I See You Again
Chapter 4: Wasting Time
Fandom: Mass Effect
Chapter Rating: T
Rating: M
Chapter Summary: [After Dossier: Archangel] Shepard goes back to her cabin after knowing Garrus is in good hands with Doctor Chakwas.
Characters: Shepard, Garrus, Zenees M'Kili, Chakwas, Miranda, Joker
Pairing: Garrus/FemShep
Shepard stared down at the unconscious Garrus. She wouldn't lie, she was worried sick about him. He need to make it through this, mostly so she could kick his ass again. Zenees has agreed to stay on the Normandy, C-Sec wasn't always her first choice. Shepard also assumed she had a thing for Joker, but she couldn't tell with Zenees. Zenees was a shameless flirt but at least she knew her boundaries.
"Garrus will be fine, Commander." Chakwas had told her over and over again since arriving back on the Normandy. She had fixed him up quickly and without any major problems. His right mandible was now partially cybernetic but would be bandaged up for at least eight to twelve months, unless he decides he wants his mandible to fall off and takes the bandage off.
Zenees walked up behind Shepard, a worried expression on her face, "I—I know he's going to be okay but...I hate seeing him like this."
"Me too." Shepard agreed, turning her head to look at Zenees, "But how are you holding up? Any trouble with the crew?"
"I think they know not to mess with me." Zenees shrugged, moving over to the empty bed next to Garrus and sitting atop it, "Or at least they're keeping it very hush-hush. I'm pretty sure a lot of your crew has never seen an asari before, or any other 'alien' species for the matter."
"If it were up to me," Shepard moved next to Zenees, leaning her butt against the bed, "These people wouldn't be on this ship. I don't like Cerberus, I don't trust 'em."
"Well," Zenees smiled and nudged Shepard's shoulder with her arm, "It's a good thing Garrus and I are aboard than."
Shepard turned her head and smiled at the asari, "I'm glad that you're officially part of the crew, Zenees."
She smiled back, "Me too, Commander. Garrus always spoke highly of you, I swear, he put you on a pedestal. You were like a God to him, he wanted to be just like you—well, not literally, because that would be really awkward."
"Why would he want to be like me?" Shepard turned her head back to Garrus, "I'm the last thing he would want to be like."
"I dunno, Commander." Zenees shrugged, "You're confident, devoted, loyal, lovable, mature, grouchy, sassy, charming, beautiful, intelligent, inventive, direct, passionate—"
"Exactly how much has Garrus spoke of me?" Shepard smirked, raising an eyebrow.
"I've heard stories from all around, Commander, even before I met Garrus. He just confirmed what I already thought." Zenees pulled her knees up to her chest and smiled at Shepard.
Shepard's smirk changed into an embarrassed smile, turning her head to look back at Garrus, "I—"
"Commander," Miranda walked into the medbay, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face, "A word?"
"Of course, Miranda." Shepard inwardly screamed as she stood up straight, she looked over at Zenees as she walked out with Miranda, "Make sure Chakwas give's him the okay before he walks out of here."
Zenees nodded to her, "Aye, Aye, Commander."
"What is it, Miranda?" Shepard asked once they stood in front of the elevator.
"I don't approve of your new...squad mate." Miranda's lips thinned as she spoke of Zenees, "We know nothing about her. She wasn't part of the dossier list the Illusive Man gave us."
"Neither were you." Shepard crossed her arms, glaring at Miranda, "Zenees is staying on my team. If you're not okay with me bringing her on missions, you can stay on the Normandy." Miranda hardened her glare, crossing her own arms to challenge Shepard.
"Remember who you brought back, Miranda." Shepard pushed past Miranda and walked into the mess hall. She pulled out a beer from the fridge and returned back to the elevator, Miranda had already left. She walked in, pressing the holo button to her cabin and waited.
"EDI?" Shepard called out once the elevator started to move.
"Yes, Shepard?" EDI's interface showed up next to the elevator door on her own platform.
"I don't want to be disturbed in my cabin. If someone needs to talk, tell them to comm me, but if someone needs to see me, let me know." Shepard stepped out of the elevator as EDI replied.
"Understood, Shepard." EDI's interface faded when the elevator closed. Shepard walked into her cabin, her eyes squinting to adjust to the sudden brightness. Shepard moved over to the console on her desk and adjusted the brightness of the room, making it almost pitch blank. The fishtanks lights brightened the cabin, letting Shepard still roam without worrying about bumping into something.
"How's our turian rocket-face doing?" Joker's voice sounded on the intercom in her room as she opened her beer.
"He'll be fine." Shepard grumbled, falling onto her sofa and drinking the beer.
"I'm guessing not for long." Joker snorted, "Heard about the brief hiccup in the mission—"
"Not now, Joker." Shepard mumbled, "Please."
"Understood, Commander." Joker cleared this throat, "But I will be bringing this up when you're in a better mood."
Shepard shook her head, a smile forcing it's way onto her lips, "Understood, Joker." The cabin fell silence once Joker's voice faded. She's never been use to the silence; There was always someone yelling, laughing, talking, some form of action going on around her. Bullet's, explosions, geth noises, it was never a good thing when it was this silent. Even the fish tank was soundproofed, which pissed her off to no end. Shepard continued drinking her beer until it was empty. Shepard glared down at the empty beer bottle as she pulled her knees up to her chest. Her room felt odd, too open for her liking. She didn't like how bright it was, she didn't like the stupid window that showed her the rest of the galaxy, she didn't like that it was Cerberus who recreated the Normandy and brought her back. She missed the old Normandy, she missed her old crew. She didn't trust Jacob, or Miranda, she trusted EDI more than she would ever trust anyone else on this damn Cerberus vessel.
"Shepard," EDI's interface popped up on the coffee table, "Zenees M'Kili wished me to inform you that Officer Vakarian is now away and, if you wish to speak with him, will be settling into the Main Battery."
"Zenees is still choosing to crash in the Shuttle Bay?" Shepard asked, leaning back onto the couch.
"Yes, Shepard."
"That'll be all, EDI." Shepard nodded to the interface before it faded back into the coffee table. Shepard brought the beer to her lips, drinking the last of it, before setting it on the coffee table and heading out the door to get Mordin.
