The Mass Effect universe and its characters belong to Bioware, though Kaylin is my take on Shepard.

Author's Note: I made a slight change to an in-game mission because the scenario that follows it in my story has been bouncing around my head wanting out.

This chapter is definitely NSFW!


"Give Unto Me" by Evanescence

I've been watching you from a distance
The distance sees through your disguise
All I want from you is your hurting
I want to heal you
I want to save you from the dark

Give unto me your troubles
I'll endure your suffering
Place onto me your burden
I'll drink your deadly poison

Why should I care if they hurt you
Somehow it matters more to me
Than if I were hurting myself
Save you (save you)
I'll save you

Give unto me your troubles
I'll endure your suffering
Place onto me your burden
I'll drink your deadly poison

Fear not the flame of my love's candle
Let it be the sun in your world of darkness
Give unto me all that frightens you
I'll have your nightmares for you
If you sleep soundly

Give unto me your troubles
I'll endure your suffering
Place onto me your burden
I'll drink your deadly poison

Fear not the flame of my love's candle
Let it be the sun in your world of darkness
Give unto me all that frightens you
I'll have your nightmares for you
If you sleep soundly

Fear not the flame of my love's candle
Let it be the sun in your world of darkness


Another two days of tedious busy work, going planet to planet finding things for various people, threaten to undo the commander's good mood. On her check-in with Dr. Chakwas she's finally given the all clear to resume active duty. "About time!" Shepard exclaims. "If I had to listen to one more bureaucrat tell me why he wouldn't release their stockpile of munitions or food, I was going to have to shoot them."

"I can see it now: Human Spectre Commander Shepard goes on killing spree over medical supplies, News at Eleven," Karin chortles. "Just try to be careful, Commander. You still need to work on conditioning to be back in full form."

"Believe me, I know. My lungs still get mad at me if I run too fast or far. At least insomnia gives me plenty of time to run in the hangar to get back in shape."

The doctor frowns, "You're still not sleeping well?"

The corner of Shepard's mouth quirks up as she shrugs, "Nightmares. I'm not the only lost soul wandering the halls at all hours. I'll sleep when I'm dead… again." She heads up to the CIC to check her messages.

Traynor announces, "Commander, Admiral Hackett has requested your help with a Cerberus fighter base on Noveria. He'll be available on vidcomm once we make it in system."

"Thanks Traynor. Joker set course for the Horsehead Nebula."

"Aye, aye, Commander."

After informing Liara she should prep for the mission, she makes her way down to the shuttle bay to update Vega. For a moment she stops to admire his back as he works out with the punching bag. "Play times over, LT. You're up for the next mission; we'll be hitting a Cerberus base."

He turns around with a huge grin, "About damned time, Lola! I was getting fat just sitting around doing nothin'."

Without thought, her eyes roam over his well-muscled physique and she raises a brow, "Coulda fooled me, James. Do I need to break out the calipers for a body-mass check?"

He smirks, "I think your hands would be more than up to the task, Lola."

"If that's the case, then maybe I should keep you off the strike team so you can have some remedial PT until you're back up to standards." She bites the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.

His hands go up in front of him in a 'slow down' gesture, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Shepard. I didn't say I wasn't fit for duty! Just need to burn off a few pounds kicking Cerberus ass."

Eyes dancing with amusement, she turns to go, "All right then, James. Be ready to go when we enter Noveria's orbit."

"I was born ready." He leans back to appreciate the view as she walks away.


Loaded on the shuttle, a vid pulls up of Admiral Hackett. "Commander, the enemy has a strategic advantage in this system thanks to the fighter squadron facility you're about to attack. We want to seize it, but their air defenses are too strong for our frontal assault. Losses would be too cost-prohibitive."

"How do you want me to handle this?" she queries.

"Go in the back, bring down their defenses so we can send in the troops. Good luck Commander." The communique shuts off.

Cortez examines his instruments, "I have visual contact. There's a small platform above the main landing pad."

"Take us in, LT."

The squad drops from the hovering craft, weapons coming up as they scan the area. Cortez speaks over the comm, "Commander, you'll have to find the command center to take down their defenses. Be advised that there's a storm system moving into the area, so time is limited."

"All right, keep an eye out for the command center." Shepard waves for them to move out. Shots fire from a balcony above them as Liara calls out, "They've seen us!" Taking cover behind a cargo container, Shepard picks off her targets one by one, rolling to the next crate forward as she advances.

