Almost a month later, Doctor Chakwas decided that Catherine should stay in the hall and not leave until the babies were born. It was late March by their new calendar and spring should have been upon them, but winter had assaulted them with one last blow and had the settlement in the grips of a brutal cold snap.
Day time temperatures had been at a steady minus 18 degrees Celsius while nights had been dropping down to nearly minus 30. The nursery had been converted into a sleeping space for mothers and children, and Garrus hadn't ventured outside in a week.
A warm spell, which had lasted just a few days, had melted a great deal of the snow leaving paths icy, and though Catherine was bored out of her mind confined to the hall as she was, Kaidan had put his foot down and insisted she stay inside.
Her middle had grown to an enormous size and she was uncomfortable no matter what she did or how she sat or lay down. Kaidan spent much of his time with her, but she was irritable and desperate for her long pregnancy to be over, and rather than start pointless fights, he often left her to the kind care of her friends whenever he sensed her mood deteriorating.
That morning she'd been experiencing uncomfortable cramps that to her intense displeasure were apparently not the beginning of labour. Being at only eight and a half months, Doctor Chakwas thought that the babies might be shifting preparing for birth. Never having even been present for the delivery of twins, she was working on little but guesses. Educated guesses, but guesses none the less.
Catherine had snapped at Kaidan for bumping her elbow and he had decided to go find something else to do for a while. Morgan had taken his place keeping her company and Kaidan returned to the sound of laughter and girlish giggling.
He stopped outside the door to listen in. Not hiding, but not announcing himself either. The two woman were sitting together on the bed. Catherine propped up on a mountain of pillows and Morgan leaning up against the wall with a blanket around her shoulders.
"You're disgusting, Morgan," Kaidan heard Catherine say with a laugh. "I doubt any volus would appreciate that particular comment."
Morgan gave a great laugh and Kaidan smiled, wishing he has heard whatever she had said.
"All right, Cat," she said. "Your turn. Truth or dare."
"I don't know why you insist on calling it truth or dare," Cat said. "It's not like you can really dare me to do anything. Might as well just call it twenty questions."
"Whatever, just call it," Morgan said.
"Fine. Truth," Catherine said definitely.
"Okay." Morgan thought for a moment and then grinned. "Have you ever kissed an alien?"
"Sure," Catherine said with a shrug and Kaidan felt his eyebrows rise unbidden. "I kissed Garrus on the cheek just a few days ago."
"Don't be stupid," Morgan said with a sigh. "You know what I mean."
"You should be more specific then," Catherine said. "Technically I did answer the question."
Morgan just stared at her and Catherine relented.
"Fine, I made out with a drell once."
"Really? When? Where?" Morgan asked eagerly.
"On Earth, in a club in Madrid about ten years ago," Catherine said without a hint of a blush. "He was an athlete or something."
"What was it like?" Morgan leaned forward, eyes wide.
"Weird, but pretty awesome," Catherine told her. "Might just have been the novelty of kissing an alien though. What about you? Kissed anything interesting?"
"No." Kaidan thought she sounded disappointed. Her next comment confirmed it. "Guess I never will now. I knew a girl once who had sex with a hanar though."
"You're joking!" Catherine exclaimed. "How would that even work?"
"Oh c'mon, like you can't figure that out. All those thick, flexible tentacles." Morgan let her voice go sultry and suggestive.
"I'm not sure if I'm disgusted or intrigued," Catherine said. "I've always thought turians were really hot though. I know they're avian, but they always remind me of cats."
"Oh my god, I know!" Morgan laughed. "Before James and I got together I had such a crush on Garrus."
"Ah, so that's why you spent so much time in the galley," Catherine said slyly. "Closest you could get to the battery without being obvious."
"Whatever," Morgan said with a blush. "I saw you watching Liara. You're not as subtle as you think."
Catherine shoved at Morgan with her foot. "I wasn't 'watching' her, I was admiring. Can't fault me for that. She's gorgeous."
Kaidan decided it was time to make his presence known before the conversation drifted towards something he really wasn't supposed to hear. He stepped into the room and tried to pretend he'd heard nothing.
Catherine looked up and sighed. "Guess that secret's out."
"What secret is that?" Kaidan asked innocently.
"Like we didn't know you were standing at the door," Morgan said.
