((Chapter heading is taken from The Worst Joke Ever by R.E.M.

There was something I wanted to adjust but I can't find it while proofreading. So if, a bit later, I refer to something in this chapter, and you remember some minor detail being different, it's not you.))

Chapter 8
The Moorings Have Been Dropped

Iris awoke after what felt like ten minutes. The room was still bathed in darkness and she tried to find out what had woken her up. Garrus was in a half sitting position next to her and laughed softly when he noticed she'd stirred. 'Try and sneak out on a soldier. Someone's knocked the door and I was going to tell them to come back later.'

Iris wiped over her face. 'If it's Mordin, it's all right.'

She watched Garrus leave the bedroom and vanish into the shadows. With a sigh, she lay back down, burying her nose in his side of the pillow. After a few moments, Garrus came back, looking pleased. 'This was, indeed, Mordin. He wants us to come over to his room to talk.'

Relief overcame her desire for more sleep, and Iris forced herself to wake up. Splashing cold water in her face helped some. She was also hungry, but that was something she'd take care of later.

Iris was barely inside Mordin's apartment when she stopped dead. 'Now this isn't what I expected.' The place was in chaos. The largest room was covered in moving boxes, most of them thrown down at random, a few stacked carefully in a corner. 'What the hell?'

'Had to remove a few things from the clinic.'

'A few things? Is there even any equipment left in the clinic?' Garrus asked, navigating past a stretcher. 'What do you need that for anyway?'

The salarian had his arms folded. 'Sorry. Didn't want to unpack at night. Too much noise.'

'That isn't an answer.'

'Needed stretcher to transport patient. And a few items.'

'What he means to say,' an amused voice said from a doorway, 'is that he used me to steal stuff from the clinic. Because I did not need to be on a stretcher.'

For the moment, Iris couldn't care less about whatever Mordin was thinking. She made a beeline for Tali and hugged her – carefully. The woman had been shot after all. Tali, on the other hand, wasn't careful, and positively bounced as she held Iris. 'It's so good to see you, Shepard. We all thought you're dead. Well. Not Garrus. Your turian insisted you were alive until I started to believe him.'

Iris smiled at her. 'How are you? Should you be here?'

'I'm all right. Mordin took care of the existing infection and had proper equipment for me to fix my suit. He also had the software I needed stored on his Omni-tool.'

Shaking her head, Iris looked from her to Mordin. 'Okay. Spill it. What is all this?'

'Lab equipment. Sensitive stuff over there, don't touch that. May help with rest.'

'You're setting up an office here because you don't trust the hospital. Mordin, are you allowed to do this?'

Mordin sniffed. 'In state of calamity, help always wanted. Also saved manager's son. Won't protest.'

Under Mordin's direction, they turned what was supposed to be a bedroom into a doctor's office. The bed went into a corner of the living room. Mordin wouldn't need it. For the hour or so of sleep he required, he'd sit with his back against a wall. Salarians weren't big on lying down. The kitchen became a laboratory and Mordin forbade them all from touching anything, leaving the rest of the place to them instead. The living room was cluttered with a closet, the desk added to it, but Tali managed to organise everything so that it looked orderly. They were done in under three hours. The sun had risen by now, at least.

Exhausted, Iris let herself fall on the couch. 'Now that we've turned you place into a triage area, can we please talk about how the clinic is dangerous?'

'Should be obvious. Sudden pregnancy by medical procedure without giving consent reason for concern.' He tilted his head. 'Garrus, did not ask after your health. Look a little stiff, even by turian standards.'

Garrus's mandibles flared. 'You had your hands full of an injured quarian. I'm fine. Let's just say that beds on earth are not designed for turians and pillows only help that much. But that won't be a problem once I can get stuff from the Normandy.'

'Should have slept sitting against wall. Less strain on neck and …'

'Not an option. I'll take a bit of a stiff neck over waking up screaming because I think my life is still a complete wreck. This is the first night I actually rested since the relays were blasted almost into oblivion, Mordin.'

