Title: Artemisia Shepard, War Hero
By: Midnight Unicorn
Disclaimer: Main character semi-mine, others and places are not
In honor of my grandfather.
Even when he worked up the nerve to get on the elevator, Garrus still had to steel himself to go up to the Captain's Cabin. Yes, Shepard had given him permission to go there, but…he tried to distract himself from his conflicted thoughts, but there really wasn't anything until the elevator paused on the CIC and there stood Shepard herself.
She smiled warmly at him and asked, "Getting off?"
"Ah, not exactly, although…I was looking for you. There's…something I wanted to talk about," he said haltingly.
Shepard nodded, face calm and unreadable as she stepped in beside him. The doors shut. "What can I do for you?"
"Well it's just…when you died, I received something."
A confused frown overtook her face for a moment and then she tipped her head. "I forgot. My will."
"Yes. Needless to say I was surprised, but I kept them. I've been meaning to give them back." He started to offer the case he had been carrying, but she grabbed his forearm, keeping his arm at his side.
"Keep it." Her tone was soft but her eyes were hard, brokering no argument. "I never wanted them and I knew my mother wouldn't either, so I…I figured you'd understand them best." She let go of his arm and shifted her weight back since there wasn't room to move away in the elevator."
Though he'd been a little stunned by her vehemence, he was curious now. "I'm honored," he said quietly. "I'll keep them safe in case you change your mind."
Another smile and she shook her head. "I won't. It's…sort of a tradition, one of the few my mother and I bother with. My grandfather served without accepting a single medal, award, or honor, he said it was important that the work got done, not that everyone knew about it." The elevator doors opened but neither of them moved. "When he died my father received all those medals and gave them to grampa's best friend, and when my father died my mother did the same." She shrugged as if all of this was unimportant but her serious expression said otherwise. "I knew if I died before her she wouldn't want them."
Strive though he did, Garrus could not find words to describe the swell of gratitude, bewilderment and happiness that filled him. He settled for gripping her shoulder, willing her to understand. Shepard smiled, nodded her acceptance, and stepped out of the elevator, her back to him as the doors hissed shut.
Little by little my baby is getting some love.
Thank you to Gentle Breezes for the fav.
Scorcese: I'm glad you were misdirected, that was the idea~ Per your request, an update.