Tammy's Final fanfiction

Two Times the Problem
Fandom: Mass Effect 2
(Mass Effect is a game set in the future where space travel is the norm and humans live amongst aliens. Shepard is the Commander of the Normandy, a space flight battleship. Shepard and her crew travel to other planets in different universes to fix problems. Their main purpose, though, is to save the entire human race from the feared Reapers, a god-like alien race set on destroying all of humanity.)

"Sorry, Shepard. Can it wait?"

Again and again. The same excuses. Shepard was getting a tad bit ticked off. What was his problem?
Shepard doesn't even get two words in and Garrus is already rejecting Shepard's offer to talk.

She pauses before saying, "I'll let you work."

Shepard turns around and walks off rather nonchalantly. She didn't want to worry Garrus but she did wanted him to know that she wants an answer soon.
Garrus never looks up from the control panel but his expression was rather pained as he stared hard at the holographic buttons.

------

Shepard is in her quarters, lying on the bed in deep thought. Her radio softly playing music she had downloaded from the extranet. Illegally.

"EDI, what should I do? What did I do wrong? Why won't Garrus speak to me?" As Shepard complained to the AI and massaged her temples. "He's been avoiding me ever since I broke it to the crew that I'm going out with Thane."

"I would not know the schematics of biochemistry between Turians, Drell, and Humans. I am not programmed to dwell on such things." EDI speaks from her projectory hologram.

"I... what."

"Nothing, Commander."

"Come on, EDI, you can't just say nothing! It's killing me here!" Shepard throws her pillow at the direction of the AI's voice.

"I suggest you go and talk to the Turian once more."

Shepard quickly sits up from her bed and faces the hologram. "You know what? I think I will."

"Good."

"I will grab his shoulder. I will spin him around to face me. And then I'll--"

Shepard stops and stares.

"You'll?" EDI inquires.

"I... I..." The commander of Normandy is for once in shock. "EDI, can you leave me alone for a while."

"Yes, of course, Commander." There is a quick electronic blip and EDI is silent.

How can this be? I want to kiss.... Garrus? Shepard thinks with incredibility. But... Aren't I in love with Thane? 


The fearless commander was in quite a dilemma.
-------


"Garrus."

"Sorry, Shepard, Can it wait? I still have to tweak the calibr--"

"Shut up and turn around, Turian."

The authoritative tone Shepard takes on makes Garrus freeze. His fingers hovering over the holographic keyboard. He slowly turns his body toward the commander.

Her expression was of confusion, indecisiveness and another strong emotion the Turian couldn't put his finger on. Suddenly Garrus was confused himself. He's never seen the commander look this way; He's witnessed Shepard go through many emotions while working with her on the Normandy - Sadness, Grief, Anger, Happiness... but never like this.

"Shepard--"

"Don't talk. Let me do the talking."

Garrus quirks an eyebrow. What in the galaxy's name is Shepard thinking?

The commander walks slowly towards the alien and holds her hand out toward his face. She strokes his scar.

"Thank you for always being by my side. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for everything. Sorry for dragging you into this mess." She lightly traces over Garrus' old wound.

"Shepard, what's gotten into you?"

"I'm so stupid." She whispers softly.

Garrus stares. Did she just call herself stupid? The great commander of the Normandy? Former Spectre of the citadel council. Stupid? Garrus hopes to the Turian god that this isn't a dream.


"Are you running a fever, Commander?"

Shepard breathes out slowly. "No, just... be quiet for a minute." She rests her head on the tough armor plating of the Turian and wraps her arms around his body. Garrus stands there stiffly, not knowing what to do.

"Haha... Do you have a crush on me or something silly like that, human?"

"Maybe I do." She smiles into his chest. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to realise."

-----

Shepard is awkwardly sitting across the Drell assassin.

She coughs before she starts saying, "I'm sorry, Thane. I can't... I just can't love a dying man."

"I... understand, Siha." Thane bows his head and rests his forehead on his interlocked fingers. "I love you so much."

The word 'love' leaves a deep pang of pain in Shepard's heart. She feels guilt for letting Thane down but a human's heart is a fickle thing. Deep down she knew that she didn't love Thane in the same way as she loved Garrus.

"Goodbye, Thane."