Waking up {Liara}

[Amaliana Shepard]

A loud crash, a pressing almost crushing feeling spreading over Shepards body. Then came the familiar warm gushing feeling of blood escaping a wound. Struggling she tried to reach her omni tool but could not reach it. So there would be no using Medi Gel and fixing this wound until more help could be reached. As her mind slowly started to slip from the blood loss she would feel the crushing be removed from her body. Then came a few muffled voices, two in particular she recognized. Moving her arm she attempted to reach for them. Feeling on her arm a pair of strong hand she heard a man with a thick accent say. "I got ya Lola stay with us..."

Weakly Shepard would look up her face caked in her own blood and dirt. Her eyes would be slowly closing and she would see Liara. A faint smile would creep onto her face before she would pass out into the blackness that was soon to be a nightmare filled hell for Shepard. While in her mind she was stuck in that forest of despair her body was fighting hard to stay alive. Dr Chakwas and Dr Michel both worked on her feverishly fixing the massive internal injuries Shepard had taken. So there she laid on a bed for several months every now and again she would stir but nothing came of it until one night two months after the final battle against the Reapers.

First her hand twitched once, then twice. Then her eyelids slowly opened and she saw the darkened interior of her hospital room. She felt the soft blankets over her form. Then it hit her the dull pain of her entire body screaming at her. Gritting her teeth she would grimace and slowly and gingerly sit up. Scanning the room she would notice that she was alone within what looked like a recovery room. Her head ached from this so she began to search for something. Looking around she would find a call a nurse button and depress it. A VI voice would emit from the bed. "What is it you require Commander Shepard?"[/color

Weakly at first she would speak. Only a few stuttered words would come out. After coughing and clearing her throat she would be able to talk."I would like... to notify some people... That I am awake. First bring me something to drink my mouth feels quite dry... Then could you contact... Liara T'Soni. Then if there is anyone from the records that where on the Normandy with me nearby. Contact them as well." As Amaliana spoke it was tough at first as her throat was sore from no use, but slowly loosened up. The Vi chirped back in an understanding tone then vanished. Shepard then would lean back into the bed thankful to be alive after what she went through."

[Liara T'Soni]

Liara's eyes slowly opened and the first thing that crossed her mind was Shepard. It had been some time since the final battle with the Reapers and it had taken its toll on everyone. She brought her hand up to rub her eyes as she sat up in her bed, it had also been some time since she had been back to her apartment. With being given the position as Asari Councillor she had found herself spending less time at home and more time in the office. Of course her attention had been toward Thessia and rebuilding it, everywhere had been hit hard but her homeworld always held a special place in heart

"Glyph bring up the reports for the last 5 hours please."

Liara swung her legs around and placed her bare feet on the floor, a light thin nightdress clung to her body as she pushed herself up. In her spare thoughts she had assumed her difficulty in sleeping was due to being too warm, but her fragmented sleeping hours continued. Glyph had been brought to her apartment to help when she looked in on the database as the Shadow Broker. That was a secret she needed to keep up on, her unlimited resources and contacts made it easier to divert help to where they were needed on each planet. As Liara walked over to the console Glyph beeped relaying a message from a VI

Dr T'Soni you are requested by Commander Shepard to come to the hospital

The doctor had to look twice at Glyph before it began to sink in. Shepard was awake. In a mad dash Liara threw on the closest item of clothing to her which happened to be the dress she was to wear tomorrow at the Council meeting. A long dark red and black dress she favoured over most. Now everything seemed to be a blur, she stopped for a moment and looked back to Glyph.

"Shepard.....thank you I will be there right away."

It would be faster for her to drive her own vehicle than try to hail a cab, it didn't take her too long to reach the parking area on the Citadel. Not at the speed she was going at least. Her heart pounded in her chest as she began to run towards the hospital. She visited every chance she could but Council and shadow broker business had kept her busy and away from the hospital on some days. She never lost hope that Shepard would reawaken and she was glad in herself that she hadn't given up. The thought had never crossed her mind, even when the day came she had to hand her over to Cerberus to be...rebuilt as it were.

Liara panted as she reached the hospital, the nurses and doctors knew who she was here for and stepped out of her way. She reached the door to Shepards room and took a deep breath, it had been several months since they had spoken, there was no way to guess how the coma and events had affected her. Not yet. Liara pressed the button to open the door, she stood at the doorway as it opened her eyes moving over to Shepard.

[Amaliana Shepard]

She had placed her head back on her pillow and had been resting her eyes when the light in the hallway was turned on. Weakly she would raise her unbroken arm up and covered her eyes with her hand. Seeing shapes and movement it took the Commander a few seconds to realize that someone had just gotten to her door. Blinking her eyes she would allow a second or two to pass before the figure would become clear and she would recognize it.

