Ok so I made this chapter extra long to make up for not writing for so long.
I hope you like it!
Garrus was seething.
She chose Thane. THANE. Over him, to go with her to Tuchanka. She hardly KNEW the guy but she was willing to trust him on the battlefield?
He was still pissed about their conversation.
"Look, I know you're going stir crazy being cooped up around here, but the arid conditions are perfect for Thane's condition and I need to take him off the ship." She said placing her hands on her hips. "Besides, it should be quick. All we have to do is figure out what's wrong with Grunt, fix it, and then get the hell out of dodge."
He gave her a look that told her exactly what he thought about her 'plan'. Since when has anything ever gone that smoothly? He wanted to be there to watch her back. He couldn't be sure she was safe otherwise.
She sighed, "As much as I want to take you on every single mission, I can't." she smiled. "Plus, if the opportunity arises, I need to see the full extent of Thane's abilities."
He assumed that by 'opportunity' she meant a battle.
A battle where she could get injured and Thane would have to take care of her.
He wasn't sure which image made him angrier, Shepard injured again or Thane's hands on her.
Her smile faded. "Look, if it means that much to you, I promise that I'll take you on the next mission so you don't get cabin fever."
His hands clenched into fists.
He wanted to yell that it wasn't about that. He NEEDED to be there. He didn't TRUST the drell or the Krogan to take a bullet for her, or keep track of her movements in the midst of a battle to make sure she wasn't surrounded, or keep her from going off the deep end by cracking a joke or making sure she never ran out of ammo ever again.
All the things he did and tried to do to keep her safe.
But she had left anyway, with the assassin trailing behind to the shuttle bay. He wanted to punch something.
He STILL wanted to punch something, over four hours later.
Garrus walked up to the bridge, he didn't know why. But he told himself it was definitely because he wanted to hear if Shepard had radioed in. Just as he approached the back of Joker's chair, he heard her smooth voice crackle over the radio.
"Looks like we'll be here awhile longer… It seems that Grunt needs some kind of rite of passage." There was static as she paused. "I'll radio again when I find out more."
"Ok Commander." The pilot replied. Joker swiveled in his chair and visibly jumped when he noticed Garrus standing directly behind him. "Jesus! What the hell Garrus? Do I need to put a bell around your neck?" A comical smile spread across the man's face as he pictured the Turian with a bell on.
He wasn't in the mood, after glaring at the pilot, he stalked away while Joker murmured something about sticks.
Shepard put down her radio and sighed. She felt bad about leaving him behind, again, but it just wasn't practical for him to ALWAYS be there. Even if she wanted him to be. She needed to make time for the rest of her crew also, plus if she was going to trust her other team members she needed to take them out or nothing would get accomplished.
She looked at Thane who was watching her intently. They were waiting for Grunt to finish talking with the Shaman so they could finish his rite and get on with the mission.
"So what do you think of the Normandy?" she asked trying to start a conversation.
His face was impassive. "It seems like a very capable ship, with a good crew."
She sighed again, wishing Garrus were here. He would keep her entertained and make this little side trip go by much faster.
She glanced at Thane again, he was still looking at her, still unreadable.
"What?" she asked, a little more harshly than she intended.
He raised an eyebrow in question, but otherwise didn't say anything.
She sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't… I'm just stressed… sorry."
"No apology is necessary Shepard, but perhaps you would like to talk about what is bothering you?"she looked at him for a moment, he seemed genuine so she took a deep breath.
"It's Garrus," She said, "we're really good friends but lately he's been getting pissed off about the smallest things. On the first Normandy he never questioned my ability to make decisions or protect myself…"
Thane clasped his hands behind his back. "So you are saying that he is being over protective."
Jane frowned. "Um… yeah I guess. That's one way of looking at it I suppose."
Thane quirked an eyebrow again. He wasn't an expert on Turian social customs but it seemed clear to him that Garrus was beginning to be much more than a protective friend.
Joker sighed, in the last hour and a half Garrus had come to the bridge over seven times. Each time he had given the Turian the same answer, no news from Shepard. On his eighth visit the pilot finally snapped and told him to 'sit his ass down or go away' so now Garrus was sitting by the AI terminal burning a hole in the side of Joker's head with his glare.
