Choices

AN: So after successfully completing 'Call me Maggie' I had a couple of my readers challenging me to write an alternate ending fic where Maggie survives the crap on Omega and somehow gets reunited with Garrus later on, thus, integrating her with the main game plotline and characters. (Apparently Maggie is just that cool of an OC ^^ - Thanks guys I'm flattered!) I admit, I like Maggie too much to not try this challenge. ^^

I like to try and make my fics as stand alone as possible but I think with this one it would probably be a good idea to read 'Call me Maggie' before reading this fic as I'm basically continuing that story onwards as if the last chapter never happened.

It's also my plan to use this fic as a sort of prequel for a Thane X Shepard story I have brewing in my head that will include Maggie as a side character, so… watch this space. ^^

(Previously in Call me Maggie.)

Morning was actually slightly awkward. Not in my waking up with Garrus wrapped around me… I'd done that before. But in facing his gang at breakfast.

It seemed odd to me, but apparently none of them had cottoned on with any certainty that he and I had slept together… until my screaming the night before. Melenis just smiled a lot and when I questioned her said she'd simply thought we were getting on… that after the effort I put into avoiding Sidonis, she was sure it was all Turians I didn't find attractive and had told the others as much. Ultimately though she said she was 'pleased for us'.

The others just gave me odd looks ranging from admiring, envious and cocky to irritated, distrusting and downright livid on Sidonis. His sour mood wasn't helped by Krul's harsh mocking that Archangel had won his woman for being a stronger male.

I tried to ignore the foul looks Sidonis was giving me, even when he approached me in the kitchen on the pretence of getting another drink.

"You said you weren't sleeping together." He mumbled under his breath so the others couldn't hear.

"When you asked… we weren't. Things changed."

"How long?" He asked glaring at his turian equivalent of tea.

"Excuse me?"

"How long have you been fucking!"

"None of your business!" I snapped back.

"Does he have to pay you too? Doesn't seem his style."

"Fuck off Sidonis this is none of your business." I warned, turning to move away.

He grabbed my upper arm to stop me from going anywhere. "So you won't fuck me without pay but you'll do my boss? Why? Doesn't seem your style to me! Is someone paying you to get close to him?"

I wrenched my arm from his grip. "Who I choose to get close to is none of your goddamn business!"

"Maggie!" He wasn't letting this go. I grabbed his drink and slammed it into the counter before grabbing the front of his cowl and pulling him down so I could glare at him with all the venom I could muster.

"You really wanna know the truth Sid… why him and not you? He's got a brain and a spine… he treats me like an equal, see's me as an equal and he never ever questions what I choose to tell him and what I choose to keep secret. That's why Sid! He's twice the Turian you are and that's why he's in charge and your just a little lackey following him around and hoping that I might love you instead of him! Well bad luck buddy!"

"You love him?" I hadn't realised what exactly it was that I'd said until he asked me that… his face cold and impassive, his eyes darker and more closed off than I'd ever seen in him. It was almost frightening.

I pushed against his cowl violently. "If I did… it wouldn't be your business."

"You do… don't you. You love him."

"Shut up!"

"What… can't even admit it to yourself but you can use it against me? Who's the coward now."

"You have no idea what you're dealing with Sid." I snarled.

"No… I think for the first time I do see you clearly. You are so fucked up… you're not even worth trying to put back together! I thought you were strong… but you're not… your scared!"

My fist flew at his face before I knew I'd moved. I got him across the jaw. "Go to the citadel by yourself… I hope you rot there."

I shoved passed him and out the main doors, determined to get as far away from him as possible.

I didn't go back all day. I was angry at Sid for his words, for his nerve… but I was also angry with Archangel… with Garrus, for making me love him. I did. I couldn't pretend any different anymore and it was tearing through me like a rabid beast, poisoning me. Or maybe that was the alcohol, I'd heard one of the Omega barmen liked to poison humans. I was beyond caring.

