When Fates Collide
Chapter 17
~ ~ Feeling Better? ~ ~
When the stunned but now coherent marine stopped massaging her jaw, she looked up more clearly at her superior. Now that Williams was no longer ranting, Shepard asked, "What? You didn't think I was actually going to leave you here did you?"
The injured woman was completely dumbfounded despite her instant crash landing back to earth experience, "Besides, who would I annoy if you were gone?"
The former N7 officer bent down to help the woman up again and joked, "Wrex? No offense, but you're an easier target."
The offhand comment made the marine chuckle as she painfully gripped her side, "Stop making me laugh, it hurts too much."
"Come on, Williams. You gonna make a liar out of me? I was just telling Wrex and Garrus how tough marines really were."
A lopsided grin fleeted across Garrus' face as he played along.
"Now are you gonna sit here on your ass or are you gonna get up and come with me?" A gloved hand stretched out towards the downed marine.
Mystified by her demeanor, the normally prejudice human reached for the redhead's hand and was lifted off the floor as she slung her other arm around the asari.
What really surprised everyone, as they made their way out of the structure, was when Williams, who had regained her composure announced, "Thanks Shepard," still rubbing her jaw Ash continued, "I guess I needed that."
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Outside the medical bay stood a concerned woman with folded arms staring into the clear window even though she could not see a thing Dr. Chakwas was doing behind the curtain. A few moments later she heard the med bay doors open and from the corner of her eye watched the acting commanding officer shuffle towards her.
With a deepened voice, the lieutenant commander declared as his eyes followed her path into the glass, "Shepard, I'm glad I was wrong about you."
The older gentleman began to raise his hand to touch her carefully on the shoulder, but thought twice about the gesture and slowly lowered his hand back to his side, "You did a hell of a job back there. I'd proudly serve with you any day."
Silence was the only reply so Pressly continued, "Well, Dr. Chakwas says you can go in now."
A small nod answered the man as Shepard's eyes remained fixed on the med bay. Realizing that the soldier was paying him very little mind, he turned to leave saying sheepishly, "Well, I'd better get going now."
As Pressly started walking away, Shepard turned and called out to him, "Hey Pressly?"
The lieutenant commander stopped and looked back questioningly.
"Thanks" said Shepard, to which Pressly nodded then continued on to his destination.
Once inside the medical facility, Dr. Chakwas gave Shepard the run down on Williams's injuries and how, through the wonders of modern medicine, she would be back on her feet in a few days.
Watching the concerned redhead stare at the unconscious marine, Dr. Chakwas informed her, "Williams is going to be fine Shepard" then, attempting to add a little bedside humor she tacked on, "In case you were worried."
Immediately she got a rise from the soldier who quipped, "I wasn't worried."
Moving away from the bed and to the doctor's side, Shepard gave a smug wink and put the ball back in the doctor's court by playfully adding, "Besides, I thought that since she's in your hands; there wasn't anything to worry about now."
"Touché" said the doctor, as the two women shared a smile.
Tentatively patting the medical officer on the back, Shepard proclaimed, "Dr. Chakwas, you're the best. You know that right?"
Knowing the soldier didn't hand out compliments very often; the doctor took pleasure in the sincere comment and replied, "Certainly, that's why I'm out here, my dear."
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Early the next morning, leaning over the catatonic marine, Dr. Chakwas informed Shepard, "I gave her something to help her sleep a little more comfortably. She should be fit as a fiddle in a day or two."
Sliding out between Shepard and Williams, the doctor went to check one of the illuminated medical scanners. The senior marine then took her place and concerned for the patient's well being, the redhead leaned so far over the bed that she was staring into the gunny's closed eyes. On the opposite side of the bed, Liara too hovered over the motionless marine as she stated, "She looks so peaceful."
A small smile tugged at Shepard's lips as her green eyes met with the endless blue orbs across from her, "I believe that is the point."
When neither party broke the innocent gaze, Liara unexpectedly reached over and tenderly tucked a rogue strand of red hair back behind Shepard's ear. Hiding her shock well, Shepard momentarily froze as her eyes trailed the asari's hand, gently moving her hair back into place. Judging by her demeanor, the former alliance officer believed Liara wasn't even aware of what she had just done; not to mention how it just made the human's heart skip more than a few beats.
At Liara's simple gesture, the suddenly nervous redhead's eyes quickly glanced over at the doctor, then returned their focus back to the asari reasoning, If pretty blue eyes is acting like its nothing ... Then so will I ... Yup... I can be cool...
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A few days later, Shepard found herself inside her cabin typing away at the terminal. She was recapping her final report to Presley about the Cerberus mission. On the outside she knew she had done a good job with the mission; including the incident with Ash, but inside, it felt like a knife was slicing at her gut. Her thoughts drifted in and out about why her mother of all people, hadn't come looking for her all those years ago.
