Shepard stepped out of the airlock and took her first steps back on planet Earth. Striding purposefully through the crowded dock, her sole duffel bag of possessions slung over one shoulder, she tried to ignore the family reunions of her compatriots going on all around her.
It was always strange returning after a tour of duty and suddenly finding out you'd spent months working and living in close proximity to people with names like Brian, Chloe and Amir. She planned on dumping her kit at the nearest barracks and heading into town for a drink but those plans quickly changed when she heard a shout as she neared the exit.
"Nikki!" She twisted her head round in surprise at the familiar voice and saw the brilliant smile framed by golden brown hair walking towards her.
"Trish, what are you doing here?" Her quizzical expression morphed into her signature grin as she queried: "This is Vancouver right? The pilot didn't drop us off in the wrong city?"
"No it's Vancouver alright. It's also a bank holiday weekend so I thought I'd make the most of the extra couple of days off work and welcome you back. Unless you've got something else to do of course?"
"Of course I've got things to do." Trish hid her disappointment well but the soldier still caught it, holding back her smirk as she continued: "At 0600 on the 17th I've got roll call and... Nope, think that's it for plans actually."
"The 17th?" The brunette looked at her in disbelief, "that's two weeks away. You've got no plans for two weeks?" The raven haired marine shook her head with a grin.
"Not unless you want to go grab a coffee?"
...
"Where'd you get that?" Trish asked curiously as Shepard returned to their table carrying the drinks. Nikki followed the pointing finger to the new insignia on her sleeve and deadpanned:
"Quarter Master gave it to me." Trish bit back a sigh, in retrospect it hadn't been the best wording for the question.
"Very funny Corporal, don't get literal with me, you know that's not what I meant. You never mentioned getting a promotion."
"Sorry, it was pretty hectic at the time and by the time everything got back to normal I forgot."
"Forgot you were promoted?"
"No forgot to tell you, it was just after I got that commendation." Trish raised an eyebrow.
"That commendation which you also forgot to mention?" Nicola was looking sheepish now, hand rubbing the back of her neck.
"It was nothing. I didn't want to worry you."
"If it was something you thought might worry me then it couldn't have been nothing Nikki. Come on I know you're safe now, so unless it's classified you can spill."
"Fine, but they blew it completely out of proportion." With a resigned sigh she activated her omni-tool searching for the relevant file before offering it out for Trish, the civilian's eyes widening as she read:
To L/Cpl Nicola Shepard
FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS MECHANIC WITH NO. 2 SQUADRON, 3rd BATTALION, 108th MARINES. WHILE ON PATROL, THE CONVOY CAME UNDER FIRE FROM ENEMY FORCES AND THE LEAD M29 WAS IMMOBILISED. WHILE THE REST OF THE CONVOY CONTINUED ON IN AN ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY FROM A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION, L/CPL SHEPARD VOLUNTEERED TO STAY BEHIND AND FIX THE VEHICLE. UNDER HEAVY FIRE THROUGHOUT, SHE SUCCEEDED IN HER EFFORTS ALLOWING THE M29 CREW TO EVACUATE. BY HER UNSWERVING DETERMINATION AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY, L/CPL SHEPARD REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HERSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE SYSTEMS ALLIANCE MARINE CORPS.
"Wow... That's nothing is it?"
"I was just doing my job."
"Uh-huh. Tell me, were you in the vehicle that got hit?"
"No."
"So you got out of a perfectly functioning vehicle that was heading away from the kill zone-"
"Well yeah but-"
"And people were shooting at you?"
"I mean, technically I suppose so, but I had a tank between me and them. Most the shots hit the Grizzly. And I wasn't the only one in danger, only the main gunners stayed in the vehicle, the rest of the crew were outside providing cover fire with their rifles. They didn't get any recognition." Trish shook her head with a smile, a familiar but long forgotten pull sparking inside her. It wasn't the 'you're gorgeous' feeling that she'd already experienced at the docks earlier that day, but rather the 'you're amazing' feeling she used to get back on Mindoir. She reached across the table and squeezed the other woman's hand.
"Face it Nick, you went 'Above and Beyond'. You don't have to be embarrassed that someone recognised that."
"Ah come on! I've got two weeks off, let's talk about something else. How long are you in Vancouver? Where are you staying? Normal people talk."
"I fly back Monday evening. I'm staying at my Uncle's place while he's out the country and I'm not convinced you have any idea what counts as 'normal people talk' anymore."
"The weather? I don't know."
"The weather?" Trish chuckled. "That's a short conversation. It's Vancouver. It's cold. End of."
"Finally! Thank you! Do they play spot the Mindoirian with you too? Everywhere I go it's 'come on Shepard, it's summer.' No, no it's not. It's barely autumn. I'm pretty sure I remember winters that were warmer than this back home."
"Why do you think I chose the San Francisco office and not New York. Have you suffered an Earth winter yet?" Nikki mock shuddered in response to her question.
"Ugh, ice is supposed to be in refrigerators NOT the ground. Oh and while we're on the subject, hockey is supposed to be played on grass!"
"Careful Nick, I'm pretty sure insulting hockey's a treasonable offense in these parts."
"Hey I'm not insulting hockey. Hockey's a great sport, I love hockey! I just don't believe it should be played on ice."
"Why do I get the feeling there's a story behind this bizarre display of prejudice?" Trish asked and there was suddenly a very suspicious silence. "Ohoo, there is isn't there? Come on, it's no use looking like that! You forget how well I know you Nikki." The marine shifted awkwardly in her chair, arms crossing defensively across her chest, as she attempted to stare her ex down. There could only be one winner however and her head dropped fractionally as her hand rose up to rub an eyebrow.
"Let's just say that when I enlisted they asked if I'd ever played any sports at a competitive level... and when I said boxing and hockey nobody bothered asking the poor colonial rube, from a planet where all ice is manmade, which version she meant. Or any other basic questions like: 'have you ever actually worn skates before?'" Trish burst out in laughter.
"Please tell me there's video?"
"Bloody hell, I hope not!"
"Want me to check the extranet for you just in case?" She waved her omni-tool teasingly.
"I want you to change the subject..." Nikki grouched, before deciding to do it herself. "So, what are we doing tomorrow anyway? Surely you didn't come all the way up here for the weekend without at least a rough plan? A marine might get the wrong idea otherwise." As soon as she said it the younger woman glanced away blushing, suddenly fascinated by the pot of sugar sachets on the table. The insinuation was rather tame compared to some of the bawdy conversations she'd had with her comrades over the years, but they hadn't been with civilians and certainly not with her childhood sweetheart. Both women were immediately aware of the large, 'elephant in the room' sized topic that had somehow avoided being mentioned in their months of long distance communication. Each thinking: Surely she would have mentioned by now if there was a significant other in her life... wouldn't she? Trish decided it was time to roll the dice once and for all.
"Or the right idea. You never know, if you play your cards right..." Shepard looked back up with a hesitant smile, a single rub of her eyebrow belying the relaxed, controlled voice as her face morphed into a cocky grin.
"Hmm, well I have got pretty good at Skyllian Five... or are you thinking more Happy Families?"
"Nikki!" Trish slapped her arm but there was a smirk on her face, she hadn't been shocked at the comment so much as the idea of it coming from the adorably awkward and hopeless Mindoirian she'd known all those years ago. She paused a beat, watching the marine closely as she retorted, "Go fish."