'I'm sure Shepard will give him a massage', Tali said, her tone amused. 'On the neck. Or wherever.'

'Hm! Gave you medication to avoid reaction to wrong chirality, but should take a week to avoid rashes or worse, strong systemic reaction.'

Iris shook her head. 'Mordin, if you think I'll wait a week before I can touch the love of my life, you're insane.'

Tali chuckled. 'I don't think just touching is going to be the issue, Shepard.'

The turian closed his eyes. 'Can we perhaps … not discuss this here and now?'

'You're way too bashful for your age. I mean, we all know how things work, don't we? Although I'm not sure how it works between a turian and a human, exactly. Or a turian and anyone. I've once seen one of you people without your armour. How do you even … do it?'

Iris sensed that Garrus's reluctance to discuss this was genuine, even if he'd downplay it. She might tease him senseless for his shyness later, but she knew when they were alone she couldn't make him uncomfortable and she wasn't going to stand by and let someone else manage that – even if Tali's teasing was good-natured. 'Tali, please don't,' she said. 'I want a straight answer, Mordin. That something isn't going the way it should be is obvious, but that can't be all. You refused to even talk in the clinic, so tell me right now what is going on there.'

'No.' Mordin blinked. 'Wrong impression. No murderers running around clinic with hidden daggers. But cellar inaccessible. Does not seem sensible. Tried to look into it. Got caught by Tiale. Seemed concerned. Can handle myself, learned to navigate hazardous environments with STG. Did not tell Tiale. Lock is challenging. Might enlist … help.'

'I'd suggest Kasumi,' Garrus said. 'If she's still here. I'd like to meet the lock that defeats her.'

'I'd go in with her.' Iris shrugged. 'I might not win a marathon, but you shouldn't be seen near that door in case there are murderers. I'd like to see anyone trying to stop me if push comes to shove.'

'You're pregnant. If there are some airborne chemicals loose in there, that might be bad.'

'Don't think it's chemicals.' Mordin tilted his head. 'Iris … difficult subject for humans … You … need to make a decision.'

Iris shrugged. 'I want answers. I won't get them if I get rid of it.'

'Not true. Can figure this out without you carrying to term.'

'Do I need to know this now?'

'Hardly.' Garrus scowled. 'Surely this can wait a bit until Iris had time to process what happened at least.'

'Well, I can't see me being any wiser in the foreseeable future!' She couldn't stay sitting any longer, got up and started pacing. 'Surely you have an opinion.'

'Absolutely. I have the opinion that you have been violated and that no matter what you decide to do with that situation I'll be there.'

'Fine. What would you do if it was you, then?'

'I think you know that.'

'Humour me.'

'I'd get rid of it.'

'And I don't know yet. This may be the only chance I get to have a kid of my own. Mordin, run whatever tests you want.'

'Need blood sample and some medical imaging. Preferably not in clinic. Decision can be made when all information is available.'

'Here's an idea.' Garrus ran a hand over his face. 'I'll contact the Normandy and ask to have a few things delivered here. Tali, if you'd be so kind as to accept them in our stead?'

The quarian nodded. 'Sure, Garrus, anything you two need.'

'Mordin, I want you to get Iris all the answers she wants from wherever you see fit. And don't pester her. I need a way to contact Kasumi. I'll be going into that cellar, I'll ask her to just open the door and perhaps keep a lookout. I gave the lot in the clinic a scare already, might as well work on that reputation, and turians are that little bit more resilient to toxins or radiation than humans.'

'Do you one better. Will send Kasumi over. Had her organise a few items for me and have means to reach her. Very capable. Looked the other way when she got something else in exchange.'

Iris smiled. 'Never change, Mordin.'

The salarian's eyes sparkled. He looked younger than the day before, as if the mystery of the day had chased the years from him. 'Will run tests on you in lieu of sea shells, then. Everyone out. Can do most of the check-up here, but not with audience. Well, out!'