"You caught me." Kaidan raised his hand in mock surrender. "So, was that all just for my benefit then or do you really think Liara is gorgeous?"
"Of course I do," Catherine said. "And I have kissed a drell too." She winked at him saucily.
"But you're not allowed to just listen to truth or dare, Kaidan," Morgan said seriously. "You have to play too."
"Oh no, we're not going there," Kaidan said and tried to back away.
But Catherine reached out and grabbed his hand to pull him back. "Come on, Kaidan. Tell us. Ever kissed an alien?"
Kaidan couldn't help but smile, knowing he was about to disappoint them.
"Nope. Sorry. Never kissed an alien before."
"What?" Catherine and Morgan said in unison.
"Not even an asari dancer somewhere?" Morgan asked doubtfully.
Kaidan shook her head and shrugged apologetically. "Not even an asari dancer. I did have a bit of a crush on a elcor once though."
"Okay, now you're just teasing," Catherine said, slapping him playfully.
"No, really I did," Kaidan said. "We were young and in love and her legs were like graceful tree trunks."
He couldn't even finish the sentence without laughing. Morgan was about to say something when their banter was interrupted by shouts and a scream from outside.
Kaidan whipped his head around and they fell silent as they listened to the commotion. Kaidan heard a door slam against a wall and there were voices in the hallway. A second later Cortez and Garrus hurried by carrying the limp figure of Adams between them.
"Stay here," Kaidan said firmly to Catherine and then rushed out into the hall.
There was a trail of blood on the floor leading to a room at the end of the hall that was Karin's operating theatre. Thus far it had never been used, but now the lights were on and sterile barrier shimmered blue and purple in the doorway.
"Get EDI," Kaidan heard Doctor Chakwas yell.
Cortez came flying out the door and rushed passed Kaidan who went flat against the well to let the man go by. Garrus came out of the room, looking grim and.
"What's going on, Garrus," Kaidan said, peering in the door to see Karin cutting away Adams shirt.
"They were attacked coming back from the cold cellar," Garrus said. "By those things that attacked us before, up in the hills."
"The cat lizard things?" Kaidan said, confused. "But we haven't seen hide nor hair of them since that happened."
They hit the walls again as EDI flew by and into the room to help Doctor Chakwas. Cortez came to a halt beside Kaidan and Garrus, his blue eyes wide.
"John's dead," he said bluntly.
"John. Which John?" There had been two Johns on the crew. One who was now a father, and the other who was an older man who worked in the gardens with Catherine, but otherwise kept to himself. He was one of the few who had lost a family and children on Earth, and Kaidan felt a pang of guilt as his brain hoped that it was the older John who was dead.
"John Morris," Cortez said, and Kaidan mentally winced and felt worse for moment of hope that it had been the same John.
"What happened?" Kaidan asked again, watching as Garrus raised his hand to run his fingers over the broken ridge of his head crest, no doubt remembering their last encounter with the creatures.
"They came out of nowhere," Garrus said. "Three of them. Maybe four. James and Avery are still in the cellar. One got its claws into Adams, but he got away somehow. John tried to get into one of the houses, but the door must be frozen. Two of them got him and dragged him into the woods. There is no way he survived."
"Shit," Kaidan swore, and fell back into military mode. "Okay, Cortez, see if you can reach Avery on his omnitool and tell them to stay put. Garrus, make sure all the kids are in the nursery. Mothers too."
He was interrupted by Catherine who was standing in the door of her room. There were tears in her eyes, but he face was set in anger.
"Where's Bug?" she asked.
"Cat, someone is dead," Kaidan said disapprovingly. "We don't have time to worry about Bug."
"I know that, Kaidan," she said fiercely. "But he is my pet and I have to know. Would you rather I ask or go looking for him?"
Kaidan knew she was right. What they were protecting now Bug was a part of. And Catherine had a connection with the folivora that was a strong as any friendship.
"We'll find him, Kitten," he said more gently.
"Thank you," she said. "Don't forget, there's still a rifle in the labs. I'm pretty sure Tali repaired it."
Kaidan gave her small smile and turned back to Garrus. "New plan, you get the rifle. I've got my biotics and that's weapon enough. I'll make sure everyone else is inside."
