''Never a dull moment huh Shep?'' asked Kasumi limping towards the bruised and tired Commander who had all but collapsed on the nearest seat he could find.
''You mean the huge bender we all had, or the cataclysmic bar fight we have all just fought in?''
''Ha, both of course.'' said Kasumi flashing a tired smile.
Shepard gave a quick groan. ''times like these I wonder what life would be like if I could take a day off without several people attempting to kill me.''
''We're would be the fun in that? An attempted murder every now and then keeps you fit an healthy.'' replied the thief wincing slightly as she put weight on her bandaged leg.
Seeing this Shepard's face briefly flashed with concern. ''How the leg?''
''Oh alright the knife didn't really go that deep, some more medi-gel and an hour of Doctor Chakwas's magic fingers and I'll be up and stealing in no time.''
''You should still sit down, take some weight off it.'' he cautioned.
''I'm flattered but don't worry bout me I think its Tali you should be looking out for.'' Kasumi said motioning her head in the unconscious form of Tali splayed across the sofa.
After Grunt had killed Francis that was the signalling flare that finally broke the moral of the thugs as each quickly broke away from the fight and tried to escape anyway they could find: windows, doors and one person through the cellar. Shepard and his friends stood there battered and exhausted seeing if anyone would return, when all was silent Shepard rushed towards Tali, picking her up off the floor the women merely hung around his arms laughing and talking nonsense. Suddenly a horrid retching sound came from her and Shepard feared she had a suit puncture before looking up at her face he was meted with an unpleasant sight.
The bottom half of Tali's visor was lined with a yellowish liquid and the heavy sound of snoring echoed from her, laying her down and deciding to clean out the vomit after they returned to his cabin.
''She's fast asleep, hell I don't think the reaper invasion will wake her up.'' she smiled.
Kasumi's brows knotted as she thought deeply about something before a wide grin split her face. ''your so dead.''
Shepard gave a quick glance. ''yeah I know Grunt will be p**sed finding out we trapped him to the floor when he wakes up but I don't think it will be that bad.''
''No, not that Shepard.'' the thief paused allowing a large grin to appear. ''Later Tali's gunna be waking up from her first ever hangover, with the stench of sick on her visor, and judging by the amount of beer she has had it ain't gunna be a minor one at that.''
As Kasumi told him of his fate the colour left Shepard's face and his eyes shifted as if looking for some physical means to escape his impending fate. ''Oh Jesus, Kasumi by any chance do you have access to 6 inch flak armour on hand.''
She merely gave him an amused look.
''Yeah you're right, I'll need at least 12.''
Kasumi gave a quick laugh before walking off to help Miranda who was tending to the multitude of shallow cuts and scratches.
Immediately she was replaced by Garrus and Mordin who each took a seat opposite Shepard.
''Hi bud.'' nodded Garrus.
''Greeting Shepard.'' added Mordin.
Shepard nodded to each in turn before taking a deep breath. '' Listen you two there is something I need to say, thanks. You two have been with me all the way through this crazy mess and I doubt I could have got half as far as I did without you two's support, so thank you.''
Mordin simply nodded his head unaccustomed to such talk while Garrus beamed a smile leaned forward and patted Shepard shoulder. ''Hell of course you wouldn't have I've been pulling your human ass out of the fire since Saren, I ain't gunna stop now am I?''
''I guess not'' Shepard smiled.
''Anyway someone is gunna need to help you carrying Grunt back to the Normandy?''
''Yeah, lets just hope he doesn't fart on the way.''
''Spirits, if he does no bond of brotherhood is going to keep me with you.''
''Fair enough, anyway Garrus what exactly happened with that cult?''
Garrus's eyes widened and his jaws opened and closed several times, lost for words. ''Oh that cult? Well it's a long story, lets just say that apparently while I was drunk I bested their leader in single combat evidently proving that I am their 'divine one'.'' emphasising his point by motioning with his fingers.
''You don't say? So what happened after I sent Jack and Jacob after you?''
''Oh they were in some ritual most of which contained copious amounts of red sand and orgies, before the festivities could go into full swung the troublesome twosome arrived and started shockwave people left and right.'' he added smiling at the daring rescue his friends attempted.
''Heh I suppose I'll have to thank those two as well, that is after they've had their nap.'' said Shepard.
Mordin quickly leaned forward. ''Sorry Shepard but it will seem they will be resting for several hours yet if Garrus Vakarian's earlier description of the use of those two biotics.''
Shepard rolled his eyes. ''Great about half of us are unconscious the rest bone tired so I don't see how the hell were going to be able to get everyone back onto the Normandy.'' he said exasperated at this nights challenge after challenge.
''Hang on.'' interrupted Garrus. ''I've got a few old contacts in C-sec who might be able to lend a loading shuttle.''
Shepard allowed a small grin. ''Damm Garrus once again you save the day, we got to start keeping track of it.''
The turian gave a quick snort and a chuckle. ''I've lost count after thirty.''
Shepard raised an eyebrow. ''You sure you aren't just counting the times you 'imagined' you saved the day.''
