Chapter 8: Commander Song Shepard
It's obvious my heart beats only for you


"Okay, so this button sets me to auto-pilot right? Right, but then…What does that one do?" Kasumi murmured to herself as she continued to try and get the hang of the ship's controls, her frown deepening each time she made the ship send out a small missile that usually exploded against a stray asteroid in the system they were travelling in.

She cursed again when she pressed another button and was greeted with her head being smacked against the glass of the ship, because this day could not get any worse now could it? Nope, now she had to deal with a great big, shiny red spot right in the middle of her forehead – but hey at least Cerberus would have a target to shoot at right?

What she really needed to do was get Miranda to the Citadel straight away to sort out her broken ankle and leg, said leg only being discovered by the ex-Cerberus agent the moment Miranda had tried to get out of her military cot and instead found herself face down on the floor with a groan of complete agony escaping her.

The thief had then pretty much had to deal with it as much as she possibly could and it had taken numbing Miranda as much as she could with alcohol before Kasumi finally pushed the bones back into the correct place, it had caused Miranda to curse loudly and colourfully enough that for a moment Kasumi had been almost afraid of the loyalist.

Kasumi pretty much knew that it would take at least a few hours to get to the mass relay that would take them to the Serpent Nebula but at the rate she was going to try to get the controls into gear it would most likely take longer, if only she had actually listened to Joker when he had tried to explain to Shepard and herself the long, boring ways of handling a bigger ship like the Normandy and not tinier models like the Hammerhead.

"Why didn't I listen?" Kasumi grumbled to herself, resting her chin in the very palm of her hand as she lazily flicked her fingers over a few more switches until she heard the synthesized voice of the ship's VI addressing her with the coordinates she had punched in to send them back to the Citadel.

The thief knew very well Miranda would not approve of them going back to the Citadel just to get professional advice off a nurse but right now Kasumi couldn't find it in herself to care about Miranda's opinion for now, no she was far too worried about the disastrous events of Earth that she had left behind with not even a second glance.

At the memory of seeing those cannibal-like creatures drag a poor woman off on the opposite side of the street would forever haunt Kasumi to this very day, mostly because she hadn't done anything to stop it; no instead she had merely halted and watched in horror that had frozen her stiff before entering Big Ben with her mind determined on nothing else but the safety of Miranda Lawson.

It still did not help the guilt that she had not even tried to stop it, and with that thought Kasumi cupped her chin in one hand whilst covering her eyes with the other to let out a large sigh that made her whole body shake.

She sort of wished she didn't have enough time to worry about what the hell was happening back on Earth, it would spare her some pain at least and it would distract her from thinking about her parents back in Taito, Japan, who of course would have no idea what was going on, what the Reapers were because Kasumi hadn't had the time to go visit them since she had met Shepard and the rest of the Normandy crew.

But honestly, what could she have told them anyhow when it came to the Reapers? "Oh hey mom, hey dad, sorry not coming to see you for almost a year I've been really busy with planning heists, trying my hardest to get over Keiji (I even think it's working, it must be if I used to fancy the Commander who will hopefully kick Reaper ass) and then joining a crew of (excuse me) psychopaths, yeah, sorry!"

She knew very well what her mother would have said: "You see this is why you should have become a dentist like me and your father Kasumi or join the army PROPERLY like your brother Rohan, at least then you would be PREPARED for this sort of thing like giant machines falling out the sky!"

Or her father, who would be even worse: "I told you once, I told you twice and you disobeyed me! This is why I did not like that Keiji you brought home, he was too sly for you and now look what your job is! Being a criminal!

At least Rohan wouldn't comment on anything too harshly, no he would probably ask her if he met any nice girls he could chat up because being a soldier made it 'hard' for him to get any social interaction with girls anymore – which was a plain lie, Kasumi personally thought it was because he was just too ugly for anyone to hit on him. A sign of her sisterly love of course.

Knowing him he would probably take a liking to Miranda, mostly due to the fact that even when they had been younger Rohan had liked anything and everything Kasumi had so it seemed to be a given fact he would most likely take a fondness to the ex-Cerberus agent; not that she would stop him, no all he had to worry about was Shepard ever finding…

What was she even talking about? How could she possibly think that Rohan and her parents had survived the Reaper incursion? But wasn't that was what she was all about? Positivity! Besides, she couldn't be sad right now, couldn't even think of possibly being sad with Miranda who looked as weak as a kitten right now beside her.

With a small smile Kasumi glanced over at the sleeping figure in the chair next to her, reaching over to grab a corner of the blanket she had draped over the brunette woman to tug it up further so that it covered Miranda's chin; anything to make sure the other woman felt a bit more warmth, anything to make her comfortable.

'It hasn't really hit her yet,' Kasumi realized quietly to herself as she once more flicked another switch in an attempt to get the ship they were in to travel faster, 'she doesn't realize what I've sacrificed to stick with her. Probably doesn't even realize I would do it all again if I had the chance.'

