Another Blood Pack krogan was down. Garrus and Lantar were rushing through an industrial district of Omega, enjoying the purge. Just Garrus and him alone. They were about to clean one warehouse. They occupied each side of the entrance door and Garrus was explaining his strategy, "This is their headquarters! If we shut this place down, Blood Pack will be done for some time. Listen. We will rush inside and destroy-" he said but Lantar shouted, "Watch out!" and Garrus jumped aside as Lantar shot another krogan down, "Damn… that was close call. Thanks, Lantar." Garrus said and sneaked beside him, "No problem. What was your plan again?" Lantar asked him, "See those big fuel tanks in the back? If you manage to overload them somehow, this place will light up like a Christmas tree." Garrus explained, "Aren't the innocent gonna die?" Lantar asked but Garrus left chuckle, "Don't worry. Industrial district is crawling with mercs! There aren't any citizens!" Garrus said and Lantar moved inside the base. Garrus climbed up a ladder nearby, covering Lantar from above. Their goal was quite simple: blow this place up and go. Lantar moved through base behind covers, "On position… I'll draw some attention so you can shoot them out." Lantar transmitted, shooting at one Blood Pack merc as other mercs started shooting at the cover where Lantar was hiding, "Uh… I'd use some kind of help!" Lantar said, "I'm on it." Garrus assured him as the mercs were falling down after a shot from sniper rifle. After five of them falling dead, the mercs were panicking, looking around each other. Lantar used this opportunity and killed the rest of them. He ran towards the fuel tanks controls and started to override their configuration to overload. After two minutes of silence it was done, "There! Garrus, it's gonna blow up!" Lantar said and ran away from the console. Garrus hurried down as well. Both of them, running side by side away from the warehouse. It was close call, the warehouse blew right behind them and shockwave pushed them to the ground.
Garrus Vakarian got on his feet, offering his talon to Lantar. Both of them watched the warehouse burning, both of them smiled, "It seems we are done here." Lantar said, "Blood Pack is slowed down, but not destroyed." He looked at Lantar, "Thank you, Lantar. It's good to remind ourselves why we did this before." He said and Lantar looked at him, "Yeah. I kinda missed this. It feels good though." He replied. Garrus was taking off his eye visor, "Lantar, I want you to see something." He said and handed Lantar his eye visor, "What do you mean?" Lantar asked, "Look to the frame." Garrus pointed and Lantar looked at it, seeing names carved in it, "Erash, Monteague, Mierin, Grundan Krul, Melenis, Ripper, Sensat, Vortash, Butler, Weaver… but Garrus, those are all…" Lantar said, "The dead ones? Yes…" Garrus said, walking at the edge of platform, looking at Omega, "Why do you show me this?" Lantar asked, "I wanted you to know that all of them were great men who deserved better, we both know it. I know what you're trying to do, Lantar, but it's useless…" Garrus said, Lantar sensed bad things from him to say, "All this time… I was thinking that justice was made when I let you go and suffer from guilt. You did a lot but it's not enough…" Garrus continued and Lantar already knew this wasn't going to end well for him. He expected more from him to say, "Our friends and comrades will never rest unless I do this…" Garrus said, facing Lantar and raising his hand. Lantar's eyes closed as if he was getting ready to be punched or worse, "I forgive you, Lantar." Garrus said. Lantar opened his eyes, noticing Garrus' talon on his shoulder, "You… what?" Lantar was confused, "There's been enough hatred, Lantar. I think you proved yourself enough that you regret. Those ten people who are dead wouldn't be proud if I didn't approve what you did already." Garrus explained and Lantar couldn't believe his ears, Garrus forgave him just like that? "Come, Lantar. We can drink something from my bar on Earth." Garrus said, placing one arm around Lantar's back in a sign of friendship. Lantar felt warm feeling spreading across his body as Garrus actually accepted him. They took a ship they arrived with and headed back to Earth.
The journey took them nearly two hours, but they arrived back at Earth and came to Garrus' house in the evening. Lantar wasn't much drinking person, but when Garrus wished to celebrate something, he needed to make sure it would be big, "Yeah! Go on, Lantar! Here! Have some more drink!" Garrus cheered and poured another liquor to Lantar's glass, "Man, Garrus! We should slow down or we're not gonna stand next morning!" Lantar chuckled, "Bullshit! We survived many things, boy! Now as your former boss, I say drink!" Garrus said and Lantar laughed, "That's right! You're not my boss anymore!" Lantar said, standing from the sofa, "Hey, where are you going?" Garrus wondered, "Just gonna take shower. I don't remember when I had last one…" he said, waving to Garrus, "Not gonna disappear, pal!" Garrus assured him.
