A few moments passed before Kaidan finally gave in to his body's desperate cry for sleep. His head laid resting against his arm, while his fingers were wrapped around the picture frame that held the memory of them. His breathing had turned shallow, with spurts of heaving every once in awhile, since all the crying had physically and emotionally exhausted him.

Liara tiptoed into the Observation room, unsure of the state she'd find him at. The course of events had would've been hard for anyone to handle, I mean they all missed Shepard, but it was obvious it had affected Kaidan the most. She peeked into the room and looked around the room until she spotted Kaidan in the corner of the room, sleeping. She sighed at the sight of him. It broke her heart to see him like this, but she shook away her thoughts, and quietly walked over to him. She didn't want to wake him up to begin with, but they had received an urgent call, and the caller would only answer to Kaidan.

"Kaidan..?" She said softly as she gently shook his shoulder. He mumbled something before she called his name again. "Kaidan..I apologize for bothering you, but please wake up." She shook him a bit more harder and her voice a little more urgent this time.

"Sh..Shepard?" His voice was raspy and dry, sounding as if someone scraped sandpaper against a wall. He slowly opened his eyes and reluctantly lifted his head towards the source of the voice..

Liara let out another sigh. "I am sorry.. but no it's me, Liara."

Kaidan rubbed his eyes as he straightened himself out. "Ah.. I'm sorry Liara.. I-"

She waved him off. "Don't worry about it, I understand. I didn't mean to wake you, I know you haven't gotten much sleep..." Her voice lowered as she turned to look at her feet. "None of us have.. " She said before lifting her gaze back at him. "But Joker had received a call from the Citadel, and they only will speak to you on the matter." She winced as she waited for his response. She could clearly see the multiple bags that have accumulated under his eyes and how hard Kaidan was fighting to keep them open. "Again, I apologize.."

Kaidan sighed and rubbed his forehead. "It's alright Liara.." His head felt like it was being hit multiple times by a jackhammer. "Do you know what this call is about?" He said as he collected himself and begun to walk towards the door, with Liara close by.

"They would not tell me, or Joker, for that matter.. Only that they will only speak to you."

As they headed up the elevator, Kaidan pondered what the Citadel may want from him. It could be that since he is the only living Human Spectre, that they want him to replace Shepard. Not only was he not ready to get back to work, it just didn't feel right for him to take Shepard's place. Regardless of his rank.

Whoever they were, he wasn't going to let them replace her. No one could. The Normandy was hers, The crew was her, his heart was hers. No one could take that away from her. Even if she was dead.

They step out at the CIC room. It was eerily quiet. The chatter that normally took place, was replaced with a dead silence as everyone worked quietly. Everyone would take one look at him and mirror his pain. Shepard's lack of presence affected everyone on the Normandy. Not only did Shepard love each and every one of her crew members, but she would spend time to get to know them and make them feel welcome. The only reason any of them still remain is because of her. They know Shepard wouldn't want them to stop leaving their positive change in the world. She would want them to continue.

As he reached the cockpit he cleared away his thoughts just as Joker turned to face him.

"Hey Joker.." He scratched the back of his head. Unsure of how to carry the conversation. "Um. Liara told me there was a call for me? " He attempted to hide the shakiness in his voice, to no avail. He knew Joker was in a similar stance as he was. Having lost EDI in the same moment as Shepard.

"Yeah, they wouldn't tell us what they wanted. Just that they had to speak to you." Joker turned back to the console. "It's like they assume you are in charge now." He said as he prepared to connect the call back.

"Joker, this crew, this ship, everything that makes the Normandy, has become, and is Shepard's and EDI to have forever. No one else, not me, not some other Spectre. Shepard and EDI had made this place be our home. And no one will take that away from them." He patted Joker's shoulder as he spoke. Joker then looked up from his seat to Kaidan and gave him a small smile, as his thanks for acknowledging his pain.

"Patching you thru.. Sir, Major Spectre Alenko is present."

"Major Alenko, I apologize for any inconveniences that we may present. We are calling from Huerta Memorial Hospital here in the Citadel, and we have a patient that keeps mumbling your name, and the Normandy. She was found underneath a pile of rubble from where the beam had struck back on Earth. We are unable to ID her due to some of our machines malfunctioning and were wondering if there was a chance you could come by and see if it's someone you may know."

Kaidan froze as the doctor described the patient. "It can't be possible..." His mind at that moment started to race. "Can it..? " His shocked, wide eyes meet Joker's, who shared his astonishment.

After what felt like hours to Kaidan, he regained himself. "Uh, Yeah definitely, we will be there shortly.." He took a deep breath before saying what his heart ached to know. "Doctor... Do you think there is a chance it could be Commander Shepard..?" He knew that what he was asking for, that what he was hoping for was too much of a long shot, but he felt his heart needed to know.

"Like I said, we are unable to confirm ID ourselves. Not only is our technology not currently working properly, she is also covered in bruises and other prominent injuries." The salarian doctor let out a sigh as he scratched the back of his head. "But I suppose there is a possibility. After the clone incident, however, we do not want to make any false identification before having someone of authority, or someone close to her, verify it. "

"I understand sir. Thank you for letting me know. We will be there soon. " Kaidan said as he nodded to Joker, who had already begun to punch in the Citadel's coordinates in.

It turned out that they were not that far from it as they had originally thought, and shortly after the call had ended, Joker sent out a notice throughout the ship for crew members to prepare for take off.

"Thank you, Major, we await your arrival." And with that, the call had ended.

Kaidan couldn't possibly believe it. "There is a chance it could be her! I mean who else would be found there? And be talking about the Normandy!?" He hardly could contain his excitement.

"I thank you for not bringing up the fact that she also only said your name, but yes, I suppose there is."

Kaidan realized his excitement may have affected Joker. "Joker.. I'm sorry.. I..I didn't mean I-"

"It's okay Kaidan." He chuckled, clearly unfazed by his comment. "You and Shepard have gone through more bullshit than anyone else I know and tenfold." He shrugged. "If this does turn out to be her, there is no reason to feel guilty or anything. " He gave Kaidan a genuine smile. "You guys will finally be able to be together with nothing coming in between." He turned his personalized chair back around and faced the cockpit once more. "Just be sure to invite me to the wedding when it happens."

Kaidan gave off a smirk. The first in days. "I will make sure you are the best man. " He patted Joker shoulder one last time more before he walked away.

"That's if Shepard doesn't make me Man of Honor firs!." Joker yelled out.

It was going to take a few hours before they reached the Citadel, so Kaidan decided that he should probably get some sleep. He didn't know what, but something inside of him told him this person was Shepard. That she had come back to them. To him. Just like she promised.