4/30/2210

Tali wrung her hands in a tangle of fidgeting fingers as she paced nervously outside the Normandy's med-bay. Every so often she paused, peering up at the opaque window of the room beyond for any sign of movement. Keelah, when will those bosh'tets let me in to see him? Its been two days... ancestors, maybe somethings happened and they don't. No. No, stop that Tali, don't even think that. He's fine, they just want to make sure there's no complications.

In the time since she and Garrus had brought Shepard into the med bay for treatment over a day ago, she had spent all her time waiting outside, either pacing restlessly or sitting hunched against the wall that stood between her and the room where her love was receiving medical attention. For the most part none of the other crew had bothered her, except for the few occasions where Garrus or Kaidan had come by to tell her she needed to sleep; as if she would, could even think of that until she knew her hesh'la would be alright.

As if her body was mocking her, Tali felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Wearily, she ceased her pacing and slumped down against a bulkhead, wrapping her arms around her knees. Fighting the urge to slip off into sleep, she gazed at her surroundings for the first time in several hours. It was early in the morning of the day after John's disastrous mission aboard the derelict Reaper. Most of the crew was likely still asleep save for those on the night shift; the shift deathly silent but for the faint hum of the drive core.

Suddenly, Tali jolted upright as the hiss of the med-bay's doors opening reach her ears. Turning around, she saw that the ship's medic, a brown haired woman by the name of Doctor Harre, standing half in the doorway as she leaned out/ "Ms. Shepard, your husband is ready for pick up. Normally I'd just let him leave on his own, but since I'm convinced he's not been listening to, or will end up ignoring, any of the instructions I just gave him, I think I better go over it again with you."

Nodding as the woman disappeared back inside, Tali had to resist the urge to sprint as she made her way over and slipped inside the room. Looking around, Tali saw that the room had changed very little in the past few decades, with only a few newer pieces of medical equipment standing out as different from how she remembered it.

Tearing her gaze away from the room's contents, Tali's eyes moved to fall upon her lifemate. Linen bandages crisscrossed her arms of torso, so numerous that there was more white cloth visible than skin. John however, seemed unbothered by the countless injuries covering his body, idly picking at one of the bandages as he sat on one of the medical tables. The quarian felt her worry and concern lessen somewhat as he, taking notice of her presence, flashed her a warm, reassuring smile.

A relief filled smile spread over her lips as she made her way over to where he sat, taking hold of the large, calloused hand he held out for her. Even through her suit she savored the feeling of his warm touch. As if reading her thoughts, she felt his hand close to gently squeezing her own slim hand in reassurance that he was alright.

At last, remembering why she was here, Tali forced herself to tear her eyes away from her lover's face and turn her attention to the ship's medic. Doctor Harre was sitting across from her with her back to her desk, a datapad held lazily in her hands. Noting that Tali had her full attention, she shifted so that she herself faced the quarian directly, clearing her throat before beginning.

"Now, to begin lets go over the usual stuff. Avoid any physical activity for the next few days, don't get any of the bandages wet, and make sure he doesn't keep picking at them!" She instructed, her voice rising in volume and becoming more forceful near the end as Shepard began to again pick at a bandage even as he was told not to.

"John!" Tali scolded, swatted him on the arm. He began to open his mouth in defiance of this instruction, only to be silenced as she shot him a flat stare. Sighing, the spectre let his hand slowly drop back down to his side. "Its not my fault it itches"

Rolling her eyes, Tali turned back to the medic. "Sorry about my stubborn bosh'tet of a husband, sometimes I think he actually tries to annoy people who tell him what to do."

"mmhmmm" human woman noted, gazing over her data pad. "I might have gotten that impression already... Anyways, where I left off: since I figured Mr "stubborn bosh'tet" wouldn't want to deal with stitches for the next few weeks, I only sewed up the few largest and most severe injuries and left the others be. In result, you will have to make sure to change his bandages and reapply medi-gel every day until they fully close."

The woman paused as she turned to pick up a trio of pill bottles sitting on her desk, and began handing her them one by one "He needs to take these anti-biotics every morning and evening for the next ten days. He also needs to take the painkillers from this bottle every six hours he is awake, while this one contains a higher dosage that should be taken before bed. Did you get all that?"