Just as Jeff was about to kick him out of the bridge the radio crackled again.
"Come in, Joker."
The pilot glanced at Garrus who was looking at the console with interest. "Go ahead Commander."
"So it looks like this 'Rite' consists smashing a 'keystone' into the ground and shooting whatever it attracts." She explained.
"Are you sure that's safe?" he asked.
A sharp bark of laughter came over the line, "Of course not, which is why I'm not letting Grunt do it alone. I'll contact you after it's done."
"Take care Commander." Joker said, signing off. He turned around to find that Garrus had already left.
Garrus cursed under his breath. He knew he shouldn't be doing this to himself. If he didn't stop worrying about her it would drive him insane.
But seriously? Did she even KNOW what creatures were native to Tuchanka?
He decided to blow off some steam in the workout room by the cargo bay.
Lately, It seemed like he needed to 'blow off steam' a lot more often than he used to. He visited the room almost regularly when on the old Normandy he had been comfortable with just tinkering with the MAKO.
Whatever it was that was making him act this way… he shook his head. He KNEW why he was like this…
Jane.
He couldn't get her out of his head no matter how hard he tried. He sighed again, and stepped into the elevator headed for the cargo bay.
"Ready, Shepard." Grunt growled waiting for her to press the keystone for the third time. She looked at the trigger to the keystone ruefully. They had already fought Varren and some giant crab-looking things and she had no idea what was next.
"One second Grunt." Shepard answered, gathering ammo from the lower level. As soon as she made sure both her teammates were fully stocked, she smacked the button sending the giant stone column smashing into the ground while vibrations shot through her feet.
Holding her rifle steady, she waited for whatever creature or creatures would arrive. Then the ground started shaking again. She heard an all too familiar screech and looked up to see the huge head of a Thresher Maw rising from the ground fifty yards away.
"Take cover!" she yelled and her team broke apart each finding shelter behind a stone pillar. The Thresher maw launched a glob of acidic spit at the spot where they had been standing.
Shepard swore under her breath, in the past she had always had the aid of a Mako to defeat any Thresher maws that they encountered while exploring. She fired her assault rifle with incendiary rounds, aiming for its head. Just as she thought she was beginning to do some damage it shot back into the ground and moved to the other side of the arena.
She saw Grunt and Thane firing, slowly taking down the animal's defenses. Shepard ran to another area, now that her cover was useless against the new angle of attack. Her teammates moved to new positions as well.
Jane whittled down the Thresher maw's defenses then ducking behind the cover of the metal structure in between pillars.
Shepard looked up as the Thresher turned its attention to Grunt who was firing and screaming obscenities at the beast. She noticed the creatures natural armor was starting to weaken and fall off in large bloody pieces.
It was time for the kill shot.
She whistled sharply and immediately had the attention of the animal. It turned and came at her, intent on swallowing her whole.
Shepard pulled out the rocket launcher strapped to her back and started firing into its gaping mouth, down its throat.
The head exploded and rained intestines and some kind of goo for one hundred meters in all directions. She took a deep breath and looked around at her team. Thane was unscathed and Grunt only had a few minor scratches.
All in a day's work.
She gathered her team and they made their way back to the Normandy.
After being treated by Dr. Chakwas for some minor burns and scrapes Shepard stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for her the CIC, completely oblivious to the other occupant.
"Commander?"
She would have jumped it she wasn't exhausted. "Joker, I was just coming to see you." She smiled looking over at the pilot leaning against the opposite wall.
He looked at her expectantly.
"I would like to stay in the area and scan the planets in this system for supplies." She said trying not to sound as tired as she felt.
"Sure thing, Shepard." He smiled and hobbled out of the elevator when it stopped at the second deck. If it had been anyone else, she would have offered to help them get to wherever they were going, but Joker didn't want it or need it.
She always liked Jeff. He was a good man and a kick ass pilot. And if she was on a bus ride to the ass end of hell she couldn't ask for a better driver.
The next morning she was idly scanning planets when she heard someone approaching from behind. Turning in the chair she saw Kelly looking over her shoulder.
"Do you need something Kelly?" Jane asked.
She smiled. "Not me, Commander, but Mordin wishes to speak with you."
Shepard stood. "Thank you, I'll go see him now."
"Need to go to Tuchanka." Mordin stated looking up from his computer.
