Okay, so Dani was found again. Only now we find out what has been buried in her past all this time. It isn't pretty. For those who feel this is 'too much'... Dani's background story is actually based on true events and though it's not the answer to her awkwardness in social interactions, it is key why she responds so severely to rejection. Till the next update my lovely readers and don't forget to leave a review.
Revelations
Rhyder, Garrus and Liara waited outside the med bay diligently. Actually, Garrus more or less resembled a caged animal with all his pacing and prowling about. If the situation wasn't so somber, it would have been comical to see the otherwise so collected, maybe sometimes a bit hotheaded, turian agent in such distress.
"Any news about Dani yet, Commander?"
"No more than five minutes ago, Joker," Rhyder sighed heavily.
"Sorry Commander."
"It's okay. As soon as we know something, so will you."
Besides Joker, the only other persons who inquired after Dani, were her roommates and a few other members of the crew. They sympathized with her even though none of them could claim a close relationship with her. Then again, who could? Garrus was probably be the one to have formed the closest attachment with her. Followed by Tali and Liara.
After what seemed hours, Dr. Chakwas finally emerged from the med bay. Her eyes looked grim and her lips were pulled in a tight line.
"How is she, doctor?" Garrus nearly pounced on the poor woman.
"She's stabilized, for now. But she needs to be transported to a hospital, soon. I'm good, but I'm not that good. I can't perform miracles without the right equipment."
"We're already on our way, doctor," Rhyder replied, trying to avoid Garrus' questioning gaze. "So, what damage are we looking at?"
"Her vital organs were shutting down, but at least I could get them to a somewhat working level again. There was major trauma to her skull, back and abdomen. Lots of medi-gel largely took care of that problem. Her legs are shattered and will need some high end work. Her eyes and ears, I can't be sure but . . . it doesn't look good. I'm sorry."
Rhyder swallowed hard and could only imagine the agony Garrus must go through. After months of fluctuating between hope and despair, he finally found her back. But what kind of life would she lead without be able to see or hear, maybe even walk? What life was there left for them?
"Can I -?" Garrus started but his lower vocal cords completely drowned out his request. His intention was clear though and Dr. Chakwas nodded. Rhyder allowed Garrus a few moments alone with Dani.
"Doc?" he finally asked Karin.
"You two can go in, just for a while. Where are you taking her, Commander?"
"Earth," he simply replied.
Karin sighed, "I thought as much. He's not going to like that."
"I know. But I feel it's best for Dani. I ah, I contacted Dr. Torque. He's already assembling a team of the best doctors and scientists around the world. She'll need time to recover for who knows how long. I want her to be with people she trusts."
"You do know there's a history between her and Wright?" Liara joined in.
"I do. I also know Dani well enough to know it never went anywhere, no matter how much he might have wished otherwise."
"I know she'll be in the best possible care. She'll have an entire team devoted to her well-being. Not even Huerta Hospital can compete with that.
I'm just not entirely sure if this Alex Wright can keep his distance. She's come a long way from where she was when we first met."
"Yeah, she did, didn't she?" Rhyder said a bit amazed, as if the thought just hit him.
"She was a very quiet and introverted person when she first came a board. A lot like I was, I imagine."
"Ha, yeah you came a long way as well, Liara," Rhyder said with affection. Liara smiled at him.
"Thank you, Shepard. But," she glanced in the direction of the med bay. "I'm afraid that Alex Wright might find the change in her very appealing."
"Liara," Dr. Chakwas softly interjected. "We have no idea how Dani will come out of all of this. He might not find the prospect of a blind and deaf woman appealing at all. Not to even mention the mental damage this hell may have caused her. "
Liara frowned at the news. "I know, Doctor. But let's not assume the worst, for Garrus' sake. Let us hope Dr. Torque has the resources available to get her back. And in that view, assume that there will be reason enough to suspect impending competition for Garrus."
"Yeah. Well, let's go in. He'll have to share her last moments here on the ship. Who knows when we'll get to see her again?"
Rhyder and Liara softly entered the med bay and came to stand near Dani's bed side.
Most of her head was covered in bandages. Her head, her eyes, thick padded bandages over her ears. Only part of her nose and her jaw was visible. Her stats on the holo-screen seemed low, but stable. Garrus was sitting right next to her, holding her hand in his. Her hand seemed tiny in his large one, his talons resting gently against her skin.
"I ah, I ran out of things to say," Garrus stated meekly as if he tried to justify the silence upon their entering the med bay.
"You don't always have to say things, Garrus," Liara said whisper-quiet. She put her hand on his shoulder. He bent his head, but even then he didn't take his eyes off her. His steady gaze never wavered.
