Two months on the Citadel has done great things for Katherine Shepard. She focused on herself, on all aspects of herself that needed work, that she needed to help get healthier. She visited Jean frequently, the visits helping her accept the pains of the past and of the time under the masters, the two girls treating the visits more recently like a support group meetup for therapy. It was relaxing and helped both continue forward to brighter futures. Jean was going to be a pilot, she declared, and had already begun talks with Alliance recruiters about what she could do to help her get ready for flight school. Shepard was proud of her, but at the same time sad. Jean had found a way to move on, to get her life going after it being suspended for two years.

She still couldn't decide if she wanted to join C-Sec, or join the Alliance.

Two months of healing had passed, but some things stayed the same. She struggled to keep going, to move her bones and limbs as night terrors and flashbacks plagued her life, weeping her voice into silence as she recovered and learned how to be human again, how to act in public again. There was so much Bailey and Garrus could do for her, and she was left with a burden of a life burned into her skin and mind forever.

She stared at the recommendation from the asari councilor again, curled up in her favorite blue blanket. It technically was Garrus' but the gentle scent of the turian calmed her down, relaxed her. Speaking of said turian, he had pulled her into his arms to help her calm down after they had returned home. She set it down and relaxed into his arms, turning so she could look up him, a smile on her lips as a hand held onto his carapace.

"Thank you, Garrus."

He gave a sort of rumble back, her mandibles fluttering in his normal smile. More and more he would do this, speak more without words, the silent 'second voice' he carried speaking for him. She couldn't truly understand the words behind the sounds but she could interpret them almost perfectly. They were soft now, calming and loving. They had started to take a more attractive c tone, if she could call it that, in recent days, and she did nothing to stop it. She didn't know when things moved from brother and sister to something she couldn't name. It wasn't exactly the easiest slide into a relationship ever, but it wasn't exactly a friendship anymore. She had done her own research on turian courting and things, to make sure she didn't make mistakes with something like this if she was interpreting him correctly.

She closed her eyes for a moment, her biotics humming softly as his hands wrapped around her waist, fingers touching uncovered skin for a moment. His face came to gently nuzzle her neck, her head tilting to one side to give him more room. The quiet rumble of his subvocals sent chills down her back, relaxing her into his hands as she allowed him to touch her intimately.

"Katherine..."

"Garrus..."

He gently nipped at her neck, making her squirm softly. He chuckled softly before going back to nuzzling her neck and shoulder once more, knowing to go slow and gentle. She twisted gently, looking at him as she ran her hand over the left side of his face, drawing his dazed gaze to her own.

"Is it alright, Katherine?" his voice was low, almost husky, the two-toned syllables making it worse on her, "Is it okay if I do this?"

"You're... scenting me, right? Marking me with your scent?"

"Yes," he murmured, lowering his face and mouth plates to her shoulder again for a moment, "I.. I should have asked you if this was alright before I started to."

"Garrus... there's no one else in the galaxy that I would want in my life right now. You gave me my life, and have given me something I could never have."

"Something you couldn't have?"

She nodded. "I'll always be a used slave to some... but to you.. you don't care, do you, that I was... touched by batarians?"

"Kat... just because you were a slave doesn't make you any lesser. If anything, the lingering smell of those batarians makes me angry."

"Angry?"

"I'll make them pay for hurting someone as strong, and brave as you." he growled, "I won't let you feel any lesser because of your time as a slave."

She was speechless, caught off guard by his possessiveness, his need to protect her and everything she stood for. He wanted her to stand tall and he would do all he could to help her do so. Tears dripped down her cheeks on the sound of her soft sobs, drawing concerned eyes and a confused thrill. She shook her head, caressing his cheek once more, careful of his mandible fluttering underneath her palm.

"It's okay. Just hearing you say that... I know I've heard it before but... it makes me happy, knowing I won't be thrown out for what happened during that time."

Garrus grumbled something, his subvocals announcing his annoyance at such a thing. "You're still strong, and smart... and beautiful to me. No matter what, Katherine."

