"This is it. The final chapter. I didn't know it would be going into it, but then it suddenly felt right. Again, you'll probably notice a slight style change. I've learned so much during this. It took me forever to write and edit this one as I was trying out some new things.

If you happen to feel sad about this being the end, I'm thinking of writing a couple epilogue chapters. If you are a reader reading this within a few days after publication, let me know if you would be interested in such a thing. It'd be great practice for me at the least, as this whole story has been. I can't believe we've made it this far, you and I. Thanks so much for reading. Oh and if you've been with me from the beginning...thank you. I never stopped thinking about finishing this story for you. - Xel

"So Garrus. If they told you everything-"

"Not everything. I still don't know how you got here."

"But they told you that I don't remember a lot of things. Like my crew on the Normandy." Shepard's voice was low and strained. "I don't remember anything about you."

It was hard to breathe, suddenly. The air felt like it had vanished from Garrus' lungs. To actually hear from the lips of the woman he loved that she didn't remember him…. He cleared his throat. What should he say? The doctor had advised against telling Shepard about their relationship yet. It made sense even if he didn't like it. He had already told himself he wasn't going to make it any harder on her than he needed to.

"Well…you know my name. That I'm a turian, obviously." Garrus grimaced. "And you can probably tell that I'm awful at talking about myself."

Shepard smiled. She never did seem to mind his awkwardness.

"On the Normandy," he said, sitting a little straighter. "I handled maintaining the guns. In combat, I was the sniper," Garrus said. He really wasn't sure what to say. Their history together couldn't be boiled down to just a few sentences.

"How did we meet?" Shepard asked.

"We met while you were trying to get the Council to listen to you about Saren. I was a C-sec officer investigating some claims about Saren going rogue. I was trying to buy more time to nail him when you walked up," Garrus paused. "Did they tell you about that?"

Shepard nodded. "Yeah. I know the gist of it. They told me everything Shep - I did, up until they lost contact with me," she said. "Sounded like it was hell back then."

"Yeah. Actually, it was always pretty much hell," Garrus said with a laugh. He stared at the blue sky. It reminded him of one of their dates on the Citadel. And anything was easier than looking at Shepard right now.

"So you've been with me up till now?" Shepard asked.

"When I could be. After you di-" Garrus broke off again. Though they hadn't been in a relationship back then, it was still difficult to talk about. "-after the Collectors destroyed the first Normandy, we all split up. Then you ended up saving my ass back on Omega." Yet another time he didn't like to think about, except for the part when Shepard showed up. Meeting up with her again had changed his luck for good. Or so he had thought.

"We - the crew - split up again for six months when you were being held by the Alliance. Then we met up when you saved my ass again." Shepard's confinement. That had almost been as bad as her death. Wondering if she was going to be okay, wondering if he'd ever see her again, and wondering if - when they did – would she still want him? Are there no good memories to talk about? I guess Shepard's was the only good thing in the past few years. "But yeah. The rest of the time Tali and I were with you from the beginning of this Reaper mess," Garrus said. "Tali'zorah vas Normandy. She's a quarian engineer. Admiral actually," he added.

Shepard didn't say anything. Garrus hazarded a look at her. Her eyes were distant, not really seeing. "When I was told about all this," she began slowly, "it was like it had happened to someone else. But now that you're here - hearing you talk about it – it all seems so familiar. Especially Tali's name."

"You were always pretty good friends," Garrus said.

"...And what about you and me?" Shepard asked.

Garrus swallowed. He could feel Shepard's eyes at him. Did she suspect something?

"Yeah. We're...we were good friends too," he said. "For a long time," Garrus murmured, "it felt like you were my only friend," He felt Shepard staring at him again and, realizing what he had said, decided to change the subject.

"Your turn. How'd you wind up here? How'd they find you?"

"They couldn't. Not at first. They had declared me dead. So many died during the war, and there was so much damage…who could blame them? But then..." Shepard shifted to turn toward Garrus. "Have you heard of someone named Conrad Verner?"

Garrus stared at Shepard then barked a laugh. "Yeah, I remember him. Wait, you're not telling me..."

Shepard nodded. "Apparently Conrad was the one that led a search party for me. He was completely convinced I wasn't dead. They searched the debris from the Citadel for days," she said. "When they finally found me I was barely alive. I heard that they didn't even believe omnitool readings at first, my body was so wrecked." Shepard shook her head. "But when they found me, I was sitting up against some of the rubble. They think I must have walked and fell there myself. I don't know how, but it's a good thing I did. If I had been under that rubble still, I doubt they'd ever have found me."