At that Kasumi once again sighed and slouched in her chair, reaching up into her hood to pull the sleeping Izzy from on top of her head to lay back down on her lap with her hand already stroking the downy fur of the yellow cat; just another method to try and calm her nerves so that she would be able to focus.

She didn't quite know what about but anything to stop her from thinking about the monstrosities that was no doubt occurring on Earth as well as many other planets out there, it was a thought Kasumi honestly didn't want to linger on too much and so she decided that it would in fact be best to just keep staring ahead and occasionally spare a glance at the sleeping woman beside her.

However when Kasumi sent another look over towards Miranda she had to stiffen her whole body at the sight of cerulean hues staring back at her, startling her from any other thoughts that she had been thinking of and instead focusing all her attention on the wide-eyed (albeit still a little sleepy) Miranda Lawson.

Resting a hand on her heart Kasumi indulged herself and the other woman with a small smile spread over her face. "You frightened me then! Why didn't you say anything? Poor Izzy probably thinks I'm some sort of jet the way I jumped then."

As if to prove her point the yellow cat jumped off her lap with a hiss and stalked back in the direction of the living quarters that was sectioned near the back of the ship, an amusing antic if nothing else which made Kasumi shake her head in affection for the feline.

A cough brought the thief's attention back onto the brunette beside her, cocking her head at the closed eyes of Miranda with her tongue peeking out slightly to lick the corner of her lip because if there was something Kasumi had to say about the other woman was that whilst most of the time she was a handful, she had her moments when Kasumi could just not take looking at her face due to how…Well, adorable she guessed was the right word, yes, adorable, that was Miranda sometimes.

"Why did you let me fall asleep?" Miranda mumbled with a small yawn escaping past barely opened lips. "I should have been here helping you navigate the ship, not sleeping."

Oh. Kasumi should have expected that really, because gods forbid she did anything right in Miranda's eyes, nope, she was always wrong and that was just fact; and now she was complaining like a spoilt child – brilliant.

"Oh you know, I personally thought it would be nice to let you sleep for a while," Kasumi replied with her hands practically flailing the whole conversation away from them in such a flippant manner it surprised her that Miranda didn't immediately retort in anger. "Silly me I know, but there's also the fact that some rest wouldn't hurt you at all considering your condition."

Miranda's lip curled in distaste at the gesture towards her leg. "Stop babying me Kasumi, it'll heal soon enough that I won't need your help to wobble my way through rooms."

"Oh like thatwill happen soon," Kasumi quipped sharply with her good mood slowly dissipating into annoyance at her companion. "It's why I'm taking you to the Citadel, it's the only place that's not close to Earth where I can distinctly remember a medical centre being present."

"The Citadel?! Of all the places to take me, a wanted ex-Cerberus agent, you take me to the Citadel where there are still assassins there waiting for me?" Miranda complained, ripping the blanket off herself and readjusting herself in her chair so she could direct her glare more fully at Kasumi. "Turn back around; we need to get to Omega as soon as possible otherwise Travis could have already left."

Kasumi bit her lip, it was hard to get worked up usually when it came to Miranda because most of the time she had just put up with the other woman's ridiculous self, but right now? It was starting to get a little wearisome at how little the brunette next to her seemed to care about what was occurring right now, outside of her little bubble and to be honest it was getting harder and harder for Kasumi to hold back.

Normally she would have been able to take Miranda on, to tease the other woman into a silence that was both easy yet awkward; however with her feeling like this all she could see herself doing was eventually losing her temper.

"We're going to the Citadel for a check up on your leg," Kasumi ground out between her teeth, forcing her usual happy go lucky grin on her face that she knew would irritate the hell out of Miranda when she caught sight of it. "Then we can get the hell out of the Citadel and head to Omega, is that okay with you honey?"

Miranda's eyes narrowed at her and for a split second Kasumi had a feeling Miranda was going to reach out and use her biotics to pummel her to death; yet she was only a little right because instead of doing anything close to trying to hit her all Miranda did was settle back on her chair and glare out into space as though she had been scolded – an act that did genuinely make Kasumi smirk a little at another battle she was victorious in.

Just when Kasumi had thought she would be able to relax in a little peace and quiet she was rewarded with Miranda's voice.

"You think I'm self-absorbed with finding Oriana don't you?"

It was at times like these that Kasumi found herself not knowing what to say to the other woman about anything, mostly because Miranda had the most inane way of knowing what she was thinking sometimes and constantly seemed to voice it.

"The truth is this: I need to find my sister because without her I don't have anything else worth fighting for against the Reapers," yet when Kasumi turned to look at the ice queen she was greeted with Miranda still staring out into space, her face an expressionless mask. "That's the cold, hard truth about it Kasumi. I'm not dropping everything for Oriana because I'm ignoring everything else that's happening out there, that's not even close to what I'm doing."