Cortez shut down his omnitool and said, "They are both still there and safe. James says he's got a pistol on him and is ready to fight, just give him the word."
Kaidan nodded. "Okay. Go around to all the windows and try to get a visual on these things if they're still out there. It's two hours 'til sundown and I want James and Avery out of there before dark. They won't survive the night in this weather."
Cortez ran to do as commanded and Kaidan took Catherine by the hand. Morgan face was white with fear for James, but she was calm.
"You and Morgan need to get to the nursery. I want everyone in the same place."
"Kaidan, I'm a soldier too," Morgan said. "I can help."
"I know that," Kaidan said. "But you're a mother first now. Go to Lola."
Catherine sided with him. "He's right, Morgan. James is already out there."
Morgan hesitated briefly, but then nodded and followed them into the hall.
Everyone else was already inside. Luckily because of the cold, most people were spending their days inside the hall anyway. Garrus had the rifle in hand and was altering the controls of the door to shut down the motion activation. Liara stood beside him, her biotics glowing blue around her body.
Kaidan strode up to them and put a hand on Liara's shoulder. "You shouldn't be here. Please, go stay with Tessa."
"No, Kaidan," she said calmly. "One rifle and your biotics against four of these creatures is not going to be enough. I can protect myself perfectly well."
Kaidan could see there would be no dissuading her, and she was right, her biotics were formidable. He gave her a sharp nod and turned to look for Cortez. He was standing on the counter against the wall in the kitchen looking out the window high above.
"Anything?" Kaidan asked.
"I saw one," Cortez said quietly. "I think they're all just inside the edge of the woods. And Bug is out there too. Up a tree. I didn't know he could climb."
"Neither did I," Kaidan said and waved someone over. "Go tell Cat that Bug is okay."
The woman ran off to the nursery and Kaidan reached for his jacket and pulled it on. Knowing it would dampen his hearing he left his toque where it was and grabbed only his gloves. They had never thought to need their weapons so urgently like this and hadn't bothered to even consider keeping any in the hall. Now, Kaidan wished they had kept at least a few pistols handy.
"We're going to need to draw them out," Garrus said while calibrating the rifles scope. "I can pick them off no problem once they're out in the open."
"Can that assault rifle do enough damage?" Kaidan said, eyeing the battered old Phaeston.
"Clearly headshots don't work on these things," Liara put in, remembering what Adams had told them about their last run in with the beasts.
"We were surprised last time," Garrus said with confidence. "This time we know what we're hunting. A shot to eye will take it down just like anything else."
"Even more likely to kill if we put them in stasis locks first," Kaidan said. "But how are we going to lure them out? I'm not too keen on being bait."
"I have an idea," Liara said.
She told them her plan and Kaidan was surprised to hear himself agreeing to it. A lot depended on Garrus' skill as a sniper and it had been several months since he'd picked up a weapon. Much too would depend on Kaidan's ability to control his biotics with the same precision Liara could.
They also didn't know for sure just how high these creatures could jump or how quick they really were or how they hunted. Their initial encounter lead them to believe that these animals were solitary, hunting alone like tigers, but now they seemed to be hunting as part of a pack. Were they banded together just for the lean months of the winter? Was the one further inland a lone male, ostracised from others as a juvenile? They were walking into a lot of unknowns.
"Are we ready? Kaidan asked. Garrus and Liara nodded. "On three then. One. Two. Three."
Garrus slapped the door control and bitterly cold air poured in as the doors hissed open. Kaidan dashed ahead about ten meters and spun around, aiming a biotic lift at the Garrus and Liara. Focusing intensely, he raised them as slowly as he could to the level of the roof and then gave them a slight push.
Liara caught herself with a quick impact barrier and stumbled only slightly. Garrus, however, didn't catch himself in time and slid halfway along the roof before coming to a halt.
There wasn't time for Kaidan to call up and make sure he was all right. He took off running toward the cold cellar, deeking left and right at random points, zigzagging and doing the occasional roll. He had no idea if this was the appropriate method for evading a predator, but this was how one traversed an open space and avoided getting shot, and it was all he knew.
"On your right," he heard Liara yell.
He jerked left and then ran back towards the hall. He could hear the beast coming up beside him now and could just see movement in the corner of his eye. Finally her heard Liara shout again.
