Back on the ship Shepard threw her pieces of armour roughly against the bulkhead of the ship. Cursing as she once more kicked her boots into her individual locker – the offending items just not staying in – she brought her hand back up to her face. The horrendous pink blush on her cheeks which had wrapped around her entire face - like a pair of too-tight goggles – had yet to fucking disappear! She took a few calming breaths as her mind whirled since leaving the studio.

She had walked back to the ship with such purpose and determination, that surely there were indentationson the floors of the citadel leading back to where she currently stood. Her companions – Garrus - had been silent on the return march back. An occasional throat was cleared but no one mentioned the dreaded 'holy crap he's still alive' moment after Garrus had released her. As soon as they had entered the ship all three of them had scattered like particularly frightened kittens. Kaidan had taken off with a mumbled 'ma'am' as he swept past her, intending to bring Joker up to speed on what had happened.

And Garrus?

Well that Turian bastard had stopped directly in front of her and just - looked at her. For approximately 1 and a half minutes he took in her still flushed face – the whites of his eyes still showing due to shock – and his own hand now on the back of his neck - neither of them had said a word, until he hastily stepped backwards in panic and fled. Shepard had sighed – smacking herself in the head with a palm as she trudged down to the cargo bay where she now suddenly stood, lamenting her life and feeling sorry for herself in her underwear.

''Aw fuck…'' she cursed again as she realised that anyone with half a brain who had witnessed what had happened would now know that she had a thing for her turian companion. Worse yet, now said Turian knew as well! She fought the urge to run up and down the cargo bay in her underwear clutching her hair and squealing in mortification. She opted, however to go have a very long shower and try to cool her head – in more ways than one as this fucking blush on her face would surely fry her brain if she didn't do something about it.

Ignoring the amused look on Wrex's face, she hastily grabbed a pair of sweats and dragged them on – her sports bra being deemed appropriate for now- she shot him a glare as he barked out a laugh in her direction.

Fuck him and the thresher maw he rode in on she though angrily.

Not liking how she suddenly came across all weak and feminine in front of this battle-worn Krogan. She dismissed him with another glare and a nod as she made her way back to the elevator – pressing the button for the crew deck. She would grab a shower, grab a ration bar from the cupboard and flee to the safety of her quarters – which would be thankfully Turian free. Reaching crew dreck, she nipped into her room, picked up her body wash and a towel and nodding her head in greeting to the few skeleton crew on board, she scampered to the communal showers, swearing that if the Normandy ever needed a retrofit – she was making sure they installed a personal shower in her quarters for moments like this. The 'I want to die from shame' moments.

The room was thick with steam and she spluttered as a waft of warm hair suddenly threatened to choke her, she blinked as the water droplets landed on her head and in her eyes – her vision now blurry as she started to get undressed. She knew that someone else was obviously using the facilities and while she didn't particularly mind getting naked in front of crew members – it was part of military life- she still chose a stall right at the back where she could have a wall at her back and a clear view of anyone coming or going. She stripped her clothing off on the way to her chosen shower, pieces falling to the floor one at a time and her toes picking up her underwear and chucking them into the corner as she kicked the rest across.

She stretched – hands high above her head, her jaw clicking from a yawn and placed her towel down on the bench in the room. She padded nakedly over to the stall and opened it. As she switched the water on she stepped back with a squawk of indignation as the cold water sprayed her and she heard a throat clearing behind her.

She closed her eyes…

No, just NO! Nononononono… this could not fucking be happening!

She knew that oh-so-subtle throat clearing sound. There was only one living creature on this ship whose subvocals could make her knees turn to jello . Her eyes opened slowly, a cringe on her face as she realised that her blush had somehow travelled from her face all the way down and around her body, stopping right above her bare ass – which was currently, in all its glory - facing the man she just kindofnotquite confessed to.

Well…

...this is awkward she thought, as she felt her insides shrivel up and die from embarrassment.