The ride to Thessia Medical is only about ten minutes away but to a mother who has an unconscious two year old the trip felt like an eternity. Raina would not wake up from her nap. The small limp blue body did not respond when Liara tried to wake her with a little nudge, a little shake even a kiss on the cheek. Completely unresponsive, the daughter just lay limp in her arms.

It didn't take long for Aethyta to take action. She grabbed Mia, placed her in the sky car then ran back for Liara who was starting to panic. She led her daughter and unconscious granddaughter to the sky car and flew the family to Thessia Medical.

"Please you must help me," Liara yells, "she won't wake up!"

The workers at the desk move quickly. One grabs a stretcher for the small child while the other approaches Liara to take the lifeless form from her arms. Liara does not want to let go of her first born. Aethyta with Mia in her arms places a hand on Liara's shoulder to try to calm her, to try to communicate to her that she must let her child go. Holding her breath Liara allows the nurse to take Raina from her. Tears falling from her eyes her vision is blurry but she will never forget the feeling of saying goodbye in that moment a goodbye that was forced upon her.

"She will be okay Liara we got her the help she needs," says Aethyta.

Liara stands in the middle of the room staring down the hallway wishing she could see beyond the double doors. Hoping that death does lie behind them.

Shepard is being rushed on a stretcher bleeding out barely alive. Liara knows Garrus is by her but she doesn't understand why she cannot stay with the woman she loves. She is placed in a wheelchair so her own injuries can be attended to but she doesn't want to leave Shepard. She is being pushed away from the double doors, NO! I want to stay with her, NO!

Liara is jostled from her reverie.

"Liara?"

"Huh?"

"Why don't you sit down," says Aethyta, "you don't look so good."

On shaky legs Liara leans on her father and allows her to be led to a chair in the waiting room.

"Liara?"

Silence. The asari will not take her eyes off the double doors.

"Liara."

"Wh what? What is it?"

"She is going to be fine."

"You don't know that."

Aethyta holds Mia closer when she hears the words leave her daughters mouth. The little one is gripping her grandpa's neck as hard as her little arms can. Mia knows something is going on but doesn't understand what. Aethyta is happy her crying has stopped for the moment.

"Hi Doc any change?" asks Ashley.

"Not yet no Commander, but it has only been a few hours," says Dr. Chakwas. "She will be okay she has been through worse."

Ashley stands over her friend shaking her head. Shepard's skin is still too pale. To look at her it is not like looking at someone who is sleeping, this is something different.

"I want to try something."

The Doctor looks up at her from her data pad, "What?"

"The squad found something on the surface. I want to bring it in here to see if she has a reaction to it."

"What is it?"

"A small piece of metal we believe to be from a reaper."

"A reaper are you kidding?"

"No. And you think this is the cause of her seizure?"

"I'm not sure Doc," says Ashley, "can you explain why she suddenly had a seizure?"

"There can be multiple…"

"…I think we both know it was this piece of metal."

The Doctor stands to look at Shepard's scans. "I don't think it is a good idea. Her brain is essentially on overdrive. Further stimulation is too dangerous. I will not allow it."

Ashley lowers her head and lets out a breath. "Okay."

"I am sorry Commander."

"No no Doc. It's okay. Shepard's health is more important than my theory."

"Did you get any readings from it?"

"No. Nothing is showing up on the scans."

"Where is it now?"

"Down in the shuttle bay."

"I think it is best to keep it away from her."

"Yeah I agree thanks Karin. Please let me know the minute anything changes."

"I will Ashley."

""Dr. T'Soni?"

"Y-Yes right here." Liara stands she has Mia in her arms, Aethyta is behind her.

"Your daughter's vitals are strong."

"Oh thank the Goddess," says Liara as she squeezes Mia tight.

"However she is still not waking up."

"What? Why?"

"We are not sure. Physically she is just fine, but it looks as if she is in some sort of dream state."

"What?"

"Her eyes are moving which occurs during REM sleep, it stands for…"

"…I know what it stands for. What is causing it? You are supposed to know what is causing it." Liara feels her father's hand on her shoulder. "I…I apologize."

"It is quite alright," the doctor says as she gives Liara a sympathetic smile. "May I speak to you in private?"