Shepard raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that we were JUST there? Why do we need to go back?"
Mordin sighed and went on to explain about the new genophage and his colleague being captured.
Jane was angry that the Salarians had updated the genophage but now wasn't the time to bitch about something she couldn't change.
Since having Mordin on this mission was a given, she only wanted one person to fill the empty slot.
Shepard stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the crew deck, she remembered how Garrus had been upset the last time he hadn't been able to go on a mission. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to let him get off the ship.
Arriving on the crew deck she made a bee line for the Turian's station, only to find it empty. She considered searching the ship, but a faster method came to mind.
"EDI" Shepard said to the console on the wall. EDI's blue orb manifestation popped up.
"Yes Shepard."
"I need you to locate Officer Vakarian." She said, his formal title feeling awkward coming out of her mouth. She realized then that since the old Normandy was destroyed, she had only called him by his first name.
Not that it was important.
EDI paused for a moment, probably searching the ship with her sensors. "Officer Vakarian is in the cargo bay, in the exercise room. Would you like me to contact him for you?" She asked.
Jane nodded. "No thank you, I'll just go see him."
"Logging you out."
Garrus panted hard under the strain of the simulator. He was fighting a virtual Turian, his same size and weight.
For the third time in a row.
He just couldn't seem to work out all of his 'frustrations'.
He was so focused on fighting he didn't see the woman stand just off the mat, which was the range of the simulator. She calmly walked to the control panel and pressed the pause button. As the virtual Turian came to a standstill, Garrus stopped and looked around.
Jane took a moment to look at him. He was out of his armor, which was unusual, but he wasn't wearing civvies either. He had on black pants that form fitted over his muscles and spikes, his chest was bare. She realized she was staring, but she couldn't help herself. His chest was covered in overlapping plates of his natural armor. They were sort of a dark brownish grey, with silver undertones.
She wanted to know what they felt like.
"Do you need me for something?" he asked, the flanging effect of his voice making her heart skip a beat.
She met his eyes, a little embarrassed that she was staring, but refusing to blush. "Do you need a partner Garrus?" she asked gesturing toward the still frozen simulation and completely ignoring his question.
His body tightened, "I… uh… didn't thing that you'd be interested in sparring Commander." He thought of the implications of fighting her, for Turians that was like foreplay.
She smiled and stepped onto the mat. "What's the matter?" she asked "afraid you can't take me?"
His blood grew hot. If only she knew what she was doing, he thought as he got into a classic fighting stance. It was all he could do to not pin her to the ground underneath him. He would do his best not to hurt her, but he wasn't sure if he could control his instinct to have her submit to him.
She looked him over once more and cracked her knuckles, "Bring it on." She said.
He charged, intent on taking her down quickly but she stepped out of the way at the last minute and kicked him in the back.
Had she always been that fast?
He spun as she swung another kick at his head. Garrus grabbed her ankle and used it to knock her off balance. Jane twisted taking him down with her and she ended up underneath him with one leg over his shoulder. He froze for a second, and then couldn't get off of her quick enough.
"Shepard! Are you ok?" he asked. He probably broke her in some horrible way, he thought.
She laughed and shifted to get up. "Yeah I'm fine, Humans are… bendy… kind of like Asari."
He watched as she stood. She was flexible like as Asari? Well that was definitely one image that would keep him from ever getting any work done for the rest of eternity.
She walked over to him, misreading his train of thought. "It's all right," she put her hand on his shoulder. "You didn't hurt me."
He was thankful that she couldn't read his thoughts. "So was sparring the only reason you came down here?" he asked.
"No, we have to go back to Tuchanka. Mordin's colleague may have been kidnapped and we're going to rescue him." she said, he could tell that she wasn't looking forward to it.
He tensed, "Are you leaving me behind again?"
She rolled her eyes, "Yes Garrus, I came all the way down here JUST to tell you that you're NOT coming."
He was thankful that he learned about sarcasm on the first Normandy.
"Well I guess I should go get ready then."
Mordin watched the Commander and Officer Vakarian with interest on the shuttle ride down to the surface. He noticed the Turian's body language, leaning toward Shepard when she spoke and staring longer than appropriate for a leader-subordinate relationship. With Shepard, she was constantly touching Garrus on the arms or shoulders when she was discussing something or just when she was nearby. While Mordin knew that touching was common in Human culture, he had not seen her interactive at this level with any of her other crew. Perhaps it is a courting relationship, he mused, should offer assistance, and likely neither had much information about interspecies relations.
