Bed Rest – Exposed
"Looks like we got them all, Commander," Gunnery Chief Garrus Vakarian's voice echoed through the transmitter of his helmet as he surveyed the battlefield, "Appears the distress signal we received was nothing more than a setup."
"And a bad one at that… they should know better than sending husks at me." Commander Reby Shepard scanned the vast perimeter of the hollowed cave. The rescue mission may have been a hoax but they were successful in dwindling the enemy's numbers. The bodies of various husks laid scattered across the ground, complimenting their victory. Holstering her Revenant, she nodded, "Let's get off this rock."
Zaeed chimed in, agreeing, "'Bout bloody time."
Navigating through the tunnels channeling through their war zone, the team journeyed towards the safety of the Kodiak. Every step quietly echoed against the tall concaves surrounding them. There wasn't any resonating shuffling from their previous scuffle, not even any stray bits of dirt and debris loosening itself against the grainy walls. The hallways seemed too silent and it left an eerie setting in the atmosphere.
"Garrus," the Commander stopped in her tracks in the center of a high-ceiled cave, "There's something missing here."
"What do you mean?"
"Something doesn't add up… whoever set this up either didn't think this through or this isn't the end."
Zaeed immediately brought his rifle back to his shoulder and peered through the scope, "You're right, Commander, this doesn't feel right."
"Let's proceed with extreme cauti-" before Reby could finish her sentence, a piercing shot trembled through the cave and she fell backwards.
"Shepard!" Garrus cried out, rushing to her side.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," she reassured him, sitting up and examining the new hole in her shoulder plate. The bullet went straight through her shield but couldn't manage to slice all the way through her armor. "That's odd. It must have lost all its power when it bypassed my shield."
"Where did that shot come from?" Zaeed asked,
"2 o'clock, looks like there are some ledges up," Shepard used her hand to direct her squadmates towards the shooters position.
"Try pulling it out," her loyal turian companion suggested.
Attempting every means to pull the bullet out, it didn't budge, "It's not moving. It appears to be anchored into my armor."
"How the hell is it doing that?" Zaeed strode towards the solider and glared at the bullet hole.
"Forget about it," she crawled back on her feet, "Let's try to find the shooter before they escape."
They began closing in on the shooter's position when a loud beeping noise started chiming. The crew immediately searched for the culprit, quickly realizing it was radiating from Shepard's bullet hole. Gradually beeping fasting and faster, a faint red light beaconed through the opened. Clasping at the bullet lodged in her shoulder, Shepard tried with all her might to remove the anchored threat but it refused to budge.
When the noise ceased, an explosion shot out from the bullet and sent the Commander stumbling backwards. Attempting to regain her balance, the shockwave left her dizzy and she couldn't stop herself from collapsing to her knees. Hunching forward, she pressed her left hand against the fresh opening. Her right fist balled tightly, her gloved fingers clenching tightly into her palm. Loudly panting through her communicator, sounds of anger cursed out with every breath.
Concerned about his bondmate, Garrus kneeled beside her, "Shepard, are you alright?"
"Give me a minute," her heavy breaths pleaded.
"What the hell just happened? Did that bullet… explode?" Zaeed questioned.
Shepard nodded in agreement, "This has to be the prototype Mordin warned me about. We need to find that weapon."
"I'm on it, Commander," Zaeed ran forward and searched the ledges.
Noticing the stumbling woman trying to get up, Garrus helped her up on her feet, "Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Let's hurry this up though, I do need to get to the Normandy as soon as possible," Shepard confirmed, sprinting forward with her left hand still clasped onto the wound.
"Gunnery Chief Vakarian, Dr Chakwas is requesting your assistance in the Medical Bay… please come immediately," EDI's voice echoed within the main battery.
Never being called to the Med Bay, Garrus was curious as to why the Normandy's onboard physician would request his assistance. As soon as he left the confines of his space, he noticed the windows of the Medical Bay were covered up which was typically not a good sign. The last time they were concealed was after the ordeal from the Bahak System when Shepard demanded to be quarantined.
Upon entering the concealed quarters, he sees the doctor standing beside a bedridden Shepard. Reby's armor lay sprawled out on the bed next to her… dripping with blood. The shoulder plate lay in pieces, charred and disintegrating from the explosion. A surplus of used gauzes piled up beside Chakwas, drenched. Shepard's top half was exposed but was covered up by fresh gauze bandages soaked in omnigel. Only a small red spot appeared on one side through her bandages.
From what he could observe, all that remained were two open wounds on her shoulder. This appeared to be the location that took the worst of the blast. He neared his injured companion with growing concern. Her welcoming eyes reassured him, glowing in delight from his company.
