"That's the third time this month Vandrel. What am I going to do with you? You continue to show up late for formation, you ask to leave during classes, what the hell am I supposed to think? I've had to take away your weekend pass twice, this time you just lost your entire training squads weekend pass. Maybe that will help teach you that what you do, doesn't only affect you, but your entire squad. They depend on you, and you're letting them down. Dismissed Vandrel, I trust we won't be having this conversation again anytime soon."

As she exited Andruis's office Jane felt like kicking something. She turned and headed for the barracks. Her squad was going to murder her for this one, it's not like she was trying to do this, but Vyrnnus was always one step ahead of her. It had started out as small things, running an errand here or there. But lately she had damn near become his group's full time slave. It was getting in the way of everything, and she had no idea how to fix it. She paused at the door to her bunk, sighed and readied herself for the onslaught.

She didn't have to wait long, the moment she entered something hard and metallic sailed past her head and smacked against the wall. She ducked and moved towards her bunk, trying to ignore the yells and shouts of those present. Sadria motioned for her and she sunk down next to her on the bunk.

"You really did it this time, it's all I could do to not have them waiting with rifles for you to come back."

"Thanks Sadria, but maybe you should have just let them shoot me. It might be the only way I'm going to be able to get this to end."

"You might want to write your father about this, Vyrnnus isn't just going to stop."

"No, that's the last thing I want to do. Honestly, how would that look if I ran off and tattled to my dad the General?"

"You've got a point, but then what are you going to do? If you keep up at this rate you're going to end up kitchen help for the rest of your career."

"Yup, guess I should have paid more attention to my mom's cooking lessons." Jane flopped back on the bunk and laid her arm over her eyes. What the hell was she going to do?

ooOoo

Another week, and nothing had happened, granted, Vyrnnus and his cronies were gone on deployment, so Jane had almost a whole week with no demands on her. She was at class on time, and perfect at formation. In drills she was excellent and of course her marksmanship was impeccable. Taking a deep breath she leaned over her rifle and adjusted her sight. She even had time to relax a little with her rifle, and for the first time since her run in with Vyrnnus she wasn't watching over her shoulder.

Garrus stood back watching Jane, her movements were fluid. She moved from one crouched position to a standing resolve in smooth movements. She fired, recovered to a new position and fired again without as much as a stutter. She was beautiful like this, and he had found himself seeking her out here every chance he got. She had seemed to be tense in the last month, every time she would take a shot, she would look over her shoulder like she was waiting for something. He knew that something was Vyrnnus, he had wanted to do something about it, but Jane had wanted to deal with this. He was trying to let her, but Spirits it was painful to watch.

He saw her pause between one of her perfect tucked rolls, she didn't fire right away instead rocked forward to her knees, letting her head fall back, her hair was coming out of her braid, he watched as the wind caught the little strands and blew them across her face which was turned to the sun. He knew she was enjoying the warmth, she hated the cold and he caught himself wishing he could brush those loose strands back from her face, finally feeling if her skin was as soft as he imagined it to be.

His gaze didn't leave her face as her eyes popped open and locked on his. She smiled, oblivious to his thoughts and motioned him over. Garrus knew he shouldn't, he should turn and walk away, just like he had every other day as he watched her. He had been good to his vow to himself and Nihlus. He had kept his distance, trying to spend his time pursuing Xara, but his heart and head really wasn't in it. Besides, he didn't really have to pursue her; she was practically throwing herself at him. As for his promise to Nihlus, he had kept his eyes on her when he could.

"Not that you mind watching her." He mumbled as he made his way down the slight hill to where Jane still sat on her knees, watching him. Her hair was a brilliant red in the dying light, and his fingers itched to run through it and satisfy whatever it was in him that was screaming for her nearness. Even as his mind told him to run, but his mind didn't win this time though as he came to a halt above her.

"What are you doing out here Garrus? Isn't this date night, or whatever it is that you're doing with Xara?"

He didn't take her bait at first, instead watching her push her hair behind her little ear. Her fingers brushed over her neck, it was an innocent gesture on her part. Most likely she didn't even know she had done it, and he felt that first warning rush of blood through his body as he wondered what it would be like to bite down on that soft flesh, there just above that bone on her neck.

