After the chat with the Illusive Man and briefing the crew.

...w...

After the debrief with Shepard, Leah walked into the Life Support room and stood. She needed to talk to someone and other than Shepard and Garrus there was only one person on the ship that knew her very well. Since Thane knew her since she was so young, this was the guidance she needed right now.

"Are you going to say hello or just stand there?" Thane asked after a long few moments.

"I wanted to see if I was still welcome." She smiled.

"You were always welcome in my home."

Leah walked into the room further and stopped next to him. He immediately stood and hugged her tight. After their embrace he sat back down and held his hand for her to sit in the chair across from him. She took it and smiled politely.

"I was surprised to see you here." She began.

"I was surprised to see you here." He repeated. "You were more of the alone type."

"You taught me it was better to be alone."

"And... At that time I thought it was."

"Do you remember when you met Irikah? You told me that nothing was the same after you met her.".

"I suspect the Commander is your Irikah."

"Aye. He brightened my entire world, Thane. Exactly as you explained it to me when you met your wife. I had no idea it was possible and I always thought you were a fool...but..."

"You are here to talk to me because you don't know who he is anymore?"

"The Shepard I knew died two years ago. This new guy... Is also the Shepard I knew...but works for my enemy."

"Leahala," Thane grabbed her hands. "...may I say something." He wasn't asking.

"Aye."

"You also work for them. Does that make you your enemy? Does that change your ideals in anyway? Or are they a means to an end? He is a good man and fights them when he needs to. Cerberus is not running him and I can promise you that."

"...I just..."

Thane let go of her hands and smiled leaning back.

"Search his thoughts, see for yourself. You can do that. It'll be devastating to relive some of his memories but you'll see."

"I'm afraid to do that."

"Because if what might happen?"

"He always seems to see my feelings when I touch him..."

"Interesting." He simply stated.

...w...

Shepard was pissed. He stomped out of the meeting with the Illusive Man and debriefed everyone the best he could without breaking anything. He was still angry even after seeing the reason behind the Illusive Man's actions. Putting everyone at risk for data.

Shepard headed up to his room more angry than he had been in awhile. He still couldn't believe the Illusive Man put him and his crew in that sort of danger so easily. The silence of the elevator ride just made him fume more. He walked into his quarters and began stripping his armor tossing pieces all over. He didn't care that he would have to pick them up later, he just needed to throw something.

"That mother fucker!" He shouted.

"Commander Shepard," EDI's voice sounded.

"I swear if you say another fucking word I will let Joker fry your circuit boards. Shut down all comms to my room and leave me the hell alone!" He shouted at the ceiling.

"John?" A soft concerned female voice asked.

He spun and Leah stood behind him with a confused look on her face. The piece of armor he had in his hand, he set down on the desk and sighed.

"I asked EDI to announce me." She folded her arms together and lifted an eyebrow amused.

"I'm sorry." He sat down in his chair and grabbed onto his head in frustration.

"Don't be. That was bullshit what he did. We could have died over there."

Shepard's hands fell to his lap with a slap and he stared at Leah.

"I am happy you're here." He simply said letting the anger go, losing himself in her beauty.

"I want to see something." She walked up and kneeled at his feet.

Shepard sat up and leaned toward her.

"What?"

"Close your eyes." She stated and he did. "Think back to your last moments."

Shepard's eyes shot open and he leaned away from her. He knew exactly what she was planning and knew that it was a bad idea. That was too much for her to see... too much pain for them both.

"Leah."

"I'm only asking once."

He sighed and leaned back in, doing as she asked. Leah grabbed his hands and she suddenly felt every emotion he had from wanting her at the Citadel before the original attack and wanting everyone safe during the original attack then nothing...to then being heartbroken when he woke up alive, anger for Cerberus, more anger for the Council not helping, more heartbreak when she swatted him away, then blinding hatred for Cerberus putting her and everyone at risk, and most of all his still overwhelming want, need, and love for her.

What Leah didn't expect, but should have guessed, was not being able to control her emotions and showing Shepard everything. He tightened his grip on her as her images came flooding into him. From the devastation finding just Joker in the escape pod, pain for two years from torture both physical and mental, finding him alive, anger for the Cerberus ties, and a growing love even when she stayed away.

Leah let go, tears streaming down her face and she stared at him. Shepard was breathing heavily and tears were running down his face but he was confused, he hasn't let emotion go in so long.

"It's from me." She laughed wiping his tears. "You must have felt my emotions."

"You... I..."

"Stop. I'm sorry I was so terrible to you. When you showed up..."

"Don't. I saw it all." He stopped her.

"I'm sorry. You are the only person I cannot control my memory exchange with." She trailed off.

"Leah, I get it your hesitation to trust me but you know I would only do this for the right reasons."

"Aye."

Shepard hearing her say that lost his ability to control himself. He stood and pulled Leah to her feet as if she weighed two pounds. He then kissed her hard not caring if she was going to throw him again because he needed her. She pushed him into the desk kissing him back and they began removing each other's clothes quickly not letting anything stop them this time. He swatted the items off the desk and spun setting her down removing her pants and underwear. He entered her more harshly than he wanted to but he needed to be inside her. Her nails dug into his back and she gasped forgetting how big he felt inside of her. He groaned into her mouth but did not stop his delicious torture even though he almost finished because of her tightness.

