Chapter Three: Death and Division

A hour after Garrus had stormed out, Shepard had finished talking with Kaiden and managed to get a little sleep. It was a pretty quiet sleep actually, something she hadn't had in quite a while and hadn't expected to get. She supposed even dealing with Kaiden stirring up old emotions couldn't undo Garrus' reassurance. The turian was her best friend after all, and more than deserved the title.

She was thinking about that as she walked from the elevator towards the CIC, when her day was made far worse by Joker's worried words over the intercom, "Commander, you need to get down to the infirmary. They found Garrus collapsed in a hallway."

"What?! What happened?"

"I don't know, but it sounded sorta bad."

Shepard hurried back into the eleveator she had just left and punched the button for the crew level, "EDI?"

"Garrus appears uninjured but is experiencing severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Doctor Chakwas is still determining the source."

Shepard got from the elevator to the infirmary so fast she barely even remembered the crossing, and later found out she had totally ignored Liara's attempts at a friendly greeting as she passed and burst into the informary, "Garrus!"

The turian, a bit startled, replied but wasn't ledgible due to the hose the doctor had fed down his throat to pump out his stomach contents.

Shepard instead pressed Chakwas for answers, "Doc, what happened?"

"Calm down, Commander. Garrus will be fine. He just made the mistake of drinking something that was not safe for turian consumption. We caught it in time."

Shepard was horrified though, "I thought that liquor was turian safe. Oh, Garrus I'm so sorry!"

Garrus weakly shook his head and pointed at himself, as if saying it was his fault. He then pointed to a pair of bottles on Chakwas' desk. When Shepard went over and looked at them she quickly figured out what he was trying to say. One was the bottle he had stormed out with and they had gotten drinks from. It was mostly full. The other was the wine she had told him to throw out, it was mostly empty, but at a glance what was left looked like the other drink. He'd obviously been upset and took the other bottle to get drunk, but accidentally mixed it up with the wine bottle he'd pocketed earlier.

"He should really be more careful." Chakwas scolded.

Shepard shook her head, "No, I shouldn't have asked him to throw it out for me. He mixed them up because he was doing that for me."

Garrus grunted to pull her attention to him and gave her a disapproving look.

"It is my fault, Garrus."

Garrus' brows shifted slightly and he pointed at himself.

"You wouldn't have made the mistake if you didn't have the bottle."

Chakwas couldn't follow the motions and expressions Garrus replied with.

But Shepard understood him like he was talking, "You were upset when you passed the chute, you can't say it was your fault for not throwing it away. And you were upset because of me and Kaiden. You were worried about me."

More incomprehensible motioning from Garrus, more pained and more insistent.

"Okay, okay. Nobody's fault. Just stay still, I don't want you hurting yourself more."

Chakwas gave the pair a curious look, and dismissed the scene with a knowing smirk before moving on to more important things, "The alcohol is all out now. I need to extract the tube and then I'll give him some medicine for the pain. He should be good to go after that, but I'd suggest he stay away from firefights for the rest of the day."

Garrus beat her to the first part, pulling the tube out as if he'd needed a stomach pump more than once before. He had, as getting drunk on Omega was always a risky propostion back when he was a vigilante, "Shepard, I'm the one that should apologize. I had no business acting like I did. I'm not a child."

"I'd hope not considering you just downed an entire bottle of wine." Chakwas joked, administering the pain killer, "This should last twenty four hours. After that the pain should be down to minor stomach cramps."

"Thank you, Dr. Chakwas."

The doctor could read the situation and excused herself, Shepard continued the discussion then, "Garrus... why were you recklessly downing entire bottles of alcohol? I know you don't like Kaiden but I didn't think you'd get upset to the point of stupid drinking."

"Sorry." Garrus went for a believable lie, "I'm running myself a little ragged too. Made it easier for him to get under my skin. It won't happen again."

"I know you hate his guts after the crap he pulled, but you can't need to be at each others' throat like this. I need everyone on my ship on the same page, not loathing each other to the point of self-destruction."

"You're asking me to forgive him for turning his back on us and doing what he did to you?"

"I suppose I am. I've decided to get over it, so you should too. After all, he had no way to know I wasn't being controlled. Hell, I didn't even know what all they put in me at the time."

"He should have given you a chance to prove yourself." Garrus pressed, "Instead he refused to give you even the slightest bit of faith. Forgive him if you want, but that's the one order I won't obey."

"You hate him that much?"