Kasumi remained deathly still and silent, refusing to look anywhere else but at the woman sat next to her, desperately searching for a moment of weakness that the thief knew Miranda did consist of (sometimes) so that Kasumi would be able to exploit it in a way that would allow Miranda to drop her barriers for a damn second and let her help; but if she was honest she knew very well that any chance of that happening was below 1%.

"I just need to find my sister, or what's the point of even trying? I need something worth fighting for and that's Oriana," cerulean orbs finally moved away from the depths of space to stare straight at Kasumi, almost feeling as though they would soon pierce the thief's soul. "I don't expect you to understand me, but don't question why I am the way I am…"

"I do understand you," Kasumi interrupted and the tone of voice that escaped her own mouth shocks her for a flicker of a second before she cannot help but keep talking. "I understand that you love your sister very much and that without her in your life there's now no point in it, I get that more than you would realize."

Miranda opened her mouth to speak but the thief waved her off, the gesture being the cause of why the taller woman's mouth suddenly closed.

"But you're wrong," Kasumi insisted, eyes narrowed with a ferocity that struck Miranda into silence without the thief even connecting with the other woman physically. "It must have been strange, fitting Oriana into your life after the years you've spent without her and then growing attached just to have her ripped from you again, I get that. I have a sibling too y'know? It's not as bad as being separated from him as it is you and Oriana because you're twins - and there's always something about twins isn't there? – But it still hurts like hell knowing he is out there and not knowing if his dead or not."

Miranda's eyes had narrowed too although Kasumi assumed silently that it was with understanding, or so she hoped at the very least; but what shocked the thief the most was how Miranda had kept quiet for so long, no angry retorts or sardonic comments – just pure, utter silence.

"But just think of it this way; there's people out there who you care about just as much as Oriana right? I mean, Shepard for one," though by the way Miranda winced as if in pain could only mean Kasumi had said the wrong thing; still she ignored it and continued. "And Jacob must care about you too right? And some of your associates need you in…"

The thief allowed herself to trail off at the realization that truth be told it was quite obvious Miranda didn't have many friends, she wasn't exactly Miss Popularity that was for sure and back on the Normandy the only people Miranda had ever socialized with properly was herself, Shepard and Jacob; the others had politely decided to stay out of Miranda's way as most either didn't like her or trust her.

Miranda looked like she had finally caught on with what Kasumi was thinking and huffed in irritation, finally moving away from staring at Kasumi to once more glare out into space; said glare unknowingly shoving Kasumi back to the starting position of the game known as Miranda Lawson.

"I appreciate what you're trying to say," Miranda muttered with eyes that looked the complete opposite of what was escaping from her lips. "But keep your sympathies; I know what I need to do and that's all that matters right now. We're partners, not friends."

Kasumi knew at that moment that all the progress she had made with Miranda had now been shoved back right to the very start; to square 1 – a place Kasumi had desperately not wanted to be in again after coming so far.

She hadn't even gotten around to asking Miranda more about the assassin that she shared a face with, but from the way Miranda was scowling now it seemed that topic had to wait for another time.

The temper that she had kept a lid on for so long was slowly starting to spill over the edge and with a grumble Kasumi pushed herself up from her chair, giving Miranda a quick look-over before she departed the room to find Izzy.

"I'm sorry about your family."

Kasumi froze on the spot, her insides tightening and her throat feeling more and drier as she jerked her head back to see that Miranda was looking at her also, surprisingly without the usual look of aloofness that she usually showed.

The hidden affection that was within the older woman's sentence caused Kasumi to let out a noisy breath, eyes softening as they examined each and every contour of Miranda's face with the anger that had been slowly gnawing at her now disappearing into something that felt a lot like pity.

And just like that, Kasumi had no idea what to say apart from: "how can you be so cold and callous one minute and then soft and kind the next?" before she walked towards the back of the ship, the pity for Miranda Lawson intensifying each step she took.


They didn't speak at all when the Black Wandlanded on the Citadel's docking ports, Miranda too tight-lipped to say anything and Kasumi just didn't know if saying anything would make the tension between them worse or better – it was a risk she was not at all willing to take.

What made it worse was how Kasumi actually had to press her side against Miranda's own as they both hobbled off the ship with Izzy at their heels, the cat's jerky movements causing them both to hurry along down the ramp until they reached a corridor that would take them the waiting area where many civilians were being kept there.

Kasumi tried her damned hardest not to meet Miranda's eyes but at each wince that managed to escape from the loyalist's mouth she couldn't help but not look, hand tightening possessively on the other woman's waist to try and balance her as they hobbled through the docks to the waiting area; the whole gesture of her doing this for Miranda was all about fighting the darker part of herself that wished she could run away from Miranda and her damn responsibility because this wasn't just about her anymore.

