Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or Bioware or any of the characters.

A/N: Thank you Kaz for your comments. =3 I know you're hoping for the fight scene with Vasir but I'm not so sure I can deliver it too well, but I can try.

For the rest of you, hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 4

Shepard hit the ground hard. She rolled over onto her stomach on impact and blacked out. Vasir stood over her, the blue aura surrounded her slender form as she began to summon her biotics. Shepard was prone, and Vasir was about to take the only opening she had. Until Liara yelled out her name.

She looked up just in time to find the other Asari leaping from the ledge where the window use to be. Liara's biotics came to life in a brilliant glow as she descended to the ground. "Don't even think about it!" She yelled out. Her voice held anger, and a protective aggression as she began to summon a warp feild. Vasir though, turned quickly and began to run.

Shepard came to just as Liara began to chase after the other Spectre. She shook her head as she began to hoist herself on hands and knees. She grabbed her head with one hand, fighting back a pounding headache as she rose to her feet slowly.

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Vasir was more powerful then Shepard expected. She tried to train her sites on the Asari as she sped about the complex. "She's too damned fast!" Grunt hollered out. Shepard had to leave Garrus behind when they took to a car chase after the Spectre. There was simply not enough space in the taxi.

Liara reloaded her weapon with a fresh thermal clip as she peeked over their cover behind a display garden. "We'll have to slow her down then." Liara said evenly. Shepard only nodded in agreement as a biotic barrier surrounded her form. She had an idea. Reckless as it were, she figured it had a better chance at working then wasting all the ammo they had trying to shoot her.

"Be back in a flash." She said simply, but a grin played across her lips. Grunt and Liara glimpsed at each other before looking at Shepard confused. But before they could question her a brilliant blue light filled their visions as they shielded their eyes. With a bang of noise Shepard charged after Vasir using her biotics.

Suddenly blue aura on blue aura collided as Katelyn began to unload a clip at the stunned Asari. Vasir cried out as her barrier flickered at the gun shots from the submachine gun. Vasir summoned up the will to once more use her own biotics to dash across the court yard and away from Shepard who was hot on her heals.

Liara and Grunt watched in amazement as a struggle unfolded before them. Vasir tried desperately to keep her distance from the Commander and Spectre but Shepard wasn't easily shaken off when she had her target set.

Before long though, with an endless pursuit Vasir was knocked onto her back side. She collided with the ground hard, as Shepard's biotics shimmered before dissipating. Katelyn stood over Vasir, her weapon pointed at her as she backed into a wall.

Shepard kneeled before Vasir who grunted in pain. "Damn it." She said hoarsely. She could feel death creeping onto her. She could tell she had lost too much blood. She had been injured when her car had crashed onto Azure. She had lost allot of blood then, but she didn't go down easily. But she was finished now. She couldn't fight it.

Katelyn reached down, digging through Vasir's utility belt before pulling out the data disc. She knew Vasir didn't crush it back at the Dracon Trade Center. Why she didn't was beyond her, but she wasn't going to complain. She looked it over once before she looked behind herself.

Liara and Grunt trotted up next to her. Katelyn held out the data disc for Liara who took it before nodding down at her. She then turned and walked off activating her Omni Tool. "No fair, Shepard." Grunt began to complain as he looked from his battlemaster to the dying asari. "You stole all the fun." he continued.

Shepard ignored his words as she stood up. "You're all dead! The Shadow Broker is too much for you to handle." Vasir said angrily as she watched Shepard. Shepard folded her arms over her chest as she leaned onto one leg more heavily then the other. "We'll see about that." She retorted. She didn't sound worried at all.

"Don't under estimate the Shadow Broker. He's been in power for too long." Vasir grunted. Shepard shook her head as she waved her hand caring less. She faced a suicide mission, came out alive, destroying and ancient race in the process. She wasn't worried about a simple information broker. "He has no idea what he's about to face." Shepard commented dryly.

Vasir was amazed, yet knew Shepard wasn't appreciating the warning enough. Why did she even bother? "It's you.. who has no idea.." She said with her last breath as her body fell limp. She felt the last of her life force fading away quickly. Her sight became fuzzy as she could feel her organs collapsing under all the damage she had suffered.

It was like a tingling sensation, one you would feel before your foot would fall asleep. Her body grew numb, her organs systematically shut down, her lungs emptying of whatever remained of air. Her eyes felt heavy, as did her whole body. Then, before she could fully grasp what was happening, slipped into the darkness. She was no more.

Shepard walked away, Grunt close behind as they stepped up to Liara who examined the disc. "Joke get ready for take off. We'll be there soon." Katelyn said through her ear piece. "Aye aye, Commander." came Joker's voice before the channel was cut off. She nodded at Grunt, and he knew to start back for their borrowed taxi.

"This will be useful. It's Sekat's personal data disc, it holds the info we need to find the Shadow Broker." Liara said as she began to walk back towards their cab, Shepard following in toe. Liara said nothing at first. She wasn't sure what to say. Kate started to feel uncomfortable as they passed by once occupied tables, now abandoned.

