This is the second and last chapter of this short-story, hope you like it! It's a bit psychological and contains some smut so beware! It's my first time writing smut so bare with me please, I at least tried! Well, thank you for reading this story!

The first part can be brutal to some, I tried to put as much feeling in it as possible!

Enjoy!


Garrus carefully lowered Shepard onto the sterile bunk bed in the medbay, her consciousness slipping away by every shallow breath. He glanced over his shoulder as the door whooshed open when Dr Chakwas entered in a flurry. She wordlessly rushed back and forth, grabbing sterilizers, bandages and needles. He hung around like a lost child, stalking her every move with his sharp glare.

She soon set to work on stripping away the thick armor, removing the gauntlets first, hooking up a bunch of cords and tubes that connected to all the humming machines. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before moving on to the chest armor. He watched in horror as Shepards mangled body was slowly uncovered, her military garbs were glued stuck to the many bullet wounds that riddled her body. The tight chest piece had acted as a temporary tourniquet, so when the pressure was released dark crimson blood immediately oozed through the cuts, drizzling down along the sides. He recoiled, stumbling against the sharp bunk bed behind him. The nauseating stench invaded his sensitive nostrils in overwhelming force.

Fear gripped his heart like a cold iron vise, seething throughout his veins like icy venom, poisoning his very soul. He was so lost in the moment that he barely noticed when the rest of the medical staff rushed through the door. Their hair in messy knots, dark circles below their eyes, evidently roused straight from sleep.

The blond, lanky nurse grabbed a sharp scissor and started cutting away the last remaining fabric covering Shepards body. Her once honey colored skin now faded and pale, telling of the abundant blood loss, a patchwork of purple bruises spread like vast islands over her frame. She coughed violently, spraying blood on the closest nurse, crimson staining her white teeth.

The rhythmic blipping of the machines screeched out their sad song, melodies of how close to death she lingered, until it reached the end of its powerful crescendo with a blaring, deafening shriek. Panic shot through him like an electric pulse, he leapt to her bedside, clutching her shoulders, shaking her desperately "YOU CAN'T DIE ELEHNIA!" Her dimmed eyes gawked at him as if to mock him with their blatant emptiness. A piercing, hopeless howl tore through his sandpaper dry throat, he dug his talons along the ridges in his face, staggering blindly.

The nurses tried to push him out of the way, but he stood there solid and heavy like a block of cement. No longer able to comprehend actions or words, images of her bloodied face like a slideshow raging through his mind.

It didn't take long for the guards to arrive, attempting to drag his howling, brawling form out of there. He grabbed one of them, throwing him straight into a nearby medical cabinet. The next guard was thrown into another cabinet sliding slowly to the ground, the others nearby aimed their guns at him apprehensively. He roared and stalked towards them with bloodshot eyes, that's when Thane entered the scene, jumping forward smoothly knocking the legs from under him. Thane gripped him around the neck and pulled one of his arms around his back "Hurry and get a sedative!", all the while Garrus roared and fought as if his life depended on it. It took three shots of sedatives before he was finally brought down and unceremoniously hurled onto a nearby bunk bed.


The spindly metal chair had been pushed as close to the bed as allowed. He sat down, grasping her tiny cold hand with his own warm, large one. The buzzing machines ticked away by her side. Thick tubes connected to her mouth, pushing life giving oxygen through her lungs. Even though everything was mechanical, it gave him comfort to observe the steady rise and fall of her chest. He lowered his cheek onto the cold sharp edge of the bed, absentmindedly stroking a talon along the ridges of her palm.

He didn't know what got him talking, it might have been the unbearable silence, or just the simple wish of hearing her voice, just once more. At first it was only random bits and pieces of their first missions together. Though it soon turned into longer stories, of how he became a better person because of her, how much she'd taught and influenced him. He begged desperately that she was still in there somewhere, if he could just grasp her, lift her out of that dark abyss then everything would be alright


He would sit by her side for whole days, barely getting any sleep, and any sleep he got was riddled with nightmares. The ship was like a hollow cocoon, the mother bee was asleep and the workers couldn't coordinate without her. Yesterday Chakwas had concluded that they could remove the breathing tubes, a relief to him as she no longer looked like a coma patient. He stalked towards her slumbering form, gently stroking her cheek.

"I know that it must be nice for you to finally get some rest.. but it's enough now... you have to wake up.."

