Bioware as always owns all!
Thanks to Star for trying to get me to the right place.
Thanks to Shenzi for being there for me.
Thank you Sesh... and you know why!
Thank you Brooke, for returning my Muse to all her glory. She is extremely happy now, and you helped to get her there.
Hey everyone... the last two chapters were all about the crew, because the Antietam is just not ready, so we can't go searching for the bad guys. You should also know that the last two chapters were originally part of this one. It was the chapter that would not end. It took time to get everything to where we are now... but I think we are better for the journey. So now tell me...
Should Shadows Be Avoided?
Kaidan woke to the alarm and switched it off. Shepard who was snuggled next to him groaned, whacking him on the chest before turning away and burrowing further under the covers.
"You know I have to get back in my pod, so stop being so grouchy." He kissed the back of her head. She mumbled something unintelligible to him. He rubbed her back and sat up.
Dressing quickly he grabbed his omnitool and shoved it on then activated it while walking toward the door. Scrolling through the cameras he'd set up to give him a view of the entire deck outside the cabin he sighed with relief as most cameras showed nothing. Stopping as he came to the pod camera, he noticed someone was trying to look into his pod. He looked closely and identified Lieutenant Unwin as the person standing over his pod trying to see inside.
She really has been curious about my movements.
She seemed to be checking the readings on his pod with interest.
I'll have to adjust the read outs to mimic me sleeping from now on.
Unwin finished her inspection and headed toward the elevator. Kaidan waited until she was gone then snuck out of the Commander's cabin, thankful that he had put in the extra time to make the door open silently. Safely reaching the corridor on the opposite side of the elevator from Unwin he moved one of the chairs in the mess with a small biotic push. As the lieutenant headed back to investigate the noise, he rushed forward hitting the elevator call button. Luck was with him that the door immediately opened and he quickly stepped inside. The elevator's chime alerted Unwin who rushed back around the corner just in time to see him step out.
"Is there a problem Unwin? You seem out of breath?" Kaidan kept his expression innocently blank.
"No sir, no problem." she looked him up and down. His hair was a mess and his eyes had that puffy look of someone who had just woken up.
"Then I will let you be on your way."
"Yes sir, thank you, sir." She got into the elevator.
Walking towards the pods Kaidan tapped on his omnitool, activating the elevator's camera and sound. He knew that often when alone people tended to talk to themselves. His diligence was soon rewarded.
"So much for your conspiracy theories, Ouis, he was probably in the bathroom on the gym deck. He had obviously been sleeping. This is not getting you anywhere." She taped herself gently on the head.
Well that proves she was looking for me, but doesn't tell me why.
As he considered the matter Kaidan approached his pod and climbed in.
I am going to have to be more creative in my sneaking around I, think. Well, or do with less Shepard time. Yeah, that doesn't sound appealing at all, and it might piss Shepard off, too. I wouldn't want that but I also don't think Unwin would be that open stumbling into one of Shepard's torture sessions on me. I don't think Unwin would understand where Shepard was coming from. Yeah, this could get ugly.
Shepard woke up for the second time that morning and reached over for Kaidan, scowling as she remembered that he'd already left. Reaching up to touch the necklace he had given her, she panicked as her fingers encountered nothing but her own skin. She scrabbled frantically with both hands and found the heart had twisted around behind her neck. As she straightened it she sighed with relief and thought once again about Kaidan's proposal of the previous night.
He says I can take as long as I want to decide. I think the Reapers have to be defeated first before I can think about that. Of course wearing this is going to make me think about it all the time. Sometimes he is very devious.
She got out of bed and attended to her morning routine.
Before leaving the bathroom she caught her reflection in the mirror again. The locket on her chest. She grabbed it, intending to shove it under her shirt and she froze.
Hey, I should get him something too. Not a necklace... maybe a bracelet. Something that will make him think of me all the time.
She went to her terminal and linked into Citadel information to see if Ockorm Phrell, an old friend and jeweler she and her father had always used in the past, survived the attack. She found he had and quickly sent him a note detailing what she wanted.
A short time later as Shepard was going over the daily logs she was interrupted by a chirping sound signaling an important message coming in. She opened it and began to read.
