The next six hours on the Normandy consisted of Shepard and many members of the crew flitting about, repairing and checking on the many systems on board the Normandy. Shepard had sent a message to Admiral Hackett rather than calling him, determined to keep her good mood rather than ruining it. But her mood quickly soured anyways as she got started on the work she'd neglected in favor of sitting by Lauren's bedside. She ended up disappearing from the crew's view, heading up to her cabin to do her work in silence. Deacon had vanished somewhere in the depths of engineering to work on some more repairs and modifications he could make to the Normandy.
This left the crew to their own devices. With the repairs almost completed, most of the crew was not needed and filtered back into the mess hall. Engineer Adams was seated at the far end of the mess hall table, fussing with his food. Joker sat next to him, poking at his own tray of food.
"Why does this stuff always look so disgusting?" Joker asked.
"It's food, Joker. Just eat it." Adams looked at the darkened windows of the medical bay. "Is Karin sleeping?"
"I would be." Samantha Traynor said from her seat at the other end of the table.
Steve Cortez pushed his own tray away and craned his head to get a better look at the medical bay. "What was with Shepard's announcement earlier? Are we really not allowed in there?"
Joker looked at Cortex like he was kidding. "Really Cortez?"
"I'm just asking."
"When Shepard means no one in the medical bay," Gabby said from her seat next to Samantha. "She means it. Besides, I don't think anyone should go near Chakwas's patient anyways."
"Why's that?" Diana Allers asked as she sat down with a cup of coffee.
Joker gave Gabby a hard stare. "Gabby…"
"What's the harm Joker? Obviously she's going to be joining the crew and helping Shepard once she's better. Why else would she be here and not in a hospital?" Gabby took a sip of her water. "Besides, everyone's going to know who she is in a few hours anyways."
Joker had to admit it, Gabby had a point. The crew was going to talk about this, it was fresh and exciting. But then again everything was when they were all crammed in the Normandy. "Alright, but don't come whining to me when Shepard lectures you about gossiping."
"You gossip all the time," Samantha pointed accusingly at Joker with her fork.
"What me? No." Joker picked up his own coffee and took a sip.
Diana looked around the table. "Is someone going to tell me why we shouldn't be going near Chakwas's patient?"
Gabby looked at the war correspondent. "The patient's name is Lauren Hackett."
"The Sole Survivor?"
"The very one," Gabby looked at the medical bay. "Last time I heard anything about her was back during the time we spent fighting the Collectors. She was a mercenary on Omega, right Joker?"
Joker nodded, hastily swallowing some food. "She works for Aria T'Loak, the asari who was here earlier. Apparently Shepard, Deacon, and Vega had to go rescue her or something. She ended up getting hurt and Deacon brought her back here."
"Wow," Cortex whistled. "A mercenary?"
"I don't know about you but we had a mercenary on board and it wasn't pretty," Gabby said with a grimace.
"Okay one, Zaeed was never pretty to start with. And two, you're also forgetting the fact that about half the crew on board the Normandy were mercenaries or had been mercenaries." Joker pointed out. "Not all of them are bad. And I really don't think that we'll be having any problems with a wounded mercenary whose stuck in the medical bay."
Gabby leaned back in her seat. "I don't know, Joker. I have a bad feeling."
"You always have a bad feeling, lass." Kenneth finally spoke up. "I agree with Joker, as long as that one stays in there, we shouldn't have a problem."
Samantha shook her head. "I agree with Gabby – I've heard of the stories about her. She's dangerous."
"Rumors, you mean. But Joker and Kenneth have a point though," Cortez picked up his own cup. "If she's in the medical bay then she obviously can't fight. And you're all missing the important fact that she's on the Normandy. She has to be on our side, right?"
Joker looked at Gabby. "See? Nothing to worry about."
Gabby sighed and looked at her tray. "If you say so."
Dr. Chakwas chose this moment to walk into the mess hall, yawning as she went. Her uniform was a little disheveled, like she'd just woken up.
"Sleep well?" Adams asked.
