Ashley Williams and Tali are staying at the Shepard/T'Soni home. They are watching Mia while Shepard, Liara and Raina recover in the hospital. Last night was the night Liara and the two Matriarchs, Aethyta and Councilor Tevos, assisted Liara in freeing Shepard from whatever was holding her prisoner in her own mind.
Ashley is making breakfast for the youngest asari. She is planning on finding some answers today that had to be put on hold yesterday.
"Morning Ashley."
"Morning Tali, I made you breakfast, here ya go." The human hands the Quarian some dextro protein.
"Thanks. Morning Mia." Tali leans over and gives the little one a kiss on her crest. She gets a smile in return.
"You okay getting to the hospital on your own?" asks Ashley.
"Yes but why? What are you going to do?"
"I have someone I need to talk to or maybe I should say interrogate." Ashley takes a bite of her food with a snarl.
"Interrogate?"
"Yeah. There is a soldier on my squad that I have in the brig. He needs to explain himself."
"About what?"
"You remember about the piece of metal we found right?"
"Yes."
"Well this ass," she looks at Mia, "I mean jerk brings the thing into the Med Bay."
"Yeah?"
"Tali. Don't you remember?" Ashley nods her head toward Mia. She doesn't want to say in front of the little one.
Tali thinks a moment. "Oh! The piece of metal."
Nodding Ashley says, "Yes and he brings it in the Med Bay." She raises her eyebrows as if to help the Quarian piece it together.
"Oh yes yes I see. And the result of doing that was not good."
"Exactly."
"You think he did it on purpose?"
Ashley makes sure she keeps her tone light and a smile on her face so as not to upset Mia. "Yes I do Tali. In fact I plan on finding out today if it is the last thing I do."
"I see." Tali plays along with the light tone of voice. "Just don't go too far."
Ashley narrows her eyes at her friend. "Of course not."
"Good because then you may not find anything out."
The human woman nods. "Well I need to get going now. So you are okay then getting to the hospital?"
"Yes we will be fine."
Ashley cleans her dish. "I will see you both later. If anyone wakes up send me a message and please tell them I will be there later hopefully with some news."
"I will. Be careful."
Ashley takes the keys to the sky car and leaves the house.
"Well I don't know what to say," says Aethyta. The Councilor is getting ready to leave the hospital. "I don't think we could have done it without you."
"It was my pleasure Aethyta. I was happy to help."
"Yeah well...uh...thanks."
"You are welcome. Please let me know how they both are doing?"
"Huh? Sure..sure I can do that."
The Councilor nods to Juliana, her head of security that she is ready. "Take care Aethyta. You have a beautiful family."
"Thanks."
Though she has a small headache the Councilor is going to her hotel room. She has been dreaming of a long hot bath ever since making the arrangements to come to Thessia. She is looking forward to a day off, though she will still accept calls if necessary. Her work is never actually done.
"Please give Liara and Shepard my best."
"I will. Take care," says Aethyta. She crosses the hall as the Councilor and her commandos walk down the hallway. Upon entering the room she first checks on Liara. She is still fast asleep as is Shepard. Next she moves toward Raina. The little one has not woken up since she fell unconscious except once during the night. Aethyta gave strict orders to be woken up when Raina did so she could be there for her granddaughter. She knew that neither Liara nor Shepard would be up to looking after her or talking to her, not after the ordeal they went through yesterday.
The Matriarch is still not sure what Liara did to help Shepard once she and Tevos left the multiple meld. The nightmares she woke with this morning were awful. She cannot possibly imagine how this will affect her daughter and daughter-in-law.
"Hello there little one." She is happy to see Raina blinking her eyes when she approaches her.
Riana gives a small smile and slowly sits up. She is looking for her parents.
"Right there," says Aethyta as she points to the two sleeping figures in the room. She sees the little one tear up. "Hey they are okay. You want to see?"
Raina scoots closer to her Grandpa and lifts her arms up.
Aethyta picks her up and walks over to the side by side hospital beds.
"They are just sleeping see."
