TITLE: The Second Tim Around

CHAPTER: 3, Nice and Easy

LOCATION: Quantico, Virginia

TIME LINE: Twenty Years after the Battle for Earth

Shepard stayed silent and watched Vega's strong profile while he spoke to the hospital personnel. After advising the hospital staff they were on their way, he closed the call and laced his fingers through her's.

"There's been an accident, Ana."

"Vrill? Tell me. James?"

"They won't tell me anything over the phone. But she is injured. I'm sorry, I don't know how bad it is."

He'd never seen her panic, and she didn't give in to her anxiety now. But the grip on his hand said it all. Her heartbeat thudded against his palm.

After dropping her off at the front doors and parked the car, Vega ran back to the entrance. He would not allow her to face this alone. Vega caught up with them just as the doctor began speaking.

"Admiral Shepard. It's an honor to meet you, ma'am. I read all about..."

By the wide-eyed look on the doctor's face, it was time to take control of the situation. "Skip the pleasantries, Captain. Report."

The doctor's face went from grinning fan, to shock at being spoken to in that tone, to fear when he realized who stood behind the Admiral. The young captain snapped to attention.

"Yes sir, General Vega. Admiral Shepard your daughter was in an air car accident along with five other cadets. Lieutenant Vakarian was thrown from the vehicle when it crashed into an oncoming car. There's head trauma. She's in an induced coma until the brain swelling subsides. Two of the cadets died in the crash - I'm sorry, General - the remaining two have just scrapes and bruising."

"I want to see her. Where is she?"

"Ma'am, I'd rather you wait until morning. I need her to sleep now, and your presence might disturb her."

"I will see my daughter, Captain." She responded quietly in the same tone she reserved for the Council and the Illusive Man. Vega took a moment feel sorry for the young doctor.

With a quick gesture, the doctor signaled one of the med techs to escort the officers to the ICU.

The corridor seemed to grow longer and darker as the approached the ICU. The only sounds were the monitors beeping and the quiet voices of the staff. The only thing she could accurately identify was Vega's arm through hers.

Laying in a bed located close to the nurses station was the unmistakable form of Vrill. She'd seen many things in her days as an Alliance sailor. Watched crew members die, friends leave, and heartless monsters almost destroy earth. She'd managed to learn to live again after the death of her husband. Nothing prepared her for the sight of her once vibrant daughter still and silent in a hospital bed.

And it took all of those years of experience to remain calm and hold back the scream which threatened to tear itself from her throat. Vega watched her hands grip the side rails until her knuckles whitened. Then she began to tremble so violently the rails begin to shake.

"Lola, let go," he whispered. Just lean back against me. I've got you." As gently as possible, Vega removed her hands from the rail and grasped them tightly in his until Shepard regained control. When the trembling stopped, James spoke again, "That's a beautiful girl you have there. I bet Scars was crazy about her. James laughed quietly and protective as hell."

"He was. Garrus always wanted to hold her and took her everywhere. We didn't know anything about being parents. So...So, we just loved her. James!"

"We promised the docs, we'd let her sleep. Let me take you to your hotel. I'll have a car standing by for you all night. If they call, you can be back her in minutes."

When she nodded in agreement, he stepped back and allowed her to leave the room without hovering over her.

It wasn't far to the Admiral suites. James assisted her out of the car and kept his hand under her elbow until they were inside her room. Shepard walked inside just far enough to allow the door to close behind her then stopped. With an eye on her, James went about the room turning on lights. He turned down the bed for her. He had no illusions about what would happen if he left. She would stand right there, on alert until he found her there tomorrow. So he poured them both a finger of tequila and sat her down on the couch. "Drink."

Vega watched her struggling for composure and his heart went out to her. While he sat across from her on the love seat he battled his own desires to hold and comfort her. This was more than just talking about the old days. The only thing she had left in the world lay in a coma , and there was nothing Shepard could do about it. Inactivity and helplessness were not Shepard's strong points. Then her hand slipped across the cushion toward him palm up. She was in his arms again, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt and her head burrowing into his chest.