Chakwas nodded. "It was a very productive nap."
"How's your patient doing?" Joker asked casually.
Chakwas walked to the counter and shuffled around, making herself a cup of tea. "She's asleep. And I expect that she'll remain asleep for at least a few more hours."
"Did the surgery go well?" Adams asked. "I noticed your team looked a little tired when they left."
"Six hours of standing on your feet will do that to you." Chakwas replied dryly. "The surgery went fine though, thanks for asking."
"How's recovery look?" Joker asked.
Chakwas looked briefly at Joker before taking a sip of her tea. "You're not fishing for information to gossip about are you?"
Joker looked insulted. "Why is everyone calling me a gossip all of a sudden?"
"Maybe because you are one," Gabby suggested.
Joker mock pouted. "You're so mean to me Gabby."
Chakwas sighed. "What would Shepard say if she saw you right now?"
"Doesn't matter, she's not here." Joker looked at Chakwas. "So how does recovery look?"
Chakwas knew very well that Joker was going to bug her until she gave him an answer or he'd never leave her alone. "It looks promising."
Joker scoffed. "That's all you can tell me? Promising?"
"Doctor-patient privilege," Chakwas reminded him. "Or shall I tell everyone about the time you broke your tailbone?"
"No!" Joker leaned forward. "Alright, I'll let it go."
Chakwas smiled sweetly at the pilot, who just glared back at her. Everyone at the table chuckled, except Kenneth.
"Wait, is that why he couldn't sit straight for a week?" The Scotsman asked. "I always thought he just slipped and fell."
"Look at the time," Joker stood up hastily. "I think EDI might need a hand up in the cockpit."
Chakwas let out a small snort at the word cockpit. Joker shot her a dirty look and left the mess hall.
Shepard was attempting to work. She really was. There were just too many things that she had to get done and not enough time.
"There's not enough time in the world," Shepard muttered, looking at the reports on her desk. The picture frame that sat on the edge of her desk had been knocked over. She frowned and picked the picture up.
It was from a happier time obviously, back after the Battle of the Citadel. The entire crew of the Normandy – her crew – stood with their arms wrapped around each other. Each of them had a huge smile plastered on their faces, whether it was from the fact that they'd survived or from the alcohol they'd consumed before the photo was taken, Shepard couldn't tell.
Shepard smiled and stood up, deciding that the photo would look better by her bed than by her desk, hidden behind stacks of paper and datapads. There were other photos on her bedside, photos that she'd kept close to her after she turned herself in to the Alliance after the destruction of Bahak. The picture of the Normandy's crew and the others were all printed, set in steel frames that Shepard had purchased upon setting foot on the Citadel the first time.
Back before all this craziness had happened.
"Speaking of crazy," Shepard looked at the other photos by her bedside.
One was the photo taken after Shepard, Deacon and Hackett had graduated from their training days. Shepard was standing in the middle of her two friends, her hands on their shoulders. Lauren was giving the camera a rare smile while Deacon was staring calmly at it. He never smiled, not in any picture that anyone had ever taken of him.
Another photo, that she'd had taken after they returned from their victory over the Collectors, was of her crew then. It was a large panoramic shot of Grunt, Zaeed, Samara, Kasumi, Thane, Mordin, Legion, Tali, Garrus, Jacob, Miranda, Jack, Deacon and Shepard were all standing with happy looks on their faces. The rest of the Normandy's crew, Chakwas, Joker, etc. they were standing with their arms wrapped around each other.
The last photo, which Kasumi had given Shepard as a parting gift, was of Lauren. The thief had managed to not only find out who Lauren was and why she was special to Shepard, but had also managed to find a picture of both Lauren and Shepard back during their training days. The picture featured Shepard and Lauren sitting next to each other on a bench on Earth. They'd gotten drunk during shore leave and had stopped to sit down. Shepard assumed that Deacon had taken the picture and had hidden it from Shepard to use as blackmail down the road. But Shepard didn't really care if the picture got out; it was the least of her worries. The picture was of Lauren and Shepard sitting on that bench wearing disheveled off-duty uniforms, their hair down, asleep and leaning on each other's shoulders.