Ceberus troops are quickly dispatched as they explore the area, but a lucky shot from a centurion hits Liara in the abdomen, puncturing her armor. Shepard examines the injury, slapping medigel on the site to slow the bleeding. "Cortez, we need an evac for Liara. She took one to the gut and needs more medical attention than I can provide. James, carry her back to the platform; I'll cover us."

Liara tries to protest that she can make it back alone, but Vega scoops her up and rushes back towards the waiting shuttle. Gun fire from behind him says Shepard's providing ample protection. "Get her out of here, Esteban. Shepard and I have this under control."

The shuttle takes off while Shepard and Vega move back towards the main building. More enemy soldiers confront them, but after some intense fighting, they are able to locate the air defense controls. Upon examination of the system, Shepard curses under her breath, "Damn it. This'll take awhile."

Cortez voice comes over their suits' internal speakers, "Commander, you're got enemies inbound and we can't wait. Someone's got to get those defenses down ASAP."

"James, I need you to hold them back while I hack this damned console."

"No one's gonna touch you, Lola."

Cortez chimes in, "Be ready, Commander. You're gonna get swarmed."

Working as quickly as possible, Shepard tries to tune out the firefight going on behind her. Assault rifle on full auto, James takes up a position behind a computer console where he can watch each of the entrances to the room they occupy. The alarms begin to blare, "Warning, Warning. Security breach. Initiating lockdown failsafe." He hears her curse, "Damn it. Outside communications are being jammed." Picking off a guardian that had come up on his flank, James yells, "We'll find a way to get through to them once you get that piece of shit squared away."

As the latest wave of troops falls, the console announces, "Defense system deactivation prioritized. Awaiting shutdown command." Shepard calls over her shoulder, "James, shutdown command has to be synced up from the other console."

He jogs over and inputs a code causing the mechanical voice to blare, "Defense system deactivated. General order seven slash seven triggered – establish contingency defenses."

Omnitool flashing, James curses, "Shit. Heavy deployment to the landing pad, Commander."

"Well, we better get a move on." They charge back towards the platform, taking out more soldiers in the process. Static crackles across the comms, Cortez voice barely audible, "Commander …rying to break… nterferance."

"Cortez, I read you. Come in."

"There you are, Commander. Had to get through the interference. Area clear, signaling the strike force – Wait, scans picking up something coming your way."

The claxons blast, "Proximity alert. Deploying armed response."

James shouts, "Heads up!" as an Atlas drops to the deck. They quickly fall back to more defensive positions as it fires off its rockets. Shepard and James set off a string of grenades, throwing the Atlas' aim off just as it unleashes a barrage of missiles. An explosion rocks the platform and metal shrieks in protest as one of the structural supports buckles. James braces on a railing and lunges to grab Shepard's wrist as she starts to slide with the crumbling deck, "Hang on, Lola!"

Allowing her shotgun to fall, she clutches James arm as he quickly hauls her up. Their ears ring with a static discharge on the com, "Everyone all right? We just saw the platform fall."

"We're alive for now, Cortez. Give the go ahead for the strike force to come in. They can help us mop up the remaining Cerberus personnel."

"That's a no go, Commander. The storm picked up in speed and intensity; it's going to hit your position in a matter of minutes. No way a shuttle will make it through. Command suggests you find someplace to hole up for the duration."

Shots ring out as more troops rush out of the base, "Command have any brilliant suggestions on where? Never mind. We'll find another way out of this base and radio you once we're clear. Cerberus should have a few ground vehicles stashed away somewhere." Unslinging her sniper rifle, she takes out an engineer setting up a turret. "Looks like we're on our own, Vega."

He grins over at her, "More fun for us. Let's show these pendejos not to mess with Marines."


A search of the lower levels of the base finally yields an old Mako and Shepard smiles, "God, this brings back memories."

Finding the controls for the outer doors, James sets the sequence to cycle them open. "You want to drive, Lola?"

"Like I was going to give you the chance after witnessing your navigation skills on Mars?" she smirks.

"Hey! That crash was planned. This beauty I'm more than capable of handling, though she could easily take a few bumps."

Shepard climbs in and starts it up, the old familiar rumble actually relaxing her. "Get in, Vega. We need to make tracks." As he enters the vehicle she takes out the two other vehicles in the garage with the onboard cannon for good measure. Visibility near zero they drive out into the storm.

A couple hours pass as they put distance between themselves and the base when a large rumble sets them trying to look out the windows. A wall of white is rumbling down a mountain directly towards them. "Avalanche!" Gunning the motor, Shepard tries to clear the incoming tide of snow and ice, but the Mako is rocked and thrown by the leading edge, the two humans inside tossed like rag-dolls.