"It's only been two months, you know."

"Turians don't take long to find their mates if they're in the right place for long enough."

Shepard chuckled softly, though the laughter faded into a soft gasp as he nuzzled her neck again, her hand holding onto his face as carefully as she could.

"Is this okay, Katherine? Do you want this?" he asked again, his words soft in her ear, "When turians find their mate, they mate for life."

"I don't want a life without you... so yes. I want this." she spoke without hesitation, without concern.

He had given her everything, and through their time together discovered this turian was everything she needed, everything she wanted. Someone warm and close, who cared regardless of her past. Someone who fumbled and got caught up in their differences, but wasn't afraid to learn and understand. Someone who would be there to catch her if she fell, someone who knew the pain of carrying an unspeakable burden on their back.

He started to nuzzle again, another thought striking her mind. Her hand came to touch his forehead, stopping him before he could continue.

"What does this include, Garrus? What comes first?"

Heleaned back, ceasing his nuzzling, his subvocals gently humming to the beat of her heart as it pounded in her chest. His hands were quick to help calm her twitching muscles, locking her against his chest.

"Scenting first. It tells anyone with a sharp enough nose that you're claimed by me. It's the first step. Next is normally the bonding marks. Turians normally have all of this happen during sex, but I know it'll bring back bad memories right now. We can wait as long as you need for that part."

"Thinking so far ahead already, are we?" she teased, curling up against him.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, or hurt you. We can make this work... right?"

He sounded uncertain, almost scared. It would be a rocky road with her scars and fears, but she knew deep down she could get past it all, but it would take time for the wounds to heal before testing them again. She held his hands, still tight against her skin, bringing one up to her lips, kissing the firm plates, the small patches of soft skin. The softest purr left his throat.

"We'll make it work, of course. I don't want to lose you. Even if it takes a while for else.. or we found ourselves comfortable without sex... I'll stay here no matter what."

"No matter what." he repeated, "I'll be here, and support you no matter what."

"And I'll do the same for my mate."

He gave a happy hum at the words, chuckling softly. "One day."

She nodded. "One day, but for now... scent me all you want, Garrus."

He didn't give her an answer, immediately dipping his head so he could nuzzle and mark her with his scent, nipping her skin gently ever so often. She melted in his touch, trust and affection burning their bound souls bright as he carefully caressed her arms, ensuring she was marked as a taken mate. Humans couldn't pick it up with their noses, but he knew any turian, salarian, and krogan would smell it immediately. He would mark her more permanently when the time was right. She was nothing but beautiful blush and smiles when he finished, turning in his grasp and bracing herself on his chest.

Her brilliant grey eyes locked onto his shining blue, lost in the emotions flying through them as she found peace in a turbulent time of recovery. Garrus leaned into her, and she closed her eyes. She remembered reading about this. Turians didn't kiss normally, instead doing it in a touch, an intimate show of affection done between family and those in relationships. She leaned in, her forehead resting against his as he gave a small gasp, almost unheard by her ears.

"Made you gasp." she breathed, chuckling ever so softly.

"It's... this is great. I was worried I was being too forward, or you didn't even feel the same way about me. I didn't want to pressure you into anything... and to know you feel the same... well, it's a ego booster."

"Ego boost? Because you did something no one ever could?"

"Perhaps."

She reaches up and gently holds his face in her hands, holding him there, their foreheads pressed together. Eyes closed in bliss, reveling in the amazing feeling of keeping him close and unlocking her heart with him. She needed the affection and protection, and while they wouldn't really change much, being in a closer relationship made her feel safer. It was simply a step toward a closer relationship and she felt better about this.

His hands moved up her back, holding her close to him, his subvocals humming and rising in volume, in a soft, constant purr. She nudged his forehead before settling again, opening her eyes.

"You get to tell Bailey."

"As long as you're around to keep him from killing me."

"Deal."