He forced his gaze from her neck and to her eyes, she watched him and she squinted in annoyance when he didn't answer her. As he watched her eyes on him in silence, he would have sworn he saw something flash in their depths. Jealousy, anger, was she; no she couldn't possibly be angry about him and Xara.

"Are you just going to stand there staring at me Garrus? I asked, isn't it date night?"

He shook his head and smiled as he removed his rifle. "You've been in so much trouble lately; I haven't had time to have a little shoot out with you. You're the only competition I have here. So no actually, it's kick Jane Vandrel's butt night."

"That sounds like a date to me, what do you think Nihlus and I used to do on all of those long days, in the middle of nowhere."

"Well I can think of a lot better things to do."

Jane chuckled low in her chest, it rumbled and he realized she had taken on aspects of their speech that went far beyond simply learning their words, and that simple laugh, took him right back to the place he was trying to escape.

"Well, this is how we would blow off steam. This and of course pretending we were out on a ship, somewhere in the Galaxy. Now I'm here and he's out there." She shrugged and reached towards him. He had to stop himself from pulling back as she turned his scope.

"I can see why you've been pulling to the left lately."

Garrus scoffed and readjusted the scope.

"Well once again, I can think of a lot of things that are much more fun to do, to you know, blow off steam. Also I'll have you know that my shot has not been pulling to the left, it goes precisely where I mean it to." There it was again, at the mention of blowing off steam that didn't involve guns, something he couldn't quite grasp, flashed through her eyes.

"Don't tell me, that is all you and Nihlus did?" He hadn't really meant to say it, he didn't really want to know, but there was some part of him that couldn't help but ask. He didn't want to see the look she was giving him, so he focused on the target at the other end of the field.

"No, you have to remember, I was only a little over fourteen when he left. I'm just now almost sixteen. You know most females don't start trying for mates until they are at least fifteen. I figured it kind of came with the territory of the Academy."

He knew without her saying it that she was referring to him and Xara.

"Honestly I don't even know why we're talking about this." She sighed and turned her attention to the target.

The field was silent, save for their rifle fire. Finally after going round for round at almost a dead heat, Garrus pushed away from his rifle. It was now fully dark and Jane was only a silhouette. But her scent still enveloped him, she smelled like the sun, and this sage they had on Palaven that after a very rare rain would open and fill the air with its smell. It was a rare smell, and that's what she was, rare.

Even in the dark he could tell she was watching him, her eyes extremely keen in the inky black.

"Just so you know Jane, there are other ways to relax; I was thinking maybe you should come with us on leave this weekend. I know Sadria has tried to drag you out, but you've lost your pass like it's a bad habit. Come on, it'll be good for you to get out of here."

She nodded and he heard her sigh as she stood and stowed her rifle.

"Speaking of which, we should get out of here before lights out."

"Yeah, we should." He stood and when she moved to go past him he moved at the same time and she bumped in to his chest, his arms went around her to steady her. But no matter how much his mind told him to let her go, his body wouldn't cooperate.

She laughed and made to move to her left, but he didn't let her and she stared up at him.

"Come on Garrus, I'm not going to fall on my face, I promise."

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog and removed his arms, and she moved away from him towards the barracks.

"Hey Jane, try to not get your pass taken away, alright?"

There was that laugh again and it caused his mind to fade, and he smiled into the darkness as she answered.

"I don't know Garrus, it's a long day, and who knows I might just have to square off with that girlfriend of yours. She's a real pain in the ass by the way."

He wanted to tell her that she wasn't really his girlfriend. But she most likely knew that their relationship would never go beyond the stolen moments in dark halls, moments Garrus honestly didn't really care to remember. Xara was supposed to have one purpose. The removal of Jane from his mind, and that had failed miserably.

But before he could say another word she turned and ran the rest of the way back to the barracks, making Garrus wish it wasn't dark, her hair bounced when she ran, it was almost as good as watching her shoot.

ooOoo

Sadria laughed as she watched Jane sprinting towards the gate and the shuttle that would take them to the city. Jane grinned at the group as she hopped in the shuttle.

Xara groaned as she stared at Jane. "Does it, really have to come with us?"

"Shut your face Xara, you're lucky we let you come."

