Author's Note: Due to a bit of a slip up on my part, I forgot there was two different missions to acquire the Reaper IFF. So instead of changing everything, I've decided to go with it. This is as if Shepard went to the Collector Ship to acquire a Reaper IFF and failed then the derelict Reaper was the next mission. Either way, sorry about that. Heh. But nevertheless, here it is, in all it's glory. Sorry for the wait. Review?
Shepard and Garrus sprinted as the Normandy came into view. The Collector ship walls seemed as if they were closing in, squeezing the life out of the squad.
Suddenly, the woman stopped, looking around.
"Shepard, come on, we've got to go!" Garrus yelled over the roaring of the ship.
"Where's Miranda? She was here a second ago!"
"Shepard, there's no time. We've got to go!" Garrus grabbed her by her shoulders.
She pushed him away, "I can't leave her here!"
Shepard sprinted back into the ship, ignoring the yells of Garrus behind her. She ran through the hallways that reminded her of rotting meat. Her head shook, no time to think about that. She had to get Miranda out.
As she ran around the corner she saw Miranda struggling to fight off Collectors and husks.
"Miranda!"
The raven haired woman turned around, startled, "Commander, what are you-" Her sentence was cut short when a ray from one of the collectors pierced her. She fell to the ground, motionless.
Shepard's attitude suddenly morphed into rage as she pulled out her grenade launcher and laid waste to the enemies. The ship shook; that wasn't a good sign, she thought.
She bent down, shaking Miranda, "Wake up, Miranda. Wake up!"
Shepard looked side to side, realizing there was no other option. She heaved the two inch taller woman onto her back and began to sprint as fast as she could down the hallways.
The Normandy finally came into view once more, but the urgency had seemed to have doubled. The muscles in Shepard's back and legs screamed for release but she couldn't stop now. She saw Garrus standing in the open air lock, beckoning her.
Shepard gave as much as she could as she sped up, jumping the five foot gap to the Normandy. Garrus helped her in before Joker sped off.
Shepard stood by Doctor Chakwas as she operated on Miranda. It had been four hours since the surgery had started and the Commander hadn't left once. She was still wearing her battle armor.
Miranda hadn't moved once, and she was beginning to worry.
The doctor finished the stitches then carefully pulled the sheets up to the woman's chest. When she had finished, her gloved hands dripping with blood, she turned to the blonde woman.
"Shepard, you need to go get a bath and some rest. I think you hurt yourself getting Operative Lawson back on the ship. I will come inspect you in your quarters after we both clean up."
Shepard nodded, reluctantly shuffling out of the medical bay.
-Three Days Later-
Shepard strolled through the Crew Deck, quickly opening Miranda's door. She saw the woman lying in her bed (she was still on bed rest), watching some movie.
Her attention quickly snapped to Shepard.
"You could've knocked."
Shepard smirked, grabbing a fork off Miranda's nightstand and stabbing some, or more like all, the pineapple from the woman's fruit salad that she still held in her hand.
"That's my lunch you know."
"I know." Shepard smirked again as she sat down in a nearby chair. Miranda's eyes narrowed as she noticed the bandages on the woman's shoulders that her tank top revealed.
"Shepard, what's the matter with your shoulders?"
"I-uh-well I tore two major tendons in both my shoulders. I had to have surgery. Nothing serious. I'll be fine in a few days."
Miranda felt an odd twinge of guilt pass over her. Shepard had caused herself harm... to save her. No one had ever done that for her.
"Shepard..." Miranda paused.
"What is it?"
"Thank you. That was incredibly stupid of you to go back in for me... but thank you."
The Commander smiled, "You're my crew. There's no way I'd leave without you."
Miranda started to speak up, but was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in," Shepard yelled, Miranda scowled at her.
The door slid open and the Turian of the ship walked in. Miranda pulled the blankets around her tighter; she suddenly felt completely embarrassed.
Shepard smiled at him, "Hey, Garrus. You need something?"
He sighed, "Hey, Shepard." He nodded towards the woman in bed, "Miranda." He turned back to the blonde woman, "This... is embarrassing, but I accidentally locked out the controls in the calibration room... and-"
"And you need me to override it?" Shepard smirked.
Garrus nodded sheepishly, and Shepard shook her head, "I'll be back later Miranda, get some rest."