Shepard –
I can provide what you ask for. I have exactly what you want and I can have it ready in one hour from the time of this message. You're welcome to come and get it. Use caution, there was much damage here and there is a criminal element here in the Chrimiara ward. I hope to see you soon.
– Ockorm Phrell
Smiling to herself she closed the terminal.
Well now I have to pick it up without him knowing. Everyone is so busy I should be able to leave the ship without being noticed and, if I am careful, I can be back before anyone misses me.
She dressed quickly, checking her armor and weapons over before leaving the cabin. She exited the Antietam, looking around her carefully, alert for movement and possible danger.
Don't know who might be watching.
Fortunately, a large shipment had been unloaded recently filling the dock with containers and cartons all of which provided excellent cover.
The woman that the Antietam crew referred to as the female 'shadow' who used the name Amanda Grayston stood up, stretching her aching legs before sliding out from her hiding place behind a large shipping container.
Commander Shepard, their target, made her way towards the docking elevator, never noticing the thin dark-haired woman who followed from a distance, her eyes never leaving her quarry although her fingers tapped her omnitool to signal her partner to meet her. It looked like the target was trying to avoid being seen by her own crew. She followed the target to the transport terminal where Trainer joined her and they got into a transport that then followed their target. This could be their lucky day!
Shepard exited the transport and headed to Ockorm Phrell's shop.
He was not kidding about the damage, it used to be beautiful here.
She looked around and saw some shady characters but so far they were taking no notice of her.
She had her Shadows with her. They had been following her since she left the ship. The appeared to be keeping an even distance from her.
Well, I knew I was taking a chance, but if they are only observing right now, I should be okay. Not like they can't be eliminated if need be.
She entered Ockorm Phrell's office and walked over to the desk. Removing her helmet she sat down as the volus came out of the back and noticed he was not alone.
"Ariana," (breath) "I am glad to see you!" He said, rushing over to greet her.
"Hi, Ockorm, How are you?"
"Oh a bit of this a lot of that." (breath) "You know how it is." (breath) "Did you bring the DNA sample for the..." (breath) "...other donor?"
"You know I did. Here." She handed him a small vial.
"Good, just give me a..." (breath) "...moment to encode it."
He walked over to a machine setting the vial in an indent before tapping on a panel. Lights flickered and the vial disappeared into the machine. Shepard heard some minor noises, but really there wasn't much to see. She leaned back in the chair and puffed out a stream of air. Then she looked around the room at the latest jewelry trends. She saw a pair of earrings her mom would like.
I will have to tell dad about them. Maybe I will just buy them and he can pick them up. Yes, would be a nice surprise for her.
The volus finished what he was doing and walked over to her.
"Is this what..." (breath) "...you had in mind, dear?"
Taking the pouch from his hand she pulled out a solid silver colored bracelet engraved with an intricate light design based on ancient Celtic knots. Shepard looked at the inscription on the inside and smiled.
"This is perfect. Now it won't bind and it won't be too loose?"
"No, it is made to the..." (breath) "...exact specifications you gave me."
"Great. Oh, and Ockorm - I need those earrings there for Mom. I will pay for them along with the bracelet and Dad will pick them up okay?"
"You don't want me to..." (breath) "...send them on?"
"No, they will be a nice surprise for him to give her next time he visits her. By my calculations he should be here within the week."
"Certainly, that will be no..." (breath) "...problem." The volus processed the payment.
Shepard glanced out the front of the store as she waited for the jeweler to finish with her chit.
I wonder where the shadows are hiding. Maybe I can avoid the company on the trip back.
"Ockorm, can I leave out the back? I want to lose a shadow."
"Certainly, I will show you the way." (breath) "It was really nice to see you again." (breath) "Give my love to your mom and dad." (breath) "After she gets her present of..." (breath) "...course."
Shepard laughed "I will do that." She followed the volus to the back.
Shepard went out the back way and walked towards the alley exit. Then she heard voices, and decided it didn't hurt to be cautious. Taking cover behind a container of some sort she listened, it could be nothing after all.
