Chapter description: Ashley and Liara talk. And share feelings. JOY.

AN: A little bit of Shepard's background for the story. She's an earth born, war hero vanguard(WOOT WOOT!). Her favorite weapon is the N7 Crusader(Which is MY favorite shotgun in mulitplayer. Wish it was available for the story!)

Unlike the silence of the room before she'd left, Liara could sense the unease as she applied the medi-gel to the pink tinged hand of her friend. While her eyes were focused intently on the hand she held, she focused her emotional feelers on Ashley and the woman she knew to be Kasumi from the meld with Shepard earlier. "It may still be a little tender for a few moments." Liara's voice was soft, comforting as she released the hand she held and looked up at Ashley with a small smile before rising and moving to wash her hands.

Ashley knew what she had been told already. It was uttered said to cut the uncomfortable silence. "Thanks, Liara." was the murmured gratitude Ashley uttered as she looked down at the hand, eyes narrowed and lips pursed at it. If only it were that easy for Shepard. Her jaw muscles twitched as her eyes snapped up to the noise of ceramic meeting metal when Kasumi placed her broken mug in the trash bin across the room.

Liara turned from the sink, brow knitting together at the spaced look Ashley sported. Her eyes darted over to Kasumi who stood by the trash bin, arms crossed over her chest as she too gazed at Ashley. Clearing her throat, Liara drew Kasumi's attention to her. "I assume you have settled your things into a room?" Kasumi's lips twitched in a semi-ashamed smiled as she nodded under her hood. "I did. Is that okay?"

Liara chuckled softly and pushed off the counter she was leaned again. "Do not worry. Make yourself at home. Is there anything I can get you?" Kasumi's hooded head shook. "No, thank you, Dr. T'soni. Do you mind if I explore some though?" The thief was itching to explore the Shadow Broker's ship. There had to be things of interest here, right? "Please call me Liara. Explore all you like. All does to areas that are off limits are locked though."

Kasumi smiled and nodded, disappearing in a crackle of energy and a salute. Ashley had watched silently, her injured hand cradled lightly within the other. Liara moved over to join the other human, sitting across from her. It was the moment Ashley had been dreading. But instead of the expected "What's going on, Ashley?", it shocked her to hear, instead, "Why are you here?"

Brown eyes met blue. The young human seem to freeze, seemingly pinned by the eyes of the Asari across from her. WHY was she here?

When it was obvious that Liara wasn't going to speak again, Ashley swallowed the words "Because Miranda invited me." What a cowardly pathetic answer that would be anyway. Here she was face to face with Shepard's lover, the one who had gone through hell and back after she died two years ago. Finally, she was able to tear her eyes away from Liara's, looking down at the table while she contemplated her answer.

Is it guilt? Did I fully expect Sherpard to just give up and lay down like a kicked dog? After all she's been through? Did I expect Liara to give up on Shepard? Or Miranda, who spent two years of her life rebuilding the legend that is Shepard? Did I expect the team that stood behind the woman who saved my ass on multiple occasions to simply let her give up? You're a dumb ass, Williams...

Liara waited patiently for the human's answer. She didn't tap a finger on the table top or her foot on the floor. For this, Ashley was extremely grateful. Running a hand over her face, Ashley let her forehead fall into the palm of her hand. She nearly jumped out of her skin with Liara cleared her throat. "May I..." She hesitated, brow knitting as she tried to come up with the right word. "May I tell you why I feel you are here?" The words were gentle, causing Ashley's head to lift, meeting Liara's eyes. A moment later, she nodded, giving the Asari a chance to speak what she felt.

Liara's lips twitched slightly. "I want to come right out and say that I am not assuming anything." She earned a nod from the otherwise silent human. "Shepard has been a guiding light to most of us since meeting her. Losing her two years ago was difficult, to say the least. You were there for the first month. Losing her again, and this time, right before my eyes, is the most dreadful thing I could ever imagine." Their eyes met, both sets watery with the thought of losing someone special. Again. "When Cerberus came to me saying they could help restore Shylah to me if I found her body, I was torn. Death is a taboo thing for many cultures and races. On the one hand, I could let the love of my life rest in the peace she so deserved. Or do it to alleviate the guilt I felt for not shoving her into an escape pod myself."

