Bonds of the Family
Shanakeba Ward, the Citadel
A slight, artificially, warm breeze blew through the Japanese gardens of Shanakeba Ward. Garrus had found this place by accident yesterday while trying to find a store to buy Shepard's kimono. Many eyes turned to see the Turian vigilante once known as Archangel walking arm in arm with Commander Shepard. It was very odd to not see her in her armor. She was dressed in her kimono with her hair up. It was even odder to see a turian and a human together. Some of the turian soldiers turned their gaze away from the couple.
'They don't understand. They'll never understand.' Garrus thought to himself. He looked down at Shepard who rested her head on the side of his arm as they walked. She was happy. That meant more to him than what the Turian clans thought. "Do you like this place, Shia?"
Shia'va nodded. She looked up at him, smiling. "I love it, Garrus. It's beautiful. I can't believe I never knew this place was here before." The two stopped by a pond with large fish in it. Shia'va sat down on the stone and ran her hand over the surface of the water. Garrus was startled to see the fish come up and "nibble" on Shepard's fingers. He started to react when Shia'va stopped him. "It's alright, Garrus. They're koi. Very docile fish and they have no teeth. They think it's feeding time."
"They are certainly larger than the fish you have on the Normandy." He was amazed at the size of the koi.
"Koi can grow to large sizes depending on the size of their habitat." She stood back up and put her arm in Garrus' again. They started to walk towards the center of the gardens.
Garrus could tell something was bothering her. "Shia, what's wrong?"
She shifted her weight a bit. "I just feel bad, Garrus. You've been trying so hard to learn about me, and yet I'm having such a hard time trying to understand Turian customs and language. I hate feeling like this is a one way street."
Garrus stopped and turned her to face him. He placed his talon under her chin and lifted it so she was looking at him. "Shepard, I told you that I never saw myself as a very good Turian. Our customs are very much based in a clan environment. They are not like Asari, Salarian, or even human customs that are singular in nature." He shook his head. "Many of our customs are kept within the clans. Turians that bond outside of their own race are looked down upon and ostracized." He noticed a few Turians walking past, flaring their mandibles. He looked back at Shepard. "But I don't care. Shia, I love you. And no amount of ridicule from other Turians will ever keep me from you. And uh…I wouldn't suggest trying to speak our language. You'll definitely rupture your vocal cords." He chuckled.
Shia'va leaned up and kissed Garrus. How could she have gotten so lucky as to have fallen in love with someone so understanding? Why hadn't she realized this years ago? As she slowly broke the kiss, she could tell Garrus was smiling. "How did I get so lucky?" She whispered to him.
"I could ask the same. Or maybe we should ask those humans staring at us." Garrus looked at the three humans standing near an orchid tree.
Shia'va turned and her smile grew even wider. "That's my mom and my two brothers, Brad and Marc." She took Garrus' hand and guided him over to her family. Shepard hugged her mother and brothers. She introduced them to Garrus and Garrus to them. All five went to a restaurant not far from the gardens. Shia'va quietly explained to her family everything that happened. The Collector Base, the Reapers. The conversation had grown solemn when she explained that the Council still wasn't prepared for their coming, and time was running out.
Hannah Shepard shook her head. "I hate to ask this, dear. But what happened to Kaiden? I remember that you and he were..." Hannah waved her hand. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking that. Not with you here, Garrus. It was rude of me."
Shia'va took her mother's hand. "It's ok, mom. Kaiden…well. He isn't the same man I thought he was. But at the same time…" She leaned into Garrus. "If that hadn't happened, I don't think I would have realized how lucky I was to have found someone that means so much more to me. Garrus and I have been through so much together."
Hannah nodded. "Garrus, you were on the first Normandy, weren't you?"
"That's correct, ma'am. I was a part of C-Sec before I joined Shia's team." Garrus was trying to keep the part about being Archangel out.
"And when Shia'va was under cover?" She asked.
Garrus looked at Shia'va. 'Under cover? Does she not know that Shia'va was killed?' He watched as Shia'va lowered her head. She hadn't told her mother that she was spaced when the Collector's attacked more than two years ago. "I…well…" Garrus was fumbling for the words.
"Garrus was doing some private work, mom. That's how I was able to find him and recruit him again." Saved by the woman he loved.
"So how long have you two been seeing each other?" Hannah couldn't resist asking. She loved hearing about her daughter. Both Marcus and Braddock were lawyers in the same firm. Shepard & Shepard, Attorneys at Law. They both had some very, not famous but popular cases on the Citadel. And Captain Hannah Shepard was proud of them. They had started out as JAG type officers and eventually started their own firm. But Shia'va was the first human Spectre. She was equally proud of her daughter. And she wanted to make sure she kept up with her daughter's life.
"Six months?" Shia'va looked at Garrus.
"Sounds about right." Garrus nodded.
The food came for the five. The waiter had brought Garrus a Turian cuisine and the Shepard family some tradition Japanese dishes. They talked about a variety of things ranging from Brad and Marc's cases to different missions Shia'va and Garrus had been on. For the first time, Garrus felt like he belonged. And he was enjoying himself. As dinner ended, Garrus looked over to his left to see Bensini Al-Jilani. He groaned. "Ah dammit. Shepard, look over my left shoulder."
Shia'va caught sight of the reporter. "Mom, guys, I think we better get out of here. The last thing I need to deal with is that damn reporter.
