Chapter 6

0945 hours the Next Day

As Joker was in the med bay receiving his weekly treatments from Dr. Chakwas, he told her of last night's conversation with me. Still confused at exactly what happened, he knew the doctor and I had become close and was hoping for some insight.

"Hey doc! You and the commander are close yeah? Well, not Liara tight, but you know what I mean, right?

Dr. Chakwas cocked her head wearily at Joker.

"Can I ask you something?"

Continuing his leg treatment for his brittle bone disease, "Sure Mr. Moreau!"

"You can call me Joker you know. You've only been treating me for the last 2 years now!"

"I know Mr. Moreau!"

"Stop that! It sounds all weirdly formal coming from you Doc! It's enough to give a guy the creeps."

"Anything you say Mr. Moreau."

"Ugh! Why are you torturing me?"

"I believe it's because I can, Mr. Moreau." She smiled mischievously.

Attempting to be clever, "You know doc, I can come up with a nick name for you too!"

Without even looking up the doctor sarcastically inclined, "Oh really?"

Mockingly Joker retorted, "Yeah something about that bottle of say…..Ice Brandy you got tucked away in the medical lab somewhere." Proud of himself believing he had the advantage, he grinned.

"And it would be a shame if for some unknown reason I stopped treating your Vrolik Syndrome?"

Wildly shocked Joker protested, "No fair doc! Man! The medical officer always has the upper hand. They got dirt on everyone!"

"Fine you win! Flashing his hand in surrender he continued, "So can I ask you a question about the Commander or what?"

Joker instantly had the doctor's undivided attention.

"What about the Commander? Is something wrong?"

"No. It's just that we had this weird conversation last night except it wasn't really a conversation at all."

With great concern Dr. Chakwas said,

"Go on."

Before Joker could enlighten the doctor further, the doors leading to the hall opened…

Staring at the floor in deep thought, I charged into the medical bay. I was slightly startled when I sensed that someone other than the Doctor was in the med bay room. Besides Dr. Chakwas, no one knew of my frequent visits to the med lab; where Liara spent a majority of her time.

Almost past them, I pointed sheepishly at Liara's door,

"Is she in?"

Dr. Chakwas glanced back at me and nodded "Yes;" a grin stretching across her face as if I had just asked her permission to go in.

As door swished open, Liara was at her desk as usual. She appeared to be deep in thought, no doubt over something of significance. Her eyes still on her data pad, her head turned slightly to find out who entered without so much as a greeting. She must have caught a glimpse of me, because she excitedly spun her chair around and stood up with a renewed smile across her face.

Jubilantly, she sung, "Shepard!"

Frozen where I stood, I couldn't say anything, so I just stared at her. A moment passed before she realized she hadn't seen me in two days. Her brilliant smile slowly drifted from her face.

I wonder if she must have thought, "Perhaps this is not a happy visit after all."

Painfully embarrassed, she lowered her head and clinched her fist; preparing for the worst. The sadness on her face almost broke my heart instantly. I smiled as I slowly took several steps towards her. I could feel my presence dominate her comfort zone because she began to tremble slightly.

In a firm voice, I factually pronounced every syllable as I spoke,

"Professor Liara T'Soni"

Her head slowly rose up, surprised by the formality of her name. I had never spoken to her in such a manner. Bashfully blinking her large azure eyes, she took a deep breath,

"Oh Goddess, here it comes."

I took a dramatic step closer to her. She leaned back grasping the desk immediately behind her; thankful it was there to steady her already weak knees.

I spoke, "You have strong romantic feelings towards me!"

Nodding my head in confirmation of the already obvious, I again stepped closer to her. She nervously fumbled at the desk. The look on her face was one of desperation wanting to get out of that room as fast as she could. Looking down, I caught a glimpse of one of her hands which started to glow a brilliant blue. Was she considering using her biotics to get out of this situation? For a split second, a shiver of fear raced down my spine. But when my gaze returned to her face and all I saw was sadness. I knew she would never intentionally harm me. It was just not in her nature.

Practically penning her against the desk, I lifted her chin up with my index finger and smiled at her tenderly. This time I spoke much softer but still factually, "And I have strong romantic feelings for you!"

A glimmer of happiness splashed across her face despite the fear she felt when I moved even closer.

While staring wantingly into those incredible blue eyes that I could get lost in forever, I took a deep breath and forced out, "I need to track down a psychotic rogue spectre and somehow save the entire galaxy from an inevitable cycle of extermination."

Liara's hopeful expression faded as she slowly lowered her head again. I took another enormous deep breath and let it out sparingly.

Sympathetically smiling I told her, "That doesn't leave a lot of time for us..."

With my hands, I again raised her chin up until we were fixed eye to eye.

"But I'm not giving up on us!"

Clasping my hands firmly around her waist, delicately pressing my forehead to hers, I pressed our bodies even closer together. She instinctually wrapped her arms around my neck. With joy in my eyes and hope in my voice I proclaimed to her,

"There will be an US someday Professor Liara T'Soni!"

I moved in to kiss her lips; hovering just shy of actually touching her lips. Remembering how she might not be ready for this much, right now, I slowly raised my head and gently kissed her forehead. The softness of her skin beneath my lips was instantly arousing. Knowing I would not be able to control myself any longer I needed to leave. I suddenly broke our embrace and swiftly walked out the door.

As I marched back into the med bay, I overheard Joker question Dr. Chakwas, "All I said was that I fought harder to be the best because I had an obstacle in my path and she rushes out like I said something brilliant."

With his words hanging in the air, I winked at the Doctor with the biggest grin on my face. I strode past them with a quickened pace; as if I found a new purpose. Seemingly with determination, the med bay door closed behind me.

Dr. Chakwas looked up at Joker wrapping up his treatment.

"I think there is your answer." As she glanced back to Liara's door.

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Liara was the answer! She was my obstacle and I would fight even harder to succeed the unsurpassable odds that lay before me and the crew of the Normandy. I will succeed, of which I was absolutely sure of!

The End

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