6.1 Normandy SR-2

The IFF was almost ready but EDI needed more time to integrate it with the Normandy's systems. They had also finished installing new armor, new shielding and the new gun. It probably wasn't a bad idea to let the crew do some maintenance and systems checks while EDI got the IFF ready.

She had just gotten a message about a Cerberus operation that had gone dark. The entire team boarded the shuttle and headed to Aite. After successfully shutting down the project. They stayed until a team from Grissom Academy came and picked up David Archer.

As they headed back, they received word that the collectors had attacked the ship, kidnapping the entire crew except for Joker.

6.2 Normandy SR-2 Cockpit

Zaeed walked up to the cockpit and handed Joker an Avenger rifle that had seen better days. "Here you go, kid."

"Ah, thanks but I can't use that," Joker said.

"Sure you can, I adjusted the recoil all the way down. A baby hanar could handle the thing now. It doesn't have much power, of course, probably take four shots to kill a goddamed cockroach, but there's no telling what we'll hit when we go through that relay. You shoot one of those things in the face a few times and it will at least give you a chance. It's one of the older models, so you don't have to worry about clips, just fire in bursts so it doesn't overheat and you'll be fine." He started to walk off and then stopped. "I don't care what any of them might say, you did good." then he walked away.

6.3 Normandy SR-2 Engineering Level

They were heading to the Omega 4 relay.

Tali double-checked her board, everything was green. She checked the new shielding and it looked good. While she normally liked the quiet, now it was too quiet. The absence of Ken and Gabby seemed to echo through engineering. She triple-checked her board and then took the elevator up to the crew deck. She got out. It was just eerie with everyone gone and headed towards the main battery, But when she opened the doors, it was empty.

"He's not here." Kasumi said as she appeared behind her.

"Oh, I wasn't… I mean I was… but..." She said. "I just thought that…"

He went up to the captain's cabin." Kasumi said.

"Oh, I'll just go up there." Tali said.

"I don't think you want to do that." Kasumi said.

"Why not?" Tali said.

Kasumi smiled. "Well, I'm not sure but he was wearing a nice blue and green suit and had a bottle of champagne with him."

"Why would he… I mean…" She said. "Oh, I see. I'll just… I should…" She turned and headed towards the elevator.

"You can come to the lounge, if you want," Kasumi said.

"Well, okay." Tali said.

6.3 Normandy SR-2 Crew Level

Miranda stepped out of her office. She had sent her last report before the relay. And she didn't feel like staying in her office. She went to the kitchen area to make some tea and saw Dr. Chakwas coffee cup in the sink. She washed and dried it then took it to the medical bay, and set it on her desk.

She went to the cabinet and took out the bottle of brandy, poured some into a glass. She stood there a minute looking at it and then finished her drink and left.

As she crossed the deck, she heard the door to her office open and close. As she got to the door, it opened and Jacob walked out.

"Oh sorry," he said. "I was just…"

"Were you?" She said.

"Yeah, I guess I, you know, didn't feel like being alone right now." He said.

"Me either." She said as she reached out her hand to him and he took it.

6.4 Normandy SR-2 Crew Level

To Thane, life support suddenly felt small. He didn't want to look at the drive core but the stars. He started to go to the lounge but then headed to the observation room.

"Pardon me, I didn't mean to disturb you." He said and started to turn back.

"No, please, come in," Samara said. "I was just thinking how perhaps now was not the best time to be alone."

"No, I do not think it is." He came and sat down next to her. They sat for several minutes in a comfortable silence.

"I heard about your son," Samara said. "I am glad you were able to save him."

"Yes, I was lucky I got to him when I did." He said. "We still have many problems but as difficult as it is, it is worth it."

"Yes, I understand." She said.

"I heard about your daughter." Thane said. "I am sorry. I do not know what I would have done if Kolat had been too far gone to save."

"Thank you." she said.

"You have other daughters, do you not?" he said.

"I do, two, but we have not spoken in many years." She said.

"Where is their other parent?" He said.

"Their father died soon after their condition was revealed." She said. "While she was older than I, I believe she died of a broken heart." Several minutes passed.

"You should talk to them." He said.

"I do not believe they wish to speak to me." She said.