Garrus gave a small shrug. ''Reality - fantasy, fiction - non-fiction. Its all the same.''
Shepard gave a small chuckle before standing upright with a grunt of discomfort.
''How long will that shuttle take?'' asked Shepard.
''To get here? About 10 minutes, to get back to the Normandy bout 20.''
Shepard gave a small sigh. ''Great 30 minutes to say my final goodbye's before she wakes up.''
Garrus gave a deep laugh and patted Shepard's back. ''May the spirits have mercy on you, coz I'm sure she won't.''
Shepard tapped his foot impatiently waiting for the elevator to reach his cabin. FTL, orbital space stations, anti gravity fields and yet we still can't master the art of fast elevators.
It had been an hour since he carried Tali from the shuttle to their cabin and Shepard returned carrying a small piece of toast and some flavoured nutrient paste for when she was hungry. Also a small package that Garrus had given him saying that it works wonders on Dextro- amino's with hangovers. Still worried as to how Tali would react from her first hangover Shepard wondered what the damage would be. she was already a strong headed women with him I wonder what's gunna happen now that it feels like I dreadnought just crashed inside her brain.
Finally arriving at his floor Shepard opened up the doors and stepped into the cabin, he had taken every precaution to make sure Tali doesn't rip off his balls : The lights had been dimmed to nearly no power, he had disabled the comms so no one can radio the cabin, he had put all Omni-tools pagers on silent and most of all he had a large deep pan of ice cold water by the bedside.
Putting his loads on the desk he slowly walked up to the form of Tali, who just now made the slight movements and moans signalling her awake. Taking in a deep breath he marshalled his courage and proceeded to gently nudge Tali, afraid of awaking her to forcefully it took several light pushes to cause the fluttering of her eyes and the mumbled speech to echo from her dreams.
She slowly blinked her eyes open to take in her environment before immediately regretting doing any such thing. A blinding pain worse than any bullet wound she had suffered before lanced throughout her entire head and sent spindles of agony racing through out her limbs. In an attempt to stop the pain her instinct was to curl upon herself but this made things worse as the sudden movement jarred her head and sent a fresh wave of pain burning through her skull.
A string of Khelish curses tumbled from her mouth sounding as if they were replayed through a loud speaker, her voice pounding in her head like some sort of primeval drum. Looking through scrunched eyes she saw a vague figure standing over her, thinking that this person was the cause for her pain she lashed out with a clumsy swing, the figure easily dodged the blow but the momentum caused Tali to roll off the bed onto the floor in a heap of cursing and moaning.
Suddenly she felt a hand against her arm and tried to lash out at her attacker when a whispered voice pushed through the thick screen of searing pain.
''Tali, stop moving you'll just make it worse.'' urged the tone trying to remain as quite as possible but still be audible.
Taking his advice Tali restrained her movement and sure enough the pain dimmed slightly but still hammered at her conscience.
''Tali, I know you're in a lot of pain but you're going to have to keep calm.'' added Shepard voice.
''Shepard? What? What happened?'' asked Tali immediately dimming down her helmets voice emitter when the words caused another tide of fire throughout her system.
''I can't explain it all now, lets just say last night you got really drunk, well that would be an understatement and what you are experiencing now is what humans call a hangover.''
She whispered a curse, she was unable to even think about last night so she must have drunk a lot.
''Keelah Shepard, please just tell how long it will last and what I can do to stop it.''
A humourless grin appeared on his face. '' Aaah that's the age old question, we still haven't found away to entirely cure hangover's but there are a few that reduces the pain.''
''Shepard I don't care if I have to kiss Grunt, just make the pain go away.''
''Yeah I got that, Garrus gave me some tablets that should help reduce the pain severally but they take about half an hour to take effect.''
Tali groaned half an hour in her current pain might as well be two years. ''Shepard that's no good do you have anything that has immediate effect?''
''Actually I have just the thing.'' he said walking away to pick up something out of view.
Shepard carefully handled the bucket of ice water careful not the spill any, this technique had always worked when ether him and his squad mates were on shore-leave during his posting at Elysium so he just hoped it worked on quarians. As he approached the encumbered form of Tali he did something he hadn't done since they hit the Omega 4 relay : he prayed.
''Tali?'' Shepard voice sounded as if it was coming from a thick fog, distorted and muffled.
''mmmh?'' mumbled Tali un able to produce a more verbal response.
''Now this may be abit of shock but trust me it works wonders.''
''What does?'' Tali questioned.
She was answered a second later by a sudden thrust five litres of ice cold water thrown at her by a very pale Shepard.
1 hour later SR2 mess hall…
Shepard sat their nursing his newly earned black eye and busted lip. He looked up at the humour filled glances of the crew members all easily being able to see the reason behind Shepard's newest injuries: not that the shrieking of the Khelish insults thrown down the elevator shaft for the following ten minutes after his departure was any less of a hint.
