Miranda sat in her office, trying to concentrate on her work when EDI came over the speaker, "Miss Lawson, the Commander is in her cabin."

"How did the surgery go?"

"The best the Doctor and I could've hoped for. But you need to put someone in charge of looking after the Commander while she recovers."

"I'll do it."

"I cannot advise that, you are the Normandy's XO and need to serve as Shepard while she recovers."

Miranda looked around, she knew her commitment, but this was more important, right? This had to do with Lazarus, and Cerberus, it was higher than the Normandy. Anyways, nothing important would happen with Shepard on bedrest.

"Put Officer Taylor in charge, and tell the crew if they need anything to report him. I will be staying in the Commander's cabin until she recovers."

"As you wish, Miss Lawson."

Miranda entered the cabin to find the Commander, whose eyes had been bandaged, letting her hands roam around her desk by her bed. She was obviously looking for something.

The raven haired woman suppressed her urge to laugh and set down her things. She walked down the two steps just as Shepard's hands closed around something.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like, Miranda? I'm about to comb my hair."

Miranda came closer, "Commander, those are scissors."

She could tell Shepard was surprised as she set them back down on the table, "I knew that, Miss Lawson. I was going to cut the bandages off so I can bloody see."

Miranda shook her head, "I think it's time you get back in bed Commander, you need to recover so the mission can continue."

Reluctantly, the woman climbed back in bed.

"What are these bandages anyways?"

Miranda sat down in a nearby chair, "You mean you don't know?'

"All I remember was that I had a fight with Jack and I was having horrible headaches, then you put me in bed, but that's the last I remember."

"Oh..."

"Well are you going to tell me, or not?"

"Calm down, Shepard. When I took you to the infirmary the next morning we were told that the sun on Haestrom had done serious damage to your eyes due to your disorder that causes the loss of pigment in your eyes. The retinas and optical lenses of your eyes were severely damaged and you were sent into surgery."

"So... it's fixed."

"It's as fixed as we can make it, we don't know as of now if your vision will return. You'll need about two to three days of recovery before we can take off the bandages and see the results."

"You've got to be kidding. Has this been reported to the Illusive Man yet?"

Miranda paused; she hadn't put a report in... yet.

"Not yet, Commander."

"Well thank god; we don't want his highness to choke on his cigarette."

Miranda laughed, but she knew very well that the Illusive Man would once he found out.

The officer stood up, picking up the pills from the table, "Here, these are going to make you sleep and will accelerate healing. I'll be here if you need anything."

The Commander took the pills, laughing before slipping off to sleep.

"Just like the good old days at the Lazarus Station."

When the Commander awoke the following day she was startled by her own hunger. Luckily, Miranda had gotten her lunch from downstairs.

"Here." Miranda climbed on the bed in front of her, helping the Commander eat as she couldn't very well see enough to feed herself.

"Open up, Shepard, here comes the plane."

She hungrily ate the stew off the spoon, laughing.

"I feel like a child, Miranda."

"You certainly look like one, again, sorry for making you look so young."

"Sorry? Please, I get way more complements now. You must've added a little something while I was under."

Miranda laughed, "Sorry, I didn't. This is still you, just back in the days of when you went to the Academy."

Shepard took another bite, finally finishing off the plate.

"Don't worry, it's not like I blame you or anything."

"You probably should." Miranda looked down at her feet, feeling guilty.

"Why?" Shepard was still clueless, but Miranda just took the bottle of pills again, putting them in her hand.

"Is this going to make me sleep for a whole day again?"

Miranda handed her the glass of water, "It's probable."

Shepard still reluctantly took them.

Shepard sat up, she felt stick all over. It was the feeling she got whenever she had been lying in bed for too long. It reminded her of the days at Lazarus when she was restricted to one hour out of bed a day.

She heard Miranda wake up who was probably sleeping in the chair again.

"Shepard, you're awake."

"What time is it?"

"It's bloody 1 AM."

"Oh... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

Miranda yawned, "It's fine; did you need something?"

She knew very well what she wanted, but even though she knew Miranda had seen all of her during Lazarus, she was still hesitant to ask.

"I could really use a bath, I feel horrid."

She got up, "Of course, Commander. I'll run the water and be back for you in a moment."

Shepard waited patiently until she heard the loud taps of Miranda's boots that always gave away her approach. Miranda came to her bed side, and helped the Commander stand and walk into the bathroom near the entrance of the cabin.

Miranda sat Shepard on the toilet seat, helping her unbutton the striped fleece shirt she wore when she went to bed. Shepard pulled the matching bottoms off and handed them to Miranda. She gently folded them and set them on her counter, making a mental note to wash them after she got Shepard back to sleep.

She turned around to see Shepard had already gotten herself into the hot water of the bath. Miranda had brought in a chair and sat down. She remembered the days of Lazarus when she had had to give Shepard her baths. It was different now; she could see the scars were gone. Shepard was nearly healed completely.

To break the tension, Miranda began a conversation, and it was actually a question she had been meaning to ask.

"So... why are your pajamas's so big? I mean, you're a pretty small person."

"Their not mine," Shepard answered quickly.

"Then... whose are they? I mean, I don't mean to pry."

"It's alright, their Kaiden Alenko's. And before you ask how I got them, yes, I slept with him."

"Was in a one night thing, or were you a couple?"

