Note: The idea that Shepard would spend time reviewing reports with Miranda while Garrus was fighting for his life after the Dossier: Archangel mission just struck me as unrealistic. My solution – Time delay, he already knew what had happened to his friend.
CH 2: 'That's not who we are.'
Normandy SR-2 (Omega).
The next few minutes we're a blur, the training took over and Shepard was on auto pilot. He was dimly aware of Miranda and Jacob's disquiet at his actions, but he didn't care even slightly.
He stood over Garrus, doing everything he could to help his friend and ready to put himself between the turian and any threat.
Soon a medical team arrived from the Normandy led my Mordin Solus, the salarian they'd pulled out of the plague slums. He took over from Shepard and Miranda's field triage with rapid, jerky but supremely effective movements. Sealing the wounds he directed the med team to load Garrus onto a stretcher in short order.
Then they moved out, Shepard's squad providing cover to the medics as they all fell back as quickly as possible to the Normandy.
They got to the ship and without a word, still wearing his armour stained with his friends blood Shepard followed the medical teams straight down to the med bay.
Dr Chakwas was waiting for them, "Dear god Garrus…Shepard what happened", "Gunship…..killed it, can you save him doc."
Chakwas grimaced, "You bet I bloody will, professor stay please I need your help, Commander out we need space to work."
James wanted to protest, wanted to say that he was staying with his brother. Chakwas looked at him and gave him a soft smile, "Shepard the best thing you can do for Garrus is to give me space to save his life."
Shepard nodded, "Ok doc but….remember…..he's one of us", Chakwas nodded, "Damn right he is Commander now bugger off, professor let's get that artery clamped."
Shepard didn't go far, he leant against the bulkhead outside the infirmary and waited, still wearing his blood spattered armour. He ignored the looks of the crew and their questioning glances. Twice Jacob came to see him to report in, he responded with short, clipped orders, his attention elsewhere.
Miranda looked at the feed from the bug outside of the infirmary, focusing it on Shepard. He looked withdrawn, exhausted and…..broken.
Her lip curled with cold contempt, if this was the way he reacted at losing one man they we're in trouble. On a mission like this people would die, better not to get close in the first place then you wouldn't have to worry about falling to pieces like Shepard clearly was now.
She pulled up her half-finished report to the Illusive Man and continued writing. The turian was going to be a liability, his friendship with Shepard was a weakness, one it was clear the Spectre was ill equipped to handle and she wrote as much in her report.
Miranda paused before sending it. While it was undoubtedly true she'd been put here to make sure Shepard succeeded, to deal with any obstacles, even if they were of his own making. To send the report without at least confronting him and trying to talk some sense into him felt like saddling her superiors with a problem, or to put it more succinctly an admission of failure.
Miranda Lawson did not fail and she resolved to speak to Shepard, now.
Deck three was silent, with the daylight watch over, most had gone to bed and any on lookers had been chased away by Jacob, who'd clearly recognised that disturbing Shepard now would be a bad idea.
Miranda walked over to where Shepard leant against the bulkhead, the same position he'd held for two hours, brooding, lost in his own thoughts.
"Commander" she intruded, "Ms Lawson" he replied without turning to face her, his eyes fixed on the doors of the infirmary.
"Commander there are things which need your attention…." she began, he glanced over at her and he looked so tired, "Such as" he asked. "Our mission" she replied, "Our mission isn't going anywhere for a few hours" replied James, "Not if you stay hear moping" she replied.
She expected him to get angry but he didn't, he looked at her with a cold expression and an edge of steel entered his voice.
"If there is anything which genuinely needs my attention, a matter of life or death I'll come with you, otherwise you're more than capable of running the day to day work so just do it, you don't need me to micromanage and I'm sure you don't really want me to. That's not what this is about is it."
She glared at him, annoyed he'd seen through her façade. "Shepard you cannot let yourself get this emotional over one casualty, you have people depending on you…..", "Yes I do" he interrupted again. "I failed one of them today so now I'm going to wait here until I find out if he's going to make it, you have a problem with that, then tough luck."
Any further argument was forestalled by the door to the infirmary hissing open. Mordin and Chakwas emerged looking drained. Shepard strode over to them, "How is he doc" he asked.
Mordin responded first, "Stabilised using tissue grafts and cybernetics but in serious condition. Damage to major blood vessels severe. Large loss of blood, coboglobin transfers successful but severe stress to organs and tissues. Recovery dependant on ability to overcome oxygen starvation to tissues. Next phase critical."
James looked at Chakawas, "Doc….in English please."
Chakawas gave him a tired smile, "We've repaired the damage but he lost a lot of blood, he's stable but weak. Now it's a question of whether his body can survive the trauma it suffered, if he makes it through the next few hours hell be alright, all we can do is wait."
James nodded, "I want to see him", Chakawas raised a hand, "You can but not like that. No arguments commander, my infirmary is a sterile area, the last thing Garrus needs is an infection because you're covered in blood and filth from a battle, that will kill him. So go and shower, change into clean clothes and sterilise your hands, then providing your quiet you can stay with him as long as you want."
