A/N A slight warning. There are some graphic bits in this chapter. Also a lot more foul language. Read at your own risk. Please feel free to leave a review. Thank you thank you to those that do leave a review and thank you to those that flag me as a favorite story and author. I do appreciate the pointers such as my use of "tense" hoping I am getting better. Thanks !
Almost falling into the crates Shepard ducked down. Out of breath, legs shaking she knew she wouldn't be able to last much longer.
"Hello doctor."
"Kane, I didn't expect to be back here so soon."
Shepard could hear the two men close by.
"We had a small incident," said Kane. "I wanted to make sure the commander was okay."
"What happened exactly?"
"One of my men tried to get fresh with her, he has been disposed of. "
"I see."
The men's voices started to fade as they walked away from where Shepard was hiding.
"I figure it was a good time to check on her and give her another injection."
"Of course."
Shit, they are heading toward the room. You gotta move Shepard. I could take them I have a pistol, NO! You can hardly hold it; you don't know how many men are here, engaging is NOT safe. Move Shepard. Looking around the warehouse, Shepard could see the area where the two men came from; there must be a door there. Gathering her strength Shepard moved.
"Did any harm come to her by your man?" asked the doctor.
"No, he…."
"What the?"
Seeing Blake's body huddled on the ground, the doctor quickly checked for a pulse. Kane moved past him into the room, finding White by the now empty table, he too checked for a pulse.
Crossing the room toward the area where she saw the two men come from, Shepard felt a prick on her arm. Her world slipped away as the floor came crashing toward her.
"He's dead," said Kane as he left the room. The doctor confirmed that Blake was dead as well. Kane walked into the main room. "Gentlemen!"
Kane waited for the men to assemble. Kane asked "Where is Mr. Green?"
"Right here." He was carrying Shepard.
"Shit how did she get out?" asked Squid.
"That is a good question," said Kane.
The doctor moved over to Mr. Green to check Shepard's vitals. "You dosed her?"
"Yes, but I removed the dart quickly, she did not get a full one."
"Is she okay doctor?" asked Kane, he could see that though she was unconscious her body was twitching.
"I don't like the rate of her heartbeat. She needs fluids."
"Squid, get the doctor what he needs," said Kane.
"Yes Sir."
"Diamond," continued Kane, "You, Rick and Paul take care of Blake and White"
"Yes, sir."
Moving back to the room, Mr. Green gently lowered Shepard on the table. The men could see that she still had her right restraint on her wrist.
"Shit, why is she shaking like that?" asked Squid as he handed the doctor his bag.
"Her body is responding to the drugs. The drugs are meant to hit the nervous system, shaking and feelings of weakness are normal," explained the doctor as he set up an IV. Placing a needle in her right arm, he started a saline drip.
"Won't that counteract the drugs?" asked Squid.
"It will." replied the doctor.
Squid, confused looked at Kane.
"Our goal Squid is not to kill the commander," said Kane.
"Yeah, but I thought –"
"Squid, is your gear ready?" Kane interrupted, not wanting to continue the line of questioning. "We leave within the hour."
Getting the hint, Squid turned and left the room, leaving Kane and the doctor alone with Shepard.
"We have known each other for awhile Kane; I have a bad feeling about this."
"Agreed."
"You are better than this Kane, WE are better than this. What the hell is this guy planning on doing?"
"It is not my concern," replied Kane.
"Keep telling yourself that." Putting his attention back to the commander, he checked her pulse. It was stronger now, her breathing more even and the shaking in her muscles ceasing, the doctor removed the needle from her arm and packed up his supplies. "I know you know what you are doing Kane, but you need to be careful. Nothing good can come of this it is getting out of control, sometimes you need to know when to fold. I am not coming back here." The doctor placed his hand on the man's shoulder, giving him a knowing look; he turned and walked out of the room.
Kane knew the doctor was right. He had never lost so many men on a job before. Kane approached the commander. She looked at war within herself and she lay on the table unconscious, brows furrowed, jaw clenching and unclenching. He reapplied the restraint to her left wrist and both ankles. He checked the right side of the table. The restraint on her right wrist was still on her, but the connector between the restraint and the table was broken.
