Long time no see peoples. Contact between myself and Vorbarra has been pretty much non-existent for the last six months. I didn't really want to update without her but it's been so long I've decided to go ahead anyway. This is the last chapter. I'm sorry if people think that I'm cutting it short. But without the prompter talking to me I don't wish the story to be unfinished forever. My apologies, I hope that this chapter wraps everything up.

Chapter 38

Alex coughed and blinked groggily. Her head was pounding, her sight swam in and out of focus, she felt as if she had gone a few rounds with Wrex, Garrus and Grunt. One after the other. She moaned as her senses ran up to her waving reports in her face. She sighed mentally sorting through the metaphorical lists. She could hear Dr. Chakwas moving around her bed but she kept her eyes closed. Her pain relief was increased, as the pounding behind her eyes disappeared she then opened her eyes.

'Welcome back online, Commander,' she heard the Doctor laugh. She wasn't going to attempt to sit up, settling for a moan and slight nod. 'Brace yourself Commander, I'm going to raise the bed so you are sitting up.'

'You read my mind Doc,' she said raspingly. 'How long have I been out?'

'About a week. I've fixed your ankle, I would recommend that you take it easy but knowing you as well as I do, I will simply mention it and hope you take it to mind. I have given Jeff leave for a few days, he broke several ribs and is having trouble breathing.'

'How is the rest of the crew?' Alex asked concerned.

'Fine, a few cuts and bruises. A broken limb here and there but that's all. Nothing that won't heal. You've received the worst of it. As per usual,' Dr. Chakwas laughed. 'Honestly if someone told me that a crew member had seriously hurt themselves, my mind would instantly think of you.' Alex smiled as the oxygen mask was removed from her face. The slow whirring indicated that her bed was rising. She breathed in deeply twitching her hands.

'When can I leave?'

'Not for a few hours yet. You have some internal damage, it's going to take a while for it to heal. You're going to be tender for a few days.' She smiled putting the oxygen mask to the side. Alex rolled her shoulders trying to relieve the tension.

'So what's happened since I've been zonked?' Alex asked. She saw the Doctor's frame stiffen. She raised a brow. 'What's happened?' She repeated dryly.

'Oh not a lot.' Dr. Chakwas said dismissively avoiding Alex's gaze. The Commander instantly turned up the heat, she crossed her arms and refused to look away. 'We're close to the Citadel now, Garrus has been insisting that we come here for the last day or two. No-one's argued with him, since we haven't received any orders from you.' She sighed. 'Alright Commander, turn down the third degree. I've had Garrus and Theros in here a couple of times. Even Mordin when he foolishly got in the way.'

'What the fuck?! I'm going to kill them both!' Alex said angrily.

'No, no, there's no need. Garrus just knocked him out, ending the fight apparently. But Theros did get a few hits in. The stress on the ship has been high since you've been out.' The Doctor explained. Alex sighed and leant back. Her life was hard enough without two Turians fighting over her.

'What happened to Mordin? Or do I not want to know?' She asked, rubbing her temples with her fingers.

'Oh he just got in the way. Trying to get a close up apparently. Jeff couldn't stop laughing when helped bring him in.' Dr. Chakwas smiled and left Alex alone after that. She was reading through her back log of messages, she might as start the paper work while she was confined to the bed. It was a long and above all boring task. Various messages were from people demanding that she do this and that. She smirked, she always knew how to piss off the people that had their own head up their arse. She had a few messages from Garrus. Since the fight between the two Turians, Dr. Chakwas had banned them from the Medi-Bay. So he didn't know whether she was conscious or not. They weren't very personal or colloquial. He obviously thought that she would be angry with him. Alex wasn't. She was too tired to be angry. She just wanted to see him. She decided to send him a message.

Message to Garrus Vakarian. 14.12

Hey Prickle Butt. Heard about your squabble.

Damn right I'm pissed.

But if you manage to get me out of here,

all will be forgiven. I'm going fucking crazy.

Have you missed me?

A.

She hit send with a goofy grin on her face. Not less then a second later she received the delivery report, which also told her that he had read it. Dr. Chakwas passed her bed and removed her IV, she had some idea of what was going to happen. The Commander had that look on her face. Less than four minutes later the door slid open and there was Garrus with a smile. Alex tried to act cool, but she couldn't help the fact that her grin magnified and almost split her face in two. His mandibles flared in happiness to see her awake. He looked a little wary of Dr. Chakwas, but the good doctor made no attempt to remove him, so he took that as a positive sign and strode across the room. When he got to her bedside he stood a little awkwardly.

'You're pissed huh?' He repeated her words back to her. She smiled more and almost laughed, she tried to put a serious face on but it didn't work.

'Totally,' she replied. Garrus winced. He sat on the edge of her bed and ran a talon down her cheek. She smiled weakly leaning into his embrace. Her mind flicked through the last twenty four hours that she was actually conscious. She turned her head away to hide the tears that began to brim in her eyes. 'You came back for me,' she said in a quiet voice, she moved away and laid back in the bed refusing to look at him. There was a hiss as Dr. Chakwas left the Medi-Bay to give them some privacy. His mandibles twitched.

