Kelly woke up to the smell of eggs and bacon the next morning. She got up, dressed, and ventured out of her room to find James in the kitchen with Shepard at the table. They were laughing about something.

"Good morning, Kelly." Shepard smiled as he spotted her. He got up and went to pour a cup of coffee, bringing it back to her.

"Thanks." Kelly took the cup and sat down at the table. "The review board decided that unless you take the mission Hackett is going to offer you, they're going to discharge you cat six."

Both Shepard and James froze at her words. All humor was gone from both of them as they stared at her.

"It wasn't my decision! I told them about the progress you were making." Kelly shook her head. "I don't know the details of the mission, but it has something to do with mopping up a Cerberus hold out."

Shepard sat back down and just stared at his coffee cup. James shook his head. "Come on, they can't be serious. He can't go out now. He can't even touch his shotgun without flinching." James sighed.

Kelly nodded. "I know. I told them that. Hackett pushed for more time."

"They're following their own agenda. They want me out of the military. Probably because of the Batarians. Or the genocide. Could be that." Shepard didn't look up. "I'll go, but I don't know how much use I'll be."

James barely nodded. "I got your back, mi corazón. We'll get Kaidan and Garrus and Tali and anyone else that wants to come along. We'll get them all. We'll make damned sure you don't lose your mind on this." He leaves the stove unattended to go sit next to Shepard.

Kelly got up and went to tend to the eggs and bacon. She smiled as James shot her a grateful look. "I'd go with you, Caleb, but I can't go back on the Normandy."

Shepard frowned. "I thought they'd have taken the Normandy away from me by now."

Kelly shook her head. "No, it's still your ship. You're technically on medical leave right now."

Shepard nodded. "I guess I should contact Hackett." He started to get up.

Kelly shook her head again. "No. Sit back down. He's coming here later today. He wanted me to give you a warning about all this."

Shepard relaxed back in the chair and nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Kelly." He tried to smile.

James rubbed Shepard's back silently. He kept his attention on Kelly, wordlessly conveying his concern at the whole mess.

Shepard closed his eyes and rested his head on his forearms. "Why me?"

James leaned over Shepard and kissed the back of his neck, right below the amp port. "Look, we'll go do this. We'll get through this. You and me, mi corazón, and anyone else who wants in on this. We'll all make sure you get through this."

Shepard nodded against his arms, then sighed. "Jimmy, I don't know if I can do this."

James went back to rubbing Shepard's back. "Yes, you can. You aren't doing this alone. Even if you just sit in the shuttle and let me and the others take care of it, you're still in charge of it."

Shepard snorted and lifted his head. "You know very well that they're not going to accept that, Jimmy. They'll discharge me if I sit on the sidelines."

Kelly turned off the stove, separating the eggs and bacon between three plates. She takes two to the table, setting them in front of James and Shepard. "Actually, they didn't say anything about you actually doing anything. Just that you had to get back out there. I think you can discuss the particulars with Admiral Hackett when he shows up."

Shepard nodded, moving one arm to pick up a fork. "Yeah. Thanks." He looks at James for a moment. "And if I can get away with that, I probably will. I still can't touch my Wraith."

James nodded and kept one arm around Shepard, using the other to eat. "Yeah, I know. I've been watching you. I still think you should go to the firing range, you know."

Shepard shrugged. "Maybe. I'm just glad you're keeping up with it since I can't."

James nodded. "No problem. I know it's special to you."

Shepard smiled at James. "So are you." He finally starts to eat.

Kelly sits down at the table with her plate. "James is right, Caleb. You should get out and start using your Wraith again. It will help. Maybe the two of you can do a little shooting outside later this morning."

James grinned at Kelly, then nodded. "How about it?" He looked at Shepard expectantly.

Shepard was silent for a moment before shrugging. "I'll try." It's the best he can do.

An hour later, Shepard and James were outside setting up whatever they could find to act as targets. James held out Shepard's Wraith. Shepard frowned as he started to reach for it. The minute his hand made contact with it, he shook his head and pulled away.

"I don't think I can do this." Shepard shivered, pulling his jacket around himself tighter.

"Yes, you can." James moves behind Shepard, taking one hand and reaching around him to make Shepard take hold of the Wraith. "I'm right here." He lets go only to grasp Shepards other hand and put it on the shotgun. "I'm not going to let you go, okay?"

Shepard nodded, though even James could see how pale he'd gone. "Okay."

"Now, why does this scare you so much?" James whispered against Shepard's ear.

"I don't know."

"Sight your target." James lifted the gun up, guiding Shepard's hands.

Shepard looked down the sight, then shook his head. "Oh god, Mordin." He jerked free and threw the Wraith down. "The genophage wasn't cured, Jimmy. I needed the Salarians. I shot Mordin." He started to tremble. "I shot him. Wrex found out. I shot him too." He crumbled then, falling to his knees in the light snow dusting the ground.

James moved over and kneeled in front of Shepard. "Hey, mi corazón, it's okay." He sighed. "I'm not going to say I understand what you did, cause I don't, but you did what you had to do. Our backs were against the wall."

Shepard looked at James for a moment, then shook his head again. "You don't understand. I could have given them a second chance, but I didn't. I took that away from them." He looked away. "What else have I done?"