Whoever was responsible for the table and the restraints clearly made a mistake. Kane hated mistakes.
"Alright you two, we do this by the book," said Ashley as she stepped out of the sky car. Her legs buckled, she was lucky Curtis and Griggs where there to grab her.
"Easy, Spectre," said Curtis, "You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah I am thanks. My legs are just weak."
"Can you stand?" asked Griggs.
"Yeah, I got it thanks." Ashley was anything but weak but she did not trust her legs right now and she was exhausted. She knew being dosed and not being able to sleep was catching up to her. "You two check out the rooms okay. I am going to call Garrus to give him an update."
"Yes ma'am, we won't be long."
Ashley's team was the closest of the three teams to make it to Ewing Plaza, the hotel where Feron said White and Pete Waterston were staying. Being their first substantial lead since the commander was kidnapped; they hoped searching their rooms would lead them to her location.
Ashley dialed her omni-tool.
"Hello?"
"Garrus is that you?"
"Ashley? Yeah, what do you have?"
"We just landed at the hotel. Curtis and Griggs are checking out the rooms."
Doctor Chakwas was close enough to Garrus to hear the conversation, she chimed in, "Why aren't you with them Ashley, are you feeling alright?"
"Oh hey doc. I am okay."
"Ashley," said the doctor in a tone that said you better tell me everything.
"My legs feel really weak."
"Yes, Liara is complaining of the same thing. I'm afraid that will continue until you have a proper rest."
"I figured. How is Liara doing?"
"She is still sleeping thank God. Something I wish you could be doing at the moment."
"Me too, believe me. Is there any other news?"
"No," said Garrus. "It looks like your lead is the best one we have."
"I will ring when I have an update," said Ashley as she disconnected the call.
After making a makeshift connector to the table for Shepard's right wrist restraint Kane made a decision. He decided the job was lost. Five dead men was too high a price to continue. Still a consummate professional he made a call to the Client.
"Hello?" answered the Client, "What's going on Kane, why are you calling me, I should be there soon.
"I am aborting."
"You are what? What the fuck are you talking about? Did you lose her?"
"No."
"Then what the fuck is happening?"
"I am aborting. You will find her in the small room at the back of the warehouse as we discussed. She is secure, the door will be locked and the key will be on the outside of the door. You have everything you requested. I will not be here when you arrive."
"Why the fuck not!"
"All you need to be concerned with is that I am aborting."
"The fuck you say. Is the place still safe?"
"Yes."
"I'm not paying you, you son of a bitch! I didn't think you worked this way Kane."
"Goodbye Client." Asshole Kane made another decision, something he never thought he would do.
"Hi Ashley, what do you have?" asked Garrus.
Liara awake now, was in the family room feeling better, stronger. She was gathered around Garrus and the vid phone with everyone else.
"Curtis and Griggs found a receipt, is Liara nearby?"
"Yes, I am here Ashley," said Liara as she stepped into view of the vid phone.
"The receipt says Wayne's Goods."
"Okay Ashley, I will check," Liara checked the computer. "It is a convenient store near Laramie."
"I bet they are holding the Skipper close to there. Okay, thanks Liara, I will alert my other two teams to head to Laramie."
Garrus chimed in, "We are heading out as well."
"Sounds good Garrus, call when you get near and we will do the same."
Garrus closed the call. "Okay, let's get going."
I can control them don't you see. Look at the power I wield! **pop**
Shepard shot her pistol, but at what? There was a figure standing in front of the Illusive Man. "Shepard you will ruin everything I have worked for, I won't let you do it!" The figure kneeled in front of him. Shepard raised her gun and fired once more. The Illusive Man fell over. Shepard approached the kneeling figure. It looked to be a man; he was wearing fatigues and a hat. "Hey Soldier, what's your name?"The soldier did not move. Moving as if in slow motion, Shepard knelt down to the soldier, "Hey, hey it's okay, what's your name soldier?" The soldier lifted his head; Shepard was not prepared for what she saw. Anderson?
