A/N Inspired by Evanescence "Bring me to Life", Salser's amazing story "Forever as One" and my own loss… Title inspired by Garbage's verse from "My Lover's Box." And this Chapter was supposed to say Number 1 Crush, as the sign failed I don't know how to lskdjfklsjd change it.

Some asked how Shep got amnesia. I planned on addressing that and now have, I think it makes sense, but you tell me. AU keep that in mind.

Thanks to everyone who added, reviewed and fav'd. You make this worth continuing. More reviews = more chapters.

Tayg and T.A. Blackwell, well can't say enough good things about you girls.

I don't dislike Traynor although in game she will gladly cheat on Liara, and also I just can't pass up a good story/soap opportunity.

Bioware owns all, I just make them cry.

Piece by Piece

"You still haven't told me who the fuck you are, now get away from me."

She stood dumbfounded, in disbelief. Goddess, all this hardship, she's alive and now… doesn't remember me. Athame grant me the strength…

"Shepard, I… I don't know what to say. Please, what's the last thing you remember?" Liara fought the urge to cup her face, take her hand in hers, clutch her in her arms…

"I was just commissioned to the Normandy, under Captain Anderson. A Turian Spectre, Nihlus, was with us. We were heading to Eden Prime. The ground team there got attacked, I took Alenko and Jenkins with me. Anderson also told me I was under review for the Spectres, and that the success of this mission was riding on it." Shepard scratched the back of her neck as she often did when nervous. "Everything after that is a blank."

Liara just stared at her bond-mate blankly, unsure whether to tell her the rest of the horrific story. She felt a tap on her shoulder, looked over and saw Chakwas motioning her out the room. She wanted to talk privately, thankfully as Liara had a million questions and rage that needed to be satiated out of Shepard's range.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Shepard was tired. I could sleep for a century. First Mindoir, N7 training, then the Blitz plus eliminating other Batarian threats along the Traverse, then Eden Prime. Seems her life since the age of 16 was restless. God damned fucking itch won't quit. Her foot had been twitching since she woke up. Maybe I can scratch it with my other foot. She tried moving her left leg. Nothing. She tried again. Still nothing.

"What the fuck!" She tossed the blankets back and stared in horror. Her left leg was cut just beneath the knee, her right leg above it. She went to pull her hair in frustration, one hand full, the other empty. She ran the empty hand along the side of her head, noticing it had been shaved. Surgery fuck. She had no idea where she was, who these people where, or what happened.

She felt a primal scream building within her. She released it along with a "what the fuck is going on?!" bolted back into the room and sedated her. "Doc, wha-a… hap…." Shepard was then asleep.

Chakwas then exits the room and addresses Liara. "She'll be out for a few hours, you may want to take the opportunity to rest up."

"Not before I have answers to what happened… how could she just forget everyone… me, and what happened?" She asks while fighting back tears.

Exodus and Tali step forward, Tali gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "There was a chance this could happen, Liara. It seems the Reaper tech isn't infallible When we brought EDI back online, she was reverted back to the Cerberus AI, before being unshackled. I remotely released her and it seems she reverted back, and is once again occupying the Eva platform. I can only assume Shepard's implants were based on tech found 3 years ago, remember the Dragon's Teeth Cerberus had?"

"What about the Geth? If you could bring them back, and EDI this means we could 'reprogram' Shepard no?" Liara looks hopeful and confused.

Exodus places itself inform of the Asari. "T'Soni-Doctor, we had engineers working on the Crucible. We concluded this weapon's capabilities were an unknown, as were the secondary effects. The consensus took precautionary measures in the event that the weapon would target all synthetics."

"Meaning?" Liara impatiently asks.

"Meaning we created back-ups of our intelligences and platforms, as well as erecting extra firewalls before the firing of the Crucible. We were able to broadcast the same anomaly frequency as your EDI-machine-"

"I don't understand, how come you retained your memory when EDI and Shepard didn't?"

"The EDI-machine did not work on the Crucible, it did not understand the variables. The Geth did. We programmed the variable 1764.98758 upon reactivation to communicate with server 94886.88748 to retrieve us. We… I apologize for not transmitting this information to your EDI machine."