"I thought much the same. I thought I was staying away for his sake but it turned out that it was simply easier not to face him. But it seems that children always need their parents." He said. "You have taken care of your responsibility to your one daughter now perhaps it is time to honor your responsibility to your other two."

"I… had not thought about it like that," She said.

"One thing that I have learned just recently is that it is never too late." He said.

"I will consider it," She said.

They sat together in silence.

6.5 Normandy SR-2 Port Cargo Bay

Jack held out the tray.

"What is it?" Grunt asked

"Pizza!" She said. "I had to order a freeze-dried kit, but stole some meat from the kitchen, not sure what kind it is. Go on, get a piece."

"What is that gooey stringing stuff all over it?" he asked.

"Cheese," she said.

"What's it made out of?" he said.

"Milk." She said. "Normally it comes from cows, although I'm not sure where this is from."

"You take milk from cows and make food out of it?" He said.

"Just eat it!" She said.

He took a piece, and after sniffing it several times, took a bite.

"So whatcha think?" She asked.

"Not as good as the extra spicy Tastee Bites," he said. "but close."

She picked up a piece. "Told you. Now, come on, start the vid. We have just enough time to finish that last episode of 'When Fanua Attack." He opened the laptop, adjusted the monitor size, then grabbed another piece, as the opening credits started.

"Thanks," he said.

"Don't sweat it. I charged it to Cerberus anyway," she said.

"I mean for being my krant," he said. "being there on my rite of passage,"

"Hey, I wouldn't have missed that for anything!" she said.

"It's good to have a krant," he said. "even if they are soft."

"Soft!" she said. "Who you calling soft?" as she hit him on the arm. "Hey, the vid is starting. Oh is this the one they were talking about, where the salarian gets eaten by the giant carnivorous mushroom?"

"Yeah," he said. "heh heh heh."

6.6 Normandy SR-2 Captain's Cabin

Garrus poured the wine and handed a glass to Shepard.

She took a drink. "Not bad for a vigilante's salary." She said. "So, did you talk to Mordin?"

"About… oh yes," he said.

"I have to admit his information was very thorough. I looked it over, I was thinking maybe positions 8 variation b or c," She said. "I don't think I'm flexible enough for d but we can try or maybe 11a but that depends on how… well, things."

He took a drink. "Are you trying to make me nervous or what is that humans do, 'blush'?"

"Why? Is it working?" She said.

"No." he said.

"In that case, just trying to break the ice." She said.

He listened for a moment, "oh,"

She finished her wine and stepped over to the bed and started getting undressed.

He watched her. It was the first time he'd seen a naked human before, but she didn't look like the pictures he'd seen or the dancers on Omega. They all looked soft, thin, fragile even. She looked… strong. He could see the muscles move under her skin, flexing as she moved, arms, legs, hips, and waist. She laid down on the bed. He finished his wine, put the bottle of oils on the nightstand, and started getting undressed.

6.7 Normandy SR-2 Captains' Cabin

Shepard watched Garrus get undressed. His body was so different from a human body, chest more rounded than a human, shoulders narrower, arms longer and sinewy with hands that had talons that could tear right through her. As he got to the bed, she knelt on the end of it. She touched his chest, his skin was tougher than a human's, cool and sort of clammy. Even his heartbeat was wrong, a steady 'thump… thump… thump… thump… It all felt so alien to her but she was determined. She leaned forward and kissed him, but it didn't work. She kept trying but finally, he turned his head away.

This isn't going to work, she thought. She wanted it to work so much that… she was forcing it and these things simply don't work that way. Every other time she'd been with someone, she had been the one in control, making sure things worked out the way she wanted but this… she didn't even know how exactly it was going to work. They had to figure this out together, something between human and turian, something unique to them. It was hard to let go, but she trusted him more than anyone else in the universe and if this was going to work she would have to.

She took a couple deep breaths and then started to raise her head to him, when he moved his away from her. He nuzzled his forehead into her neck and down her shoulder, then he started to… 'kiss' her shoulder and then slowly moved up to her neck. But 'kiss' was the wrong word, but so was 'bite' even 'nip' was wrong. There simply wasn't a human word that really described what he was doing.

By the time he went up the back of her neck, down the front then back to her other shoulder, she had forgotten about human sex and comparing him to human bodies. His skin was thick but supple like fine leather, his arms were long, sinewy but strong, and as his hands ran over her legs, hips and back, the talons 'scratched' along her skin, that was the wrong word, there were no human words for this and that, she realized, was a good thing.

