Chapter Eleven: Wake Up Call

Liara POV:

Liara sat up in the surprisingly comfortable medbay bed, blinking groggily and swatting at the finger poking her cheek.

"Wakey wakey," Shepard's voice crooned from beside her, a wide grin on her freckled face.

"Ugh," she groaned, "Shepard, please stop poking me before I warp you across the room." She flopped back onto the bed and pulled the sheets over her bleary eyes.

"Well, somebody's a grump this morning," the red headed woman said in a sing song voice, deftly tugging the sheets away from her.

Cracking one eye open, she let her biotics flare around her fist. "Shepard."

"Yes?"

"I will bodily harm you and leave you here to deal with Dr. Chakwas on a power trip."

The soldier winced in mock fright, "You wouldn't!"

"I would," she responded drily, sitting up and rolling her head around. She sighed in relief as her muscles loosened up. She gave her commander a quick once over, noting the blood stained armor. "They must have just gotten back."

"How long was I asleep?"

"According to Chakwas, six hours. The doc is out in the mess getting you some tea. I'm sorry I couldn't let you get some more shut eye."

"It is quite alright, Shepard. I do need to get back to my feeds soon. And I thought Karin said the away party was expected to be gone for twenty-four hours?"

"That was the plan," the green eyed woman nodded, "but the kid," she jerked her head towards a still sleeping Faolan," passed on a map that she had updated while going through the vents. It helped us reach the main control room faster. Unsurprisingly, Cerberus had a failsafe installed; a command to vent all of the wings in case of an extreme breach. It was a good thing the scientists were so protective of their research and didn't input the command when we arrived."

"They would have vented the children?" Liara whispered, aghast at the thought.

Sighing heavily, Shepard ran her still gauntleted hand through sweat dried hair. "Yeah, I don't know why I'm still surprised at what the bastards are capable of."

They sat there in pensive silence until the door slid open with a nearly silent whoosh. Dr. Chakwas walked in, carrying two cups of steaming tea.

"Liara, Commander," she inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Liara, I am sorry we had to interrupt your nap, but the Commander does need to speak with the children." She handed Liara her tea before rounding on the commander.

"And you," she started with an accusing glare that Liara found amusing now that she was not on the receiving end, "need to change. I will not allow you to scare that poor baby by questioning her whilst covered in gore and God knows what else!"

Shepard glanced at her for help, but Liara sipped slowly at her tea to hide her smile. She watched and nearly choked as her friend returned her baffled gaze to the doctor. "I don't think Faolan would be happy to be called a-"

"I'm not talking about Faolan," Dr. Chakwas whispered fiercely, making Shepard cringe and shift to look smaller, "I was talking about the young one, Mila."

"Oh…right."

Chakwas pinched the bridge of her nose as Shepard grinned sheepishly, backing out the medbay door quickly. "I love that girl as if she were my own daughter," she started as she turned to Liara," but I swear she can be as dense as any other jarhead."

Unable to help the snort of laughter this time, Liara covered her mouth to stifle the cough from inhaling her drink. "I think it is from all the hits to the head, you know she forgets to duck now and then."

Chakwas smirked at her, making Liara smile in return. "True. She's had that problem since she was a child."

They shared a moment of levity before the gray haired woman sighed regretfully. "Liara, would you be a dear and wake Faolan while we wait for Shepard? I am not sure how she will react to someone unknown waking her."

"Of course," Liara said, gracefully standing from her bed.

As Chakwas moved to her terminal, Liara slowly stepped around the beds to stand beside the sleeping teenager. She bit her lip, studying the dark haired girl. The wound on her cheek and forehead had healed even more while asleep, they both had the shiny pink look of newly healed scar tissue. Her dark brown hair had highlights of deep auburn, but at the moments was a mass of tangles. Her skin was pale, but thankfully not as waxy as it had been the last time she had a moment to study her form.

She hesitated before gently running a gloved hand over her hair. "I don't want to startle her awake," she frowned at the thought.

She moved her hand, letting the back of her fingers brush softly along her cheek, smiling as the girl leaned into the touch. "I should talk to Karin, sooner rather than later about this," she decided.

Steeling herself, she leaned down, "Faolan," she said loud enough to make the ear not pressed against the pillow twitch. "Faolan," she said more loudly," I need you to wake up now."

The girl rolled onto her back, forcing Liara to step back while she stretched. Gray-blue slowly fluttered opened and focused on her. For a second, Liara was at a loss for words as they stared at each other. The teen's eyes looked burdened, and a deep well of protectiveness hit her hard. "I most definitely need to speak to Karin."

"Liara?" the soft voice made her blink.

"Yes. I am sorry, but the Commander is back. She is changing out of her armor and will be here shortly to speak with you."

She leaned against the bed behind her, watching as dark eyebrows knit together worriedly. "If you would prefer, I could leave-"

Wide, stormy eyes shot up to stare at her, "No! I-" she twitched her head to look to the side before refocusing on Liara. A flash of rapid, unidentifiable emotions flitted across her features before she locked eyes with her again. "Please, I'd prefer it if you stayed," she said quietly.

Liara held eye contact, searching hers for a moment. "She feels this connection, too. And is as confused as I am," the realization made her nod. "Of course I will stay if you would like," she put as much comfort into her voice as possible. It must have gotten across because the girl gave her an appreciative lopsided smile.

"Thank you," the girl got out just as the medbay door was whisked open.