Bailey took the news with some bitter feelings, scolding Garrus at first as if the turian had been manipulating before Shepard walked in to the attack, immediately defending and nearly sending Bailey into a wall with her biotics in her flash rage. That alone convinced him that what was happening between them was real, never seeing Shepard so protective of something. Once she was able to convince her rather panicked newfound boyfriend that her adoptive father wasn't going to hurt him or kick him out of the apartment, things returned to normal for them. Garrus and Shepard inseparable in private as they went through the motions. They kept their relationship silent in pbulic as best as possible, but she knew everyone around her, at least turian and salarian wise, could smell her. Many in C-Sec looked happy at the revelation, and it wasn't long until the boys and girls found out that Garrus had found his partner for life in the powerful biotic girl.

She had to convince him to return to work once the news broke, and he had to hide to stop their jeering and constant questions. She helped greatly once they arrived back at their ward's main base of operations, not bothering then to hide her relationship.

She made her decision on April 11, four months after starting to date Garrus, on what to do. Her eighteenth birthday had come at last, celebrated with her adoptive father, her best friend turned boyfriend, her best friend Jean, and much of C-Sec, who had come to love having the girl around the offices after the months of her shadowing Bailey and Garrus. She celebrated at the ward's C-Sec main offices, cake and everything, and finally as the party hit its climax, and Executor Pallin arrived, she did as she decided.

"Not bad, Shepard. Something special happening?"

"My eighteenth, sir. They planned it, not me."

Pallin looked at all of them, some shuddering in fear of punishment but the once tight turian calmed, and the party continued to watch in building tension.

"So there's a reason you called for me, then?"

"Yes, sir."

She plucked the datapad she had stored on her side, and placed it in his hands, her eyes reflecting the same power and defiance she had shown him during the Elkoss investigation.

"Executor Pallin, if you would let me, on the recommendation of Councilor Tevos, I would like to join the Citadel Security Service."

The station went up in cheers, and chants. Much of it was filled with the harmonious subvocals of the majorly turian force here on the ward, but the cries of the few humans and the two asari on the force filled in the small gaps. Pallin held the pad for a moment, looking to the determined girl before him. She had this station's respect, was aware of the issues and hardships ahead. She had great potential and a proud background.

"Welcome to the force, Shepard."

Celebrations ensued as they welcomed their new officer, many passing around congratulations while also birthday congratulations were given. It was a dual party and one she would not ever forget now. She looked over her shoulder, spotting Garrus at last as he came back, turning her attention to him. Hoots and hollars answered their brief show of affection with a forehead touch.

"What took you so long?" She asked. Garrus gave that same low frequency hum of deep proportions that made her smile.

"Nothing you need to know."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Sorry, but I've been told to keep quiet."

"Meanie." She pouted, crossing her arms, "Not even going to give me any sort of special treatment, are you?"

"Well..."

She side-eyed the lingering officers around as Garrus came forward and pulled her close, her face heating up as he lifted her face up to his with a hand. He voice was low and rolling, making her shiver.

"I have my first gift for you."

"Brave, aren't we?"

"Willing to take the burn of having this be watched."

"Go ahead, then."

The calls of their fellow coworkers started even as he leaned down into her, holding her by the small of her back, lifting her up when even on her tiptoes she couldn't reach him, and kissed her. Kissing was an odd feeling but nothing less any normal kiss. His 'lips' may not be soft, but it was fun to kiss him, just knowing that he would indulge her if she wished for a normal kiss. They had tried this once before, and it was, as he described, a little inter-species awkwardness thing, but now, it seemed he got the basics down, and showing his work off to not just the station, but his bosses.

Pallin didn't say a thing though, and if Bailey was right, he could almost see the bastard smile before he gave his leave. Bailey knew the paperwork would come within the hour. Garrus let Shepard back on the ground wit ha hand running through her hair. It had grown out a little more over the months, reaching well past her ears now.

"I think that'll work for a while." she giggled, happily leaning against his carapace.

"Well, I'm glad it was alright this time."

"Alright? Garrus, that was perfect. You did amazing."

