Notes: In Mass Effect 3 at some point you are asked to check on Ash in the lounge. She's hungover thanks to a bottle of alcohol Vega gave her. Shepard teased her for it but now the tables are turned.
Feeling in the mood for a drink and knowing it would be some time before reaching Palaven, the Commander made her way to the lounge. Her gaze fell upon the bottles of liquor. They had alcohol to suit anyone's tastes. There was a bottle of tequila that seemed to be courtesy of James Vega since Shepard didn't remember grabbing a new bottle after draining the original one after she'd been brought back to life and had been hit with memories of her 'death'. She smiled wryly to herself about how so many of her crew had taken to the drink when things had gotten too rough. She didn't blame them... she had crawled inside of a bottle after the massive rejection by Liara during the Collector business.
The Commander's eyes trailed along the labels before plucking out a whisky. She smiled before popping it open then pouring it into a glass. She lowered herself down on the stool that Tali had taken after the business with Miranda's father.
"I thought that was you, Shepard," a soft slightly accented voice called out from behind the Commander. She turned then smiled at the sight of the woman that had nursed her back to health too many times to count.
"Dr. Chakwas! No Serrice Ice Brandy here but I do have some very nice whisky," Shepard said. The silver-haired doctor made her way over and took the remaining bar stool.
"You've always been a champ and tried my favorite beverage. I don't see why I can't try Commander Shepard's favorite drink," Chakwas said, smiling as she grabbed a glass. Shepard beamed at her long-time friend then poured the whisky into the other woman's glass.
"Cheers," Shepard said, raising her glass. Chakwas echoed the Commander, brought her glass up, then took a drink of it.
"Now, how about you tell me why you felt like a drink was a bright idea after just recently leaving the hospital," Chakwas said, smiling lightly.
"Don't worry, doc. The drugs are out of my system by now," Shepard said, leaning up against the bar while nursing her drink.
"Not what I was concerned about but I'm glad you remembered the interactions," Chakwas said.
"I was bored, mostly. Everyone is doing their own thing and I've done all I can. So why not have a drink or two?" Shepard said, shrugging her shoulders.
"You know some of us read a book, or write poetry, or in Jeff's situation look at vids that really should not be allowed on the ship," Chakwas said.
"I'm not Liara or Ash, I'm not Kasumi, and I'm not Joker, doc. Drinking has always been something for me to do. Even growing up on the streets there was always liquor to drink. Oh, and cards," Shepard said, taking a sip of her whisky.
"And everyone you'd be able to play cards with is off-ship," Chakwas said, remembering the games with Tali, Garrus, and Vega.
"Yeah. And I'm sure Donnelly and Daniels still have their hands full getting the ship up to speed after we had to push her so hard retaking Earth," Shepard said, shrugging her shoulders to show she wasn't too put-out over it.
"Well I'd offer to play a rousing round of Go Fish but somehow I don't think that's the kind of card game you'd be looking for," Chakwas said.
"I do appreciate the offer, though. One day I'll take you up on it," Shepard said, dunking back the rest of her whisky. Chakwas was taking it slower than Shepard, having learned her lesson last time: Shepard could hold her liquor a lot better than most.
"...And then I told him that he was holding the scalpel I had used just that morning to remove a mole from a young Corporal's rear end. I had cleaned it of course but you should have heard the squeal before he dropped it!" Chakwas said, chuckling softly as she finished her tale. Both doctor and Commander had managed to get in quite a bit of booze in the past hour or so.
Shepard nearly dropped her drink as she doubled over, laughing. Shaking her head, she got to her feet then stumbled towards the couch on the opposite end of the room. She collapsed upon arriving and only managed to get half of her body on it. The other half hung over the side. Chakwas grabbed the nearby chair as they both calmed down from their laughing fits.
The Commander peered at her glass which was almost empty before gulping down what was left of it. She then, as gently as she could in her state, put the glass down on the floor.
"D'you ever think about what would have happened if we hadn't been there at Eden Prime?" Shepard asked, turning her head to gaze over at the good doctor.
"No point. Because if we hadn't, you wouldn't have saved us all. We'd all be dead or on a Collector ship or turned into husks by now," Chakwas slurred out, gesturing with her drink hand a little.
"We have you to thank, Commander. You have given us a fighting chance all these years. And I thank God every day you were born and chosen to become a Spectre!"
"Thanks, doc. But you helped. You got me into fighting shape after Eden Prime," Shepard said seriously.
"Too true. Congrats to us then!" Chakwas said, nearly spilling her drink as she gestured wildly with it.
"Thanks for always bein' there, doc," Shepard said.
"Thanks for saving me on that Collector ship, Commander," Chakwas said.
