The Renegade Adored

"People are asking whether this horrible tragedy could have been prevented," burbled the reporter, "but meanwhile, the corporation has announced plans to completely rebuild the section of the waterfront that flooded yesterday, promising to start with local contracts and employment for at least fifty percent of the project. Also, authorities have confirmed that all the bodies were known gang members, prompting some to wonder whether this was actually a gang-related incident, and not, as the corporation has asserted, an accident. We go live to the scene."
Hayden turned off the receiver, and brought up ColonyTown on her omni-tool instead.
"I was watching that," said Garrus calmly.
"It's boring. They want the insurance money, and they won't get it if they find any trace of foul play. Therefore, they won't find any trace of foul play."
Garrus turned the receiver back on anyway, and watched the events of yesterday, replayed through the reporter's wide-eyed mask of innocence and regret. "...but sadly, there are no survivors. In unrelated news, the tragic suicide of a former corporate employee highlights the dangers of depression prevalent among survivors of gang violence."
"Is there ever any good news?" he asked.
Hayden laughed. "Why? Who would watch?" She sat down next to him, and he pulled up the game on his omni-tool for her.
"Is there something wrong with my lap?"
"Wasn't sure if you were busy," she mumbled, and let him pull her into his arms so that they could play.
He waited patiently while she ran her virtual errands, knowing that she would start to talk when she wanted to and not a second before.
"There were five of them, in the crew. They killed my brother. I killed their leader years ago, and sent the rest of them to prison. They never should have gotten out." She didn't look up as she spoke. "But they did, somehow. Probably found a loophole. Yesterday, I took out another one."
"Your laws seem to be filled with loopholes," Garrus observed. "So, there are three left?"
Hayden nodded.
Garrus looked around the dingy, abandoned building where they were holed up. The outside of the building looked like it was about to come down at any second, but the inside was in much better shape. "So what are we doing here?"
"Waiting."
"Where did all this stuff come from?" The room was filled with dusty furnishings and boxes.
"Trace used to use this spot to store stuff. He hid out here when his wife was mad at him. I tracked him down once and he let me use it, but he made me promise not to tell Charlie."
Garrus tried not to react, not to show how pleased he was that she had finally mentioned the name. "Who is Charlie?"
"Charlie," she said slowly, "was my brother's half-brother. We grew up together."
"You didn't act like the two of you were friends when we met up with him yesterday."
Hayden finished her errands and turned off the game. "We grew apart," she said, her voice flat and emotionless. "I'm hungry. Do you want anything?" She slid off his lap and stood up.
Garrus stretched, to hide his disappointment. "I could use a drink," he said calmly. "But I need sleep more than anything else. Or some cuddling. Cuddling would be just as good."
She turned back to him, with a quiet smile. "Actually, that does sound nice. Let me get some food, first."
She handed him one of the cans from his bag, and he waited for her to finish an energy bar before he pulled her into his arms and stretched out on the couch. "Ah," he sighed with contentment. "My own personal heater," he grinned as Hayden laughed, and curled up on top of him. Garrus turned the receiver back on, and searched the movie channels for something to watch.
He didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he heard the door close. He sat up sharply, but Hayden was right there, checking a datapad.
"Oh, I didn't mean to wake you up," she apologized.
"What was that?"
"UPS guy."
"What?"
Hayden giggled. "Sorry, stupid Human thing. It was a delivery."
"Who would deliver something all the way out here?"
"UPS." She grinned. "They will deliver anything, anywhere, so long as you pay for it."
"What were they delivering?"
"Stuff," said Hayden slyly, "and a thing." She looked at Garrus, smiling. "I'm not gonna tell you until it's time! Now go back to sleep." Her smile softened. "Swimming a river to rescue a stranded girlfriend wears a guy out, doesn't it?"
Garrus smiled back at her. "It was worth it."
She came back to the couch and snuggled up to him. "Naptime."
He woke up to a loud noise again, and sat up to look around. He didn't see Hayden until she giggled at him. Garrus grinned up at her. "What are you doing?"
"I'm a monkey, a monkey," she sang. "I'm trying to fix a pipe." She was hanging upside down, swinging, from the exposed woodwork in the ceiling. "I dropped the wrench," she said unnecessarily, and pointed to it.
Garrus chuckled, and walked past her to pick up the wrench. A split second too late, the thought that she didn't actually need him to pick it up flashed through his mind, right before the lights exploded behind his eyes and he slumped to the floor.
Hayden rolled him over, knelt down beside him. "I'm sorry, Garrus." She leaned over and kissed his neck, rubbing her face against his. "I'm really sorry, but I have to do this alone to make it count." She stood, but didn't walk away, even though she knew he wouldn't be out for long. She watched him sleep, trying to work out what she was feeling. He stirred, and Hayden turned and ran away.
Garrus groaned in misery for his own stupidity before sitting up. "How did I fall for that?" He heard a strange noise in the distance, and realized it was a motor of some kind. "Dammit, Hayden." He touched the back of his head. "Dammit."