Hey there everyone! This is the final chapter of Soldiers and Cops, but don't worry, I will be continuing the story in a sequel called Soldiers and Spies. I'll be posting the first chapter of the new fic soon. Let me know what y'all think. Please read and review. Enjoy!

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The stench of alcohol and body odor emanated from him like a poisonous cloud driving everyone away from him. That's how he wanted it. So many people had died simply after being in close proximity to him. His parents, the other colonists on the slave ship, Ashley, and now Claire.

Luke hid himself in the shadows of the auditorium that served as Claire's memorial ceremony. Tears stung his reddened eyes as he watched the blue uniformed soldiers salute as the blue and white flag was folded over Claire's empty casket. Luke pulled the hood of his hoodie down lower and zipped it up to the neck, trying desperately to hide his face from the guests that might recognize him.

He had debated with himself for days on whether or not he would attend the ceremony, but in the end he knew he needed to be here. There was no way he was missing the funeral. Not even his shame could force him to dishonor Claire like that. He owed her his life more times than he could count, and now he had cost Claire hers.

Luke could see Councilor Anderson and Mallory sitting up front as Admiral Hacket gave the commencement speech. Behind them the rest of the crew sat silent, wiping their eyes. He could see Garrus doing his best not to sob as a holo of Claire appeared on the screen above Hackett. Tali and Liara were holding each other's hands as Wrex sat motionless and silent. It was the easiest way to tell a Krogan was in mourning. Silent, motionless, and sober happened to be the tell-tale signs of Krogan sorrow. Though the last one Luke did not full comprehend. He felt a little better the more whiskey he funneled down his throat. Luke pulled a silver flask from his hoodie pocket and took a long drag sating his thirst for the moment.

"There aren't too many things about Commander Claire Shepard that you could say without it being an understatement," Hackett began. "She was one of the greatest soldiers I ever had the pleasure to command. Stubborn in her convictions and loyal to her sense of duty. I know I didn't have the opportunity to know the commander as well as I would have liked, but seeing everyone here, looking at the things that she accomplished and feeling the sorrow that her passing has brought speaks volumes of who she was. The first human spectre, N7, Star of Terra recipient, Hero of the Skyllian Blitz, and Savior of the Citadel. All of these are titles that were granted to her for her bravery and accomplishments but they do not describe the woman she was. I want to introduce humanities first Councilor, David Anderson, who will tell us what he remembers about the commander."

Hackett stepped down as Anderson stood. Luke could see the man had been crying and there was nothing that broke his heart more than seeing a veteran, a solid soldier who has seen his share of death, crying at the loss of one of his people.

"I trained the commander," Anderson started, "but I like to say that I only uncovered the potential that Shepard already had in her. She was the finest soldier I ever served with and an amazing person. She had the compassion of a nurse, the brutality of a special ops sniper, and the brilliance of any scientist. Though if anyone ever tried to get her off the frontlines, she's beat them into the ground until she got transferred back." Anderson allowed a small smile to come to his face at the more positive memories of Claire. "She had a wonderful sense of humor. She could always take a joke in stride."

Luke smiled thinking about the pranks that he pulled not only on the Normandy but even back on Mindoir. Claire had always laughed at them, even if they were played on her. He missed that laugh, he missed that girl that picked on him just to get a rise out of him only to turn around and laugh because it was funny when Luke got mad.

Luke listened to the rest of Anderson's speech about how Claire was everything a commanding officer wanted in a soldier and everything anyone wanted in a friend, but that was all Luke could take. He slipped out the door and dug in his pocket for his flask.

First Mom and Dad, then Ashley, now Claire. Am I just an omen of death for people? Luke knocked back a shots worth of the whiskey before stowing the flask in his back pocket.

He peeked back inside. Mallory was at the podium now talking about their life growing up together. How Claire and Mallory would braid each other's hair, talk about the boys they liked, and tried to survive Luke's constant pranks and jokes. "Claire always knew what to say to calm me down. She was the peace maker out of all of us, and when you have both a sister and a brother that are the same age as you, that's hard to do."

Luke shook his head and closed the door once more. Taking another swig from his flask, he sat down on the stairs leading up to the door and started to cry. It's my fault Claire. I'm so sorry. If I had just remembered to turn on my stupid amp you'd be safe. Or if I had gone to get Joker… or just told joker to leave in the first place. I did everything wrong. I'm so sorry Claire. I'm sorry… "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Luke shivered from head to toe as tears ran down his face.

"I guess you didn't want to go in?" Garrus said sitting down next to Luke.

Luke looked over at his friend before burying his head in his hands once more. "It's my fault, Garrus. If I had just turned on my amp, she'd be okay."

