Worried about the commander, Liara wasted no time getting to the med bay. The faster she completed her assigned 'tasks,' the faster she could get back to Shepard. Karin was somewhat surprised by the apparent urgency in Liara's demeanor, as the normally reserved Asari practically blasted into the room. "Liara! What's wrong?" Karin stood and moved quickly to her side, her practiced medical eye detecting nothing obviously amiss.

"I am sorry, Karin... nothing important, just in a bit of a hurry." Liara explained about the Thorian and the spores potentially leaking through her suit seals. While Karin completed her exam, she mentally noted to evaluate every member of the ground team, just to ensure no one suffered exposure... While the ship's decontamination processing would remove any external contaminants, it would not prevent inhalation of such if there was a potential for a seal breach, as in Liara's case.

Karin's pronouncement that she was perfectly fit did not seem to ease Liara in the slightest. "So, Liara...the potential seal breach is a non issue, yet I can tell something still concerns you. Want to talk about whatever is worrying you?"

"No..." Liara hesitated, looking at the floor. "Yes, I do, but I am not sure it is my place to do so, Karin." Liara looks back up, her eyes silently pleading for Karin's understanding.

"So, my guess is it must involve someone else, and not be a personal issue...and knowing you, it most likely involves the commander." Liara looked startled by Karin's observation. "Oh come now, Liara! You surely don't believe that I could have possibly failed to notice the way you two look at one another. There is an obvious concern for each other's wellbeing, though I will not presume to speculate at how deep that concern may go. However, I will say that I have noticed you exert a certain...calming effect... on the commander. You are good for her." Karin smiled and finished, "And, however frustrating a patient she may be to me, the Commander is a good person. Whatever your relationship may be, you should know that as your friend, I approve."

At this, Liara blushed furiously. "To be honest, Karin, I am not really sure what our relationship is...the commander is..." Liara shrugged, "the commander! She can be horribly domineering and sometimes unforgiving. She seems a force of nature, at times wild and uncontrollable... yet, on other occasions she is kind and patient, and I simply do not understand how I can possibly feel the way I do after such a short period. Sometimes I can hardly help myself. I am relatively young, and have never experienced anything like this. I am really very unsure how to approach the whole thing...and then there is the mission!" Liara suddenly started, "Goddess! See what I mean? I had no intention of speaking of this... it is not what is causing my current state!"

Karin chuckled, "No worries, Liara. You have my utmost confidentiality. This conversation shall never leave this room." Karin then frowned, continuing, "But it does beg the question... what about the commander is causing your current distress?" Liara answered the only way she knew how...with the truth...starting with Ashley's confrontation with the Petty Officer, through Shepard's irritated entry to the mess at lunchtime, continuing to the present, and how her mood and edginess had continued to get worse as time progressed, to the point when Liara had felt the need... no, absolute necessity... to step in before Shepard killed Ethan Jeong.

Karin was shocked, concern etched in her face, realizing just how much out of character that was for the Samantha Shepard she knew. "Liara, you must speak with her. I would do so, but I feel it would make Shepard not trust either of us at this point. That will not do. She must trust you explicitly, to ensure she will talk with you freely. I'm afraid we must go down this path for now, at least until we find out what is troubling her. There will be a time in the future for her to learn the existence of this conversation, but not until she is...more receptive to assistance in her current situation." Liara nodded in understanding, hoping she did not screw this up and totally destroy any prospect of a future with the woman, she was now realizing, she had come to both respect and love.

Sam gave a sharp rap to the panel that opens the door to her room and stalked in, not really sure what to do. Her head felt like it was ready to explode, but she didn't feel like having to deal with Dr Chakwas' condescending attitude right now. She realized that was an unfair assessment. Karin was a good friend, and truly cared about the wellbeing of the Normandy crew. What Sam really felt, was Karin didn't deserve 'Commander Shepard's' foul mood right now. No one did, that's why she retreated to her cabin. Her indecision on what to do next was solved by pure habit. She stripped off her armor and threw it into the corner, grabbed some sweats, and plopped down in her desk chair, thinking to write up the Feros report. God, I am so damned tired!