It wasn't even all about Shepard or Oriana either, no the horrible truth of the matter was that Kasumi was doing all this for Miranda whether the older woman liked it or not.

The worst part was that she had no idea why; it hadn't been like the other woman had literally rolled out the welcome wagon for her now was it? And still, here she stood next to Miranda's side.

She was quite sure her younger self would have called her an idiot for putting up with whatever Miranda threw at her, would also probably demand that she actually grow some metaphorical balls and leave Miranda to grovel because if she didn't want any help then fine – but that would have been a time when she was more naïve, before she had lost someone as precious as Keiji.

Maybe she was still an idiot and had gone senile in her oh so old age of 26? Perhaps, would explain the strange attachment she had to Izzy anyway.

"Pay attention to where you're going," Miranda snapped at her, breaking the thief away from her thoughts as they once again managed to skim past an elderly turian and his family that had just passed them.

Kasumi rolled her eyes at the command whilst she wondered to herself how she could throw Miranda off the platform while making it look like an accident; alas, it didn't seem likely what with about 15 C-Sec guards watching her like a hawk.

They turned a corner and immediately Kasumi halted at whom she saw coming out of the elevator.

Blondes spikes now back into business on top of a wild crop of shorter yellow curls, wild blue eyes still bright and vibrant and the all too familiar smile of Commander Shepard greeted them both as they halted to a standstill; Kasumi still too shocked to say anything and Miranda too busy trying to fight down the overwhelming feelings that were threatening to burst from out of her.

Those azure hues only glanced up once before they locked on the hazelnut orbs for a flicker of a moment before shifting over to cerulean eyes that clashed fiercely against the azure waves; it was a matter of conflicting emotions and when Kasumi looked up at the shared gaze between Miranda and Shepard she felt (rather quickly too) like an outsider upon this reunion.

It left her not knowing what to do and so she waited for something to happen, for either Shepard or Miranda to make a move because she just couldn't; she was stuck and there was nothing she could do about it.

Luckily for Kasumi she didn't have to as in a matter of moments Shepard had started at a jog towards them, her smile that had been stuck between genuine and faked now fully sincere in a way that the thief immediately knew what it was and smiled back at the blonde commander, one arm still wrapped fiercely around Miranda's waist whilst the other was now stretched outwards towards Shepard.

It took a mere moment before Shepard had crushed into Kasumi's side with her arms wrapped around both the thief and the loyalist, her laughter still escaping from her lips as she looked up to see them both with playful eyes full of such happiness to see them that inside Kasumi could feel herself start to melt.

"Of all the people I thought I would see once I came to the Citadel," Shepard started with her eyes giving them a look-over once more. "You two would be nowhere near on my list, I thought you were both in Bekenstein?"

Kasumi looked at Miranda at that, pretty sure that she had something to do with the fact that Shepard had thought they were in a different place entirely than the location she had sent to the Normandy once she had managed to get access with EDI and Joker.

Miranda merely raised a delicately shaped eyebrow at her. "It was just a few mismatched rumours I sent out to cover our tracks, we couldn't risk being found now could we?"

"It wasn't very good rumours though were they? Look at your leg!" Kasumi pointed out with a smile that was just as fierce and intimidating as Miranda's glare that she sent out at the thief once the words had passed her lips.

Shepard pulled back from them both to glance down at Miranda's leg with wide eyes. "Bloody hell Miranda, how the hell did that happen?"

Miranda rolled her eyes but the affection in them was unmistakable and sent a sharp pang to Kasumi's chest; it didn't look like anything Miranda had ever shot at her or anyone had shot at her ever and for some reason that thought hurt more than it should have.

"I don't know what to be surprised at, the fact that you didn't realize I had a broken leg before Kasumi pointed it out or the fact that I might actually consider being surprised that…- put me down this instance!"

Kasumi had laughed the moment Shepard had grown tired of Miranda speaking and had put a halt to it by picking the woman up and cradling her like a child, pressing a kiss to the scowling Miranda's nose before laughing evilly in the woman's face.

"I am not a damsel for you to manhandle, put me down!" Miranda ordered with a glower, her cheeks just starting to tinge pink slightly at how everyone seemed to be now looking at the saviour of the galaxy cuddle affectionately with another woman.

"I didn't even notice your broken leg because I was just too over the moon in seeing you again!" Shepard told Miranda cheerily, gesturing for Kasumi to follow with a tilt of her head towards the direction of the elevator. "I missed you terribly back in Vancouver, every day I thought about you."

"Hey!" Kasumi protested with a teasing laugh, picking Izzy up from behind her and cradling him in her own arms to skip past the Commander with her brown eyes fixed on the surprised look on Shepard's face. "What about me? I'm special too y'know?"

Shepard grinned at her for a split second before she burst out laughing, elbowing the controls of the elevator to open the doors before stepping inside. "Course I missed you, why wouldn't I?"

