So, this story is still basically finished, but, inspired by a prompt on the k-meme, I added a chapter set early on in Shepard and Liara's relationship. It's at the end for now, but will be moved into its proper place after people have had a chance to read it.
Lurching out of the elevator and through the corridors of the ship, Liara staggered into the med-bay, covering her mouth with her hand. There were spots behind her eyes and one glimpse of her condition caused Doctor Chakwas to rush to meet her. "Liara! Are you all right? Shepard didn't report that you were injured…"
Before she could continue, the asari shoved her out of the way with a biotic field just in the nick of time. Liara doubled over, falling to her knees and emptying the contents of her stomach all over the floor of the med-bay, the bile burning in her throat as her guts heaved.
When it was over, Doctor Chakwas knelt beside her, running her hand over her still-armored back. "What's wrong? Were you exposed to a toxin on the mission?"
"No," Liara managed, her voice sounding as weak as her body felt. "Just sick."
The doctor stood up and retrieved a couple of blue pills from a bottle, handing them to her along with a glass of water. "Here, take these. They will help with the nausea."
Liara gulped them down and then swallowed the water, trying to wash the horrid taste out of her mouth and only partially succeeding. The discomfort started receding, only to be replaced with shame. "I am so sorry, Doctor. I have made such a mess."
"Oh, don't worry dear. I'll get someone to clean it up in a minute. Now, why don't you tell me what happened?"
"It was…" She took a deep breath, trying to settle her nerves. "It started when I was in the Mako. I got motion sickness. I thought that I had it under control, but the turbulence on the shuttle ride back made things worse." She blinked hard. "I feel like such a weakling."
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Liara." She smiled kindly. "Is this the first time this has happened?"
"It has never been this bad." The older human looked at her with understanding and Liara decided to be honest. "But yes, I have been nauseous before. There is just so much shaking and bouncing."
Chakwas nodded, understanding. "Unfortunately, while Commander Shepard may be an excellent soldier, you are not the first person to tell me that she has a habit of plowing through obstacles rather than around them."
Liara nodded weakly. She admired Shepard's forcefulness, but when they were all stuck in that horrid metal can, it could be an issue. "I know it is not my place to question her tactical judgment, but I do wish that sometimes she would display more care in her driving."
"You should tell her that."
"I cannot." Despite the kindness she had been shown there, she already felt somewhat out of place on the Normandy. Ashley, Kaiden, Garrus, Wrex… Aside from Tali, every other member of Shepard's crew was a hardened warrior and she didn't want to make herself look any less like a soldier than she already did. Even worse, she and Shepard had only recently expressed their mutual attraction. The commander deserved to be with someone she could respect, not a frightened little scientist who got sick just from riding in a tank. Liara rose with as much dignity as she could muster under the circumstances. "If you will excuse me, Doctor, I am going to lie down. It is late and I have embarrassed myself enough for one day."
By the next morning, when Shepard came by for one of their increasingly frequent (Liara had noted with some pleasure) talks, the asari's condition was much improved. She was working at her desk, reviewing some of her old notes on the Protheans when the door opened and she greeted the commander with a cheerful smile and a warm, "Shepard. It is nice of you to come by."
There was equal warmth in the Spectre's reply. "Liara. I wanted to make sure you were feeling better."
A sudden wariness overcame the archeologist. "I am well. Did you think otherwise?"
"You did seem a little queasy in the shuttle."
"It was nothing," she replied defensively.
Shepard gave her a bemused look. "Liara, Doctor Chakwas told me what happened."
Liara could feel a blush spreading across her face. "I wish that she had not done that. I told her that I did not want to trouble you with my problems."
"Don't blame her. As the ship's doctor, she has to tell me about anything that might impact the performance of my people, and you getting sick on a mission definitely qualifies." Shepard reached out and put a hand on Liara's shoulder. It was a simple, friendly gesture, but there was a warmth to it, and in spite of her embarrassment, the asari's heart fluttered at the contact.
"It is kind of you to worry," Liara said bashfully, "But it is not serious."
"Hey." Shepard sat down in the chair next to Liara, her arm wrapping around her shoulders. "If something's wrong with you, it matters to me. You matter to me. You know that, right?"
"I do." There was such strength and affection in her voice that Liara's nervousness and shame began to melt away. Shepard possessed a quality that made everyone feel as if they could confide in her. Liara had seen it work even on those they had only just met, and she was amazed by the effect that it had on a reclusive scientist. "It is only, you have shown such faith in me. I have little military experience and you have trusted me to come with you on these expeditions. I did not want you to think that I was unworthy of that."
An affectionate hand rubbed up and down her arm and even through the cloth of her jumpsuit, Liara felt her skin tingling. "Liara, don't think that way. I wouldn't take you along as a charity project, no matter how I feel about you personally. Not with the stakes of our mission this high. I've brought you because you're a hell of a biotic and an asset. Now, what is exactly is it that's giving you problems?"
"It is the Mako," she admitted. "Sometimes the ride can be a bit jarring."
Shepard threw her arms up in the air. "That damn tank!", she said defensively. "I know it's a pain in the ass. It's designed entirely for durability, and it handles like a drunken rhino."
Liara turned away. Shepard was being so understanding and she didn't want to criticize her, but she found her courage, deciding that she owed the commander her honesty. "You are right about the Mako of course, but sometimes it does seem that you relish driving it directly into our enemies."
Now it was Shepard's turn to blush. "I'm sorry, Liara. I don't exactly intend to do things like that. It's just sometimes, it seems like the most efficient way to take out the enemy. I mean, given the limitations of the Mako…"
Liara was startled. She had never seen the Spectre react quite like that. She was always so self-assured but right now she seemed to be taking the criticism harder that the asari intended. Reaching out tentatively, she placed her hand over Shepard's, running her fingers over the pink skin. The caress was more intimate than she had intended, but every time she was around the commander, her body seemed to react. Despite her uncertainty, it was something she was very much interested in exploring, but this was hardly the time.
"I should apologize as well." She gave Shepard's hand a squeeze and the human rewarded her with a small smile. "After all," Liara pointed out, "You have gotten us back alive from every mission. And Doctor Chakwas can give me something for my stomach."
She was happy to see a little humor play behind Shepard's pale green eyes. "You're too kind, Liara. And I'll try to drive more carefully in the future." Liara nodded gratefully, and Shepard added, "Don't worry by the way; you're not the first person to get sick in that tank. Kaiden didn't even hold out until we got back to the ship."
