Sam exited the shuttle, and was immediately blasted by warm air. It reminded her of Mindoir. When she boarded the shuttle a few hours ago, it was cool and windy. Sighing lightly, she walked toward the officer who was waving her over.

"Serviceman Shepard?"

"Yes, sir." She saluted the man.

"Follow me, Shepard. I'll show you to the bunkhouse." He walked away, Sam following behind. The differences between Macapá and Vancouver were astounding. There were skyscrapers everywhere in Canada, but here, the were barely any. Canada had parks, but Macapá has the real thing. It was like coming home.

xXXx

She settled in fairly quickly. The facility was almost a replica of the one in Vancouver. Sam was glad for that. It made it easier to find everything. She was making leaps and bounds in her biotics training, all thanks to her training sessions with Rachel. She had also started specialized training with weapons. To Sam, it seemed that the last half of Basic flew by. She didn't really make any friends, or enemies, but she didn't mind. Keeping to herself, she seemed to learn faster.

The last day of Basic came. As she was packing her things up once again, Captain Brooks entered the bunkhouse. Sam saw him out of the corner of her eye. She stopped what she was doing, turned to face him, and saluted.

"At ease, Serviceman." He walked over to her, a corner of his mouth creeping up. "What is your decision?"

"I wish to take you up on your offer, sir."

"Good decision, Shepard." He nodded at her. "You can continue packing." Sam saluted and turned around. She put all of her things in her duffel bag, careful not to wrinkle anything. She turned back around to face him, standing at attention. He smiled slightly, and nodded. "Good. I'll get everything in order. Lot's of paperwork and such before we can welcome you aboard the Antietam. But I believe you have some leave before then. Anywhere in specific you wanted to go?"

Sam didn't even think before answering. "Yes, sir. The New York base, sir. I have... family there." Brooks raised his eyebrow slightly. Sam saw this and answered the unspoken question. "Adopted family you could say, sir."

Brooks nodded. "Alright, Shepard." He lightly touched the comm unit on his ear. "Brooks to transport. I need a shuttle to New York." He was nodding slightly to himself. "I understand, Carter, but this is for our newest crew member." More waiting. "Carter, it will take you at most two hours, and we have to go there anyway." Brooks raised his other hand to his face. "Don't make me bring up insubordination charges, Lieutenant. I hear those can be bad for your career." Brooks smiled at Sam. "Good boy. Brooks out." He lowered both hands. "That was Lieutenant Adam Carter. He enjoys busting my ass, a little too much if you ask me. He's our shuttle pilot. Good kid, bit of a hot head though." He motioned for her to follow him, as he walked out of the bunkhouse.

Sam quickly grabbed her things, and followed behind him. "Sir, are all of your subordinates like him?" She regretted asking the question as soon as it was out of her mouth. "Sir, I..." She tried to apologize.

He waved her apology off. "It's ok, Shepard. And no, not all of them are like that. I run a tight, but loose ship. If that makes sense."

"Not really, sir."

Brooks stopped and faced her. "Let me try to explain then. The Antietam, like all Alliance ships, has rules and regulations. No fraternization, respect those of higher rank and experience, things like that. But, when you and your crew spend months together, I fully expect there to be camraderie forming. Friendships, harmless rivalries, those are the kind of things that help a crew to become closer. And hopefully make it less likely that there will be a mutiny." He clasped her shoulder gently. "Other captains may run their ships with a heavy hand. And don't get me wrong, that works too, but not as well, I feel." Sam nodded her understanding. Brooks resumed his walking, with Sam following behind.

"Sir, what do other captains feel about your leadership, then?"

"It's a mixed bag. Rear Admiral Hackett believes the same way. I served with him when I was first starting out. That's where I got the idea. It gets things done." They continued along in silence. When they arrived at the shuttle, Sam's heart jumped just a little.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Shepard?"

"I... nothing, sir." I'll surprise them. Brooks raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He motioned toward the shuttle, indicating he wanted her to board first. She saluted him, then proceeded to walk up the ramp. She found a seat, and flopped down. Brooks sat down across from her.

