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ethosaTitle: Waking Up
Chapter: 1.1
Fandom: Mass Effect
Rating: K+
Word Count: 504 words
Characters/Pairings: f!Shepard/Garrus, Liara
Summary: Shepard's body is found, although extensively damaged. As her recovery is well under way, she still is not waking up.
Authors Notes/Disclaimer: Mass Effect, along with involved characters, are property of Bioware. This is a stage 2 draft.
It's been twelve days since they recovered her body from the rubble of what remained of the Citadel and the Crucible.
When they had found her body, eighty percent of her skin was charred or melted or had bonded with what was left of her blackened N7 armor.
Shepard's face was nearly unrecognizable--but with skin graphs and advanced medical equipment, they hoped she would regain her previous appearance.
Her internal organs were near failing, days without proper medical attention had taken its toll on the already damaged body. Likely it was the vast amount of cybernetics within her body that kept her alive through the ordeal.
The people Shepard touched through the past three years came to visit her in the hospital--one by one giving her their continued support, as she had done for them.
Lauded as a great hero, Shepard's road to recovery was on the news. Any complication was made aware of. Many prayed for the commander to open her eyes once again.
Despite the success of her recovery, Shepard was still not waking up. Many people were asking the same questions: Will Shepard wake up? Or will she remain in this coma forever?
Garrus took her perceived death very hard. After receiving on-site medical treatment from Chakwas, he shut himself in the main battery as the crew of the Normandy made repairs. By the time they made it back within Alliance communications, Shepard had already been found.
As soon as he heard the news Garrus was on his way to her bedside, the memory of their parting blazing within his mind, the guilt fresh and painful.
Within the private hospital room, Garrus sat in a chair next to the galaxy's newest hero and apologized. He apologized profusely to her unconscious body, hoping his voice would somehow be heard.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm sorry I wasn't there with you. I couldn't protect you." His head hung down and his shoulders were slumped. "I should've gone with you, should've gone through the conduit, too. I..." He paused for a moment and drew a staggered breath. "I should have been there."
"Garrus." He turned around briefly to see Liara at the door. She spoke as the distance between them closed, "When was the last time you slept?" She asked but already knew the answer.
The turian returned his gaze to the floor and then up to Shepard. "It doesn't matter, anymore," he replied, "The Reapers are destroyed. We're done fighting for now."
Liara stood behind Garrus and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You need to rest, Garrus. Sitting here half asleep and babbling 'I'm sorry' doesn't get you anywhere."
"Makes me feel better--"
"Does it really, Garrus?"
He shook his head. "It doesn't."
"Get some rest. I'll stay with Shepard until you return."
His eyes showed indecision for a moment, and he hesitated to leave. "If she wakes up and I'm not here--"
"I will send for you if she does," Liara promised.
With sluggish movements, Garrus left the hospital room.
Chapter: 1.1
Fandom: Mass Effect
Rating: K+
Word Count: 504 words
Characters/Pairings: f!Shepard/Garrus, Liara
Summary: Shepard's body is found, although extensively damaged. As her recovery is well under way, she still is not waking up.
Authors Notes/Disclaimer: Mass Effect, along with involved characters, are property of Bioware. This is a stage 2 draft.
It's been twelve days since they recovered her body from the rubble of what remained of the Citadel and the Crucible.
When they had found her body, eighty percent of her skin was charred or melted or had bonded with what was left of her blackened N7 armor.
Shepard's face was nearly unrecognizable--but with skin graphs and advanced medical equipment, they hoped she would regain her previous appearance.
Her internal organs were near failing, days without proper medical attention had taken its toll on the already damaged body. Likely it was the vast amount of cybernetics within her body that kept her alive through the ordeal.
The people Shepard touched through the past three years came to visit her in the hospital--one by one giving her their continued support, as she had done for them.
Lauded as a great hero, Shepard's road to recovery was on the news. Any complication was made aware of. Many prayed for the commander to open her eyes once again.
Despite the success of her recovery, Shepard was still not waking up. Many people were asking the same questions: Will Shepard wake up? Or will she remain in this coma forever?
Garrus took her perceived death very hard. After receiving on-site medical treatment from Chakwas, he shut himself in the main battery as the crew of the Normandy made repairs. By the time they made it back within Alliance communications, Shepard had already been found.
As soon as he heard the news Garrus was on his way to her bedside, the memory of their parting blazing within his mind, the guilt fresh and painful.
Within the private hospital room, Garrus sat in a chair next to the galaxy's newest hero and apologized. He apologized profusely to her unconscious body, hoping his voice would somehow be heard.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm sorry I wasn't there with you. I couldn't protect you." His head hung down and his shoulders were slumped. "I should've gone with you, should've gone through the conduit, too. I..." He paused for a moment and drew a staggered breath. "I should have been there."
"Garrus." He turned around briefly to see Liara at the door. She spoke as the distance between them closed, "When was the last time you slept?" She asked but already knew the answer.
The turian returned his gaze to the floor and then up to Shepard. "It doesn't matter, anymore," he replied, "The Reapers are destroyed. We're done fighting for now."
Liara stood behind Garrus and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You need to rest, Garrus. Sitting here half asleep and babbling 'I'm sorry' doesn't get you anywhere."
"Makes me feel better--"
"Does it really, Garrus?"
He shook his head. "It doesn't."
"Get some rest. I'll stay with Shepard until you return."
His eyes showed indecision for a moment, and he hesitated to leave. "If she wakes up and I'm not here--"
"I will send for you if she does," Liara promised.
With sluggish movements, Garrus left the hospital room.
