Sam was released from the hospital two days later. Her knee was still hurting, and she walked with a noticeable limp. There was a deep purple bruise on her right cheek, and it had swelled up a bit. She sat on the edge of her bed, waiting. Jason and Rachel were both with her. Rachel had a noticeable gash on the right side of her head. Jason was pacing, and Rachel was sitting next to Sam. "Everything's gonna be fine, Sam. You defended yourself." Rachel patted her hand gently.

Jason stopped and turned toward the both of them, nodding. "She's right. They won't punish you." He flashed a quick grin at Sam, then continued pacing.

"Jason, if I have nothing to worry about, why are you pacing?" Sam laughed. "I should be the one doing that."

"You can't, 'cause of your knee. So, I'm doing it for you."

"What a great friend you are." Sam smiled softly.

Rachel turned her head, and asked, "Speaking about friends, what about that girl, what was her name? Katie?"

"Kayla," Sam's voice cracked.

"Yeah, her. What's she like? You don't talk about her much. Were you guys close?" Sam could only nod. What kind of "friend" am I? "That's it? Just a nod?"

Sam lowered her head. "She's my... I don't even know how to describe her. When I first arrived on Earth, she was with her mom. She accepted me, made me feel welcome, when all I wanted to do was curl up and die." Sam could feel the tears welling up. "I love her." Jason stopped pacing again. Sam looked up, one tear escaping her eyes. "I haven't spoken to her since I left."

Jason put his hand on her shoulder, slowly rubbing it. "You've been busy, Sam. I'm sure she'll understand."

Sam shook her head. "I told her I would... but I haven't."

Rachel put her head on Sam's other shoulder. "It's ok, Sam. She'll get over it. No one could stay mad at you forever."

"Except Randy," Jason added bitterly. "Wonder what's gonna happen with him?"

"Kick his ass out, I say." Rachel laughed.

Sam smiled bitterly. She was about to say something, when an officer walked into the room. All three of them shot to attention. "At ease. Serviceman Samantha Shepard?" She stepped slightly forward. "Come with me." The officer turned, and left the room, Sam following after him.

xXXx

"Serviceman Shepard, it has come to the board's attention that you were involved in a physical altercation. Is this correct?" The board consisted of five different officers. The woman speaking was seated in the middle.

"Yes, ma'am."

"It was between you, and Serviceman Randall Walton, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am." Sam's heart was pounding in her ears.

"The other board members and I have been trying to come to a peaceful solution to this problem. We'd like to hear your side before coming to a decision. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Sam breathed in deeply before answering. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Captain Brooks standing there, listening carefully to what she was going to say. "Sir, Walton pushed Serviceman Maynard out of the way, when we were returning to the bunkhouse."

"Why were you and Serviceman Maynard out of the bunkhouse?"

"She was helping me train." Sam's eyes dropped slowly. Biotic use outside of training, punishable offense.

"Train what, Shepard?"

"Biotics, ma'am." Sam let her head drop slightly, before straightening up and looking at the board.

The chairwoman scribbled something down before saying anything. "What happened next?" Sam explained everything, slightly shifting her weight to her unhurt leg. If she was able to, she would be wringing her hands. The chairwoman nodded. "Captain Brooks? Could you see Serviceman Shepard out? We'll discuss our decision now."

Brooks snapped a smart salute, and walked toward the door. Sam also saluted, and followed Brooks out of the door. Closing the door behind her, Sam exhaled sharply. What have I gotten myself into? Brooks turned around to face Sam, and she got a better look at him. He had close-cut dark brown hair, turning gray at the temples and light brown eyes. He was smiling at her. "Don't be so nervous, Shepard."

She straightened up. "Sir?"

"You'll be fine. Yes, you snuck out to practice your biotics, but with boxes, in a somewhat controlled environment. And," he pointed to her head before continuing, "you exerted self-restraint. If you had used your biotics, you might have hurt Walton, if not outright killed him. Biotics can do a lot of damage in a highly emotional state." He absently rubbed the back of his neck.

Sam nodded. "Thank you for the vote of confidence, sir. Permission to speak freely?"

"Granted."

"Sir, why is the punishment even up for debate? Randy instigated it. I should get a week of cleaning the toilets, but him?" She sighed.

Brooks looked at her. "Shepard, I probably shouldn't even tell you this, but I'm going to. If only to prevent you from taking this so hard. Walton's parents are... very influential people. So, I doubt that they'll be able to do the right thing in this instance."

"Sir?" I don't think I like the way this is going...

"Samantha, what I'm trying to say is, I think they're going to kick you out." Brooks put his hand lightly on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Sam was shocked to hear this. "B-but..." Sam tried to take a step back, but was stopped by the door behind her. At that moment, the worst possible person walked around the corner. Randy, waiting for the same decision as her.

"Shepard." Jason was right. His right eye was completely swollen shut.

"Walton." Randy stopped a few steps away from her, and saluted Brooks. "Captain." Brooks saluted back. Sam limped away from the door, lost in her thoughts. What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna go? She was on the verge of tears. Suck it up, Shepard! You can get through this! Randy smirked at Sam, he knew what would happen. Sam couldn't get her heart to stop hammering.

xXXx

It only took the board an hour and a half to reach a decision. Brooks led Sam and Randy back into the room. He stood in between both of them, and saluted. They both followed suit.

