I Do Not Own Mass Effect or any of it's Characters.
Chapter Fourteen: Messages
For the first time in weeks Wayne stood out of the bed he had been confined to. At first his stance was wobbly and when he tried to move his legs nearly buckled. However once he caught his bearings, he was able to walk again. Both Chakwas and Mordin entered at that moment and dropped everything they were holding. Dr. Chakwas clearly upset, huffed.
"Commander, lay back down! Your injuries!" Wayne brushed them off as he hobbled passed them and replied joyfully.
"I'm fine. It hurts a little but I'm fine." Wayne coughed as he said that. With a firm yet gentle hand Karin tried to direct him back to the med-bay but it was no use. He was determined to leave. After some deliberation Mordin and Karin were able to talk Wayne down. Various tests were run and X-rays were taken. Both Karin and Mordin were dumbfounded. What they found proved that he was in near full recovery. They let him leave but for the next couple of weeks he would need to report to med-bay once daily.
Mordin continually read over Commander Shepard's data. It was a puzzle. Mordin was good at those. Obsessed maybe…but he was good at finding out how things worked. He poured over the manila folder again and again until his eyes started to sting. As he worked Karin watched him with a light smile spreading across her face and she couldn't help but ask.
"Do you always take these sorts of things so seriously?" Mordin's head snapped out of the papers to face her. He looked as if he had been slapped.
"Of course. Science, biology…they are the key to unlocking so many mysteries. I want to know how he healed so incredibly fast…is not probable." Mordin replied automatically. He placed the folder down and moved closer to Karin.
"Curious, what do you think?" Mordin asked before returning to the folder. Karin earnestly shrugged her shoulders.
"Sometimes Mordin there are no answers to these mysteries, they just happen." Mordin shook his head slowly and asked.
"Miracles you mean?" Karin nodded as her response. Mordin scoffed.
"No logic. Miracles don't exist. Never have."
"Then how do you explain Shepard?" Mordin shook the manila folder in Karin's direction and replied coolly
"In all things there are answers. As a scientist and doctor it is my place to find exactly what those answers are." Karin crossed her legs and removed her lab coat. She rubbed the back of her neck and replied.
"And what if you can't find your answer? What then?" Mordin chuckled as he read over the folder again and replied without missing a beat.
"Keep looking, will find one…always answer. Will prove it." Karin was going to protest but Mordin raised his hand in objection and declared.
"Forgive me, need time. Must research." Without another word spoken Mordin delved deeper into the papers. After that he started looking into Shepard's health records. Previous incidents had shown that he was relatively quick healer. Interesting must make note. Mordin thought as he leafed through the files. Soon Mordin had to activate his Omni Tool to access the older files on Shepard. He was so absorbed in his work that he didn't even notice Karin leave the med-bay.
"May have found something!" He exclaimed as he turned away only to find an empty room. Mordin clicked his teeth together…that was disheartening. He didn't have anyone to share this find. Just as he was about to turn back to Shepard's medical history the hiss of the metallic door was heard. Karin had returned with two cups of coffee.
"If we're going on a wild goose chase I went and got us some coffee…and yes they are both decaf." Mordin offered a wry smile and motioned for Karin to join him.
Wayne didn't do much once he left the med-bay. Really all he did was head up to his personal cabin and lay back down. He activated his Omni Tool Mp3 and set it too Crazy on you by Heart. It helped to drown out the mild pain. His hands automatically rifled through the end table until he found his pack of smokes. Cancer sounded tasty right about now. Wayne flipped up the pale blue American Spirit box and parted his lips, placing a cigarette to them. As he smoked Wayne opened his laptop. He didn't take any detours today and simply checked his email.
LaraM34
Wayne, Lord bless you, child. I prayed every day for you. Please tell me your well? Ever since it happened…I… Lord bless you child.
ShepardWayne
Ma'am, I'm fine. I told you so the last several times you came to see me. Please don't worry.
Wayne wanted to type some mushy affectionate thing at the end but couldn't. Instead he just sent the message as is. Not even a minute had passed and Lara had replied.
LaraM34
I still do, son. Should I stop by today?
Wayne pinched the bridge of his nose and drew up a new cigarette. Lara had stopped by at least three times a day to check up on him. He knew she meant well but he didn't want her to worry so much.
ShepardWayne
It's okay, ma'am. I'm fine. Really.
LaraM34
I'll drop by later tonight, bring you some homemade cooking, anything you want in particular?
