Chapter 11 – Hospital part 2
Days passed, and Shepard remained asleep. Garrus was feeling the damage to himself but would never say. His father and sister would make sure he ate and got out for a walk at least once a day, but they knew he needed to be with Shepard. When he needed rest, he would just place his head on Shepard's bed and sleep. With Grunt watching on guard. No one would hurt his sleeping family.
One day Solana didn't join them for the walk allowing Castis and Garrus to have a real father son chat.
"I just feel like I should be back with Shepard." Garrus eager to head back as always. He would barely speak, just finish his walk or eat his food, nod then head back.
"I know what you're going through Garrus, it's not easy. I at least had you two to help me when we lost your mother."
"…and I couldn't be there for her… I don't want to miss being there for another person I love."
"Garrus she was proud that you were saving the galaxy and without the salarian doctors you arranged, we would have lost her sooner, you helped with that, even when you were fighting collectors."
"I just…"
"I've seen many a battlefield Garrus, but none brought me the pain of watching your mother die… so I understand. But she's strong Garrus, and she'll need you to be strong for her when she wakes. She'll need you more then, than now."
"Perhaps a longer walk today would be good then."
"Excellent."
Hospital room
Another morning or evening, Garrus couldn't be sure, he opened his eyes to see Shepard still asleep. She looked better he thought. She needed this sleep, she had missed so much with the war of the Reapers. He'd ended up having to put sleeping tablets in her drinks just to get her to sleep without the dreams. Some nights it worked, but others he would still hear her wake, breathless and scared. Knowing all he could do was hold her.
Tali was telling off some nurses again "bosh-tets", and Grunt had gone to find some real food, muttering "Varren's eat better".
A sound from the Shepard's direction, Garrus couldn't even take a breath. Not believing his senses that she could be waking. Another sound, this time a distinctive sigh...
"Dr. Chakwas!" Tali yells, running off to find her.
Shepard's eyes open darting from one side of the room to the next... a hand grabs hers.
"It's ok Shepard, I'm here."
Her eyes lock onto the familiar voice.
"I have a first name you know, Garrus."
A laugh escapes his lips, relief floods through him.
"I know Shepard… Jane.. Your name is Jane Vakarian-Shepard."
"I think that's Shepard-Vakarian, it should be alphabetical." Her voice is weak and dry. Garrus lets out another laugh.
Dr. Chakwas rushes in followed by a team of nurses, Tali, Grunt, Jack, Liara, Joker and some of the Normandy crew. She performs some quick tests on Shepard but has to keep telling the hoard of people who want to speak to Shepard to move or be quiet.
"I would say that you aren't up for visitors Commander, but I don't think these will listen."
"It's fine" Shepard raises her hand as she says it "status report."
"Everyone who's in this region could make it Shepard, there's lots more who wanted to come. But there are delays with the relays needing repairs, they are struggling. And you know not everyone is as good a pilot as I am." Joker.
"The Geth, EDI?" Hearing of the damage to the relays made her worry that she hadn't been able to save her Synthetic comrades.
"Working on the relays and supporting troops on the ground." Tali couldn't believe the relief in her own voice as she said it "they have been a great help."
"Joker, what about EDI?"
"She's back on the Normandy Commander." He wasn't exactly lying but he felt she didn't need to know that EDI's cybernetic body had been destroyed whilst manning the Normandy shuttle to block the Reaper's transmissions. She had chosen to against Shepard's orders. Luckily the Reaper IFF targeting had worked and stopped her AI core on the Normandy and the Geth from being destroyed, but the shockwaves still played havoc with their systems.
"Everyone who was working on the Crucible has now been reassigned to work on the relays." Liara added. "However, Reaper ground forces are still out there."
"Then what are you guys doing here, slacking off. Get to it." She barked at them.
"Right away Shepard." The full room emptied as quickly as it filled, they were all so happy to know she was back to herself that they weren't about to disobey her orders.
"Grunt?" She asked, as he remained behind.
"I've got my orders from Wrex, not to leave your side."
"I thought I was your battlemaster."
"Hah." He laughed as he sat back down on his chair "when you can take on more than a pyjak, I'll listen."
She didn't want to argue with the Krogan and was somewhat relieved that he was there.
"And what about you." She turns to Garrus.
"I'm injured.."
"Then you should be in bed not waiting on me."
"I would but it's a little small Shepard…. Jane, I didn't want to crush you."
She moves an arm painfully out of the way for him.
"I remember I used to have a lot more reach, Shepard" he groans as he struggles to manoeuvre himself onto the bed. She lets out a pained laugh at his awkwardness, but they soon settle as he places an arm around her and cuddles her gently.
"My father and sister are even here, you really do know how to get everybody together."
"You know me.. Are they ok?"
"Yes, I'll get them if you want."
"Not right now, I just want to stay here for a bit." She snuggles deeper into him as he pulls her closer, the stress of the last few years drifting off them.