The Hermit, Reversed: Isolation from others. A resistance towards help. The reliance on one's own resources that are inadequate.

"This is just about the prettiest refugee camp I've seen," Shepard said, craning her neck from side to side to take everything in.

The quarian refugee camp had more color than any of the other camps she had seen. They used the same standard tents as all the others, but they were practically on top of each other, as if the quarians were trying to recreate the camped quarters of the flotilla here on Earth. Colorful scarves and sheets of fabric were draped over the tent and flying from the door flaps.

"Shepard! Garrus!"

Tali waved eagerly, standing on the top step of the only prefab in the encampment. Shepard was thrilled to see that Tali looked much healthier than the last time she saw the quarian. While she hadn't gained all the weight back, there was no longer a looseness in her suit. She and Garrus both were truly beginning to put the hard months on the Normandy behind them.

The quarian camp was busy; Tali said a great deal of quarians decided to stay on Earth instead of their ships, wanting to practice for when they returned to Rannoch. All the quarians Shepard saw wore environmental suits, but there were several without masks. They must have been volunteers, allowing the geth to upload into their suits to rewrite their immune systems.

There were even a few children plodding around in their bubbles. The variety of skin colors fascinated Shepard. A few had skin the shade of Tali's, a dusty lavender. Others were deep maroon, and Shepard thought she saw someone with almost pale pink skin.

"About time you bosh'tets got here," Tali said. Shepard recognized Tali's body language as absolute happiness. "Isn't today a beautiful day?"

"Someone's happy," Garrus said.

"I am," Tali said with a hint of superiority. "And if you're lucky I will tell you why."

"I know why you're happy," Garrus announced. "Because we're finally paying you a visit."

"If this was a friendly visit, that would make me happy," Tali said. "I can tell just by looking at you both you want to talk business." She sighed dramatically. "Let me give you the tour, less people to overhear."

She pointed at the prefab. "This is where the admirals work," Tali said. "Xen and Koris are on Rannoch, but Raan, Gerrel and I use that as an office."

"How are the quarians on Rannoch doing without the geth?" Shepard asked as they started to walk.

"It's sad," Tali said. "They'd been helping for two months. People were to used to them. And now they're gone." She shook her head. "Xen was - is - furious. Raan said she wanted to charge the Alliance with war crimes against the quarian people."

"Really?" Shepard said slowly. She still remembered the letter Xen had sent her after Tali's trial with bitterness. Lashing out about war crimes seemed right in line.

"Don't worry," Tali said, patting Shepard on the shoulder. "the other admirals stopped her right away. She's convinced she can bring them back somehow. And it doesn't hurt anyone if she tries."

"Best of luck to her," Garrus said. Shepard watched his mandible flick in impatience. "I can't take this anymore. Why are you so damn happy, Tali'Zorah?"

"You are just going to have to wait, Garrus Vakarian," Tali said, sounding smug. "I thought you had official, important business to discuss with me."

"It can wait," Garrus said, looking at Shepard. "It can wait, right?"

"It can wait," Shepard said, nodding her head. She was just as curious as Garrus was to know what made Tali so happy.

Tali led them through a small maze of tents. "This one is mine," she said proudly. Purple scarves and veils decorated the wall. They all sat down companionably on the floor. "I've never had a space this big all to myself before. I like it. I can't even imagine what having a whole house will be like on Rannoch."

"It's lovely, Tali," Shepard said. Tali had managed to make the standard tent feel much more homey and comfortable. "So why are you happy?"

Shepard didn't need to see past Tali's mask to feel her joy. "Because Kal'Reegar is alive," she said, her voice cracking. "I just found out yesterday."

"Oh, Tali," Shepard said softly. She knew Tali and Reegar had become quite close when Tali had been back with the flotilla during Shepard's confinement, even going as far to take the first step to begin the process of linking suits.

