To do a Great Right, do a Little Wrong
Garrus opened his eyes slowly. A bright white spilled around him, feeling his senses were extremely dull he tried to place himself. Feeling a tight burning all along the right side of his face, the pain extending down his neck, shoulder to the front of his chest. He blinked several times, immediately noticing the tech missing from his eye. Seconds passed as the room faded into focus.
Windows. Beds. Desk… Dr… Chakwas?
That couldn't be right. The last thing he remembered was being on Omega... his squad had been killed. He was alone. No, he was't… Shepard. She was there. He had touched her, he smelt her… Had he really seen her? Was he really on the Normandy now? Looking around him, he attempted to sit up. That's when he saw her. Clear as day- he saw her. She was laying in the bed next to him, silently sleeping. Her hair spread like wildfire, sliding his eyes over her pale body he noticed her bandages. She really was there. Opening his mouth to speak, he saw Chakwas walking to him holding a finger to her lips silencing him.
"She's quite alright, Garrus. You must take it easy. It's not every day you take a rocket to the face and live to tell the tale." Whispering with a smile, she pushed him back into bed. "You both need rest. She will be here when you wake up, Garrus. I swear it."
Chakwas was trying to keep him in place, but in the confusion of his surroundings and his accident he began struggling against her. He had to talk to Shepard- he had to hear her voice to know that he hadn't just gone insane. That he wasn't lying there dead back on Omega. That this wasn't all just a very lucid dream, or his dying wish playing back for him.
"That you making all that damn noise, Vakarian?" He heard her voice. It was light, soft... Just like he remembered. He dare not look at her in fear of realizing it was all imaginary.
Seeing her lean up from his peripheral, his pulse elevated. He looked to Dr. Chakwas urgently, almost as if he was begging for this not to be a dream. She gave him a light smile and a soft squeeze on the shoulder leaving the two alone. He still didn't move, he just lay there too afraid to look at her. He could see the figure next to him turn to face him fully now. Feeling his breath quicken. This would be the moment where he realized he had completely lost it, or when that despite all odds he found her again.
"How bad is it?" He asked finally breaking the silence, still afraid to look at her.
"Hell Garrus, you were always ugly. Just slap some face paint on, and no one will even tell the difference." She laughed closing the gap between them, joining him on his bed.
"Oh, damn it, don't make me laugh, Shepard. My face is barely holding together as it is." Finally he meet her eyes. They were hers. Big, emerald green and hers. She looked more tired than usual, with dark marks under each eye, but she was still as beautiful as ever. Her nose decorated lightly with those little brown marks he loved. Watching her, he reached a taloned hand out slowly, almost too afraid to touch her. Afraid that once his fingertips reached her, she would disappear again into thin air. But once he reached her face, he felt the warmth of her skin under them. He let out a breath quickly as he sat up, putting both hands on the side of her neck lightly, turning her head side to side inspecting her up and down. She smiled placing her hands over his. "You know, some women find facial scars attractive… mind you, most those women are krogan." He smiled back at her watching her close her eyes in bliss. "Shepard…" He started again after a moment. "How is any of this possible. Joker said he saw you… I went to your funeral. I-" Garrus could barely stand it he was fumbling to find words.
"I'm honestly not the one to be asking. Miranda brought me back. Well, more specifically- Cerberus did. If you didn't already notice." Signaling around them at the various Cerberus logos plastered on the walls. "Are you alright, Garrus?" She was afraid of how he'd react to the news, she didn't want the shock to ruin their reunion.
He knew just what Cerberus was... had been with her back in the day. The sick experiments that they did involving the Rachni and the Thorian. He had seen exactly what they were capable of- and he was seeing it again… Frankly, he was disturbed by their abilities. They hadn't exactly been known as the alien friendly type either. And generally speaking, when the human Alliance thinks your pro-human group is doing something wrong- they're probably right. But they brought Shepard back, didn't they? They had helped him on Omega before they knew who he was to her… But, it was Cerberus. "Frankly, I'm more worried about you. Cerberus, Shepard?" He kept her close to him, still holding her face lightly.
"I'm sure you know how bad it is out there… They brought me back to fight. I'm part of this huge plan to save the galaxy… Walking straight into hell to stop the Collectors. Win a war no one knows is coming, you know: the usual." Laughing softly, she held back her tears of happiness and remorse. She hated how sensitive she felt these last 48 hours, would she ever get control of this... of herself? "If I'm going to be walking into hell I need people I can trust by my side… I need you."