He ran his hand up her neck to the back of her head. He looked at her mouth a long time. She fought the urge to take charge. He had to figure out how this part worked. She closed her eyes and waited. He tried to kiss her but again it didn't work. He tried something else and while better still wasn't right. He gently moved her head a bit to the side and then tried something else and that... worked. It wasn't exactly a 'kiss' but whatever it was, she liked it. As he did it again, she responded, moving with and then against which made it even better. His hands gripped her hips tighter. Apparently, he liked it too. This was going to work. He had shown her a couple turian tricks, hopefully, he had a few more and, of course, she had a few human tricks to show him.

As the time slipped away she forgot all about the collectors, the reapers, and everything else in the universe. As she lay next to him, wrapped in his long strong arms, she started to drift off. She had never done that before, actually fell asleep with someone. Maybe before it was an issue of trust or control but now she felt, safe, and maybe even happy and something else, she didn't know how to describe... a calm that was so much more than that... as her eyes closed she thought 'oh, this must be what peace feels like.'

6.8 Normandy SR-2 Captain's Cabin

Garrus watched as Shepard slept beside him. He had never seen her like this, well, naked of course but she looked... peaceful. He listened to the odd beating of her heart, a strange 'thump thump… thump thump'. He checked the time, very soon it would be time to go through the relay.

Spirits, if there is some way that I can make sure that she lives, let me find it, even if it means I don't and if we both make it maybe we can…

Shepard started waking up. She stretched, opened her eyes, and smiled at him. "Hey,"

"Hey," He said.

"How much time…"

"Not enough, if that's what you're asking," he said. "And not much, if you're not. Probably only have a couple minutes before Joker gives you an ETA and makes some comment that he doesn't know where I am, just to let you know that he knows where I am."

"That sounds about right," She smiled. "So, were you pleasantly surprised?"

"Definitely," He said. "Not that I was expecting the worst but..."

"I know. I wasn't expecting that either." She said. "It was just so… normal."

He listened for a second. "I'm hoping that's a compliment for humans."

She laughed "No, not really. It's just that this, it can be weird, whether people know each other or don't, and then there is the whole inter-species thing and I thought it would be weird and awkward but that we could get through it. And there was some of that, at least at first, but really it just felt like this, with us, was the... most... normal thing."

"I get that." He said. "Shepard…"

"Don't." She said. "Whatever you have to say, say it after the mission. Then if one of us doesn't make it, well, it's probably better you didn't say it."

He slowly nodded. "Okay,"

She leaned in and touched his forehead with hers. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me for this." He said.

"I wasn't," she said. "This was for us not for me. I meant, thank you for being here. I couldn't do this without you."

"Shepard," Joker said over the comm. "ETA ten minutes to the relay and the Illusive Man wishes to speak to you in the comm room."

"Okay," Shepard said.

"Everyone has checked in and are at their posts, except for Garrus, who isn't in the main battery. I'm sure he's off calibrating something," he said.

"Yes, he's very good at that, it seems." she said.

6.9 Normandy SR-2

"Time to show them our new teeth." Shepard said. "Fire the main gun."

As the gun powered up, Garrus whispered. "Come on, baby. Make daddy proud."

The shot nearly cut the ship in two. "How'd you like that you sons of bitches!" Joker said.

6.10 Normandy SR-2 Debrief Room

"We need a tech expert." Miranda said.

Shepard thought for a moment. "Sneaking through a vent to open a door from the inside, sounds like a job for a master thief."

"I won't let you down." Kasumi said.

"I'll lead the second team and meet you on the other side of the doors." Miranda said.

"Hold on, cheerleader." Jack said. "No one wants to take orders from you."

"This isn't a popularity contest," Miranda said.

"Half of us don't even trust you." Garrus said. Shepard glanced around the room, she could see the signs, crossed arms, defiant standing positions, looking around, etc, that many of them weren't in fact comfortable with her leading the second team. Shepard knew they would do what she said but if the mission was to succeed, it was going to take more than just everyone following orders.

"Shepard, you need someone who can lead through experience." Miranda said.

Shepard knew who should lead the second team, there was only one person in this room she trusted with the lives of her team and crew, but they were walking into hell and she also wanted him by her side. Then again if any of them were going to survive, the mission would have to come first.

