In which Shepard meets a woman, sort of.
Shepard was jolted awake, not from her own nightmares. But from the nightmare, or more appropriately from the trashing and growling of the person sharing her bed. She quickly slipped out of bed before a wayward talon or fist caught her. It would not be the first time, and Garrus always took it so hard we he injured her, even the accidentally stuff.
"Garrus, wake up." She orders in her best battle field order voice. Garrus snapped up uttering a feral growl his eyes widely looking for a target for his rage. Shepard swallowed and did not moved. She had faced thresher maws, countless geth, mercenaries, krogans, hell shed even taken on two reapers. But sometime she wonders if she would be killied by Garrus taloned hands...accidentally.
"Jane?" Garrus said finally focusing on Shepard. When she saw that he was aware again, she quickly joined him under the covers. Burrowing her cold feet between the bed and his legs, Garrus started but did not saying anything. Knowing how she despised having cold feet.
"Sorry." he mummer as Shepard pulled his head on to her chest. "It's ok," she replied tracing the scars on his face with her fingers, they were still relatively 'new' as the protective covering had only been removed a few days before.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Shepard asked quietly. He sighed, then started tracings her scars; first the long one along her rib cage from a Collector's particle beam that had cut through her armor, then the small spattering on her lower abdomen from a Blue Sun merc's shotgun, then the final one, the slight cut on her shoulder that had never healed from their first night together. Shepard knew this routine he would do, anytime the nightmare was about her, he would trace her scars three times then teller her about the nightmare. It pained her to think she caused nightmares for someone else but she knew there was nothing she could do about it.
But this time he did not stop after the third round, leaning up on his elbow he very carefully trace the scar that should have been on her face. That Cerberus had removed, or decide not to rebuild. she still remember the fight that she got that in, the battle against batarian at Torfan. She had been a fresh faced Lieutenant. Captain Collins had ruthlessly tried throwing away her and the her squad's life to kill the batarians. She had done everything possible to complete their objective without losing too many of her squad. She swore never to be like him. Finally Garrus place a hand on her lower chest, where there use to be a greenish stain, from her survival of the thresher maw at Akuze.
"Do you every wish you could have a ...normal life?" Garrus asked.
"Hmm, by normal, do you mean, white picket fence, the cute two story house, with a large porch, the required dog, cat and two point five kids?" Shepard looked over at Garrus, with a cocked eyebrow. Garrus seemed to think hard about this as he lowered himself back to the bed.
"How do you have point five kids?" he finally asked in bewilderment. Shepard tried to stifle her giggles.
"You don't have a half a kid, first it a saying. Second it has to do with averages." Shepard answered. She sighed as she tucked herself in around him, "no, I had that once, and lost it to slavers. For me normal is protecting other people from that sort of thing. So they can have a normal life. What about you would you like to have a normal turian life?" Shepard bit her lip waiting for the answer.
"No," Garrus snorted, "what is the human term, ah been there done that?" Shepard released her lip.
"Remember before I met you I was a C-sec officer, like my father. I had already serviced my required military time. The only thing missing was a mate. And now I have that too." Garrus responded the last bit whisper breathlessly.
"But with a turian mate you could have kids, we cannot." Shepard stated. She could feel Garrus stilled under her, she heard his mandibles click in thought. She started chewing her lip again.
Garrus slowly answer that question, "I never really thought about having kids... I figured when I found the right...person then I would move back to Palaven and have a few...but I never thought too hard about it...would you want to have...uh... kids?"
"I always wanted to have a kid or two, but I was always afraid to...look...to...I still remember the sounds. The smell...I don't want my kids to be raised as orphans." Shepard could fell the tears rolled down her checks. "Hell not like we're going to live through the reaper attack." Shepard snorted.
"I don't know Jane Shepard, you do make a habit of surviving the suicide missions. I plan on being right next to you at the big party they throw in your honor." Garrus said wrapping his arms around her.
"I better see you there." Shepard replied quietly.
***
Shepard sprint for the crate and slid behind it. "Team two, stats report." She said as she popped a fresh heat sink in her rifle.
"We're moving in, resistance has been minimal." Miranda replied her voice distorted by the comunit.
"Understood." Shepard responded as she popped her head over the crate and lined up a shot. With a pull of her finger three deadly bolts hit the target. There was a slight blue wave as a shot hit her barriers. She did not flinch as she hit the trigger a second time and watched the target fall. Then she dropped back down. Garrus was positioned at a spot near entrance to the room was sniping, too far out of the reach of the enemies' rifles. Trusting that Shepard and Jack will keep them that way.
"I'll kill you!" Jack said hoping over a crate and tossing a shockwave at a group of enemies. She then dived behind a different crate. Shepard stood up firing at a mech that had just come in to the room. She dropped back down when her shields started to fail.
"Shepard, we are in the server room." Tali's voice sounded giddy.
