Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect this belongs to Bioware. Please Enjoy.
Chapter 10: Nightmares and Legion.
"Well done for getting the Geth Shepard, Cerberus might be able to get valuable information from its data banks" Miranda applauded as Shepard stared into the holo image of the sleeping Geth that lay within the AI room. Shepard was convinced there could be something within it's databanks about the Reapers and other amazing facts that she never knew but the main reason she brought the Geth aboard was for Tali.
"I would have to disagree with you Miranda, space it, it's too dangerous to keep on the ship" Jacob spoke up. Shepard knew Jacob had been to Eden Prime so might have the one sided view of the Geth but Shepard's chill wasn't acting up which meant she could trust it. Her eyes darted over to Miranda as she stood in an almost none emotional stance but Shepard could tell that Jacob not agreeing with her for a change didn't sit well with her. Shepard sighed as she couldn't take much more of the quiet talking between the secret lovers, and she thought admitting her feelings in front of Garrus was hard making Miranda and Jacob speak about their feelings was like wading through a war zone with the Krogan winning the higher ground.
"I've fought and killed hundreds of these things…this is the only one that spoke to me. Heck it even saved my life" Shepard broke the tension as she pointed to the holo image.
"Commander, that doesn't mean this one won't shoot you in the back the first chance it gets" Jacob spoke up as Shepard gave him the look of shut up and listen, Jacob looked away as Shepard's eyes went back to the image.
"I'll let EDI put up extra firewalls ro prevent any hacking but I'm not going to waste a possible resource" Shepard spoke up. Miranda folded her arms but the look in her eyes told Shepard that she trusted her.
"I advise you reactivate it for information, not for your own curiosity" Miranda told her as Shepard nodded.
"Noted…now about this IFF" Shepard asked as EDI changed the image from the Geth to a small sliver of information.
"I will be able to integrate it with the Normandy systems but it will take time" EDI announced, Shepard's teeth chattered for a minute as she stared at the data. Something about using Reaper tech didn't sit well within her stomach.
"EDI be careful with it I don't like it but I trust you" Shepard spoke to the floating blue ball. EDI flickered away as Miranda and Jacob walked out of the room. Shepard rubbed her shoulders and stretched her body. By now it was time to do her rounds on checking on the crew, over the weeks of being on the ship everyone had grown close.
Jack and Miranda still had their differences but Shepard had convinced them to stay out of each others way. Jack agreed but Shepard in return and to take her to the next secret Cerberus facility that she wanted to blow up, which she had no problem with. Miranda agreed to it anyway since Shepard kept on sending her the messages she received from Orianna asking about the mission and her. Her relationship with Grunt had come as a surprise to her, on their supply run to Tuchanka Wrex had asked Grunt how his mother was. When Grunt answered that he didn't care about the tank or Okeer Wrex laughed and said that Shepard was his mother since she let him out of his tank and was raising him. Grunt was at best embarrassed as Garrus mumbled something about not wanted to be a dad to a hormonal Krogan. Shepard smiled but never treated Grunt any differently which Grunt appreciated; even Shepard could remember the times when she just wanted to be treated normally instead of being fussed over. Tali and Shepard seemed to pick up their friendship where they left off and were always talking down in engineering next to the heat of the drive core talking about the old days or what life was like on the Flotilla. Even Donald and Gabby were getting into the conversations and usually the talks would go on for hours that would later be interrupted by alarms from the drive core they were sat next to. Mordin was constantly researching and studying but Shepard had pleaded with him to do a secret project just for her, Mordin was intrigued and agreed to do it. Mordin was starting to see her as a daughter of some form who was trying to soak up all his knowledge before he passed…even though about half the time Shepard found her head going dizzy from all the information she received. Samara and Shepard would talk about each other cultures which would usually last hours on end, Samara would explain about the Code and Shepard would explain the meaning of afternoon tea.
Indeed Shepard had grown close to all her friends and they were starting to feel like her family. Shepard stretched as she walked through the ship, saying hello to Kelly and other members of her crew and entered the elevator. As the doors closed she pressed the button to go down one floor, she hadn't checked on Thane after the encounter with the supposedly dead Reaper and wondered if his condition was stable, Thane was to her a very close friend and she was worried about him. In training she would see him take breaks because of his breathing as her heart cried out to him. In truth Thane was like her brother but not an older or younger brother but a twin brother, they were mostly on the same wave length and they liked the same things which she found freaky.
