If It Meant Living: Mass Effect 2

17: Life, Interrupted

Shepard rolled over and threw an arm into Kaidan's face.

"Ow."

She opened one eye, stretched up and kissed him.  "Sorry."

He smiled sleepily.  "You're forgiven. “  He paused and looked over at her affectionately.  “Of course, you’re always forgiven.”

She scrunched up her face at him.  “Isn’t it a little early in the morning to be saying such things?  I haven’t even gotten started with my day yet – lots of time left to prove you wrong.”

He chuckled lightly.  “Never.  So, what do you want to do today?"

She pretended to consider the question.  "Well, I guess we could kill some Geth.  Toss some Geth into the sky.  Map their traversal patterns in the dirt and play Geth Bingo on it.  Snack on some energy bars.  Kill some more Geth. “ 

She grumbled.  “Of course, we have to find some first."

"Have faith."  He leaned over and kissed her again, longer and deeper.  After a moment she pulled away, albeit reluctantly.

"You have to stop that.  If you aren't out of here in the next – " she glanced at the clock – "fifteen minutes, you'll be too paranoid someone will see you leave and you'll be stuck in here all day.  I’ll have to pretend to organize a search party."

He sighed and sunk back into the pillow.  "Do you think anyone knows?"

"Well, Joker knows, and he does have a big mouth – but I threatened to break both his legs if he told anyone.  I was very convincing.  Garrus knows, but he’s safely back at the Citadel fighting injustice.  Anyone else?  I honestly don't know.”  She kissed him softly.  “But you're stalling.  Shower. Go.  Now."

He crawled out of the bed and wandered towards the shower.  He got halfway before stopping and turning back to her, an eyebrow raised.

"Come with?"

Her eyes narrowed and she looked at him suspiciously.  “But that will defeat the purpose.”

“Not if we do things in the right order.”

She couldn’t help but grin and roll her eyes in mock exasperation.  "Okay."

***

The ship shuddered violently and sparks flew from the panels around them. 

She activated the official “We’re Fucked – Abandon Ship!” siren while Kaidan continued to try in vain to put out the closest fire.

“I need to you get the crew into the evac pods while I get Joker.”

He didn’t turn from the fire.  “They’re big boys and girls, they can get themselves in the pods.  I’ll help you with Joker, and we’ll leave together.”

“There will be injured – they’ll need your help.”

He threw the fire extinguisher to the side, finally admitting it was useless, and turned to her.

“Shepard – “

"Kaidan, go.  Now."

He stared at her for an infinite second, as if trying to convey a thousand feelings, emotions, through his helmet and hers, to eyes he could barely see, before letting out a long breath and nodding.

"Aye, aye."  He turned and disappeared into the chaos.

It was the easiest order she had ever given.  She knew he wanted to stay with her, but at the beginning and the end of the day they were both marines, and they did their duty.  Besides, this way he would almost certainly live – and she really wanted to him to live.