He sat down on the now familiar metal chair, grasping a long lock of ebony hair, rubbing it lovingly between his fingers. "Nothing's the same without you here.. we don't know what to do without you.."

He placed his head in his hands "If I'd just found you sooner, If I could have killed every fucker on that station before they got to you.. You suck Elehnia.. do you know that? How could you let yourself end up like this?!.."

"Well... I didn't count on a stupid reaper artifact to knock me out.."

Her voice was raspy and weak, it took him a while to realize that it wasn't just his imagination. His head snapped up, and there she was, resting her chin on the soft pillow, her beautiful lavender eyes, slightly hooded, gazing at him.

He tried to blink away the stubborn tears that formed in his eyes and drizzled down his chin.

"What?.. lost your ability to speak?.."

He swallowed, trying to relieve his dry throat "yes.." he hoisted himself up and leaned in, kissing her forehead gingerly "welcome back love"

She placed her hand softly on his mandible, stroking gently..


She lay on her tummy on the huge bed in her cabin, feet in the air, wiggling them back and forth. "finally free from that hell hole of a medbay! this requires celebration!" a wide grin spread across her features, lighting up her eyes as she gazed at him.

"Maybe you should celebrate less and rest more... you just got released, you don't want to rupture the stitches.." He sat in the sofa, blipping absentmindedly on a tablet.

"You're such a downer! Everything will be fine"

"Last time you said that you ended up in a coma.."

"Oh, is this what I'm gonna hear from now on" she sat up on her knees, folding her arms stubbornly "You can't pet that varren, it might bite!"

"Well..." He glanced at her sideways, throwing up his legs on the table "You need some punishment for lying to me..."

"lying about what?"

"You told me you'd be back before I missed you.."

She smirked and got up from the bed, grabbing two wine bottles that she threw on the bed. With two long strides she where at his side, grabbing his arm and pulling him up "Cmon, why are you sitting over here!"

"What are you up to..."

Her eyes glowed mischievously as she put her hand in front of her face, waving him closer with a finger "follow me and I'll tell you"

She led him up the bed and pushed him down against the headrest "Sit tight, I'll grab two glasses"

In a flash she was back at his side, sitting down next to him and pouring them wine.

"Well, you sure got your energy back quickly.."

"Yup, I'm like a cougar on speed"

"A what on a what now?" He took a sip of the fruity wine, letting it flow sweetly down his throat.

"A cat on catnip!"

"Still don't get what you're babbling about.."

She laughed charmingly, downed the remainder of the glass and got rid of it. She crawled over to him and pushed down his knees, smiling playfully while straddling him.

"Now, hurry up and drink, we've got other things to do"

"Other things?..."

"Yeah.. some catching up"

With a heavy sigh he put the class on the counter "Shepard, you should rest.."

He grabbed under her armpits to lift her up, she clamped her hands around his wrists and stopped him.

"I'm not made of glass Vakarian.. and since when did you start calling me Shepard again? I thought you'd finally started calling me by my first name"

"No, you're not made of glass.. but I know you too well by now... you'd claim how fine you felt even if your foot was blown off.."

"Well, I could always get one of those wooden legs.. actually, that would be kinda awesome, I could become a space pirate! running around yelling 'arr arr, give me all ya treasures!'"

"Yeah... that'd fit you perfectly... now get down.."

"Wow.. who swallowed the sour pill.." she crossed her arms and pouted.

"Well, at least one of us must think about your safety.."

"Seriously! I'm completely fine! You need to chill the fuck out.."

He grumbled and gawked at her "completely fine huh?" he pulled down the left side of her tank top, revealing a huge white plaster that covered a bullet wound on her shoulder "What about this?" He pointed at it "You've got about five more of those... so tell me again who needs to 'chill the fuck out'.."

"Yeah, I got shot, so what? It's the perk of the job when you're in the military.. But I'm all patched up now, so no need to worry"

"No need to worry?!" He barked fiercely "that's easy for you to say!"

"What's the big deal?!"

"Are you kidding me?! You almost died Shepard! Again!"

"But I didn't, I'm right here! And my name is Elehnia, start using it!"

He grabbed her arms a bit rougher than he meant to, pulling her in close to his face "You were not the one standing there as you collapsed, neither did you stand helpless in the medbay watching how you bled out! Do you even know how close it was? I watched, as you died, right in front of me and I couldn't do anything about it!"