He shuffled in his seat before the dull aching of his ribs and legs set off again ,earning a pained grunt from Shepard. When he went into the Med-bay he found Chakwas laughing at his state before saying that her head still hurt and was in no condition to treat his wounds. So left for today nursing his injuries Shepard nearly soiled himself when the elevator chime sounded throughout the mess hall.
Getting ready to sprint from the nearest cover he looked up to see Tali slowly walking towards her head hanging in shame. One hand pressed an ice pack against her head while the other seemed to fidget be fret of its usual companion.
''Shepard?'' she asked her voice croaking obviously she had been crying.
Seeing that she wasn't about to attack him Shepard slowly turned around and approached her.
''Erm.. Yeah Tali?''
She took a deep breath and tried to think of the correct words. ''I'm.. I'm.. I'm'' unable to say the correct words she simply burst into a fresh set of tears and slumped against Shepard's shoulder. He quickly shot Gardener a look who nodded and shooed away the present crew men giving the two people privacy.
''Tali? What wrong?'' he asked in an attempt to get her talking.
She looked up briefly and saw the large dark ring of bruised flesh surrounding Shepard's left eye and the faint swelling of blood from his bust lip: the sight of the damage she caused sent another wave of tears and sobs to escape from her. Her hangover completely forgotten as she saw the injuries she had inflicted.
''Your face!'' she sobbed. ''I.. I can't believe such a thing to you.''
He took her shoulders and sat her down at one of the nearby seats.
''Don't be silly I could tell you were in a lot of pain.'' he comforted.
She tensed up at that comment. '' That's no excuse for hitting you!'' she raged. ''And anyway I'm the one who caused the hangover, I'm the one who drank the elcor liquor, I'm the one who carried on drinking after.'' she gave a brief pause before whispering. ''I'm the one who hit you.''
Shepard pulled Tali close and embraced her. ''It's ok, everyone make's mistakes.''
''Yeah but its inexcusable that I hit you.''
''What this?'' he questioned pointing towards his face. ''this is just a scratch trust me I've had plenty worse.''
''Yeah but from other people, people wanting to intentionally hurt you, never from someone who supposedly loves you.''
He gave a small smile. ''Oh Tali but of course you love, otherwise you wouldn't be down here crying to me and saying its your fault, I to have my share of the blame I should have known you wouldn't have been able to handle the liquor.'' He paused to lovingly stroke her arm. ''To error is human, to forgive is godly.'' he quoted kissing the top of her head.
''But..but.'' she stammered out.''
''But nothing.'' he hushed her. ''No serious harm was done and at least we had an alright time last night.;; he smiled. ''plus if you weren't the head strong women you are I wouldn't have fallen for you would I?'' he questioned.
''I suppose so.'' she mumbled finally coming around to Shepard.
''See? And anyway in away it's a learning experience you can't really say you're an adult until you've had a hangover can you?'' he said trying to pump humour into the previously grim atmosphere.
She gave a force laugh. ''I suppose not, but I would have thought some of things we have done in your cabin would defiantly considered adult?'' she asked coyly.
Shepard gave a quick laugh. ''See back to your old self already. Won't be long now till your down in engineering scolding Ken for his latest attempt at humour.''
''I count the seconds.'' he replied sarcastically already the memories of her breakdown fading away.
''I'm sure you are, well at least we no never to give you excessive amounts of alcohol.''
''I don't think I'll be drinking at all.''
''C'mon don't say that I glass of wine every now and then is good for you.''
''I'm sure it is but I'd prefer just to lay off it.''
He gave a quick laugh. ''You'll come around. Feeling better?''
''Yes thank you.'' she said cuddling up to him and nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck.
Already familiar with the often used position he quickly pulled her closer onto his lap and let off a content sigh. They remained this way for a couple minutes when Tali suddenly she shook as she remembered something.
''Shepard?''
''Yeah Tali?''
''It seems from last night my helmets video recorder was set.'' she said anxiety clear in her voice.
''Sooo? You have footage of everything from last night?'' he asked.
''Yes I was going to delete it but I wanted to check with you first.'' she said.
Shepard's brow furrowed in thought. ''I suppose deleting it would be best.''
Shepard grabbed her hands as she made to activate her Omni-tool. ''But my natural curiosity wants to see what's on it.''
''You sure?'' questioned Tali.
''Yeah why not its just us to.''
''Well if you say so.'' hesitantly replied Tali before switching on her Omni-tools small vid player.
As the footage played out each of the viewers faces turned visible shade's paler and their mouths hung limply from their heads.
''Is that grunt?'' asked Tali wonder in he voice.
''Yeah.'' muttered Shepard.
''And what is doing to that Varren?'' she asked.
''Sweet Jesus I don't want to know.''
As the couple huddled together watching the horrifying footage unknown to them a petite Japanese women stood cloaked not one foot away a recorded in her hand and a smile on her painted lips.
*This the final chapter and I believe it has ended on a good note, I will take short break before starting on my newest fan-fic with more drama and what not.
Thank you to al who have added my story to their favourite story/author list and extra thanks to those who have commented.
Its not to late to do it now if you want =D
Thank you for reading my story and hope you enjoyed it*