Adria was leaned back against the wall next to Kaidan's room, her eyes scanning the hallway. It was common knowledge in the hospital that Commander Shepard came to the Huerta every time her and her ship docked on the Citadel. Rumor was that she saw Kaidan with every visit and, often times, visited with others while she was in the area.

Of course, Adria had yet to even see the illusive Commander Shepard. Was it coincidence that Adria was always busy, at lunch, or on break when Shepard came to visit Kaidan?

As it was, Adria just wanted to see her. She had seen the few vids that were broadcasted after every one of her heroic missions. All Adria was really able to tell was that the Commander was rarely clean- usually covered in blood, guts or brains, and dirt.

What kind of man could be attracted to someone like that?

No, that was petty. Adria was sure that the other woman was interesting in her own right- a hard ass, no doubt (you could practically tell that from the way that she stood and the expression on her face)- and- maybe- attractive if you could get past all the dirt and grime down to her skin and hair. But, honestly, how could Kaidan find such a…butch woman so captivating?

Adria appreciated what the Commander was doing for the galaxy, but another part of her wished that she had stayed dead after the Normandy was blown up the first time.

"Doctor Moore?" her omni-tool blazed to life.

"Yes?"

"We need you prepped for surgery in five."

With a dejected sigh (watch Commander Shepard come now), she began her way to the surgery prep room. "On my way."

Shepard stood silently in the doorway and watched him. There had been so few times since she had known him that she was able to see him so relaxed- sleeping aside (and then he had always had her back pressed against him and embraced in his arms). He was on his feet and dressed- she found only the former to be positive, the latter…not so much. A part of her ached from the knowledge that, once she made her presence known, he would tense-

"You just going to stand there, or are you going to come in?" he asked, his warm, honey voice soothing away doubts she didn't realize were plaguing her.

She walked in and allowed the door to slide shut behind her. "How'd you even know I was here?" she asked curiously, still keeping close to the door, in case a quick retreat was needed.

Kaidan turned to face her and tapped his nose. "Dead giveaway." In response to the horrified expression on her face, he clarified, "Vanilla mint with a hint of gun oil." His half smile had her narrowing her eyes, fighting the flattered blush that was threatening to form, but retaining a soft smile.

He still remembered.

Her expression cleared as she made her way to his bed and sat crossed-legged on it, her N7 hoodie falling a little off her shoulder. She didn't see Kaidan's eyes linger on her shoulder that was all but bare- even with the tank-top strap. "You look better," she murmured.

"Yeah, Doc says I'll be released pretty soon." He caught the change in her expression when he said the word doc. "Don't know if you heard, but I decided to take Udina up on the Spectre position."

"You'll be great," she said honestly.

Kaidan gave her a crooked grin- one of her favorites. "I only hope I can live up to it- pretty difficult considering the standard's you've made."

She plucked at invisible lint on her jacket- anything to look away from him. "You'll be ten time the Spectre I am. Haven't you heard?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm not loyal- I'm a traitor and a terrorist," she stated with no emotion. It wasn't until Kaidan flinched that she realized that he thought that was aimed at him…a shot alluding to Horizon. It wasn't…not really. "The way the media portrayed me, I'm one decision away from wiping out a species," she elaborated with a shrug.

His expression cleared a little. "Yet, you're curing the Genophage."

Shepard studied him hard, all humor gone. "That's classified- how d'you know that?"

"I've got people," he hedged, looking everywhere but at her.

"If its Joker, I'll kick his ass from the helm all the way to the cargo bay- and possibly all the way back up to the Medbay," she threatened.

"It's not Joker."

She glared at him for a long moment in silence, not sure whether to believe him. "Who is it?"

He repeated, "I've got people." He smirked at her in a way that had her clenching her teeth. "Anyway, back to what we were talking about. I won't be a better Spectre or soldier than you- I can't."

"Oh?" she asked curiously, tilting her head to the side a little and raised an eyebrow- something Kaidan had always thought was cute, but she didn't think about that as she did it…she had gotten so used to doing it aboard the SR-1 that it was thoughtless.

With a sly smile that she didn't understand, he drawled, "You're the one who's the Hope of the galaxy."

Wincing, she shook her head. "I'm just another soldier, Kaidan. Anyone could do what I've done- just takes a little persuasion and a lot of balls."

"One of which you do not possess," he stated with that crooked grin again.

