Hi everyone~! Here's another chapter for ya'll :D a bit of action in this one. Hurr! Big thanks to Razzberry for her work and great ideas ^^

oOo

"Wrex!" Shepard yelled happily. She was on the docking bay with Garrus, Liara, Tali and the Primarch, when a ship from Tuchanka brought her favorite Krogans arrived. She was really grateful to Adrien as he had allowed the Krogans to land on the turian homeworld. It was widely known that those two races rarely worked with each other. Old wounds won't heal fast I suppose. Good that Reaper War could at least help the matter to get more stable. Still it was too early to say it was more than neutral.

"Shepard!"

"Wrex!" She almost jumped on the krogan when he got out of the ship, embracing his large frame. "You are on Palaven, Wrex, the world is ending!"

"Don't even start about world's ending, because knowing you, anything could happen." Wrex laughed coarsely, embracing her small body lightly, taking notice of her stomach. Even a Krogan could be tender when times asked for it. "You got big, Shep. And here's the funny turian responsible for that. Good to see you, Garrus."

"Same here, Wrex. Welcome to Palaven. Where is your beautiful lady and Shepard's baby krogan, by the way?"

"They are coming, don't worry." Minutes later, Bakara left the ship with Grunt behind her. The latter was holding a big package. "We got you something, for both of you. A small token of appreciation." When the two krogans approached them, Bakara hugged Jane fondly then backed away and took the human's small hands into hers.

"Commander, I was praying for you and my heart was overjoyed when Wrex said you were alive. I'm also really happy about your baby, as a mother I can only say you are blessed." Jane couldn't contain her tears anymore. She could feel a pat on her shoulder, she turned to see Grunt.

"My baby, did you miss me?" Wrex and Garrus started to laugh in unison.

"Can you stop that Shepard? That's really embarrassing." Meanwhile the Primarch greeted Wrex and Bakara. "It's good to see you though. I was… worried about you. Oh, and Liara is here… I… I'll go to her, say hi." Jane watched Grunt approaching Liara, she fought the urge to tell him she's with Javik or rather banging him like mad. In the end he had to learn it the hard way. She regarded the turians and krogans greeting each other, feeling that it was the first step to peace. A really important one. A warm smile on her face, her hand travelled to her curved belly. Look, David, that's how it's done. Mommy did it. I hope tha- Shepard couldn't finish her thought as a sting of pain emerged on her back, another on side of her waist. No… That was last thought before she fall into darkness.

oOo

Before Garrus could see what had happened he caught the scent of Shepard's blood. In a matter of milliseconds he turned to see her falling on the ground. In the distance he saw an asari in black armor. Vakarian didn't have to say anything, Wrex was running toward her with his shotgun already in hand. "Take care of Shepard, I'll take care of the bitch! Grunt, Liara!" T'Soni and Grunt passed Garrus, while he scooped the unconscious Jane into his arms. His subharmonic cried in pain and helplessness. Tali stood next to him, pistol in hand, scanning their surroundings for more enemies. The Primarch in the meantime called Doctor Shakria and a medical transport for Shepard. Bakara vanished for a second inside the krogans's ship to appear with a med-kit. Everything happened so fast.

"Let me help her, Officer Vakarian. I've got medi-gel for levo species. And some bandages." The krogan female carefully applied gel on side of Shepard's body and back, it was bleeding heavily. Her skin became so pale instantly.

"She's bleeding too much, Spirits, don't let me lose her again." Garrus keened, too terrified to move. Just holding her tightly. Minutes later medics came alongs with a shocked Shakria.

