Author's Note: So here's chapter 4. Not very long, and is just some fluff. I thought it was cute. Anyways, review?
Miranda, Shepard and the newest part of the crew, Samara stood in the Conference room.
Samara spoke up, "If you do not mind, Commander, I would like a space that looks out into the stars for my meditation."
EDI responded, "Samara, I have prepared you a spot in the Starboard hold that I believe you will find to your liking, just follow the lights on the floor and they will take you there."
The Justicar nodded, "Thank you again, Commander. I shall be in the Starboard if you need anything of me."
The Commander gave her a nod, and looked back at Miranda. The raven haired woman raised an eyebrow, "You alright, Sid?"
The blonde woman nodded, "I am just a bit tired..."
Miranda nodded, but was skeptical, since meeting with her parents a few weeks ago, Shepard had been distant and went into her cabin around 6PM and didn't reemerge until ten in the morning. Miranda doubted that she was actually tired, and made a mental note to check on her after she finished her reports for the Illusive Man.
The Operative yawned a bit getting into the elevator, she checked her omni-tool for the time, it read 11:37PM; she hadn't gotten the reports done in the time she would've liked. It was hard doing Commander Shepard and her own paperwork, but it was a gesture that actually made her feel... happy.
Miranda walked to Shepard's cabin door and punched in the four digit code; the officer had hacked into the door codes shortly after she arrived on the ship, but it didn't seem to bother the Commander.
When the door slid open, only the light in the fish tank and the one above the Commander's desk were lit. In her bed area, the lights were off, but Miranda could see the woman lying on her back, spread eagle, wearing Kaiden's pajama shirt and a pair of mid-thigh black shorts.
Miranda's boots clicked as she descended the two steps to the bed. She sat down on the side of it, a foot in front of the Commander's arm.
"Shepard?" The woman caught a reflection of light off the wetness of the blonde's porcelain, young face.
The Commander rolled over, her back facing Miranda, "What do you want?" The woman's voice was raspy and cracked as she spoke.
The biotic began to assess the situation. These were the kinds of moments Shepard put her in since Lazerus, but Miranda had no idea how to respond or what to say. She went off gut instinct.
"Why are you crying?" Questions were the only thing she could think to say.
"I-I'm not crying." The Commander replied softly.
"Yes, yes you are. Don't lie to me, and for God's sake, look at me."
The Commander pushed herself up, sitting crisscross on the other side of the bed. The blonde woman reached over and turned on the dim lights over their head. It was then that the Operative noticed more subtle details like the bloodshot eyes, red face, and her hair that hung over half her face.
"Shepard, please tell me what's the matter. You can trust me."
The woman looked down, still silent. Miranda scanned her brain for anything the woman could be upset over.
"Did seeing you're parents bring up memories about your... rape?"
She could see the demeanor change, it became calmer. Or at least calm enough for her to speak.
"At... At first, even though my rapist is dead... he still haunts me. I was just a scrawny teenage girl; I had no chance against a full grown man. He forced me to the ground in a quiet alley in the middle of the night... and well I'm sure you can imagine what happened."
Shepard threw herself back onto the bed and climbed under the covers. She turned the lights back off, and Miranda assumed it was her cue to leave.
As she got up, Shepard spoke up, "Miranda... would you mind staying up here tonight...?"
"Any particular reason, Commander?"
"I... I just don't want to be alone."
The clicks of her boots continued, and Shepard protested, "Miranda?"
"Shh, I'll be right back, Shepard. You can't expect me to sleep in a battle suit, can you?"
Shepard heard shuffling in the bathroom, and Miranda reappeared dress in black shorts and a pink tank top. The blonde couldn't help but giggle, "Pink, Miss Lawson? Seems unfitting, but I like it."
Miranda rolled her eyes, walking towards the bed but paused.
"You don't mind if I sleep on the other side, right? That chair is rather uncomfortable."
Shepard shook her head before putting it back on her pillow.
Miranda's fine tuned hearing woke her in the middle of the night. She heard the sounds of soft cries coming from the other side of the bed. Shepard had her back to Miranda, but her small form shook with each sob. The raven haired woman lit the fish tanks to provide a bit of light, and she put her hand on Shepard's shoulder.
"Sid, are you alright?"
The Commander didn't turn over, but did speak up.
"I... I miss him."
"Who-oh... you mean Alenko."
"My life... it's just so lonely now. I can't believe I sent him to his death..."
"It's not your fault, he wanted to, and he is the reason you defeated Saren."
Shepard flipped over, and hugged Miranda; she rested her head in the crook of the Cerberus Operative's neck.
"Look at me; I'm acting like a teenaged girl. I know in all rational thought, my decision makes sense, but all I want now is for him to be alive. I miss him so, so much."
Miranda felt pang of hurt for the woman in her heart. It wasn't often she had sympathy for someone. But the Commander was something different altogether. She had given her life to saving the galaxy but it seemed like everything she cared about slipped through her fingers.
"I know, I know you do Shepard."
"Please... Don't leave me like Kaiden did. Besides him, you're the best friend I've ever had."
"I'm right here, Commander. I'm not going anywhere."
And she actually meant it.