Liara furrows her brow. She hands Mia to her father and accompanies the doctor further down the hallway for privacy.

"What is it?" asks Liara.

"Have you melded with your daughter yet?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I know it is personal Dr. T'Soni," says the doctor, "but I recommend you melding with your daughter to see if you can sense her. That is if you have started melding with her. If not then …"

"…no. I mean yes I have. I have started. Shallow melds of course."

"Of course."

"That never occurred to me," says Liara, "I just needed to get her here to make sure…"

"…you did the right thing." The doctor places her hand on her shoulder. "We know that physically Raina is fine. She is strong. Perhaps melding with her can shed some light on what is going on."

"I want to see her."

"Of course, follow me."

"Oh one minute please," Liara says as she rushes back to the waiting room. She waves to Aethyta to follow her.

The doctor leads them to Raina's room.

"If you need anything," says the doctor "just press this button."

"Thank you doctor."

"What's going on?" asks Aethyta.

"She said Raina is fine that physically she is fine."

The Matriarch looks at the dwarfed figure in the bed that is much too big for her. "I don't understand."

"The doctor recommends I meld with her to see if I can sense her. They do not know why she is not waking up."

"Have you melded with her yet Liara?"

"I have, but just a few times."

"You sure you want to do this?" Aethyta can sense the nervousness in her daughter.

"No….but I think I have to. I mean I know I can do it I am just…"

Aethyta gives her daughter a half hug since she has Mia in her arms. "You will be fine Liara. Do what needs to be done. We are here if you need us." Aethyta moves back to give Liara room.

"Oh Goddess I forgot about Tali!"

"No no don't worry. I called her. She knows."

"Oh thank you Dad." Liara lets out a breath.

"I'm here, we are here for you."

"Okay." Liara faces Raina. Her daughter doesn't look like her usual self. She is much too pale, her breath a bit ragged. It is as if looking into her bondmate's face when a nightmare is beginning. Grabbing a nearby chair Liara sits down and takes Raina's little hand between her own. Taking in another deep breath then letting it out her eyes go black.

Darkness is all Liara sees at first.

Small white lights start to appear.

"Raina?" It's me honey.

Liara feels a presence she knows it is her daughter.

"Mother?"

The voice sounds older. If Liara did not know her presence she would not recognize the voice.

"Raina is that you?"

"Yes Mother. You must get to Father."

"What? Why? What is going on? Are you alright? Are you with her now?"

"Get to her."

"Raina wait! Raina!"

Her presence disappears. Liara cannot go further into the meld. She tries to push a little further. "Raina!" She feels tremendous resistance. Almost as if being pushed back, something she has not experienced in a very long time.

Eyes returning to ocean blue Liara blinks a few times.

"Are you alright Liara?" asks Aethyta. A nurse is scanning her.

"Wh what? Yes. What is going on?" Liara looks around suddenly feeling exhausted.

"You have been in the meld for nearly three hours," says Aethyta.

"You need to lie down." The nurse is holding Liara under the elbow to help her stand

"I …I do not understand," says Liara.

"Aethyta sees her daughter is confused. "They brought the bed in here Liara. Lie down like the nurse says."

Liara sits on the bed she is hardly able to keep her eyes open.

"What happened Liara?"

"I need to get to Shepard."

The nurse gently pushes on Liara's shoulders to get her to lie down. The asari tries to fight but she has no fight in her.

"Is Raina okay?" asks Aethyta not really understanding her daughter.

"She said I need to get to Shep…" sleep takes her before she can finish her sentence.

It is the middle of the night. Commander Ashley Williams has a gnawing feeling. Leaving her quarters she heads for the Med Bay in her sweats and t-shirt. Entering the room her eyes adjust to the darkness. Only a few lights are on. She approaches her unconscious friend.

There is no change from what she can see. She grabs a nearby chair with rollers on it and quietly slides it close to the bed and sits.

"Hey Skipper," she is whispering though not sure why.

"I need you to wake up okay? I don't like seeing you like this."

Ashley takes Shepard's hand in her own. It feels cold to her. The steady beep of the machines is small comfort to the human.