"I don't want to be kept in Huerta, Shepard," Miranda interrupted them both, gripping down hard on Shepard's shoulder to lower herself down from Shepard's arms so that she could loop her arm back around Kasumi's back for balance. "I've got too much to tell you right now but I can't stay on the Citadel for long, I can't let my name even get processed through the Citadel."

Shepard frowned before a small smirk appeared on her face. "Your wild drunken nights haven't been handled well with Citadel security?"

Kasumi hid a smile behind a cough, oh humour, she had missed it so eagerly when she had been alone with Miranda, especially Shepard's wacky humour, so it was good to finally be prone to it again.

It was quite obvious before Kasumi had even looked over that Miranda's reaction would have been a far cry from her own, which was why seeing Miranda's scowl didn't trigger any other response from the thief but another stifled laugh.

"I see your humour is still as inappropriate as it usually is," Miranda murmured with a glance towards Kasumi, meeting her humoured gaze with a click of her tongue before returning back to Shepard. "I'll have you know I've been running non-stop since I quit Cerberus."

"Don't you think I know that?" Shepard retorted and from the tortured look on her face Kasumi had a feeling that Shepard probably hadn't stopped thinking about Miranda running the very moment she had been locked inside that Alliance base. "Despite what the Alliance thinks I've kept an eye on you as much as I've been able to, it's the benefits of having a master thief stealing your girlfriend's tech."

Kasumi didn't hold back her laughter in this time, although she did shy away from the annoyed look Miranda sent her because Miranda just seemed to have the ability of making her feel awful at times.

"And not telling me where it's gone either," Miranda whispered with her eyes focused solely on Kasumi this time, causing the thief to sheepishly smile in reply. "But that's going off the point; let's be serious…"

"Kasumi," Shepard called out to the thief, interrupting Miranda mid-talk with an apologetic look before she turned her full attention onto her friend. "Do you mind if I and Miranda go up to Huerta by ourselves to talk? It's urgent."

Kasumi arched a brow at Shepard, if she was truly honest with herself then yes she did mind actually but then suppose it had something to do with the two's relationship and she was unintentionally in the way? Yes, that would most certainly explain why Shepard didn't want her there at the moment.

Still, could have used that information a bit earlier and she did still want to talk to Shepard later on even if Shepard herself didn't have the time; she was just thatdesperate to see her old friend.

So Kasumi nodded like the good friend she was, even put on a smile that she didn't quite know would look realistic enough and shrugged. "Sure thing, me and Izzy will just be walking around the Citadel for a while anyways. We have some unfinished business to handle."

Miranda looked at her sceptically. "Unfinished business?"

However before Kasumi could find it in her to answer the elevator came to a halt at Huerta Hospital and the doors opened, giving entrance to a few asari and a turian whom moved out the way at seeing the wobbly Miranda hanging onto the thief's side.

With a grunt Miranda quickly changed her arm to fasten around Shepard's shoulders whilst the blonde Commander held her waist before they both hobbled out the elevator; Shepard looking back at her to say one last thing before the doors closed.

"Thanks for being there for her Kas!"

Kasumi didn't feel like she had any choice but to smile back with a wave goodbye, waiting until the doors finally closed on the elevator before she cloaked herself and Izzy away from any more prying eyes.


"Say I had broken a leg and I need some crutches," Shepard started with the most innocent tone she could muster, hands entwined behind her back just to help set the whole innocent image off. "Where do you think they would be left in this hospital?"

Chakwas had been just about to leave to board the Normandy like Shepard had told her to when she had been stopped by her Commander again, this time looking far more cheerful than she had been before going to see Ashley Williams; perhaps the sight of her old squad mate had cheered Song Shepard up more than she realized?

Chakwas looked down at Shepard's unbroken legs, her lips quirked into a smile. "Shepard you don't have a broken leg nor any fractured bones otherwise you wouldn't be standing."

"Ah yes, but I'm speaking theoretically!" Shepard told Chakwas with her own smile, though Chakwas would have to be an idiot to fall for such charm despite knowing that in the end yes, she would probably cave to this woman's demands. "So theoretically speaking, crutches? Where would you keep them?"

Chakwas shook her head as realization dawned on her on a theory that could possibly be the reason why Shepard was acting so strange like this: "Commander take me to the patient once I've gone to fetch the crutches, it won't do your friend any good not to have medical advice before they so urgently dash away."

The doctor hid her smug grin behind her hand at the sight of her Commander's look of shock that had spread over her face, "how come you can read me so easily?"

"Practice Commander," Chakwas said with a shrug. "Just lots and lots of practice, that and the fact you are one of the many special people I know who wears their emotions on their sleeves."