But then the Reapers invaded. Tali had said it broke her heart, but she and Reegar both agreed that they needed to concentrate on the war. A noble attitude, but one Shepard couldn't understand. She simply couldn't picture fighting the war without Garrus by her side. She wished Tali would have let herself have that comfort as well.

The night when Shepard had read the news article, announcing Reegar's death, Tali had come up that night and the three of them, Shepard, Garrus and Tali drank heavily, mourning for her friend. Shepard and Garrus had purposely ignored the quiet looks of jealousy Tali threw at them every so often. And after Tali left, their embrace had been tighter than it had been the night before. Neither one of them wanted to think how easy it was to lose the person you love, thanks to the Reapers.

"Reegar's alive?" Garrus asked. "Spirits, that's good news. What happened?"

"He was hurt pretty bad, a coma," Tali said. "I guess someone just made an assumption that his squad was going to go down, but they were able to get out."

"That's fantastic, Tali," Shepard said.

"He's on Palaven, so I won't get to see him for a while," Tali said. "He's not sure if he can fight anymore. But I hope we won't need fighters, not for a long time."

"Are you two…" Garrus said, trailing off.

"Still together?" Tali asked, her voice clearly telling Garrus wouldn't you like to know. Garrus and Tali seemed closer than they had before. Shepard supposed the four months stranded on the Normandy brought the entire crew tighter. She felt a brief prick of jealousy for all the conversations and moments she had missed with her crew during that time. "Yes, we are together. I've already used up my bandwidth rations for the week in the last twenty four hours. I'm going to have to trade for more somehow."

Garrus looked at Shepard, and she could tell they had the same thoughts. Their plan was to ask Tali to join the mission, like old times as Garrus was so fond of saying. But it felt almost cruel to take Tali away from her future. Well, Shepard wasn't going to make the decision for her friend. Tali certainly deserved to make the choice herself.

"You might have heard some rumors-"

Tali nodded. "Engineer Adams filled me in," she said. Tali looked down and her palms, which were curved elegantly on her thighs. "I'm an admiral now, Shepard. I was able to stay on the Normandy after Rannoch because it made sense. I was looked at as the quarian liaison, so to speak." Tali looked up and tilted her head. "I need to be with my people now. Without the geth… There is so much work to be done."

It was a silly pipe dream, Shepard thought, thinking the old crowd would stay together. She had fallen down that trap before. First with Cerberus, remembering the ache she had felt inside when the Illusive Man told her that her crew was unavailable. And then during the war, remembering the messages she sent out to her old crew as the ship had flown from the Citadel to Menae, hoping that someone, anyone would heed her call and join her. Of the twelve messages she sent, only two stood by her side.

She understood. They all had their own lives, their own responsibilities. It would have been selfish to insist they join her on the Normandy no matter how much she wanted her old crew. At least she had Garrus and Tali then. Shepard had known this day would come eventually since the moment they stood on Rannoch, and Tali felt the sun of her world warm her maskless face. She just didn't think it would come this soon.

"I understand, Tali," Shepard said softly. "We'll miss you."

"I'm going to make Adams send me reports on how the Normandy is running. So you'll get commentary. It will probably be colorful, so it'll be like I'm right there," Tali said with a laugh.

"Deal," Shepard said. She stood up as gracefully as she could, then held out a hand to help Garrus up. "Want to show us around?"

"Of course!" Tali said, bouncing up herself. "But first, Shepard.." Tali took a breath and looked right at Shepard. "I want you to know that the Fleet will always be there for the Normandy. You've given us something we can never repay. Granted, once we're back on Rannoch, only half the Fleet will remain, but it's the thought that counts."

"What's happening to the Fleet?" Garrus asked.

"We need to dismantle about half our ships to use for materials and housing and such on Rannoch," Tali said. "Going to take a long time, but we need to keep up with the work the geth have done. And eventually I'll have a house. And you both better plan on visiting me as soon as it's done."

"Just wait until you try to get rid of us," Shepard said with a laugh. It wouldn't be old times, but at least then they could make some new ones.

