Chapter 2

Sorry for the long delay. It's just been a while since I have written my story.

Aboard the Normandy Miller was getting comfortable. The tour had gone nicely; they even allowed her to have her own room. She was staying in the life support part of the ship; it was dark and cold; well kind of. But it seemed like the team wasn't as happy about her pet Varren, she knew Trax and them would get along once they got use to each other. Even if Shepard wasn't the one to give her the tour she knew it was still good to get to know the other crew members. She especially started to bond with the ships pilot. His name was Joker and he seemed to be funny, hence his name.

Leaning up against a chair Laura glanced towards him, she still had a bone to pick with that Turian she meant earlier. She was going to kick his ass so hard. Laura was going to kick him up and down the Normandy's bridge. He is so gonna get it. With a slight sigh, starting to relax around him he asked her something "Did you hear the joke about the Taurian?" He held it back, his laugh.

"No. What's the joke?" Laura laughed uncontrollably. She never heard any jokes about Turians other than the ones she made up herself. She twitted her thumbs together looking away from him and then to the door where she came on.

"How do you know when a Turian is out of ammo?"

"How?" She prompted him.

"He switches to the stick up his ass as a backup weapon." Then in walked the Turian with Shepard fast at his heels. The commander got in between the two of them and spoke "I don't need you two fighting. I have a call to make. Laura be good to Garrus and meet me in the war room in ten." She exited the room, Garrus shifted away from Laura.

Laura looked away from him, but she couldn't help but glance back. Every few seconds or so, there was something about him. It made her all warm inside. Once her eyes met with his, it almost made her face light up. Laura couldn't help but move her sight away from him. It seemed like he noticed, how flustered she was. Quickly she moved away from Garrus and down the bridge.

Okay that was weird. What is wrong with me? Why am I all bothered by that Turian? Laura rubbed her eye lids walking towards the CIC .She yawned; never in the world did she think it was possible for her to work with Shepard. Let alone be on a state of the art ship the Normandy. Miller stumbled upon the war room, about five minutes into her run away.

She relaxed, overhearing the conversation with Shepard and Hacket; giving her a chance to settle in a bit. The two went back and forth like and old married couple for what seemed like hours, but only a moment had passed by. Rightly so I guess because him having been the captain and her being the first officer, they kind of were married in a way. She laughed at the thought; it crossed her mind many of times. Laura gaze shifted away, Hacket was yelling at Shepard, he didn't like the fact Laura was aboard the ship. He had other plans for Laura, that included… well she had no idea. But damn did he sound upset about it, even though it was her choice just as much or perhaps more so than Shepard's.

Hacket need to chill out, even if he didn't seem to be the type. Shepard stepped down from the conference room "Miller! You are one lucky girl. Hacket didn't want to lose you. He thinks you are one of the Alliance's best. He wanted you putting foot to ass on the front line. It took a lot of convincing on my part but he has allowed you to join my team. Welcome aboard Miller."

"Ha! that would have been great. Me on the front lines, but I really believe I can do more here. Someone needs to keep that Turian on his toes." She laughed once, but straightened up. She knew she had to be more serious around Shepard.

"That's good you think that Laura; I want you to work with Garrus. He is the best sniper we have on the team. Taking some pointers from him wouldn't hurt. Would it Miller? I know it might be hard to work so close with a Turian because of your past, but take something from your father. He would want you to get over this and make friends. Not all Turians are bad. He wouldn't want you to hold onto grudges. Besides Garrus is one of the good ones, one of the best; even if he is a Turian. You should give him a chance." Shepard smiled lightly placing a hand on Laura's shoulders.

Laura agreed to her terms, speaking quietly. "I can do that for you; anything for you commander. I should be going now, I'll go find Garrus." Shepard smiled, Laura waved off. Exiting the room she walked back towards the bridge, where she last saw Garrus. "Joker? Where is Garrus?"

The AI of the ship known as EDI spoke "Garrus is usually in the crew deck or in the main battery of the ship." Laura was confused, the ship had an AI. Most of them go rouge but this one seemed to be all with itself. She nodded "Thank you uh EDI." Exiting the bridge she walked to the elevator. She took the elevator down to the crew chambers. This was the first place she was shown when she got on the ship.

Laura didn't want to bother the other crew members so she went to her own room in life support. She was hopping it was alright with Shepard, for she didn't know if there was really a place she wanted her. It was a place she felt most comfortable and even Trax could sleep with her. She enjoyed being alone, in fact she was used to it. Since she was sixteen she was on her own. It was when she lost her parents and her older brother to the Geth and Saren. Well for the most part, other than being adopted by someone. With a slight smile on her lips she walked into life support.

She sat herself down for a moment, she enjoyed the darkness. Until Trax walked over, starting to lick her hand, Laura smiled. Patting the Varren on the head, she leaned down and places a kiss on his head. Gathering her thoughts, she reached under her bed and grabbed the widow. Exiting the room she made her way to the main battery. The door opened to Garrus slumped over trying to make the Normandy its best.

He always seemed to be calibrating the guns; once she entered she placed her gun against the computers. For a second she stayed quiet and watched him, he was quiet not making a noise of any sort. Laura decided to break the silence and announce her presence by saying, "Garrus do you have any free time?" By doing this she startled the Turian, something that never happens. He was so shocked at the fact that someone snuck up on him that he hit his head. "I suppose. Why so interested?" Garrus turned to face her, his mandible clamped close to his lips. His blue eyes slowly made their way onto her body. Shaking her head she laughed a bit, trying to change the subject and fast.