"Quickly, Cipritine Hospital, I already notified the staff and Doctor Solus." Garrus stood up with Jane still nestled in his arms. He could hear her faint breath, her skin colder and colder with each minute. The turian laid her carefully on the med-pod, afraid to cause her any more pain. Primarch Victus said something to him about staying on the docking bay, waiting for rest of the crew but his brain prevented anything to register beyond his mate. Spirits, I'll lose them. Shepard, David, please, don't leave me. He was repeating those sentences like a mantra, while they flew to the hospital. It took them just a few minutes, but for Garrus it was an eternity. Shakria was taking care of Jane during the flight and soon as they reached the hospital, ran to change into her surgeon's outfit. Vakarian was at Jane's side till the doctors had to take her into the operating room. He was close to fighting with them, only to be with her, but some higher instinct told him to let them take her. When she vanished behind the doors, and he was left alone, his knees gave away. Garrus collapsed to the ground, not able to move, to think. Only his subharmonic was showing how devastated he was. Minutes, hours were passing. He didn't know that his father and sister came, then the rest of the crew and at the end Liara, Javik, Wrex, Grunt, Bakara and the Primarch. He closed himself, he couldn't talk, he couldn't walk, he was sitting in front of the doors that had his life behind them.

oOo

Wrex remembered his time spent on the Normandy while he flew to Palaven. It was one of the best times of his long life. He didn't regret serving under Shepard, he didn't regret that he fell in line on Virmire. Years of experience told him he could trust that little, funny human female. Because she was strong, because she knew bullshit at first glance. That was a good call. Because later on she proved her loyalty by curing the Genophage. And now he was flying back to one of his best friends. Maybe the only one true friend he ever had. People came and left his life, proving he couldn't trust anyone but not Commander Jane Shepard, she was different. She inspired people to be better. Although she's not that good herself. He-he. He started to laugh coarsely. Shit I miss that woman. And her sense of humor. For Wrex, Shepard was the only capable person to end the Reaper War. And he was part of it. "We're docking in 10, chief." His pilot voice snapped the krogan out of thoughts.

"Good, make it fast. And no mistakes mind, the turian assholes are watching." Urdnot turned around and went to his room where Bakara was preparing their gift for Shepard and Vakarian. "We're landing soon."

"I know Wrex." The krogan female replied again making him feel like an idiot. That's why he liked her so much. And because she was strong, she had already changed the krogan. "I hope the Commander and Officer Vakarian will like what we brought for them."

"Dunno. What I know though, is that Shep wouldn't mind a few bottles of ryncol." He laughed to himself again. Bakara only regarded him with pity.

"Idiot." A few minutes later their ship landed. "Call Grunt here, he needs to help me. Then go greet the Commander and the rest. And behave!" Wrex left the room with a sigh, yet he did as he was told to. When he left the ship he saw Shepard almost running to him with a stupid smile stuck to her face.

"Wrex!"

"Shepard!" He stretched his arms in an invitation to a hug.

"Wrex!" Shepard almost rammed into him. Wrex always thought she was part krogan at heart, yet he was careful now, remembering the woman was actually pregnant. Idiot or not, she had to be careful as well as her friends. When Bakara came and greeted Shepard, she went to talk with the Primarch. She nagged him the whole way from Tuchanka to behave and try to warm the turian-krogan relationship. She's not only good at taking care of krogans, she's a damned good politician too. Ancestors, how is it that she was kept in some shithole instead of changing the krogans? He mused while talking with the turian. Yet the moment he heard a shot, he turned around. His Scimitar already in his hands, with one glimpse of an eye he saw Shepard falling and one who shot her. An asari that was out of her cover, running from the docking bay.

"Take care of Shepard, I'll take care of the bitch! Grunt, Liara!" He screamed while he passed Garrus, running toward the direction the asari was escaping. "Liara, throw everything you got. We have to catch that whore!" The krogan yelled as he threw Pulls, Singularities, Warps and shots in turns. T'Soni used her biotics to make far jumps to boost her speed and keep up with the krogans. Even though the black-armored asari seemed to know where she was running, her speed decelerated. Both Wrex and Grunt could smell asari blood.

"She got hit. We can track her down." Grunt said and pointed at blood spots on the floor. They ran into the warehouse district. With lots of crates and a warehouse the asari could hide.

"Keep on sniffing son, we gotta catch her or Garrus will shoot our asses off." Wrex replied. Also inhaling the scent of asari blood. The scent took them to a large building of Cipritine Armory. "Shit, that doesn't look good."