I tipped back the last of my drink and ordered another, the Baterian staring at me like I'd sprouted two heads. So he was poisoning me. I drew out my pistol and shot him square in the chest.

"No tips for you buddy." I said to myself as I slammed my gun on the bar and waved another bartender over.

The Salerian looked over the corpse with absolute terror… but served me my drink anyway. Clever man.

"Wow… you must be having a shit of a day." The handsome Turian sidled up next to me.

"Not interested fuck off." I downed my new drink and waved for another.

"Come on…" he protested. "There's better ways to work off stress than alcohol." He ran his hand over my hair, brushing it over my shoulder so he could move closer to my neck… it was a turian thing. I thought maybe it was the alcahol… or the poison, but he froze for a second when he saw my neck. I took the opportunity, grabbing his arm and slamming him down against the bar. "I said 'Not interested… fuck off'. You got a problem with your audio receptors!"

"I'm sorry!" He protested, squirming under my grasp. "I didn't see your mark… your taken I get it."

I raised my eyebrows, but kept him in place. "What the fuck are you blabbering about!"

"Your mark… it's Turian right?" He seemed confused. "On the back of your neck. You've been bitten. It's how we mark our territory."

A wave of rage washed over me and I slammed his head against the bar, knocking him out cold and letting him slump to the ground.

"Maggie…" Grizz came up behind me, his gun drawn as always. "Aria says to drink without killing the other patrons, or fuck off."

"Aria can go fuck herself. Her booze is hardly worth paying for." I downed my last drink and glared at him as I slid off my stool and stormed towards the lower exit.

I got into the back allies in time to empty my stomach into the gutter. Yeah, I'd definitely been poisoned. I retched till there was nothing left to throw up then tried to stand to make my way home. My vision was blurred and I felt a fever coming over me. Shit. I blacked out.

When I woke I regretted it. I moaned into the pillows under my face and felt sick all over again.

"Into the bucket please." a plastic container was pushed into my hands and I vomited a mixture of clear fluid and blood into it. "Here, I got this from that Salerian doctor down in the residential wing." A couple of pills were offered to me in a turian hand.

I sniffed a little. It was the wrong smell… it wasn't Garrus… or Sid… or any Turian I knew intimately.

"What are you after?" I croaked out.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit. Everyone wants something."

"I work for Aria. I think she'd be pissed if you died on her."

I pulled my head away from my bucket and looked up at the Turian standing over the bed. I recognised him.

"Gavorn right?"

He nodded. "You want these or what?" He waved the pills under my nose again. I took them.

"Thanks." I knew of Gavorn. He had a reputation of being good at his job… but if he wasn't so good with his gun he'd have been one of those 'good people' that Omega swallowed. How he ended up in this shithole I have no idea, he seemed a perfect Turian Captain from what I'd heard, but I figured his lack of paint might have had something to do with it.

Very carefully I sat up and took the pills with the glass of water he offered. "I suppose you want me to fuck you or something now." I grumbled.

He laughed. "Hell no. First, you're really not my type… you know… being female and everything. Second… you're marked and I'd be an idiot to get my scent on a marked woman."

I glared up at him. "Won't your scent already be on me? Since I'm in your bed?"

He shook his head. "Not strong enough."

"Whatever. Well, what do you want then?"

"Not interested in repayment. I already told you that."

"I still don't believe you."

He smiled a little and sat on the end of the bed. "You work for Archangel right?"

"Thought you said I worked for Aria." I offered, raising an eyebrow.

He laughed again. "Yeah, but Archangel is where your loyalty lies." He raised his hands defensively as I opened my mouth to say something vicious. "I'm not criticising. My other half is in his gang."

"Why aren't you then?"

"I'm more useful out here. I think Aria might just have me killed if she thought I was loyal to archangel. She's getting wary of him y'know."

"Who's your other half?" I asked, curious.

