Mass Effect 3: Before the Storm

“Hey Kaidan,” Shepard said as he entered the private hospital room of the unconscious Major Kaidan Alenko. There was a pause as the Commander examined the bruised and battered face of his friend. There were several large, deep-purple splatters underneath the pale, tan-colored skin that were even visible underneath the pitch-black, overgrown stubble. Shepard pressed his lips together as he took a few steps closer and looked down. “Don’t know if you can hear me, but since you can’t tell me to get the hell out either…I’m going to take my chances.”

A hand came up to caress Kaidan’s cheek carefully in hopes that he’d feel it and wake up. Hell, Shepard would even settle for an uncomfortable flinch and for his hand to be knocked away, but there was nothing. The only movement that came from Kaidan’s body was the slow motion of his chest moving up and down as the Major barely managed to breathe on his own. “Seeing you in action again…it reminded me you’re a hell of a solider,” Shepard continued as he removed his fingers from Kaidan’s face in a slow caress.

Both hands moved to the ledge of the hospital bed so that the Commander could lean over enough to touch the tips of their noses together. “Don’t die, Kaidan.” The black and red eyes shut tightly as Shepard tried to stop himself from tearing up, but his anger got the best of him. He was mad, no, he wasfurious. Not at Kaidan, but at himself. All of this was his fault. If he had been faster or stronger, Kaidan would be at his side instead of barely hanging onto that thin thread of life right now. “You’ve got to fight. We need you in this.” A few of those hated tears spilled over onto Kaidan’s closed lids.

Shepard paused again to carefully wipe them away. “The Alliance could sure use you,” he said with a forced smile and soft laugh. Their faces were close enough to feel Kaidan’s staggered breathing against his own wet cheeks. “I could use you,” Shepard whispered, brushing his lips across Kaidan’s mouth with every word. As the doctor came in, Shepard pulled away. His hands came off the edge of the bed as he took a few steps back. Finally, he pulled his eyes away from Kaidan’s body as he turned to the staff member. “If there’s anything you need Doc, just let me know.”

The doctor seemed uninterested and only gave a nod without looking away from his datapad. Shepard narrowed his eyes at this, but gave a sigh as he turned to leave the room.  On his way out, he paused , turning to look back at the bed just one more time. “Come on, Kaidan. Fight.”

Shepard cracked another smirk, knowing how much this would make Kaidan laugh.  Or piss him off. “And that’s an order.”