"By the Goddess, infinite choice of weapons. Let's find her quick before she finds any lethal weapons and nukes us from Palaven." Wrex started to laugh, entering the building.

"Good one, T'Soni. And here I was complaining a week ago about the lack of action. Stupid me. Everywhere Shepard is, things tend to go sideways." He giggled hoarsely. "Nuke us from Palaven she said." Both males guided Liara to the upper floor. They could hear that the asari was at her limits. Wrex regarded even bigger smudges of blood now. "She was hit somewhere vital. Quick, we need her alive."

"To hear that from the krogan…" Liara snorted under her breath, whispering.

"I heared that, Liara. I thought we knew each other so damn well… you broke my heart." Wrex mocked, noticing Grunt becoming uneasy. Ehh, poor kid. "So, how is your little affair with Javik? Shepard told me this and that, you know. Jeez, with that pregnancy, the Normandy will be a travelling freak-show for sure. No offence, though."

"None taken. He's good, if you know what I mean." T'Soni replied, blush on her cheeks. Grunt made a strange noise, both Liara and Wrex seemed to not notice that. "But now's not the time. Hush." She pulled her pistol up, ready to fire anytime. Wrex behind her, Grunt in front.

"She's close, scent is very strong. Be ready." They passed empty rooms of an office floor. A trail of blood leading to the end of a nice, clean corridor. Probably this part of the building was used for meetings with clients of the company. It didn't even take 5 minutes before they found her, she took cover behind a large desk in the far end of big conference room.

"Stay away!" The asari yelled hysterically, pain could be sensed in her voice. "Or I'll blow this place to shreds along with you!" Liara took cover behind the door-frame while Wrex and Grunt entered the room, pointing guns at the desk.

"Better come out bitch, you're bluffing. We hadn't passed any weapons or bombs along the way. And I know just by the mere glimpse at you back on the docking bay that you don't have any explosives." Wrex said boldly, to his enormous surprise the asari looked from her cover and shot a few times in his direction. Nothing his shield couldn't handle. "You wanna play, huh? I'm game. Grunt." Both krogans lifted their weapons and started shooting at the unlucky piece of furniture that stood in the way to the asari. A big chunks of wood and metal flew, torn out from it. They didn't want to harm her though, just scare the shit out of her. The asari assassin threw biotic attack at them and tried to shoot as well but missing. Unexpectedly she throw a biotic wave at the window, smashing the glass. She quickly jumped out of it, it was the 3rd floor but nothing for a biotic. Liara was quick to jump, using her biotics to fall. Wrex and Grunt didn't bother, just jumping on the pavement. They ran after the asari just to see her with her hands up. A well known figure behind her.

"That's how it was done in my cycle." Javik said with a small smile.

"I really like you, Prothean." Wrex snorted. "You need to come to Tuchanka. We will have some fun, trust me." Grunt glared at the Prothean. "Just tell Shepard you wanna go and she will. She loves me." Wrex approached the asari and headbutted her, rendering her unconscious. Liara in the meantime called Primarch Victus. He came in a matter of minutes with a squad of turian soldiers. "Let's take that worthless piece of shit."

"Take her to prison. Medics need to look at her, so we can have a serious talk. And tell them to look for any poison in the mouth or elsewhere. I know how asari play such tricks." A turian officer dipped his head and ordered his men to take the asari into custody. Adrien approached Wrex, Grunt, Javik and Liara. "I'm sorry. That shouldn't have happened. This is…" Wrex started to laugh, patting the Primarch on the arm.

"What are you saying? That's the best welcome a krogan could ask for. And here I thought I'll be bored to the bone."

"Stop saying idiocies and let's go to Shepard!" Liara started to yell at them. "Where is she?!"

"Please, Miss T'Soni. She's in hospital. Let's go there, a skycar is waiting." All of them, went to the skycar, Bakara waiting for them patiently in it. Wrex sat next to the krogan female and patted her knee.

"Good fight." She nodded at him, her eyes shone with pride. The ride to the hospital didn't take long, they went inside, led by the Primarch. They saw Tali and Kasumi sitting on the bench, sobbing, men pacing nervously in the hallway. When Liara saw Garrus, she ran to him but stopped a few feet in front of him.

