-4-

"I don't like this."

Shepard paused in examining the new scope on her rifle. She thought they had settled this already; she'd been hoping they wouldn't get into it again.

"You've said that already."

"Just providing reinforcement."

"Trust me, big guy, I know. I don't like it either." Satisfied with her rifle, she fastened it to the back of her armor. "I'll try to send you updates every three hours or so." After what happened in the Bahak system with Kenson keeping her sedated for two days, she knew he wouldn't wait around again without word from her, wouldn't hesitate to jump in the Kodiak and come to Omega to find her. Nor did she want to put him through that type of endless waiting again.

Shepard then approached Garrus, who was tensely leaning against the requisitions console, mandibles tight against his face. "I'll be fine, Garrus."

He sighed, crossed arms dropping to his sides. "I know you will. Can't forget you were the one to pull my ass out of Omega in the first place," he said with a forced attempt at a joke to lighten the mood. "I just…"

She laid a hand on his chest plate. "I know." She knew because it was Omega, because she wouldn't have anyone other than Aria watching her six. But Shepard would play by this rule of Aria's, as she knew she'd be butting heads with Aria enough as it was. Not to say a part of Shepard wasn't relieved for it. Cerberus occupation or not, she preferred not to give any of the merc groups an opportunity to target Garrus if they recognized him as Archangel.

Not that that would have stopped him. Garrus had said just as much to her when Shepard begrudgingly told Garrus she had met with Aria, that she wanted Shepard to help her take back Omega. He had raised his concerns, about Aria not exactly being the most trustworthy person or truly knowing her intentions, about only having her and her own around Shepard. But after minutes of vigorous back and forth, he eventually saw Shepard's side, though was still unhappy about it. Which he was clearly not hesitant on reminding her of.

With her sniper rifle and pistol holstered, resupplied with a fresh batch of grenades, and Cortez waiting for her in the Kodiak, it was finally time to head out.

She made to say goodbye with a brief kiss, but Garrus had other ideas, grabbing onto her shoulders and pulling her closer, leaning down with a hard press of his mouth plates to her lips. For all his lack of a flexible mouth and having never done this before her, he had become quite a damn good kisser since their first night, her breath practically knocked out of her by the forcefulness of his kiss. She held onto his own armored shoulders, eagerly responding, finding herself wishing they could just go back to her quarters instead of her having to go and help Aria, but business had to come before pleasure.

Shepard reluctantly pulled away, knowing Aria was expecting her soon. Garrus let go of one of her shoulders, running the back of his gloved finger against the side of her face as he said, "Be careful out there, Jane."

"I'm always careful. When am I ever not?"

She was pleased to see his mandibles flick in slight genuine amusement, "I'd answer that, but we'd be here longer than you have time for."

"Funny," she said with a playful push to his shoulder.

"I try." His gaze then turned serious again, hand grabbing for one of hers and curling his over it as he said, "Around every three hours."

She squeezed it back. "Around every three hours."

Finally pulling away from each other, she headed over to the Kodiak, beginning to physically and mentally prep herself for the long night ahead, determined to try and get through it in one piece.