James stood up, pulling Shepard up with him. "It's okay. You gotta trust me on this." He pulled Shepard into a tight embrace, rubbing his back.

Shepard clung to James. "I killed two of my friends, Jimmy. Mordin was my friend. He tried to tell me that the genophage was a mistake. I could have let him go. I should have let him go. Now the Krogan will pay for my mistake. Wrex was my friend. Hell, he helped me take on Sovereign. I repaid him by making sure the cure didn't work. That's the kind of man you married, Jimmy."

James sighed. "Okay, so, you fucked up twice. You're just human, Caleb. You're going to fuck up. Hell, I've fucked up. I can't even count the number of times I've fucked up."

Shepard started to chuckle and shook his head. "Damn it, mi amor, you just can't let me stay mad at myself, can you?"

James smirked and shook his head. "Nope." He kissed Shepard on the temple before letting him go. "Let's try this again?" He picked up the Wraith and held it out to Shepard.

Shepard hesitated, but finally took it. He shuddered, but didn't let go. He turned toward the targets they'd set up and sighted down the first one. He felt James move behind him, then felt hands on his shoulders, just lightly touching. He took the shot. The target exploded when hit.

"Well, you haven't lost your touch." James grinned, then moved away. He sat down on the porch steps and watched Shepard taking shots.

Kelly came out to join him. "I saw his reaction. Was it something bad?" She held out a cup of coffee to him.

James nodded. "Yeah, but it's not my place to say." He looked up at Kelly, then took the cup offered to him.

Kelly nodded. "I wasn't going to ask." She smiled at James. "I think he'll be okay. I got word from Hackett. He's on his way. He'll be here in about forty minutes."

James stood up and nodded. When Kelly handed him the second cup, he smiled. "Thanks. I'll make sure Caleb is ready." He watched her go back inside, then walked over to Shepard. "Hey, coffee break."

Shepard put the shotgun down and took the cup. "Thanks." The word wasn't meant just for the coffee.

James smiled and caressed Shepard's cheek. "Anytime, mi corazón. I'm here for you. Always." He lowered his hand. "Hackett's gonna be here soon."

Shepard flinched at the mention of Hackett, but nodded. He went back inside and put his shotgun on the table. He set the cup down next to it and sat down to work on the Wraith.

James followed Shepard in and just watched him until Hackett made his appearance. He turned toward the door briefly and shot off a salute. "Sir." He glanced toward Shepard with a small smirk.

Shepard completely ignored Hackett's entrance to the cabin. He was busy with his shotgun. He didn't even look up when Hackett cleared his throat.

"Commander." Hackett walked across the room to stand near Shepard.

"I already know. Kelly told me." Shepard still didn't look up. "I'll go, but only because I'm not going to let them throw me out."

Hackett raised a brow and looked toward James. He shook his head as James shrugged in response to the unspoken question. He looked back at Shepard. "Well, good. I had expected this to be a little more... difficult." He frowned and rubbed his chin. "But I'll take easy."

Shepard looked up then. "Easy? You think this is easy for me?" He ignored James' warning 'mi corazón' from across the room. "This is the first time I've been able to even touch my shotgun in a month. A month, Admiral, that's all they gave me. Anyone else in my place would have been given at least a year to recover from what I just went through." He stands up, hands on the table. "And if you honestly think they don't have some ulterior agenda to get me killed or worse, you're seriously fucked up." He glared at Hackett for a moment, then added a soft, "sir."

Hackett stood there impassively during Shepard's short rant. "Finished?" He waits for Shepard to nod. "Good. You're right. They have a motive for this. They want you out and they figured category six was the way to go. They expect you to fail this mission. That is not going to happen." He turns slightly. "Lieutenant, I expect you to go with the Commander and make sure this succeeds."

James nodded. "Yes, sir."

Shepard just looked confused. "So, I'm right?"

Hackett couldn't stop the small grin that started, but he did control it. "Yes, Shepard, you're right. Something doesn't seem quite right about this mission whatever their agenda is. I want you to be cautious on this one."

Shepard nodded. "I will be. I'm surprised you're letting James go with me."

Hackett shook his head. "You're a Spectre, Shepard, as you're always so fond of pointing out when you break Alliance regulations. He's also what's keeping you glued together right now. Like hell I'm going to separate you."

Shepard allowed a small smile to break through. "Thank you, sir."

Hackett handed Shepard a datapad. "All the information we have is there. You'll need to leave in forty-eight hours. The Normandy will be waiting for you and I believe most of your old team is still on board. It's all there."

James moved over to stand next to Shepard. He looked at the datapad, then over at Hackett. He didn't say anything, but he tried to convey his gratitude by look alone.

Hackett nodded to James, then to Shepard. "I'll debrief you when you return. Good luck, Marines." He returns the salute that both James and Shepard offer before leaving.

Shepard waited until Hackett was out of earshot. "He could have just sent this crap." He tosses the datapad on the table and starts working on his Wraith again.

James picked up the datapad and began to read. "Yeah, but I get the feeling that it wasn't just to give you this. I think he was checking up on you himself."

Shepard shrugged. "Whatever. Contact the Normandy. I guess we should pack up and head out now. Might as well."