"What happened to her, Shepard?" Garrus requested.
"I don't know, Garrus. I guess we'll find out whenever she's ready and able to tell us."
"No, I don't mean this. I mean. . . before. Her past, her childhood. The things you know but cannot tell us. I need to know."
"Garrus," Rhyder tried to dissuade him. "Trust me, you don't want to know. And I can't tell you, you know that."
"Yes you can. No one would be the wiser and I do want to know, Shepard. I need to know."
"What good would it do to dredge up her horrid past now?" Rhyder asked, getting annoyed.
"Because," Garrus started. "Because I need to understand where she came from. Where she started. What obstacles she had to overcome to get close –" He stopped, catching his breath, trying to still the quiver of his lower vocal cords.
"She fought with herself, Shepard," he finally croaked. "She fought with herself to be able to get close to me. I need to know, how much she fought because I don't know when I will see her again and it was real Shepard by the Spirits it was real, the battle she fought to get here makes it so."
He took a deep breath after his flurry of words. "I need that. I need something – Shepard. Please allow me that."
Rhyder sighed, deliberated for a few moments before he finally pulled up a chair. He indicated Liara should sit down as well.
"What do you want to know?" He acquiesced. He sat down and watched how the turian carefully considered his words.
"Just, start at the beginning," he finally said.
"Good God," Ryder breathed. "You don't want much, huh? The start... Look Garrus, on Palaven – when children are born . . . Um, are there unwanted children on Palaven?"
Garrus blinked up at him in confusion. "Unwanted children? No Shepard, there are no unwanted children on Palaven. What kind of crazy assumption is that? It's the highest responsibility two turians can have in life. It's never considered lightly."
"I thought you might say something like that," Rhyder answered, thinking of all the stories Garrus had told him of Palaven. Their strong sense of public service. How the needs of the group superseded the needs of the individual. Not to mention their renowned sense of 'turian honor' that other races found so very remarkable.
"I'm ashamed to admit, there are on Earth. Children are given up for adoption all the time."
"Adoption. Turians know adoption as well. It happens sometimes if a young turian loses both parents. Though most of the time relatives will step in, it can happen there are none. Then the child will be moved to a home with a suitable couple."
"Yeah, well. Humans have a penchant to get in all sorts of problems. Sometimes problems leading to unwanted pregnancies. Some of them end in abortion, others result in adoption. And sometimes – sometimes people just get rid of – their little problem."
"I'm not sure I follow, Shepard. The abortion bit I get, unfortunately. The adoption bit too. Getting rid of it . . . I've known it to happen on the Citadel but abortion already covered that, yet you specifically mention. . . Wait – no – surely not!"
"You, you mean getting rid of it as in . . ." Liara said disgusted.
"Yeah. Dani was a little problem, she had to go. They literally took her out with the trash."
Rhyder let his gaze linger on her still form. So much crap life had dealt her with and now this . . .
"They dumped her, Garrus," Rhyder elaborated, seeing the blank look on his face.
"She was found near a Waste Accumulation Point. You know, where garbage goes to be . . ."
"I know what a WAP is, Shepard," Garrus interjected, his sub-harmonics creating some pretty funky noises.
"I think I'm going to be . . ." Liara started, before discreetly covering her mouth and looking away.
"You sure you want to hear the rest?" he asked gently.
"Want? No. I hate hearing every word," Garrus spat out, his voice as rigid and tense as his frame. "Just, give me every gory detail of her life so I can celebrate and remember the person she became. I take it more horrid details are coming up?"
Rhyder didn't reply. Garrus' shoulders slumped even further down.
"Well, go on then," he sneered.
"She was found somewhere along the border between Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Quite by chance, from what I understand. A lot of details are missing after that. Anderson found out because the incident became quite – famous – in that area. Her trail picks up again, years later in some old orphanage."
"How much time are we talking about?" Liara asked softly.
"About six or seven years. All information about what happened to her before that period is, gone, destroyed, missing."
"We get the idea," Garrus sighed. "Was she adopted?"
"Not for a long time. Even then she was a bit of an outsider. Anderson talked to one of the nurses who used to work there, before the place was shut down. She liked Dani, made her some kind of make shift rag doll. They didn't call her Dani however, back then. They referred to her as Baby Doe."
"Baby Doe? What kind of name is that, Baby Doe?" Garrus demanded.
"Yeah. People whose real identity is unknown are often referred to as Jane or John Doe. Since she was just a baby when she was found –"
"Baby Doe, I get it. Spirits, no one could even be bothered to give her a name?"
