A/N: So, I imagine the smut was a little too smutty? Anyway, I have to see this through because I like the story (yep, a bit selfish). No smut in this one, but perhaps a bit of angst, and a bit of story (what a concept!). PLEASE review. Negatives and positives are welcome.

Wounded

Shepard glared as Dr. Chakwas finished mending her rib. Not that the good doctor had done anything to deserve her ire, it was just that Shepard hated injuries, especially when they could have been easily avoided. I mean, she took a three-prong batarian switchblade to the rib. What a rookie mistake. Of course, she could use the excuse that she was high on Hallex…but she wasn't that far gone. Just eager to get out of that creepy place and the feelings it had awakened. And when you rush, you make mistakes. Stupid mistakes.

"Hey, commander," Joker's voice echoed through the med bay, "Not to bother you or anything, but shouldn't we get out of here? Those batarians might have friends. Or at least associates that might want to shoot at the Normandy."

"Joker, the commander-" Chakwas began, but Shepard waved her away.

"Set a course for Omega," Shepard ordered, cringing at how hoarse her voice sounded. A punctured lung would do that, she supposed.

"Aye, aye," Joker replied and then there was a slight blip as the intercom disengaged.

"Commander!"

Shepard looked up to see Kasumi rush to her side. "I'm so sorry about your wound, it's totally my fault. He came from nowhere! I'm just glad you were there…if you weren't…"

While the thief wasn't totally wrong, Shepard knew that she should have been able to take the slaver down without injury. "No problem, Kasumi," Shepard replied, "My stupid mistake. I'll be back in action in plenty of time. Hell, I should be yelling at Miranda. With all the upgrades that Cerberus installed, you think a knife would just bounce off me."

Her comment had the desired effect, and Kasumi's stance relaxed as she smiled. "Well, I definitely owe you one. Actually, more than one."

Selene knew that Kasumi was referring to Keiji's greybox. But being able to kill that bastard, Donovan Hock, was payment enough.

"Well," Shepard finally replied, "I'm sure you'll more than repay me with that whole suicide mission thing."

Kasumi smiled and nodded, "Do you need anything, Shep?"

"She needs help to her room," Chakwas answered before Shepard could reply in the negative, "I've applied enough healing agents, but she really shouldn't be moving without help. Bedrest for two days."

Shepard was about ready to chew the doctor out, but then she stopped. If this was anything like an Alliance vessel the doctor could override the commander. Even if it wasn't, Lawson would make sure that she stayed in bed to prevent anything happening to her prize bull. Or was she a science fair project? Shepard wasn't sure.

"Um," Kasumi said, "I'll go get Garrus. No offense Shep, but I'm built for speed and quickness, and I don't think I could lug you up to your quarters without injury."

"Uh, well, how about Thane?" she quickly answered, "He's closer anyway."

Kasumi gave her a doubtful look and then simply nodded and left.

As soon as she was gone, Chakwas eyed her for a long minute and finally asked, "What exactly happened between you and Garrus, Shepard? I'm surprised he's not here, following you around like a lost puppy."

Shepard snorted at the description. Garrus was never the "lost puppy" type. Alenko maybe. Never Garrus. Her heart twinged at that thought. "I just have to think a few things out," she replied honestly to the doc.

Chakwas' frown deepened but she didn't say anything.

"Do you need my assistance, siha?" Thane's familiar, deep voice resonated toward her.

"Apparently the doctor believes I need help to my room," Shepard said, sticking her chin up in the air. Yep. She had a hard time asking for help. Colony kid, through and through.

"Ah," Thane said, realizing that this was as close as he was getting to a request for aid, "Lean against me then. I will help you."

Shepard glared fiercely at the floor. This was pretty humiliating. Especially in front of Krios. Garrus would have been the better choice, but she needed some space to figure out what had happened between them. He wouldn't speak to her, wouldn't even look at her since…well, since they did the horizontal tango. What was going through his head? She didn't want to have that conversation without thinking it through first.

Selene eased into Thane's arm and was surprised at how warm he was—and gentle. She looked up into his eyes and she could see herself reflected back. Obsidian, but not cold.

"Ready, siha?" he finally said.

Shaking off her too-long stare, she concentrated on standing, but shooting pain blasted up her side as she let out a pitiful cry.

"It will be simpler if I carry you," Thane said simply, and scooped her up. Shepard was surprised by his easy strength, and embarrassed by her foolish weakness. She was glad that she now wore her loose combat pants and a t-shirt. At least she didn't look like the damsel in distress, although it appeared that she was playing that part a lot.


Garrus pounded mercilessly on the battery's main controls. He was disgusted with himself. He was no hormone-driven adolescent. He could have—should have—resisted her. She wasn't herself when he took her, as was now clear by her obvious avoidance of him. Spirits, he wouldn't be surprised if she tried to push him out the nearest airlock. He wouldn't even lift a talon to stop her either.

Stupid, he thought, striking the innocent buttons hard enough that his talon started to bleed. The blue streak of blood became distracting and he sighed, knowing he would have to swipe some medi-gel from Chakwas. Quickly exiting the battery, he was shocked to see Thane carrying a human out of the med bay, and then that shock turned to shame and anger as he realized it was Shepard.

He should be the one helping her, not that overgrown snake. But he had broken a sacred trust between the two of them, something that could never be repaired. To make matters worse, his breathing started to pick up. For once, he was glad to be on a Cerberus vessel. No one knew that he was doing the human equivalent of "tearing up." The hollow feeling he now felt inside was reminiscent of his time on Omega. It was fitting that they were now headed there. Perhaps he would offer to stay there—he would certainly ask Shepard if that was what she wanted. He would honor her wish, like he should have respected her inability to consent in that damned batarian slave camp. He was ready to die for her—either on Omega or the suicide mission or anywhere else she chose. Garrus numbly found the medi-gel, avoiding Chakwas' curious glances. He returned to his work. Without Shepard, he was already dead, he realized. She may have had the injury, but this mission had fatally wounded him. He began his calibrations.


Author's Note (another one): While I was writing this, I was thinking of the song "Roll Up" (cause that's so Garrus) and the older song "Everything I Do, I Do it For You," which has the lyric, "I'd die for you" which I thought was apropos. Please review!