A/N: Just wanted to say thank you to everyone reading this story! I know my updates are turtle speed compared to when I was writing Vulnerable, so I wanted to push this chapter out before I belly flopped into my midterms this Wednesday. I'm planning to have the next chapter out sometime tomorrow. It's REALLY short, but I've added a little twist that will hopefully keep you all on your toes for the meantime. I took M-Angel's advice and I HAVE enabled anonymous reviews, so please leave me something, good or bad!
Dr. Chakwas let everyone in by pairs to meet the first child to be born on the Normandy. First in was Gabby and Ken. Alyssa and Chakwas raised an eyebrow at the two. Gabby held the baby, and looked at Ken with an expression that everyone seemed to understand except Ken. She shook her head as she handed Gavin back to Joker. When it was time for Garrus and Thane to come back in, Joker's omni-tool pinged.
"It's the Commander," he said, looking at the message.
"She said the trial is over, and somehow Admiral Hackett pulled some strings and got her out. She's waiting for us."
"I shall take a shuttle out to pick her up," Thane said, holding Gavin in his arms.
"I'll go with you. She'll be furious if you go by yourself," Garrus said, waving his talon to the baby.
Chakwas came and took the baby from Thane, and laid him in a small crib, and wheeled it next to Alyssa. Joker decided to leave the medical bay so the two could rest, and to get the Normandy ready for Shepard's arrival.
Joker was halfway to the cockpit when Garrus alerted him that they had left the Normandy and were en route to picking up Shepard. Once seated, he positioned the Normandy into a clever position: low enough that the shuttle would not sustain too much damage or lose too much fuel, and it would allow for a speedy exit if the extraction did not go as planned.
Extractions never go as planned. At least with Shepard.
Joker anxiously waited for her return. It's been fifteen long minutes, and he hasn't heard anything from the ground team.
"Normandy to shore party, come in," he said into the comm. No answer. He scanned the area, but the shuttle was nowhere to be found.
This was odd. He squinted at his console. This usually doesn't happen during an extraction. Suddenly, his console flickered orange then red, then a familiar structure appeared in front of him.
"Aw shit," he said, starting to get up.
"Your time is coming, Jeff," Harbinger said, which sent chills down his spine.
"Not when Shepard is still alive! You sons a bitches aren't going to get me!" Joker said, sticking his tongue out.
"Don't be so naïve, Jeff. This will hurt you."
"Sovereign went down without a problem. It'll be the same with you," Joker said, glaring at the image on his console.
"Prepare for the end of humanity, Jeff," Harbinger said before flickering off of the screen.
His console became the familiar orange once again. There was a small green light blinking, which he realized was the shuttle asking for the cargo bay door to open.
"Welcome home, Commander," Joker said into the comm.
"Jeff, you need to come to the medical bay this instant!" Chakwas said in a panic. Without hesitation, Joker hobbled as fast as he could to the crew deck. He ran into the medical bay, Shepard, Thane, and Garrus very close behind.
"Alyssa is in a coma. Just after you left to get the ship ready, her back spasms started to kick in again. I've never seen one so severe. I tried to give her pain medication but nothing is working. She fell into a coma just before I was finally able to get a hold of you."
"Finally? How long have you been trying to contact me?"
"For the last ten minutes. Nothing could go through, even Shepard couldn't get a hold of you when they got here."
Joker looked down and pondered the recent confrontation with Harbinger. What did it all mean?
"What's wrong, Joker?" Shepard asked.
"Before Chakwas called me, Harbinger took over the cockpit console and talked to me."
Shepard looked at him sternly.
"What did he say to you?"
"He said my time was coming, and that it would hurt me." He suddenly remembered the nightmare he had, when the collectors took away Alyssa and Gavin. He shook his head, getting the thought out of his mind.
Shepard let Joker stay in the medical bay while herself and Thane took care of the ship and picking up the rest of their crew. He sat on a stool next to Alyssa, holding her hand. He positioned Gavin's crib in front of him. He stared at Gavin, watching him peacefully sleep.
Gavin weighed in at a whopping seven pounds and eight ounces, but as healthy as babies could come. He had no complications that Chakwas could see, and all his tests came back negative for any illnesses, diseases and complications. His skin was a bit lighter than Joker's. Chakwas reassured the couple his skin tone will probably darken as he gets older. His facial structure took resemblance to Joker's but his eyes were the same shape as Alyssa's. He came out with a full head of black hair.
The thought of the Collectors taking his son away infuriated him. He angrily shook the thought away, and looked at Alyssa.
She looked like she was peacefully sleeping. Chakwas connected a breathing tube through her mouth to ensure that she still obtained the right amount of oxygen. Her chest lightly rose up and down with every breath the tube gave her. He stroked the back of her hand with her thumb, hoping she could still feel him holding her hand. He felt his eyes become heavy, so he laid his head next to her hand, falling asleep.
"It looks like a lot has happened since I announced shore leave," Shepard said, looking at Thane in the co-pilot seat.
"There will be more as the fight gets closer, Siha." Shepard sighed, a slight hint of worry shown on her face.
"I just hope Joker won't be affected too much with Alyssa in a coma. I need him at his best, better than when we defeated Sovereign."
A few short minutes passed before she turned her seat fully towards Thane.
"Thane, why don't you and I try for a baby?"
Thane's thoughts and duties came to a screeching halt at her question. He stood and walked towards Shepard, stopping inches away from her and resting his hands behind his back.
"Siha, you and I both know this would not be the ideal time to raise a child. More so, you are still, in essence, raising Joker to be a good father. If you think about it, you already have a child to worry about."
"Joker, as my child," she said those words slowly, then shuddered at the thought.
"Don't ever make me think that again. That's just… quite disturbing."