Thane cringed slightly as he pulled his jacket back from his shoulders. It had been several days since he'd been shot, but his arm still ached. He was having trouble adjusting to the lights in the med bay as well, they were far too bright. While he waited for Dr. Chakwas to return he heard a soft, pitiful noise coming from one of the beds. As he turned to examine the figure lying on the table he heard the med bay doors whoosh open.

"Ah, Mr. Krios, ready for your exam?"

He nodded then gestured towards the other patient. "Who do we have there?"

The figure's back was to him, clearly female though. He noticed the woman tremble as though cold. He was amazed at the violence of the tremors through the small body; the whimpering was getting to him too. Chakwas gave him a worried glance and walked over to the patient.

Placing a hand to the forehead and sighing deeply, "Don't worry about this one Mr. Krios, she will be fine, she just has to ride out the symptoms until the sedative I gave her kicks in."

He nodded, but something about the woman under the blanket seemed familiar, so he continued to pry, "Who is it?"

Dr. Chakwas had a strange look on her face as she emptily replied, "Just a random member of the crew Thane, don't worry she will be fine." Thane's eyes widened as an all too familiar voice rang out from the tiny being.

"It's alright Chakwas; you don't have to lie for me." The woman turned over and Thane met the ashen face of his Commander. Brina Shepard cringed as another tremor broke through her and then she gave him a weak smile. "Hi Thane…"

He jumped off the table and walked over to her. "Shepard, I had no idea you were ill." Her smile grew at the sound of concern in his voice.

Thane turned to the doctor at his side "What happened?"

Chakwas rubbed her temples in frustration. "Apparently our Commander here is allergic to Collector weaponry. A neurotoxin released through their bullets made its way a little too far into her bloodstream so now the commander is suffering the consequences of not checking into the med bay upon re-entry of this ship."

Thane nodded remembering how Shepard had taken most of the hits on their way out of the collector ship. His eye ridges rose when he heard a slight growl from the figure on the table.

"I felt fine when I got back on the ship…"

Chakwas clucked at Brina as a soft ping erupted from the comm. on her desk. "Well, it would appear Tali also has an infection that needs tending to. I'm going to go down to engineering and see her. Thane, I'm afraid your exam will have to wait. Theirs take priority."

He simply nodded as she exited the room, his attention now fully focused on the one woman he never expected to see in this condition. Her whole body shook, causing a series of bangs against the table. It was obvious Shepard had no control over them, and was trying her hardest to fight them. He didn't like the grey color her skin had adopted nor the yellowish tinge to her eyes. Even her smell was off, and it bothered him more than he was comfortable admitting.

Her face was drawn tight into a grimace and as another tremor took hold she let out a small yelp.

"Shepard…" he started and her eyes flew open.

"I'm sorry, this just really hurts." She whispered. Her voice sounded small and vulnerable, like a child's.

Before he knew what he was doing his arms were around her, trying to give whatever comfort he could. He did not like this feeling of utter helplessness as he watched her struggle. She pushed her face into his neck and cried softly, she made no sound but he felt her tears against his sensitive skin. He clutched her to him more securely and put his face in her shoulder, murmuring soft words in his own tongue against her ear. They stayed like that for what felt like hours until Shepard finally became still.

It took Thane a moment to realize she was asleep. Not knowing what to do he lay her gently back onto her pillow and just stared at her.

In sleep her face was rounder, softer. Not as scary or intimidating. He reached out and ran his fingers through her crimson colored hair, which reminded him so much of fire. It was something he had been aching to do for a while now. Her brow creased as she began to tremble anew and he held her hand. As her body settled back down again he felt a strange sensation on his neck, it took him a moment to register that it was her lips. His eyes closed briefly before she pulled away.

She smiled sweetly up at him. "Thank you" she said sleepily, clearly only half conscious.

He examined her face for a long time before replying "You're welcome Siha."

She looked at him confused, "What did you call me?" Her voice slurred and he knew the sedative was beginning to kick in.

He chuckled, knowing she was too far gone to remember his words, "I called you Siha."

She cocked her head to the side, eyes half closed "That's a funny name…" she mumbled before falling asleep.

Thane watched as all the stress and pain melted from her features. "Someday I'll tell you what it means." He murmured, though she couldn't hear him.

Seeing that she was finally and truly knocked out, he retreated back to Life Support. He resigned himself to meditating, trying desperately to ignore the need to recall the perfect memory of her lips on his skin.