Wow, not many reviews for the last chapter, and so killing this fanfic in its tracks. (sigh)  But moreover, I don't want to go too much forward with missions since Mass Effect is planned for a trilogy of which i have no inkling of.

Waiting Once Again

The Normandy was waiting for Shepard and Wrex for three minutes before they came stumbling into the drop bay with the Mako. Dr. Chakwas was already waiting for Ashley on the lower deck. Joker could only fret and wait at his chair as Ashley was attended to in the medical bay. The pilot felt a sense of déjà vu, finding the somber state of the ship similar to when Shepard was carted in after Eden Prime.

But this felt different. The mood might have been somber all those months ago, but everybody was confident Shepard would pull through. The beacon on Eden Prime was Prothean made, and nothing the Protheans made had ever harmed a human. Ashley was injured by the geth. An enemy that again and again proved just how ruthless machines could be. And now with this recent upgrade, they were more dangerous than before.

Joker once again clicked the feed to medical bay. Dr. Chakwas was still leaning over the Gunnery Chief and keeping a recorded medical log of the procedure. "There is a strange neurotoxin coursing through Ms. Williams' bloodstream. I have no doubt this is due to the supposed weapon upgrade from the geth. The toxin is preventing proper clotting. While there is some clotting, it is not sufficient for the wounds, nor is up to minimal human standards. Luckily," Dr. Chakwas paused to pick up a geth rifle. "Commander Shepard brought one of the rifles aboard and we were able to isolate the toxin. If my formula is correct, the antidote I just administered should work. However, side effects are unknown."

Joker turned off the feed, but could not relax. He could not calm down until Ashley was resting and safely in his arms at his earliest opportunity. "I assume you were listening in Jeffrey," came the doctor's voice over the comm.

"Yes doctor, thank you."

"She'll be fine Joker," came Shepard's voice from behind the pilot's chair.

Joker only grunted in response, and continued watching the screen, trying to will Ashley back to health. The commander only walked away, shaking his head. Even Dr. Chakwas left to get into a sleeper pod after her hours of hard work. As the Normandy continued to run silent, the skeleton crew was cycled in during the artificial night. Joker's eyes only left the medical wing feed to make adjustments to his beloved ship before darting back.

Joker found his eyes drooping as the feed made him drowsy. "Come on Joker, stay awake. Shouldn't be too hard." The pilot rubbed his eyes in frustration and glanced back at the ship's diagnostics. Satisfied, Joker turned back to the medical feed only to find Ashley writhing on the examination bed. Even from the feed, the pilot could see Ashley was covered in sweat ad still shaking as if she was being chilled. As quickly as he could, Joker vented the gas from Dr. Chakwas' sleeper pod, awakening the woman.

"She must be having an adverse reaction," the doctor stated as if it were a matter of fact rushing from the sleeper pod bay to the medical wing. In one swift motion, the doctor both restrained Ashley, and administered a sedative. "A good catch Jeffrey. Ashley should thank her lucky stars you were watching."

"Almost wasn't," Joker muttered.

"I'll stay with her the rest of the way. Please get some sleep."

"Fine, but I'm stopping in before I go to the pod," the pilot added before gathering his crutches and slapping on the autopilot.

Walking to towards the stairs was a very disheartening experience. Whenever another crewmember saw Joker, they averted their eyes or gave him an attempt at a reassuring smile. To the pilot, it was if everybody had already assumed Ashley was doomed. Once at the bottom of the steps, Dr. Chakwas was waiting for him at the entrance to the medical wing. "I'll give you some time alone and then it's off to bed young man."

"Yes ma'am," Joker said with a mock salute.

The doors slid open to reveal the Gunnery Chief sleeping under the sedative. "Get over here mister," came Ashley's groggy voice.

"I'm only stopping in for a moment, to tuck you in," Joker whispered, settling into the chair next to her. "How are you?"

"I'm good thanks to you I hear," Ashley said, taking the pilot's hand. "My guardian angel."

"Or stalker lover."

"You know, I stayed by your bedside after that exercise bike incident…and you weren't even in mortal danger," the Gunnery Chief noted, the drowsiness quickly reclaiming its hold.

"And so I'll do the same," Joker whispered into her ear and wrapped an arm around Ashley's lean frame.

"I'd like that," Ashley said contently before snuggling into the pilot's shoulder.

Joker could only smile as Ashley drifted off to sleep in his arms. "Goodnight my warrior. Sleep well." The pilot could only hold onto Ashley and think of what the future could hold for the two of them. With the Reapers still in dark space, and now the geth more imposing than ever, Joker was glad he was the one in the ship. However, he could not help but fear for Ashley's safety, as the galaxy seemed to be falling apart around them. And now, Joker had one more thing to protect. More important than Arcturus, Shepard, the Normandy, and even his father's botanical project back on Earth. "I will protect you with everything I am."

So thank you to my faithful readers, I''m officially out of ideas for Mass Effect fanfiction.  Maybe I'll head back to Star Wars with The Force Unleashed.