Snapping awake Shepard all but jolted in place, her breath coming fast. Looking around she knew she was back on the table, back in the locked room. The only difference now was she was not wearing a hood. She tried her restraints. Her right wrist restraint was fixed somehow, it was secure to the table and no apparent weakness existed when she tested it.
Shit. Anderson was with me what the hell? Focus Shepard, get loose, and get out. As her senses slowly returned, she felt a little better though still extremely tired; forming a lucid thought took effort. Shepard noticed that there was not a man in the room with her. That's weird. Why is it so quiet? It's too quiet. Shepard had a very uneasy feeling.
Just as Garrus, Liara, Dr. Chakwas and James were ready to leave the cabin; the cabin's vid phone rang.
Liara crossed the room to answer it. "Hello?"
"You will find Shepard at 4308 Brooks Street, Warehouse 7 in Laramie."
"What, who is this?"
No answer, the caller was gone.
"Liara, what is it?" asked Dr. Chakwas. The others were not close enough to hear the call.
"I know where Shepard is."
From the sky car Liara filled in Ashley then Ashley's two other teams.
The warehouse felt completely empty. "Hello? Kane?" his voice echoed through the empty facility. Fuckin' prick the Client thought to himself. The sun was setting so the Client knew which lights to keep on per Kane's instructions. He walked to the back of the warehouse to find the two small rooms. Only one had the door closed. He found the key laying outside of the door, he knew Shepard waited inside. He peered through the window of the door to see her bound to the table. A smile crossed his face as he opened the door.
"Well well well, what do we have here?"
Shepard's head snapped up.
Setting his bag down near the door the Client walked over to the tray of instruments as he spoke. "The great Commander Shepard I finally have you all to myself," the cart holding the tray of instruments made a rattling noise, much like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Shit, he knows me. Who is he Shepard, who is he?
"We are going to have such fun you and I."
Shepard turned her head to see the man walking towards her pushing the tray ever closer.
He was of medium build, a bit overweight in the middle. He was wearing khaki pants and a blue T-shirt. Nothing stood out about his appearance, Shepard had no idea who he was.
"Hope you are comfortable commander."
Seeing his full face now, she still did not recognize him. Dark brown hair he wore short, above his ears, his eyes brown, she noticed a scar under his left eye. She noticed he had a tattoo on his neck. She could not see what it was. He was staring at the tray of instruments, as he did his hand seemed to carefully caress each one. This is when she noticed markings on his hand. Are those possibly prison tats? She thought.
"Have you figured it out yet commander?" He approached her with a belt in his hands.
Instinctively Shepard tried to inch away, but couldn't. He placed the belt over her hip bones and fastened it tightly to the table. "Don't want you to move around too much, commander."
Looking at the tray of instruments may have been a bad idea; Shepard thought her heart was going to explode out of her chest. The minute her hips were strapped, she could hardly move, she was terrified.
The man grabbed a pair of scissors from the tray took hold of the bottom of her shirt and cut it up the middle exposing the front of her torso.
Shit. "Why don't you tell me, the suspense is killing me," said Shepard, her senses all too alive, she was trying to sound nonchalant but feared she failed miserably.
"What the fuck?" Shepard felt his hand on her abdomen. "Where are they? Where the fuck are they?"
"How much farther?" asked Liara her voice sounding anxious. James looked at the map, Garrus was driving and Dr. Chakwas was in the back with Liara. "We look to be about 20 minutes out."
"We need a plan," said Garrus, "We can't just go in guns blazing."
"What do we know about this warehouse?" asked James.
"Feron said he would route the blueprints to you as soon as he got them, it should be anytime now," said Liara.
The man standing over her saw other scars on her torso. There was a scar on her left side below her ribcage, another on her right shoulder; both looked to be from bullet wounds, plus a few other marks that he didn't care about. But his scars, the scars he inflicted on her when she was sixteen were nowhere to be found.
"Where the fuck are they?" He was furious.