Shepard regains consciousness first, groaning and clutching her skull, "That must be what being run over by a tank feels like…" A blast of frigid air helps clear her head and she sees the giant hole ripped in the side of their vehicle. Their vehicle! Shit! "James!" She screams his name over and over again as she starts tossing pieces of wreckage out of her way. A large slab of metal shifts to reveal James passed out still strapped into his chair with part of his chest plate missing and a stream of blood flowing from a deep cut over his left brow. Her omnitool scans him and finds remarkably little damage: a mild concussion, the head laceration, a large contusion to his upper chest and shoulder, as well as an assortment of gashes. Medigel smeared on the cuts and bruises, she tries to rouse him without success. She pulls out a foil blanket from her supplies to drape him in and examines their current situation.

From one of the holes in the Mako she can see they are perched rather precariously on a ledge. Shit. We can't stay here. Another avalanche and we're toast. A quick search of the vehicle garners a first aid kit, some rations and a canteen which she stuffs into a pack. Rolling James onto his side and securing the pack and their weapons to his back, she kneels to sling him into a fireman's carry. Her recently healed ribs protest the extra load, but she struggles to her feet. As she sets out into the snow, she keeps up a running dialog, "Not sure how long I can carry your sorry ass, James, so you better pull it together soon Marine… You were right: you do need to lose some weight…"


He comes to as she falls, dumping him in a snow bank. He sputters, groggy, "What the hell? Since when does taking a nap mean getting a bucket of ice thrown on ya?" Blinking his eyes, his brain starts to process his surroundings: snow, rocks, Shepard collapsed in a heap, wind… Wait, what the hell? He drags himself over to her as she struggles to her hands and knees, coughing violently. "Commander, what the hell are we doing out here?"

On all fours, head hanging between her arms, she turns her face slightly to give him a pained smile, gasping between coughs, "Nice of you to finally wake your ass up, Vega. Our dearly departed Mako lost a fight with an avalanche and we took some collateral damage. If you're steady enough would you mind helping me up? We need to push on and find some shelter before we freeze to death."

Gait unsteady, he does manage to find his feet and pull her up, both of them off balance and clutching each other for stability. With her image doubled in his vision he grins at the one on the right, "I wanted to dance with you again after the last time; just didn't think it would be like this."

She shakes her head and chuckles, which brings on a fresh round of coughing. "Let's move, dancing queen."

"Hey, Esteban's the queen. I'm a knight." They stagger on along the ledge, searching for any nook or cranny to squeeze into out of the driving snow.

They come upon the cave by accident as James slips on a patch of ice and tumbles into a small crevasse. As Shepard reaches a hand down to try and help pull him up, his vision focuses on a black gash in the side of the rock. "Hey, Shepard, I think maybe there's something here." He draws up his rifle and flips on the light, shining it into the darkness. He has to get on his knees to enter, but the crevice quickly widens into a small cave. "Jackpot. Come on in, Lola. Think we found a place to crash."

Sliding down to his position, she crawls into the cave. One wall seems to be a large sheet of ice, with the remainder of their shelter being solid rock. A shelf of stone takes up a decent portion of the available space and she sits on it to catch her breath. "Looks like we found ourselves a nice hidey-hole, James." She pulls out a flare and lights it, watching the smoke to see if there is any ventilation save the entrance; thankfully it seems there are some cracks in the rock that allow air through.

James sits beside her and then falls back, eyes closing. She shoves his shoulder, "No falling asleep on me now, LT. We need to block off the entrance to conserve heat in here. I'll work on that while you start chipping ice to melt for water."

He groans but forces himself back up, dragging out his knife to start breaking off chunks of ice from the wall and stuffing them in the canteen she tosses his way. Shepard goes back out into the storm to gather snow which she fashions into blocks to close off the cave entrance.

Their tasks complete, she pulls out a portable heating unit and sets it up near the stone shelf. Then she begins to strip off her armor. James stares dumbfounded as she pulls it off piece by piece. Noting his look, she rolls her eyes and walks over to start trying to get his chest plate off him. "Did you forget your cold weather survival training, Lieutenant? We're both soaked through from the snow and we're both injured. We need to get out of these walking freezers we call armor and the wet clothes that will leech any remaining warmth from our skin. I know I desperately want to be able to feel my ass again someday."

This startles a chuckle from him as his wavering sight tries to study her posterior, "I know I desperately want to be able to feel your ass again someday, too."