They exited the shuttle and began walking through the dusty ruins when the com crackled.
"Clan Urdnot had increased in strength since you're last visit." EDI stated over the radio. "In addition, killing the Thresher Maw has produced several breeding requests for Grunt. And one for Shepard."
Everyone stopped walking.
There was an awkward silence.
Jane felt an amused grin spread across her face. "EDI, did you say that I have a KROGAN breeding request?" she asked a laugh bubbling in the back of her throat.
"Yes Shepard" the AI answered calmly.
"Well… WOW. How would that even work?"She asked, not directing the question at anyone in particular.
Mordin spoke up. "The male Krogan…"
Shepard interrupted him. "Whoa! No no no… It was a rhetorical question Mordin. I don't actually want to KNOW."
Joker's laughter was rang over the comm. "Oh Shepard… what did you DO? Do they even know that you're human?"
Jane scoffed. "Of course they know I'm human, jack ass, I'm not exactly in disguise here." She turned to look at Garrus and all the humor faded from her when she saw the fury in his eyes.
"Garrus are you alright?" she asked.
He turned and stalked away, he needed air. He would have given almost anything to run into the Krogan who made the request, just so he could beat him into a bloody pulp.
"What's wrong?" he heard her call after him.
He kept walking until he was out of sight, and leaned against the wall. The very idea of a Krogan laying its hands on Shepard was unthinkable. He watched as she rounded the corner, concern evident on her face.
She stepped close and put her hand on his shoulder. "Talk to me, Garrus… please."
He looked at her, studying her. Her eyebrows were drawn together like when she was thinking about something serious, or when she was worried. Dammit, he didn't want her to worry about him.
He sighed looking away, "The breeding request…." He trailed off as the 'worried' look faded and she pressed her lips together tightly, she was trying not to laugh again.
He growled and pushed away from the wall intent on walking away.
She pivoted and grabbed his arm, turning him back towards her. "Oh come on, it's a LITTLE funny."
His eyes met hers with a predatory look that made her heart beat a little bit faster. She wondered if he was still angry as he slowly took a step towards her. She hadn't even realized that she moved back until her shoulders came in contact with the wall.
Garrus slowly braced his hands above each of her shoulders, as if waiting to see how she would react.
"Which part is funny?" he asked, the sound of his flanging voice suddenly making her toes curl. "Is it the part where another species might find you attractive?" his voice was low and she had a hard time focusing.
Well, he certainly didn't seem angry.
"First of all," she said, surprised and proud of how steady her voice sounded, "the fact that it's a 'breeding request' is funny because I wouldn't be able to 'breed' with a Krogan." She continued, "And secondly, I would NEVER do anything like that."
His stomach dropped. He felt relieved and disappointed at the same time. Of course Shepard wouldn't want to mate outside her own species, even thinking about it was… what? Strange? Wrong?
He looked down at her and realized that she wasn't done talking.
"I mean, I've never been one for casual sex and there's no way in hell I would sleep with anyone just because they were impressed that we killed the Thresher Maw." She said.
He blinked.
"Wait," He said slowly, "so the whole 'separate species thing' doesn't bother you?" He knew she would probably never go for a Krogan, but if she didn't care about species...
She raised an eyebrow, "Should it?" He didn't realize that she was baiting him, gauging his reaction.
He looked down at her, noticing how close they were, with his hands braced behind her on the wall. All he would have to do was lean down a little and their foreheads would be touching.
She wouldn't understand the significance but he could just…
"Garrus?" her voice was surprised and confused.
Ah. He stopped growling, a little embarrassed that it had started up without his knowledge.
He cleared his throat and pushed away, giving her space. "Right, well we should probably get going." He turned and walked away leaving Jane staring after him.
The rest of the mission went by quickly, they found the Salarian who was never kidnapped in the first place, and Shepard convinced Mordin not to kill his protégé. The shuttle ride back was quiet, Shepard stared out the window and Garrus stared at her.
Mordin made a mental note, they were definitely courting and he would help them.
Review please!
