I apologize for the long wait between chapters. I got a promotion at work and it has doubled my work load, but at least I went from having three jobs to one. Anyway, we are getting really close to the finale. only a few chapters left until I'm calling this fic done. Please read, review, and let me know what you think. To all those who left reviews, thank you so much. Enjoy!

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"I strongly urge against this," the asari doctor scolded crossing her arms. Luke smirked as he signed the release form and handed it back to the desk clerk.

"Doc, I've been walking well enough for three days with mild pain, and I've been on combat missions with broken bones before. I think I can handle the rapid transit ride home. Besides you have other people that are far worse off than I am. Don't worry, I'll take it easy," Luke said as he braced himself on the welcome desk. Even with all the three weeks that he had been in the hospital, pain was still a common occurrence that made doing some of the simplest things difficult. However, Luke was ready to be out of the care of others. He could heal on his own in front of a vid screen with a bowl of soup. He'd be back to 100% in no time.

"I still don't like the idea of letting you out without someone to take care of you," the asari said glancing at the form as the clerk filed it way.

"Don't worry. He'll be getting plenty of rest or I'll put him back in here." Claire's voice echoed across the lobby as Luke turned around to greet his sister. She was wearing her Alliance dress blues with a medal hanging around her neck. The people waiting for entry started whispering as she walked past. Luke heard their last name get thrown around several times.

"Claire," Luke greeted her shortly as stopped just short of him. He could tell she was trying to be serious, but the smile that hid behind her eyes betrayed her.

"Glad to see you up and moving." Claire quickly turned to the doctor. "Thank you for what you've done for him. I can take care of him from here." She smirked over at Luke as she motioned for him to follow.

"Thanks for the save, sis," Luke said once they were out of earshot.

"Don't get me wrong. I think you're an idiot for checking out of the hospital, but the Normandy just got its marching orders so the team is meeting for drinks," Claire said as they reached the rapid transit hub.

"And you want me to come along?" Luke asked.

"Well, you are coming back to the Normandy right? That makes you part of the team."

Luke felt a lump forming in his throat. He had a lot of things he needed to answer for not only on the Normandy, but on the Citadel as well. At the very least, he needed to be fined for property damage. He wasn't all that broken up about clocking Udina in the jaw. He still held to his argument that his actions were appropriate considering the situation.

"Claire, I want to come back more than anything, but I feel like there are a lot of things I need to answer for both here and with you." Claire raised a hand to silence him.

"You're worried about the damage to the cargo bay and the way the brass is going to react to you coming back to the ship." Claire watched the shuttle come and land in front of them and she opened the door. "Listen, you were instrumental in winning the battle. The Council and Alliance both presented you with medals and filed all actions under operative authority. The damage is being taken out of the pay you would have gotten as a contractor with the military."

Luke sat down as he listened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was being handed a get out of jail free card by both the Alliance and Council.

"I'm sure Udina had something to say about that," Luke looked over at Claire as she took the seat next to him. He couldn't help but notice the slight smile that played across her lips.

"He's having trouble saying anything right now since you fractured his jaw," Claire answered as the shuttle lifted off. "Lucky bastard."

"Who? Me?" Luke said relaxing a little in his seat.

"I've wanted to break something of that prick's ever since I met him. I'm kind of ticked you got to it first." Claire glanced over at her brother. Luke simply grinned before they both fell into fits of laughter only quieted slightly by the pain that sparked in Luke's chest.

"So what? I helped you and that balances out all the laws I broke to do it?"

"No, nothing like that. You are being put in my custody to work as an operative for me until you have built up the funds to repair what you broke and served your time for the assault. The fact that it is kind of what you wanted is just an added bonus," Claire explained as she glanced over at him.

"Okay, okay, I get it. You and Anderson pulled some strings and got me a really good deal that I'd be stupid not to take." Luke raised his hands in surrender as her smiled over at his sister. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now let's go meet everyone, okay?"

Luke smiled and nodded. "Just drop me off at my apartment. I want to change and take a shower that I don't share with a nurse and a sponge."

