Chapter 10:

Garrus tried to do some calibrations, but his mind kept straying. He'd been so stupid. He knew... He knew she wasn't his. He'd known Shepard only viewed him as a friend. He knew that was all he could ever be with her. He thought he'd come to grips with it. Now, the knowledge that she was going back to Kaidan made him want to kill the man. Or, at least, challenge him for what was his.

Because Shepard was his. Kaidan left her. Called her a traitor. Turned his back on, not only the woman, but everything the old Normandy had fought for. He was the one protecting her and taking care of her. He was the one willing to fight by her side with his last breath. But… Kaidan was human, like Shepard. Kaidan could give her things he would never be able to. Could give her child so many things he couldn't.

Even if Shepard grew to consider him as a potential mate, he was nothing but a washed out turian. He failed at C-Sec. He failed his father. He failed at becoming a Spectre. He failed the memory of Shepard. He failed on Omega. He failed his team. Why wouldn't he fail at being a mate and father too? Not like he ever had the opportunity, but with his track record perhaps it was better that he never had a chance in the first place. That didn't stop him from feeling hollow inside.

He left the main battery before he could do any lasting damage to the console. His mind and heart in too much turmoil to notice he forgot to have dinner. He didn't speak with anyone, though one look at him had everyone scrambling out of the way. He needed to clear his mind and a little target practice always made him feel good, but he never had the chance to so do.

Just as Garrus was about to begin, his omni-tool announced he had a message from one of his contacts. He spoke to Shepard a little about Sidonis, but not how close he was to finding the barefaced bastard. Now, staring at the message was his answer. His contact told him about a man named Fade on the Citadel. He was so close he could feel his trigger finger itching and the clamor of his teammates for vengeance.

There was another message. This one coming from the Normandy. Shepard. He had forgotten about dinner! He left her waiting for him. What kind of mate was he? No… not mate… friend… What kind of friend was he?

Frustration. Anger. Disillusion. Survivor's Guilt. Shame. Heartbreak. It was too much for him. With a snarl, he threw the weapon down unaware of Jacob's unmanly yelp of surprise. The human watched warily as the turian stalked his way back to the main battery. The turian had enough mind to stop and tell Gardner to send Shepard some food first.

"Did you see that, EDI?" the man asked as he checked the weapon over for damages.

"Affirmative, Agent Taylor. May I suggest Yeoman Chambers head down to the main battery and have a talk with Agent Vakarian. She has quite an extensive knowledge in the psychological field," the AI intoned.

Jacob snorted, remembering the appreciative stares Chambers kept sending the turian the last time he was down on the mess hall.

"I think it would be better if Shepard talked to him."

"Very well. Shepard will be informed. Logging you out, Agent Taylor."