A/N So... thanks for reading you guys, hope you're enjoying and thanks yo-Sirrah for beta-ing as always and in case you didn't already know Bioware owns all the good stuff.

And also... I'm sorry.

Chapter Nine – Showers, Pilots and Personal Debriefings

Keira smiles as the hot water caresses her skin, she still can't quite believe everything Kaidan had done for her yesterday. The guitar he had given her was perched on her desk in pride of place and as she begins massaging shampoo into her hair she can't help but start to hum happily.

"Now that's a sight I could yet used to." Kaidan drawls leaning causally in the doorway to her bathroom. She turns her head to look at him, enjoying the sight of him shirtless and relaxed in her quarters. She feels a familiar twinge in her lower regions as he looks at her. His arms folded across his naked chest, head tilted, dark brown eyes slowly appraising her body. She shivers pleasantly.

"Glad you enjoy the view." she says turning away from him to face the shower spray again, smiling to herself.

"Oh I do Shepard." he purrs, pushing himself off the wall and coming to stand behind her, brushing his hand across her derriere before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her naked form flush against him, letting her feel exactly how much he had been enjoying the view and not caring in the least that he was getting soaked. Keira throws her head back against him enjoying the feel of his naked chest pressed against her back. Her action exposes her neck to him and he wastes no time in brushing his lips across the sensitive skin he knows is there.

"Oh god, Kaidan..." she breathes as he slowly trawls his lips over every accessible part of her neck. Spinning her in his arms he takes a firm hold on her hips, this time enjoying the view from the front. Keira watches him as he looks at her, the lust filled look in his eyes sending pleasant shivers rippling through her body. Kaidan's eyes darken as he watches the last little bit of shampoo snake its way down her chest, over her perfect breasts, down to her taut abdomen and...lower.

"Mmm." he mumbles.

"What's on your mind Lieutenant?" she asks him coyly and he raises his eyes to hers, grinning wickedly. He makes no reply but instead tightens his grip on her, jerking her hips against his.

"Oh." she says before sliding her hands up his muscular chest, wrapping them around his neck pulling his mouth towards hers.

"Message from Anderson for you Commander." Joker's voice barks over the comm. and Kaidan groans against her lips.

"You really need to speak to him about his timing issues." He complains and Keira chuckles.

"I'll take it in a minute, Joker." she replies as she steps away from Kaidan and reaches for a towel. Looking back to him Keira can't help but smile at the pouty expression that appears on his face as she wraps herself in the towel.

"Don't worry Lieutenant. I'll make sure we have time to continue this debriefing later." she says stroking his cheek and smiling as his pouty expression is replaced with his delightful half smile.

"You promise?" he rasps, drawing her now towel-covered body back into his arms.

"Of course." she replies reaching up to kiss him quickly on the cheek. "Now," she continues, stepping out of his arms and walking over to where his shirt lay discarded on the floor. She picks it up and tosses it to him, "get that on and get to your workstation Lieutenant, you don't want to be late." She orders.

"Aye, aye ma'am." he replies winking at her before pulling the shirt quickly over his head and leaving her quarters, still at his station long before the first of the crew stumble in. As per regulations Shepard herself was dressed and ready five minutes later. Walking over to her terminal and activating it, the face of the newly appointed human councillor appears on the screen.

"Anderson." she greets, "What can I do for you?"

"What's up with you man? Something keeping you awake at night?" Joker questions as Kaidan yawns for the tenth time that day. Kaidan shrugs but says nothing.

"You know," Joker presses, enjoying himself immensely, "I think I saw the Commander yawning earlier. Guess she's not getting much sleep either...I wonder what could possibly be keeping her up all night?"

"I wouldn't know Joker," Kaidan replies wearily, "You'd have to ask her."

"Aw, come on man, you're such a buzz kill...come onnnn, dish the dirt!"

"I have no idea what you're jabbering on about Joker." Kaidan replies, keen to avoid giving Joker any details.

"You suck."

"Right back atcha buddy," Kaidan replies standing up from his co-pilot seat and gently clapping Joker on the shoulder, "She's listing a little to the port side, I'm going to check the flight stabilizer drives."

"Yeah, right, you're just hoping Shepard's hanging around back there so that you can cop a feel."

"You're an ass Joker," Kaidan calls over his shoulder as he leaves.

However, as it turns out Shepard, purely by chance of course, is hanging around near the flight stabilizer drives.

"Alenko." she greets nodding in his direction. She's careful to keep her voice neutral, professional, but her face still lights up when she sees him.

"Commander." he replies, coming as close to her as he dares while they're surrounded by other crewmembers.

"Something the matter Lieutenant?" she questions.

"The...uh...Normandy, listing a little, I just came down to check her flight stabilizers."Shepard nods.

"Very good. Carry on Alenko," she orders. She raises her head glancing at their surroundings and, seeing that they are suddenly largely alone, she takes a half step closer and adds, "Don't work too hard Lieutenant," dropping her voice to a low sexy growl that threatens to drive Kaidan insane, "Your duty shift ends in fifteen minutes and then we have that personal de-brief to finish..." Kaidan grins.

"Don't worry Commander," he replies, dropping his voice to match hers, "I intend to finish what I started." She grins.

"Good," She immediately returns to a profession demeanour. "I'll see you in fifteen minutes." and she flashes him her glorious smile that utterly transforms her face and he feels his heart melt a little in response as she sweeps past him heading towards the mess hall.

Fifteen minutes later, the first shot from the collector ship threatens to tear the Normandy apart.

A/N What? I said I was sorry! :p I am though.