way slowly to the transport stop. "This really wasn't how I was planning to spend my evening," he said.
"What were you planning?"
"Well, certainly not this." His brow crinkled and he grabbed Lauren's shoulder to stop her in the hallway. "Thanks. I owe you one," he said quietly.
Lauren started walking again. "Does it bother you still? About Vyrnnus?"
"No, not like it did. I used to really hate myself for it. Now I just let it keep me under control."
Lauren was quiet. She understood. After Torfan, she felt the same way, and it was probably why she didn't throw Jetrus at the engine core.
"Just so you know...I have your back too," Lauren said, breaking the quiet finally as they reached the transport stop to wait.
Kaidan looked confused. "Ok?"
"A long time ago...back at Brain Camp, you told me you had my back when I wanted to find out what Conatix was up to. So I just wanted to tell you the same goes for me. You're my friend and I wouldn't let anyone hurt my friends."
"You have a good memory," he said. "I remember some of that, but not things I said really."
Lauren got a wicked look on her face. "That's because you were so wrapped up in Rahna."
Kaidan gave a sleepy chuckle. "Yeah, I guess I was. That feels like a lifetime ago."
The transport arrived and the pair boarded and sat down. Kaidan was having a hard time stifling his yawns. Lauren's gaze was on the floor. " You know you're being eyed to be on the Normandy's crew even though you haven't taken the time yet to voice interest?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Because a Sentinel specialist is a double benefit for the crew and since you're already working on the ship, you know what to do," she explained. "Anderson has given me a list of potential crew. You are on it, but he wants to hear my recommendations."
"I told you I'd think about it..." Kaidan said through a big yawn.
"You need to hurry."
"Mmmhmmm..." was all the answer she got from him. Lauren looked over to see Kaidan's eyes closed. He slumped over and his head fell on her shoulder.
"Just don't drool on me, all right?" Lauren whispered.
When the transport reached Kaidan's stop, Lauren tried to shake him awake, but found him very hard to rouse. "Come on, Kaidan, you are home!" she grunted as she lifted him up, placed his arm over her shoulder and forced him to walk.
She shook her head as he staggered along and she dragged him off the transport. "Kaidan!" she said loudly, but not shouting. "Which house is yours?"
Finally, he opened his eyes and pointed toward a gray house with a red door that had a backyard leading to the bay. He was walking by himself now, albeit slowly. Lauren reached the door first and rang the bell. An older woman answered. She was tall and slim. Her hair was dark with a few hints of gray. She looked at Lauren curiously.
"Hi, I'm Lauren Shepard. Kaid..."
"I had a migraine, Mom," Kaidan interrupted as he walked right by Lauren and his mother through the doorway.
The older woman gave a look of slight annoyance in Kaidan's direction. "I'm sorry he was so rude...Lauren, you said? I'm Ivy Alenko."
"Yes, ma'am. He wasn't being rude...he fell asleep on the transport and I think he's still under the influence of whatever the doc gave him."
"Is that why he's home so late? He's usually home by 7," Ivy said, holding her arm out to invite Lauren inside.
"No, ma'am...today has been an interesting day," answered Lauren, matter-of-factly. "The migraine was the least of anyone's problems."
"Oh? What happened?" Ivy's face was creased with concern.
"Some turians tried to sabotage something Kaidan was working on," Lauren said, choosing her words carefully. "They were trying to kill him apparently and almost killed a number of other people in the process, but we stopped them. Nobody was hurt and they've been taken into custody."
Ivy's hand was over her mouth in shock. "But why?"
Kaidan had reappeared in the living room where the women were sitting, looking a bit better, but his face was stern. "Revenge, Mom...for Vyrnnus."
"Oh my God...," Ivy said quietly.
"It's ok, Mom. Lauren alerted the crew and the turians are being dealt with. It's fine."
"I'm just...it's just so much, Kaidan. You've been through too much." Ivy's eyes were welled up with tears.
Kaidan leaned in, giving his mom a hug and a peck on the cheek. "I'm ok, Mom. I'm going to bed, ok?"
"All right, dear. Good night."
Lauren had been sitting quietly watching the scene unfold, then she stood. "I should probably go now too."
"No, wait, please?" Ivy said. "I just want to thank you."
"It's what any other soldier would do, ma'am."
"I know...my husband is Alliance too," Ivy smiled. "But this...with Kaidan, he's had so many close calls. I couldn't have any more children after him...the eezo exposure ruined that. But then that horrible turian and Conatix...his mix up with red sand...Akuze...and now this."
Lauren perked up. "Akuze? Kaidan was there?"
"Yes, he was the only one left. I can't imagine the horror he must have seen."
"I had heard some rumors about Akuze, but the records had been classified and I...holy shit." Lauren suddenly blushed at her language. "Sorry ma'am."
Ivy shook her head and chuckled. "I'm not a Navy wife who has never heard some language before. Anyway, what you've done for Kaidan...for me...means far more than you realize."
"You are welcome, ma'am. Kaidan is a great guy...he's a better man for all his struggles. I need to get home now. It is late."