"Shepard asked me to take some pointers from you. As you are the best sniper in the history of like ever or something like that." She snickered lightly, but it was fact. He was better than her, but she wasn't going to let him know that.

"Oh really now that's what she said?" Garrus looked confused but laughed. He pulled out his gun from behind the main computer. "Give me a few moments to set up." She nodded, sitting down she relaxed a bit. Her attention came to the papers he was placing around the far end of the room. The targets looked so easy to hit, even from a distance. This was going to be easy.

All she needed to do now was to make nice to this Garrus and Shepard would allow her to go on any mission. Maybe even when she moves out on Earth I could go with her. I want to be there In fact I will do my best to prove to Shepard to how much I want to be on the front lines. I want to help take Earth back. The thoughts swirling around her mind when a gun thudded onto her lap.

"Here this is loaded on practice rounds. Maybe this time you'll hit something." He laughed and Laura rose to her feet. Almost hitting him with the butt of the gun (on purpose, no one makes fun at her like that), she stopped there though. Laura knew it wouldn't do her any good fighting with him.

"Garrus, you know I am a better shot than you. You just won't admit it." Stepping into the area, a smug smile overcame her lips. Laura took a few quick breaths; she steadied herself to take aim. Looking down the view finder she lined up with the target. Laura wanted to be in full concentration while in her shooting state.

Taking aim, she took the first shot. Hitting the target dead on, he then moved the target to mid-range. Lining up the shot she missed, once, twice and then a third time. A disappointing sigh passed through Garrus's lips "Come on Miller relax" His advice.

But she couldn't, it was him. Just something about him. She couldn't quite put her figure on it. She didn't like not knowing. She couldn't handle being around him. But why was that. Normally she was alright around the opposite sex. But Garrus just seemed different. Was this an attraction towards the Turian? It all felt so new to her an affection wasn't normal for her. She barely ever got out, let alone be with a guy. Garrus shifted closer towards Laura.

"Here let me help you." He leaned in, his frame closer to hers. Placing his arms around her waist, it was small, just like she was. Well small for a normal human, a Turian woman would be a little taller than she was. "Take aim, Relax. Just take a few deep breaths." Looking through the scope Laura took the shot, dead on.

Her eyes and cheeks lit up something fierce. Laura moved leaning back into him. She felt like she was floating on air each move made her feel closer to him. Her cheeks lit up more, feeling almost the urge to kiss him. Her eyes meant up with his. A quant smile overcame her lips; he felt her pulling him closer "Did I get that shot?" He responded with a nod, having no idea how to approach this moment. The door automatically opened and Shepard appeared.

"I thought...I would check on you two…" Shepard blinked looking over the two of them, she was surprised how close they already where. But she didn't want to comment on the sight before her, she didn't want to scare Laura and she did tell her to butter him up, maybe not so literally but at least they aren't fighting. Instinctively Laura pushed Garrus away from her. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed by Shepard's presence. She ran out of the room and hid behind the door way. Waiting and watching. Her face was a bright red.

"Good job Shepard. You scared her away. We were just making progress. She just made her first good mid-range shot." Garrus glanced at the commander with his blue eyes. He sighed angered with her actions, his mandible flared.

"Whoa Garrus I didn't mean to ruin the moment between you two. But it looked like you wanted to get in her pants more than help her." Shepard's eyes peered towards him. He had started to sweat, his eyes shifted away from her. He knocked his foot against the computer, raising his talon to her.

"That's not true Commander. I just wanted to show her how to shoot. Nothing more." He sounded worried but there was nothing he could do. Shepard was onto his plans, but it wasn't to sleep with Laura or anything. He just wanted to become friends with her, wanted to show her not all Turians where bad. Laura sighed, so he likes me. Is that really what he is saying. That seemed like what he was getting at.

Shepard walked out seeing Laura. "Go easy on him Miller. He is a sensitive man." She pushed Laura back into the room lipping to her 'Be good to him.' She almost fell in front of him, trying to steady herself she held her feet fast. Her eyes locked with his, she slowly reached out to him. He seemed like he was hurt, the commander's words seemed to hurt him. "What are you trying to say about me Garrus?" She asked, wanting to clear the air. She wanted nothing between the two of them, to get complicated.

He scratched the back of his head, trying to shake off the guilt. "Miller I wanted you to forget about Saren. Well, I don't know who your parents were but I don't think they would want you to be caught up on their deaths. In fact they may even want you to…who knows." He blinked before he could tell something was wrong she leaned into him. Grabbing him for a hug, a tear crossed her eyes down to her cheeks.

He was surprised by a sudden embrace by Laura. He pulled her close knowing it was some sort of human custom to do when one was sad. He placed his arms around her small figure before slowly releasing her, she stepped back. "My parents...you're right about them. They would have wanted me to get over this. They would have been ashamed of me if I couldn't get over one Turian for the sake of their deaths." She whipped the tears from her eyes; Garrus placed a hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her in some way.

Laura felt like she could find some consolation in him but she knew she wouldn't, she wasn't the type of girl to let her emotions get in the way. Only when it was least expected, when she couldn't hold them back. "Thank you for that Garrus. I really needed it. Let's get back to work." A slight smile overcame her lips; he nodded picking up the gun once more handing it over to her. "Lets"

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