Her praise brought such the barest of blue flush up his neck, making her smile as she stepped back and tried to calm the jeering crowd. She took one of Garrus' hands, drawing his eyes, and a happy flicker of his mandibles.

"Thank you so much, Garrus. For being here, for being with me... for everything."

"No need to thank me."

"I'm going to anyway."

Garrus shrugged, laughing for a moment. "If you say so."


April came and went, and with it did Shepard's introduction into the world of C-Sec, and its bothersome amount of rules. She was set in learning them and spent much of the first month on patrols around the ward, and learning and memorizing the rules, regulations, punishments, bonuses, and anything else she thought valuable in the line of duty. Garrus and Bailey were her best study guides and best help when it came to memorizing some of the more obscure and difficult rules and things she had to follow and be able to recite at a moment's notice. She worked hard, buried herself in her work, and pushed to show herself and others that she wasn't just some human woman with the leverage of a turian partner.

She was her own person, with her own power.

She set down her notepad with a sigh, running her hands over her face. She still struggled with a lot of different rules, especially the ones considering religion and its practices allowed in different areas. As she opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of Garrus bringing her dinner, which she happily accepted.

"You should take a break from that book, Shepard."

"I need to memorize it, so I don't mess up, Garrus. If I make one mistake... even with the other's support, Pallin won't accept failure and you know it. Why do you think Bailey's working long hours now?"

"And here I thought you have already proved yourself to Pallin." Garrus mused, biting into the ration bar he had taken as a snack.

"I don't know, but I can't disappoint him now that I'm under him. I don't want to fail, I can't fail."

Garrus' warm hand fell on her shoulder, gently speaking and movign her from her notes. "You're not going to fail."

"I could."

"You won't," he quickly countered, "I know you second guess yourself, Shepard. You can do this without studying for hours after each shift."

"I..."

She was silent, staring at the open pages of the book (page two hundred and twenty five, paragraph four. The code on hanar rights to religion and the steps to ensure lawful preaching to the masses, the steps needed to obtain a permit for the hanar) and closing her eyes once more. She knew the book so well she knew where each coffee ring was (pages four, sixteen, thirty six, ninety five, one hundred and four, two hundred and three through two hundred and nine, and four hundred and sixty five), where each spot where Bailey had drooled after falling asleep studying were (pages one hundred, two hundred and fifteen, two hundred and ninety five and page three hundred and six), and where Bailey had folded page corners for the most important rules (pages ten through thirty, one hundred and six, two hundred through two hundred and ten, and page three hundred through four hundred, though those were clipped together).

This book was almost her religious text now, and she had devoted herself to making sure she had everything in this book memorized so she wouldn't miss a thing. The turians who created the C-Sec codes and regulations were nothing if thorough and detail-focused, even with the addition of the rules for humanity (pages three hundred through four hundred and sixty, to be precise).

"Do you know all of the rules?" she asked quietly, keeping her eyes on the book.

Garrus didn't answer immediately, looking to the open page before answering silently. "No, I don't. I know most of them. Some of them I don't think we'll ever use. No need to study things we won't ever use."

She stared down at the words, reading through the passage her eyes caught, before closing her eyes once again. There were many rules for odd, one-in-a-billion situations, rules and regulations for the wild possibilities that could happen.

"...did you know there are one hundred and thirty seven regulations that tell us that we can't go up to the top of the Presidium?"

He chuckled. "Now those, I'm well aware of. Don't think I'll ever forgot them."

She chuckled softly. There were a lot of little things that added up to that list.

"Two hundred and two regulations and rules that say you can't eat on top of the Presidium, but there's a rule that also renders that all dead."

"Oh?"

"In the human section, it says if for any reason one must have a safe place to eat and is danger of physical, mental or emotional pain from the other races, one could request to eat on top of the Presidium, as no one can access it and it would be safe."

"No way."

"Page 332, paragraph four, under section 'protection under harassment laws'."

