Gas, Air and Rum:
N.J Jordbrukaren.
Chapter Nine: Liara T'Soni: Space Comedian.
"Bloody Shepard…" Traynor glanced up from her omni-tool after having checked it for the fifteenth time in the past ten minutes. The worry and anxiety was beginning to slip back in. Not that either of those feelings left a person when Shepard was involved. She could be anywhere. Cage fighting Elcor, eating contests with Vorcha, or, worse yet, drinking competitions with Krogan…
Traynor massaged the bridge of her nose. "Why did I ever let her out of my sight…?"
She had received a message from Shepard at some stage, telling her everything was fine, and that the rest of the team were 'Chillz nhg ffpt', whatever that had meant. A smile appeared upon her lips, her fingers tracing the poor excuse for a sentence upon her omni-tool display.
Her smile was blown away by a long sigh. Sam shut down her omni-tool. She would not be satisfied until her Commander was back in her arms. Safe. Protective. Just… Shepard…
Traynor's sad expression was replaced by one of fixed determination. If the Spectre was not going to come to her, she would just have to go and find her. And she knew just the place to start.
"Back to the apartment it is."
"Liara…" Shepard growled as she reluctantly pulled her lips away from her counterparts. She had not made the journey back to the apartment easy, thus far. Every flat surface had abruptly had Liara thrust upon it. Not so long ago, the Asari had obviously decided turnabout was fair play. And that was the precise moment when both of Liara's hands had pressed to Shepard's chest, forcefully guiding her into the wall beside the elevator with a resounding thud. Any sound of pain was swallowed by the Asari's all-encompassing kiss. "Liara-" Shepard hissed when her lower lip was softly bitten down upon.
"Mmm-hmm?"
Liara was doing this on purpose, wasn't she? Trying to stop her from talking. Taking her mind off things with…
"Liara!" Shepard trailed off into a moan and Liara smirked in kind. Who knew that slipping her thigh in between Shepard's legs would make for such an easy distraction? Blue lips moved to the heated, exposed flesh of the Spectre's throat, anointing it with a string of butterfly soft kisses. Everything was sheer ecstasy, the mere knowledge that her attentions and ministrations were doing this to the woman. It was breathtakingly beautiful. It was perfection. "Oh, god…"
Liara withdrew a little, if only to look Shepard in the eyes. Those poor, tortured eyes of hers. "Something you needed, Commander?"
Shepard turned her head slightly, hinting at the elevator. Which, in hindsight, was a bad move. Instead, Liara took advantage of her exposure, mouth, lips and teeth immediately re-ravaging her skin. Liara felt an indescribable thrill of arousal seer within her at feeling Shepard's erratic pulse flitting beneath her lips. It was other worldly, having this kind of hold over the most powerful being in the galaxy.
"T-The elevator…" She swallowed thickly, obviously trying to fight away her body's need to respond to Liara's touch. "-You need to press -oh-… the button!" But Liara didn't budge. She continued making the most of the position they were in.
But, apparently, Shepard had had quite enough. Before Liara could protest in any way shape of form, they had been spun around, their positions reversed. It was daunting but incredibly arousing having Shepard, this strong, powerful being cornering her. Liara's eyes fluttered shut as she felt her inner walls clench and throb with desperation and need. Her hand was lifted. She opened her eyes to examine what was happening.
Shepard kissed her palm before using it to press the button and summon the elevator. "Floor four, there we go."
Liara tightened her grip on the Spectre's shoulder. Her breaths coming faster and harder. And, by all accounts, Shepard was having the same issue. Blue eyes were stapled to the human's lips. She had had a taste and now she wanted more. Almost unnoticeably, Liara inched closer and closer, eyes remaining as focused on their prize as the rest of her body. "Goddess, I don't think I can wait that long…"
"It's been three years and three months, Liara. What's another minute?" Shepard glanced down, the grin swiftly falling from her sharp features. It was replaced by a look of intense need. Her gaze looped from both of Liara's eyes, down to her lips and back again. Wanting to keep the element of control firmly in her court, Shepard took the initiative to close the gap between them. Their lips came together in a passionate, but languorous kiss. One that was more about showing their deep desire for one another in a more tender fashion.