"You realize this plan has me walking into hell too right, Shepard? Heh. Just like old times." He whispered softly, pulling their foreheads together. He so badly wanted to kiss her again, to feel her hands running over his plates, and around his fringe. He missed her terribly, but he could tell that it still wasn't right, not yet. He just got her back though, one day there would be time for them.
After a moment they leaned back into his cot, he held her close to as each exhale brought them closer to sleep. Closer to peace. He couldn't remember the last time he slept so well. She couldn't either, but she couldn't really remember much from before the accident anyway, so she wasn't exactly 'reliable'. Bits and pieces were coming back to her though, still having nothing solid of the attack. Part of her time just before it was missing too. It wasn't easy stumbling around putting the pieces together, but at least now she wasn't going to have to do it alone. A lot could happen in two years she quickly found out. She could feel just how much that the last couple years had changed her best friend. He was still Garrus, though. Still her turian. He was willing to follow her anywhere, even into hell. Death couldn't even change that.
They woke the next morning in the same position. Waking up and seeing Garrus was easily one of her favorite things. Waking up in his arms, was even better Watching as his chest rise and fall, as his mandibles rest lightly swaying with each breath; She slowly reached her hand towards the side of his bandaged face. Hovering lightly over the wound, she traced the air above it. Not touching, she didn't want to hurt him; but feeling the space around it. Miranda and Chakwas had done it. They really had saved him. She hoped the price she'd have to pay wouldn't be too high.
Even if it was, she'd pay it.
As if Garrus could feel her hand hovering above him, he quickly shot a hand out grabbing her at the wrist, flipping on top of her pinning her beneath him. His eyes shot open and they were ready to kill. No doubt he had been living the life of a mercenary too long. He'd been living a life where Shepard had been dead for too long…
"I'm sorry. I-." She pulled her lower lip into her mouth, biting lightly. She was startled, but the feeling of his warmth on top of her overshadowed any fear that escaped.
"Shepard." He said blinking as he pulled one hand to her chin, relaxing a bit. "I'm not used to… well, this. You just caught me off guard. I've been living on Omega for two years remember?" He looked at her intently, studying her new face- the face with the missing scar. The face with those new scars… He found himself wondering if she really was the real Shepard. Would he have been able to tell if she weren't? If she were a clone or maybe something worse?
Hearing Dr. Chakwas clearing her throat he realized he had still been on top of her, removing himself he joined her in silence. It was time to face the crew again, they left the Med Bay together for a tour of the SR2. The Cerberus crew hadn't been as rude as Garrus expected, and he was excited to know there was a main battery for him to hangout in. She promised he'd have lots of things to calibrate, giving him that smile. His smile. Watching her, he knew without a doubt she was Shepard. He knew her. He knew that if that wasn't her that had been laying next to him he'd have felt it. She may not look exactly how she used to, but dying could do that to you, right? Being rebuilt would do that to you... He may not have been able to explain how her scars had vanished, being replaced by new bright uneasy ones. But she was Shepard, that much he knew.
He wasn't the same turian she left on the Docking Bay either. He had changed a lot in those last couple years. There was so much he wanted to share with her, but he couldn't find the words. Not yet. He could tell her all about what a colossal fuckup he'd been later. Now, he was going to enjoy this. Now he was going to enjoy her. A few days passed and he was cleared for duty by Dr. Chakwas. The cybernetics had done a great job fixing him up, and he felt incredible all things considered. Not exactly sure how he felt about having a face and neck full of them, but it sure beat being varren food.
It was finally time for Shepard to go to the Citadel to speak with the Council. She received mail from Councilor Anderson, he had heard the rumors and on the off chance she was alive- she was to report to him at once. She smiled at the message, it sure would be nice to see him again. However, she wasn't looking forward to speaking to the Council, especially after they had spent the better part of two years discrediting her. That and she was rumored to be working with known terrorists…
Before she could enter through C-Sec she was beckoned by an advertisement. That is exactly what it sounds like. "Commander Shepard, say the password and claim a free gift." A cloaked woman spoke from the digital advertisement, she had a purple strip down her lip and part of her chin.
"Silence is golden." She spoke to the advertisement after a quick smile back to Garrus remembering the dossier on Kasumi Goto.