The Operative nodded, waiting until the door closed. She then locked the door and shut off the lights. Maybe a nap would clear her head.
Shepard stood at the controls, fixing whatever Garrus' had managed to mess up. He sat on a nearby crate, watching her fingers swiftly move over the hologram.
"Good Lord, Garrus. You did more than lock up the system." Shepard laughed.
The Turian sighed, "Sorry about that. Anyways, how's Miss Lawson doing?"
Shepard nodded, "Yeah, she's doing better. I honestly thought we were going to loose her for a while."
"I can't believe you ran back in there to get her..."
"You should know better than anyone that I don't leave crew behind, Garrus."
He laughed, "I suppose you're right."
"I'm just glad it wasn't you. I don't think I could carry a full grown, male Turian on my own. I would've tried though."
Shepard felt his hand on her shoulder, "You're a good Commander, Shepard. A good woman in general."
She turned around, looking up at him. She was taken aback when he bent down and kissed her.
Miranda squinted when the lights of her room came on and Shepard came marching through the door.
"You know, Shepard, I don't sleep much. Couldn't you have waited until I was awake?"
The expression on the woman's face didn't lighten.
"What is it, Shepard?"
"You knew very well that I couldn't remember what happened on my birthday, and you didn't even have the decency to tell me I kissed Garrus?"
Miranda's face turned pale, "I-Commander-"
"I thought we were friends, Miranda."
The Cerberus Operative felt a sting as the Commander left the room.
Shepard hadn't come out of her room for almost a day and a half and Miranda was sick of it. She was a leader and it was time she acted like it.
Miranda painfully pulled on her suit and charged up to the Commander's Cabin and opened the door. She saw Shepard sitting at her desk, asleep at her desk.
The older woman walked over, grabbing the blonde's arm, jerking her awake.
"Wha-"
"Get up, you're going to stop sulking around like a baby. It was one kiss, and you are going to tell Garrus how you feel no matter what end of the spectrum it may be. Then we can all get past this melodrama and on with our lives."
Shepard looked blankly into her eyes, "I-"
"What? Shepard, we don't have time for this!"
"No… It's just… Wow. I think I've just gained a lot of respect for you. You came and yelled at your own commander…"
"Well I'm sick of this. But… can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
Miranda realized she was still holding onto Shepard's arm, "Do you love Garrus?"
Shepard looked down at her hands, "I… No, Miranda, I don't."
The woman sighed, "Then just let him down easy, Shepard. He'll understand. I'll be here when you get back."
The blonde woman took a deep breath, then charged through the door.
Miranda sat in Shepard's bed after changing into a few of her clothes. That battle suit was awfully constricting and painful.
Shepard came back in, her eyes wet.
"Shepard?"
The woman walked over, silent. She climbed into her bed, kicking off her shoes. She curled up next to Miranda, and wrapped her arms around her waist. The raven haired woman ran her fingers through her blonde locks.
"Shepard, it'll be alright. I promise. Look…. How about we watch a movie, eh? You like those vintage ones, right?"
Shepard looked up, smiling, "Yes, I do. But… I never told you that."
"It was in the dossier. Your favorite is The Wizard of Oz isn't it?"
Shepard nodded, "It is!"
The movie came to an end, and Shepard was fast asleep. Miranda tucked her in, then lied down next to her. She couldn't help but notice that Shepard was rather cute when she was asleep.
When Shepard awoke the next morning, Miranda was still sleeping. While she sprawled about while she was asleep, the Operative on the other hand was a sound sleeper that slept on prayer hands and never moved.
Shepard smiled a bit as Miranda's cerulean eyes fluttered open.
"You know, I could get used to this." Shepard smirked.
"What do you mean?" The Commander loved her when she was like this. In this short moment before her day started, this was Miranda at her very core, under all of her barriers and titles.
"What, Shepard?"
"Waking up to you."
Miranda blushed, "I… I don't think I understand what you mean."
"I don't either… But I think… either you messed with my brain when I was under, or I'm falling for your good looks…"
The Operative was speechless, but knew that deep down she felt the same way. That was why she was jealous of Garrus. The raven haired woman grasped as straws as she leaned over, planting a small kiss on Shepard's soft lips. The blonde woman was taken aback, but smiled.
"You're not the only one."