"We found something on the surface Skipper. I think that is why you are like this. I think the piece of metal we found is from a reaper. I want to try something but Doc doesn't want me to. See I have a bit of a theory."

Ashley looks to the sleeping form for any sign, there is none.

"You ever get that kind of an itch? That you can't sleep or concentrate on anything else until you know? I mean I know I am right I just know it, but I want to make sure. I want to prove it ya know? But I am not going to put your life in danger just so I can prove my theory.

She sits quietly for a minute contemplating what to do. The rhythm of the machines are lulling her to sleep. Holding her hand Ashley leans on the bed to rest her head awhile.

The doctor was entering the deep stage of sleep when the alarm woke her like a slap to the face. Waking in the middle of the night due to an emergency is nothing new to Dr. Chakwas. She hurries her movements faster than normal because she is very fond of Spectre Shepard. Many times she looks upon the woman as one of her many children aboard the Normandy. Loving the times they have spent together, sharing brandy together having long talks about life before the military and even sharing dreams after the war, this is what Karin Chakwas loves the most about Shepard. Sure she is the best soldier she has ever met, but as a person Shepard is a blessing to so many. A blessing the former Captain doesn't always recognize.

Chakwas is about to enter the Med Bay when she sees Brett Daniels coming out of the elevator with something in his hand.

Before he can say anything the doctor is yelling at him as she runs toward the Med Bay. "Get that thing out of here!"

Confused Brett follows the doctor into the Med Bay. "What are you talk…" the human stops short.

"I don't know what happened, she just started convulsing again," says Ashley.

It is bad. Ashley is holding onto her shoulders as best she can. Anne, Dr. Chakwas assistant arrives and helps place each wrist into a restraint. It takes all three of them to get each leg.

While working on the last restraint Chakwas notices Brett Daniels in the Med Bay, "I said get that thing out of here now!"

Ashleylooks up and sees the Soldier holding the metal object found on the surface. "You heard her Daniels get out!"

He leaves the Med Bay Ashley is hot on his tail.

"Doctor tell me when," Anne has a syringe ready.

"Wait one minute," says Dr. Chakwas. She suspects that the piece of metal from the reaper is causing Shepard's condition. She figures if she waits for the thing to be far enough away from her then the medicine will not be needed.

The convulsions do not let up. Blood is starting to ooze out of Shepard's nose.

"Doctor!"

Chakwas looks at Shepard then at Anne. "Do it."

Anne injects midazolam directly into the muscle. The medicine does not take immediate effect, rather more like 60 seconds.

"She is not slowing Doctor."

"I know Anne, we have to hang on." Chakwas holding Shepard's arm in place says to the woman, "Hang on Elly you hang on."

It takes 75 seconds for the medicine to take effect. Shepard's convulsions finally stop. Using a damp towel that she grabbed Anne wipes away the blood from her face. The retired Captain's color is paler than before, she looks near death. Her breathing is shallow and heart rate has slowed.

"You okay for a few minutes Anne?"

Surprised that the doctor is leaving she says "Yes."

Dr. Chakwas storms out of the Med Bay. She doesn't have to go far, she nearly runs into Ashley when she crosses the threshold of the door.

"Oh hey Doc," says Ashley. She has both hands in front of her to stop the Doctor from plowing into her. They end up on Karin's upper arms.

"Don't you hey Doc me! Where is he?"

Ashley lets go and stands straight. "Hey hey he is downstairs." She has never heard Dr. Chakwas sound this way before.

"I told you I did not want her exposed to that thing and you did it anyway!"

"I didn't do anything Doctor and I suggest you take it down a notch."

Chakwas studies her face and believes her. She takes a few deep breaths to calm down. "What was he doing with that thing up here?"

"I am about to find that out. I gave strict orders to not move it."

"Where is it?"

"Back down in the shuttle bay. Cortez is in charge of it."

"And where is Daniels?" asks Chakwas.

"The brigg."

"Really?"

"Until he can give me an explanation that I buy yes really. Now how is she?"

They both return to the Med Bay. Ashley looks down at her friend. "She is so pale. Sh..she is going to be okay right?"

"I have no idea Commander." She is angry.

Ashley knows the doctor is not angry with her.