"Nice to finally meet you, Commander Shepard. I'm a fan." The woman spoke again, curiosity in her voice.
"Are you now? What's with the password?" She asked stepping back into a heel crossing her arms comfortably.
"You don't get the title of best thief in the galaxy by being careless. Plus, I had to make sure you were legit. And now I know, you're the real Commander Shepard." Kasumi ended with a smile, eyes glowing beneath her cloak.
"How do you know that?" Letting out a little laugh and ending with a smile as she uncrossed her arms shifting her weight. Garrus watched her do this a thousand times before, now was no different. There was no doubt that she was Shepard. He was learning though, that she may have been real, but she wasn't the same person he left on the Docking Bay.
"You have a certain aura around you. Even never having seen you before, I knew it was you. Call it intuition if you want." The thief spoke, still smiling wide. "Kasumi Goto, but I assume you already knew that. Shall we finish this on the ship? You look pretty silly talking to an advertisement." And with that, Kasumi sizzled out leaving then in silence.
"Well, that's not something you see every day." Looking to Garrus, they made their way inside, it really was a strange and this was coming from a woman who took down a 2km tall sentient doomsday machine.
When they reached C-Sec clearance her body scan was denied, stating that she was dead. That was no surprise to either Miranda, Garrus or Shepard, explains to the C-Sec officer she had been reported as missing in action. Understanding, he sent her inside to talk to Captain Bailey about getting all that mess sorted out. She complied, making her way towards the Captain.
"I see the problem… My console says that you're dead. Now usually you'd have to go through the Station Security Administration to have new ID's admitted. Then to Customs and Immigration so you can have access to the Citadel itself. Probably want to stop at the Treasury too… 'spending two years dead' is a popular tax dodge." Captain Bailey smiled, after seeing the unamused look she wore on her face he continued. "But, I can see you're a busy woman. Why don't I just make this easier on us all and press this button right here?"
"That can't be legal." She heard Garrus over her shoulder, agreeing, she nodded back to him.
"He's right. I don't wait one or both of us getting into trouble over this." She turned back to the Captain when she spoke thinking of the repercussions, especially given her current ties.
"There is no way to fool that DNA scanner- you're you. Unless you like the idea of filling out massive amounts of hard copy paperwork, running around like a chicken with its head cut off and waiting in long lines better?" Bailey smiled at the Commander again.
You're you.
Those words made her relax a bit, feeling as Garrus set a hand on her shoulder briefly. He knew what she had been feeling, he wanted her to know he was there. Miranda noticed the display, scoffing quietly as she crossed her arms. Shepard ignored her pouting, only continuing to speak to the Captain.
"There we go, Commander. I just saved you about 9 days of running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. You're going to want to see the Council next. They'll probably want to know their previously dead Spectre is alive."
"That's exactly where I'm headed." She sent him her smooth smile saved for these situations.
"What the hell was the Captain on about? A chicken with its head cut off? What does any of that mean." Garrus asked shaking his head in confusion.
"It's just a human saying. When you're getting ready to eat a chicken you have to kill it, and if you cut off it's head well, it still runs around for awhile…" She could see the look of mortification in his' eyes, as Miranda covered her own shaking her head. "It's not as bad as it sounds… Or maybe it is… I don't know. I grew up on a farm- this kinda thing doesn't bother me. He pretty much just meant he wanted to save me time running around pointlessly. " She was trying not to laugh.
"Okay… And Shepard, what exactly is a 'chicken'?" He again after a second, even Miranda laughed.
The three of them made their way towards the Human Embassy. The Citadel looked so different from the last time she had been there. It was actually almost unrecognizable. She stopped at every shop along the way managing to snag herself discounts at literally every store she passed. Eventually the shops were bound to figure out they couldn't all be her favorite store on the Citadel… About an hour and several model ship purchases later, she had built up enough courage to see Anderson again. To face the Council again. Miranda hadn't approved of all the running around aimlessly, but she was learning to pick her battles with Shepard. This was one she would lose, so it was better to follow quietly.
"What have we here?" A voice came from behind Shepard. She recognized it immediately… Slowly she turned feeling the hair on the back of her neck raising.
"What are you doing here." Trying to stay in control of her emotions, something she never had to practice before became such a chore now. Garrus immediately noticed as she grew tense, moving a little closer standing tall he pulled his mandibles in close. The look he gave the unknown human was fierce and piercing.
