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Chapter Nine

I awoke to the sound of EDI's voice over the speaker. "Garrus, It has been six hours since you fell asleep. There is a comm from Miss Lawson. Do you want me to patch it through?"

Fear struck through me like lightning. "Yes," I nearly shouted as I bolted upright.

The screen at her desk lit up. I rushed, tripping over the stairs in my haste, to the console.

"Garrus-" I interrupted her.

"Miranda, what is it? Is she ok? What's going on?"

"Everything is fine, Garrus. She is still as stable as she can be. I just wanted to talk to you before you come to see her today." She looked nervous.

"What is it, Miranda?"

"Her brain activity is starting to worry me. I think she is starting to become more aware. And I don't want to increase her dose of sedatives. Doing that may impede the growth of her new organs."

"What happens if she wakes up too soon?" The fear was beginning to choke me. I was going to lose her all over again, I knew it.

"There is no way to tell how she would react to her current state. But if she reacts violently, she could cause a lot of damage to herself."

"Can't you restrain her? Strap her arms down or something?"

"I fear that if she does wake in a manic state, restraints would only serve to harm her more."

"Can you just increase the dose by a very small amount? Just enough to keep her brain activity at safe levels."

"I'll have to run some calculations. I can do that while you're on your way. I'll be seeing you soon, yes?"

"Do you want me to bring Tali or EDI to help with those calculations?"

"If you think it will help." The comm link disconnected. I hadn't heard a 'no' from Miranda so I got ready in a rush.

As I rode the elevator down, I messaged Tali and EDI to meet me at the airlock from my omni-tool.

Soon later, I was waiting at the airlock with EDI, when Tali approached.

"What's going on?" she asked as the airlock cycled.

EDI answered before I could. "It seems Miss Lawson may need our help in regards to the Commander's care." I was too worried about Shepard to be annoyed at EDI's eavesdropping.

Tali was immediately concerned. "Is she ok? What happened?"

"She's still stable. Look, I'm not sure I understand everything that's going on with Shepard. Miranda can tell you more when we get there."

And sure enough, as soon as we got there, Miranda, Tali and EDI were all discussing variables to account for in the calculations. After only a few minutes, the girls were using words too big for me to understand. I waited patiently, trying to understand.

Eventually, I just tuned them out. I wasn't very religious. The last time I prayed was for my father and sister. But for some reason, my mind drifted there. I knew she had a spirit. She was too good… too selfless to not have one. For once in my life I prayed to the spirits. I wasn't sure whether it was her's or the spirit of the crew of doctors working on her or the spirit of Palaven. I guess I was praying to whatever spirit would listen.

Then I started hearing my name mixed into the girls' conversation. I looked up. Tali and Miranda were approaching me.

Miranda spoke first. "We need to run a few tests and I need you there with me."

I jumped up from my seat. "Of course. What can I do to help?"

"Garrus," Tali's voice was gentle, pleading almost. "These tests may be dangerous. Miranda wants to see the extent of her awareness."

"The risks are minimal," Miranda argued.

"Unless she is more aware than you suspect and she wakes up."

I could tell they were going to continue arguing unless I stepped in. "Wait. Miranda, what are these tests you want to do?"

"Well, it's really only one test."

Tali interrupted. She understood me. "Miranda wants you to sit with her and talk to her, basically see how active you can get her brain to be. Testing the boundaries. She thinks that with the level of sedation they have her, it should be impossible for her to regain any amount of consciousness. I think it is a very bad idea. Shepard has always done the impossible, surprising all of us. I think she may do the same again. I think it is too dangerous."

"It's not your decision to make, Tali. Garrus is her next of kin. This test is safe, I'm sure of it. And I need to see how aware she becomes with the type of stimulus she will be receiving for the next few weeks so I can dose the sedatives appropriately."

"Is there another way to make the calculations?"

EDI spoke up from the console across the room. "Finding the optimal dose for the Commander manually will take a few hours."

"Let's wait it out then. She'll be fine for a few hours right?" I turned to Miranda.

"Maybe. There's no way to know. Her brain activity has been so sporadic it's impossible to track."

"Do you have emergency protocols in case she does start to wake up before then?"

"Of course. I'm just worried about her new organs. She can't afford many setbacks."

Tali and Miranda looked at me, waiting for my answer. I contemplated my options. Both were risky. But, I didn't think I could handle the guilt if she woke up and got hurt because of me. "We're gonna wait it out."

"If you think that's what's best…" I could tell that Miranda didn't agree with me. But she didn't have to.