She snorts, wincing as her lungs protest, helping him extract himself from the broken armor. After the armor is successfully removed, she begins stripping out of the padding she wears beneath, laying it out to try and dry. James finds himself transfixed as more of her flesh begins to show. Down to her bra and panties she sees he's stopped again and sighs with exasperation, "Damn it James. Strip. NOW."

He blinks and chuckles, pulling off layers of clothing, "I've imagined you saying that to me a thousand times, but this was definitely not how I thought it would happen."

She blushes furiously, grateful the dim light from the heating unit should hide her discomfort. Turning her back to him, she unclasps her bra and lets it fall to the floor. James just manages to get his pants off as he sees this and his jaw drops, "Uh, Shepard?"

She looks over her shoulder to see him looking damned fine in nothing but some very form-fitting briefs. She licks her lips as she faces away again, pulling out a tightly compressed sleeping bag and setting it out on the rock shelf. "We are both suffering from at least mild hypothermia and the quickest way to warm up is skin to skin contact, which means naked is best. Now hurry the hell up, Marine, and finish undressing so we can get in the damned bag." With that statement she yanks off her panties and shimmies into the sleeping bag. Mouth suddenly very dry, he remains in place for a moment, the image of her naked back burned into his mind, then he quickly pulls off his briefs and burrows into the bag.

A lot of squirming occurs to get themselves settled in a comfortable position facing each other. She slides her arms around his waist and his draw her closer, nestled around her upper back. Her firm breasts press against his muscular chest and he can't help but notice how hard her nipples are. Probably just from the cold…

As she twines her legs with his, trying to maximize surface contact, she's trying not to be incredibly aware of his hips pressing up against hers, evidence presenting itself that he is enjoying their current closeness. She rests her cheek on his chest and snuggles as close as possible, desperate to feel warm. He kisses the top of her head, the events of the day plus the concussion making him bone-weary and he drifts to sleep as the temperature in their cocoon rises.

The sound of a soft snore rouses her from the bliss of heat returning to her skin. Shit. Can't let him sleep with that head injury. "James, wake up." He mumbles something but remains fast asleep. She tries shaking him, and then kicks his leg rather ineffectually due to space, but he does not wake. Getting desperate, she bites his shoulder. She finds herself squeezed tighter to him as he finally begins to stir. Encouraged, she bites at his neck and a rumble rises through his chest; she breathes in his ear, "James, wake up. You can't go to sleep on me now. I need you to stay awake."

The drag of teeth on his flesh filters into his sleep and he rouses to hear Shepard say "I need you" at which point his brain stops paying attention to the rest of the words. One hand sliding to circle her waist, the other buries itself in her hair as he tilts her head back for a kiss.

Well, he's awake, flashes through her startled mind. She's amazed by how gentle he is, his lips feather-soft as they trace their way over her eyes, nose, cheeks, jaw, and lips. Voice pleading she says, "James…" unsure if she wants him to stop or begging for him to keep going.

He cups her cheek, pressing his forehead and nose against hers, eyes staring into hers in the dim light from the heater. His voice is so very soft and tender, "Kaylin, please. If you tell me to stop, I will, but I think you want this as much as I do. You keep shoving me away because you're afraid of hurting me, but not being able to hold you, to touch you, to tell you how much I love you is killing me. Please, let me in. I'd rather have one night in your arms and die the next day than live a thousand years without you in my life." His thumb wipes away a single tear from her cheek as it beings to fall.

"I…" She thinks of all the reasons this is a bad idea, but at this moment she wants nothing more than a chance at happiness before the world comes to an end. Her tone is full of warmth and longing, "I love you, too, James. Please. I need you."

His heart stops at her declaration; it restarts with the electricity that sparks between them as his lips find hers. His mouth moves over hers as though she is a delicate glass figure he might shatter with a touch. Having given in to her yearning to be with him, Shepard opens her lips, tongue darting out to deepen their kiss. Eagerly he returns the fervor, waging a war between their tongues. His fingers slowly slide over her flesh, tracing a path from her cheek, along the line of her jaw, down the slender column of her throat, brushing the curve of a breast.

She moans into his mouth, heat spreading from a molten core low in her belly. Nails drag down his spine causing him to press himself harder against her overheated body. Her hands caress his ass, the muscles tightening reflexively, forcing his hips to rock forward; now it's his turn to moan as his manhood rubs against her silken flesh.