"Apparently not. She was taken away by an American couple, eventually. The couple in question wasn't very forthcoming in their information about Dani because they . . ." Rhyder found it difficult to continue. "Because they re-homed her after two years."
"Re-homed her?"
"It wasn't an official adoption Garrus, no papers were involved. At first they just claimed that the child they had taken with them to America had died. Since Anderson was working backwards, he knew that was a lie."
"Why was Anderson researching her past anyway?" Liara asked. "Why was he involved?"
"He was the one who found her, before he brought her under with Dr. Torque. By that time, Anderson had a lot to feel guilty about. I guess with Dani he wanted to redeem himself somewhat."
"I, I don't understand, Shepard. You were telling about how that couple re-homed her. Why did they do that? Why did they take her in the first place?"
"I don't know why they took her. Maybe to feel good about themselves? To congratulate themselves on saving some poor orphan kid? Who knows? They re-homed her because they couldn't get through to her. It's unclear what she was like back then, the couple didn't divulge. There was an incident with a pet animal. Dani killed it. Afraid she was bound to become a psychopath, they decided she had to go. That was their defense anyway."
"I don't believe it for a moment," Liara protested. "Dani is not the person to just kill harmless animals. She may be a lot of things, but she's not cruel."
"Actually, she did kill it. A bunny. It's a small Earth rodent that especially children are very fond of. Anderson had the remains dug up from the couple's backyard. The lacerations present on the skeleton suggested - "
"What! Sorry Shepard, but I agree with Liara. Suggesting Dani got off as a kid on harming and torturing small animals, it's preposterous!"
"You're right, Garrus. Dani didn't kill the animal out of cruelty. The bones in the back of the rabbit were crushed and it such a way that it suggests . . . it was hugged to death. Dani probably never even realized she was harming the animal."
"She – hugged it – to death?"
"That's what the evidence suggested yes. She held it like this," Shepard hugged himself to demonstrate how Dani must have squeezed the little creature tightly against her. Liara looked away but Rhyder could see the tears in her eyes. The thought of Dani, desperate for warmth and affection, hugging the warm fuzzy animal so tightly she crushed it. When he first learned her history, it had haunted him for days.
"Right. So. Re-homed. Can't wait to find out what happened next," Garrus' voice was laced with sarcasm and his stiff posture betrayed his outrage.
"That's actually where Anderson comes in. He was rising the ranks in the Alliance and became close friends with another Alliance man. Will Tomlinson. It was after the conclusion of the First Contact War. A lot of survivors on Shanxi were children, orphaned in the war. Since many also lost close other relatives, a lot of these children were in desperate need for a new home."
"The Shanxi children, I've heard of them," Liara mused. "They were relocated to other human colonies, some even were taken in by couples not of their own species. There were awards tied to taking in a Shanxi child."
"Exactly, still there were a lot more children in need of new homes than volunteers ready to take on the responsibility of another man's child. Especially since most children had reached a difficult age.
There was one man in the Alliance though who took pity on them. Will Tomlinson. His wife back on Earth was in charge of the farm she'd inherited from her father. They had it rebuilt as some form of a home, or school."
"He took in Shanxi children?" Liara asked.
"Yes. Quite a few actually. And got paid handsomely for them. That money was intended for food, other resources and education. Unfortunately, regulations prevented Will from taking in more than five Shanxi children while he had room to spare and was willing to support others, still waiting for a new home."
"That's admirable of him," Liara ventured. "But, what does it have to do with Dani? She wasn't a Shanxi victim."
"No she wasn't. But remember, there were no papers involved with her adoption and with the four children already in his care, it was easy to enlist her as a Shanxi survivor and receive funding for her as well. The couple where she accidentally killed the rabbit, they took her to Tomlinson. If he knew about her past or not I do not know, only that she fell to his care. Ultimately, he was the one who gave Dani her name. Or actually, his wife."
"What happened next?"
"Tomlinson complained to Anderson. He felt frustrated, knowing he could help more children but was prevented from doing so. Anderson thought of the man as a hero and – helped him out. Aliases were set up, false accounts and false addresses. And Anderson made sure the discrepancies didn't get red flagged, even helped to get more children located with Tomlinson. In the end, Tomlinson provided home and education for no less than seventeen Shanxi children and Dani."
"That is no low feat. That is amazing!" Liara looked impressed.
"Yeah, there was just one little problem."
"Of course there was a problem. So, what happened? Tomlinson got found out anyway?" Garrus seemed a bit more relaxed. He probably figured the worst part of the story was over.