"I saw Shepard in the jewelers and I was able to get close enough and heard her ask him to show her out the back. They were being friendly though so they might talk a bit."
"The client doesn't care if she is dead or alive, but they want the whole body, so don't lose any pieces."
Two voices, male, possibly alien looking for me. Figures, nothing is ever simple. All I wanted to do was get a present for my boyfriend, damn.
"Doesn't that seem like an odd request?" The voices continued.
"Who cares? The money's good and they gave us this great ammo and upgraded our weapons." As the mercs laughed Shepard hears the distinct sound of weapons being pulled from holsters. "Is everyone set up? I don't have line of sight on anyone."
"They are and you won't either because of all the debris, but it does make for good hiding places."
"Two stationed just north of us. At the south end we have three groups of two because that has straight access to the transport if you exit from this side you have to go west before you can go east."
Shoving her helmet on and slowly moving to a better cover position back by the wall, Shepard pulled out her assault rifle and quietly readied the weapon. Once she was sure that the ammo selection and the upgrades were secured she replaced in on her back and took out her new sniper rifle. Running her hands over the new weapon she smiled.
I finally get to try out this baby for real instead of just target practice. This new heat sink system means I can take more shots and not have to worry about overload. The new ammo needs a good tryout too, supposed to cut through shields and armor like butter.
Pulling out the silencer and securing it, she checked to see if what the men were saying was true. Even if there were two together in each spot, with a rush of adrenaline she could take out two or four at a time easily. It was taking them out without alerting the others that would be the challenge and she loved a challenge. First things first. She squatted down and moved to the end of a dumpster that was blocking her from the view of anyone at the south end of the alley. Hiding behind a crate that blocks the view from the north end of the alley, she slowly worked her head out so as not to alert her assailants to her presence. She saw the two on the west side easily, they are about thirty clicks away. The ones she overheard were on the same side as she is, so she couldn't really make them out. If her hearing was accurate though, that put them approximately six to twelve clicks from her position. If there were six at the south side hiding in various locations at the end of the alley she needed to plot their positions. She carefully scanned the south end of the alley to find the hiding spots of her would be assassins. On the west side she saw two vorcha on a roof. She scanned the area below them and found the other two assailants. They were under and ahead of the ones on the roof.
The two vorcha on the roof are the biggest threat since they are the ones with the best view of me and they also can see those two on the ground in front of them. I need to take them out first, without alerting the others. I also need to find the other two that are on the east side. I need to find a spot that will let me see them but block me from them, too.
Looking around she found several locations that would work but she could only get to them by breaking her cover. Then she noticed a small space between the wall and the dumpster that would get her past said dumpster. On the other side of the dumpster there was a partially crumbled wall that had been braced and reinforced that might afford her just the protection she needed and the dumpster would block the north end view of her. There was a hole in the wall that was just a little above eye level that she could push the sniper rifle through and aim at the assailants on the roof. She would have to check if the other four would have a view of her gun though.
She flattened herself against the wall and slowly and as silently as possible slid through the space working herself to the other side of the dumpster. Once through she went to the east side of the wall where there was a space between the wall and the building that would give her a view of the east side. There were crates on the other side of the wall in two rows. The row closest to her was one crate high and behind that they were two crates high. She looked over the crates and scanned the area. She was able to spot the last two assassins. They were under an overhang so the vorcha on the roof couldn't see them from their position. They were also behind the west ground team, but they were in line with them visually. If she could get a good position to aim from she could easily take down all four very quickly.
Moving over to the small hole in the wall it was indeed big enough for her to aim through. She looked through it and saw that the view would be blocked to all the ground assailants. But if the vorcha on the roof looked right at the hole at just the right time they might be able to see the gun. It was a chance she was going to have to take. Checking the settings on the sniper rifle and making sure one last time that the silencer was secured she placed the gun through the hole and took aim. She tested her movement several times to make sure she could move from one target to the other quickly so there would be little to no time for them to react. She did this quickly so they wouldn't notice the rifle sticking out of the hole. Steeling herself she took the shots quickly and luck was with her, both vorcha went down without a sound. Slowly removing the rifle from the hole she took a deep breath.
