Well, it's been a while. Life happens though. I have a few more chapters that I want to put for this story. Some Shenko fluff and stuff, but I also have so more of the other characters too. I have a chapter with Tali and EDI that I'm working on editing and adding more too. Anyway, thanks for the reviews, follows and favorites...I've loved writing these chapters. Enjoy!

Prism Elf

"Stay with Me"

Liara couldn't be right. There was no weapon in the all the universe that could destroy the Reapers. If there was then how was it missed? Had it really been sitting in front of their faces the entire time? Tucked away safely in the archives on Mars?

Shepard shook her head as she unsnapped another section of armor and tossed it onto the armory workbench. The arm plate needed to be patched, it was singed and missing a chunk from a Cererbus sniper. She frowned and leaned over to remove her leg guards.

"Just leave them there, Commander. And I'll attend to them." An unfamiliar male voice said from behind her. She was getting use to the idea of seeing and meeting new faces aboard the Normandy. After all this wasn't supposed to be her ship.

"Thanks." She responded automatically. Pulling off one leg guard and starting to work on the other.

Shepard didn't bother to look up. She was to occupied with her thoughts. A weapon that could destroy Reapers was boggling and alarming. Liara had seemed hurt that Shepard couldn't believe in this super weapon, but she had learned a long time ago not to put too much faith or stock in one thing. She shook her head again, as she grabbed both leg guards and straightened tossing the leg guards down next on the bench next to her arm guards.

"Mr. Vega! Do you care to explain what you did to my ship!?" The same male voice shouted across the armory.

"Woah, hold on now, Esteban, don't get your panties in a knot." James replied, Shepard glanced over her shoulder to see a smaller and slightly darker man standing near the Kodiak. He seemed to be examining the thrusters with his omni-tool. Shepard's brow furrowed as she noticed the man was scowling at James who happened to be sitting on a bench near his locker removing his armor.

"Don't tell me to hold on. Spill it. What did you do to her?"

James shrugged. "Oh, I don't know, saved the day. You know, by stopping that Cerberus mech from escaping with the data."

The man rolled his eyes at James and returned his attention to his omni-tool. "If I didn't know you Mr. Vega, I would say that story would sound like bullshit from anyone else."

"Haha, then you know everything they say about me is true!"

"And yet, you're proud of crashing my ship."

James shrugged again. "Hey, it stopped Cerberus."

Shepard shook her head and tuned out the rest of their conversation. She would have to talk with James about his little maneuver later. Right now, she wanted to check on Kaidan.

She was worried. Liara said she had stabilized him the best she could, but she wasn't a medical doctor. Sharp pain twisted her gut, that recent memory of the Cerberus mech latched onto Kaidan helmet. One wrong move and he would be dead.

Helpless had crept over her seeing him caught like that. If she had shot and missed the mech could have easily ripped the helmet from his head, or even used him as a shield. Too many unknown factors.

Shepard moved to the elevator with determined strides.

He'll be alright. She told herself as the elevator doors slipped open.

"Hey, Commander!" James called out, she ignored him watching as the doors slid shut on the armory.

"He has to be alright." She whispered.

The elevator moved too slowly and Shepard bubbled with anxiety. She wanted to see him, just to make certain that he was still breathing, still alive.

What if he's not? The little part of her brain that was practical and rational piped up. Her heart stopped at the thought. Losing Kaidan, she had never thought about it. Virimire flashed before her the memories from those few months…

No, years ago, it was years ago…almost three years ago. She reminded herself. She hated went that happened. When she lost track of time or how long ago something was. But sometimes really felt like just yesterday that Ashley, Kaidan and her would be sitting down in the Mess Hall of the old Normandy discussing ridiculous things like favorite foods or favorite places to visit on shore leave.

The doors to the elevator opened and Shepard flinched as it jumped back to her thoughts of the present. She stepped of the metal box and looked at the names etched onto the wall memorial. Her eyes sought out Ash's.

Please, I don't want to put his name up there. She closed her eyes briefly and swallowed the dark thought as she walked away.

The medical bay was virtually empty. Two technicians were back in the AI core working on the Cerberus mech with EDI's assistance. Kaidan lain on the medical table, like he was sleeping off a bad headache. His blue armor was a stark contrast to all of the sterile grays. She stepped up closer watching for the telltale signs of life. His chest rose, but it was barely discernible and it rattled a little as he exhaled.

His face was a mass of bruises and dried blood. She approached cautiously afraid…she wasn't really certain what she was afraid of.

Maybe I just don't want to do this all alone. Not again. She stood beside Kaidan and gently reached out to try and brush away some of the blood dried on his face. She had faced the Collectors with many people at her back, people she had come to trust…yet it hadn't been the same as when she took Saren down. Something was different about the Collectors, maybe she had felt disconnected because she had been dead for the past two years or maybe she hadn't really been drawn to any of the people who served with her on the mission. She didn't know, she just knew that she had felt alone.

Staring down at Kaidan's prone form a sudden sense of purpose and resolve overcame her. She would do this. She could do this. She had told Liara that if she thought about the things she could lose it made her keep fighting. It was true. And seeing Kaidan like this…hurt. She wanted to protect him and every person in this galaxy. It didn't matter to her if they were turian, quarian, krogan, asari, salarian, batarians, vorcha, or human, she was in charge of making certain the Reapers were destroyed and she would do everything she physically could to insure that outcome.

"Stay with me, Kaidan. I need you in this. I need you with me if I am to do this." She whispered as she leaned forward and brushed her lips over his forehead. She hated to admit it, but she really did need him. He made the world feel right. Even though he might not ever forgive her for teaming up with Cerberus to take out the Collectors, she at least wanted to be his friend. She just wanted him in her life.