She leaned back as he grabbed for the book, flipping through the pages and unclipping the human rules and regulations section, dragging a finger down the page as spotting the passage.

"The one time C-Sec slipped up, and it was with the human additions." Garrus chuckled, "That's amazing."

"There's a lot of little mistakes. It's funny."

Garrus took a moment, moving from the book and looking to Shepard, to the smile starting to move on her lips, to the exhausted eyes that carried a burden undue to her. She caught his eyes, the gentle blue warming her from the outside in, and softly blushed.

"If you can remember that, you have no worries about remembering these, Katherine."

She smiled fully as he closed the book, reclipping the section beforehand, and pulled his girlfriend up to his chest. Sighing peacefully, she curled up alongside him as they adjusted on the couch, cuddling up into him. The warmth of his chest pushed against her skin and her tired muscles, lulling her into a state of half-consciousness quickly. He gently moves his hand through her growing locks, letting out a gentle purr-like vocalization for her, a single instance he could let her listen to what he felt at that moment.

"Get some sleep. I'll get you up for our shifts."


Shepard found, with great surprise, that the next morning brought no work. They had scheduled too many officers and she was given a pardon for the day. She gave her goodbye to Garrus, who sadly had to work, and took the day to take care of herself. It had been a while since she simply explored and enjoyed her day, taking the time to pop into shops, look over different weapon mods (now that she owned a pistol), different snacks from around the galaxy, different outfits (even though a majority of them were asari fashions), and restaurants. Credit chit in hand, her C-Sec uniform switched out for similar pants, a firm pair of heeled boots, and a sleeveless shirt resembling a turtleneck expect in leather, she took her time and explored.

She was in no way ready to drink once the evening cycle approached, but she figured the food would be nice, ducking into a tucked away bar called the Nebulus. Bouncing music, mixing new electronic rifts and using old earth beats to remix them, it wasn't small inside, and had a decent crowd on the dancefloor. The bar was almost packed, and although she would look like a fool ordering food there, it was all she could get.

"You drinkin' alcohol, or going virgin with food?" her human bartender asked, his voice firm but not insulting.

"Virgin with food, please."

"Drink of choice?"

"If you can, a virgin mimosa. And something smothered in cheese for the food."

"You got it."

She leaned onto the bar, watching her bartender move toward the back, sighing softly. It felt odd being without Garrus in such a place, but she was alright. She had been scented, marked in a way, so she shouldn't run into trouble. She looked around for a moment, catching a few turian eyes, a few salarians. They could smell the scent of the turian who claimed her. She smiled before turning back to her returning bartender, her smile growing at the sight of the two virgin mimosas.

"Virgin marry mimosas. One's on the house."

"For what reason?"

"Turian that way 'bout it for ya'."

She looked over her shoulder, spotting the diamond in the rough. He had dirty orange markings on his plates, somewhat geometric but somewhat freeform. A small orange line ran up the plate covering his forehead, and curving lines marked the beginnings of his fringe. An odd marking, and one not normally seen. He caught her eyes, and for a moment she swore she could hear his subvocals calling out to her.

Was he stupid? Could he not smell Garrus on her?

She turned back to her drinks, taking a good swig of one before resting it between her fingers, debating whether or not to continue, or leave if this turian was going to buy her non alcoholic drinks all night. She knew Garrus would be working a late shift but this could get ridiculous quickly. The bartender gave her a look, and she raised her glass. She had at least some backup if need be.

Her food came, a beautiful pile of bar style human nachos, and she dug in happily, though out of the corner of her eye she could see that turian come toward her. She ignored him, slammed back her other virgin mimosa. He took the spot next to her as she called out for another virgin mimosa, taking another chip and plopping it in her mouth.

"I'm surprised you'd go out alone, girl."

"Excuse me?" she testily replied, looking to him. Up close now, he looked calm and relaxed, despite his words.

"Going around scented doesn't really do anything for you."

"It should give enough warning not to do anything, if you're a smart turian, that is."

