Coming Home

"Try it again," Kaidan barked into the comm.

::The patch we did should have worked,:: Adams replied. ::I don't know why it isn't.::

"Well figure it out." Kaidan slumped back into EDI's old chair, rubbing his forehead. Joker looked over at him and sighed, leaning forward on his console.

"This would be a lot easier if . . ." He trailed off without finishing his sentence. Kaidan nodded silently.

::We found the problem,:: Tali interrupted, after a long period of silence.

"And?"

::One of the FBA couplings was blown off in the crash. Damaged some of the parts around it. We should be able to compensate but we'll need to . . . take it slow.:: The hesitation showed in her voice. He knew that the dextro cabinet was nearly unstocked, and the amount of weight the two turians and quarian had lost was really beginning to show. He picked at his own loose uniform. If they took it too slow . . .

"How slow?" Joker asked, glancing at Kaidan. The same thoughts read in his own eyes.

::We were only a little ways out when the Normandy crashed, yes? Then maybe, if we're lucky, a week. If we're unlucky . . .::

Kaidan sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Will we be able to tell if we're pushing the ship too hard?"

Joker nodded. "It'd be easier if . . . but this ship was built with failsafes if E-if the AI would fail." It'd been nearly a month, and Joker had yet to be able to refer to EDI by name. He certainly slipped quite often, and would start to utter one syllable, but then his jaw would tense up and a little tic develop in his neck and forehead and he would finish with "systems" or "AI" and the smallest tint of pain would color his otherwise cold voice. "I'll just have to go old-school."

Kaidan nodded. "All right, Tali, Adams, give it another go." He lowered his head into his hands and closed his eyes, teeth clenched in focus. Please please please please please-

For the first time in a month, something tingled in the back of his implants, and the ship suddenly whirred to life. People cheered in the CIC, and Joker immediately put his hands to the boards. Kaidan slumped in his chair, a slow smile crossing his face.

"I'm coming home, Shepard," he whispered, before straightening and standing. "Joker, get us out several hours and open the outgoing comms. We may be able to get an Alliance ship to give us a tow."

"Aye aye, sir," Joker replied shortly, hands flicking through his screens. Kaidan gently rested a hand on his shoulder, then started out of the cockpit. "You may want to check on the dextros. Tell 'em to sit this trip out."

"Yeah."

#

Shepard had gone in for her fifth, and hopefully final, skin graft and other assorted surgeries that morning.

Hackett was at the window once again with Hannah Shepard, who'd barely left, as they slid Shepard back onto her bed and made sure all the proper machines were running. Miranda was the last to leave, carefully checking over everything a second and third time, before walking out of the isolation room and pulling off her mask.

"She's better," she said. "Not much, but she's a little more stable than before. The implants that were damaged are replaced or back in full operation, including her amp, but there still are no signs of high level brain activity, and she isn't breathing on her own. Her lungs are still very damaged. They're repairing, but it's a slow process."

Miranda looked back through the window as she pulled off her cap, long hair falling out in a dark wave. "We still can't tell if she'll wake up. There's no discernible brain damage, at least that we haven't repaired, but depending on the amount of oxygen she was deprived and if she ever entered a state of shock-"

"Is there any way to stimulate brain activity?" Hannah asked. Hackett glanced at her.

"Hannah-"

"There is." Miranda glanced down at her hands. "We can use the same method we did during the Lazarus Project to jumpstart neurological activity. However, it's risky and then we didn't have anything to lose. But . . ." She looked back up. "There's another catch."

"Yes?"

"Shepard changed her power of attorney just before hitting Cronos Station," she said quietly. "To Major Alenko. It went through the proper Alliance channel just before the assault on Earth. Of all the things to work properly in this damn war, it was that."

Hannah blinked. "But I'm her mother."

"Yes, but -" She sighed. "Admiral, has there been any word from the Normandy?"

He shook his head in answer. "Nothing yet."

"Do it," Hannah ordered. "Do and if it works, we'll deal with it then. If it doesn't . . ." She didn't need to finish. Miranda glanced at Hackett.

