A/N: Yay, finally into the ME3 stuff. Sorry took a bit, work and all. Now if I only can have a job where I write all day instead of selling video games... lol. Anyways. Now that you are forewarned of all things chaffing (not really but hey) enjoy!
Although I like nervous Garrus, he can't always be like that. You know, he might not have a human fetish, but he never said anything about a hair fetish! lol, JK that would be just weird. Not sure when I'm going to have Shepard find his little note he left behind but I have a few ideas. BTW, when Victus's son died was the first time I cried when playing ME3. Supper sad. And everyone notices their affection towards each other no matter what they do. Everyone but Kaidan, whom I think is more than likely in denial.
Now for the elephant in the room: I am going to reserve my full judgment of the ending of ME3 until I have played the extended cut coming this summer. It may also have a drastic impact on what I end up doing for this fic. Enough said.
Chapter 9
Shepard tried not to seem hurried in any way as she made her rounds on the Normandy. The past few days had been excruciating and seeing Palaven burning just like Earth had torn her apart. Thankfully Liara was with her as they flew towards Palaven's moon Menae and had held her hand in reassurance. "Maybe he managed to get off world before the Reapers landed." At the time it had only been a sentiment and Shepard took all she could get. The only thing left now was hope and she did not plan on giving up on anyone from now on.
Those kind words started to seem very bleak up until the moment that Garrus just about pranced up to the war camp and injected himself into their conversation. She had not realized that she had been holding her breath. Her lungs had suddenly filed with air and the lead feeling she had inside her had lifted.
She wanted to hug him when she saw him but the way that the other Turians reacted to his appearance told her that it might not be such a good idea. Instead Garrus extended his hand and they exchanged an awkward handshake. There was a look in his eyes that told her that he had noticed the tension in his vicinity as well and they went about the mission like they were just old friends doing what they do best. Even James had acted a bit odd to the Turian's presence and only after Shepard had explained that they had known each other for years did he calm down. She still sensed uneasiness about the soldier but shrugged it off.
With the new Primarch safe on the Normandy and Garrus in the main battery, everything seemed a bit more normal. Now there was nothing stopping her from walking straight up to him and showing him how much she missed him. That is if he even still feels the same way too.
Garrus huddled over the side panel to the Normandy's cannons and busied himself with the new schematics. He mumbled to himself about someone messing with his baby as Joker pestered him about the Normandy going haywire.
"I'm telling you, everything is green on my side." Except for the hash job your alliance did on the weapon algorithms.
"Are you sure you didn't calibrate something wrong?" He understood that Joker was worried about the ship but it was starting to get annoying.
"You do know who you are talking with, right?" Garrus was so caught up in dealing with the agitated pilot and with recalibrating the weapons system he never heard the doors open and shut.
"Garrus, didn't waste any time getting to work I see."
He nearly dropped the tool he had in his hand when he heard Shepard's sweet voice over the hum of the ship. "Yeah, well after what I've been through calibrating a giant gun is a vacation. Besides I am sure we are going to need lots of them."
Shepard smiled at him and nodded. "I can't argue with that."
"So…" Garrus drew himself as close as he dared to her. "Is this were we, uh, shake hands? I wasn't sure what the exact protocols are in this situation or if you even felt the same way about me." Spirits I sure hope she does. "The scars are starting to fade, but I can go out and get all new ones if it will help."
Shepard giggled a little and looked at him like she used to with her bright green eyes. "I thought about you a lot, Garrus. It kept me going through some of the harder times." Her gaze seemed a little out of focus as her hand went over the middle of her chest as if she was remembering something important.
"Ah, well I've been doing some more research on Human customs. I didn't want to presume anything but…"
Shepard interrupted him by flinging herself into his arms and kissing him strongly on his mandible. The warmth of her lips enveloped him and it seemed like a lifetime ago since the last time he had felt them. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned into her kiss and sighed. After a few silent moments she pulled her face away from his and looked up to meet his eyes again.
"Sometimes, Garrus, you talk too much." She smiled at him coyly. Her hand gently ran down his neck where the bandage used to be and he shuddered a little as her fingers fell across the ridges of his scars. He had missed her touch more than he thought.
Garrus coughed politely to the side. "It's good to see that my… romantic skills made an impression." He tightened his grip on her to bring her even closer to him and rested his forehead on hers as they gazed at each other for a while. There was no telling how long they stood there embraced together as they let go of any thought of time. The panel next to them started beeping loudly interrupting their tender moment and they pulled apart hesitantly. "I guess we both better get back to work." He did not want her to leave.
"Yeah. Hey," Garrus looked back at her hopefully. "Diner tonight up in my room." Shepard smiled deviously at him as she swayed her body away from him.
Garrus nodded in agreement. "This time, I will bring the good stuff." He reached over behind a crate and pulled out a bottle of wine he had managed to snag before they left Palaven. She gave him a small wink and left him to his work.
"I can't believe you went to your father!" Shepard sat back with her drink in amazement. "Last time I checked, you weren't really on good terms with him."