"Goddess… he shut himself away again." Vakarian's father approached T'Soni, a concerned keen reverberated in the hallway.

"Miss T'Soni, you know something about his state…? I've never seen a turian acting like that. I…" Liara regarded Akteon and shook her head. She pointed at the bench off to the side.

"He shut himself once… when Shepard died. He… he was just like a walking shell, empty. He didn't talk, he didn't eat, drink, sleep. He was like this." Liara gestured to Garrus. "Nothing to be done here now. We need to wait." And they waited long hours.

oOo

Garrus didn't know how much time had passed but when Dr. Shakria and Dr. Solus came out of the surgery he jumped to his feet in an instant, making everyone stare at him. "Doctor, how is Shepard?"

"We won't lie to you, it's bad, really bad. We put the lower part of her spine together, two vertebras were crushed. Bullet shattered her bones. She will have problems with walking for some time. The other wound, on the side of her waist and stomach… bullet grazed her skin deeply there. It caused contractions. Baby is still too small to be born. That's why we stopped the labour with meds and comatosed her." Solus explained, Shakria nodded, fatigue visible in her eyes.

"From what I've read from the Commander's files, she was… um… rebuilt with speciality equipment. Miss Miranda Lawson supervised the process. Her expertise, genetic knowledge and special equipment would help a great deal. When will she arrive on Palaven?"

"In a week." Liara replied and opened her omni-tool. "I'll contact Joker and Miranda, tell them to speed up a bit." The asari turned and walked away to make a call.

"But tell me… my son… is he in danger? And how long will Jane be comatosed?" Doctor Arteria came closer to Vakarian and patted his arm. Her subharmonic sang an apologetic hum.

"I'm sorry, Officer. We can't wake her now. If we did, she would be in such pain that it would endanger both her and your son. Even our strongest painkillers wouldn't be efficient here. The risk is too high, the next hours will show us if we will have to do an emergency C-section. If that's the case we will have to put your son in a tank or incubator. Depends of course on how his internal organs are developed." Garrus nodded slowly, mulling what the turian doctor said to him. Not believing it was happening. Just hours earlier he woke up next to his bondmate, they laughed, shared their stupid jokes. Shepard was so excited for seeing Wrex again. And now? She was comatosed, her life in danger. His son's life in danger.

"Where is she? Can I see her?"

"Yes, she's in the post-operating room now. Only you can go there." She turned to the rest of the crew. "I'm sorry, really." They replied that's it's all right and let Garrus be led to the room where Shepard was sleeping. He went inside. Jane was lying on the bed on her side, her olive skin pale, her eyelids dark. Tubes and wires connected to her back and wrist, medical equipment next to the bed, monitoring her health status. Garrus kneeled next to her and hummed to her, trying to show her that he was right here.

"Jane, please, be strong. Spirits, not again. You promised me you won't leave me." His hand touched hers, then he squeezed it lightly. "We're getting married in two weeks, for fuck sake. Everything is prepared… I… I don't know what to say. It's complete bullshit, Shepard. You would be furious. For the love of Palaven, I can't. That's too much." Then his hand moved to her belly. "And I only found out about you a few weeks ago, David. Hang in there, son, make daddy proud. Mommy is unwell now so you have to sleep there and wait." After this painful monologue he stayed silent, regarding Jane, as he tried to make her healthy and awake again. But she wouldn't wake up, oblivious of him being near. Then the image of an asari flashed in his mind, anger boiled his blood. Garrus stood up and went to his friends. Lucky for him Primarch Victus was still there. "Primarch, sir. I need to see that asari. I need to know who she worked for."

"Of course, Vakarian. Let's go. Miss T'Soni, I think your, ahe, skills will be invaluable. Can you come with us?" Liara nodded, her face serious. The three of them went outside to the parking lot where two soldiers waited next to the Primarch's skycar. "Take us to the prison."

"Yes sir!" Turians saluted and opened the skycar to let Victus, Garrus and Liara get in. After 15 minutes they were at the place. Primarch Victus was greeted by the prison warden and they were led to where the asari was held. He reported to the Primarch on the way.

