Back into 2189. Daniel from future returned Shepard and his group back at time of the demonstration of space-time travel. This time, no vortexes appeared. Everything went fine like nothing happened. Daniel from future wasn't present in the auditorium this time but on the other side, there was Daniel from past, the one who was saved from suicide. Things that changed in past didn't have much influence in the future. Even Daniel was saved, Shepard and his people found out what happened at hospital and how Daniel almost killed himself.
It was enough reason for Shepard to follow the original path of ending with the military. In result of that, Garrus remained with Tali, Shepard with Liara, the both Geth together and now even Daniel with his doctor. Garrus was finally able to sleep peacefully. After having so many troubles with nightmares, Garrus tried to compensate his deficit of sleep and it was obvious that Vakarian needed it. At one time it took him around 21 hours of continuous sleep. That appeared to be almost unhealthy, but nobody tried to find something bad behind it simply because Garrus needed it.
Tali with Shepard and Liara made sure the children wouldn't bother Garrus so he could rest peacefully and they kept the children off the room that belonged to Tali and Garrus. After such a long time of sleep, Garrus finally managed to open his eyes, stretched his limbs all around the bed, realizing Tali wasn't with him. Garrus propped himself on his elbows, putting one talon closer to his mouth while making a long yawn. He rubbed his eyes and looked around himself.
"Hmm, Tali? Where could she be?" Garrus asked himself, no response came to him, "A little bit too silent here. I'll rather check it out…" he said and sat up on the bed, grabbing his casual clothes and dressing himself up. He got up and walked out of the room as he spotted Tali sitting in the kitchen, staring blankly at her connected hands as if something was on her mind. At the moment the door to the bedroom closed behind Garrus, the sound alerted Tali so she looked at her husband who stood by the door.
"Garrus! You're awake…" Tali said and Garrus went inside the kitchen, sitting beside Tali.
"I've never slept that well in my entire life, Tali. Now I woke up and noticed the silence. Even the guest room for Shepard and Liara seems empty."
"Oh, yeah it is. Liara and Shepard thought they could take kids out and so they went shopping in wards."
"You don't seem happy about it." Garrus supported his head with hand.
"What? No, it's not like that. There's something else. I was thinking about it since we returned from past…"
"What is it, Tali? Is it something about Daniel?"
"Daniel is fine, Garrus… except for that we should go and see him for what he asked from us, it's something different." Tali said and stood up, walking to a window, "It's Veetor. If you remember, we left him at the hospital after Shepard choked him. I know he may be right, but I'm actually quite concerned about his mental state…" Tali explained. Garrus smiled, walking behind her and placing his arms around Tali's belt.
"Why such concern, Tali? You know what would happen if we let Veetor take Daniel. You saw how it affected future. We did what was necessary…"
"Garrus, you don't understand. Since Migrant fleet was wiped out, I and Veetor are the only remaining quarians in the universe, or at least we don't know about any other survivors. Veetor just wanted it back. He wanted our friends and families to be alive, and I can understand that. The only problem is that Veetor is neurotic. He cannot handle stress well and when he got Daniel, it was problem because of his biotics. The idea was fine, but Veetor shouldn't have done that…"
"Is that so? And what do you want to do now, Tali?"
"I was searching for information, asked hospitals and they told me Veetor was taken into mental hospital where Daniel was. For his neurotic problems, he is kept there and according to what I found, he is happy in there."
"Well, if he is happy, then I don't know what the problem is."
"The problem is that Veetor might be angry with me, with us… I don't want that. I like Veetor, he is still like my little brother that I care about. I think I should see him."
"Alright, let's go." Garrus answered simply.
"W-W-Wait! What?!"
"Let's go, Tali. If you want to have a talk with Veetor then we shouldn't waste time talking here!"
"But I… yeah, you're right. Let me just send a message to Shepard so they know we're not here…" Tali said and used her omni-tool to send a message. Once done, she and Garrus left their flat and headed to mental hospital. They entered the building and stopped at the reception where Thane Krios talked to the asari receptionist they both knew.
"Tali, Garrus? What brings you here?" Thane asked.
"We're here to have a chat with Veetor'Nara, Thane. Diana, is he able to talk to us?" Tali asked the asari receptionist.
"Veetor is now having session with doctor Tate. You need to wait before he finishes but you can take a seats next to Veetor's room." Diana told them and Tali nodded.
"How are things holding up, Thane?" Garrus asked.
"Honestly, I can't complain. There aren't any attempts on committing suicide like three years ago. After that, the security was fortified and all weapons were removed so patients wouldn't harm themselves."
"You mean Dan. I think we were just in time before it happened." Garrus said.
"Indeed but I can't see how you could predict that would happen…" Thane said and Garrus with Tali looked at themselves, then back at Thane, giving him shrug, "I guess it's better you were there. Herald Tate is surely happy for Daniel to be alive."
