In this chapter we will see if Shepard will finally wake up, or not..
Also I apologize for any typo or grammar error, typed this while taking care of other stuff, and maybe things didn't went so right.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4:
Citadel – Huerta Memorial Hospital
Doctor Chakwas stepped outside from the room where Shepard stayed as she was a bit out of breath and began to search for the justicar. She saw that Samara was sitting down on some chair, just looking down, the asari seemed pretty calm but maybe for those who knew her very well could see a big concern on her face. "Samara.." Chakwas called out for her as she approached the blue woman.
"Doctor.." Samara quickly stood up from the chair and stared at Chakwas hoping she had good news about Shepard and not bad ones.
"She's fine..we don't really know what made her stop breathing, but she's stable again." Chakwas said, gulping a bit, more worried about Shepard's condition than ever. "Her heart was also stopping beating, and it has been acting like that recently. The first time her heart stopped was last month, then she spent a week fine, and then it started stopping again. So there's now only one thing we can do.."
Samara felt more worried as she was breathless, waiting for Doctor's replay.
"We have to operate her and put a machine on her heart that will make sure it won't stop again, however. An operation is always a risk, she can get infections, or she can stop breathing during the process, also we have to be more careful because of the Lazarus project on her, it won't be easy. That's why I need to ask your permission." Chakwas spoke looking up at the justicar.
"My permission?" Samara asked, perking up an eyebrow.
"Yes, we usually ask our patients if they want to go through that, because there might be a big chance that she can die. Since we can't ask her, I believe you are the most suitable person to ask that."
"I.." Samara really didn't knew what to say, now that was too much responsibility for the asari woman, but she knew if she didn't done this for Shepard, her heart could stop again and this time they might not be able to save her, so the operation is really needed, but then she can die as well because of that. "I say yes, but I prefer to have a word with the Normandy Crew. I believe this is a choice that needs more opinions than just one, Doctor."
Chakwas understood Samara's point pretty well and simple nodded. "Alright, do you want me to warn everybody to meet you? I guess we can meet each other at my place, in there we can have some decent argument and make sure nothing bad happens." Chakwas spoke while looking through her omni-tool and then sent her address to Samara's omni-tool.
"Much appreciated, doctor." Samara spoke as she bowed her head slightly and went back into Shepard's room to spend couple of hours with Shepard before go talk to the others. It would still take awhile till everybody arrive Doctor Chakwas home, so.
Doctor Chakwas House
Everybody was at the doctor's large living room. In there we could see Joker, who still had that trouble with his leg, but he was a bit different, he allowed his hair to grow, so right now he had a pony tail underneath the cap he always used, then he had some beard, nothing special, just enough to cover his chin and cheeks to give him a more mature look. Besides him was EDI, she was..she was the same, nothing really changed on her, but the wedding ring she had on her finger, yes she did married Joker, and god knows how it will work out with them. Tali was there, with her suit, and Garrus was standing behind her with a green colour suit now. Ashley had actually allowed her hair to grow as well, so she had a pony-tail, bigger than Joker's though, this woman now had her own crew and her own ship, she was Captain Ashley. She actually wanted Joker to be her pilot but it seems the man decided to stick just by fixing ships and help creating them, he isn't in the mood to go into missions anymore, just like EDI, now what she really does is working at Citadel's embassy and do some research about whatever or whoever they need.
Miranda stepped in with Jack by her side, the two come together which didn't surprised anybody, they really knew what was going between Miranda and Jack, hell they already knew back on the Normandy that something was going on between them, time simple made everybody pretty sure that they were together, or something. Then after them was Kasumi, with her hood covering always her head, and she brought Liara along with her since the two arrived almost at the same time. The only part of the crew that wasn't here was James and Grunt, it seems James is in some kind of mission and Grunt is busy with some troubles in his world.
Doctor Chakwas stepped inside with the justicar, Samara. As a smile showed up upon her face, glad to see the old crew all together in one room, it was heart touching to the doctor knowing everybody was here to make sure what would be Shepard's next step. "I called you all here because we need to make some decisions about Shepard's condition. I was only going for Samara's opinion but she said it would be better with everybody's opinion on it as well." The doctor spoke before look back at Samara.
"Correct, I didn't felt like it would be right choosing this on my own."
"What is different in Shepard's state, doctor?" Liara asked as she leaned forward, getting interested on the conversation, just like everybody else.
"Well, today in this morning she stopped breathing out of nowhere, we didn't knew how long she stopped breathing, till her heart race grew, and stopped. We were able to make everything right, her heart is beating again, and she isn't able to breathe on her own now, again.." Chakwas said clearly showing sadness on her tone. "But it's only a matter time till her heart stops again, and maybe when that comes we won't be able to help her out. So we need to operate her and put a machine on her heart that will make sure her heart won't stop again."
