Commander Shepard stepped out of the physician's office, grateful at having finally received clearance to return to her work. God bless Alliance genetic enhancements. Otherwise the injuries would have taken much longer to heal. She had still needed a full clavicle bone weave and a couple days of physical therapy to return her shoulder back to full range of motion. Consequences from defeating an ancient sentient machine, known as a Reaper, intent on galaxy wide destruction. Damn ceiling falling all around her in the Council Chambers had done more damage that she would like to admit. Gingerly, she twisted her arm across her body to loosen the knots already forming from that last bout of exercises. Her charade had worked well enough, the doctor had immediately sent her status through to the Council as 'all clear'. If she had been truthful about the lingering pain it would have taken far too long to return to duty, and she knew there was no time to waste. Plus, she still wasn't able to distinguish her own pain versus aftershocks from the nightmares she experienced. They were so real. The pain was so real. That damaged Prothean Beacon had transfered it's message directly into her cerebrum. Unpleasant was not a strong enough adjective. Reliving death over and over again. Shepard shook her head clear of memories that threatened to take over.

She felt like sprinting back to her suite she had been staying in, just to work off some nervous energy she had already started accumulating. She doubted the two Citadel Security officers who acted as her 'bodyguards' could keep up with her. Before she could entertain those thoughts for long they had escorted her to their shuttle. They directed it towards Presidium Lake where her temporary shelter was up on the top floor, great view she had to admit. Though being under house arrest and forced to do nothing but stare out the window all day was not relaxing for the Lieutenant Commander. She began mentally reviewing all the belongings she had in the room, in order to gather and pack as quickly as possible when they arrived. She smiled at the idea of finally being able to leave. So...The medics had taken her armor and informed her, after threats of a meet and greet with her shotgun, that it was being cleaned and repaired in the Alliance armory. They had better be taking good care of it. She loved how that Onyx armor fit, she had just worn in all the kinetic padding to mold to her form perfectly. No way in hell was she going to worry about breaking in a new set now with what she was preparing to face. Let's see, that meant there was a few off duty uniforms, her HMWP pistol (the only weapon they had let her keep on her person, idiots) and of course her personal data pad; with all her holos and music files. She could throw all of it in a duffel and be out within the hour. Faster if the Rapid Transit wasn't so backed up at this time in the Citadel day. She giggled out loud at the thought of returning home. Her home…the Normandy SR1.

The C-Sec officers glanced nervously at the Commander and then silently communicated between themselves. Both Turians, they had been thrown off when Shepard had asked so many questions about their lives and careers. They both had worked with Officer Vakarian, of there fellow race, before he had joined her team; but they were still rookies when it came to understanding human quirks. Like the fact that Commander Shepard now appeared to be laughing to herself, even though neither of them had said anything to her to cause such a reaction. How had Officer Vakarian dealt with these outbursts?

Shepard continued giggling in excitement as she realized she hadn't seen the Normandy since she had disembarked on Ilos.

Ilos… No she can't let her thoughts go in that direction again. Those memories would not be very productive at all. Instead she had to focus on getting back to her mission and her crew. Her crew, who had followed her all over known and unknown Citadel Space, committed mutiny with her, had come after her when she left on her own magical-mako-mass-relay adventure, and had successfully taken down the ancient Reaper named Sovereign and saved the Council's ungrateful multi-racial behinds. She had not seen her crew, her family, since what seemed like in her view years ago, though in reality it had only been about a week. She hadn't seen her family or her home since defeating Saren, the rogue Spectre working with the Reapers. Maybe that's why it seemed so long ago, those events were from another time. A time where Saren and his Geth henchmen were threatening to annihilate all organic life, and fear of the rest of the Reapers had to be held at bay until their scout Sovereign was destroyed and their gateway to enter the Citadel closed. Those worries were subsided, a past life's worth gone. Her next life would no doubt have just a many, if not more causes for concern. She chuckled as she thought of how many lives she might have gone through in her 29 years. Hopefully not quite nine. She repressed the urge to meow out loud. The C-Sec Officers were already unsure how to react to her desire to, heaven forbid, talk. Making kitty cat noises would not help.

Shepard sighed out loud; missing her crew, missing Ka… NO, not going there…missing being useful, there we go, that's a good one.

Pulling up to the tower, she jumped out of the shuttle and literally skipped up the steps two at a time up to her suite. Reviewing the list once more; gun, uni's, datapad, oh shoot, underwear... will need that Shepard. She began running around the room piling all her belongings in her arms before throwing them in her bag. Hoisting over the non-injured right shoulder, she stood in front of the window. Scattered clean up crews could be seen hard at work after the mess that was Sovereign's death left. Scorch marks and gouges were all up and down the Citadel arms. Though too, families were out walking around, holding onto one another. The ever present light reflected almost naturally off the lake's surface. Sighing Commander Shepard knew what she had to fight to protect.