That went well let's hope for continued good luck. I love this weapon.
She looked for a way to get to the other side of the wall she had just used for cover. She felt those two rows of crates on the other side would offer the perfect position to take out the four assailants that were left. She saw a crumbled area against the building that looked like it might be big enough if she could just remove a few pieces of debris. She removed the debris quietly and quickly and then shoved her guns through the wall so she would be able to get through with no problem. Shimmying through the makeshift doorway she pulled herself through and secured her weapons keeping her sniper rifle in her hands.
Climbing up onto the lower level of crates she kept her self below the top of the upper level of crates. Moving to a position that she felt would give her the best line of sight for all four assassins she then slowly raised her head just enough to check the line of sight. She had to move a step to the west and then she had a bird's eye view of the four assailants.
Moving very slowly now, so as not to draw attention to herself she slid the sniper rifle into position and checked the aim. It was doable but it would be better if she used a rush of adrenaline. If she timed it just right she could take them all out before they even know what hit them. The timing wouldn't even be that tight. She checked the line of sight and rhythm of the shots several times before finally deciding the best way to make the kill. Steeling herself again she took aim at the first assailant and upon pulling the trigger engaged her adrenaline and took out the other three in very quick order. She waited to see if there was any outcry from the subjects behind her, but she heard nothing. Taking in a deep breath she relaxed herself as her heart rate slowly returned to normal from the adrenaline rush.
She now had to work her way back to the other side of the wall and work out the best position to attack the assailants on the north end. While getting herself back into position she took the time to work out her final strategy.
Kaidan walked into Shepard's cabin. "Shepard, time for lunch."
He got no answer. He looked around the room.
Bed not made, not surprising really. Doesn't look like she had breakfast.
He walked over to her terminal and opened it up, entering her code to pull up the last session. He took one look at the email that was on the comm then headed rapidly for the door. As he did so, he activated his omnitool, pinging her. He received no response and quickly tapped into a comm channel.
"Garrus, is Shepard with you?"
"Nope, haven't seen her all day." Garrus answered.
"Suit up, get Wrex and meet me on the dock."
"Be there in five."
"Kaidan?" Liara came over the comm.
"Yes, Liara."
"I just came on duty on the dock. The Shadows are gone."
"Shit, who did you relieve?"
"Huntley and he wasn't feeling well. He might have dozed off."
"Alright, meet me on the dock in five okay."
"Yes, Kaidan."
Kaidan suited up and was outside in three. He waited for half a minute before the other three were there with him.
"Shepard has left the ship. She went to pick up something in the Chrimiara ward. Let's go." Kaidan gestured towards the transport.
Negotiating briefly with the driver, Kaidan offered to pay an extra bonus of triple the amount if the transport driver broke records getting them to their destination. The driver did his best to earn his bonus, but still the trip seemed to take forever.
What was she thinking? She wasn't obviously. She always thinks she can handle anything. Come on, hurry up. If she is okay I will kiss her and then I am going to lock her up!
The transport landed and they jumped out and took off for the address of the office Kaidan traced the mail to.
Trainer took a chance and snuck close to the jeweler shop hoping that Shepard wouldn't take that moment to look out of the shop. He looked inside and the volus was alone.
"She is no longer in the shop. She must have headed out the back." He said over the comm to Grayston.
"I can see the transport from my position and she is not there, so she must still be in the back, we will have to go and check it out." There was silence for a moment and then she advised him, "Shit, four of her crew are landing in a transport. If we want to talk to her we better move it. Hurry."
Trainer headed for the back alley quickly as Grayston closed in behind him.
Having worked her way to the other side of the wall again Shepard was able to move a large slab of rock that was relatively flat and stable enough for her to stand on and would raise her just enough to see over the dumpster and check the position of the two subjects that were the closest to her and see if she could find a good place for her final assault. Lifting her head slowly over the top of the dumpster she was able to see the two batarians clearly and see that it wasn't going to be easy to get a good line of sight to take the four of them out at the same time. She looked around and decided the best thing to do would be to go to the end of the dumpster and take out the two on the west and then change position and take out the two batarians. It was taking a risk, because it would expose her to the batarians but if she worked it right they wouldn't have time to respond. It wasn't the perfect plan, but it would accomplish what she wanted and finish them all off.
