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“...should we wake them up?” It’s an attempt at a whisper, Shepard will give her that. He can almost feel Garrus staring at them too before he hears the shuffle of feet.
“...Nah, let ‘em sleep.”
“But, Kaidan needs to see Dr. Chakwas…”
“Shepard will get him there.” More shuffling before the heavy hiss of the shuttle door sliding closed and the muffle of conversation fades away.
It’s quiet, for a long, dark moment, and if Shepard really, really wanted to, he’s pretty sure he could actually fall back asleep. Just, turn his head a little, rest back on the one currently leaning on his shoulder and fade out for a bit. It’s a nice idea.
“...Are they gone?”
“You know, one day, they’re gonna catch on.”
And Kaidan snorts out a laugh, hand coming up to rub at his eyes. He doesn’t move away from where he’s leaning on Shepard, and honestly, he’s in no mood to make him just yet.
“If they haven’t yet, I don’t think they’re going to Shepard.”
“Wrex knows.”
“Old bastard knows everything. Hasn’t said anything about it though.” Point. If anyone on this ship knew the importance of catching rest where they could, it would be the old man.
Shepard just hums softly, shaking his head and leaning back heavily against the shuttle wall. It’s not the most comfortable of places, but he’s had worse rides back to the Normandy, so he can’t really complain. Kaidan huffs out something that sounds like a curse before forcefully readjusting himself to lay his head in Shepard’s lap, apparently determined to get an actual nap in before they have to rejoin the crew.
And Shepard…Shepard can’t blame him. They’ve been going, going, going in the last three weeks since the Battle of the Citadel. They got about a week to take a breather before getting unceremoniously - well, no, there was a ceremony, a pretty nice one too - shooed out of the Citadel and into Geth space. And since then, they’d been getting ping-ponged through every relay from the Caleston Rift to the Far Rim, barely staying long enough in one spot to get an all-clear and their next coordinates.
Continuous back to back jumps planet side, and a crew so hopped up on victory and the come down no one ever talks about, and there wasn’t really a quiet spot left on the ship. Shepard could feel his edges fraying - leaking blue at the nervous energy crammed into the already tight quarters. And Kaidan was no better.
It wasn’t so bad…no, it was worse , but it was…it was directed when they were chasing Saren. They had a focus. A point to break. A breakdown could be put on the backburner because they had something so much bigger to focus on. It didn’t matter that he could feel his implant overheating most days, and it didn’t matter that Kaidan couldn’t sleep around the migraines or that when he grew staticy, even Liara had to pause and step back. It didn’t matter that the rest of the crew was falling apart in little ways they all noticed but carefully never mentioned.
They had a goal, and they won .
And now? Now there was nothing. Nothing but the energy and a relentless go go go spurred on by the Council’s indecision and the crew’s own cresting morale.
It was great and it was awful.
And goddammit, the crew let them sleep in the shuttle undisturbed by some unspoken agreement.
So no, Shepard really can’t blame Kaidan for using him as a pillow. Hell, he was only returning the favor from last time.
“Liara was right though - you do need to see Chakwas.”
“Later…” Kaidan mutters, a yawn drawing out the last syllable. “Barely a graze.” And Shepard snorts, but just crosses his arms and settles further into his corner, careful not to dislodge the other man.
“I’m telling her you said that.”
“Careful, Casey. I know where you got shot too.”