As usual everything from the MASS EFFECT universe belongs to Bioware/EA.

I'm still working on my English writing skills so please forgive any typos or wrong grammar.

I just realized that I totally forgot that Turians are communicating with subharmonics… sorry for that but I try to put it in as best as I can!

Thanks to the few interested guys out there. ;)


Ch. 7

They left the Citadel about forty-five minutes after the shuttle that should bring Ash back to earth. The way back to the shuttlebay was silent, nobody wanted to talk about what had happened. Vega eyed the Admiral as they were sitting in the shuttle. He looked totally fucked up. What was no real surprise after what he's been through but still something about him bothered Vega.

He placed his Assault Rifle between his legs and waited to return to earth.

Damn I hope Lola is alright…

His Omnitool lit up with an incoming videocall from Admiral Hackett.

"Major, good job on the Citadel"

"Thank you Sir. Have you heard from Major Williams?"

"She's in surgery right now, it didn't look good Major. I await your report as soon as you return."

"Of course Sir…" he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Do I really wanna know bout Lola?

"…And Sir?"

"Yes Major?

"Ehh… something new about the Commander?" he bit his lower lip as he waited for Hackett's answer.

"She is awake." Vega sighed in relief. Yeah that's Lola I knew it.

"I haven't got exact information of her actual condition but Officer Vakarian messaged me that she was awake. I'm on my way to the hospital right now."

Vega stood up and walked through the full shuttle.

"Sir, if you don't mind I would like to come over to the Hospital and see her too. I could report to you right there."

"Good Major. I'll be waiting. Hackett out."

Vega rubbed the back of his head as he walked back to his place. Admiral Anderson looked at him and as he sat down.

"Major Williams is in surgery right now, Admiral Hackett said that it doesn't look good."

It doesn't bother him? What's with this Loco?

Anderson just sat there, still looking at him but it was like he was looking through him, like he wasn't really there.

Vega cleared his throat and the Admiral snapped out of whatever kind of dream he was in.

Vega shook his head and sighed. "Shepard is awake."

The eyes of the Admiral lit up at that. "Thank god she's fine…" the rest was mumbled and Vega didn't understand it. Mental Note: Tell Hackett how fucking weird Admiral Loco is. Ok not in that words but still.

He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.

"ETA 10 minutes" the voice of the Pilot was coming from the Speakers.

Vega sighed again, let his fingers crack and waited.


He was sitting in the same room for, he wasn't sure how long. He never left her side the entire time. She was lying in her bed, awake, weak but she was talking with him for the whole morning now and he enjoyed every single second of it. He was holding her hand in his, caressing it as he listened to her talking about all and sundry. He was purring in happiness, spirits know how much he loved her. Admiral Hackett has visited a few days ago, checking in on Shepard. As Hackett told her that the Alliance couldn't wait until she was back to a hundred, Garrus was surprised that she said that she'll leave the Military. No more Missions, no more killing, hunting or flying through the whole damn Galaxy. Just a normal life. He never told her that her Military career was over so this was unexpected but not just to him. To say Hackett was disappointed would be understated but he accepted her choice and left, telling her that the necessary papers would be here shortly.

Vega was supposed to visit today.

She was laughing about a joke he had told her as someone knocked at the door.

"Come in." Shepard said.

Garrus turned his head to see that Vega has entered the room.

"Hey Lola" Vega smiled at sight of her "… hey Scars" Vega nodded to Garrus. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than expected, the Cerberus-Cybernetics are still making a good job. Plus I got a few Painkillers..." She smiled back to Vega. "…So Major tell me what's going on outside?"

"Not much Commander, still cleaning up, trying to get the Relays back online. Same as every day." Vegas eyes wandered through the room. "There are rumors that you'll leave the Alliance."

Garrus watched her as she sighed. "Yeah Vega it's true, I have enough of killing, just want a normal life." She looked at Garrus smiled , he knew what she wanted to tell Vega, he smiled back at her.

"Hackett was talking with me earlier this day about Alliance future." She coughed slightly. "And I recommended you Major Vega, to get command over the Normandy."

Garrus laughed silent at the expression on Vegas face. He thought that he knew most human expression but this was new to him. His mouth was open and his eyes looked like they wanted to jump out of his immediately as he looked at Shepard in disbelief. He stumbled, enabled to form proper sentences.

"Relax Vega" Shepard said softly. "But I think you should meet up with Hackett a.s.a.p. And take care of her." She laughed slightly as she heard Garrus chuckle in the Chair.

"Ehm… Thanks… I… Yeah… Ehm… I should…" and with that Vega left the room still confused.

"Poor boy" Garrus chuckled. "I never saw someone so confused. You sure he's ready for that?"

"Sure. He's a great Soldier and he's going to be a great leader." She yawned. She still needed to rest. "Aww im tired again."

Garrus gave her a typical Turian smile, leaned forward and kissed her softly.

"You should sleep. I'll stay and be here when you wake up."

She smiled back at him with heavy eyes. "Thank you Garrus for being her with me…" the following "I love you." was not much more than a whisperer.

"I love you too Zoe" he whispered back. He waited till she was asleep, then he stood up and left the room. There must be an bigger bed for her in this Hospital.


"Congratulations Major Vega" Hackett said to him. "Now you are officially the commanding officer of the SSV Normandy." That's Loco. Commander Shepards ship… Mine ship… Fuck me…

"Thank you Sir!" Vega saluted. Shepard's fine, Ash will make it and I'm in command of the Normandy… The best things come in threes I guess.

He stood in the Admirals office, shaking hands but his mind was elsewhere.

As soon as he was allowed to leave the office he made his way to the spaceport to enter the Normandy as her CO. Joker and Chakwas were awaiting him. Joker saluted at him with a grin. "Welcome aboard Major." Vega returned the salute and the grin and entered HIS ship.


To my few readers a huge sorry for the long gap but my mind was totally empty… I had to fight with this chapter… Its not much, I know but no muse no writing ;) I still hope you enjoy it!