Chapter 118: Across Time and Space

=== Summary ===
Badly injured, Garrus fights for his life. As he tries to reach Shepard, Free-Flickering-Flame helps keep him from dying. She buys enough time for Kaiden and Wynn to hack the door, and for Kaidan to use his biotics to seal up the gushing wound long enough for Wynn to apply the medigel to seal the nicked aorta. They rush him back to the Normandy, to be seen by Dr. Chakwas.
Shepard, feeling Garrus’s scream and knowing something was badly wrong, tries to hail the Normandy. When she gets no response, she fears the worst. 
As she holds Garrus’ mind, Free-Flickering-Flame realizes that she cannot hear Shepard Mothersinger. She is greatly disturbed by this, but for now she must focus on keeping Garrus alive. However, once Garrus is out of danger, she promises herself that she is going to find out what has silenced Shepard’s song.
Shepard confronts Hackett about not being able to reach the Normandy, and while he says that there’s not been any sign that something has happened, he asks Shepard what they could do if something has happened. Shepard realizes to her horror that the Normandy can’t be found if they don’t want to be, and there is nothing either of them can do. Hackett gently tells her that if they hear something, she’ll be the first to know. When he asks about how much she has been sleeping, he finds her answers unsatisfactory. He orders her to requisition whatever she needs to take care of herself. She tells him “yes sir”, but her shame increases over her body’s refusal to do as she wants.
Almost five hours later, Shepard finally receives the hail from the Normandy while she is feeding Viatrix. Dr. Chakwas tells Shepard that Garrus was injured fighting Minos operatives. Chakwas goes into details about Garrus’ injury- and while he is very, very lucky to be alive, the Normandy needs to bring him to Palaven for surgery. But he should live- just with some additional scars and recovery time. Chakwas promises to keep Shepard in the loop, but prescribes breakfast for both her and Vi, along with something relaxing. Her suggestion: introduce Viatrix to bubble baths.
Much to Shepard’s surprise, and despite most turian’s dislike of water, Viatrix loves the bubble bath. As the two of them sit together enjoying the warm water, Garrus reaches out to them. After reassuring him that he’s not going to leave them, and he reaffirms that he loves them both, Garrus drifts off back into unconsciousness. Shepard hugs Viatrx close, reassuring her that her father will be back soon. 
She blinks, and suddenly the water is cold and Viatrix is asleep on her chest. A ping on her omnitool has awoken her, with a message from Dr. Michel. Her tests have come back negative- for pregnancy and anything else that might be wrong. Faced with an inescapable concussion that her problems are all in her head, Shepard cries quietly, grappling with immense feelings of heartache and failure.
=== Title Meaning ===
=== Easter Eggs ===
==== Discord Highlights ====
So many song recs, how waitresses in MELE put on their assless chap uniforms, and istie finally figuring out how the Marquis dies. (yes, really.)