Sins of the father
"Commander Shepard, we need to have a talk. As in right now!"
Rhyder averted his gaze from Dani's retreating form. Damn Karin and her timing! He really felt he should go after Dani but on the other hand, he couldn't put life on the Normandy on pause every time something was going on with her. He sighed before turning to face Karin. He did feel bad for Dani though. He had really rooted for the young woman. Hoped she'd prove as valuable as Anderson had promised her to be. Instead, it looked more and more like Ashley was right after all. Damn it!
"Dr. Chakwas what is it?"
"It's about Dani's personal files," she said with a clipped voice. "Have you read them yet?"
"No, I didn't realize they were in already. Something I need to know?"
"You'll know soon enough. Probably even more than me. I think . . . It would be a mistake to leave the others completely in the dark. I mean, the ones invested in Dani's case."
"You think we should tell them something. "
"We can't say much, not without breeching confidentiality, but to tell them nothing . . ."
"Wouldn't be fair," he finished for her. "I agree. I'll notify them. You're office?"
"Of course, Commander."
"I'll sit in if you don't mind. I'll read the files after. Not looking forward to it."
Karin opened her mouth to comment, but closed it again and nodded sadly.
The ones invested in Dani's case. That pretty much excluded Ashley and Kaidan. Ashley really couldn't stomach Dani for some odd reason and acted the part. Kaidan, though not unkind towards her, was not really interested in her either. Though the rest of the crew at least treated Dani with some semblance of respect, he understood Karin well enough to know she only meant the aliens. And Joker would probably be listening in any way.
Rhyder activated his omni-tool and requested Tali, Liara, Wrex and Garrus to meet him in Dr. Chakwas office.
They didn't have to wait long. His four squad mates soon entered the med bay where Karin's desk or 'office' was situated. From the solemn expression on their faces, Rhyder realized they were fully aware this meeting was about Dani.
"Shepard, before we begin," Garrus started while making himself comfortable, settling on a bed. "I just want to make it clear that booting Dani off the Normandy is a big mistake."
"You're getting awfully good at human idioms, Garrus," Rhyder replied dryly while Tali and Liara sat down on a couple of chairs. He was in a comfy seat overseeing the rest of them.
"It can be pretty fun once you get the hang of it," Garrus complied. "Though some expressions I will never hope to understand."
"So, booting Dani off is a big mistake huh? Please, do enlighten me."
"Well, I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do of course," Garrus bristled. "But come on, the poor girl hurled over the mess hall floor. It's hardly fair to say her being here is not working because of something as small as that. I'm sure someone on this ship must at one time have dumped their food all over the place too. After they ate it . . ."
"Yeah and of course I booted them off the Normandy as well."
"Well, no but . . . Wait, you weren't planning to get rid of her at all, were you?"
"Always so quick to jump to conclusions," he smirked at the turian.
"You could have corrected me at any time, you know."
Tali and Liara coughed conspicuously to try and hide their amusement, at which they failed miserably.
"Yep, I could have," Rhyder grinned before turning his attention to Karin. "Dr. Chakwas. You have something to share about Dani?"
"Yes," she replied quietly, "I . . . We have actually. The Commander and I thought it best to, though we can't tell you much, I . . .
We, felt like . . . "
"Dr. Chakwas, Commander Shepard, if there's anything you can tell us, we'd like to know," Tali prodded, looking from one to the other.
"If we can help to make things easier for Dani here," Liara cut in. "We just want to help. I really feel she's a person in need of . . . how do you humans say it, a break?"
"In that assumption, Dr. T'Soni, " Karin replied gravely, "You are entirely correct. We obtained her personal records today. A lot of details are classified. Anderson gave me clearance to some parts. And the Commander will have access to the rest of course. Even then, I doubt he'll have the full story. But believe me when I say, it's more than enough. I can't go into details without breaching confidentiality but . . . "
"Just tell us what you can."
The look on Karin's face told Rhyder that today for her the universe had become a slightly darker place than before. A woman who had dealt with war and death, who had probably encountered every ugly facet of human life and beyond, and had never faltered. Until today.
"Then, let me make one thing clear, once and for all," Karin finally said. "What we know or what we think we know about her intellect doesn't even come close to do her justice. She is that brilliant. And yes, the hyper-awareness is a side-effect. And yes, she has trouble social interactions. That is all Dani. Everything else . . . is not."
"I'm not sure I understand, Dr. Chakwas," Liara said.
"Let's just say that her reluctance to engage in contact, it has a reason. She's not that way because something is wrong with her. If you can accept the view that a few PDD-NOS resembling characteristics doesn't necessarily mean that. She's that way because she was wronged. Rejected, shut down, cut off a few times too often.
"She's so afraid of rejection, of being weird and different, she has big issues with social interactions. She just freezes up. Even though I can't divulge details about her personal life to explain her better, I just want you to know that in her way, she is trying."