Instead of turning on her terminal, Sam put her head down, pushing her chair back far enough so just her forehead lay on the cool metal surface of the desk. She tucked her hair up behind her ears on both sides of her head and pressed her thumbs into her temples, sweating, and her head swimming with vertigo. Sam had no idea how much time had passed when she heard her door chime...she ignored it. A few moments later, it chimed again and Sam just sat there, hoping whoever it was would go away. That hope was dashed when she heard the door slide open, followed quickly by the tentative voice of Liara T'Soni. "Commander?"

Sam sighed and sat up, trying to put on a brave face as Liara hesitantly stepped into the room. Quietly, Samantha asked, "What is it, Liara?"

"I apologize if I am disturbing you but the crew is worried..." As am I. "Are you feeling alright?"

Shepard realized Liara wasn't going to give up, so she took a deep breath and exhaled softly, trying to calm her frazzled nerves and aching head. I will not snap at Liara, I will NOT snap at Liara... "Well, if we're going to chat, you may as well come in and sit down, so I don't have to yell across the room."

As Liara moved into the room and got a good look at Shepard, she inhaled sharply, making the commander wonder just how bad she looked, to elicit a response like that.

"Samantha! Goddess! You look...horribly pale. Why have you not gone to see Karin? It this all from the Cipher?"

Samantha grimaced while she rolled her head around, trying to release some of the tension in her neck. Oh hell, they say confession is good for the soul, right? "No, it's not all from the cipher. I've basically had a constant headache since the beacon and I've not been sleeping well.

Liara's eyes narrowed, a hint of frustration and anger in her voice, "Not sleeping well since when? How long, Shepard?"

"Like I said, since the beacon. The nightmare I had during my semi-comatose state recurs almost nightly. I wake up in a sweat, and frequently can't get back to sleep. I've been getting maybe three hours a night."

It was obvious Liara was upset. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath and paused before she responded, "And you haven't spoken to Karin about it. You haven't spoken to anyone about it, have you?" The last was more of a concerned accusation than a question.

"I... I can't tell Karin..." "If I did, she'd just give me sleeping pills, or come up with something even more drastic... We've got too much going on for me to be doped up and suffering a sleeping aid hangover that takes away my edge."

Liara, clearly frustrated, blurted out, "Oh yes, and sleep deprivation certainly has no such effect on performance, now, does it! Samantha, sometimes you can be most stubborn... and foolish!"

Shepard's eyes narrowed. "Tread lightly, T'Soni. You're walking awfully close to that fine line between friendship and insubordination..."

Liara immediately backed off, speaking more softly as she continued. "I am sorry, Samantha. I am just very concerned about you right now...I must say I am worried that the addition of the cipher is...uh... I don't know how to phrase this so you do not believe I am speaking condescendingly...because that is not my intention!"

Samantha sighed. "Just spit it out Liara. I've told you one of the things I like about you is your unadulterated truths. Just say it; I'll try to take it at face value."

"Very well, I will be blunt. I have told you before, anyone who has ever attempted direct interaction with a beacon has been left either mentally incompetent or worse, dead. My concern is that with the addition of the cipher, your mind is now attempting to capture and understand all the data from the beacon... and it may actually be exceeding the limit of your brain's processing capability. I am afraid for your continuing mental soundness, Shepard. I think you are to the point where you must let me help you, or we risk losing you to madness..." Liara's voice became extremely soft and pleading. "Please, Samantha, let me help you."

Sam sat back in her chair and closed her eyes, considering what Liara just said. No doubt the headaches had continued to get worse, and if she was honest with herself, she couldn't attribute it solely to the nightmares and resultant lack of sleep. Over the years, through all her nightmares of tactics gone wrong and multiple sleepless nights over days of continuous battle, she had never experienced anything like this. The current circumstances were unique. As much as she hated it, she had to recognize the truth that may lie behind Liara's words...and if she accepted any of it as truth, she also had to accept that just maybe this was something she couldn't fix on her own.

"So, Liara," Samantha began, slowly opening her eyes and looking directly at the Asari seated before her. "How exactly do you propose to help me?"

Thank the Goddess! Liara sighed in relief. "I am thinking to meld with you, Shepard. An exchange meld, nothing deeper. I am hoping your knowledge of the cipher and my expertise on the Protheans, combined with the interaction between two persons, instead of you attempting to process all the information alone, will be sufficient to relieve the stress, and allow us to basically convert the data into a form our minds are able to recognize as organic knowledge, instead of a foreign object forcibly interjected into your consciousness."

