(Reads .doc then site) *sigh*. Right, CLEARLY I have much to learn about formatting on this site. And going over the fic with a fine tooth comb. But hey, learning experience! Now I know not to try and write everything in a two hour window. Or in dead of night. Or while tired...

Ah well! Let's see if this does better!


Chapter 2: Poisons and Blood

Shit...SHIT! Shepard's drug addled mind was working in overdrive to try and get a working thought on how to escape. So far, it had been most unhelpful. She began to try and wiggle free of her captor's grasp, but her limbs felt numb, like they were wrapped in cotton.

"Damn! How is she still awake?! I thought you said the poison should knock her out!" the man holding her legs whispered. Shepard focused on him. Even with her vision wavering she could pick out the man was turian. "Shut it! Now isn't the time! I'll just give her another!" a woman's voice behind Shepard whispered. "*HKSSSSH* No, anymore could kill her. *KSSSSH* Just make do."

Shepard heard a soft ding and knew they had felt her blood chill. They were almost at the elevator, time was running out. She began to panic, her thoughts racing about Liara and if she was safe. No…no no no no no! Dammit I have to get out of here! She looked around for something, ANYTHING, to help her escape. But the hall was empty…there was nothing she could do to save herself. Resigned, she looked back down the hall, knowing she will probably never see Liara again. But what she saw made her smile. She'd found a way out.

Just a few feet back, a young man was bringing up the rear. He was gazing around the hall as if admiring the place, but that wasn't what caught Shepard's eye. It was the Carnifex propped against the boy's shoulder...and his finger still on the trigger.

The most basic gun safety lesson came back to her, a lesson drilled into her by her dad one of the few times he was around. NEVER put your finger on the trigger unless you're going to fire. Using what little strength she had, Shepard kicked both legs forward and slammed her head back. Her head collided with the woman's and Shepard felt her kidnappers nose break against the back of her skull. As they dropped her, Shepard heard two things happen. One was the woman yelling at the top of her lungs "Son of a fucking Bitch!"

The other was the boy putting both hands up to stop his turian friend from falling and pulling the trigger on the hand cannon. A deafening gunshot went off right next to the turian's ear, punching a hole in the ceiling and making the turian cover his ears and screech in pain. Shepard shakily got to her feet. Run...get back inside and call C-Sec, she thought as she stumbled to the door. Over the turian's screeching and her own slightly ringing ears, Shepard heard Liara shout her name. Gathering as much air as she could, Shepard regained just enough of her voice to shout.

"LIARA!"

Right as she did, something struck her across the face and the floor rose to meet her.


Even fast asleep, Liara recognized the sound of a Carnifex by heart and her eyes flew open at the gunshot. She flipped around to wake Shepard, only to find the bed empty. For a second, Liara feared the worst. No...Goddess, no! She wouldn't have...

"Shepard?! Karyn where are you?!" she yelled out. She could feel her heart stop. Every second seemed like an eternity. Had Shepard really...? Liara knew the former spectre was depressed at times, but suicide never crossed her mind.

Please...please don't be- "LIARA!" she heard Shepard shout, followed by a grunt of pain. In seconds, she was out of bed and had jumped over the balcony railing, lowering herself down with a biotic sphere. Once she landed she bolted out the front door.

She barely had time to take in what was happening. A human boy was bent over a turian that was clutching his head and moaning in pain, a volus was standing at an open elevator watching everything unfold, and a human woman with a bloody nose and matted blonde hair was lowering a gun at Shepard, who was lying on the ground.

"NO!" Liara screamed as she threw the woman off Shepard and further down the hall. The young boy's head whipped around with a look of fear, only to meet Liara's biotically charged fist as she rushed past to Shepard's side. He let out a weak moan as he slumped to the floor next to the turian.

Liara slid next to Shepard and scooped her bondmate up. "Shepard! Shepard wake up!" she said while gently shaking the Commander. Shepard's lip was split and spots of red decorated her white tank top. A massive bruise was already forming across the Commander's face, but hearing Liara made her groan ever so slightly and her eyes open briefly.

