Kaidan Alenko was by no means a gambling man. The occasional poker game with Vega was more a necessary distraction than a vice. But after having passed both Liara and Tali at the commons and having received no reply from his messages he was willing to bet he was being avoided. He would place money on it. Taking a casual stroll around the docks he noted both Garrus and Vega in their usual niches. But no Shepard.

Liara had informed him that their negotiations had been paused but that was all she offered. The look on her face told that she would rather be just about anywhere else however. He had messaged Shepard's account three times and gotten nothing back. Two hours had passed and he had stopped by both C-Sec and the Specter office. No commander.

If I was on shore leave and wanted to be left alone where would I go?

Twenty minutes later Kaidan made his second unapproved boarding of the SR-2.

Define shore leave. He grumbles to himself.

She did tell you she doesn't know how to turn off.
A quick check if her room disappointing in its emptiness. But with a small smile he does however note the door unlocks without Edi's disapproving remarks. On a hunch Kaidan heads to the shuttle bay. The darkened room at first makes him think he misjudged but then he hears it.

Thump thump bang. Thump thump bang.

Over and over again in quick succession, the rhythm coming from the makeshift gym. Even in the dim lighting he can make out Shepard's form going to town on the punching bag. Right, left, right kick. Resquare left, right ,left kick. He notices with grim satisfaction that her dress blues were folded properly on the table nearby. Taking a few steps over he hears the music blasting coming from a device nearby. The sound of her routine had blocked it out until he had gotten close enough to hear over the racket. A few steps closer and her back is still to him. Another step and he raises the rooms' lights.

The image was not as he had pictured. Shepard in next to nothing was nice (truth be told this was the least he had seen her in since rejoining the crew) but he had not expected the bloodstains on the canvas or her hands and bare feet. Squinting in the abrupt light she looked almost feral. She was panting from the exertion but managed to look both annoyed and guilty for being caught at her apparent self-destructive actions. Appraising him silently for a moment her chest heaving she gives him a breathy " oh hey" as if she had bumped into him at the market.

To his credit Kaidan didn't openly gawk at the patchwork of bruises in various colors of repair that marred her body. Since their initial discussion several days ago the pieces had started to fall together. An off handed comment here and there and seeing Vega's not quite even set of training bruises had only confirmed what he had already suspected. Let Traynor speculate all she wanted, he had his answer.

The mental image of Shepard thoroughly beating a soldier who had a half a meter reach and at least 30 kilos on her was not exactly surprising. The lengths the two had gone to hide it however was almost comical. The fact that the Marine was so smug and openly flirtatious made it even better in Kaidan's opinion.

Regardless of the good vibs the morning had brought out whatever had happened in the conference had gotten under the Commander's skin. It had bothered her enough to show some rather aggressively self-destructive behaviors and with Shepard that was saying a lot. The stark difference between the giggling laughter at the birds earlier to her standing here with split knuckles was disturbing to say the least.

And all the while she stood here silently waiting for him to speak first. The line between her eyebrows creased but to her credit she neither fidgeted nor tried to hide her hands. Wordlessly she began to unwrap the material from her hands but her eyes remained fixed on him, giving nothing away.

"Does Chakwas know your pillaging her supplies for your own past times?"

"Gauze wouldn't have held up." She said simply, the material darkened with blood.

What the hell is she so defensive about?

"Looks like those didn't either Shep." He points out.

"What do you need Kaidan?" No joke, no jab just dismissal. Back to square one.

"Whats eating you Shep? I ran into Liara and hadn't heard from you." He points to her bare wrist and the growing pile of cloth on the floor. "I tried calling you but nothing."

She doesn't immediately answer and Kaidan could tell she was weighing her responses. She shifts her head from side to side working out a kink and he heard three distinct pops.

She actually looks conflicted. Christ could it be that bad?

"Just I dunno didn't get far I guess. Had some down time to kill so hoofed back here."

"Went bad I take it?"

She shrugs and turns back to the punching bag. Flexing her hands open and shut before nodding in approval that the trickle had stopped. Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye she sees he is not going to let this drop.

" Asari are stubborn. All of them. I guess it has to do with living 10 times longer than us. They deliberate and sit on their blue asses but humanity is the bully." She pushes the bag setting it swinging slowly.

"But they didn't say no."

"No they didn't" She admits. "But they are looking for an angle to say no. As scattered as they are they still think they can make demands. Pretentious bitches."

"Shep the worst they can do is say no. I know Thessia got to you but now the ball is in their court. "

She begins throwing half-hearted punches as the bag. There is something else he knows based on Liara's reluctant to talk to him. He can't claim to having the soldiers gut the way Shepard does but he has a sinking suspicion that he is not going to like it.

"There's more isn't there? I ran into Liara and she looked like my presence made her uncomfortable." He starts.

Without breaking rhythm she asks, her voice flat. "Do you remember Nihlus? "

"The Turrian specter on Eden Prime sure."

"He knew all about me before I even got on board. All the way back to basic. "Wanted to see me in action." Huh "she scoffs as she hooks a left. "Didn't work out that way but the Council went ahead and did it anyway."

Kaidan leans against the table where Shepard's uniform was folded. How this related to the Asari Councilor he had no idea but Shepard was not the kind of woman to just spill her thoughts even to him. She had deactivated her omnitool because she had wanted to be alone so best to use caution.

"While you were in the hospital was there something like that….?

"A visiting Specter? I don't think so." He had been on the SR-1 when Shepard had arrived. When Anderson and the Turrian had selected her to be the XO but he had never given the Specter much thought after Eden Prime. Too many things had happened to fast. But somehow now Shepard thought it was important.

Shepard and her infamous gut.

"I must have missed your appointment Kaidan. I'm sorry you told me they were going to have a big party but I missed it." She was picking up speed now. Violet eyes intent on a spot on the bag.

"It wasn't anything big really just the councilors, quick like yours."

"Leave it to humanity to screw up the natural order of things. Two human Specters and the whole thing goes to hell."

"Yea well we were a bit too busy saving their asses to worry about formality."

Yes it had been quick but was there more to it? Did Tevos say something about him that got under Shepard's skin? That might have explained Liara's aversion to him. Trying to stay neutral in an inevitable conflict between the Specter and the Councilor.

"So what is this about? They want to revoke my Specter status because Udina pushed it thought?"

"No are you kidding. The way Baum tells it we are about to become an endanger species the longer this war goes on." She pauses to throw a haymaker sending the bag spinning. "Actually "she goes on bracing herself for a kick on the rebound. "it works out great for you. They want to give you a ship and Asari crew."

A/N Many thanks to all the new followers and favs! I love feedback and reviews of all kinds -R