Liara looked forlornly out the window of the house on Thessia that she shared with her bondmate, the famous Claire Shepard. Blinking back tears, she walked back over to her dying bondmate of two years. It had been almost three years since Claire had destroyed the Reapers. After she had been dug out of the debris on the Citadel, Claire spent 4 months in a coma before finally coming to. It was another two months until she was discharged from the hospital. The first thing Shepard did after being released was to propose to Liara, and they were bonded a month later. It had been a quiet affair on Earth in a place called Austria. It had been one of the most beautiful places Liara had ever seen. They spent their honeymoon traveling Earth. Soon after, Shepard left the Alliance. The next two years were the best of Liara's life. Now, it all seemed to be coming to an end.

Just as they had been talking about those "little blue children," Shepard became horribly ill. Claire couldn't move except to go to the bathroom and had a terrible fever. She had horrible nightmares of Liara dying in Harbinger's beam and of the Reaper War. Miranda had come to their secluded home and tried everything she could to cure Claire. She told Liara that she didn't know what was wrong. It seemed like there was nothing that could be done.

Doctors had come to help, but the best they could do was try and keep the fever down. It tore Liara up to see her like this. Liara scoured her Shadow Broker network, looking for the best doctors in the galaxy. None had been able to help her.

Approaching the bed she sat down and took her love's hand in her own.

"Hey... there... love," Claire said with a hoarse voice as she weakly smiled at her bondmate.

"Please, Claire, try not to speak. Keep your strength," Liara said. Claire merely nodded and closed her eyes.

"I love you Claire. So much."

Liara felt Claire's hand squeeze her own. Liara turned as she felt another presence enter the room. Miranda stood in the doorway with a tray of food. The dark-haired woman hadn't left since she arrived a week before to help.

"Liara, go get some rest. I'll watch her for a while," Miranda said as she neared the bed.

"I will not leave her Miranda," Liara said earnestly. Liara had stood vigil over Shepard every since she had fallen ill two weeks ago.

"Liara... I'm only asking you to sleep for a few hours. I promise she will be here when you come back." Miranda's eyes widened at what she just said. " I mean she will be fine."

"I don't know Miranda..."

"Please Liara. Get some sleep, or check your Broker Network even."

"Fine... but i'll only be gone a few hours," Liara said.

Liara carefully set aside Shepard's hand. She got up and without saying a word to Miranda and walked downstairs to the living room. She crossed the room and went through a small doorway which led to her office. Upon entering, her assistant, Glyph, activated and hovered its way over to her. Liara glared at it.

"Not now, Glyph. I am busy with keeping my bondmate alive, so unless it is vitally important leave me alone," Liara snarled.

"Please, Dr. T'Soni, I have information regarding a particularly interesting doctor who may be able to help Commander Shepard." Liara placed her hand on her head and closed her eyes.

"Go ahead, Glyph..."

"Thank you Dr. T'Soni. Approximately two hours ago, I found the file for a Dr. Enya Rangala. She is an asari doctor who fell off the grid two centuries ago. It says in her file that she could cure any disease and was the best doctor on Thessia for her time. She left Thessia and disappeared shortly after she was discovered to be an Ardat-Yakshi. It seems when she was born, the doctors, incredulously, failed to recognize the disorder. Using the Broker Network, I was able to trace several sightings of her to nearby planets."

"Glyph, can you find her?" Liara was growing excited.

"Yes, I found her, Dr. T'Soni.. One of our agents has discovered that she is hiding here on Thessia. She lives in a secluded area high in the Athame Mountain Range. She has a small lab there and has supplies sent to her via a trusted friend."

"Glyph, get me in touch with our agent. I want to know everything about her lab by way of defense parameters and entry points." Liara was careful not to get too excited. There had been several promising doctors, but Liara had to hope. "And get me a file on this friend of Dr. Rangala's."

About an hour later, with files on both her agent and Rangalas's friend in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, she called the agent (using her disguised voice, of course).

"Agent Ramirez. Do you have a visual on the lab?" asked Liara.

"Yes sir. I can see two buildings surrounded by a 10 ft high wall. I'm guessing the smaller building contains living quarters. The larger one has vents coming out the top. There could be an underground area as well. I'm sending you a live feed." Liara looked at Ramirez's file. Sandra Ramirez was an ex-marine and had entered the Shadow Broker's service about three years ago. She left the marines shortly after the end of the Reaper War. She had brown hair and brown eyes, the opposite of Shepard's red hair and green eyes.

The live feed appeared, and the layout matched the ex-marine's description. Liara could see steam rising out of the laboratories vents.

"Awaiting orders, sir," said Ramirez.

"Wait there. I'm sending another agent to enter the compound. When she gets there I want you to clear out. Your pay is being sent to your account. Good day."

Liara turned to Rangala's friend's file. It was a fellow asari named Jay T'Nora. She was a simple shopkeeper in one of the small towns that were scattered about in the Athame Mountains. She mainly brought food to the lab but from her purchase records, it seemed Jay purchased occasional science equipment. Liara had to find Rangala. Her reports said there was no means of contact other than to go in person. She couldn't send Miranda, because she was the only thing that kept Shepard stable, and she couldn't send any of her agents or her identity could be compromised. It had to be her. She felt horrible for leaving Shepard, but she had to do this to save Shepard's life.

The thought of leaving Shepard, even if only for a moment, left a sick feeling in her stomach. That and guilt. She was torn. She repeatedly berated herself, telling herself that this was what she had to do to save Shepard. Placing the file on her desk, she walked out of her office back to their bedroom.

"Miranda can I speak to you for a moment outside?" Liara asked. Miranda nodded and finished checking the IV before stepping out with Liara.

"Listen Miranda... I've got a lead on a possible doctor who can cure Shepard. There is good and bad news."

"Bad news first," Miranda said with a scared look on her face.

"The bad news is I have to go to her and meet her, for she is unable to be reached otherwise. The good news is she lives not far from her. She lives just up in the Athame Mountain Range. I'll need you to care for Claire until I return."

"Liara. One minute you can't leave Claire's side, the next you're leaving? What is this?" Miranda asked angrily. "If anything, it should be me going."

"No, Miranda. You are the only thing keeping Claire stable. I must go because it is the only way. You know this," Liara said calmly.

"Liara, the only thing keeping Claire alive is her seeing your face every time she wakes," Miranda retorted. They argued for several more minutes.

"Miranda, will you help me or not? It is not up to you. I dont not want her stable, I want her cured," Liara replied angrily.

"Fine Liara, go. Just so you know I think its a bad idea. At least say goodbye to Shepard," Miranda said before stalking downstairs.

Liara moved into the bedroom quietly and sat on the edge of the bed, taking Claire's hand in her own. She sat for a long time before kissing Claire on the forehead.

"Claire, love, I found a very promising doctor, but I must go get her. I do not want to leave, you but I see no other option," Liara says with a shaky breath.

"Don't... worry Li... I... believe in... you... If you... say... it.. will work... I... trust...you," replied Claire with a raspy voice. "I... love you."

"I love you so much Claire. I will be back before you know it," Liara replied before kissing Shepard's forehead and leaving the room. She will find Rangala and cure Shepard if it's the last thing she does.