When the hugs were done, Sam looked at Kayla and Emily. Emily looked behind them, and saw Brooks and Carter exiting the shuttle. "Well, I should probably go and pick something up for dinner. I'll meet you both back at the apartment, just don't take too long, ok?"

"Ok, mom." Kayla was smiling at Sam. "Let's go for a walk, Sam." She grabbed Sam's hand and led her away.

"What about my bag, Kayla?"

Emily laughed. "I'll get it, Sam. It'll be in your old room."

"Thank you!" Sam had to start jogging to keep up with Kayla.

xXXx

Kayla finally stopped at the park they used to go to. Sam breathed in deeply, and squeezed Kayla's hand slightly. "I'm glad you like it, Sam."

"Of course I do. You're here." She pulled Kayla close to her, and held her close. Whispering into her hair, she said, "I missed you."

"I missed you, too." Kayla stepped back a bit. "I'm sorry."

Sam was confused, and let it show on her face. "About what?"

"When you left. How I didn't say goodbye, and walked away." Kayla let her head drop. "I felt terrible about it. I didn't want you to be mad at me."

Sam laughed a little. "Oh, Kayla! I'm not mad, and I wasn't then. I understand how hard it is... to say goodbye." Sam raised Kayla's head. "But I came back, just like I said." She kissed Kayla lightly. Kayla flung her hands around Sam's neck, and deepened the kiss. Sam held her close, not wanting this to end, but knowing, somewhere, that it would eventually. She pulled back slightly, eyes smiling at her. "So, what's new with you?"

Kayla grinned from ear to ear. "I started volunteering at the Alliance hospital. Um, candy striping, that's what it's called."

"What?"

"Yea, they used to call us 'candy stripers'. I looked it up on the extranet. They used to wear these godawful looking dresses, red and white stripes. Looked like candy." She laughed. "Thankfully, I don't have to wear it."

Sam laughed at the mental image that produced. "Yea, I don't think it would look good on you. How do you like it?"

Kayla's smile grew even wider. "I LOVE it! I'm learning so much! I think I'm going to join the Alliance as a medical officer. I know it's different on the field, but I'll be able to help soldiers. And who knows?" She shrugged. "Maybe one day I'll save you. Then, you'd owe me one, right?"

Sam chuckled. "I would, you're right." Kayla nodded and looked back up at her. Sam kissed her again. "But hopefully, I won't get hurt. That would be much better, don't you think?"

Kayla laughed this time. "You're right." She looked behind her, and saw a bench. She sat down, and motioned for Sam to join her. Sam turned, and almost fell on the ground. Stupid knee. "Sam! Are you ok?" Kayla jumped off of the bench.

"I'm fine." Kayla helped Sam steady herself. Sam limped toward the bench and sat down, keeping her leg straight out.

"What happened?"

"Remember that photo I sent you?" Kayla nodded. "That was taken a few days after I got into a fight." Kayla gasped, and put a hand on Sam's leg. "It's ok, Kayla. I just really messed up my knee. I lived, no worse for wear." Sam smiled at her, and brushed her hand against Kayla's cheek. Kayla caught her hand, and brought it down to her lap, holding tightly. She looked down at Sam's extended leg.

"Have you tried staying off of it?"

"How can I? They don't exactly let us have too much free time in Basic." Sam gently removed her hand from Kayla's. She ran her now free hand through her hair. "I rested when I could, which is to say, not that often."

Kayla nodded. "Sorry, that was a stupid question."

Sam laughed, and Kayla looked mortified. This caused Sam to laugh even harder. When she could finally catch her breath, she spoke. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. It's just hard for me to even imagine free time. And yet, here I am." Sam rubbed her hand up and down Kayla's back. "Thanks for making me laugh, even if it was unintentional." She kissed Kayla's hair. Smells like lavender. I'd almost forgotten what real shampoo smelled like.

Kayla ran her hands through Sam's hair. "I liked your hair when it was longer."