"And you are confident this will work?" Samantha seemed hesitant. "The meld with Shiala hit me like a ton of bricks, and it just seemed to exacerbate the issue even more..."

Liara looked directly into Shepard's eyes, trying to convey some semblance of assurance and trust. "No, I would not say... confident...is necessarily the correct word, because I have never tried this...deciphering beacon knowledge...before. However, the circumstances are different... Shiala was passing yet more information to you, where this will be more of a sorting, a cataloguing and organizing of data already there, an attempt to make sense of it, to reduce its complexity. That... reduction... is our goal. Honestly, I cannot say for certain it will work, but I see little choice. Also, Asari are trained from birth for the exchange of knowledge though melding, and how to shield ourselves from unwanted intrusion, a form of mental discipline that is required to protect ourselves. You have some of that disciple through your biotic training, but I hope I can help you improve your skills, to improve your mental barriers to better shield yourself, both from outside influences as well as from within."

Samantha listened carefully as Liara explained how this meld would be slightly different from her exchange with Shiala. Sam would have to be an active participant, selecting those memories from the beacon she wanted Liara to see. Liara warned her that if Sam thought it, Liara would see it through the meld, so for privacy, Sam needed to stay focused on the task at hand; focus solely on the beacon, until she could learn barrier control. Once Samantha resigned herself to the limitations and inherent risks of the exchange, she and Liara joined hands, and Liara initiated the meld.

{Samantha, focus on the beacon images. Show me} Liara felt a barrier pressing against her mind and she could see nothing from Shepard. {Perhaps you are better at barriers than I gave you credit for...} She did not want to force herself into Samantha's consciousness, even to just get the flow of information started. She needed Samantha to start the exchange voluntarily. {Samantha, you have to trust me...relax, and...trust me.} Liara felt Sam take a deep breath and slow her heart rate. As she relaxed, she began to tentatively open her mind to Liara. {That's good. Breath, relax, trust me. I will take no more than you give.}

{This is strange...can you actually 'hear' me?} More than hearing, Samantha actually 'felt' Liara laugh; it was an odd sensation, but somehow comforting. {Oh, now, that's just weird!}

{Yes, Commander, I can actually hear you. That is the point, after all.} Sam could actually feel the smile in Liara's voice, and she smiled in response. {See, not so scary after all, is it, Commander?}

Samantha grinned. {Liara, you're in my head... I'm pretty sure you can call me Samantha in here...} Liara laughed again, and Sam realized the sound was more...vibrant...through the meld, because she couldn't just hear it, she could honestly feel it, like it was rumbling from her own chest, not some outside source. It added another dimension to the allure that was Liara. Samantha felt Liara...get warm?...blush?

{Careful, Samantha... we are linked. Unshielded thoughts will pass freely between us, and I forget you are new to this...Your thoughts are my thoughts... I was unprepared for your...uncensored emotions, and such things are... very... distracting...}

Shepard unintentionally, yet instinctively, clamped down on her thoughts and spoke aloud, "crap!" She felt Liara wince heavily.

{Ouch! Samantha! Be careful! Withdrawing so abruptly can actually break the link...as well as cause physical pain! That...hurt...a bit. Try to stay relaxed.} A remorseful Samantha apologized and forced herself to relax again, slowly reopening herself to the link.

{We'll work on your barriers at a later time... for now, let's get to the task at hand, shall we? Please, focus on the beacon images.} Making herself focus on the beacon was difficult, since she had been working so hard to suppress those images, it was more difficult to get started than she assumed it would be. However, once they started flowing, it was like a dam burst and they came flooding forward, almost faster than she could process what she was seeing. She received encouragement and guidance from Liara. {Take control, Samantha! You are very strong willed. You can control the rate of flow. Do not let the images dictate to you. You own them. You control them. Force them to slow, to stop...good. Very good. Now, begin again...easy...slower this time, so I can see. Don't just let them flow...show them to me, slowly...ah, much better!}

Samantha could feel Liara's presence in her mind, like a reassuring, steadying hand, guiding her to smooth out the image flow. Once the vision played itself through at a rate Liara could assimilate, she asked Samantha to repeat it once more, to make sure she hadn't missed anything, and to let Samantha control the image flow on her own. On the second pass, Liara concentrated solely on the images. Then, before terminating the link, Liara guided her through setting up some protections for herself. Samantha compared it to setting up a bookcase. She packed the Prothean images into a book, closed it, and put it on the shelf. It was there to call upon, remove from the shelf and read at leisure, but she was no longer forced to carry it with her everywhere. Samantha didn't realize the weight of the burden she had been carrying until it was gone. Liara then guided her through a relaxed, gentle withdrawal from contact.