It didn't take Shepard long to figure out this was the man who tried to rape her the first night she was at the Alliance dormitory. The first night she was an orphan because her parents, along with her best friend, were just butchered by the Batarians on Mindoir. The fist night she was completely and utterly alone. And now here he stood in front of her again clearly here to hurt her, and she was completely and utterly alone once more.
"I asked you a question!"
Think Shepard think. No response.
"You want to play that game?" waiting for a reply.
No response.
He walked away from her in a huff, toward his bag that he left by the only door to the room.
Shit Shepard, talk to him, delay him. Maybe help is coming. Help? Are you kidding? Liara is probably here someplace, she is the only one who knows I am not at the fucking cabin.
The man returned. He had a bottle with him; Shepard did not recognize it. "You figure it out yet you damn bitch!"
She was not ready for the hand across her face, SLAP!. The ring he wore on his hand cut into her skin, she could feel the blood.
He grabbed another belt from the tray; it looked like it was in two pieces. She saw him move towards her head and she tried to duck out of the way. His fury growing he slammed his elbow in her gut, which made her wince up into a slight sit, his right hand took hold of her face with force he slammed her head back on the table.
She was dazed, saw white stars, the wind knocked out of her and she still felt incredibly sluggish from the drugs. She knew she was in trouble and for the first time that she could remember, she had no idea what to do. She felt the belt go around her forehead and a piece of it go over her chin. He leaned over her, she could smell his stench. Then felt an incredible sharp pain in her neck as he tightened the belt to the table. She could not move her head at all.
"I will ask you one more time, where the fuck are your scars?"
Trying her voice, it sounded ragged, "Lo…ng st..ory," was all she could manage.
"Long story eh? Well no matter, I will be happy to give you new ones."
She couldn't turn her head and Shepard didn't know what was worse, not knowing what was coming because you were blind or not hearing anything because you were deaf, right now she wished she could see and not hear the clinking of the instruments.
Remember what Mom told you, Shit shit shit shit, survive Shepard, survive.
Her first scream was so loud that the man almost wished he had ear plugs. After wincing a little, he stood and took in the sounds as if conducting an orchestra. "This is what I have been waiting to hear for over a decade, I must say commander you do not disappoint." He continued his cutting and smiled all the more, screams reaching no one that cared.
"We are about 10 minutes out Ash, where are you?" asked James.
"About the same. My two other teams are still about 30 minutes out."
"We will have to move in without them then," said James. "We got the warehouse layout from Feron. You got it?"
"Got it."
"Looks like a one-story warehouse with two rooms in the back. One door leads in and out of the warehouse which is good and bad, we may not have the element of surprise," said James.
"I suggest we go in with two teams," said Ashley, "You, Garrus and Liara, and myself, Griggs and Curtis."
"Sounds good. Looks to be a large parking area on the other side of an adjacent building, do you see it?" James asked as he indicated the spot via vid phone, "We should land there; we will be out of sight and it leaves us a quick approach."
"Sounds good. We should first circle overhead to make sure it is safe to land, want to make sure there are no guards outside of the building," said Ashley.
"Agreed," said James. "We touchdown in five."
Shepard felt herself getting dizzy, between the lancing heat of pain and blood loss, she didn't know what was causing it, and at this point it didn't matter. I'm gonna die on this table.
She heard the man grab for the bottle. Thought maybe he was taking a break, that maybe she could catch her breath.
Seeing her eyes flutter, the man slapped Shepard hard, "Hey, don't you pass out on me! Is that all you can take? Don't you disappoint me." He took a sip from the bottle he was holding and saw her eyes flutter again. "Don't you fuckin' sleep!" SLAP!
She thought she smelled alcohol. Her eyelids feeling heavy, she wanted nothing but darkness to take her. The pain she suddenly felt was excruciating, as if all of her nerve endings were screaming at her at once in one large wave of pain, her eyes snapped open, arms and legs trying to escape; the alcohol she smelled was just poured on her open wounds.
"That's it, that's it yes yes! Thank you commander thank you!" The man was thoroughly enjoying himself the more she screamed.