He released her and leaned back against the headrest, watching the fishes swim round and round in the tank "You have no idea... you can't possibly imagine what it felt like... Never in my life have I been so utterly terrified and so completely useless..."

The fish tank wheezed and bubbled, the stars swept by in the huge black void outside the big skylight. Her breaths were slow and steady, a nice comfort for his stirred, troubled mind.

"I know that I can't remove those pictures from your head.. I wish I could.." She clutched his shirt softly in her hands "But you have to try and forget it.. I am who I am... I can't hide away in some pillowed up safety box while the galaxy is at stake... and I can't promise to not get hurt again... Besides, I do know what it feels like, I watched as you almost died too, after the fight on Omega.."

He sighed deeply "That's not even close to the worry you put me through! I don't run around like a maniac asking to get shot.. You've got no regard for your own life, no sense of self preservation. You're to stubborn to ask for help, like you can take on the whole galaxy by yourself. Getting shot six times yet still insistent on running along as if nothing happened, can you understand how fucked up that is?!"

She bit her lip tentatively "I used medigel..."

"Spirits Elehnia! That's not good enough!" he put a hand on each side of her face, forcing her to look at him "You're so freaking stupid! a dimwit! Why couldn't you just sit tight and wait for us?! No, you felt like taking on a base of indoctrinated soldiers, half naked with nothing but a half-assed gun as protection!"

She lowered his hands and held them gently in her own "But that's not me.. I'm not a 'sit tight' kind of woman... do you get how close it was? The reapers could've been knocking at our doors right this moment if I hadn't done something! I couldn't just sit there, fiddling my thumbs, hoping for rescue! I'll never stand by and just watch as the galaxy gets threatened by big bullies.. Even at the cost of my life.."

"Don't you get it, you don't have to gamble your life away! What about everyone on this ship who depend on you, even more so everyone else fighting this war. You're more than just a soldier, you're a leader that can never be replaced"

"That's not true.."

"Damn right it's true! Even though it's not what you asked for, even though it might not be what you want"

She dug her hands into her hair, burying her face in her arms "I'm not cut out to be a leader.."

"But you are, why do you think you've got a ship full of soldiers willing to die as long as you point them in the right direction? It's certainly not because of your sunny personality.."

"What's that supposed to mean?.." She glared at him gloomily.

"Don't get me wrong, you're charming in your own way, like a stoic badass.. But the reason people follow you, why they adore and trust in you, is because they know what you're capable of. How you by simply speaking can raise a whole crowd to the skies. You're ridiculously strong, clever and capable, you're just to blind to notice.."

"I'm not remotely worth all that praise, even if I was it doesn't matter.."

"Why?"

She raised her head and the pain in her eyes almost knocked him back "I'm just too tired Garrus.."

"Tired of what?.."

She sighed and rolled off him, stretching her arm towards the skylight "Sometimes I wish I could just lay here, watching that black void.."

He watched her dark expression, too deep an lonely to comprehend. He rolled over on his side and grabbed a lock of her ebony hair, playing with it between his fingers. "Talk to me.."

"About what?.."

"Everything.. let me be a part of your life"

"You already are.."

"I might be by your side, but you haven't let me in..."

She looked at him, raising an eyebrow "I don't get what you mean.."

"You keep me at arms length at all times.. You know all there is to know about me, I've told you everything.." He heaved a deep sigh "But all I know about you is what can be seen in front of me, what everyone else can see.. I don't know your background, how you grew up, what you hide in that mysterious brain of yours"

"It's not that mysterious, it's all about explosions and bashing headfirst into walls, remember?" She smirked.

"Don't turn this into a joke.. stop running"

"I'm not running, I'm right here.."

"No.. I think you've been running all your life.. But it's about time you stop, to realize that there's someone here for you, someone who can share your burdens.."

"There's no burdens to be shared.."

He grabbed her jaw gingerly and forced her to look at him "You're lying.."

She drew away impatiently and rose from the bed, stalking back and forth in the cabin "There's nothing to talk about!"

"Then why are you getting upset?"

"I'm upset because you're pushing me! Because you're talking as if you knew! Because you keep saying a bunch of annoying crap!" She roared and glowered at him.

"Yes, I am pushing you! If I didn't, that mountain of crap building up inside would overflow and crush you.."

"BUT I'M NOT BROKEN!"