"We were so drunk," Shepard muttered with a smile on her face. She reached out and set down the picture of the old Normandy crew. Shepard looked at the alarm clock by her bed. It was early; most of the ship would be asleep by now, since the repairs had been completed. She'd been up doing work for almost ten hours now.
Shepard ran her fingers through her hair, scowling at it for a brief second. She hadn't cut her hair in over two years – the dark brown strands were just a little too long for her tastes. She ruffled her hair a bit before she pulled it back in a bun and headed for her cabin door. She needed coffee if she was going to continue working and she wanted to check in on Chakwas and Lauren. And then she wanted to go bug her pilot about where they were going now that the repairs were done. She had two weeks worth of side missions to go through and she wanted to get all of them done before she headed for Sur'Kesh for that diplomatic thing.
And hopefully, Lauren would be recovered completely by then.
Chakwas heard Shepard's telltale footsteps long before she stepped foot inside the medical bay.
"Why are the lights dimmed?" Shepard asked from the doorway.
"Because she's sleeping, Commander," Chakwas clicked on her terminal, bringing the lights up to a brighter, but still comfortable level. The doctor didn't look up from her terminal and instead kept working.
She could hear Shepard approach Lauren's bed and glanced over at the Commander, who was looking at Lauren questionably.
"What are you doing Commander?" Chakwas asked, swiveling in her chair so she could get a better look at Shepard.
"Thinking," Shepard said quietly. "She just looks so peaceful. It's hard to believe that she's wanted by C-Sec."
Chakwas looked at Shepard, somewhat alarmed. "Wanted for what?"
Shepard looked at Chakwas and smirked. "Calm down, Karin. I asked for the file from Bailey – she's wanted for weapons smuggling."
"For a second there I thought you were going to tell me she was wanted for mass murder or something along those lines." Chakwas turned back to her terminal.
"If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't bring a serial killer on board the Normandy without your permission, Doc."
Chakwas rolled her eyes and went back to typing her reports up. She was on the last one – an updated medical history for Lauren for future reference. Aria had filled out the paperwork completely, which meant that Chakwas didn't have to do any guesswork.
"What are you typing up?" Shepard said as she walked over. "Reports?"
"I had Aria fill in some blanks when it came to Lauren's most recent medical history. She has a very excellent memory and very legible handwriting." Chakwas said as she squinted at the screen in front of her.
Shepard leaned over Chakwas's shoulder in an attempt to read what she was writing, but couldn't really make it out. Chakwas didn't try to stop her, knowing that it was pointless to try and because it was only a medical history report. It wasn't breaking any rules if Shepard read it anyways.
"May I remind you that if this were any other form, I would have to report you," Chakwas muttered.
"I know the rules," Shepard shuffled over to Chakwas's side and started reading the paper form, which was actually easier to read than the doctor's terminal screen. "Pretty handwriting, I wish mine was like that."
Chakwas went back to typing in silence for a few minutes. She had almost forgotten that Shepard was actually there, until the Commander made a noise that sounded like someone was strangling a varren.
"What the-"Chakwas jumped in her chair.
"Bondmate?" Shepard stabbed the paper with her finger. "Please tell me I'm reading this wrong."
Chakwas looked at the Commander and then looked at the word she was pointing at. She had already read the report and knew what Shepard was referring to. Aria had filled out the contact information on the bottom of the form using the word "bondmate" instead of spouse.
"No, Commander. You aren't reading it wrong." Chakwas went back to her terminal. "Lauren's legal name, on Thessia, is Lauren T'Loak."
"When did that happen?"
"When you weren't paying attention," A hoarse voice answered.
Chakwas looked at Lauren's bed and stood up, crossing the medical bay in a few strides. She reached for a cup of water that she had on a tray by Lauren's bedside. "Here, open your mouth and drink this."