After the link was broken, Liara squeezed her eyes closed, surprised at how tired she felt. "I should have brought an energy drink... I have only exchanged memories with other Asari before this. I had no idea it could be so... taxing... to join with an untrained mind."

Samantha looked surprised. "Really? I feel fine... You do this all the time, why would you be so tired?"

Liara contemplated for a moment, trying to figure out how to best explain it. "Well, I am the one who had to actually maintain the meld, and support you until you learned to navigate. It was made more taxing by your initial lack of control...particularly when you tried to force it closed so abruptly. Think of it as taking a warp hit...even with barriers up, it can still make you stumble."

"Yeah, sorry about that, again... I didn't know. If I had understood that, I would have tried to be more careful."

"I do not think it would have mattered, that is why I did not explain it in advance. It would have just made you more apprehensive about the process and made the initial contact more difficult to establish. Until you get used to the process and can place complete trust in your meld partner, you will continue to react on instinct. It is who you are. Until you can retrain yourself, I do not believe you could change it if you tried." While Liara was speaking, Samantha had retrieved an energy drink and handed it to her. "So, I guess we should continue. I am afraid I do not really have good news." Samantha didn't want to hear that, but ever the consummate professional, urged Liara to continue. "You were correct, it is definitely a warning, but it is incomplete. I fear when the beacon exploded, the remainder of the message was cut off, so we do not have all the information."

Samantha stood, and started pacing. "So, we still need more information to track down Saren, and we have to hope we find info on the Conduit before he does. You sure there's absolutely nothing in the vision we can use?"

"Nothing immediately apparent. Though, I am tired, and once I rest something may stand out to me. That remains to be seen. We can hope." Liara attempted to give her a reassuring smile, but it just let Samantha see how tired she was.

"Alright, Liara, we'll talk about it again tomorrow, after we sleep on it, while we're en route to the Citadel. On a good note, however... I have to tell you, I think my headache is gone. If nothing else, that is certainly a tremendous improvement! I wish I hadn't let Kaidan's reaction dissuade us from doing this the first time you offered." For the first time since Liara had met her, Shepard actually looked embarrassed. "Would have saved everyone a bit of anxiety I think. I know I've been hard to live with lately."

"Do not second guess yourself, Commander. It does not become you. Without the cipher, we may not have been able to understand most of it anyway, and you would have risked the ire and respect of your crew for nothing."

Flashing a grin, Samantha protested, "Thanks, Liara, but if you call me Commander one more time in a private conversation, I'm going to toss you out on your ear."

Liara laughed weakly. "If you have not noticed, Samantha, I do not have protruding ears like you humans, though I do get the gist of your comment. Besides, that would be the least of what I have done to risk your ire..."

Samantha actually laughed, cutting her off. "Liara, you have never done anything to make me angry, disappointed maybe, and concerned for your welfare. You are not a soldier, and I worry when you put yourself in the way of danger that you are not trained to handle."

"Shepard, please, let me finish...you do not know of what I speak, and I feel the need to clear the air...I have been less than truthful with you." A flicker of guilt raced across Liara's face.

That got Samantha's attention and she stopped her pacing directly in front of the Asari, looking straight into her eyes, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice. "Tell it to me straight, Liara. What are you talking about?"

Liara hung her head, telling the full story of her earlier discussion with Karin, from her early confusion as to the cause of the commander's ill mood, straight through to the harboring of unfamiliar feelings that Liara now possibly defined as love. During the course of her confession, Liara watched a kaleidoscope of emotions cross Samantha's face, but never once did Sam interrupt; she let Liara tell her tale in full. Liara concluded, "I never uttered a false statement to you, but I committed a lie of omission by not telling you the full story behind why I came here tonight. Given my current feelings for you, I could not let it stand if we are to have any future of an honest relationship."

