Inbound
Joker! We need a shuttle down here now!
Copy that Commander, shuttle inbound.
Tell the Doc to prep med bay… Nihlus is down.
Shit…
The words swirled around in her head, mixing with the visions bleeding into her mind. She couldn’t tell what was real and what was a fever dream. Not until a familiar voice slipped past the memories? Maybe they were memories…
“He’s alive. Don’t know how, but he is.” The familiar voice was weary as if they hadn’t slept in days. Even with the exhaustion it still reminded her of her mother.
“I’ll inform the council.” The lower voice was one she could recognize from anywhere. Captain Anderson. “What about Shepard? Anything yet?”
A quiet sigh left the familiar voice. “I don’t know when, or if, she’ll wake up. I already had to give her a sedative. It’s almost like she’s fighting off something in her mind.”
A few heavy steps echoed around the small room before Anderson spoke again. Closer now. “The beacon could have exacerbated her nightmares.”
“Possibly…” The woman hummed.
“Keep me informed on her status Karin, I worry about her.” A quiet sigh escaped Anderson as he moved away from the bed.
With a low hum and a chair squeak, Dr. Chakwas returned to her desk. “Don’t we all.”
~~~~
Bright lights burned her eyes as she slowly returned to the land of the living, finally able to shake off the fever dreams that had plagued her. Pushing off the table with her elbow Shepard uneasily shifted forward, but before she could sit up fulling a pair of hands came to rest on her arms. Stopping her.
“Take it slow Commander, you’ve been out for quite a while.” With a worried look, Dr. Chakwas scanned the expression on Shepard’s face, looking for any sign of pain. “How are you feeling?”
As the visions faded away one last statement remained. Nihlus is down… Which caused panic to spike in her. “Where’s Nihlus?”
Dr. Chakwas was quiet a moment, doing what she could to hide her surprise. “He’s alive. The Council sent a ship to retrieve him. They’re taking him to Palaven to see a doctor.”
The tension eased from Shepard’s shoulders as she let out a deep breath. “Good.”
~~~
“Is that a glass of wine?” His words were almost accusatory, though she knew better by now.
“And what if it is? It was a long day.” With an eyebrow wiggle and a smirk, Shepard swirled her glass around. “My mother sent it to me, said I should share it with someone special.”
A warm chuckle made Nihlus’ mandibles twitch. “Is that so? So who’s the lucky someone?”
“Me,” Shepard said with a smirk. “Sucks to be you, dextrose boy.”
Pressing a hand to his chest Nihlus feigned hurt. “My father was right about you humans, always so cruel.” He couldn’t help the smile that broke out across his face.
“Oh hush, Dino Boy.” Waving a hand at Him Shepard took a sip of the dark merlot.
With a shake of his head, Nihlus let out a sigh. “They released me from therapy today, gave me the okay to rejoin a ship if I wanted.” He hummed. “I won’t be allowed on the field yet but I’ll be there soon enough.”
Shepard’s face softened. “Where do you think you’ll go?”
“I already put in for the Normandy…” If a Turian could look sheepish Nihlus would be the poster child at this point. “I’d like to join you.”
With a happy hum and a smile, Shepard took another sip of her wine. “I’ll approve it in the morning.” Pulling her feet up into her desk chair she leaned forward a bit. “I’ll pick up a nice bottle of dextrose-based wine for you…”
“I’d like that Shepard… I really would.” Nihlus said with a sigh.
~~~ Happy ((late)) Holidays @cristaldephoenix !! I’m sorry for getting this out so late, the world kicked me in the shin a bit after our wonderful and benevolent Harbinger @masseffectholidaycheer asked me to throw some holiday goodness your way. When I saw though you listed Shilus as one of your pairs I just knew it was the year of the rare pair. I do hope you like this, I wanted to do something a little different for them. I have a few other ideas cooked up though so if I post them I’ll make sure to tag you!
