A/N: Sorry about the break! Started back at Uni this week, had to get used to timetables, transport, etc.
This chapter came from four little chapters, hence why it jumps around a bit. Each chapter wasn't long enough to demand its own.
AND a big thanks to all of you who replied/reviewed/followed/favourited! You are awesome :).
"You know the commander?"
"I used to."
"What do you mean 'used to'?" James inquired.
"I mean that I knew her before she died. Since she came back... I don't know if she's the same person anymore," Kaidan shook his head, and began to walk away from James, who followed.
"Isn't she the same person? Didn't Cerberus bring her back exactly the way she was before?"
"Supposedly."
"Supposedly?"
"Supposedly- it means generally assumed. Do you always ask this many questions, Lieutenant?" Kaidan snapped; the questions were irritating him.
"Only when I'm confused," James admitted.
"I'm guessing that happens a lot," Kaidan smirked.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" James stood in front of Kaidan, forcing them both to stop walking. They eyeballed each other. James was clearly bigger, and could easily win a fair fist fight. However, Kaidan knew better than to start a fight in an Alliance facility.
"I have to get to the Normandy. Out of my way, Lieutenant," Kaidan put as much authority as he could into his voice. He was relieved when James moved out of his way.
"Funny, that's where I need to go to," James started to follow Kaidan again.
"What happened to guarding Shepard?"
"Admiral Anderson gave me new orders. Guess we'll be getting to know each other."
Oh, that'll be fun, Kaidan thought, wondering how long it would be before a fight would start.
"Traynor! How is the Normandy?" Kaidan asked as he walked onto the ship, James following a few paces behind.
"She could fly, if given orders to do so," Traynor replied, handing Kaidan a list of retrofits completed thus far. "Who's the new person?"
"Specialist Traynor, meet Lieutenant..." Kaidan looked up from the data pad, realizing he didn't know the Lieutenant's name.
"James Vega," James filled in, extending a hand to Traynor, who shook it.
"Welcome aboard, Lieutenant."
"Thank you. Could you point me towards the weapons?"
"Why would you need weapons?" Kaidan asked.
"It is the duty of the Arms Master to see the weapons, is it not?" James asked sarcastically. The men returned to staring at each other, until Traynor interrupted.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant? I believe you're looking for deck 5," Traynor said nervously. "I could show you, if you'd like"
"Thank you, that'd be nice," and James left, not without one last stare at Kaidan.
Once he was out of earshot, Kaidan let out a sigh of relief.
"What was that about?" Joker asked out of nowhere.
"How long have you been there?" Kaidan asked, having not noticed Joker.
"I think the question you need to ask is: have you ever seen me away from the cockpit? I'm always here. Anyway, don't avoid the question Alenko."
Kaidan slumped into the co-pilot's chair. "Nothing."
"You expect me to believe that you, king of cool, nice-to-everybody Kaidan Alenko managed to piss someone off?" Joker asked incredulously.
"Honestly? I don't expect you to believe anything anymore," Kaidan replied, sighing.
"Hey! I believe lots of things. For example: I believe that you're still in love with the Commander."
"Joker!" Kaidan exclaimed. Ever since returning to oversee retrofits, Joker had always managed to slip Shepard's name into conversation. It frustrated Kaidan to no end.
However, it delighted Joker to see the calm man squirm.
"Deny it all you want, but I know you man. You still love her," Joker said with a trademark smile. Kaidan looked at the man.
"What's your point? It's not like I'm going to see her anytime soon..."
"I have detected Reaper activity in the Sol System," EDI's voice interrupted.
"Crap!" the two men said in unison.
"Where are we going?" James asked Shepard, trying to keep up with her.
"Mars."
"What about Earth? We can't just leave..."
Shepard rounded on James.
"Do you think I wanted to leave? You don't think i want to stay and fight? We have orders. We're Going to mars," Shepard went to a locker, looking for some armour. Kaidan was a few meters away, checking on the Kodiak.
"Mars, why? What's on mars?"
Six months in confinement, and he never talks. Now we're in the middle of a war, man wants to play 20 questions? Shepard thought to herself, wishing he would just shut up.
"It doesn't matter, lieutenant," Kaidan entered the conversation, coming over to obtain armour of his own.
"I think it does, and who asked your opinion?"
"Watch your tone, lieutenant," unlike earlier that day, Kaidan did not want to put up with any of James' smart-ass comments.
"I have a right to know, don't..." James' sentence was stopped by a right hook from Kaidan. Shepard, who had been ignoring the confrontation, turned around at the sound of James hitting the ground. She guessed he was caught unawares.
James, having recovered, swept Kaidan's legs, causing him to also fall to the ground. The two men then began to wrestle on the ground, like two kids.
Shepard, who was already having a bad day, could not believe her eyes. Neither man was going easy on the other. How can I possibly take them both to mars?
"Arrival at Mars in two minutes," EDI's voice broke Shepard's thoughts.
Surrounded by a blue glow, she waved her arms, causing the two men to be thrown to opposite sides of the room. She then put a barrier in front of each, stopping them from moving.
"Seriously? Earth has just been attacked, and you two want to fight like animals?"
"Sorry She-"
"Shut up James. Look, I don't care what your deal is. The fact is, you should both know better. I need you both with me on Mars, and I need to be able to trust both of you. If I can't, I will throw you out of an airlock. You understand?" she looked both men in the eye; James had to look away, clearly ashamed. Kaidan, on the other hand, stared defiantly back at her.
He's grown some balls. Good for him, she thought, recalling the man who couldn't look her in the eye three years ago.
After both men nodded, she let down the barrier.
"You heard EDI; suit up."
"We need to get him to the citadel."
Shepard barely registered Liara's presence, let alone her words. She just couldn't take her eyes off of Kaidan's near-lifeless body.
"Shepard!" Liara grabbed her, bringing Shepard out of her trance like state. "We. Need. To. Get. To. The. Citadel."
"Mm, yes, citadel. Joker?" Shepard sounded drunk.
"Course already laid in. We'll arrive in five hours." There was no joy in Joker's voice.
"Shepard, sit down," Liara practically forced Shepard to sit on a chair, Shepard not taking her eyes off of Kaidan.
"Shepard? Talk to me."
"He didn't trust me," Shepard mumbled.
"What?"
"He didn't trust me, Liara. He thought I was with Cerberus, that I had something to do with them on Mars," Shepard looked up at Liara; Liara was shocked by the sadness she could see in the normally emotionless woman. "He didn't trust me, and I...I didn't care. I yelled at him. I said I don't care what he thought. And now..."
"Shepard, he'll be alright. Come, you should have a shower and rest.
"No, I won't leave him," Shepard said weakly.
"He's not going anywhere. You need to rest," Liara spoke sternly, like to a disobedient child.
"I won't leave him." Ever the defiant Commander Shepard, Liara thought. She grabbed Shepard by the shoulders, lifting her from the seat. When Shepard tried to sit back down, Liara pushed the other woman out of the room.
"No Liara, I won't leave him!" Shepard yelled. She tried to use her biotics on Liara, but, at that moment, Liara was stronger. She subdued Shepard, carrying her to her quarters.
"I hear she made quite the scene," Joker said to Liara over the intercom.
"She tried to," Liara was going over the information from Mars.
"How bad is Kaidan?"
"He's not dead, but not far from it."
"Will he make it?"
Neither one wanted to think of how Kaidan's death would affect Shepard.
"I'm an archaeologist, not a doctor. We'll know once we get to the citadel." Liara disconnected the comm system, choosing to focus on her work.
If Kaidan dies, Shepard won't want to fight. And if Shepard doesn't want to fight...then this war may not last long at all