The doors opened and as Shepard looked across the corridor to Life support she saw that the doors were open. Usually they would be closed and locked if Thane was in but for them to be open meant he was out about the ship. Shepard walked out and rounded the corner to the Mess; her eyes scanned the area and rested on the Drell's back as he sat at a table reading a data pad. Shepard noticed that he was the only one here so took her chance to peer at the message, the sender was Kolyat. Shepard smiled as she put her hands on his shoulders and leant over him pressing her body against his neck.
"How is he?" she asked as she could feel Thane smiling as his chuckled ran through her.
"He is well…although he complains about his community service" Thane answered as she gripped his shoulders and pushed off his back and walked over to the fridge. Shepard eyes looked over towards the main battery and found the doors open; she couldn't see Garrus so assumed he was down in the cargo hold training.
"I guess he blames me" Shepard spoke as she knelt down and opened the fridge.
"He does…though you have to read between the lines to know he's blaming you" Thane spoke as she pulled out a slice of chocolate cake and a fork. Shepard stood as she smiled and walked back to the table and sat opposite Thane.
"You should tell him that if it wasn't for me, he would be rotting in jail…or dead" Shepard said flatly but Thane smiled and nodded.
"I still thank you for that Siha" Thane answered, Shepard smiled as she took a small amount of her cake.
"You want some?" she offered but Thane shook his head and went back to reading his message. Shepard liked the silent moments they had just being in his company was nice.
"How are you holding up?" Shepard broke the silence as her eyes connected with his dark orbs. Thane looked up from the message as his expression darkened, she understood that he didn't like talking about his condition but Shepard was constantly worrying about him.
"I think my time on the Reaper might have helped…the heat was nice" Thane smiled darkly as Shepard chuckled.
"At least you got better while I suffered" Shepard mocked a hanging as she stuck out her brown and pink tongue. Thane chuckled and smiled at her bad acting.
"Are you alright Siha?" Thane asked as Shepard nodded taking a gulp of the cake.
"Feeling better, I'm not good with heat…at that level" She told him as she looked at her pale tan skin.
"I suppose it's in my DNA not to be used to heat…my mother was Japanese while my father was English, always said that the cold made his mind sharp" Shepard smiled at the memory of her parents. Her father was a stocky man who had fuzzy brown hair and his accent wasn't too thick. Her mother was slim and had long black hair that reached her waist. She was a mixture of them both getting her father's appearance while her mother's personality. Thane smiled and nodded, Shepard noticed he slipped into one of his memories and waited for him to come back.
"I'm sorry Siha…" Shepard touched his hand and smiled.
"It's alright, you were thinking of your family I understand" Shepard told him as he smiled.
"Thank you Siha" Thane spoke and stood up. "I shall leave you to your duties Siha" Thane tipped his head towards the main battery and as Shepard looked into the room she saw Garrus standing in front of his console. The cake lodged itself in her throat as her eyes wandered his body; she coughed and turned to Thane and nodded but gave him a glare of thank you very much. Thane smiled and walked off leaving Shepard in the mess hall.
Shepard left her unfinished cake and walked towards the main battery, Garrus looked as if he was hard at work on his calibrations to the weapons system. He wore his civilian clothing which was a change as the bright blues and yellow graced his form. Shepard bit her lip and walked up next to him.
"Hey Garrus…you alright?" She asked as she looked at him but she went pale as she saw the anger in his eyes. The doors locks as Shepard saw the green holo turn red out of the corner of her eye.
"Garrus?" She spoke again turning her body towards him but his fists clenched as she heard a low but threatening growl coming from his chest. Shepard looked at him with concern even though her heart started to pound against her chest.
"Why does he call you that?" Garrus spoke as his fist shook slightly, Shepard didn't understand but before she could ask Garrus turned away from her and started throwing his belongings across the room, Shepard stepped aside as a data pad flew past her head and one of his heavy armour boots nearly hit her leg.
Garrus roared in anger as he sent more of his stuff flying, Shepard was scared she had never seen him act this way but as she watched him she noticed he was purposely missing objects she had given him like the holo that lay on the table and some special sniper rifle ammo that she had bought him. Shepard then thought back to his question and it dawned on her what he was angry about…he was jealous.