'Of course I did,' he said bluntly. Her shoulders began to shake as she cried, the enormity of the situation finally being processed by her mind. She was almost spaced again, her worst nightmare, almost becoming a reality. Garrus pulled her toward him, she fell into his chest and clung to his clothing. He said nothing as she wept, simply running his talons gently through her hair. 'I'll admit it was a stupid thing to do,' he added after a while. She gave a small laugh, her tears turning into hiccups.

'Damn right, Vakarian,' she said through hiccups, she leant back to look at him. She stroked his mandible, her fingers trailing gently over his scar. He closed his eyes to avoid the uncomfortable wince that crossed his face. The scar was still sensitive, even all this time later. 'Why are we at the Citadel?' She asked him after a while, when she had curled back into his chest, simply enjoying the moment of peace.

'Commander's orders,' Garrus said seriously.

'I don't remember giving any order like that,' she said with a smile.

'Ah, see that's why I gave the order for you. I knew when you awoke, you would be like: Joker. Citadel. Now.' He said chuckling, his deep sending vibrations through his chest. Alex grinned and playfully punched him.

'I do not sound like that,' she pouted.

Garrus laughed more. 'Yeah you do.'

'Git,' she replied.

'Tart,' he said back within seconds.

Dr. Chakwas smiled to herself as she heard the Medi-Bay erupt into laughter. She looked at the internal camera on her omni-tool. Alex was laughing, Garrus too. She smiled more, it had been a while since the Commander was happy. She made sure that the crew knew that the Medi-Bay was unavailable for a while. She turned off the camera and went to her quarters.

…

The crew lined the dock, the people from the planet, children and the few adults that survived joined them. They waited, for their Commander. She hadn't been seen wince she was brought abroad a week ago. Theros stood at the end his head bowed. It was clear the relationship between Garrus and Alex. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, almost missing the cheer and screams from the children as the Commander limped out from the ship. Vakarian stood beside her, he was there to steady her although she walked proudly, it was clear that she was still in pain. His mandibles flared into a smile as she began to greet her crew. She wasn't one for physical contact but she obliged the hugs and kisses from the civilians that she had helped save. Wayne shook her hand furiously almost knocking her over. She smiled graciously and held his shoulder while she pulled her hand from his. He was crying, and she nodded trying to calm the man down. Garrus saw Theros and walked over, leaving Alex to Wayne and the children. She gave him a half horrified look as he left her. Theros' jaw tightened and he stood up a little straighter. The animosity toward Vakarian hadn't dimmed, although the other Turian seemed to be treating him a little differently, which annoyed him more.

'Ris'ono.' Garrus said quietly.

'Vakarian,' he replied, knowing that Alex was in the vicinity.

'After all this,' Garrus motioned to the mayhem behind him, 'I would like you to follow me,' he asked.

'Why would I?' Theros replied raising a brow.

'For once Ris'ono, just trust me,' Garrus replied with a small flare of his mandibles. Theros scowled a little but gave him a stiff nod in reply. He would humour Vakarian. Alex had finally pulled herself away from the civilians and greeted her crew. She limped over to where they were talking and smiled.

'Hey Theros,' she said with a grin. 'Are you okay?' She asks placing a hand on his shoulder. Theros saw the flicker of annoyance cross Vakarian's face.

'I am well, thank you Alex,' he replies with a smile. 'I see that you are looking well,' he says touching her arm.

'I've been better,' she laughs. 'But I've been a lot worse as well,' she grins. Theros nods. Garrus looks at Alex catching her eye. He hadn't told her the reason for coming but he had suggested a little private time. She agreed, happy to be away from work, but he did tell her that they needed to make a detour first. She smiled brightly at Theros. 'Come on, follow us.' She said, not knowing why he had to, but according to Garrus it was imperative that he did. Alex waved goodbye to her crew, giving Liara a hug, same with Tali. Javik gave her a nod, he was going to work on the Prothean shard. After about twenty minutes the trio were able to pull away from the crowd and begin to walk to a plaza. This plaza was a very quiet. It was a lot more private, with little foot fall, even in the busiest times. Alex walked with her arm looped in Garrus' unable to walk for long distances unassisted. Theros still felt the jealous sting in his stomach, but made no comment or action about it.

'Why are we here?' Theros asked, finally unable to hold back his curiosity any longer. Alex shrugged her shoulders. This was all Garrus' doing and she had about as much as an idea as Theros did. Garrus' mandibles simply flared and he checked his omni-tool.

'Not long now.' He smiled looking at a docking bay. Alex raised a brow and shared a look with Ris'ono. Obediently they both looked in the same direction that Garrus was intent on staring at. A few minutes passed and Alex protested about standing. She wasn't at a hundred percent and Garrus nodded directing her to a nearby bench. She sat gratefully and began to fidget. Patience wasn't a strong point of hers. After what seemed to be a lifetime. To the point where Theros was considering telling Vakarian to go shove it the docking doors announced an arrival. Theros stood up straight from the wall he had been leaning against. He sent Vakarian a look who merely smiled back at him. Infuriating him more.