"Admiral?"

He nodded. "If you believe it will work, Mrs. Lawson . . . then in Alenko's absence I make the calls."

"I don't know if it will work a second time . . . but at this point it's a choice between a vegetative state and the smallest chance she may wake up on her own." She nodded. "I'll make the calls then."

With that she clicked down the hallway, already stripping her smock. An Alliance messenger brushed by her, saluting as he stopped in front of the two admirals.

"Message for you, sir. They said you'd turned your omni-tool off and couldn't reach you."

He nodded. "Go on."

"They found the Normandy."

Hackett and Hannah exchanged a glance, and he started back down the hallway with the messenger on his toes. "And?"

"All crew and civilians accounted for. Limping, but they requested a tow. The SSV Ipswitch answered their hail. They're about two hours out."

Hackett nodded. "Thank you." As he left the hospital and the messenger saluted and scurried out, he opened his omni tool. "This is Admiral Hackett to the Orizaba, stand by. We're going out to meet some old friends."

#

The SSV Ipswitch had found them nearly a day into their limping pace, answering their hail merely six hours after they'd first sent out the emergency signal. They'd docked with the Normandy, extended their kinetic barriers to include the ship, and shot into FTL with them.

Kaidan stood on the bridge of the cruiser, arms crossed as he watched out the viewport. According to the crew, Shepard hadn't been located, but her name wasn't on the missing or dead lists either. It was like they'd just erased her.

::SSV Ipswitch, this is the SSV Orizaba. Admiral Hackett wants permission to come aboard.::

"Permission granted," the captain, who'd be standing silently next to Kaidan the entire time, answered. "Probably here to see you, sir," he continued.

"I'll head down to the briefing room."

The captain nodded, and Kaidan stalked back towards the briefing room. Once there he leaned on the table, bowing his head and drawing a long, slow breath.

He had to prepare himself. Shepard was probably dead. No one knew otherwise and it had been a month, so it was best to just assume the worst. He should assume the worst. He had to.

The door slipped open, and he straightened up and saluted as Hackett walked in. The Admiral returned it, then warmly seized Kaidan's hand. "It's good to see you in one piece," he said.

"Yeah," Kaidan breathed. "Thank you, sir."

"What happened?"

"We lost EDI during the retreat. The explosion threw off the ship and Joker couldn't compensate in time."

"Too many variables. I understand." He nodded. "What do you mean, 'you lost EDI?'"

"The AI-"

"I know who EDI is."

"Right, sir. Ah . . . just at some point during the retreat she deactivated. Tali swears she can bring her back online, but we couldn't without the proper tools."

He looked surprisingly thoughtful. "The explosion that emanated from the Citadel must have targeted all synthetics, not just the Reapers."

Kaidan blinked. "What?"

"The geth were deactivated as well," Hackett explained. "The quarians have been trying to reactive the ones they can find."

"So the geth were targeted as well?"

"Yes. Fortunately the blast permanently deactivated the Reapers, so . . ." He sighed. "It did work."

Had she known, when she'd done whatever she'd done? Had she known that EDI and the geth would be killed as well? And then, had she done it anyway? "How many casualties?"

"We're still counting. The relays are deactivated, but the projections for bringing them back online are good, and we've already begun repairing the Citadel itself. It'll be a long process, but we've come out of this far less scarred then I'd expected."

Kaidan nodded, tracing a pattern idly on the table. "Admiral?"

"Yes, Major?"

"Shepard. No one knows, and -"

"We've been keeping it quiet," Hackett said carefully. "The galaxy is unstable and every species is trying for a power grab. We've been doing well at keeping things level, but I don't doubt for a second that there are things at work behind the scenes for and against us all. And Shepard could be a powerful bargaining chip, as we saw in the war."

"You've reduced her to a commodity?" He spit the word out. That was what the Illusive Man had done, what so many had done, and -

"No. Never." Hackett's tone was surprisingly harsh. "Shepard is like a daughter to me. I would never disregard that." Kaidan nodded, his mouth still drawn into a thin line. "But we have been keeping her location and status quiet. We have little doubt that will change shortly with your arrival, but she should-"

A little more hope than he'd intended filtered into his voice. "She's alive?"

