A/N: This idea has been bouncing around my head for a while. There will definitely be more chapters (I'm not sure how many at the moment), but I wanted to post this up and see if there's any interest for this sort of story.


This Now Is Yours

The information floored Shepard. She stared dumbfounded at Doctor Chakwas.

"Do the test again," she commanded not looking at the doctor.

Doctor Chakwas released a long suffering sigh, but she put a comforting hand on the younger woman's shoulder waiting for the worried eyes to meet hers before speaking, "We have run the test twice already, Commander. There was no mistake."

"There must be," the frantic tone lacing the words was one the doctor had never heard before from the taciturn superior. Shepard dropped her head into her hands; hands that gripped her head in desperation. "I mean I haven't even looked, much less touched anyone but Liara in the past five years," Shepard tried to find an explanation to her predicament, "and before that I hadn't been with anyone for a long while." Confused eyes turned up to pierce the doctor with a miserable gaze, "How is this possible?"

Unable to contain the mad energy filling her, Shepard stood to pace. The confined space of the Medical Bay afforded her little room to vent her frustration but she made up for the limited space by doubling her speed. Doctor Chakwas sat and watched in amazement as the woman who stood unflinchingly against the threat of annihilation of all advanced sentient life in the galaxy had a mild meltdown at the news of an impending child. "Oh god," Shepard's hands swept roughly through her hair, "what am I going to do?" Hands normally reserved for handling weapons gestured frantically through the air. Shepard paced, each step emphasizing her increasingly frantic questions. "What am I supposed to tell everyone? How do I explain this?" She stopped dead, her face paling as if she considered something that heretofore had escaped her mind, "What am I going to tell Liara?"

She looked at the doctor in abject horror. If anyone else had stood before the Commander, Karin knew the soldier would not have uttered a word past requesting a reexamination. But, they were more than superior and subordinate. They were friends. Close friends. Karin had stood steadfastly by Shepard through Saren and Sovereign, the Collectors and Cerberus, the Reapers and galactic annihilation. She knew Shepard had a handful of people she trusted with her emotions; and she was honored to be one of the few. Seeing the woman who felt like a daughter in such turmoil touched her, the doctor's heart went out to this woman whom she respected deeply and held a great affection toward. "The truth would perhaps be the best course of action," the doctor said very gently.

Shepard laughed mirthlessly, the hollow sound bouncing off the metal walls and reverberating back to her ears in mockery. "What is the truth?" Hands swept roughly through her hair. "I have questions but no answers," her voice cracked, "What am I supposed to tell Liara?" Shepard reiterated desperately. "Hey, babe, guess what? I'm pregnant. No, I haven't slept with anyone but you. I know it's perfectly impossible, since I'm in a monogamous relationship with an asari, but shit happens right." She looked at the doctor, her teeth gritted fighting the sudden onset of tears. Shepard closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath, "I hate being so damned emotional."

"It does come with the territory," the doctor blandly injected.

The soldier moved to take the seat across from the doctor, she sat heavily. Resting her elbows on her knees and letting her hands hang between her legs she stared at the floor letting silence reign for a minute. The doctor waited, knowing the woman would speak when she was ready. "I never expected this," Shepard heaved wearily.

"Children?" Doctor Chakwas probed.

"No," the Commnader shook her head, "I want children. We want children. But Liara isn't quite ready yet. Hell, I'm not ready yet." At the doctor's nod, she continued, "You realize we have only known each other five years. God, it seems like a lifetime but it's only been five years," Shepard stared at her hands, "And, if I count only the time we have actually been together, it's only been a little over a year. How is our relationship going to bear the strain of this, Karin?"

"Have you considered that you may be pregnant with Liara's child?" The doctor reached out and enveloped Shepard's closest hand with her own, offering what support she could. "It is more plausible than immaculate conception, Shepard."

"It is," the Commander agreed, looking up to meet the doctor's kind eyes, "but, I'm more worried that it is something," she licked her lips nervously, "more sinister."

"How so?" Trepidation gripped Doctor Chakwas.

