A/N: Thank you JediMadchen86 for the follow. I hope you're enjoying the story.
Kaidan didn't know what to expect from this fight. What had started off as a fight with cannibals and marauders quickly deteriorated until they were fighting a harvester and the troops it could carry. Kaidan reloaded his assault rifle again; he was running out of thermal clips quickly and he knew that Kacey and James would be in the same boat. The difference between all three of them was that Kaidan at least had his biotics to fall back on. Both Kacey and James had their weapons and that was it. He peered out of cover and watched Kacey throw a frag grenade at the harvester. Kaidan used a cryo blast to freeze off a chunk of the armour off the harvester.
James had his shotgun out and was ploughing through the cannibals and marauders that headed his way; keeping the small number of foot soldiers busy while Kacey and Kaidan dealt with the harvester. No matter what biotic attack he used, or how many grenades Kacey threw, the harvester remained in position, firing lasers at them with deadly accuracy. It was wearing him down. And yet he knew that if they were to leave, they needed to destroy the harvester so Cortez could land the shuttle.
Kaidan took a deep breath. The ground troops were all dead; James had now moved his attention to the harvester and threw the last of his grenades at it. Kacey had clearly run out of grenades and was firing concussive shots in the vain hope it would go down. He noticed that she was already out of thermal clips, and she looked exhausted. Those nightmares were clearly having an effect as even some of her concussive shots were starting to miss. He had to get over there.
While the harvester began to focus on James, Kaidan quickly darted over towards Kacey, who briefly met his gaze before turning her attention back to the harvester. Kaidan pulled out two full magazines of thermal clips.
"Here." Kaidan said, handing them over.
"Kaidan? Are you sure?" Kacey asked, concerned, "What about you? Don't you need those?"
"Not as much as you do." Kaidan said, "I've got my biotics to fall back on and right now, you're in more dire need."
"Okay if you're sure." Kacey said accepting the clips, "Thanks, Kaidan."
"No problem, Kacey." Kaidan replied.
With her assault rifle reloaded, Kacey opened fire on the harvester with her new inferno ammo, burning through the armour. Kaidan resorted to using Reave in order to tear the armour off the harvester. After several minutes, the harvester eventually went down, exploding in a big, crimson explosion.
"Okay, Cortez! Get in here!" Kacey shouted through the comms.
"Copy that, Commander!" Cortez said as he landed, "Shuttle ready for evac, Commander!"
"Copy that! Everybody, let's go!"
Ann had already bolted towards the shuttle, and was already on board by the time Kaidan had got in. Once Kacey had got in, the shuttle doors closed, and Cortez immediately sped off. Kaidan took a seat as he caught his breath; that was too close. And now, he knew that he had to do something.
"You okay?" Kacey asked Ann. Kaidan noticed how Kacey chose to stand rather than sit down.
"Yeah, Commander." Ann replied, "I think so. I blacked out."
"Leviathan took control of you." Kacey said, "We cut the connection before you got hurt."
"Leviathan itself? That's incredible."
"The Reapers seem as interested in it as we are."
"Yeah, it certainly seems that way."
"We were hoping you could help us figure out why." Kacey replied, "But first, Doctor, I have some bad news…"
"Ann please." Ann replied, "Suppose Leviathan's broken away from the other Reapers? Never went back to dark space? Like a rogue or even a defector. I'll have to call my father. He'll want to know."
"Ann, you need to listen to me, okay?" Kacey said as she crouched down to Ann's level, "Your father…is dead. I'm sorry."
Ann's eyes widened, "He's…dead? No. he can't be dead."
"We couldn't stop it. We met with him, hoping to find out what he knew. Something happened."
"Something happened?"
"You're not the first to lose control." Kacey said, her voice solemn, "Your father's assistant. One minute he was fine, the next…he drew a gun on your father. I couldn't stop him."
"I can't believe this."
"We have to find out what's behind it all." Kacey said, "You're the only one who can help us. Ann?"
"I…I want to see his office." Ann said.
"We'll arrange for transportation and meet you there."
…
In the few hours that had passed since their departure from the planet, both Kacey and Kaidan barely had a minute to talk privately. Traynor had informed Kacey about a Cerberus fighter base that Hackett wanted her to raid and so she spent the small amount of time between both missions to prepare. Kaidan had voluntarily decided to sit this mission out; he had a few things to sort out first. Kacey had agreed and was even going to suggest it before Kaidan had told her. Once she had left for Noveria with both Liara and EDI in tow, Kaidan was called up to the CIC by Traynor. At first, he was confused by the sudden call before Traynor had explained why.
"Admiral Hackett wants to speak to you on the vid comm." Traynor explained, "He said it was urgent."
"And are you sure he wants to speak to me and not Shepard?" Kaidan asked.
"One-hundred percent sure."
Kaidan then thanked Traynor as he made his way to the comm room. He had no idea why the admiral wanted to speak with him; Kaidan had said all there was to say to Hackett. Of that, he was sure. Once he had reached the vid comm room, Hackett appeared on the other side.
"Major Alenko. I was hoping to speak with you." Hackett said, "I assume Commander Shepard is still on Noveria?"
"Yes, sir." Kaidan replied, "She hasn't returned yet."
"Good. Because I needed to speak with you in private. Preferably without Shepard knowing."
"Is something wrong, Admiral?"
