Chapter Six: Fight for Me
Though the Kodiak handled poorly and the journey was rough, it was blessedly short. The Nefrane pulled in close to the nearly decimated Citadel and its guidance beacon effectively homed them in. Captain Kallisto was true to her word. A medical team was standing by as the alliance shuttle dropped noisily to the appointed deck, its drive core grinding as it parked.
Knowing the medics would board quickly, Liara bent down to her unconscious bondmate and brushed their lips together softly. With a light touch, she stroked the pale cheek and fought to keep the tears at bay as she studied the spectre's face. She felt her own warm breath on her bondmate's skin. "I love you, Shepard."
She glanced up. Vega was standing over her with a look she had never seen him wear, staring wistfully at the lovers. His brows were deep, his lips parted, his heavy jaw slack. She'd always felt a kind of melancholy about him despite his jovial seeming nature. She peered at him closely. What is it? It wasn't jealousy. It was something that felt hopeful, but bittersweet. A yearning - not for herself or for Shepard she was certain, but for what they shared. She sensed a deep loss in him and wondering what the root of it was – her heart ached for him.
The bustle of the asari crew broke the spell. They gathered Shepard up and with the aid of a hover gurney hustled her out of the shuttle and began rushing to the medical bay. Liara struggled with her braced leg trying to keep up. As they approached the inner doors of the triage suite she stopped, knowing that she would be expelled if she tried to continue into the unit proper. Dr. Chakwas halted as well but one of the medical techs waved for her to continue with them.
Karin pivoted quickly to the maiden before following. "I'm not sure how they know who, or for that matter – what I am. But let's not look a gift horse in the mouth, shall we? I'll get word to you as soon as I can." The doctor gave her a pat on the shoulder and disappeared behind Shepard's entourage.
Liara stood staring at the closed doors drawn into a timeless emotional tunnel, motion blurred, her mind focused solely on her mate's survival. She'd nearly forgotten that her companions were with her until she heard James speak. Another sidelong glance at him revealed that his cocky demeanor was back, replete with its usual smirk. He snorted sarcastically. "Well, took 'em long enough, don't you think?"
The gravity of Shepard's injuries and overall condition threatened to overwhelm her. Wrapping her arms around herself, she shivered. "I hope not, James."
The marine sounded off, a hint of pride in his voice. "Hey, Lola's tough! It'll take more than the Citadel falling on her to keep her down. She'll be up whipping the galaxy into shape in no time."
A bevy of footsteps approached. "That's the idea." A familiar Australian voice piped up as Miranda Lawson arrived with the Commander of the Nefrane and an asari lieutenant in tow.
"Miranda!" Crest tilted in disbelief, eyes wide, Liara rushed to greet the former Cerberus Operative, relieved to see her in one piece. Gravity shifted at the sight of the capable brunette and she felt her spirits rise. "Goddess, how did you get here?!"
The operative blushed. "That will make for a long story. One that I will happily share with you – but later. For the moment, I think I'd better get in and see what's happening with Shepard. Right now, I'll leave you in Captain Kallisto's capable hands and get to it." With a quick grip to Liara's arm and a confident smile, she strode through the doors of the inner ward.
"Hmm, um, mm," the burly marine began, his eyes on Lawson's posterior. "Not as good as..."
Javik interrupted Vega brusquely. "If you finish that statement human, I will be forced to cut out your tongue."
Captain Valicia Kallisto smoothly interceded by striding between them to the maiden, her arms open. "Goddess, it's been too long, Liara! Thirty years and I hear from you now of all times. It's good to see you."
Liara closed her eyes and fell into a warm hug. "It's good to see you too, Val. I've missed you."
The captain laughed lightly. "Nah, you just miss the trouble we get into together. Then again, you appear to be doing a good job of finding it on your own." Stepping back she appraised James and Javik, arching a white tick-marked brow. "And who are these fine specimens?"
The prothean shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny and crossed his arms. "I am Javik. Commander Javik."
Sensing the prothean's reticence, the captain pleasantly nodded her head to him and took a step back, teal skinned palms up. "Welcome to the Nefrane, Commander." Javik seemed passably pleased and actually managed a semi-polite nod in return.
"And this is Lieutenant James Vega. I wouldn't be here without them." Liara watched, mesmerized as her old friend graciously disarmed both soldiers.
Kallisto shook his offered hand and looked him in the eye, a sensuous smile on her lips. "Lieutenant."