Shepard didn't know when it happened but at some point she had drifted off into a drunken slumber. The next thing she knew a boot was gently prodding at her leg. She creaked open one eye to stare up at none other than...
"Nngh... Williams? What are you-? Ugh... ow," Shepard groaned, grasping at her head with one hand.
"Well, what have we here? Why does this look so familiar?" Ashley taunted, leaning down a little.
"Goddess damn it, Williams. Please don't," Shepard said, closing her eyes again.
"You do know you have to meet with the Primarch in about an hour and a half right?" Ashley asked, raising her voice a little bit. Shepard winced.
"I will give you everything I own not to get even with me right now," Shepard muttered, rubbing her temples.
"I can't be bought, Commander. How was that whisky though? Donnelly was complaining earlier about how he could smell it and couldn't taste it. Perhaps I should tell him you weren't worthy of it!" Ashley said, keeping her voice raised slightly.
Shepard looked around desperately but couldn't find anything to hit her XO with. She also couldn't find hide nor hair of Chakwas. She could only assume the doctor had managed to crawl back to her med bay.
"Maybe I should get Liara! I'm sure she'd love to study the after-effects of alcohol in the first human Spectre's system!" Ashley said, smirking down at her commanding officer.
"Oh Gods," Shepard moaned, putting her forearm over her eyes and biting back a whimper.
"I heard my name what is- by the Goddess, Shepard! What happened?" Liara asked. Her timing could not have been more perfect. Ashley looked quite smug with herself over the timing. Before Shepard knew it, Liara was at her side.
"The Commander-!" Ashley began.
"Ash," Shepard broke in, glowering the best she could at the woman.
"The Commander drank more than she should have so now she gets to experience the awesome hangover she taunted me about a few weeks back!" Ashley continued despite the interruption.
"Williams!" Shepard said. She tried to make her tone harsh but she barely even managed to get it squeaked out.
"Yes, Commander?" Ashley asked in the best 'I'm totally innocent' tone she could muster.
Shepard kicked playfully, and rather pathetically, at Ashley's thigh.
"Aww, Commander. You missed my ass," Ashley teased.
"Wasn't aimin' there but don't tempt me," Shepard grumbled.
"This is an interesting phenomena. As far as I am aware, asari do not get hungover in such a way," Liara said, falling into the archaeologist geeky mode that Shepard had missed during the Collector business but had seen once again when Javik came aboard.
"Yes, I'm sure they don't," Shepard said, sitting up a little. She instantly felt woozy and dropped back down to the floor, pressing her palms into her temples.
"Oh dear. Are you sure you're going to be okay to speak with the Primarch?" Liara asked, worry creasing her brow.
"I'll be fine. I just need some food in me and some water and I'll be fine," Shepard insisted. "But someone help me up."
Williams glanced over at Liara with a smirk before they both reached down, grasped Shepard by her elbows, then jerked her upright. Shepard stumbled a little but got her footing quickly with the help of a hand on a shoulder of the other two women.
"Are you positive you're okay, Shepard?" Liara asked, chewing on her lower lip.
"One hundred percent," Shepard said, smiling.
"Why do I doubt that?" Liara asked.
Shepard shrugged her shoulders then cleared her throat.
"Either way, I need something to eat and a nice glass of water. What's for breakfast?" she asked.
"Whatever we have in the kitchen," Ashley said, perking an eyebrow.
"You think you're so clever," Shepard said, rolling her eyes before making her way out of the lounge. She promptly collapsed up against the door frame however when her legs decided to give way. She winced in pain.
"Forget something?" Ashley asked, holding up the current bane of Shepard's existence: the cane.
Shepard fixed her with a half-hearted glare before taking the cane then limping off to the kitchen. Liara and Ashley shared a look then gave a helpless shrug to each other before following their Commander.
With a bit of a grin on her face, Shepard opened the fridge and began to rummage through it. She eventually found a carton of eggs, some ramen (perhaps a gift from Kasumi), and some steak.
"What are you planning to make?" Liara asked, sitting at the counter.
"Just gonna cook this ramen and throw in the egg and steak. Nice protein, nice carbs. Should help... ow... should help the hangover," Shepard answered, rubbing at her forehead a little as it throbbed as if to remind her she was still hungover.
"Maybe I should do it, Commander. You don't look all that steady on your feet... sir," said Ashley, taking a few steps closer.
"I'm fine," Shepard replied stubbornly. She promptly nearly dropped the carton of eggs in her hand as a wave of dizziness hit her. She managed to put the eggs on the counter before she began to fall. But, as usual since Eden Prime, Ash was there to grab her commanding officer before she could hit the floor.
"Commander! I told you you weren't steady!" Ash lamented.
"You're holding me a little too tightly, there Ash," Shepard grumbled, shifting her feet to get steady once more.