"Yes, she is, Major," Hackett answered. "Barely, but she is alive."

Kaidan felt his knees shake, and he leaned heavily on the table. She was alive. She was alive. He blinked several times, pressing back tears. That was the best news he'd heard in weeks.

"They're doing their best," Hackett continued. "But there's still no guarantee that she'll make it."

He swallowed a few times, then looked back up. "How bad is she?"

Hackett sighed. "She's bad, Major. I won't lie. They haven't . . ." He shook his head and handed him a datapad. "I suppose I shouldn't give you this, but since she gave you power of atto-"

"What?" Kaidan looked up from the datapad. "She what?"

"You heard me. I can't lecture you on fraternization but . . ." He nodded at the datapad. "It's been touch and go for a month. The likelihood of that changing anytime soon is incredibly slim."

Kaidan nodded and turned the datapad on, skimming the information, his heart sinking lower into his stomach. "They don't know if she'll . . ."

Hackett shook his head. "No. Lawson was making some calls just before the Ipswitch contacted us. She's willing to attempt the same methods they had used to - before, but now that you've been located she needs your permission."

Kaidan nodded, eyes still affixed on the datapad.

When this is over, I'll be waiting for you. You'd better show up.

"Do it," he said, looking back up. "Miranda saved her once."

"It's risky."

"She's no better off now."

Hackett nodded. "And Major?" Kaidan braced himself. "You need to prepare yourself, in case it doesn't work."

Kaidan echoed his nod. "I should let the crew know."

"Yes. Yes you should." Hackett nodded and strode back out of the room. Kaidan followed, making his way to the bridge.

"I need back on the Normandy."

If the captain of the Ipswitch noted any changes in his demeanor, he didn't comment. "Yes sir. I'll order the airlock opened."

Kaidan nodded and made his way to the airlock, stepping through when the door chimed and opened. He made his way through the CIC somewhat numbly, ignoring the few people who did cast worried glances his way, and stepped through the flickering war room scanner. Once in the conference room, he sent a message to Joker and the ground team.

Conference room. Stat.

Leaning on the table, he let his head fall forward again, the words from the report running through his head. Mostly everyone arrived together, likely having been in the mess with Garrus and Tali, and promptly assaulted him with questions. He shook his head and merely waited for Javik to show up, and when the Prothean finally stalked in Kaidan cleared his throat and looked up. If he was any judge of expressions, especially the expressions of his team, they all expected him to finally admit . . .

He cleared his throat again and traced the datapad still clutched in his hand with a finger. "She's alive."

Joker's head jerked up. "What?" Garrus' mandibles fluttered and Liara covered her mouth with a hand. Tali bounced a few times, hands folding over her chest. James, leaning back against the wall, half-laughed.

"They found her. On the Citadel. She's . . ." He cleared his throat again. "She's in a coma and she isn't breathing on her own, but . . ." Kaidan nodded. "It's better than nothing.

"The quarians, asari, and turians are asking for you three," he continued, motioning at Garrus, Tali, and Liara. "There haven't been any orders for everyone else. So as soon as we get back, you'll be taken to your respective fleets. Garrus, if you'll tell the Primarch?"

"Absolutely." Garrus reached out and clapped Kaidan's shoulder with his talons. "And Alenko . . . take care of her." Garrus headed towards the war room, Tali following him with a glance back.

"James, they're asking for help on the Citadel ward arms, so they'll want you and Javik there with Wrex and Jack."

"Search and rescue? After three months?"

"There are reports of survivors who were holed up in places with food and supplies, but they're running out."

"Kaidan," Liara asked quietly. He looked up. "What about you?"

"I need to go to the hospital," he replied quietly. None of the crew except Joker knew about their engagement and he intended to keep it that way for the time being. "Then, I need to see to my mother, and I'll likely end up on the Citadel or on Earth."

