John sat in the lunch room, poking the food on his tray with a fork.
"Is this edible?" John wondered aloud. It was supposed to be turkey, though it looked more like chili that looked like repulsive cat food that even alley cats would turn their nose up towards.
"That's pork." Haku said, sitting beside him.
"Oh." John said, and pushed the tray away. "I don't eat turkey-pork."
"You've changed a lot, Shep." Haku said.
John raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you've got the right guy."
"I do. Michael and I tracked you for a year." Haku said.
Michael slid into the seat to John's right. "Happy birthday, by the way."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I'm John Mason, a teacher. I had a breakdown after my wife died, and I went to the mental hospital here. I got better, and I decided to stay."
Michael and Haku looked at each other, both thinking the same thing: 'Shepard has lost it.'
"Shepard, your wife didn't die. She's still alive, and misses you." Haku said.
"And you got a degree to teach after you retired as a Commander. But, before you could become a teacher, your father-in-law died." Michael said.
"You two are nuts. Shepard is, legally, dead. He disappeared- poof! -and nobody knows where he is." John said, and looked at his watch. "Oh, lookie! The-time-called-lunch-though-it's-way-too-nasty-to-be-actually-lunch is over."
John stood, and Hannah walked over to him.
"Everyone already left." Hannah informed John, much to his surprise. "Put this blindfold on and I'll show you a surprise."
"You can't show me something in a blindfold." John said, putting the blindfold on. "I can't see it."
"Follow my voice- Mr. Jack!" Hannah's voice rose in surprise as her teacher walked straight into a wall. "Okay, hold my hand."
"I really hope I don't end up playing the pervy teacher. That'd suck." John said, holding Hannah's tiny hand. In truth, her hand wasn't small; John's hand was just big.
"Okay, now, take it off."
"..."
"The blindfold."
"Oh," John smiled, taking the blindfold off. In front of him, there was a cake, reading 'Happy Birthday Mr. Jack.' John's smile grew. "Thanks you guys."
"It's no problem, Mr. Jack." Hannah smiled. "Everyone but the new kid helped us out."
John's smile faltered for a split second, thinking of the new kid and teacher's aid. They were odd, and he didn't exactly like them. But, then again, he kind of did. They seemed familiar...
John forced those thoughts away, focusing on his students.
"So, who wants some cake?" John asked. Of course, everyone raised their hands.
The rest of the day passed on normally, and, once again, John was confronted by Haku and Michael. This time he tried leaving the room when they both stood in front of him.
"Can I just...? Lemme..." John tried going between the two, but they held fast.
"Shep, we think you have two personalities." Haku said, concerned. "We want you back. I want you back."
"You two kind of had a thing." Michael said.
"I haven't had a girlfriend in forever." John said, trying to go through the two.
"Shep, just remember your past." Michael said. In a very odd move, John actually got angry.
"Shepard is dead! Dead! And he's never coming back!" John shouted, and pushed the two out of his way. They tried following when, suddenly, John burst into a run, leaving the two behind.
"Damn it," Haku sighed, leaning against a wall.
"I never knew he was a fast runner." Michael said, a smile on his face. He noticed Haku begin to cry and he patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry," Michael said. "Shep'll come back. He's just gotta shrug off that crazy John personality."
Haku stood up straight, and said "Alright. I hope he comes back gently, though."
Shepard sat on a bench at midnight, unable to sleep, when he heard feet.
"I swear, if it's-" John was cut off when a certain purple asari put a hand on his neck. Lynn wore a white sweater, jeans, and running shoes.
"Hey." Lynn smiled, kissing John on the cheek. John smiled, his nurse brightening his day. "How's the colony's craziest teacher doing?"
"Not so hot." John admitted, moving so that he could put his head onto Lynn's lap. They were a couple, though John had lied about it to Michael and Haku.
'They're pretty much stalkers. If I told them Lynn was my girlfriend some dirty pictures would end up on a billboard and the school board could finally fire me with a good reason.' John thought.
Lynn ran a hand through John's hair. "I missed you today."
"I missed you, too. Hannah was a little angel, of course. Threw me a little party with a tasty cake." John smiled.
"I helped bake it." Lynn said.
"So that's why it tasted so good," John said, sitting up and moving close to Lynn, putting his arm around her. "What brings you to this neck of the woods, anyways?"
"You weren't at your house, and you said you always went here when you felt bad." Lynn winced. "Sorry. I shouldn't use things I learned in therapy in our relationship.
"It's fine," John smiled. "Now that I think about it, I'm freezing. Can I borrow that sweater?"
"I'm...not wearing anything under it." Lynn blushed. John, when Lynn first blushed at their first therapy session was surprised, not knowing asari could blush.
"And?" Lynn playfully slapped John.
"You should come back to my house."
"Awesome."
"For some hot chocolate. Hannah's sleeping over."
"Can't we have hot coffee instead?" John whined.
"If you're good." Lynn poked John's nose, then stood.
John followed, putting his hands in his pockets. Could life get any better?