"Hell I can't see why you don't anymore."

Shepard sighed, "He's the father of my child, Garrus."

"He keeps playing that card. Looks like it finally worked."

"Garrus, I can't hate him with Sylvie in the picture. I don't want her growing up in an environment where her parents can't stand each other." her expression soured, "If she's even still in the picture."

Garrus reached out and touched her arm softly, "She'll turn up."

"I'd like to think I would feel it if she was dead, but that's never helped parents in the past."

Garrus sighed, "Shepard, I'll act civil around Kaiden alright? Sylvie won't see her Uncle Garrus trying to tear her father's head off. I'd never act like I did up there in front of her."

"I know." Shepard put on a small smile for his sake, but it faded, "You know... I've actually only seen her a few times thanks to being confined to the base, but we talked a lot when we could. Once Kaiden knew I wasn't going to be any danger to her he tried to make up for his mistake."

"That's the only reason I haven't decked him."

Shepard chuckled at the thought of her best friend beating up Kaiden for being an ass to her. It reminded her of her younger days when she had a couple surrogate older brothers that would send anyone trying to woo her through a gauntlet. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a picture of a little girl, tall for her age and very healthy looking. Red hair like her mother, but with her father's eyes and eyebrows. Shepard was in the picture too, hugging the girl, both looked perfectly content. She'd shown Garrus the picture before, so he knew what she was lookng at.

"She'll turn up, Shepard. If she's anything like you she'll have taken out a Reaper or two on the way as well."

"Well, maybe if they took her teddy bear." Shepard smiled, "I gave her that you know. Kaiden kept complaining that she'd never let him take it away to wash it."

"She loves you a lot obviously."

"She barely knows me."

Garrus smiled, "What is that old human line? 'To know you is to love you'?"

"What is it with you and quoting humanity lately?"

He shrugged, "I get bored sometimes and watch old movies that are in the ship's database. This is an Alliance ship you know. Mostly human stuff in there."

"Ah." Shepard went back to looking at the picture, "You know, I bet she'll adore you Garrus. I know I do."

She didn't see her friend wince at her platonic adoration, "I hope she does. The last thing I want to be is the annoying uncle that keeps visiting because everyone is too polite to tell him to go away."

Shepard pictured that in a somewhat sitcom-like scene and chuckled. Garrus had a real talent for saying things that brought amusing thoughts to her head, "You could never be the annoying uncle." She stashed the picture again and set about teasing her friend, "Maybe the drunk one if this mess is any indication."

"If this becomes a habit I'll be the dead uncle." Garrus groaned.

Joker's voice over the intercom broke into the conversation, "Commander, we're heading into the Citadel, should I call for an ambulance for Garrus?"

"I'm fine now Joker, don't worry about it."

"Oh. Well, glad to hear it."

Shepard went back to her usual on-duty self, "Go ahead and take us in Joker, I'm sure we could all use a bit of shore leave."

"Hell yeah."

Garrus hopped to his feet and headed for the door, "Let's stop being messes for now and get on with things alright? You feeling up to it?"

Shepard followed him out, "Of course. I'm Commander Shepard, I'm badassery incarnate if those CGI vids are to be believed."

"Well if those vids are to be believed you break every window within 500 feet of you just by fighting in the general area."

"Yeah, too bad the Reapers aren't made of windows." Shepard sighed, then as they arrived once more at the lift she hit the button to get to the level where they could get off the ship, "That aside I'm seeing this elevator way too much today."

"Yep."

"I'll be glad to not see it for a bit. You have any plans for the break?"

Garrus shrugged, "Got to do a little shopping, but other than that I'll probably just walk around and see the sights. You?"

"Well, first thing's first I'm going to check the refugee shelter for Sylvie again, after that I've got a delivery to make, beyond that I've got nothing."

"I'll come with you for the first part. Two heads are better than one."

"Three. Kaiden's coming."

"Of course. How could I forget?"

Shepard gave him a lightly stern look, "Be nice."

"Hey, I promised didn't I? Plus, looking for Sylvie is more important than petty grudges. You can count on me."

"Good." Shepard noticed Garrus start to say something, but decide against it, "What?"

"Oh, um. Later, if we have free time I was wanting to show you something."

"What?"

"It's sort of a surprise. Nothing major, but I thought of it when we were talking in your cabin. Seems a bit pointless now, but it was something to help vent some stress."