His other boot went flying past her head as she rushed towards him; she grabbed his arm making him turn round. He looked as if he was ready to strike but she wrapped her arms round him and pressed her lips against his.
Garrus froze as Shepard pressed her body against his and kissed his lips. He grabbed her arms to peel her off but her grip round his neck tightened as she pressed her body flush against his, Garrus nearly fell backwards as his knees went weak. Shepard's body pressed against his giving him a feeling he had never experienced before since he always tried to keep some distance between them. Shepard pulled her lips away from his but kept her arms round his neck; Garrus looked down at her as he saw the flush of colour on her cheeks.
"Say my name" She spoke in a hushed tone as Garrus felt something stirring inside him.
"Shepard…" Garrus let out a hiss as he felt her nails dig into his soft flesh on the back of his neck.
"Say my name" She spoke again looking into his eyes, her ice blue eyes nearly made him drown.
"Shep…"She dug her nails into his neck deeper making him hiss again as he leant forward toward him.
"What's my name" She whispered with an almost predator toned that made Garrus purr as he looked into her eyes.
"Zo" He spoke as she gently rubbed his neck and mandibles.
"Again" she said.
"Zo" he spoke his breathing heightening as he felt something trying to break out inside him.
"That is the name you call me, no one else" She looked at him with her eyes bearing into his soul as he ran his hands along her waist.
"But why does he have to call you…Siha or whatever" Garrus growled making her eyes flutter.
"Because it's a nickname, something from his religion" Shepard told him as she slid her arms from round his neck and punched his chest. Garrus gripped her waist to keep her close to him as she looked into his eyes.
"…I'm sorry She…"Garrus stopped himself when he saw her raised eyebrow and stern look.
"Zo…I'm sorry Zo" he corrected himself as he saw her smile and pull him into a hug. Garrus wrapped his arms round her as he nuzzled into her neck making her whimper slightly as his mandible brushed against the sensitive part. Garrus smiled as he started to lick that spot making her gasp and press her body closer to his while her nail scraped along his soft flesh. Garrus growled as she did while his hands moved up her body and gripped her arms making sure he didn't wound her with his talons.
Shepard looked at him as she saw something in his eyes that she knew she had too…lust, desire, love you name it and it was there. Garrus picked her up and placed her on his cot while he nibbled gently at her neck making her gasp and lightly moan. He leant over her as she reached out for him; his hands gripped her waist while her legs brushed against his. Garrus thought he was in heaven with the sounds she was making and the feel of her body under him.
Shepard felt like her body was on fire, sounds coming out of her mouth that she had never made before, her mind spinning as she felt each touch of his hands on her waist and each nibble on her neck. She clawed at his clothing as she entwined her legs with his trying to pull him closer so that his warmth would envelop her cold skin.
"Commander, EDI is picking up some strange readings" Joker sounded over the radio. Garrus snapped, he reluctantly pushed himself off Shepard and strode out the door.
"I'm going to KILL Joker!" Garrus shouted as Shepard watched him go trying to figure out what had just happened. She leapt off the cot brushing her hair and trying to hide the red markings that graced her neck. She ran after him thinking that pretty soon she wasn't going to have a pilot anymore.
"Garrus wait!" Shepard couldn't catch up with him, his strides were long and it wasn't long before he reached the elevator. Shepard was too late to leap into the elevator before it started going down, she looked round trying to think of way to get to the bridge. She thought about telling EDI to protect Joker but that would only anger Garrus more so instead she rushed inside life support startling Thane in the process.
"Siha what's wrong?" Thane looked at the breathless woman before him as she looked round the room.
"Joker is going to get killed by a very…let's say angry Turian and I need to stop it" Shepard told him as he moved his cot away from the vent access. Shepard thanked Thane by smiling and kissing him on his cheek before she slid down the ladder and started to crawl through the vents. What she didn't expect was the heat of the vents, her skin started to sweat but she pushed on. The hot metal burnt her hands and shins while the air smelt stale and horribly warm.
"Might have better to wait for the elevator" Shepard thought to herself as she heard the sounds of the Tech lab up ahead. She saw the ladder and started to climb up as she was greeted by a surprised Mordin when her body swung out of the vent.