Lauren obeyed while Chakwas put the end of a straw in her mouth and held the cup for her. She sipped slowly until she emptied the cup. Chakwas pulled the cup away and went back to the tray, refilling it with more water from a pitcher and adding a packet to it. The water turned blue and bubbled slightly before Chakwas stirred it with the straw.
"Why is it blue?" Shepard asked.
"I've added a broad-spectrum antibiotic and protein," Chakwas explained. "Open."
Lauren opened her mouth again and accepted the straw again. She made a face when she started drinking the water, but finished all of it. Chakwas set the cup down on the tray and looked at her patient.
"How are we feeling?" She asked.
"Sore," Lauren grumbled.
"It certainly sounds like you're feeling better." Chakwas pulled down the blanket on Lauren's chest to get a look at the stitches underneath. "And you're stitches are starting to heal up. Can you cough for me?" Chakwas asked.
Lauren obeyed and coughed, not wanting to argue with the doctor. "Ow."
"Good. You're going to hurt for the next few days when it comes to coughing, but it's important that you cough as much as you can. It'll help clear out your lungs and speed up the healing process."
"How long?" Lauren's voice was still a little rugged.
Chakwas grabbed the glass again and filled it with more water. "You're not going to be getting up for at least two weeks."
Lauren groaned.
"It could be worse," Shepard motioned for Chakwas to hand her the cup. "You could be in a hospital in the wards."
"No," Lauren moaned.
Shepard popped the straw into Lauren's mouth. "Here, drink."
Chakwas walked around the bed and to Lauren's left leg. She pulled the blanket back to get a better look at the bandage that covered up her handiwork. "Your bandages don't need to be changed for a few more hours. But you're doing well so far."
"Mmph."
Shepard pulled the straw out of Lauren's mouth and pulled the cup back. "What?"
"Tired," Lauren mumbled. Her eyes were starting to droop and she was blinking slowly.
Chakwas gently tucked Lauren's legs in. "Do you want me to dim the lights again?"
Lauren didn't answer. Her eyes were shut and she was breathing slowly, like she was asleep.
"That was fast." Chakwas walked back to her terminal.
"Is that normal?" Shepard asked.
Chakwas leaned forward and went back to typing. "Being tired?"
"She just fell asleep so quickly. Is that normal?"
Chakwas glanced at Shepard. "Yes. Now let her sleep, Commander."
Shepard sighed and pretended to mope. "Alright…I'll just go find someone else to bother."
There was actually no one else to bother, so Shepard got herself a cup of coffee and went back to work. She forwarded instructions to Joker and retreated back to her cabin. This left the pilot in charge of getting the Normandy to its destination on his own.
"Where are we headed?" EDI asked Joker.
Joker brought up Shepard's report. "We have to go investigate a Cerberus lab on Sanctum and deal with that, and then we're headed to Eden Prime. Apparently there's some sort of artifact there."
"Is that all?"
"No, then there's something here about going to Urla Rast to fetch an artifact." Joker leaned to the right and pressed another button, focusing on navigating the complicated space around the Citadel and reaching the relay. "It looks like we're running errands before we go to Sur'Kesh."
"Hey Joker," Deacon walked up into the cockpit. "Do you know where we're going?"
Joker looked over his shoulder. "Hey Josiah – we're running errands."
"Really?" Deacon sighed. "I was hoping for something to shoot."
"It looks like you might actually get that – our first stop is to investigate a Cerberus lab on Sanctum."
"Huh."
Joker looked over his shoulder at Deacon. "What?"
Deacon looked rather deep in thought. "It's just weird. Cerberus is just being such a pain in the ass lately. First they send assassins after Hackett and now they're running amok and getting the Alliance's attention."
"Maybe the Illusive Man has finally figured out Cerberus is losing." Joker pressed a button on the flight controls.
"Yeah right," Deacon scoffed. "And krogans can fly."
"Don't tell Grunt that if you see him again – it might break his heart."
The two men both laughed.
"Don't crash the Normandy all right? I'm going to take a nap before we get to Sanctum." Deacon patted the top of Joker's chair.
"See ya, Commander."
I'm so not sorry for spam updates. Enjoy~