There was simply no way to say no to Lara or her cooking. Wayne smiled…at least he would be getting a taste of home. It was about time he had one of Lara's home cooked meals. As he wondered as to what he wanted his mouth began to water. Her meatloaf, spaghetti or her famous salmon fillet, all of it sounded so good!
ShepardWayne
Salmon fillet, please, Ma'am.
LaraM34
With peach cobbler as dessert?
ShepardWayne
YES!
Once Shepard hit send he shut his laptop and retrieved one of his plays, "Long Day's Journey Into Night" and tore through it until reaching the end. This was one of Wayne's personal favorites. His father had given him a copy for his fourteenth birthday but after the attack his original copy was lost. Reading this now reminded Wayne of home...Wayne gritted his teeth and lit up another smoke. He wasn't left alone with those thoughts for long. The elevator to his room opened up and he was joined by Tali. She drew the Commander close to her and rested her head on his chest. Wayne planted a light kiss on the crown of her helmet and wrapped his arm around her.
"Found out what Hitomi Winter dream was." Tali whispered into Shepard's ear. Wayne bit his lower lip.
"Angry?" He asked. Tali shook her head then replied.
"Surprised…not mad." Wayne closed his eyes, Tali's hands twirled in his hair. Suddenly she sat up and huffed.
"Okay, a little upset but not angry." Wayne let out a low chuckle before tightening his arms around Tali. He whispered sweet nothings to her until he was drowsy and half asleep. Before falling asleep he told Tali that Lara was coming for a visit later. Tali smiled. In the brief time she knew her she liked Lara. She was good company.
"That's good." She whispered back. Shepard smiled and dimmed the light to his cabin and fell asleep with Tali curled next to him. About thirty had passed before Shepard awoke and forced the sleep out of system with Tali still wrapped around him. Wayne automatically reached for his pack of smokes and lit up. He only had half of a puff before the elevator opened. It was Lara. When she saw the cigarette the joy left her face so fast only a salarian would have noticed the change. She immediately marched over to Wayne and ripped it from his hands, snapping it between her fingers.
"Child, what is this? You told me you quit." Lara growled. Shepard cast his eyes to the floor and replied quietly.
"I did but..." Her dark eyes narrowed into fine points.
"You aren't drinking again too are you?" Lara snapped. Wayne felt his eyebrow twitch just a little. He took in a small breath of air, shook his head and replied.
"No Ma'am." Lara only shook her head and chastised.
"Best not be, child. Will you at least try to quit smoking?" Wayne offered a sheepish smile and nodded. Lara only shook her head and continued.
"Dinner's down in the mess hall. Join me when you're ready." Wayne nodded again before lying back down. All the commotion seemed to wake Tali. Half asleep she sat up and blinked her eyes in rapid succession.
"Was Lara just here or was I dreaming?" Tali asked lazily.
"Yep she was here." Wayne replied.
"Okay so the talking Varren part was a dream…Was she angry because of the cigarette?" Wayne grimaced and nodded his head. Tali collapsed back onto the pillow and mumbled.
"That's good."
"Tali, they're having dinner right now, do you want to join me?" Tali hazily shook her head.
"Too tired. I was working on a project all last night…go have fun." Tali murmured. Wayne was going to ask if she was sure but Tali was already asleep. Before he left Wayne wrapped Tali up between the sheets and had EDI sterilize the room just in case.
The dinner went by quickly. Lara's fillet was just the way Wayne remembered, not to zesty yet had the absolute perfect kick. She visited with the crew for a while before having to head back. Tali even managed to head down to say goodbye before crawling back Shepard's cabin.
When it came time for Lara to leave Wayne opted to escort her home. She tried telling him to rest but he was insistent. On the transport back to the Citadel the two reminisced about the old times being raised on the Citadel and the time before that…when Lara still lived on Mindoir. They laughed together as they rehashed some of Wayne's memories of Lara. Midway back to the Citadel Wayne's eyes lit up and asked mischievously.
"Do you remember that one time when me and Chuck went over to see you, you were chasing that damn cat of yours up and down your house with a skillet screaming that you were going to "skin your mangy orange and white hide so I can…" Shepard tried to imitating Lara but a quick flick to the head made him stop.
"Respect your elders, child." She chided. Wayne flashed a wry smile and continued with the story.