"Shepard…there is a door" He stated but she smiled and ran past him. When the doors opened to show the bridge she saw the whole Crew looking away from their stations towards the cockpit, Kelly noticed Shepard standing at the door breathless and sweating. Shepard knew she was running about a thousands situations in her head and most of them would have involved sex. Shepard ran towards the cockpit and saw Garrus holding Joker in the air with Jacob trying to separate them. Most of the Crew whistled at Shepard who was wearing her white tank top and black sweat pants that hugged her figure.
"What the shit Garrus…all I did was tell Shepard about something EDI picked up" Joker spat as Garrus held him by his shirt while Jacob hung from his arm.
"Garrus come on calm down" Jacob tried to urge, but Garrus was having none of it. Shepard ran up behind him and touched his arm.
"Garrus…put…Joker…down" Shepard almost pasted out with the amount of running and crawling through vents she had done. Joker looked down at Shepard as Garrus relaxed a little and gently put Joker on the ground. Joker was surprised that he wasn't thrown back down breaking several bones in the process but even Garrus knew of his condition. Garrus growled as Shepard smiled and held his arm.
"What the hell was that?" Jacob asked as Shepard looked at him.
"Joker…kinda interrupted something and Garrus didn't appreciate it" Shepard tried to tell him trying not to tell the whole crew that was listening. Jacob narrowed his eyes not getting her meaning but Joker sat back down with a smile on his face. He could see the way Garrus was looking at Shepard and Shepard's neck was red and purple in places.
"Well I win the pool" Joker leant back in his chair as Shepard's head snapped round.
"What?" she asked as Joker's smile spread.
"There's been a pool to see who the secret couple is on the ship…I won" Joker told them as a succession of groans suddenly broke out through the bridge. Shepard turned bright red as she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat.
"What pool?" She asked as EDI brought up a blue board with couple names and several tallies.
Shepard & Thane: 50 people
Shepard &Garrus: 1 person (Joker)
Shepard & Jacob: 10 people
Shepard & Mordin: 0 people
Shepard & Grunt: 5 people
Shepard & Jack: 8 people
Miranda & Jacob: 15 people
The list went on as Shepard's eyes widened. So many people thought she was with Thane and only Joker guessed she was with Garrus. Granted Joker was the last of her crew members from the first Normandy and possibly knew her better. But what sent her mind flying was the people who thought she was with Grunt…that kind of made her woozy but she felt Garrus growl as he looked at the board before EDI took it away.
"Told you" Joker spoke as Shepard shook her head.
"I need to scream into my pillow again" She whispered to Garrus as he brought her close and hid her face.
"Anyway now that you're here Commander, EDI picked up something on her scanner…its Prothean" Joker said as he turned his chair round, Shepard brought her head out of hiding and looked at the scan. On one of the near by planets a scan showed a faint signal, if it was Prothean there could be a chance of more useful resources. Shepard bit her bottom lip and pushed off the chair, a quick stop wouldn't hinder their progress and this might be the perfect mission to test their new crew member…when it woke up.
"Garrus suit up, we're going to that planet" Shepard walked off as Garrus nodded and watched her go. Something in the way she looked at the scan made his gut twist but he knew why she was going towards the planet. He took a look at the scan before he walked off to suit up, as he walked through the bridge he heard the whispers of the crew but he shrugged them off only to give Kelly a glare of he knew that she was the one to spread the rumour. Kelly went pale with fear as she gave a sheepish smile, Garrus sighed and entered the elevator but before the doors fully closed he heard the cries of the Crew as they all wanted their money back.
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Shepard stepped into the AI room and saw the sleeping Geth on the table. Shepard walked up to the machine and studied it; her eyes graced the N7 armour plate that it had attached which looked strangely familiar. The whole in its chest looked like it would have killed a human or any other organic but somehow it was still functional.
"EDI get ready" Shepard told her as she activated her Omni-tool. A fuzzy wall surrounded the Geth as EDI popped up.
"I'm prepared for any hacking attempt" EDI announced as Shepard began the override system. At first nothing happened but on her second attempt she heard gears starting to engage and systems returning. The flash light on the Geth brightened as it slowly stood up, Shepard watched as she noticed that other than the flash light head its body structure was similar to a quarian's. The Geth looked at her as she looked at it, her chill wasn't acting up and the Geth didn't reach for its weapon to shoot her.
"Can you understand me?" Shepard asked as she watched The Geth move some plates on its head like eyebrows.
"Yes" it responded. Shepard felt a lump form in her throat.
