A/N – we are marching forward to the end, just three (well, two and an epilogue) more chapters after this one. This is a minor – seriously minor – cliffhanger which is why I'm posting this one and the rest together! That's how much I love you all, I refuse to let you suffer! *hugs*
Shepard was walking, albeit it with the aid of a cane, when she made her way across the raised dais to become the first ever recipient of the Admiral David Anderson Medal for Meritorious Conduct a month later. The warm Vancouver sun glinted off her engagement ring as she saluted Admiral Hackett then shook his hand with a strong grip. She and the Normandy crew had traveled here when she was released from the hospital a week ago and the long delayed ceremony to award her the Anderson Medal was taking place outside the newly rebuilt Alliance headquarters. She stepped up to the podium Admiral Hackett had just vacated and stared out in to the crowd before her, scanning for family, friends, crew, before her gaze came to rest on Kaidan, front and center in the first row, watching her with pride. She took a deep breath and gathered herself before she began to speak.
"A little over a year ago, I was here, in Vancouver, at these headquarters on another bright and sunny day," she waved her hand to indicate the building behind her. "It was a day that none of us will ever forget. The day that we had to defend ourselves, our planet, from a ruthless and ingenious enemy. An enemy that would not respond to reason, that seemed overwhelming in force." She paused as she saw the memories flicker over the faces of the people in the crowd. It was a painful memory, one that would not easily be forgotten. "We have returned today, victorious," a cheer rang out on that word and she nodded, "largely due to the efforts of Admiral David Anderson. Admiral Anderson led the resistance forces here on Earth and kept the fight and pressure against our enemy despite overwhelming odds. He was a leader, a mentor, a hero." Here she had to stop and swallow as emotion threatened to overcome her. "His loss is one that will be felt by all of us as a people, none more than me. To be standing here today, presented with a medal bearing his name is the highest honor I have received in my career. I will carry it with pride, as I carry Admiral Anderson in my heart with gratitude." With that she nodded and made her way off the dais, leaning on her cane.
Kaidan met her at the bottom of the ramp, placed his arm through hers, and searched her eyes. "Great speech," he told her quietly, with pride coloring his voice.
Shepard gave him a small smile, and leaned on his arm, grateful for the support and spoke quietly as they walked towards the front entrance of HQ. "I didn't want this day to be about me. It should be about him. He earned it more than I did." She saw Kaidan's small smile and knew that he didn't agree, so she continued, "He gave his life. That's the ultimate sacrifice."
Kaidan nodded, accepting her point, although he knew that sacrifice took many forms and the woman walking beside him had made her share too. Still, he wouldn't continue the debate. "Admiral Hackett has asked to see us both in his office after the reception," he told her quietly.
"Wonder what that's about?" Shepard mused as they reached the front entrance and prepared to mingle with the guests gathered for the small reception.
Two hours later, they found themselves seated in the anteroom of the Admiral's office, waiting until his busy and officious assistant ushered them in to see him. They sat stiff and correct, their formal military posture not betraying their relationship or their impatience. After five long minutes of silence, the assistant finally looked up from her terminal and informed them, "The Admiral will see you now." They stood together and headed through the double doors to the inner office.
They exchanged the formalities of salutes and greetings and then the Admiral gestured them both to chairs in front of his desk and took his own seat. "Major, Captain, I have called you here today to discuss your future plans," he told them in his typically gruff and efficient voice.
"Sir?" Shepard asked, question in her voice.
"It is my understanding, according to the final reports I received from your doctors upon your release, Captain Shepard," the Admiral continued, "that they feel you will eventually make a full recovery and will be able to be certified for combat in a few months."
Shepard nodded. The jargon that they had used was longer and much more difficult to decipher, but that was the gist. Even now, she only needed the cane for long times standing or walking and had chosen to use it today out of caution. She had wanted to take no chances of falling on her face in front of a large crowd.
Admiral Hackett turned his gaze to Kaidan. "And you, Major Alenko. I commend you on your efforts on the reconstruction for the months you were stationed in London. As always, your work was efficient, organized and exemplary."
Kaidan flushed a bit and responded, "Thank you, sir."
"Which brings us here, to the present." Hackett nodded to them both. "As you are aware, you have both remained active during the process of Captain Shepard's recovery. It is my understanding that you are planning to be married next month." At their nods of confirmation Hackett spoke again, "I believe the Alliance owes you a debt, Captain Shepard, and you as well, Major Alenko. But the Alliance is what it is and I cannot ignore regulations out of gratitude. If you chose to remain in active service, you would be assigned to separate ships, despite the fact that your ranks are equal. On a starship, there is only one person in command, and Alliance fraternization regulations are clear about having two people with emotional involvement in the same chain of command."
Shepard's heart sank. Although she had expected something like this, to have it blatantly presented in such succinct terms made the situation seem impossible. Still, her parents had made it work somehow, and as much as her heart sank to think of being parted from Kaidan, she was Alliance to her core, if that's how things had to be, she would learn to deal with it. She nodded at the Admiral in resignation.
Kaidan, however, heard the 'but' in the Admiral's words and clung to it. He knew Shepard would accept the decision, but spending the majority of their marriage apart wasn't an option he would easily embrace. He turned a questioning glance to the Admiral and said, "Sir, you said if… What are our other options?"
Hackett nodded, not surprised that the Major had caught his meaning. Kaidan had always been a thinker, a strategist. It's what made him so valuable. Although Hackett would never consider himself a romantic, he liked this couple, thought they were good together, and he'd help them if he could. He presented the options he had carefully considered once he had received the reports from Shepard's doctors.
"Just so, Major. If you chose to remain in active service, shipboard, that would be the Alliance's response. However, you can both - or one or the other - choose to retire from active service." He raised a hand as he saw that Shepard was about to object, "I am aware, Captain, that it is unlikely, but I wanted to present all your options today."
"The final choice would be for both of you to take postings groundside. I called you here today to offer you those postings. There's an instructor position available at the Interplanetary Combatives Academy in Rio for which I think you would be ideal, Captain. As for you, Major, the Alliance is reforming the Special Biotics Operatives, and they have decided to establish a sister training facility at the Villa, with the intent of identifying, developing, and training promising young biotic soldiers. Your name has been the only one mentioned for leading this program, Major. If you decline, the Alliance would have to work hard to find a candidate with half your qualifications."
Shepard and Kaidan sat stunned, both for their own reasons. To Kaidan, this was an amazing gift, a chance to do something he had found he really enjoyed and had talent with, while still being on the same base as Shepard. They could have a real marriage, maybe a family down the road.
For her part, Shepard was stunned that anyone would consider grounding her. She knew next to nothing about teaching, and her six months in detention had been the most consecutive time she'd spent planetside in all her life. How did that qualify her to turn out new N7s?
"I realize this is an important decision, and one that you'd like to discuss with each other as well," Hackett concluded. "I'll give you a week's leave to make up your minds, then I expect you here to inform me of the results. Dismissed."
They turned and left the office together, each lost in their own thoughts.