THESSIA

Valya and Atalia approach the home of Sandy Freeborn. Though not an asari name Atalia was told it is an asari and she is a friend of Caressa's. The home is a single story home, white in color. As they approach the front door they notice all of the windows are covered with something.

"How do you want to handle this?" asks Valya.

"Let me do the talking," says Atalia. She knocks on the door.

Valya wanted to get back to the station after taking her nap. She didn't grab a bite to eat like she said she was going to. Her stomach sure wishes she had.

"It's hot today."

"Yeah." Atalia knocks again. "Check the back."

Valya starts to head toward the back when the front door opens.

It is a human white female. She has long dirty blond hair that falls below her shoulders and looks like it hasn't been washed in a few days. She is shorter than Atalia's six foot frame. Her hand is up shielding her eyes from the sun. "Can I help you?" she asks quietly.

"Are you Mrs. Freeborn?" asks Atalia.

"Yeah, one of 'em. Can you come inside? I have a killer migraine and I can't stand the light."

Before waiting for an answer the woman disappears into the home. Atalia with her hand on the butt of her side arm signals for Valya to do the same, they enter the home. The house is dark. If this woman really has a migraine it explains why the windows are covered.

"In here."

Atalia slowly walks in. She takes two steps and sees to the right a small family room. It is dark but light enough to make out shapes and see the furniture in the room. The woman is lying on the couch. Atalia move to the chair diagonal from her.

"Sorry about this, I am usually a better host."

Atalia waves Valya in. The former commando hangs back a bit and remains standing.

"Do you need anything Mrs. Freeborn?" asks Atalia. She has never suffered from headaches herself, but it doesn't look pleasant.

"Is there water there?" the woman points to the coffee table without opening her eyes.

Atalia sees a glass that is nearly empty. "We can fill that for you." She grabs the glass and hands it to Valya. She wants the asari to look around as she talks to the woman. "Mind if I sit?"

"Please. You two cops?" Mrs. Freeborn is lying on her back with her arms resting across her forehead and eyes to block out as much light as possible.

"We are yes. I was wondering if your daughter is at home."

"Sandy?" She sighs. "No. What has she done now?"

"She get in trouble a lot?" asks Atalia.

"She hangs with a bad crowd. Her mother and I are trying to pull her from them but it's no use. I have never seen someone so obsessed with another person before. We are in the process of looking for work off planet. We need to get her away from them."

"Who does she hang with?"

Valya returns shaking her head that she has not found anything in the home. She sets the glass of water down on the coffee table. "Water is on the table." Valya stands close to the front door.

"Thank you."

It looks like talking is painful for the poor woman.

"You were telling me who your daughter is hanging with these days," says Atalia getting back on track.

"Asari named Caressa. Been friends since they were kids. She was a sweet kid when they first met, but something happened."

Atalia and Valya exchange looks. They wait for the woman to continue.

"Used to be just the two of them and then some other asari stepped into the picture by the name of Elina."

"Elina?"

"Yeah. She joined the two I guess when they were around six or seven and that is when the trouble began."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Small things at first. Sandy got caught stealing some candy from a store. That damn Elina ran off but Caressa stayed with her until I arrived. She was in tears the poor thing. Said she didn't remember putting the candy in her pocket. We paid for it, she got a warning and we left. After that trouble seemed to follow her.

"Oh?"

The woman sighs, her head is obviously bothering her. She sits up a little to take a sip of water then lies back down again. "I think it was over ten years ago there was an asari girl who got beat up pretty bad at school. Bad enough to have to go to the hospital."

Valya steps in closer to hear. She knows the woman is referring to Raina. She and Atalia exchange knowing looks.

"That poor kid. It was Caressa who beat her up. I was so surprised by that."

"Why is that?" asks Valya.

"My bondmate and I figured it would have been Elina. That girl is ….how do I say this…well…she is downright creepy. For the life of us we cannot stop Sandy from seeing her. We have tried everything aside from chaining her up and locking her in her room."

"Is Elina a classmate of Sandy's?" asks Atalia. She wonders how the superintendent didn't think to mention the asari. She gestures for Valya to run the name.

Valya steps outside. She punches Elina's name into her omni-tool in hopes to get some background information on the asari. At minimum she hopes for a small list of asari named Elina.

The woman shakes her head. She grabs at it and winces. "Sorry no idea. My wife…I mean bondmate is better with that stuff."

"Not a problem Mrs. Freeborn."

"Please call me Shelly. Sorry I didn't say that from the start. It's hard to think straight with this damn migraine."