Their kiss ended just as the elevator chimed its arrival. Shepard, with a tight hold on her hips, guided Liara into the compartment, and off they went again.
The Commander, with much pleasure, took advantage of their positions. She held Liara in place as she abused the Asari's extremely sensitive neck folds. "Goddess, Shepard…" Really, Liara should have expected nothing less from the human. She felt the Spectre grin against her neck.
"Something you needed, Doctor?" Liara half moaned-half laughed at the semi repetition of her earlier question. "I'm a good listener."
It was Liara's turn to take advantage now. And she really intended to. She began grinding her rear to Shepard's front, relishing in the stoic presence of the woman's body through her own armour. "I know you are, but that's not what I am in need of, right now." Liara spun around on the spot, arms looping over the Commander's shoulders.
"Oh?"
"No." She nuzzled at Shepard's jawline. The way the woman's strong muscles twitched and tensed under her touch was enough to continue her unravelling, her entire body thrummed with desperation and want. Mouth mere millimetres away from Shepard's ear, she whispered in her best, most seductive of tones.
"I just want you."
Sam had entered the lobby not too long ago and was now relentlessly jabbing the lifts call button. Six minutes and counting. That was how long she had been waiting for a response. For the lift to finally come her way. Someone was obviously taking their time getting to floor four…
Eventually, Traynor abandoned her useless quest for the lifts attention. It was a pointless endeavour. Or was she just being incredibly impatient…?
Either way, it mattered not. With a sigh, she took a few steps back, arms folding around her own body. Dark eyes scanned the reception. She squinted upon catching sight of a familiar green sign. The fire exit. Which, for the most part, was almost always also the stairwell. Giving the lift one last glance (now on floor four), Sam decided to chance it. No one was around to stop her, and she was too worried about Shepard and her wellbeing to care. At least, if the Commander was not in the apartment, she could continue her search elsewhere. Problem solved!
Samantha keeled over somewhere up the third flight of stairs.
Bracing herself for the final staircase, Sam stared it down with an undeniable steel in her eyes. "How I managed my way into the Alliance is beyond me…"
"-Wait, I've got this…" Shepard slammed, literally slammed, her key card against the sensor bar. A momentary pause kept both Liara and the Commander on tender hooks.
*Bleep* A flash of red.
Liara giggled as Shepard jokily shouldered the door. As if she were about to break it down.
"Here," Liara slipped the card from Shepard's grasp. She grinned. The frown on Shepard's face was apparently unmovable. She delicately swiped the key card to the sensor. Another momentary pause. Liara smiled at the sheer amount of concentration Shepard was aiming towards the door.
*Bleep, bleep* A flash of green.
Shepard's mouth fell open, which Liara kindly drew closed with the palm of her hand. "You may thank me later, Commander."
One of the human's eyebrows shot up, a suggestive look taking hold of her face. "I promise I intend to, Doctor…"
Once the door closed behind them Liara turned around, starting slightly as she came directly face to face with Shepard. The Commander backed her against the door. "Forget later." Shepard punctuated her bold statement by running her tongue over the ridge of Liara's ear, smirking when the Asari shuddered in her arms. "I want to thank you now."
"As much as I want that, too, Shepard," Liara moved her hands to the Spectre's chest, using them as leverage to gently push her backwards. "I really must use the facilities." As she walked by, a blue finger reached out, tracing the sharp line of Shepard's jaw before falling away. "If you will excuse me."
Shepard never once took her eyes off Liara as she ascended the stairs, and Liara knew it. She could feel the eyes burning into her… well, some slightly unsavoury parts of her anatomy.
Once she was out of sight, Shepard sighed, the tiny motion causing her to drunkenly stumble ever so slightly. She had a moment or two to think, but she didn't. Instead, she went into the kitchen, popped open a bottle of whiskey and perched herself on the arm of the couch.
*Knock-knock*
Shepard's head jolted around to the source of the intrusion.
*Knock-knock*
"Shepard, are you there?"