"A pleasure to...um meet you, Captain. Thanks for - uh – helping us out." Vega stammered, clearly taken by the asari captain's blue skin, white eye markings and lithe, shapely form.
Kallisto purred. "The pleasure is mine." The captain nodded to her attache. "Briona, please see to it that Commander Javik and Lieutenant Vega are made welcome."
Eyes hooded with concern, Vega stepped protectively to Liara. "Do you want me to stay, Doc? I don't feel right just leaving you here."
He always seemed to handle her so gently. "That is not necessary James. You've both done more than I could have wished for. You deserve some rest. Please, go with Briona."
"And what of the Commander?" Javik demanded rather fiercely, glowering.
"I will get word to you – to both of you, as soon as I know more myself. Please, go get some rest." Liara pleaded, relieved when the two stepped to the side of Kallisto's aide.
She sighed as she watched them depart. She had driven herself to the point of exhaustion. Her body was sore and her leg was hot and abysmally heavy. Her brain felt foggy and slow. But her concern for Shepard had her nerves wound tight. Liara was glad they could rest, but she knew she couldn't – not now.
Kallisto shifted to her side and drew an arm around her. "Come with me. We can wait together." She ushered Liara through a pristine passageway to a small, quiet lounge nearby. Spying a plush sofa, the maiden collapsed onto it, reveling in the chance to sit down.
Her brow furrowed as she stretched her neck trying to ease the tension in her crest. "Thank you for taking us aboard, Val. I appreciate your willingness to stay with me, but I don't want to keep you from your duties."
"It's our pleasure, Liara. I'm just glad we can help. As to my duties – well, this is one of the perks of being the boss." The captain chuckled as she poured them both a drink. "I am fortunate to have an excellent crew. I trust them do what they do best and they trust me to stay out of the way."
"That sounds very much like something Shepard would say. I think you will like her very much. You have a great deal in common." Thinking back to their youthful days, she remembered that Kallisto had always wanted to be among the stars. Her old friend was adventurous, capable and tough – but kind and charming as well. She wanted to hear about Val's exploits over the last years, but she had more pressing questions at the moment. "When did Miranda come aboard? What happened?"
"We picked her up early in the fight and I'm grateful we did. She shared an abundance of excellent intel on the reapers that definitely gave us an edge. When you called, she filled me in on what she knew about the situation. Seems she's quite fond of you and the Commander. The woman wasted no time in advocating for you and mobilizing a response." Kallisto cocked an eye marking and grinned. "As to how she came to be here, I'll leave it to Miranda to tell her own tale."
"I'm relieved that she's here. If anyone can help Shepard now – it's Miranda." Liara's mind jumped to another subject, one she knew Shepard would be interested in. " What about the reapers? We know that the Crucible fired. We were caught in the pulse – but did it work?"
"Oh it worked. Knocked out our guidance thrusters long enough to keep us from making the relay with the rest of the fleet, and fried most of our navigation system – but the reapers are silent. My ship and crew were unharmed otherwise and we've confirmed that the relay is severely damaged. We've been monitoring sensors and tactical since the pulse emitted and we've found no evidence of any living reapers in the Sol system." Kallisto turned from her task, appraising her friend. "Your color isn't good, Liara. And... you have a nasty injury of your own. Tell me about you."
Liara leaned into the couch, rubbing her eyes. "We were part of Hammer. I was wounded trying to get to the beam in London."
Val handed her some fruit juice. "With Shepard?"
"Yes." Liara quickly filled the captain in, telling her about the beam, her injury and the search for the Commander. The telling was her undoing. She'd managed to keep herself together. But, she was nearing the end of her reserves. Her relief at seeing Miranda was rapidly being replaced by her worries for Shepard. She could feel the chrono ticking and there had been no word from the med bay. As she finished, her eyes were filled from exhaustion and anxiety.
Kallisto gently put an arm around her shoulders, her white ticked brow drawn with concern. "Shepard is more than your Commander. The two of you are bonded?"
"Yes." She wouldn't have denied it regardless, but she realized that her pheromones would have revealed it anyway. Liara rubbed her bloodshot eyes and sighed deeply, trying to remember the tranquility of the Presidium and how special she felt stealing those moments with her lover, instead of the ruin she had so recently witnessed.
"I had heard something about that possibility." The captain smiled warmly. "By all accounts Shepard is a remarkable woman – and a very lucky one as well."