Shepard sighed and acknowledged her, "Ok doc thank you, same for you Mordin, sorry to drop you in at the deep end."
The salarian brushed it off with a smile, "Enjoyed it, a different sort of challenge to the clinic, conceptually simple medicine but require speed and energy. Know he is your friend Shepard, happy to help, did all I could, up to him now."
James nodded, "I know you did, right I'll be back in five minutes, Lawson bring anything critical to the med bay but unless its life or death deal with it yourself."
Seething with frustration at the man's short sightedness Miranda stepped in front of him, blocking his route to the elevator. "Commander a moment" she snapped.
Shepard sighed wearily but nodded, "Very well, see you two later." They both took the hint, Mornin heading off towards his lab and Chakawas retreating towards the infirmary.
James gave Miranda a level look, "Alright what's so critical it can't wait."
Miranda gave him a frosty glare, "Commander you cannot devote all your time to one man, to a personal attachment. You're needed in the CIC, we have to plan the next phase of our mission."
James shook his head, his eyes hard, "Listen closely Lawson, you chose me, you know, every detail of my past so you should know what I'm going to say, but I'll say it anyway."
He paused and then continued his voice hard. "We do not leave a friend alone in the dark when he's wounded. We do not let them wake up in pain on their own. That is not who we are. Not Ever."
James turned and walked towards the elevator, "I'll be in the med bay for the next few hours, if we come under attack I'll join you in the CIC. Until then I leave the ship in your capable hands. Oh and feel free to put it in your report to your boss that I thought Garrus was more important than his plans."
James sat and waited silently by Garrus's bed, he had a data pad filled with the day's reports which he was flicking through without paying much attention. There were surprisingly few and they were short and to the point, confirming his impression of Lawson. She was a hard ass and frankly a bit of a bitch but she was undoubtedly competent.
Every few minutes Shepard would glance at Garrus where he lay on the bed unconscious, his friend was tough but the wounds were savage. He believed in Garrus though, the turian never gave up.
"Thirty seconds faster and he'd still be whole, some soldier you are Shepard, you can't even move fast enough to save your best friend when it counts" he muttered darkly to himself.
Suddenly Garrus stirred, breaking his train of thought. James was up in an instant as his friend slowly opened his eyes. "Garrus….you with me brother" he asked hopefully.
Garrus's eyes locked onto his and he opened his mouth, speaking in a rasping, pained tone. "Oh spirits…..I must be in hell…no creature that hideous could exist in the real world.
Shepard stared at the turian for a long moment, shaking his head as an unbridled grin spread across his face. "You bastard…..you utter shit" he laughed joyously.
"Shepard….thirsty" Garrus said in a hoarse whisper. Immediately Shepard grabbed the bottle of ice water from the bed side table and handed it to Garrus who held it in a weak but steady grip and sipped greedily from the straw.
"Thanks that's better, although it's really the least you can do considering I blame you entirely for this", said Garrus grinning to show he wasn't serious. "I'm on my own for two years, not a scratch, not so much as a paper cut. You're back five minutes and I get blown up, you're a damn jinx" he growled with a chuckle.
"Don't expect any sympathy from me, I got over being dead by fighting my way out of an ambush so I don't know what your bitching about" replied Shepard grinning. "What is it you don't get about avoiding incoming heavy fire, or did all that dextro liquor finally kill your remaining brain cell."
Garrus smiled and glanced around, "Looks familiar….if I didn't know better….I'd say we were on the Normandy." "We are, you're not dreaming or hallucinating" replied James, "So there really is a Krogan in a pink, flower print dress over there making lunch" asked Garrus.
James glanced at the other end of the infirmary which was of course empty, "Yeah we call him Al" he replied with a grin. Garrus snorted, "We'll it's defiantly really you, your sense of humours still crap….and you can't shoot straight."
Shepard snorted, "Glad to see you're getting back to normal then, how are you feeling?"
Garrus winced lightly, "Sore and tired but otherwise not bad, face feels kind of numb." James nodded, "They had to use some cybernetics to keep you alive brother, I'm afraid it's going to scar." Garrus nodded, "Figured as much, you know some women like that….unfortunately their mostly Krogan."
James snorted again, "Good to see you've got your priorities straight" he said with a grin, "I'd better get the doc to come check you out, its Chakwas so you don't need to worry about a Cerberus doctor touching you up. On the down side as soon as you're out of the danger zone she's going to kill you for betting yourself blown up, anything else you need?"
Garrus shook his head, "To be honest I'm good to go, want to check my rifle, make sure you didn't screw up the zeroing."
James rolled his eyes, "Well I'll get the doc to clear you, once she's done that come find me and we'll get you some quarters so you can sort your gear and rest up. I'll be on deck two getting shouted at by an Australian."
"What's an Aus….Ous…what's one of those" asked Garrus.
"Oh you'll see buddy" said James with a grin, "Mean time take it easy."