"Wh…ar…doing….this…." Shepard tried her voice again.
"Don't you close your eyes!"
She hardly felt the slap this time; she held her eyes as wide open as she could.
"I know you remember me Elly."
To hear her name used by him left her feeling disgusted. Liara was really the only one who called her by her first name. Liara, I hope you are not here, please don't let him find you.
She felt the slap this time. "Pay attention!"
She opened her eyes wide again.
"You denied me once little girl, you are not doing it again."
She could hear a slight clank. "Who…" She felt her eyes starting to close she snapped them open before getting hit again.
"Who am I you ask, let me remind you," she felt his mouth on hers. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She could smell the alcohol on him, it was mixed with what she figured was cheap cologne; it made her want to vomit. Shepard fought back the only way she could, she stopped fighting against his tongue that wanted entry, she waited half a second then bit down.
Screaming, he could taste his own blood. Shepard latched onto him like a snake latches onto its prey. He had a small mallet already in his right hand, it was the new instrument he was about to try before he leaned in for the kiss, he brought it down hard on her left collarbone.
Shepard let go immediately, crying out in pain gasping for breath. Hearing her bone crack she knew it was broken. Stupid Shepard, stup…d fuuk. that, If…dyin…gonna..hurt…him.
The man stepped back grabbing at his mouth. He pulled his hand away thick with blood. "Son of a bitch! He murmured. He slammed the hammer down hard on her right shin, and then walked away toward the bag by the door.
Her body jolted when her shin was struck. Her arms and legs flailed as much as restrained limbs can flail. The bone crunching sound reminded her of a sound she experienced as a child. T.J. showed it to her. They both had a favorite brand of cereal. He taught her to take a mouth full of the crunchy cereal, close each hand over each ear and chew. Her shin splintering reminded her of that sound. I'm gonna die here, Lia..ra
Both sky cars landed, the occupants exiting quickly. All seven huddled together to ensure everyone knew what the other was doing. The only one that would stay outside was Dr. Chakwas. She had her bag ready in case it was needed and she knew not to enter the warehouse until contacted on her omni-tool.
As they approached the warehouse, they saw one sky car, and no guards. Garrus, James and Liara were the first to enter the warehouse. Sweeping to the right they stayed in a tight group. Ashley and her team entered seconds later sweeping left. Both groups moving silently and swiftly.
He pulled out a mirror from his bag to look at his tongue, it felt like it was hanging by a thread, but upon inspection he was relieved to see it was intact. He could not stop the bleeding; he figured he would need stitches. "You fuckin' bitch!" He walked toward Shepard with determination.
Garrus raised his hand to halt his group. "Did you hear that?"
"Sounded like it came from over there," said Liara.
Garrus signaled to Ashley, they also heard what sounded like a male voice, it was mumbled but they knew they were not alone. Garrus signaled for them to follow.
"You are going to pay for that." Shepard felt a heat along her right hip, she thought she was too weak to scream, she was wrong.
Hearing the gut-wrenching scream Liara bolted.
"Liara!" Garrus said in a raised whisper. He and James followed as fast as they could.
Ashley, hearing the scream saw Liara bolt in its direction. She and her men moved.
"Yes Shepard yes! Let me hear you scream! I love it! Her leg was on fire. Trying to move it only brought more sharp stabs of pain. The instrument was still in her when she saw blue.
Pushing the knife in further, his goal was to hit her bone. His smile grew when he finally hit resistance.
Liara entered the room in a run with her biotics at the ready. She slammed the man away from Shepard, his body careening against the wall. She didn't bother with the man, her concern was Shepard. What she saw took her breath away.
James and Garrus were the next to enter the room. James saw the asari standing by the table, he saw a man slumped against the wall, he approached the man.
Liara screamed "Get Karin, get Karin now!"
Liara could not believe what she was seeing. Shepard was strapped to a table; blood was dripping off both sides of it forming crimson pools on the floor. Liara wasn't sure if she was dead or alive as she ran to her.
