On her last night spent in the hospital, Shepard had managed to sleep soundly throughout the night. However, her mind kept racing back to the scenes of the fight that changed their fate. Seeing so many people who trusted her with their life, perish so quickly continued to haunt her. The catalyst slowly weaved through the images and soon the most altering decision that impacted every race in the galaxy, once again depended on her. The flashbacks of her team flushed in between. Infinite memories of those she loved and who have supported and pushed her forward took their space. Her mind would raced to Kaidan, and the night they made love. Then memories shifted to Legion, Anderson, the child she witnessed dying back on earth, and numerous others that were lost in the midst of this war. Memories of her crew members also made their appearance. Starting with Joker and EDI, then Garrus, James, and Liara. Eventually the view pulled out and soon became the Normandy flying majestically through the galaxy. Then as quickly as the memories had come, they disappeared. And her mind took her back to the critical moment before the explosion. Everything happened in slow motion. Her body had already been badly damaged from having taken hits from a Reaper, being attacked by Kai Leng, and the constant husks and marauders that stood in her way. It had all worn her thin. However, out of sheer will and determination to not let the people she promised down, she surpassed all of that. She took slow, agonizing steps toward the beam, shooting at it until it finally exploded.

The sudden recreation of the explosion jolted her awake. Her breathing became fast and short while her heart rate peaked. She blinked a couple of times before realizing that she was back in her hospital room in the Citadel.

The room was unexpectedly quiet. The only sound being heard was the low murmuring of the machines that surrounded her bed. Such as her heart monitor, which began to slow back down and resumed its normal rhythm. The room was slightly darkened, with small amounts of sunlight peeking through the curtains. She rubbed the lingering sleep away from her eyes and took a look around her. This was one of the only moments she's had to herself since she arrived. And she was partially surprised that Kaidan wasn't there, but remembered that she sent him to her apartment so that he could get some decent sleep.

As she slid out of the bed, Shepard decided to take this moment to herself before Kaidan arrived to pick her up. She noticed that she was still wearing her hospital gown and cringed. She became more conscious than she's been in the previous days. She now feared seeing how her affected her body was from everything that's happened. She took a deep breath and sneaked a peek at her arms. Most of her wounds have healed by this point. Her bruises, however still made most of her arms, covered them in light purple tones as continued to heal. She let out a sigh and made her way to the bathroom.

"Alright.." she grumbled as she reached the mirror. "Let's inspect the damage.." The ill feeling began to crawl back into her thoughts. "What if I don't look like myself anymore..? Will he still want me..? Will my friends still want me around..?' Her mind ran through all these differing thoughts as she reached out for the sink. Shepard stood there for a moment, her gaze fixated on the drain. She took one last deep breath before shaking her thoughts away and with the courage building inside of her, raised her gaze to meet her reflection. Her bright green eyes stared deep into herself as they scanned over her face. She saw a couple of cuts that had begun to scar, one above her left eyebrow and a small one down her left cheek. The bruising on her cheeks from being smacked around her helmet had begun to tone down, leaving her cheeks with a pinkish, purple color to them. Bringing her hands to her deep, bright red hair, she notices that it had been tucked into loose braid and wondered who had done left so beautifully. After feeling content with her appearance, she let out a huge sigh of relief. She had deeply feared that her face, her body had been dramatically altered by the explosion, that Kaidan wouldn't have wanted her anymore. And quite frankly, she would've understood.

Shepard pushed her doubts away and turned to face the sink. Once she turned the faucet on, she cupped a small amount and splashed it multiple times on her face. Not only did she want to wake herself up, but she felt it helped cleanse her from everything that had happened. With that in mind, she whispers to herself. "I should probably shower before heading back home." She stepped back into her hospital room in search for any clothes Kaiden or any of her friends might have brought for her. She looked down at her clothing garment. Or at least for what ever she had before she was changed into this gown. She sighed, "They are probably in pieces right now."