"Me too." She unconsciously ran her hand through her hair again. "I also miss real shampoo." Kayla laughed a bit. She put her hand against Kayla's neck, and pulled her close, kissing her again. Kayla opened her mouth slightly, and rubbed her tongue against Sam's lips. Sam opened her mouth, and allowed Kayla's tongue to slip in. A groan escaped Sam's throat. Her tongue found Kayla's, and wrestled with it. Kayla's hand slipped up Sam's back, to her neck. Sam took her free hand, and caressed Kayla's face. She moved the hand on Kayla's neck to her shoulder, then down to her arm. Kayla's hand tightened on Sam's neck. Sam broke the kiss, breathless. She was smiling hazily at Kayla, who was also smiling. "I really missed you."

"I can tell." She kissed Sam's cheek. "We should head back to the apartment. Mom's probably back with food by now. Can you walk?"

Sam stood up slowly, Kayla watching her every move. She tested her knee, and didn't buckle over. "I should be fine, if we take it slower this time." Sam reached out for Kayla's hand, and they slowly walked back to the apartment building.

xXXx

Emily had gotten dinner together when they got there. "It's about time you two came back." She had a smile on her face. "Come on, let's eat. I'm sure it's been a while since you ate real food, Sam." Sam nodded enthusiastically, with a smile on her face as well.

They sat down. "Everything smells so good, Emily."

Emily smiled. "Thank you, Sam. Chicken carbonara. I hope you like it."

Sam dug in without a second glance. "Mmm, so good. I missed your cooking." She grinned.

"You have a little something..." Kayla was pointing to corner of her mouth. Sam quickly wiped it off. "Good, got it."

"So, tell me. How are you liking it so far?" asked Emily.

Sam swallowed her food before answering. "I'm enjoying it well enough. I've already been invited to serve on the SSV Antietam." She paused, dipping some bread into her sauce. "The captain thinks I'll make a good officer some day."

Emily nodded, and took a sip of her red wine. "I know the captain, Brooks, right?" Sam nodded. "He's a good man. He'll be able to set you on the right track." She paused, lost in thought. "It's a little unusual though."

"What is?"

"Well, the Alliance doesn't normally fast track recruits like this. They usually make sure they have some kind of experience first. Training drills, while effective, don't give the experience needed. And you didn't go to OCS, so I'm not sure what to make of this." Emily waved her hand, dismissing the conversation. "Who am I to question them, though? It's been years since I was on a ship." She snorted a laugh. "Do you know how long you'll be staying with us?"

"I'm not sure. The captain needed to get my paperwork in order. He'll let me know when we're ready to go, I guess."

"It'll be a few days, at least. Any plans yet, girls?"

Kayla answered before Sam could even blink. "Not yet, mom." She grinned at Sam. "But we'll think of something!"

They finished dinner, and cleaned up. Sam was exhausted, and excused herself. She walked the familiar route to her room, and walked in the door. Everything was like she left it. She smiled to herself, and sat on her bed. She stretched, and yawned once more. There was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in."

Kayla walked in slowly. "Sam? You ok?"

Sam nodded and smiled softly. "Come here." She patted the bed next to her. "Just a little tired."

Kayla crossed the room and sat down. "Mom sent me to check on you. She saw you limping. Still bothering you?"

"Yea, a little. It comes and goes. Hopefully I can stay off it more now. Until I leave, at any rate."

"Sit back, then. Put your feet up." Sam leaned against her pillows, putting her feet on Kayla's lap. Kayla lifted Sam's pant leg up, examining her knee. "Hmm, looks a little swollen. I'm sorry about making you run before." She closed her eyes.

"Hey, it's ok. You didn't know." Sam leaned forward a bit, putting her hand on Kayla's.

Kayla looked at Sam, and then back down at her knee. "I'll go and get some ice for it. I'll be right back." Sam pulled her legs back, allowing Kayla to stand. She left the room, and closed the door behind her. Sam smiled again, eyes growing heavy. She sighed softly, and started to fall asleep.

Kayla came back in a few minutes later. "Sam?" she whsipered. She saw Sam sleeping, and creeped to the bed. She pulled the blankets over Sam, and bent down. "Good night, Sam." She kissed her forehead, and walked to the door. Shutting off the light, she walked out of the room.

xXXx

Sam settled back into her old room comfortably. It was her second day on leave, and she was up at the crack of dawn. She knew no one else was awake. Sam decided to go for a jog. Changing into her Alliance sweatpants and a loose tee shirt, she exited the room. She stretched her legs in the hallway, and was surprised to hear voices. She moved toward the room they were coming from.