"She is extremely remarkable, Val – but I wouldn't describe her as lucky at the moment." Liara swiped at her nose urging the stream threatening her lips to a halt.
"Oh, but she is." The observant officer handed her friend a dampened cloth from the nearby bar sink and leaned back. "The Commander wouldn't be here now if you hadn't gone to the Citadel. But, I don't need to tell you that. She's lucky because she has you, Liara."
"She would agree." Wiping her eyes and face, the maiden basked in the coolness of the cloth.
"Ah, then she's also an intelligent woman."
The two friends fell into a comfortable silence as Liara recomposed herself.
After what seemed forever, Miranda chimed the door and entered. Mercifully, she was her direct self. "Liara, you can see Shepard now for just a few minutes. She has extensive injuries to her head, chest and limbs, three penetrating wounds and numerous severe burns - all of which require immediate surgery."
Liara tried to steel herself before she asked, "What are her chances, Miranda?"
The operative shook her head, her eyes guarded. "Let's not try to place any odds on that for now, alright? She's semi-lucid and I know seeing you will make a difference."
The maiden's body felt heavy after sitting with Kallisto in the lounge. Getting up proved to be harder than she could imagine. Her leg was bound and swollen within the armor and the brace. Her muscles were stiff and weak. Without assistance it would have been a slow march to the triage unit.
Val waited outside as Miranda led her to Shepard's bedside, helped her onto a stool nearby and stepped back to give her privacy. Liara was used to blood. She'd killed. She'd seen the leavings of biotic explosions, firefights and battlefields, but she wasn't prepared for the amount of crimson that had spilled from Shepard in that treatment room.
She swooned into the low bedrail, its sudden coolness jolting her senses. She wanted to look up, but she was afraid. Then, Liara felt a cool, trembling hand draw along the side of her crest, a finger run through the tears washing her face. Only then did she look up.
"Shepard." She took the proffered hand and fought to smile. For her, only for her. Drawing herself up, the maiden found her eyes locked with her bondmate's. Intubated, the Commander could not speak, but Liara saw the pain and admiration in her blackened eyes and felt the longing tenderness of that subtle touch.
Taking Shepard's hand, she cradled it against her cheek. She drew a deep breath, trying to ward off the hurt. She thought about initiating a gentle meld, but quickly decided it wouldn't be wise. Instead, the maiden tried to focus her heart into her own eyes knowing that her lover would see it there.
With her free hand, she caressed a trail of undamaged skin on her bondmate's temple and tenderly traced the line of her bruised jaw. A tear rolled down the torn cheek and passed over Liara's knuckles. Looking deep into the stormy gray eyes she loved so much, she pressed her will into words. "I know you're tired, my love, but don't give up. Fight for me, Shepard. I'll be here when you wake."
Feeling a familiar thumb sweep over her freckled cheek, Liara raised their joined hands to her dark lips and kissed her lover's palm, then delicately placed it on the bed. She bent once more, still gazing into those wounded, weary eyes and brushed the incorrigible, dark hair from Shepard's forehead. The Commander managed a raspy sigh and closed her eyelids. Silently, Liara stood and left while she still had the strength to go.
Kallisto insisted that Liara have her wound checked and try to eat Her leg was swollen from overuse, but there was no sign of infection. The asari doctor simply re-dressed it, gave her another injection of pain reliever and discharged her. She commed Javik and James, checking in and updating them on Shepard. Then, the maiden picked at the first hot meal she'd seen in days, but the idea of actually swallowing any of it was unbearable.
"If you can't eat, you should at least try to rest," Val compelled her. "Let me take you to some quarters. You're exhausted, Liara."
At first, Liara resisted the idea, but Miranda told her as she left Shepard's side that the surgery would take several hours and assured her that she or Dr. Chakwas would contact her if there were any complications during the procedures. Knowing the operative would keep her word, she realized that she had to trust the professionals to do their best. She needed to take the respite while she could, so she relented.
Kallisto escorted her to a roomy cabin near her own on the bridge level, directly over the medical bay. It was some comfort to know that even if she couldn't be with Shepard through the next hours, at least she would be in proximity. So, she took advantage of a hot shower and crawled into the soft bed. Turning on her side, she looked out the room's viewport into a reaper-less starfield with thoughts of a recent conversation in her head.
"I love you Shepard."
"I love you too, Liara."
Sighing, the exhausted maiden wrapped her arms around the spare pillow and embraced sleep.