The rest of the day was pretty routine and her interactions with Garrus were as well. The next morning she went to Korlus with Jack and Zaheed, bringing the tank bred Krogan back with her. She stared at the tank in cargo bay on the Normandy with Garrus beside her.

"Wow. What are you planning to do?" he said, staring at it floating in the tank.

She shook her head, "I'm not sure. I'm thinking of opening it, but not yet. I want Mordin to have a look at it first, and EDI too."

"Good idea," he squinted at it, then looked down at Shepard. "Glad you were able to salvage the mission after all. He must be pretty important for Okeer to give his life to save him."

"Yea. We'll see." She turned away from the tank and looked at Garrus. He reached over and gave her arm a little squeeze.

"I don't mean to be greedy, but I don't like you going out without me to have your back."

She smiled, "I feel the same way. There's no one I feel safer with than Archangel."

He stood a little closer to her, held her arm a bit longer, then backed away, "Well, I've got some calibrations to do. What's on the agenda for tomorrow?" They started to walk out in the hallway.

"Illium. There's a Justicar we need to recruit."

"A Justicar? Really? They are very rare. That should be interesting."

"Glad you think so, you're coming on the mission."

"Excellent. I'll be ready." He walked away and she went to wait for the elevator. She was lost in her thoughts as she looked down at the metal floor. She felt a little something more between them in that exchange. Was she imagining it? She slowly shook her head, No, she definitely felt something. Whether it was one-sided or not, she wasn't sure. She walked in and started to push the button when she heard giggling and Jack and Miranda tumbled in, Miranda stifling her laugh. "Commander."

Shepard nodded at her and pushed the button as Jack leaned against Miranda and put her arm around her shoulders. Shepard got out first as they followed behind her into the mess hall. Shepard got something to eat and watched as they talked conspiratorially and went into Miranda's quarters. Shepard shook her head, it was unbelievable how two people who were at each other's throats a week ago were now in a relationship. She was jealous, she didn't realize how much she missed that until Garrus had kissed her and snuggled with her. She ate slowly as she put her chin on her hand. Garrus was her best friend. He was smart, funny, caring, brave. She sighed, Everything I could possibly want. She picked at the remaining salad on her plate. She'd never been in a relationship with a Turian before, but it wasn't something she was against. She tilted her head to the side, I wonder what it's like.

"Penny for your thoughts," Joker sat across from her.

She smiled, "Oh, these thoughts will cost you much more than that."

The next morning she waited at the door of the Normandy for Garrus with Miranda.

"Thanks for your patience," Garrus said as he walked up. "I was talking to Kelly." He was working on the clasps on his greaves.

Shepard raised her eyebrow, "Talking to Kelly?"

"Yea, she had a few questions for me."

Shepard put her hand on her hip, "Like what?" She couldn't help but have an edge to her voice.

Miranda watched her, amused.

Garrus finished working the clasp and looked at her, "Nothing much. Thanks for getting this new armor for me, Shepard. It's fantastic."

Shepard gave him a broad smile, "Anything for my best sniper." She felt like a silly schoolgirl.

"Let's go," Miranda said and opened the door.

They successfully recruited the Justicar, Samara that day. As they fought and investigated Morinth's escape path, Shepard's attention was on Garrus. She admired his fighting style with a new appreciation. He put her safety first – prioritizing sniping the commandos aiming at her. Back at the dock at Illium, he stood with his sniper rifle on the ground, leaning against the wall, waiting for Miranda and Samara to catch up. He cocked his head and watched Shepard as she realized she was staring at him. The strength of the feelings she had for him were overtaking her to the point she was having difficulty looking or talking to him without fear of betraying herself.

"What's up, Jane? Thinking about the mission?"

"No, I was wondering if you'd ever keep your promise to spar with me. Got some time today?"

He shook his head, "Jane, you know I don't think that's a good idea."

"Aw, come on. You promised me you would at least show me some Turian moves. I need to work out the stiffness in my joints. If you file those talons down, it wouldn't be so dangerous, right? Unless you'd rather spend time with Kelly."

He laughed, "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a little jealous."

She squirmed under his penetrating gaze, "I just don't like her."

"Really."

She looked up at the ceiling, "You never know, the next mission I might need some mad Turian hand-to-hand moves to save the galaxy."

"Okay, fine. I can't say no to you for long," he held his hands up in surrender.

"Great. I'll message you when I get done with my work."

Samara and Miranda walked up and they went down the Normandy dock and on board. Shepard spoke briefly with Miranda and Samara, and turned to see Garrus hanging behind, struggling with a clasp on his armor.

"Need some help with that?" she walked up and peered at it.

"Yea, it's a little stiff."

She took off her gloves and undid it.

"Thanks," he smiled at her, "I just needed your pretty little fingers to help me out."

She laughed, "Anyone else who said that to me would get a fist in the face."

"Oh, and me?"

"Well, you're different." She reached her hand up to the bandages on the right side of his face, "Does it hurt, Garrus?"

"Sometimes it aches a little. It's getting better. Dr. Chakwas is a miracle worker."

"True," she gently ran her fingertips over it, then cupped the side of his face in her hand, looking at him lovingly, thinking how grateful she was that he didn't die that day. She was suddenly aware she was standing in the walkway to the CIC and brought her hand down.

Garrus looked at her appreciatively. "You know, you have a very supportive waist, Jane."

"Really?" she looked down, "Is that good for sparring?"

He smiled, "That too."

"Well, I'll see you in cargo bay in a bit," and she walked swiftly to the elevators.