CHAPTER 5

Joker was crashed on my couch and I had no idea how to coax him out the door. He'd shown up at my door and I'd nearly had a heart attack. Edi's platform was walking and talking and as much as it was better than nothing, it was a shock. Joker said she was assisting him with getting around, but I could see him cling to hope. I'd spoken with Tali more than once. Her people were slowly and painstakingly trying to work the Geth online. But it would take time. And only then would she be able to see if it could also be done for Edi.

As it were, the new Edi stood dutifully beside the couch, silent and in 'stand by' as her owner, master, lover, whatever the hell they were now, slept. Guilt ate at me for leaving him so alone in the world, but also saw the resilience that made him so special. My broken little wing. Always looking on the bright side.

"She's staring at me."

"Shepard, honestly."

"I'm telling you Karen, her eyes are following me." Like she blamed me. Which was crazy. Crazy was also my middle name.

Karen Chakwas sighed on the other end. "How're his vitals?"

"He's passed out on my couch. Drunk! And the Edi that is not Edi is keeping vigil. It is creepy as all hell!"

She was still busy working on refugees and veterans at a hospital in Karachi. It would have been easier if she had been at Huerta. She had a way with Joker that even I couldn't. "I'm still stationed here for a few days. He has no other relatives."

I flinched when I realized I probably sounded like I wanted him gone. I had mis-communicated my intention and it shamed me. I spread one of my soft blankets on him. He mumbled something unintelligent before settling in. "I didn't mean…I know he doesn't." Taking a shaky breath, I chose my words carefully. "Tell me what to do."

"Hot chocolate when he wakes up. With a little hair of the dog that bit him."

A chuckle and I shook my head. "Seriously?"

"Seemed to work when we lost you."

Something stilled inside me. "He was like this when I…"

"Blamed himself something fierce. Oh Shepard, by now, you should know how special you are. To us all."

"Bye Karen."

The doctor laughed at my grumble of discomfort. Yeah, I didn't really know what to do with her love. Or anyone else's for that matter. Not anymore. "Good bye Shepard."

Hanging up, I huffed and dialed another number. "Vakarian, I have a Councilor favor."

"Mm…Jane?"

I frowned at the audio feed. "Are you in bed?"

There was a grunt and a shuffle before the video came on. Eyes still squinting, a soft white glow from his screen illuminating his plates. "I was," his tongue snaked our to lick the edge of his mouth plates almost like a scratch and my skin prickled. Whoa. Why did it still shock me that he was alien? And in entirely new ways. Then his eyes seemed to focus on me and he raised a brow plate. "What's the favor?"

Blinking out of my staring state, I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry…I didn't know…"

"Shepard?"

I blinked when he used the older, calmer moniker. One that implied he was being tolerant. I liked it better when he called me Jane. I glared at him as if it was his fault I had suddenly become tongue-tied. "Hot chocolate."

The Turian chuckled, a husky sleepy sound as he put his temple against his fist. "Yes, they do say my voice is better than hot chocolate."

Something uncoiled in my chest and I rolled my eyes. "Down boy. It's for Joker."

Garrus' mandibles fluttered in surprise before he cleared his throat. "Ahem. Ah! Didn't know you felt that way about Joker's voice."

Huffing out a breath, I held up a choice finger. "He's passed out drunk on my couch. Karen said it the best way to cheer him up in the morning. With a hair of the dog of course. Stop preening."

My Turian friend let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair, disappearing in the darkness for a moment. I stared at the silhouette as he ran a hand over his plates, almost…relieved? Frowning, I leaned forward. "Garrus?"

"I will assume you will explain how dog hair will fix this. Later. When I'm more awake." Coming back into the light he grinned. "So I'm hunting around for levo chocolate?"

"Because I'm not the chocolate type. I wouldn't even know where to find it."

"I know. You're the chili type." I waited patiently for him to agree and he sighed. "Fine. I know a guy. I'll have some sent over first thing in the morning."

Leaning back in my own chair, I smiled at him. "Thank you."

He watched me silently for a moment, a strange little smile on his face. A strange peace. Eventually it stirred my blood so I shifted in my seat and called him out on it. "And?"

"I didn't say anything," he drawled lazily.

"If you must know, we didn't lament. We just watched vids and talked about comic books."

"Vids? How normal." Garrus' smile grew. "So...Nothing morbid?"

"If you don't think showing up with a zombie Edi morbid, then no. Did you know about this?"

He winced and ran a hand over his face plates, as if clearing away the memories. "Yeah, she's ah…Spirits Jane. We didn't have the heart to tell him. This is Joker."

"Oh I get that. Just thanks for the warning, friend," I scowled.

"Sorry. I didn't think he'd be parading it..her around."

"He called her a help-bot."

"Damn." The Turian scratched his mouth plate again with the tip of his tongue and I took a sharp breath. Frowning, he tilted his head. "Everything okay Jane?"

"I…uh…gotosleepVakarian."

Confused with my sudden curt and rushed tone, Garrus leaned forward to say something else, but I hung up on him.

Dammit, why did it feel like I'd drunk dialed him? Sliding a hand over the weird flutter in my stomach and cursing the noodles I'd pigged out on, I made my way to bed.

Tomorrow, I reminded my wandering mind. I was so done with today.

TO BE CONTINUED...