Raina extends her arm wriggling her fingers. She wants to touch her mother. Aethyta leans over moving Raina closer to her mother, "Careful do not wake her."
Softly Raina pats Liara's arm. She keeps her hand on the blue arm for a few seconds. "Okay?"
"Yes she is okay."
Aethyta walks over to the other side of the beds to see Shepard. She leans down again.
Raina does not reach out to her father. She hugs her Grandpa around the neck very closely.
"Hey she is okay. She is going to be just fine."
Raina just hugs the Matriarch tighter. She can feel the little one trembling.
"You hungry?" Aethyta asks stepping away quickly from the bed.
Raina nods her lower lip trembling.
"Okay we will get you something to eat. I bet you get to go home today. Would you like that?"
The little one nods. She wipes at her eye with the back of her little blue fist.
"Let me set you down then and I will check to see if I can bring you to the cafeteria okay?"
"No no no no! Don't leave me!" Raina holds onto her Grandpa for dear life.
"Okay okay, it's okay. Shhh shhhh."
"What is going on in here?" asks an asari nurse.
"She is just a little upset. She needs something to eat."
"Of course. I can get her a tray."
Raina is not letting go of her death grip. Her eyes are not moving from Shepard's direction.
"I'm going to take her to the cafeteria." It is a statement not a request.
The nurse nods in respect, "Of course. That will be fine."
"I'd like to take her home today."
"I will check with the doctor, but I do not see that being a problem," says the nurse.
Before more is said Aethyta walks out of the room with her granddaughter.
"Leave us."
"Aye Ma'am."
Commander and Spectre Ashley Williams is in the brig to interrogate Brett Daniels. The newest soldier assigned to her squad.
"Commander," he says, "finally. Can you please tell me what is going on here? Why am I being detained?"
Ashley stands in front of the cell. It is a small room with one cot, toilet and sink. The barrier is not bars but more of a plexiglass.
"You tell me soldier."
"What? I….I have no idea."
"Is that so?"
The man just stands there staring at her wide-eyed.
"I gave you an order soldier! I told you to not move that piece of metal from the shuttle bay!"
"What I….I know that but…."
"But what?"
"Ahh..well…."
"Well what Daniels!"
"I was told you wanted it."
It is Ashley's turn to look wide-eyed. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Y-Yes. I ..I was…"
"You what?" Ashley is wishing there was no barrier between them right now.
"I..I..I"
"If you don't spit it out Daniels I am coming in there!"
"Okay okay. It was Petersen."
Ashley furrows her brows, "What was Petersen?"
"She is the one who told me you needed it. Said you were in the Med Bay and …and needed it right away."
Ashley puts her hand up for the soldier to stop talking. She starts to pace trying to recall the chaos that occurred when Shepard starting seizing again in the Med Bay. She remembers it was early in the morning that the third shift would be coming off duty. She stops when she remembers almost running into Petersen. She works in Engineering. She remembers talking to Dr. Chakwas and out of the corner of her eye Petersen was watching them, not moving just watching them. She didn't think anything of it at the time.
"Shit." Ashley turns to Daniels, "What else did she tell you?"
Shaking his head he replies, "Nothing really. Just that you needed it right away. I tried to argue."
"What do you mean?"
"I asked her about your orders. That you said not to move it from the shuttle bay. She said something about how I would get in trouble if I didn't bring it to you."
"Why didn't she bring it? Did you ask her?"
"She said she had a horrible headache and was heading to her rack. She was asking me to do her a favor."
"I see. Well I am sorry Daniels but you are going to have to remain here."
"What? Why?" He sounds like a wounded child.
"I have to check out your story that's why. You are not to discuss this with anyone is that understood?"
"I…I don't understand what is going on."
"I don't have time to explain it to you. Just know that it is vital you tell no one of our conversation. I will have you moved to a holding cell on the surface if…"
"No no that's okay. Sorry Ma'am, didn't mean to interrupt you."
"Sit tight. Hopefully you won't be in there much longer." Before saying another word Ashley leaves the brig.