"Dr. Philips, I see you still keep Navy time." Captain Brooks? Sam slowly walked toward the open door, and peeked in.

"Captain Brooks, it's been too long." Emily hugged Brooks. "How have you been, Josh?"

"Good, and you, Emily?"

"As well as I can be. Kayla's been a big help with that." Sam thought that Emily looked a little sad. "What brings you here?"

"Samantha, actually. Well, that and paperwork. I'm getting ready to have her transferred to the Antietam."

Emily nodded slowly. "It'll be good for her. She's come so far since she arrived here after Mindoir."

"I read her files. I know all about it. She keeps quiet about it though, doesn't she?"

Emily sighed, raking a hand through her hair. "It took me almost a full year to get her to talk about it. Then this... asshole almost put her right back into her silence." Emily's hand balled up into a fist.

Brooks put his hand on her shoulder. "But without him, we may never have found out that she was biotic."

Emily nodded and relaxed a bit. "You're right, Josh. It just makes me so angry. She's such a wonderful person." Emily walked away from Brooks.

"She is. She's not letting this get to her. I wish I had her resolve."

"Is it resolve? Or is she walling it up? Sometimes I wish she would break down, just let it all out. It might be good for her."

"You think so?"

Emily just shrugged. "I'm at a loss with her. She was keeping a journal while she was here, it seemed to help. Maybe she should continue." Emily looked at Brooks. "What happened to her?"

"What?"

"Three months ago, she sent Kayla an email and a photo. It looked like she got the shit beat out of her. Is this how we're training new recruits now?"

Brooks laughed and shook his head. "Not at all, Em. Not much has changed since we went through." He smiled at her. "She did get into a fight though. A... privileged kid was angry, lashing out. At her, mostly. He was angry at her, mainly for her abilities. He felt she was being treated as a favorite. One night, she and a friend were returning to the bunks, when he attacked. The other girl got knocked out immediately. Sam fought back, without using her biotics. He beat her, knocked her unconscious, but not without getting hurt himself."

Emily nodded. "Sounds like her. It's good to know she can control herself."

"She'll make a fine officer one day. Well, I've taken up enough of your time, Emily. It was good to see you again. Steven should be slapped, letting you go." He grinned at her.

"Oh you!" She smiled at him. "You wouldn't actually slap him though, would you?"

"Of course not. I respect him too much. But I really must be going." He turned toward the door, and Sam had to roll away from it to avoid being seen.

"Goodbye, Josh."

Brooks walked out of the door, and saw Sam out of the corner of his eye. She was smoothing down her hair and clothes. She saw him, and saluted. "Shepard, you're up early."

"Yes, sir. I was just about to go for a jog. Get some fresh air."

"Go ahead, Shepard." He looked at her, through her it seemed. How much does he know I heard? She nodded, and left the building.

xXXx

Her jog took her past a hospital. It was an older looking building, maybe from before they reached the stars. Parts of it were being repaired. Sam stopped at some stairs, and sat down. She looked across the street, at a park. Visitors passed her, going in and out of the hospital. Looking down the street, she saw a familiar face. It was Kayla.

"Sam! There you are!" Kayla smiled cheerfully.

"Hey, Kayla. Come here." Sam stood up, and hugged her. "Thanks."

Kayla was confused. "For what?"

"The blankets." Sam smiled at her. "You kinda woke me up."

"Oh no!" She looked horrified.

Sam laughed. "It's ok. I went right back to sleep."

Kayla shook her head. "Wait, what are you doing here?"

"I woke up early, and decided to go jogging. Is this where you volunteer?" She gestured at the hospital behind them.

"Yea. It's beautiful, isn't it?" Sam nodded. Kayla grinned, but it slowly faded. "Wait, you jogged here? What about your knee?"

"It feels a lot better today. I guess resting doesn't come easy to me anymore." She patted Kayla's shoulder. "Well, I should get back, let you get to work."

Kayla nodded. "I'll see you back home." She pecked Sam's cheek. Sam hugged her, and started jogging back to the apartment.