"So there you were, screaming at the cat, which had rifled through the garbage and threw it every which way, chunks of it in his fur and there was Chuck Flynn in the middle of all this." Lara started to chuckle as she began to remember what Wayne was talking about and added.
"The boy was only five, child. He didn't know any better." Wayne still couldn't stop from laughing as he continued on.
"Chuck just saunters over to Walker and holds him and turns to you and says, Auntie Lara, you need to learn how to control the puss, yours is out of control!" Lara felt her cheeks burn as she flicked his forehead again. She tried not to snicker as she scolded.
"Child, that is inappropriate! Mind yourself in front of your elders." Wayne burst out laughing and couldn't help but add.
"So long as you mind that puss, I mean it is out of control!" Lara was torn between laughing and scolding. In the end she simply shook her head and said in quiet joyous voice.
"Lord, forgive this horrible son of mine and his dirty mind. He means well…he does." With that Lara flicked Wayne's forehead a final time and added.
"I just wish he'd learn when to shut his little mouth." Wayne only smiled wider and looked out of the window. His ribs started to hurt a bit but it didn't last. He must of winced or something because Lara took notice.
"You in pain, child?" She asked worry laden in every word. Wayne told her a little lie and said that he was fine. Lara saw right through it and chastised.
"Wayne Nathanial Shepard, don't you be lying to me that's how you grow the devils tongue." Wayne grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. He apologized quietly and returned to looking out of the window. Lara's features softened as she patted him on the shoulder and said kindly.
"You were always such a sweet boy growing up, Wayne, and you still are."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Shepard murmured. Lara smiled and continued.
"I'm proud of you, son, proud of all you have done and proud that you found someone that you can be happy with." Shepard nodded in agreement and replied.
"I must be finally doing something right…you never praise me." Lara frowned and leaned back in her chair.
"That's not true, Wayne, I have always been proud of you…even if you weren't my own, I still see you as my son." Before she could continue the transport shuttle halted. When the ramp opened Wayne helped Lara to the ground and walked with her back to her shop. On their way they stopped off at a book store a personal indulgence for the both of them. Inside Lara and Shepard lost themselves in the massive collections of text. As Shepard tore through the history section Lara said with her nose glued into a turn of the century cook book.
"Do you remember all those times you would head over to my house, just so I'd read to you?"
"Barely." Shepard offered. Lara seemed to smile but Wayne couldn't tell.
"Almost every day you would bring a new picture book for us to read together. We'd sit down for hours reading and rereading the same book until you fell asleep or your parents came to wrestle you home. Sometimes I miss those days…" Shepard smirked. Sometimes I do too, Ma'am. He thought. Nothing else was said between the two and they continued to read and shop.
Tali woke up and her eyes still burned. She was trying to get sick. Correction…she was sick…it was a mild cold and a major pain. Dr. Chakwas had given her a double dose of antibiotics and told her to rest. As she tossed and turned Tali hugged one Commander Shepard's pillows to her chest and thought how to pass the time. She had slept most of the day and didn't want to worry anyone, so she passed out up here…that and she didn't want to see Garrus…not after…well she didn't want to see him. Now Tali was wide awake and more than a little hungry. She fancied the thought of going down to a local restaurant that had a quarian menu but decided against it. Many quarians saw it as taboo to be around others sick. Sure their suits protected from foreign contaminants but one suit rupture and bam! Someone else just got sick. Tali didn't want to risk that. So she did the only thing she could and rode the elevator down to the mess hall.
For once it was entirely empty. That was rare. The only crew member around was Gardner. He was sitting in one of the tables on the far left with a dish rag draped over his shoulder and was eating his dinner. When he noticed Tali he offered her a seat and automatically made his way behind the cafeteria kitchen to make her up some grub.
"It's okay, Rupert, I can do that." Tali protested. Gardner ignored her and whipped up a fresh paste tube. Rupert smiled quickly as he handed her the tube and returned to his seat. He took a couple bites of his meal then looked up and said earnestly.
"Was quite the interesting day round here, little missy. Should've seen that Lara woman rip around here…something else entirely, was damn near intimidating the way she ran around." Tali nodded vigorously and replied.
"Yeah, it was the same when I meant her." Gardner took another bite of his meal before saying.
"Still she was great company and funny to be around, telling all of the old stories about the Commander growing up, babysitting and helping raise him. She even showed the crew a couple of holo-vids of the Commander. I can't say that old Shepard was particularly fond of that mind you. Still, you could tell the two are closer than moths to light bulbs." Tali frowned. It was a shame that she missed that…Stupid cold…stupid weak immune system. Tali thought as she attached the paste tube.