"Oh Goddess, Goddess Elly, Elly can you hear me?" Liara could see the belt on Shepard's face, she leaned over her in hopes the commander's eyes were open, they were fluttering. "Elly, Elly can you hear me?"
Who…is that…Liara?
She felt a hand on her forehead, instantly Shepard knew it was Liara. Completely relieved that Liara was not locked somewhere in another room, Shepard let her eyes close.
"Help me get this off!" Liara yelled, as she couldn't make her hands move the way she wanted because they were shaking so bad. "Elly, stay with me, open your eyes!"
Ashley and her men entered the room. Ashley was the next person to approach the table. Focusing on the task in front of her, Ashley did not allow herself to take in the broken form that lay in front of her. She moved her hands toward where the belt was fastened, "here I got it." Ashley carefully removed the belt off of Shepard's face. Dried blood looked fresh again as she removed it from her skin.
"Open your eyes Elly, stay with me!" begged Liara.
…en. …eyes….me. Open…eyes..
Shepard's eyes fluttered once more.
Liara leaned over kissing her forehead. "That's it Elly, it's Liara, you are safe now you are safe."
Liara didn't notice Curtis next to her working to remove Shepard's wrist and ankle restraints while Ashley moved to unhook the other side.
"Curtis, help me with this," said Ashley as she motioned to the belt that held Shepard's hips. The belt was fastened tightly, but the slick blood was making it hard to grip the buckle to unfasten it.
Gritting his teeth Curtis said "I can't get it, as his hands slipped off the buckle for the third time.
"Here use this, I found it in the bastard's bag," said Griggs as he handed Curtis one of many towels he had in his hand. The other towels Griggs used to put pressure on Shepard's stomach and hip.
Curtis wiped his hands then the buckle and used the towel to unhook the belt.
In the meantime Garrus and James were checking the slumped man. Checking for a pulse, there was none, his neck was broken. James was checking his pockets, all he found were two keys, one looked like they could belong to the sky car that was parked outside; the other looked like it could fit the lock on the door to the room.
"Li..ra?" slurred Shepard.
"Yes, Elly, I'm here we are here to help you, stay with me." Liara could not stop the tears from falling. Liara had a hand on Shepard's forehead and the other in Shepard's left hand.
"Yo.. ok..y?"
"Am I okay?" Liara said as she lightly kissed Shepard on her cheek, "I am fine Elly." Goddess.
Coughing Shepard winced in pain, breathing was getting harder. "mmm dying.."
Liara's heart sank, "You are not dying do you hear me Shepard. You hang on, you stay with me!" Liara's voice was trembling, her hands were shaking.
Shepard's eyes fluttered shut.
"No, Elly you stay with me!"
"Let me see her," said Dr. Chakwas as she crossed the room.
"Keep pressure on those wounds," she said to Griggs and Curtis who were holding towels on her body.
The first injury Chakwas saw was the one in Shepard's right hip and leg. The knife was still embedded. Handing her bag to Curtis, she took over his job of holding the towel on the wound. "In my bag is a white box. Open that for the medi-gel and bandages please." Curtis did what he was told. "We cannot remove the knife as it could cause more bleeding." She applied the medi-gel and wrapped the leg and hip area as best she could. She secured the blade of the knife to decrease its movement for when they had to move her.
"Elly, Elly can you hear me?" asked Liara.
No response.
Kissing her forehead, Liara stroked Elly's hair, "We are all here Elly, you are safe now. No one is going to hurt you again, can you hear me?"
Next the doctor moved to the next most threatening injury, her stomach. The towel Griggs was holding was almost soaked through. "Keep your hands there," she said to Griggs. With her own hands she coaxed his off of the stomach with hers ever so slightly to see what was under the towel.
In a very calm voice, Chakwas said, "Hand me the medi-gel." Curtis still having it in hand gave it to her. Every time she wiped away the blood on Shepard's stomach new blood took its place. She counted four long cuts across the commander's abdomen. She quickly applied the medi-gel, and then worked to bandage the woman's stomach.