Thank the God- *TWANG*! Liara let out a cry as a bolt slashed her face and embedded itself in their door frame. Liara stood, her eyes blazed with murderous intent as she stared at the woman, now armed with an Omni-bow and a smg

"Asari bitch!" The woman yelled before opening fire. Liara raised a dome shield around her and Shepard causing most of the bullets to ricochet away and the rest to veer off course. Only one found a mark in Liara's outer thigh, causing her to yell and drop the shield just as the smg's heat sink filled. The woman holstered the gun and readied her Omni-bow again, pointing it right at Shepard. Liara gripped her leg and grimaced. Damn…I can't carry Shepard with this leg, she thought to herself. As best she could, she put herself between the unconscious Shepard and the woman. "Try it", she threatened gathering a Flare in her fist, "And I will flay you alive." The woman just smiled and began to tense her arm to fire, when a biotic wall was thrown up between the two.

"*HKSSSSH* Enough! We must leave now!" the volus said, his body glowing with biotic energy. The woman looked like she was about to say something, but growled instead and walked to the elevator. The volus then turned to Liara and bowed to her. "Forgive our rudeness. *HKSSSSH* Next time, we shall bring you along as well." He then waddled his way to the elevator, and dropped the wall as the door closed.

Liara waited until she was sure they were gone before letting the energy release from her hand. In all her time with Shepard and as the Shadow Broker, she had never known kidnappers to be so…polite. Regardless, she was glad it was all over. Shepard let out a grown and sat up on her arms. "Wha…where did they go?" Liara spun around and knelt next to her wife. "They're gone. Looks like I saved you once again." she said with a small chuckle.

"We'd best not keep count…I think we'd be here all night." Shepard said with a light laugh, before wincing. Liara reached over and lightly touched Shepard's bruised face. "Goddess. Shepard your hurt, bad."

Shepard chuckled, causing another grimace of pain. "I'm fine. I died once, remember? A little pistol whip isn't going to hurt me. Besides, you're the one that's shot in the leg. We need to get that treated." she said as she woozily stood. For a second, Liara thought Shepard would crash back down, her legs were shaking so bad. But after a few breaths, Shepard seemed to steady herself. As Shepard went to pick Liara up, they both noticed the boy start to move. Slowly, and with great effort, he pulled himself to a sitting position. Shepard grimaced and Liara gasped. One of the boy's eyes had been shot out, and the round had blown out his jaw and nicked his carotid artery. Both of them knew that he would die soon. "Goddess, he's so young", Liara whispered as Shepard knelt in front of him. The boy looked like he was trying to say something, but between the blood loss and shattered jaw, he could form no words. Slowly, gently, Shepard took the boy's hand and held it. His eye focused on her and he started to cry.

He can't be more than 17, she thought as she held his hand. For a moment, Shepard was back on the SR-1 after the Collector attack, her own gasping breaths overlaid with his. "I'm sorry", was all Shepard could manage to say before the boy breathed his last. Shepard lowered her head in reverence for him, before standing up and helping Liara to her feet. As they walked back to their apartment Shepard said sadly, "At least he passed knowing someone was there with him in the end." Silently, Liara wished she could have done the same for Shepard six years ago. They entered the apartment, shutting the door behind them.

Shepard sat Liara in a chair in the kitchen, and then went up to the small armory/linen closet by the bedroom. Before long she was back down with some medi-gel and her Paladin. "Alright let's see." Slowly, Shepard drew up the purple stained hem of Liara's night shirt to inspect the wound, making Liara wince.

