Sole Survivor, Mako Driver

It's been less than two days since Shepard woke up, to be informed that no, Kaidan wasn't dead, and any more than that would have to wait until she was 'better'. She wasn't sure what to think of that, but at least they aren't Cerberus, and that's the main thing.

They already had her doing physical rehabilitation, and, being who she is, it was going incredibly well, even if Shepard herself thought it was going painfully slowly. A little over ten steps at a time may be a big deal for some doctor who doesn't know her, but she's Commander Goddamn Shepard, Sole Survivor of Akuze, Saviour of the Citadel, Uniter of Intergalactic Species, First Human Spectre, Destroyer of the Reapers. Those are the names she's heard the nurses whispering around, anyway. Whatever the reputation she has built herself, it is somewhat galling to have returned from death itself, then let something like this cripple her. Ten steps at a time in almost two days is not Jane Shepard's idea of progress.

“Alright. That's enough for today, you'll wear yourself out, Jane.”

Shepard scowls at the head physiotherapist. “But I...”

“But nothing! You've been at it for three half hour sessions today, that's quite enough after waking up from a five year coma. Your muscles and joints will have deteriorated from such little use, you can't,”

Shepard drowns the woman's words out, nods her head, and purposefully stumbles back to her room instead of using the wheelchair they have for her. When she gets back to the room, as little as she wants to admit it to herself, Shepard is worn out. Refusing the nurses' assistance, she lifts herself onto the bed, and says to them the same thing she says every time she goes to sleep.

“Wake me when Kaidan gets here.”

* 0 * 0 * 0 *
She wakes up to muffled whispers in the hospital. Irritated, she almost turns over to go back to sleep, but then realises she's the only person in this half of the ward – which means either they're talking about something they don't want her to hear, or, someone else is here. Either way it's something to go and investigate. Shuffling off the edge of the bed, Shepard braces herself against the ward walls, and prepares for the walk along the ward corridors.

Step by step, Shepard reaches the nurses' station, where an argument seems to be taking place between the ward sister and a voice that sounds like a turian.

“...Can't bring him here, this is a human military hospital! We're supposed to be,”

“So because he's not human, he can't get treatment? Us turians helped you in your war effort, you know! You humans are all racist!”

Shepard laughed out loud at that – here was someone she knew, at least! The turian obviously heard her, as peeking round the corner, she saw him whip round, glaring into corners to see where her laugh had come from.

“And now one of yours is laughing at me!”

The nurse looked suitably peeved at Shepard's laugh (Okay, maybe it hadn't been the best timing), but carried on with her refusal of the turian patient. “If you'd let me finish Sir, I was about to say that this is a small out of the way hospital, and for some patients it is crucial they not be found.”

“I know that, human! Our Commander has a friend here, that's how we knew it was here!” The turian shouted.

“Then you'll also know we have little security here, due to post war budgets, and couldn't handle any major security breaches that may happen due to several turians appearing at the hospital! I would ask you to leave; there's a hospital less than an hour from here that should suffice.” The nurse replied wearily.

“Commander Vakarian won't survive the journey!” The angry turian shouted again.

Shepard did a double take. Vakarian... Garrus was here? ...Shit, Garrus was injured? And the damn nurse was refusing to take him in?

Stepping out from around the corner, Shepard cleared her throat, and both the turian and the human nurse turned round to look at her.

“Jane! What are you doing out of bed!” The sister chastised. “You've had your physio for the day, get back to bed now!”

Crossing her arms, Shepard slowly shook her head. “If you want me to pass any of my damn milestones without wearing myself into the ground, you'll let Garrus Vakarian into the hospital. If you let my best friend die because of some damn regs, then you can swear on your ass you won't hear the end of it.”

The nurse glared at her. “And what about security, then? How are we meant to keep this hospital secure if these turians are constantly coming and going? It's not just your safety that's at stake here, there are other patients who need anonymity too.”

Shepard turned to look at the turian who had been talking earlier. “How many of you are there, besides Garrus?”

“...Four.” he replied.

“Okay. So two of you guard Garrus, two of you guard other high risk patients. It's a win win scenario. Garrus gets medical treatment, and the hospital,” she said turning to the sister, “Gets two extra military trained guards. They won't impact on the hospital's food supplies, as they're dextro aminos, so will I would hope have their own food with them?” She turned back to the turian. He nodded. “So we have no problems, and a substantial gain for the hospital in guarding. Now are you going to take him in, or do I need to remind you of your Hippocratic Oath?”

Rolling her eyes, the sister eventually nodded her head. “Fine, cut the drama, we'll treat him. If your men could bring him in?” She turned to the other turian.

Nodding his head, the turian went to call his teammates. “Fine. But have a medical team ready, he's lost a lot of blood. We stabilised him as much as we could with medi gel, but he's pretty much unresponsive.”

Shepard grimaced. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

The nurse shot her a world-weary glare. “You could help by going back to your room and resting. I'm sure you want to see your friend, but waiting In doorways won't change anything, and if I can avoid getting a member of hospital staff guarding you from doing a disappearing act again, that's one more for your friend.”

Shepard rolled her eyes. “I've been out for hours now. I'll go to my room, but can you send me a jigsaw or something?”

“I'll send one of the damn turians to talk with you. Now, Get. To. Bed!”

Shepard smiled her signature smirk, and mock-saluted. “Yes, Ma'am!”