A/N: Spoiler warning for the Shadow Broker DLC!

This is actually really fluffy. A little too fluffy for my liking actually and Shepard seems slightly OCC (if that's possible) but I wanted to write something about the dossier from the DLC. Somehow Bioware made me like Garrus even more if that was possible.

Garrus Vakarian: Dossier

She's been standing here for fifteen minutes having a staring contest with the green door console – and she was losing. She could just turn around and go back to her cabin. She should do that. Go to her cabin and check some unread messages or something – or at least something else than standing in front of the main battery looking like an idiot. She pursed her lips in thought and swiveled herself around. As soon as she turned she noticed the Mess Sergeant's curious stare. She narrowed her eyes as he gave her a goofy grin.

In an impulse she turned around, staring at the door once again. She can do this. She's Commander Shepard, she can persuade herself out of a Collector's grasp if she wanted to. She squared her shoulders and lifted her arm. But her hand stopped mid air and recoiled. She let out a frustrated sigh and ran her hand through her brown locks.

"Forget this." She muttered as she turned away from the door.

As she took two steps away she heard the door behind her swoosh open.

"Shepard?"

She slowly turned her head to see Garrus' tall frame standing in the middle of the door. His blue armor was a stark contrast against the red lights in the battery and she could make out his mandibles flaring out.

"Garrus?" She mentally kicked herself. She knew it was him. She was expecting it to be him. Now she was mumbling like a school girl.

She heard his raspy chuckle and saw him smile – or what she assumed was a smile, "Who else?"

Instinctively she smiled back and relaxed, "You got a minute Vakarian?" she asked.

He turned his body to give her a way in and jerked his head towards the main battery. She walked in and sat on top of the cargo crates, her usual spot. Without a word, he leaned against the console and crossed his arms. He may never think much of it but his stance was relaxed yet masculine, something she never can get herself to get over.

With her initial nervous energy dissipated and the silence settling in, she took a good look at Garrus: His tall frame, strong build, the burnt marks on his armor, the tattoo on his face, the scars on his cheek, and finally his blue eyes. She suddenly noticed that he looked tired, he had slight glimmer in them, but they were not alive and burning as they were 2 years ago.

She suddenly couldn't look at him anymore.

She avoided his eyes as she ran her hand through her hair again – a nervous habit she picked up. She suddenly remembered the dossier she read in the Shadow Broker's, well now Liara's, office. She shouldn't have read them. It was his private life, a life she had no permission of entering despite the fact that she wanted to. She just couldn't help it after she read his overview though: "…most likely will never fully develop under Shepard's command". Damn. Is she holding him back? Is she overshadowing him? She always knew that Garrus had great potential but she never thought she would be the one in his way. What if Garrus never joined her? He might have become a Spectre on his own, instead of following her footsteps straight into the Reapers. Was she being selfish for wanting to keep him by her side? Should she let him go?

She closed her eyes to stop her head from exploding.

She knew the Reapers are a priority and she'll find a way to destroy them one way or another. But if Garrus wasn't here but somewhere safer…with his mother… She felt the back of her eyes growing warm and moist.

While her mind was questioning every motive she had , she felt 3 talons on her thigh. She raised her head in alarm to see Garrus kneeling in front of her.

"Shepard, are you okay?" he asked urgently.

Garrus didn't know what to do at first. The commander was sitting there so silently and gripping her hair like she was ready to pull them out. He thought of saying something funny, but it just seemed so inappropriate for the time being. He tentatively knelt in front of her and slowly reached out to touch her.

"Shepard, are you okay?"

He saw her snap up like she was surprised, which worried Garrus. Commander Shepard was always on guard. She never…

Suddenly he felt her yank his collar and rest her forehead against his. His breath hitched at the sudden proximity and gesture.

"J..Jane?" he stuttered.

He eyed her and saw her eyes close once again and her breathing slightly hitching. He has never seen her so, dare he say, vulnerable. He slowly reached to rest his talons on her shoulder and waist.

"Garrus…"she whispered "I promise you I'll take you to Palaven once this is over. I promise you that'll be the first thing we do. I won't let you die or let the Reapers win. I promise. So would you please stay with me till at least we see the end of this?"

Garrus' mandibles flared in surprised. Shepard's vulnerability and cryptic plea stunned him and he was at loss for words. She actually thought he would leave? Now? After everything they've been through together? His rising anger quickly went as it came when he noticed her trembling under his touch. He relaxed his muscles as he slowly pulled her closer.

"For you Shepard? I would go to the gates of hell"

A/N: Ah, no resolution whatsoever but there can be none till Mass Effect 3 comes out. Haha. Thank you for reading! Reviews will be dearly appreciated!