"Ok...it's through and through. At least we don't have to get the round out. Small miracles", she said, making Liara nod ascent. Shepard then took a breath and applied some medi-gel to her bondmate's wound. Liara instantly tensed and gritted her teeth as the medi-gel applied antiseptic and sealed the gunshot. Shepard closed her eyes, not wanting to see her love hurting in any way. Once it was over, Shepard helped her up. "How does it feel?" she asked worriedly. Liara put a little weight on the leg, and though it still hurt badly, it all seemed okay. "I'm alright. I'll be fine" she said breathlessly, "Now, your turn. Sit." Shepard took Liara's hand in her own. "Liara, hold on. This is nothing. Hell I got these all the time in N7 training. We still have to treat that." she said running her thumb along Liara's cut. Liara blinked and felt the cut. Shepard started applying the Medi-gel as Liara spoke. "Goddess, I don't even feel it. The bolt must have been poisoned." Shepard felt her neck as she finished applying the Medi-gel. "Hopefully then it's the same they used on me and wasn't anything worse. I'm going to call C-Sec. Go ahead and relax, I'll be back shortly." Shepard pulled up her Omni-tool and sent in the call to C-Sec. A tired looking Asari answered the phone. "Citadel Security, if you are reporting the disturbances at Tiberius Towers, officers are-" The asari looked at the monitor and finally saw who the caller was. "C-Commander Shepard! Ummmm. I-I'm sorry ma'am what's the trouble?" Shepard wanted to groan. She hated being recognized by everyone she met. She was a retired shoulder…and that's ALL she wanted to be. "Ummmm. Yes, it's actually about the incident at the Towers. Someone just tried to kidnap me." The asari blinked. "Kidnap-? Of course, I'll alert the responding officers and get a team to you immediately." Shepard sighed, thanked the officer, and closed the link before the inevitable question of autographs popped up.

Liara had taken a seat on the couch and had started their fireplace. She was currently staring into the flames with a touch of sadness. Shepard came and sat next to her, taking her wife's hand in her own. Liara snuggled up close to Shepard and laid her head on her shoulder. "I guess the vacation is off." Shepard smiled sadly. "I guess so. I was looking forward to it." She then sighed. "I'm sorry Liara. This is my fault. *Sigh* I thought that after I retired…that we could just live a normal life. And now…it seems like it is all starting again. Some pro Cerberus nut looking for revenge. A batarian slaver looking to add me to his…'Personal collection'. Whatever this is…I've dragged us back into it." Liara smiled softly. "Honestly Shepard, you shouldn't have to worry about that. As long as it's with you, I'm happy. You shouldn't be upset over this. We have beaten every threat thrown at us. And this will be no different." She then smiled mischievously and bumped her wife. "Besides, who says they were after you? Maybe they were kidnapping you to get at you Shadow Broker wife?" Shepard laughed, wincing one last time. "Heh. That's true. Not that that would make the situation much better." Liara nuzzled into Shepard's neck, "Just wouldn't want you getting full of yourself, dear." The two then sat back and waited for C-Sec to arrive.


Shepard would have understood if they had sent a three squads, hell she wouldn't have cared if they had kept to sending only one squad. But having eight trouncing around her and Liara's apartment was almost too much for her to bear. Dammit, I need to have a word with Bailey after this. At least we locked up Liara's Broker office, she thought as she watched the officers inspecting both the scene outside and every square inch of the apartment they could get at. "I swear…you'd think they were just using this as an excuse to stare around our apartment." Liara whispered into Shepard's ear. Shepard gave a small smirk, but didn't say anything. She had expected her and Liara to be sent to the hospital straight away, but one of the EMT's had determined that though the wound's should be looked at and cared for, but that the Medi-gel seemed to be doing its job well enough. He then told them that once the head investigator got there and asked some questions, they would get them to the hospital. Of course, between all the investigators basically all but touring the apartment and stopping to stare at the couple, Shepard was starting to really hope that this investigator got her sooner rather than later.

As if on cue, an Asari walked into the apartment. Her skin was a pale purple, almost lilac in color, and she was dressed in a black button down shirt and a pair of slacks. But what drew both Liara and Shepard's eyes was that she had on both a pair of old fashioned Earth aviator glasses and a trench coat that looked like it would be more at home in one of the old cop dramas on early 21st century television rather than on a modern Asari C-Sec investigator. The investigator took one look around the apartment before walking straight to Shepard and Liara. "Well…good to see that the savior of our galaxy is living well for herself. Vareia Lysielle, Citadel security with the Investigation division." she said offering her hand to both the women. Liara shook her hand first, but when Lysielle went to shake Shepard's hand the woman paused and stared straight at the former spectre. After a short moment, the woman shook her head and took Shepard's hand. "Sorry, guess I'm a little star struck. Though I'm sure you hear that a lot. May I borrow a chair?" Shepard nodded a gestured to one of the chairs in the kitchen and the investigator walked off to grab one of the chairs. "Does she seem…?" Shepard started, "Odd to me? Yes." Liara finished. "I had seen a few reports about her. Only a couple of things out of the ordinary; an event 9 years ago where she chased a man she suspected of being a serial killer to Omega and an unsubstantiated rumor that she was an Ardat Yakshi in hiding. But that last one is only a vicious rumor. All her recent medical check-ups are clean." Shepard stared at the woman as she walked back with the chair. The Asari still felt…different. Shepard couldn't place a finger on it, but quickly pushed it from her mind. There were more important things to deal with at the time.

