Vakarian - Meet Me at the Bar

"- Crucible fired an enormous amount of energy -"

"- Mass Relay's are being repaired as we speak and so far we do not know the damage -"

"- nothing more than rubble is what is left of the Crucible and the Citadel -"

"- far no survivors -"

"- no survivors -"

"- did not find -"

"- survivors -"

"- Alliance and Citadel Council have released official documentation of our losses -"

"- pay homage to Commander Shepard without whom -"

"- must all thank Commander - "

"- Shepard was a hero -"

"- have not found a body but due to the enormous amount of energy fired by the Crucible it is unlikely -"

Garrus stood as the hover car swerved through the air. His eyes never left the holo screen which was constantly changing with the latest news. A strange sensation plagued his stomach and with every mention of Shepard he could feel his heart beat harder.

"This is it," Cortez called to Garrus from the driver's seat, the hover car slowing to a stop, "This is as far as Alliance allows vehicles."

Garrus nodded to Cortez and headed to the opening door, "Thanks Cortez."

Cortez's nod was lost on Garrus as he had already slipped out of the hover-car and onto the rubble beneath them. It had been weeks since the war and London was still in horrible condition. Initially the people on Earth had worked to fix the Mass Relay's before turning full attention on excavating, rebuilding and returning the rest of Earth to its former glory.

Garrus was unwilling to believe that Shepard was dead.

He had heard it from everyone, Liara, Joker, Ash - whoever was left. Every news channel spoke of how brave and heroic Commander Shepard was and how she would be honoured for centuries to come.

Garrus had to agree that Shepard had done something crazy up there. Every person he met had, just like him, green circuitry running across his or her skin. Ever since the green blast of energy encompassed the galaxy Garrus could attest that he felt stronger, healthier and more capable as a whole. He no longer needed his visor to feed him information about enemies within his vicinity or for music to play through his ears but he still wore it for comfort.

You wouldn't kill yourself for this.

Yes. You would.

He hadn't let the remaining crew of the Normandy hold a ceremony in honour of her. He just couldn't believe it.

But here, standing on the rubble of what had been London, Garrus felt a tug at his heart.

She couldn't have survived this.

Garrus walked forward through the rocks, avoiding the gaze of the Alliance soldiers that were stationed around the area. He just wanted to find something, something to tell him that he was right and that she wasn't dead.

It was in silence that he trudged through the rubble. With every step he could feel the circuitry within him pulse.

Shepard what did you do?

He climbed up a tall mountain of rocks and metal until he could see across a short expanse of London.

From that height he could see Alliance soldiers and civilians working together to bring some semblance of London back to this fragmented city. But to his surprise he could also make out within the throng of working people many turians and a few krogan. The Mass Relay in the Sol System was active so any species that had come to Earth to aid the war could leave back to their homes. However, Garrus noted that there were many of other species; even geth and some quarians, who were helping on Earth by choice. C

And he saw what he knew Shepard had seen.

He saw the chance at harmony and unity. He saw a galaxy that had once been broken become something full and whole.

And he understood the choice Shepard had to make.

I still miss you.

Garrus stroked the golden nameplate as if it was as fragile as glass. The plate; though cold and impersonal carried so much more than it seemed. Along with the rest of the Normandy's fallen was where her memory would forever remain. The plate carried every success, failure and memory behind The Commander Shepard.

Behind him was the rest of Normandy's crew. He knew that all of them were grieving as he was. She had been more than a Commanding Officer to all of them. She was a headstrong leader, a friend, a sister, a mother figure, a voice of reason, a lover.

Shepard was so much more than the world would ever know.

Garrus pressed it gently against the wall, directly under Captain Anderson's plate. It remained there even after he pulled his hands away, shining under the pale white lights of the Normandy's crew deck.

Commander Shepard.

I'll meet you at the bar Shepard, I promise.

Written as: Viera Shepard

A/N: And this has turned into more than a two chaptered thing. It took a life of it's own. The next chapter is the end. Again; this is just for closure of some sort. Do tell me what you think if you can.