A/N: Posting spree, woo-hoo! I'm kind of getting lost in the story, because it's more fun than life. So, if you don't complain, I won't either. Put in a bit of fluff and a teaser, not a cliffhanger. I can be nice...sometimes. So, on with the show...story. Whatever. Thank you thank you thank you for all the wonderful reviews you have been leaving! Makes my day every time I see it. I honestly go back and reread them. Bioware owns the ME universe.
Shepard stared impassively at Miranda, Mordin and Dr. Chakwas. Both women had their arms crossed and Mordin had his clasped behind his back.
"I feel like I'm in trouble for something."
"That's one way to look at it," Miranda said shortly.
"Garrus, when I give the signal, I want you to pick me up and run like hell."
The turian chuckled, "Maybe you should hear them out first."
"Have you noticed any other changes with your implants?" Dr. Chakwas asked.
"Nothing new, no."
"Wait, what changes, Shepard?" Garrus asked.
"Increased focus, higher pain threshold and dramatically shortened recovery time." Mordin said.
"Why am I here?"
"I told you to take it easy, Commander. I warned you that your cybernetics weren't meant for continued strain." Miranda said hotly.
"Um, we're on a suicide mission. There aren't many situations more straining than that."
"You haven't been eating, or sleeping and still keeping up your strenuous activities. They have to work harder to make up for what you're not doing. It's starting to affect them."
Shepard narrowed her eyes, "Affect them how?"
"They have altered enough that they are over correcting now."
"Altered?" Garrus barked. He didn't like where this was going.
"They are self-modifying to accommodate many levels of strain. The amount you have been putting them under is higher than we anticipated. They should have gone back to their normal parameters when you started eating again."
"I'm sensing a 'but' in there."
"They are overpowered now. There's a risk of them consuming you more completely." Dr. Chakwas said slowly.
"Can I survive without them?"
"Of course. They were there to speed up the reconstruction process."
"So take them out."
"Not recommended. Muscles weak without support. Would not be able to walk or fight. Several years rehabilitation if removed now," Mordin waved his hand dismissively.
Shepard was silent as she thought through what they said. Garrus watched her face carefully. The blank stare that he had spent months trying to eradicate made its way back onto her face.
"When you say 'consume' do you mean like what happened to Saren?"
"Not really, no. His implants were Reaper tech for one. They also went throughout his body. Yours are more limited." Miranda said proudly.
"Would be more like husk."
Mordin's solemn declaration hung in the air. Shepard took a deep breath.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Of course. They are self-modifying. If you lay low long enough, they'll adapt. There will always be a risk of them reaching this point again, though."
Shepard nodded slowly, "Then I'll do what I can. But time is running out for the galaxy and it's counting on me. I can't lay low for long."
"Just stay in cover more. Taking fewer hits, along with eating regularly will help dramatically."
"I'll do what I can," she repeated.
Satisfied, the group filed out of the med bay. Shepard followed Garrus to the main battery.
"You okay?" He asked once the door closed.
"Yeah, just surprised. Who in the hell puts self-modifying cybernetics into a person?"
"Cerberus, apparently."
"So it would seem. Stupid, really. Look at the problems it's causing!"
"So, you're not upset about what they said could happen?"
"No, why? I can control it, so I will. If I have to hide to stay human, I will as much as I can. It's not like it'll be forever. I call it a fair trade. Besides, I'm already on my way to fixing it." Shepard shrugged.
"Until you took a rocket to the chest."
"Picky, picky."
"So you'll be careful?"
"As much as I can be. But you know me."
He gave a turian grin, "That I do."
She put her arms around him, "Promise you'll pull my ass back when I push it?"
"I promise." He held her tightly. He had been so worried that she would slip away again, but he had underestimated her. She was stronger than that and she would fight this like she fought everything else. Spirits, this woman was amazing.
She pulled back, "Well, since I've eaten and had my daily medical lecture, I have stuff to do."
"Does this stuff require you leaving without telling anyone?"
Shepard laughed, "No, it's reports and sorting laundry. I'll be in my cabin if you need me."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
Four hours later and Shepard was staring at her terminal screen. She had already put away all of her clothes and finished six reports. She was half way through the seventh and couldn't focus anymore. Dropping her head onto the desk, she groaned. She thought about calling Garrus up, but he was probably doing more calibrations and she didn't want to disturb him. Music. That's what she would do. She would play some music and try to relax. The reports would still be there later. Pulling herself up, she stretched and went to the stereo. What kind of music was she in the mood for today? She scrolled through her extensive collection until she found an old favorite from her time in ballet. She set it to play and turned up the volume. She swayed lightly to the soft notes and before she knew it she was twirling around her room. Shepard grinned to herself at how easily the moves came back to her. She was stiff, but still able to pull it off in the tight space. Coming out of a spin, she slammed her foot into the low table.
"Shit!" She dropped to the floor and rubbed it. It was already bruising. She felt the telltale buzz of her cybernetics and closed her eyes until it passed. She wiped her hand across her bleeding nose and leaned her head back. Catching a glimpse of the skylight, she shimmied back to the bed and rested her head on it so she could watch the stars flit by. She pushed her bangs of her face so she could see them better. And that's where she stayed until her door hissed open.
"Hey, Shepard. EDI said you were hurt. I thought you were doing reports…why are you on the floor?" Garrus stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down at her.
"Hey, Garrus. I was doing reports and then I got bored so I put on music and ended up dancing and hit the table. So I sat on the floor to look at my foot and then my cybernetics fixed it and I saw the stars so I decided to watch them."
"You are aware that you sounded like a tweaked out volus, right?"
"Yep!" She motioned for him to come over. He pulled her to her feet and she bounced up to leave a kiss on his unscarred mandible.
He smiled and put an arm around her waist. She leaned into him and smiled contentedly. He nuzzled the top of her head and she closed her eyes.
"So you felt your cybernetics fix your foot?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It's just weird."
"I can't feel it actually fix anything. It's like an electric current. It kind of makes my body numb and by the time it wears off, I'm good as new."
"Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"I didn't think it was important. It's been happening more and more lately. That's why I brought it up with Dr. Chakwas. I thought it would stop when I started being normal again."
"You? Normal?"
"Well, normal for me."
Garrus hummed against her head and she relaxed more into him.
"So, EDI really called you up here because I kicked a table?"
"Looks that way," he chuckled. "I wasn't busy, so I'll let it slide this time." She laughed against his chest and stood on her toes to kiss him again. He tugged her hair out of its bun and let his talons tangle in it.
"How about a shower?"