"Goddess…"

Just the Miranda walks back into view, and sleekly walks over to the group, addressing Liara. "What's the last thing she remembers?"

"The Blitz and her part of her mission on Eden Prime… the first time around. Can't we just restart her implants like the Geth and EDI?"

"No, that would be a monumental mistake. Shepard, despite her upgrades, is still 80% organic. A system restart could kill her. Matter of fact, I'm amazed she lived this long without them. She must be incredibly strong-willed."

Liara scowled as she remembered having spoken the same words years ago. "When will she be ok? When will she regain her memory? What's to stop this from happening a-"

"Liara…" Miaranda cuts her off. "The human brain is a complex organism. I know what you're thinking. Yes, Cerberus brought her back, but her brain was intact. Although she is not nearly as damaged this time around, the brain is a fickle thing. It could take a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months." Seeing the Asari was visibly upset she ran her hand along Liara's cheek and lifted her chin so their eyes could meet. "Be with her, talk to her. The only other thing I can think of would be a meld, should she be receptive of course. I'm going to check her vitals." Warm smiles were exchanged between the women.

Be with her. Yes I can do that.

"Liara, you haven't slept or eaten since we left our terrestrial hell-hole. She's going to be out for a while, so why don't you take some time to yourself, have a nap, a shower then come back. Doesn't look like she's going anywhere. I think the rest of us can find a real bar to pass the time in so not to worry." Garrus cautiously says.

"I got you, tarado!" Laughter among the humans reverberates.

Liara seems reluctant, but finally nods in agreement. "I suppose I don't want to smell like a Varren's ass when she wakes up." A small smirk crosses her face.

The whole crew having arrived she hears a bellowing voice. "That's the spirit Pyjak, now common, there's a bar still standing down the street just waiting to be conquered by a Krogan battle-master and his whelps!" The group begins making their way back to the elevator as a tiny voice makes itself heard.

"I'll be right with you, just need to make a stop by the loo."

"What?"

Miranda exits the room having checked on Shepard: "That means washroom, bathroom, sinkhole, what ever you all call it." She then saunters back off around the corner.

"Whatever." Onward they marched as she exhaled a sigh of relief.

Once out of sight, she snuck back into the Commander's room. She knew the others would be gone for hours, and likely would come back, if at all, completely drunk. She's eating, 10 minutes, then taking a shower, 15 minutes. Likely will apply perfume and cream, another 5 minutes. I've got 30 minutes, 25 to be on the safe side.

She sat down in the chair by the Commander's bed. Don't touch anything, but her… She could hear Shepard muttering in her sleep. Something about legs, crippled… Jenkins.

"I'm here Shepard… Shhh. You're safe." She ran her hand along the solder's jawline.

Given Shepard's upgrades sedatives didn't quite have the punch they used to. Her eyes fluttered open. She felt a touch on her jaw, and pulled back but not quite as violently as when she first woke up after her implants were kick-started.

"Don't be scared Commander… It's me, Sam. We were close, quite close." She ran her fingers through Shepard's hair.

"Where's Liara?" The soldier snapped.

"She left you, went drinking. I'm the only one who stayed because we meant something to each other."

"She doesn't strike me as the type to 'go drinking'." Shepard bats the hand from her hair.

"She isn't here, love, I am. We've been through a lot. I understand your confusion. You've just woken up." Think Sam, think. Oh God, yes. She pulls out her necklace, a beautiful ring from her parents is attached marking her Alliance graduation day. She briefly flashes it to Shepard. "You gave me this."

Shepard face-palmed herself. If I gave that to her why am so attracted to Liara? "I think I need to be alone." I'm barely in one piece, and already facing fucking drama.

"I'll stay with you until-"

"No, get the fuck out. I mean… I need time to process this, please just leave me."

"Liara is quite obsessed with you, you refused her before, please don't mention this to her. She could hurt us." Just keep Liara away and give me a few days. She turns and walks out the room.

"I don't fucking believe you." Shepard pulls the blanket over herself and eventually falls back asleep.

A/N: Reviews people, are what keep this story going. Traynor: Eaten by a Krogan or Thresher Maw when thrown out the airlock over Tuchanka? (After a good head-butt of course) :D

'Tarado' google translate = asshole? Correct me if I'm wrong.