Chapter 3

Garrus had been awake for an hour now but it was still early. Turians didn't usually sleep as much as humans so he was up before the rest of the crew and had time to kill. So he ended up fixing the lava damage the Mako got on Therum. He was about half an hour into it when he heard a voice ringing out from across the cargo bay. It sounded like singing. He pulled himself out from under the Mako, his translator struggling with the words.

"Just about... shadows call... dare you to follow... my mystery...you are here with me... the waves with me... the heart I swear... my own... time that I've taken... it's not wasted... already tasted... one sweet love."

He felt awkward as he got up and realised that the singing was coming from the commander. She had come down without him realising and was now equipping the lockers. He wasn't what to do since announcing his presence would probably freak her out. His decision was made for him, however, when he managed to knock over his tools causing her to spin around.

Smooth Vakarian, he thought to himself.

Jane blushed furiously. Had he been there the whole time?

"Hey, Garrus. I didn't see you there." She started to fiddle with her ponytail as she walked over to him.

"Sorry. I didn't see you come in."

"Did you, erm, hear me singing just then?"

"Yeah..."

Her blush deepened. "Sorry. It probably sounded awful. I didn't know anyone else was down here."

"No, it's fine. I mean, it sounded fine. Better than fine. Sorry, I'm rambling."

Jane had lifted up her hand while he was talking and he saw that in it she had a bottle of bright orange-red liquid. She drank it while he blathered on, her focus seemingly intent on the bottle. "It's okay. It's my fault. I'm a little... awkward and it makes others awkward." She ducked her head a little, her free hand moving to push her glasses up her face. She frowned. She hadn't done that in years.

"You'd think after so many years you'd stop doing that." He said before he censored himself. He didn't think that she'd even remembered him.

"Huh. I didn't think you remembered me." She voiced his own thoughts. "I guess I'll forever be the girl who passed out in the middle of an alley, huh?"

"Nope. You'll forever be the girl brave enough to face off with two armed men in order to save a younger girl. I thought that was pretty cool." He found himself thankful that turians didn't blush as he admitted that last part.

"Only one of them was armed." She stopped fidgeting so much as she leant against the Mako and he actually took a good look at her. Her hair was pulled back in it's usual ponytail and she was wearing a grey vest top with black joggers, both of which were very tight, and she was barefoot. She looked more relaxed now and less like 'Commander Shepard'.

"Still. I was impressed. I guess I'll forever be the awkward young turian teenager, huh?"

She smiled as she climbed onto the side of the Mako, finding a perch to sit on as he returned to fixing it. "Nope. You'll forever be the guy who carried me to the clinic and then stuck around to see if I was alright before cheering me up in record time. I figure most people wouldn't have bothered so that's pretty impressive in my book." She admitted, finally no longer feeling awkward.

"Thanks again for bringing me with you."

"No problem. I like working with you. You make sense."

"How so?"

She concentrated on drinking for a few moments as she thought about how she was going to explain it without sounding crazy. "Most people have their own thought process when prioritising targets and stuff. When I'm leading a team, I have to keep track of the decisions everyone else is most likely to make. Some people are easy to adjust to and some are difficult. I don't even really have to think about it with you, I just know which targets I should take down and which ones you will."

"I just pick the target you aren't gonna mow down with that shotgun. I swear, talking to you like this you'd think you have a personality transplant every time you go into battle."

She laughed at that, swinging her legs a little. "Yeah, I guess. Anyway, I'm glad you're here. Plus, it's nice having someone to talk to."

"What are you talking about? You talk to everyone on the ship."

"No. They talk to 'Commander Shepard' or the 'Hero of Elysium'. Nobody gets to know bumbling, awkward Jane."

"Well, I like bumbling, awkward Jane. Plus, nobody talks to awkward, hot-headed Garrus either. They all talk to 'Officer Vakarian' and expect me to be like my father."

"He was in C-Sec too, right?"

"Yeah. He's retired now but everyone expects me to be like him."

"I know what that's like. My mother is very... sociable. People expect the same from me and I can't quite manage it. I take after my dad too much."

"He in the military too?"

"An engineer. He's not great with people but he's smart. What about the rest of your family?"

"I have a mother and sister on Palaven." They were about to continue their conversation when the lift opened and Wrex entered the room.

Jane hopped down from the Mako and smiled. "It's been nice talking but we'll be landing on Feros soon so I'd better get ready. You should too." She turned to leave but then spun back around quickly. "Are you up this early every day?"

"Yeah. Turians don't sleep for as long as humans."

"My sleep cycles are a little off so I'm always up early. I might pop by here again. It's nice having someone to talk to."

"Well, I'll be here. Your bad driving makes sure of that." He teased and she pulled a mock frown.

"Careful Vakarian, that's insubordination."

"Yes, Ma'am."

She laughed as she left the room and Garrus couldn't help but smile. She really was one of a kind.

AN: For anyone wondering Shepard is singing One Sweet Love by Sara Bareilles. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!