He looked at her closely, so much different than when he first met her. The cuts and bruises had faded, leaving nothing behind. He could see something in her eyes, a fire, but something behind that as well. Brooks went over her personnel files multiple times since he received them. He liked what he saw, a fast track to Officer Candidate School, just needed some more discipline. But when he looked at her now, she seemed so small.

Sam felt his eyes on her, so she smiled at him. She turned to look out of the window, idly playing with a loose strand of hair. She looked down at her wrist, wondering if she should contact Kayla. Sighing slightly, she flicked on her omnitool.

LostShepard: Kayla, you there?

A minute passed before Sam received an answer.

SecretKay: OMG! Sam! How are you?

LostShepard: Pretty good, you?

SK: Better now. What's going on?

LS: I graduated today. I've got a few days leave. So, I've decided to come visit. Is that ok?

A few more minutes passed before Sam got an answer.

SK: Sorry about the wait, Sam. Mom says she can't wait to see you. When'll you get here?

LS: I should be there in about an hour.

SK: Awesome! See ya soon, Sam!

LS: See you.

Sam felt the corner of her mouth tug upward. Brooks was looking at her. "I was just letting them know I was coming... home." He smiled at her and patted her knee. She grinned at him and looked back out of the window.

Brooks removed his hand, and looked out of the window as well. "So tell me, Shepard. What are you hoping to get out of your time with the Alliance?" Sam turned from the window and looked at him. "Do you want revenge?" She stared at him, wide-eyed. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. I'm asking so I can help you better. Your superiors both in Brazil and Canada feel you're officer material. I just want to make sure that if you go through with it, you won't be sending your troops needlessly to their deaths." He shifted in his seat a bit. "So, what do you want?"

Sam bit her lower lip in thought. I haven't been asked that for a long time. "I want to help people, sir. Whether or not they've faced what I have. I want to show the galaxy that humans belong here, that we're ready for this. That we can overcome anything thrown our way. And that we're survivors." She paused a moment. "I refuse to take the easy way out, though. If my superiors believe I can be an officer, then I won't let them down. I don't have the experience as someone like you, but I'm a fast learner. My biotics instructor in Brazil was pleased with how fast I learned to control my biotics. I observed everything that was happening around me, put the things I saw to use. Taught myself, with the help of Rachel, of course. But I'm not afraid to ask for help when I need it." Sam looked at her hands. "I'll try my damned hardest to not let another Mindoir happen, to anyone."

Brooks didn't know how to respond to her. He looked at her, bunching one hand into a fist, the other resting on top of it. He leaned forward, and put his hand on top of hers. She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "Sam... I don't know what to say. But I do know this. No matter what you do, you'll be great at it. You have the passion, and the determination to make it happen. With the right training, I think you'll make an exceptional officer." He smiled at her. Taking his hand back, he stretched.

"Ladies and gentleman, this is your pilot speaking. We're approaching New York. So this means, all of you are getting off this flying brick. I hope you enjoyed your time with Air Carter."

Brooks laughed, and Sam just looked shocked. "Carter?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Thank you."

"Anytime, sir. Oh, and Shepard, welcome to the crew. I think you'll fit in nicely around here. Not many people can make the Captain speechless."

Sam laughed at this. "Thanks, Lieutenant."

"It's Carter, Shepard."

Carter pulled the shuttle in, and landed without so much as a bump. Sam gathered her things and looked expectantly at Brooks. He nodded to her, and she leaped out of her chair. Once the door opened, she ran out. Brooks followed silently after her. Sam was greated by two people, he could only assume this was her 'family'. He smiled to himself, before he felt a hand clasp his shoulder. He turned to see Carter grinning. "That was some damned fine piloting, if I do say so myself." Carter looked at the three women. "Sam's the one with the red hair, right?" Brooks nodded. "Good speeches, that one. I'd follow her to hell if I had to. Not that I wouldn't follow you too, sir."

"Hah! I bet you would, Carter. You're right though. There's something about her, I can't quite put my finger on it though. Shall we go? I've got a shitload of paperwork to go through."

"When don't you?" Carter grinned at him again, and walked down the ramp. Brooks followed behind him, smiling to himself.

A/N: Sorry for the wait. Writer's block strikes again! I sat down to write this I don't even know how many times. Nothing was coming to me though. Ah well, I finally got it down though. I'll hopefully have the next chapter up soon.