inspired by @shepgarrus ‘s post about firefighter!Shepard and police officer! Garrus, and our conversation about his scars and how he acquired them... still gon call shep commander cuz I can :>
They got the call early in the morning, a fourteen-wheeler crashed into an oncoming car, apparently the driver was drunk. Jane Shepard didn’t bother with questions until they were on the road. Lt. Alenko explained that the Fourteen wheeler was carrying some sort of fuel and it was getting out of hand, Chief Anderson wanted them on the scene before a fire started, just in case.
Of course, in Shepard’s experience when they called her team in it meant things were going downhill, fast.
They arrived on the scene, rendezvousing with the police department, Shepard barking out the plan for getting the family trapped in the destroyed car out. “Alenko! Wrex! Jaws of life on the door!” she said, going to the Police unit already on the scene.
“Commander!” a familiar voice said, one of the taller police officers running over to her. “Office Vakarian. what’s the situation?”
Garrus sighs, shaking his head. “It’s bad. driver was drunk, there were kids in the car...” he says. “we got the parents out but those kids are trapped.”
Shepard nods, that was all she needed to hear. “Right, I've got Wrex and Alenko on it.” the chaos around them pulls them apart, and just as they were getting the children out of the car when the fourteen wheeler exploded.
Shepard was thrown back, her arms wrapped around the little girl to shield her from the blast. her ears were ringing, and it took her a few minutes to regain her bearings, passing the child off to Kaidan.
Someone stumbles away from the fire, just as another drops to the ground. she runs over to the person, panic surging through her when she realizes just who was lying at her feet.
“Officer down! we need immediate transport to Huerta Memorial!” Shepard yelled, crouching down and pulling the first aid kit from her gear. there was so much blood and shepard couldn’t find where it was coming from. third degree burns, shrapnel... she puts pressure on the gushing wound, blood seeping through the bandages quickly, too quickly. Garrus heaves, taking in a deep, wet breath, his lungs were collapsing.
Shepard worked fast, all her training in the front of her mind as others milled around her, trying to help but doing nothing. a shaking hand grasps over hers, sharp blue eyes looking up at her, full of fear. Panic at loosing her best friend makes her hands tremble, tears burning behind her eyes.”you’re going to be alright, Garrus, you’re going to be fine.” she whispers, forcing a smile. “Where is that fucking ambulance!?”
the sound of sirens breaks through her panic, EMT’s pulling Garrus’ body onto the stretcher. “i’m going with him.” Shepard demands as she enters the ambulance after Garrus is inside, the EMT’s closing the door and speeding off, sirens wailing in the dark.
The waiting room is quiet, and almost deserted. a cup of stale coffee in her hands, dried blood still coloring her skin. she stares blankly at the pale beige colored walls, her green eyes unfocused.
the sound of footsteps makes her jump, standing abruptly from the uncomfortable chair. the doctor approaches her. “Are you Jane Shepard?”
she nods, once slowly and then once more faster. “Yes, yes that's me. Is Garrus-” she stops herself, exhaustion making her slow down. the doctor nods, looking down at her charts. “Mr. Vakarian is fine, he’s out of surgery now and he’s awake, but he probably won’t be very coherent.”
“Can I see him?” she blurts, relief washing over her.
the doctor nods. “Yes. follow me please.”
she’s led to a room, the steady beep of the machines he’s hooked up to reminding her why she hates hospitals. the doctor leaves, shutting the door and giving them some privacy. Garrus’ face is half covered in bandages, so is part of his shoulder. his good eye opens, a sleepy smile on his lips. “they won’t give me a mirror, how bad is it?”
Shepard smiles, taking a seat beside his bed. “hell Garrus, you were always ugly, slap some makeup on it and you’ll be fine.” she squeezes his arm reassuringly. Garrus looks down at her hand, then back up at her. “are you my girlfriend?”
Shepard’s eyes widen at the question, reminding herself that he was probably so high on morphine he could touch the clouds. “ah, no.” she says, laughing. Garrus shrugs halfheartedly. “knew it. too pretty f’r me.” he slurs his words, eye closing sleepily.
Shepard smiles. “Get some rest Garrus. you need it.” Garrus doesn’t respond, but the soft snoring from him is indication enough.
Jane sits back in the chair, feeling like a hand is squeezing her heart. she looks up at the ceiling, finally letting the tears building up behind her eyes fall. she didn’t believe in a god, but whatever was out there she thanked them.
Thanked them for bringing him out safe.