Thanks again to all the reviews! This chapter is based off another prompt at the ME Challenge on Livejournal. I liked where this chapter went. I like Joker don't get me wrong, but I think at prior ME 3 he would be very cross and worried about 'his' ship. Thanks for the reviews, alerts and favorites again! Happy reading! I will have more of Kaidan and Shepard soon! In fact I'm working on the next installment as I write. : ) Definitely some fluff involved.

Sincerely,
Prism Elf

"I Should Go"

"I should go." She turned away from Joker not able to fully meet his eyes.

"Commander! You don't have to do this! You can't! They'll tear her apart! They'll dissect her!" Joker's normally cheerful voice was clipped and reaching the point of desperation. He started to drag himself up from his pilot's chair.

She spun around and turned her blazing eyes on him. "Enough Joker! I have to, we have to. You could've bailed before now like everyone else." She crossed her arms standing on the threshold between the cockpit and rest of the ship. The ship's crew was long gone…though some people still remained, mostly those loyal to Shepard and the Alliance. Dr. Chakawas and Ken and Gabby, but other than that most had jumped ship at Omega.

She sighed and shook her head. "Sorry, Joker, but I don't have a choice. It's time for me to answer for my crimes."

"They were batarians, Commander! If they were in the same position they would have done the same thing!" Joker spitted as he repositioned himself in his chair. Shepard blinked. Joker was only cruel when he was being defensive. This was his ship. "We just saved human colonies from being taken by the Reapers and made into a gigantic abomination, and now they are going to… detain us."

"I'm turning myself over to Admiral Anderson. We'll see…"

"No, Shepard you don't understand. I'll be fine, Chakawas will be fine. Ken and Gabby probably not. But you definitely. They are going to sacrifice you to appease the batarians. You're a hero; you're going to be raked across the coals and then poked with sharp sticks until they make you scream for mercy."

"Wow…when you put it that way." Shepard placed a hand to her lips covering up a smile. "It's nice to know you care."

"I'm serious, Commander, by the time the Brass is done with you, and everything you have accomplished won't mean shit." His hands flitted over the controls of the ship dancing it in the black void around them without missing a beat.

"I have to do this, Joker." Her smile slipped and an edge of guilt entered into her voice. "I killed those people; I have to pay for that."

Joker snorted. "Yeah, because you're the one who came up with the crazy plan to launch an asteroid at a mass relay."

"No, but I executed it. My fault. My responsibility." She turned away again. "I'll manage, and I'll put in a good word for you and the Normandy. They won't disassemble her. If anything they'll want to make improvements."

"She's perfect the way she is." Joker snapped.

Shepard groaned and waved a hand. "I should go, get things ready."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Shepard. Admiral Anderson is messaging you." EDI intoned popping up in her usual spot next to Joker.

"Thank you, EDI. I'll take the message in the CIC." Shepard nodded walking back down the hallway.

"As you wish, Shepard."

"I hope she knows what she's doing." Joker whispered to A.I.

"I believe she does, Jeff." EDI replied back before disappearing.