"Okay Commander. From the top. What happened tonight?" The commander sighed. "There really isn't much to say. I was sleeping and felt a pinch on my neck and when I went outside I collapsed. Then a volus appeared and he ordered others to carry me outside. Before they got me in an elevator, I managed to escape and call for Liara…then I was hit on the head and fell unconscious." The investigator then turned to Liara. "Which was when you gallantly came to her rescue?" she said with a flourish. "That's not how I would have put it…but yes. I heard Karyn call for me and when I came out a woman was pointing a weapon at her. I threw her down the hall and knocked the boy down. I went to check on Shepard and the woman shot at me with an Omni-Bow before opening fire with a smg. A Shuriken I think. I tried protecting Shepard and I as best I could with a shield, but still was shot in the process. The woman then threatened Shepard with her Omni-bow and I put myself between them to try and protect her. But before the woman fired, the volus put up a wall between us. He then…apologized to me saying that next time he would take me as well. They then got in the elevator and left. Shepard woke up, patched me up and we called you."

The woman wrote down everything they said in her Omni-tool. "Both of you mentioned a volus ordering people around…that he seemed to be in control. Is there anything you could tell me about him? Anything distinguishing about his exo-suit perhaps?" Liara shook her head, stating she didn't remember much about him. Shepard thought for a moment. There was one thing. "I don't remember him looking specific in any way, but he did say something. He said…what was it?" Shepard couldn't think. She didn't know if it was the residual effects of the drug or from the blow to the head, but she could not think of what the volus said. "Something about…someone calling for me, I think. I can't remember." Lysielle just nodded. "Okay. That's fine. If you remember you can let me know. Now about this woman you fought, Mrs. T'soni. Can you describe her to me?" Liara cupped both her hands together. "Well I didn't catch much. From what I remember, she had short blond hair." "How short? Ear length? Buzz cut?" Lysielle asked. Liara thought for a moment. "It wasn't a buzz cut. It was about…*sigh* I don't know. Like a young human boy's haircut, but matted and tangled."

"Okay. Anything else? Scars, her clothing?" Liara closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "I don't remember much else. I think she may have had a large scar going over her right eye. Her eyes were…an olive color I think. I can't remember anything else. I'm sorry." Lysielle noted down everything on her omni-tool and then began plugging info on the woman into a database. "Okay. Let me access C-Sec database, see if we can't pull anything on your assailant. In the meantime, this was a tattoo that was on the neck of the turian. Does it look familiar to either of you?" she said while sending them the image. Both Shepard and Liara took a look at the picture on the Commander's Omni-tool. Dark blue blood was dripping down the turian's neck from a bullet wound just below his crests, but the tattoo was instantly visible. It was a bright red shape almost like the head and shoulders of a man and in the middle of it a section was left blank in the shape of a cross. "I've never seen anything like this before." Liara said. Shepard looked at it. Something about it seemed familiar, but again, she couldn't place why.

A vision flashed in front of Shepard's eyes. A man trapped in a pillar. Shepard's head started pounding. Liara placed her hand on Shepard's back and asked if she was okay. "Yeah…yeah, just a headache." Lysielle nodded her head. "It was a long shot, but thought I tried." Her Omni-tool then started beeping, indicating it had a result. "Looks like we got something. Mrs. T'Soni, do you recognize any of these women?" Liara opened her Omni-tool and stared at a set of 10 women. She looked closely at each one and after a few moments spoke up. "Here. This one." Lysielle looked at the choice and brought it up on her own Omni-tool. "Hmmm. Natalie Ital. Born on Mindoir. Survived the Batarian attack in 2170. Attempted joining the Alliance Military 5 years later, but was drummed out due to psychological issues. Turned mercenary some-time after that, taking odd jobs and a few assassinations. Hmmm. That's odd. 5 years ago she just vanished. Dropped off the face of the galaxy until about a year and a half ago. She showed back up on Omega badly injured. She had to have massive reconstructive surgery, an arm, part of her leg, and a number of her inner organs. By all accounts she should have been dead, but somehow she was still alive. After that…nothing. Gone again until now." She then closed the Omni-tool and stood.