"I was hoping you would tell me." Hackett replied, "Both I and Anderson have some concerns about Shepard's wellbeing. I was hoping that you would have some answers for that."
"If I may, why are you asking me?" Kaidan asked, although he suspected he already knew the answer.
"I know both you and Kacey are close, Kaidan." Hackett said, "I've known Kacey long enough to know if she's hiding something. Not to mention what had happened with Cerberus over six months ago. We know what you two have been up to."
"I see." Kaidan replied, "I didn't know she said anything."
"Kacey is a very private person. She won't open up unless she trusts you."
"And that might be difficult because of her trust issues." Kaidan added, "I understand."
"Good. Now have you noticed anything?"
"Well," Kaidan said, trying to figure out where to start, "When I came back to the Normandy, Garrus mentioned that she hadn't been sleeping well. She just…looks exhausted all the time. He said it started after they came back through the Omega 4 Relay."
"I see. And I suppose you two holding each other up at gunpoint doesn't help matters." Hackett said.
"Not really. We've sorted out our issues though."
"Yeah, Kacey mentioned that in our last call." Hackett replied, "As long as you two get your jobs done, what you both decide to do privately is none of my concern. However, since you've reconciled, did you notice anything bothering her?"
"Nightmares mostly." Kaidan said, "I don't know anything more than that."
That was only half true; he knew a little more than that, but he wasn't sure if he should reveal anymore than what he already did.
"So, I was right to be concerned." Hackett mused.
"Seems so."
"Kaidan, I need you to do something very important for me." Hackett said.
"What is it, Admiral?"
"I need you to look after Kacey." Hackett said, "Keep an eye on her, and if need be, ask Garrus Vakarian to help as well."
"Sure, but why?"
"Knowing Kacey, she's hiding something. Something is bothering her, and she's putting on a brave face not just because of the war, but because she wants to help console all of you. She's literally got the galaxy on her shoulders, Kaidan, like it or not. She won't want to be a burden or make things worse. She knows you're all depending on her and her leadership. But that doesn't matter if she destroys herself in the process."
"I understand, Admiral." Kaidan replied, "I don't think the past year or so has helped matters."
"I don't doubt it." Hackett said, "Losing two friends, holding another at gunpoint and trying to make sure everyone is okay is a hard thing to go through, and that was just the past three weeks. I don't know what is bothering her, I wish I did. But right now, she needs someone there for her. And that someone should be you."
"And it will be, Admiral. Don't worry."
…
Kaidan had spent the remaining time that Kacey was away trying to find out what was going on with his own family. He had received several private messages from his mother, who he hadn't from since he left Earth. It was hard to imagine that day now, knowing everything that came after. While he had discovered that his mother was okay, he did learn that his father wasn't in the clear; he was MIA. It was a bitter pill to swallow. And more worry set in.
He was cooking something up in the Mess Hall as Garrus left the Main Battery, heading over towards him. Kaidan hadn't uttered a word about his call to Hackett yet; and he wasn't sure that roping Garrus into it was a good idea. Not yet anyway. He had to be careful how he managed the situation once Kacey got back. One way or another.
"You look like you've got a lot on your mind, Kaidan." Garrus said, "Something bothering you?"
"What isn't bothering me?" Kaidan said, "You and Kacey ask me that a lot."
"Your fault for always looking lost in thought." Garrus smirked, "But seriously, how are you feeling?"
"I don't know, to be honest." Kaidan replied, "I just got word about my family."
"Are they okay?"
"Mom's fine, she's safe for now. But my dad's MIA. Presumed…dead."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Kaidan." Garrus replied, sympathetic.
"Thanks. What about you?" Kaidan asked, "Any news from Palaven?"
"Not yet." Garrus said, "I haven't heard from my father or my sister in a while. Last I knew, they were still on Palaven."
"I hope they make it."
"Likewise." Garrus said, walking around the counter, "So what was your call with the Admiral about?"
Kaidan nearly dropped his knife; Kacey was right, nothing aboard the Normandy was ever kept private it seems.
"The Admiral was just worried about Kacey, that's all." Kaidan said, "He wanted to me to keep an eye on her, look after her. He even said that I should also ask you to help."
"Well, he won't need to worry about that. I've been doing it since the Collector business." Garrus said.
"I just hope she's willing to let us help." Kaidan said.
"Yeah, I agree." Garrus said, "Whatever's going on, it's clearly—"
"Doctor Chakwas!" Liara's panicked voice cut through the crew deck, "Doctor Chakwas! We need urgent medical help."
"What the—?!"
Kaidan had turned to see a battered and bruised Liara limp towards the med-bay quickly, with James close behind. Both Kaidan and Garrus dropped everything and headed over as the door to the med bay closed and was locked from the inside, with Liara and James inside. Kaidan headed over to EDI, who was standing by the door, her expression unreadable.
"EDI, what's going on?"
"Kaidan. I do not think that you would want to know." EDI replied, "The news may be distressing."
"What happened?"
"The Commander took a nasty hit from a Cerberus Atlas mech. She is injured." EDI said.
"She can't be." Kaidan replied.
The biotic turned and ran over to Garrus, who was looking through the window of the med bay. Kaidan saw Doctor Chakwas busy treating what looked to be Kacey on the bed while Liara sat in the one on the left, looking distraught. He struggled to process what just happened. Kacey was injured and there was nothing he could do about it.