"Then do it, why the hell this needs to be discussed?" Jack said, a bit cranky as she placed her palms against the table.
"It's not that simple." Samara said, making sure Jack would remain calm and sane.
"Yes, it's not that simple. If we do that and if the operation goes wrong, there are a lot of chances she dies, or she gets a big infection that will lead her to death as well. But if we don't, her heart will stop again and we won't be able to do anything about it, she will die too." Chakwas looked up at the crew, as she noticed how everybody went silent again; this was a matter to think twice about it before do anything else.
"What do you think, Samara?" Tali asked, as she looked up at the justicar.
"I.." She took a glance down, before look back up. "I believe we should let the operation happen. From what I recall Shepard isn't weak, and an operation won't end her." Samara said with a confident tone on her voice.
Everybody started to think like Samara, Shepard went through worse stuff than that, there's no way an operation will kill her, so let's go with that.
"Hell yeah!" Jack said excited breaking the silence.
"Do the operation, doctor." Joker said as he placed his palm on EDI's hip.
"Yes, do it doctor." This time it was Liara, Garrus and Liara speaking at the same time.
Miranda didn't had to say anything because her smile was obvious to let you know her answer, and Kasumi simple cheered, so yeah. However, Ashley was the only one who didn't said anything the entire time, she seemed pretty worried with Shepard, we can't forget she had a loving past with the spectre, so its hard for her to this situation, but deep inside she was leaning to the operation.
"What do you say, Ashley?" Chakwas asked the brunette.
"Yes, do the operation." Her tone wasn't as loud as the others, because she wasn't excited about this, she was scared, but she knew this was the right thing to do.
Chakwas looked back at Samara, seeing the justicar nodding before look back at the old crew. "Alright. I will make sure we won't lose Shepard over this."
Operation Room
It has been three hours since Doctor Chakwas, Miranda and the others doctors were there to plant the machine on the commander's heart. It has been a huge struggle, because first they had to deal with the Lazarus project on Shepard to make sure it wouldn't mess around with the operation and reduce Shepard's chances.
As they were working, something unbelievable happen. Shepard's heart race began to grow again, and Doctor Chakwas felt like it was going to stop in a matter of seconds just like last time, however, what was really happening was Shepard was waking up. The spectre was slowly opening her eyes, not even half of it because of the light hitting against her eyes and how everything seemed so blurry and also how much pain she was feeling on her body. She moved her head to the side and tried to raise her hand as a small cry of pain escaped her lips, like she was begging everybody to stop hurting her and just let her die.
"Shepard!" Miranda said excited but at the same time nervous, as she looked at the doctor. Shepard couldn't be awake now, she had her chest wide open, as they were about to touch her heart with medical tools, she had to remain asleep. Chakwas didn't say anything, it was obvious that they both knew what to do, they gave her an injection which made her fall asleep again. It was painful for the ex Cerberus operative to do it, she was basically making her friend to go back to asleep after spending five years sleeping, everybody wanted Shepard to wake up, and here was Miranda putting her back to sleep. Miranda tried to control the urge to cry.
"Focus, Miranda. We need to finish this." Chakwas was acting very professional right now, like she never had a bond with Shepard before, but she did, and it hurt her like hell what had just happen right now, but it had to be this way, and people had to understand.
After five hours in the operation room, Shepard's body was being moved back to her hospital room, as she had a tube connected in her mouth to make her breath again, and a bandage all around her chest, to cover the fresh scar. Everybody was waiting for news, the whole crew was there and the visiting time was already over but Doctor Chakwas made sure this people could stay.
"How did it go, doctor?" Samara quickly asked as she caught a sight of Chakwas and Miranda approaching, hoping everything went fine, but by the look on Miranda's face, everybody felt their heart ache for awhile.
"She didn't.." Ashley asked while looking terrified at the doctor.
"No, she's fine. The machine is in her heart now, and it won't stop again. But we had some trouble during the operation.." Chakwas spoke as she gulped and forced herself to look at the crew. "While we were about to plant the machine, Shepard actually..she actually woke up on that moment."
This seemed to lighten up everybody's faces, till Chakwas crushed their hopes.
"However, she couldn't remain awake, obviously, so we had to force her to go back to sleep..I-..I'm sorry.." Chakwas said trying to control a sob escaping from her trembling lips.
The very moment the doctor finished her words, we could see Miranda quickly removing the uniform she had over her catsuit for the operation. She dropped it on the ground and walked away furious without saying anything to anybody, or look back.
Now Chakwas was simple waiting for everybody's reaction...
To be continued
What you thought about this chapter? Tough decision Chakwas and Miranda had to do back there.
Yes this chapter had to be divided in two, it was getting too big. But no worries, next day you will have the new chapter!
Stick around!
May the Goddess be with you.
