The surgery suite was blindingly bright, the sterile white walls seemingly reflecting the overhead lights. Jane sees Garrus squint, predatory eyes obviously more sensitive than even her struggling green ones. The sight of the large metal table with a drain at the foot causes her breath to choke and her blood running cold stabs painfully at her heart.
She stumbles a bit, hearing Garrus' concerned rumbled and feels his warm presence moving just a bit closer under the guise of heading to the table. The sound only makes her heart break further. How could he really be worried about her when he knows what's going to happen?
"Get on the table, fucking freak," Kaidan says and presses the gun to Garrus' back.
At his growl and tensing, Jane spins with a deep furrow to her brows. "Stop it! Do you have any idea what's about to happen!" He snorts dismissively and, she can't help it, she storms to him and slaps him. "He could die!"
The moment Jane slaps Kaidan, Garrus' blood runs cold and his heart stops. No! What is she doing? His muscles tense as he slowly turns his head, the next few seconds now will dictate his next action. Just let it slip, soldier boy…
Kaidan's eyes widen in shock before he scowls and his hands tense on his weapon. Even his men look between him and Jane as he says, "Look here, you bitch-"
The doors slide open just in time, Dr Lawson stepping in as he adjusts his surgical apron. "Ah, it's here." Looking between Jane and a pissed off Kaidan, he seems to pick up on the tension and motions Kaidan to the door. "Step out, Lieutenant Commander Alenko. You can leave a few of your men here, but I need you to keep guard for any prying eyes."
The man grunts in wordless protest and gives Jane and Garrus a last, chilling glare before gesturing two of his men to stay behind and stomps to the door. As it slams shut, Jane finally lets herself breathe and looks to the turian in the room, offering a slight smile in apology. Garrus can't help the slight flick of his mandible at the massive guts she just showed. He purrs in response before climbing the examination table.
"Right." Lawson closes in on the tools for the torture he's about to commit, face and nameless attendants pulling on gloves and prepping the room. "Jane, get ready. You're assisting."
"Yes, sir," she whispers and gives Garrus a look in attempt to tell him 'I'll be right back and here for you.' Stepping out, she heads out to the surgery prep room to clean and suit up.
When she returns, Garrus has already been stripped and his arms and legs have already been strapped down to the table and a barrier sheet set up around his neck to prevent him from seeing what they'll be doing to him. Swallowing thickly, Jane doesn't even pay attention to putting on her gloves before closing the distance and standing by his side.
"Jane. You will assist me," Dr Lawson says as he pulls the wheeled stand that holds the gleaming, nightmarish tools of his torture.
Her eyes widen as an assistance begins to wash down Garrus' chest and stomach. "We… we aren't going to anaesthetise him?" She gasps in shock and goes pale when her boss shakes his head.
"Dr Michel will monitor 575 and gradually give it anaesthesia." His chuckle send trembles through her body as he leans over her friend. "We don't want to give too much that its heart stops.",
No anaesthesia huh? Great. Let's hope this won't take too long. Garrus rumbles as he looks up to his friend, his heart racing a bit as his brain feels a little foggy. "Don't… worry, Jane. I'll make it."
Jane frowns as she steps closer to use her body to hide her hand's movement to his, holding it. It won't be much, but it's all she can do as Dr Lawson slowly drags the scalpel along Garrus' belly, splitting the hide to the color of a dark navy only to be suctioned up by one of the assistants' machines.
His grip on her hand tightens, his body arching and a long and pained groan in his throat as he feels the sharp tool mutilating his body. Shit. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Hurts more than I thought. Breathe, just breathe. This won't take forever. Fuck. Sure as hell feels like it!
"Biopsy dish." Lawson hums as he lifts his hand, still looking down at the exposed muscles in Garrus' abdomen that he hasn't yet cut through. Jane clenches her eyes shut and turns away, not seeing his impatient hand waving.
"Jane!" Her eyes snap open and she looks to the man in surprise, getting a set of angry eyes over his face mask looking back at her. "Pay attention, stupid girl. Give me a dish for the biopsy." He looks down and his voice takes on a sadistic sound. "I want a piece of the muscle before I get down to the important pieces."
"Sir," she whispers, swallowing against her dry throat to gain some voice, and his head snaps back to her, eyes narrowed. "He's in so much pain…"
"He?" He drags out the word, eyebrow raising in suspicion.
Jane… Above the pain, Garrus could hear her slip and feels his muscles tense immediately, ready to break the straps. He will take out everyone here if necessary. Come on… Jane, solve this… I don't want to ruin your future here, but I'll protect you…
"I…" Jane squeezes Garrus' hand, feels his try to squeeze in return, and tries again. "I just… I tend to think of 575 as a boy." She shrugs in an attempt of levity before huffing a forced chuckle. "I guess it's pretty stupid."
Smart girl. Garrus sighs in relief, yet his muscles still tense as he waits for the doctor's reaction.