"Now!"
Kaidan came to a skidding stop and grabbed the beast in a biotic lift high over his head. As he did, Liara threw a stasis field at it, freezing it in midair. There was a sharp snap and a splatter of blood as the animals skull exploded. Kaidan let go of his lift and, still in stasis, the creature came crashing to the ground.
Kaidan paused to catch his breath and watched as the stasis released and the things limbs went limp, its bright blood staining the hard packed dry dirt of the field.
But there wasn't time for him to get a look at the animal before Liara was calling out again. This time there were two coming him. From the left and from directly ahead. A singularity bloomed in front of one and sent it in little flips, head over heels just a few feet off the ground.
Kaidan didn't bother to run. He stood his ground ready to send it flying on Liara's order. But the order never came. There was a shout, just not the one he was waiting for.
There was barely time for Kaidan to notice the creature stalking along the roof towards Garrus and shout a warning before the other was upon him. From almost five meters away it leapt at him, all claws and teeth and vicious dorsal spines.
Kaidan threw up a barrier, a solid wall of biotic energy, and the beast slammed into it and bounced backward landing in a heap several meters away. The force of the impact send Kaidan tumbling backwards. He came to a stop and tried to regain his feet, but he was dizzy and disoriented.
He heard gun fire from the hall and an angry shout from Liara. Not knowing for sure where the beast was, Kaidan sent a shockwave in what he thought was the right direction. There was a high pitched cry and Kaidan managed to gain his feet in time to see the animal charging at him again.
The shockwave had only clipped its side, causing it to limp ever so slightly, but not enough to slow it down. Kaidan didn't have time to think as it ran at him. He crouched low and channelled all of his physical and biotic strength into his legs.
When the creature was only two meters away he sprung up and unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick at its head. Pain shot up his left leg as the side of his foot struck its jaw. There was a sickening crunch and when Kaidan landed his feet wouldn't support him.
Blinding pain washed over him and he desperately tried to get it under control as the animal tried to gain its own feet. A low moaning escaped its mouth, which Kaidan could now see was hanging slack, obviously broken. It turned on him, seeming undaunted by its shattered jaw and made to pounce. Kaidan was in agony and reacted without thought, bioticly pushing away, but the effect was minimal.
The thing was shoved along the ground, but managed to break out of the biotic hold after only a few meters. It was on its feet again in seconds.
Kaidan's heart was pounding in his chest, his ankle throbbing with each beat. When a new sounds began on the other side of the hall, his brain barely registered it as something external, and not something in his head. It was a howling of sorts. Like a wolf, but lower, longer, and more powerful.
It echoed off the surrounding hills and made the beast pause as it paced back and forth in front of Kaidan, clearly wary now of attacking head on. Kaidan dragged himself backwards, hoping that maybe he could reach the cold cellar even though it was half way across the field.
There was blood soaking up his pant leg and smearing the ground as he moved. He was losing feeling in his fingers and his lungs burned as he pulled in breath after breath of freezing air. Liara and Garrus were nowhere in sight, but he could hear the sounds of battle coming from the other side of the hall.
The beast took a few more steps towards him and he threw another shockwave at it, though this one had little effect other than to knock its legs out from under it briefly.
Kaidan thought he could fend it off until help came. It had to be in misery, its jaw dangling broken like that. At least it wouldn't be able to bite him, but Kaidan suspected its claw could do equal if not more damaged if it got close enough.
But then Kaidan saw something that made his heart sink. Two more of the creatures came stalking out of the trees, their heads low to the ground, deep growls rumbling in their throats. There was no way that Kaidan could fight off three off them.
They paced toward him, eyes burning, and as Kaidan watched them he realized they were thin as rails. Their ribs poked through their green and grey leathery skin and the tendons in their legs were taught as whipcords. They were starving, and if there was one thing that Kaidan knew about starving animals it was that they would fight to the death for the barest scrap of meat.
Out of ideas and with little hope, Kaidan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, centering himself and letting the eezo in his body charge up with every last bit of energy he had. Opening his eyes he released it and watched as a shimmering curtain fell into place around him.