As she searched about the room, she noticed that the sun had found it's way through the curtains more, making the room appear brighter than when she first awoke. However, the quiet hum of the skycars that zoomed by made her aware that she probably didn't have much time before they came for her. Therefore as a last ditch effort, she looked underneath her bed, where she found a small N7 backpack.

Shepard reached for it."Hmm." As she opened it, she found her favorite pair of sweatpants and one of Kaidan's shirts, instantly letting her know Kaidan had brought them for her. After voicing out a small thanks to him, she snatched the backpack and dashed back into the bathroom, where a quick, steam shower awaked her.

After a quick, ten minute shower, she reached for a towel and began to quickly dry herself. After making sure her hair was as dry as it could be, she begun to change into her clothes when suddenly she heard the sliding doors of her room open.

"Shit." She whispered as she quickly slid the shirt over her head and put her pants on.

"Ms. Shepard?" spoke a soft voice.

Shepard opened the bathroom door and cheerfully says "Right here!"

"My, you look so much better than the day they brought you in." Said a small woman as she smiled brightly at her.

Shepard returned the smile. "I have everyone in this hospital to thank for helping me." She says as she stepped out and attempted to fix her hair.

"You humor us, but it is the least we could do, in return for you saving all of us." The nurse motioned her to sit next to her. "Come, child. Take a seat. Let me help with your hair." Shepard simply smiled and did as she was told.

"I take it you were the one who did the braid?" asked Shepard as the nurse began to brush her damp hair.

"Yes. I figured it would make it easier to keep your hair from your face as your wounds healed up."

"It was really beautiful." Shepard replied, in awe of the nurse ability. Shepard never really had much time to do much with her hair. Between missions and debriefings and everything in between, she often had to opt for the what was quickest, leaving her with a bun.

The nurse gave her a pat on the shoulder, as her thanks, as she began to braid her hair. "I was sent to warn you that Major Alenko has arrived to pick you up. He's waiting in the Patient lounge." Coming to a finish, she places a rubber band on the braid. Therefore allowing Shepard to turn around and face her.

"Thank you.. For everything.." Shepard whispered quietly.

The nurse simply shook her head and took Shepard's hand. "No thank you. You came to help us when we needed it the most. And you came back to him when he most needed you."

Shepard suddenly gave the nurse a confused look.

The nurse chuckled and stared straight into her eyes. "You think you may have survived because of the implants, or simply by pure luck. But that's not it.. You have survived because of the love you two have for each other. For the promise you two made to each other. " She pointed to Shepard's heart. "The heart wasn't ready to let go.That's what kept you going, what kept you alive."

Shepard eyes widen at the nurse's words. "Could that be possibly true..?" Interrupting her thoughts, the older woman gets up.

"Now, go be with him, for he awaits you." She smiled once again at Shepard. Shocked at what the nurse had just told her, Shepard simply nodded and smiled back. Before taking her leave, she took a deep breath, and made her way out the doors. She was about to make her way towards the Patient Lounge, when she realizes she had forgotten her backpack. She cursed as she turned back. She was about to voice out that she had forgotten something, when she noticed that she was alone in the room. Thinking that she was in the bathroom and seeing that the door was open, Shepard slowly walks in. "Ma'am?"

She found no one there either, but surprisingly finds her backpack placed nicely next to folded towel. As she reached for her bag, she realized that there was a small note inside of it.

"Remember.. Always follow your heart." It read. She couldn't help but smiled as she looked up. Someone had been watching her from above. Making sure that she'd get back to Kaidan, to her crew, in one piece. "Thank you.." She whispered before taking off again towards the patient longue.

Shepard took slow steps as she exited the room that had been her home for the past couple of weeks. She had time now, to look around the Huerta Hospital. She noticed it much appeared like the previous time she had visited, back when Kaidan when he was hospitalized.

However, some corners of the hospital had been badly damaged by the blast and therefore were under construction. She couldn't help but feel at fault for what happened. She did, indeed, cause the explosion. She sighed as she shook her thoughts away. She had reached the hallway that made way towards the lounge, She was eager to see him, eager to go home.