Garrus nodded as he washed down his food with wine. "Yeah. What I can't believe was that he actually believed me."
Her mouth dropped open in shock. "No way."
"Yup, even took it to the Primarch."
"I like his style." She was starting to piece things together little by little. "So that's how you got your Reaper Task Force."
"A token title, but it got us what we needed to be ready for the invasion."
"Oh, by the way, I noticed generals saluting you. How far down the line of secession are you these days?" She grinned at him and Garrus almost chocked on his drink.
"Yeah… lets not talk about that." He turned his head away from her.
"You know, I always thought you were noble but a prince? Now that is something I'd like to see." Garrus noticed a tiny twinkle in her eye as she crossed her arms at him.
"Only for you, Lexi." He hoped it did not come off as a bad joke.
Shepard giggled anyways and gave him a sheepish look. "I do have to ask though. Did you tell your father? You know, about us?"
Garrus looked off to the side slightly and put down his drink. "Not really. He, ah, sort of found out on his own."
She gave him a confused look. "Um, what?"
He was glad that Turians did not blush. "Yeeah. I told you I have done more research on Human customs. Well… it was kind of hard to hide all the pads I had about and he might have picked one up and saw what was on it."
Shepard blushed a bright pink. "Ah. Got it. So what did he say?"
"I guess you could say that he approves."
She blinked rapidly at him. "He does?" Garrus nodded. "Wow."
"I know."
"Have you heard from him since we left?"
Garrus shook his head. "My sister is still there on Palaven too."
Shepard took his hands in hers and moved closer. "They will be ok, Garrus."
"I hope so." A moment of silence passed over them. "How is your mother?"
She shook her head as well. "I haven't heard anything since I left Earth."
It was Garrus's turn to pull her close. "Lets talk about something else." She nodded in agreement. They both did not want to think about such things. "How was being quarantined?"
Shepard gave him a strange look. "Well, aside from the constant push off from the Alliance Board, pretty uneventful. I…" She stopped in mid sentence and her brow scrunched up awkwardly.
"What is it?" He was generally worried when she made that face.
"I wrote you every day I was there. But now, you will never get to read them." A tiny tear escaped and rolled down her face. She quickly wiped it away in hopes he did not noticed.
"About what?" He was slightly curious. He already knew that they would not allow any communication to or from Shepard so he never tried to write her. Now he felt like he should have at least tried.
Shepard smiled at him. "Anything and everything. I even wanted to tell you that I grew my hair out for you."
Garrus nuzzled his face into her neck. "I noticed. It is beautiful." It seemed like she was making it a point to always have her hair down now when they were alone together.
"So… what is this about this research you were doing?"
Garrus rested his forehead on her again and stared into her eyes and pulled lightly on her clothing. "How about I show you?"
Shepard lay in a tight ball fast asleep next to him as he held her close. He was very glad that he had researched the things that he did. It made things a lot easier between them. Granted it had been months since they were last together, but compared to those nights they were perhaps just a little clumsy and a tad awkward. Now Garrus knew were to touch her and how to move properly and putting those things into reality was a lot easier than he thought. It had been a lot more stimulating as well. Of course it had been enjoyable before but now he did not have to worry if he would do something wrong or accidentally move in a way that could potentially harm her.
Garrus smoothed the top of her hair out and gave her a light kiss before slowly unwrapping himself from around her so that he would not wake her. He could not sleep at the moment and he had been eyeing the holo-locket he gave her that was laying on her nightstand. Carefully he picked it up between his talons and quietly moved off towards her desk. After a few moments he was able to pop off the back with a few tools he was able to find in the armory and fiddle with the chip. He wanted to leave her a special message for the next time that she used it. When ever that may be.
"I am truly sorry about your son." Shepard hung her head as she tried to fight back tears as she told the Primarch about his son's sacrifice. Garrus slid closer to her without actually touching her and gave her a reassuring look as he straightened up into his soldier stance.
"Sacrifice in war is expected. He did us proud, but we're a hard bunch to please."
Primarch Victus raised his brow slightly and looked at both of them. "My son died with the respect of his men. I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you, Commander."
She gave him the best smile she could and nodded. "We will make sure that he is not forgotten."
Wrex was huffing in the background over his terminal and they could hear him vaguely mumbling something about a scalpel. "I need to catch up with Dr. Mordin and make sure the geophone cure is coming along as planed." Shepard excused herself from the two Turians and stopped briefly for a quick word with Wrex.
The Primarch watched Shepard walk out of the room before he turned toward Garrus and gave him a look. "After talking with your Commander a few times I understand how you can find her attractive."
Garrus choked and shock filled his face. "I, uh… How did you know?"
Primarch Victus chuckled at him and crossed his arms. "Even if there wasn't rumors back home, I can see how you two look at each other." He turned back towards the terminal and clicked it back on. "She is as honorable as any Turian that's for sure."
Garrus glanced over toward the door she had left through. "Yeah."
Mordin was humming again when she entered the med bay and Eve was swaying a little to the beat. Shepard smiled as she listened to the song.
