Jill has never been more thankful to have done that background check on Kaidan.
It wasn’t out of distrust or suspicions or anything of the sort. No, it was curiosity that drove her to learn more about Kaidan. Back when he joined, the BSAA was flooded with new recruits, following the Terragrigia Panic, the FBC falling apart, many members who left it opted for joining force with the BSAA instead to continue on their mission of fighting bioterrorism.
Walking down the hallways of HQ those days, there was a new face everywhere Jill looked. But eventually, things calmed, as assignments were finalized and operations took place. She would hear about the new members here and there, but the one she heard the most about was Kaidan. Outstanding performance, true dedication to fulfilling mission objective, but also a trustworthy teamplayer. Someone who knows how to rely on his comrades and lets them rely on him.
And it was during one lunch break that Chris made a comment.
That Kaidan guy. We’re lucky to have him.
Kaidan was with the Special Operations Units. Unlike her and Chris, who were agents operating mostly solo or in pairs. But Chris told her about his latest op, where an SOU had to intervene and back him up, and Kaidan was part of it.
In Jill’s book, anyone who saves her friend’s life is someone worth her utmost respect. That day, in passing, she stopped Kaidan in the hallway when their paths crossed, and told him, “I heard what you did out there. Thank you for saving Chris. And bringing him back in one piece.”
And Kaidan is… one of the most humble men she’s ever met in her life. It’s not everyday you meet someone who is as skilled and capable but still manages to downplay his strength and not get too cocky about it. And that… it draws her in.
So she decided to read his file, and while most of it was full of impressive achievements, there was something that felt… missing. Or off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Kaidan was supposedly honorably discharged from the military, but nothing on his file suggested a solid reason for that. Why not keep someone like him in the force?
And that was when Jill did some digging—she always loved herself a little detective work. But what she found out wasn’t at all what she expected. Not that she knew what to expect—perhaps a dispute with a commanding officer, or disobeying orders, or something like that. But what she learned was far, far more complicated.
Jill kept it to herself. She didn’t tell anyone what she found out, except Kaidan. It wasn’t to scold him for lying, or blackmail him or threaten him or anything like that. She was too impressed by what she’s seen of him and what she heard. It was really just to understand. To hear his reasoning, and make sure that he was still capable of operating without any danger to his life.
And it isn’t up until this moment, that Jill is no longer sure.
Still, she sits there with him, hoping her presence provides him with even a sliver of comfort. Hoping being here with him makes his pain just a touch more bearable. She gives him her hand when he seeks it, keeping the other one in his hair, stroking gently.
“Don’t apologize,” she says. “I signed up for this. For you. And I want to see all of you. The good and the bad.” And she wants to be there for him, during the ups and the downs. She doesn’t want him to hide anything from her, especially not a part of himself like this one.