Chasing Starlight - Chapter 19 – Aftermath
A/N: Sorry for the long period without updating! I had terrible writer's block and other things messing with me.
I have started a new fic as well though, and plan to update the two of these alternately weekly. The other fic is called Project Phoenix - it's a mirror verse in which Kaidan replaces Garrus as Archangel. :)
I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you to all of you who reviewed or encouraged me through my writer's block!
The piercing sound of Shepard's strained voice echoed in Kaidan's mind.
Kaidan – Garrus – RUN!
"Shepard!" Kaidan shouted again; he had lost track of how many times he called for her with no response.
"Kaidan," Garrus coughed out, "even if she's alive, she can't hear us. Not while we're trapped beneath all this rubble." The turian grunted and the sound of him shifting his weight filled the enclosure. "I know it's hard not knowing if she's alright, but there's nothing we can do right now except wait for C-Sec or the Alliance or whoever to get us out of this mess."
It was dark – pitch black under the wreckage of Sovereign and the Council Chambers. Kaidan's eyes began to water from the cocktail of emotions flowing through him. He was exhausted from such an incredibly taxing mission, proud of their victory, but mostly, Kaidan was worried – terrified – that Shepard hadn't been able to dodge the piece of the Reaper that he and Garrus were trapped beneath. That perhaps, in the time it took her to warn them, she was struck by the massive shrapnel and rendered unconscious – or worse. At least Garrus can't see me right now, he noted.
Muffled voices filtered through the wreckage. Kaidan's heart raced at the sound of potential rescuers. "We're in here!" he called, desperately hoping whoever was out there would hear. Light pierced their cavern, momentarily blinding Kaidan.
"Captain Anderson – over here!" the human C-Sec officer called as he helped Garrus up.
Kaidan's former commanding officer rushed over, and was at his side in an instant. "You alright, Alenko?" Kaidan nodded in affirmative response. Anderson looked around rapidly. "Where's Shepard?"
Kaidan slowly shook his head, negatively this time, but did not speak. He couldn't admit that something could be wrong. Anderson stopped his visual scan and rested his eyes on the distraught lieutenant. Neither of them spoke. As Anderson placed a comforting hand on Kaidan's shoulder, a familiar grunt softly interrupted their silence. The eyes of both men darted in the direction of the sound's origin, and a glimpse of crimson hair was spotted.
She's alive! Kaidan shouted in his mind, relieved, as Evelyn limped toward them. Without hesitation, Kaidan rushed in her direction and offered his assistance. Shepard nodded, and Kaidan took her arm and placed it over his shoulders. He wrapped his strong, able arm around her torso gently – she winced at the light contact. Kaidan's amber eyes scanned her bruised and scraped up form. "We need to get you checked out as soon as possible, Commander."
"I know," she breathed, pained. Moments later, a stretcher appeared and Anderson ordered Shepard to get on it. Evelyn sighed as she obliged, knowing she wasn't in that bad of shape, but also that it was useless to argue with the captain.
"Alenko – accompany the commander and send me updates on her status as soon as possible."
A familiar accented feminine voice interrupted, "and just where do you plan on taking my patient, Captain Anderson?" The dark green uniform of the Normandy's doctor appeared next to Shepard's stretcher.
"Karin," Anderson managed a smile. "How did you get her so quickly?"
Dr. Chakwas folded her arms across her chest. "Easy. Joker told me the Commander was here and that we had lost contact with her. It didn't take much more than a 'I should check her out' to convince Pressly to order Joker to dock."
Anderson let out a short chortle, but stifled it as he spotted Udina, complete with a black eye, in his peripheral vision. "I'll defer to your judgement then, doctor," Anderson stated. "If you'll excuse me."
Kaidan watched intently as Dr. Chakwas scanned Shepard with her omni-tool and gently physically examined her. "Commander, I believe you have fractured a rib or two. Thankfully, your ankle is only sprained, and the scrapes and bruises are nothing you aren't used to. Treatment is medigel and rest. Should I have the medics transfer you to Huerta Memorial?"
Evelyn smiled warmly. "There are many others who need a hospital bed more than I, Dr. Chakwas. I feel it's best if I recover in my apartment on Shin Akiba. I promise to be a good patient."