Sam didn't budge, keeping eye contact with Liara, who, to her credit, did not look away, ready to accept whatever judgment Shepard passed upon her. "Liara, I cannot fault you for being concerned for me, and I can wish I never gave you cause for concern, but wishing won't make it true." Sam is the one who dropped her head. "I have to be honest, I can't find fault with what you did. If anything, I feel like I should be apologizing to you for letting it get so out of control to begin with. I am the one who caused this; you have repeatedly asked how I was, and I never told you anything that was going on in my head. Not about the nightmares, not about the severity of the headaches. You're not the only one who omitted pertinent information. I'm sorry too, Liara... truly. Forgive me?"

"Oh, Samantha...we will just need to forgive each other! I guess we were both caught up in events, and I am still somewhat overwhelmed by the strength of what I feel for you, though there is little doubt in my mind anymore as to what these feeling are. I am unsure as to where to go from here, but...I do believe I love you, Samantha Shepard." Sam's heart jumped, and her face lit up with a smile that was echoed in both her own eyes and Liara's. Sam reached down and gently caressed Liara's cheek. Liara reached up and trapped Samantha's hand, closing her eyes and leaning into the caress, just enjoying the moment. She slowly willed her eyes back open and sighed, "However, now is not the time for this discussion. I am extremely tired and I need to sleep." Liara stood as she finished, "I will see you tomor... ohhh..." Liara's hand rose quickly to pinch the bridge of her nose, staggering.

Samantha reacted quickly and caught Liara before she could fall, pulling her close to support her. "Liara! Are you alright?...Liara? Talk to me, damn it!"

Getting no response, a now alarmed Shepard shifted her grip, scooping her up and in a few quick strides, carefully laid Liara down on the bed. She quickly retreated to the bathroom and got a glass of water and a cool cloth, returning to Liara's side and laying the cloth on her forehead. I don't even know if this is the right thing to do for Asari! Shit! Worried, she placed a call to Dr Karin Chakwas and prepared herself for the imminent tongue-lashing she knew would follow. Sam softly stroked a pale blue cheek before her, "Come on, Liara, talk to me... please be alright..." Damn it, Karin, where are you? After a few moments, an eternity in Samantha's eyes, Liara recovered a bit and attempted to rise. Samantha was having none of it, placing a firm but gentle hand on Liara's shoulder, keeping her in place. "You're staying put for now, at least until Karin looks at you. I've already called her and she's on her way. I'm not adding 'letting you get up and walk around in your weakened state' to my transgressions!" Samantha smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but Liara could tell she was concerned.

The door opened, and Dr Chakwas walked in to hear Liara's protest. "I am fine, Samantha, though I suppose maybe I should have actually consumed the energy drink you handed me, instead of setting it on the desk. The meld obviously took more out of me than I realized, and I stood too quickly when I decided it was time for me to go, that's all."

Samantha protested, "Hmmf. Right. Tell it to the Doc! You're still not budging until she looks at you!"

"And seeing as I am here, I will concur with that statement, Commander. And tell me I did not just hear you say 'Meld!' From the top, what have you two been doing to put Liara in this sorry state?" After the full story was recounted, during which time Liara received her second physical of the day, Karin stood back and glared at both of them. "I see no damage...brain activity seems normal and no indicators merit further concern, so I am forced to accept Liara's self-diagnosis. However, I cannot believe that you both thought it such a fine idea to commence an initial meld, both still exhausted from a mission, in an agitated state, and apparently without adult supervision. Have you both taken complete leave of your senses?"

Samantha could see the doc was building toward a full-up lecture. "Oh, come on Doc, look at the bright side. My headache is gone, and I feel better than I have in weeks...You get my normally bright, cheery personality back! Haven't you missed it?" Shepard cast out her best lopsided grin in a hopeful attempt to deflect the storm she knew was coming. Liara didn't have the strength to protest anyway, so just laid back on the bed and accepted the chastisement.

"Do. Not. Even. Go. There, Commander! I am happy your headache is not currently bothering you. However, I am not happy with the fact I didn't know headaches and nightmares were issues to begin with! Do you not think that was relevant information to pass on to your physician? What were you thinking? You of all people should know better! At this particular moment in time, I am loathe to admit that I actually do like you, Commander, but if you let sleep deprivation get you, or someone on your crew killed, I shall never forgive you!" Samantha started to protest, but Karin held up a hand, stopping her. "I am not finished with you yet, Commander. Not a word! You have a responsibility not only to yourself, but to the entire crew of the Normandy. I will never question your ability to command, you are one of the best leaders I have ever had the privilege of working with. The Normandy deserves to have you at your best, and I cannot help but wonder if you had been at the top of your game, perhaps Tali would not have been injured on this last foray on Feros."

