Chapter 3

Jack couldn't sleep. Not with her kids out there deployed alongside the military providing Biotic support and securing key supply lines. Not while the reapers were about to mount their final assault on earth. Not when her Shepard was still out there fighting the good fight. She was tired, on that there was no doubt. Coordinating Biotic support, aiding troop regimens and, the occasional fire fight would do that to you. Her body was barely standing. She weighed no more than fifty five kilograms after all. Not much body mass and fat to hold her through the grueling grind of everyday war. Her overpowering biotics didn't help her either, burning more than enough of her daily calories with every pull, warp and, shock wave. She heard the clacking of army boots approaching her tent.

"Miss Jack, you have an urgent call from the main FOB." a familiar voice rang out from the other side of the tent flap.

"What did I tell you about disturbing me while I was in my tent Rodriguez?" came her irritated reply.

"You told me not to unless the reapers were dead or, if I could finally pull off a half decent shock wave." Rodriguez replied.

Jack sat up with her hands on her face. Her hair loose from its top-knot.

"And have either of those things happened Rodriguez?"

Rodriguez's silhouette shone through the tent fabric. Her posture was unsure but firm. "No Ma'am, but I really think you should take this call."

Standing up, Jack put on her leather jacket and laced up her boots. She took a hair tie from her pocket and secured her hair in her trade mark top-knot. Stepping out of the tent she saw Rodriguez frozen and unsure. "Who the fu- hell is calling, that's so important that you had to disturb me Rodriguez?"

Looking up at her, Rodriguez's face hardened as she spoke "It's Commander Shepard Ma'am. He's about to mount the final approach to the Citadel."

Jack stormed off in a hurry running towards the camps communications tent. Her boots dug into the dirt with each step she took towards her waiting lover.

When she reached the tent she saw Kahlee Sanders; her commanding officer, standing beside his hologram. He looked like hell, there were bags under his eyes and dirt on his cheeks. He looked like he had gone through the digestive track of a thresher maw and barely made it out alive. The surface of his blue and black battle-suit was chipped and scratched. Deep gashes and burns decorated its usually pristine and polished surface.

"You look like shit Shepard." she said.

A corner of his mouth curved upward in his trademark smirk. "Hey Kahlee I thought you said she wasn't allowed to swear anymore."

Kahlee laughed as she approached Jack, "Only when there are children around Commander." she said as she rested a calming hand on Jack's shoulder.

Kahlee leaned closer to Jack's ear and, with a knowing voice she whispered "Tell him everything Jack, this might be your last chance."

Kahlee kissed her cheek and walked towards the tent flap "I think you both need some privacy." she said as she exited the communications tent.

Jack took a couple steps forward, her head down, her hands balled into fists. She was biting her lip, fighting back the flood of tears threatening to pour out.

"Teaching kids and cheek kisses. You've gotten soft since I last saw you Jack." he spoke, his tone playful and mocking. She looked up, meeting his big brown eyes with her own. He was grinning at her.

"What the fuck does that mean?! You fucking boy scout?!" She screamed, her eyes watering slightly. He was laughing now, his hand covering his mouth, his voice slightly distorted by the short range communication device.

"IF YOU DON'T STOP LAUGHING I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL DESTROY YOU!" This time she raised her balled up hands, her biotic energy swirling around each fist.

His eyes softened when it met hers "There's the beautiful Jack that I remember" he said, his voice dropping the teasing tone. She was stunned her biotics flared out and her tears fell freely.

He always did know how to get under her skin. Only he had the permission to do that and walk away with his limbs intact. She stepped closer, her combat boots almost touching the projector. She raised a hand towards his battle mucked face, her fingers inching closer and closer, when it was about to touch his cheek it phased through the hologram. "FUCK!" She screamed again, her head turned down once more.

Silence.

A couple seconds passed between them, neither one uttering a word. She started shaking, as more tears fell from her eyes staining her angular cheek bones. He moved, his hands rising up to hold her shaking shoulders. It was his turn to curse out loud. Her shaking stopped as a small smile found its way to her lips. "Watch your language Shepard" she said his name with emphasis, disregarding his rank. "Wouldn't want your people to think that your less of a boy scout than you actually are."

He snorted, "What can I say Jack, you've rubbed off on me." he said smiling.

Her face relaxed unto a smirk "If you survive after today, I'll do more than rub off on you boy scout." her voice thick with temptation.

"Damn it Jack, now I'll have to fight the reapers with a hard on. If it wasn't difficult enough already." His smile betrayed his irritation.

"Hey come on Shepard, It'll get you angrier! Might help! And if you ever run out of weapons, you can always use that baseball bat between your legs." Jack said with a wink.

He sighed when they made eye contact once more. "I'd feel a lot more confident if you were here with me." his face changed to that of hopeful longing as she looked into his eyes "I need my psychotic biotic too you know!"

"I know Shepard, I wish I was there too," She said looking at her feet. "But I'm responsible for the kids over here and we're doing good work." her voice cracking at the end.

He sighed once more "I know Jack, I know". His head turned to look at something.

"Shepard Commander."she heard an unknown voice coming across the hologram from his side.

"Guess our times up Shepard, Fuck!" her tears began to fall again "There's so much more I want to fucking say to you."

"It's okay Jack, you can tell me when I get back." his voice hopeful.

"You better fucking get back to me you fucking asshole! Or I'm gonna go over to those fucking reapers and fuck em up too!" her tears now fell freely.

"I Love you too Jack. Take care of yourself and your kids over there." His face was a mixture of fear and longing.

"You're mine! Okay! Fucking Remember That! And I'm Yours too!" she screamed, her body beginning to shake once more.

She knew he wasn't sure that he'd be able to go back to her. She's never seen Shepard afraid, not during their missions together, not even during the collector base attack in the Omega 4 Relay. In that one moment his expression relayed such fear and doubt as if saying "I don't want to go Jack, I'm scared." but instead of saying that. He just squared off his shoulders, straightened his back, flashed her a Smile, Saluted and said. "I'll see you later Jack, Shepard out." then the hologram faded and she was alone once more.

"I Love You too you motherfucker." she whispered, just a second too late.