Ashley was stunned. Liara had never told anyone that Cerberus has contacted her, much less asked her to retrieve Shepard's body. "I felt guilty for following her orders. I realized this after she swept into my office on Illium that day. By following her orders, I deprived the galaxy of a hero. The sole person probably capable of doing what needed to be done even if no one believed her." Liara stopped speaking, forcing herself to look up at Ashley who was visibly stunned by the Asari's confession. "If I said I did it strictly for that, I'd be lying. I love Shylah, make no mistake. I would have left her to rest if Cerberus hadn't worded it just right to hit that one fine chord. But here we are two years later with the same woman, potentially dying in my medbay due to my guilt."

Ashley looked down at her folded fingers. Liara had said a lot. Much of it had nothing to really do with why she was here. Except one word: Guilt. Nibbling on the inside of her lip, she poked the ends of her thumbs together. "How many people know what you just told me? Outside of Cerberus, I mean." Liara's eyes darkened slightly, index finger tapping lightly on the table. "Two. Aside from myself. Shylah and you. Miranda was the one to contact me. But she was with Cerberus at the time and fully respects my decision to tell those whom I choose." Ashley nodded slowly, looking back down at her thumbs.

"You're right though." Ashley got back to the question at hand. "I'm here because I feel guilty." She slumped back into her chair, feeling defeated. "I mean, you're the Shadow Broker. You know what was said on Horizon." She received a nod, confirming her suspicion. "I thought she knew better than to trust Cerberus. That she had just given up on the Alliance." She looked up when a warm blue hand covered her. "Truth was, the Alliance gave up on her. I was there. Remember? They refused to even consider that she may have survived or that there were any...Remains to be found." Liara's words caused Ashley's chest to ache.

"I felt betrayed. Said things. Over time I realized that no matter what Cerberus did when they brought her back, she was still Shepard. She tried so hard to convince me of that on Horizon and I refused to believe her." The hand on top of her's squeezed gently and pulled away. "I think Cerberus probably would not have restored her memories had they simply wanted her to do their bidding, Ashley." Liara said confidently. She had spoken to Miranda on their ride to Halagaz the first time. "Miranda said the first thing she had asked was where we were. She said she could almost taste the concern coming from her."

Ashley chuckled softly, nodding. "She does have a very bad habit of putting others before herself. Even when critically injured." She recalled one battle where Shepard had been shot while her shields were down because she insisted upon watching the group's six as they made for the Mako. Upon closing the hatch of the vehicle, Shepard had promptly collapsed on the floor of the Mako, forcing Ashley to get them back to the Normandy safely. "But I should have known. Shepard is a soldier. A fighter. It's all she's known."

Liara leaned back in her chair, hands folded calmly in her lap. "Feeling guilty for what was said is normal when it is false." Lifting her chin slightly, Liara's gaze burned into Ashley's. "But being here because you think she is dying..." Liara trailed off and Ashley flinched. She had managed to skirt around those very words. Until now. "You are naive, Ashley." It was left unsaid that Liara wouldn't let Shepard fade before them. She would pour every resource she had into saving the woman she loved.

"What you said hurt Shylah. But there is no doubt in my mind that when she wakes up and sees you are here, she will forgive you without you asking for forgiveness." Rising from her chair, Liara smiled tiredly down at Ashley. "I am going to rest for a few hours before going to the medbay to check on things. If you need me, call for Glyph." Ashley nodded up at her only to jump with Glyph appeared, addressing Liara. "Yes, Shadow Broker?"

Ashley bit her bottom lip to smother a laugh as she swore she saw a vein on Liara's forehead pop out. "Stupid drone. Not now." The drone turned and quickly floated out the door with a "As you wish, Shadow Broker." With a shake of her head, Liara bid Ashley farewell, mumbling something about "reprogramming moronic drone after this is done." Ashley chuckled at this and rose to retrieve another cup of coffee since the last one was ruined. Now to sit in silence and think...

Holy bejeezus. I hope that this chapter made sense to you guys. If not, enjoy the rambling that came from my cold infected, cold med addled and sleep deprived brain. Otherwise, enjoy!