Chapter 1

The last he saw of her, she was running towards the blinding white beam that connected to the Citadel. Or at least that is what their intel had said. There was no way they could be certain but it was all they had. It was either take their chances or sit around and wait to die. After this, no one could say that humans were weak. They threw all they had at the beam in an effort to defeat the Reapers.

Garrus stood at the makeshift headquarters near the beam battle field scanning over it. He was not looking for anything in particular but in the back of his mind he was hoping that he might just see Shepard come sauntering across the field. Back to him. Ever since she ran towards the beam leaving him on the loading dock of the Normandy, he prayed that she would come back to him. But it had been two days since their last encounter with no com chatter from her or any of the people currently searching for survivors of the scarred landscape beneath him.

Her last words echoed through his mind making his heart clench. I should have told you sooner, Meara, he thought to himself thinking of his response to her. He wanted to go with her, wanted to fight to the bitter end at her side. But he knew that he was too injured to do so.

The Mako flipped directly in front of them, dislocating his hip and sending a piece of shrapnel through his armor and into his side. Shepard half ran half carried him to the Normandy with James following. Each step jostled him sending fresh waves of pain throughout his body. But that pain did not compare to when she handed him off to James and ordering him to leave. Watching her race away from him was soul crushing.

The Normandy dropped all the injured personal it had picked up at a field hospital and soon she too raced back off to combat. The doctors swarmed over James and him, removing their armor and assessing the damage. Thankfully his suit's medi-gel release staunched the bleeding in his side. His hip however was badly dislocated. Knowing how strong turians could be, the doctors had to have James help hold Garrus down while they slipped the joint back into place. Manipulating it back caused him to roar in pain before the black came up and embraced him.

When he awoke, the first thing he noticed was the quiet. There was no gunshots echoing off the building, shouts or battle crys, even the maddening droning from the Reapers were gone. He had struggled to sit up only to be pushed back down by one of the doctors saying he needed to rest. He argued back that he was needed at the front and that he had to go back. When the doctor said that the battle was over and the Reapers were dead, Garrus refused to believe her.

"She's telling you the truth, Scars." James had said from next to him. He was on the cot to his right wincing as one of the other doctors stitched a laceration on his forehead. "Right after you passed out, this red wave just washed over everything. A few of the med machines flickered on and off a few times and that was it. That is until we all noticed the quiet. A couple of us who could still fight went out to check everything and that's when we saw the Reapers just collapsing dead. She did it Scars. Shepard did it!"

"She did? Oh, thank the spirits," he closed his eyes and offered up a prayer to them before Shepard came to the forefront of his mind again. "Where is she? Where's Meara? Has anyone seen her? Is she... argh!" Garrus had tired to sit up in his questioning but collapsed down again when pain blossomed through his hip and side. The doctors eased him down again and this time he let them.

"We're not sure," James said quietly. "There hasn't been any transmissions from her since just after she threw us on the Normandy. There's already squads out there looking for any survivors so I'm sure they'll find her." James tired to sound hopeful but he could keep the concerned and worried look from his face.

Garrus just stared at the ceiling, his jaw tight and subharmonics humming quietly. "Yeah, Jimmy. I'm sure they'll find her."

That was two days ago, and Shepard had yet to be found. Many had believed that she was gone again. Garrus refused to believe the whispers though. Instead he did everything in his power to convince the doctors to release him so he could go out and search for her himself. When they relented, he immediately marched to the temporary headquarters to see what he could do to help. When he walked into the main room, he saw Admiral Hackett surrounded by several of the other Alliance officers and Marines, the Primarch and Wrex with several of his clan leaders.

"Sirs." Garrus announced himself. All talking stopped and multiple heads snapped towards him. There were a brief moments of stunned silence before Hackett waved him forward. He walked forward and stood between the Primarch and Wrex. Wrex clapped him on the shoulder and fixed a red eye on him. "Glad you made it kid." he grumbled before returning his attention to the large map on the table if front of them.

