I've seen many different sides to Janie, part of my previous privileges as her romantic partner. I've seen her drunk before, but she was normally a rather happy drunk nothing like her current state. We came into the lounge and all she did was stumble over to the bar before grabbing a random bottle. Seeing as it was a Batarian Vodka I moved over to her rather quickly, gently I pulled the bottle from her hands. "Janie why don't you sit down I'll get you one." Green eyes turned to meet me and for a moment I wondered if she would fight me on this, thankfully she simply released the bottle and sat down on the couch of the lounge and waited. As I was retrieving a more suitable bottle of Whiskey the doors slid open allowing Liara to enter. I had a lot of respect for the alien before but I have more for her now, in seeing how she's stayed by Janie's side no matter what which is more than I can say. The blue alien moved over to Shepard with purpose. Liara simply knelt before Shepard and began to attempt to treat the small cuts on her feet that the glass had given her. I hung back for a moment waiting to see if Janie would calm down, she didn't.

As Liara picked up Janie's foot and pulled a piece of glass out of her foot our commanding officer simply withdrew her foot from the blue aliens grasp before kicking the other woman in the shoulder thus causing Liara to lose her balance and tumble backwards. I knew she hadn't used her full strength she really had only pushed Liara with her foot. However the message was conveyed. It was odd to see little sweet Liara to have her eyes flash with anger at her friend. I decided to move then placing the bottle on the table and moved to help Liara to her feet. "Janie that was rude." I said in a brash voice but it didn't seem to register. As I helped Liara to the other side of the room I whispered "Maybe let me deal with her for a bit." I cast a glance back at Shepard to see her reaching for her supposedly second bottle of the night before returning my gaze to Liara. Only to see that the Asari had narrowed her eyes with clear suspicion of my actions."Kaiden now is not the night to rekindle your romance."

I bristled a bit at the clear suspicion in her voice, as if I would take advantage of Janie. "Liara, that is not my intention tonight. I just want to help a friend, and if she takes a hit at me it's better than if she throws a punch at you." I reasoned with Liara, though it seems like I insulted her so quickly I spoke again. "Besides I really want to just talk with her, I haven't really since the Citadel." With that thankfully Liara conceded and nodded.

"Alright, just make sure you take care of those cuts, and make sure she gets some sleep please." Liara said in a worrying tone before handing the first aid kit to me. Liara cast another worried glance in Janie's direction before bowing her head and leaving the lounge. With the swish of the doors closing I realized for the first time in more than 3 years we were alone.

Looking back to Janie I saw the Savior of the Citadel taking shots straight from the bottle. With a sigh I set the first aid kit aside before advancing on Janie. I swiftly pulled two glasses before taking a seat in front of Janie. After I set down the glasses I snatched the bottle from her grip, she looked as if I stole a rare Prothean artifact. "Hey I gave you the bottle, you have to share." I simply stated ignoring the death glare I was currently receiving from green eyes as I poured a share of the alcohol in both glasses and proceeded to guard the bottle on the floor beside my chair. I smiled at Janie and took my glass raising it slightly "Cheers" I said before taking a swig of the liquor. Over the glass I saw Janie take a sip of her own. And so begins the most uncomfortable drinking session ever. After the second glass I realized Janie wouldn't speak so I did. "So how are you?" I asked slightly nervous I only received silence and Janie knocking back the full drink. Dutifully I refilled her glass before asking another question only to get the same reaction.

I sighed "Have you spoken to Garrus yet?" I asked prepared to wait for a response if any of my other questions where any indication instead I got a gruff "No." Running with it I continued "He's made some pretty interesting advances in the calibrations." Janie rolled her eyes "If that scaley fucker could he'd marry those damn calibrations." She snorted out and took a sip I smiled before speaking "Would you give him permission after all it is your main gun." I countered which in turn got a response "Hell no." At that I gave a small chuckle, the mental image of a very distraught Garrus was rather humorous.