"Something you thought of while in my cabin to help vent stress?" Shepard raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

Garrus went wide-eyed, "Not that! It came out wrong. I was talking about some target practice at a place I know."

"I knew you didn't mean that." Shepard chuckled as the elevator arrived and she stepped on, "Target practice sounds nice. It's a date."

That last bit nearly made Garrus forget to get on the elevator with her, but this time Shepard seemed oblivious to his reaction.

However, it would turn out that their target practice would have to wait. When the trio walked into the refugee shelter they were met by a flash of red hair and bright smile in the crowds and a joyous exclamation that made all the anguish in all three of them melt away. A tall four year old girl bolted around some tired looking people and straight for them.

"Mommy!"

Shepard was so happy she didn't even remember snatching Sylvie from the ground and hugging her as they whirled around. One minute she was running towards Shepard, the next they'd stopped twirling and were just hugging. Tears of joy were pouring from Shepard's eyes like faucets, "Sylvie! Oh my god, Sylvie! You're okay! You're really okay!"

"Mommy! I missed you! I was scared the big bugs got you!"

"No, they didn't get me." Shepard chuckled for no real reason other than happiness. "I squished two of them!"

"Two?" Sylvie was amazed, "Where did you get a shoe big enough?"

"I didn't use a shoe. I got a bunch of people to bring their bug spray and help."

"How many?"

"Twenty cruisers full!"

"WOOOOW! Mommy's cool!"

Kaiden chuckled, even though he was feeling a little forgotten, "What am I? Chopped liver?"

Sylvie pouted at him, "Mommy said I should say 'Yes' if you ever asked me that."

"Ha. That sounds like something your mom would say." Kaiden held out his arms, "Come here and give Daddy a hug."

Sylvie however, was intent on taking her mother's side if there was still an argument and did not budge, "Are you and Mommy still mad at each other?"

Shepard passed Sylvie to Kaiden, "No, we're not mad at each other anymore."

"You made up?"

Kaiden glanced to Shepard, who looked at him indecisively before turned back to her daughter, "We're still working that out."

That surprised Garrus, he'd worried their conversation in the cabin had led to them getting back together. Not that it changed anything. Surely they'd be back together now that Sylvie was back, and Garrus was genuinely (mostly) okay with that. As long as they were happy together.

He wasn't okay with being the fifth wheel though, "I should probably leave you three along for a while. This is more a family thing."

Shepard turned with a disapproved look on her face, "Don't be silly, you're part of the family too." stepping out from between Garrus and her daughter, Shepard introduced them, "Sylvie this is your Uncle Garrus, he's not blood-related but he's Mommy's best friend in the universe."

Sylvie ignored most of that, the three-year-old being distracted by, "KITTY!"

Garrus was startled by the declaration and the girl's arms frantically reaching for him, "Kitty?"

Shepard was only confused for a moment, then chuckled, looking to Kaiden, "Has she ever met a turian?"

Kaiden thought about it, "I'm not sure, obviously not." Kaiden passed their daughter back to Shepard, "He's your best friend, you fix it."

Shepard rolled her eyes and moved her daughter closer to Garrus, "Garrus isn't a kitty. He's a turian?

"Kittuwian?"

"No. Turian's are not kitties."

Garrus chuckled, "I've never even thought about it, but I guess some of us do resemble cats."

Sylvie seemed unsually concerned about this, "Not a kitty?"

"No. I'm not a kitty. Sorry."

Suddenly, Sylvie turned without regard for the fact she nearly wriggled out of her mother's arms and called out to a turian C-Sec officer working the desk at the shelter, "Officer Kitty!"

The turian tried not to look annoyed when he looked over.

"I'm sorry I thought you were a kitty! That was wude."

"That's alright kid. Just remember from now on."

"I will, Officer Tuwian!"

The officer cleared his throat and tried to ignore how cute that was but Garrus was a little wide-eyed at the scene, "That... was the most adorable thing I have seen in my entire life."

Sylvie smiled, taking it as a compliment, "Thank you, Unca Gawus."

The little girl reached out to Garrus, obviously wanted to be handed over for hugs. Shepard gave him look that asked for his permission. The turian gave Sylvie a smile, "Be careful when you hug me, Sylvie, I have a lot of pointy bits. Promise you won't wiggle around too much?"

"I pwomise!" she reached more insistently, "Hug!"

Chuckling, Shepard carefully handed her daughter over to her friend, "I told you she'd adore you, Garrus."

"She probably still thinks I'm a kitty."