An icy grip seized her heart in her chest. Samantha… Shepard could not budge from where she sat. She was frozen.
"Please, if you're in there, at least let me know that you are okay. I need you- I need to know so I can stop worrying." There was a lengthy pause. One so long, Shepard actually considered the possibility that her lover had left. "I love you."
Shepard's eyes slammed shut, the bottle abruptly coming back to her lips for a long, long drink. She heard the footsteps. Sam had definitely left this time. Not knowing what to really do, she brought up her omni-tool, typing out a message to Traynor as best she could, which really wasn't very great at all.
'I's gooood n safe wivv suum friiendzz. i luv u seee you when i c uu'
That would have to suffice. Shepard sighed, feeling her entire body deflate as she took another swig of whiskey.
"Shepard…?"
The Commander looked up, her eyes devouring Liara where she stood. This shouldn't be happening. This… this was wrong. "Hey."
It took four steps in total. Four excruciating steps before Liara was beside her, crouching in front of her, looking into her very soul with those beautiful blue orbs of hers.
Her face scrunched into deep concern. A bare blue hand reached out to pluck the bottle from Shepard's grasp, and that was when she noticed.
Shepard blinked. "You… you've changed?"
Liara smiled bashfully, looking down at herself in her modest state of undress. "I hope you do not mind?" The smile from Shepard was all she needed. "The armour is a great boon, but it does begin to wear after an amount of time…"
"What is mine, is yours." Shepard shrugged as she reached down, taking the bottle back out of Liara's hand for another drink before replacing it. "It suits you better, anyways."
Silence took hold of the air for a short time. Liara was not sure what had occurred during her time away from Shepard, but something was obviously bothering her now that was not bothering her a few moments earlier. She placed her hand upon Shepard's knee, rubbing soothing circles there. "What is the matter, Shepard?" The Commander sighed, hands reaching up to cradle her face.
"I'm an awful person…"
Liara smiled at the muffled sound of her voice. She reached her own hands up, prying Shepard's away and into her hold. "Is there a particular reason for this, or are you just speculating?" Liara's heart skipped ever so slightly at the small smile she had managed to coax out of Shepard.
"What are we doing, Liara?" Shepard gave the Asari's hands a gentle squeeze. Her lame attempt at softening the blow of the question.
Liara felt the heat prickle at the back of her eyes, the hotness swelling in the base of her throat. She had a feeling she was not going to like where this was going. She began rubbing her thumbs across Shepard's palms. She was unsure whether this was supposed to be calming for her or for the Commander. "Whatever do you mean?"
Shepard looked her in the eyes. "This. U-Us…" She swallowed back, no doubt having similar issues to Liara. "What am I doing?" She clenched her jaw, visibly so, head turning to one side to avoid looking at the Asari anymore. "What about Sam…?"
That was it. Liara felt the realisation stab into her like one thousand knives in her stomach. She would be hard pressed to say she had given the Specialist a second thought. It was too much to hope that Shepard had felt the same way. "Ah, Samantha…"
Shepard slipped backwards on her perch, letting herself fall comfortably onto the couch. Liara took the initiative, parking herself beside her. She took a long drink of whiskey, not really thinking about it as she did so. "But, with you…" Shepard took hold of Liara's hand, fiddling with the delicate extremity in her own hands. "With you, I really felt something, you know?"
"Goddess, I know." Liara took another drink before placing the bottle on the floor beneath them.
"I…" There went her jaw tensing all over again. Liara felt her cheeks heat up, things beginning going ever so slightly hazy. Perhaps it was a good idea she had put the alcohol down when she had. "I love Sam, I do. But…" She gripped Liara's hand a little tighter. Liara scooted closer, until her side was flush against Shepard's. She was so close she could almost have been sat in the Spectre's lap.
Liara felt her blush grow.
Maybe it was best not to think of things such as that…
"But what, Shepard?" A slender blue digit hooked upon the woman's chin, drawing her to look at Liara.
"But," Their eyes locked, and both sets of hearts froze. "I am in love with you, Liara T'Soni."
For a long moment, all they did was stare at one another.