Setting up the shot she could only practice the first two shots. She tried to figure out a better way but she couldn't. Taking a several breaths she readied herself for the adrenaline rush.
Rushing in to the jewelers, Kaidan looked at the vorlus and with urgency asked. "Are you Ockorm Phrell?"
"Yes." (breath) "Who are you?" Ockorm threw up his hands seeing they were heavily armed.
"I am Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko of the Alliance. I am looking for Commander Shepard she is my CO. I know she was here, do you know where she went?"
"Lieutenant, she went out the back..." (breath) "...maybe twenty or twenty five minutes ago."
"Where?" Kaidan said as he activated his omnitool again to ping Shepard's,
It showed she was still in the alley and she shouldn't be if she left twenty minutes ago. Kaidan had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as they headed for the back door the volus pointed them towards.
Shepard steeled herself to take out the first two of the four when one went flying into the air ruining the element of surprise. A second later the second one went flying too. Not sure where the biotics were she had no time to lose. She stepped out set up her shot and set her adrenaline rush. She took out the first batarian and then aimed for the second. She saw the flash of his gun a millisecond before her shot was completed and pain shot through her leg spinning her around. She was dazed from the pain and she reached down and felt hot wet sticky blood.
Looking down she saw there was a lot of blood for such a short span of time. She saw the pulse of the blood and realized her artery had been hit.
That's not good.
She lifted her hand with the blood on it and looked up as she heard footsteps running towards her. She saw that it was the female shadow.
"Shepard!" Amanda Grayston saw the blood as she reached her. "Get over here and help me" she called to someone over her shoulder.
Shepard couldn't stand anymore and was getting light headed. She fell against the woman who helped her down to the ground.
Damn lucky shot. Shit, I can't get away. Kaidan is going to be pissed at me.
She looked up at the woman working on her armored leg.
"Shepard, I am going to stop the bleeding, hang in there."
"Hurry up, someone is coming, from inside the jewelry store. It's probably her crewmates since you saw them on the transport. One of them is probably linked to her tool." a male's voice said.
"I've got to stop the bleeding or she will die before they get here. Lay down some shots and slow them down, don't hit them." Grayston ordered as she quickly labored on Shepard's leg.
"Got it."
Shepard tried to look and see who was coming. As she tried to turn, she felt the ground move beneath her as her vision blurred.
"Hang in there, Shepard. I've almost got the artery sealed, but you have lost quite a bit of blood." Grayston leaned over her concentrating but her expression looked grim.
Shepard heard shooting and return fire. Then she felt like she was floating and she lost track of time. She came back to reality and there was a series of loud booms and she heard someone running.
"I set off some flash charges, there are four of them and since you don't want..."
Shepard lost consciousness.
As Kaidan opened the back door he saw the flash of gunfire and took cover. Raising his barrier, he began to collect dark energy for a throw he could use if he could just find a target. Garrus and Wrex moved into position, returning fire but the shooter was good. He had them pinned down, but didn't seem to be trying to hit them.
"Garrus," Kaidan hissed at the turian. "This is a stall tactic. Whoever it is they aren't aiming at us, just keeping us pinned down."
"I noticed. Where is Shepard, is she still in the alley?"
Dissipating the dark matter, Kaidan activated his omnitool quickly and checked then started collecting dark energy again to ready a stasis field. "Yes, she is about twelve to fifteen clicks to the north. There is only one shooter I think, the gunfire sounds the same."
"Yeah, well, he is good." Garrus tries to get a bead on the shooter with his sniper rifle but bullets force him back into cover.