Reaching the CIC Ashley sees Samantha Traynor. She has an idea. "Traynor?"
"Yes Commander."
"My quarters now."
Tali enters the room with Mia in her arms. She sees a nurse running a scan on Liara. She notices that Raina's bed is empty.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes hello," says the nurse. "They both are holding steady. Their vitals are good."
"Good that's good. Do you happen to know where Raina is?"
"Right here," says Aethyta. "Wanna switch?"
Tali transfers Mia to the Matriarch while taking Raina in her arms. "Hello little one. You are looking very well. How are you feeling?"
"Good." Raina touches Tali's helmet.
"You want to see your Da Da?"
"No!" Raina squirms in the Quarians arms.
"Oh okay, okay, it's okay. We can stay right here."
Aethyta clears her throat. Tali looks at her to see the Matriarch shaking her head back and forth.
Tali moves closer to Raina's empty bed hoping the distance to her father will help ease her discomfort. "Where were you?"
"Took her to the cafeteria for a change of pace. Gonna get out of here today aren't ya."
"Oh that is good news." Tali pokes Raina in the tummy hoping to get a laugh out of her. She just squirms a little. "Your little sister sure missed you."
Mia waves to her little sister. Raina reaches toward her sister. The Matriarch closes the distance between the two. They touch hands and smile at each other.
"You okay with them?" asks Aethyta, "I will check with the doctor about springing her."
Tali is not sure what she means. She nods while Aethyta sets Mia on the bed.
"What do you two want to do today?" asks the Quarian.
"Home," says Raina.
"Yeah home!" says Mia.
Tali moves her head when she hears movement behind her. She sees Liara stirring. "I am going to set you down next to your sister okay Raina?"
The little one nods.
Tali lifts the side railing so neither child will fall out of the bed. She hurries to the asari's side.
Liara is starting to thrash around.
"Liara, Liara wake up." Not sure what to do Tali grabs her shoulders and shakes the asari. "Wake up Liara."
A small scream escapes her mouth as she sits up abruptly.
"Liara." Tali steadies her. She does not take her hands off of her shoulders.
Liara is trying to catch her breath hand clutched to her chest.
"Breath Liara, take big slow breaths okay. You are okay. Everyone is okay now."
Liara looks at Tali. Understanding crosses her eyes. "Elly?" She looks to her right to see her sleeping.
"The doctors say she is just sleeping now. That she probably will be asleep until later tonight or tomorrow."
"The kids?" Liara looks to her left. She breathes a sigh of relief when she sees both of them in the bed on the other side of the room.
"Raina can go home today and Mia is just fine." Tali looks at her friend. "Are you okay?"
"What? Ah…yes I think so."
"Why don't you let me get a nurse?"
Liara grabs Tali's forearm. "Can you bring the kids over here first?"
The Quarian places her hand over Liara's. "Um well…"
"What is it?"
"Let me get a nurse okay Liara." Before the asari can stop her again the Quarian leaves the room. She does not know how to tell her friend that her eldest daughter doesn't seem to want to see her father.
Not wanting to wait for the nurse Liara decides to try to get out of bed.
"Hey hey! What the hell are you doing?"
Liara nearly falls off the bed she jumps so high.
The Matriarch's hands on her shoulders and pushing her back. "What the hell Liara?"
"I ..I wanted to.."
"Don't give a shit what you want right now. Lie back right now."
Liara lies back down.
"What were you trying to prove exactly?"
"I want to see my children if you don't mind." Her tone is not nice.
"I'll get them. You stay put."
Aethyta walks over to the children. "You want to see Ma Ma?"
Mia lifts her arms with excitement. Raina just looks at her.
"Be right back Raina."
Aethyta transfers Mia to Liara.
"Ma Ma!" She hugs her mother's neck tightly.
"Hello my darling." Liara holds her kissing her crest, her forehead, each cheek. "I missed you very, very much."
"Oh hi Aethyta," says Tali. She is followed by a nurse.
The nurse runs a scan over Liara. "How are you feeling?"
