Mass Effect: Each Story Has A Million Tales.
Summary: "There is always more than just one side to a story- and more than one lesson to learn. Follow Garrus Vakarian as he stands by a promise that he means to keep, contemplates the true meaning of life, death, and the ultimate sacrifice, and as he confronts someone who should have been behind him all along. Follow Adelais Vakarian as he mends a broken bond, and as he comes to terms with a terrible loss of his own. Follow Kolyat Krios as he navigates through a very dangerous place, only to find another- under the guidance of someone who may or may not be there at all. And follow Commander Joleen Shepard as she goes through her past and present, only to find herself in the middle of a battle for her future." (Garrus' Story: 'The Promise-Keeper.' Adelais' Story: 'The Old Soldier.' Kolyat's Story: 'The Wanderer.' Shepard's Story: 'The Missing.')
Warning: "This is a heavy one- some swearing, angst, implied adult situations, adult situations, a few character deaths, violence, and blood. All the big ones this time. Remember, this is my Shepard, my feelings on the game and what should have happened and will happen, with my own opinions and storyline, so no nasty comments. Got it? Good." (Commander Joleen Shepard: War Hero, Earthborn. Soldier. Paragon. Romanced Kaidan Alenko in the 1st game, Garrus Vakarian in the 2nd and 3rd. Shot and killed Udina during the Citadel Coup.)
Disclaimer: "I do not own Mass Effect. At all. So don't make me say it again."
Author's Note: "Just so you all know, the name 'Adelais,' is Latin for 'Noble,' and the name 'Carissa' means 'the most beloved one.' Personally, I just thought the two names fit the story and what the characters were meant for."
N._.S._.S
Chapter Seventy-One: The Promise-Keeper XIX.
It took a long time to get her to sleep.
And he wasn't all that surprised, either- he'd just killed someone directly in front of her.
They were used to death and blood, but to have someone's blood to spill all over you- especially so suddenly like that (even though she'd known what he was about to do, of course) would be enough to push anyone off the edge.
Especially after going through what she went through.
She had been so keyed up, so agitated and so scared, that he had known better than to just give her up to the Huerta Medics or push her into Chakwas' arms-
And then just sit and wait, like last time.
This time, he carried her himself back to the Normandy, not letting anyone near her. Adelais, surprisingly, had actually blocked the rest of the crew's understandable protestations, and with the help of a very stubborn Solana and an oddly calm, stern Kaidan, he was able to get her up into the cabin without much incident.
At first, she wouldn't let go when he laid her down on the bed, and the sheets and blankets were instantly soaked through with crimson by her wounds. Instead of forcing it, he just sat there with her, until she was calm enough to lie down still enough that he could patch up her wounds.
For the longest time, however, even after her wounds cleaned, bound, and healing as best as Garrus knew how to get them, she stared up at the ceiling, unable, it seemed, to even blink without shaking, And for the longest time, she cried and fretted over nothing, muttering nonsense and refusing to look at him.
But the thing that bothered him about her wounds the most were the bruises- the fresh ones that he knew would take the longest to fade. They were the shape of someone's feet, stomping repeatedly and kicking repeatedly.
He'd almost stopped breathing when he realized what Hades had done- and almost done- to her.
But, finally, thankfully, after a few long, painful hours, Joleen's eyes finally closed, and her body relaxed.
Now, Garrus sat at the Mess Hall table, staring at the old sniper rifle he'd used to kill Hades- a right, surely, he knew, probably didn't even belong to him in the first place.
Next to that, were Shepard's ring, and her crushed, wire-framed glasses.
He'd been there for a good few hours already.
Not even Adelais disturbed him, at least not until they'd had time to mull over what had happened up in the Control Room for themselves and seen the tapes- he could hear them playing it, and Adelais' sharp, unappreciative warning to Liara as she quickly shut it off when Shepard's screams started.
Finally, Adelais just pulled up a chair and sat next to him, staring at the gun, following his son's gaze. His midnight blue eyes flickered to Garrus' in clear caution as he slowly picked the old rifle up and carefully unloaded it and pulled off its scope.
