Epilogue Pt. 2

The Normandy was quietly sitting in orbit around Earth when the shuttle arrived. Shepard and James stepped out of the shuttle.

“Why didn't you bring me along?” James asked as they did.

“We've had plenty of drinks together on here, James,” Shepard answered.

“Yeah, but having a beer on Earth? I haven't done that since the Reapers attacked.”

“Don't worry. You didn't miss much.”

“Whatever you say, Loco. Just remember that next time, bring me.”

“I'll try not to forget.” Shepard headed toward the elevator and decided to head to the crew deck.

“Welcome back aboard, Commander,” said Joker over the intercom.

“Thanks Joker.”

“You bring me anything?”

“Like what? A piece of rubble?”

“Well if you slap a little
polish on it, it would a nice, shiny piece of rubble.” Shepard didn't answer. “Tasteless?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright I'll stop.”

“Set a course for the Citadel, Joker.”

“Aye, aye, Commander. ETA 3 hours. I'll let you know when you arrive.” The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Shepard stepped out, just as Dr. Chakwas was passing by.

“Ah, Commander,” she said, “I'm glad you're back. I need to run a check-up on you to make sure you're okay.”

“I feel fine, doctor.”

“Saying your fine, and actually being fine are two different things Shepard.”

“Alright doctor, I'll humor you.” They both headed to the med-bay, where Chakwas performed a series of tests to make sure Shepard's vitals were okay, his vision was back to normal, and make sure there wasn't any stiffness.

“Alright Commander, looks like you've made a full recovery.”
“I told you I felt fine.”

“I just wanted to be sure. I had never seen you in such bad shape before.”

“Well you didn't see me after Cerberus got a hold of me.”

“I'm glad I didn't. I couldn't stand to see you in the shape you were in when we brought you back from the Citadel.”

“I was that bad, huh?”

“Tali sat next to your bed day and night, hardly eating or sleeping. So yes, you were that bad.” Shepard had a feeling about that. When he woke up just a few days ago, Tali was the first person he saw. He wanted to hug her so badly at that moment, but he remembered that his body ached all over.

“I admire Tali's dedication to you, Shepard.”

“She is something special. You know just before I killed the Reaper on Rannoch she said 'I love you'”.

“Much of the crew knew she was in love with you Shepard, but to have her say it means that she is set on what she wants. I'm happy for the both of you.”

“And I have you to thank for giving us the chance to live our lives together.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“You know where she is now?”

“I believe she's napping in your cabin.”

“Thank you. I am free to go?” Chakwas nodded, and he headed out. He wanted to go see her, but his stomach growled at him.

“Might as well get something to eat before I go,” he thought. He opened the refrigerator, heated up leftover pasta, and sat down to appease his appetite. The door leading to the main battery opened and Garrus walked out, also heading toward the fridge.

“Back so soon, Shepard?” he asked.

“Well we do have to get to the Citadel,” replied Shepard.

“And you didn't even invite me. That hurts my feelings.”

“Doubt the human homeworld any liquor for turians, especially right now.”

Garrus came over and sat across from him. He had brought his chocolate with him. “It's the thought that counts.”

“Uh-huh.”

“So you just get back then?”

“Yeah. Chakwas wanted to run a check-up on me to make sure I was alright.”

“I'm not surprised. You looked like crap when we found you.”

“So I've been told.” Shepard took another bite of his pasta. “What I haven't been told is just how you guys managed to find me.”

Garrus paused. “I figured you were gonna ask that at some point. I don't think any of us have seen you in such bad shape.”

“You didn't see me when I was, as Jacob said, 'meat and tubes'.”

“Probably for the best.”

“So just exactly what happened after I fired the Crucible?”

Garrus took a deep breath. “After the Reapers collapsed, everyone on Earth was celebrating in the streets, and the fleets began wiping out the ones in orbit. We came back on the Normandy, and Tali was determined to find you...”

The team sat in near quiet aboard the shuttle. EDI had located where Shepard was on the Citadel, and everyone wanted to bring him back aboard. Tali was sitting down on the chair, rubbing her hands from anxiety. Liara sat down next to her and tried to comfort her.

“Don't worry Tali. We'll find Shepard.

“I'm not worried about finding him, Liara,” she said, “I'm worried about finding him dead.”

“Come on, Tali,” said Garrus, “Shepard's been through worse.”

“There is nothing worse than the Reapers, turian,” Javik said.

“You're not helping, Javik.”

Tali became furious. “If you're going to act this way, why did you even bother coming?!”

Javik didn't lose his cool. “The Commander brought me back from stasis to give me the chance to seek vengeance for my people. To see to it that he remains alive and... to see to it that you and he continue to be joined; I owe him that much.”

Tali regained her composure. “Thank you, Javik. I'm sorry I yelled.”

