Tali had been worried about Shepard the entire time she was away from him, no matter how much Garrus came up and tried to comfort her she always thought the worst was to come and would make up all different scenarios in her head on how all different things could go wrong and she could lose Shepard again. Garrus had to constantly come up to remind her that he had just given her a sign that he was alive and well just over a day ago, and she would calm down for a little while after that but she always would get to thinking again and run into the same problem over and over again. 'How do you do this Shepard?' Garrus was beginning to hope that his friend would wake up much sooner than later so he could help him deal with this very worried Quarian. Garrus just finished calming Tali down, again, but before he could fully get out of the door EDI spoke up, "Mr. Vakarian and miss Vas Normandy, the commander has woken up," the pair looked at each other for less than a second before they were both darting for the elevator and leaving the ship not acknowledging anyone who tried to stop them or ask them any questions.
When the pair arrived back at the hospital the doctor that had caught them the other day was waiting for them, "Miss Tali and Mr. Vakarian I figured you had heard that the Commander was out of surgery and awake,". Both of them nodded in response to the doctor before he continued, "He is awake and he is going to be perfectly fine but I do recommend you don't get him too excited or let him get out of bed otherwise he may undo most of the stitches he has." "Understood, I'll make sure they don't do anything too hasty," Garrus said as he put a hand on Tali's shoulder before the doctor nodded and walked away from the pair.
"Tali, before we go in, you heard the doctor so don't get him too riled up and I can't let him get up to hug you or anything just to be on the safe side, for once,". Tali nodded, "I understand, don't worry I won't be the one to do anything," Garrus lightly chuckled at that as he knew that was true, if it was either of them that was gonna try something it was gonna be Shepard. Tali then opened the door and stepped into Shepard's room and they both noticed he was standing next to his bed looking at his omnitool, still in his medical gown. 'Of course he'd be standing up already,' Garrus thought as he shook his head, "You're supposed to be laying down you know, so you don't get even more injured," Shepard looked up at him, "I've had worse, I mean have you seen me after Tali-," "OK, I think you'd better lay down John," Tali said intervening before he started explaining too much, as he often does with his close friends.
"Why I feel fine and I hate laying down and not being able to do anything," Shepard then looked at Tali and noticed she was giving him her 'look' that told him he better listen or he won't be allowed in his own room on the Normandy. "Yes dear," he then proceeded to carefully lay back down on the hospital bed. Once he finally got comfortable on the bed Tali basically launched herself at him and gave him the tightest but softest hug she could, "Don't you ever leave me again bosh'tet," "Don't plan to," Shepard kissed the top of her mask as he hugged her back doing his best not to squeeze too hard. "You know what that means," Garrus said getting a smile on his face, "What? that I have to keep putting up with you now?" Shepard gave Garrus a smirk, "Well there is that but, you also have to retire from the navy,".
"Why?" when Shepard asked this Tali was the one to pick her head up and respond, "Because you've done enough for the universe and I just got you back after losing you for the second time, so now you're mine and I'm not ready to share you anymore," she then put her head back down on his chest not letting him respond to her. Shepard then looked at Garrus with a questioning look and the Turian just nodded before he confirmed what Tali told him, "She's been talking about that ever since we found you on the brink of death and she hasn't calmed down about it," Shepard looked down at Tali and thought for a minute before he gave any type of response. "Ok, I'll do it," Tali shot her head up and looked him dead in the eyes, "Really?!" "Yes, I'll do it for you, and if they ever need me they'll know where to find me," Tali sighed in relief, "I thought you were going to argue for sure,". John shook his head, "No you're right, I've given enough to the universe and not enough to my girl, so it's time I fixed that," He gave her a smile and again kissed the top of her helmet.
"So did the doctor say how long you're gonna have to be here?" Shepard looked at Garrus before giving him his usual smile, "He said I should be here for about two more weeks at least but I figure I'll stay for just a few more days and then We can get back to doing what we do,". Tali didn't seem to be too happy about Shepard trying to leave early but she knew there wasn't gonna be any arguing with him about it so she just hoped he was gonna be ok and not have to come back to the hospital for anything. "Alright but you better not do anything stupid," "You mean like everything I do?" Garrus put his hand on his forehead before he turned towards the door, "I'll give you a few minutes but you need rest Shep so don't do anything stupid."
John gave Garrus a nod before the Turian stepped out of the room, silently thanking him. He then looked back to Tali, "I've missed you," "I've missed you more," they were both just staring at each other both wishing that her mask didn't have to be on at the moment. "You had better not ever leave me again," Shepard smiled at her, "I never will,". He then proceeded to drag her onto the bed with him to give her a hug, "John! you know you can't be doing stuff like that, you'll hurt yourself," she scolded him as she gave him a very light slap on the arm. "I know, but I wanted to give my girl some love before she goes back to the ship without me," he knew that had caused her to blush, even though he couldn't really see her face in her mask she turned her head away from him as though he could.
"I love you so much," he lightly squeezed her giving her one final hug before he opened his arms and let her get off of the bed, "I love you too, but you had better not do that again so you can get back to keeping me company at night,". John gave a light laugh and a smirk, "What does the amazing miss Vas Normandy not like sleeping alone anymore?" Tali crossed her arms giving him a light 'humpf', "Well if someone hadn't spoiled me with having someone to sleep with,". John just rolled his eyes at that and laughed, "So you better get rest and hurry up and get healthy so you can keep spoiling me," John wasn't 100% sure where this side of Tali had been hidden in all the time he's known her but he sure did love it. "Yes ma'am, I'll get right on that for you," he gave her a light salute before he leaned up and gave her one last quick kiss, "Love ya babe," she seemed to roll her eyes at the nickname but was secretly smiling under her mask, but she'd never tell him that, "Love you too John, now get some rest my love," she then walked to the door giving him one last look and smile before she walked out of the room.
"Ready?" Garrus asked her as she came out of the room, "As ready as I'm ever going to be," the pair then began making their trek back to the Normandy. "I know you want to stay here with him but it's best for your health to be fully rested when he gets back to the ship," Tali just nodded in response. "Plus who is gonna help me talk shit to him if you're not ready enough to think of stuff to say to him," Tali laughed at that, "That's true, what would you even say to him without my random comments," "Probably just about he's ugly and how I have to stay on the ship so I don't steal all the girls," Tali crossed her arms and cocked her head at Garrus, "Not anymore of course he doesn't look at anyone other than you anymore," he knew that if this worked it would be by the smallest thread. She seemed to take his answer but didn't say anything the rest of the way to the Normandy, 'Fuck, I have already screwed some shit up,'. He knew Shepard would find out it was him that got him in trouble with Tali, 'Well at least I've got time to think of some sort of excuse for it,'.