Gavorn smiled and leaned on his knee's "Human kid. Monty."

I snorted. "Figures." I glanced up at the clock on the beside table and swore. "Is that clock right!"

He nodded. "Yeah. You've been out for a while."

I pushed the sheets off and got out of bed. "Well… thanks. I owe you one I guess."

He nodded once and watched me pull my boots on. "You're welcome. Tell Monty I'll see him tomorrow… if he's not busy."

(And now the alternate ending)

I thought about just going back to base, to confront Archangel on the apparent claim he'd made on me. Hell, I was about ready to rip him to shreds… how dare he! What a presumptuous git! Then I thought about Sidonis and our parting argument. He was due to leave within the hour and I might never see him again.

I'd tried… oh gods how I'd tried… to stay objective when it came to Archangel and his gang. I tried to be detached and cold, but it hadn't worked. They'd taken me in, treated me like I was one of them. Sidonis was a pain… but I counted him a friend. I didn't want him to leave angry with me.

Archangel could wait. I finally decided, I could deal with him later. Sidonis wasn't going to be here later to deal with. So I turned and headed for the transport station.

Finding him wasn't hard, not after he'd given me the details of his flight the day before. He was stood in the corner, as far away from the crowds as he could, bag slung over his back, face turned up to the information boards as he tried to locate details about his transport.

"Sid?" I tried to keep my voice soft and unthreatening as I approached him.

His head snapped to face me, shock in his eyes. I'd made him jump. "Maggie!" He spluttered. "I thought… I…"

"Yeah… look, Sid, I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't mean what I said." I paused to sigh, my eyes darting away then back again. "I will miss you."

He just stared at me a long moment, then, finally he seemed to come back to himself, shifting a little under the weight of his bag. "It's ok." he said "I was pretty wound up. I'm sorry too."

Honestly, I was pretty surprised he'd apologized so quickly, but then I figured, we didn't have the luxury of time right now.

I stepped closed to him and nudged his bag. "You all set in there? Ready for your new life on the citadel?"

His mandibles flared in a turian smile. "Yeah… still a bit nervous though…" He paused a long minute, hesitant. "You know… you could still come with me…I already got your ticket before our um… disagreement." As he spoke he produced said ticket from one of his pockets.

It was my turn to be silent for a moment, my brain and my heart warring with one another. On one hand, the idea of seeing the citadel and ensuring that Sidonis was going to be ok in his new home was very tempting. On the other hand… I didn't want to leave Omega… no scrap that. I didn't want to leave Garrus.

As if he'd read my mind Sidonis added. "I'm sure the boss can handle a couple of days without you. The citadel really is worth seeing. You might not get another chance."

He had a good point. "Alright. Sure… why not?" I punched his arm friendly. "Besides, you'll probably get beaten up on your first day otherwise."

He laughed a little and handed me the ticket. "Probably. Come on… we're at gate five."

Together we made our way through the crowd. I had to admit, I was excited… even nervous about the idea of the trip. I wasn't worried about how 'last minute' the decision had been, hell, most of my choices were last minute things, it was just my style. I wasn't even worried that I didn't have any of my clothes or possessions with me. I could get what I needed on the citadel I was sure. No, I was nervous about the idea of going somewhere I'd never been before. It wasn't really in my nature to go exploring when I didn't need too… but there was a kind of appeal in getting away from Omega for a little while, to really think about things without Archangels constant prescience distracting me. Heck, it might even be fun.

We boarded the flight together, Sidonis stowing his bag under his seat before sliding in next to me and checking the time on his omnitool. He fidgeted a little before taking off, his talons twisting together and his legs jiggling against mine. "Jeez take a chill pill." I complained as he accidentally stepped on my foot.

"Sorry…" he murmured as he checked his tool again. "I just, haven't travelled in a while."