Despite her best intentions Shepard found herself scrolling the extranet for information about her mother. In various off planet news reports she found several articles about her mother's promotions and great achievements. She even found one such article quoting a goodwill human ambassador stating he believed had Captain Shepard been present during the first contact with the turians; that war would never have happened.
However, it was a single stroke of her finger that made the woman pause as she felt the pit of her stomach sink dramatically. Before her eyes was a photo dated only a year and half ago of her mother; Captain Hanna Shepard. The black and white picture was taken during an award ceremony in which she assumed command as the Executive Officer of one of the Alliances' six dreadnoughts: the Kilimanjaro. Painstakingly slow, piercing green eyes scanned the photo as she memorized every detail of the holograph. In a breathless question Shepard asked, "Why didn't you come looking for me mom? Why?" A shaky finger passed through the floating image as if it wasn't there at all as a sad and lower voice grumbled, "Why momma, why?"
Before the hardened soldier had time to tear up, a clever idea fleeted into the former naval officer's mind. A few keystrokes later and she found herself staring at the Alliance's database with Captain Hannah Shepard's name entered in the search field. She hesitated, not knowing why, her index finger hovering over the execute button for a few moments before finally curiosity got the better of her and she hit enter.
Upon seeing the screen, the moppy redhead fell back into the chair frustrated, as her hands covered her face she muttered, "Shit!"
When she'd finally collected herself; she removed her hands from her face, looked back at the monitor and thought, I will find out why… I will set the record straight mom! You can count on that!
With that declaration, Shepard instantly shut down the terminal and its taunting message: Classified Information for Authorized Alliance Personnel Only.
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A few hours later, Shepard sauntered into the med bay. Seeing all the beds were empty, she asked confused, "Um, where's the half dead marine I brought in here the other day?"
The question was directed at the only other person in the room but the doctor merely smiled back at the redhead, as she wasn't ready to cough up the marine quite so quickly.
The veteran soldier looked under a few of the beds pretending to look for Ash's body when she added, "I know this is where I left her."
The chief medical officer had barely taken her eyes off her daily reports when the soldier had entered but feeling she had tortured the marine long enough, she hummed in her eloquent British accent, "Oh I released her a day early. Her wounds weren't actually that bad and she has an incredibly high healing ability for her age…"
Dr. Chakwas's words trailed off as she peeked over her monitor to see Shepard had left already left the medical bay, the doors closing behind her. Smiling, she chewed on the end her stylus and pondered what little mischievous revenge Shepard would play on her. Making a mental note Dr. Chakwas chuckled, Hide your brandy old girl…She'll come after the important stuff.
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A few minutes later, the heavy cargo bay door inched open and outstepped the mock commander. Quietly, she strolled over to the weapons station trying to interpret the female marine's body language. Perhaps a bit too stealthily, as the commander's sudden presence made the young marine jump.
"Shepard!" Ash spat, not expecting to see the soldier so soon.
In a joking tone Shepard responded, "Easy marine! You're the one back from the dead. Not me."
Dropping her gaze to the workbench, Williams started, "Look I just wanted to say…. that back there on…"
When the words didn't come, the senior marine offered, "Well it happens to the best of us."
Conjuring up what was left of her pride, the gunny continued as she peered back at the woman she had once hated so much, forgiving her hateful words. "I just wanted you to know that, I'm….."
Choking on her words, Shepard knew that Williams came from a proud family and had been through a lot. Being the eldest of four sisters probably didn't help much either. She knew it wasn't often that the eldest sister had to apologize for anything.
The gunny watched in awe as the hardened soldier's face melted from a strong woman, into something much softer and sympathetic.
Staring right into the gunny's chocolate colored eyes, Shepard said, "Sorry? I know."
Picking up a spare a thermo clip from the workbench, Shepard pretended to examine it as she explained, "Apologies were never my strong suit either."
Instantly, Shepard could see the overwhelming relief on Williams's face.
Dropping the thermo clip back onto the work surface Shepard sighed, "Ok! Now that's over. Um, I'd like a full weapons check by noon tomorrow."
Williams snapped to attention, more than happy the awkward moment was over as well, and recited, "By noon tomorrow, aye aye ma'am!"
The senior marine abruptly turned about and started walking to the elevator when she suddenly stopped and peered over her shoulder, "Ash! Good to have you back on the team!"
A slow forming smile was the only response Shepard received before she turned back around and left the cargo space.
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"Shepard. You wanted to see me?"
Shepard savored the tone of the voice before she even turned around. Smirking, the woman very slowly pushed out from her chair; rhythmically tapping a pen in her hands and said, "I heard that you have been having a hard time sleeping lately."
The asari dressed in her green scientist outfit shifted her feet and absentmindedly stroked her gloved arm as she replied, "Oh, it's really nothing."
Seeing the moppy redhead, who had taken up residence in the captain's quarters, was now dauntingly standing before her, Liara stammered, "Who told you?"