Lantar disappeared upstairs from Garrus' sight in the bathroom. He took off his clothing bought by Garrus and stepped in the shower, pouring hot water over himself. It was so good to feel it after who knows how long, and it was even better now that Lantar and Garrus were friends again. Lantar took his time, his shower took twenty minutes but he enjoyed it. After drying himself, he dressed up back in his clothes and was taking slow walk down the stairs, "Garrus is somehow silent… maybe he fell asleep while watching TV?" he thought, going for the living room connected with kitchen. Following look was going to be real horror for him, "GARRUS!" he screamed out loud as he saw the other turian lying on the floor, bottles of liquor lying randomly around the kitchen. When he ran closer, he spotted some pills on the table. He grabbed it and looked at them, "Painkillers… goddamn it! Garrus!" he knelt down to Garrus, pulling him up to lean him against his thigh, "Garrus! Man, wake up!" Lantar shouted and slapped Garrus few times, "Garrus, don't die on me for fucks sake!" he shouted more, Garrus finally spoke something, "Jane… I… I'm coming to you…" he said and Lantar didn't hesitate. He grabbed Garrus under shoulders and pulled him up the stairs to the bathroom, "If you're gonna die here I'll never forgive you, Garrus!" Lantar said and tried to stuff Garrus in the bathroom. He used shower and poured cold water over him. However, no result came from it, "Fucking shit! Garrus!" he shouted, stopping the water and kneeling down to him, "Garrus, please! I beg you! You did everything, said everything just so you could die here?! And who's the coward here now?! Garrus! I… I love you…" Lantar pressed his forehead against Garrus', "I… love you too…" Garrus said. Lantar felt happy to hear Garrus saying it, but sad once he realized it was for Jane as Garrus was delirious, "I'm sorry, Garrus. Desperate situations need desperate acts…" Lantar said and violently pried Garrus' mouth open. He stuffed his talon inside Garrus' mouth and reached for his uvula.
Something happened. Garrus started coughing violently and it was signal for Lantar that it worked. He continued and before he could notice, Garrus turned himself around and vomited in the bath rub. It was disgusting. Everything that Garrus drank and pills he swallowed were now piling in the bathtub but Lantar was happy that Garrus got it out of himself. He patted Garrus on his back, smiling at him. Soon it was done. Garrus stopped vomiting but breathed heavily, "Garrus! You ok?" Lantar asked worried as he leaned closer to Garrus, "I feel… horrible… help me up…" Garrus said and Lantar took one arm as he helped Garrus on his feet. Both of them were drunk, but Lantar was less drunk than Garrus so he made his support while getting him in his room. Garrus sat down on the bed, his head was heavy, "You can't sleep with clothes, Garrus. Want me to help?" Lantar asked with concern in his face, "Maybe… pull the shirt off… I might take care of the rest." Garrus mumbled, hardly raising his arms up so Lantar grabbed his shirt and pulled it up, revealing his torso, "Thanks…" he said, laying down to his bed, fighting his trousers, "Uh… would you mind…" Garrus muttered and Lantar merely smiled, "No problem." He said and proceeded to taking off Garrus' shoes, followed by the trousers, "Thanks man…" Garrus repeated, lying on his stomach, not covered by blanket, "I'll take care of the mess we did. If you need something, just call me." Lantar left the room as Garrus was forceless to speak. There was much to do. Clean all the mess in the kitchen, the pills, then the vomit in the shower. Shower was fine, but the bottles and stains on the carpet were horror to clean. It was almost midnight but Lantar finally made it done. He was sweaty not long after having shower, but he didn't care for showering again because he was damn tired and needed to sleep. He walked up the stairs, for the last time checking on Garrus if he didn't die in the meantime. He opened the door to Garrus' room, coming closer to Garrus' bed. He leaned closer to Garrus' nose, sensing the stream of air sliding his faceplates, "Good… he's still breathing…" Lantar thought, raising himself back up, smiling at Garrus sleeping peacefully and recovering from nearly poisoning himself to death, "Man, Garrus… never do it again to me. You almost brought me a heart attack…" he thought again, leaving Garrus to sleep. Lantar went in his room, undressing himself and covering himself in the blanket. He fell asleep within five minutes.