"Do you happen to know where we can find Elina or your daughter?"

The woman winces again. She does not reply.

Should I call someone? Do you need special medication?" asks Atalia.

"Took it. Usually kicks in by now but…something's not …..right…." Her body grows rigid. Her eyes roll up into her head. Her body starts convulsing.

"Valya get in here now!" Atalia grabs Shelly by the shoulders so she doesn't fall off of the couch.

Valya bursts through the door weapon drawn. When she sees what is happening she asks, "What do you want me to do?"

"Call an ambulance. Hang in there Shelly…you stay with me." Atalia makes sure the woman does not bite her tongue.

Valya calls for an ambulance.

It takes another minute before the convulsions stop. The woman's eyes are open. Atalia runs a quick scan. She is not breathing has no heartbeat. "Shit!" Atalia pushes the coffee table out of the way causing the glass of water to tip over. "Help me with her!"

The lead detective takes the woman's shoulders while Valya gets her feet. They move her to the floor. Atalia starts giving mouth to mouth. "Get the defibrillator from the car."

Valya rushes out of the house to the car. She finds the kit in the trunk and rushes back in. She hears sirens in the distance. "I think I hear the ambulance coming." She kneels down next to the woman. Atalia continues to do manual compressions and mouth to mouth. Valya opens the kit. She grabs the scissors and cuts open the woman's shirt exposing bare skin for the pads. She places the pads in the proper spot checking the diagram on the kit to make sure. "It's charging."

Atalia continues compressions. "Come on!"

"Okay clear!" They watch the machine do its job. It sends a jolt of electricity to the body. Shelly moves slightly.

Atalia runs a scan even though the machine is checking for a pulse. "Continue compressions," says the machine, "Charging."

Atalia continues. "How much you wanna bet this is not your typical migraine." She gives two more breaths.

"Clear!"

Atalia sits back on her heels. The machine sends another jolt. Nothing.

The emergency responders enter the home.

Valya moves out of the way as does Atalia who is a bit out of breath.

"How long she been out?"

"Not more than two minutes," says Atalia.

They start to work on her.

"Shit," says Atalia. She walks into the kitchen.

"Easy they might get her back," says Valya as she follows her.

"Bullshit. She was murdered Valya plain and simple. Damn it!" She punches a hole through a door of a kitchen cupboard.

Valya grabs her wrist and moves her to the sink. She runs cold water over her partner's now bloody hand.

"Shit, I think I broke my hand."

Valya looks for a towel. Finds it. Wraps her hand. "Stay here."

The responders have stopped working.

"What's going on?" asks Valya. "Why have you stopped?

"Her body completely shut down. Nothing we can do for her."

"Don't move her," says Atalia. Blood is already bleeding through the towel around her hand. "We will need our ME to look at her."

"What happened?" One of the asari responders looks at her hand. Atalia hisses through her teeth when the responder slowly unwraps it. "You need to come with us."

"Can't. Just put on some medi-gel to stop the bleeding. I will stop by in a bit."

The asari looks at her.

"I'm not leaving my crime scene."

"Suit yourself." The responder not so gently places medi-gel on her hand, then uses gauze to wrap it. She brings up her omni-tool runs a quick scan. "Looks like there are some broken bones. You don't want to wait too long to get that treated."

"I won't I promise."

The responders pack up and start to leave. "Hey," says Atalia, "could anything more have been done ya know to save her?"

"Afraid not."

She nods at them as they leave.


EARTH

Abby has impressed the nurse. She was able to take her first steps in the morning without swaying too much. The pain in her head feels a lot better. It is nearly lunch time now and the nurse is back to check on her again. She has to be able to walk out of her room without assistance before they will let her go home. Head injuries are tricky things.

Her mother has been at her side all morning. It has been nice. If Abby didn't feel so guilty for being there in the first place she would really enjoy the mother/daughter time.

"Do you want me to leave honey?" asks Ashley.

"No you can stay."

"Okay are you ready to try again?" asks the Nurse.

"Ready," says Abby.

Both women are on either side of her. They help Abby off of the bed. She gives her okay when she feels that her legs are not going to fail her. She looks up to see her mother just beyond the doorway of the hospital room. Normally it's no sweat to walk that short distance but right now it looks like a marathon. The nurse is nearby in case Abby stumbles.

The young woman takes her first step then the next. She stops after that to make sure she does not lose her balance. She wants to go home but her head is starting to hurt and she is getting awfully hot. She takes another step. Then another. She is so close. She wipes her forehead she knows she is sweating. She takes another step. Her legs are shaking now. Another. Another. At the doorway now. She takes one more step.