'What the hell is going on Vakarian?!' Theros said angrily. Alex frowned and looked at Garrus who didn't reply simply nodded his head to the doors that were now opening. Theros growled and his eyes flicked over to the passengers that were departing. They were mostly Turians, families and a couple of Asari as well. Alex watched as Theros' face paled slightly. A family of Turians moved aside to show a small petite woman, she also had red hair, but it was long and curly. It was pulled over one of her shoulders in a plait. She had a light blue marking across her cheek, it matched Ris'ono's clan markings. Alex gasped and looked at Garrus who nodded. Theros took a step forward disbelief on his face.

'Theros!' The woman screamed as she spotted him. She dropped her bag and began to run.

'That's not possible...' Theros said to himself, shaking his head. He moved forward, shakily and his hands were trembling. 'Spirits..' he whispered. 'M-Mia?!' He shouted back. Mia was crying and she didn't hesitate as she pelted towards him. His eyes began to cloud over with tears as he moved people aside to get to her. His pace picked up.

'Garrus... she was alive?' Alex asked him, her voice faint. Garrus nodded and helped her stand. 'You found her?'

'By accident, but I pulled a few strings,' he said simply. Alex felt a tear run down her cheek, she smiled and leant into his chest. Mia threw her arms around Theros, almost knocking him over. Alex could hear the woman's sobbing from where they stood. Theros stood almost in shock, his talons nearly tearing through the woman's clothing, with the tight grip he held her by. Theros pulled her back and cupped her face in his hands.

'I-It's really you?!' He says, his voice thick with emotion, he ran a talon over her cheek where the marking was tattooed. 'It's... it's really you!' He says his voice rising. She smiled and laughed hugging him tightly. Theros sank to his knees, still embracing her tightly. Tears ran over his face, falling from his mandibles. 'Oh spirits,' he murmurs, burying his head in her hair. Alex wiped her eyes, happy to see Theros in so much joy. Mia hadn't stopped crying.

'I thought you died,' she sobbed holding him. He pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.

'I thought I had lost you,' his said his voice breaking. She smiled weakly and laughed through her tears. 'Oh spirits Mia,' he muttered. 'Thank the spirits you're back to me.'

'I love you so much,' Mia said kissing him. Theros kissed her back with just as much passion. Alex caught Garrus' eye and motioned with her head. They would give the reunited couple a little time. Theros had their omni-tool links if he needed them. Shepard couldn't help looking back at them, feeling her heart lift. Theros was holding Mia tightly around the waist, their foreheads pressed together, tears falling from their eyes, completely ignoring the world around them. Nothing else mattered to them. For them, this moment was perfection.

…

Alex grinned as she sighted down the scope. The question at this moment was crystal clear. Does she hit the target or not? The breeze ruffled her short hair around her ears. She was a little chilly and her ankle hindered her stance a little but she could easily make the shot. She smiled to herself, her mind casting back over to the meeting of Theros and Mia. She had an unread message in her in-box, Garrus also had a couple. No doubt that once they were finished here that they would go see the couple. She was overjoyed that Mia was alive, she felt her heart swell in pride when Garrus told her how he had spent a week setting this up. She looked over to where Garrus was waiting for her mark. He had already aced his shot, of course. She smiled and nodded at him. He drew back his arm and threw the mark high into the air. She breathed in deeply and aligned the cross hair. With a moment of perfect clarity she adjusted the shot and pulled the trigger.

She missed.

'Yes!' Garrus laughed.

'It's not fair it's windy up here,' Alex said in fake complaint. She smiled at the happiness on Garrus' features. He whooped and threw his arms into the air.

'I'm Garrus Vakarian and this is my favourite place on the Citadel!' He shouted. Alex laughed and put the rifle down. He turned to her. 'How does it feel to be the second best shot?' He asked her with a smile.

'It's windy,' she repeated with a grin. The day had been just perfect. First Theros and Mia, now her date with Garrus on top of a place, they really shouldn't be. Garrus laughed and pulled her close to him, pressing his forehead against hers.

'So tell me,' he says with a slight nervous tone in his voice. Alex raised a brow. He spun her around and dipped her back, so he was holding her up. 'Are you ready to be a one Turian woman?' He says with a chuckle. Alex laughed and kissed him.

'There's no Shepard without Vakarian,' she said smiling. Garrus smiled and pressed his forehead against hers.

'I love you, Alexandria Shepard,' he said quietly.

'I love you, Garrus Vakarian,' she said back. 'Forever and always.'

Okay like I said. That's it. Wrapping it up. That's about six months overdue and I'm sorry if any of you were disappointed.

Thankyou for joining me on this journey.

You have my eternal thanks.

Love, Sabaine. xx

-Please leave a review, telling me what you think. Thanks.