AN: And now the exciting conclusion to last night's hilarity! Enjoy :)


Chapter Eight: Recovery

Karina just wanted to disappear. Her red hair was matted and sticky with the drinks she'd fallen into, her back stung with cuts, her white blouse was stained with blood, and to top it all off, one of her heels was broken, making the embarrassing journey back to the ship much more like a limping trudge. Cheap-ass borrowed heels, she thought darkly. You'd think Miranda would be able to afford something more durable.

Shepard couldn't decide whether Thane's hand resting gently on her shoulder should be on her list of misfortunes. On one hand, she was grateful for his comforting presence. On the other hand, however, she was mortified that he should see her looking so completely disheveled. Then Thane chuckled softly and Karina's fears were confirmed. He's laughing at me; he thinks I'm a complete idiot. "Find something amusing, Krios?" she asked dryly.

"You certainly 'spilled some drinks' tonight, siha," the drell grinned.

Shepard burst into laughter, grateful to have a friend like Thane. No doubt the odd pair elicited bewildered looks from passerby as they walked through the wards doubled over with mirth, but Shepard didn't give a damn. Catching her breath, Shepard glanced over at Thane. A broad smile was on his face, an expression that was rare for him, especially in public. Karina desperately wished she could make it stay there for him; someone so kind deserved to be happy.

In her attention to Thane, Shepard failed to notice that she was on a collision course with a sneering Turian. "Out of the way, human," he spat as he bumped her shoulder harshly in an effort to get through the crowd.

Due to her unsteady footing, Karina stumbled towards Thane, who immediately caught her against his chest. Karina cringed at the surprising amount of pain it caused; coupled with a lack of armor and the tender state of her back, the blow had been more than just annoying. "Asshole," she breathed.

Looking up at Thane, she saw that his earlier smile had immediately evaporated. His chest rumbled as he growled towards the retreating back of the rude individual, "I suggest you learn to respect others, especially those who are injured."

"Go fuck yourself," barked back the Turian. "Or is that what your little human is for?"

The assassin's face blackened with anger and Shepard placed a calming hand on his tense arm. "Let him go, Thane. He's not worth it."

Thane glared at the now distant form of the Turian for a few moments, then sighed. "Of course, Shepard. I apologize for letting my anger get the better of me."

"I was pretty pissed myself," Shepard admitted as she reluctantly left the warmth of his chest and stood upright.

Thane paused, looking away slightly. "I also apologize for his…offensive suggestion."

"Think nothing of it." Karina then realized what she'd just said and flushed. "Not that I don't… I mean...You…" Let's count how many ways Shepard can embarrass herself tonight! Jeez.

The drell just looked at her as she trailed off in a wordless state of embarrassment, his face unreadable. Then his hand returned to its now customary spot on her shoulder. "We're almost to the ship so you can rest, siha."

Surely even I can't cram my foot up my mouth in my sleep, Shepard thought as she nodded pitifully.


Shepard yelped as she lay on her stomach in the Normandy's medbay. She turned her embarrassed face up to see Dr. Chakwas lift her brow at her strange noise.

"That one sounded like a Pomeranian," the older woman teased as she carefully set down another piece of tiny glass she'd retrieved from Shepard's backside. When answered only with a glare from Shepard, she continued. "I believe this is the last one, commander," the doctor reassured her. "Good lord, it's like you crashed into a window factory."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Karina. Where had Thane snuck off to? Surely he too was injured. "What about―"

It was at that moment that Chakwas decided to remove a sizeable piece of glass, eliciting a sharp yell from Shepard: "THANE!"

Almost immediately the door to the medbay slid open to reveal the startled drell. "Shepard?" He quickly crossed the room to her, a concerned look on his face. "Are you alright?"

Muffled laughter could be heard from Chakwas and Shepard buried her head in her arms. Here she was, laying face-down and half-naked on a cot, having just yelled out Thane's name loud enough so that everyone on the Citadel was probably looking around in confusion.

"I was just coming to check on you," he said when Shepard didn't reply.

"The commander received some slight cuts, but it's nothing to be concerned about," answered Chakwas, who had recovered from her fits of laughter.

"What about you?" Shepard asked, craning her neck to look up at him. "I wasn't the only one to land in that pile of glass."

"My jacket blocked most of the glass," he admitted. "I only received very minor scratches. I wanted to make sure you were well first."

Karina smiled softly at the assassin. "I appreciate it."

"Nevertheless, I'd like to take a look at your injuries," Chakwas interrupted. "It's best not to risk infection."

"Of course," Thane nodded as he removed his jacket and turned around for the doctor's examination.

As Chakwas checked Thane's well-sculpted back for glass, Shepard quickly sat up and slipped on her shirt. When Chakwas found that his scratches were indeed trivial, she announced that the patients were free to go.

"Thanks doc," Shepard smiled as she got up from the cot.

"Always here to patch you up, commander," Chakwas nodded before grinning sardonically. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some rest. Or should I wait up for the rest of the crew?"

Shepard laughed good-naturedly. "Don't worry about them, Doctor. They aren't as accident prone as I am."

As the pair left the medbay together, Shepard looked over at her friend. "Thane?"

"Yes, siha?"

"Thanks for putting up with my shit tonight," she smiled weakly. "You probably don't think too highly of me now, what with me falling down all the time and screaming like an idiot."

Thane shook his head quickly. "Of course not, Shepard. I have always respected you greatly and I will continue to do so." The drell paused to smile gently. "Besides, it feels good to laugh after having spent such a long time without a reason to do so."

Shepard smiled wryly. "So no chance you could forget about tonight?"

The assassin grinned. "Solipsism, siha. It comes in handy when one wants to remember humorous moments as well."

"I don't appreciate being turned into a comedy show for your entertainment, Krios," Shepard shot back as she playfully hit his arm.

"I shall try to resist replaying our moments together, siha."

Something about the way he said that made Karina shiver. She immediately recalled their first conversation about his eidetic memory concerning lovers. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized that perhaps he would be replaying her yelled admission of her feelings in the bar tonight. She looked up at the assassin curiously. He had a most intriguing smile on his face and Karina desperately wanted to know what he was thinking.

Unfortunately, they had arrived at the door to Life Support; she could no longer examine his face for a clue as to what he'd meant. Shepard tried to push it out of her mind as she said good night. "Thanks again, Thane. We should do this again sometime―minus the injuries of course," she added.

"Of course, siha," he nodded and smiled once more before entering his room.

Karina found herself smiling like an idiot as he left. That smile was much too adorable.


AN: Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks again to my lovely reviewers! Especially The Outlander, who was kind enough to go back and review the chapters he missed. What a cool guy :) (if anyone catches that Adventure Time reference I will be thoroughly impressed)

Oh and I thought I'd share this Mass Effect related anecdote before I forget it: I was looking at my facebook news feed when I saw a post that said "go team jacob!". I immediately wondered why someone would choose Jacob Taylor as a romance option instead of thinking about werewolves. Be proud ;)