Shepard watched her go with a smirk before she turned back around to head towards where Miranda sat in the darkest corner Shepard had found to drop the ex-Cerberus agent in, giving the dark-haired woman a quick thumbs up before taking a seat next to her with her eyes focused intently on the curve of Miranda's jaw.

Miranda noticed of course (when did she not notice Shepard staring at her?) but chose not to comment on it, instead turning her head so that Shepard had no choice but to get lost in the ice cold depths of her lover's eyes; the sight once again startling her at how such cold eyes could bring so much warmth and affection at the very pit of Shepard's stomach.

"Going to explain to me how you got into this mess?" Shepard asked in a whisper that was as hard as rock, the hardest tone she had ever used when it came to Miranda and it was all because she was just so fucking worried. "You haven't been eating Miranda, I can tell by just looking at you and I know Kasumi wouldn't have stood for this either but she's just too damn nice to do much about it, so tell me what's wrong."

Miranda scoffed but the way her cheeks looked close to flushing told Shepard all she needed to know – Miranda was flustered at the mention of her poor health, had always been told she was perfect health-wise (apart from the obvious) and now Shepard had just thrown that aside like an old rag doll.

"I've already told you this Shepard once Kasumi left," Miranda murmured back in an equally low and hard tone as the one Shepard had used, however the only difference was that by each word that escaped her lips the gravelly tone was soon starting to change into a hiss. "I'm looking for Oriana and I have a reason to believe Cerberus had something to do with her disappearance, the last lead was to Omega which is where I'll be heading, alone, to see if I can pick anything up – that has been my main priority Song and you know it."

Shepard sighed at that, looking away from her lover to stare out of the Huerta Hospital windows at the Presidium, using anything she deemed necessary to try and clear her head from anything and everything; it was a tactic that would not work in the end but to be honest Shepard had no idea what else to do.

With a slight murmur falling from her lips Shepard ran her hands through her spiked locks, turning back to face Miranda with a frown on her face. "And neglecting sleep and food is going to help you find Oriana is it? This isn't youMiranda, you're smarter than this."

Miranda's eyes flashed dangerously and Shepard knew she had said the wrong thing. "Don't assume you know me better than I know myself Shepard, I know my limits well enough and I can assure you that I would neglect absolutely anything to find my sister; anything, even you."

Shepard had expected Miranda to say something like that because it was a very Miranda thing to say, because despite everything that had passed between them, the love they shared, it was very Miranda indeed to push everything aside for family and Shepard couldn't blame her really because if she had a family to remember she was pretty sure she would do anything to find them too.

And even with Miranda staring at her like she had just spat on her shoes Shepard can't help but feel the overwhelming amount of affection for the loyalist wash all over her, she just cannot help herself and honestly she should not feel this way considering what Miranda just said and the anger within her eyes, but she…

She loves Miranda, at times, too much.

"Are you still angry about the way I left?" Shepard asked before she could stop herself, reaching over as calmly as she could to rest her hand on Miranda's, squeezing tightly to prevent the ex-Cerberus agent from moving away. "Because I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I just…I had a lot to think about when I was being kept with the Alliance."

From the way Miranda's eyebrows press together maybe it had not been such a good idea to mention it but it's too late to back down now, perhaps it would be better to just let Miranda get everything out in hope the impact would not be too…

"I think you've more than made up for the fact you didn't say goodbye properly," Miranda interrupted Shepard's thoughts, giving her a meaningful look that made Shepard feel the familiar warmth at the very bottom of her stomach that appeared every time Miranda was near. "Kasumi's been…"

Shepard laughed and intervened before Miranda could finish: "A handful? Because I warned her to keep some of it in when I contacted her because I know how she gets and I know how you get."

What surprised Shepard next was how Miranda moved her hand from under hers and let out a small chuckle, it was such a differing reaction that it made Shepard pause and cock her head to the side to watch the other woman with earnest.

"Kasumi has been," azure orbs narrowed curiously as Miranda wrung her hands together, staring off into space with her lips moving in an effortless manner as if the loyalist was still trying to find words to describe what she wanted to say, "well, a complete annoyance at times, but otherwise she's rather useful, thank you for sending her my way."

Shepard grinned at her lover, inwardly congratulating herself and Kasumi on a job well done to both herself and Kasumi for not dying from Miranda's wrath. "Well that's good, more than good, but wait, you said you were going to Omega alone? Why? You've got Kasumi haven't you?"

"You said you sent her to protect me until you got out Alliance HQ and here you are," Miranda said with an amused quirk of her brow. "I have no doubts that once I tell her you said she can leave she'll go back to…whatever she does."

"But you need Kasumi's help, more than ever now considering your current condition!" Shepard protested with a shake of head, unable to believe Miranda and her distinct ability of looking at everything the wrong way at the complete wrong time, "and to go to Omega of all places? You do know that Reaper forces have invaded there already? Earth was one of the surprisingly later places to get hit whereas Omega was one of the first; do you really want to risk your life as you are now just to be chasing a rumour?"

