Sacrifice

Shepard felt as the docking clamps released their grip on the Normandy giving the ship a slight shutter, Shepard watched as the unforgiving blizzard raged on outside pummeling the Normandy's hull as the ship quickly ascended into the atmosphere.

"Where to Commander?" Joker said hesitantly almost afraid to break Shepard's trance.

"Just get us away from this god forsaken planet," Shepard said as he headed back to the CIC.

Shepard was furious, he kept replaying the scene over and over could he have saved Benezia? Could he have taken her in somehow? It wasn't fair, Liara didn't deserve this and he was going to make someone pay for it, Saren, the Geth, the Reapers it didn't matter to him. Someone was going to pay for this. Shepard headed down to Liara's quarters in the back of the med bay. He paused before pushing the intercom, what was he going to say what could he say? He pushed his finger against the panel anyway.

"L-Liara, do you have a minute?" Shepard said nervously

"Yes, come in Shepard," Liara said trying to keep her composure.

Shepard opened the doors to the room and walked in slowly, Liara was sitting at her desk he could see the emotion on her face.

"Liara… I- "

"Shepard it wasn't your fault," Liara shot back to Shepard.

"No Liara, I could've done something different. I could've talked her down or taken her alive somehow," Shepard said.

"You know that isn't true Shepard you can't save everyone, you're just one man!" Liara said as she stood up.

Shepard walked closer to her and her eyes started to water he knew right now she needed him. At that point it didn't matter who did it, her mother was dead and she needed him to be there for him. Shepard wrapped his arms around Liara as she began sobbing into his chest.

"I'm here for you" he whispered into her ears as she continued to sob at the loss of her mother one of the only people she'd ever cared about up until a few weeks ago.

Suddenly the intercom buzzed to life, "Commander the council is waiting for a report on Noveria"

Reluctantly releasing his grip on Liara, "Alright, give me a few minutes Joker."

"Aye aye Commander," Joker said as the line closed abruptly.

"You'd better not keep the council waiting Shepard," Liara said as she started walking back to her desk.

"Wait," Shepard said as he grabbed her arm, "I'm here for you if you need to talk I'll always be there for you Liara," Shepard said sincerely as he wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Thank you Shepard… I just need some time," she said as she returned to her desk.