Welcome to part 2 of...well, there is no series, but this is the sequel for Boyfriend. I would recommend reading Boyfriend first if not only to plug my own fic but because this story starts right where the other left off.

As I've said before, I am a baby fic writer so reviews and constructive crit is welcome! Hope you guys enjoy!


Something sharp was poking into her chest.

The pain wasn't too intense though, so Shepard really didn't think it warranted her waking up. She shuffled her feet, faintly feeling the rubbing of the tangled sheets wrapped around her legs. Stubbornly, she refused to open her eyes, willing the haze of her mind to return to a dream that had been so rudely interrupted.

In her state of half-waking and half-sleep, she sought to piece together the fragments as they drifted:

…the tingling of her skin as pinpricks as sharp as needles caressed her sides and ghosted across her stomach, the disjointed feel of her body luridly swaying as her mind tried to keep up, a cold pressure against her forehead as she was pressed into a hard surface, her fingers grasping and hands clawing for support…

Shepard adjusted her posture, nuzzling her cheek into the pillow. The fog between sleep and awake was a tidal wave she had ridden before, often waking slightly before her alarm would sound – not early enough to allow her to fall fully back to sleep but not late enough that she felt she should get up. It was always a cost-benefit analysis, weighing the reasons for and against. This wave was intense though, as her head literally felt as if it was rising and falling in a steady pattern of a repeated rhythm.

And the pillow beneath her cheek was strange.

And the pain in her chest was still throbbing.

Dammit. She had been in such a deep sleep too.

Opening her eyes, Shepard took in the hard plated torso of the turian that she had her head resting on. Consciousness hit her like a smack in the face. She was definitely awake now. Those hazy images had not been a dream.

Rolling over, Shepard delicately raised herself to a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Bracing her hands on the mattress, she slowly inched herself into a standing position. There was no noise from the bed's other occupant as she tip-toed her way to her bathroom. The light turned on automatically as she entered, causing her to instinctually raise her arm above her eyes to shield herself from the blinding intensity. When the shock subsided, she braced her hands on the sink and looked at her reflection.

Holy shit.

It she had any doubt before about the reality of those fuzzy images, they were all thrown out the airlock as she took in the state of herself. Particularly the tiny puncture holes on her neck. Sweeping her hair to the side to examine them better, she gingerly pressed her fingers to the purple monstrosities. The tenderness of them to the touch confirmed it too. Catching the eyes of her reflection, Shepard saw her own expression contort as her brain struggled between confusion and realization.

What had happened? She remembered going to the bar, getting drunk off her ass, dancing with some asshole mercenaries, kissing Garrus…

Her expression fell. Uh oh.

She felt her chest clench. She remembered kissing Garrus, that one act a physical manifestation of the sudden rush of feelings for him that had snuck up on her, least of all expected when he had spurned her advances.

And without the buffer of a sober mind to censor her actions…

Shepard tensed as she heard the creaking of the bed, the sharp intake of breath as Garrus no doubt took in his surrounding with the same shock that she had. She heard muffled shuffling, hurried movements, a few mutterings she couldn't catch. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and fixed her reflection with a steely gaze. You can do this…you're Commander Fucking Shepard after all. Waking up next to your best friend after a half-remembered night of…whatever that was…was nothing compared to the shit she'd seen, the things she'd done. This was a cake walk compared to taking down a Reaper.

So…why couldn't she translate that to her legs?

"Sh…Shepard?"

Oh God. He was right outside the bathroom.

She cleared her throat, "Yeah?"

"I, uh…Are you okay?"

"I'm fine". Except for heart palpitations. "I'll be out in a bit". Once my legs start working.

Garrus was silent. She was straining to hear any movement on his part, any indication of his mood so she could begin to plan how the hell she was going to address this situation. Should she act like nothing happened, brush it off? But that might offend him, especially if the bite marks on her neck were any indication. They weren't exactly subtle, and she doubted he would very much appreciate her making light of him hurting her. He would probably feel bad enough as it was without her teasing him for it. But she did throw herself at him, so maybe it wasn't an act of instinct on his part. Maybe he saw the opportunity she presented him and he took it. Or maybe his usually impeccable control faltered in a haze of drink and hormones. He did always say he was a bad turian.

God, if only she hadn't drunk so much…

"Commander Shepard"

She jumped as EDI's voice shattered the uncomfortable silence.

"Yes EDI?"

"The Illusive Man wishes to see you in the Debriefing Room"

Shepard sighed. Just fan-fucking-tastic. "Okay, EDI. I'll be right down".

Grabbing her large fluffy robe from the shelf to tie it around her waist and making sure the top was fluffed up enough to cover the bite marks, Shepard opened the door. She didn't see him immediately, and when she finally did spot him hovering near the room's entrance she was shocked to find him in his full armor. She hadn't even noticed the pieces in her escape to the bathroom. Looking towards the bed, she noticed her dress from last night in a crumpled heap by the stairs. Further exploration yielded a shoe. More fragments from the night before tried to make themselves clear, but she stamped them out to focus her foggy brainpower on Garrus as he turned to her.

"Hey".

Uncomfortable silences weren't really her thing.

"Hey."

Even if he was adorable when he was awkward.

"I should probably go". Did he sound…regretful? Shepard tried not to read too much into it. Was that for what happened last night? Or for having to leave?

"Okay. I'll see you later". She tried not to make it sound like a question.

"Sure".

When he was gone she let out the anxious breath she had been holding.

Fuck.