They exchanged fire for several minutes and then there was a flash grenade, and suddenly – it stopped. Checking his omnitool expecting to find Shepard's signal gone, Kaidan was relieved when she showed up in the same location. Believing the stall tactic was to keep them pinned for whatever they were doing he went charging out the alley in the direction of Shepard's signal. As he neared the source of the signal he caught a glimpse of a woman that looked like the female that had been tailing Shepard disappearing around the corner. Shepard lay on the ground in a pool of blood, her leg armor and helmet next to her. He saw she was very pale. Disapating the dark matter, throwing himself down beside her he used his omnitool to check her vitals. Her blood pressure was low and her pulse was light, but it was there. Checking her leg he saw a bullet wound that obviously cut the leg artery. It had been expertly tended and the bleeding had stopped. He sat back in relief.
"Liara, call the Normandy... I mean the Antietam and tell Chakwas what happened and send her these vitals." He waved his omnitool over hers transferring the data. "Garrus, call C-Sec and tell them what happened. Tell them we need immediate extraction."
"Kaidan, there are ten bodies, two of which were obviously killed by biotics," Wrex told him as he came to his side. "The rest look like they were taken down by a Sniper.
"C-Sec is on the way. When she comes to she is going to be pissed she only got eight of them." Garrus said.
"Chakwas is ready." Liara told them.
Kaidan took her hand. "Shepard, can you hear me?" Kaidan shook her gently, obtaining a slight moan. "Shepard open your eyes." Her lids fluttered but she couldn't seem to keep them open. "I'm here and I am going to get you back to the ship." He told her. She moved her fingers in his and he sighed in relief.
"She is going to need blood, but I think she is going to be okay." Kaidan told them.
"Who fixed her wound?" Garrus asked.
"I don't understand it, but I think it was that Grayston woman. I just saw her as she fled around the corner there." Kaidan pointed.
"Now that's odd, if they wanted her dead, why save her?" Wrex said.
Kaidan frowned. "That is the fifty million credit question."
Finally back on the Antietam Kaidan sat at Shepard's bedside watching her face and willing her to wake. His hands were balled into fists and he is trying to keep a look of mild worry on his face instead of the intense worry he feels (in case one of the new crew members stops in... or worse, Unwin), he was failing miserably.
"You know, Kaidan, she is going to be fine. She's had her transfusions and I had no trouble doing the repair to the artery since the temporary one held nicely until I got to her. That Grayston woman knew what she was doing." Dr. Chakwas sat at her terminal tapping away as she spoke to him.
"I'll just feel better if she would just wake up."
He leaned forward to be closer to her, then pulled himself back after reminding himself that it wouldn't look right hanging over her. Then he noticed her eyelids flutter. He reached for her hand, then quickly returned his hand to his leg gripping it.
Noticing his conundrum Dr. Chakwas got up and walked over to his side. Anyone who walked into the med bay would not see him right away and he would have time to pull back. She nodded her head at him. He realized what she had meant by her silent signal and he gave her a grateful smile before sitting forward and taking Shepard's hand.
The few moments they watched as her eyelids fluttered and the seconds seemed to go by like a drop of water hanging from an icicle waiting to fall. Finally she opened her eyes and Kaidan sighed in relief. He squeezed her hand gently and let it go. She looked into his eyes.
"Hi." Her voice rasped and she swallowed.
"Hi." He smiled back at her.
"Here have some water Shepard." Dr. Chakwas filled a glass and gave it to her.
After drinking the water Shepard leaned back and looked at him and smiled again, then closed her eyes again.
"The next time she wakes she should be back to normal but weak. Rest for at least twenty-four hours. Forty-eight would be better. I'll just have her take it easy in her cabin."
Kaidan turned and looked at the doctor and was much more relaxed now that Shepard had woke.
"Thank you, Doc. I will see what I can do. It isn't easy to keep her down once she's feeling better."
"I think the weakness will slow her down. The rest of course is up to her."
The doctor returned to her terminal to finish her reports as Kaidan returned to his vigil. Much calmer now that she had woke, the concerned look on his face was much more relaxed and less stressed. He sat back in the chair and waited for her to wake.
"Would you like to tell me what you were doing off of this ship with no guard?"
Shepard looked up at Kaidan, her eyes seeking his. "No, not right now."
Kaidan heard Doc exit the room leaving them alone.
"Ari, that was damn stupid of you."
"Lucky shot, that's all. Forgot to charge my shields, and forgot to use the medigel again. You really should figure out a way to make that automatic Kaidan, I always forget to use it."
