The Renegade Adored

Disloyalty: "And every day he strikes her, With a bright silver wand" (Fairy Tales, Traditional)

Kaidan stood up, forced himself to keep his balance. The Drell watched him curiously. Kaidan envied the Drell's calmness.
"How are you feeling?" the Drell asked.
"I'm all right," Kaidan answered. He looked around. Odd to find a Drell here on this remote mining station. The room was dingy, stained, well-used. Not clean and sterile like an Alliance clinic would be. There was something real about this clinic. This was a place where people lived and died. Kaidan closed his eyes for a moment. Something at the edge of his memory was bothering him. "Someone was screaming," he said, unsure.
"Yes," said the Drell. "Was that bothering you?"
Kaidan looked sharply at the Drell, but couldn't read the alien eyes. "Screaming isn't normal." He paused, eyes closed again, trying to remember. "Was there a woman? Or was I imagining things?"
"There was," the Drell calmly. "She was having seizures from the drug. She's better now."
"Seizures? What the hell was that stuff?"
The Drell folded his hands together. "We'll never know. All the pirates are dead, and all their stockpiles destroyed."
Kaidan groaned. "Well, that's a humiliating end to my mission." He rubbed his head miserably. "I need to get back there, see if there is any data I can salvage."
"Mission?" The Drell asked. "Are you from the Alliance?"
Kaidan nodded. "I was supposed to be tracking down a new illegal drug." He pressed his hands to his eyes, trying to block out a sudden pain. "Man, that stuff has a serious kick."
"You should practice meditation," said the Drell serenely. "However, I admit the aftertaste is quite terrible."
Kaidan grinned.
In the hallway beyond, Garrus listened to Kaidan and Thane's conversation. He wasn't sure what to do, or what would be best for Hayden. He slipped back into the room where Hayden was lying, quiet and still for once.
She heard him enter, smiled weakly at him.
Garrus carefully stroked her hair, felt her relax. "Do you want to talk to him?" he asked uncertainly.
"Does he know?"
Garrus shook his head. "He was out cold for most of it. He wants to go back and see if he can find any data on their operation."
Hayden pressed her lips together. "No, I... I don't want him to know. Just let him go."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't want to talk to him right now. Just let him go," she repeated.
Garrus stroked her cheek, calming her again. He could tell she was upset, frustrated. She fidgeted a little, but the warmth and weight of Garrus' hand never failed to soothe her. Hayden lay still and let herself be petted.
Mordin came back in, humming, and disconnected the IV and medical equipment. "Let's get her back to the ship," said Mordin briskly. "Nothing more to do here."
"Is the Alliance officer gone?" asked Garrus.
"Thane is walking him back to the remains of the pirate base."
Garrus wrapped Hayden in a blanket, lifted her in his arms. She sighed with happy satisfaction, and laid her head on his shoulder, half asleep. He held her tighter for a moment, a sudden unexpected hug. "You scared me half to death, Shepard." Garrus brushed his face against hers, drinking in her warmth and her scent. Listening to her pulse, her breathing. "I thought I was going to lose you again," he whispered.
Hayden put her arm around his neck, too drowsy to do much more. Suddenly it struck her that he wasn't talking about the fight, or the drugs. "Oh, Garrus, never," she whispered back. "I would never!" She fought off her weakness long enough to sit up, and put her arms tightly around him.