"You did the right thing, Garrus." Adelais finally said, after a long moment, breaking the silence.
"I'm not questioning that." Garrus answered, promptly.
"Then what are you questioning?"
"You didn't see what he did to her, did you?" Garrus sighed, shaking his head.
"No…" Adelais replied, slowly, guardedly, "I didn't."
"He beat her, dad."
The way he said it was sharp, challenging, almost, and at that tone, Adelais almost instantly adverted his gaze, as if his son had said something so terrible that he just couldn't bear it.
He actually flinched.
"I should have stayed with her," Garrus said, not broaching the subject further even as Adelais looked down at the weapon in his lap. "I could have the very least taken a couple of that bastard's hits for her."
Adelais looked down at the weapon in his hands, midnight blue eyes darkening. "I know."
I know.
"You would have wanted to do it for mom, wouldn't you?"
The question was out before Garrus could stop it.
His father gave him a bitter chuckle in response. "I would have."
"Without a second thought?"
Adelais chuckled again, though he seemed rather distracted now. "Yeah. Without a second thought."
The two were silent for a while, and as it stretched on, Garrus picked up the ring and the broken pair of glasses- someone (probably Kaidan or Vega) had collected these two items as Garrus carried Shepard back to the Normandy, under the stunned, watchful gaze of countless, nameless civilians, the Council, and the Primarch, as Adelais absent-mindedly fiddled with his rifle's scope.
Finally, Adelais' mandibles clicked, as if he were getting ready to say something.
"Garrus, there's-"
"Dad? Garrus?" Solana suddenly peeked out from the other side of the Mess, nearest the elevator, interrupting the silence. For some reason, her electric-blue eyes were apprehensive, almost clearly frightened, "They sent me down here to tell you that Kolyat just got out of the ER in Huerta."
Garrus' eyes narrowed. "Just now?"
Adelais actually stood up. "How is he?"
"He kind of freaked when he woke up," Solana replied, dutifully, "But right now he seems fine."
Adelais patted Garrus' shoulder, the look in his midnight blue eyes startlingly accepting at leaving, despite the fact that he looked like he was just getting around to telling him something- something important. "You stay here and check on your Commander," he said, gently, "I'll make sure the kid makes it through."
"Thanks, dad."
N._.S._.S
She was sitting up, legs curled into her chest, and arms wrapped around them, face buried in them as if to shield herself from her own self.
"Joleen?" He asked, as quietly and gently as he could, after placing the shattered pair of glasses next to her bed and sitting down next to her, proffering the pretty, still-glistening band, "Joleen, I have something of yours."
She slowly looked up at him, and smiled when she saw the ring.
"I knew you were coming," she said, voice cracking a little, "but I… I was…"
I was scared.
The three words that neither of them would ever be able to say.
She lowered her eyes again.
Taking her soft hand in his taloned one, Garrus slid the ring back onto her finger, looking into her deep, dark brown eyes as he did so, "It's all over now," he told her, wishing he was as confident as he thought he sounded, "Hades is dead, and Cerberus and the Reapers are gone for good this time."
Shepard embraced him then, wincing quietly at the movement. "It's over," she repeated, softly, a little disbelievingly, "Is it, for real this time?"
Garrus let her lean into him and embraced her back. "I think it really is."
Shepard just shook her head, looking over at the gargantuan fish tank, where her tropical, multi-colored (and somewhat downright creepy-looking) fish still swam happily in.
After a moment of staring at them, reached over and picked up the pieces of her glasses, raising an eyebrow at them and smiling an odd half-smile.
"Oh, crap." She said, looking back up at him and smiling, "I'm blind."
"I can think of something we can do that doesn't involve your blind-as-hell eyes."
"Oh?" her dark eyes brightened knowingly- and she played along. "And what's that?"
"This."
He leaned in and kissed her.
N._.S._.S
Alright: EPILOUGE TIME.
First: Kolyat Krios.
Second: Adelais Vakarian.
Third: Joleen Shepard.
Last: Garrus Vakarian.
Please Review, tell me what you liked,
And what you'd like to see for the last chapters.
XD