Beautiful people out there! Helllooooooooo! So here's the next chapter, I loved all the excellent reviews and I'm sorry some of you got actually upset with me. And with the chapter. Some who thought I had killed Tali were.....uhm.....a bit scary, but as Nephyrisx pointed out, in Shakespear, Juliette does not die. Now does she?

Also, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was hard to write because it's hard to have a one way conversation and still have it be a two way in a sense.

But I hope you enjoy it, and the next chapter will be up sometime next week. REVIEW!!!!!

*Teaser: I'm fiddling with the idea of perhaps.....JUST MAYBE....changing it from Hurt/Comfort....to Tragedy.....*

Chapter 13

Tali's Point of View:

It was so cold. I felt trapped. Shadows danced behind my eyelids as I tried to pry them open. My body did not respond to me and I could feel panic grip my chest. Alex. Where was Alex? Where was I? The air bit at my skin and my heart faltered once more when I realized I was out of my suit. How was this possible? I could get sick! I could feel my hair free and loose over my shoulders. A floral smell made my nose twitch. Flowers? I breathed in once more: Lillies. My favorite.....What was going on! I focused on my breathing, trying to calm myself. A calm mind was a wise mind, and that's exactly what I needed at this moment. My thoughts backtracked as I tried to come to grips with what was happening to me.

We had been outside the Engine room. Alex and I. I remembered feeling my strength slipping rapidly form my limbs and the walls were shifting and morphing in my vision. Alex was on one knee, looking at me strangely.

"Tali.......let's get married," he had finally sighed. I took a step backwards. I knew what marriage meant from reading up on Human Relationships and I remember feeling completely taken aback. Married? Me and him?

"Alex...h-how----" He shot to his feet, almost falling onto me as his hands gripped either side of my helmet roughly. He promised to take care of me and protect me from everything, promising a house and a family and him. It all sounded so perfect. But he was acting rediculous and I noted the slight slur to all his words.

"Shepard have.......have you been drinking?" Of course, he had been, he admitted sheepishly to me. I remembered rolling my eyes at him. I told him all the things he was saying to me were just his insecurity and the alcohol speaking. He didn't like that. And then he was shaking me. Saying something....something I couldn't quite hear. Then I was in his arms, and we were both crumpled on the ground. His face was etched with concern and I remembered hating myself for being the source of his anguish. He pulled off my helmet. I was so hot. On fire, but so......weak. I touched his face and kissed him before the last of my strength had slipped away. My eyes shut and my arm fell. I could still hear him though and I felt him stand shakily. He kicked the elevator doors when we had been in there for a while, cursing at its slow movement. We stumbled to the side a bit but he must have caught himself against the wall because we were much steadier after that. He choked a sob and I cringed internally. I focused all my energy to my lips, pushing sound through them. I wanted to let him know I was still with him. I was scared...

"Alex....." I barely breathed. I felt his hands smoothing my hair and pushing it off my dripping face. He kissed my lips and I wanted to badly to be able to kiss back.

"Shh....Shhhhhh, it's alright Tali. It's gunna be okay. I'm.....I'm here! I got you..............I got you...." He was right, I knew he would take care of me. He always did. My guardian angel. He would protect me like he promised he would. I just knew it. "We're almost there, okay? Just.......hold on!" We rushed forward after that, bumping into someone in the process. We brushed by them and I felt the wind against my face as Alex started to run. The smell of medical supplies hit me when I heard the Medbay doors hiss open.

"Commander!" The doctor's voice was harsh and angry. There was fear and confusion laced through every word, and I remembered wanting to tell her to be nicer to Alex. He was only trying to help. A needle pricked my skin and I wanted to yelp, but I couldn't. At this point, it was almost like I was having one of those out of body experiences. I could hear what they were saying and feel them when they touched me, but I could not reply. It was a horribly helpless feeling.

"You're an absolute idiot," Chakwas hissed once more, as their conversation continued. She thought the Commander had poisoned me? Bosh'tet. Alex would never do that to me! How could see even think such a thing? Something started to beep frantically, and he doctor cursed. I had never heard her swear before and the words sounded wrong in her mouth. Alex was frantic now, and I felt his hand lift my own as he pressed it to his lips. His mouth was like ice against my skin.