"Sir, we patched her up. Two minor wounds and one a bit more serious, she will live. Doc found poison in her belongings as well as a pill with poison in her teeth. We removed it. She's conscious now. We tried to ask her questions but she refused to talk." The Primarch nodded and thanked the warden. They stopped in front of the interrogation room, while the warden opened the doors. Victus, Garrus and Liara went inside, they regarded the asari sitting in the center of the room. Two guards pointing guns at her. She watched them for a moment just to smirk mischievously. That triggered something in Garrus, a feral instinct, in an instant he jumped toward her. His hand moved in lighting speed only to scratch deeply at the asari's left cheek.

"I'll rip that fucking smile off your face!" He roared, pulling his hand into the air for another blow but the Primarch was at him, grabbing Vakarian's arm.

"Guards! Hold him!" Adrien screamed in the turmoil. "Take him out! Take him out!" Along with the two soldiers, the Primarch managed to take Garrus out of the room. He struggled to get to the one that hurt his woman and child. "Take him next door and turn on the speakers. Call two more guards, he needs to be guarded too." Both soldiers dipped their heads in affirmation. Victus turned on his heel and tried to collect himself. "For the love of the Spirits, what a mess." He then entered the interrogation room again. "That's it. You going to spill everything." He said and growled at the assassin with anger. The asari was holding a bandage on her bleeding cheek, tears ran down from her eyes. "First, what's your name? What were you told to do exactly?"

"Miria Tevos." She spilled with hatred. "I was told to terminate Commander Jane Shepard's pregnancy without killing her. I had to steal her data."

"Tevos you say. So we know everything. She's your sister, right?" Liara joined the questioning. She opened her omni-tool and connected with Glyph. "Glyph, check Miria Tevos' mail and calls. I want all data asap."

"Yes, Doctor T'Soni." In matter of one minute, Tevos' omni-tool pinged. Her wide eyes travelled from her wrist to Liara and back.

"What are you doing?!"

"Just collecting evidence. Don't mind me." Liara smiled at her, yet the smile didn't reach her eyes. She was merciless when it comes to helping her friends.

"Why are you doing this?! You are asari!" Miria yelled hysterically toward T'Soni. "You are a traitorous bitch, nothing else! This is about our kind! And you act against us! Matriarchs will ban you!"

"Your sister told you that, huh? Did she explain the whole thing? And you really think that assembly of Matriarchs approved of your actions?" The imprisoned asari's eyes became round in shock. "Ah, so I take it it's a no. So let me explain, none of the Matriarchs approved. They strictly forbade her of any actions against Shepard. Moreover, they don't consider Shepard's pregnancy as a threat. Maybe you don't realise it now, but you attacked the Hero of Galaxy. You think you'll live it through now?" Liara approached her slowly. Bending to face her. "You and your sister messed with the wrong people. Primarch, we need to call the Council." T'Soni pulled up and turned to leave, Victus just behind her. They met with the prison warden outside.

"Primarch, sir, what ha-?" He started to ask what happened but Adrien silenced him.

"No time for questions now. Bring Vakarian and take us to the comm room." The warden did as he was told instantly. He led them to the comm room next to his office, then left them there. The Primarch went to a console and connected with the Council. When three out of four of the councilors appeared, Victus wasn't surprised even a bit. "I see Councilor Tevos won't be present."

"Primarch Victus, how can we help you?" Sparatus asked, his subvocals trilled in surprise.

"Councilor, I demand Councilor Tevos arrested for taking action against Commander Shepard. Just four hours ago she was attacked by Miria Tevos, the Councilor's sister, on her order. Councilor Tevos lied to her sister that it was the Matriarchs order. Commander Shepard's now in hospital, her condition is critical. She had to be comatosed." Adrien explained. The Council reaction was of utter shock.

"What?! It can't be!" The human councilor yelled. "I demand Tevos be arrested! It's an attack on humanity! Our hero!" Sparatus raised his hand to calm the human down.