Shepard sighed. "I had multiple fractures, broken bones, lacerations, burns, internal bleeding, a collapsed lung, brain damage...you name it, I messed it up somehow." She laughed a little. There wasn't much humor to it though. "They said anyone else would have been long dead, even a krogan. The only thing keeping me going was my cybernetics. They were forcing my heart to keep pumping. Docs said the level of my cybernetics was 'like 'nothing they had ever seen'. Had to bring in the top techs in the galaxy just to figure out how to fix me without screwing them up," Shepard said.

"Guess I have Cerberus to thank for spending so much money on me." Shepard placed her hands on the bench and leaned back, looking up at the sky. "And then after all that, I can't remember a damn thing."

Garrus looked at Shepard then. She was still looking up. Her black hair shone in the sunlight, the scars stood out clearly from her soft skin. But her blue eyes were empty and dull, the way they had often looked at the end of the Reaper war. He wanted to hold her more than ever, tell her it was okay that she didn't remember, because he still did. Instead he stood up, avoiding the temptation.

"Even if you don't remember, everyone else still does," he said. "That's why they wanted to help you. Because you've helped so many people Shepard," Garrus said. "Besides, you remembered my name didn't you? If you can recall something as small as my name, I'm sure the rest will come back, eventually."

Shepard's tired eyes fell upon Garrus. They seemed more alive somehow. "You're right. Thanks, Garrus."

Garrus nodded. A comfortable silence fell between them. Something had passed between them, maybe a shadow of the intimacy they had once had. Things still felt weird, but definitely less so.

Garrus exhaled. He couldn't put it off any longer. He turned to Shepard.

"So what next?" Shepard said.

Garrus couldn't hide his surprise. Worrying had been pointless it seemed. "What do you mean?"

"Does the Alliance want me back? Will they...take me back? I'm pretty much damaged goods now. Not that I wasn't before, but this time..." Shepard patted her leg. "My body's just not the same anymore, Garrus. I don't think I'll ever be back to one hundred percent. Guess I overdid it this time."

Garrus stared at Shepard. They hadn't told him this.

"What do you mean? What's...what's wrong?"

Shepard clasped her hands together, elbows on her knees. "Nothing in particular, and well, everything too. I just can't always get my body to respond the way I want it to. They said the damage to the brain has basically healed but it'll never be exactly the same," she said.

"I even don't know if my personality is the same. Can't wreck your entire body without coming out with some scars I guess." Shepard looked at the grass beneath them. "But I have nothing else. All I know how to be is a soldier. I don't know what else I could do once I'm out. I don't know if someone like me can do anything else besides fight."

Garrus' hands tightened into fists. This wasn't right. Shepard had given up everything. Her entire life had been dedicated to serving others, and she had sacrificed what was left of it without hesitation twice now. She had done it all for the Alliance, for Earth, for the galaxy. And now she was left with a ravaged body and nowhere to go. It was a reality that he had heard many Alliance soldiers faced. But Shepard is a hero, damn it. None of us would be there if it wasn't for her.

Yet the fact remained that a shattered woman sat before him, not even sure if she still had a place in the same galaxy she had given her life to save.

Damn it, it shouldn't be this way. I have to do something.

Garrus kneeled in front Shepard and took her hands. She looked up at him, her eyes wide.

"I don't know if the Alliance wants you to serve, but you do have somewhere to go. Before he died, Admiral Anderson left his apartment to you. I don't know if that sector was damaged, but you do have a place to go. A home. You're a hero, Shepard. I'm sure- I know the Alliance will take care of you," he said. "And you're not alone. You have...friends. That care about you more than anything. And they'll help you get through this. If you let them."

Shepard searched his face. Garrus, aware of how close they were, let go of her hands and stood up.

"I don't know what to say, Garrus." Shepard said finally. "I've been down for months…no, it's more than that. Whatever it is, I've been feeling it since I woke up." Her voice began to waver. "And then I couldn't stand myself for feeling that way. Not when I'm supposed to be the great Commander Shepard. They wouldn't tell me anything. My family's long dead, and I thought I had no home or friends," Shepard said. "And then mister Vakarian just walks into my life one day and tells me I do have people who care about me, that I have a place to go...I just..." Shepard shook her head, smiling. She grabbed at her eyes, trying to wipe tears away.

Garrus had never seen her cry before. Except in her sleep, sometimes. though he'd never told her. He wasn't sure what he should do, since all he wanted to do was hold her and never let go. So he just turned his head while she composed herself.

"One of the last things I said to you," he said after a few minutes, "was that we're in this together. I meant it, Shepard."

Shepard smiled. "You're a great friend, Garrus" she said. "Just…don't tell anyone you saw the Commander cry or I'll have to kill you."

"Got it," Garrus said, smiling now too. "Any other orders, Commander?"

"Hmm…You have to come visit me," Shepard said.

"Visit you? Well… I guess I can manage that," Garrus said.

Shepard pointed at Garrus and tried to sound commanding. "Everyday, Vakarian,"

Garrus saluted her. "Everyday, Shepard."