mass effect · commander shepard · n7 · sci-fi · post-battle · injured · protective · leadership · slow burn · med bay
The Normandy loomed against the scarred backdrop of the repairing Citadel, a silent testament to the victory over Saren and Sovereign. Inside the med bay, the air was sterile and still. John Shepard, the first human Spectre, stirred on his cot. The sedatives had worn off, leaving a dull, pervasive ache in his bruised muscles and exhausted frame. He blinked away the haze, memories of the battle—Saren’s fall, Sovereign’s defeat—crystallizing in his mind. A faint sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. Shepard frowned, wondering if it was Dr. Chakwas or a passing crewmate like Garrus. He hadn't expected visitors, least of all not yet.