"Are you going to attack me?" She asked as she folded her arms.
"No" it spoke again.
Shepard spoke to the Geth learning that this one Geth had travelled vast miles looking for her. The rest of its race was against what they called the heretics were doing. It told Shepard that it travelled to Eden Prime, Virmire, Feros, and Ilos and finally finishing its search at the Normandy crash site, Shepard was impressed at its stubbornness. As Shepard spoke to the Geth she could tell that in some weird way the race of the Geth had feelings of yearning to learn more than they knew. The Geth said that it was against the Old Machines and wanted to help Shepard in her mission.
"Alright…what do I call you?" Shepard asked as she removed the firewall now feeling comfortable that the Geth wasn't going to attack.
"Geth" it said but Shepard wasn't going to go round shouting Geth all the time.
"No I need a name" She huffed as she shuffled her weight.
"We are Geth" It said, Shepard was getting confused with the fact that she wasn't talking to one person but thousands of programmes in one body.
"We are Legion for we are many" EDI popped up as Shepard smiled.
"That'll do" Shepard clapped her hands as the Geth moved its facial plates processing the information.
"We find that acceptable…we are Legion" The Geth spoke as Shepard held out her hand.
"Welcome to the team Legion" As Shepard took his hand and shook it, Legion returned the greeting and nodded.
"I'm going to take you on a short scouting mission to see what you can do…are you up for it?" Shepard asked.
"Ready Shepard Commander" Legion spoke as she smiled.
"Good we'll leave as soon as the ship gets into range" Shepard walked off to let Legion settle and for EDI to perform some scans on him. She was happy that EDI allowed him to stay in their but it seemed like the best place at the time.
Shepard walked off to her room to suit up but not before she looked round the corner towards the main battery and saw Garrus putting on his gloves and boots. Shepard gave a girly grin as her face flushed and the heat ran through her again, but before her body over took her mind she ran off towards the elevator.
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"You're taking the Geth with you?" Jacob cried out as Shepard walked out of the elevator fully suited up in her dark blue armour. Her right eye was covered by her visor as data streams told of her heart rate and the distance between her and her enemy and what rounds best to kill it with…so far it was choosing a cryo bullet for Jacob who Shepard was thankful he couldn't see.
"I need to see how Legion can fight" Shepard told Jacob as she walked towards the shuttle where Garrus and Legion waited. Jacob stopped and looked at her with confusion.
"Legion?" He asked as his eyes turned towards the Geth. Shepard smiled as she sighed.
"Me and EDI named him, I wasn't going to shout Geth everywhere I go" Shepard told him as she patted his shoulder making Jacob look at her.
"But Commander…it's a Geth…" Jacob started.
"That's willing to help us" She told him making it known that Jacob wasn't going to win this fight. Jacob sighed as he backed down; Shepard could tell that Jacob cared for her in a little sister kind of way ever since she helped him with the mission about his father, though he never talked about it.
"Please be careful Commander…this time I'm glad Garrus is going with you" Jacob told her as she smiled.
"Why? Big brother feeling left out?" Shepard spoke making Jacob blush and look surprised. Shepard smiled as she walked over to the shuttle.
"I'll be fine Jacob, I've got my lucky charm with me" Shepard pointed to Garrus who shuffled and folded his arms. Jacob waved as he ducked into the elevator before the dock bay doors opened. Shepard closed the door to the shuttle and sat down next to Garrus as Legion sat opposite. Shepard leant against Garrus as he wrapped his arm round her and nuzzled her hair.
"Lucky Charm?" Garrus asked as Shepard giggled and looked up at him.
"Well each time I've taken you with me…I've survived" She told him but Garrus shook his head as he laughed.
"Yeah only because I rush you to the med bay every time you start bleeding to death" Garrus told her as she laughed. Legion watched the couple with his flashlight as the thousand programmes tried to determine what was going on, Shepard was different round Garrus; she smiled a lot more while Garrus was more relaxed and not as controlled. The programmes found this strange and irrational but it brought one question to Legion's mind.
"This must be love" Legion spoke quietly.