"Well I have asked all I could. Thanks for your cooperation. Now an officer will escort you to the hospital. We will have some guards posted with you. Don't won't them trying to kidnap you again." Shepard stood and extended her hand to shake the woman's. "Thank you officer. But I don't think a guard is necessary. This isn't the first time Liara and I have been attacked, and I doubt whoever these people are that they would try anything at a hospital. We appreciate the offer, but we will be fine." Lysielle shook Shepard's hands, sighed and took of her sunglasses for the first time in the entire interview. Her eyes were a bright purple and for a moment seemed to shine with an inner light.

"Miss Shepard. I understand all that you have done for this galaxy and all that you are capable of. But you must understand something. You have been VICIOUSLY attacked in your own home. You were almost kidnapped by at least one known criminal. You have most likely been poisoned by an unknown substance. Your bondmate was shot and could have been killed while protecting you. Like it or not, YOU ARE STILL HUMAN. I don't care what they say about you. About how you took down a reaper on foot, or about how you brought an end to two separate grudges that had existed for centuries." She said locking eyes with Shepard. "Accept the guards. Please. You at least owe it to your bondmate to have someone watch over you both while you recover." Shepard stared at the Asari for a moment. That…damn that's reasonable, she thought to herself before acquiescing to her request. She and Liara were then escorted out of the apartment by the EMT from earlier. A short elevator ride later, they were at a waiting ambulance. A dull roar was outside the building, most likely reporters gathered to get the story of what was happening in the building. They were halfway to Huerta Memorial before Liara spoke up.

"Shepard? Are you alright? You've been very quiet." Shepard shook her head and stared at her bondmate. "What? Oh…sorry. Just…wrapped up in thinking about all of this I guess." Liara smiled and took Shepard's hands in her own. "I know. It's all seems so crazy. But like I said before. We have dealt with far worse than this before. We worked through it…and we will this. Don't worry." Shepard smiled and gripped Liara's hand. "You're right. And hopefully, all of this will blow over soon" she said before giving Liara a kiss. The two then held each other close as the ambulance brought them to Huerta Memorial.


And thus ends Chapter Two! It took me a lot less time to write this than I thought, so maybe I will just try to get one chapter out every weekend. As well, I've decided to make a special game. Currently, this story is listed as a miscellaneous crossover. However, there is an actual item this is crossed with and I want to see if you, the readers, can figure out what that cross over is! Send me a PM or put it in a review and once someone guesses it, I will alter the sorting to show the proper crossover. The winner will get congratulations from me and will appear as a character in the next fic I write (or should I say, HOPEFULLY write). Until then, good luck to you all and I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

BONUS CHAPTER!:

Vareia Lysielle watched the Commander and her bondmate be escorted out of the apartment, her hand gripping the back of their couch. After they left, she let out a ragged sigh. She could feel it inside her. The hunger she had dealt with for so long. Dammit. Not again. I thought I had fed enough last time. But being this close to the Commander made the hunger and the need rise in her once again. I'll have to be careful…can't let a repeat of last time happen she thought as she put back on her sunglasses and made her way past the dead outside. She briefly shivered. The dead always…excited her in ways she hated to think about. She then got in her sky car and drove off.


On a Asari Corvette cruiser leaving the Serpent Nebula

Natalie Ital was at the helm of the Corvette as they hit the relay, her volus boss next to her. "I could have taken her Doran. Then we would have had Shepard and be one step closer to pleasing The Master." The Volus, Doran Rom, sat in the passenger seat. He was gazing out at space as best he could, over the ships console. "*HKSSSSSSH* It doesn't matter. Shepard will come. *KSSSSH* Increase recruitment ten-fold. *KSSSSH* Shepard will find out *KSSSH* about us. Either through her friends *HKSSSSSH* or her wife *KSSSH* the Shadow Broker." Natalie looked at him. "The Shadow Broker? HER?!" She started to ask him how he knew, but the Volus just looked at her. Some questions are better left unasked she thought to herself as they headed back to their base.