"At ease. We have come to a decision. This was not an easy choice to make. Serviceman Walton, you are hereby stripped of your recruit status, for injuring two of your fellow trainees." Randy was visibly shocked at the news. "You will be able to apply again after a year." The chairwoman looked Sam directly in her eyes. Is that, sympathy? Her already overworked heart sped up a little. "Serviceman Shepard, you are hereby transferred to the Recruit Training Depot in Macapá, Brazil, effective immediately." Wait, they didn't kick me out? But why? "Any objections?"

"Ma'am, why are you kicking me out?" Randy's hands were balled into fists.

"Walton, you injured to other trainees, knocking both of them out. Biotics, whose head injuries may have been more severe than they were. We cannot have this kind of behavior here, no matter who your parents are." She sighed. "Maybe after a year, you will have matured more. We will welcome you back with open arms." Sam had to bite back the urge to scoff. "Serviceman Shepard, we decided to transfer you as a lesson. Practicing biotics without an instructor can be a dangerous thing. Don't think of this as so much of a punishment, but as an opportunity. The officers at Macapá will offer you the best training possible." Sam could hear Randy's heavy breathing. He was raging. Thank goodness he's not a biotic. "Is there anything else?"

Randy had nothing else to say. Sam just said, "Thank you, sirs."

The chairwoman nodded. "Dismissed." Randy didn't even wait for Brooks, and stormed out. Sam saluted the board, and followed Brooks once again, heavy hearted.

xXXx

When Sam returned to the bunkhouse, Jason and Rachel were sitting on her bed, talking. Jason saw her first, and jumped off the bed. "Randy just stormed in here. He looked pissed!" Jason was grinning.

Rachel got off the bed and looked at Sam. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"I..." Sam swallowed before continuing. "They transferred me to another facility." She looked at her friends in sadness. "In Brazil." She let her shoulders droop a bit.

"Oh no, Sam, I'm sorry." Rachel hugged her. Jason looked behind him, at Randy, who was angrily throwing his things into his duffel bag. He walked to Rachel and Sam and hugged them both.

Sam, comforted by her friends, let the tears flow. When she finally stopped crying, she looked up, smiling. "Thanks, guys."

"That's what friends are for, Sam." Rachel was smiling back at her.

Jason looked behind them again. "What's his problem?"

"They kicked him out. He can't reapply until next year." Sam shrugged. "I hope they don't take him back. I'm afraid of what might happen if they do." She shuddered with the thought.

"Revenge?"

"Knowing him, probably." Sam looked to her bed. "I should probably pack my stuff up too. The transfer's 'effective immediately'." She sighed, and walked to the trunk. She started folding her clothes, neatly, when she got to the picture of Kayla. Sam crumbled on the floor, running a finger over the picture. Rachel and Jason came up behind her and looked down.

"Is that Kayla?" Rachel asked. Sam just nodded. "She's pretty."

"Thank you," Sam croaked out. "I have to write her, tell her I'm leaving." Sam got up, and her knee gave out. "Damnit!"

"You ok, Sam?" asked Jason, concern in his voice. He held out his hand, and helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, Jason. I'm fine. Stupid knee..." She sat on the bed, rubbing her knee. Sam flicked on her omni-tool, and started writing her letter.

Subject: Transfer

Kayla-

I'm writing to tell you that I'm being transferred to an Alliance facility in Brazil. I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch with you. I feel like I'm breaking a promise to you, and I hate it. You mean so much to me. I'm no good at this. When I finish Basic in three months, I'll come back. And I'll try to keep in better contact.

How are you doing? And your mom? I've been told Macapá, the facility I'm going to, offers better training than here in Vancouver. It's also warmer, that's a plus. Mindoir didn't get much snow. Too cold here. I made some friends, Jason and Rachel. You'd like them, easy to get along with. But Jason's a little too overprotective. I'll send you a picture of the three of us.

Take care of yourself, Kayla. I miss you.

Love,

Sam

xXXX

Kayla's computer beeped, indicating new mail. She opened it, seeing that it was from Sam. She didn't forget about me! Kayla's mood immediately brightened, Emily could see it, but she asked anyway. "Who's it from, sweetie?"

"Sam!"

"What's it say?"

Kayla read it quickly. "She's being transferred to Brazil, but she doesn't say why. Oh! And she made friends, and sent a picture of the three of them!" Kayla opened the attachment, and it was like someone turned the light out inside her. She sunk into the chair. "She looks so happy, but..."

"But what?" Emily walked behind her daughter, and glanced at the picture. "Oh my... What happened to her?" Sam had taken the picture before sending the email.

"It doesn't say, but it can't be too bad, right?" Kayla looked at Emily. Emily could see the tears forming in Kayla's eye.

"Right, sweetie. She's smiling, so that means she's happy." What Emily really saw, she kept to herself. Her eyes, she's hurting, sad. Oh, Sam. I wish I had more time with you. "You should write back to her, after dinner."

Kayla nodded. She saved the picture, and sighed. I love you too, Sam.

A/N: This chapter's a bit shorter than my others. Sorry about that. Sam got transferred because I was reading the Mass Effect wiki. Apparently Ashley and Shepard both went to the same training facility. Oops! It's mentioned in ME1. That's what I get for not doing more research lol. And guys, don't be afraid to review. I don't have a Beta, so any comments/questions/concerns you have, I'd be grateful to hear them. :)