Chapter 2
"Shepard! Shepard, wake up!" Liara shouted as she shook her lover in her sleep.
Currently Shepard was thrashing in bed muttering something that sounded closer to cries of terror than actual words. Liara was terrified and completely unaware of what to do.
"Shepard!" She screamed. Louder this time and apparently loud enough to wake Jane from her nightmare. Shepard's eye snapped open and a biotic pulse surged out of her sending Liara flying across the room. The asari crashed down a good 5 feet from the bed and let out a sharp cry of pain.
"Oh my god Liara! Are you okay!" Shepard cried and shot out of bed forgetting her injured leg making her collapse on to the floor instantly with a painful sounding thud. A massive jolt of pain rocked Jane's leg but Shepard ignored it and crawled to her girlfriend's side. Liara rolled around on the floor clutching her head. "Liara, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Are you hurt?"
Liara's head became less fuzzy as she pieced together what just happened. "I'm okay Shepard. Are you alright?"
"Forget about me. Let me help you." Jane tried to get to her feet sending a second even more powerful wave of pain through her leg that sent her crashing back down on the ground.
It wasn't the pain that made her cry. Liara watched as Shepard buried her face in her hands on the ground and wept. It was only the second time she had seen her cry and the sight of the Commander broken, lying on the ground and crying into her hands was enough to make the asari tear up as well.
"I'm so sorry Liara." Jane whimpered.
Liara got to her feet and lifted her off the ground and laid her back on the bed. "Please stop apologizing to me Shepard. You don't ever need to say you're sorry to me."
"I hurt you."
"I'll live." Liara said as she flopped next to her on the bed. "I'm more worried about you. What were you dreaming about?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Then there was a silence between them that made Liara uneasy before Shepard spoke up again. "I can't stay here anymore."
"In the hotel?"
"On the planet. I have to get off Earth."
"Why?"
"Every time I look outside I should see a reminder of how much the galaxy overcame and what we accomplished together. Instead I only see everyone I've ever lost." Shepard paused and Liara tried to think of the words to comfort her but before she could Jane spoke up again. "The Alliance was my whole life and now I'm no longer fit for duty. I'm not even fit to help my girlfriend off the floor."
"I'm sure once you've recovered the Alliance will reinstate you."
"Liara, the Alliance didn't discharge me. I resigned."
"You...resigned?"
"After everything that happened, I could never go back. And the Alliance has no need for a broken down woman who can't even dress herself. This galaxy has no place for me anymore."
Suddenly Liara felt angry. She hated hearing Shepard sell herself short like this. "Shepard you have a place with me! And I don't care how many nightmares you have or how long it takes you to recover I'm not going anywhere." Jane smiled and draped her arm across the asari and rested her head on her chest. Liara leaned down and kissed her on the top of the head. "You want to leave Earth. Alright we'll leave first thing tomorrow. We'll find somewhere where we can buy a home and finally start living our lives together."
"That sounds perfect. But there's one thing I need to do before we leave."
...
Shepard made a point of walking on her own with the cane as opposed to relying on Liara as the asari usually preferred. The gravel made a loud crunch under her boots as they approached their destination at the top of the hill they had been climbing for what felt like an eternity to Jane.
Shepard stumbled and Liara was quick to catch her but Jane gently batted her away. "I've got it Liara." She insisted.
"Shepard, you don't need to be stubborn. There's no shame in needing help."
"I got it." She repeated. "But thank you." While she didn't really have it under control she couldn't continue relying so heavily on the asari if she wanted to get better. Liara was eager to help her at every turn and while it made Shepard's heart warm it also made her feel farther and farther away from being the way she used to be.
"Very well. Just don't expect me to let you fall on the ground."
Shepard got her balance back and dug the cane into the ground as she continued the climb. Finally they arrived at the headstone and Liara took a look at the name to see who Shepard had dragged them up here to see.
Admiral David Anderson
Humanity's First Councilor
Hero of the Alliance
Savior of Earth
"Didn't seem right to leave without saying goodbye." Shepard said.
"I understand."
Shepard was silent for a while and Liara decided to keep quiet until Shepard broke the silence. "I miss him Liara."
Liara took Shepard's hand in her own. "I know you do love."
"Anderson had been there for me even before the Normandy. He was like a father to me after my own asshole father left."
"I didn't know." Shepard never really talked about her family or much about her life before she met Liara. But the asari had seen a few painful memories during their melds.
"All those years ago after the massacre on Akuze. When I was the only one left. I was slowly bleeding out and I had long since given up any hope of rescue. And then just when I thought it was over in rides Anderson. I had never met him before but he scooped me off the ground and carried me into the Alliance rescue vessel. Before I lost conciseness I remember him saying "It's alright girl. It's over."," With some effort Shepard dropped to knee beside the grave and traced the letters of the Admiral's name on the stone. "After Akuze I was ready to quit the military. I'd even written a little speech to tell my superiors. When I left to go resign I bumped into him again."
...
Arcturus Station 14 years ago
"Shepard isn't it?" Anderson asked as he maintained his straight posture.
"Yes sir." The young Shepard replied.
Anderson offered his hand. "David Anderson."
Jane reached out and shook his outstretched hand. "Nice to formally meet you. I wanted to thank you for saving my life."
"No need. Where you heading soldier?"
"Just stretching my legs" she lied.
"Some of the other officers disagree with me but I see potential in you. Hardly a stretch really. Top of your class at the academy, and you're an N7. Not every soldier passes ICT at your age. I think you have a promising future in the Navy, Shepard."
"Thank you sir. But I'm actually thinking of resigning."
"Resigning?"
"With respect sir, I just saw the squad I was in command of ripped apart in front of my eyes. Most of them were my friends, one of them was more than that. I think your faith in me is misplaced."
"No it isn't. Every soldier faces a moment which pushes them to their limits. Some more than once. You didn't just survive through dumb luck." Anderson patted her on the back. "I actually have some news for you."
"What's that?"
"I've had you assigned to the SSV Tokyo. You're going to be part of my crew."
"I'm not sure what to say." The news of the reassignment under Captain Anderson made Shepard rethink her resignation. Anderson wasn't just the man who saved her life, he was also one of the Alliance's most respected officers. She was humbled that such a senior officer would request her personally. "Thank you sir."
"There's one more thing. You've been promoted. Congratulations Commander Shepard."
...
"Goodbye sir." Shepard whispered to the headstone.
Liara helped her back to her feet. "He was a good man."
"He was." Shepard agreed. "So where were you thinking of taking us? Because I've had enough of this planet."
"You'll just have to find out. Come on, our flight leaves in three hours."
Notes- Finally a new adventure for Liara and Shepard begins! Expect humor, romance, and action (Not to mention references to "Chuck") I'm super excited to write them again in this series but this won't be like my other stories and there will be some issues no doubt so don't be shy with giving me feedback. Updates should be out at least once a week. Oh and for fans of Miranda and Jack I'm happy to announce that a series of two one-shots will be coming about them with one released in between each episode of "Shepard and Liara Versus" until their eventual return in episode 3. In the meantime I need to play some more Mass Effect and watch some more Chuck to prepare.