Seeing the grim frown on her face he could tell she was mad at herself, but she wasn't giving an inch.
"That lucky shot almost cost you your life." He snapped then took a deep breath and put his hand on her arm.
"I kind of had my hands full with the seven other mercs not including the one who got me." she looked down, her face in an angry grimace. "I would have gotten all ten of them if the shadows hadn't interfered."
"This time you were lucky they followed you. If they hadn't you'd be dead."
"So she did help me, I was wondering if I remembered that right." She sat up slowly. "She called me by name. They didn't want to hurt the four of you. I think anyway, I can't be sure. Am I cleared, can I go back to my cabin now?"
"Doc says it's okay to return to your cabin, but you have to rest." He reached over to help her off the bed, she still looked pale. "You really scared me Ari, what if we didn't get there in time. Those people could have taken you." He slowly let her go and stepped back, but watched her closely. His furrowed brow and ridged stance mirroring his concern.
"But they saved my life instead." Shepard sighed the words, a hand running over her forehead. "I didn't expect that and I'm not sure how I feel about it, I will have to think on it." Shepard moved toward the door with the haste of a woman who wanted nothing more than to put her weary body to bed.
"Don't go so fast," Kaidan picked up his pace to catch up to her.
Entering her cabin she started pulling off her clothing. She went to the closet and got her simple comfortable sleepwear on.
Pulling her shirt over her head she noticed him watching her like she was going to self destruct any minute. "Kaidan, I am not a porcelain doll, I will not break."
"No, but that doesn't mean I like to see you hurt." He rubbed his forehead.
She reached in and pulled the package she got from Ockorm out of her armor. "Did you clean my guns?"
"Garrus is cleaning them as we speak. Get into bed and I will arrange to get you something to eat."
"You know, I really have a craving for spinach." She climbed into bed.
"High iron food, yes, I am not surprised. I think we have some, I'll get someone to find it for you."
"Okay." Shepard watched him leave.
Kaidan returned to the cabin with their food. Shepard had been dozing but woke when he walked in. She threw off the blankets and got up from the bed and headed for the table.
"You want to eat in bed? I can get a bed tray from med bay."
"No, I can sit at the table" she seated herself.
"Are you still feeling tired?" He placed all the food on the table.
"A little bit. I think I'll feel better once I eat."
They sat together quietly and enjoyed their meal. Kaidan noticed at one point while chewing her food Ari reached up and smiled lovingly as she touched the locket and then she turned and looked at him. It warmed his heart and he reached over and put his hand on her leg, smiling back in delight. They continued eating exchanging glances or touches now and then but just enjoying the peaceful normalcy of the meal
When they were just about done Kaidan asked "You want to tell me now what you were doing?"
"You're just going to get angry at me. It doesn't matter. It was something I wanted to do by myself and now it's ruined." Shepard turned away.
"So what you purchased, it was destroyed in the fire fight?"
"No, that is not what I meant, never mind."
"Ari, I really want to know what you were doing there and why you felt you had to go alone?"
"I had to go alone because it something I wanted to do alone for myself. It's not important anymore."
"If you felt that it was so important, why didn't you discuss it with me."
"If I discussed it with you, you never would have let me go alone."
"No, I would have fought you on that, you're right. You went to get something. Why won't you tell me what it is that was so important?"
"Because you'll get angry. You're going to tell me it wasn't important, I know you will. But it was important to me and it still is."
"Well why don't you show it to me? I will not be angry."
"I think I need you to promise me that."
"You're telling me to see what you bought, I have to promise I won't get angry?"
"Yes."
"Why?" Kaidan creased his brow.
"Because if you promise me then you can't get angry at me. This is your rule. If you get angry, then I don't have to keep any of my promises." She looked him in the eyes with a small smile on her face. "You have made me make a lot more promises than I have made you make, and mine are much harder to keep."
Kaidan couldn't see any way around it. If he wanted to find out what she had been doing, he would have to promise not to get angry with her. Problem was he was pretty sure whatever she had been doing did not have to be done alone, so yeah he would be angry.