"Here," Victus said, his mandibles drawn in tightly to his face as he handed Garrus a datapad.

"Sir?" Garrus asked. He only stepped into Victus' office a moment ago. Usually took longer for Victus to be this annoyed.

Victus' sub-vocals rumbled with displeasure. "Just read the datapad."

Garrus skimmed the contents of the datapad, his mandibles tightening as he read the contents. "Do you want me to resign?" he said finally.

"Of course not," Victus said, yanking the datapad out of Garrus' hands. "I want you to know what's being said about you."

Garrus ran his hand over his fringe. He should have known his decision to go to Omega would bite him in the ass someday. When Garrus had left the Citadel after Shepard's death, he thought he was only deserting C-Sec. He hadn't been thinking clearly. He still needed to complete two years of his mandatory service when he left. The Hierarchy didn't count his time fighting the Collectors as Cerberus was classified a terrorist organization. Garrus actually considered himself lucky they didn't throw him in irons the moment he had stepped onto Palaven after Shepard turned herself into the Alliance. The fact that he never accepted any credits from Cerberus had helped.

Miranda had offered him a stipend, but Garrus absolutely refused to take their credits. It had been bad enough he was on the ship at all. The yellow and black color combination made his plates itch. But Shepard had needed him, that's what he clung to while cleaning up Cerberus' messes, like the Overlord or Firewalker projects. Shepard had needed him.

Because of his refusal to take any credits from Cerberus, he hadn't been joking when he told Shepard about a vigilante's salary. He had given every credit of the squad's surplus funds to their families, like to Butler's wife or Weaver's kids. That hadn't left him much. Bad wine and a cheap suit were all he could afford their first night together.

"You went AWOL, Vakarian," Victus said, shaking his head. "You deserted the turian Hierarchy. One day we're going to talk it over. I'm fairly certain alcohol will be involved when we do. But you had the quad to come back, and serve your time. The fact that we won the damn war against the Reapers where you were my chief advisor doesn't hurt."

"How do you want me to respond to this?" Garrus asking, pointing at the datapad. Some of the high ranking members of the Hierarchy were using Garrus' former AWOL status as a strike against him and Victus. Those same members weren't pleased with Victus being Primarch of Palaven, either. Thinking back on his actions, Garrus knew the end result wouldn't have changed, he would have still ended on Omega. But there were steps he could have taken, official channels to apply for leave instead of going AWOL, but his grief over Shepard's death overshadowed everything else.

"Ignore it," Victus said, sitting behind his desk. "That's my plan. How much longer do you need to serve?"

"Depends," Garrus said.

"On?"

"Whether the four months the Normandy was stranded counts towards my service," Garrus said.

"Consider them counted," Victus said with a nod.

"Then fourteen more months, sir," Garrus said.

"Good," Victus said. "Blasted vultures. We have so many more important things to deal with and the Hierarchy wants to focus on this."

"Shepard told me once that politicians are the weeds of the galaxy," Garrus said, working to keep the frustration out of his voice.

The last thing he wanted was to be a distraction for Victus but Garrus knew the Primarch relied on his council. And somewhere along the line, he had gotten used to people asking him the tough questions. Didn't mean he liked it; probably never would. But Garrus accepted it.

"I'll drink to that," Victus said. "Just wait until it's your turn in a couple of decades."

Garrus let out a sharp laugh. "I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you," he said. He hadn't been informed of his current standing in the Hierarchy, but if Victus thought there were a couple of decades before Garrus needed to worry, he wouldn't bring trouble early.

"Fair enough," Victus said. "Five more weeks til we can get off this damn planet."

"We'll have a lot of work to do once we do leave," Garrus said.

"True, but when do people like us not have work that needs to be done?" Victus asked. Garrus didn't have an answer. "That'll be all for now, Vakarian. I'll want a report on the rations situation tomorrow."