Syvlie pouted at the thought, "No. Unca Gawus is a tuwian." the little girl wiggled slightly, noting the weird build of the turian compared to her parents with amusement, "And lumpy!"

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Yes!" Sylvie giggled.

Kaiden found that hilarious, "Garrus always was popular with the ladies. Everyone of them on the ship is friends with him. Never thought it was because he's lumpy."

Garrus glared at the man.

Sylvie hugged him harder and joined the glare with her own pout, "Daddy stop being mean to Unca Gawus!"

"Why am I always the bad guy?" Kaiden laughed.

Sylvie stuck her tongue out at Kaiden, "Gawus is Mommy's friend and you were mean to Mommy. You should be nicer to her."

Garrus was very amused by this, "Wait, so you're only on my side because I'm your Mommy's friend and you are mad at your Daddy because he kept you from her?"

Sylvie nodded, then whispered in Garus' ear, "And Daddy buys me ice cweam when I bring that up. You want some too?"

Garrus laughed and looked at Shepard, "She's just like a tiny you, Shepard! Haha!" Looking back at the girl, "Sylvie did you squish any of the big bugs like Mommy when you were on Earth?"

"No. I yelled at one to go away and stop being mean though! It listened!"

Putting aside the fact that the Reaper had probably just not noticed her there and left of its own will, it was still hilarious picturing a tiny, three-year-old version of Shepard threatened a Reaper.

Shepard didn't find it that funny though, "Sylvie, if you ever see one again I want you to run away alright? Even Mommy needs a lot of help to squish them. Understand?"

"Alwight, Mommy."Sylvie nodded, then abruptedly changed topics, "Are we going home now? Together?" the girl gripped Garrus tighter to communicate she was including the tuwian in that.

Shepard was about to answer, but Kaiden interjected, "Actually, would youu mind playing with Uncle Garrus for a little bit while your Mommy and I talk about that?"

"Okay!" Sylvie whipped her head around and would have hit one of Garrus' mandibles if he weren't being alert for sudden thrashing, "You want to play with me, Unca Gawus?"

"Sure, I'd love to. Let's go over there out of everyone's way okay?"

Kaiden nodded his approval of the place and smiled, taking Shepard a bit away so they could watch them while talking privately, "Well, she seems to really like Garrus."

"Yeah. He's just a big fluffly kitty when you get to know him."

"Minus the fluff."

Shepard couldn't deny the fluff was entirely metaphorical, "You wanted to talk about us?"

"Yeah. I know I said I didn't need an answer right away and I can still wait, but I thought maybe with Sylvie back we should consider it sooner rather than later. You don't have to forgive me right away. I just want Sylvie coming back to a family that isn't broken. We can all live together and work on really patching it up at our own pace."

Shepard watched her daughter and best friend playing as Kaiden spoke, and she thought deeply about what he was asking. Kaiden wanted to get back together, but was willing to play pretend at first for the sake of giving Sylvie what she wanted without pressuring Shepard. It was good of him. Kaiden truly wanted to make up for his grave mistake. It was what was best for Sylvie too. Right? Having her mother and father together under one roof with her as a family. No taking turns living with one or the other and no worrying about taking sides or not having one or the other for special events. Getting back together with Kaiden was the best things for her... Right?

Shepard found her gaze shifting from Sylvie's delighted expression as she played to Garrus'. The look on his face made her freeze. His expression was brighter and happier than she had seen it in years. In fact the closest Shepard had seen his face ge to that was when they reunited on Omega. Garrus, weary from holding position against mercs for days, took of his helmet to reveal that he was the 'Archangel' person she'd come to recruit for her mission against the Collector's. His face when she teasing asked him about the call sign and he explained the citizens had given it to him was a bit embarassed, but also happy. More than happy he was content, fulfilled. He knew what he was doing mattered to people. His expression as he played with Sylvie was a lot like that. Content and fulfilled, like playing with Sylvie was making his life more meaningful than even fighting the Reapers was. It was... jarring and that expression made Shepard realize something.

She turned to Kaiden, "Kaiden... I don't think we can get back together."

Next Chapter: Greed and Gallantry

A/N: Okay, probably going to be five chapters after all. This went a bit longer than I thought and didn't cover as much as I wanted to. Next chapter will probably have some Citadel DLC events in it and then chapter five will jump to the new ending events for the game and some epilogue stuff. Might do some more chapters after that, but the main story of this fic will end at chapter five.