"I didn't say that, you just did..."

"NOTHINGS WRONG, THERE'S NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT!"

"Then why are you crying?"

She halted abruptly, overcome by surprise, bringing her hand to her cheek to confirm what he said, to feel the wetness from her tears. She shook her head violently and threw a fist hard into the fish tank, a slow ringing sound following it. He rose from the bed and walked up to her, softly cradling the hand that was bruised and bleeding. He'd never seen her cry before, it was unbearable, heartbreaking.

"Do you think I'm blind?.. You were never this reckless before, even in our fight against Saren.. the others might not notice, but I can sense the difference.. it feels like you've got no will to live... as if you're seeking death.."

She stared stubbornly at the fishes swimming around, tears lingering on her eyelids, slowly running down her cheek.

"Don't you trust me?.."

"Of course i trust you..."

"Then why can't you talk with me?"

"It's like you said.. I don't have a sunny personality, I wasn't made to talk.."

"Sounds kind of ironic since you set people ablaze with your speeches.."

She winced at his words as if stung, her body tense, breathing rapidly, something distant stirring in her gaze.

"What's wrong?.."

"I've already told you... Nothings wrong.."

"Can you still claim that while looking like this?"

"What do you want me to say Garrus?.." She turned towards him with a gaze that told of exhaustion and death "That I'm too tired, that it's all too much... Or how it feels waking up from the dead in a Cerberus laboratory?.."

"That would be a start.." He cradled her cheek, softly stroking away tears with the soft pad of his thumb.

She placed her hand above his and moved it to the part of her cheek that was marred with bright red scars "Do you see this?..The last thing I remember are explosions, fire and heat so overbearing it felt like I was melting.."

She stretched out her arms, looking down her body "They gathered up the chunks and pieces of meat that was once me, glued it together with bits of metal.. I'm not a human made of flesh and bones, I'm a cyborg.. Who knows what Cerberus did to me, is this body really mine, are these thoughts my own?.." She sighed and hugged herself, turning towards the huge fish tank again and fell silent.

"I would know if they'd turned you into something you're not.." He grabbed her arm and pressed gently, running his arm down to her hand "This is flesh, you're still soft and squishy, like every other human. In my opinion you're too soft, compared to me you're like a glass jar walking on two legs. Even if they supplemented that flesh with some metal it doesn't make you a monster" He sighed and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug "If you really can't let it go, why not talk to Miranda. She's abandoned Cerberus now, there's no reason for her to hide anything anymore"

"Everything's different now.. Sometimes.. I just want to give up.. let the darkness take me again.."

His heart gave a painful lurch, a heavy stone settling in his stomach. He squeezed harder, trying to embrace every part of her "I won't let you disappear again.. Because if you do, you'll have to take me with you.."

She chuckled faintly, without her usual mirth "You'd be just fine without me..."

"You know.. sometimes you're incredible stupid..."

She crawled out of his grasp and moved sluggishly towards the bed, sitting down on the edge of it. "I just don't know how to pull myself through any longer.. the nightmares that haunt me... I just.. can't anymore.. I'm empty.. tired.."

He sat down next to her, not sure how to respond, in lack of anything else to do he just grabbed her hand and massaged it comfortingly. She was silent for so long he wasn't sure if she was still in the room with him.

"You know I grew up on Mindoir, right?"

"Yeah, so I've heard.."

"I lived with my family.. Dad, mom, two siblings... It's tough living in the Terminus System. No laws to keep people in check, miserable supply chains and the threat of invasion at all times... We had to work hard to keep the farm running, to keep ourselves alive..."

"When I was 15 the Batarians invaded, we didn't even have time to react before they were at our doorstep. I was at home with my mother..."

She fell back on the bed and grabbed a pillow to hug "They knocked down our door and rushed inside... I was at the back of the house and could just make out the ruckus... I grabbed a rifle and rushed to the front of the house, managing to shoot two of the bastards as they carried my mother away... But they were to many, one of them came up behind me and knocked me unconscious... When I woke up again.."

New layers of tears formed and fell, over and over, she swallowed repeatedly as if trying to force something down. At one point she held her breath far to long, just to stop herself from sobbing. He sat there and watched, afraid that if he acted in any sort of way she would close herself off again, but he felt like an asshole, like the most worthless bastard in the world.

