Chapter Text
“Hey Liara”
“Hi Shepard, I thought I stopped by. Maybe make you some food. How are you feeling?”
“Good good, trying to get back on my feet. Looking at prosthetic options.”
“I can search for doctors if you want. see if they are good?”
“I would appreciate that, thank you.” I sit at the table. munching the breakfast Liara made for me
“Did you talk to Garrus lately?” I add.
“Yeah, I spoke to him yesterday. He wanted me to check in on you. It was on my mind. But since Garrus asked, I didnt want to say no.”
She looks like she wants to say more.
“Come on Liara, talk to me. Because he won’t. I came back from the dead twice, and look at us. He is avoiding me. ”
Liara sits across from me. She looks serious.
“I have some footage, you need to regarding this situation. It will explain somethings. But you need to talk to Garrus. The answer you seek is with him.” She gives me a disc. I get up with urgency to watch.
“Although I would rather you eat your breakfast first. I worked hard on it.”
Liara says with a half a smile. “I understand Liara and thank you for the meal” I say and sit. We talked all day. Reminiscing the old days. Telling each other new food. We talk about life and her being a shadow broker.
Liara after taking a big breath. “Actually shepard, since you are getting better and we will get a good prosthetic for your leg, as long as you want it of course. I would enjoy working with you again. Please hear my offer as my agent on the field. I need your expertise. I wouldn't send you to a dangerous mission of course. I don't know if you want to keep going with the alliance and continue working as a Spectre on the command. But I want to seize the moment with you. Maybe we’ll work together again?.” she looks hopeful. Maybe thats all she can be.
“You sneaky girl. I’ll think about it” is all I can say. Even though she distractyed me all day my mind is still on that disc. Having a recruitment offer from a shadow broker agent wasn't on my list. but I said I’ll think about it, not today tho. Today we go after Garrus.
**
It is my hospital room. my mom sitting across, garrus beside me holding my hand stroking my hair. a few moments later Kaidan is on the screen. they chat little bit and my mom leaves the room. Kaidan slowly getting closer to Garrus and I hear.
“Hey big guy, you know this is your fault, right? You were with her every mission. Taking my place as her right hand. you were with her too at the last stand, just until the very end. and you left her. on the battlefield. alone. I will never forgive you for leaving her. If I was there I would have died for her and she would be alive. Walking, smiling and laughing. But you, she has a weakness for you. That weakness will be the end of her. Because of you-”
It stops but my heart is heavy. How could Kaidan do this to him? I was happy. I saved them.
he whispers something else but I cant hear him.
I am upset. I am angry. But garrus I see him. looking like a lost puppy. feeling like this is his fault. I book the first flight to Palaven.
**
After landing Palaven I call his father, sadly I don't have his sister's number. and Garrus doesn't answers my call so why try him.
“Hello is this Castis Vakarian?”
“It is Castis. Whom am I speaking to?”
“This is Commander Shepard. Sir, I hope this is not inappropriate but may I ask you where your son is, it is an emergency?” I feel just a bit guilty about lying about an emergency.
“Spirits! Hi Commander, yes of course. I’ll send you his location.”
**
Apparently the address is for their house.
When I ring the bell a female Turian opens the door.
She looks at me confused and she remembers. She sounds ecstatic.
“Is that Jane Shepard? Oh Spirits! I was just asking for you, please come in.”
Now I’m confused.Who is this?
They let me drop my bags. and take me inside. I see Garrus. She enters behind me.
“Garrus, why didn't you say your girlfriend was visiting? We would have met her at the station.” and she sits across from Garrus. Looks like his side is reserved for me.
Now the wheels are turning inside my head like crazy.
“Solana please tone it down a little.” Garrus talks. It is good to hear his voice.
Overly talkative lady is Solana Vakarian. Garrus’s sister. My future crime partner noted.
“Hello Solana! It is finally nice to put the name on the face.”
“Hello Jane, nice to finally meet you. So nice of you to travel for the festivities.”
“Ah yes, Unification celebrations.” Garrus jumps. “She was busy with rehabilitation but I guess she made the time. Thanks honey. Let's get you settled up and I’ll take you to sightseeing. First time after war. You gotta see the sights. See you at the festivities, Solana.” We leave the room at a crucially fast pace.
**
While we take an awkward ride. I look at Garrus and he looks at the road.
“Your sister seems nice.”
“Thanks, she is a headache sometimes, with her cheerful attitude. But I’ll love her all the same.”
“Garrus, we need to talk. I-”
“We’ll talk just not here. Just let me drive please.”
After that I stop looking at him even though I want to. I look at the Palaven’s views, trees, sky. Where is he taking me?
**
After 30 minutes of driving we arrive at a lake. He gets out and goes to the back of the car. Did he bring a picnic basket? This man never stops surprising me.
“Hey let me carry the blanket at least”
“Yeah sure. Come, I know a beautiful spot here.”
We sit and he shares food with me. Now I am dumbfounded. This man refused to see me. Avoided my calls. After I ambushed him at his home. He took me to a picnic? What is going on inside his head?
“Thanks for the food. The trip from the citadel made me hungry.” ı say casually.
“Yeah It is always better to talk to you after you eat. I’m sorry Jane. I wasn't there for you. I’m sorry I wasn't the one to take you to check ups. I’m sorry I-”
“Stop with the sorries. Liara dropped by to give me a disc. I saw you and kaidan, saying horrible things to you. You know it was my choice. boarding you on the Normandy. I needed you alive Garrus.”
He takes a deep breath.
“I know but it dawned on me I was feeling guilty. and I saw your mom’s face looking at you worrying. It made me feel like I’m the worst boyfriend ever. I’m sorry. If I didn't get hurt at the last assault I would have been there for you. I would have fight with you more and maybe I would have-”
“hey hey hey. Garrus vakarian. Don't go down that road. I made you leave, remember I did it. It was because of your safety.”
“Why is my safety more important than yours Jane? Why? I had to go on while you stayed in that bed. I wasn't able to do more.” he looks devastated with the burden he carried around.
“I thought you would never wanted to see me again. I thought you would blame me for not being there with you, watching you six. and after all the running You are still with me. and I'm still sorry for everything.”
“Really Garrus? I won't say it again. Stop saying sorry. you didn't do anything to be sorry for.”
Now I’m here with a deep breath. I need him to stop blaming himself. He is everything to me.
“While we run from the reapers. It was your help that got me through. After every bad dream I had you were there. After every self doubt I had you were there. You would charge into my doubts and make everything bearable. It was thanks to you I found the strength in me to go on. Even in the coma I heard you and my mom joking and that made me want to keep going.”
I find his eyes.
“Please Garrus, let me be selfish. I need you. Everyone wants a part of me. Hackett wants me on Alliance duty with a more active bureaucracy and less commander. Liara wants me to be her agent.”
He sits there looking at me. I feel tears in my eyes. He caresses my cheek. wiping tears that fell down.
“I gave everyone in this galaxy a second chance. I want to live my life now, with you. if you’ll have me.”
he looks me in the eye “really after all i did you still want me?”
I look at him “I wouldn't want it any other way.”
“Of course once you taste a turian you can never go back.”
makes me chuckle. That's the man I fell in love with.
After reconciling with Garrus. He took me to festivities. We spent time with his family and decided to stay the week. He showed me a few houses on Palaven later. After his mother’s passing he wants to be close to family. I can understand that. Later we actually bought a house close to the lake we went to. We go there regularly. I got surgery for the leg. We adopted a doggish creature. I don't know his species. His name is Grunt Jr. and I am happy.