His lips and teeth follow the path so recently created by his fingers, teasing whimpers of pleasure from her as he explores. Dipping his head, slowly he sucks a pert nipple into his mouth, teeth scraping to draw it out, tongue lapping to sooth the tender skin. Her cries of pleasure elicit a hungry growl from deep within him, driving him on. Snaking a hand down to massage her butt, he kisses his way to the other breast, not wanting it to feel left out.

Shepard finds herself dizzy with need. Her nails dig into his back and shoulders as her nerves thrill to his touch. "Oh, dear God, James…" She runs her fingers through his hair, drawing his head closer as he suckles. "Please…"

Entreaties fall on his ears like angels singing. He tries to move lower, the sleeping bag encumbering his movements. With a snarl he rips the bag open, cold air striking hot skin making them both shudder. The ambient temperature of the cave has increased due to the heating element and their exertions, so, despite the chill, he continues to slide down her frame. Fingers caressing the lines of definition in her abdomen, traveling out to stroke the curve of hips, he straddles her legs and dips his head to lap at the beads of sweat quickly evaporating from her skin.

Never has she felt as alive as this. She grips his hair with a hand, the other rising to massage her breast, pinching and twisting the nipple as she groans her desire.

The sight of her touching herself drives him wild. His hands slide over her thighs to her knees, slowly lifting and drawing them apart. Kneeling before her, he bends down, resting her legs over his shoulders. James kisses her inner thighs, nibbling on the sensitive flesh as he works his way to her core. She hisses, "Yesssss… Oh, please, yes!" just before his tongue darts between the folds of flesh at the apex of her thighs.

A shudder runs through her entire body as he begins to lap at the sweet nectar he finds hidden away. Her legs wrap tightly around his neck and shoulders, drawing him more firmly against her. Working her into a state of frenzy, he reaches forward to squeeze her breasts, flicking her nipples between thumb and fore-finger. A scream of ecstasy rips from her throat as her back arches, overwhelmed by the sudden release as she gives herself over to a mind-blowing orgasm.

Enthusiastically he licks up every last drop as she crests wave after wave of bliss. He kisses his way back up her body, lavishing her breasts with attention before engaging her lips. She can taste herself on his tongue as he devours her mouth and she discovers she desperately wants to know how he tastes.

Breaking the kiss, she rolls him over so that she is straddling his lap, his manhood rock hard under her. The lascivious smile she bestows on him makes his cock twitch and he groans as her teeth nibble at his jaw. Licking the delicate shell of his left ear she murmurs breathlessly, "You have been a very good Marine and deserve a reward. Do you want me to suck you…" She draws his earlobe into her mouth to suckle for a moment. "Or fuck you…" She grinds her hips into his lap. "Or both?"

He drags her down for a breath-stealing kiss, hips rocking beneath her as he pants, "Madre de Dios, Lola, BOTH!" She chuckles softly, "Then I suppose I have some work to do."

He never really thought she had much in the way of nails; she'd told him she'd always preferred them very short to prevent oil and dirt from getting trapped under them. However, there is certainly enough length to leave marks on his skin as she draws designs with them in his flesh. He marvels at the feel of her teeth biting at the tender skin at the hollow of his throat, the animal hunger they wake as they scrape at his nipples. He buries his hands in her hair, kneading at her head and neck as she travels ever lower. Breasts pressed against his thighs, breath warm on his groin, she looks up at him, eyes seemingly lit with an inner fire as she licks her lips and purrs, "What shall I do now that I'm down here?"

Hands fisting in her hair, he growls, "Lick me. Suck me. I need your mouth on my cock!" His head falls back as she delicately licks at the base of his manhood. He pulls her hair back from her face so he can watch as her tongue darts out in quick short licks, teasing with brief contact and then blowing small puffs of air across his skin. His cock throbs as he groans his need and frustration, "You're killing me here, Lola…" Wet lips wrap around the head of his cock and he shudders, hands flexing as he fights the desire to shove her head further down along his length.

Her tongue lingers on the tip, lapping at the fluid leaking out. Not bad. Creating suction around the head, she takes him in inch by inch. His hips begin to rock as she swallows him down, the feel of her wet mouth encasing him is better than he ever dreamed. The tension inside him is building to the breaking point as he arrests her movement, lifting her head. She gives him a puzzled look, voice slightly hurt, "You didn't like it?" He's startled into a laugh, "Holy shit, Lola. I loved every second, but I want to last a little longer and that isn't gonna happen if you keep it up." She looks like the proverbial cat in the cream as she licks her lips.