"Good job, pull everything you can, we'll try to keep them off you."Shepard snapped. When her shields where back at full strength, she popped up and over the crate and darted forward. Spraying suppressant fire as she scooped up a fallen heat sink and slid in next to Jack.
"Ammo?" Shepard asked switching out her hear sink. Jack shook her head darting forward again. Shepard leaned around crate when she heard the lull in the enemies fire. Shepard took out an enemy that was trying to get away from Jack and her shotgun. Then quite descend in the room, and Garrus came sauntering up.
"All clear." He stated, Shepard and Jack stood up from behind there crates.
"Shepard, Keelah, I was doing some decoding as I was transferring the information to Edi. Keelah." Tali voiced held disbelief.
"Tali, what is what's wrong." Shepard placed herself beside the door; Garrus with his rifle out was on the other side. Shepard held her hand up in a wait sign. Garrus nodded.
"They have slaves somewhere in this building." Tali finally got out.
"Understood Tali. Miranda, when your team is finish with your primary mission. I want you to start moving in towards us. Check every room, if there are slaves here I want them freed."
" Affirmative." Miranda replied.
"So Shepard you want me to do this quick and dirty?" Garrus asked. Shepard snorted trying to hold back a laugh.
"Agh, I meant you want me to lock the doors after us?" Garrus glanced over at Shepard, "that...was not any better was it?"
Shepard shook her head, her mouth twitching. keeping her voice steady she responded with "Yes, lock the doors with the same code that we use on the Normandy, Edi, I want this placed mapped, I do not want to miss anyone."
"Yes ma'am."
Shepard then hit the door button darting in to the next room, Garrus and Jack following.
***
Shepard popped her head in the door then pulled back quickly. She stood there for a moment then walked in to the room and looked around. She reached up for her ear bud not taking her gun off the large turian acting threatingly towards her, nor removing her eyes off the children behind him."Tali, did you say that there where supposed to be slaves, when you hacked the computer?" Shepard eyed the collar on the turian and the children.
"Yes ma'am I saw several indications but did not have time to decode everything, I just pulled the whole thing." Tali responded over the radio. Shepard nodded and switch so that everyone could hear.
"Team two I need you to move to my position and check every room along the way. I have confirmed that there are slave. Edi, have them get the med bay ready I want these kids checked out as soon as we get there." Shepard then looked at the turian who had not moved. Who still stood between Shepard and the kids. The turian was the only adult in the room, she saw seven human children ranged from about six to fifteen, two asari children, and a turian child. At least she guess that the asari and turian was children given there heights.
"You're safe now I'm Shepard. Council specter." She said coming in the room. The turian brought his claws up threaningly.
"Don't come any closer to the children human, or I will gut you." the turian growled. That's when Shepard realized that the turian's translator must be either broken or deactivated. Shepard halted and pointed the gun at the ground but did not put it away, yet. "Garrus, come in here please, slowly." Shepard called out the door to where Garrus and jack where checking the other rooms. Garrus stopped in the doorway.
"Garrus I think his translator is broken, can you explain where here to rescue him and the children." Shepard motion to the other turian with her head.
"Of course, I would be happy to explain to her what is going on." Garrus slid in to the room putting up his weapon. "My name is Garrus," he pointed to himself. "This is Commander Shepard, Specter." he pointed to Shepard. "We have taken down this base, and want to get you and the children out of here. What is your name?"
"Kaylus Mehrkuri. You are really here to help?" Kaylus asked. Garrus and Shepard nodded. "Then I will help." Kaylus reached over and picked up the smallest human child and grasped the hand of the smaller asari child.
"I think she ready to go." Garrus laughed.
"Wait, She?!?" Shepard froze as she reached for one of the children's hand and looked over at the turian, she looked just like every other turian she ever meet. "Are you sure?" she asked Garrus.
"Last time I checked I could tell the difference between a male and female turian." Garrus snorted as he headed for the door.
"Do you check often?" Shepard asked as he left. He did not respond but Jack's laugh gave the answer to his response.
***
"Ok team, I need to find someplace we can take them." Shepard said pacing around the table. Garrus leaned against one of the walls. Miranda and Jacob both standing near the table.
"Why not the Citadel?" Miranda asked as the door slid open, and the turian, Kaylus Shepard remind herself, came in.
"That would be best. I can get transportation back to my unit. C-sec can work with the different governments to find the children's parents or new home." Kaylus stated coming to the turian equivalent of at attention. Shepard noticed Garrus straighten up, turning his head to show his undamaged side of his face. Shepard felt herself getting angry at this...this turian.
"Commander, I can place a call to Anderson if you like and let him know what going on." Joker came in on the intercom cutting into her thoughts.
"Do it, and set course for the Citadel." Shepard then stalked out of the room skirting both Garrus and Kaylus.
***
Shepard started yanking off her armor. She had already checked with Dr Chakwas, and confirmed that she in fact had not been hurt for once. Shepard had also checked on the kids who were being settled in the med bay and the mess hall. Kelly had taking over watching the kids, thought Tali was right in the middle of them, entertain them with stories. That only left Kaylus, who Garrus had, oh so quickly offered to show her around.