Whether or not she is supposed to Ashley grabs her around the waist. "I got ya." Abby is so relieved. She is sweating all over and her head is pounding. Ashley helps her walk back into the room though it is more Ashley walking Abby leaning heavily.

"Well you made it out of your room but your color is not good dear," says the Nurse.

Abby sits on the bed. "But I made it and I will get better faster at home."

"You are sweating and very pale young lady. Don't think that is going to work on me." The nurse brings up her omni-tool.

Abby grabs her arm. Looks into her eyes. "Please. I need to go home."

"Head injuries are nothing to play around with Abby," says the Nurse. She sighs. "Let me check with your Doctor." She turns to Ashley, "You certainly have one tough cookie for a daughter."

Ashley laughs a little, "That I do thank you."

When the nurse leaves she says to her daughter, "Abby maybe you should stay here another night. You really don't look so good."

She doesn't feel so good either but she wants to get home. She knows Raina leaves tomorrow and if she does not go home today that means she most likely will not get to see the asari before her family leaves. Besides, she misses her bed.

"I know Mom but I don't see why I can't just sleep at home. That is all I do here. Besides you have had medical training. If anything happens you can…"

"Don't push your luck," says Ashley with a smirk. "You wanting to go home today. Does it have anything to do with wanting to see Raina?"

Abby looks down at her hands.

"It's okay if the answer is yes honey."

"I just want to be able to say goodbye that's all. I was hoping she could come over tonight and maybe stay the night. Watch vids ya know. Nothing too strenuous. And I am feeling better."

"Let's see what the Doctor says okay?"

"Mom." She has not used her whiny voice a very long time.

Ashley looks at her. "That is definitely not going to work."

Abby lies back down. She has no idea how long it will be before she hears from the doctor. She figures she might as well rest her eyes while she waits.


THESSIA

The body of Shelly Freeborn has been taken to Akira's lab. Atalia and Valya are doing another sweep of the place while waiting for either the bondmate or Sandy to come home.

"Look at this," says Valya. "I found it behind the towels in the hall closest.

It's an old photo of what must be Sandy and Caressa and next to Caressa is another asari they assume to be Elina. They look to be around the age of six or seven. "From what Shelly said this could be them," says Atalia. She looks at the legs of the girls as they are wearing shorts. "Can't see any markings."

"Not the best angle for that," says Valya. "Why do you suppose the photo was in here?"

"Who knows."

"How's the hand?"

"Hurts."

Valya tries not to laugh but is having a hard time.

"Yeah yeah rub it in."

"Hello? Shelly?" A voice from the front door.

Atalia and Valya quiet down. Someone has entered the house.

"Hello?"

Atalia peers out from behind the corner where the hallway starts from the kitchen. "Are you Mrs. Freeborn?"

The asari immediately shields herself and is readying her biotics. "Who are you?"

Atalia steps out, "I'm a Police Officer I am not here to harm you." She has her hands raised to show she is not holding a weapon.

"Why are you in my house?"

"My partner and I have been waiting for you." Valya cannot be seen by the asari. The former commando has her weapon drawn but facing down ready for anything.

"Why?" She is still shielded still ready to strike. "Where is my bondmate? Where is my daughter?"

Atalia uses a very even tone of voice as she walks closer to the asari but clear of Valya's line of sight in case she needs to take a shot. "If you would just stop with the biotics we can talk about that. Otherwise I am going to have to look at you as a threat and we both don't want that do we?"

The asari looks at her.

"Are you Mrs. Freeborn?"

"Yes." She stops her biotics and drops her shield. "What's happened?"

Valya steps out from behind the corner holstering her weapon. "Do you know where your daughter is Mrs. Freeborn?"

"She's not here?"

"No ma'am."

"Where is my bondmate?"

"Do you mind if I sit down?" asks Atalia. Valya remains closer to the kitchen. She can see the family room and has a clear shot of Mrs. Freeborn if necessary.

When Atalia sits Mrs. Freeborn sits. "What's going on?"

"Your bondmate was suffering from a migraine today." It's a statement not a question.

"Yes. She gets them on occasion. Why? Is she at the hospital?" The asari stands up. She is starting to panic.

Atalia stands and moves closer to her. "I am sorry to inform you that your bondmate is dead."

"Wh What? No No No No. That can't be." She starts walking throughout the house. "Shelly? Shelly honey where are you?"