"They live together, right?" Tali asked and Thane nodded.
"I visited doctor Tate to see how Daniel was doing. From what I could see, Daniel is smiling again, but it's still the sad smile if you understand."
"We will try to help him. Now we have to talk to Veetor." Garrus said.
"Please do so. I and Diana have something to discuss." Thane explained and the asari receptionist chuckled which meant that these things were private. Garrus and Tali could tell Thane had spot for the asari and they were right because those two were together, and obviously they were happy to be together. Seeing Thane smile was also rare. However, Tali and Garrus made their way up to the second floor and sat down next to Veetor's room. Long ten minutes passed, Tali was twiddling her thumbs, Garrus could see how tense she was.
"I think… I forgot to check the door to our flat! We should go!" Tali stood up from the chair and Garrus pulled her immediately back in, taking her hands in his big talons.
"Tali, what is up with being so tense? Relax…"
"It's easy for you to say that, Garrus… I am afraid of Veetor being angry."
"You will never find out with running away. You'll see how the things will go. Once we see him we-" Garrus said, not finishing the sentence as the door to Veetor's room opened and doctor Tate went out, closing behind himself. He noticed the quarian and turian sitting next to each other.
"Ah! Tali'Zorah and Garrus Vakarian! It's been so long you two have been here!" Doctor Tate smiled.
"Good morning to you, doctor. How is Daniel doing?" Garrus asked.
"Oh, Daniel, that little sun of mine. I cannot be grateful enough for what you did to him. He changed his attitude since that time. He smiles and you wouldn't believe how nice it feels to see somebody like him smiling!"
"Are you two happy together, doctor?" Tali asked
"It's not like that we are continuously in bed but important is that we are there for each other. I have somebody to spend the rest of my life with. Yes, Daniel still has problems to be taken into public but I can live with that because of his diagnosis. For you to understand, before Daniel came, I was alone in my apartment and It seems that I gave Daniel some consolation since he is unable to walk… he also gave me consolation by coming to me."
"You seemed to be quite optimistic for living alone before, doctor."
"I was, well, I had to because of my patients, but in Daniel's case I didn't need to pretend anything. We are both much obliged to you and Shepard. Without you, we wouldn't find each other." Doctor explained and Garrus smiled.
"I'll make sure Shepard knows that, thank you doctor." Garrus said.
"Thank you too, Garrus. Also, Daniel was quite frequently mentioning your name and he wants you both with Shepard to see him. He said he wants to talk to you about something more personal."
"When can we come?" Tali asked.
"Late afternoons are free every day. You can come any day you wish."
"We will use that opportunity as soon as possible. Now we need to talk to Veetor. Can we come in?"
"Sure, Veetor makes progress so I think you could see him." Doctor Tate said and started walking away, "I and Daniel will be waiting for you! See you!" he said and left. Tali exhaled air long and Garrus helped to push towards the door.
"Fine, fine! I'll go in! Keelah…" Tali said, opening the door and seeing Veetor reading a book. Once he registered the movement of door, he looked up from his reading to see who would like to see him.
"Tali! Tali'Zorah vas Normandy and Garrus Vakarian!" Veetor cheered as he put his book on the table next to the bed, "Tali! Come in! I was thinking where you could be so long time! I wanted to see you!" he said and Garrus pushed her in the room. Tali finally went inside voluntarily, taking seat next to Veetor's bed. Garrus sat next to her.
"How do you like it here, Veetor? Are people here nice?" Tali asked.
"Yes! Yes, people are nice here. The doctor said I should be ok, only avoid stress situations!" Veetor answered with energy in his voice. Tali smiled behind her mask.
"That's… good, Veetor. I am happy for you… doctor Tate is a good man." Tali said, a sad tone in her voice.
"Tali'Zorah? Why are you sad? Did Veetor make you feel worried? I am ok! See?"
"No, Veetor… I was just feeling bad that I couldn't see you sooner. You know, things were a little crazy and… I know what you wanted to do three years ago and we had to stop you and… you wanted quarians to be back and…" Tali was connecting many things together, not sure where to stop or where to start, "and I believe your intentions were good, but we couldn't let you…" she finished. Veetor didn't know what to say, silence was set and Tali was looking at her thighs as if avoiding Veetor's look. She was afraid of his reaction and expected the worst from him to say.
However, it was different from what she expected. Veetor rested his hand on her shoulder, making slow movements down her arm. Tali looked at Veetor who decided to speak.
"I know, Tali. You did the right thing and I think I am happier this way. I am not mad at you, I cannot. You helped me in the worst times. I will always like you." Veetor said with calm tone. Tali moved from her chair and hugged Veetor.
"Thank you, Veetor! I will always be here if you need me!" she said.
"I hope you're still mine, Tali…" Garrus snickered.