By the way Miranda's eyes widened it seemed as though the other woman hadn't known about Omega's demise and was now working her brain furiously at a way to try and sort through various other plans, overall it was not very convincing and it caused Shepard to once more let a sigh escape her.

"Just look at how you are Miranda right this moment, do you really think it's a good idea to go chasing after Oriana with no bloody insight on where to go?" Shepard asked again, her angry tone causing her British accent to become more and more pronounced, "just think about it for a second, Cerberus is chasing you and has Oriana, they want you to come after her and are laying down a trap for you to waltz right into! I'm not saying you just leave your sister, but don't go walking into a trap you aren't prepared for."

Miranda turned her face then to look at her, truly look at her as though she had never looked at Shepard properly before until now and for once truly appreciated the words coming out of her mouth, it wouldn't have been the first time but to Shepard it most certainly felt like the first time despite everything that had happened between them.

"If you had learned that myself or Kasumi had been taken by Cerberus wouldn't you be doing the same thing?" Miranda asked with a tone of voice Shepard couldn't quite put her finger on to describe; whatever it was, it was far from comforting. "If the Reapers weren't out there, if Cerberus was the only thing everyone was running from?"

"I wouldn't stop searching until I found you both," Shepard responded instinctively, her usual contagious smile now dropping to a grimace. "Fine, I get where you're coming from. But for god's sake Miranda if you don't…Just be bloody careful alright?"

From the way Miranda smiled it seemed like she had just won a victorious battle and Shepard knew she had just walked into it really and she had nobody else to blame but herself, but for crying out loud if Miranda did anything stupid and got herself killed then she would never forgive herself.

"I can't promise that Shepard, not with Oriana's life at stake," Miranda said, "can you promise me that you'll be careful?"

Shepard shook her head; no, she could never promise that, not whilst she still had breath in her body.

"Then don't expect that promise from me," Miranda paused and by the twitch of her left hand Shepard could tell the loyalist was working herself up to say something that could have the effect of changing quite a few things about them. "I had wanted to ask you before but it didn't seem appropriate, but are we still the same as before? As we were back on the Normandy?"

Shepard froze on the spot and from the look in Miranda's eyes it seemed as though she felt the same as her, ever since she had been stationed back at Alliance HQ she had done nothing but think; about the Reapers, about her charges, about the Normandy, about Miranda, about them and because of all that thinking she had come to a solid conclusion.

"I think what we both need now is to focus on our objectives," Shepard replied quietly with her eyes cast downwards to stare at her feet, hands wrung together tightly to shake off the guilt that she felt. "Too much is at stake right now and I…I need to focus on this war with the Reapers."

Shepard didn't look up when she heard a sharp intake of breath, not willing to risk the sight of Miranda being just as upset as she was and trying to collect herself because if she did look then she had a feeling she would just about burst into tears.

After a long silence Miranda finally spoke. "I see, well, I'm glad we agree on the fact we both have a lot of things to figure out; thank you for telling me."

The blonde gulped at how sharp that last statement sounded and moved her head to the side to stare once more out at Presidium, once again not trusting herself to look anywhere near Miranda. "Don't think this doesn't mean I don't love you Miranda, because I'll always love you regardless of what happens to us, but right now is not the time."

"There's still a lot of things I need to tell you," Miranda said after a moment or two, breaking away from the subject just like Shepard had expected her to and instead diverting it to a place where the ex-Cerberus agent felt more secure. "But that's for another time and I'll send you most of it through my omni-tool, right now I'd like to just be left alone for a while. I need to think."

The commander knew that was not the true reason but she also knew Miranda well enough that she wanted to be left alone for a good reason, and that was more than enough reason for her to leave her old lover alone.

Shepard got up from her seat with every intention of leaving Miranda alone for a few moments to go see where Chakwas was and then come back, it was the only thing she could do without offending Miranda enough that the woman would try and hobble away on her own; and Shepard knew she would try.

She was just that stubborn.


"C'mon Izzy let's get going," Kasumi declared to her feline companion with a tired yawn escaping her, stretching briefly before leaving the volus accountants with a mock salute that made one wave his fist angrily at her in response. "Quick before they send the mob out with the pitch fork and torches!"

With a brief chuckle Kasumi cloaked herself and started a light jog back down the Citadel corridors to where the Black Wand awaited her at the docks, casting one more look at the irritated accountants before getting into a thankfully deserted elevator and bursting out into laughter.

Sure she had just messed up the details of a thousand of bank accounts by accident but damn that didn't mean she wasn't going to have a good laugh about it, hell she would laugh regardless considering how painfully long it would take those poor volus workers to put everything back into shape again.

That and try their hardest to look up the name Miranda Lawpick in a desperate search to find those GUI enhancers, but hey, all in a job's work right?