A few drops of blood trickled out from one of the openings and the doctor quickly tended to their cleaning. She turned towards the tall turian and pleaded, "Can you please influence our Commander to allow me to give her an anesthetic?"
Still trying to grasp the situation, he remarked, "Reby, I thought you were alright."
"I said I will be fine. In fact, I feel much better that you are here… and I'll feel even better once these damned things are out of me."
"What happened?"
"Apparently that bullet, apart from exploding and hurting like a motherfucker, sends shrapnel into their host's bodies. It's supposed to kill or fatally wound the victim; I guess I'm really lucky."
"Yes you are," the silver haired woman chimed in, "The one that was in your ribs came awfully close to severing your lung. We are down to the last two pieces but they are deeply imbedded. One is anchored into her clavicle bone and the other is gazing her acromion."
"It seems like you have this under control Doctor, why do you need me?"
"The Commander is refusing anesthetic."
"I can deal with it," Shepard scowled.
"Come on, Reby, it would make it a lot easier," her partner attempted to sway her answer.
"No. I would prefer being conscious," she shot back.
"Why?"
"You should know why, at least by now," her pained eyes glared towards her pile of armor, visions of Dr. Kenson's betrayal replaying vibrantly in her thoughts.
"Shepard, I don't think you understand how difficult this may be. The one in your ribcage was easily accessible. As well as the little pieces we removed from your pectoralis. These are…" Chakwas began explaining.
"I think I know EXACTLY where they are, I don't need any of the big medical terms you used. After all, I am feeling every bit of this."
"We need to remove them soon. You are losing a lot of blood."
"Then do it Chakwas. I assure you that I won't move. Garrus will help."
"You are impossible," the Alliance doctor shook her head as she retrieved the tweezers.
Reby's grin cocked to one side, "Would you have me any other way?"
"No," she smiled in return and prepared the opening.
Turning her attention away from the wound, the Commander requested, "Garrus, I want you to hold my right arm still. Whatever you see, or hear, whatever I ask or tell you, keep it still. Understood?"
He nodded as he rested his two hands on her arm, securing it at her elbow and wrist.
"Alright, Commander, deep breaths," Chakwas insisted before inserting the tweezers.
The moment the metal sunk in, Shepard's eyes clenched shut and her teeth gritted tightly. Garrus could feel her arm become more and more tense the deeper the tweezers ventured.
Feeling the intruder being pulled from her wound, Shepard sighed loudly, "See, I told you I wouldn't move."
"Good. Because we have one more, Commander, and this one is going to be a little worse." Chakwas warned, "Are you ready?"
Shepard nodded slightly.
Chakwas entered the second wound and Garrus could immediately tell a difference. This one was clearly more painful. Her arm tensed more and her face was uncontrollably twitching. Her clenched eyes welled up and tears forcibly trailed down her check. Her pulse pounded violently and trembled across her torso.
The shrapnel refused to loosen its grip on the Commander's arm and the doctor gave it a gentle tug in an attempt to free its bond. Instinctively, Shepard's free hand grabbed onto Garrus's arm and dug her fingernails in. Her deathly grip sunk into his skin and tightened the more the rogue piece of metal put up a fight. Uncontrollably wincing, Shepard's body squirmed and resisted under Garrus's hold. It took every bit of strength to restrain his bondmate. Nothing strained him more than seeing his partner in pain… and being a part of the affliction.
Unable to withstand anymore torment, Reby screamed, "Just pull it out!"
With one shift tug, Chakwas removed the large metal chunk from her bone.
"Argh!" she shrieked.
Putting the shard into a bowl, the doctor tended to closing the openings, shaking her head as she muttered, "Commander, you are crazy."
"I know," she panted, her fingers still latched onto her companion.
Leaning towards Reby's ear, Garrus whispered, "Are you okay?"
"Much better…"
"Are you sure? Your grip hasn't loosened."
She nodded, "I know. I'm going to pass out now."
Without another word, the Commander's body shut down from the extreme procedure. Her injured arm went limp in Garrus's hands yet her fingers amazing still had the strength to keep hold. Even though their grip loosened, her hand refused to let go of his arm.
Peering out from the corner of her eye, Chakwas studied the turian's astonishment of the brave woman holding onto him. She grinned, "You can take her to her quarters as soon as I'm done patching her up. I know she will protest but she needs a great deal of rest. She may think she can handle anything but her body will say otherwise. Can you make sure she takes it easy for at least a day or two?"
"Yes," he agreed, his yearning devotion to his Commander aching to comfort her from her current burden.