“You are under a great deal of stress. It is natural.”

Liara looked over at Kaidan. “You've been awfully quiet Kaidan.”

Kaidan didn't look at her. “I just hope he's alright.”

“We all do.”

“We're close to the LZ,” said James, “I'm bringing us in.” The shuttle came as close to the Catalyst's location as possible. The door opened and the team hopped out onto the platform. It didn't take long before they spotted Shepard laying out between the three branching paths. Tali put her hands to her mouth piece.

“John!” she screamed. Everyone but Javik ran over to him, but Javik headed down the elevator that brought Shepard up. Tali kneeled down and put her head on his chest, shaking her head. “No! No, no, no, no! You can't
die on me John! Not again! Not when we have so much ahead of us!” She started to cry.

Garrus took a knee and placed a finger to Shepard's neck. “He's still got a pulse, but just barely. We have to get him to the med-bay now! Kaidan, help me get him back into the shuttle!”

“Right!” The two of them carefully picked him up and went as fast as they could back to the shuttle.

“Wait,” said Liara, “Where's Javik?”

“On the level below,” came Javik over the radio, “I have found the 'Anderson' human and the Illusive Man. Anderson has a bullet wound in his abdomen, and the Illusive Man has a bullet wound through his head; self-inflicted.”

“So much for Cerberus... is Anderson dead?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it. We'll have to come back for them later though. Right now, Shepard needs medical attention.”

“I am on my way back.” The lift took Javik back up and everyone boarded the shuttle.

“Joker,” said James on the way back, “We found Shepard, but he's dying. Have the doctor get prepared.”

“Just how bad is he?” Joker asked.

“Bad.”

“Shit... roger that James.”

Tali was back in her spot, holding Shepard's hand with his head in her lap. It was hard for her to look at Shepard in this state. “Hold on, John. Just hold on.”

Back aboard the Normandy, Garrus and Kaidan rushed Shepard to the med-bay, with Tali close behind, while James, Liara, and Javik headed back to the Citadel to retrieve Anderson's and the Illusive Man's bodies. When they brought him, Dr. Chakwas was in shock.

“Oh my god, Shepard!” she said, concerned.
“Dr. Chakwas, you have to help him!” said Kaidan, as they put him down on a bed.

“I'll do everything in my power to. I'll stabilize his vitals, but we're going to need to get him to a hospital.”

“I'll have Joker plot us a course.”

“You're taking charge, Kaidan?” Garrus asked.

“As the highest ranking officer on-board, I have to take command, but it'll only be until he recovers. EDI, find us the closest and best damn hospital near here as soon as the shuttle gets back.”

“Of course, Major,” she replied.

“And once she has the location, get us there immediately, Joker.”

“Aye, aye, Major. Wow, never thought I'd be saying that.” Kaidan looked back at Shepard, the left the med-bay. All the while Tali just stood at the foot of Shepard's bed in silence. Garrus put a hand on her shoulder.

“Come on Tali,” he said, “We should let Chakwas do her thing.”

“No,” replied Tali, “I'm not leaving him, and don't try to convince me otherwise.” Seeing that answer as final, Garrus left as well.

Shepard and Garrus had finished their food just as Garrus ended his story.

“And then you guys took me to Sur'Kesh if I recall,” Shepard said after a long pause.

“Yeah. Sur'Kesh managed to avoid being invaded, so we took you there. Everyone on-board was holding their breath, hoping you'd pull through like always.”

“Dr. Chakwas said that Tali hardly left my side.”

“She was right. Heh, most of the time she had her meals brought to her because she wouldn't budge. If that isn't love, then I don't know what is.”

“Yeah... she's one in a million. What about the rest of the crew?”

“None of us were willing to leave until you were up and about. So for several weeks, we would either pay a visit to see how you were doing, or explore Sur'Kesh. Kirrahe was especially generous in that regard.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“Actually I've been meaning to ask you something. We found Anderson with a gunshot through his stomach...”

Shepard sighed. “Yeah. That was me.”

“Care to explain?”

“The Illusive Man was somehow able to control us, hold us in place. He forced me against my will to shoot him.”

“That must've been hard for you; forced to shoot your own friend.”

“It was.”

“And the Illusive Man?”

“Managed to talk him into shooting himself.”

“Just like Saren?”

“Deja vu was in my mind that entire time.”

“Deja vu?”
“It's a term used to describe when you've lived through something before.”

“Ah. It definitely sounds familiar.”

“Only this time I didn't have to fight his reanimated corpse.”

Garrus laughed. “Thank the spirits for that one. So now that you're back in the world of the living, what's next for the Normandy?”

Shepard smiled at Garrus. “You'll find out when we see the Council again Garrus.”

