Chapter Text
The lights in the med-bay were dim when Sidney walked in, the only sound the rhythmic beeping from Dr. Chakwas’ scanner. The doctor stood by the only occupied bed, reading over her patient’s stats on a data pad.
“He’ll be out for a while. Whatever Garrus hit him with was enough to drop an elcor,” she chided, lips pulling into a flat line.
Sidney pulled a stool over to the bed and sat down. Seeing Kaidan again, even unconscious, after having been told he was dead twisted something in Sid’s chest. The relief was still a palpable thing, but whatever Kaidan had been through for the last two years had left its mark, physically and mentally.
“It got pretty tense down there.” Sidney sighed, reaching for Kaidan’s hand. It was warm and alive, and Sid felt the tightness ease just a bit. That was a start; he could work with that. “He was just doing what he thought was right.”
Dr. Chakwas nodded, putting a calming hand on his shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re ok. All of you.”
Sid hummed. “He may not agree with that assessment when he wakes up.”
She glanced at Kaidan momentarily before turning her shrewd gaze back to Sidney. “Shepard, I saw that dossier, and I’m reasonably certain it only scratched the surface of what actually happened. Whatever he’s been through for the last two years…”
“I know, Karin.” Sidney found himself tracing a lazy pattern over the back of Kaidan’s hand with his thumb. The comfort was more for him, to solidify that fact that Kaidan was here, alive, and not being tortured in a Cerberus facility or lying frozen and dead on Alchera. He was pretty certain that if Kaidan had woken in that moment, his first reaction would be to slug Sidney, not return any form of affection.
He studied his lover’s face; few day-old stubble and normally perfectly styled hair reduced to a mop of black curls. He found himself combing the wayward locks from Kaidan’s forehead with his free hand before he thought better of it. He then decided to throw reason out the window and kept his fingers carded through hair that was as impossibly soft as he remembered.
“He’s going to need to process it, whatever it is. Could you talk to him?” He asked. “I’m too close to this.”
“Kelly is the ship counselor, Shepard.”
“I know, but he knows you. Kelly is just another stranger in a Cerberus uniform.”
She nodded. “Of course. I’m happy to help.”
“Thank you, Karin.”
He stood to leave, gently resting Kaidan’s hand back on the sheets, then leaned in, pressing his lips to Kaidan’s forehead and lingered, inhaling his scent. Different, but also achingly familiar.
“I’m keeping guards posted outside.” He said as he turned to leave. “Be careful. I don’t think he’s going to be very happy when he wakes up.”
Dr. Chakwas nodded, giving Sidney’s bicep a reassuring squeeze. “Of course.”
With one final glance at Kaidan, he turned and marched out the door. He and his new second in command needed to have a chat.