"Jane?" Garrus asked coming in to the room his Omni-tool still out from where he had used it to hacked the door.
"I had it locked for a reason." Shepard throw the armored gauntlet at him, it bounced of his shoulder.
"Jane what is wrong?" Garrus asked his mandibles flickers with worry.
"Get out!" Shepard snapped this time throwing the piece of armor at his head. He ducked it as he backed towards the door.
"We should talk-" he quickly backed out of the room as Shepard picked up the chair. Shepard hit the door lock again then slid down to the floor her back to the wall tears streaming down her face.
"I don't deserve you Garrus, go take that...that..." Shepard did not finish her sentence as she wrapped her arms around her knees and cried.
Garrus stood on the other side of the door, trying to figure out what was wrong...what he could have done or said to cause him to be kicked out of Shepard's room like that. Finally he turned and trudged down to the main batteries, maybe calibrating the guns will help him figure it out. He wound up sleeping down there; he could not bring himself to go back up to Shepard's room. And did not want to hear the gossip from the other if he took one of the sleeper pods.
***
Shepard read a datapad while eating breakfast. She had not slept well and came down to breakfast late. She was unhappy that she missed eating breakfast with the kids. She had heard some horror stories about it, but it still would have been fun. Now Tali and Kelly and a few others off duty crewmen had taken the kids to the cargo hold. They were playing games and just generally running around. Shepard jerked when a talon lightly taped her hand. Shepard looked up at Kaylus who sat across the table from her.
"I never got to thank you for rescuing the children and myself." Kaylus stated. Shepard was starting to notice a few differences in the female turian across from her. Her voice was an octave higher than most, she was a bit shorter and of slightly finer build, and a smaller waist.
Shepard stamped down her irrational anger, and said passably pleasant voice, "I'm glad we were able to get the information on that place." Kaylus mandible flickered in irritation, "you are angry." she stated.
"Why would I be?" Shepard replied; mentally hold her lip steady and not letting her habit give her away.
"You think I'm trying to steal your mate." Kaylus responded, Shepard felt her mouth drop open, she quickly closed it.
"Not at all, he is an adult he can choose whoever he wants." Shepard said as she cleaned up her area. A taloned hand stopped her.
"Garrus told me you kicked him out." Shepard eyes narrowed at the woman.
"He did not want to tell me, but I can be very persuasive. When you have a man, doesn't matter the race, in a head lock they're a lot more likely to answer questions." Shepard sat back down, crossing her arms on the table she leaned on to them.
"Garrus only interest in me stems from the fact that I am a turian." Kaylus gently taped the side of Shepard's head with her knuckle. "Imagine if you where on a turian cruiser, even if everyone was friendly to you. What do you think would happen the first time you really got to talk to another human after a couple of month?" Kaylus got up and lean close to Shepard's ear, "he cares about you deeply, and if anyone tries to come between you just put them in a head lock." Kaylus mandibles twitched in mirth as she left. Shepard stared down in to her drink thinking.
***
"Goodbye Kaylus." Shepard salute. Kaylus returned the salute with the turian equivalent. Both women ignored the turian admiral and general. Garrus stood behind Shepard. Tali and Kelly stood to one side watching as the children were being sorted out by c-sec officers.
"Garrus-" Kaylus started but was cut off as one of the children broke away. Runing up he wrapped his arms around her leg. Kaylus got down on one knee, but before she could say anything to him, he planted a big kiss on her mandibles. Waiving at Tali and Kelly he then ran back to the c-sec officers. Shepard giggled at the looking on Kaylus face; Garrus was doing a better job holding back his laughter.
Kaylus stood back up and looked over at Shepard, "they will be all right." she stated, but the worry in her eyes let Shepard know it was a question.
"Yeah, the human mind is known for being quite resilient. They'll be fine." Shepard gave a small smile. Kaylus nodded and started towards the waiting turian officers. Right before she got to them she stop and looked back at Shepard.
"Shepard, one more thing. Let me know when you are going to take down the Reapers, I was there, I know what we're up against. Tell me when and where and my ship will be there, might even have accrued a fleet by then." She then spun and stalked off before Shepard could respond. Shepard turned to Garrus, "what does she mean by that?"
Garrus started, "you didn't know? She is a Captain, on her way up for rear admiral position." Shepard blinked a few times.
"Oh," Shepard snorted, "it is a small galaxy." She head for the air lock, turning her head to look back a Garrus who was watching her but had not made any movement. "you coming?" she asked, Garrus quickly caught up with her, snickering.
Ok, I hope that Shepard was a little OOC from what I had been writing her, I did that on purpose, and I am half way thru writing the next chapter which will explain it. :)
I would also like to thank everyone once again who have taking time to leave comments. And to all the people who added me to the author alerts and favorite stories. That made my week!