Chapter Eleven

Linda opened the door and stepped into a room that had been transformed. The stubs of several candles dotted the various surfaces of the room. Their dinner trays were waiting on the table - with a bottle of wine. She stopped in amazement as she took everything in. Propping her cane against the wall next to the door, she slowly and carefully took her first unaided steps across the room and into Garrus' arms.

"You certainly have been busy." She snuggled into his arms, inhaling his scent. He still smelled like sun-warmed fields.

"I had help." He buried his face in her hair, his heart clenching. He had come so close to losing her so many times and yet… she was here in his arms. He still awoke many nights and just watched her sleep, listened to her breathe. He didn't know what he had done to deserve this woman or her love, but he intended to make the most of the chances that he had been given.

"It turns out that it is very helpful to have Trish on your side." He motioned to the wine and the candles. "She said that the room needed some 'ambience' and proceeded to gather together the materials needed to make it happen. She also found the wine. She said that right now, wine is 'rarer than hen's teeth.'" He cocked his head. "I have no idea what that means."

"Hens are a kind of bird – they have beaks, not teeth. So saying that something is 'rarer than hen's teeth' means that it is rare indeed. I'm honored that she was willing to give it to us."

They wheeled the table to the bed and sat side-by-side and shoulder-to-shoulder as they ate. Linda poured the wine and they made sure to savor it – it could be the last that they had for some time.

"Garrus, what do we do now? Where do we go from here?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "We just have to find our places in this new world, this new galaxy. I'm sure that the Alliance still has a place for you if you want it. It's going to take decades for them to rebuild."

"No." Shepard shook her head vehemently. "I'm done being a soldier. I gladly gave most of my adult life to military service, but those days are over. I've given enough. My life is now my own."

"I'm glad to hear it." He slid his arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick hug. "I don't know what we will do or where we will go – all I know is that we will be together. And that is all that matters to me."

"God, I love you." Tears suddenly flowed down Shepard's face. "There is so much that you could hold against me, and yet, you don't. You're still here with me and you still love me."

"Spirits, Shepard! What could I possibly hold against you?"

She waved at the door to the room and everything that lay beyond it.

"Everything! Yes, the Reapers are gone, but, because of my actions so are the relays – and so much else." She looked at him, her heart breaking. "You know that your sister and father made it safely off of Palaven, but, in all likelihood, you will never see them again. I don't even know if we will live to see the technology rebuilt that will allow you to communicate with them."

Garrus pulled her into his arms, not sure if he meant to shake her or hug her. He settled for hugging her.

"Yes, it hurts that I may never see them again, but that was always a chance. Any time I went into battle, there was a chance that I would be killed – in which case I would not have seen them again." He pushed her away so that he could see her face, but she dropped her eyes.

"Linda, look at me." When she finally did, he continued. "Because of your actions, they have a chance to live. Without you, they would have been killed by the Reapers, sooner or later. Now, they are free to live. Even if I don't see them again, that's enough for me." This time he did shake her - gently. "Besides, don't you know – after all this time, after all that we have been through together – that I would rather have a life with you than anything else? Without you, I might have a heartbeat, and I might be breathing, but I wouldn't be alive."

"I think that's the most romantic thing that anyone has ever said to me." She grabbed a napkin off of the food tray, wiped her eyes, and then blew her nose – loudly. She reached up to stroke Garrus mandible. "I hope you know that I feel the same way about you. That night after Horizon, when you came to my cabin for the first time – I think of that as the day that I really began to live; that was the beginning of finding my other half, the one that completes me."

"That's sweet." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Now, no offense, but this is getting way too mushy for my tastes." He polished off the last of his wine as Linda laughed. "Did I mention that Trish also pulled a few strings and got Doctor Chakwas to sign off on orders stating that we no longer require 24-hour monitoring – effective immediately. That means that no one will be coming in to check on us tonight. And just to make sure…." He got up and wedged one of the chairs under the handle of the door.

The look that he turned on Linda as he advanced back across the room took her breath away.