"Or if I had dragged her to the escape pod with me… or if Joker had abandon ship when he was supposed to… or if we had had more time to react to the attack. The fact is, 'what if's will drive us crazy. You know that, Shepard. We've been C-Sec long enough to know that sometimes things happen that we just can't change…no matter how much we want to." Luke could hear his friend starting to cry as another pair of arms encircled the pair of them. Luke quickly recognized the white sleeves of the dress as Liara's.

"It is good to see you, Luke. We have all miss you," Liara said squeezing him a little tighter. Luke leaned into the embrace as she lay her head on Luke's shoulder in between him and Garrus.

"I…"Luke started but the tears overwhelmed him once again. How could they still care so much about him? He couldn't understand how they were still able to even look at him after his stupid mistake cost Claire her life.

"You!? How dare you show your face after all of this! You left me in there on my own!" The shrill and judgmental voice could only be one person. The very person Luke had been doing his best to avoid since they Normandy crew had been rescued. The person Luke knew could never forgive him for his failure.

"Mallory, we all are at fault for Claire, do not blame all of this on Luke," Liara snapped. Luke placed a hand on Liara's leg. It was all he could reach while still seated on the steps.

"It doesn't matter, he should've had the decency to pay his respects." Mallory paused as if waiting for a response before marching out in front of him and standing with her hands on her hips as if she were about to scold him like a child. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Slowly rising to his feet, Luke looked his sister dead in the eye. He knew it was his fault, but she had no right to hang all the blame on him. Had he not punished himself enough.

"I wish it'd been you." The words, spoken in the coldest tone Luke had ever heard escape his mouth, silenced everything around him.

Mallory remained silent as her jaw moved trying to form words. Luke lifted his flask to his lips taking a deep drink, then pushed past his sister. No…his sister was dead. Dead because of him. Because he made a stupid mistake.

000

Luke perched himself on the stool at Flux. He already killed a bottle that night, but desired euphoric effect was taking longer and longer to kick in. Doran had been good to him, letting him stay in the small apartment through the supply closet so he did not have to leave.

Most weeks, Luke remained unbothered at the bar. With the Normandy crew disbanding and going their separate ways, Luke found himself more alone than ever.

Wrex had returned to his planet, hoping to prepare the krogan for the fight against the Reapers uniting the clans. Luke had wished him luck, bought him a drink, and that was the last he heard or saw of the krogan.

Like they had talked about, Garrus put in an application for spectre training and spent most of his time running classified operations meant to sharpen his skills and mind to be an effective weapon for the Council. Luke had not heard from him in well over three weeks.

Done with her pilgrimage, Tali returned to the fleet with the data the team had retrieved from the geth. She had tried contacting him a few times wanting to talk tech and keep developing their skills as engineers, but Luke did not answer. He didn't think that he would be of any use.

Liara kept in constant contact. She checked on him at least twice a week trying to make sure he was still alive most likely. The first few times that Luke had ignored her message, she threatened to come and find him unless he answered. He gave in. She was living on Illium mostly, though she traveled some, trying to make a living as an information broker. Seemed like a decent enough career for her. Digging for the truth and sifting through facts was after all her forte.

"Luke Shepard, I have a proposition for you," a woman said taking the seat next to him. Luke glanced over at his newly arrived company. Attractive to say the least, the woman wore a tight body suit. Was she a new dancer for Doran? No…she's armed and a biotic. He could see the faintest scars of an implant as the woman flipped her hair over her shoulder. She turned to face him head on leaning on the bar.

She is trying to use seduction. Nice try, I've used that several times myself. Luke thought as he took a slow breath.

"You got the wrong guy," Luke said setting his gaze back on his drink.

"I don't think so. My employer is very interested in acquiring your specific skills," the woman stated taking Luke's drink and downing it herself.

"Listen lady, I'm here to drink, not hire a prostitute. You've got plenty of choices in here. Now leave me to my drinks," Luke snarled snatching his glass from her and refilling it.

"No one else served on the Normandy with Commander Claire Shepard."

Luke froze with the rim of his glass up against his wrist. Wait, is she wanting me because I served with Claire?

"I'm listening," Luke said shortly before up ending his glass.

"We have been presented with the funding and the opportunity to recover Commander Shepard," the woman stated. Luke was starting to really pay attention. The Australian accent drew him in, though not in a sensual way. He wanted details. Even if it was just to recover Claire's body, it would be worth it to lay her to rest properly.

"The Alliance sent search teams to Alchera to try and find the body. They couldn't find any trace of her except part of her armor," Luke said turning to face her.

"That is because the shadow broker has her body. My employer wants to give you all the support you might need to take it from him so that we can bring her back."

Luke stopped and stared at the woman. "Bring her back? You mean like back from the dead or something. That's impossible."

"Lazarus," the woman said looking him dead in the eye. Luke pushed his glass away and leaned forward.

"What do you need from me?"