I do not own Mass Effect or any of the associated contact. Jagher Shepard is my Shepard and Fayelle Shepard is my friend's Shepard. This is a collection of moments set throughout the games. They're rated for language and violence mostly.

Mass Effect: Moments.
A Moment of Peace.

The Presidium was rather quiet, which was unusual but not unheard of. There was probably some sort of function going on or something. Also, it was around midday, so many were probably enjoying lunch somewhere on the massive station. The few people who were walking around were either chatting quietly to their walking companions, or just enjoying the beautiful, if artificial, scenery.

Jagher Shepard was leaning on a railing, overlooking the water and just taking whatever enjoyment she could from the moments of peace, greatly needed especially after fighting the geth and the Thorian on Feros.

Remembering the ancient and hideous monster plant-thing, Jagher sighed heavily and draped a little farther over the railing, propping herself up on her elbows instead of her hands. The beast itself, the way it had possessed the citizens of Zhu's Hope, the way it had created copies of that asari woman... Jagher shivered visibly and shook her head, trying to rid herself of the images that seemed engrained. She was not a woman who scared or rattled easily, but that thing had certainly gotten to her. With another sigh, Jagher ran her hands backwards over her dark brown hair, shaking out the loose ends and savouring the feeling of not having to be dressed military proper.

As soon as she had been given the go-ahead to take a tiny break, she'd shed her armour and was wandering around the Presidium dressed in her military uniform with a black sweater thrown over top. Her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders, almost down to her elbows, and she was pleased with the amount of anonymity that simple change in her appearance had brought.

She had, however, lost track of the rest of her team at some point.

Oh well, she told herself. Just enjoy the peace while you can. You'll see them all back on the ship.

Leaving the Thorian behind her for the moment, Jagher shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweater and headed across the bridge, pointed towards a semi-secluded area where a small park-like area sat, situated around a pond with a tree growing out of the middle of it. Jagher noticed with a small smirk that there were fish in this pond. Clearly, this area was designated for relaxation and scenic purposes rather than supplying the massive population on the Citadel with clean water. Pleased with this discovery, Jagher dropped onto the grass beside the water and folded her legs underneath her, watching the orange and white fish swim lazily back and forth around the pond.

A few moments after she had settled, someone dropped to the ground beside her. Jagher knew without looking that it was Kaidan. She shuffled closer to the man she'd inexplicably become very close to in such a short time and leaned her head on his shoulder. If he was surprised by this, he didn't show it. The pair had spent a lot of time talking on the Normandy and Jagher couldn't imagine going through this without him now.

He was like an anchor, holding her steady in a storm.

"How are you holding up?" Kaidan asked.

Jagher smiled a bit to herself. She liked that Kaidan cared enough to keep checking up on her. No one else did, not unless there was very obviously something wrong. "I'm tired and a little shaken, but so is everyone else."

"I didn't ask how everyone else was doing, Jagher." Kaidan smiled down at her. "How are you?"

Jagher sat up and gave him a look, one eyebrow raised; she still wasn't used to him calling her by her first name. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I'm worried about what's going to happen on Virmire. I can't shake this feeling that something very bad is going to happen on the planet." She turned her head so one ear was lying on her knees and she could still look at the staff lieutenant beside her. Some of her dark hair fell across her face. Kaidan brushed it gently off her cheek. "And I really am tired," she said with a smile. "Exhausted. But I've got to keep going. Spectres can't just walk away from the problems. I fought for this position, and I'm not going to give it up, but..."

"But you'd like some time to rest. More than a day."

"More than a day."

Kaidan smiled at the young Spectre. "I'm sure you'll get as much time as you want after we're done."

"If we survive." Jagher sighed and pressed her face into her knees. This was probably going to be her only break until the end, and she was wasting it worrying. She should be enjoying the peace and quiet, the beauty of the Presidium around her. But being a Spectre, hunting Saren, that was her life right now... Could she afford the break? Enjoy it, Jagher. You have to hit the rack in a few hours and you know you won't get another chance like this again. She looked up at Kaidan, who had leaned a little closer during her mental conversation. "Do you want to go get a drink?"

Kaidan looked a little taken back, but he smiled and nodded. "Let's go."

Author's Note.

I don't think I mentioned this before, but the events in this fic coincide with the way I played the game.

Next Moment: A Moment About What Could Be.