"You mean we are actually going to be alone?"

"All alone. Just…you…and…me." He punctuated each word with a kiss – on the tip of her nose, her lips, and the sides of her neck. With no one to interrupt them, he was determined to get down to business and reached for the fastenings on Shepard's suit. To his astonishment, she placed her hands on his, stopping him. "What's wrong?"

"It's just that, well, we've been in the same room, the same bed, but we've been clothed. My body isn't the same. I've always had scars, but now I have so many more. And I'm missing part of my leg. I don't want you to be grossed out or offended."

"Oh, Shepard." He had never seen her so insecure. Prior to the last battle, she was so overworked, so overwhelmed, but she had dealt with it as well as anyone could. But now, in the aftermath, her insecurities seemed worse. Spirits only knew that few people, if any, could have handled the situation as well as she had. But she had awakened to a world completely changed and no longer knew where she fit or seemingly, who she was. He had to make her see that she was still Shepard, still his and that nothing, no amount of scars would change that. He took her face in his hands and studied her carefully. "I've got more scars as well. Do you remember the night that we made love for the first time?"

"Of course."

"That night, you told me the best way for us to get over our awkwardness was just to take the plunge, get out of our clothes and get better 'acquainted.' I think if we substitute the word 'reacquainted' that advice still applies. We're in no rush; we have the rest of our lives together. Tonight, we should start by taking things slowly. We'll get out of our clothes and get to know each other's bodies again, new scars and everything. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Garrus stepped back and slowly stripped out of his clothes. Linda winced at the number of new scars on his body. Not because they offended her, but because they were a symbol of all the pain that he had endured. She hadn't realized that his injuries had been so extensive. She stood up and extended her hand to him, he took it and steadied her as she stepped closer. She ran her hand lightly over his scars; they were reminiscent of the ones that he had received on the Collector ship when a drone hit him with a particle beam, but worse. She looked up at him. He nodded.

"When the Reaper guarding the beam fired on us, I dove behind some rubble. I was lucky it was a glancing blow. The impact threw me through the air, I impacted a burnt out vehicle and lost consciousness. Kaidan said that he found me curled up over your body, guarding you. I don't even remember how I got there or how I found you. I was severely burned as were you, but my thick skin makes it easier for me to recover from such. I also had a few broken bones. But everything is fine now." His mandibles flared in a grin. "Our scars show where we have been and what we have overcome to become who we are. They are a part of us and nothing to be ashamed of. Now, it's my turn."

Linda nodded and stepped back to sit on the edge of the bed so that she could remove her prosthesis. When that was complete, she allowed Garrus to once again reach for the fastenings on her clothes; this time she didn't stop him. Once she was naked, she leaned back on her arms so that he could see her better. He traced the scar that ran across her cheek, narrowly missing her right eye.

"This scar reminds me of the one that you had when we first met. You had a scar through your eyebrow and another on your chin. Cereberus healed those when they brought you back."

"And gave me a host of new ones in their place."

"Those healed with time, as will these."

His talon dropped lower to trace the faint scar that still outlined the bite that he had given her – at her request – before they went in to battle with the Collectors. Linda shivered at his touch and he smiled, she had always loved the feel of his rough skin against her neck. His talon dropped lower, tracing the scars that crisscrossed her abdomen and breasts. He heard the quick intake of her breath and saw her nipples harden as his fingers brushed across them. As his hand dropped lower, he ran his fingers through the nest of curls at the apex of her thighs. The curls weren't as thick as he remembered, but he knew that between the burns that had covered most of her body and all of the procedures and surgeries that had been performed, her body hair had been removed on multiple occasions. He looked forward to many opportunities to monitor its return to its former bushy glory. Kneeling, he took Shepard's stump in both legs and examined it carefully. Her leg had been crushed beyond all repair and had to be amputated if she were to have any chance at life. To leave it attached would have been to invite life-threatening infection – a foolish risk since it would never work again. Doctor Chakwas was not a foolish woman and had made the right decision. The new skin on her stump was still pink and he kissed it gently.