"She's flatlined!" What? Me? No I hadn't. My heartbeat was still there. It was very weak to be sure, but I could still feel it pulsing ever so lightly. Quarian heart rates were faster then Human's but our hearts were buried so deep in our chest, that it was often difficult to read monitors properly. Another needle in my arm.

"Don't you dare Tali!" Shepard was screaming, kissing my hand again and again. "Don't you dare leave me alone here! I'll do better I----" Leave him? I was still here! I wanted to punch Chakwas for letting him think I was dead. Letting him feel so distraught that he had completely lost that cool facade that he always had. He was delerious with worry.

"Commander there's no-----" The terror in her own voice rang in my ears. Wait....she also thought I was slipping away? Oh no....this wasn't good. 'Alex! Alex, I'm right here,' I wanted to scream. 'Right here my love!' My body was just a shell now.

He was sobbing, his tears leaking between my fingers. And then he was gone and my hand fell back down limply. The Doctor had pushed him away. She was shouting commands at EDI and at Alex. I couldn't hear him anymore over all the kayos coming from the doctor and my own head. After more fussing over me and misreadings, the commotion ended abruptly. The room was silent except for the frantic monitor.

"Commander I'm......I'm so sorry.....she's.....I can't get a heart beat. I'm afraid Miss Zorah has----" she didn't finish.

"It's Tali, damn it. Don't be so god damned formal! You know Tali! She's your friend too! And she's not gone!" Alex cried.

"Commander.......please sit down, this is very....upsetting to us all---"

"Upsetting? Nothing is wrong! So nothing is.....is......oh god! Oh dear fucking----"

"Alex put that down. She's gone----" Something Metal hit the floor as Alex roared, a growl ripping from him as if he'd been shot in the side.

"W-what?" Alex choked. "No...you're wrong. She's fine!" His words were still sticking together in his state and I heard something crash as he must have stumbled. "She can't be....she....can't be gone........I can't....No!" He boomed. Something else crashed and the doctor yelped.

"Commander! Please! I'm sorry but you can't----"

"Fuck!" Another crash. "Don't lie to me! She's fine! She's...." New crash: shattering glass. I wasn't gone! I was right here! My heart throbbed and I wanted so badly to cry and release the heavy sadness that weighed roughly on my heart. He was in so much pain. For nothing. I was fine. I could hear him and feel him. How could I reach him? He seemed so far away. "She was fine just a few minutes ago, and I asked her to marry me, and I was going to be with her, have a kid, or not have one, or have one or......something! I can't....she can't be----" There was a slapping sound, and Alex stopped.

"Pull yourself together Alex...." Chakwas slapped him? "Don't think you're the only one who will miss Tali. She was the most caring person I'd ever met. And you tearing apart my station isn't going to bring her back. Now please, sit down....." There was sorrow in her own tone and I thought I could picture her crying. There was a large pause, then I heard the doors hiss open and heavy footsteps walk out. Alex's footsteps. Another silence. The doctors shoes clicked on the tiles after a moment and I felt a thin sheet being lain over me. They thought it was over. They thought it was all over....

So where was I now? How did this all happen? Nothing was making sense to me right now, and I knew I was missing something crucial. How could I have gotten this sick? I was so careful! And even if it was from being out of my suit, I'd never heard of a Quarian being sent into a coma from a germ. Plus, Quarians didn't even get sick ironically, they just had allergic reactions to the world around them. None of this was adding up. I was overlooking something. Something that was buried in my head, but too far away to reach.