Shepard smirked at him and shrugged. "Haven't you heard? According to the Krogan, I've got a quad," she stated proudly, ending her sentence with a smile and her tongue caught between her teeth.

Kaidan walked forward slowly and stopped a little from the bed and cocked an eyebrow. His voice lowered fractionally- had she not known him so well, it wouldn't have been so noticeable- as he said, "I can assure you and the Krogan that you most definitely do not have a quad."

With a hard swallow, she grinned. "How d'you know? I underwent extensive surgery," she said without thinking.

Taking a step back, he eyed her up and down, his eyes lingering on her chest and on the crotch of her pants, before settling on her face, his eyes flickering from point to point before he finally shook his head. "If you've got a quad- or any sort of balls- then I'm a damn female Turian," he stated, his voice still in that lowered rumble that made her blood rush.

"Are you trying to flirt with me, Major?" she asked playfully- once again without thinking.

He placed a hand over his heart and feigned a hurt look. "Ouch. If you have to ask, it doesn't count," he said with a false, injured voice.

Keeping her expression clear, she said, "So it wasn't an attempt?"

"Apparently I'm a little rusty. It's been awhile."

Shepard's face went blank, more professional than was necessary between the two of them. Kaidan hated that look. "I doubt that," she said a little more harshly than she meant, but then added a forced smile at the end to lessen the asperity of her words.

Kaidan rolled his eyes. He wasn't fooled by her act; he knew that she was pissed or jealous over something. "A few years, and, the last time, I was so much the flirter as much the flirt-y."

Her nose twitched in agitation. She decided to change the subject before she felt the urge to hunt down Adria and shoot her. "So, what're you planning on doing when you get out of here?"

"Well, I'm going to hunt down my biotic squad. I'm a little worried about them- hoping the survived the initial bombardment of the Reapers."

"I thought you might like to come back to the Normandy," Shepard hedged, trying not to sound anything other than professionally curious.

Kaidan nodded and made his way back to his previous post at the window. "I thought about that," he admitted, not looking at her. "I'm still thinking about that, actually." Shepard caught a strange look pass over his face, but it was gone just as soon as it appeared. "I just need some time to get used to my new job and figure a few things out."

Shepard got off the bed, still trying to keep her expression casual. "Let me know what you decide- either way." Her voice sounded strained and Kaidan eyed her strangely.

"It's not a no," he reiterated, shrugging.

She forced a smile. "I hope to see you around, Spectre Alenko," she murmured, making her way to the door.

Just before she was in proximity of the door opening, a hand on the middle of her back stopped her. "Shepard."

"Shepard, come home with me. Let my parents meet you," he murmured, his hand in the middle of her back. Even through her BDUs, she felt the warmth his hand had to offer- hell, she was pretty sure that she could feel his warmth through her armor.

A part of her wanted to press herself against him, but, the more responsible part of her, just laughed. "Your parents would take one look at me and tell you to run the other direction." Despite her better nature, she leaned in a little more into his side and gave him a crooked smile. "I need to make sure you're good and hooked before I can let that happen."

They were nearly there. Both of them were just skirting around the three words that would change their relationship.

Kaidan laughed with her. "I was already hooked a month ago on the way to Illos."

"Hmm?" she asked, not turning around to look at him, but not stepping away from the warmth of his hand.

"Shepard," he repeated, his tone a little more firm and she felt the silent order for her to turn around and look at him. When she did, he stared down at her, his hand on her waist, for a few seconds before saying, "It's not no."

"I heard you the first two times," she answered dryly, pulling her eyes from his and putting them squarely over his right shoulder.

He moved his hand to her cheek and was startled when she flinched. "I'll let you know for sure what's happening soon," he assured her. "Udina wants me to do a few things for him here before I do anything else."

But you might not come home, she wanted to say but the Normandy wasn't his home- not anymore-, and she wasn't either.

She stepped away from his hand (though she wanted to stay there forever- damn hormones) and said, "Good luck, Kaidan. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"This isn't goodbye."

She gave him a sad smile and turned to leave. She stopped in the doorway and murmured, "But it might be," before she disappeared from his sight.

Damn. If Hackett hears about this I'm going to lose my head.

Author's Note: While this is titled Goodbye, this isn't me saying goodbye. A new chapter will be posted next Friday as usual- have no fear my lovely readers! It's named as such for the end of the chapter (the dialogue between Shep and Kaidan). Let me know what you all think!