Delicious friction nearly sends him over the edge as she slides her body up along his, capturing his mouth for another kiss. Her knees come to rest on either side of his hips and he can feel how wet she has become again as she grinds into him. They come up gasping for air from the kiss and he stares up into her face, "Ride me."

As she sits up, he grasps her hips to lift and she reaches down to position him at her entrance. Heaven cannot compare to the sensation of sheathing himself in her hot core; their cries echo through the cave. For a moment they hold perfectly still, savoring this feeling, then she rolls her hips and his grip tightens as he matches her motion. The look of wanton abandon on her face squeezes his heart. She corkscrews her hips up and then slams back to the hilt over and over again, back arched as his hands caress her breasts.

The rhythm races ever faster, both panting with exertion. He reaches down to their joined bodies, finding the small hidden pearl, stroking and flicking to the sounds of her screaming his name. He can hold back no longer as her muscles clench around him and they fly together on the wings of passion.

Collapsing against his chest, they lie there still united, his hands stroking her back and brushing the hair from her face. Voice tender he whispers, "I am the luckiest guy in the universe. You are magnificent and I love you, Kaylin." She tilts her chin to smile contentedly up at him, murmuring, "I love you, too, James." The expression of joy on his face warms her heart and she snuggles into his embrace.

The air around them quickly becomes too chilly to lie exposed and James reaches to try and get the ripped sleeping bag wrapped around them. She chuckles, lending a hand in the effort, "I'll have to dock your pay for destroying Alliance property." He grins and replies, "Or you could think of more creative ways to punish me." Lightly smacking his chest, she settles into his arms and mutters as she drifts off to sleep, "You wish."


The crackle of radio static wakes them some time later, Cortez's worried voice coming through, "Commander Shepard. Lieutenant Vega. Do either of you copy? Damn it; answer if you are getting this!"

Extricating herself from James and the sleeping bag, Shepard stumbles over to her armor, gasping at the frigid cold air on her naked skin. She hauls the helmet with the comm unit back to the stone slab and crawls into the warmth she had vacated, making James howl in protest as her frozen feet curl around his. Finger lifted to shush him, she flips on the speaker, "Cortez, this is Shepard. Do you copy?"

Relief clear in his reply, "I read you loud and clear, Commander. I was beginning to think we lost you down there. Where are you?"

"That's a good question. We made it free of the base but got caught in an avalanche. Luckily we happened to find a cave and have been trying to stay warm ever since. Can you lock on our signal? Vega suffered a concussion and should get checked out."

"Give me a few minutes to locate the source of your transmission. It would help if you could get outside; the cave will weaken the signal strength."

"Give me a few minutes to get dressed and I'll make my way out."

A long pause greets her words then a hesitant, "Get dressed?"

Rolling her eyes she grabs some snow for a quick bath before she starts to pull on her clothes, "Does no one remember cold weather survival training? I'll radio you once I'm free of the cave."

James leisurely watches her get dressed, memorizing the image for later, and then he catches a flash of ink on her skin as she pulls her top on, "Shit. Later you'll have to let me check out your tats, Lola."

Dead-pan, "Who says there will be another time, Lieutenant?"

His frown grows as she continues to dress without looking at him. He lunges to his feet, vision wavering thanks to the fast movement coupled with the concussion, and he grabs her arm to spin her around, his voice firm and demanding, "There will be a next time, Kaylin. I won't let you put me off any more." Her delighted grin sinks into his brain as she kisses him soundly, "Just teasing you, James. I fully intend to abuse my position of power over you, so you'll have plenty of chances to scope out my ink."

He smirks, "I'll take any abuse you can dish out, Lola."

"Good to know, James. Now get washed up and dressed. I'm tired of freezing my ass off down here."

Leering down at her ass, "It would be a crying shame to freeze that off." She shoves a fistful of snow at him and he shivers, "Why exactly do I need to wash up when we can take a hot shower back on the Normandy?"

"Because I don't want everyone and their mother knowing we were having sex down here while they desperately searched for us."

"Fine, fine." Gritting his teeth, Vega gives his skin a fast scrub and throws on his padding, then attempts to struggle into his fractured armor. The warped metal of the chest plate doesn't behave so he wraps himself in the sleeping bag and lugs the piece with him outside.


Thirty minutes later they are aboard the shuttle with Cortez, drinking cups of hot chocolate and coffee respectively. Steve glances at them frequently on the ride back, noting the way they keep looking at each other and how close they sit together. A small smile crosses his face. Finally…