And then they both pounced like wildcats. Liara pulled Shepard on top of her whilst Shepard leapt to be on top of her. Their lips met in a searing kiss, passion and love so strong between them. Liara parted her legs to accommodate the Spectre. Which was probably an unwise move.
Shepard had been correct in her observations. Liara had changed. She had slipped right out of her armour and straight into a baggy Alliance t-shirt. And that was all, besides her underwear, of course…
With her legs parted, the slightly chilled air was quick to make her feel just how wet she was for Shepard. The Spectre settled comfortably between her long blue legs as she let her lips slip away from Liara's own to kiss down her luxurious neck.
"Shepard, please…" Liara released a long, loud, erotic moan that made the Commander melt completely.
"Fuck." Shepard gripped the hem of Liara's borrowed shirt, yanking it over her head. And then Shepard froze.
Propping herself on one elbow, the other hand reaching up to caress Shepard's temple, Liara fought to catch her lover's gaze. "Shepard…? Shepard, is everything alright?"
Liara was beautiful. And, apparently, not a fan of bras. The Commander swallowed thickly. "Y-Yeah. You're just…" She shook her head, clearing some of the fog of lust. "You are so beautiful, Liara." Shepard ducked her head to carefully take one of Liara's nipples into her mouth. She wanted to draw more incredible moans from the Asari, and she succeeded. Liara flopped back onto the couch, back arching and moans flowing freely.
"Goddess…"
Shepard shifted her attentions to the other nipple, her lower half grinding against Liara of its own accord. Liara reached up, hand gripping her strong shoulder. Liara whimpered as a fresh wave of wetness flooded from her throbbing centre.
"Maybe one day I'll get you to moan my name, hmm?" Shepard smirked as she pulled back, tugging her own shirt over her head with an ease that bellied her inebriated state.
Liara laughed, but it soon trailed off into a moan. Shepard was magnificent. Her body… as if chiselled from marble. She was lithe, slender, but every ounce of her muscle was well earned. Her toned abdominals, her powerful shoulders, her throbbing biceps… Liara felt her grip on Shepard tighten. "I fear it shan't take long, Commander."
Shepard reached down, lifting Liara's hips with one hand as the other guided her ruined panties off and onto the floor. "I'm no slacker. I want to work to hear my name come from you."
Liara began writhing against the Spectre. There was a spot she desperately needed her new lover to pay attention to. In no time at all, Shepard was up, trousers and boxers tossed aside. Liara had little to no time to miss the Spectre's comforting weight atop her before she was back again.
They sealed their shared exposure with a slow, burning kiss. Liara threaded her fingers into the Commander's hair. She had only just discovered the texture of it, but she already knew that this was her new favourite thing in the world.
Well, that and the kisses Shepard started trailing down her naked body.
Shepard reached Liara's navel, making sure to pay extra attention to the smooth expanse of perfect blue skin surrounding it. She took this time to lift one of Liara's legs, hooking it over her shoulder.
"S-Shepard…?"
The small hint of nervousness in her voice was enough to immediately halt her explorations. "Are you okay?"
Liara's eyes darted everywhere but to Shepard's own. "I've… I have never done this before." Apparently, there was only so much liquid courage she could summon.
It finally clicked for the Commander. This explained a lot. She pressed a series of chaste kisses to Liara's lower abdomen, simply relishing the scent of her. "If you want to continue, I promise to take extra care." She pushed back up, kissing Liara soundly before returning to her previous position. "I'm in love with you." Shepard considered her next words. "Let me love you."
Liara could see the absolute sincerity in Shepard's eyes. And she did trust her implicitly. That went without question. Liara nodded her head. That was all the permission Shepard needed.
She placed the softest of kisses to the insides of both her lover's thighs, enjoying the ripple of muscle beneath her lips. Liara held the side of the couch with a white knuckled grip. The Asari could feel her mind swimming. Not just from the intense pleasure, but from inebriation, too. This was everything she ever wanted, for as long as she could remember, anyway. Liara kicked herself for second guessing whether this should be happening right now. Not on a moral level. No. Where Shepard was concerned, apparently Doctor T'Soni had no scruples. It was a matter of self. Liara could feel the heat of the alcohol burning through her. She could feel it altering her perspective. Everything felt fuzzy, both mentally and physically.
