As a few of the staff of the hotel Shepard hadn't noticed unloaded the car Shepard was laying in a bed, with Miranda pacing and Doctor Chakwas stitching him up. He hadn't seen Garrus, but didn't ask where he was; he was too busy getting stitched up. Finally, Miranda talked.
"That didn't match up to our expectations," Miranda said. "Maybe you're not the legend we've heard about."
"I could care less what you think about me." Shepard said, though he didn't sound angry; he was just telling the truth. "Where's Garrus? I saw turian blood leading to the car."
"Always the detective." A turian voice said. Garrus walked in, white gauze around his head, and Shepard smiled. "Is it bad?"
"You look like a Quarian with that head scarf." Shepard said, and both Garrus and Shepard laughed.
"Ow. Don't make me laugh." Garrus said. "My face is barely holding up as-is. How'd you survive?"
"I always was a stubborn S.O.B." Shepard said. "And besides, death and I got to know each other a while back. I wanted to pop in and say hi."
"This is serious." Miranda said. "How do you expect any of your crew to be loyal if you can only joke and make us think you're dead?"
"You're patched up," Doctor Chakwas said, "but I doubt it will be for long. Stop being so reckless."
"Yes, ma'am." Shepard nodded, getting a shocked look from Miranda. Once Doctor Chakwas left Miranda voiced her reason for surprise.
"You call her 'ma'am'?" Miranda asked.
"She's earned it." Shepard said, sitting up on the side of his bed. "Garrus, go get Kelly to find you a room. I need to talk to Miranda."
"Yes, sir. I'll be in my room if you need me." Garrus said. Once he left, Shepard looked Miranda in the eye.
"Something's bothering you." Shepard said. "If you need someone to listen, I'm all ears. Despite my mouth I'm good at shutting up and listening."
Miranda was silent for a second. Two. Then, "My sister, Oriana, is in trouble." Miranda went on to explain how her father had tried to make her a "dynasty" and how she had ran away with her sister, Oriana. Then, she explained that he had found out where her sister was and that she wanted to keep him away from her.
"Where is this?" Shepard asked.
"Illium." Miranda said. Shepard nodded, then laid back down in bed.
"Wake me at dawn. We'll eat breakfast, then we'll go to Illium." Shepard said. "Until then, make sure everything's prepared."
"Yes, Shepard." Miranda said, then turned and walked out the door. As soon as she shut the door she allowed herself a small smile. Maybe the Commander wasn't as bad as she made him out to be.
In his bed, Shepard drifted off to sleep, too tired to remember to take his pills. He would regret that, as he immediately began seeing his final day with his crew.
Four black cars drove down the street in a line. In one, Shepard sat, with Garrus in the front seat and Liara beside him. Shepard was telling a story, smiling, while Liara looked over his face. She had seen the pain the dreams brought him, and not just the dreams the ancient Prothean artifact had brought with its supposed mystic powers; dreams he had gotten overseas, in wars he had been drafted into.
Suddenly, the driver, Pressly, shouted "Down!" Several bullets soared through the windshield, killing him and spraying blood over the glass. Garrus quickly pushed his door open, narrowly avoiding a barrage of bullets meant for him. Shepard, completely serious when he realized the reality of the situation, grabbed Liara's hand and pulled her close, then pushed his door open and jumped out with her. A single bullet hit the gas tank, blowing the car up and pushing Shepard, Liara, and Garrus away from the burning wreckage.
"Shepard!" Ashley shouted. "Where are you?"
"Here!" Shepard shouted, standing and helping Liara. "Get out of here!"
"But Commander." Liara said, her blue eyes looking into Shepard's.
"Go, and make sure to keep Joker safe. I'll catch up," Shepard said, then pecked Liara on the lips. Liara nodded, growing serious, and ran, slightly bent over to avoid bullets. Shepard drew a pistol and looked around. Where were the bullets coming from? Suddenly, Shepard saw a muzzle flash on the ceiling of a taller building. Shepard fired and the gun fell, clattering to the ground. Shepard tried looking, only for a car to drive quickly by, a firearm's muzzle sticking out of the window. The gunman fired, hitting cars, buildings, newsstands, and Shepard. Only one bullet hit him, but it hit his neck, causing blood to spurt out.
Shepard fell to the ground, holding his neck and feeling the blood drain through his fingers. Why was the world turning so dark? Shepard felt like giving up, letting death take him. But, Shepard was much too ornery to give up, and stood, stumbling into a street. Shepard had mistaken it for the one the rest of his crew had taken while, in fact, it was a street leading to a homeless shelter. Shepard forced himself on, thinking of how he would laugh at this later with Liara and Garrus and Tali, how Joker would crack wise at his misfortune.
Shepard made it to the door, knocking on the door twice. It was too silent, however, and they didn't hear the sound of his knuckles hitting the wood. They did, however, hear him pass out and his body hit the door as it fell. They quickly put him in a bed, stitching up his neck. Due to the dried blood none noticed it was the Savior of the Galaxy, Commander Shepard.