Chapter 1:
There was a knock on the door, and I opened it, revealing Bailey and a turian male. The second man had a few bags at his feet. Considering turians had better hearing and sense of smell, I wasn't surprised my next guard was one. That, and I was sure Bailey suspected I was starting to get uncomfortable around human men that I didn't know.
I moved aside for them to come in, keeping careful control over my expression- ignoring the screaming in my head- then led them into the living room. Gestured for them to sit as I took my own seat on one of the armchairs.
"This is Officer Vakarian." Bailey motioned between us. "Vakarian, this is Miss Quinn."
I nodded, eyeing the second man, as he was me.
"It's nice to meet you, officer." I murmured softly. "Would you like anything to eat?"
He tilted his head, seemingly confused by the question.
"I have friends." Was all I said, getting up and moving to the kitchen.
"A couple of drinks." The Captain called out after a moment of silence.
I grabbed three sodas from my fridge, one of them specifically for turian systems, and rejoined them, handing them out. Cracked my own open and took a sip.
"You know the drill." Bailey started, leaning forward as he focused on me. "He'll be with you everywhere you go. You have any problems, talk to him. He'll sort it out, and if he can't, he'll inform me."
I nodded. I'd spent enough time with the other officer to know what to expect.
A ping came from his omni-tool, and he spared it a glance before shaking his head and getting to his feet.
"I've gotta go, but I'll check in in a few days, okay?" A meaningful look.
I nodded again. "Okay. Be safe."
I walked him to the door.
Which left me with my new bodyguard.
"Okay, so." I clapped my hands. He was already turning his head to look at me when I'd started talking. "You're free to use any room in the apartment, other than my room. Of course. I honestly have more dextro food than not in my kitchen, probably, so you won't starve. Or have to spend all your money on take-out. Unless you want to do that- your choice."
An alarm went off at my desk in the corner of the living room that was partitioned off by decorative screens.
"The tv is open for use. I just ask that you keep it low volume after eleven at night through to six am. That's really it." I said, walking over to turn off the alarm and sat down in my office chair. "Oh, and please, call me Andromeda. Any questions, Officer Vakarian, before I get started with my day?"
"Garrus." He supplied. "And, no. No questions."
With that settled, I booted up my computer and logged into my student portal. Readying myself for the first class of the day, grabbing my iPad- a couple of years old, but it got the job done just fine- to take notes.
Two lectures later, I leaned back and stretched, before getting up and wandering to the kitchen for something to snack on. My next class was in ten minutes, and I didn't have time to make myself anything, let alone eat. Which wasn't abnormal for me. I usually went without breakfast and lunch, only eating at dinner.
Another few hours passed, and I finished my third, and last, class.
Coming out from my little cave, I glanced over at the officer. He was absorbed in whatever he was working on on his datapad.
"Garrus." I called out quietly, unsure if I'd get his attention.
His eyes snapped up to mine. "Yes?"
"Do you want anything from the burger joint nearby?"
He blinked, taken aback by the question. Hesitating before nodding. "Sure."
Taking down his order in the app, I put in my own and sent it out. "It'll be here in about twenty minutes."
I disappeared into my room, changing out of my "going to class" clothes and throwing on my "lounging around the house" clothes. A pair of sweats, a spaghetti strap undershirt, and a long sleeve flannel button-up. Buttons not done up.
With the other officer, I'd quickly learned that if the tv was on, I was the last thing on his mind. Er, well, I'd thought that, until two nights ago, anyway.
Going back out, I checked the delivery. Ten more minutes. Enough time to grab my iPad and put it on the little table by my side of the couch- he was sitting on the armchair. Grab a drink, setting it there, as well. By the time I was done with that, the doorbell rang. It was early.
Sweet.
I moved to the door, opening it, but was met with empty air. Frowning, I looked around, before my eyes dropped. My heart stopped for a moment.
Another manilla envelope.
Shakily, I reached down and picked it up, taking it over to the kitchen counter. Opened it, slowly pulling the contents out.
A small stack of photos, and a piece of paper with typed out words. Oh, great. This one came with a note.
Choosing the pictures first, I looked at the top one. It was... in my room. In my room. Not through the window, but actually in my room.
My blood ran cold. I felt a shiver run through me.
The next one was of my face, sleeping soundly.
The third was of a hand stroking my cheek. A human hand, male.
"Andromeda?"
I slowly looked up at the officer. Something in my expression had him reaching out and gently taking the pictures from me. He flipped through them, his eyes widening with each one. Narrowing at the last one.
Immediately, he called Bailey, informed him of the situation.
There was a knock at the door, and I jumped. Giving myself a shake, I opened the door, before the officer could stop me- I heard him call my name and say "stop"- and accepted the food delivery.
Pulling everything out of the bags, I unwrapped our food and placed it all on two plates.
Ending the call, he turned to me, shaking his head. "You should've waited for me to get the door."