"Understood, sir," Garrus said. He left the office, trying to keep himself from falling into a bad mood. Damnit, some of the lies written about his two year absence infuriated him. Whoever was leading the charge against him was smart, painting lies with a hint of the truth, saying he had worked for Cerberus undercover those two years. And it wasn't as if Garrus could refute the claim without more questions being asked about where he had been. The less the Hierarchy knew about Archangel, the better.

He stepped out of the building and took a deep breath. What Garrus wanted, at that very moment, was to go home, grab a beer, sit down on the couch with Shepard on his lap, like they used to sit a million years ago, before the Reapers invaded. He had fond memories of those times, when they were still discovering so many new things about each other. When she would invite him up to her cabin, before it became theirs, and they actually had the time to just talk.

But since dextro beer was in no supply in this system and he knew for a fact Shepard had meetings until late tonight, what Garrus wanted was inconsequential. What he would settle for was a upgraded MRE for his dinner.

The turian camp was busy, everyone was doing their jobs like the good turians they were. Thankfully the area where the rations and MREs were kept seemed fairly empty. For one night, Garrus was going to indulge. Most days, after they woke up in the morning, Shepard would stand in the line for their MREs and rations and Garrus would get line for their water. Being a dextro in a levo camp meant his food choices were limited, as they only stocked what was needed. But Shepard fought for him. She learned he didn't like the ration bars made with meva nuts, they were just too small, too grainy for his taste. And she knew to always grab any MRE that used a vilj sauce, since that was his favorite.

But now? He was going to stand and take his time, deciding exactly what he wanted to eat for dinner. Wouldn't be as nice as a cold beer and Shepard sitting on his lap, but Garrus would take what victories he could.

"Quarians got another delivery from their liveship coming," a worker said to another as Garrus walked up to the inventory control area of the camp. "More damn beans."

"Good, we need to restock. Protein's running low."

The voice caused Garrus to clench. His toes, his abdomen, his talons, his heart, even the muscles in his neck. In that instant he became a tightly coiled spring, ready to lash out any moment. Garrus desperately forced himself not to reach behind and take out his Vindicator, wanting the steady weight in his hands.

And he wanted Shepard in front of him, blocking his shot so he didn't do something incredibly stupid.

"Sidonis."

The turian looked up and Garrus saw the moment of recognition in his eyes. Sidonis slowly raised his hands, chest high and started backing up slowly. The turian looked older, more grey. His colony markings had dulled and he had definitely lost weight since the last time Garrus had seen him.

If Sidonis was working with foodstuff, it meant someone trusted him. Maybe Tactus, who was still working for the refugees on Earth like he did on the Citadel. Tactus was how Garrus learned that Sidonis was on the Citadel in the first place. They had a working lunch, and Tactus raved about his new assistant Sidonis and how much good the man was doing for the refugees. But Garrus never once saw him in all his trips to the refugee center. Always figured he was keeping out of Garrus' way on purpose, something Garrus had to admit he was grateful for. He didn't think he could handle seeing him then.

But after fighting a war they managed to win thanks to luck and Shepard's damn grit, and watching Shepard make decisions and choices she never once thought she would be willing to make, all to ensure that when the day of reckoning arrived they'd be ready to fight? He could look Sidonis in the eye and not want to shoot him in the head.

And there was that fact, that Sidonis - betrayal or not - had been the first to believe in him, the first to join up on Omega. They had swapped stories about basic and growing up on Palaven. Garrus had subtly encouraged Sidonis' interest when Melanis, joined the squad. She was a turian from Palaven who left the Hierarchy the moment her fifteen years were up and had no plans to return. And when their relationship crashed and burned a couple of weeks later, Garrus had been the one who drank with him in the shooting range while they pretended to practice.

Sidonis had been his friend.

Which was why the betrayal hit him so damn hard. Because if Sidonis had stopped believing, how had the rest of the squad felt? Garrus had been so adamant, wanting to push the team further, to try to get the mercs completely off the station, he could have missed all the warning signs.