"Garrus, you're in charge of the second team.' He looked at her holding her eyes for a moment. She thought he might object, somehow think that what had happened to his team somehow proved him unfit. But then he nodded. She looked around the room, everyone, even Jack, relaxed.

"Well," Miranda said. "At least he knows what he's doing." She couldn't argue with that choice.

"We don't know how many the collectors have taken, thousands, tens of thousands, it doesn't matter. What matters is not one more. It ends with us. They want to see what we're made of, I say we show them, on our terms. Let's bring our people home."

As they filed out of the room, EDI said. "Shepard, it might be beneficial if someone stayed back to help with repairs."

"Tali, I need you to stay back and help repair the ship, if we don't get it fixed in time, none of us are getting out of here." Shepard said.

"We'll have the ship up and running in no time." Tali said and headed back to engineering.

6.11 Collector Base

"Samara and I will lead a small team through the seeker swarms." Shepard said. "Garrus, take the rest of the team through the main hall, hopefully, that will keep most of them off us."

"What about me and the rest of the crew, we're in no shape to fight." Dr. Chakwas said.

"You'll never make it back alone." Shepard said. Mordin had experience in covert missions plus he was a doctor and some of the crew might need medical help. "Mordin, escort the crew back to the ship."

"Jack, Grunt, you're with me." She went up to Jack. "Listen, you are the only other person I trust to maintain a barrier like that. If she goes down, you have to take over. But I think that you'll do better keeping everything off her but be ready."

"Got it." Jack said.

"Grunt, if they do down, we're all dead. I trust you to keep anything from getting through to them. It's close quarters, no room for mistakes. This is going to be tough." she said.

"I can handle it." he said.

"I know, that's why you're coming with us." she said.

6.12 Collector Base

"Moving into position." Garrus aid but there was no response from Shepard, just static.

"The seeker swarms must be interfering with communications." Thane said.

"Or the biotic field didn't work." Miranda said. If it hadn't they were walking into a death trap.

"Move out." Garrus said.

They made steady progress. Garrus kept them tight and in formation. The fighting was heavy but they got to the doors without any casualties.

"Shepard, do you copy?" He said. There was only static. They were getting pushed back, wave after wave of collectors had them pinned. He ordered an attack. It worked perfectly, giving them room to maneuver, but he knew it was only temporary.

"Shepard, do you copy? Where are you?" He said. They were getting pushed back again. He had them regroup but they were pinned. They couldn't keep this up much longer.

"Come on, Shepard! Do you copy?" He said. Something through the static.

"I copy. Where are you?" She said.

"We're at the doors but we're pinned down, taking heavy fire!" he said.

"Hold on! We're coming!" She said.

The doors opened, he ordered them to fall back. Then he felt the shot. He doubled over, but stayed on his feet. He blindly walked back, until he hit the wall. He watched the doors close. He had gotten everyone through. He tried to breathe but there was a sharp pain.

Shepard came over to him. "Garrus," she whispered. She grabbed his shoulder. He knew what a pain like that meant. Either he was fine or he was dead. His next breath would be clear or his lungs would start to fill with blood. At least if he did die, he wouldn't die alone, at least they'd had that time together, at least there was that. He took a breath. His lungs were clear. He looked up at her and gave a slight nod.

"Shepard, you should see this." Miranda said. Shepard briefly touched the side of his face and left. Garrus took a couple more deep breaths.

"Here," Zaeed said and handed him a small flask. Garrus took a drink and handed it back to him.

"Thanks." He said. "That helped."

"Just take it off that I owe you." Zaeed said.

"Given the circumstances, I think that makes us about even." Garus said.

6.13 Collector Base

Shepard was out of heavy ammo. The proto-human reaper was dying but not fast enough. They were running out of time. Garrus and Thane came back to where she was crouched. She put down the heavy weapon. Between them, they only had four thermal clips and they didn't have time to get more. She took one and put it into her widow sniper rifle. She was one hell of a shot, one of the best. She could lay down more shots and hit more targets than anyone. But she knew that speed cost accuracy. Most of the time it didn't matter if you made a precise headshot or just hit the target in the head, but this shot had to be perfect.

