TITLE: Chase Me, Until I Catch You

CHAPTER: 11, Breath of Life

LOCATION: The Battle for Earth / London, England


I was looking for a breath of life

A little touch of heavenly light

But all the choirs in my head sang,

No oh oh


Pushing herself to her hands and knees was the hardest thing she'd ever tried to do. The pool of blood she lay in, now dripped off what was left of her armor. Looking down at herself, she noticed an abdominal wound adding its own contribution. The steady dripping of the wound hypnotized her for a few seconds. The average human body carried about ten pints of blood. By her estimation, there were eight pints on the ground. If she had just two pints left, then it probably wouldn't take much longer to bleed out. Maybe she should just lay here and watch as 'the last of her life drained away.' Stupid cliché.

Lifting her head turned out to be the second hardest thing she'd ever done. Her ears rang and her eyes were bleary from the heat and soot. But, her soldier training kicked in and she automatically checked for her weapon. There it was, next to her right hand. Good. Oh, no. Not good: The barrel was cracked. Her right hand throbbed to the beat of her heart. She held it up to her face. Broken. She couldn't even make a fist. The soldier took stock of her symptoms: Rapid heart rate, light-headed and dizzy, tingling hands and feet. Which added up to one thing: Blood loss. At least she wasn't nauseated.

"Oh crap," she croaked, as breakfast made its second appearance of the day. She fell to her side. That hurt too.

Outside of her aching body it was quiet and soothing. If, for one goddamn minute, she could turn off her brain, she could close her eyes and rest. All she really needed was to catch her breath. Then she'd reach up and key her COMM Link… Find out about her team… Normandy was safe… Joker never lets her down. Just a moment more and she'd do it. She slid over to her back and looked up at the blue sky... it wasn't the sky... too crowded...

… Archangel removing his helmet… I knew it was you my dearest friend... Shepard and Vakarian back together... Liara on Mars: The asari, looking down that cool blue nose of her's as if to ask, what took you so long to get here? Admiral Tali? Admiral Tali, you've come a long way, little sister... I'm so proud of you. Jacob, Miranda and Jack... Be healed, Jack... Be happy, if you can find a way. Anderson... the closest thing to a father, she'd known. She'd tried to make him proud... tried to live up to his level of excellence... The bar in heaven… A bar in heaven? Well, if Garrus said so; then there must be one. Turian heaven or... didn't matter... She couldn't forget about the bar… cool drink would be good right now. If she were very good, maybe she could see Garrus. He'd tilt his head at her, that way he did and hand her a drink… stylishly, of course. A nice tall one, with lots of ice.

"James…?" For a second she'd seen his eyes. Those eyes of his… Was she talking to him in her head or was someone calling her? Not a bad sight to see in these last moments. She'd really screwed up with him...

Someone was wiping her mouth.

"Leave me alone. I'm having a drink with my friends."

"Sorry, can't do that. Red, you're a mess."

"Charmer."

"You know it."

"You're interfering with my R & R. Don't make me put you on report."

"You go ahead and put me on report. Just as long as you promise, it's every day and for the rest of our lives. He gently wrapped her hand around something soft and secured the arm against her chest. This's gonna hurt. Got to put pressure on that wound before I move you. Ready?"

He was right. She gasped and arched her body. Yeah, it hurt. Took her mind off her hand though. Then someone lifted her off the filthy ground. Strong arms and a place to rest her head. This felt familiar. Better than the dream. Warm and comforting.

"Here we go."

"You savin' my life, Lieutenant?"

"Looks like it."

"Wait! My rifle! Don't leave it there."

"You're kidding. Who gives a shit about that thing? The barrel is cracked."

"It's the one you customized for me. Please don't leave it."

"Red, you're dying in my arms!"

"It'll only take a second… please. I promise not to die."

"Promise?" He asked, as he slung her rifle over his shoulder, renewed his grip on her and started walking toward Field HQ.

"James, I have too much left to do. I almost forgot... Just needed to close my eyes for a minute. I'm good now."

"Tell me about it."

"Well, I was thinking…

He felt her head drop to his shoulder. Her arm swung free. Blood trickled from her mouth.

"Katherine Renée Shepard!"

Her eyes jerked open. "Why do you keep waking me up?"

"Tell me what you're thinking about."

"We could make love again."

"Where?"

"On your workbench?"

"It's a date."

"I… don't look very good right now. We might have to wait…"

"I'll wait forever. Is that long enough for you?"

"I don't think it will take that long…"

One more block. He could see the Alliance flag snapping in the breeze. She was fading again. He could feel it.

"Maybe you could brush your teeth too. Your breath stinks."

"I threw up."

"Yeah, saw that. Don't worry. I'll always hold your head."

"Always hold my head? Huh? What are you talking… about?"

"Morning sickness."

"M- m-morning sickness?"

¡Gracias a Dios!, that got her attention.

"Yeah, Red. I'm thinking two boys and two girls."