"The latter, I loved him... very much. He loved me too."

"Then why send him to die at Saren's cloning facility?"

She shifted and the water rippled around her, "Despite my personal attachment, he was the best for the job. Ashley is smart, but I don't think we would be where we are without Kaiden."

Miranda was a bit stunned by the sudden change in Shepard's mood. In all her research, this was one part of her that was a gray area. She had suspicions that she might have been intimate with Kaiden, but it was obvious Shepard cared for him on a much deeper level.

The silence in the air was almost unbearable when Shepard finally spoke up, "I... I'm done, Miranda."

She nodded, helping her out of the tub.

Miranda sat combing out the Commander's hair, making sure there were not knots in it from her two days in bed.

"So... Miranda..."

"What is it, Shepard?"

"You know everything about me... but I want to know about you."

"Well..." she paused, "What is it you want to know?"

"Have you ever loved someone, Miranda?"

Sure there had been the one night stands and the short relationships, but she had never had something like what Kaiden and Shepard had had. The closest thing she could think of was her relationship with Jacob, but that was to recent for her to even talk about.

"Not in the way you are thinking of. I've had my share of men, but most go running when they learn that a) I'm with Cerberus or b) I'm a genetic mutt."

Shepard's voice turned soft, "You're not a genetic mutt..."

Miranda smiled, "Thank you, Commander."

Shepard turned around, hugging Miranda suddenly. She was taken aback, but she believed it was her first hug since Jacob and she decided not to push her away. She hugged her back, and soon heard snores coming from Shepard.

She laughed, lying the woman down, "Goodnight, Shepard."

Miranda took a deep breath before stepping into the circle that would deliver her to the Illusive Man's presence. She knew what it was about.

When she came in, he was silent, taking a whiff from his cigarette.

"It seems there is something you haven't informed me of, Lawson."

"Shepard's surgery was a minor setback and there was no need for you to get involved."

"Do you expect me to believe this bullshit, Miranda? If Shepard's vision doesn't return, the entire Lazarus project is at stake. First it was the age, Miranda, now it's this. Her vision loss is going to be your last strike Lawson."

"Sir-"

"Cut it, Operative. I put you in charge of Lazarus because I believed you were the best for the job, but I may have been mistaken. If this fails, you will be leaving Cerberus permanently."

"Just because her vision is gone, doesn't mean that Lazarus is a failure."

"A Shepard that can't see, is a Shepard that can't fight. And a Shepard that can't fight is useless to me. She might as well be meat and tubes like we found her."

Miranda took a deep breath, "She is more than you give her credit for, sir."

"I didn't ask your opinion. Good luck, Operative."

With that the Illusive Man was gone, and Miranda quickly made her way back to the Captain's Cabin where Shepard was surely waking up.

She came into the room to find Shepard fully awake, calling her name.

"Miranda, this is no longer funny. Answer me!"

"I'm over here, Commander. I was talking with the Illusive Man."

"Oh... what did he say?"

"Nothing important," she lied. She came over to Shepard, "I think it's time we take your bandages off."

Her hands shook as she reached for the bandages, "They'll be a bit sensitive at first." She closed her eyes, 'that is if she can see.'

Miranda gently removed the bandages and watched as Shepard blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting.

"So...?" Miranda's voice was uneasy.

"I feel much better. I can see, actually better than I could."

Miranda was overjoyed and in her moment of celebration she hugged Shepard unexpectedly.

"Miranda?"

Shepard pushed the woman back to see the tears dusting her eyes.

"Miranda, what is it?"

"It... It was my fault."

"What was?" She was confused.

The Cerberus officer took a deep breath, "During your reconstruction, I overlooked your optical disorder. I had a nagging feeling about your eyes when I was rebuilding them but I didn't give it a second thought. I am so sorry, Commander. It's my fault Lazarus isn't a complete success."

"So?"

Miranda looked dumbstruck, "What do you mean 'so'?"

"I mean, despite a few flaws, I am still Commander Sid Shepard. I am exactly the way I was, you have to give yourself credit. In my opinion, Lazarus was a complete success. It's given me a second chance at my life-" a thought suddenly struck Shepard, "So that's what the meeting with the Illusive Man was."

Miranda sniffed, "You're a smart woman, yes. He said if your vision wasn't returned, that it'd be my last day at Cerberus. And that meant no more protection for Oriana."

Shepard leaned forward, hugging her, "You're too hard on yourself, you know?"

Miranda didn't move, but spoke into the Commander's long blonde hair, "I am supposed to be perfect, Shepard. You were born great, I was forced into it. I should've had made you exactly as you were."

Shepard pushed her up, staring into her eyes, "You did. Minus a few things that weren't there when I died. You made me better than I was. But Miranda... with all of your engineering and design, you're still a human."

"But-"

Shepard cut her off, "No, Miranda you accomplished what many saw to be impossible. Give yourself credit. And stop looking at my like I'm bloody perfect."

"You are, Shepard, despite my mistakes."

"Perfect? Let's see, I don't remember being called perfect when my mother would yell at me for leaving the door open. And I definitely don't remember being perfect when I may have had a bit too much to drink and came back to the Normandy and may have hit on Admiral Anderson. I'm not the perfect human you think I am."

Miranda let out a giggle and smiled, "Well that's not perfection by a long shot."

Shepard smiled, "People may see us as perfect, but we're still just human."