"Shepard, wake up". That's what she told herself.

What kind of hero was she? The Geth, wiped out. Her crew, she didn't know. Yeah, that sounded like a hero all right.

No one would remember the real heroes. Who would sing tales of the soldier who died fighting the Reapers? Where was the biography for the mother who stayed behind so her daughter could have a seat on the escape shuttle? How much longer until things went back to normal?

Shepard didn't know. Shepard was a symbol. They kept on forgetting that even a Spectre could bleed.

What would happen now?

Shepard didn't know.

Maybe Liara left her a call or something?

She should probably check as soon as she was released. Alas Shepard would also have to deal with the council giving her medals and she would have to give a speech. Then Hackett would agree to buy her a beer. Then Liara would yell at her.

That's what would happen and that's what did happen. Shepard listened to her message, made a speech about how she wasn't a real hero, and then Hackett snuck her out of there to buy her a beer. It all went off without a hitch, or at least with less collateral damage then Shepard was used to. Then Liara came into the equation.

Shepard remembered getting hit by a banshee at close range. This was much worse. Banshees don't scream at you because they love you. They don't remind you about how they'd feel if you had died. Shepard would do ANYTHING to get out of this right now.

Hacket needed a new maid? Well then sign her right up.

Wrex needed some one to teach him Yoga, Shepherds afternoon was completely clear.

An Elcor performance of The Room was being held in her honor, okay maybe Liara wasn't so bad after all.

"With exasperated bereavement: You're tearing me apart, Lisa!"

Yeah, Shepard was just going to stay here, right next to the bed, and listen to Liara express just how worried she was. Of course it's always darkest before the dawn. Let's just say there is a very good reason why the commander didn't mind having these one sided battles by the bed.

Commander Shepard, being the tactical genius that she was, held the line until they came to that critical moment in the "conversation".

"Jane, I love you"

Shepard responded in kind and started a mental countdown in her head. 5, 4, 3, 2, . . .

Well, the next part isn't rather appropriate, but lets just say that Houston had no problems.