A/N Thank you again to everyone who takes the time to read my story.
Ashley
The anger from our argument paled in comparison to the terrifying, seething rage that I could tell coursed through her right now. The whole squad could feel it and none of us spoke unless she spoke to us first. I was dead wrong to think Chey had mellowed out, she fooled us all really well, even her sister who knew her better then anyone here. If you hadn't been there to witness their interaction, one would think Chey was being selflessly brave, foolish but brave. One could think when she ran at that armature on Therum she was being noble and trying to save a friend. Perception was a strange thing, and we recognized her actions for what they were selfish and destructive. We all thought she would stubbornly survive until Saren met her justice, but even the strongest have a breaking point. Perhaps rescuing Lizbeth and reuniting her with her mother was the catalyst to her breaking point. Her wife and child would never get the chance to do see each other, they would never get to learn of each other and Jr. would never get to meet Chey. Chey would never be able to hold her wife again, she would never get the chance to hold her child. Everyone has their breaking point, and Shea was at hers.
Shea was a tornado of death to all the enemies in her path. The enemies fell quickly at her hands and when her gun overheated she would kill them with her bare hands. She didn't even care that her body was covered in toxic goo from the creepers. Once the Thorian died, she calmed down a little and I was the only one who dared to go near her, I handed her my canteen and she washed the green blood off of her. "Thanks Ash. Sorry about going postal just now." She said to me. I rubbed her back. "Apologies are not needed. We understand why." I reassure her. She has calmed enough to speak civilly to the Asari that was spat out after the Thorian died. We learned that Saren was after the Thorian's knowledge and that she was traded for it's knowledge about the cipher to help make sense of the visions from the beacon. She offered what she learned but to give it she would have to meld with Shea.
I didn't like it one bit as the Asari Shiala grabbed Shea's hand and the way she spoke to her in that sensual tone. I wanted to fucking shoot her. Liara stayed my hand and Kaidan was immersed in what was happening between them. The meld was shallow and the black eyes disconcerting and it was quick, but it didn't make me like it any more. Shea of course let her go. After we learned that it was actually Saren's ship Sovereign that controlled everyone's mind, including Saren's and Benezia's. We left the colony and after Shea saw Chey was in a medically induced sleep she called a meeting. Once again I felt a stab of jealousy as Liara melded with her to try and help her make sense of the visions if she could. She was not successful either, even with the cipher. "Dismissed, we'll reconvene in the mess once Dr. Chakwas is done with Chey. When she gives us the go ahead we're going to do an intervention with her." She orders. "The council is checking in." Joker says.
"Go ahead and connect us. I'll contact you just before the intervention, I want you to be there too." I order. "Yes, ma'am." He says. They do not like that she killed the Thorian and get on her case about helping every human colony she comes across. "I help whoever needs help." She defends. "Now about your sister. She is a loose cannon and dangerous. Her self destructive behavior.." the Turian said she interrupts him. "Will be dealt with, as I see fit." she said. "Yes well it maybe a good idea to get her off the ship and into a mental ward." The Turian adds. "My crew, my decision." I listen to her speak. The council is seriously pissing me off "You can't let your personal feelings effect your mission." He just keeps on going. "My sister's wife and unborn child were murdered and she held her bloody corpse in her arms, I will not send my sister to deal with strangers." They are really riling her up, and I hate them all the more for it. Shea deserves better. The council is a bunch of damn cowards.
Shea
"I assure you if this intervention doesn't work, I will be contacting our mother to remove her. I will not abandon my sister. Would any of you abandon your sibling or mate if they were in her shoes." I said. They say nothing. " If any of your mates met the same end as my sister's, would you be fine." I said. They still don't say anything. "My mind is always on the mission, and I'm not going to let anything jeopardize it not even you. My ship, my rules, my mission." For the first time but not the last I disconnect from the still stunned council. I lean heavily against the console. Warm arms wrap around my waist. I inhale her vanilla scent. I put my arms over hers and squeeze it to myself. I feel a peck on my shoulder. I turn to Ashley and embrace her again. I want to kiss her but I know we can't. I'm not sure about the regs concerning a relationship between us. I'm technically not part of the Alliance, so I don't know if having an us right now is okay. I would call Anderson later. I kiss the top of her head. "After we stop Saren, I want to explore what we could have more." She says. "After Saren then." I agree.
I immediately hated it when we had to separate. Duty calls though, and I hate that too. I check in with Aunt Karin and see she is still pulling bullet fragments from Chey, so I start my rounds which was fairly easy considering everyone was in the mess hall. Kaidan was the furthest away and currently not paying attention so I decide to come back to him later, he was still reading his data pad when I stopped in front of him. "Kaidan, do you have a minute to talk?" I ask. "Of course I do. I've been wanting to talk to you since we left Feros." He says. "You first, what's on your mind?" I ask him. "Stop me if I'm out of line but you and Ashley seem to have gotten closer. Are you and her.." I shake my head. "No we aren't together. We decided to wait until after this Saren business is done." I said.
"Oh. Okay." He says sadly. Then it hits me he may have misinterpreted my friendliness for interest. "Oh Kaidan. I'm so sorry. I unintentionally led you on." I said. "It's my fault. I have never had a CO who was friendly like you. I mistook it for an attraction. I didn't know you preferred women." He says. "Yes and no. I don't really have a preference. Gender and race have never really factored in." I said. "Then why Ashley?" he asks. " The heart wants it wants. For whatever reason, it has chosen Ashley. I love her Kaidan. Everything she is I love. Her gentle and romantic heart, her Williams pride, her mind, her body and her soul. I love them all. It's like this growing up, I never wanted or felt the need for a relationship, intimacy, or sex. When we met Ashley on Eden Prime and I was standing next to her all those things I never wanted, she changed it just by being near her. I wanted them, but only with her." I try to explain.
" She is the other half of your soul. Your hearts speak to each other." He simplified it. I nod. "So it was fate. Was it the same for Chey?" he asks. "Not to the same degree. Growing up she went through all the normal hormones of her peers, but she hadn't really found the one she wanted to be with. She had crushes like everyone else, her longest crush was Liana, but nothing really came of it until after Akuze. Chey was husk of a person afterwards and would often get lost in darker thoughts, only Liana could ever bring her out of it, of course we all tried, but Liana was the only one who could ever reach her. So naturally one thing led to another. Chey loved Liana very much, she was the beacon of light that guided her home. I loved Liana as a sister, but I don't think she was her other half. Her whole being didn't ache with just the thought of being with her, like mine does for Ash." He sighs.
"Stay strong Kaidan, one day you'll find your other half, don't give up." I said. "I won't. Still friends?" he asks. He holds out his hand and I just wrap him up in a hug. "Always." Her hugged back. I could feel my back burning like someone was staring at it with laser beams. He lets go and steps away. "Your soon to be woman is scary. I think I'll be sleeping with one eye open for the rest of my life." He says with a smile.