"When I woke up again.. I was tied at my hands and feet, there were several of us bound up together and they made us watch... Watch as they burned up our parents.. The flamethrowers burned on forever, a constant stream of fire and smoke... and everyone.. just.. melted..."

She laughed a hollow self depriving snarl "Can you guess what I did after that?... Instead of fighting... Instead of taking revenge, I ran at the first opportunity given to me.. like a fucking, miserable coward... When they were rounding us up one night, there were just two guards.. Guess they didn't think a bunch of kids would stand a chance... But we'd already prepared, and when they had their backs against us we used the chains that bound us... smashed those bastards into a pulp.. We used the keys and released the chains, then we ran for our lives.. But they caught up and began shooting at us.. I was an excellent runner.. managed to escape before they could shoot me down..."

He carefully lay down on the bed next to her and gingerly placed a hand above hers, it was clenched so hard the skin was stretched white. He rubbed softly with his thumb until she relaxed her grip, then entwined his fingers with hers. Both hands where smeared by the blood from her wounded knuckles, but he didn't give it any attention.

"I hid as well as I could manage, went through the colony in search for others who might've escaped.. But I found no one, my brother and sister who had been at school when the batarians attacked, were gone.. I was alone... When the raid was all but over the Alliance Military arrived and cleaned up the remains.. I was too scared at first to approach, but they found me eventually and brought me to some kind of orphanage.."

She silently gawked at the ceiling, trying to steady her breath. Her eyes were red and puffy, the blush from her tears spread through her exhausted features. It seemed like she was out of things to say, but he was sure there was more buried within "What happened after?.. How did you end up with the Military?"

"Well.. I was too old to become adopted, most people want young kids, if they'd want any at all, that is... But sometimes old dudes would come by and pick someone up.. The orphanage didn't really care as long as they could get rid of another unnecessary kid.."

She sighed heavily and glared at the ceiling "To say it in the most convenient way possible.. These men were creeps, bastards, the worst scum there is.. So was the one I ended up with.. At first he played real nice, made me trust in him, pretended that he'd take care of me.. I was naive and believed him, so when I was at my most vulnerable.. He used me in any way imaginable, used me, broke me and then discarded me.."

"At that point I decided to never let myself end up in another situation like that, I didn't want to stay weak any longer.. Because this world contains no heroes, no one will save you.. above all else, never, trust, anyone..."

"I joined the Alliance Military.. during daytime I spent every hour honing my abilities, at night I lay awake guarding against fellow soldiers who felt like joining my bed.. didn't take them long to realize that it was best to avoid the crazy bitch with the wrench.."

"They called me a military wonder the way I rose through the ranks.. I was finally strong, able and refused to take crap from anyone... well, some of my commanding officers saw that as less than appealing...To test my abilities they sent me to Akuze, well, you should know most about what happened there.. after that Captain Anderson picked me up, we had a few tussles until he put me in my place.. He was the first guy who I actually looked up to...

She chuckled dejectedly and gave him a sideways glance "So.. Now you know.. Aren't I just the very apex of pathetic?"

"No.. you're far from pathetic..."

"I can tell when someone pities me, I can't handle it if you look down on me too.."

He grabbed her shoulder and dragged her into his embrace "I wouldn't call it pity.. but I feel for you.. feel for everything you had to go through.. But if there's something I'll never do, is to look down on you.. never in a million years will you be anything other than the strongest person I've ever known.."

"From everything I told you how could you reach that conclusion?.. I was weak, pathetic and a coward.. I ran away from my family.. left them to die.."

"Sometimes I wonder how someone so clever can say such stupid things.. Though, you do that quite often so I should have gotten used to it by now.." he tried imitating her voice and talked in a high pitch "You'll get over me.. I'm a coward..."

"You sound nothing like me..."

"Well, I gave it my best.. and I can only tell you the most cliche things, that it wasn't your fault, you were 15, merely a child..That you made the right choice by running, that you couldn't have changed anything by staying.. But this you probably know already.."

"You should hate me... despise me... I'm just a rotten bastard who can't protect anyone I care about.."

"But I don't.. and you won't change that by disfavoring yourself.. nothing I say right now can make everything alright.. But what I can do, is stay by your side.. telling you each day that you're needed.. that you're lovable.. and that I think you're amazing just the way you are... hopefully you'll learn to trust in that.. eventually.."