Their fight had chased off the customers and servers alike. Not she could blame their running and hiding. Their fire fight was most unexpected. It was probably one of the only times Shepard ever got civilians caught up in a simple fire fight.

"I'm forwarding the coordinates to the Shadow Broker's base to the Normandy. We can be there within a few hours." She said as she continued to walk ahead of Katelyn. She was suddenly so focused on her quest for vengeance she turned cold once again. Kate frowned. She didn't like to see Liara in such a dark place.

"That'd be a problem. We're still making repairs to the Normandy. Turn a few hours into half a day though. We have to limp our way through space for the time being." Katelyn said gently. Or as gently as she could under the circumstance. It wasn't that she was sounding harsh, or indifferent, just trying to state a fact. "But we'll get your friend back, I promise." Kate said as Liara continued onward. That was until Katelyn reached out, touching Liara on the shoulder to slow her down.

"I know, you're here to help... Just as you've always been there to help." Liara said a little less cold. Her tone took on a near saddened one. Katelyn just watched her a moment. By now there were no signs of civilians, or mercs. It was a chance to get Liara to say what weighed heavily on her mind, and heart.

"You say this like it's a bad thing." Shepard said quietly, after a short silent pause. Liara shook her head as she looked down at the floor. "I've always leaned on you for help... I don't like being such a burden on you." She said before she turned and began to walk again, not giving Kate a chance to reply. She wouldn't turn this about them... Not when Feron needed their help.

Katelyn once more began to follow Liara as the walked across Azure. It was a very high end place not that Kate had a moment to notice. Before they had mercs shooting at them, and a Spectre to catch. Now it was just her and Liara... and still they managed to discuss everything else but themselves.

Liara stuffed away any of her normal kindness and turned cold once again. Shepard had noticed this struggle before. Liara was fighting with herself. She was turning herself into something she wasn't. She could see the weary tired expressions behind those beautiful blue eyes when she fought herself with this inner conflict. This inner demon.

"From here on out it'll be simple. Get in, get Feron and get out, and kill anyone who gets in our way." She said with a much darker tone. A tone that was ready to kill without second thought. "That's it?" Shepard asked a little more impatiently. "That's it." Liara stated. Shepard had enough of this by now. It was tearing her up inside watching Liara act this way.

Liara never stopped walking either. It was like she was so determined. It made Kate remember a comment she made back when they hunted Saren. A Union between an Asari and her bondmate could be a life changing event. Katelyn wondered if her more aggressive personality made an imprint somewhere in Liara's soul. If so... she hated herself for it.

"Will you just wait." Kate said as she reached out grabbing Liara's arm. She needed answers. Enough was enough. Liara did stop and turned to face Commander Shepard. The love of her life, and yet she did anything she could to keep the woman at arms length. She didn't like what she was putting the human through already.

"We'll have half a day before we get to the Shadow Broker. We have a moment to talk I think." Katelyn then said. Her voice sounded agitated, yet worried. She was worried for Liara. Worried for what was to come. She was also frustrated. Ever since they ruinited six months ago it was like there was a huge wall between them.. A wall with shields and biotic barriers. Almost impenetrable

"About what?" Liara asked sounding a bit pushy in tone. "About us!" Kate yelled. The hurt stung in her voice. Liara almost winced but she herself was growing frustrated. She was mentally exhausted from the past two years. She had lost Shepard, now she was back, but she was still chasing the Shadow Broker for what he did to Kate, to herself, to Feron.

"It's not that easy, Katelyn!" Liara yelled back. Her eyes threatened to tear up, but she swallowed hard. Her fists clenched as Katelyn took a step forward. "What? Should I go hack more terminals to get you to talk?" The yelling continued. Liara let out a strained cry. "That's not it and you know it!" If there was anyone sitting around, they were getting a nice earful of what they yelled.

"I mourned you for two years! TWO years! You were dead!" She accused now. It was like the look in her eyes, the tone in her voice, the posture she took, all accused Katelyn of abandoning her. Leaving her behind. It wasnt like Katelyn planned on it. She didn't want to leave the asari behind, she wanted her to have a chance to live.

When the Normandy was in flames, and the world around them falling apart Katelyn had to make a choice. She chose to get Liara on an escape pod. To let the Asari have a chance to get away. Katelyn had to make sure everyone else got off before she could. But by then it was just too late. She had ran out of luck, and time.

"I came back." Kate tried to say more calmly. She could see the tears in Liara's eyes. Some managed to escape her, despite how desperately she tried to hold them back. Liara reached up and wiped them away quickly. "You can't just come back and suddenly expect everything is ok again. You can't just expect that of me!" Liara cried out.

This time Katelyn reached up with her gloved hand and wiped the tears away from Liara's face. She wanted so badly to hug the woman, but she could see the clenched fists Liara held. She didn't need to get hit in the process of trying to comfort her. She let her hand dropped. "I can't do this right now, Shepard." Liara said as she quickly turned around and walked away at a brisk pace.

