"You've got to get out of here." Her tone, laced with authority, did not betray her even though she was about to fall apart.

"And you've got to be kidding me!" He protested, almost angry.

She looked into his eyes and he could hear the pain in her voice as she stated diplomatically "Don't argue, Garrus."

"We're in this til the end!" It was a fact. God, he'd been with her since the beginning.

She could see his leg was bleeding, she could hear the desperation in his voice. Liara held him back, but she had to look away from them. It felt rude, to be here during such an intense moment. She was shaking, not realizing she was bleeding too.

Shepard walked towards him slowly, realizing what she was going to say to him. It took all her power to not fall apart right then and there.

"No matter what happens here…" She walked slowly up the ramp, her voice wavering. "…you know I love you. I always will." She touched his face and she realized it was the last time she would ever see him again.

His breath hitched in his throat. "Shepard…I…" He realized he had never told her. Damn it, why didn't he tell her this every day? He looked in her eyes and grabbed her hand. "…love you too." She pulled away from him and he reached out for her. She turned back and saw Harbinger. It made sense that this is how it would end.

It was always going to be like this, no matter what she did. No matter how many she saved. She had failed so many, but damn it, she was not going to fail him too.

"Go!" She shouted, and she turned around and ran. She couldn't look at him again.

When the Normandy flew past her, she had to wipe the tears from her eyes.

Then she saw the beam. Everything turned white.

"Shepard. You have failed." Harbinger's voice was only heard by her. Deep, cobwebs in her brain, filtering through the truth of this memory of Garrus. She couldn't breathe.

Suddenly she was floating. She was near the beam. The Illusive Man…he suddenly wasn't the Illusive Man. He morphed into Garrus. He shot Anderson.

Then he shot Shepard. In her blurred vision of this nightmare, as she lay bleeding, she saw Garrus…then she saw Saren…who placed the gun against his temple.

"Garrus! No!"

"I'm sorry, Shepard." It was Garrus' voice, in Saren's body.

Then she heard the gunshot and the crescendo of the Reapers.

She woke, screaming his name. Nurses and doctors came rushing in. She thrashed against the bed, her working fist grabbing at her IV's. She ripped it out and her blood spilled onto the bed. She couldn't stop screaming. She saw Harbinger's yellow glowing eyes in the doctors who stood above her. She heard nothing but white noise, her screams of terror silent to her own head.

"Hold her down!" A male nurse spoke. Arms were on her, pressing her weak form against the bed. Another nurse held a rag against her bleed and smeared medi-gel on it, which stopped the bleeding.

A hand was on her forehead. "She's burning up! We need to knock her out and get the IV back in her!" Dr. Chakwas spoke loudly and with authority, but there was fear in her voice.

Shepard moaned as the needle was injected into her neck, her body falling limp almost instantly. The white noise did not stop, even as her eyes closed.

She only saw his blue eyes.

When Shepard woke, she had the worst pain behind her eyes and in her skull. She groaned and very slowly opened her eyes. Fuck, even that hurt.

"Shepard?" It was Miranda.

"Miranda, what...happened?"

Dr. Karin Chakwas walked into the room and answered her promptly. "You had a nasty fever, caused by infection, that caused a seizure-like response. You've been out for a week, fighting the fever."

Shepard nodded again but that felt like it that made her brain press against her skull. She remained still and slowly opened her eyes.

"What…infection?" She groaned and tried to rib her eyes, but her wrists were in straps, as was her right leg. Her burns had healed during this time, thanks to her cybernetics and thorough skinweave. Her hip and leg had partially healed, but she still remained fingerless on her right hand. If she had been cognizant enough, she would have laughed at the fact her right wrist was in a strap. Like that could pose a threat.

"Shepard, drink." Miranda approached her and placed a straw in her mouth. The water flowed past her tongue, coating her throat, refreshing her.

She looked at Miranda, then at Dr. Chakwas.

Karin sighed and walked towards the broken hero. "It was caused by an internal rupture, in conjunction with your injured hand. Your burns have healed nicely, but your hand has permanent nerve damage. It will take time to become fully functional again, and that is after you get approved for reconstructive surgery."

Shepard understood what she was saying but was unable to respond. She looked at her hand, her neck barely turning. She groaned and moved her wrists weakly, still in their bonds. Miranda removed them and sat on the edge of Shepard's bed.

"Shepard…I have to tell you something."

"Miranda…do you really think this is the best time?" Karin asked, her voice crisp with scrutiny.

"She deserves to know, Karin." Miranda gently grabbed Shepard's unmarred hand and took a deep breath. "It's about Garrus…and Liara."

Author's Notes:

I am really enjoying writing this story. It's been very therapeutic for me. I hope it is enjoyable to read! Please review and offer any advice, criticism or comment.

BrokenEmber