Apparently that nervousness wasn't easily cured. He continued to shift and check the time all through the flight. I tried to reign in my temper. Wasn't his fault he was a coward I supposed. Instead I turned away from him to rest my head on the little window frame and watch the stars pass us. I was still feeling rough from my encounter with afterlife's poison earlier and it didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep.

Sidonis woke me several hours later as we pulled into the citadel docks. "Hey… we made it!" he said with a bright turian smile. "We fucking made it!" His nerves had turned to ecstatic joy as he pointed out at the citadel through the window, labelling each arm and describing the destiny ascension in deep detail to me. Apparently he had a great uncle somewhere that had mated with one of the Asari commanders inside. That subject tired out as we disembarked and he began telling me instead about the presidium and how he and his father had taken trips up there when he was a boy, then about his home in the upper wards.

"Gods damn it Sid put a sock in it!" I groaned, finally unable to take anymore of his babbling.

"Sorry." He mumbled again. "I just… I can't believe I'm home!"

He lead me with confidence through the arrival docks then into the wards. He'd booked a room in a local hotel but took the time to show me around the local sights first.

"I grew up round here." He told me as we wondered through the Zekera Markets. "I'd love to get a place here again, but I imagine I'll have to start in the lower wards."

"Are they much different?" I asked, my eyes moving from one shop to another, taken in by the bright lighting and the cultured people that walked passed. Cultured people, who wore nice clothes and shopped casually, not like they were spending their last credit. The citadel was beautiful. It was clean, in good repair… and it didn't reek of piss and death.

C-sec caught my particular attention, seeing the guards in uniform from all different races, protecting the peace and breaking up fights. The dark navy blue made me think of Archangel and I remembered how he'd told me he used to be an officer. I could see how he would take to that job… but I could also see why it would piss him off. He was too determined… to wild to be bound by protocols and regulations. Plus, I would bet all I had that the paperwork was a bitch.

"Not a great deal." Sidonis said, answering my question. "Just a bit less flashy down there, bit more crime and so on."

"Sounds like my kind of place." I murmured as a Salerian bumped into me. "This place is a bit to… sparkly for me."

Sidonis chuckled. "It's not exactly Omega huh."

"No." I frowned a little. "It's really not." I was enamoured with the citadel. Like I said, it was beautiful, but I definitely felt massively out of place, like dirt on a diamond.

Sidonis bought his arm up and around my shoulders protectively. Ordinarily I'd have slapped him away, but honestly, I was grateful for the support. We started getting odd looks though, the kind you wouldn't get on Omega. It might be a shithole, but on Omega everyone was in the same boat and no one looked twice at interspecies couples… hell, it was were most people went to indulge their darkest fantasies, interspecies relations just weren't an issue. On the citadel its seemed, it was another story.

"Maybe we should find a hotel." Sidonis murmured after getting a particularly venomous glare from an older looking turian.

I nodded and let him lead me onwards to a seedy looking place opposite some bar called 'Chora's Den'.

We booked out a room and… surprise surprise, they only had a double bed left. Figures. We took it anyway, not willing to walk too much further. Sidonis was tired from his trip and I was feeling overwhelmed and out of place.

Sidonis dumped his bag on top of a dresser just inside the room and sat on the edge of the small double bed to pull his boots off.

I excused myself to the bathroom and found it ridiculously clean and in perfect repair. Even the shitty places on the citadel were nicer than Omega.

I stood over the sink and washed my face off with cool water before staring at myself in the crystal clear mirror. For the first time in my life I doubted my decision. I was already missing Garrus and his gang… maybe coming to the citadel was a bad idea after all. I wished archangel were with me… I wished I could feel him hold me. I'd never felt safer than when I was in his arms.

I shook my head at myself. I was being pathetic. Less than twenty four hours apart… and I was already missing the bastard.

I left the bathroom and returned to find Sidonis laying face down on the bed… snoring. Charming.

AN: Well, that's chapter one! Hope you like. Now… I don't like to nag or anything… but I do like feedback. ^^