I shrugged, façade fully in place. "I figured whoever it was wasn't going to stick around and come back. Besides, I knew the food was coming around this time. Now, grab your plate and dig in."
I picked up my own and went to my side of the couch, curling up on it with a blanket covering my legs, my food balanced on my thigh.
"Were you watching this?"
The show on right then was a fashion show. I didn't know enough about the man to know if he was into that or not, but I somehow doubted it.
"No. Honestly, I forgot the tv was even on." He said, sitting on the armchair again.
I flipped it to one of the oldies channels, choosing a crime drama- Midsomer Murders. Sure, it was old, but it was good. One of my favorites to veg out on.
He tilted his head at the choice, taking a bite of his burger.
"I like watching crime shows." I shrugged, before starting to eat, myself.
"It looks old."
"Oh, it is. It started in 1997, went until about 2025. It's old, but I love it." I sounded a little defensive to my own ears. I cleared my throat. "Sorry. I can get a little worked up about the things I like."
He chuckled, waving it off. "It's okay. This seems like an interesting show."
I couldn't stop the smile that spread at that. "It is. It's one of my favorite shows."
We ate in silence after that. I could tell by watching him from my periphery that he was engrossed in the show. That made me happy.
-days, I'm going to-
Hey. I scolded her. You've been screaming nonstop since this morning. Please. You're giving me a headache.
Well, maybe if you'd listen to me, I would shut up!
I sighed, shaking my head. I know what you're going on about. I know what you want, but it's a firm "no" from me, Captain.
Andromeda, please!
No, Genesis. I'm serious. I felt his eyes on me. Please. Just... drop it, for now. We'll revisit this later, okay?
There was a pause, hesitation, then, a disappointed, Okay.
He opened his mouth to say something, but an alarm cut him off. He blinked, glancing at my omni-tool.
"Sorry, I'll be right back."
I darted into my room, popping my meds, before going back to my seat.
"What was the alarm for?" Curious.
I glanced at him, musing softly. "You know... I never told the other officer. He never asked."
His eyes tightened at the mention of the other man, meaning he knew what had happened with him.
"I take medication four times a day." I explained, holding up four fingers and ticking them off. "Seven am, ten am, five pm, and nine pm. Although, that was my alarm snoozing a few times, since I missed it because of the photos."
"What for?"
"I'm bipolar." I shrugged, returning my gaze to the tv.
He looked down at his datapad, and I figured that was the end of the conversation, until he opened his mouth again.
"A mood disorder."
I raised an eyebrow. He'd looked it up.
"Yeah."
"Anything I need to be aware of?" He glanced over at me.
"There will be days I don't want to get out of bed, even with my meds." My eyes moved back to the tv. It was easier to talk about it, if I didn't have to see the other person's reaction. "I could be fine one minute, and pissed off the next. I could 'spiral'," I air-quoted. "which more or less means that I can go from happy to sobbing in a matter of minutes. It's not fun. I usually just shut myself away when I get like that. My manager often cancels that day's events, if there are any."
He nodded, looking deep in thought, and silence fell again. I picked up my iPad and started reviewing the notes I'd made.
That was how we spent the time, me on my iPad, him periodically looking from the marathon of Midsomer to his datapad- getting up to take my nine o'clock pill- until it was almost my bedtime.
I stretched, letting out a yawn, and put the iPad to sleep. Getting to my feet, I went to the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle, put it on my bedside table. Grabbed my piercing care stuff, and went to the bathroom, using the mirror to see what I was doing.
"What are you doing?" He asked, and I saw him looking in.
The door was still open from when I came in.
"I got this piercing last month." I explained, using the cotton swab with soap on one end to clean the skin around it. "I have to wash it and use a saline solution on it twice a day. After I've woken up and just before bed."
"What were you doing all day?"
"Oh, I thought Bailey would've told you." I met his eyes in the mirror. "I'm taking courses to be a doctor."
His eyes widened. "A doctor?" He shifted, leaning against the doorjamb now, interested.
"Yeah."
"But you're a famous singer." He sounded like he couldn't quite wrap his head around it.
"It's not what I wanted to be, still isn't. It was just the first job I got, and I happened to be good at singing. Now, here I am." I gave a small smile. "I've always wanted to be a doctor."
A slow nod. "How far along are you?"
"I'm in my second year of medical school. This year is mostly lectures- I can attend those online- with some lab sessions thrown in here and there. I've got two more years left, and then I'll have my M.D."
"Huh." Something in his expression shifted, and I got the sense his opinion of me had changed.
"Well, I'm done, so I'm heading to bed. Goodnight, Garrus."
"Goodnight, Andromeda." He said, stepping aside for me to pass.
Please, Meda.
Not right now. I groaned, pulling one of the pillows over my face. I told you already. Later.
This is technically later.
I hate you.
You love me.
Goodnight, Gen.
An annoyed sigh flitted through my head. Goodnight, Meda.