Standing, he picked Linda up and shifted her over in the bed so that he could lie beside her. He bent his elbow and propped his head on his hand so that he could look at her.

"You could never have a scar bad enough to make me not love you. I seem to remember you telling me that I would always be handsome to you, no matter how many scars I had. The same applies to you. I will always think that you are beautiful and I will always love you with or without scars."

As he allowed his gaze to travel over her naked form, his body responded enthusiastically, his cock growing hard enough to hurt. He cleared his throat. "I know, um, that I said that we would take things slow tonight, but part of me – actually most of me – disagrees with that decision."

"I think we have taken things quite slow enough." Linda glanced down her lover's torso at the magnificent erection straining toward her, semen already gleaming on its tip. She pulled his elbow out from under him and pushed him onto his back. "Besides, who am I to pass up such a glorious invitation?" She gave him the wicked grin that he had not seen in months, kissed him soundly and with no warning, slid down his body and took him into her mouth. He groaned and arched upward, forcing himself deeper into her. His vision greyed and he thought he heard the fabric of the sheets tear as he struggled for purchase – and fought not to come.

"Shit, Shepard." He ground his teeth as he struggled for control. "Give a guy a chance would you? It's been a long time." He gasped as she stroked him with her tongue. "A really long time and I'm ready to pop. I won't be able to hold out long if you keep doing that."

She chuckled and the vibration made him buck. She went down on him and then pulled back slowly, trailing her tongue over his tip until he thought he would scream. "Who's asking you to hold out?" In one smooth motion, Shepard raised her body and straddled him, taking him slowly into her warm, wet, pulsing depths. She was more than ready for him and rose up slowly, and then slid down quickly sheathing him to the hilt. Garrus cried out in release, thrusting into her. He wrapped his arms and legs around her and rolled her over, coming the whole time. When she was under him, he gave himself completely to his orgasm, shuddering and gasping but still not stopping. He thrust into Linda over and over, and she arched her back so that he could go deeper. As his climax finally began to recede, he felt her shudder as the walls of her shaft gripped him tightly – she screamed, actually screamed as she came, calling his name and begging him for more. He was glad to give it to her as her body's response triggered a new climax in him. He filled her again as she shuddered beneath him, her teeth sinking into his neck in ecstasy. He thanked the heavens again that he had somehow wound up with the one human woman that didn't mind a little biting during sex.

Their orgasms ended almost simultaneously and he collapsed, rolling to keep from crushing Shepard with the bony ridge down his chest. Once his breathing had dropped to a level that allowed him to speak again, he asked her "Are you okay?"

"Okay? I am beyond okay – I am fabulous." She stretched, luxuriating in the feel of her body. "I needed that. For the first time in my recovery, I now feel like me – like my body is once again my own. Thank you."

"You are quite welcome. But I'm not through yet." He gave her a look that took her breath away. "I intend to give you many more opportunities to thank me before the night is through."

"Oh, really?"

"Really." He slid down the bed, shoved her legs apart, and buried his face between them. His tongue searched for - and found – the small throbbing piece of deliciousness that she kept secret there.

"Ah! I have missed that!" She spread her legs wider and arched her back, giving him easy access.

He teased her with his tongue, tasting himself mixed in with the flavors of her. He slid one finger into her as he worked her with his mouth. She tightened around his finger as she cried out his name. Sliding his finger into her he was glad that he had continued his habit of keeping his talons trimmed. She rode his finger as she came. Once her climax was well under way, he removed his finger and replaced it with his cock, once again hard and aching for release. Spirits! She was so wet. And so hot. And so damn tight. It felts as if he were sliding himself into a velvet-lined vise. It was marvelous. He came with a roar, slamming into her hard enough that he could hear their flesh slapping wetly together. Shepard had finished and now rode his wave, raising her hips to meet his thrusts. Once again, when he was expended, he collapsed beside her, but this time made sure that they remained joined. They drifted to sleep bodies and hearts joined.