If she and Shepard were going to do this, she really, really wanted to remember every last detail.
But that chain of thought died with the tongue swiping over her lower reaches.
A stuttered moan from herself broke Liara's own concentration, her grasp on the couch increasing tenfold. Even the mere sensation of Shepard's calloused hands gripping her waist was setting her alight. It was all too much. Nothing within her would dare to protest now.
Another, slower lick had Liara shuddering, hand threading deeper into the Spectre's hair. "S-Shepard…" Another shudder wracked the Asari's body when she felt the Commander grin against her.
"Much better."
Liara half-laughed-half-sighed, her grip, albeit remaining careful, tightened within Shepard's hair.
"Much better." She parroted, voice strained. Goddess, so much better…Her back arched further off the couch, an (almost) silent plea for more. Everything was getting the better of her. The sensations, mind and body. For almost as long as she had known Shepard, Liara had craved this closeness with her. This love. This passion. Just Shepard. Now she was here… with her. Liara felt the blush creeping towards her face and she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with the copious amount of alcohol running through her system. She felt her shy demeanour returning.
"Liara?"
Liara looked down toward the gentle call of her name to be greeted by a pair of worried obsidian eyes. Those eyes. Blue finger's slipped from black hair, deciding to cup flesh, instead. Her thumb traced the Commander's cheek bone. Eyes the colour of the darkest night. The deepest space, yet so full of life. Just like Shepard herself. A person really could get lost within them.
Shepard clumsily wiped her chin against her shoulder before pushing up to come face to face with her. Probably not the most elegant thing she had ever done. Liara snorted as her heart swelled. Shepard's eyes softened impossibly more. "You okay?" She nuzzled her nose against Liara's own. "I can stop if you want me to…"
Liara felt her body seize. "No." She never wanted Shepard to stop. Maybe that was the issue. Her other hand moved to the Spectre's face, too. Cradling her as though she was the most precious artefact in the Universe. Because she was exactly that in Liara's eyes. "Don't ever stop."
Liara smiled as Shepard frowned. Perhaps she really had had too much to drink, but she found the human's eyebrows particularly interesting. She traced the sharp, dark line with her thumb.
"What do you want, Liara?" A fire flared to life behind the Spectre's eyes that literally blew the air from Liara's lungs. Knowing this attention, Shepard's attention, was all hers was arousing beyond belief. It was… exhilarating.
Embracing her temporary whiskey courage, Liara placed her hand atop one of Shepard's. She guided the hand down her body with the most excruciating of paces, until…
Liara pressed Shepard's hand against her centre, moulding it to cup herself. Shepard had been watching in between their bodies, but Liara hooked her finger beneath the human's chin, urging her to meet her gaze. Liara revelled in just how much she could see Shepard struggling to hold back. It was quite something, being the one to destroy the Legend's usually unflappable self-control.
"I want you to love me." Liara pressed harder, sinking two of Shepard's fingertips inside herself.
Shepard's neck drooped, her forehead falling to the Asari's chest. "Fuck…"
Liara's inner walls clenched around the faint intrusion, throbbing with want for more. Every inch of her needed more. Her fingers went back into Shepard's hair. "Shepard, please." The Commander never left a job half-done. Liara did not want her to start doing so today.
Slowly, but oh-so-surely, Shepard began sinking her fingers deeper inside her. Inch by glorious inch, only stopping once or twice to reassure her lover with kisses and sweet nothing's.
"Goddess, Shepard." Liara pulled her into a sweltering hot kiss that seemed to transcend the pair of them. Not one of them knew exactly when Shepard had begun thrusting, but neither was in a position to complain. Liara clutched helplessly at every inch of Shepard she could reach whilst Shepard pushed her closer and closer to the edge of oblivion. "I-I need-"
The Spectre cut her off by sealing their lips together. She knew what Liara wanted. She pulled back slightly, dark eyes meeting their angelic counterparts. "Go ahead."