"Liara?"

Shepard would let out the word as if it had been on the tip of her tongue for a long time, just waiting for the right moment to be spoken. Her beaten and broken body would move in the bed as if trying to move to a standing position but she would wince in pain. Her many wounds would become evident to Shepard and she would stop the attempt to move. Laying back onto the bed she would glance downward.

"I am alive... Not inside the Crucible underneath a pile of rubble.."

The words would be clear enough for Liara to hear Shepard's musings. Picking her head up she would place it back against the pillows at the top of her bed. Her face would be looking up at the partially lit ceiling. A look of a mixture of sorrow and yet happiness was on her face. For Shepard she had just been on the Citadel and had just been buried underneath a large pile of rubble after shooting out a large tube that was central for the Reapers control. Without moving her head she would speak up again.

"Are you going to just stand in the doorway Liara? Or am I going to have to get up and drag you in here?"

[Liara T'Soni]

Hearing her voice again brought back everything they have been through, good and bad. She could feel tears forming behind her eyes but she knew the time to weep and cry was alone in her apartment, for now she needed to be strong for the woman who had basically saved every race in the galaxy. Her life had been turned upside down ever since that day they had met, it would be one she would remember for the rest of her life. Liara kept watching Shepard as she spoke, it felt that if she took her eyes off her for even one second that she would disappear and she would lose her again. Twice now Liara had felt the pain of losing someone she loved dearly, there was only so much emotion one person could go through. Now the fight was over it had hit her hard, the only busy work she had was Council and Shadow Broker business. Shepard's remark about dragging her over there snapped her out of her own thoughts, she briefly smiled at her before starting to walk over to Shepard.

I apologise Shepard it has just....it has been quite some time since I have been able to talk to you. It just brings back the memories when the Normandy was destroyed."

There were so many things Liara wanted to say but she knew Shepard had just literally woken up and there would be time to discuss such things. The most important thing now was to keep Shepard stable and comfortable, of course the hospital here on the Citadel was one of the best. With Liara's connections as well she made sure Shepard had the best care, not that it was needed. Everyone was in debt to Shepard for saving them so her influence wasn't really needed, it wasn't something Liara liked to do and it wasn't often either. Liara reached Shepard's bed and stood for a few moments just looking to her before she slowly sat down on the chair beside it. It had almost become her chair the amount of times she had visited and just sat beside her, even doing some paperwork you could say. It helped her to cope with Shepard's status.

"How are you feeling? Really I mean. It has been two months since....since the Reapers."

[Amaliana Shepard]

Seeing Liara smile to her remark made Shepard's smile not recede despite the pain she could feel. She had not known how much one simple thing could make her feel better, but this did. Closing her eyes Shepard would feel Liara walk over toward the bed. As she spoke Shepard would replay the events in her mind. The day the first Normandy had been destroyed and she had been killed had been traumatic to her. She could barely imagine what it could of felt like to the others who knew her so closely.

"But Liara I am right here. I told you that nothing would take me away from you again... I meant it..."

Her words would be in her usual soft yet strong tone as if her strength was already returning, but if only briefly. Then would come the questions from Liara about her health. Mentaly she would have a checklist and most of it would read 'Hurt like hell', but she would not repeat that as something else caught her minds attention. It had been two months since the battle with the Reapers. Shepard would start up in bed and look at Liara.

"Two months. It has been two months since that day?"

Shepard would look a little lost and would glance back and forth across the room as if looking for things. In her mind Shepard was running a mile a minute as if it had been two months where was she and how is the war faring. As the battle on Earth had to of taken a terrible toll on the fleets and they might be on the run for their lives now.

"Liara... What is the situation with the Reapers? I need to know. If I have been out of action for two months than we must have lost so many other planets... Is there any of the fleet left,? The Normandy? What of everyone on Earth did they make it out alive?"

Her words would come out quick at an almost frantic pace as she was starting to overload a little on what all could be happening as they sat there. She did not even notice that she was on the Citadel or inside of the hospital anymore. In her mind she was still her self except injured on some vessel somewhere in space.

[Liara T'Soni]

Liara watched Shepard as she began to take in the fact that it had been two months since the war, no matter what she was told it would come as a great shock. It pained Liara that she had to be the bearer of this news but who else was there to break it down for her. Shepard would need to be walked through every aspect since she had been in the coma. Liara could see Shepard was becoming more and more upset as it sank in more, she leant over placing a hand on the side of the bed.


"Please Shepard take a minute to calm down. We were hit heavy as you will know but the rest of your crew are fine, they pulled through fine. Even after two months we are still sifting through the debris and rubble on the planets to find anyone alive or dead."