"Lieutenant, you made me blush…"

~0~0~0~0~

She woke to the feeling of someone brushing her hair. Two people were talking. One sounded like James, the other… she couldn't tell. The woman was explaining something.

"Okay, lieutenant. Pull it forward over her shoulder. Divide the hair in three equal strands. Now, take the outside strand and put it in the middle. Keep tension on the strands. That's it. You're doing it right. Perfect."

"Gracias."

"You're welcome. Not many men would take the time to do that for their girlfriend."

"She's more than my girlfriend. She's... well, she's my sister-in-arms, my best friend and…"

"Then don't let her get away."

"I don't intend to. We've got some talking to do when she wakes up." He nodded to the nurse and she left them alone.

With the sound of James's voice in her ear and the words he'd just spoken, Shepard allowed herself to drift away again.

The next morning, James entered the commander's room and found her awake.

"Lieutenant."

"Hey, Red."

"My crew? Did everyone make it out? My ship?"

"Everything is fine. A few injuries. Everyone, including your ship, made it out."

"Sit down here next to me and tell me what you wanted to talk about."

"Plenty of things have changed. They're still trying to figure out the effects of the Catalyst. Mass Relays are down. They think they can get them working again. Might take years. They just don't know yet. The bottom line is we're all grounded for a while. Good news is they're sending the Normandy back to Vancouver. So we'll all be stationed together."

"Closer, come down here." She tugged his hand.

He sat down on the bed. Fragile and pale looking, it took all his control not to give in to his emotions. He'd found her. She was safe and on the mend That's what mattered.

"Closer." She moved over to make room for him.

Carefully negotiating the I.V. Tubes and monitor wires, he stretched out his large frame on the narrow hospital bed.

"So I've been thinking. Just got my promotion orders for 0-3. That'll mean a raise."

"Grats, Captain Vega."

"Thanks. He grinned and then hurried on with his speech. We'd both be in Vancouver… working together. Seems to me there's no reason we couldn't share… I mean, uh, live together. I'm not saying you'd have to change your name or anything like that."

"Change my name?"

"Yeah, I just think it's important… you know… when there's kids involved. To huh… well, you know."

"Kids? Oh, yes. I remember. You mentioned two boys and two girls."

"I did. Since we'll be grounded for a while. No telling how long. Might be a good time to…"

She turned his face toward her's, "I love you," she said, kissing him gently.

"Yeah man, I love you too. He rolled to his side, sliding his arms around her. That's the first time you ever said that to me. I like the sound of it."

"How about 'yes?' How does that sound?"


AN: This is Quilate's Happy Ending. What? You didn't think I'd allow Shepard to die in this story too? That would be just wrong. Besides, it made me cry to write her death scene with James in "Don't Just Tell Me... ."

Big thanks to all the readers out there and smooches to those of you who took time to leave a review.

You get two songs with this chapter. At first, the Adele song seemed perfect, then I remembered this song from "Snow White and the Huntsman"

Breath of Life

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I was looking for a breath of life
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang,
No oh oh

To get a dream of life again
A little vision of the start at the end
But all the choirs in my head sang,
No oh oh

But I needed one more touch
Another taste of heavenly rush
And I believe, I believe it
So oh oh oh

Who's side am I on?
Who's side am I?
Who's side am I on?
Who's side am I?

And the fever began to spread
From my heart down to my legs
But the room is so quiet,
Oh oh oh

And although I wasn't losing my mind
It was a chorus so sublime
But the room was too quiet,
Oh oh oh

I was looking for a breath of life
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang,
No oh oh

It's a long way and it's come to claim her
And I always say,
We should be together
I can see the look,
Because this song has began it
And if you are gone,
I will not be long (Be long, be long, be long)

And I started to hear it again
But this time it wasn't the end
And the room is so quiet,
Oh oh oh

And my heart is a hollow plane
For the devil to dance again
And the room is too quiet

I was looking for the breath of a life
A little touch of a heavenly life
But all the choirs in my head sang
No, oh oh

Breath of Life, Florence + The Machine: you tube watch?v=_vIskpOPGPE&feature=fvwp&NR=1

(SPOILER WARNING: If you've never seen this movie, then don't watch this video.)

One and Only

You've been on my mind
I grow fonder every day,
Lose myself in time
Just thinking of your face
God only knows
Why it's taken me so long
To let my doubts go
You're the only one that I want

I don't know why I'm scared, I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all,
You never know if you never try
To forgive your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
Promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts

If I've been on your mind
You hang on every word I say
Lose yourself in time at the mention of my name
Will I ever know how it feels to hold you close?
And have you tell me whichever road I choose you'll go

I don't know why I'm scared 'cause I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all,
You'll never know if you never try
To forgive your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
I promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts

I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart
I Know it ain't easy, giving up your heart

(Nobody's perfect, trust me I've learned it)
I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart
(Nobody's perfect, trust me I've learned it)
I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart
(Nobody's perfect, trust me I've learned it)
I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart
(Nobody's perfect, trust me I've learned it)
I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart

So I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
I promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts
Come on and give me a chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts.