The screen on the 'tool begged for attention, but it was no match for the dismal reminders trailing out of the room; every dark droplet caused a pang of guilt that took hold and wouldn't let go, but that wasn't enough self-torture to ease the burden. It would never be enough if things went bad. Treacherous eyes followed the trail back to the bar, knowing full well the pain that awaited him. Sticky darkness stained the bar and dripped slowly into a dark ugly puddle on the floor, too large to be caused by a mere flesh wound. Shepard was hurt and he knew it, but he forgot about it as soon as he saw them together, as soon as he saw the way her eyes lit up at his presence. She refused to admit the extent of her wounds for fear of looking weak and nobody pressed her on it; hell, most of them probably didn't even realize the full extent, but he had. The sniper scope told him everything he needed to know, but he pushed it aside… And now it could be too late. They may have put on a good show, but Shepard did not walk into that back room; Alenko practically carried her. And no simple patch-up job took this long. His heart fell as the reality of the situation hit home. Things were direr than she let on; it was just a question of how much.
"Vakarian, are you with me?" the voice called out from the small screen. The C-Sec officer on the other side of the call looked concerned. He'd probably called out a few times before he was successful.
"Yeah, sorry; I got distracted. Go ahead," Garrus responded as he dragged his eyes away from the grizzly scene in front of him. It was an almost impossible task.
"I found an opening in a place that fits the bill. It's an in-patient rehab facility with family quarters available. They even have staff to assist with minors… but it isn't cheap."
"Perfect. We'll have the patient over shortly, and don't worry about the cost. Commander Shepard is personally handling the bill."
The officer paled and started stammering. "The Commander Shepard? I though she died a few years ago…"
"Just a nasty rumor," Garrus replied evenly despite the sick flip of his stomach. "Send us a nav point and we'll have her there within the hour."
At least they had something actionable to go on, now. With any luck, they'd have everything squared away by the time Shepard was good to go.
"We've got a facility lined up," Garrus called out as he approached the two women hovering around the waitress.
"Good, because I think we found her son, too." Kasumi answered as Garrus came to a stop next to them. "I found him," Miranda corrected, but Kasumi just shrugged. That was the perfect reaction to the situation; there was no reason to get into a pissing match with the grouchy Cerberus agent.
"Good job, Miranda; now you get to make sure she's fit for travel, because here's where you're taking her." Garrus struggled to keep the laughter from his face as he showed the destination. Shepard didn't explicitly order Miranda to complete the mission but she more than earned it with her attitude. She may be second-in-command on the Normandy, but not out in the field. That was a position Garrus earned through a literal trial-by-fire and everyone knew it.
Kasumi smiled in appreciation of the turn of events, but it was sad… almost sympathetic. That was the last thing he wanted, but that didn't matter to her. "How are you holding up?" she asked delicately.
"Fine; why wouldn't I be?"
"I know you've accomplished everything that soldier has and then some. And you have way more style while you do it, too. I mean, you're Archangel; you have fan clubs for heaven's sake. I bet he doesn't." Her soft had patted his arm. "Shep knows it, too, because you've been by her side the entire time. You're an important part..."
"It's over, isn't it? I lost…"
"Any other person, any other time, there'd be no contest." Kasumi smiled encouragingly, but that wasn't the end of the discussion. "I knew that look on Shepard's face the moment I saw it, though. It was what I felt inside every time I saw Keiji. Shepard's heart belongs to him completely. She loves him. Even after all he did and said her feelings never even waivered."
"That's what I was afraid of," Garrus muttered.
"Love is nothing more than an illusion caused by the brain's chemistry. It's just there to keep two people together long enough to procreate," Miranda interjected smarmily as she finished scanning the waitress.
"Says the woman who probably never found anyone else perfect enough to love," Kasumi mumbled, but it was loud enough for those perfect ears to pick up.
"No... says the woman who was not lucky enough to have her relationship end with death," Miranda shot back with barely controlled venom. Her hands jerked suddenly and the rude sentiment was punctuated by the wet crack of bones sliding into place. Kasumi gasped in shock, Garrus's mandibles flared in disbelief, and the waitress uttered a rather subdued and delayed "ouch". No wonder Shepard didn't want Miranda to patch her up. "Things get significantly less romantic once the love-haze slips and you're back in the real world. Not that you'd know."
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Jack screamed from across the room as Kasumi disappeared from sight. At least the soft weeping meant she hadn't fled into the night. "We get it – you're a bitter bitch. You're probably going to die angry and alone if you keep it up, and you'll deserve it. That doesn't mean you need to shit on everyone else."
"Hey!" Garrus shouted to be heard over the start of an ugly shouting match. "Shepard is in the next room, and she doesn't need to deal with this right now. Get it under control. Miranda, take the waitress to this nav point; they're expecting her. Jack, go with her to make sure she doesn't get jumped."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "And who will protect her from me?"
"You could try," Miranda taunted.
"Fine; take her by yourself if you're that cocky. Just remember, anything happens to the waitress and you'll have to answer to Shepard. She didn't almost give her life protecting that woman for you to ruin it by not playing well with others."
"Consider it done," she replied icily as she yanked the barely-conscious waitress to her feet and led her out the door.
"Hey Kasumi, want a drink? I'm buying," Jack called out to the empty void. The grating of a stool across the floor as it pulled up to the bar was as good an answer as any. Everything seemed to be in control, so this was a good a time to check on Shepard. They'd been back there far too long and concern could no longer be pushed aside.
The door to the back office slid open to reveal a scene of utter chaos. It was almost as if… Shepard had been there. Nobody could destroy a place quite like her. Data pads, overturned boxes, and crates of liquor littered the floor, making it almost impossible to venture deeper. Sparks from a computer terminal lit up the floor where it'd fallen; the flashes the only source of light within the room. None of the other lighting would turn on. How could anyone work under these conditions? Garrus pulled out a light source and swept it over the scene. From the looks of it, the desk was the only clear area in the room, and even it wasn't spotless. A small puddle of fluid marred the surface – most likely Shepard's blood. At least that was proof he was in the right place. More evidence of her wounds became clear as his eyes adjusted to the lighting. Stained towels and rags littered almost every surface, the dark smears proof of her grievous injuries. But where was she?
"Shepard?" Garrus called out tentatively. "Alenko, is everything ok?"
The shadows behind the desk shifted. What if someone had slipped through Shepard's initial attack and laid in wait? That would explain the blood, and the two missing soldiers… Garrus jerked the light over to the movement and froze, his heart dropping through his feet in an instant.
Alenko leaned heavily into the corner. Blood smeared across his face, the deep crimson coloring most of his forehead and one cheek save a thick line washed clean by tears, but he wouldn't look up. His dark eyes remained locked on the still form in his lap. A heavy sigh shuddered through the soldier and the small movement was just enough to shake the hood away from the shock of red hair against his chest. Trembling hands smoothed the flaming mane and pulled the hood back into place.
"Kaidan," Garrus whispered. His voice was tight from panic, "is she…"
Kaidan shook his head slowly. "No, she fell asleep. The night finally caught up to her."
Garrus cautiously approached and offered a hand to the Alliance marine, but he didn't see it. His eyes were pressed firmly closed as he cherished this little moment of peace. Suddenly Garrus felt like an intruder on an intimate moment. All the little signs of wear were gone from the Commander's face, replaced by a sweet upturn of her lips. Shepard hadn't looked that serene the entire time she'd been back, and yet she found comfort nestled in against hard armor. She found her home.
"I just…" Kaidan's voice cracked with emotion, but he pushed on, "I didn't think I'd have to say goodbye to her again so soon." A single tear rolled down his cheek and disappeared into Shepard's hair.
Garrus blinked several times, his mandibles pulsing in confusion. "You're not… the two of you aren't…"
"No," Alenko laughed humorlessly, "Shepard never changes her mind once she makes a decision. You know that."
Soft blue light filled the room. Kaidan wrapped his biotics around Shepard to hold her in place as he adjusted his grip and stood, but the black cloak slipped exposing bare feet and pale ankles as Shepard shifted slightly against his chest. She mumbled her disapproval into his neck as she slept. His mouth turned up in bittersweet smile as he adjusted the cloak and pulled the hood back into place and smoothed them lovingly.
"Take care of her, Garrus," Alenko pleaded as he approached the turian. "She gets so focused on everyone else she forgets about herself. Make sure she's cared for, too."
The full weight of the request hit Garrus so hard he nearly stumbled. All he could do was nod earnestly until he found his voice. "I promise."
A shuddering sigh, the sound of a breaking heart, filled the room as Kaidan offered his burden to the turian.
"You know what, Alenko? I hurt my shoulder earlier," Garrus lied to his friend. "You should probably carry her home."