"What have they been discussing?" Garrus quietly murmured to Wrex as the others began talking amongst themselves.

"Too much talking, not enough doing if you ask me," he growled. "Some want to continue searching for survivors and start on clean up, some want to pull resources and fix the Mass Relays and some want to begin studying what is left of the Reapers. But like I said, its all been talk and nothing else."

"Has anyone found Shepard yet?"

Wrex's lip curled and deeper growl eased out. "No. But then again, no one is actively searching for her. They said they need to focus on more important things than searching for one woman who very well might be dead. Idiot pyjaks."

"What?" Garrus could feel his own anger beginning to rise. How can they not look for her. If it was not for her, none of them would have lived to see that day and they were doing nothing? Garrus could not stand by another moment being the good turian.

"Sirs," he barked which coupled with the deeper subharmonics caught everyone's attention instantly. Some of the human admirals looked as though they were about to reprimand him, but held their tongues when Hackett held up his hand. "I am requesting a shuttle, a pilot and a few men to search for Commander Meara Shepard."

"She's probably dead," One foolish human spoke up clearly tired of hearing her name again. "We need to focus on more pressing matters."

"She is the only reason why you are breathing right now," Garrus snarled rounding on the unfortunate human. "I did not abandon her the first time when you did and I am not about to do so again." Wrex nodded and chuckled behind him and stepped up next to him.

"I agree, we abandoned her once. I will not make that same mistake twice," Admiral Hackett said in his usual stoic tone. "Major, you would do best to hold your tongue until you are spoken to." He turned back to Garrus. "While I cannot spare many men at this point in time. I can spare you a shuttle and any two men of your choosing at this time. If you can manage to narrow down the search area, I will try to allocate more resources for you."

"Thank you sir. I would like Lt. James Vega and Pilot Steven Cortez if they are available."

"Request granted. God speed, Vakarian. Bring her home." Hackett saluted which Garrus returned before turning towards the Primarch.

He spoke before Garrus could say anything. "I know, Garrus. You have my leave as well."

"Thank you, sir." Garrus saluted again and turned to walk out. He was already halfway down the hall to leave the building when he heard his name called out. He looked over his shoulder to see Wrex ambling towards him

"Those pyjaks will talk all night and not come to a solution and I'm not about to let you go off on this by yourself. Shepard is an honorary krogan. I will help you find her." he said as he extended his arm. Garrus clasped his hand to his forearm and Wrex did it to him.

"Thank you,"

The pair made their way out to the airfield where the few shuttles that remained intact were grounded. It was easy enough to find Cortez and James. Their shouting could be heard from several rows away. Good, Garrus thought, now I don't have to track him down.

James was holding up one of the propulsion units as Cortez welded something back in place. Garrus knew of a few of James injuries from the run seeing as they were treated together. Cortez on the other hand crash landed when they were first plant side and they had no clue as to his injuries. Surprisingly he had few given his abrupt landing, the worst being a broken leg and some burns along his arms.

"Cortez! Jimmy!" Garrus yelled to be heard over the sparking. James looked up first and grinned before tapping Cortez on the shoulder and pointing behind him. He lifted his welding glasses and followed James finger until he too saw Garrus and Wrex.

"Scars! What are you doing here?" No longer needed to hold the propulsion unit up, James met Garrus with the same handshake that he just shared with Wrex.

"How soon can the two of you be geared up and ready to go?" Garrus questioned looking between the two of them. James and Cortez looked to each other momentarily before turning back towards him.

"I've stowed my gear over here for now, Cortez needs help with his leg broke, so not long. Why?"

Garrus nodded and turned towards Cortez. "Are you good to fly?"

"Yes sir I am."

"Good. Be ready to go in an hour. We'll meet you back here." Garrus and Wrex turned to leave.

"Scars," James called out towards their retreating backs. "You never answered my question!"

"We're getting her back, Jimmy. We're bring Shepard home."