Chapter 17

Anya was trembling when her door closed behind her. Exhaustion and adrenaline were battling in her, and she wasn't sure if she was about to keel over or start pacing. She made herself sit in the chair in front of her desk, determined to at least get her heart rate under control, and her omni-tool made a noise. She glanced down and opened the message when she saw it was from Garrus.

I'm coming up.

She faintly heard the whirring of the elevator, and she didn't think before she said, "EDI, can you please open the door for Garrus when he gets here?"

"Understood, Commander."

A few beats later, the door opened, and the turian strode in, eyes still a little wild. His gaze quickly fell on her and she roused herself to stand in order to meet him halfway. He folded her into his arms quickly, and she could feel tears prick her eyes.

"Don't ever leave me behind like that again," he mumbled into her hair.

"I didn't want to this time. I just...I trusted you to hold a fall back point for us."

"You fought that thing without me."

"Jacob and Miranda are good leaders, but I only have slightly more faith in them than the Council. Zaeed can't be trusted to get anyone but himself out. Who else could hold the line? We were dead if we hadn't...God, I didn't want to go on without you, but what choice did I have?"

"I cannot have your six from that far away, Anya. Spirits, if something had happened to you again…" His hold on her tightened and she swallowed.

"You said you would stay alive if I did. I told you I would. It was easier to walk away when I knew I was coming straight back to you," she whispered. "I wouldn't lie to you."

"Just please don't do that again."

"Not if I can help it."

"I'm serious, Anya."

"So am I. Garrus, look at me." She pulled back and met his gaze with hers. "I promise you, if there is ever a way that I can do something in a way that keeps you by my side, that is the way I will do it. Okay?"

After a beat, he nodded, and she smiled when he leaned in to touch his forehead to hers. She leaned into the gesture, letting out a contented noise, and he squeezed her tighter for a moment. "C'mon, let's get you of this armor. We can clean both after we get some sleep."

"How do you know I wasn't about to clean it now?"

"Are you really trying to tell me that you're cleaning your armor first for the first time in over two years right after we took down a reaper and most of the Collectors? That's really the story you're going with right now?"

She snorted. "No. I'm just saying, you never know."

"Maybe one day, but not today," he conceded with a chuckle.

"C'mon. Let's ruin these sheets and get some sleep." She slid from his embrace and took his hand in hers, leading him down the stairs towards the bed.

"This feels vaguely familiar," he said softly from behind her, and she laughed.

"We can refresh your memory after I get a shower. Or while I get a shower. I'm willing to play it by ear."

"Well, I've proven somewhat persuasive recently, I'd like to think my odds are decent," came the retort, and she shook her head, "and I've actually gotten a pretty decent idea of what I need to do now."

She laughed at that. "If you call earlier decent, I'm intrigued by and simultaneously terrified of whatever you consider really good."

He chuckled, too, the noise low, and she briefly considered trying to talk him into staying up with her, but decided against it almost immediately. She could feel herself on the brink of crashing, and nothing was going to be more important than curling up to sleep at some point in the next three to seven minutes.

When they reached the bed, Anya turned to face him, and he smiled, reaching for the clasps that kept her armor in place. She did the same for him, helping him with his, until the armor was scattered in a semi-circle around them. Then Anya began to peel off her clothes and underclothes, determined to be bare, and Garrus shook his head.

"I hope you aren't hoping for much. My aches have aches," he warned with a rueful laugh.

"Oh, God, no. I just can't sleep for shit in dirty clothes. It's a weird holdover from my street urchin days. I'd rather be naked than filthy any day of the week."

"Huh." After a beat, the turian followed suit, and she giggled while he stripped. "What? I don't have any clean clothes up here, and you aren't wrong."

"It just took so little convincing. I'm sorry, it's not that funny."

"You're exhausted," he half-joked as he peeled off the last of his clothes.

"Ugh, I really am." She smiled when he pulled her back into his arms, and she took a moment to savor the heat coming off of him. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me, too. I'm not sure I could have gotten away with a whole lot more scar tissue just yet, so I figured it was better to play it safe."

"Oh, hush."

"I'm just saying, I don't know how much krogan somehow snuck in that head of yours." He ran his talons through her hair gently, and she closed her eyes as she leaned into the touch. It took a long moment for her to force them open again, and she smiled up at him as she pulled away.

"C'mon, let's get some rest. I'm about ready to fall asleep standing up." He snorted at that.

She hurried into her bed and under the covers, glad when he followed. It took a moment for him to arrange the pillows comfortably, but once they were settled, he moved in close behind her. He reached for her tentatively, and she was quick to scoot back against him, tugging his arm until it was loosely wrapped around her waist. He made a small, contented noise. "Getting comfortable?"

"Mmm, very. Is this going to be okay for you?"

"I'm fine. Are you going to be alright? I know I'm not very soft, and I know my skin gets pretty warm."

"I've noticed. I fully intend to steal the majority of your body heat over the next...eight to fourteen hours. Final warning."

"I can handle that."

"Good. Thank you, Garrus."

"For what?"

"I don't know. I...just...just for being here."

"Spirits, where else would I be?" He nipped at the edge of her scar once, lightly, as if to remind her of its presence, and she smiled. She craned her neck to turn enough to press a single kiss to his mouth before returning to her previous position.

"Good night, Garrus."

"Sleep well, Anya."