"I have a headache."
"I can give you something for that." She finishes the scan. "Everything looks good Dr. T'Soni. Raina is able to go home today as are you if you feel up to it."
"Thank you. And Shepard?"
The nurse moves to the other side of Shepard's bed. "She is going well. Once she wakes up we can see about releasing her." The nurse gives a smile and a nod before leaving the room.
"That's good news Liara. You get to go home today," says Tali.
"I…I do not want to go home without Elly."
"Listen to me Liara." Aethyta takes Mia from her and transfer her to Tali with a nod for some privacy.
"What are you doing?"
Aethyta sits down on a nearby chair. "You need to go home Liara. Go home and be with your kids. I can stay here and watch over Shepard."
"No I can't do that. I do not want…"
"Raina is afraid of her."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Look. I don't know why. Maybe it's because of what happened, how they were linked, but she is afraid of her right now. I don't think you should stay here Liara. She needs you. You need to be at home."
Liara cannot fight the heat behind her eyes. She buries her face into her hands.
"Hey." Aethyta stands. She is not sure how to comfort her daughter. She raises her arms then lets them drop only to raise them again as her daughter cries. She gets up the courage to wrap her arms around her. "Shit kid, everything will be fine. You will see."
"How?" Liara asks between sobs.
"It just will. I mean…you're stuck with me for one." She laughs a little hoping to ease the tension. "And Shepard well hell…she is as tough as they come."
"How much can she take?" Liara moves her hands to hug her father closely. "How much can any of us take?"
Aethyta holds her as she cries.
"Everything is set Commander."
"Thank you Traynor. And no one else knows about this right?"
"Correct."
"Good. We need to keep it that way. When is she expected?"
"According to the schedule she changed shifts with Donnelly. He needed to take a personal day to…"
"That's good." The Commander could care less why.
Clearing her throat Traynor says, "Her shift starts in one hour."
"Thanks keep me posted on her activities."
"Aye Ma'am."
The asari finally slowed her sobs to a sniffle here and there.
"Liara. Why don't you eat something? Tali and I will bring the kids home then I will come back for you," says Aethyta.
"Very well."
"Good."
"Dad," Liara says as she grabs her father's hand as she stands up.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you…for everything."
"Sure." Aethyta walks over to grab Raina. She and Tali who is carrying Mia leave the hospital to go home.
Liara is sitting up drinking a glass of water when she hears Shepard groan a little. She places her hand on Shepard's forearm.
"Elly?"
She waits. Shepard stops groaning. She is very still.
"Elly can you hear me?"
She sees her bondmate raise her eyebrows a little while moving her head.
"Elly wake up honey, it's Liara."
She sees Shepard slowly open her eyes. Liara lies down on her side to face her.
"Oh Goddess Elly." Her hand cups her cheek.
"Hmm?"
"Yes Elly wake up honey. Open your eyes. You are safe. We are in the hospital."
Eyes half lidded Shepard asks, "Raina?"
Liara leans over and kisses her on her lips, then each cheek. "She is fine Elly she is just fine. Dad just took her and Mia home. Everyone is okay." Liara kisses her on the lips again. She can feel a slight smile from her bondmate. "What are you smiling about?"
Shepard moves to her side. Keeping her eyes closed she raises her hand, Liara takes it. Shepard gives it a kiss then settles into the pillow. "Love you."
Liara kisses her cheek, her forehead and her cheek again. "I love you Elly. You sleep. Everyone is safe. You sleep and come back to me."
Shepard gives a small smile. She squeezes the asari's hand and says, "Always," before sleep takes her again.
Liara scoots closer to her to press her own forehead against hers. She watches her bondmate sleep. For the first time in a very long time she looks more at peace and less at war with herself.
Liara breathes in her scent and caresses her hand in her own missing the feel of her. "I love you Elly." She knows the human doesn't hear her, that she is fast asleep. But it doesn't change the fact that it is true. She never wants to lose her bondmate again, not ever. She knows what she must do to ensure that will never happen.