"That's funny. I was going to ask you that. You seem pretty spry for a corpse, Commander." The woman spoke again to Shepard not regarding either of her companions.
"What does she want." Shepard asked crossing her arms, stepping closer to inspect the woman.
"Relax… If she wanted to hurt you, she would." Moving her eyes from Shepard over to her turian companion, letting a small smile slip her lips after noticing the gaze he held.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean? Who even are you?" Miranda finally spoke in her cold collected voice.
"You don't need to worry your pretty face about that, Cerberus. Not yet anyway. She'll be interested in knowing the rumors are true though…We'll be in touch, Janey." With that the human turned disappearing into the crowd.
Shepard didn't speak, but after a moment she nodded to Garrus and they continued walking towards Councilor Anderson's office. Garrus had picked up on her change in body temperature, feeling the nervousness floating around her. Now wasn't the time to ask though. Right now they had to deal with the Council. It was time for Shepard to 'officially' come alive again. They entered the room, seeing that the meeting had already begun. This wasn't surprising though, for whatever reason they never waited for her to actually get there before they started. Yet another thing about the Council she hated, more proof they didn't respect her.
Maybe I should have let them die… Kidding. Mostly.
"The Commander will be here any-, Speak of the devil." Anderson turned facing her with happiness filling his face.
"Anderson." She shook his hand affectionately, returning his smile. "It's been too long. I hope the last couple years have treated you well."
"It hasn't been easy… It's good to have you back, Shepard. We've all missed you." She felt his hand on her shoulder giving it a small squeeze as he looked to Garrus they shared a nod.
"We've heard some unsettling rumors about your return, Commander." The salarian Councilor interrupted them.
"We called this meeting so you could explain your actions to us, Shepard. We owe you that much, after all you did save us during Saren's assault on the Citadel." The asari Councilor chimed in.
"I think you mean Sovereign's assault, Councilor." Shepard corrected her. "The Collectors have been abducting entire colonies full of humans throughout the Terminus System. I think they're working with the Reapers."
"The Terminus Systems are far beyond the Councils jurisdiction, Shepard." The turian Councilor spoke finally, condescending as usual. "Your colonists knew this when they left Council Space."
"You're missing the important part, Councilor. It isn't about where they are, or how they're getting abducted. It's who is instructing them to do so." Anderson spoke up supporting her like he always had.
"The 'Reapers'- " The turian Councilor spoke again using his infamous air quotes. "I'm sure you've seen we've dismissed your claims. To suggest that there is a race of sentient machines waiting in dark space for us is total madness, even for you, Commander."
"It was only you and your crew that encountered the Hologram on Ilos, Shepard. And again you were the only ones to speak to this 'Reaper' Sovereign." Barked the Salarian Councilor.
"Just go to Virmire and speak to Virgil- Examine any of the millions of Reaper pieces that were scattered about the Citadel." She stepped forward filling with annoyance, how could they not trust her?
"This Reaper theory of yours only proves how fragile your mental state is. You've been manipulated. By Saren, and now by Cerberus." Growled out the turian Councilor.
"You can't be seriously suggesting I made all of this up." Growing more annoyed, even Garrus could see how out of control her emotions had been.
"Saren was extremely charismatic, he fooled the geth, and he fooled you. We believe you believe it- but that doesn't make it true, Commander."
"Saren is organic. There is no reason for the geth to follow him unless the Reapers were involved- He didn't fool anyone besides you three." Her words were getting louder with each syllable. "I saved you. I sacrificed human lives to save the Council and you took no time after my death to discredit me and make me look insane. You're going to have to start trusting me eventually. You owe me." Her tone was almost yelling now, but she felt a light hand on her elbow- grounding her. Pulling her back from the edge. What was wrong with her?
"You have us in a difficult position, Commander. You are working with Cerberus, a known terrorist organization and avowed enemy of the Council. You are committing treason. I'm sure you know the punishment of committing a capitol offense is-" Threatened the asari Councilor growing tired of Shepard's defiance.
"Enough. You've gone too far." Anderson spoke finally, swaying his arm as if he was erasing their last words from a board. "Shepard is a hero. We'd all be dead right now if not for her. I am on this Council, and I will not allow you to continue this whitewash."