"Wait a moment." His hand typed on a console then moved to his head. "Executor Pallin, please send two of your best squads to Councilor Tevos' apartment and arrest her for treason and hiring an assassin. Yes. Yes you heard it right, Executor. Good. Bring her to the Council Chambers. Yes. Goodbye." Then Sparatus hand moved back down. "This is bad. Please wait, I'll connect us with the Matriarchs." They waited a moment for a connection. When it was established three asari showed on the hologram next to the Council. Surprise on their faces.

"Councilor Sparatus. Something happened?" One asked, Matriarch Savas was her name.

"Yes. We have a situation here, Matriarch Savas." He started, then sighed. "Councilor Tevos ordered her sister, Miria Tevos, to assassinate or at least attack a Council Specter, Commander Jane Shepard. On your behalf." The asari gaped at them, not understanding what he said. "Have you ordered any action against Shepard?"

"No!" Another Matriarch, Aleah, denied quickly, shaking her head vigorously. Two followed her shortly. "We strictly forbade her anything. She tried to persuade us that the Commander's pregnancy was a threat to the asari race. We dismissed the matter as it's irrelevant." Liara, who was standing in the back, reading through the data Glyph had sent, stepped forward.

"Matriarchs, I have evidence that Tevos' sister planned on terminating Shepard's pregnancy with force and stealing her data. I'm sending it to you and the Council right away." A few seconds later everyone was watching messages and vid-calls between the two asari. The Matriarchs watched and read it with growing disbelief on their faces.

"She lost her way to the Goddess. Not seeing her guidance anymore." Savas said with true sadness. "I think the Matriarchs agree that Tevos can't be the asari representative in the Council anymore. We revoke her status and will send our new representative within a few days. Please take care of Tevos according to Council law."

"Any support required will be granted by the Assembly. Please contact us anytime." The third asari, Matriarch Lanya added at the end. "Also, please pass our deepest apologies to Shepard's family and crew." Garrus growled at the asari and approached the console.

"Your sorry won't change the fact that the life of my bondmate and son is at risk!" He roared. "Your crappy sorry won't do any good now. That woman carried the burden of saving the whole fucking galaxy, she fought risking her life and health. She won for everyone. And now when she just wanted a bit of life for herself, she got a bullet in the back. Aren't you all ashamed? She, for once, wanted to be selfish. I was there at the beginning fighting Saren, then grieving her death 3 years ago so much that I ended up as a vigilante on Omega. Then when she had returned I walked into hell again with her, fighting the Collector's. That woman saved billions by destroying the batarians home system. She often had to make difficult choices, you would never imagine, and she won it all. Shepard did all of that because of shitty politics. The Council dismissed the Reaper threat till they invaded every fucking planet. Suddenly everyone believed, 'oh, lunatic Commander Shepard was right after all!' she won for all of you. Oh, I'm sooo mad! Spirits, I can't deal with this crap anymore." Garrus gasped in exasperation, hand waved at them in a gesture of helplessness. He went outside the room. Everyone remained silent, watching the place that Vakarian stood only seconds ago.

"He's right." Sparatus said when he could talk again. "That woman should have been treasured, she is the reason we still can talk. Spirits, we have to do everything to ensure her wellbeing and safety." The rest nodded silently, not daring to say anything more. The truth had been spoken and was a heavy burden on them. They hadn't done anything to thank Shepard nor just let her be happy. Shame palpable on each face, except T'Soni's. Liara just shook her head and winced.

"Sometimes I think she should have let Sovereign destroy the Citadel and Council. I was also there from the beginning. Seeing Shepard struggle for the whole galaxy. What for? For this?" She gestured toward the door where Vakarian left. "Goddess. I'll use her words: get your shit together and do something useful for a change." Liara regarded the Council for a moment and went to the doors, stopping and cocking her head to speak her last words. "Primarch, I'm leaving this to you."