“I think I already have an idea.” Garrus stood up. “Anyway I should get back to work. I'm glad to see you're still in one piece Shepard. The galaxy would be a lot less fun without you.”

Shepard chuckled. “Probably.” He stood up and turned to leave, but before he did he turned back to Garrus. “Garrus, have I ever told you that you are the greatest friend I've ever had?”

“And you are to me, Shepard. You've done a lot for me the past few years; the hell we've been through together, you giving me the opportunity to do something for the good of the galaxy. I won't ever forget it.”

“Neither will I. Now, there is someone I need to see desperately.”

“Well don't let me stop you.” Garrus headed back to the battery, while Shepard headed up to his cabin.

Shepard walked into his room. It had only been a few days since he was let out of the hospital, but nothing had changed in there since then. He first checked his private terminal to see if anything was new. There were several thank-you and get-well messages sent to him that dated back during the weeks he was in a coma. Some of them were from people he never met, others were from people he knew quite well. The best one was from Grunt, simply because he still didn't know how to use the damn thing, but it didn't bother Shepard: if it didn't shoot bullets, then Grunt probably
doesn't know how to use it. He may have lost a few friends over the years, but at least he saved most of them.

He looked over at Tali through the display case, who was sound asleep. All the time he had been unconscious, he had been thinking about her and the future they would have together with nothing getting in the way. He had felt her her hand on his, the words she spoke to him. And when he finally awoke, she was the first thing he saw. After he was cleared to leave, they spent a couple days just to themselves admiring the sites on Sur'Kesh. And now here they were, back on the Normandy.

He took his shirt off and climbed into bed with her. Tali snuggled into him, and Shepard smiled. She looked over at him.

“Hey you,” she said.

“Did I wake you up?” he asked, to which she nodded. “Sorry.”

“It's alright. I was just getting up.” She sat up and stretched. “When did you get back?”

“A few minutes ago. Chakwas gave me a check-up before hand.” He lowered his head and looked at her. “I owe you guys my life. If you hadn't found me...”

She cupped her hands on his cheeks. “Don't think like that. I... we would never give up on you.”

“Chakwas told me that you sat with me almost all the time while I was in that coma, never leaving my side. That means a lot to me.” He could hear he beginning to cry. “What's wrong?”

“I... I was so close to losing you again. If you had died, I... I don't know what I would have done. To see you here, with me again-” Shepard hugged her, and she returned the favor. “I'm sorry. It's just...”

“It's okay. I'm here now, with you again. That's all that matters.” Tali took off her visor and they kissed each other. The way she did, Shepard knew that she wanted to do that for a long time. Their tongue's intertwined, and Tali lifted her hood up and took her helmet off, letting go of his
lips.

“I've been wanting to do this again for so long,” she moved her hands to her belt to take her suit off, but just as she did, they were halted.

“Sorry to interrupt, Commander,” said Joker over the intercom, making them both jump, “But-”

“Damn it, Joker!” said a frustrated Shepard.

“Hey I said I was sorry!”

“Were you watching us you little bosh'tet?” Tali asked, also frustrated.

“I have communications to Shepard's room cut unless it is urgent, to respect your privacy,” answered EDI.

“Not like I want to hear those two going at it anyway,” commented Joker.

“Keep it up, Joker,” warned Tali, “And I'll-”

“Enough!” said Shepard, “What's so important that you had to interrupt us Joker?”

“We've just arrived at the
Citadel, so you need to get prepared,” he answered.

Shepard sighed. “Alright, we'll be right down.”

“Welcome back to life, Commander.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” He rolled his eyes and looked back at Tali. “That was one thing I didn't miss.”

“Can't the Council wait?” she asked.

“As much as I want it to...” she crossed her arms, “Hey, it's nice that the Council is actually praising me for saving their asses for a third time now, and I think it'll be great for all of us to hear them say 'You were right, and we were wrong'.”

Tali snickered. “And about time too.”

“Besides, you'll like what I have to say when I get to speak.”

“Oh? And what will you be saying?”

“It's a surprise.”

“Come on, really?”

“I don't want to ruin.”

“Ugh, fine I'll let you surprise me, only because I love you.” She kissed him again, and put her helmet, visor, and hood back on.

“Well, I should probably dress appropriately.” Shepard hopped out of bed and opened up his closet to don his officer's uniform, as well as putting on according pants. Once done, he turned back to Tali. “What do you think?”

“Handsome, though I'd prefer your clothes off.”

“I'd prefer it with you too.”

“Oh Keelah, I wish we didn't have to see the damn Council. We haven't made love for several weeks.”

“Don't remind me. Come on, hopefully the others didn't all ready leave without us.” The two of them headed toward the elevator hand in hand, ready to see the Council, and in the back of Shepard's mind, he knew that this would be the last time he would see them.