Hey guys! Remember that Mass Effect story I said I was working on months ago? Well, I finally started actually writing it! Also, for anyone wondering, I am still working on Love Across The Wastes. I know I kind of left it on a sad note with Benny and Dinah, but I promise more will come for that story.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy what has become my baby. I've had the idea for this in my head for a very long time and I'm really excited about it. I will be taking a lot of liberties with the original plot of Mass Effect and histories of the characters so be prepared for that.

December 17th, 2186

Alliance Medical Facility

London, England, Earth

The endless beep of the heart monitor became a recurring comfort. She was alive. Somehow, after everything she had gone through, she had survived.

After the Crucible had fired and the Reapers had been destroyed, a search party had been sent to look for the lost Commander Shepard. It was Wrex that found her, mangled and barely breathing.

A month had gone by since she had been found, and she had yet to wake up. Members of her crew that had been on Earth for the battle had all come to the facility, ready to stand vigil until she opened her eyes. All that was missing was the Normandy and her crew.

Miranda had received word from the Normandy. Repairs had taken longer than anticipated with EDI's deactivation, but with all of the tech experts on board, it wasn't hard to get the ship up and running. Joker estimated their arrival to Earth to be around two weeks. Two weeks too long, in his opinion.

He pushed the Normandy to her limits to get back to his Commander. His Jane. The woman who had been his best friend for almost thirty years. But now...now she was so much more than that. She was his. He was hers. The way it should have always been. He had lost her once before, and he refused to lose her again.

Two weeks took their toll on Joker's patience, but finally he was docked in London. The crew filed out with sighs of relief to finally be back on solid ground. Joker, along with the rest of Shepard's crew, quickly got into the waiting transports that would take them to the hospital, to their Commander.

Joker was the first to burst through the doors of the hospital. He made his way as quickly as his legs would allow to the area Shepard was being held in. Before he could get one foot into her room, Miranda stopped him.

"Moreau, wait. She's in rough shape. You might not be able to stomach it," Miranda said, a pleading note in her voice.

"I've waited long enough. She's still Jane. That's not ever going to change. Now, let me in, Miranda."

She shook her head, but understood his desire to see Shepard. Miranda moved to the side and allowed Joker to pass.

Miranda wasn't kidding. Jane was battered, bruised, and had bandages on her face, her legs, her arms, everywhere. The skin he could see was pale and ghostly. His heart broke for her. Joker slowly made his way into the room and sat down in the waiting chair at her bedside. He took her frail hand into his own and held it tightly.

She was alive. He didn't lose her again.

"Jane...you'll be okay. I'm here...I won't leave you. Never again. I promise. Just please...wake up...please," Joker murmured into the quiet of the room.

The heart monitor beeped. The slow rise and fall of Jane's chest continued. Joker began his vigil. He wouldn't be leaving her side, not until she opened her eyes.

Later that night, Miranda returned to check on Shepard's vitals. She entered the room to find Joker sound asleep, his head resting on the bed next to Shepard's arm, his hand still holding onto her's. Miranda knew she shouldn't disturb him - there was no way he was going to leave Shepard again - but his slumped position would kill him in the morning.

Quietly, Miranda shook Joker awake. He opened his eyes and immediately looked to Jane. Seeing that it wasn't her that woke him up, he looked up to see Miranda staring down at him.

"You'll hurt your back if you sleep like that," she stated matter-of-factly.

"I don't care. I'm not sleeping anywhere else," Joker gruffly replied, sitting upright and immediately regretting it when his spine popped.

"I didn't say you had to. I can get a cot brought it for you, if you'd like."

Joker considered her offer and nodded in agreement. He had to admit, she was right. Miranda opened her omni-tool and messaged whoever she had to to make arrangements for him. Joker sat back in his chair as she began to look over Shepard, worry creasing her brow.

"She's going to be okay, you know," he murmured.

Miranda looked at him suddenly. His eyes were filled with determination. He was so sure that Shepard would recover, that she would come back to him. Perhaps he was right. According to her scans, Shepard was improving. All of her vitals checked out. Now, they just needed to wait for her bones and skin to heal. Soon the bandages could come off. Soon she could open her eyes.

Miranda walked over to Joker and lay a hand on his shoulder, an awkward gesture coming from her, but comforting nonetheless.

"I know she will. In the meantime, you can't forget to take care of yourself. The cot will be here soon, so don't fall back asleep. I'll be back later."

And with that, she left. The cot arrived a few minutes later and Joker had it placed close to Shepard. He crawled in and faced her, reaching between the cots to hold her hand once again. After that, he fell asleep rather quickly, and dreamt of nothing but Shepard opening her eyes again.

He needed to see her big green eyes again. He missed seeing them light up whenever she laughed. God, he missed that too. Her adorable laugh that always seemed to end up with her snorting at some point.

Joker needed her to wake up soon. He didn't know how much longer he could stand it. There was a lot of catching up they had to do, and a whole future left for them to dive into.

He knew she needed just a little more time to recover, and he would give her all the time in the galaxy, despite how much it pained him.

He'd wait for her forever if he had to, just as long as he was always by her side.

Alright so there's the prologue! Next chapter will be back at the very beginning of Joker and Shepard's friendship, which is nothing like it is in the game, so again, be prepared for that. Hope you guys like it! Reviews are much appreciated!