Shepard stood there a moment. She could feel her insides shattering into small bits, slowly. It hurt, and stung like nothing else she ever felt. It was like Liara didn't want them to be together. She just sighed heavily, trying to swallow her own emotions. She then finally began to walk forward again.

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A couple hours had passed. They were making slow progress. The Mass Relay was still towards the edge of the solar system. Getting there was a task with the damaged FTL drives. Gabby, Tali, and Donnelly was working to repair them still. But it was a slow task. The damage they had taken from the Collectors was massive. Shepard was quite surprised the Normandy made it out at all.

"She has yet to leave the shuttle bay, Commander. It's like she just sat down and hasnt moved since." Joker said when Shepard had asked if she had come up to the CIC yet. Kate sighed a little as she examined the security cam's feedback. Indeed Liara had holed herself up in the shuttle bay. It was like she refused to come out. Like a little kid sulking in their room after they got caught stealing from the cookie jar.

Well... maybe not quite that dramatic. Liara had a long day. She was probably tired, and didn't want to be around others. Liara never use to take to crowds so easily before, maybe that part of her had come to light again. Even if it was for a brief time. "I'll go check on her. Thanks, Joker." the Spectre and Commander of the Normandy said quietly.

She wandered to the lift, nodding once at Kelly who simply smiled at her. She didn't mind the bubbly woman too much but some days she was a little too friendly with Shepard. It was slightly unsettling. It was like the woman crushed on her, and Shepard didn't mind that part. She just didn't know how to let Kelly down gently.

Once into the Elevator the doors hissed closed. "Crew Deck." She muttered to EDI. "Of course Shepard." The AI said as the elevator came to life. Shepard took to leaning against the back wall, her arms folding over her chest. She figured she'd try to get Liara something to eat. She was probably hungry, but knowing the Asari... if she was still upset she was probably neglecting herself.

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Liara looked up as she heard someone step off the elevator. She half expected it to be Tali, maybe even Garrus. She didn't know anyone else on the ship. She certainly didn't think Kate would come around after Liara had yelled at her as she did. But there she stood, a tray of food in one hand, and a mug of tea in the other.

Shepard cleared her throat as she began to walk toward Liara. Liara had taken to sitting on a large cargo container. The container itself was sitting next to a stack of three more across. "I figured you might be hungry." Shepard said quietly as she sat the tray and mug next to Liara. The asari looked down at the offered dinner as she shrugged lightly.

Shepard sighed and took to sitting onto the crate next to Liara's. "Come on you, don't neglect yourself. It's not healthy." Shepard said quietly as she watched Liara. The woman never looked towards Kate. She felt guilty for her outburst on Azure. She knew Kate had to of been upset with it as well. They never fought before... but all this was just too much.

Liara quietly picked up the tray and began to eat her offered meal. She then couldn't help but smile. "I have to admit," Liara began as she finally glimpsed towards the Commander. "I kind of missed MRE's." she said with a short chuckle. Shepard smiled herself as she took to leaning against the crates behind herself. "Seriously? I'd kill for a steak dinner about now. A real one." She joked.

They both fell silent as Liara ate at her meal slowly. She was grateful that Kate had brought it to her in the end. She was more hungry then she had thought. "You should get some rest Liara. You look like shit." Shepard tried to tease. Liara couldn't help but smile. Katelyn was right of course.. It had been a long day and the hard part hadn't even happened yet.

"I dont feel like sleeping." Liara said quietly. She sat the now empty tray aside. Liara sighed heavily. She felt tears threatening her again. Sheer mental exhaustion was too much for the asari to take. Anything could set her off at this point. "Come on, don't cry..." Kate pleaded. Liara sniffled as she forced back her tears.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you. I... I've..." Liara began to trail off. She wasn't sure what to say. She knew it was just the two of them. The shuttle bay was large, nearly empty minus their crates they rested on and the shuttle itself. Otherwise it was a big metal room, pretty vacant. The lighting on the ship seemed brighter from their old Normandy... Their old home.

Liara could hear Kate scoot closer, then felt an arm come around her shoulder before being pulled against. Liara flushed and nearly refused this simple gesture. But this gesture wasn't anything to suggest anything but a shoulder to lean on, maybe even to cry with. She gulped hard though. She fought with her emotions but she was losing.

She grasped Shepard's command jacket tightly suddenly as her head rested against her shoulder as she wept silently. She could feel Shepard hugging her tighter. With any luck, Kate hoped that Liara would cry herself to sleep. Any rest at all would do her good she figured. But before long they both found themselves drained.

Kate's brown eyes grew heavy shortly after Liara fell limp, but closely snugged against her side and chest. Liara was sound asleep, her hand never releasing Shepard's jacket. Shepard glimpsed down once at the woman in her arms. She had forgotten what it felt like to even hold Liara. But before long she couldn't fight her own need for sleep, and it came without her realizing it.

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Mkay. I hope this was a good chapter. Trying to throw in different convos here so it's refreshing. Not to mention I figured that the emotions I'm sure would be present in the game needed to be let loose. Please tell me how I'm doing so far. 3