It was a small barrier, but a powerful one, and Kaidan thought he could hold it for at least five minutes. Hopefully enough time for Garrus and Liara to come to his rescue. He wasn't ready to die. He would fight to the last for the chance to hold his children, but against theses odds defence was smarter then offence, and a barrier was all he had left.
Then something unexpected happened. Bug came charging from between the houses and slammed his head into the side of the wounded predator. Just like a bison lifting a wolf, Bug tossed the beast into the air and kept going. It landed on its broken face and lay still. The other two creatures stopped in their tracks and watched as Bug turned and cantered back towards Kaidan, stopping between him and them.
Kaidan almost fainted in relief until he realized that the folivora standing in front of him was not Bug. This animal was bigger and it's fur was greener, with streaks of tan running down its sides from its spine.
It pawed at the ground, its head lowered threateningly, but the creatures hesitated for only a moment before advancing again. The folivora lifted its head into the air and gave a long, low howl just like the one Kaidan had heard before.
This time there was an answering cry, only this one was deeper and Kaidan could feel the air vibrating around him even through his barrier. The ground shook and he turned to see a whole heard of massive folivora emerge from the trees.
The biggest of them stood directly behind Kaidan, its huge head hung low to the ground, swaying from side to side as it emitted a low growl. Plumes of steam puffed out its mouth and nostrils as it heaved great breaths and huffed them out again.
The attacking creatures stood their ground for a moment and the folivora opened its mouth and bellowed again. Kaidan slapped his hands over his ears and cowered, his barrier collapsing as pain shot through his leg once more.
The cat creatures turned and bolted back into the forest. Kaidan could hear them crashing through the underbrush and caught a glimpse of them disappearing up the cliff face beyond, leaping nimbly from one ledge to the next and finally over the top.
The midsized folivora in front of him turned and stared, looking him right in the eye. Kaidan froze. The folivora had protected him, but who knew what had brought them or what they might do now.
There was movement behind him and he glanced over his shoulder to see the big male settle down on its hunches, its big ears forward in motion Kaidan had come to associate in Bug with interest.
Another sound drew his attention and he turned to see Garrus and Liara come around the side of the hall and stop in their tracks. Garrus raised the rifle to his shoulder and Kaidan quickly waved it down.
He didn't know what to do next. His leg was a riot of pain and he doubt that it would take his weight, but he was nervous of calling anyone over the help him.
Bug saved the day. He came bounding from the between the rows of houses, his tongue lolling from his mouth, which was grinning just like a dogs.
He ran right up to Kaidan and licked his face, whining with joy. He then went to each of the other folivora in turn, nuzzling their legs and bouncing up to lick their faces too. Several of the larger beasts then turned and went back into the woods, but the gargantuan bull remained.
Bug pranced back and forth between Kaidan and the bull, clearly hoping that one of them would move and approach the other. Kaidan raised himself up on his knees, clenching his teeth in pain. He wanted to look at his injury, see how bad it was, but the size of the beast behind him made him nervous.
Somehow he managed to push himself up to his feet, his injured ankle barely taking his weight. Bug came to his side and he leaned into the folivora gratefully. Slowly, he moved towards the big bull. It towered over him, nearly twice Kaidan's height, but as he drew nearer it lowered its head and huffed softly.
Kaidan stopped and held out his hand, remembering what he and Catherine had done with Bug when they first found him outside their tent. The folivora leaned forward and sniffed at Kaidan's hand. As it did, several others came forward, including the one that had charged the lizard cat, and did the same.
Soon Kaidan was surrounded by them. He was nervous at first, but none did more than touch him gently with their nose, and Bug stayed by his side the whole time. Several of them lay down and one even stood on his hind legs to pull down an evergreen branch and munched slowly on the leaves, no longer even watching Kaidan.
The folivora seemed to have decided Kaidan was not a threat and that they liked the field besides the houses. The big bull was lying down now, grooming its paws, and the herd had parted to allow someone to pass through.
James and Garrus appeared between two large females, looking awed and uneasy at the same time. Without a word they got his arms around their shoulders and started walking him back to the hall.
Not until they were out of the herd did James finally say something.
"Not regretting letting Cat keep Bug now, are ya?"
"I am in way too much pain to even try to think about it," Kaidan said, his voice rough.
"What happened?" Garrus asked.
"I kicked one of the things in the head," he gestured with his head to the dead beast they were just passing.
