Liara examined the two neural images side by side. Even with her lack of training in human physiology, she could see stark differences. Most of the brain looked identical, but there were two areas in particular where the neural pathways had been completely altered.

"It's like someone went in and re-wrote him. It's remarkable, really," Miranda mused as she studied the scans.

"Could you have done it during Lazarus?" Liara asked.

Miranda shook her head. "Not without a great deal of research… it would've extended the project months, possibly years. But re-working his neural physiology wasn't part of the plan; we wanted to keep it intact just as it was before his death." Miranda's lip curled in concern.

Liara nodded. The daunting task at hand was becoming apparent, and Liara was frustrated.

Goddess, I expected it to be difficult, but this…

"Liara," Miranda placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's going to take time. We've only just started. Things look bleak because we don't have all the answers yet. We'll get there. We've been at this for hours. Let's all get some rest, and we'll take another crack at it in the morning."

Liara shook her head. "No, I'm not tired. We should keep working."

"Liara." Miranda's tone grew cautionary. "You might not be tired, but you're not thinking straight, and Shepard most certainly is tired. As am I. Feron got some sleep while we were testing; let him keep watch, and let's come at this with fresh eyes in the morning."

Reluctantly, Liara nodded. She turned to Shepard. He sat on the edge of the exam table, hands on his knees, peering at the floor in thought. Upon examination, she realized he did look exhausted. His face was drawn with fatigue, and his cheeks were rosy beneath his slight scarring.

"We're going to call it a day, Shepard. That room over there," she pointed, "is yours. I'll be in the room next door, and Miranda the door down from there. Feron will be around here if you need anything."

Shepard nodded his gratitude, and headed for the room. Liara turned back to Miranda with a sigh.

"I've finally got him back and he might as well be light years away."

Miranda nodded. "We'll find him again. I brought him back to life once. I'm sure that between the two of us, we can figure this out."

Liara didn't reply, but headed for bed herself. She closed the door to her quarters, and shed her clothes in an unruly heap before falling to the bed. It was a struggle to pull the sheet over her body. Moments later, she lapsed into nothingness.

Liara looked around suddenly, and found herself in a familiar workspace. The data feeds were streaming down the monitors before her, around her. The brownish-rust colored deck plates creaked as she turned in place, looking around her old ship. The noise was distant, but ever-present as the storm above Hagalaz raged on, and entire ship itself worked to stay hidden amongst the clouds. The door on the far side of the chamber opened, and he walked in.

"It's good to see you again," Liara said, smiling. "I was beginning to wonder if you were coming."

He nodded, a confident half-smile coming to his face, lighting up the room. "I'm around. Aren't I always?"

Liara let out a half-laugh, pulling him into an embrace. "I suppose you are always the just-in-time type, aren't you?" She shuddered, feeling his heartbeat against her cheek. "I'm so close, and yet it feels like the journey is only just beginning."

He nodded. "Have you and I ever had it easy? Every moment we've ever been together has been fraught with danger, and the near constant threat of death. The galaxy isn't likely to thank us any time soon. If we want time, we're going to have to take it. If we want to relax, we'll have to earn it."

She pulled away sharply, anger flooding her features. "We haven't earned it already? Goddess, Shepard-"

•._.••´¯``•.¸¸.•` ℓσѕт `•.¸¸.•´´¯`••._.•

"Hey!"

Liara gasped, her eyes flying open. Shepard was sitting on the corner of her bed, a line of worry across his forehead. "You okay? I think you were having a nightmare."

Liara sighed and lay back down, staring at the dark ceiling. "I was."

Shepard's voice was thoughtful when he spoke again. "About me?"

Liara nodded. "Yes, Shepard."

"Tell me."

Liara blinked twice and considered his request before she shook her head. "It's not important. I have you here now. Everything will be fine once we figure out what happened to your memories."

Shepard nodded once, looking away. Liara's brow creased with concern. "What is it?"

He shrugged with a half-hearted laugh. "It's just strange. I spend all day listening to you and Miranda talk about how to fix me, like I'm some broken toy or cargo door."

Liara pulled the sheet around herself and crawled toward him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Shepard, it's not-"

"I know, you're trying to help, and I get it. The more I watch, the more I read, I feel it. I am this person you say I am." He sighed and stood. "And I'm so angry."