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"Got them all Shepard" Garrus spoke over the radio as Shepard put away her pistol, she was out of bullets and her Biotics were playing havoc with her nose as blood gushed out. On the way to the site they found Blue Suns guarding the entrance and were now fighting constantly through an endless tide of Blue Sun grunts. Shepard had taken some minor hits while Garrus was pumping Medi-gel into his leg. Legion looked fine as he started to hack the console. Shepard went over to help Garrus with his wound, his armour had been broken but his natural plating had kept the bullet from going too deep. She brought out her slim knife as she told Garrus to place his hand on her shoulder, Garrus didn't understand until he felt the blade of the knife enter his soft flesh and dig out the bullet. His groaned in pain as his grip tightened on her shoulder as the pain grew with each wiggle of the blade. Shepard took out the bullet and put some more medi-gel onto the wound making it seal up.
"Now just let your shields reboot and you should be fine" Shepard told him as Garrus nodded.
"Now I see why you didn't become a doctor" Garrus joked as Shepard pushed him in his arm.
"If your still cracking jokes, you're fine" Shepard smiled as Garrus smiled back.
"Shepard Commander" Legion called over, Shepard patted Garrus on his shoulder as she walked over to the AI.
"What is it Legion?"
"We have located the source of the signal and confirmed that it is Prothean" Legion answered as Shepard gave him a smile.
"Well done Legion send the location to my omni-tool and as soon as Garrus good we'll move out" Shepard looked round to see Garrus standing right behind her. Shepard felt a blush rise to her cheeks at the surprise of him right behind her. Garrus chuckled as he ran a talon through her messy blood stained hair.
"Ready to go Commander" Garrus whispered as Shepard knew she was going to die from the alerts she was getting through her visor about her heart rate going through the roof.
"G…Good…move out" Shepard quickly turned and started down the direction of the signal. Legion looked at Garrus and back at the Commander.
"Still got a lot to learn Legion" Garrus patted him as he walked off as Legion watched him catch up with Shepard.
"Organics are confusing 100% of the time" Legion told himself as he walked on to catch up.
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"Well this isn't like the data disks we used to pick up" Shepard spoke as she looked at the buried black pyramid that was poking up out of the ground.
"Didn't we get most of those?" Garrus asked as Shepard shrugged her shoulders. She walked up to the console as data was still on its screen. Mostly how it was a strange object that seemed to hold some information but who ever went near it was later being rushed to the hospital and died. Shepard noticed something about how the data was released. The data would go directly into the mind of that person. Shepard looked up at the black peek and bit her lip.
"You're doing it again" Garrus told her as she looked at him.
"What?" She asked as Garrus walked up to her.
"Biting your lip, you only do that if you're nervous…or have a cut on your lip and since there's no blood…yet, you're nervous" Garrus told her as he looked into her eyes. Shepard cursed her nervous tell, it plagued her for years and always got her into trouble. Shepard eyes dragged themselves away from Garrus's markings and looked at the Pyramid.
"It's a beacon" She told him as Garrus stiffened with a sharp intake of breath. They both knew that she still held the visions of the other two beacons but Garrus didn't want to find out if her mind could handle one more blast of another beacon.
"It could contain information on the Reapers" Shepard spoke as if she was reading his mind, Garrus ran his talons along her arm making her look at him with her ice blue eyes.
"I'm right here Zo…just be careful" Garrus told her as she smiled. Shepard nodded and walked up to the pyramid, a sound started in her head as the screams of the Prothean people cried out in her mind, images of the last two beacons seemed to activate sensing the sister beacon. A green light wrapped round Shepard as clear images entered her mind, The Reapers descending from the sky and what looked like the Collectors and more husks ran through the streets of the cities. Images of Ilos entered her mind next as the Prothean scientists worked on a way of ridding the Reapers but only images of the Conduit came next.
Shepard's body felt the strain as her mind felt like a dam was about to give way. Suddenly the images stopped, Shepard opened her eyes as she landed on the ground. Her vision fuzzed as she felt the room spinning, she didn't dare stand up but lifting her heavy head she clearly saw the black pyramid as she gave it a drunken glare.
Garrus rushed over to Shepard as he helped her up by supporting her weight, Shepard's head rolled as she looked pale and her eyes unfocused.
"Well she's not bleeding" Garrus mumbled to himself.
"I heard that" Shepard spoke as Garrus gave a light laugh.
"Legion move out, we're done here" Garrus told the AI as it waited patently. Its facial panels moved as it accepted the order and followed behind them with his assault rifle at the ready.