"Cerberus," Shepard's voice was flat, "or the Reapers." She unconsciously tightened her grip on the hand in hers, "Cerberus could have done something, planted something, in me when they put me back together. Or, the Reapers could have done something while I was on the Crucible. There is time I cannot account for in both scenarios. And, that is what really terrifies me." Her eyes skidded away from the doctor's. "I don't think I can bring something like that into the world, Karin," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Doctor Chakwas inhaled sharply, but said nothing for a moment. "Genetics aren't the only defining factor in a child's life, Shepard," she finally spoke, her tone even, measured to lay out the facts, "upbringing and environment matter a great deal. You found out about this only moments ago. Take time to think about what you really want to do. Don't make any rash decisions," she waited for the soldier's eyes to turn back to hers, "I suggest before you decide anything, have a paternity test done. If it is Liara's child, I'm sure this will be a cause for celebration."

Shepard nodded slowly. "You have mine and Liara's DNA on file," she squeezed the hand in hers one final time before releasing it, "take what you need from me and then do the test." She made her way to the examination table. Laying down, she stared sightlessly at the gray ceiling, "Don't send these results to Alliance Command, Doctor. And don't leave any traceable data on the extranet or any private lines. This needs to be kept secret for the time being. I wouldn't want the Shadow Broker, or anybody else, getting a hold of this information."

"You're not going to tell Liara?" The doctor tried to hide her surprise.

Shepard could not meet the shocked eyes above her, "Not yet."

Expelling a sigh, the doctor rubbed her forehead. "To do as you ask, I'm going to have to do everything myself and in the most rudimentary way," she informed the Commander, "that means instead of hours, we are looking at days for the results." Shepard nodded, closing her eyes as the doctor got down to business.

Pulling the gloves off after the relatively quick procedure Doctor Chakwas tossed them in the biohazard waste. She waited for the Commander to dress. "Shepard," she caught the soldier's attention before she left the Med Bay, "after you see the results, if you do decide you don't want the child, I will do the procedure."

"Thank you, Karin," relief filled Shepard's voice.

"Commander," the voice stopped Shepard but she did not turn, "this is not something you should keep from Liara."

"I'll keep that under advisement, Doctor," she said stepping through the now open door. Not looking around, the Commander headed directly for the elevator. She had told Liara she would stop by her office after she met with Doctor Chakwas, but she could not bring herself to face her lover at the moment. She knew the asari would see right through her. She needed time to think, to put her thoughts together, to figure out what to say.

"EDI," she spoke to the woman staring at the mural of names in front of the elevator, "ride with me." The AI joined her without a word. "How much did you hear?" Shepard asked without preamble once the elevator closed.

"Everything," EDI concisely answered, aware of the need for brevity and directness.

"You will assist Doctor Chakwas and verify her results are accurate," Shepard instructed, "keep everything clear of the extranet and do not share the information with anyone."

"I will do all I can to help," EDI replied, not knowing how else to comfort the obviously upset woman. "Shepard," she wanted to ease some of the weariness that pressed on the Commander's shoulders, but she was not practiced in the skill and she was only newly aware of the desire to ease others burdens. Somehow, when the Commander looked at her she understood and nodded even as EDI reiterated, "I will do all I can."

Exiting at the CIC, Shepard immediately began giving orders, "Traynor, find and request Miranda Lawson's presence on board the Normandy. I need her on an urgent matter regarding Cerberus. Use your most sophisticated encryption code when sending the message."

"Anything else, Commander," the scientist did not even bat an eye.

"Also, request Admiral Shepard's presence at our next destination, which we will forward once we have reached it," she further instructed.

"Aye, aye, ma'am ," Traynor was already typing the messages.

Shepard walked to the bridge wearily. She stood a moment staring out at the passing stars.

"Did you come up here for something specific, or just to be broody and creepy behind me," Joker shot at her without even turning.

"Send word to Admiral Hackett that we will be delayed," Shepard finally spoke, "and set a course for the nearest habitable planet. Forward the coordinates to the Orizaba and inform me when we land."

"Playing hooky, I like it," Joker turned to see Shepard already walking away. "Uh, okay," he said to no one in particular. He watched as the woman walked away, and he intuitively knew something was not right. Turning he moved his hand and hesitated a moment above a button as he considered whether he should or should not interfere with whatever was going on with Shepard. Making the decision, he pushed the button. "Liara," he said in a serious tone that immediately caught the asari's attention, "I think you need to check on Shepard."

TBC