Next chapter is up. It's shorter then the last ones but this is really just a little filler before the next chapter. I liked how it turned out. Hope you enjoy.

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The first thing she felt when she came to was a burning pain in her chest, a sharp painful throbbing in her back and a stinging in her cheek. She opened her eyes, struggling to move her head as she squinted through the bright yellow sunlight that burned her retinas. She tried to sit up, a pained groan escaping past dry bloody lips as she fell back down again. A surge of hot white pain ripping through her chest like a hammer to her ribs. Her vision blurred as she fell back against the dusty ground, images of the events that took place the night before suddenly flooding her mind. She coughed, a metallic tasting liquid jumping out passed her lips and falling down her chin. The pain in her chest intensified with every movement she made, she continued to cough, droplets of blood staining her lips and mouth.

She could hear the distant sounds of shouting, the hum of engines and the soft crunching of heavy booted feet upon dirt and gravel. The voices grew closer, sounding more and more frantic as they grew near, until finally a dark silhouette blocked out the blinding sun, looking down at her through the visor of a blue helmet. She watched with a weak fascination as the figure removed the cover that hid his face and suddenly she could faintly see the man's face. A man with dark skin and kind brown eyes. His head was shaven and he wore a blue and gold uniform. He smiled faintly at her, rough hands surprisingly gentle as her lifted her broken body from the dusty floor. She whimpered, burying her face in his shoulder as her vision darkened once more.

"It's alright child. You're safe now."

He held her tight. Protecting her.

She let herself relax in the man's arms, letting the darkness take her.

Her eyes open slowly and for a while, all she does is stare at the ceiling. She listens to the steady beeping of her own heart-rate, timing her breaths to match it. Everything hurts. Her head hurts, her neck hurts, her back and arms and legs hurt…even her toes hurt. She blinks the grogginess from her eyes, licking her dry, damaged lips.

She remembers everything. Every needle in her arm, every memory relived only to be ripped away from her, every action she performed…every feeling she felt. Trapped inside her own mind as she killed and maimed for a mad man.

She could smell the blood of her comrade in her nose. Feel it on her skin. Another death on her conscious. Another good solider gone while she still lives. Why is it she always survived?

She felt a weight shift beside her and her hand instinctively wrapped around the hand that caressed her knuckles. An intake of breath is heard before another hand touches her face. She continues to stare at the ceiling.

"Shepard? The voice calls to her, she doesn't answer.

"Doctor Chakwas! She is awake."

The doctor obstructs her view of the ceiling by towering over her, a small tired smile on her face.

"Good Evening Commander. How are you feeling? " The Doctor asks. Shepard shrugs.

"I need to run a series of tests. Are you okay with that? "

Once again, Shepard said nothing and mealy nodded. Karen composed herself. She had never seen her commander like this. Not after Elysium, not after Saran or the collectors, not even after the Reapers. The doctor steeled herself.

"Can you sit up for me?"

Shepard did as she was told wordlessly. Liara held her hand the entire time Karin ran the tests. It was well over an hour before everything had been taken care off.

"You seem to be healing well, however you are going to feel like you just went hand to hand with a Krogan for a few days. I am going to need to check your implants daily…just to make sure they are working as they should be. You got a nasty shock. I will however advise you to stay a couple more days in the infirmary, but knowing you, you will be dressed and ready to leave the minuet I even mention you getting some bed-rest."

Karin waited for the Commander to argue.

"Okay." Shepard said, her voice was hoarse and barley audible. Karen's eyes widened, a worried look passing over her features as licked her lips.

"Okay?" she questioned.

"I'll stay." Shepard answered. The older women could barely contain her surprise as she silently stared at her Commander, the young red headed woman seeming to stare down at her bare, dangling feet, the fingers of her left hand nervously playing with the sheets she sat on.

"Or you could go up to your Cabin, rest there. Somewhere a little more private and comfortable?" Karen tired. She didn't like the idea of her tough as nails Commander backing down without a fight. Selena shrugged weakly.