Maybe I should try reverse psychology.
"Okay, then, don't tell me." He shrugged.
"Okay, I won't." She kissed his cheek. "Good night." She got up leaving her dishes behind.
That didn't work quite the way I wanted it to.
Kaidan gathered the dishes, placing them back on the tray, as Shepard walked to her bed. Leaving the tray on the table, Kaidan followed her. She got into bed and he adjusted the blanket for her. He lay down beside her.
"You're doing it to me again, you know." He placed his hand across her stomach and looked into her face.
"Doing what?" Shepard plucked at the covers.
"You're shutting me out."
"I don't mean to."
"Then tell me why you left the ship."
"You promise first." She looked him in the eyes.
"Ari..."
"No, Kaidan. You make me promise you that I won't do things that I really want to do. You make me promise that I won't do things because they are bad. Okay, so sometimes I know they are bad, like wanting to kill the turian councilor. Sometimes I think the lines are gray." She looked up, her eyes losing focus. "Perhaps I promise because I know it's really something I shouldn't want to do, but I just want to." Returning her full attention to him she looks in his eyes. "For the most part you keep my morals in line. Before I met you I did do some really bad things." A small smile touched her lips. "Lucky for me none of them were as bad as the councilor thing or they don't know it was me who did it. So I understand you are looking out for my best interests." Her smile disappeared and lips pursed and her face took on a hard quality. "I know I am childish, and maybe that is why I went alone, but I am not going to tell you why until you promise you won't get angry at me."
"How about a compromise..." He pointed to his chest. "I promise I will try not to get angry at you and..." then he pointed to her. "You tell me what you went to pick up."
"I counter propose that I don't tell you and I lock you out of the cabin for a week." Giving a small chuckle she tilted her head looking at him and grinning.
"You're not going to give me any leeway on this are you?"
"Well, I could make it two weeks if you'd rather."
Kaidan jumped off the bed and paced as his mind raced. Shepard just lay there watching him. He started to say something several times. Finally he stopped and turned to face her, lips tight, clenching his fists.
"Okay, I promise I won't get angry at you for leaving the ship without a guard and doing your errand." He said through clenched teeth.
"Okay, I went to get you a present."
"What? You put your live in dan..." He had to stop because he was raising his voice. He took several deep breaths. "Couldn't it have waited?"
"Well... I suppose in hind sight, it could have."
"So you admit you should have taken someone with you."
"I admit I should have lost the shadows first." She looked away as if picturing the scene then nodded her head. "I would have been able to take all ten without incident and no one would have been the wiser."
"You would have been..." His voice took on a sharp quality.
She interrupted him calmly as he raised his voice. "If you lose your temper, Kaidan, I will not keep any of the promises I made to you." She shook her head watching him. "Not even the ones I know I really should."
Kaidan looked up and counted to ten. He took several deep breaths trying to center himself and calm down.
Maybe if I know what she got this will make more sense to me.
He got back on the bed next to her.
"What did you get for me?"
Shepard reached under her pillow and pulled out a dark colored pouch and handed it to him. He pulled out the silver colored bracelet and looked at it. Then he looked at her, speechless.
"Look on the inside." She said to him with a smile on her face.
He looked inside and saw some words. He rotated the bracelet to find the beginning of the inscription.
It read: 'Kaidan – When you look at this bracelet always remember that I love you. – Ari'. He looked back at her.
"It only opens for you or me like the locket. It is also made from the strongest metal. Now every time you feel like you need to be reminded that I love you, and I am not around to ask or you can't see the locket," she pointed to the bracelet still smiling, "you can look at your wrist."
She reached up and took it from his hands and slid her finger along it to release the catch. She put it on his wrist locking it in place and looked in his eyes.
"See, a perfect fit. No binding and not too loose. Ockorm was right." She waited for him to respond. When he did not she frowned and asked "what, you don't like it?"
Kaidan took her in his arms. "No, I do like it. I appreciate that you wanted to give me something. It's really special. Thank you." He looked over her shoulder and caught sight of the edge of the bracelet on his arm. I only hope at some point when I look at it I won't always think that it also almost cost me your life.