Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect, and I'm not trying to make money. I just want to put a quick little story that has popped into my head up here for people to (hopefully) enjoy.
It's Very Safe Now
Tali found herself being dragged slowly into consciousness far sooner than she would have wished. Even before she opened her eyes, she knew exactly what the problem which had interrupted her rest was. With a quiet sigh and a gentle whisper she reached forwards.
"John."
She could see him lying in the bed beside her. As usual, he had fallen asleep holding her. Now however, her lover had his back to her as he slept; his body twitching and spasming, his breath coming in frantic short gasps as he muttered, barely coherently, under his breath. "No… please… I can't… god…"
"Shh, John. It's alright. Everything is okay. You're just fine." Tali's gloved hand ran down Shepard's back as she tried to calm him before he became worse.
"I CAN'T BREATHE!" His voice echoed off the walls of the cabin. The first couple of times this had happened after Tali had moved into the captain's quarters, she had been jolted awake by those screams, frantically shouting for EDI to notify Chakwas immediately. By now however, she knew much better. Physically, Shepard was fine. His subconscious however, was again choosing to replay the destruction of the original Normandy in his dreams.
Tali threw her arm over top of Shepard and pulled him tight against her. The restricted mobility seemed to unnerve Shepard further as he began to jerk more steadily, almost as though he were having a seizure. "John, it's okay now, you're fine." Her tone was reassuring, but it failed to penetrate the mind of her love, who continued to thrash within her arms. She held him tight, refusing to let him go. "You're on the Normandy John, there is plenty of oxygen. You can breathe just fine."
"Tali?" She was finally starting to reach him, but it had yet to fully take effect. "Tali! My suit, I can't reach the damage! There's no oxygen in the suit!"
"Shh. It's fine John. I fixed it for you. I'm a quarian John, I can fix anything. Everything is safe. I fixed your suit, and I'm holding you tight, and there's plenty of oxygen. It's safe John, go back to sleep."
At those words, she felt his body relax against her. His hand reached towards her arm which was holding him, and gently moved up until his five fingers intertwined with her three. Smiling Tali closed her eyes and felt herself start to drift back to sleep.
"It's safe now?" Shepard's voice was barely more than a whisper, as he too slid into a calmer dreamless state.
"Yes John, it's very safe now."
"Thanks for saving me Tali." Her mouth twitched further upwards at that statement. How many times had both of them saved the other from things far more dangerous than a nightmare. "Sorry I woke you up Tal. I love you…"
"I love you too John." She wanted to tell him more. That no matter how often he woke her up with his screams, he would never need to apologize. That she would always be there to hold him and let him know everything was okay. That while she wished he could sleep peacefully every single night, she was happy she was there to make everything better when he was plagued by his memories. But instead of saying all those things, Tali felt herself descending back into slumber herself. The words weren't that important. They both knew how the other felt.
Tightening her grip on Shepard, Tali allowed herself to relax for a while longer. They still had another five hours or so before their alarm would wake them for duty.