Xara made a face but Sadria ignored it and Jane laughed as she hurried to a seat. "Let's just get the hell out of here before they change their mind and decide my pass is a fake."

"You're going to love this Jane." Sadria nudged her as she took the seat next to her.

"Well I'll have to take your word for it; I've never been to a club."

Xara snickered but Garrus pointedly ignored it, "Well you know how to drink, just let the music do the rest. If you're feeling lucky, I'll teach you to gamble."

"Garrus, I'm not sure you're the best one to teach Jane how to gamble. Are you forgetting last leave?"

Garrus glared at her and folded his arms over his chest. "That was one time, I'm normally very lucky."

Sadria stared at Xara who was practically plastered to his side and she snorted, "Yeah, you look it."

He knew what she meant and at that moment he regretted telling Xara she could come, he really wanted to be able to show Jane around, and now he'd spend the whole night getting Xara drinks and playing the nice date. Damn it.

Jane tapped her fingers together as they finished their trip. They all piled out of the shuttle and Sadria took her arm and lead her down the street towards the Club.

She could feel the pulsing beats before they were even inside, she couldn't imagine how anyone could have a conversation or enjoy themselves with how loud it seemed. Sadria must have read her expression because she laughed. "It's not really a place for having in depth conversations."

Once inside Jane realized how right she was. It was dark, bright points of light flowed like ribbons on the mass of moving Turians on the dance floor. Jane got the normal odd looks and stares she was used to, before Garrus lead them to a booth and Xara ordered her first drink and Garrus wandered off to get them all something.

They sat talking about other classmates, teachers, Garrus's officer training and as Jane downed her third drink she glanced up at Garrus and narrowed her eyes. "Hey what's that?"

She pointed to the new sighting instrument that was now over Garrus's left eye.

"Oh this, it's a birthday present from my father."

"I didn't know it was your birthday. Why didn't you say anything?"

He shrugged, "I'm seventeen, didn't seem important."

"Of course it's important, another drink all around. Here's to Garrus, seventeen and already on his way to being the best damn officer in the Turian military, oh and the second best shot."

She winked and downed her drink, "I hope you know that thing isn't allowed when we're in competition, not unless you plan on getting me one."

"Sure, I'll get you one, it's going to be pink, maybe have some frills on it. How does that sound?"

Jane snorted and refilled her drink from the bottle.

Xara looked from Garrus to Jane and back again.

"What the fuck is next? You going to start sharing markings, you have your ruined Turian, leave mine the hell alone."

Jane lifted a brow and stared at the very angry face of Xara. "What are you talking about? Garrus and I are just friends."

Garrus almost flinched, he knew they were only friends, but hearing it like that killed something in him.

Xara seemed pleased that there was no argument from either side, and scooted closer to him.

Sadria rolled her eyes and stared out at the dance floor.

"Okay Jane, time to teach you what the best part of this club is."

"You mean besides the fantastic company?" She grinned at Xara, but only got an icy glare in return as she was lead to the dance floor.

Sadria began moving to the music, her movements matched the music and she grabbed Jane showing her how to move.

Jane was giggling as she tried to copy the movements. After the first few dances she was feeling comfortable and was starting to get into it when Garrus joined them. His dancing was natural and she laughed at the sight, but as she lifted her eyes and glanced towards the door, her perfect night came crashing down.

There at the door stood Vyrnnus and his group, Jane excused herself to the washroom, before anyone else could realize anything was wrong. Washing her face she stared in the mirror, trying to muster the courage to go out and finish her night. Taking a deep breath she exited the washroom and was immediately shoved against the wall.

"Here you are Vandrel, did I say you could go out? Imagine my surprise when I get back to base and find you missing. And I find you here, doing what?" He leaned into her, an arm on either side of her, blocking her in. "Been drinking, dancing? Enjoying your night? How about you and I find somewhere to enjoy it together," Jane could tell he had been drinking as well as he leaned in close to her ear, and whispered.

"You know Jane, we could work something out, I'm sure you're tired of doing our chores, I've heard human bodies aren't that different from Asari. What do you say to a different arrangement, you, taking care of my needs in a different way, all you have to do is everything that I say," His tongue flicked out and ran a line from her collar bone up to her ear and she tried to shove him away. Grabbing her, he shoved her roughly back against the wall.