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On the ride back Shepard seemed to improve, settling Garrus's worries. Her colour had returned but she kept on fading in and out to see the visions of the beacon. Nothing useful was obtained and it seemed the message was to any surviving Protheans that weren't indoctrinated to say that research was being done and not to loose hope. Shepard sighed as the mission was technically a fail and promised herself that the next beacon they come across they were going to miss because of how she felt.
"Zo you don't look well" Garrus spoke to her as she turned towards him.
"I think I'm at my limit with the beacon information…this one felt like it was going to overload me" Shepard told him as he nodded and pulled her close to him, she hated hugging him through his armour. The armour was cold and hard while his gloves covered the sharp tips of his talons, the bulky feeling made it feel like she was hugging part of the Normandy or a ship hull but when he ran his fingers through her hair she calmed and rested against him. Her eyes felt heavy but she fought against the need for sleep, knowing by now it was probably late she yearned for her bed in her prison of a room.
The Shuttle landed in the shuttle bay as the door opened reviling Miranda and Tali, both with weapons, standing outside. Tali looked at Legion with distrust while Miranda walked over to Shepard.
"You're not hurt again are you?" Miranda smiled as Shepard gave her a pout of a glare.
"No I'm just tired…" Shepard stretched against Garrus and the chair. Miranda laughed as she helped Shepard up, feeling lose of her armoured headrest she groaned making Garrus chuckled to himself.
Shepard walked through the ship giving Kelly and Miranda a report of what happened on the planet's surface while also giving Legion the go ahead for being a member of the team. Tali still didn't trust Legion but Shepard knew that if they worked together and talked they might understand one another. Shepard checked on everyone before she went to bed herself, Thane was not happy that he wasn't on the last mission which made Shepard plead for his forgiveness. Thane gave one of his light smiles and ruffled her hair which in turn made Shepard jump on top of him and mess up his leather jacket with mucky finger prints. Thane gave up as he looked over his clothing while Shepard stuck out her tongue folding her arms across her chest.
"You win this round Siha" Thane smiled as his deep voice sent a slight shiver down her spine.
"Goodnight Thane" Shepard walked out of the room and headed towards the main battery. The mess was quiet again as she walked through the quiet hall passing the sleeper pods that no one seemed to use. The door was open as she walked in and looked down at the console, Garrus had been working hard on his firing calibration to the new Thanix cannon that she installed months ago and some of them seemed worthy of taking down some major Turian vessels. Shepard smiled as her eyes wandered the room that he called his, his belongings lay everywhere she stood from the little temper he had earlier that day.
"You know it's rude to walk into someone's room and poke round their stuff" Garrus stood behind her leaning against the door. Shepard smiled as she started to come out with a quick comment but when her eye lay on him her mind went blank and her mouth went dry. Garrus stood in nothing but some very baggy pants that came up funny before of his leg spurs but his skin was damp as he wore no shirt. Shepard knew then she could die happy as a flush came to her cheeks and her eyes wandered each of his plates on his chest.
"Shepard your drooling" Garrus spoke up making some of Shepard's mind come back to reality while the other was off in daydream land thinking of him and her scenes that were slowly becoming very steamy.
"I…um…something about…sexy Turian in front of me" Shepard clamped her mouth shut as Garrus gave her a sly Turian smile with his playful eyes. Garrus laughed as he ran his talons through her hair and down her neck making Shepard shudder.
"Just coming to say goodnight?" He asked as she nodded trying to find some words to blurt out. Garrus's talon moved from her neck and rubbed lightly under her eyes, tracing the small black circles that graced under her eyes giving her a deathly look.
"You look like you need it, come on" Garrus picked her up and made his way towards the elevator. Shepard's blush grew as she just rested her head against his neck, his warmth filling her making it harder for her to fight her need for sleep. She watched one of his scales as he carried her, oblivious to anything else but him. She could hear his heart beat and his breathing, her eyes closed as she felt her body relax against him.
Garrus looked down as he entered the elevator, Shepard had fallen asleep but he couldn't complain having her like this was nice. He knew that she had been pushing herself to try and do everything because of the Illusive man's orders and trying to help everyone on the ship with their problems…mainly Jack and Miranda.
The door opened as he walked across the hall and entered Shepard's very tidy room, nothing was out of place and her bed was made so neatly a commanding officer would have been proud. Garrus shook his head at the human idea that a tidy bed made for good discipline, he knew Shepard was uncomfortable in this room but she refused to sleep in a sleeper pod. Garrus placed her on the bed making her eyes flutter open.
