A/N: Huge, huge, huge thank you to Rae for making sure this chapter wasn't a piece of garbage that you guys would hate! Enjoy!
Shepard wandered into the med-bay to find Miranda sedated on one of the bio-beds. Her body looked a bit roughed up from her fight with Liara, with bruising already showing in some areas. Looking around for Chakwas, she found her sitting in the corner working on various reports and made her way over there. "Hey Doc, how's she doing?" she asked.
Chakwas jumped slightly, spinning around on her chair to face the Commander. "Shepard! I really must put you in tap shoes one of these days," she said, holding a hand over her heart.
Shepard gave a small laugh at Chakwas's reaction. "I'll pass on those. Sorry to scare you, I just wanted to know how Miranda was doing," she explained.
Chakwas glanced over at Miranda, a grim frown appearing on her face. "She was rather beat up when she got here," Chakwas said. "She'll be fine after a day or two, though. I'm more worried about Liara, however. The Liara I knew would never have done something like this."
Shepard sighed at the mentioning of Liara's name. No, she wouldn't. "It appears that she's grown up since I last saw her, and she's become more ruthless. I suppose she had to, working as an information broker on Illium," she said, attempting to appear distracted from the conversation by fidgeting with equipment in the lab.
"Yes, but why would she attack Miranda so viciously?" Chakwas said, shaking her head. "There has to be something more behind it, and I believe you know what that is," she pushed, using a demanding tone of voice.
There was something about the human Doctor that always brought everything out of Shepard, and she greatly respected the woman. Pulling up a chair next to her, she lowered her head into her hands and let out an exasperated sigh. "I do, and I'm... partially to blame for it," she admitted, feeling her heart sink as she verbally stated her part in the events that happened.
Chakwas folded her arms and gave a disapproving look. "Go on, explain," she goaded Shepard.
Shepard leaned back in the chair and let her head roll backwards, gaze shifting towards the ceiling. "After I helped Miranda with some personal business on Illium, she directed me to an information broker to get some information on Samara and Thane Krios, our next recruiting targets. I thought nothing of it, but when I entered the office, I was surprised to see that it was Liara," she began. She felt tears forming at the painful memory of their reunion. Taking some moments to gather herself, she drew a deep breath and continued. "At first, everything was amazing and we kissed and I felt whole again. The next moment, she was pushing me away, and she might as well have been across the galaxy with how cold she was acting to me. I had never felt so hurt in my life, and I thought that she didn't want to be with me anymore."
Chakwas's eyes filled with sympathy for the woman. She had been the one who encouraged Shepard to make a move with the gentle asari, and had quite enjoyed seeing how happy the two of them were together. "What happened after?" she asked, wanting to hear everything before giving her advice.
"After I left Liara's office, I found my way over to a bar. I was there for a while, drinking some very strong asari liquor. Thanks to my cybernetics, I only got somewhat drunk. However, my emotions got the better of me and I felt angry, alone, and abandoned. That was when I thought of Miranda, and all my talks with her," she said. Looking over at Miranda's sedated body, she continued. "I could tell there was some sexual tension between us from the very beginning. She's an extremely striking woman, and I knew from the very beginning that there was more to her than what she let show. With all the torrents of emotions flowing through me, I needed to feel wanted by someone. I made my way back to the Normandy and I... slept with Miranda."
Chakwas covered her mouth, not aware the Commander had been with Miranda like that. She had only assumed that the Commander enjoyed annoying the operative. "How did this lead to Miranda attacking Miranda so violently?" she asked, confused.
Shepard shrugged. "I guess someone told her, or she used her sources to find out. How, I don't know. All I know is I was beginning to have... relations with Miranda when she appears in the doorway to find us naked on top of each other. I had never seen hatred on Liara's face before, but it was there, clear as day," Shepard said, remembering how startled she was to see Liara's expression. "I guess what finally did it was Miranda taunting her and placing an arm around my hip," Shepard said, still confused why Miranda would do something like that. "I had to pull a gun on Liara to make sure she didn't kill Miranda."
Chakwas shook her head at the severity of the situation, confused by the actions of Miranda and Liara. "Tell me everything that was said," Chakwas said.
As they continued to discuss what happened and the details of the conversation, Chakwas silently listened and slowly began forming her own opinion and advice. She couldn't help but feel bad for both Liara and Shepard, but couldn't yet see a reason to have any sympathy for Miranda. "Do you still love her, Commander?"
Shepard looked baffled that Chakwas would even ask such a thing. "Of course I do!" she exclaimed.
"Do you want to fix things with her?" Chakwas asked.
Shepard shook her head. "I don't think things can be fixed, Doc. Liara was infuriated with me," she admitted, her stomach sinking.
Chakwas shook her head. "That's not what I asked. Do you want to mend things with her?" she asked again.