"Yes, I think so." Tali nodded, tucking the three bottles into a pocket on her suit.

"Normally I would keep him here for another twenty-four hours of observation, but since hes tried to leave several times already, I think its best if you take over from here. Make sure he gets bed-rest for at least the next day, if not two if you think you can make him. Doctor's orders."

"Understood. I think I'll be able to keep the big bosh'tet in line."

"Good." The brown haired woman nodded. "Now, before you go, I also need to run some medical scans on you. It should only take a minute, I just need to check if the strain of yesterday has caused your own injury to reopen."

Nodding slowly in acceptance, Tali got to her feet to stand before the ship's medic. Activating her omni-tool, Doctor Harre extended her arm to hover half a foot away from Tali's back. For a minute she slowly moved her omni-tool up and down as she scanned to whole length of the long cut hidden just beneath Tali's suit before finally stepping back.

"Hmm, its not nearly as bad as I though it would be..." The ship's medic noted as she examined the readings displayed on her omni-tool. "However, you appear to have torn four stitches, partially reopening to injury in those area. Since it hasn't completely reopened, I see no need to replace the stitches you torn, but you will need to apply change your bandages and apply medi-gel. I would do it myself, but due to your weaker immune system you will need to have your husband help you once you get him back to your cabin and run your decontamination unit."

"I will."

"Good" The woman noted before turning her attention to Shepard. "Okay than Commander, I am turning you over to the care of your wife. You're free to go."

"Finally" He grinned, as he moved to stand.

Extending a hand towards him, Tali helped pull him to his feet. Thanking Doctor Harre again, the quarian turned towards the door with her lifemate in tow.

Not more than a few steps out of the med-bay, Tali noticed that Shepard has limping heavily as he walked; his mouth twisting into a grimace of pain and flinching every time he put weight onto his left foot. Concerned, Tali slowed her own pace so that she walked shoulder to shoulder to him before slipping an arm under his armpit and around his back to support some of his weight.

Immediately her aid proved to offer some relief, her bondmate now wincing less on every other step, and his face no longer tightening in twinges of pain. "Thanks" He gave her a warm smile that spread all the way up to the deep blue eyes.

Flashing him a smile of her own that she knew he could read even with her mask in the way, Tali returned her attention to helping him hobble the rest of the way to the elevator. Stepping inside, she reached out for the controls, and after a moments delay the began ascending upward.

After a no more than half a minute had passed, the elevator doors spread open with a soft chime like noise. Bracing herself, Tali once more shouldered her lifemate's considerable weight. Pausing only long enough to activate the decontamination unit sitting just inside the doorway, Tali made her way over to the large bed at the far side of the room. Groaning at the effort of practically carrying the large human, she somehow manged to keep her footing long enough to deposit Shepard down on the edge of the bed.

Tali breathed heavily as she slumped down next to him, a hand involuntarily groping at the line of renewed pain cutting across her back; which drew as concerned look from Shepard.

"I appreciated the thought Tali, but you didn't have to do that; not when your injured yourself. I could of managed on my own."

Tali shook her head. "No, I did. You're hurt worse then me, only fare that I share some of the pain." She turned her head away as she finished speaking, her eyes falling upon the fish tank to her side.

For a long while an uncomfortable silence fell between them. Now that her fear for Shepard's life had subsided Tali found herself filled with a myriad of confused emotions; relief mixing with concern over the extent of Shepard's wounds, mixing with anger at her lifemate's disregard for his own well being. At last Tali ventured to speak, her voice wavering as she struggled to contain these conflicting emotions battling inside her. "I almost lost you back there, and seeing you that close to death I..." She fell silent once more as her voice broke. Slowly she looked back up at him, her eyes lingering on his as she tried to read her human's expression.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked softly, dropping his gaze away from her's. "I know, I was stupid and I deserve it. You don't deserve me putting you through the fear of losing me again-"

What ever he was going to say was lost in a flurry of motion as Tali, not waiting until he had finished, threw her arms around him in a fierce hug. "Of course I'm angry, you stubborn, reckless, infuriating bosh'tet! ...But more than that, I'm just happy and relieved you're still here, alive, with me." She let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a choked sob. She tightened her grip around him, as if a part of her feared it would vanish the moment she let go.