Dr. Chakwas grinned and responded as she continued to work, expertly applying medigel to Evelyn's wounds. "You have a good point, Shepard, and I trust you. But I would prefer it if someone escorted you to your apartment in a wheelchair - it's a ways from here and you need to stay off that ankle for at least the rest of the day." Dr. Chakwas paused, noticed the attractive and attentive medically trained lieutenant standing nearby. He was within earshot, and might have been trying to look like he wasn't listening to what the doctor was saying to Shepard, but she wasn't fooled. "Kaidan, could you grab one of those wheelchairs and escort the Commander to her apartment?"
"Yes, ma'am," Kaidan acknowledged and turned away from Dr. Chakwas to retrieve the chair, unable to hide the grin that had made its way across his face.
A comfortable silence settled between Kaidan and Shepard as they rode in the skycab from the Presidium to Shin Akiba. Kaidan caught the orange glow of Evelyn's omni-tool in the corner of his eye, and soon his own tool lit up with a notification - Shepard's apartment's address. Kaidan lips turned slightly upwards as he programmed the location as his next destination. He turned his gaze toward his Commander. Shepard sat there, covered in bandages and loose fitting clothing, her posture relaxed and head bobbing forward. She slid down in the seat further, and rested her head on Kaidan's shoulder. His grin grew wider, and he wrapped his arm around Shepard, grateful that they had made the short detour to the ship to change into regular clothing before heading to Shepard's apartment; his form would not be nearly as comfortable for her to learn on if it were still covered in armor.
Shepard's breathing grew slower and deeper. Is she asleep? Kaidan wondered. He didn't dare ask or move. She deserves some rest. It warmed his heart that she felt comfortable enough around him to drift into such a vulnerable state at his side.
Kaidan's suspicion that Evelyn had fallen asleep was confirmed when the skycab came to a stop. Shepard didn't startle or move at all; she hadn't even realized the car stopped. Kaidan silently transferred the credits to the driver for the ride, nodded and smiled in thanks, and gently removed Shepard from the cab, into his arms, and placed her back in the wheelchair. Thank goodness I have her address, Kaidan mused.
A husky voice cleared his throat, "Commander? We've arrived."
Evelyn snapped awake at the words, her mind rested, but her body sore and tired. "Kaidan…I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep. Thank you for bringing me here." She began to slowly rise from the chair, careful not to place weight on her injured ankle. Kaidan offered his arm for stability, which she gladly took, smiling meekly with gratitude. Evelyn unlocked the door to her apartment, and turned to Kaidan. Her hands fumbled nervously with each other as her silver eyes darted between him and the space behind him, sparkling with a curious mixture excitement and hesitation.
Kaidan patiently waited as Evelyn opened her mouth to speak and shut it multiple times, trying to find the right words. Finally, her grey eyes locked into his amber ones, and she spoke with confidence. "Would you like to come in? You made the trip all the way down here, after all, and I'm sure need to rest yourself…" her voice trailed off as she awaited his response.
"I'd like that," the words escaped Kaidan before he could even think to curtail them. He grinned widely, stupidly, he thought.
The door to the apartment opened as if on cue. Evelyn carefully limped into the dimly lit apartment and flicked on the light switch next to the door. She took a few steps forward, and collapsed onto the elegant white sectional sofa that filled most of the living area. Kaidan followed behind her and left the wheelchair next to the door, and typed the retrieval code into his omni-tool – someone with C-Sec would retrieve it shortly for those more needing of it.
The apartment was by no means tiny nor massive, but certainly spacious enough for two people to live in comfortably. To the right of the front door was semi-open kitchen area. The wall that separated the two rooms had a large opening with an arch, much like a window without any glass. To the left, a television was mounted on the wall, which had a hallway just next to it and past the back of the sectional. Behind the sectional a study area was visible, along with some empty floor space and small exercise equipment. The back wall was lined with windows, covered by curtains. Kaidan observed this in a quick glance or two before joining Shepard on the couch.
"I'll give you a proper tour soon, but you can see half the apartment from the front door." Evelyn mused.
"It's a nice place," Kaidan commented, smiling warmly.
Evelyn grinned back and let out a chortle. "Thanks, I quite like it here, too. Though the compliment should go to my mother – she's the one who picked it out." Evelyn settled comfortably onto the sofa. "My parents bought it when I was young. My mom and I share it now. With both of us serving in the Alliance, it's rare that we're even here at the same time. And before you ask, no, she isn't here now." Evelyn's cheeks blushed a bit. I'm alone in my apartment with him and we're not on duty. "I…" she stammered, "I have to admit, this isn't how I expected I would first invite you over."