Shepard paused, contemplating what Chakwas asked. Do I? I will always love Liara, but she's changed so much. What if things won't work between us anymore? Do I really want to go through that? She grew increasingly frustrated as she couldn't come up with a decision, holding her head between her hands, letting tears fall. "I... don't know, Doc. She's not the same Liara I knew two years ago."
Chakwas gestured over to Miranda. "What about her? Do you want to try things with her?" she asked.
Shepard lifted her head and turned her attention to the slumbering operative. Mixed emotions coursed through her heart. There's so much to her within, but I... don't really think I want her like that. "She's manipulative, cold, and a bitch. I've seen another side of her, though, and consider her a close friend. There was some sexual tension between us, but that's all there really was for me." Realizing what an idiot she had been, she buried her head in her arms. Liara, I'm so sorry.
"Then you have your answer," Chakwas replied, wrapping a comforting arm around Shepard. "You made a mistake, you are human. Whatever your reasons were, you cannot change what happened. You do, however, need to talk with Liara. Not now, though. Give her time to let things blow over."
Shepard understood what Chakwas was saying, but couldn't help herself from having doubtful thoughts race through her mind. "What if she doesn't want me back? What if she won't forgive me, and we're done for good?" She couldn't bear the thought that she would be the reason that Liara wouldn't be in her life anymore. "I love her Doc, I can't lose her. What do I do?" she asked, tears falling.
Chakwas gave her a comforting squeeze. "Shush now, dear. First of all, I think you have forgotten how much of a kindhearted person Liara is. I'm not going to lie to you, though. You did mess up big time. Just talk things over with Liara when the time is right, and hope for the best," Chakwas said, encouragingly.
Shepard nodded her head, wiping some of the tears off her face. Would Liara forgive me? I can't imagine how much I've hurt her. "How will I know when the time is right?" she asked.
Chakwas gave her a warm smile. "You'll know dear, only you can determine that. I don't mean to presume, but perhaps you could shoot her a message tomorrow. She's an information broker, I'm sure she could use some help with something," Chakwas said with a wink.
Grabbing the chair next to Chakwas, Shepard slowly walked over to Miranda's bed and sat down beside it. "Thanks, Doc, for setting me straight" she said with a smile. She knew that she messed up, but hoped that she hadn't lost for good the only thing that mattered in her life.
Miranda woke to find Shepard asleep, head resting on the side of her bed. Smiling, she looked around to find Chakwas making her way over to her bed.
"Welcome back to the world of the living, Miranda. How are you feeling?" she asked in a hushed tone, not trying to wake Shepard up.
"Sore, like I got the hell kicked out of me," Miranda replied bitterly, images of Liara popping into her head.
"That's to be expected," Chakwas replied. "You'll be feeling sore for another day or so, then you'll be cleared for active duty." She put away her charts and pulled up a chair to the opposite side of Miranda's bed. "May I ask you some unrelated personal questions, Miranda?" she ventured.
"Depends on the questions," Miranda replied defensively.
"I spoke with Shepard about what happened to you, and events leading up to it," Chakwas asked. "Shepard feels like you manipulated her into sleeping with you in some way, is this true?"
"I wouldn't call it manipulation, just merely suggestion and flirting," Miranda replied.
"Why?" Chakwas asked.
A bitter look crossed Miranda's face. "Shepard is the face of humanity, a symbol of hope to our people. She deserves a human next to her," Miranda replied. "Plus, I thought it would be fun to see what the great Commander Shepard would be like in bed."
Chakwas shook her head at the bluntness of Miranda's replies. "You would disagree if you saw what Liara meant to her, and the other way as well. Was it worth all the hurt you've caused along the way?"
"I would say so," Miranda replied. "Is that all, Doctor?"
Chakwas shook her head. "One more question, what are your plans with Shepard?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Miranda asked, confused at what the Doctor meant.
"I mean, are you just going to use her for sex? Or do you actually care for her?" Chakwas asked.
"Don't be absurd, Doctor. I don't have time for such relationships. I think I'll stick to the occasional sex," Miranda replied, becoming uncomfortable.
Chakwas raised an eyebrow at her. "Is that so? Then why have you been affectionately petting Shepard's head through this whole conversation?" she asked.
Miranda, alarmed, looked down to see that she had been subconsciously running her hand through Shepard's hair. Not wanting to admit what she knew deep down, she withdrew her hand quickly and folded her arms. "I don't know what you're talking about, Doctor. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am feeling quite tired," she said dismissively. I cannot be falling for Shepard. You don't let anyone in, they cannot be trusted, she told herself. Forcibly removing thoughts of Shepard from her head, Miranda slumped back down onto the bed and closed her eyes. As if I would ever date someone like Shepard.