"It was either that or fall. Take your pick," Ash said before heaving the Commander upright then nudging her to lean up against a wall.
Shepard rubbed at the back of her skull a little bit then closed her eyes.
"Fine, you win. Just... don't overcook the steak, LC," Shepard said.
"Now why would I do that? I know how to cook a steak, Commander. Dad taught me well," Ashley said. Shepard offered a bit of a smile, remembering the talks they'd had about Ashley's family. The smile faded away slowly when Shepard realized she didn't have such stories to share... Ashley placed a hand on her Commander's shoulder.
"You have family, Shepard. Don't doubt that," Ashley said, smiling lightly as she turned the stove on.
"Ashley is right. We're your family. That won't change for anything," Liara said, smiling brightly from her spot at the counter.
"You're right. You're not just my crew, you're family," Shepard said, her eyes lingering on Liara when she said 'family'. She didn't say anything further in front of Ash. Neither had figured out how to break the news to the second human Spectre.
"By the way, this is yours," Shepard said, removing the omni-tool and handing it over. She also realized that she was still in her hospital pajamas. She'd have to fix that...
"Thanks," Ash said before turning back to the breakfast.
Shepard yawned despite herself before going to join her bondmate at the counter.
"By the way, where did Javik go?" Shepard asked, scratching at her ear.
"He said he wanted to stay on Earth, help rebuild, maybe even piece together the Citadel. Or at the very least... help find survivors and technology that survived when the Citadel was destroyed..." Liara explained, her eyes on the counter.
Shepard slid her hand to rest on Liara's knee out of sight of Ashley should she turn around. She gently squeezed to reassure the asari.
"We're all rebuilding. And we all are going to have to help each other. I didn't unite the galaxy just so everyone could cut and run to get back on their feet by themselves. The destruction is temporary, though I can't say when it'll be fully finished. Repairs were still going on on the Citadel from Saren and Sovereign's attack even when we got there after Earth was taken from us... with a projected few more years left until completion. But we don't have Keepers to help rebuild our worlds. We just have strong backs, hammers, and determination. But we'll get it done. You'll see," Shepard said, smiling.
Liara offered a smile in return before placing her own hand on top of Shepard's.
"Breakfast is ready!" Ashley announced cheerfully like she'd done so many times before with her siblings. The sudden announcement caused both Shepard and Liara to separate as if jolted by electricity.
"It looks great, Ash," Shepard said with all honesty as she gazed down at the bowl with the ramen mixed with egg and steak.
"And a humungous glass of water for our previously inebriated Commander," Ash said, plopping the glass down on the table. She offered one to Liara as well. The asari took it gratefully. Shepard gave a smile to her XO then turned to her food.
She didn't know how hungry she was until she began to dig in to the food prepared by the younger soldier. She made sure to drink as much as she ate, in order to get the hangover gone faster so she could get dressed and meet with Victus.
"Jesus, Ash, this is good. Why the hell wouldn't you cook for us?" Shepard asked after swallowing a mouthful of ramen.
"That wasn't my job, Skipper. Besides, I can cook for a few people but not the entire crew. Glad you like it, though," Ash answered, positively beaming at the praise.
Shepard fell silent as she returned to eating. Liara was staring at her own bowl with fascination.
"Something wrong?" Ashley asked, leaning up against the counter behind her.
"Oh, no! Not at all. This is just the first time I've seen such a dish before. Usually what we ate on tours was... well, not as extravagant as this," Liara explained before pushing a forkful of food into her mouth then smiling at the taste.
"You're tellin' me. It's nice to have some real food now and again, though. But I wouldn't call it extravagant either. Better than the MREs we're thrown though, eh, Skip?" Ashley replied, smirking over at her CO who had just at that moment shoved a big mouthful of ramen, steak, and egg into her mouth.
"Mhm," Shepard mumbled, the only answer she could give. She then gave a giant swallow then smirked.
"Aww, Shepard learned some manners," Ashley teased. Shepard gave her LC the stink eye.
"Hey, Commander?" Joker's voice came over the comm before Shepard could make a remark.
"Yeah?" Shepard asked after wiping her mouth.
"We're about to arrive in Palaven orbit. ETA fifteen minutes. Just thought you'd like to know," Joker answered.
"Right, thanks Joker," Shepard said, putting her mostly empty bowl down.
"That's what I'm here for. To... fly the ship and give ETA warnings. Fun stuff," Joker said. Shepard chuckled before finishing off some remaining steak and egg in the bowl. She got to her feet.
"Do you need any help... getting dressed?" Liara asked slowly.
"I think I got it," Shepard said, grabbing her cane. She gave Liara a look that basically said 'no hard feelings, gotta keep up appearances around Ashley'. She then hobbled to the elevator.