Atalia follows her. They stop in the master bedroom. "She…she can't be …she can't be…" the asari falls to her knees. Hands covering her face she starts to cry.

Atalia kneels down next to her. She places a hand on her shoulder. The grieving asari hugs her. "What….what happened?"


EARTH

After the Doctor checked on Abby and asked her to walk again she couldn't do it. Her balance was way off and she just couldn't do it. She almost started crying because she knew she couldn't go home.

She is lying in her bed with her back to the door. She doesn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. Ashley knows what her daughter wants and made some arrangements of her own without her daughter's knowledge.

"I said I wanted to be left alone," says Abby when she hears the door to her room open. She had asked to be left alone only five minutes ago.

"I can leave if you really want me to."

Abby slowly turns around. She doesn't want to move her head too fast. She knows that voice anywhere. She smiles. "Raina?"

"Hi." Pointing with her thumb toward the door, "I can leave if you want me to."

"No no,..I thought ….what are you doing here?"

Raina smiles and moves the nearby chair to the corner of the room. She walks up to Abby and takes her hand. "Your mom called my mom. She let her know that you could not go home today. So she arranged for me to come to you."

Abby without thinking raises the asari's hand to her lips and kisses the back of it. "That is fantastic." It is only after she sees Raina blush a little that she realizes what she did. She swallows. Breaks eye contact. "So…now what?"

"Well I am glad you asked." She lets go of Abby's hand. She walks to the door and opens it. "Ready."

Ashley and Liara walk in. Liara is carrying a small device while Ashley is pushing a cart with food on it.

"What is this?" asks Abby as she sits up in her bed careful to move slowly.

"You wanted to watch vids tonight and that is exactly what you are going to do." Ashley and Liara leave the room again only to return a minute later this time with a hospital bed.

"Shepard usually does not like to use her 'savior of the galaxy card'," says Liara as she winks at Abby, "but she has. She insisted that her daughter be allowed to remain here after visiting hours watching vids with one Abby Ross. And because watching said vids will probably last into the night she insisted that her daughter be allowed to sleep here as well."

They push the other bed next to Abby's.

"The nurse actually liked the idea when Shepard was talking to the Doctor. She has no issues with it and said it would help with your recovery, which helped persuade the Doctor to say yes."

Raina gets up on the bed and sits with her back against the wall right next to Abby. She takes her hand and gives her a smile.

Liara picks up the small device she brought it.

"And what is that?" asks Abby.

"This is to display your vids." Liara presses a button and almost the entire wall is covered with a blue screen.

"Wow! The vid will be that big?" Abby is excited now.

"Of course," says Liara.

"I have a list of vids here," says Raina as she brings up her omni-tool. "We can watch whatever you want."

"Within reason," says Ashley.

"Of course Aunt Ashley."

Ashley pushes the cart to Raina's side of the bed. "Now we got permission to have some junk food brought in but not a lot. And Abby, the minute you feel tired or dizzy you are to lie down okay? This exception that is being made cannot interfere with you getting well."

"Yes Mom."

"I mean it." Ashley walks over to her daughter's side of the bed.

"I know Mom." She raises her hand, her mother takes it. "Thank you. Thank you so much for this."

"Anything to see that smile on your face." Ashley leans in and kisses her daughter on each cheek. She looks at Raina. "I am trusting you with the welfare of my daughter Raina. Are you sure you are up for that?"

Abby rolls her eyes then looks at the asari.

"I am up for it Aunt Ashley." Raina gives her a salute.

Ashley returns it then leans over and kisses the asari's cheek.

Liara takes her turn to kiss the girls. "You two have fun. But keep it down. Remember there are other people here."

"Aunt Liara?"

"Yes Abby?"

"Thank you. And thank Shepard for me too."

Speak of the devil she pops her head in. "Did I hear my name?"

Following Shepard are the rest of Raina's sisters. They each come in and give Raina a quick hug and kiss and give Abby her fair share for good measure.

Tyler and Kaidan follow suit, though Kaidan skipped the hugging and kissing part. He just patted each girl on the foot.

With a final farewell Shepard and the rest walk out of the room making sure to close the door behind them.

"I…I can't believe you did all of this for me," says Abby.

"Why not? You're worth it. Besides I didn't want to leave tomorrow without seeing you. And there really is nothing better than watching vids with a new friend."

"I agree." Abby squeezes Raina's hand once more and rests her head against the asari's shoulder. She feels the heat behind her eyes and lets the tears fall because they are happy tears. She knows once and for all how much her family really, really loves her and she knows without a doubt that her choice of career makes no difference to them whatsoever.