With that statement, Dr Chakwas pushed Sam past her breaking point and her face turned red with anger. "That's enough, Karin! I get your point, but you know better! I would never put my crew at risk because of a personal issue! Never!"

Karin did not back down, but responded in a much more gentle voice, "Yes, I do know you better, Samantha, but no one else on this crew has known you since you were eight years old, since working on the SSV Fuji with your mother! You have to establish and maintain their trust as well. I'm sorry I made you angry, but based on what I consider to have been very irresponsible behavior over the last couple of weeks, I felt you needed a strong reminder of that. I apologize if I overstepped." With that, Karin fell silent, waiting for Shepard to make some response. Sam just stared at her for a minute, and then roughly sat down on the bed. Without thinking, Liara reached over and laid a supportive hand on her thigh.

"Shit. I hate it when you are so right I can't even come up with a valid retort. You're a medical doctor, not a psych...sometimes I think you know me too well, Karin." Sam looked up, resignation in her eyes.

Karin actually laughed. "Oh, Commander! Don't be giving me those big puppy dog eyes. You aren't eight anymore...it doesn't fit your tough commander image! Now, you two stay put, I'll be back shortly." With that, Karin abruptly turned and left the commander's room.

Samantha and Liara both watched the doctor's unexpected exit in surprise. Sam, suddenly realizing Liara was gently rubbing her leg, reached down and captured her hand, turning to scrutinize Liara's face. "Hey, you...how are you feeling? Really."

Liara could see the concern etched in Samantha's brow. "I'm fine, truly. Just very, very tired. Too much for one day." Liara's eyes drifted closed with her admission.

Sam's free hand tenderly stroked the Asari's forehead; Liara seemed to purr in contentment, and it made Samantha's chest ache with adoration. "You scared me, more than I ever thought possible."

Liara's eyes opened, looking sad, but she had a gentle smile on her face. "I'm sorry. It was certainly not my intention." Their conversation was interrupted with the return of Karin Chakwas, bearing dinner trays.

"Eat. Relax. Sleep. No work. Neither of you are to leave this room for at least eight hours." Liara protested, "But this is not my room!" Samantha's face lit up with a mischievous grin, which Karin noted. "I said sleep, Commander. You are to monitor each other, making sure the other rests and does not attempt to work. Samantha, you will ensure Liara does not overexert herself, and Liara, you are to be here in case Samantha has another of her nightmares. You will keep each other company, and keep each other honest at the same time. It's either that, or you both will spend the night sleeping in my med bay. Monitor each other, or I monitor you both. Your choice, though I would prefer to not be up all night checking on you."

Liara looked at Shepard, who shrugged her shoulders, grinned and said, "Doctor's orders...I'd rather sleep here..." She glanced at Liara and finished her sentence, "...and didn't I tell you she'd come up with something drastic?" Liara hesitantly agreed, and Karin, satisfied, left them to eat and get some rest.

They sat, sharing the food Karin brought, in quiet companionship. When they were nearly done, Samantha broke the silence. "Um...So...you ok with this, or you want me to sleep on the floor?" Liara froze for a second, not really sure how to respond, and Sam continued, nervous. "I mean, really, all I want to do is sleep, but I can't say the idea of snuggling you close does not appeal to me..."

Liara gave up. "I am not going to make you sleep on the floor; it is your room for Goddess sake. And since Karin has decided to thrust us into this situation, I guess we just need to make the best of it." Liara started to smile. "And I must admit the idea of having you close right now feels... very...comforting."

Her eyes moved away and her smile turned bashful. Samantha took the food trays and placed them on the desk, and carefully returned to the bed. Liara laid back on the pillow, and Sam laid back propped up on one elbow, facing Liara, her other hand reaching out and caressing Liara's soft cheek. Liara's eyes were closed as she whispered softly, "Oh...Shepard...I am so exhausted. Just...please...can you just hold me?" Samantha laid down flat, and Liara rolled to her side and cuddled into the nook of the closest shoulder as Sam engulfed her in her arms.

Sam let out a deep sigh, "This feels...right, Liara." Liara purred softly, in agreement, and both being so tired, they drifted quickly into fitful sleep.