Liara was prepared to take a few moments to rein in her bearings, but a particularly rough thrust from Shepard, hitting her in just the most perfect of spots, drove her straight into the meld. She at least tried to mutter an "Embrace eternity." Before initiating it.
It was beautiful. Not like before. Shepard never fought her. Never erected barriers to keep her away. No angry colours to greet her. Their joining was perfection. Shepard's body moved against her, moved inside her, but Liara felt her everywhere. Red hot within her veins. Within her mind. Quiet intellect, impossible strength, divine power, all of it surged within their link. It was undeniably Shepard. Liara's heart felt as though it was skipping beats at every turn. She had never felt anything so wonderful.
And, beneath it all, there was love. A deep, throbbing, intense love, the likes of which Liara never thought possible. And it was all for her.
Somewhere in the fog of it all, Shepard curled her digits forward, and Liara's breath caught. She clutched tighter at her soldier. They began moving together in a gentle but persistent rhythm.
Never, in all of her many (and there had been a lot of them) dreams, would Liara have imagined being this close to Shepard would feel so good. There was only so much her mind could conjure up. Only so much research she could do to add depth to her imagination. But no image or vid could come close to the reality. The love behind it all. It was the fuel.
Shepard traced her tongue in one of the sensitive folds upon her lover's neck. An erogenous zone not to be forgotten. Liara's hold upon her increased impossibly more. For the first time in a long time, Shepard actually felt safe. She allowed herself that much. Everything felt correct. Perfect. She felt Liara begin to flutter around her invading fingers, clamping around her and gripping for all their worth. She sped up the motion of her thumb on the ridge above Liara's opening. A string of whimpers and moans showing her she was unbelievably close.
Shepard was clueless to how she managed to stay away from this Asari before. Her beauty, her intelligence, her mental and physical strength, everything that made Liara who she is. It was everything Shepard loved about her. Without noticing it, this wave of realisation, the love, swept through their meld like the tide to the shore. It washed over Liara, filling her with everything Shepard had to give.
And that was the final push.
Liara's digits threaded deeper within Shepard's short hair, pulling tan flesh flush against blue. "Ah, Shep-Shepard!" Liara's impossible tightness clung desperately to Shepard as she was carried into an intense orgasm. The Commander continued moving against her, guiding her through orgasm after orgasm and, finally, the aftershocks, too.
Shepard collapsed atop her lover, but managed not to suffocate the Asari beneath her weight. Liara's breathing remained quite hectic as Shepard's settled. Dark eyes zoned into the fireplace ahead of her. She was looking, but she really was not seeing.
Liara frowned out of concern, her fingernails lightly scraping at the back of Shepard's neck. "What are we going to do, Liara?"
Despite the levity of the question itself, Liara could not help but chuckle at the muffled sound of Shepard's voice against her breasts. The Spectre groaned, not too unlike a child, before dragging a pillow over her face. Her sorry attempt at hiding from the situation at hand.
"Where did Shepard go?"
"Liara T'Soni, space comedian."
Liara smiled as she peeled the cushion away, tossing it somewhere behind them. Her fingers returned to playing with her lover's hair. "What would you like to do?" She felt the woman shrug.
"Steal the Normandy and elope with you forevermore." Shepard rubbed her face, giving her pause. "I could also go for a sandwich, right now…"
Liara rolled her eyes, good naturedly, of course. "You are a fool if you think I would let you pilot the Normandy. I still have nightmares about the Mako."
Shepard shifted her position, bolting upright so she could look down at Liara, mouth agape. "I'm offended. Genuinely offended." Her arms crossed. The pose did not have quite the same effect on its audience when the Commander was naked. "My driving is nothing short of magnificent."
Liara sat up, too. "Are you forgetting about the skycar chase with Vasir?"
Shepard eyed her, arms unfolding. "You just can't stand being so close to me without being able to do anything." Liara's face contorted into outrage and Shepard's flourished into a smile. "I've got you pegged, T'Soni."
"Believe what you must, Shepard. I am just here to keep your ego over-inflated."
"Ouch!"