She handed the gun to Garrus. "Take it out." She said. He took the gun and nodded. "She handed a clip to Thane and then put one in her pistol. "We have to give him time to fire."

"I understand," he said. Another platform had arrived and the reaper had reared its head.

"We go on two, you can shoot after three." She said.

"One, two…" They started firing, the collectors went down. She heard the shot from the widow. She turned to see the blast heading nearly ten meters above the reaper's head. Then the reaper extended its arms and reared up. The shot went through the creature's eye and exploded out the back of its skull.

In its last death throng it hit the platform, Garrus fell, sliding down the falling platform. Shepard leaped after him. She reached for his hand but missed. The platform landed, they rolled towards the edge.

"Mag boots… max power." She said. Garrus had reached the edge, he tried to hang on but too much momentum, but he had slowed down enough that she was able to grab his hand. She put her feet down. The mag boots slammed to the floor. She let the boots and the armor take most of the strain and concentrated on holding on. They gave just a bit and then held. She helped him up, just as a platform came down on them.

6.14 Collector Base

Shepard ran for the ship. She saw the falling debris take out the platforms closest to the ship. She jumped, just catching the edge of the airlock. She tried to hang on but there was nothing to hang onto. She started to slip when Garrus grabbed her arm and shoulder. She grabbed onto him as he pulled her into the ship.

"Detonation in ten… nine… eight…"

Shepard, Garrus, and Thane came through the airlock and stood in the cockpit. They watched the base detonate and the explosion start to catch up with the ship. Shepard realized that she was still holding Garrus's hand. They watched the ship jump to light speed.

6.15 Normandy SR-2

Shepard had asked him to come up to her cabin. He thought that perhaps changing into his suit might be seen as assuming then again going up in armor right be misconstrued too. He changed.

As the doors opened, Shepard was talking to Miranda. "...might even consider getting a bartender and have Rupert make a double or triple batch of his gumbo."

"Of course, I know this wonderful sushi restaurant on the Citadel. I'll see if they cater, they even have detrox food."

"Sounds good." Shepard turned off the comm.

"Sounds like you're throwing a party." He said.

"I figure we deserve it." She said. "Have one big bash, drop everyone off at the Citadel, and then me and Joker will take the ship to Earth.'

"You don't have to go back.' He said.

"You know I do." She said. "You would. Besides the ship needs major repairs. We could limp around for a few weeks at most besides if I hide then it looks like I did something wrong."

"What do you think they'll do?" He said.

"I don't know." She said. "Worst case I guess…"

"They try and execute you as for war crimes." He said.

"Yeah, I guess so." She said. "I can't worry about that."

She typed into her omni tool. "Here is your share of the extra funds." Garrus typed into his to received the transfer.

"That's too much." He said.

"Actually it isn't." She said. "The crew, Miranda, Jacob, Kasumi, and Zaeed were all paid in advance. Mordin and Thane said they didn't need it, although Mordin did take some of the lab equipment and for some reason wanted the collector samples. Samara didn't want any but took some weapons. We got Tali booked on a ship to take her back to the fleet. We bought a used ship whose life support system is shot, Legion will take that back to geth space. I gave Grunt enough to keep him in action figures and Tastee Bites for a while and he's getting a ride to Tunchanka with some mercs. I gave Jack enough so that she won't need to blow up any space stations anytime soon. I took a cut in case I end up on the run. And the rest is yours."

"Shepard," he started.

"Don't argue." she said. "You earned it and Dr. Chakwas already told me that you're going to need follow-up treatments. So just take it." He typed into the omni tool to accept the transfer.

"But that's not the only reason I invited you up here. I figured that we needed to talk.' she said.

"I see.' He said. "Look, Shepard. I understand and whatever we were I enjoyed it, so no regrets."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it but that wasn't exactly what I was going to say." She said. "This was never about blowing off steam, not for me. It was always about us and seeing if there was a possibility for this to be something more and I think it could be. But I don't know what's going to happen, not with the Alliance or the reapers, or when or even if we'll get to see each other again. And it isn't fair to either of us to make promises we may not be able to keep or wait for something that may never happen. So can we just leave things that if we do see each other again, then we'll see where we're at and go from there?"

"That's fair." He said. She took his hands in hers as they touched foreheads.

"We have some time before we reach the Citadel." She said.

"How much?" He said.

"Enough."