Warning: Contains spoilers for "Lair of the Shadow Broker" and "Mass Effect: Retribution"
The M rating is for later chapters in this fic.
The events of this fic take place between ME2 and ME3.
Players: Urania Jane Shepard, Dr. Chakwas and Miranda.

"Have you isolated the toxin yet? Do you have any idea what it is?" Miranda was, as always, her stern self, but there was a hint of genuine concern in her tone this time.

"It's a derivative of curare, actually" said Dr. Chakwas as she looked over to the still unconscious Shepard. "Mordin's still running tests, but it's possible that the toxin was only meant to knock her unconscious. I highly doubt there was any permanent damage"

Miranda scowled. "Curare? Makes sense. A home brew would be difficult to trace"

Dr. Chakwas shook her head. "Agreed, but whoever did it knew about the Commander's upgrades. There was six times the amount of poison to kill a normal human. More than enough to even kill you."

"Hmf." Miranda scoffed at the suggestion. "Dammit, that doesn't explain why she went missing for three days and it certainly doesn't explain … what happened." Miranda's voice trailed off. Dr. Chakwas wanted to shoot back with some snide remark, amazed that Miranda had actual emotions, but she thought better of it.

"Believe me, Miss Lawson, I don't relish telling her."

"Uggh … Could, uh … could someone tell me just what the hell is going on?" Shepard stirred from her bed. Miranda and the doctor raced to her side.

As Miranda eased the Commander back into bed, Dr. Chakwas checked Shepard's pupils. "AAck! Get that goddamned light out of my eye!"

"Well, her demeanor seems to be normal."

"Only to you, Miss Lawson. To everyone else she's a sweetheart. Aren't you Commander?"

"Fuck you! What the hell is going on … here?" Shepard stopped, almost as if she had woken up for a second time. "Where am I? What's going on?"

Miranda knelt down beside the Commander. "Shepard, this is very important. What's the last thing you remember?"

Shepard struggled to remember. What was the last thing she saw? Shepard fiddled with her mouth as if to pry the memories out by hand. "Um … Give me a second."

"Of course, Commander, take your time." Miranda placed her hand on Shepard's arm. A much more compassionate gesture than the Commander expected.

"Liara and I had a date. We looked at … no, I looked at asari bonding bracelets, but that was before. We talked, we laughed, we argued, there was something about a whip." Shepard chuckled. "Don't lie to me and tell me it's raining? Good one, Liara." Suddenly, Shepard gasped as the memories came flooding back. "Kaidan! I saw Kaidan!"

Miranda nodded. "We got your report, Shepard, but EDI didn't find anything. Neither did Liara. What we do know is you were poisoned, and you've been missing for three days."

"Poisoned? Gone for three days? What the hell is going on here?" Shepard groaned.

"We were hoping you could tell us," Miranda said in a softer tone than usual. Shepard shot her a glance. The Commander knew something was up.

Dr. Chakwas pointed to Shepard's left shoulder. "The first dose of the toxin was delivered into your left shoulder, by dart as you say, about three days ago. The second," Chakwas lifted up the shoulder on Shepard's med gown, "was delivered here less than 24 hours ago, most likely in the same manner. As you can see, it's still slightly inflamed."

Miranda's posture stiffened as she returned to her stern demeanor. "What's the very last thing you remember, Commander? It's very important!"

Shepard rose out of bed. "Look, I know you're both just trying to help, but there's something you're not telling me, and I want to know what it is, right now."

Dr. Chakwas sat Shepard back down on the bed. "If you could leave us for a moment, Miranda?"

"I'll be in my office, if you need anything doctor." Miranda turned away, unable to look into Shepard's eyes again. Shepard's first thought was …

"Liara!"

"Liara's fine, Commander. She's scheduled to rendezvous with us in a couple of hours." Chakwas took Shepard's hand and squeezed it tight. "Commander … UJ, there's a very strong possibility that during the course of your abduction … What I mean to say is, we have physical evidence that suggests -"

"Spit it out, Doc!"

"Shepard … you were raped."