A pounding at the door to the room gradually worked its way into Linda's consciousness.

"Shepard? Shepard! Are you in there? Open this door right now." It was Doctor Chakwas. Linda sat up slowly, wiping the sleep from her eyes. Looking around, she saw that her prosthesis was several feet away. It was going to take several minutes for her to get to it, put it on, and open the door.

Garrus' combat training had not failed him. He was awake at the sound of the first knock. He kissed Linda on the shoulder and pushed her gently back down on her pillow. "I'll get it." His slid out of bed and walked to the door –stark naked. He moved the chair from in front of the door, and then turned the handle to open it slightly. "Come on in, Doc."

She did and was presented the rear view of a completely naked turian as Garrus walked back to the bed, then slid under the covers with Shepard, who was giggling madly. It was the first time that he had heard her giggle since, well, since before. Her laughter was what let him know that his Shepard was back, once and for all.

"Something we can help you with Doctor?" Linda sat up in the bed, pulling her knee to her chin. She motioned to one of the chairs, indicating that the doctor should be seated. For the first time ever, Karin looked flustered as she moved to the chair and sat down.

"I, uh, I was concerned for your well-being. I just wanted to make sure that you were alright."

"Really? Do you pound down the doors of all of your patients? Even after signing orders that they no longer require round-the-clock care?"

"Now, just a minute Shepard!" The doctor bristled. "You have no right to talk to me that way."

Linda turned to sit on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling. She kept the sheet wrapped around her body.

"Karin," she spoke softly. The doctor jerked in surprise; Shepard had never called her by her first name before. "I owe you my life – I would not be here if it weren't for you and your expertise. I also like to think that our friendship played a part in the care that you have given me. As my friend, you weren't willing to give up on me, even when others might have." She smiled to take the edge off of her words. "But, it is time for you to let go. I am well now and I need to start getting on with my life. I can't stay in this hospital forever."

"You're right, Shepard." Doctor Chakwas sat ram-rod straight in her chair. "I have let my personal feelings interfere in this case." She ducked her head, and when she looked back up, Linda was surprised to see tears in her normally steely eyes. "We have almost lost you so many times and this time it was on my watch. It was my responsibility to help you, to heal you – and I did. But I have become like one of those parents that refuses to let their children face the consequences of their actions. I am sorry. I will leave now." She stood and turned, preparing to walk out the door.

"Doctor, please. Come here." Linda held out her hand and waited as the doctor hesitated before coming to stand by the side of the bed. "Please don't go away angry. I'm not kicking you off of my case or out of my life. But changes do need to be made. Stay and talk to me, tell me what needs to be done."

Rubbing her head as if she were developing a headache, the doctor began. "Trish pointed out to me that the two of you really do not require constant supervision – and that you might benefit from some time alone." She arched her brow at them. "Apparently, she was right. Garrus' physical therapy is complete and yours is nearly so. You still have some work to do, but primarily, you need to build up your stamina. So, if you are agreeable, I would like for you to continue your therapy a couple of days a week, but the rest of the time, you just need to get outside, get some fresh air, and walk. Build up your strength. You can do those things while you look for a place to live. After all, once your therapy is complete, you can't stay here. Hospitals are for sick people."

"Will you forgive me for speaking to you so harshly?" Linda held out her hand placatingly.

"You're forgiven, but there is no need. You were right. I wasn't keeping you here for your benefit, but for mine. I don't want to see anything happen to you again."

"Don't worry, Doc." Garrus spoke for the first time since opening the door. "She will be with me and I will keep her safe. I promise."

"I know."

Once the doctor was gone, Linda turned to Garrus. "Well, we learned something last night."

"We did? I thought we already knew what we were doing." He grinned as she swatted him on the shoulder.

"We learned that anytime I start feeling weepy and out-of-sorts, uncomfortable in my own skin, all you have to do is take me to bed for a night of intense sex and I'll be back to my old self."

"Mmm, I'll have to remember that." He pulled her back into the bed where his hands got busy doing lovely things to her.