Liara nodded and left, heading towards the elevator. Javik stalked out, James glancing back at Kaidan suspiciously as he followed. Kaidan waited for a few minutes, quietly composing himself as he started towards the door. Joker cleared his throat. "Kaidan."

Kaidan jumped, barely having realized that the pilot was still there. "Joker."

"Hey, look." He rubbed his palms together. "If I could have landed the Normandy in there and gotten her out . . ."

"I know. It wasn't . . ." Kaidan swallowed heavily. "It wasn't your fault. You were following orders."

Joker nodded, rubbing his forehead under his hat. "Yeah. Thanks."

"And she's alive. Now I need you back on the bridge to coordinate the tow."

"You got it." He hobbled past him, starting towards the bridge. Kaidan followed him, starting for the elevator. Much to his chagrin, it opened to Allers.

"Ms. Allers," he said cordially.

"Major Alenko." She had her reporter voice on, and not to his surprise her video drone hovered over her shoulder. "Since we're going back to Earth shortly, I had some questions for you."

Kaidan sighed, changing his hand to press the button for Engineering deck rather than the Loft. "Fair enough. We'll do this in your quarters, I presume?"

Allers opened her mouth, then nodded. "That would work."

In a matter of minutes Kaidan was in front of Allers' drone, against the pale backdrop of her makeshift studio. She smiled at the camera, holding her datapad ready. "Now, Major. After three months stranded on an unknown world the Normandy is being towed back to Earth." He nodded curtly. "With our recent contact with the Alliance, have you been told what occurred on the Citadel?"

"No," Kaidan answered. "From what I know, even the Alliance isn't sure what happened."

"Has anyone looked into what occurred?"

"I don't know. I just had a ten minute meeting with Admiral Hackett and that was not what we discussed."

"What about casualties? How many ships were lost in the battle?"

"Er . . ." Kaidan thumbed the switch on his datapad. "The batarians lost all but one ship. The Alliance lost two of our remaining dreadnoughts, twelve cruisers, and four carriers, and an unknown amount of fighters."

"How did Earth fare, while preparations were being made for this battle?"

He eyed her suspiciously. "They're still searching for survivors and processing them through the SSV Montreal."

"And what about Commander Shepard?"

"What about her?" He tried to sound cool about it, but he wasn't. He was ecstatic (she was alive) while being simultaneously terrified (she possibly wouldn't stay so for long). So he decided to go for something somewhere in the middle and play it cool, and somehow pretend that he wasn't a strange little ball of emotions.

"Has there been any word on her condition? Is she alive, or dead? When will we know?"

"Commander Shepard's status is being kept secret for the time being," he replied simply.

"But the Commander is a hero. The public should know."

"The public should be focused on rebuilding," he said pointedly. "Not the status of one woman, no matter who she is."

"Oh. I'm sure you know though," Allers replied sweetly. "Give the public a hint?"

He stared at her blankly. "I can neither confirm nor deny Shepard's physical location or status."

Allers straightened up "Very well." She turned off the camera, and turned back to Kaidan with a hopeful smile. "Come on, Major Alenko. Off the record. How is Shepard?"

"You're just going to publish it later."

Allers' smile faded. "I want to know," she said quietly. "I know everyone thinks I'm an invasive bitch but . . . Well, we all counted on her. I won't publish it, I swear."

Kaidan studied her for a few seconds. "You won't."

"No," she replied.

"She's alive. Barely, but enough." When he looked up, Allers reached forward and patted his shoulder.

"Good," she said. "Thanks, Major." She sighed and took a step back. "I'll be leaving once we reach the rest of the fleet. There's really no call for news, but I'll be doing what I can. I've heard most journalists are working on lists of the missing and dead. I might go help with that."

"That'd be good, I think."

"Yeah. So do I. Good luck, Major. And . . . I hope Shepard gets better soon."

He returned her smile weakly. "So do I. And good luck, with the reunion broadcasts."

Allers grinned over her shoulder at him as she moved to dismantle her board. "Thanks."

Jillian: I love you.