Just when she was about to get out of the elevator Kasumi froze at the sight of the salarian making his way inside, heart stopping and eyes widening as none other than Jondum Bau stepped inside and got so close that he was merely a breath away from her.

Kasumi held in her breath as best as she could as she inched past the salarian as quickly and quietly as she could, moving around Jondum to tip-toe backwards out of the elevator with a sigh of relief escaping her the very moment the elevator doors closed.

That was too close for her to handle and with another gasp Kasumi fled towards the Black Wand at a pace she would name inhuman just due to the fact she hadn't really ran this fast since the Collector ship.

When she was safely inside the Black Wand's hull Kasumi de-cloaked, placed Izzy down back on the floor and went to go sit at the controls, or that was what she would have been doing if none other than Miranda Lawson was not sitting there.

"Hey when did you get back here?" Kasumi asked as cheerfully as she could, choosing not to remember the negative conversation they had had previously and instead seating herself next to the operative so they could communicate better. "And where's Shep? Did she leave without saying goodbye to me? I swear on everything holy if she has…"

Kasumi cut herself off at the look on Miranda's face and very subtly glanced down at the loyalist's leg before she looked back up, her once cheerful smile now set into a morose frown. "You okay? Did the doctors say something bad about your leg? Because I'm sure it can't be that bad as they make it out to be…"

"It's fine, they said give it around a month to heal," Miranda finally spoke, shocking Kasumi into a momentary silence at how hoarse the other woman sounded, almost as if she had been shouting for so long and it was finally getting the better of her.

"Isn't that a good thing? Shouldn't you be happy about this turn of events?" Kasumi kept asking in what she honestly did hope was a fairly neutral tone because one wrong word then she would be even further away from square 1.

"A month is too long," Miranda turned her face to the side to look at the thief fully and her mouth was pulled into a pained grimace that didn't sit well with Kasumi whatsoever. "Shouldn't you be long gone right now? Doing whatever you usually do when you aren't accompanying me?"

The thief crossed her arms and leaned back further into her chair at the other woman's statement. "Why would I be anywhere but with you?"

And that was the moment when something strange happened, strange as in Kasumi didn't quite understand what was going on but felt oddly euphoric about it; mostly because at the very moment those words had left her lips she was greeted with the sight of Miranda Lawson's eyes doing something that could only be described as…softening.

'I'm getting to you Miranda Lawson,' Kasumi mused to herself with a genuinely happy smile on her face, 'looks like this square 1 box is going to get departed from very soon thank you very much.'

"I thought I had driven you off," Miranda murmured with her eyes moving forwards to look out at the moving ships of the Citadel, obviously another defence mechanism to keep Kasumi from finding out anything meaningful from her expression. "But you're still here, after everything. Shepard told me to tell you that you could go, you don't have to follow me anymore and yet here you are, still standing right here."

So that was what it was all about was it? Had it truly come to the point that so many people had left Miranda that she had grown used to it and even encouraged it? Well for once, Kasumi decided, she was going to prove Miranda wrong.

"As I said before, why would I be anywhere else but with you?" Kasumi told the ex-Cerberus operative, cocking her head to the side and grinning. "Besides, you take me to all the dangerous places that often end up with me pulling bullets out of myself; what more could a girl want?"

It was silent after that and for a horrible second Kasumi thought she had said the wrong thing, however that was soon eradicated from her mind when Miranda flicked a few switches and the engine of the ship started to roar into life.

"Still set on Omega?" Kasumi asked with her eyes also set ahead to maintain the conversation between them both without descending into anything close to being awkward. "I mean, no plan and all, but still set?"

"Who said I didn't have a plan?" Miranda argued briefly, using her crutches to pull herself up more comfortably in her chair. "I have a plan alright and if that device we used before is correct then we'll be able to catch Travis without even having to go to Omega."

Intrigued Kasumi glanced at the loyalist up and over, briefly catching sight of what looked like to be crumbled up tissue paper in Miranda's hand as the other woman moved her arm upwards once more to press a few more buttons as the hanger doors of the Citadel opened.

It was a very odd sight, seeing Miranda with tissue paper because Kasumi now had an idea why Shepard had left once she added one and one together and well, perhaps it would not be the right time to say anything about it right now considering Miranda had apparently gotten upset enough to cry over it, but that didn't mean she couldn't, she couldn't…

"You're amazing honey," Kasumi complimented the brunette next to her with a squeeze of her shoulder that she immediately retracted in case Miranda decided she did not appreciate her touch whatsoever.

Instead Miranda actually chuckled, actually laughed at something she, Kasumi Goto, had said! Miracles apparently did happen!

"You haven't heard my plan yet."

"It doesn't matter, it's going to be amazing."


holy crap this chapter was so freaking long and I'm not surprised if you don't even read it because it's just that long.
Enjoy wonderful reviewers, please let me know what you think. :)