"Here already?" she asked as Garrus rubbed her head and knelt next to her.
"I'll leave you to it Shepard..." Garrus started to say but was cut off by Shepard wrapping her arms round him and pulling him close to her.
"Stay with me tonight" Shepard told him as looked surprised.
"Shepard…are you sure about this?" Garrus asked but Shepard's breathing deepened as no answer came, Garrus looked puzzled and unpeeled Shepard from him and looked at her…she was asleep again. Garrus found it hard to contain his laugh. He looked down at her clothing which he had just noticed was very little being her black tank top and shorts.
He tucked her in and lay next to her as he tried to get comfortable, Shepard rolled under the covers and pushed herself close to Garrus making him freeze. He knew he was going to be in for a very difficult night.
)_)
Garrus was roused from his sleep as he heard faint murmurings, he cracked one eye open to inspect the sounds, the faint light of the fish tank bathed the room outlining the shadows of Shepard tossing and turning as the covers wrapped round her legs. Her eyes were closed tightly as her fists clenched tightly. Garrus sat up and looked at Shepard with concern.
"Shepard" he ran his talons through her hair as she leant into hi hand but eyes were damp with tears. Garrus went to pick her up to calm her but then a flash of blue light nearly knocked him off the bed as Shepard began to scream and hit her mattress.
"Get them off me!" Shepard cried out as she kicked and screamed. Garrus looked at her bewildered but dived to grab her and pull her close. She screamed more and pushed his back with biotic punches, Garrus felt his insides scream in pain with each punch as Shepard screamed more, and her eyes shut tight.
"S…Shepard" He whispered to her as he struggled against him, he held her close pulling her forehead to his mouth letting his mandibles flick and stroke her hair. Still she screamed and kicked her hands stopped the punching and seemed to just freezing in place with her fingers curled like claws.
"No…No…please don't leave…don't die…" Shepard started talking, Garrus wondered if she was away but her eyes stayed closed while he saw her eyes moving underneath the lids. She was still sleeping and having a very bad nightmare, he wondered if it was about her time on Mindior or Akuze.
"G…Garrus…don't die…please…don't leave me" Shepard began to cry as he froze, she was dreaming of him dying. Garrus grasped her arms and pinned to her the bed almost shaking Shepard awake.
"Zo…Wake up" he almost shouted as her eyes snapped open. She looked up at him as her eyes were still damp. They looked at each other for a moment as her breathing settled letting her come round to waking up. Suddenly they were both in each others arms holding each other close, Shepard nearly burst out into tears while Garrus rub the back of her head.
"It's alright Zo…I'm here…I'm here" Garrus felt Shepard's body shaking while she clawed at his shoulder and back as if she was making sure he was real.
)_)
After a few moments Shepard calmed down as she lay in his arms with him rubbing her arm. Shepard drew invisible lines on his chest while her legs rubbed against his.
"Want to talk about it?" Garrus asked, Shepard stopped her drawings and shifted into him more.
"It was just memories…that became a very bad nightmare" Shepard told him as Garrus nuzzled the top of her head.
"Yeah…I died apparently" Garrus spoke making her look up.
"You talk in your nightmares" he told her as she hid her face in his chest making Garrus chuckle sending vibrations through Shepard's body.
"I dreamt about you getting hit by the missile back on Omega…except I didn't save you in time" Shepard mumbled but Garrus caught every word. She sighed as she pulled her up to his eye level, her eyes were getting damp again but she looked at him. He reached up and ran his talon through her hair and along her jaw line.
"I'm not going anywhere Zo, you saved me…kicked my Turian ass for it…and now we are here" He told her. Shepard looked into his eyes as he smiled, only he ever saw this side of the famous Commander Shepard, this vulnerable woman who cried like anyone else and he was glad of it. Shepard smiled as she traced his markings along his nose and cheek and along his mandibles, Garrus brought her forward and pressed his forehead against hers making her smile.
"You know, you have a very sexy Turian ass" Shepard told him with a smile as Garrus purred.
"Don't start Shepard, we're both too tired…and Joker might be watching" Garrus joked as Shepard laughed. Soon they were both back asleep in each others arms knowing that they would be well rested for the next mission…that was about to begin in three hours.
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