Ivy opened the door for Lauren. "Thank you, Lauren, and good night."
Morning came too early for Lauren. As she sat once again on the transport, she was very drowsy. Even after the excitement at work, it wasn't the turians and their nefarious plot that kept her awake. She was up much of the night thinking about Kaidan and Akuze. How do you deal with something like that? No wonder he doesn't want to be on the front lines.
Kaidan sat beside her, looking like sleep had been beneficial. "Hey," he said, looking kind of embarrassed. "I, uh, have something for you. From my mom." Kaidan handed her a paper note. "I told you my mom was traditional. She likes paper. Thinks it is more sentimental."
Lauren opened the note and read the flowing script.
Lauren,
There isn't enough in this world to say my thanks to you again for saving my Kaidan. I'm inviting you to our house to be our guest of honor for Christmas next week, if you do not already have any plans. Please say you will come. It is the best way I know to convey mine and my husband's gratitude.
Sincerely,
Ivy Alenko
Kaidan looked at Lauren with curiosity. "What did it say?"
"You mean, you didn't read it?" Lauren teased.
"No, I'm a bit past that kind of kids stuff."
"Your mom invited me over for Christmas next week."
"Yeah...she would..." Kaidan muttered.
"Should I decline?" asked Lauren.
Kaidan sighed. "No...don't do that. My mom will be really disappointed if you don't come because our whole family will be there."
"Fine then. Tell her I'll be there. My parents are off-world right now anyway, vacationing on the Citadel."
"Be prepared," Kaidan cautioned.
"For what?" Lauren laughed. "It's a family get-together. Can't be that bad!"
x-X-x
As Lauren sat at the large table next to Kaidan, she began to feel his caution was warranted. She wasn't a touchy-feely person and she had been on the receiving end of more hugs than she cared to admit. But she wasn't truly bothered until the meal was over and she was introduced to one of Kaidan's grandmothers.
"Gram, this is Lauren Shepard. She serves with me at Alliance R&D," Kaidan said to the elderly woman.
"Hello," said Lauren, holding out her right hand in greeting.
Instead of taking it, the woman grabbed Lauren's left hand, seeing the ring on her finger. "Kaidan!" she chastised. "You didn't tell anyone you were engaged! Not even your own mother!"
Lauren pulled her hand back. "No, no, no...this isn't from Kaidan," she tried to explain.
"Well, you aren't his girlfriend?" the bewildered woman asked.
"No, Gram...she's just a fellow soldier. We're just friends." Kaidan looked apologetically at Lauren.
After a few more similar incidents, Lauren decided it was time for her to leave. She went to fetch her coat from a bedroom. Kaidan followed her in. "I'm really sorry," he said.
"It's not a problem, Kaidan...you did warn me." Lauren put on her coat.
"I'll walk you out at least," he said grabbing his own coat.
As the two walked toward the door, Ivy noticed them. "Are you leaving so soon, Lauren?"
"Yes, ma'am. It has been a long day and I'm supposed to catch my parents on vidcomm in a little while," Lauren said.
"Well, thank you for coming. I know everyone was glad to meet you," she replied and returned to the festivities.
Outside, a heavy snow had started to fall. Kaidan walked with Lauren to the transport stop. "So you still haven't taken that ring off," he said, touching her hand. Lauren felt the initial snap from the static charge they both gave off, but then she noticed a queer flutter in her stomach. She removed her hand from his.
"No...I guess I wasn't ready. Sorry about the embarrassment it caused." She gave him a half-smile.
Kaidan didn't know exactly why...it could have been because it was Christmas or the snow...but he had never seen Lauren this way before. He had always been kind of attracted to her from the moment he saw her again here in Vancouver, but it had been easy to push down and ignore. It was more of a "haven't gotten laid in years" sort of thing. Today, though, it wasn't so easy. He grabbed her hand again. "Maybe we should have lied and just let Gram believe it was true," he said playfully. "My mom would have died."
Lauren was smiling brightly. "You're mean, Kaidan Alenko, and I like that. We should have." His thumb rubbed over the top of her hand and suddenly, she realized what was probably on his mind. The smile fell from her face as she dropped his hand again. "Kaidan, I want you for a friend. Nothing more, ok?"
Kaidan swallowed and he felt a heat crawl up his neck. "No...yeah, I didn't mean anything by that. I was just messing around."
The transport finally arrived and Lauren got on without saying a word. Kaidan walked back to his house and thought that she was right and he could be ok with that, couldn't he?
Lauren sat as the transport pulled away and looked at her hand. She could still feel the warmth of Kaidan's hand holding hers, but she didn't want to. This wasn't the time. She'd let a man warp her thinking before, and what did it get her? A bad reputation in the galaxy and a groundside assignment. Now she finally had the chance to break free of Earth. She couldn't let a guy who probably would never leave the planet, good reasons or not, tie her down. Why couldn't he just be her friend and leave it at that?
A/N: This chapter ended up a lot fluffier than I thought it would, but I love when the conversations just evolve. :) Thank you for the favorites and follows and especially the reviews!
