I do not own Mass Effect or any of the associated content. Jagher Shepard is my Shepard and Fayelle Shepard is my friend's Shepard. We're both very attached to out Sheps. This fic is a collection of moments throughout the first two games and is the alternative to writing a fic that goes along with the games, since everyone knows how those go. The moments are rated for language and violence, but it's Shep, so ya'll knew that already. Enjoy!

Mass Effect 2: Moments.
... A Moment of Emotion.

Had someone thought this would be funny?

Jagher Shepard, technically two years older and newly rebuilt, sat in her quarters on the Normandy SR2—that was some kind of joke as well—staring at a picture of Kaidan. She was sore and didn't really feel like herself, but she was pretty sure that was to be expected after having been liquefied, brought back to life before she was complete and almost immediately forced to start fighting. Jagher ran a hand back through her hair and stared at the picture.

Someone had a sick sense of humour.

She had been informed that Kaidan was still alive, working covert operations for the Alliance out in the Terminus systems. Jagher had half a mind to order Joker to turn the ship around and go find Kaidan; she knew that would be near impossible. The Terminus systems were massive and unorganized, dangerous and undefended. If she took the Normandy out there, there was a very good chance they wouldn't survive. No, Kaidan was going to have to hang out there and continue believing she was dead. Unless, of course, word reached him that she was alive. Several people had already sent her messages asking if it was really her; she was just thankful that her mother or her sister hadn't found out yet. She wanted to tell them herself.

But this picture… All it did was remind her of what she'd lost.

Jagher reached over and put the picture face down. She didn't want to look at Kaidan, not right now.

She huffed and got to her feet to begin pacing. Past the aquarium. The table and couches. The desk. The bed. Back to where the picture of Kaidan sat. She didn't like this ship; not yet, maybe not ever. Sure it was comfortable—it wasn't a military vessel. They had more money to put towards luxuries. It was bigger than the original as well, but it wasn't the same. There was something missing. Something important, something to make the ship feel like… Jagher didn't even know anymore. She just didn't want to be there.

She wanted her life, her ship, her crew back. She didn't want to find new people to work with. She wanted Kaidan.

Jagher righted the picture and stared at that familiar face, studied the lines of his lips, his jaw, his eyes… Studied the face she knew so well and would likely never see again. She sobbed once and tears began to fall.

Why did they bring her back? Why couldn't they find someone else to fight the Reapers? Why couldn't someone else save the galaxy? Why couldn't they have just left her where she was? Why couldn't they have left her dead?

After a moment of weakness, Jagher sniffed back her tears and wiped her face dry. There was no way she was going to appear weak in front of the Cerberus crew; she was not going to let them see she was hurting. This was her ship, regardless of who had built it or funded it, and even if she didn't like it, she was going to command it the way she wanted. The Illusive Man and all his cryptic plans could kiss her ass. She would stop the Collectors from doing whatever they were doing, but it wouldn't be for Cerberus.

She reached forward and briefly pressed her fingers to the picture of Kaidan.

Then, she got to her feet, checked her appearance in the bathroom mirror and stepped into the elevator to head down to the Command centre.

She would play along with the joke. For now.

Author's Note.

So, for some reason, I'm stupidly excited for Mass Effect 3 already.

It's that stupid insanity play through, I think.

Anyways, enjoy.

Next Moment: A Moment In Need.