"Have you ever considered what it would be like, Derby, to watch a human female and an asari mate? I never used to think about things like that. Funny how often it comes to mind now, though. And at the most random of moments. I wonder why that is…course, I also never really gave much thought to quarians either. But in those last few weeks, before Saren died, I mean, when we all started noticing what was going down between the Commander and Liara, I began to wonder why they didn't just invite Tali, our little quarian on board, into a sterile environment where she could lose that tight-fitting suit of hers and they could all have a little fun together-"

"Embarrassed; yes, Urdnot, I can see your point, but, tactful segue; how is the quarian now?"

"Well, that's where I was headed. I don't know, Derby."

*~~*~~*
THE NORMANDY
6 DAYS AGO
*~~*~~*

Garrus Vakarian followed closely behind Tali, keeping pace with her as she strode briskly around the lower levels of the Normandy, gathering her items together.

"So that's it. You're finished with the mission, you're finished with the Normandy."

Tali didn't stop moving, spotting a black cylindrical power converter beneath a stack of requisition licenses, stooping, picking it up and stuffing it in her canvas bag. "That's right. Saren is dead, I'm done. I did what I set out to do, what I promised Commander Shepard I would do. Now, I return home."

"Right," Garrus replied bitterly, "and all the better what with that Geth OSD burning a hole through your suit. Tell me, Tali'Zora, how long would you have waited to catch Saren with that disc in your possession?"

Tali turned to him now, her anger clear in her eyes through the faceplate in her suit. "As long as it took, Vakarian, I keep my promises. Saren is dead."

"And not even cold yet. It hasn't been a full week and you're on the next possible freighter that'll take you far enough away from here that were anything to go wrong you wouldn't know about it for weeks. Your own conscious won't even be able to touch you…for a while, at least."

"My conscious is quite settled, you pretentious jerk, and nothing is going to go wrong that Citadel forces can't handle. We won! It's done, Garrus. I'm not up for any more adventures. I'm going home, where I'm needed." She turned away from him, shouldering her bag and making for the elevator. "Oh, and I'm no scientist, Garrus, but I'm pretty certain that even a turian corpse is cold after a week!"

Tali slammed the call button for the elevator.

Before she could think of anything else to say, Garrus was there, standing behind her, close enough that his mere presence felt like a granite slab on her shoulders. He grabbed her arm.

"You're needed here, Tali." His voice wasn't a whisper, but it was calm.

Tali felt her breath catch.

The elevator shuddered home, the door slid down.

And Commander Shepard stood inside with Liara and Wrex.

Shepard smirked. "You two going up? We were just on our way to get you."

Tali shook her arm free from Garrus' hold, and they both stepped onto the elevator.

Once the elevator door shut Tali took a step away from Garrus and, despite the cramped space, huddled close to fit in between Shepard and Liara.

"You'll have to spend a few more days on the Citadel, guys, I'm sorry," Shepard stated, ignoring the tension between Garrus and Tali, "they're sending me to one of the medical orbiters the Alliance is bringing in-"

"That's fine," Tali said quickly, "I was headed out anyway."

Shepard noticed the bag for the first time. Realization flashed in her eyes, along the something else Tali couldn't quite make out in the relative darkness of the lift. "So you're going back to the Flotilla, then."

Tali hesitated before nodding. "Yes, I felt-"

"She feels that she's done what she vowed to you that she'd do, and now that that's done and she's gotten what she wanted to boot, she'd take off," Garrus interrupted, "fly away home."

Shepard gave her a long look. "Is that it, Tali? Have you gleaned everything you can from the Normandy?"

"Yes," Tali responded, "I have."

"Then the best of luck to you, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. You served the Normandy with dignity and valor, and you have my utmost gratitude for your efforts. I'm certain that the Citadel can find a small frigate that will be able to cater to your needs. You are a war hero, after all."

Tali felt the cold grip of guilt in her chest. She wondered how many times Shepard had delivered that same speech. Deserter, she thought to herself. That's what I am.

"Very well, Shepard…" Tali trailed off here, noticing Wrex for the first time since she'd stepped on.

Shepard followed her gaze and, a few moments later, so did Liara and Garrus.

"Wrex?" Shepard called out to him.

The krogan continued to stare at the three women. There was a glazed expression in his eyes. He didn't seem to have noticed his name being called.

Shepard raised her hand to his face. Snapped her fingers.

Urdnot blinked, shook his head. "What's the problem?"

"Where were you?"

"Doesn't matter," the krogan said quickly, "Battles, blood. Carnage. I've ended worlds."

Shepard nodded. "You're dripping saliva, Wrex."

"So? I don't have any sweat glands. It's hot in here. We shouldn't all be in here."

There was a silence as the lift continued to ascend.

Wrex shifted. "I don't remember it taking this long to reach the bridge."

The elevator stopped then, and the door rolled down. Wrex and Tali rushed off of the elevator together, almost bumping into each other. They took a step back, crossed paths and left in separate directions. Tali towards the docking bay exit, satchel across her shoulder, Wrex towards his sleeping pod.

Garrus sighed as he stepped out with Alice and Liara. "You shouldn't have let her go, Shepard. She would've stayed if you'd asked. She wanted you to ask."

"It's not my place to change her mind, Garrus," the Spectre responded.

Garrus shook his head in disgust. "You could've at least tried as hard as you did with Kaidan."

She looked at him sharply. "Drop it, Garrus. People want to jump ship, the door's wide open. Now's the time for them to do it."

She stood beside him a moment longer, until Tali had disappeared completely. Then she left him there, with Liara at her side.

Garrus continued to stand in the corridor.

"She would've stayed if you'd asked her to."