000

Luke's fingers found the zipper of his navy blue hoodie as he zipped it half way up. It was never that much of a deal to him, just an old jacket to work out in during his days at the C-Sec Academy. He remembered jogging with the rest of the cadets from the Academy to the Citadel Tower and back simply because they could. Of course the low gravity made the six mile jog a lot easier than it would have been on Mindoir or Earth, but it was still a feat that their instructor respected them for.

He remembered the sound of forty pairs of feet stomping the pavement in step with each other. The breaths of his comrades as they huffed and coughed down walkway playing like a line of drummers headed to war. The looks that the citizens gave them still held crisp in his mind

Luke's eyes fell on the white letters that were spelled across the back. Shepard among wolves. The phrase had started off as simply a clever play on words, but it had become a bit of a catch phrase during his early days at C-Sec because of his extensive undercover work. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He felt a little like a wolf at times; ferocious in battle, loyal to his pack, and in rare cases worked alone.

A soft knock resonated from his bedroom door as he slipped his hands into the pockets of the old sweat shirt.

"That's what you're wearing to Flux?" Claire said from the door. She crossed her arms as she leaned against the door frame.

"I can't dance. Not just shouldn't, can't. So I'm really there just to drink. Don't really need to get all dressed up for that now do I?" Luke said as he made his way across the room. The trip seemed further from his bed to the door. Of course the injury effected his mobility, however it should not have made the trip to the door feel like a trek across Zakera Ward.

"How do you know if you don't try?" Claire teased. She stepped back out of the way so Luke could get by, yet she appeared to be keeping an annoyingly close eye on him.

"Claire, you don't have to babysit me, you know. I can make it to Flux on my own. I can even get dressed all by myself. Been doing it now for a few years." Luke tossed a glance at his sister as she smiled.

"Funny, I thought you knew at least how to tie your shoes after I taught you," Claire said nodding to the no-lace boots look wore partially hidden under his jeans.

"I remember," Luke replied sitting down on his sofa. As he turned back to his sister, he could see the kitchen and eating area out of the corner of his eye. He could still smell the burned dinner that he tried to cover up with odor cancelling spray. He could taste the food he used to replace it, the taste of Ashley's kiss after dinner. He felt the warmth of her hand intertwined with his as they wrapped themselves in each others embrace. Yet in an instant, the pleasant memories were replaced with the cold fingers of remorse as heartache gripped his chest once more. Tears threatened to fill his eyes, yet somehow he managed to suppress them.

"Normandy leaves tomorrow right?" Luke asked trying to focus completely on his sister.

"Yeah, have you decided on whether you're coming with us or not?" Claire asked offering Luke her hand to help him up.

Honestly, he wrestled with the decision of returning to the Normandy ever since he left. He wanted to be near Claire, Garrus, and most of the rest of the crew and to have something productive to do that made a difference in the galaxy. That, he felt, could only be done with Claire and the rest of the Normandy team.

"To the bar…sure. On the Normandy, hell yeah," Luke said taking his sister's hand. Luke felt a warm feeling come over him as Claire smiled and pulled him to his feet gently.

"So, are you ready to get your drink on?" Claire said leading her brother toward the door. Luke smirked. It was nice seeing this side of Claire. She let her hair down and loosened up. No rules or regulations to worry about tonight. The thought of getting to know his sister without the military uniform or the discipline that came with it getting in the way, appealed to Luke. He wanted to see the woman Claire had turned into.

"I have the slightest feeling that I'm going to regret this," Luke said as he closed and locked the door behind him. Claire laughed as she punched the button for the lift.

"You won't, not until tomorrow morning," Claire said smiling fiendishly.

"Good Lord, save me from the party my sister is throwing," Luke said as the doors of the lift opened and they stepped in. "Just do me one favor."

Claire crossed her arms and leaned against the wall of the elevator. "And what might that be?"

"You have to get Garrus to show you some of his dance moves. The guy claims he can move and I for one want to see that first hand," Luke said. He saw a little bit of color come to his sister's cheeks and a genuine warm smile part her lips.

"I'll see what I can do," Claire said softly.