"No, well yes actually, just not how you might expect. You see, Tomlinson was off world when all this transpired. Together with Anderson. The care for all those children? Didn't fall on him, but his wife. All the money intended for food, other resources and education? She used it all on herself.
She didn't care a rat's ass for those kids."
"What happened?"
"It went on for a good couple of years and then one day Tomlinson died. Anderson felt it his personal duty to inform his wife of his passing in person and to offer his condolences. After having heard all the stories of Tomlinson, his ideals and his goals. He was not prepared for what he found."
"How bad was it?" Liara dared to ask.
"It was bad, let's just leave it at that. Mrs. Tomlinson tried to keep order by using threats and bodily harm. Forcing the older children to enforce her rules on the younger ones. One of her favorite threats was sending children out on the lands with a shovel. Forced them to dig 'holes'."
"Did she actually - ?" Garrus couldn't even finish his question.
"No, but she loved it when the kids pissed themselves in fear of the possibility. But, no matter how traumatizing this was for them, most of the children had grown up in happy homes. Traumatized yes, but they had known love and affection. In time, they would know this again. There was one child who – was different."
"Dani," Garrus whispered.
"Yes. Anderson felt responsible for the fate of the children. But the stark reality was, that with relocation, time and patience, those children would bounce back. Dani was an isolated case. She was in some real need of help and guidance. Anderson pulled some strings to get some say in her matter and was able to give her a home with Dr. Torque. . . Is this really what you wanted to know, Garrus? Feel better now that you know?"
"No," Garrus countered. "But I do have a deeper appreciation of every moment I spent with her."
"Commander Shepard, ETA to Earth, thirty minutes."
"Thanks Joker."
"Wait, Earth? You're taking Dani to Earth? You should have gone to the Citadel! Huerta Hospital!"
"Garrus, we're arriving in thirty minutes. Anything you still want to say to her. You better do it now."
Rhyder let his gaze linger on Dani one more time, before he turned around and left the med bay, before Garrus could throw in more objections.
Exactly thirty minutes later, the Normandy touched down on the privately owned flight pad near Torque Enterprises Headquarters. When the cargo bay doors opened and Rhyder oversaw the careful transportation of Dani, he noticed the team of doctors standing by down the ramp. Dr. Torque was there as well, as was his bodyguard, Alex Wright. Garrus walked right next to Dani's stretcher, holding her hand, seemingly determined to keep physical contact with her for as long as possible.
As soon as Dani was rolled down the ramp, the doctors went straight to work. They wanted to push Garrus out of the way but one snarl from him and they kept their distance.
"Garrus!" Rhyder called out to him and saw him struggle, so reluctant to let her go. He saw Garrus bend his head in dismay as he finally let her hand slip from his.
Rhyder approached Dr. Torque and waited for Garrus to join him. Garrus just needed a moment, watching the doctors take Dani away, before he rolled back his shoulders and visibly steeled himself for the confrontation.
"Thank you for bringing her here, Commander Shepard. Rest assured that the best team available will work on her well-being non-stop. You made the right choice."
Rhyder regarded the impeccably dressed man in front of him. His dark but graying hair swept back. His neatly kept beard. The expensive clothes.
He then let his gaze drift to Alex Wright. A tall broad shouldered man, square jaw, blazing blue eyes and thick jet black hair. Many a woman's dream.
"Let us get one thing straight, Dr. Torque," Rhyder stated slowly. "I brought her here because right now, I believe this is the best place for Dani to be. But this is only temporary. She's part of my crew and I AM coming back for her."
"Commander Shepard, she's not going anywhere until I say she's ready. And from the looks of it, that could be a long, long time. I appreciate all you've done for her, but I'm not so sure anymore that a starship is the best place for her. I believe she'll do just fine here once she recovers. That will also be my recommendation to Captain Anderson."
"With all due respect, Dr. Torque, and with that I really mean kiss my ass . . . But that decision is neither up to you nor Captain Anderson, it's up to Dani and trust me when I say this," Rhyder made a display of settling his attention on Garrus next to him. "Dani will want to come back to the Normandy. You'd better not stand in her way when she does. Now, if you'll excuse me. I need to contact Captain Anderson and tell him the package was dropped securely. I'll be checking in every two weeks to keep informed about her progress. Please, do not disappoint."
Garrus and Alex stood right across each other, taking in each other's appearance. A condescending smile appeared on Alex's lips. Garrus just flashed him a full view of all his predatory razor sharp teeth. When Alex paled a little, he then flared his mandibles in a grin and turned around.
Rhyder had to repress a smirk and nodded stiffly at the men, turned as well and jogged up to Garrus. Together they entered the Normandy without Dani again. But at least this time, they knew she was alive.