I sat as we continued sipping our drinks this time Janie was the one who spoke first. "I can drink alone, you don't have to babysit me." She spoke in a low tone that was oddly monotone. I shrugged "I wanted a drinking buddy besides I haven't spoken to you since you had a gun in my face." I said taking another hit from my glass. I watched as she reacted to that and nothing, it was like talking to a wall. Sighing I refilled her glass and mine before attacking the elephant in the room. "Janie" I said getting her attention when her green eyes met mine I continued, pausing more for my sake than hers. "How long were you and Thane together?" I asked and finally got a response. Green eyes shot to mine in shock, whether it was from my knowing about them or the use of his name I'm not sure, and for a moment instead of the savior I saw a woman hurt as she answered "Not long enough."

To that I nodded and shrugged, preparing for a conversation that would hurt me far more then her. Downing my glass I asked one of the questions I didn't want an answer to, "What was he like?" As I said that I know I shocked us both, I faltered a bit in pouring more into both our glasses. Janie curled her legs toward her chest, and I could see that she was not entirely comfortable with this but it still seemed that she wanted someone to listen.

"He was interesting." Janie said with a small smile to her face as she continued "I never felt like I was less of a person with him because of what I'd done in my past, he just accepted never tried to see what I or anyone could do for him." I watched her stare into her glass that small sad smile dancing on her lips as a small tear began to trail down her face, and just like that it was gone. Her face hardened as she stared at her drink "And he lied." she spit with malice before downing the glass.

That shocked me, sure watching her talk about this guys with such emotion and admiration I wanted to punch his face in, but for this quick change to happen it surprised me. I almost asked how he lied, but then I remembered feeling like Janie had lied to me when she died. I bristled at the memory of those two long years. How it felt like she betrayed me by dying, I mean this was Commander Jane Shepard when she says she'll be fine you fucking listen. But she lied, and oddly enough I could understand that idea. I watched her just sit as I took in what she said, she just looked so angry. Even though I'd been through this same pain I still had no idea what to say. "You can't be angry at him." I said and as the words left my mouth I realized how bad they were as she glared at me and stood up with rage in her eyes. "You don't know what it's like." She growled out at me before turning to walk to the door. I just sat looking at my drink.

"But I do, Janie." I said in a clear voice and raised my head to see her stop in her tracks as I continued with "I lost you, didn't I?" I spoke in a low tone but I watched as it struck a cord and she turned back to me. If the situation wasn't fucked up I'd laugh at the egg on her face, but it was and remembering those emotions I couldn't laugh if I wanted to hell it was taking all I had to keep myself from falling apart at that moment.

I hardly noticed as she walked back to her couch and sat. A long silence stayed between us before she spoke "I-" she started and then continued "I guess you do."

Another long silence wafted over us and I could see the angry drunk was gone in her place was a grief stricken woman. It was time for her to sleep, to rest. I stood and cleared away the now empty bottle and glasses. Taking Liara's first aid kit I sat next to Janie taking her foot in my hand I began cleaning the small cuts, she just let me do it no fuss. After I finished I looked to Janie and sighed, she just looked so sad, and she whispered to me "It just hurts..." she said almost like a child.

I nodded "I know Janie I know." I whispered back, watching her as her eyes drifted closed before snapping them back open in her vain attempts at fighting off sleep. I smiled knowing I would only have to wait a few more minutes and she'd be asleep. Sure enough just like I predicted she was out like a light.

Liara paced in front of the lounge area, waiting for Shepard to emerge, so imagine her shock when Kaiden exited holding a sleeping Shepard. After the initial shock the blue woman led the man to the commanding officer's quarters, and together the two were able to put her to bed. Kaiden left first, with Liara following soon after. She paused at the door watching the blue light from the aquarium glow over her friend. "Goddess, let her sleep peacefully." Liara said in a whispered prayer hoping that some where in this universe peace could be found if only for a night.