"Holy shit," James said. "You killed it with a kick?"
"No, only broke its jaw. The folivora killed it."
Kaidan realized he was feeling faint and the men were carrying him more than he was walking. His boot was soaked in blood and leaving a trail behind them. He must have passed out because the next thing he knew he was lying on a bed in the hospital.
His foot was lifted up on a platform sitting on the mattress and Doctor Chakwas was stitching him up.
"You are lucky you didn't sever the tendon," she said when she noticed he was awake. "It's a nasty cut, but it should heal up just fine."
"Where's Catherine?" Kaidan asked, raising himself up on his elbows.
"Against my good advice she is outside with the herd of folivora that saved the day. Liara can tell you more. I asked her to stay outside until I finished sewing this up."
And then Kaidan remembered what had started the entire fight. "Adams. Is he going to be okay?"
"I hope so," Karin said sadly. "I've done what I can for him, but he might lose his arm. The wounds were deep and ragged."
"You know about John?" he asked.
"Yes," was all she said. She picked up a small pair of scissors from a tray on the bed and clipped the thread. "Give it a night of rest and you should be able to walk on it by tomorrow. The bleeding had already stopped by the time they got in you inside. I'm more concerned about your face."
"My face?" Kaidan raised a hand to touch his cheek. "What's wrong with my face?"
"You've got a touch of frost bite," Karin said. "I've put some cream on it but it may scar."
Kaidan lay back on the pillows with a sigh of relief. "That's the least of my worries."
Karin lifted his foot back down to the mattress, set the platform on the floor and gave him a pat on the thigh. "Would you like to rest or shall I send Liara in?"
"Send her in," he said. "I want to know what happened out there."
Karin left and a second later Liara entered, carrying Tessa in a bundle in her arms.
"Kaidan, I'm relieved to see you awake," she said with concern. "Garrus told me what you did. He got a look at the corpse. He says it has boney spurs on its face. That must have been what you hit."
"I don't know what I would have done if the folivora hadn't shown up," Kaidan said.
Liara pulled a chair from against the wall and sat down beside the bed.
"I believe you have your pet to thank for that," she told him. "Could you hear the howling from where you were?"
"Yeah. Was that Bug?"
"Yes. He was watching everything from up in a tree and when he saw the creature come at us he started to call. I assume that's what brought the rest of the herd. They must have been very close by."
"Those creatures were starving, Liara. They were nothing but skin and bones."
"Garrus said as much." She frowned. "I wonder if perhaps we have effected their environment negatively."
"I don't think so," Kaidan said, sure that he was right. "Sure we've changed things here, but not that drastically. I think it's the winter we're having. It's been a lot colder than longer than last."
"I hope so. I would hate to think that it's us."
Tessa began to whimper and Liara rocked her, making soft noises under her breath as she did.
"I should go feed her," Liara said. "Can the story of what happened to Garrus and I wait."
"I assume you were attacked," Kaidan guessed.
"Yes, but we didn't kill it. The short story is that I was knocked off the roof and Garrus barely escaped with his life."
"I'm glad you're okay," he said with a smile. "Now, if you could tell my wife to get inside I would appreciate it."
Liara said she would send James out to get Catherine and left to find a quiet place to feed her daughter, turning out the light as she went. Still feeling chilled, Kaidan pulled the blankets up to his chin and sank down into the soft mattress.
It was one of the new beds, tent canvass stuffed with dry grass, and it was more comfortable than Kaidan expected. It conformed to his body and rustled as he moved, giving out the scent of autumn and sunshine.
He lay there in the semi-darkness trying to wrap his mind around everything that had happened. It had started as such an ordinary day. And now... Now they had lost another person. Another death. They were so few already.
But what had they gained? Would the herd stay? Would Bug leave? What had made these previously shy creatures suddenly so bold? So many questions and so few answers.
Kaidan was just drifting off the sleep, finally feeling warm, when Catherine poked her head in the door.
"You awake?" she whispered.
"Yeah, I'm awake," he said. "Please tell me you haven't been outside this whole time."
She came inside and sat heavily on the edge of the bed.
"It's not all that cold when you're surrounded by a herd of elephant sized animals," she said happily. "They're amazing, Kaidan. It's like they accept us just because Bug does. Like they don't even remember that we killed three of them. That I killed three of them."