"Thank you Mordin." Eve shifted to a more comfortable position.
"Still prefer patter songs." Both Even and Shepard chuckled at him.
"How are things going, Mordin?" Shepard leaned up against the side of the table and looked over at the samples.
"Good. Got skin samples from Wrex, getting close to cure." Mordin's hands busied over his work.
"Yeah, he said something about that. I hope you are planning to stick around after all this is done. We could use another good doctor again and with the increase of the number of crew I'm sure Dr. Chakwas would enjoy having another set of hands to help with the more alien crew members."
"Until the Reapers are dealt with. After, not sure, might go somewhere sunny. Sit on beach, look at ocean, and collect seashells." Mordin looked off into the distance thoughtfully. Shepard giggled at him.
"You'd go stark mad within an hour."
"Maybe run test on seashells." He grinned at her. "Speaking of which. I see Garrus has been regularly visiting the elevator. Test stage finished? Do you need more antibiotics?"
Shepard felt her face grow hot. "I, uh, think we have it under control. Dr. Chakwas gave me another checkup not long ago and I am perfectly fine. No bad reactions to my implants or other… things. Besides, someone was kind enough to leave the last kit alone."
If Mordin could smile any bigger his face looked like it would snap in half. "Good to hear. Still recommend not to… ingest."
"Y-yes. I know. We are careful." Shepard swallowed the lump in her throat and wished the room did not feel as hot anymore.
Mordin nodded his head at her. "Oh, sent a new kit to your room. Read instructions to use correctly. Think there may be need of it in the future."
"Do you know something I don't, Mordin?" Shepard crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Not unless there are plans of running off or scrutiny." His attention was back on the skin samples in front of him.
"Are you pulling my leg?" Shepard narrowed her eyes at him.
"Shocking, Commander! Would never dream of mockery!" She could hear Eve chuckling behind her shaman mask and grinned at him.
"Of course not. Thanks for everything."
Garrus left the refugees feeling only slightly better. There was no word yet from his family but plenty of reports from Palaven. At least people are actually able to get off world. From what Shepard told me, it is damn nearly impossible on Earth with Harbinger standing watch. Hell, they barely made it out of there themselves. That in itself was not comforting to say to her though. Even though she was not born there it was still her home and it was burning just as badly as his.
He had told her that he needed her more than ever now. Granted the whole galaxy needed her but he had learned that sometimes it was ok to be a little indulgent and want something for oneself. Garrus let out a deep breath and hit the elevator to the hospital. Shepard told him that she was going to go visit Kaidan since he was actually conscious now. Normally he would have been worried but not after she had told him what really happened between them. He almost felt sorry for the guy but being in a one-sided relationship just made it impossible.
The view changed drastically as the elevator passed through the presidium and he looked longingly towards the high spots where he had always wanted to go when her served in C-Sec but had followed the rules like a good Turian. One day he would. Then an idea popped into his head. Hmm… now that would be something.
Shepard tried to smile at Kaidan. His face looked like it had taken one too many rounds with a drunk Krogan and she was sure it felt like it too. "I'm sorry Kaidan."
Kaidan tired to move and it looked like he was about to break something. "It's ok. I got too curious."
"Yeah, I remember there was once a young LT. telling me that a long time ago."
Kaidan tried to laugh and failed short of two huffs. "Never going to let that go are you?" Shepard grinned mischievously at him. "Look, I'm glad you came by. I wanted to talk."
"About?"
"I am really sorry about not coming back the first time. I should have, I just…" Kaidan grasped for words to explain himself.
"It's ok. I forgive you." There was no way she could truly be mad at him in this state.
"Yeah. I know I said some pretty hurtful things to you, and Garrus too. We are all friends and I don't want there to be any bad blood between us."
Shepard nodded at him. "I get that. I will be sure to let Garrus know that too."
Kaidan looked back at her with an odd look. "You found him?"
"Yeah, at least this time we weren't dodging a merc gun and just a Reaper blast. Palaven's is burning too."
"Shit." He looked back off to the side in deep thought.
Shepard finally stood up and patted the side of his arm, the only place she could see that did not look like a piece of bad fruit. "Get better Kaidan. We could really use you out there. I will see you later."
"Yeah. See you Commander. I'm sure as hell not going anywhere." Kaidan seemed a little gloomy again.
"If you need anything just let me know."
The hallway of the hospital was littered with patients waiting to be admitted and a few lying in cots being treated on the spot. It was good to see Kaidan but she was more than ready to be away from such a place. The place smelled too much like death. Shepard walked as fast as she could without seeming rude. By the time she reached the elevator the doors opened and she saw Garrus looking down at her.
"Hey, you didn't have to come get me. I'm well able to ride this bad boy by myself you know." She teased him slightly and squeezed in next to him as he hit the button for the docking bay.
"Yeah, I know." Something in his voice told her he was planning something.
"Being mischievous are we?"
"Hmm… Maybe." They laughed together on the ride back to the Normandy.