All Shepard heard were slurred voices; she did not know what was going on. She felt she was drowning. She thought she heard Liara, thought she could feel her, but she did not trust her mind she could not trust her senses. Tired…so…tir..
Shepard could feel someone touching her stomach, thinking he was still there, she mustered what strength she had left, "Get off me!" she yelled as she bolted upwards.
Chakwas firmed her hold on the commander's stomach, "HOLD HER!"
Before anyone could push her down Shepard did their job for them, she fell back losing consciousness.
"Elly? Elly! Oh Goddess Karin!"
Finishing with the stomach, Chakwas asked "Have the medics been called?"
"I called them," said James, "they should be here soon, I will go and wait for them," he turned and left the room.
Chakwas checked Shepard's pupils, both dilated and reactive to light, which was a good thing. Checking for other injuries, the doctor slowly moved her hands over Shepard's body, starting with her neck, feeling for any cuts, or anything out of the ordinary. She could feel Shepard's broken collarbone, it felt as if an entire section of bone was gone. She moved her hands along Shepard's ribs and thought to herself that one or two could be cracked. Skipping down to the legs, she first check Shepard's left leg then the right. When she reached Shepard's right shin she felt it concave in. She cut away the pant leg in order to see the shin. The shin was a beautiful mess of purple, blue and black, an imprint could be seen on the skin. Her shin was completely shattered; it looked like it collapsed in on itself.
"Holy shit," said Ashley before she caught herself. Liara's face turned a paler shade of blue. Ashley moved to Liara's side with an apology in her eyes.
"Elly, can you hear me?" Fresh tears were streaming down Liara's cheeks. She didn't want to believe how broken Shepard's body was, didn't want to believe that once again she was faced with losing the commander.
"The Skipper's tough Liara," said Ashley as she gave a slight squeeze to the asari's shoulder.
Seeing the doctor taking Shepard's pulse, Liara asked, "What it is Karin?"
"Her pulse is very weak Liara, she has lost a lot of blood, and we need to get her to a hospital right away.
"They are landing now," said Garrus, "James is showing them in."
"She's gonna make it though right Doc?" asked Ashley.
"What I can say for sure is the commander is the toughest woman I know. If anyone can survive this she can."
The medics entered the room. Doctor Chakwas let them know she was a medical doctor and what was needed. She supervised the moving of Shepard's body from the table to the stretcher and followed them out.
"Where are you taking her?" asked James as they passed.
"There is an emergency room in town, it's the only one, address is 552 Chester Street," said one of the medics.
"I am riding with you, "said Chakwas, it was a statement not a request.
"We will be right behind ya doc," said James.
Liara looked like she was about to pass out. Ashley moved her arm around the asari's waist just as her legs buckled. Catching her, "Hey, help me guys," Ashley with her own legs still feeling weak was not able to hold on to Liara too long, Griggs was close enough to quickly help.
"Okay, here we go, let's sit ya down over here," said Griggs as he lowered Liara to the floor away from the table and the blood.
Liara's eyes looked straight ahead, not moving, her cheeks were streaked with remnants of cried tears. Ashley sat next to her with her arms around her. "She's going to be alright Liara, you wait and see."
The asari did not respond.
"Who the hell is this guy?" asked James.
Nodding toward Liara and Ashley, Garrus all but rebuked James' question with a stern look.
Garrus approached Ashley, "Why don't you take Liara to the hospital, James, Curtis and I will follow you there shortly."
"Sounds good Garrus, thanks."
Griggs had not wandered far and he bent down to help Liara to her feet. She was not at all steady. Garrus assisted Ashley up. "Thanks Garrus." Her legs were shaking but Ashley was able to move on her own. Griggs tried to assist Liara, but she was not really helping, he finally decided to carry the asari to the sky car. Liara's unfocused eyes just stared straight ahead.
"Garrus, if you need any help with the authorities, just tell them it is Spectre business and where to find me," said Ashley.
"Will do Ashley, take care of her," said Garrus.
After they were out of the room James turned to Garrus, "So who the fuck is this guy?"