"Wait," Garrus said barely realizing the words had left his mouth. Sidonis stopped and lowered his hands. He hadn't turned around, probably half wondering if Garrus would shoot in the back if he did.

"You think about them still?"

Sidonis closed his eyes and Garrus felt the usual pain in his gut that accompanied thoughts of his squad. Though this time, Garrus saw his pain reflected on Sidonis' face. "Every damn day," Sidonis said slowly. Garrus could hear the pure note of grief in his sub-vocals even more clearly than he could on the Citadel. "Every time I close my eyes they're there. I hope I never stop thinking about them."

Good.

Garrus didn't want to be the only one who remembered. He hadn't told Shepard about them, not even their names. Someday he would. She told him once thanks to some of the work Cerberus had done, she could potentially live twice as long as a normal human. Garrus didn't like to think about that much. He didn't like to think a hundred years from now he could be a dull plated old man while Shepard was barely middle aged. But if it were true, he would die long before she would. And he wanted someone to remember them. Even if only second hand.

"I'm trying to find their families," Sidonis said suddenly, not looking Garrus directly, as if afraid to make eye contact. "See if they lived through the war."

Garrus looked up and took a step towards Sidonis, who didn't flinch, just held his ground. Garrus had been in contact with a number of them before the Reapers invaded, but once the war started, there was just never any time. No, that was a lie. There was time, he choose to spend it with Shepard. He wouldn't begrudge himself that choice now. "Any luck?"

"Vortash's husband. One of Weaver's kids," Sidonis said, running his head over his fringe. "I only have a few energy rations a day, so it's going slow-"

"I'll get you more," Garrus said at once.

"You don't-"

"You promise me you'll use them to keep searching for their families, you'll get more rations," Garrus said slowly. He was realistic and knew he had no time to do a search like that on his own. And now that the thought was in his head, he wanted to search. If Sidonis had any luck, Garrus could try to make sure their families and loved ones were safe. Maybe when credits had more value, he could even send a little money their way.

He could take care of his squad again.

"I promise, Garrus," Sidonis said and Garrus' gut clenched, remembering how his rage had bled out hearing those same words, standing high in a sniper perch, Shepard standing in his cross hairs.

He flipped up his omni-tool and sent his public extranet address to Sidonis. "Can you keep me updated?" he asked, his voice tight as he tried to contain his sub-vocals from betraying any emotion, barely believing that he was asking Sidonis of all people a favor. Maybe humans were on to something with their saying, time heals all wounds. A year ago this would have been an impossibility.

"Sure thing, Garrus," Sidonis said, his sub-vocals eager now as he sent his own information to Garrus. He raised his chin and looked Garrus in the eye for the first time since I need help on a job. It'll be quick. We'll meet there. "Thank you."

Garrus wasn't sure why he was being thanked, maybe for not killing him on the Citadel or killing him now or simply for the extra energy rations he would send Sidonis' way.

Sidonis turned around and started walking. Garrus stood still, forcing himself to breathe even breaths until Sidonis was out of view. Not until he was out of sight did Garrus let his shoulders hunch as he pictured the face of each member of the squad in his mind.

Erash, Monteague, Mierin, Grundan Krul, Melanis, Ripper, Sensat, Vortash, Butler, Weaver

His memories weren't as clear as they had been two years ago. What color had been Ripper's eyes? Or Sensat's facial tattoos?

His omni-tool beeped with a message from Shepard, forcing him out of his stupor. He read it quickly, she was just saying hello. She did that more often now, reaching out during slow times during her day, not content to leave everything until when they saw each other in the evening. Garrus had to admit he liked that, since they spent their days in different camps, and he couldn't expect a surprise visit in the battery.

He typed a message. I've got a story for you when you get home. He wouldn't tell her about the squad. Not yet. That was for another day. But Garrus could tell her this.

It would be a start.

Author's Note: Many thanks to theherocomplex for her beta work!