He mockingly looked hurt, resting a hand on his chest, laughing lightly. She continued to eat, ignoring his eyes as they trailed over her. Her bartender returned with her drink, giving him a smile as he moved on. The turian moved closer, his hand on her shoulder.

"Hands off." she murmured, but his hand stayed. Her heart pounded in her chest.

"Unless he's around, you're fair game, girl."

"Hands off." she said firmly, but his hands continued to move, down her shoulder, caressing her skin, making her crawl inside herself.

Harassment laws, sexual assault laws. If he went any further, any closer, she could snap, she could run, she could do anything as long as he stopped touching her.

His hand grabbed her backend. Fight or flight, she always flew, but she would not let her claws stay sheathed now.

Her lips curled in a growl before she grabbed his hand, pulling him off the stool and twisting his arm back hard enough to make it pop and snap, drawing his cry of pain. Stools fell to the ground, her recent glass sent flying as she moved with the turian. The club look to her as she twisted his turian to his knees, her face full of unbridled anger as she pushed him to the ground.

"You just sexually harassed an off-duty C-Sec officer, you piece of shit." she full blown snarled at him, "Move anymore and I'm breaking your arm."

It looks no less then ten minutes for more officers to arrive, many watching, some recording on their omni-tools, as they gathered the whimpering offender off the ground, Shepard watching with a cold mask as he looked to her.

He smirked at her, her anger firing all pistons. She stepped forward to slap him, to hit that smirk off his face, but the hand on her shoulder stopped her in time as she raised her hand over her shoulder.

Garrus.

At the sight of the turian who had scented her, the drunk turian sobered and let C-Sec handle him. She rubbed her arms absently as Garrus held onto her shoulder, keeping her close, staring daggers at the random turian doomed from the start of his advances.

"What'd he do?" his voice was low, a dangerous rumble.

"Bought me a few virgin drinks at first, then got close. Ended when he grabbed my ass."

She had a hand on his face as he started to growl low, just as angered at the turian's attempts to take what he had finally claimed. She gently soothed him with her voice, her touch, making sure he kept composure as, she pointed out, he was still on the clock. He got it together, and let her step away, running her hands through her hair. She was shaking still.

"I never thought I'd see a human break a turian's arm so easily."

She turned to an unfamiliar C-Sec officer, a turian. His clan markings were white, very geometrical and clean.

"Captain Kiritus, Kithoi Ward."

She accepted his hand as he offered it, shaking it as best as she could. He looked to Garrus for a moment before looking back at her.

"So I actually broke it?"

"Either that or you got so close you can't tell the difference. Any idea how?"

"He grabbed me, and I decided to fight instead of fly. Guess I got angry enough."

"Right, the human 'fight or flight' instinct. Well, I don't know if you knew, but the turian that you caught is named Darrius Felarian. He's wanted in Kithoi for sexually harassing human and turian woman."

Shepard's eyes widened. She hadn't even realized, but she knew the name. The warrant for his arrest had come through a few days ago. How she didn't recognize him, she didn't know, but she listened quietly.

"You did my job for me, and I don't know whether to thank you or hate for you beating me and my men to the punch."

"I hope you won't hate me for accidentally acting as bait for your man, Captain."

Kiritus brushed it off. "Either way, you got him off the streets. I'll be sending the bonus your way. If you need anything, let me know. The southern tip is open to you."

"Thank you, Captain. Have a good night."

She followed officers out of the club, heaving a sigh as she turned and headed for home, Garrus close behind. She looked over to him, reaching out for his hand, and leaned into him as he took her digits in his.

"I'm going home, taking a scalding shower, and spending the rest of the night with you."

Garrus softly chuckled as she hailed for a transit cab, looking over to her.

"Make sure to scrub. His scent is still all over."

"Good to know. If I still smell like him after the shower, help me get it off. Then make sure yours is the only scent on me besides my own."

As they climbed into the cab, he leaned into her, Shepard moving quickly so he could easily nip at her shoulder, aiding in the new placement of his scent.

"I won't miss a spot this time."