"I wasn't really asking, I'm going to take what I want from you, and there isn't anyone who is going to stop me."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Vyrnnus."

Jane's head jerked up at Garrus's voice and she sucked in a breath at the pure rage on his face.

"I suggest you move on Vakarian, this doesn't concern you."

"That's where you're wrong, it does concern me."

Vyrnnus must have seen something in Garrus's look that Jane couldn't see, because he let go of her and moved instead to stand in front of him.

"Oh really, I didn't know you felt that way, well if you're patient maybe I'll let you have my leftovers, until then, I suggest you get out of my business before I have to hurt you."

"Since I'm not going to let that happen, I welcome you to try."

Vyrnnus threw the first swing and Garrus ducked it easily, from there the melee moved to the dance floor, punches kicks and rolls were all made to look jerky and disconnected by the strobe light. Jane couldn't follow the fight and couldn't tell if Vyrnnus was using his biotics or not, she moved on to the dance floor and a blast of biotic energy flew past Garrus knocking over a nearby booth.

Everyone, even the rest of Vyrnnus's group had gathered to the sides. It seemed to Jane that everything besides Vyrnnus and Garrus was frozen in time.

Jane was shoved to the back of the group where one of the Cabals made to grab her; she forced her way to the front of the crowd again, losing him in the throng of people, just in time to see the flash of a knife as Vyrnnus approached Garrus ready to leap.

"Garrus, he's got a," but before she could warn him, Garrus had his side arm pulled and fired three shots at Vyrnnus's chest and one at his head. A military kill. Shit, what the hell had just happened? How could everything go from perfect, to fucked up beyond all recognition in such a short span of time?

"Because you're involved Jane." She muttered as Garrus took two steps and pulled her against him.

"You're okay Jane?"

"Am I okay? Are you okay?" She pushed back checking him for wounds before she turned towards Vyrnnus.

"This isn't good Garrus, shit; I wish I wouldn't have come."

"This isn't your fault Jane, Vyrnnus has had this coming for a long time. This though was self-defense and all that, still we should get back, get to Andruis before anyone else does."

As he took her hand and led her from the club towards the shuttle Jane felt like she was going to be sick. They sat opposite each other on the shuttle; she had been staring at the floor and finally forced herself to make eye contact with him. He was watching her, concern written on his face and she hated it, she felt guilty, he shouldn't be concerned for her.

"Garrus, if I messed up your officer training, I'll never forgive myself."

He looked confused at this, and reached forward lifting her chin so he could see her whole face.

"What the hell are you talking about Jane? Do you understand what he was about to do to you? What he would have done in front of everyone?"

"I know Garrus but," he stopped her words with a tap of his talon against her Jaw.

"No buts Jane, I would never let anyone touch you like that."

Jane's brows furrowed at that, "No one?"

He pulled back from her, realizing what he'd said. He turned and stared out the window, knowing without looking that her head was quirked to the side, a question burning in her green eyes. A question neither of them should be asking, let alone answering.

The shuttle landed and he motioned towards the door, "Let's go deal with our repercussions shall we?"

ooOoo

They waited for what seemed like an eternity outside of Commander Andruis's office, the waiting was worse than anything, the not knowing. There was definite shouting coming from the office, and finally a young Turian, the Commanders aid came out and without really looking at them, showed them into the office.

"What the hell happened out there Vakarian? I'm getting reports of a firefight, Vyrnnus killed, you had better have some answers and they had better be damn good." Andruis was livid, he stood motionless before them, but the rage was written on his face.

"Sir, had I not stopped him he would have raped Vandrel, and had I not shot him he would have killed me."

Andruis's brow plate lifted slightly at this as he stared Garrus down.

"You're saying it was justified in self-defense?" Andruis shook his head and moved towards them.

"Your record is impeccable Vakarian, and damn lucky for you there were quite a few officers present who verified that story." His eyes turned towards Jane.

"You just seem to find yourself in all sorts of trouble don't you Vandrel? Maybe you should focus on your studies a little more."

"This hasn't been her fault Sir," Andruis lifted a finger towards Garrus without turning towards him.

"I did not ask your opinion Vakarian." He looked between them and pulled his shoulders back straight.

"Seeing as this was an act of self-defense, I won't send you both packing back to your parents in disgrace. But that being said, you are both confined to the base indefinitely, dismissed."