Marcus saw who Shia'va was talking about. "Garrus take Shia and get out of her. We'll run interference."
Garrus nodded and took Shia's hand. The two chuckled as they felt like high schoolers trying to get away from the principal. Once they took the taxi to Zekara Ward, they relaxed and decided to enjoy a walk before heading back to the Normandy. As they walked around, they ran into Mordin who was picking up some supplies for the lab. Mordin promised to meet up with them before heading back to the Normandy.
"Is everything in order? I want to make sure that she doesn't make it to her ship." A dark figure watched a security camera. The camera was focused on Garrus and Shepard.
"Da, everything is ready, comrade. Are saying word and will have men blow up bomb."
"Shepard will pay for ruining my political career. The viral bomb will ensure that she won't have the chance to do so again. Damned human." Jorum Talid sat forward in his chair, coming out of the shadows and grinning maniacally. His mandibles flaring. It was Shepard who had turned him in for shaking down honest businesses while she was helping Thane Krios. Talid already hated humans, but Shepard's interference only made him hate them more. He watched as Shepard stepped near the bomb. "Do it."
Garrus and Shia'va walked past an omni-tool vendor. Garrus had asked for a minute to check to see if his order had come in. Shia'va smiled and kissed him on the mandible, telling him she would wait for him by the bench. As Garrus was in the shop, he noticed something in the glass. A red, blinking light. It wasn't coming from inside of the case. He focused his eyes a bit more. It was coming from an external source. As his eyes focused on the image, what he saw turned his blood to ice. He spun around quickly and ran out of the shop. "SHEPARD!" He yelled out.
As she stood up to see what the matter was, the viral bomb exploded. Shepard went flying into a display as a gas cloud hovered over the area. Screams were heard on the other end of the ward. Shepard was coughing heavily.
Garrus had also been knocked off his feet from the blast but was up quickly. He saw the turquoise haze and knew what it was. "Spirits be damned!" He shouted. He put on his emergency mask and shouted into his communicator. "Mordin! Shepard's down! She inhaled some quarzine gas! We need you here now!" He ran over and lifted Shepard into his arms, trying to get her into some fresh air. She was already coughing up blood. The gas tearing her lungs apart from the toxicity.
Mordin Solus met Garrus in a safe area while the contaminated section of the Ward was sealed off. "Toxic gas, lethal to humans, destroys respiratory system suffocating…"
"Just shut up and do something, Solus!" Garrus roared.
Mordin pulled out a large syringe and jammed it into Shepard's heart, pushing the contents into her blood stream directly. He monitored her vital signs. "Serum beginning to take effect. Must get back to Normandy to ensure full recovery."
Garrus again picked up Shia'va and carried her back to the Normandy. The entire crew was put on high alert. Someone wanted Shepard dead. The shuttle left from the Citadel and raced back to the Normandy. Doctor Chakwas already had the medical bay prepped for Shepard.
Talid slammed his fists down. "NO! NO! NO! NO! DAMMIT NO!" He grabbed a hold of the human he was working with and snarled at him. "You let that bitch escape!"
The Russian he was with glared at Talid. His name was Dmitri Korikov. He was a top lieutenant in the Russian Mafia on Earth. Even after all these years, they were still active. He broke Talid's grip on him and straightened his jacket. "Are being glad that Comrade Petrov has worked to help political career. Or would enjoy breaking mandibles off. Is only minor setback. Do not worry, there will be another chance. Be patient. Commander Shepard will have day. Is promise."
Jorum Talid settled himself down. He knew Dmitri was right. There would be another time. And next time, there wouldn't be any mistakes.
Garrus sat at one of the mess tables on the Normandy. One that was very close to the med bay. He should have been faster. He should have been. Why wasn't he? He was reliving Omega all over again. Except this time, it was someone he loved deeply. Doctor Chakwas and Mordin Solus had been in the med bay for hours with Shepard. As they came out, Garrus immediately stood up and walked over to them. "Doctor Chakwas, Mordin…will she…?" Panic had set into his voice.
Doctor Chakwas placed her hand on Garrus' arm. "The Commander is a tough woman, Garrus." She looked at Mordin. "Mordin's injection may have just saved Shepard's life."
Mordin nodded as Garrus looked at him. "New anti-biotic. Made for Tali'Zorah. Works well for other species. Is neutralizing toxicity in Shepard's body. Also repairing damage to lungs."
Garrus fell back against the bulkhead, feeling a bit weak. "Can I see her?"
Doctor Chakwas nodded slightly. "Of course, Garrus. But she needs rest."
Garrus walked into the med bay a pulled a stool over, sitting next to Shepard's bed. He took her hand and kissed it. "I'm so sorry, Shia. I should have been faster." A sad chuckle escaped his lips. "I swear to you…I'm going to find out who did this and make them pay."
"Garrus…" Shia'va spoke weakly. "…please…stay…" Sleep grabbed hold of her.
Garrus closed his eyes. He wanted to get revenge. He wanted to make those that did this to Shia'va hurt as much as he did right now. But he couldn't. He would undo every bit of trust Shepard ever put in him. He would undo what took nearly three years to attain. And he couldn't do that. "For you…I will." He whispered as he kissed her forehead. Garrus kept constant vigil all night. Sleep eventually grabbed hold of him as well and he laid his head down on the bed, still holding onto Shia'va's hand.
A/N: The chapters are coming fast and furious. I hope you are enjoying reading them as I am in writing them.