She sobbed in his embrace, tears soaking the fabric of his shirt. He just kept holding her like that until she fell asleep from exhaustion "I will guard you through the night.. and every night onward.." He pulled her even tighter and buried his face in her soft ebony locks, inhaling her sweet scent.


He lay in distant thoughts when he felt her stirring, her hand slowly reaching up to stroke his face "have you slept at all?.." she said in a raspy morning voice.

"Nah, but I'm not that tired.."

"Great, so now I'm ruining your sleep as well.."

"Well, you do that just by existing.. But it's much more pleasant like this.. at least I get to hold you.."

"Whoop whoop.." she hollered sarcastically.

"Any nightmares?.."

"Actually no... That's a first in a long while.."

"That's good..." He played with her hair lovingly.

"So what have you been doing all night stuck like this?.."

"I've been thinking.. and listened to your snoring, watching you drool" He smirked.

"I don't snore... and I don't drool.."

"How would you know?.."

"I just do.." She sat up and rubbed her eyes, scanning the cabin "I'll go take a shower.. You should catch some shut eye.."

"Yeah..I'll try.." He yawned and lay down on the bed, but unable to fall asleep he just pulled up the cover and tried to relax.

He heard the shower turn on and the splashes of water cascading, droplets smashing against the tiles. His thoughts had been spinning all night, trying to find a good solution to the nights events. But there really wasn't any, it was clear that she was depressed, no wonder with what she'd told him. There's never an easy fix to that kind of situation. She'd yet again been thrown into the chaos of war, barely waking up from death before people began depending on her. He was frustrated with himself, for his inability to help, his lack of understanding. They'd been together for so long, yet he'd never known how deep her problems ran. Of course he'd known something was up, especially after they'd met again on Omega. But it was ridiculous the amount of pain she'd carried around for all these years.

She stepped out of the bathroom, her long wet hair lining her shoulders. She used a towel to dry it off as he walked up to her. "Are you awake now?"

"Yeah, there's nothing like a cold shower to clear your mind.."

"Well, I wouldn't know about that.."

"Of course you wouldn't, you freaking space lizard... Maybe I should install a heat pad inside the Main battery room.. Then you'd be able to handle your calibrations in peace.."

"Ha.. Ha.. Very funny.. Maybe I should cushion up all of Normandy so you don't hurt yourself by walking.. squishy human.. I'll go take a shower now" He ruffled her hair before entering the bathroom.

He turned up the heat until the water was steaming hot and let it pour down his armored body, leaning his brow against the cold tiles. He would have to walk a fine line from here on, if he cared too much or acted too soft she would think he pitied her. If he didn't act at all she might never recover. Frustrated he banged his fist against the wall repeatedly, why was he always so damn useless.

When he left the bathroom she lay on the bed fiddling with her tablet, turning towards him adopting an amused smile. "Did you find some bugs that needed smashing?"

He halted for a second, contemplating "How did you know?.. Actually they were really big, you should be glad that I got rid of them for you.."

"Yeah, as if I'd ever be afraid of bugs after all the Rachni I've blown to bits.."

"But these were really creepy, all tentacles, slime and sprouts everywhere.." He stopped in front of the bed and looked down at her.

"What are you standing there for? Afraid I'll bite?"

"I was just thinking about calibrations.."

She laughed and rolled over on her back "Stop thinking about work and get down here" She pulled on his sweater until he sat down.

"You should be tired still, why don't you sleep some more.."

"Actually I'm more rested than I've been for a long time.. Stop acting like a worrywart.."

"I'm not, I'm just applying my knowledge of human anatomy, you're blue under the eyes, means you're tired, right?"

"Oh my master, you've learnt so much already, I can't call you my little fledgling anymore" She pointed jokingly at his forehead "but we can actually be blue just from long lasting insomnia. At this moment I feel fine"

"I think we established last night that your definition of 'I feel fine' can't be trusted.."

"Look, you've gotta stop worrying so much.. I know... I've not exactly given you much reason lately to believe in me.. But can't you just act as you always have?.."

"No.. I think not.."

She sighed and glared at the ceiling "So this pity you're feeling.. what I've told you.. has it ruined everything?.."

"I can't act as before because I know too much now.. I never liked playing around in the dark anyway.. Now that I know more about you, I feel relieved, like we're closer.."