"Perhaps there is a compromise. One both parties can be satisfied with. We cannot support you publicly given your current ties, but maybe there is something we can do to show peripheral support. If you restrict your investigation to the Terminus Systems and keep a low profile, we are willing to reinstate your Spectre status."
"I accept your offer." She said flatly, it wasn't much, but she could really use the extra sway being a Spectre gave her.
"We truly do wish you luck, Shepard. We cannot get involved with this- but at least now you can see we're supporting you. Hopefully you can cut ties with Cerberus before it becomes too late. Farewell, Commander." With that the Councilors faded leaving Shepard and her crew alone with Anderson.
Letting out a long sigh, she brought a hand to her forehead. "How can they be so blind?" She asked turning towards Anderson taking a deep breath in.
"They're just scared, Shepard. They have no idea what's out there." Anderson set an arm on her shoulder offering support, understanding.
"Could I have a few minutes alone with the Councilor?" She looked into Garrus' eyes and he nodded leaving the room with Miranda. "I know how bad this all looks, Anderson." She began walking to the balcony with him, the two overlooking the Citadel. It really was beautiful.
"I trust you, Shepard. I know you wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important. If it wasn't the only way." He sent her a reassuring smile. She knew he meant it.
"How has everything been, Anderson? Are you enjoying the life of a politician?" She asked already knowing the answer.
"I'm not meant for this kind of work… But I am making due. Sometimes I wonder if Udina would have been a better choice..."
"He wasn't. Udina's a dick." She retuned his smile winking playfully. It was nice to talk with him. Seeing another familiar face made her hopeful for the future. For the fight ahead. Maybe they could do this, especially now with the Councils 'support'. This was better than nothing, at least they weren't throwing her in prison for treason, right?
"I see you've been reunited with, Mr. Vakarian. He caused quite the scene after your accident." Anderson nudged her lightly with an elbow, his tone taking a more serious note. He knew her all too well. Being like a father to her had given him a rare glimpse at the softer side of Jane Shepard. He was one of the few people she actually trusted in this galaxy. She knew he would always have her back, just like Garrus would. His words bothered her though- had everyone known about his freakout? What exactly even happened? She hadn't asked Garrus about it yet, but the more people mentioned his meltdown, the more curious she grew.
"I- uh, yeah. I found him held up in Omega a few days ago." She said lightly watching the skycar's pass by.
"You should have seen him after the Normandy went down, Shepard. I thought he was going to kill Lieutenant Alenko." With that she pulled her attention his face quickly urgency filling her face.
"You were there?" She asked quickly. Another reminder at how bad she had gotten at controlling her emotions since dying.
"I'm the one who brought him to the medical center. Maybe that was a mistake- Oh, I don't know. I just had a feeling that he'd want to be there. I didn't realize you two were…" He trailed off, looking forward again as not to make her uncomfortable.
She looked down to her hands that rest on the railing. What could she say to that? It wasn't uncommon for humans and turians to form relationships was it? It wasn't exactly normal though either. Lightly bitting her lip, she thought on her words carefully. But they weren't really anything were they?
"It's, we're- not exactly…" Not being able to find the words she stopped trying.
"Oh, Shepard. You don't have to explain anything to me. I'm not going to pry, but I will leave you with this. You deserve to be happy. Especially at a time like this. I don't know what's going on between the two of you and frankly you don't have to say anything, it's clear as day how he feels about you. I think just about everyone in the whole damn hospital could see it." When he saw that she was becoming a little embarrassed he continued. "Alright, alright. I'm done."
"Thank you, sir." She smiled lightly, pink in her cheeks. "I should go. I've got a lot of work to do, and no idea how much time I have. Thank you... for telling him. And for sticking up for me. I know it hasn't been easy…" She finished growing apprehensive.
"He deserved to know. Life without you was hard on everyone. You sort of held everyone together, Shepard."
"Yeah, that's what I've been hearing... I'm just worried I'm not as strong as everyone thinks I am." The hopeful feeling she had in her gut was replaced by fear.
"You're stronger. I've seen you. What you can do. Don't ever doubt yourself. Ever. I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to. Don't be a stranger, Shepard." He finished walking her to the door, her companions waiting patiently on the other side.
"I'll be in touch, Anderson. Thanks again." They left the Human Embassy's with their next stop in mind. They were to head back to Omega, this time for The Professor.