"Whatever you think is best doctor." She answered and Karen hid a sigh.

"I will get your things, but be sure to get some rest!" As Karen left to fetch Shepard clothes, Liara stepped closer to her bondmate, taking the humans hand in her own and holding tightly.

"Captain Kirk will be happy to see you." Liara said, hoping the mention of Shepard's much loved and very spoilt space hamster would cheer her up. Liara could see a ghost of a smile appear on her lovers face, the corners of her lips briefly turning upwards before falling back down to form a tight lipped frown. Selena's eyes were cast downwards, unable to meet Liara's eye. The Asari gently held Shepard's chin between her forefinger and thumb, lifting the woman's head to meet her eyes.

"Don't go blaming yourself for what happened Selena. None of this was your fault. Ashley is going to be fine. She is already on her feet" Shepard sighed leaning into Liara's hand. She was glad that Ash was alive, but the feeling that tore at her chest was not going to be so easily cured.

"Can we just go…I'm tired?"

Liara nodded softly, letting Shepard get dressed. Within moments, they stood in front of the exit. Shepard took a deep breath, closing her eyes before exhaling slowly. Her back was suddenly straight as if standing at attention, her shoulders wide and strong. Her face was set in her normal steely expression and her hands were clenched at her sides. She took another deep breath, before stepping out of the medical bay, Liara followed closely behind.

She passed many of her crew, each man and women standing at attention as she passed, when they reached the elevator, Shepard punched the button three times before Liara covered her hand with her own, calming her down instantly.

They waited for the elevator to arrive, suddenly greeted by a tired voice when the door opened.

"Hey Skipper."

"Williams." Shepard greeted after a long pause, her fists tightening by her sides. "Good to see you feeling better."

"You too Ma'am. You had us worried there for a second. You have got to stop doing this whole…dying thing…" Ashley Joked with a faint smile that tugged at her lips. Shepard nodded.

"I will keep that in mind." She said, her own lips turning upwards ever so slightly. She noticed the dark haired woman slightly bent over, the white bandages wrapped around her stomach slightly visible behind the short black off duty top that she wore. Shepard cleared her throat. "I am going to be heading to the Citadel tomorrow. I want to look for a card for you…but I don't think they have a 'Sorry I stabbed you in the stomach' card. " Shepard attempted to joke, Liara could see her fists shaking at her sides. She could feel the internal struggle that Shepard was currently fighting. Her walls breaking down brick by brick.

Ashley nodded.

"No worries Skipper. It wasn't you." It's just another thing to hate Cerberus for."

"Yeah I guess."

"Well you look like you need some rest Ma'am. See you bright and early in the morning." Ashley saluted before stepping out of the elevator and disappearing round the corner. Shepard once again sighed, biting the inside of her lip.

The moment they had entered the elevator and the door had slid shut. Liara could see Shepard's shoulders sag and a defeated breath of air escaped passed her lips. For a moment, she just stood there, looking at the ground then suddenly, her knees buckled and she fell to the floor. Hot tears soaking her face as sobs shook her body. Liara fell with her, her arms wrapping around the human as they pulled her closer, tightly cradling her as she broke down. Liara's stroked Shepard's hair, long slender fingers running through dark red tangles. It was strange, seeing Shepard so tame, so broken. The fire she once had had completely disappeared, replaced by the broken spirit of a women, a warrior that had seen and done too much. Liara disabled the elevator so no one could intrude on this very private moment and for only a few minutes all she did, was cradle her lover as years of abuse, years of torture and stress, pushed their way out of the humans body, until the sobs, suddenly became silent, replaced by steady shallow breaths for air.

When the elevator finally reached its destination, no words were spoken as the two women undressed and climbed into bed, arms wrapping around each other tightly. There was a long silence between them before Shepard finally spoke again.

"Thank You."

Liara smiled against Shepard's hair, then closed her eyes. Sleep, finally consuming them.

Hope you enjoyed it. Just a sweet little scene between my favourite couple. Hope you enjoyed it. Please tell me what you think. :)