"Ana, Mi bella Lola. Take what you need from me."

James whispered those words to her against her cheek. His eyes were closed while he enjoyed the profound contentment of her in his arms and comforting her. So when she began to move and turn her face up to his, he was unaware of her intent until he felt her lips touch his. When he pulled back in surprise, she pulled his head back down.

"Wait, Ana. Wait." He tried to stop her and tried to pull away. She needed his friendship and support, not a make-out session. But she felt to good in his arms. The smooth taste of the tequila warmed her mouth. Far too long since he'd kissed a woman, this woman was pushing herself against him and demanding more. When her tongue touched his he swept his hands under her bottom and laid her back on the couch. Shepard wasted no time and pulled him on top of her body.

He put everything he had into his kisses. He'd loved her forever. Desired her since the first time he watched her kick another marine's ass during a boxing session back on Vancouver. James pulled back for a moment to look at her and instead of meeting his eyes she arched her head back to expose her neck and chest to him.

He should stop this. He should stop right now. Give her a chaste goodnight kiss and walk out the door. That's what Brigadier General Vega would do. But that officer was banished to the shadows. While Lieutenant Vega fueled his body with desire. Filling his gut with need, as his hands clenched around her with ownership.

"James, she whispered into the night. Her voice full of longing and under him she opened her legs , so his hips nudged against her's.

Blood powered through his body, burning a path to his groin. At the contact of his erection against her pubic bone, he pulled the flimsy metal top aside with his teeth. It gave easily she lay bare before him. There was no stopping now, no pulling back, no more chances to be a gentleman. His mouth closed down over her left breast , and she came up off the couch.

She'd forgotten. Completely forgotten what a human's mouth felt like on her skin. James pulled hard at her flesh, and all she could do was wrap her arms around his shoulders and hang on. Something stirred to life in her. Filled her with an ancient longing to feel human skin against human skin. Tears burned tracks down the side of her face as she chanted his name. Shepard's hands began to move frantically over his clothes, plucking and pulling at the fabric. Through a haze of desire, James felt the change in her movements and to his credit James understood her need.

"I want to feel all of you against me!"

Lifting her from the couch, James carried her to the bed and quickly undressed her before he let go of her he When she stood naked in his arms he lifted her again laid gently set her down on the pillows. It didn't take him long to remove his own clothes and settle himself between her legs.

Shepard ground her hips against his her hands spreading across the cheeks of his butt.

"Lola... wait. Let me..."

But she was too fast for him. Shepard tilted her hips and with her legs wrapped around him she pulled him into her body.

He was lost. All the fantasies all the desires coalesced into the moment of their joining and James feels her walls close around him. He belongs to her. There is no other woman for him and there never has been. Just waiting for this moment when he could lose himself in her and finally show her what is in his heart.

"James... now... I need you...James!

James responds to her call for action and drives himself against her. "¡Dios mío...Shepard! Te amo... te amo"

Sunlight flickers against his closed eyelids and turned his head to avoid the intrusion. Something woke him from a sound sleep. What was it? The sound of a door closing. His eyes snapped open and he scanned the room. Then it all came back to him when he realized he is naked and alone in senior officer billeting. Shepard!

"Lola?" But is not there and the bathroom door is open. But there is a note written on old fashioned paper on her pillow.

James, you were sleeping so peacefully I didn't want to wake you. Thank you for being such a good friend yesterday and last night. Before things become complicated for us, I must return my focus to Vrill. I know you'll understand. Please believe I will never forget our time together. Take care.

Always, Anne Shepard-Vakarian.

Let's take it nice and easy

It's gonna be so easy

For us to fall in love

~o~

Hey baby what's your hurry

Relax, don't you worry

We're gonna fall in love

We're on the road to romance

That's safe to say

But let's make all the stops along the way

~o~

The problem now of course is

To simply hold your horses, to rush would be a crime

'Cause nice and easy does it every time

Nice and easy does it every time

Frank Sinatra, Nice n' Easy

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