Chapter 38

An Innocent Heart

Garrus took a quick shower.

When he finally rejoined Shepard and Gaius, they were curled up with each other on the couch.

Gaius was snuggled in close to his mother, using her arm as a blanket while burrowing in to her side. The Spectre looked up and smiled at Garrus as he came in.

She managed to untangle herself from the little boy and got up.

Shepard went close to Garrus and put her hand on his arm as she murmured to him, "I'm gonna take a quick shower. Keep an eye on the little guy for me. He has eaten breakfast already."

He nodded and subtly nuzzled her before taking her place on the couch. Gaius looked up at him for a moment before he settled himself next to his father as he had been seated with his mother. Garrus glanced down as he heard a little huff.

"What's wrong, Gaius?"

"You are not as soft as Mommy."

Garrus bit back a chuckle.

"No. No, I guess I am not. Sorry about that."

"Not your fault really."

Garrus's mandibles flared out in amusement.

"How so?"

"Pop-pop says so! He says that we are born all scaly."

"Ahhh. Well, he would know I suppose."

Gaius sniffed. "I like hugging Mommy. She is soft and warm."

He looked at his father all conspiratorially.

"And squishy. But when I said that she got upset so I don't say that any more."

Garrus burst out laughing. "That is a pretty smart move on your part, Gaius."

The boy beamed. "I heard Decius say to his friends once that she was hot. When I am hot, it means I am sick so I went and checked. She wasn't hot at all! Just warm like always."

Garrus coughed. "Did you tell your mother why you checked her temperature?"

"Yep! She said that Decius was wrong and that she was just her normal warm. She got all funny though so I think she was actually sick but didn't want to tell me."

"Funny?"

"Yeah. She went really red! Then she said it to Decius."

Garrus grinned. "What did Decius say?"

"Nothing. But I think he got sick exactly like Mommy cause he went bright blue! He told me afterwards that she is still hot but not sick and that I would understand when I am older. Oh... I wasn't supposed to tell anyone..."

Garrus smiled at Gaius before he whispered in his ear, "I won't tell anyone. I promise."

His son flung his arms around his neck. "Thanks Daddy. I like Decius."

Garrus stood up quickly and coughed. "Right. I am going to make some breakfast."

The turian dragged himself to the kitchen and started to pull something quick together.

Garrus chuckled as he watched Gaius put all the couch cushions into a pile before diving in. Pretty soon only his eyes and nose were visible.

Garrus's omnitool beeped.

"Hey Alera. I have waited for your call..."

The asari's warm voice chuckled over the comm.

"I hear that there was something like a mini war that went on over at your former partner's place."

Garrus's face grimaced but he kept his voice neutral.

"This stuff happens. She is fine and so is my son. Thanks for asking by the way."

"Sorry! Sorry. I didn't mean to seem so insensitive. The good Spectre is the talk of the station."

"I don't see why. She wasn't even involved in the fire-fight."

"No but it was her place. Not the first time Shepard has had trouble at her home recently."

Garrus froze. "Sorry but could you repeat that?"

"Ahem... I actually can't. Sorry. I spoke out of turn. About the parcel you gave me..."

"The parcel can wait. Tell me what you know about Shepard and incidents at her home."

He heard the asari sigh. "Look I don't know the whole story but she has reported a number of break-ins recently. I am not on any of those cases so I have no idea other than that."

Garrus went silent.

"Garrus? Are you still there?"

"I am here, Alera. Tell me about the parcel."

"Inside was a 'Blasto' action figure. Pretty neat one too. It was of the turian Spectre Krosius. It is a pretty damn expensive one to buy too and..."

"Alera, could you just stick to what information you have found out?"

"Oh right. Sorry. There was a micro-transmitter inside. I would imagine the plan would have been to get this in place and then send... something. No idea what though. Either way, you made a good call on this being a little suspect."

"Thanks Alera. Sorry but I have to..."

"Actually, one last thing."

"What?"

"Can I keep the figure? I mean it is pretty damn rare and it would totally finish my collection so..."

"Keep it. I don't care what you do with it. Thanks again, Alera."

"No problem. Nice to chat to you again. Don't leave it so long next time."

Garrus smiled. "I will try."

Just as he hung up, the main door slid open. His father strolled in carrying a number of bags.

"Good morning!" Avitus greeted cheerfully. The older turian's eyes flickered around.

"Where is the small fellow? I have his long-awaited birthday gifts with me."

Garrus pointed to the pile of cushions. His father meandered over while carrying one of the bags. Gaius's head popped out of the nest he had made.

"Hi Pop-pop!"

"Hello Gaius. I have some surprises for you."

Shepard padded barefoot down the hall. Her damp hair hung loosely around her face.

"Oh excellent! Present time!"

She hopped over the back of the couch and took a seat to the side of Gaius, pushing the nest of cushions to the back.

"I want you to open the present from both me and your dad first! There are other ones from us both but this is the big one!" she said.

Shepard took out the present she had spent time carefully wrapping and put it down before Gaius. His father walked over and took a seat on the end of the couch. Avitus stood to Garrus's side.

"Come on then, Gaius. Lets see what they got you!" the old turian chuckled.

The little boy pulled at the wrapping carefully and revealed the shiny new air rifle.

The reaction was not what they expected.

Gaius's face fell a little as he stared at it. He timidly touched it once before carefully putting it on the coffee table in front of him. Shepard frowned.

"Don't you like it, little bird?"

"Its nice."

"You don't seem happy with it."

The six-year old's face scrunched up.

"I just... guns aren't any fun any more. They hurt people and make bad things happen."

Shepard stilled. Garrus got up and knelt in front of Gaius. He took the boy's hands into his own.

"Guns are not to taken lightly, that is true, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun with them. No one has to get hurt when using a gun."

"Did Tib's dad have fun with them when all those people came to our house? It sounded really scary with all the screams and the noise. Then Tib got hurt!"

Garrus stopped. "I... I don't think that's quite..." He stopped and just hummed.

Gaius sniffed a little. "Can we put it away now? I think it should be locked away like Mommy's guns where it can't hurt anyone!"

Avitus let out a sigh. "I'll put it away somewhere safe, Gaius."

He picked up the rifle and swung it on to his back. He lifted up the bag containing the rest of the presents. "There are lots of other things in here for you too. Get started!"

Shepard rubbed his back before she stood up. "You get stuck in there. I'll be back in a minute."

Garrus watched her head back to the bedroom while wiping tears from her face.

Gaius turned his little face to his father's.

"Did I say something wrong?"