"Angry? Why?"

"Because it's all been taken away from me." He turned to her then. "I'm going to fight to get it back."

Liara smiled softly, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Sounds like he's starting to come back already."

Shepard smiled. "So come on, Doctor T'soni. Let's get back to poking and prodding me."

Liara nodded and felt a smile creep onto her face. "I'll be out in a minute."

After he'd gone, Liara stood and walked to a small metal chest where she kept a few outfits. She was reminded of her chest of drawers back at Alliance HQ, and how things had changed in such a short span of time.

It's a good thing I keep all these safe houses around, even if I don't get to use them often.

She donned a fresh pair of black trousers and a soft cream-colored sleeveless top. She grabbed Shepard's hoodie from the previous night's pile of clothes, and entered the main room.

"I should probably give this back to you," she said, holding out the jacket folded in her hands. "It's yours… or, was yours."

Shepard held the jacket up, tracing a finger over the N7 emblem on the front. "What was it for?"

"Recognition of service in the Alliance N7 program."

Shepard folded the jacket up, and tossed it back to Liara. "Keep it. You need to give it to someone who understands how hard it was to get it in the first place. That's not me; at least, not yet," he said with a grin.

Liara couldn't help but smile.

If he believes, maybe it's enough. Goddess, let it be enough.

Miranda cleared her throat from her place at the terminal, calling their attention. "Shepard, I have to make you aware of some very real risks coming up here. What we're looking at… it's unprecedented. Your brain has re-shaped itself in ways that I cannot match in any study I've ever read or seen. Frankly," Miranda sighed, shaking her head. "Frankly, Shepard, we're going to be poking around in your brain without a roadmap. We'll be trying things I've only read about in theory. There's a very real possibility that we could make things worse once we get to the point where we have to open you up and start… forgive the expression, digging around. After reviewing these tests, I'm fairly confident that surgery is the only possible corrective action."

Shepard nodded solemnly. "There's risk in everything, Miranda. Will I die if I cross the street? What about flying a spaceship? Work on a cargo freighter or an eezo mine? These are all things that could kill you, and yet, people do them every day. They take every precaution, and they try to stay alive. Sometimes, it's the best we can hope for." He turned to Liara. "I want to find out about this great person I used to be. Something or someone took him away- not from just me, but from everyone… and it sounds like I had a lot of friends and people I care about." Shepard seated himself on the exam bed they'd set up. "So let's get started."

"Wait," Liara said quickly. "Before we go the surgical route… I have an idea." Liara walked over to the terminal and began typing quickly.

"Liara, you've seen the scans. It's a tangled mess. We're going to have to go in and straighten everything out to have any hope of recovering his memories… of bringing him back. Do you really think this theory of yours will work?"

Liara said nothing, entering one final command into the terminal. The lights dimmed, and the room was enveloped in semi-dark. Liara turned slowly away from the terminal.

She watched him. The man she knew so well. He sat on the edge of the table, looking around, until he saw her. Then, his piercing blue eyes locked with hers.

The world fell away around her. The discordant pulse of two hearts was all she could hear. Hers was steady, and soft. His was a raging beast, roaring thunderously. Those blue orbs amid a sea of facial scars- how well she knew them- held her captive as she took a step toward him. How many times had she gotten lost in those same eyes?

He was so fragile; so unlike the man she was searching for. She closed her eyes, taking another step forward, and taking his hands into hers. His pulse raced now; his skin was like fire beneath her hands, rolling waves of warmth washing over her skin. She breathed in with him, matching his tempo. After what seemed like hours, they breathed together. Their pulses beat as one.

Where are you, Shepard?

Liara's eyes opened, revealing two inky black wells of darkness.

"Embrace eternity."

Author's note: Hey everyone! Sorry about the delay; work has been very time-consuming as of late. I hope everyone is still enjoying this journey as much as I am. I've probably written half a dozen outlines for how I want this story to end, each going in a different direction, and I haven't picked one yet, so... Things are very fluid at this point.

I'm anticipating the story will be complete before the year's end (no guarantees, of course). Thanks again for reading, following, feedback and reviews :) It's great to know people are interested!

Until next time.

-Zero