If it wasn't one mission, it was another. The ground-team cycled with each mission.

All but one.

When she wasn't groundside, she was either playing diplomat or reviews the morbid war numbers that were pouring in- sometimes by the hour.

Anymore, Kaidan was lucky if he fell asleep with her- there was next to no chance to waking up with her.

Even the chances of sitting down and talking were fading away.

Despite all of that, Kaidan made sure that he would be there when her weighed-down shoulders and wry eyes became too much and she needed a shoulder- or, at least, an ear.

There were times when all he could do for her was make her a fresh cup of tea and put food in front of her. More often than not, the tea would grow cold before she was even halfway through it and the food would go to waste.

"Major," Chakwas greeted him as she finished wrapping the wrist of one of the engineers.

Rubbing his temples, he spared a wave in way of greeting before going to his all-but-reserved bed. It was in the furthest, dimmest corner of the med bay.

After a few minutes, he felt the doctor's cool hands pressed against his forehead.

"Give me the scale- you know the drill," she reminded him quietly.

Taking a deep breath, he took silent stock of all of his facilities. He had had worse migraines.

"Seven and a half- maybe eight," he murmured.

He heard her moving things around in one of the cupboards before coming back. Once she cleaned his arm, she poked it with a needle.

Kaidan breathed an instant sigh of relief as some of the pressure faded.

"How is she?" Chakwas asked quietly after a few moments.

"Pushing herself too hard. Not enough food or sleep." He paused before adding, "This war is going to kill her."

He heard the doctor sit down. "It already has once," she pointed out.

"I highly doubt that Cerberus will spend the money for a second revival." Finally, he opened his eyes and looked at the doctor. "This war is draining the life out of her. She's not eating. She's not sleeping- and, when she does, it's not restful. And she won't let anyone take some of the pressure off."

"And you- how are you?"

"The migraines are more frequent. Could be because of the stress of the war and trying to help Shepard."

Chakwas shook her head. "It's your amp port. I know that your doctor's told you what happened to it. One of the connectors was knocked loose."

"And it's done nothing but make my biotics stronger."

"What happens if, the next time you draw on dark energy, you short-circuit and you become a vegetable- or die?"

"It's a possibility," he shrugged.

"And Shepard- what happens to her?"

Glaring, he shook his head angrily. "The same thing that happened to me when she died," he snapped. "She'll mourn and then she'll move on.

"We can't afford to stop for me to have a surgery like that. And, it isn't like we're not all living under the constant fear of death."

Chakwas shook her head. "She wouldn't move on- just like you didn't. Partly because she loves you- don't bother trying to deny it, I've known since the SR-1. You are special to her because, honestly, how many other men could look beyond her name- her legend- and see the woman underneath?

"That aside, it would mostly be because of who she is. She'd take it completely upon herself- asking how she could have possibly missed the signs."

Kaidan thought about all of that. "There's not enough time for me to have the surgery and recover- not to mention the risks with opening me back up."

The doctor didn't bother responding to that. "Do you think you could convince her to stop in for a med eval?"

"She's coming back from the mission in a few hours. Do the eval during the post-mission check."

"Kaidan, she hasn't been doing post-mission checks. She's been refusing standard medical treatment for a month."

He attempted to do the numbers in his head. He couldn't figure out the exact number. "That's over a dozen missions."

"Hackett and her parents haven't been able to convince her to come see me. Her organs could be punctured and I'd never know it." She paused. "I don't know if this war will kill her- but her stubbornness may well do it."

Several hours later, Kaidan sat at the desk in Hope's cabin and reviewed the numbers that were pouring in from every species from all corners of the galaxy.

It was no wonder Hope couldn't sleep- the numbers of the fallen was the stuff of nightmares.

"Major, the ground team has reboarded. The commander is currently in the elevator," EDI informed him.

"Destination?"

"The CIC."

"Authority override KA145936- bring her to her cabin."

EDI didn't respond for a tense moment. "Override accepted. New elevator destination- Captain's Cabin."

Sighing, he braced himself for what, surely, would be hell. Kaidan gathered her clothes for after her shower and laid them carefully on the bathroom sink.

Sure enough, Hope stormed into her cabin with murder in her eyes- hunting Kaidan (who sat on the couch).

"What do you think gives you the right to override the elevator and bring me up here?" she spat when she stood in front of him.

If it hadn't been a time to tread carefully with her, he might have said, 'My authority override code does, clearly.' However, that would probably get him strangled.

"Hope, you are killing yourself. When's the last time you had a solid night's sleep? Hell, when was the last time you slept for more than two or three hours?" he asked as gently as he could.

She leveled a blank stare at him. "I'll sleep when I'm dead."

"With the way you're going, it won't be too long from now that it'll happen." When she didn't even flinch, he frowned at her. "Why aren't you checking in with Chakwas after the missions?"

Without a single word, she did an about face and stomped into the bathroom. After a few seconds, the shower was turned on. Kaidan contemplated joining her, but thought it best for his health if he stayed where he was.

It wasn't too long until she was out and sitting down next to him- her scarlet hair in dripping spikes.

"I'm not going to apologize for my actions," she informed him.

"Nor will I."

They sat in silence.

"So, where does this leave us?" he asked her.

"Exactly where we've always been. Me doing my job- which hasn't changed- and you worrying."

He frowned at her as she stood to get a glass of water. "You're being stubborn."

"Maybe," she admitted, sitting down on the couch, closer to him, "but it has saved lives and united species." She laced their fingers together. "Don't worry about me, Kaidan. How about this, next time something serious happens groundside, I see Chakwas when I get back. Deal?"

"How about every other mission, you get checked?"

"Every third."

"De-"

"Not including this last one."

He cocked an eyebrow, to which she only shrugged. "Deal."

They sealed the deal with a kiss.