It was as though time and space stopped for them, everything was right in the world because they were both together again. His rhythm was gaining momentum and it wasn't long before he remembered every sweet spot to set his warrior godess on fire. After her very first loud orgasm, Shepard tightened his grip to lift her. Leah wrapped her arms and legs around Shepard and he picked her up walking them to his bed. She kissed, nipped, and licked every delicious part of his lips, chin, face, neck, and chest as they headed over. When they plopped onto the bed, he held nothing back making her scream his name. She bit his chest trying not to be too loud but he was ruthless with her body. He was impressed he remembered everything that set her off, every touch, kiss and tender spot. He made sure his tough warrior turned to mush in his arms.

Leah saw stars behind her eyes, something that hasn't happened to her in 2 years. Shepard was the only man that could turn her into a helpless woman with just a touch and kiss. She both hated and loved it. As the pressure began building again and her body stiffened, she screamed his name again digging into his back, not caring if she was drawing blood. This time Shepard let himself find his end, proud he lasted as long as he did. They just held each other panting letting their heart beats and breaths slow.

"John?" Leah said after a few minutes passed.

"Yea?" He looked up.

"I love you." She smiled.

"I love you."

...w...

Beeping sounded making Mordin jump into action. He ran to the computer and began typing away staring at the screen. He looked away then back again and smiled widely.

"Doctor Chakwas, can you please join me in the Labs?"

Within a few minutes Doctor Chakwas was in the Labs looking annoyed.

"I was in middle of a..."

"Just look." He pointed.

She walked to the screen and gasped, her hand clasping over her mouth in shock.

"This is Leah's DNA...wait... You identified the third marker?" She asked over a few moments of studying the data.

"On a hunch I ran Leah's DNA with the Collector DNA."

"This cannot be right." Doctor Chakwas stared.

"Fascinating!" Mordin smiled.

"This is..."

"She is part Prothean." Mordin was excited.

"That explains the structure..."

"Right. Only Prothean's had the quad-squad strand."

"So she is Irlan. With Turian and Prothean."

"This is just speculation. Maybe a grandmother mated with a Prothean and mother a Turian."

"Fascinating." They both beamed.

"EDI," Doctor Chakwas called. "...have Garrus, Leah, and Shepard meet us here immediately."

"I will inform Garrus but Shepard wishes to be alone."

"Have Leah get him."

"She is with him."

"...oh..."

Garrus walked into the Lab a few moments later and looked around.

"EDI told me I was needed." He was confused.

"Leah's third marker is Prothean." Doctor Chakwas smiled pointing to the screen.

"Wait... What?" Garrus gasped walking to the screen and staring at it.

"I ran Leah's DNA with the Collector DNA. She is part Prothean." Mordin beamed repeating it.

"Prothean and Turian?" Garrus was stunned.

"We are speculating that her grandmother mated with a Prothean. They live for thousands of years, right?" Mordin asked.

"Right." Garrus agreed.

"Her father must have been Turian." Doctor Chakwas added.

"That is amazing no wonder she is the perfect soldier." Garrus smiled. "Where is she? Shepard too?"

"They are together...not wanting to be disturbed."

Garrus smiled happy she took his advice.

...w...

Shepard was sound asleep for the first time in a long time. He was lying on his stomach with his arms wrapped in his pillow and Leah was resting against his back wide awake. She began kissing his back slowly until his eyes opened and he turned to look at her.

"Hey you." His sleepy voice made her smile.

"Hey you."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"About six hours."

"Wow..." He sat up and stretched.

"What?"

"I haven't slept that much since..." He stopped.

Leah kissed him before he could say 'he died'. She didn't want to hear it. She crawled up his legs and sat across his lap, grabbing onto his face.

"It doesn't matter." She whispered.

"Agreed. I'm here with you now." He ran his hands down her face and kissed her again.

Beeping suddenly sounded from Shepard's desk and both of them looked up curious.

"EDI?" He asked.

"There is an incoming message from Alliance HQ, from Admiral Steven Hackett."

"Hackett?" Leah asked.

"I don't know." Shepard shrugged.

Leah immediately stood pulling him to his feet. He slipped on a pair of N7 shorts and walked to his computer. His screen suddenly turned dark and Admiral Hackett's face appeared.

"Commander," He smiled. "Thank you for your time. I'll keep this brief."

Leah watched as Shepard took Admiral Hackett's call. It sounded like a mission that Hackett had sent Leah on several times during the two years they thought Shepard was dead. Hearing that Shepard would have to go alone made her angry. She slipped into her sports bra and shorts and waited silently until the call was over.

"...we'll debrief you when you're back." Hackett added.

"Got it." Shepard agreed.

"Hackett out."

Shepard shut down the screen and walked to the edge of the stairs and stood. Leah stared at him with a look of anger clearly on her face.

"What?" He asked.

"You're kidding right." She snapped.

"Doesn't sound like he was kidding."

"Like HELL you're going into a Bartarian prison alone. I'll go in your place."

"No. I will. You stay here."

"John! You can't. You're the Commander of a ship, you're more important that I am. What if something happens?!"

"Leah," He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "...I am asking you to stay here. It's an easy pick up. If things get hairy, I'll call you in immediately. Deal."

"..." She squinted her eyes in irritation.

He smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

"Joker," He called winking at Leah, but she pushed him away from her. "...head to the Bahak System, Viper Nebula and to Aratoht."

"Yes, Commander."

"If anything happens to you..." She growled.

"I know."

"I don't think you do. If something happens to you, I will burn down that planet to find you."

"That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Shepard joked before tackling her on the bed.