Kaidan raised a single eyebrow. "Oh? So you did intend to invite me over, though." Evelyn's face turned nearly as red as her hair. Kaidan grinned, a slight deviousness to it, inched his body flush with hers and draped his arm across her shoulders. "How did you plan to ask me over, then?"
Evelyn sighed. "I mean, I didn't exactly have a plan, but I didn't think Dr. Chakwas would inadvertently play matchmaker either," Shepard giggled. "I can't say I'm disappointed that you're here now, though." Shepard turned her head towards Kaidan, her lips turned upward to a grin. Their faces were close, and she could feel his breath on her skin. His strong, calloused hand gently settled on her cheek, and she buried her face into it, gently kissing his palm. His fingers cupped her chin and brought her face back to his. Ardent whisky-colored eyes bore into her shimmering silver ones, as if searching for permission. To answer, Evelyn simply closed her eyes and parted her lips, but they were not met with Kaidan's full ones. Instead, she felt the heat of his breath on her skin.
"Shepard, I…"
Evelyn batted her eyes and pulled back slightly. "Is something wrong, Kaidan?" Her heart sank, embarrassed, worried, and ashamed.
A sudden knock at the door interrupted their conversation. The security panel next to the door revealed that a C-Sec medic had arrived to retrieve the wheelchair. Shepard shifted and slowly used her arms to push herself up to answer it, but Kaidan placed a hand of her shoulder as he stood. He opened the door, relinquished the wheelchair, and kindly thanked the medic for coming by to get it.
In the meantime, Shepard's heart and mind raced. Why didn't he kiss me? What was he going to say? What is he thinking? Does he feel we made a mistake? That being together…isn't right afterall? Did he only do those things with me because he didn't think we could survive? What a fool you are, Evelyn. Pale worry painted her visage, which she turned down to face her lap as she fiddled with her hands. From her peripheral vision, she saw Kaidan begin to move to come back to the couch, but there was another wrap at the door. Evelyn noticed on the monitor that it was Pressly. "Please ask him in, Lieutenant."
Kaidan flinched at the use of his rank instead of his name and responded with a simple "yes ma'am." As the door slid open, shock was obvious on Pressly's face when he saw Kaidan standing on the other side. The lieutenant motioned towards Shepard and stood to the side. "Dr. Chakwas asked me to escort her here. She's been injured. I'll let her explain the rest." He reported professionally. Kaidan turned to face Shepard. "May I be dismissed, ma'am?"
Evelyn couldn't hide the disappointment from her face, but before she could reply, Pressly spoke. "You should hear what I have to say first, Lieutenant. You and Shepard were the only Alliance crew not on board when the Normandy docked, and need to be caught up to speed."
Evelyn straightened her posture. "What's going on, Pressly?" Her brows furrowed, concerned and confused.
"The Normandy's been impounded and the crew has all been placed on administrative leave until everything gets sorted out. I was sent to inform you." Pressly sat on the other part of the sectional. "You'll be receiving a private message soon from Alliance Brass about your hearing; we'll all be having one."
Evelyn nodded. "Of course we will. Even though we were right about Saren and the Conduit, I still stole the ship and will have to answer for it."
Pressly nodded. "Hopefully the fact that we saved the Citadel and the Council will go well for us." He smiled, which would have seemed out of place given the news he had just delivered, but Evelyn knew that smile.
"Charlotte's coming to see you, isn't she?" Evelyn grinned, full well knowing the answer to that question.
"Not just me. She was adamant that she see you, too. She told me to let you know to expect a message from her soon, as well."
Kaidan stood awkwardly by the door as the part of the conversation he had needed to hear had ended, but knew he could not go without being formally dismissed.
Pressly rose from the sofa and headed back the short distance to the door. "Anyways, I should head back to my place. Charlotte will be there soon, as her ship served in the battle as well. And yes, she's fine." He paused slightly before pressing the switch to open the door. "I'm glad to see you're going to be alright, too, Evelyn."
"Thanks, Uncle Charlie," Shepard grinned and nodded, dismissing Pressly. Not a second after the door closed behind him, Evelyn turned to attention back to Kaidan. "Of course, you're dismissed now, lieutenant, but..." her voice trailed off as she, again, searched for the right words to say. As usual, Kaidan patiently waited for her to finish her thought. "Can we talk about what happened?"