A/N: a little Shep/Thane love. wrote it as a favor to a friend. played loose with the story a bit. Bioware owns the characters and ME universe.

Shepard, Thane and Liara sat on the shuttle approaching the Shadow Broker's base. It was clear to him that Shepard and the asari were close friends. What wasn't clear was why she was bringing him along so much. He knew he was one of the best, but not all of the missions they were doing called for his skills. She had taken to visiting him regularly in life support and he found her easy to talk to. He began to look forward to the familiar sound of her measured steps outside his door before it swished open. He found himself thinking of her when she was not around and worrying incessantly when she went out without him. She was special, unique. He just hadn't figured out in what way as of yet and damn if he wasn't going to.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the view of the base. It was a grand thing. And they were going to break into it. He bowed his head and said a prayer to Amonkira and Arashu. They dismounted the shuttle and took off, the wind trying its best to throw them off the side.

They finally reached the door inside and Liara set a shunt program to hack the lock. All they had to do was hold the position. An easy feat compared to Shepard's normal activities. The program was just over halfway done getting the door open when all hell broke loose. A stray bit of discharge from the lightning rods hit Liara, shorting out her face mask. She couldn't breathe outside of the ship; none of them could.

"Cover me!" Shepard yelled to Thane. He nodded and took position.

She hauled the asari over to the door and pulled the ruined mask off. Liara looked terrified. Shepard closed her eyes for the briefest moment, making peace with her decision. She took a deep breath and pulled her helmet off. She shoved it onto her friend's head and attached the oxygen filters. She gave her a bleak smile before vaulting past Thane and using her biotics to toss a merc into the air. Liara took a deep breath inside Shepard's helmet, trying to regain her bearings. She peered over the side of the ramp and watched her friend. She didn't miss a beat. Her short auburn hair was flying around her face in the relentless wind. She reloaded her rifle and kept firing. Her usually full lips were set in a grim line, the color slowly draining from her face as her body begged for the air she could not give it. She ducked into cover, clawing at her chest and throat. Her eyes were wide with fear. Thane immediately took notice of her distress. He had assumed she had a plan when she gave up her helmet. Clearly, she did not. The change in her demeanor was worrying him; the lack of air paralyzing her. The look on her face was one that spoke volumes to him. She had lived this fear before. She staggered to the door and leaned against it. Just as she closed her eyes, it slide open behind her and she fell into the base. Thane and Liara were quick to follow. She dragged herself to her hands and knees, coughing and gasping. They were by her side, offering assistance. She waved them away, pulling herself to her feet. She swung herself behind a corner and drew her rifle in an effort to belay their concern. Neither was entirely convinced, but they followed suit. Thane watched her closely. She didn't seem to have any negative physical affects, but her eyes were haunted.

Thane stood just inside the door of the Shadow Broker's main room. His Siha was speaking to her friend after taking the base. She had awakened him from his battle sleep. She was graceful and lethal and she was his, even if he had yet to tell her. But she was burdened. He hoped her old squad mate would be able to enlighten him, and if not she did have the Broker's resources. Shepard took her leave and Thane approached the asari.

"Hello, Thane."

"Hello, Liara. I have concerns about Shepard."

"What? Is she alright? What's wrong?" She was distraught, thinking of her actions outside the base.

"She is well, but troubled. I was hoping you would have advice."

She relaxed a bit, "She has been through a lot. She was troubled before she died. I can't imagine that experience helped."

"I was hoping you had some insight, if there was anything I could do for her?"

"I don't know. There's a lot she never shared with her crew. I learned more about her as an information broker than I did working with her. I know she was trying to stay professional, we weren't exactly in the best of positions at the time."

"I'm afraid I know little about her past endeavors."

"I can send you the files I have on her, if you like."

"I would very much appreciate it, thank you."

"Thane?"

"Yes?"

"Take care of her. She deserves it."

He nodded to her and left.

Back on the Normandy, he pulled up the files on his omni-tool. He used his discretion to avoid things she would not want him to know. She survived a slaver raid on Mindior when she was sixteen. She survived a horde of thresher maws on Akuze when her squad had died. She survived her ship crashing. She obviously had a strong will to live. She was the top ranked hand to hand specialist in the N7 program. She was the savior of the Citadel and the Council. She was the first human Specter. Overall he was impressed. He knew she was unique, these files just confirmed it. She was strong inside and out and would protect anyone. She was a fighter and stubborn. Everyone seemed drawn to her. She was a natural leader, fearless and kind. He smiled and flicked passed her psych reports. A video came up next. What he saw made his blood run cold. It was footage from the first Normandy's crash. He watched in horror as she ushered her crew to the shuttles and ran to the pilot, the same one that was flying the ship now. He watched as a massive ship came around for another attack and sliced through her old ship, ripping it out from under her feet. He watched her free fall into the void, struggling with her suit. As her body fell still, the screen fell into flames and then static. Her reaction on the base suddenly made sense. He couldn't move for a long time. He had just watched her die. The emotions surging through him were overwhelming. He was angry that someone had robbed the world of her presence, awed by her initial reaction to save the crew, distraught that he was powerless to save her; what struck him most was the feeling of regret at the time lost with her. He almost didn't hear her come to his door. He stood to face her. He looked over her carefully. It was unnerving watching her die and then having her appear before him. He motioned to the table and sat across from her.