"Oh Miss Zorah," sang an unwanted voice. "Which one of these are you in?" My ears pricked up to the sound, and I strained to hear who it was. Someone was out there! Someone knew I was still alive. Oh thank Keelah. Thank the Gods! Soon this would be over and I could be with Alex once more. I could just see myself running to him in my head..... 'Shepard! It's me! I'm fine! Cry no more my love!' And he would hold me and kiss me while I cried for almost losing him. My heart rate quickened in anticipation. The sounds of heels clicking across the floor slowly echoed next in my confined space. I tried to open my eyes once more, but they were still locked shut. It was only a matter of time though since I could feel the nerves in my hand make my finger twitch. Something hissed and I felt fresh and cool air wash over me. I breathed it in greedily. There was light behind my eyelids. Faint and muffled, but there. I was in.....a box before?

My savior sighed sadly and ran there hand over my cheek. I could feel their nails scrape my skin lightly. "I must admit," continued the familiar voice, her hand dropping away, "that you are indeed far more beautiful then I'd imagined. I saw Alex walk by - or rather, run by - with you in his arms when they brought you to the Medbay. Much prettier then I thought possible: now I know why Alex held such interest in you. He has a weakness for beautiful women...." All hope drained from me, if Miranda knew I was alive, and was here talking to me.....there was no way she was here to help. I could have sobbed if my body would have responded. I felt my arm lift and a needle break through my skin. She was injecting me with something. "There you are! Just another light dose of the muscle depressant. Sorry if that stung a bit, but I can't have you waking up before your own funeral now can I! That would be so rude of you, I know the ceremony is going to be quite stunning. Alex has ordered Lillies to be placed all around the ship; they're your favorite so I've heard. Yes....and he always gives such excellent speeches too. It will be a lovely time." She began to pace as she let out another sigh. I could feel whatever new control I was gaining over my body slip away once more as I was numbed. 'I swear to Keelah, if I get out of this, I'm going to wring her neck...' I thought.

"And of course," she went on, a chair dragging as she moved it to sit next to me, "it will be even more pleasing for me, because I get to watch Alex space the.....Ha......."woman he loved" when she's still alive! Oh but don't worry my love, he wont know you're alive. I wouldn't dream of putting him through such hardships. He's already in quite a state now," she snicked darkly. "You know what alcohol does to him. Dulls him. But don't worry, I just came from his room and I....ha....straightened him up." I cringed. Images, new images, were in my head now. His arms around Miranda as they kissed. He stumbled, she pushed him to the bed. She was crawling up his body, sliding her hands over him. There were still fresh tears on his face....no! He wouldn't have.....

'No!' I screamed in my head. 'Get away from him! He's mine you bitch!'

"Absolutly breathtaking performance, by the way my dear. Oh and poor Alex! He was mess when the Doctor declared you dead, practically ripped this whole ship in two! He was screaming and throwing things. He really must learn to control his temper. Don't worry, I promise to help him with that. Perhaps it's just that he needs somewhere else to apply his.....passion. Don't you agree?" She laughed suddenly, the sound like knives in my ears. "Oh! Ha, ha! And then the Doctor strides across the room and slaps him square across the face! An absolutely brilliant addition to the show, I must say. I laughed, I cried.....I only wish I'd had it recorded so I could watch it again and again! Perhaps EDI has the footage?" she mused. "I know the Illusive man still has us bugged, so I'm sure I could ask him for the tapes. Indeed, I will thank him for helping me cast you as our fair Juliette, for without him none of this would have been possible! I do feel badly for adjusting the script to fit my own interests but....I always believed that it was Rosalie that Romeo should have chosen. And now that Juliette's time has passed, she'll be the star of the show." Her hands clutched at my wrist has her voice filled with fake concern. "Oh but now please don't tell Alex I'm still working the him! He would be so angry with me! And that wouldn't do at all, now would it?"

The Illusive man. Of course. That's what that strange reading in the system had been! I'd noticed it even after we had purged the system, EDI's whole system had shifted slightly, but I had just assumed it was due to the damage from the Omega 4 relay. How could I have been so stupid! "Anyways, I should probably go and get ready. Your funeral is in a few hours and I need to get ready. Alex has asked me to make a speech as well, and I should probably practice my stage cry. Oh dear....I do love the theater." I felt her hand smooth back my hair once more as she stood. "Sleep well Juliette," she cooed, whispering as one might to a dozing child. "This time I'm afraid, that parting yields nothing but pleasure."