"What were the videos about?" Tali asked before squeezing a small portion of food into her mask. Gardner shrugged and replied sheepishly.
"I was too busy to take notice…could of sworn I heard dance practice or something like that." Tali thought back, Wayne did mention something about dancing but she really couldn't' remember. Gardner finished the last of his meal and started washing dishes. Tali hurriedly finished the last of her paste. Rupert reprimanded her and told her to go ahead and take her time. Regardless Tali still hurried and discarded the empty tube. She said her goodbyes and made for the elevator. When the doors opened she immediately wished that she had taken up Rupert's offer to stay. Keelah! Why! Tali's thoughts echoed as she marched into the elevator next to Garrus Vakarian. She remained silent and so did he. Not a word was spoken between the two until finally Garrus spoke up.
"You know, if you have a shotgun…I bet it's not properly calibrated." Tali snapped her head...but didn't have anything prepared for that. She wanted to ball him out but found that she couldn't. Instead she let out a little laugh and shot back.
"Is that all you have to say?" Garrus edged back until he was flat against the wall of the elevator. Even now he was intimidated. He took in a small breath and continued.
"I told you I'm done apologizing. Instead I'm just going ask flat out, are you ever going to forgive me?" Tali was silent as he looked Garrus over. There was something in his eyes. Something she had never really seen before. It was like a longing or need that she couldn't place. Tali did not expect this…she really didn't. Again he asked in a tone of voice that sounded wounded or hurt. Tali bit her lower lip and thought of what to do until she replied solemnly.
"I'm not mad…not anymore. But you are still a bosh'tet. Understand?" Garrus nodded and Tali smiled. After that all was silent until they reached her floor. Before she left Garrus asked a final time.
"So we are good, right?" Tali turned to face him and smirked.
"We're getting there." Garrus's mandibles clicked slowly in approval. Before any more could be said Tali made for the door but Garrus stopped her. He held her shoulder firmly and declared.
"Wait." Tali quickly turned on her heel and met his silvery blue eyes. Again there was that need. This time it was more powerful even primal. Tali questioned what he wanted but Garrus didn't say anything. For a moment he moved in closer but instantly backed away his normal posture returning and he grumbled.
"Never mind." The elevator doors shut, leaving Tali standing there wondering what just happened.
Garrus practically broke his fingers and elevator door shut button. That was so incredibly stupid of him! What was I going to do, hug her… kiss her! The turian's mind raced about what he just tried to do. Shepard was his best friend and he just…So incredibly stupid! Garrus thought as he tramped back into the weapons bay of the Normandy. He threw his headset across the room and collapsed onto a makeshift seat of crates and piping.
"Fuck!" Garrus growled as he angrily re-calibrated his side arm. This whole thing was just a load of horse crap! He blinked a couple of times and started to calm down a little. He needed a drink…a strong one but not here. He was going out to the Dark Star Lounge.
Tarak leaned forward on the railing that overlooked the lower Citadel. Gru was beside him with a pair of precision binoculars. They had been ghosting Commander Shepard for most of the night. Ever since he left with the woman and the various places they stopped off and spent time at. This woman was apparently very close to the Commander. She had just become a person of interest. Tarak packed his gums with tobacco and asked Gru for an update.
"Still the same, boss…wait, he's leaving the bookstore now." Gru replied as he zoomed in on the two.
"Alright, boss, they're moving, again." Gru added before placing the binoculars away and motioning for them to get going. They followed for the next thirty minutes before they reached their final stop. An odds and ends store "Lara's Everything Else". Gru reported that only the woman had entered and the Commander was heading back the way he came. Gru placed the binoculars down and said quickly.
"We could hit this woman now. She's alone." Tarak shook his head and replied.
"No. We will get this woman just not now…now we watch and we wait but we will not act. I want to know more." Tarak backed away and motioned for Gru to follow with one thought on his mind, Jentha… This Lara had just reached the top of Tarak's list of targets.
As Wayne walked back something was off. He felt it in his spine. Maybe he was just being paranoid but something about tonight was off. Choosing to shake it off Wayne continued into the night back to the Normandy.
A/N'
Sup Peoples! Here's my newest update! I hope you are enjoying this story, Constructive Criticism is Welcome!