Dr Lawson studies her a moment, eyes narrow, before turning away. Jane is about to believe that the slip is forgotten, but, then, he glances back to her and jerks his head to the tray of surgical tools. "Grab a scalpel."
Sucking in a stunned gasp, Jane stumbles ever words. "Wh… What?!"
The man steps back and waves a hand towards Garrus' open stomach, the dark blue horror staring back at her and sending ice through her veins. "You heard me," he says as he all but shoves his own scalpel in her hands. "You will perform the next incision."
Her hand trembles, her fingers numb around the instrument and closes her eyes. It's both to force herself into control and calm her panicking thoughts. I can't… I can't hurt him. Not after I've hurt him so much already…
"No."
"What did you just say?" Lawson's voice is spit out like venom, his shoulders squaring as the armed guards in the room look to each other in interest and question. They've, no doubt, never seen someone as small and powerless as Jane speak back in defiance.
"Do it" Garrus growls low at his friend, her well-being far more important than his. "Just do it, Jane." He stares at his friend, praying to the Spirits for her to do anything. Use the damn scalpel, Jane. Whole body ready to jump at anyone inside this room.
"Jane." Dr Lawson's hands clench into fists. "You will do it and that's the last I will hear of you ever saying 'no' to me. Understand?"
Surprising herself, Jane stands her ground for the first time in front of the man and shakes her head. "I will never hurt him." Her hand tightens around the scalpel, ready to do something she's never imagined, something she isn't sure she is even capable of. "F… Fuck you."
The attendants gasp and the guards pause in confusion, hands fidgeting on their weapons, as Lawson practically screams. Storming the few steps between them, he grabs her shoulders in a vise-like grip and shakes her. "How dare you! You little cunt! I'll-"
With a loud roar his body rises, the straps stretching just for a second before Garrus rips them off and the adrenaline flowing through his body masks his pain. In a second, he's on the doctor, pushing him to the floor. Talons dig in the soft flesh of his throat, fear written in the face of Lawson but for just split moment before Garrus' strong grip and a quick jerk of his arm rips a bloody, gaping hole is where his throat once was.
Rage is burning in the eyes of the heavily bleeding turian as his head snaps up, fixing on the guards. A gut wrenching snarl erupts in his chest as he lunges at them. Their guns fire in frantic fear, grazing plate and hide without reaction. The attendants scream in panic and rush for the doors, but it is in vain, there no escape from the raging turian.
Flesh is ripped, bones are broken as Garrus lets all anger loose. No one, but Jane is left alive, bodies strewn about the suite and the once bare, white walls splattered with crimson blood.
Blinking in shock, she looks to him, panting and eyes wild. "G… Garrus?" She whispers and wrings her hands, stepping closer to him. "Are you okay?" She curses inwardly - of course not, you idiot - and rushes to close the distance, grabbing the sheet from the barrier as she passes to press against his wound. "This isn't good. This is really bad. Oh god. Garrus," she sobs quietly, afraid that this is the end for them both.
Her smell fills his nostrils, blocking out the rich smell of the blood, and his head slowly lowers towards her, his face covered in red and mouth open as he's panting. "Jane… we need to go. Now. I… I can't fight all of them," he rumbles a bit exhausted as the sheet gets soaked with his blue, thick blood.
She nods rapidly and helps him slowly close on the door. He is constantly making a high keen - most likely his pain - and she presses harder on his waist, praying that he doesn't go, doesn't die after so much.
When a shadow passes by the door, she gasps. The guards! There are guards outside!
"Garrus," she whispers and heads towards the wall beside the door to give him something to lean on while blocking the sight of them from outside. "There is a guard outside…"
Garrus leans against the wall, nodding. "Okay… okay… I… kill him" he rumbles and pushes off the wall but immediately stumbles forward, grabbing the the table before falling over completely. "Just… give me a second."
How could I let him do this? Good god, he's dying!
"No," she says, laying her bloody hands on his chest, smearing blue into the red painting him. "I… I can do it." Swallowing, she takes a deep breath and gives a reassuring smile. "Hold on. Please, just hold on."
She spins and her eyes rapidly run over the room for something to help. Everything is coated in the slick scarlet of death and Jane has to close her eyes against the horror, trying to calm her breath. Opening her eyes once again, her eyes catch it, as if gleaming amidst all the violence.
Oh god… Can I really do this? She moves to the tray and her hand hovers above the sharp instrument, pausing as her cold fingers tremble. She looks over to Garrus and her throat goes dry. Yes. Her eyes move back to the scalpel. For him, I can do this. I will do anything…
Grabbing the tool, she runs over to the door and lifts on her toes to check out the window. There is only one guard outside and she doesn't know why. Perhaps he hadn't heard the screams? Could the room be sealed against sounds and prying ears? She can only hope that the lack of fellow soldiers isn't because they are regrouping and gaining strength.