"They saved my life," Kaidan said. "They're welcome to hang around as long as they like."
"Just imagine if we can domesticate them," Catherine said, her eyes bright with ideas. "They could be like sheep. Giant sheep."
"Somehow I can't imagine trying to pen them in anywhere, Kitten," Kaidan said with a smile. The pain killers Karin had given him were wearing off and his foot was starting to throb again.
Catherine sensed this and reached out to put her hand on his forehead.
"You're warm," she said. "I should let you sleep. I got so taken up by the folivora I forgot what lead to them coming. Half of me is furious that you went out there, but the other half is incredibly proud of what you did."
"I thought I was going to die, Cat," he said, suddenly filled with emotion at the thought of leaving her alone. "I honestly thought I might not survive."
She pressed her palm into his cheek and struggled to lean down to kiss him, but her ungainly size wouldn't allow it. Ignoring the pain in his foot he sat up and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and letting down the barriers of his mind so she could feel all of his love and warmth.
The minds of his children sang out to him and he let their joy wash over him. Suddenly he couldn't wait to see them. He'd waited so patiently, but now he was desperate to hold them, to see their faces, and hear their real voices.
"Please don't go outside again until we're sure it's safe," he whispered to Catherine.
She nodded, her ear rubbing against his cheek. "I won't. I promise."
They held each other for another few moments until Karin appeared at the door. Catherine stood awkwardly and Kaidan lay back down.
"How's the pain, Kaidan," she asked. "Do you need anything?"
"Something light would be nice," he told her. "Maybe something to sleep as well. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those nights where my body wants to sleep but my head won't settle."
Karin agreed, but Kaidan could tell she disapproved. She'd always been an advocate of natural sleep, always reluctant to give out sleep aids to her patients. Kaidan usually felt the same, but soon enough he would have many restless nights with two babies to care for and he didn't want to develop a deficit.
He said goodnight to Catherine and took the pills Karin gave him. Their stocks were running very low so he knew they was all he would get unless he developed some kind of infection.
Thankfully sleep came quickly and he slept dreamlessly for almost a full twelve hours. He awoke stiff and sore, but able to walk, though it was more like a hobble so he didn't tear his stitches.
In the hall the mood was sombre, everyone mourning the loss of a friend, but the cold snap had broken overnight and people were coming and going from their homes, less fearful with the herd still lingering in the field.
Kaidan sat down to breakfast with Catherine and they were joined by Tali who informed him that James and several others had gone out in hopes of finding John's body so that they could give him a proper burial.
"I doubt they're going to find anything," Catherine said sadly. "I'm going to miss John. He didn't say much, but he was a good man. He lost three kids on Earth."
"I didn't know that," Kaidan said.
"He didn't talk about them much," she said. "They were all pretty young. Under ten. Boys. I wish I could remember their names."
"There are so many names to remember," Tali said. "Last night I was trying to remember the name of the quarian I shared a cabin with for a while on the Neema, and I couldn't. I remember the colour and pattern of her suit and the sound of her voice, but I can't remember her name."
Kaidan knew how she felt. Only for him it was faces. They were all blurring together. He could bring to mind a person's name, but their face was an amalgam of other people's features. They were all starting to look the same in his mind.
Across the table from him, Catherine was frowning, her eyes unfocused.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I can't remember my address," she said, her frown deepening. "Where I lived in Vancouver. I remember the street, but the number has gone right out of my head."
Kaidan hadn't had a permanent address in a long time, but Catherine had had a real home. An apartment filled with belonging; books, plants, photographs. An entire life that was now starting to dissolve in her mind.
"Blame it on baby brain," Tali said. "I'm sure you'll remember later."
"It's going to drive me crazy," Catherine said, and Kaidan knew it was true.
Catherine could be relentless when she was trying to remember something and it happened a lot these days. Some women suffered from degrees of memory loss when they were pregnant, but Catherine seemed to be plagued by it.
Her concentration was broken when James came rushing into the hall, out of breath and red in the face.
"Kaidan, you have got to get out there," he said loudly. "You are not going to believe what we found."
"What is it?" Kaidan asked, rising from his seat.
"A batarian," James said, wheezing with exertion. "A real, live batarian."