"I won't disappoint you nor Vakarian and Shepard. Trust me." Liara nodded and left. Victus turned toward the holograms of the councilors and matriarchs. "Let's end for now. Call me when you arrest Tevos." The Asaris and the Council bid goodbye and Victus closed the connection. He went outside to catch up with Liara and Garrus but the warden told him they left. Maybe that's better. Miss T'Soni will talk with Vakarian, no use for me there.

ooo

Four days later the Normandy landed again on Palaven. Admiral Hackett ordered to be immediately taken to the hospital Shepard was in. Miranda, Chakwas and Jack with him. Garrus greeted them outside the building.

"Admiral, Miranda, Doctor, good to see you." Jack coughed meaningfully so Garrus added. "And you too, Princess Charming."

"Fuck off, Garrus. Five minutes I gave you Shepard and five minutes was she got shot!" She ran to him, smacking his chest. "I've told that idiot she should have stayed on Earth… but no! And now… and now!" Jack bit her lips, shutting herself up. Garrus didn't bother replying. After a moment she exhaled, calming down slightly. "How is she?"

"In a coma. Miranda, you need to... heal her, put her spine together." He turned toward Lawson, a painful plea in his voice. "And you, Doctor, please examine her." Both women agreed quickly and they went to Shepard's room. Jack gasped, terrified when she saw Shepard, lying on her side, her back connected to tubes and wires, a hand rested loosely on her stomach. Jane was still very pale and her closed eyelids were dark from blood loss and exhaustion. Miranda and Chakwas soon started to examine Shepard's back. Meanwhile Shakria came and shared her data with them.

"I have equipment I used to rebuild Shepard. It's in the Med-Bay. Garrus come with me, we need a truck to bring it here. We can't take her to the Normandy in this state. Doctor…" The ex-Cerberus agent turned to Chakwas. "Stay here and organise with… excuse me, I don't know your name." She turned to the turian doctor.

"Dr. Arteria Shakria. Miss Miranda Lawson, I presume. Give me a list of everything you need." Miranda exchanged Omni ID's with the turian female and sent a list of things she needed. Then she left with Garrus. When they were in the skycar Vakarian asked what the odds were regarding Shepard's health.

"Well, the procedure will take at least a month so she will have to be in a coma for the whole time. In her current state of sleep it will be the best, Garrus. She won't feel any pain and your baby will be safe. Congratulations on becoming father are in order. He will be a strong boy I think." Miranda smiled at him, trying to cheer him up a bit. "I will rebuild her spine as it's now just a case of putting it together like the pieces of a puzzle but she will have difficulty with walking. In a worst case scenario, she could never walk again. That's why rebuilding would be best. Luckily I took all the equipment from the base from when Lazarus Project was ongoing. The Illusive Man suggested having it onboard the Normandy in case it was needed." Garrus felt utterly happy about the news. "And Chakwas was keeping it safe there."

"Good. Spirits Miranda we should have been married within a week. And now?" Lawson turned to look at the turian. She knew well that both Vakarian and Shepard had waited for this and now their dreams had to be postponed. Since she has seen them together on Omega, how they were, she knew something special was between those two. No wonder they became bondmates. Their spirits were bonded, glued to each other and neither of them could stand to be away for long. "Promise me, she will be okay."

"She will, Garrus. I'm here and I will make her healthy and kicking in no time. Um, baby is 7 and a half months into pregnancy so soon you will have both Shepard and David." A small turian smile appeared on his face at her words. That was what he really needed. Reassuring words from the person that could really bring Shepard back to him. When they arrived at the Normandy, Joker and EDI greeted them. All four of them went to the Med-Bay to collect the equipment and take it to the truck that was already waiting for them. Garrus ordered one before they left and it was quick to be where they needed it. Little perk of being a Reaper Advisor and friend of the Primarch. Joker was coordinating things while EDI and Garrus began taking things from the Med-Bay. The pilot couldn't do much anyway.

"Wanna come with us, Joker?"

"Yup, since I can walk now under the beautiful Palavenian sky! Come on buddy, let's take this stuff to Shepard. It's so awfully quiet and boring without her getting into trouble." All four of them told the truck driver where to go then they were off to the hospital. Miranda finally began the series of procedures to rebuild Shepard's lower spine.

oOo

Next chapter will be delayed as I need to study for exam for accounting course. Sorry :