Licking her lips as she builds courage, she clicks the door controls and steps out quietly. The soldier standing just a step ahead of the door moves to turn around and see what's going on, starting to say, "So… How is that ugly bas-"
As fast as she can - before her nerves can get the better of her - Jane rushes forward and reaches up, stabbing him in wherever will take him down fastest. She can't risk him firing his weapon, her resolve not strong enough to fight. The scalpel lands in his neck and the soldier shoves her hard, making her crash to the floor, but she did it as she hears his weapon hit the floor and breath gurgles into wet gasps.
Her eyes widen in shock and she gasps as the body falls with a loud thud. I… I did it… I killed… a man…
Jane gasps a sob and covered her mouth with her hands, smearing blue over her lips and cheeks. "Oh god," she whispers, trembling. Then it happens, her realization hits. "Garrus!"
Jerking up, she slips a bit on the red blood before slamming open the door opposite where she left Garrus. One second of panic that he may be gone, that she's lost the best thing in her life, passes before her eyes land on him. "Garrus… oh my god," she whispers as she runs to him.
He sighs and smiles at her, standing up slowly from the table where he sat down to catch his breath. "You did it… are you okay, Jane?" His hand wraps around her waist to keep him on his feet. "You… you know that means I can't leave you behind, right? We… we have to get out of here."
"Please… don't talk." She reaches for the suture kit, knowing they'll need it, and gradually heads towards the hall. The blood is a bit difficult to manage while practically carrying the seven foot tall turian, but, with careful steps, they manage. "What do we do now? Do you have something in your armor to help with your injuries?" Biting her lip, she presses harder on his wound. "I can't sew it closed while they're looking for us… I'm so sorry."
"Yes… medigel. Slap some on and I'll be good for a while." He chuckles softly, blood dripping on the floor and leaving a trail of blue drops in their path. "We need to hurry, Jane… soldier boy is still around… and this base… need to get out before they can issue a base wide alert."
Jane nods rapidly, trying to hurry him along as they close on a heavily secured door. Reaching in her lab coat under the bloodied surgery smock, her hand fumbles at the keycard before she pulls it out of her pocket. Shifting her hold on Garrus, she reaches forward and scans her card, hoping it works as she holds her breath. Her eyes lock on the red panel, hoping and waiting for one of the lights to activate.
The first light miraculously flicker green and she sighs, releasing her tension in a heavy breath. Reaching out, she types in her codes and opens the door, a sterile storage room with pieces of Garrus' weapons and armor in glass covered crates. This must be Dr Harper's lab.
Rushing Garrus in, she sets him down on one of the lab chairs and looks over the computers, finding she has no idea how to unlock the containment chambers. "Crap… Crap…" She tries hitting codes, only to be given a loud error alarm. "Dammit!"
"Take a deep breath, Jane… You can do this." He says with a calming purr, shifting as his eyes are locked on her, from the chair he's on there's no chance to see the door.
Taking a deep breath, she looks around for any clue how to get the containers open. There is no sort of hint at a code, but her eyes do land on something that is bound to help. "A gun…" she says as she rushes to the examine table and pushes away the scanning and examination devices. It doesn't seem to be damaged. Perhaps taking it apart to see how it works would have been their next task.
"Will this work?" She grabs the heavy, huge weapon - the shape of a handgun like in the movies, but big enough to need both her hands to carry comfortably - and runs to Garrus. "Can we use this?"
As his fingers flex around the handgun he chuckles and nods, aiming up at the containment chamber. "This is loud… we need to hurry afterwards." Garrus leans his head against her belly for a second before pulling the trigger. The shot cracks and echoes through the room, the door of the chamber flying open and landing on the floor with a shattering sound. "Hurry, Jane…"
Without hesitation, Jane runs to the chestplate of his armor and hefts up the heavy metal armor with a grunt. She carries it to him and lays it on the exam table. "I don't know where you're medigel is." Her eyes move to the door. "I should keep an eye out." Cupping his face, she strokes her thumbs over his blood-stained cheeks. "Are you able to get into your armor or do you need my help?"
With closed eyes he nuzzles her hand before looking in her green eyes. "I'll manage. Don't worry about me. Now watch out, I'll be done in a second. Go." Garrus smiles before opening the compartment for the medigel. The last package in his hands, he slaps it on the gaping wound, hissing at the sting as Jane frowns and heads for the door.
Ripping off her bloody soaked apron, she wipes her face and tosses it aside. It won't do much in a time like this, but maybe she can look less obvious without a smock covered in human and turian blood. Coming to a sudden stop outside of the tech lab, she jerks her head in each direction to check if the coast is clear.
It is, up until a too familiar face comes down the hall, walking with purpose and speed. Oh god, no…
"There you are…" Lt. Commander Alenko smirks seeing her, speeding up as he closes the distance between him and her…