Fidgeting with the pen even faster, the soldier shifted her feet in such a way so they were now squarely below her shoulders. It was quite an intimidating stance, one she had learned from years of terrorizing her enemies. However, realizing Liara was in fact looking very exhausted; Shepard dramatically paced about and believing she was being witty, playfully answered, "Oh, a little bird told me."
Promptly catching on to the human's teasing, the asari maiden retorted, "That particular avian class species wouldn't happen to reside in the medical profession, would she?"
As the two shared a brief chuckle, Shepard tried to ease into her questioning, smothering her real concern and asked, "So, why isn't my resident prothean expert getting much sleep these days?"
The woman's playfulness quickly disappeared when she saw the distraught expression on the young maiden's face. Worried, the redhead asked, "Liara, is there anything you want to talk about?"
Watching the asari nervously lose her composure, Shepard suggested, "Well, I have an idea. Why don't you sleep in her tonight?"
The asari's eyes shot wide as she muttered and began her own pacing, "Oh Goddess no! I couldn't do that? What about...?"
The mock commander abruptly stopped her protest. Pointing over to her terminal Shepard explained she had a ton of work to go through and needed to catch up on all the files the Alliance had on Saren. "I'm gonna be pulling an all-nighter. At least this way, you can sleep in something bigger than a cot."
The idea of sleeping in Shepard's bed, even if she wasn't in it, brought the asari to a hasty stop, "Oh Goddess Shepard!" rubbing her temple made what little blue was left in her cheeks fleet further still, "I couldn't possibly."
Knowing the sophisticated T'Soni would object, Shepard happily struck her bad ass soldier pose, arms crossed with all of her weight placed on her back leg and cocked her head to one side. Glancing down at the three stripes on her borrowed officer's uniform, she commanded, "That's an order!"
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Shepard was reading aloud from her data screen, hoping to bore the young asari to death with one of Tali's suggested mechanical upgrades. It hadn't been 5 minutes of monotone reading when she turned around and saw the young maiden had fallen sound asleep. Watching the young woman sleeping on her side facing her; Shepard noted the hypnotic rise and fall of her chest with every breath. She couldn't help but let her mind wander. It was the first time she had seen the asari this relaxed since leaving the Reaper vessel.
Studying Liara's slumbering features, the hardened soldier began to realize how much she looked like Matriarch Benezia. A small grin tugged at her lips thinking how the two T'Soni's were so different, yet very similar. While Shepard had seen the Matriarch's power first hand, she wondered what greatness lied just beneath the surface of the sleeping asari maiden.
Preparing for the long night ahead of her, Shepard moved to the couch directly across from the bed, propping her feet up on the small table that separated the two; her eyes frequently scanned between the datapad and the woman sleeping in her bed. It didn't take long before her gaze was more focused on the sleeping beauty rather than the datapad. She couldn't help daydream about how peaceful, how quiet and how still she looked. Not only did the attractive looking asari make the soldier's pulse quicken; it sent her mind swirling.
Shepard couldn't help reflect upon how this poor girl had been minding her own business in the depths of some prothean dig site one moment and the next, being violently ripped from it. She was then saved or captured by her mother, brought aboard a rogue Spectre's ship, where her mother, the extremely powerful matriarch, later attempted to forcibly to meld with her. Liara should have felt safe being surrounded by her mother and her personal squadron of asari commandos; not fearing for her very life. Then the human she detested most, became the only one she could trust as she dragged her all over several hostile planets before finally succumbing to her second prothean beacon and both of them becoming unexpected guests of the Alliance.
With a smile in full bloom over her face, Shepard reasoned that Liara must have enjoyed it at least a little, especially putting her in those biotic handcuffs.
Seeing the stress leave the young asari's face, Shepard couldn't help but stare in awe; how one so angelic looking, could be so deadly. For a brief moment, she pondered what it must have been like, in better times; when Liara would sleep safely in her mother's protective arms. Always thinking of Matriarch Benezia as a fierce adversary, the soldier reflected for the first time what an amazing mother she must have been as well. Considering everything Liara has been through, she was still hanging on strong. Shepard wondered how she, herself did it at times and she was a thoroughly trained N-7 soldier with countless years of battle experience behind her.
As she watched Liara take in a deep breath, further slipping into a deeper stage of sleep, a warm smile stretched across her pink lips. Shepard knew she was starting to feel less like protecting Liara because she swore an oath to the great Matriarch Benezia, and more because she didn't want any harm to befall the young maiden.
When Shepard was sure the professor was resting soundly, she whispered to her, "I'll keep you safe, Liara."
Moments later, in the warm cabin on the soft leather couch with her charge so very close at hand; she soon found herself overwhelmingly comfortable and despite all her might; couldn't fight the good fight any longer. She was seconds from losing the hardest battle this day would bring and as her eye lids fluttered for the last time, sleep overtook Shepard.