They saluted, about-faced and left the office. As soon as the door was closed Jane leaned against the wall and released the breath she had been holding in a woosh.

Garrus chuckled and pulled her off the wall and gave her a shove towards her barracks.

"That could have gone a lot worse, we're lucky others were there."

"No, I'm lucky you were there Garrus, can you imagine if I would have tried to stick up for myself and that happened? No one would have verified my story."

"You're wrong Jane, Sadria and I would have. I'll always be here if you need me."

He watched as she worried her bottom lip and he sighed, his head was killing him and he didn't need thoughts of those fleshy bits on top of it.

"Listen, go get some sleep Jane. I'll talk to you later."

She nodded and he watched her until she disappeared into the far building and he closed his eyes leaning against the wall, thoughts of what would have happened if he hadn't been right there flashed before his eyes and he sighed, thanking whoever was listening that he had been there.

ooOoo

The next few weeks were quiet; Jane was diligent in her studies and trained harder than ever. Determined to show Andruis, what and who she was, when she didn't have someone breathing down her neck. He seemed pleased with her progress, and things seemed normal for once, but things, are never as they seem.

Jane was on the track, she had just finished trial war games, she'd done extremely well, well enough she'd even gotten a 'good job' from Andruis, which at this point felt like a major victory. She was being run tight; they all were after what had happened. Though as Jane reflected on it, she had flourished under it, her thoughts and run were interrupted as Sadria caught up to her.

"Hey, aren't you tired after the games? Just watching you was making me tired."

Jane chuckled but didn't stop.

"Yeah, screw this, I do enough running during training, I'll see you at supper."

Jane nodded and Sadria took off. To Sadria's credit she hadn't asked one thing about the club, she liked that about her, she left well enough alone, she could see her father in her.

"Garrus was just finishing his first short outing as a squad leader, he enjoyed being out, but he didn't care for the leadership role, he'd much prefer to just sit back and take out people from afar. His musings were interrupted as he looked up towards the med bay, and caught sight of one of Nihlus's squad leaving.

"Hey, Marrus when did you guys get back?"

Marrus glanced up; he looked like he had taken a direct hit from a spray of shrapnel.

"Shit, you guys saw some action, where's Nihlus?"

Marrus stared at him but didn't answer, and Garrus knew something wasn't right.

"Marrus, what the hell happened?"

"We ran right into a full platoon of Alliance, there was so many of them, we didn't pull back, just kept pressing. Nihlus took out so many on his own, he kept pushing, he was the reason the rest of us made it out."

"What the hell are you saying Marrus."

Marrus ignored his question and just kept going as if reliving it.

"He hit their front line and decimated it, he was pushing, he turned the tide, until," he drifted off, his eyes had a haunted faraway look. "None of us saw the biotic until it was too late, his black armor hid him in the darkness, and then Nihlus was down. He didn't make it Garrus, but he made damn sure the rest of us did."

Marrus didn't wait a moment longer, just continued on towards his bunk. Garrus stared after Marrus, he must still be in shock, what Nihlus had done was what he was trained to do.

He stood staring after Marrus until an image of Jane pushed to the forefront of this thoughts, shit did she know? If she did, hell he needed to find her, and if she did know, he had a good damn idea where she would be.

He ran towards the practice range, it was empty as most everyone else was gone for the day. Jane must be there, or at least she had been, her rifle was there but she wasn't with it. He found her as he walked towards the rifle; she was sitting with her back against the building her face turned towards the sky.

As he approached her, her head dropped to her knees. Stopping before her, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up and to his chest.

"Jane, I heard about Nihlus, you know he,"

She shook her head against his chest, and he stopped talking and let her nuzzle into his shoulder. Her tears were hot and soaked his uniform, his hand lifted on its own and stroked down her hair that had fallen out of her braid. He was so busy taking each of her sobs into his body, feeling her pain, trying to ease it without words, letting his body be her shield, that he didn't realize how soft it was through his talons.

They stood motionless, Jane in Garrus's arms, he felt her pain to the very core of him, and he swore to himself that he would never let her feel like this again. He realized it was possessive of him, but for the first time he didn't feel guilt, only the understanding that he needed her in his life, right or wrong.