The young Asari Councillor had seen her fair share of people crack from different parts of the war, Shepard in her eyes was almost invincible even though she knew better. She couldn't see Shepard hurt like that again but in her heart of hearts she also knew that Shepard would always be military and there would always be some sort of fighting spirit within her. Liara took a deep breath and looked to Shepard.

"You were hit by a Reaper's beam and you were incredibly lucky to survive it. Admiral Anderson was the only one left to go on board the Crucible and....stop the Reapers. We expect to hold his memorial service in the next few days....I'm sorry Shepard. He gave his life to help save us...The war is over Shepard...the Crucible worked."

[Amaliana Shepard]

As her mind raced she would attempt to sort out every question that had popped into her mind. Though these thoughts would diminish as Liara spoke of people sifting through the rubble on Earth. Her head hurt and she would raise up her hand and rub her forehead. Hearing Liara draw in a breath would catch her attention though. Usually when she did that she would be delivering bad news or rather important news to her. That is exactly what it was she was delivering to her.

::I had been hit by a beam from Harbinger and yet I lived... How is that possible? I saw him disentigrate people before my eyes with that weapon... :: Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop when she heard that Anderson had made it inside and that they where planning on holding a memorial to him in a few days. He had been a mentor, a friend, and something of a father figure for Shepard to look up to. The news sunk into her and she felt sadness well up but she would hold it in.

"It worked and the Reapers where destroyed? Good that it is over... I do not think that the war continuing beyond that point would have been good for anyone."

Her words would have a twinge of sadness about them as she masked the hurt behind her usual hardened exterior. There was an akward silence for a few seconds as Shepard would readjust herself on the bed. Her right arm would hang off the side of bed right beside the chair that Liara was sitting in. There was a little bit of news that she wished to know yet was dreading. She had to know how badly she truly had been hurt and there would be someone that could tell her.

"Liara I need to know... How badly was I hurt? If you said it was almost like with what happened with the Normandy than it had to of been bad..."

[Liara T'Soni]

Theme

Liara looked away from Shepard for a moment as she asked about being hit by the beam, it was painful thinking back to that day. It was the final push to the reapers and it was do or die. She had seen with her own eyes the woman she loved hit with the beam, the times they had spent together flashed before in a moment. Liara got up from the chair and turned away to look out of the window, it was still very dark outside but the stars shone so bright

"It was bad Shepard we weren't sure you were going to survive, your vitals were weak but they kept stable. There has been no change to your vitals since you were brought to the hospital until tonight of course."

Liara snapped her eyes shut, everything was starting to rush back to her. The memories of their on going battle with the reapers, the Normandy and her experiences with Shepard. There had been times she had disagreed with her and made it known but her plans always worked out and she was a hell of a Commander. The asari slowly turned back to face Shepard, her waking up had been so sudden. There hadn't been any inclination she was about to wake up, she looked down to the floor and then back to Shepard with her arms crossed across her chest.

"I should get the doctors they will need to know of your progress and waking up like this must be a shock to your system, there will be plenty of time to discuss what has happened....but you need to full recover first."

[Amaliana Shepard]

Watching Liara move about the room worried her. She remembered that everytime that she has of done this it was she was either nervous or holding back. Keeping an eye on her she would watch and look past her out at the artificial night sky. It slowly sunk in that she was truly on the Citadel and that the battle and war was over. She had paid a heavy toll by what she heard from Liara, but compared to others she was lucky that she at least made it out alive.

"I had no change at all for two months... I was unconsious for two entire months. I see that you have been coming here, but has anyone else come up to see me?"

It was hard for Shepard to grasp, just as it had been when Cerberus revived her from death that she had lost time of her life. Especially when she had a singular goal for all these years and it was now accomplished. The Reapers where defeated and she had survived through it all. All the trechery, all the backstabbing, and all the worrying was done. As that sunk into her mind she felt more relief coming over her. It was like all the worries, pain, suffering, all of it had been worth it. The loss of so many good people had been so heavy upon her, yet now it did not seem to matter as it was over. Then she heard Liara speak of leaving her side and letting the doctors know she had awakened.

Shepard would reach over and grab onto Liara's arm with her good hand. Grabbing her tightly and yet soft in the same time she wished to make it clear to Liara that she wanted her full attention.

"Liara do not go anywhere. I can be certain that the VI has let them know I am awake. As for the shock of coming out of that coma, or whatever you wish to call it. Well it cannot be any worse than being dead for two years and coming back. I just want to be here, right now, with you at my side."

Shepard would release Liara's arm and move her hand up Liara's arm and grasp her hand with her own. A smile was on her face as she did that and she would continue speaking.