He grabbed her hand and massaged it gently "I've been thinking back and forth all night, about how to behave around you.. So that you wont think I'm acting out of pity or because I look down on you.. But I found no solution and concluded that the only thing I can do now, is to be completely honest.. I'm afraid that you'll get hurt, that you'll be sad and that I wont be able to do anything about it.."

"How would you be able to follow me if all you do is worry all the time?.."

"That wont be a problem.. Me worrying about you and me following you wont interfere with each other.."

She sighed softly "When we're on missions you'll get distracted and end up hurt.. I could never forgive myself for that.."

"You think that would make a difference? I'm already distracted on every mission.. It's enough to have you close to get my thoughts wandering.."

"Are you trying to seduce me Vakarian?.." She hummed pleasantly, laying her warm gaze on him. He withdrew and swallowed hesitantly, she crawled up to him and placed her hands on his thighs "You interrupted me yesterday..." She got close to his face "I told you we had some catching up to do, instead you got me talking for hours.. I feel a bit deceived.."

He pushed her back with a hand against her shoulder "You're wounded..."

"Yeah.. but that wont be a problem for this type of activity.."

"It would be a problem for me..."

"How come?"

"Well..You've just recovered.. I'm afraid that you'll get hurt..."

She laughed vigorously "Garrus dear, if six bullets, one explosion and a coma didn't kill me, you certainly won't!" She sat up and removed her tank top, showcasing all the white plasters covering her upper body. He lowered is head, trying to ignore the damage she'd received. She gripped his hands and placed them on her waist "I'm not made of glass.. look, you're touching me and I'm not falling to pieces"

He looked at her, saw the hunger and need that burned in her gaze. He knew that he was silly, knew that she wasn't that breakable, still he was hesitant. What if it was like before, that she denied her pain because she didn't want him to worry. "You're right, maybe I'm just overreacting.. but is this really what you need right now?.."

She placed her arms on his shoulders and fixed his gaze "Yes.. this is precisely what I need.. I want to be close to you.. The only time I feel truly alive is when you touch me... But I don't want it unless you're there with me, if you feel uncomfortable I'll stop.."

"I'm never uncomfortable when I'm with you.. I just want to make sure... that this is what you want.."

"Then you can stop hesitating, because all I want is you..." She pushed her lips against his and looped her arms around his neck, pulling him in close. Her body radiated heat from the warm shower, it enveloped him comfortingly. The rushed rhythmic beats from her heart pushed him along, he traced a talon along her spine, it made her shivered pleasantly. He stopped as his hand reached her lower back, pressing her promptly against him. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and slowly eased it off him, letting her soft hands rest against his chest. She panted and moaned against his lips, he answered with a soft rumble and pulled her even closer. He felt her reach behind her back, unclasping the lingerie, it slid down along her arms, revealing her delicate breasts that pressed against his chest. A hurried moan escaped his lips as he pushed her down on the bed, placing himself between her legs.

He fixed her gaze that was slightly hooded, his heart lurched from the warmth and need that brimmed within it. He placed a hand between her breasts and slid it down gently towards her abdomen, where he swiftly undid her tied slacks and ripped them off along with her panties. She lay before him in all her glorious wonder, the soft honey colored skin, her muscular and lean body. His hands roamed over her body and coaxed her into soft, urgent moans, the wetness between her legs spread a pleasant sweet scent around him. She leaned forward and helped ease off his pants, then dragged him promptly towards her, clawing at his back, burying her face in his neck. Her soft lips traced along his pulse, leaving hot marks behind wherever they'd traveled.

When he entered she released an inhibited moan and writhed underneath him, he felt like he could collapse right then and there out of pure pleasure. He moved slowly and steadily as she arched her back and called his name, digging her hands into the cover, clenching her fists in the fabric. He slid his arm around her back and pulled her up against him, she looped her arms around his neck and hugged tight. His teeth dragged along her collarbone, sending shivers down her spine and goosebumps along her skin. She urged him into a faster pace, it was almost too much to bear as she moaned louder and pulled him tighter, curling her legs around his hips. He gnawed his teeth while panting heavily, keeping a controlled rhythmic pace until she squirmed in ecstasy beneath him, he released in a deep melodic moan.

For a while they lay exhausted, hugging, relishing in each others closeness. Then he fell to the side and pulled her back against his chest in a tight embrace. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her sweet fruity scent, whispering tenderly beside her ear "I love you..."

"And I you.."


The End

Tell me what you thought and if there's something I can improve! I'd appreciate it a lot!