She felt her life-mates warm, strong arms encircle her waist, in a tight grip mirroring own. "I'm sorry. So sorry for not thinking of you, and for not listening to Garrus. I-"

She squeezed her hold tighter silencing him, before dipping her forward to rest against his broad chest. "Shhhh. You don't need to apologize for anything. I already forgive you. Just...I want to know why? Why did you feel you had to go alone? We're always with you John. Me, Garrus, Kaidan, Liara, and all the others. "

"Because I couldn't bare the thought of losing you or anyone else." His spoke in a soft, barely audible whisper. Turning her head upward Tali saw that his face was twisted into a pained expression. "I almost lost you once already... I couldn't..." His words we lost in a strangled sound in the depths of his throat, as his he was fighting back a fit of sobs.

Tali slipped a hand out from under his encircling arms, reaching up to softly caress a cheek. "Its okay, I'm here now and I'm safe."

"I know... but it's not just that. Last time I was on that damn reaper, I lost all but two on my team... I didn't only relive the reaper war, but also..."

"It was too much like Akuze, wasn't it? I didn't know it still affected you.. I thought you came to terms with it years ago."

"I did, or at least I thought so, thanks in no small part to a certain quarian girl helping me begin to open up to people again and work through some of my countless mental issues." A small smile briefly spread over his lips, only to be lost back into pained grimace as quickly as it had appeared. "I guess no wound is so well healed that it can't be be torn open again. After a mission that I damn near lost my entire team, after another Akuze... I couldn't let that happen again, not to you, not to Garrus or Kaidan or anyone else.. even if it meant that I could die in your or their place."

Before she could reply, Shepard continued, his voice rising to a near shout as he continued. "The worst part is I didn't even think for a moment how my choice could even effect you or anyone else. Not for a moment did I even think of how me dying would leave you devastated. I was blinded by stupidity and fear, and in it I thought I was being selfless, willing to put myself on the line to protect without realizing until now how selfish it was."

"You've never been selfish, John. You're the single least selfish person I've ever met out of the whole universe. You've given up so much for others, thrown yourself into harms way time and time again to save people who need you, and were willing to sacrifice anything if it meant giving this galaxy a brighter future." She assured him, trying to carry in her voice all of her love and every ounce of conviction she possessed. "And more than that, you mean the world to me. I can't stand watching you tear yourself apart like this. Wherever you go, whatever you face, you never have to think you'll need to do it alone. I'm with you, always."

She caught the glint of wetness building at the edges of Shepard's eyes as she finished speaking. For a moment her lifemate stared back at her, blinking back the gathering moistness, before at last he leaned his head in towards her, planting a gentle kiss on the top of her helmet before dropping lower to rest his forehead against her faceplate.

"I still don't know what I did to deserve someone so sweet and beautiful... Or who is willing to put up with all my crap."

"I had a dashing commander sweep me off my feet and fight to give me a home world and family I always wanted. For him, I'll put up with anything necessary for us to be together."

He let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob as he pulled away, wiping his eyes on a forearm. "I would've done it all for you even if you hadn't been in a relationship with me. Your people where always given the short end of the stick, and after all the sacrifices your made for them you deserved to be happy, no mater who you ended up with."

"I know you would have, my hesh'la". As she spoke, Tali's reached up towards her helmet, slim fingers searching out the releases. There was a click and a hiss of escaping air as she pulled the mask away, setting it aside. "And thats why your are mine." She leaned forward as she spoke, seizing hold of her lifemate's shoulder as she finished to pull him in, their lips meeting in a long, passionate kiss.

At last they broke away from one another until their only contact was her slim hand held within his. She watched as Shepard lifted a hand to wipe away the last remnants of moisture in his eyes, his lips curling into wry grin as all remaining doubt and lingering regret fled from his features. "Come on, Miss vas Rannoch, lets get you of that suit. Doctor's orders after all"

"If you insist" She replied in a sultry, her own lips twisting into a flirtatious smile of her own.