Liara smiled, a bubble of laughter escaping her. It felt good -right- being like this with Shepard. Like it was always supposed to be this way. Shepard took her hand, threading their contrasting fingers together. Liara could sense that the invisible weight was now back upon her lover's shoulders. She stroked the back of the Spectre's hand.
"Seriously, Liara… what-" She swallowed thickly, attempting to look at anything that wasn't beautiful and blue. "-What are we going to do?"
Liara opened her mouth to answer, but was swiftly, and rudely, interrupted by yet another buzz at the door. Shepard turned to look at the surveillance feed. "Crap…" She managed to slip on her boxers, trousers and one sock, scooping up the rest of her gear as she got to her feet. "Go upstairs. Pretend you're sleeping." She scratched her head as she looked back to the feed, messing up her hair even more than it already was. "I'll think of something."
Liara threw on the shirt she had been wearing earlier. "Shepard?" She grabbed the Commander's hand, pulling her back to her and into one last heated kiss. They both parted, panting, eyes hungrily roaming all over one another. Liara caressed Shepard's jaw, eyes full of love. "We will both think of something." Their foreheads pressed together, noses nuzzling. "I am in love with you, too. Madly so."
*Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz*
"Sleep tight, T'Soni."
Shepard waited until Liara was well and truly out of sight before slipping on her N7 t-shirt and plodding over to the door.
"Finally!" Joker bustled through the door faster than Shepard every thought he could. And, from behind him, flooded in a sea of other crewmates. "I was beginning to think you were still out partying."
Shepard smacked her lips, palms roughly rubbing at her eyes. All part of the act. "God no. I was trying to sleep."
Garrus' mandibles twitched, his irritating way of grinning. "You don't say?"
"Stow it." They both laughed, but Shepard was caught short by the sudden throbbing in the back of her head. Of course the booze would choose now to take its revenge.
"Where's Doctor T'Soni?" Steve materialised beside Vega, bottle of water in hand. Water which Shepard promptly nabbed.
She took a swig before handing it back, her other hand gesturing towards the staircase. "She crashed up there."
Joker laughed wholeheartedly. "So both Liara and Tali can't handle their drink?" He laughed even harder. Shepard prayed he would break a rib just so the noise would stop.
"How is Tali, anyway?"
"Specialist Traynor kindly offered to look after her in our absence."
"Wait, what? Where are they?"
Garrus, looking as smug as a Turian could, gave Shepard a pat upon the shoulder. "She's safe and sound. Tucked up nicely back aboard the Normandy..."
"Shhuuuuuuum. Shhuuuuuuum."
Traynor bounced helplessly on the spot, hands wringing. "T-Tali? I really must insist you come down from there!"
"Wuhwuhwuhwuhwuh." Tali spread her arms as she span around on top of one of the med bay's beds. "Shhuuuuuuum. Wuhwuhwuhwuhwuh. Shhuuuuuuum. Wuhwuhwuhwuhwuh. Shhuuuuuuumaaanthaaa."" She paused mid-spin, stumbling ever so slightly. Sam outstretched her arms in Tali's direction, though, she wasn't sure exactly what she planned to do if the Quarian did tumble. "Shumantha."
"I, uhm… actually, it's-"
"Wuhwuhwuhwuhwuh." Tali looked towards her feet. "Help me down, Shumantha."
The Specialist jolted a little. She wanted Tali safely on the ground. Then she could go to her bunk and try not to worry. Try. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. It was times like this where Sam needed Shepard. Shepard's Gorgeous, bright smile. Shepard's strong arms. Shepard's soothing voice. Those things alone were what was currently getting Samantha through this horrific war.
She offered Tali her hands, which were accepted a little more heavily than thought. Tali thudded down onto the bed upon her backside. Her prolonged silence causing Samantha great worry. She held onto the Quarian's hand a little tighter.
"Garrus is handsome, isn't he?" Tali nodded to herself. "He is the Fleet to my Flotilla."
Samantha slapped her free hand to her face. "Christ alive…"
A/N: I apologise for the gargantuan chapter. I had a lot to say. Thank you for reading so far! Much, much more to come. *Evil laughter*