"Liara do you remember when we spoke on Earth before heading out on that final push? We never did begin to come up with a good story to tell to all those little blue children of what we said there."

[Liara T'Soni]

Liara looked down to Shepard's hand as she rubbed her arm up and down before taking her hand in hers. She let her blue fingers intertwine with Shepards letting a small smile fall on her face. She didn't want to go, not really but she wanted to make sure Shepard would make a full recovery. Liara was about to argue the fact until Shepard spoke of that night just before the final push...their little blue children.

"How can I forget..."

Her tone was solemn. Liara sat back down on the chair next to Shepard's bed, she raised her free hand and placed it over the hand Shepard had in hers. She rubbed her hands softly and slowly just looking into her eyes, she had thought she would never be intimate with Shepard again. Not to a point like this, at worst Shepard would have reamined in a coma and she would visit her every day talking to her about how things were going. Liara never really lost hope and now that it seemed like Shepard was pulling through almost fine, it made her a little apprehensive. Dr T'Soni wanted nothing more than to settle down with a young brood but she could never give up her work on the Protheans, her title as Shadow Broker and now her place on the council. A quiet laugh escaped from Liara's blue lips as she looked over to Shepard.

"I think those little blue children may have to wait until every planet is back to normal or as normal as they were before the Reapers came. There is going to be a lot of talk about your survival, no doubt that...bitch will want to interview you and try to make you the bad one in it all. I wonder where the others are....I would have thought they would be here right away."

[Amaliana Shepard]

There was a feeling of happiness swelling up from deep within Shepard. It had been quite a while since she had felt so at ease. Her mind would linger on the good moments in the past each hanging on for longer than anytime before. Still it had not sunk in completely inside the Commanders mind how close she had come to death's door once again. The feeling of having Liara's fingers intertwined with her own had almost relaxed her to the point of being able to fall back asleep.

Her mind and senses would snap back as Liara would speak up again. Listening to her spout off about waiting to settle down until after the Reapers destruction was cleaned up made Shepard smile some. Giving a nod to Liara Shepard would lay her head back down and hear Liara speak on how none of the others of her crew where there and how that one reporter would probable come jumping her as soon as word got out. Speaking up a little bit of weary tone within she would say.

"Well after the many times that Ms. Jinlanih ambushed me perhaps I will pass her over and give an interview to Ms. Wong. I think I still owe her one from back when we took down Saren... As for the others I thought they where all on Earth? Well it is no matter you can use your resources to get a message to them later. As for now I just want to know what you are doing? How have you been holding up and what have you been doing Liara?"

[Liara T'Soni]

Liara smiled as Shepard talked but she couldn't help but notice the weariness in her voice. Perhaps it was just from the coma or perhaps Shepard had finally had enough of fighting. It would be strange to see Shepard in a desk office role but every military person had to retire at some point and considering what Shepard had done...it was far over due. Liara moved her fingers slowly up and down Shepard's more in a soothing calm way rather than anything else.

"Some venture back to their home planets but they always pop by. Since the war I guess I have just been getting on with things like...certain Broker business and still researching about the Protheans. Though I guess the only thing that has changed would be my appointment to being the Asari Councillor. That was...somewhat of a shock to say the least."

That last part might even shock Shepard herself but Liara wasn't about to lie to her about something like that. She was going to find out sooner or later that she was the Asari Councillor now. At the moment there was really no alternative and Liara in their opinion seemed liked the best option. She had accepted but only because she wanted to help rebuild her home planet and her race as much as possible.

"You sound tired Shepard....you really should get some actual rest."

[Amaliana Shepard]

Amaliana was enjoying the company as she listened to Liara speak. Hearing that the others had at least visited once or twice when they came by made her smile. It would be a good day to have all the people she had served with that survived the war together in one place. They all deserved it as much as she felt she needed it. Then she heard Liara mention she was now the Councilor for the Asari. If she had not been laying down she would of bolted straight up in pure shock. Turning her head she would look at Liara and speak up.

"Your now the Asari Councilor? That is something else. Did they explain to you why it was they placed you as the Councilor? Like making amends for your mothers death or all the work you have done with the Crucible or anything else?"

Shepards questions would come out fast, but underneath it all she was slowing down as she felt an overwhelming sense of tired start to take her over. Holding onto Liara's hand she would hear her speak again. Though this time she felt as if she was through water even through this short of distance.

"Good Idea Liara... I am feeling so tired all a sudden. If you can swing it so we can go to a cafe on the Presidium if you could? I would love to see the... Citadel..."

As she was speaking she would close her eyes and drift off to sleep her hand still holding tight to Liara's. In her mind Shepard would begin to dream immediately, but unlike during her coma she would have pleasant dreams.