The following morning was December 31. Both, Garrus and Lantar were fully aware that this day was important for humans since it was the last day of year. They were going to say good bye to year 2188 and say hello to year 2189. Lantar woke up as first. His hangover was weak, again, because he didn't drink as much as Garrus. Lantar dressed himself up in the clothes and decided to check up on Garrus. He entered Garrus room, seeing that the turian managed to wrap himself in blanket in progress of the night, "Garrus? Are you asleep?" Lantar asked. The other turian opened his eyes, noticing sunlight piercing the windows and illuminating him, "Mhm… I was…" Garrus said, pushing himself to wall behind his bed, "I feel strange… what happened? I remember we were drinking, you went to shower yourself and… then nothing." Garrus said and Lantar sat opposite to the bed on the chair, "Well… you drank all the liquors and ate all painkillers." Lantar said and Garrus seemed surprised, "I did that? Well… I guess I didn't know what I was doing." He answered to it, "How do you feel? I was resurrecting you for sure when I made you throw everything up." Lantar asked him, "My head… slight headache. Perhaps because I was vomiting as you say." Garrus explained. Lantar sensed that there was time to talk for real now "Alright… before I go down and make you something, I think we should talk, Garrus." Lantar said and Garrus frowned, "It doesn't sound like I'm gonna like it…" Garrus remarked, "No, perhaps you might hate me after that, but I and Solana agreed it would be good to discuss it." Lantar said, "Solana? Well… shoot." Garrus said and Lantar took a deep breath, "You're saying you don't know why you poisoned yourself yesterday, but I don't buy it… why did you do it?" Lantar asked, "I don't know why do you think I'm lying. I was drunk, I could do it because of it." Garrus said, "Yeah? Then why did you say 'Jane, I'm coming to you'?" Lantar looked at Garrus who closed his eyes, obviously annoyed, "O-Ok, Lantar. I think we're done here!" Garrus said, getting himself out of bed and standing. Lantar raised himself, blocking him, "You're not going anywhere, Garrus." he said but Garrus punched Lantar at face the way he hit the wardrobe, "Alright! You fucked up!" Lantar thought and grabbed Garrus by his frills and pulled him sharply back. Then he pinned his neck against the wall, "Calm the fuck down, Garrus! I just want to talk about this problem that made you almost kill yourself!" Lantar growled, Garrus tried to talk as Lantar gripped his neck, "You… none of your business! Not your problem!" he said hoarsely, "It is my problem! As well as problem of your sister, your mother, everybody who knows you! You cannot hide this forever, Garrus! Not when you tend to suicidal thoughts!" Lantar said and Garrus kicked him away with both feet that he hit the other wall, "You want to know it? Fine! I was there when she didn't return! I couldn't assist her when she died! Couldn't help her! She sacrificed herself and knew how I loved her! Are you happy to know?! Is that it?!" Garrus growled and Lantar got himself on his feet, "You loved her, I know… everyone in the Alliance knows, but you cannot let your past control who you'll become. The life goes on and you should find somebody you will love and who will love you!" Lantar explained him, "Who… who do you think you are that you can lecture me?! There is nobody like she was!" Garrus snapped out, "If I remember, Jane herself taught you how to overcome past, remember? Do you think that she would want this? Do you think she wants you to live alone, unhappy only thinking about her or even kill yourself so you could be with her? Think, man! Think!" Lantar said and Garrus' fists rounded, "Maybe you are right… but there is nobody who could love me the same way she did!" Garrus offended, "Do you really think so? How can you measure love? You cannot! What if there is somebody who wishes to be with you right now? Somebody to tell you that you're not alone and somebody who can embrace you?" Lantar said, almost soothingly, "So far I didn't see you would have experience with love so what do you know about it?!" Garrus said but Lantar kept his mind cool, "Garrus, really? All those years, on Omega before and after that… have you been always so blind?" Lantar asked calmly, making Garrus confused, "What do you mean…?" Garrus asked, "I cared about you! Your opinions, feelings, everything! Garrus, I love you!" Lantar shouted at him, stunning Garrus at place, "Say what…?" Garrus asked again, "You heard it. I don't know if you accept it or not, but I needed you to know what I feel all this time… even when you hated me, when you wanted to kill me, I never stopped to love you." Lantar said, looking to the ground, avoiding Garrus' look. He expected Garrus to answer. Instead of that, he received punches at face he couldn't dodge and heard his mandibles crack. Garrus added few punches to the stomach, finishing Lantar as he curled up on the ground. Garrus went back to his table next to his bed. Lantar was writhing in pain on the ground as he tried to gain some senses. He was bleeding out of his mouth, but managed to get himself to a sitting position and opened his eyes, seeing barrel of Garrus' gun at his face, "G-G-Garrus…?" Lantar stuttered, "You screwed us! You've let ten people die, their families mourn and now you expect me to love you?! First, I am not gay, second, I thought you changed so I forgave you but all I can see now is the same cowardly turian you used to be in past! You haven't changed! I would put my life into your hands and you would screw me as well!" Garrus hissed, Lantar looked down to his feet, "Then… why all the help? All the care, energy, time you put into me being healthy again, huh? Why forgiving when you hate me again? Why, Archangel?" Lantar was shaking, his head looked back at Garrus' face, "Wasn't there… at least a little love behind that?" he smiled painfully, his mandibles cracking and tears rolling down his face. Garrus wished he could kill Lantar, but he didn't, "I've forwarded 20.000 credits to your account… get your ass away from my sight and never return back! I don't ever want to see you or your face, Lantar Sidonis! Do you understand?!" Garrus growled silently, holstering his gun. A minute of silence passed, both of them were staring at each other from different positions, Garrus from above, Lantar from the bottom. Lantar finally stood up, barely holding himself on legs. He stood in the doorway, holding his belly before leaving Garrus' room, "Good bye, Garrus Vakarian. I'll do my best not to bother you anymore…" Lantar said, hobbling himself away from Garrus' house.
Garrus was now alone, Sidonis was gone. Everything around was silent, but this silence was uncomfortable for Garrus. He was thinking. Everything what Lantar said about Jane was true and he realized he was angry exactly because he was right. Garrus processed through what happened. He was mad at Lantar for loving him, but was it really necessary? Garrus was now questioning himself and soon realizing what he has done, "Oh spirits, please! Tell me it's not too late!" Garrus quickly put on some clothes and ran out of his house. Looking around himself but he was gone, "SIDONIS! COME BACK!" Garrus screamed but his efforts were futile.