"Hell," Anderson said with a weary smile, "you already died once and it didn't seem to slow you down. Good luck, Shepard. Anderson out."
Shepard cut the comm link and stepped backward until her back met the wall then she sagged against it.
Liara, who had been hovering in the doorway, entered the room. "Are you alright?" she asked tenderly.
Shepard smiled at her lover, an unconvincing and weary smile. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." Shepard shook her head, but Liara persisted. "When was the last time you slept? Or ate something?"
Shepard raised her eyebrows incredulously. "Mom? When did you turn into a super hot asari archeologist?"
Now it was Liara's turn to shoot the spectre a reproachful glare. "Flattery won't get you anywhere. You can't just ignore your body, Shepard. You're no good to anyone in your current state. Come," she took Shepard's hand, "let's go get something to eat."
"No, Liara, it's alright. You go ahead without me." She gently pulled her hand free from the asari's. "I'm not really hungry."
Liara stopped, turning back to face Shepard. "You need to eat," she said in a quiet yet firm voice.
"I'm too nauseous," Shepard blurted out. "I feel sick and stressed and worried and I'm not getting any sleep because of these damn recurring nightmares." She shut her eyes, willing the tears to stay back, but they leaked out and down her cheeks despite her best efforts.
Liara wordlessly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the shaking frame of the first human spectre.
"EDI, disable the cameras in the comm room," Liara said authoritatively, knowing that this show of weakness was for her alone to witness.
"Yes, Dr. T'soni," came EDI's immidiate reply as the surrounding cameras switched off.
"Shhh," Liara soothed, bringing her hand up to rest on Shepard's head.
Shepard clenched her fists in the cloth of Liara's uniform, allowing herself this one moment of utter vulnerability, here in the arms of the woman she loved, knowing that, once it ended, she had to once again, hide all her weariness, her fear, and her uncertainty in order to stop the Reapers.