Disclaimer: I do not own the character of Commander Shepard, James Vega or anything canon to the Mass Effect series. Bioware and EA own all that. Sarah Shepard is my brain baby, but that's the extent of it.

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10.

They didn't talk about what had almost happened. There was nothing to talk about. The interruption hadn't been welcome, but it had been a blessing. James escorted her back to her quarters and headed for the crew showers to wash the sweat off his skin.

He went to visit her later on, having gotten used to spending a lot of one-on-one time with her at the Beta Site. She was curled up on the small couch facing the vid screen, moving her head at him in greeting before turning her attention back to it. Shepard looked comfortable in her sweatpants and Alliance hooded sweater, her feet bare.

"Watching anything good?"

"Not really, just flipping through." Sarah said with a shrug. "Join me, if you want." He paused for a moment before giving a shrug of his own and walked over to the couch.

"Move over." Not that there was much room on the couch to begin with, but she managed to make some room for him, though his large frame took up most of it. She ended up touching his side, knees drawn to her chest as they sat there in a companionable silence.

"Any news on when the hearing might be?" She asked after a bit.

"Nothing yet." He said, "Doubt they'd tell me anyways."

"Damn. I hate the waiting. I'd like to know sooner rather than later if they're handing me over to the Hegemony to be executed."

"I doubt they'd do that, Shepard."

"We'll see." She sounded so resigned to that fate that he looked at her, seeing her looking straight ahead at the screen but not really seeing it. Giving a sigh, he put his arm around her slender shoulders and pulled her against him, his hand rubbing her arm.

She settled against his side, head on his shoulder as she accepted the comfort he was offering in silence.

Sarah felt so small against him, her warmth seeping into his skin and the gentle smell of her hair entering his nose every time he drew breath. He found himself looking down at her from time to time, his arm shifting as he pulled her closer. She shifted every now and then, tucking herself into his side more and making the corner of his lips perk slightly in a smile. For someone as famous (or infamous) as she was, she was awfully cute sometimes.

They sat there in the silence, Sarah under his arm as they watched some documentary on Thessia. It felt almost...natural to be with her like this, comfortable to be this close to her. If she wasn't awaiting trial, he would say it was almost domestic.

"Tell me something, Shepard." James started and she made a acknowledging sound. "What're you going to do if they have the hearing and you're let free."

"That's...not going to happen, James." She said.

"With everything you've done? It's an option."

"It really isn't. An entire system was decimated when the Alpha Relay was destroyed. They can't just...let me go. The Hegemony would retaliate. Big time."

"But you stopped Saren, saved the Citadel, defeated the Collectors-" She pulled away from him then, looking at him.

"And caused the deaths of over three hundred thousand Batarian men, women, and children." Sarah said and he sighed.

"To save everyone from the Reapers who were going to use the Alpha Relay to come through." He said and she gave him a look, "The Admiral thought I should know what's up."

"Good ol' Anderson." She said and, to his surprise, settled back against him with a sigh, tucking herself under his arm again. "I just...don't want to talk about this right now."

"Sorry I brought it up."

"Don't be." She said, turning her attention back to this screen. "You know, I think I'd like to go to Thessia someday."

"Yeah?"

"I know someone from there, I'm sure she wouldn't mind showing the sights."

They sat there until the documentary ended and it was getting late. Going to move, James stopped as she made a small sound and he looked at her, seeing her asleep against him. Sliding out from her side slowly, he held her in his arms and picked her up easily.

"James?" She asked sleepily.

"Go back to sleep, Sarah." He whispered and she pressed her cheek against his chest, her eyes closing again.

Laying her down on the bed, he pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in gently. Leaning over her, he hesitated for a moment before pressing his lips to her forehead. His heart skipped a beat as she gave a contented hum at the contact, her lips curling into a small smile.

"Thane..." She whispered, her eyes staying closed and she slipped back under.

There was a weight in his chest as he left her to sleep without a word, locking the door behind him.