With Shepard's help, her suit fell away piece by piece to be discarded at the foot of the bed until at last she sat uncovered before him, her raven black hair spilling down around her bare shoulders.

"Hold on one second, I'll be right back" Shepard whispered to her, his lips meeting hers in the brief, trailing kiss as he stood. She watched as he hobbled over to his desk, crouching down to retrieve the medical kit stored there before returning to sit next to her on the bed. "Turn around, and help me remove your bandages. If I do hurts, let me know."

"Alright" Gathering up her hair to pull it away from her back, Tali turned around so she sat facing away to him. Slowly the bandages wrapping her torso torso began to fall away, Tali seeing that they were indeed stained with splotches of red where the underlying stitches had torn. She winced as the last bandage well away, a stinging pain burning up and down the length of the injury as it met the open air.

"Here's the part where I say that "this is going to string a little", but I think you know that well enough by now" Her husband joked, a grin evident in his voice.

She hissed in pain as he began dabbing medi-gel on the regions of her back where her wound had partially reopened. Blissfully, the stringing only lasted a handful of seconds each time, fading into numbness as the medi-gel's localized anesthetic began to take effect. After a generous layer of medi-gel had been applied, Shepard set to work at re-bandaging her wound. For several minutes her worked, taking his time to avoid causing her undue discomfort before at last tying off the lose ends of linen.

"There, is that too tight?"

"No, its fine." She replied, letting her hair fall back around her shoulders as she turned to face him. "So, now thats over with; how do we spend the rest of this morning?"

"Well, you did just say you'd "put up with anything", right? Because in that case there are some things I'd like to try next time we-"

Before he could finish Tali swatted him on the arm, drawing a exaggerated yelp from the infuriating man. "Bosh'tet."

Somehow this only made him grin even wider, to which she swatted at his arm again. That brought another exaggerated cry from his lips and broke into a fit of laughter as he raised his hands between in surrender."Keelah, I was just joking. I'm barely holding together without being attacked by a beautiful quarian woman."

That brought a wide smile to her face, letting loose a fit a giggles that mixed with his deep laughter. "Really John, "Keelah"? Spending so much time with me on Rannoch must be rubbing off with you." Her giggles dieing down, Tali cocked her head to one side as she continued, her voice taking on a flirtatious tone. "Who knows, as this rate I might be able to make a proper quarian out of you yet."

"What can I say, when I decided to marry a quarian I resolved to go the whole way to make things work. Though I'd have to lose a few fingers and reverse the chirality of my DNA before I'd be a "proper quarian"." He grinned, leaning in the draw another long kiss from her lips.

"Who knows, you already managed to beat the Reapers and make peace between my people and the geth. Another "impossible" task seems right up your alley." She idly traced a fingers down the length of his neck to his broad, muscled chest; drawing a small shiver in response from her saera.

"Tali, you know your wrong about me being the most selfless person in the galaxy." As he spoke he reach out to gently caress her cheek with a half curled hand.

Raising her own hand, she wrapped her fingers around his, "Don't try to be humble; I believe everything of what I said. "

"No, I'm not. I can't be, not when the woman deserving of that is right here with me." He said with a chuckle, more at his own cheesy line then anything else.

Tali just smiled softly in response, before suddenly pushing out with both arms and shoving him back onto the bed. In an instant she was on top of him, her face only inches away as her luminous silver eyes gazing intensely into his. "Sweet talker." Their lips met again in a long, passionate kiss; another in a long line of those they would share that morning.


- Hesh'la: slang term for captain, but only used when captain and speaker are intimately involved. Formal translation: "Guide of my heart


Authors Note: Well, there goes my first attempt at writing a chapter purely focused on fluff. It was a nice but difficult change for me from the usual action/adventure with a bit of character interaction/drama type content I normally do. Anyways, I hope it turned out okay and wasn't too cheesy or whatnot.

Due to the shorter than usual length of this chapter and the next, I will be posting chapter 29 next week rather than the week after like I usually would. Just thought I should give you guys a heads up on the change of schedule, and that you can look forward to more of the story earlier than normal.