"What were you doing here anyway?"

"I couldn't sleep. Thought I would check in on her. Guess I must have dozed off."

"Well I am up now. I am going to watch her closely. Make sure her vitals do not get any worse."

"I am going to have Joker set a course for Thessia."

"What?"

"If this is anything like the Prothean beacon, Shepard is going to need Liara."

It is not a restful sleep. Liara is so exhausted. She hears commotion in the room but can barely lift her head to see what is going on. Blinking quickly her eyes tear up due to the bright lights on the ceiling.

"Fix it!"

Liara hears a familiar gruff voice, she knows it is her father but doesn't know why she sounds so upset. No not upset, scared.

"Step back please."

"Well the hell is going on!"

Mia is crying as she clings to her grandpa. Aethyta stops herself from yelling. "Shh it's okay Mia she will be okay." The Matriarch looks toward her daughter. Relief and fear flood her at the same time when she sees her daughter's eyes open.

"Liara?"

"Wh what's happening?" Liara feels like she is drunk, like she cannot speak clearly. She does not have the strength to sit up.

"Just stay put Liara."

Aethyta starts to walk towards the group of doctors and nurses that are around Raina when she feels a soft hand on her arm. She looks at her daughter.

"Please."

Aethyta turns to Mia, "Shh please stop crying."

"I want my Ma Ma! I want my Ma Ma!"

Liara lifts one arm. Aethyta sets Mia down next to Liara so at least her granddaughter can find some comfort in the mother. Liara rolls onto her side. Mia snuggles in close; both of them are facing Raina. Fighting to keep her eyes open Liara asks, "Raina?"

"Something happened. She had a seizure Liara."

"Seiz…" she is too tired to talk.

Aethyta watches her daughter struggle to stay awake, it is a losing battle. Thankfully Mia quiets down.

The doctor approaches the Matriarch. "It has stopped."

"She okay?"

"For now yes. But if she has another seizure things can turn bad pretty quickly." The doctor looks to Liara. "Was she able to find out anything?"

"Just that she told her to get to her bondmate."

"So she spoke to Raina?"

"She must have," says Aethyta "if she knows she is supposed to find Shepard."

The doctor nods and start to walk away.

"Hang on."

The doctor stops and looks at her.

"What the hell are you doing so she doesn't have another seizure?"

"We can give her some medication, a slow drip to prevent another one. However, this is not ideal. I don't like giving medication when it is not needed. If we knew what we were dealing with." The doctor's eyes travel to Liara once more.

"Hey. It is not her job to heal my granddaughter. You're the doctor do something!"

"I understand your frustration…"

"…don't give me that bullshit! Figure out what is wrong with her and fix her!"

The doctor knows this is a losing battle. She smiles her best sympathetic smile and says, "We are doing the best we can."

Aethyta leans close to the doctor speaking almost through clenched teeth. "You're best is shit right now. I suggest you improve."

The Doctor keeps the smile on her face and nods respectfully before returning to her little blue patient. She runs another scan now that the seizure has stopped.

"Well?"

The doctor did not hear the Matriarch come up behind her."There is no change."

Aethyta sighs.

"Which is actually a good thing."

"How exactly?"

"She is not getting worse."

"Aethyta huffs.

"I know you want answers, I do too. Once Dr. T'Soni wakes I believe she will be able to shed some light on the situation. At this point we do not know what is causing her coma like state. All we can do is continue to monitor and care for her to the best of our ability."

The Matriarch nods. She doesn't really want to voice what she is thinking since there are children in the room. Plus she knows the doctor is doing all she can.

"I will be back later. Can I get you anything?"

One of the advantages of being a Matriarch is having asari drool all over you. Not drool exactly but wait on you hand and foot because there are not a lot of Matriarchs around usually. Here on Thessia though there are. Still it usually rubs Aethyta the wrong way, but right now she is happy for a level headed doctor. She is scared for her granddaughter and scared for her daughter. "I am fine."

The doctor nods again before leaving the room.

Aethyta returns to her daughter who is cuddling with Mia, both asari are fast asleep. Sitting in a nearby chair the Matriarch makes herself comfortable between the beds that hold all of the asari she loves.