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Much later, Shepard would hear the stories of her exploits that day. Tackling Thane's killer aboard a pair of skycars in flight; racing him on the top of two separate elevators, shooting at one another, trying to keep him from reaching the Council; the standoff with Kaidan and the killing of Udina. She remembered none of it.

The only thing in her mind all day had been Thane's face, drawn with pain, his eyes darkening already, and the need to just get this all over with so she could get there in time. What if she didn't make it, and their last moments had been lost as so many of their moments had been, to the needs of the galaxy? Could she bear that in the long years to come?

When Bailey told her to hurry, she didn't waste another second. Kaidan was a Spectre now; the Council could be his responsibility. Garrus could talk to Bailey and see if C-Sec needed anything. Vega would help him. She was needed by a single person, for once, someone who needed her, Juniper, not Commander Shepard, and she was going to him.

At the hospital, she rushed past the admitting desk and into the central area, then stopped short. She knew where Thane's room was, but he wouldn't be there now, he would be in surgery. She looked desperately around her.

"Commander Shepard." It was Councilor Valern.

"Councilor. Are you all right?" She looked the councilor over anxiously, to make sure he hadn't been wounded.

"No, I'm fine. I came here with your friend, the one who saved my life. A very brave man."

"He is that. The bravest I've ever known."

"High praise coming from you, Commander." There was a gentleness in Valern's eyes. "I will take you to him."

"Is he—" She couldn't finish the sentence.

"As I understand, he has been waiting for you with all the strength remaining to him."

"There was nothing they could do?"

Valern shook his head.

"Stupid question," Shepard muttered under her breath. She had known better. The moment she saw that sword pierce Thane's body, she had known.

"His son is with him," Valern told her, stopping in front of a pair of sliding doors. "You should go in now."

"Thank you, Councilor."

"Thank you, Commander. If you had not been here today—" Valern shook his head. "I am glad that you were."

The doors opened in front of her. For a moment, Shepard hesitated. If she didn't go in, none of this would be real.

With an effort, she pulled herself together. These were the only moments she was going to get; she couldn't afford to waste them in futile denial. She opened the doors.

Kolyat was standing next to the bed, and he looked over his shoulder at her as she came into the room, his face unreadable. Beyond him, she saw Thane's eyes light when he saw her, and she was filled with relief. He was still alive.

"I told you … there would be time, siha," he said, one hand lifting weakly off the bed to reach for her.

Everything else fell away except that she was here with Thane, where she most wanted to be, and she went to him, holding his cold hand tightly in hers. "You were magnificent."

He smiled. "Short of … my best."

"More than good enough. The salarian councilor wishes to thank you for saving his life."

"Ah." Thane gave a very small nod. "I am pleased … that I could be of service. And … the Council?"

"Safe. Udina's dead," she said grimly. "He won't be causing anyone any more trouble."

"I'm afraid …" Thane's hand tightened on hers. "I'm afraid I have chosen … a bad time … to leave."

"There was never going to be a good time." Lifting his hand, she pressed it against her cheek. "You could never disappoint me, Thane. You—I have learned so much from you, grown so much. I will always be grateful for every minute we had to spend with each other."

"And I. Siha, I—" A coughing fit took him.

Shepard held on to his hand, hating to see him in such distress. Let it be soon, she thought, surprising herself. Little as she wanted to lose him, she had no wish to see him suffer. Kalahira, take him across the sea.

"There is something … something I must do … while there is still time," Thane gasped between coughs. "I—"

Next to Shepard, Kolyat folded his hands and bent his head, clearly praying, as she was, that this pain wouldn't last much longer.

Finally able to breathe clearly again, if only for the moment, Thane began, "Kalahira, mistress of … inscrutable depths … I ask forgiveness. Kalahira … whose waves wear down stone and … sand—"

He couldn't finish. The room was silent except for his labored breaths.

Then Kolyat took up the prayer. "Kalahira, wash the sins from this one and set him on the distant shore of the infinite spirit."

"Kolyat," Thane said with some difficulty, but with unmistakable pleasure. "You speak … as the priests do. You have … been spending … time with them …"

"Yes, Father." Kolyat looked at Shepard. "I brought a prayer book. Will you join me?"

Shepard looked at Thane, who was watching the two of them, his son and his wife, with an expression of such peace on his face, knowing that he could leave them and they would be all right. She knew this would be the way he wanted to go, lying there listening to them both pray for him in the words he believed so devoutly. Keeping Thane's hand in hers, she nodded at Kolyat. "Of course."

"Kalahira," Kolyat read, "this one's heart is pure, but beset by wickedness and contention."

Reading over Kolyat's shoulder, Shepard took up the prayer, "Guide this one to where the traveler never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve. Guide this one, Kalahira, and she will be a companion to you as she was to me."

Something had changed in the hand she held so tightly. There was no longer any tension in the fingers. Looking down, she could see that Thane had gone where she could not follow. Not yet, at any rate. The moment she had dreaded for so long was here. Closing her hand more tightly around Thane's, she held his fingers to her lips and kissed them. "Good-bye. Travel safely. I will meet you across the sea."

Kolyat's hand rested on his father's chest. He didn't speak aloud, but she imagined he was saying his own final good-byes.

Gently, Shepard laid Thane's hand down. "He ended his life saving another; doing the work he had been trained to do."

"He would have wished to do so," Kolyat agreed. He cleared his throat, holding the prayer book out to her. "He had few possessions, but this was his personal prayer book. I know he would have wished you to have it. And … any of his weapons."

"Yes, thank you." Shepard reached out to take the book. She felt better just holding it, the worn covers somehow familiar under her fingers. "I'll … I'd like his handgun, please. If you don't mind keeping it for me until I get back." He nodded gravely. "Kolyat? Why did the last verse say 'she'?"

"The prayer was not for him, Commander. He had already asked forgiveness for the lives he took. His wish, his final prayer, was for you."

"Oh." Tears stung her eyes. Of course it was. His generosity, his thoughtful spirit—how she would miss them. She pulled herself together; there was no time for her to fall apart. Not now, not here. "Kolyat, I know we—well, I think it would have made him happy to know that we would stay in touch. Will you … Can we meet for lunch the next time I'm on the Citadel?"

"Yes, Commander. I think I would like that." His eyes rested on his father's still form with the affection Thane had so longed to see in them. "I know that would be his wish."

"Okay. Good." She reached out, briefly grasping his shoulder, and then she left the room. There was still so much to do before she could put Commander Shepard down and be just a grieving lover. She would have to get through it somehow.