"Why Mr. Vega, to what do I owe the pleasure of having you visit me?"

James laughed as he watched his friend, Steve Cortez, sit up from his bed on the MedBay. The shuttle pilot had suffered major internal bleedings and head injuries from his crash after engaging a Harvester, that it took round the clock care from Dr. Chakwas and Regine to get him better. He finally came around after a week, but he still had bandages on his head and his torso.

"What? I'm not allowed to visit you, Esteban?" James said as he plopped down the seat beside his friend's bed.

Steve laughed a little, "Yeah, you're allowed. I was just surprised you're still alive. I would've thought that you'd rush in headfirst into the fight in London."

"Almost got burned into oblivion by a Reaper." James said, "Shepard ordered me to evac."

Steve's face saddened a bit, "Yeah. I heard about Shepard. Damn him. But I guess that's why he's the commander."

"Yeah." James said, "They ought to build him a statue now. Way much bigger than that krogan statue on the Citadel."

"They probably will, if not, I'm going to meld one." Steve said, and he smiled a little, "But I'm glad you survived, Mr. Vega."

James laughed, "I don't swing that way, Esteban, but thanks. It's good to see you getting better, too. I was afraid we'd lost you."

Steve scoffed, "It would take more than a goddamn Reaper to take me down."

"Exactly." James said, and he grinned at the shuttle pilot, "Besides, you're our procurement officer. We're running low on tequila, man."

Steve laughed out loud, but groaned in pain, so he settled in just chuckling, "I'm hurt. I would've thought that you had gotten some tequila already. I could use a drink when I get out of this bed."

"Yeah well, when you can finally walk, we'll buy all the tequila we need to get completely borracho."

Steve grinned at him, "Considering you're such a lightweight, Mr. Vega, I think a single bottle each is enough for you."

"Hey now, I'm no quarian." James said in mock offense, "I can handle my drinks like a krogan."

"A tank-bred krogan." Steve said as his eyes glazed in memory, "You remember that gray krogan Shepard had at the party? Grunt… I think his name was."

"Yeah, that guy." James laughed, "Poor kid drank way too much."

"For a krogan, he's pretty lightweight." Steve grinned, "Kind of like you. How many drinks did you have? Five? Six? All of a sudden you started dancing like some damn asari on Shepard's balcony."

James laughed out loud, holding his stomach, but he was surprised to hear another melodious laughter coming up from behind them. He turned around to see Dr. Akira standing by her table, her hand on her mouth, her shoulder shaking in laughter. She looked at the two men, face still alight with a grin, her face once again beautiful to James as it showed her happiness. She realized the two men were staring at her, and she promptly blushed pink, before excusing herself and leaving the MedBay.

He chuckled as Steve watched the doctor go. "Who's that?"

"Dr. Regine Akira." James said as he watched the woman walk hurriedly to the elevator through the window. "She's Dr. Chakwas' assistant. They brought her here to help with the injured, since Dr. Chakwas had her hands full of… well… you."

"Yeah, pretty nasty stuff happened to me." Steve said, and he raised his hand to the bandage on his head. "I'm going to start wearing a helmet in the Kodiak from now on."

James shrugged, "Probably not. It's a lot more peaceful now, Esteban."

Steve sighed, "Yeah. I imagine so." He looked at his friend, "So… Dr. Akira, huh?"

James looked down at Steve, the other man's mouth turned up into a knowing smile. He felt his face warm up as he looked at the elevator, only to see her glance up at him as the doors closed. "Yeah, she's something…"

"I'm surprised. James Vega, master of flirtation… is shy around some doctor." Steve said, grinning.

"She's not just some doctor, Esteban." James said, and he looked at Steve, a little sad, "She is… was… Christine's sister and April's aunt."

Steve blinked in surprise. He had known what had happened to James before he joined the Normandy, they talked about Fehl Prime while they were in the Cargo Bay during the time they worked. He grimaced, "Ah… that's tough, man. Does she know… of what you did?"

He nodded, "Yeah. She does. She hates me for it."

He grimaced again, "Ouch. That sucks, man. She's going to be a tough nut to crack."

"Nah… I think she's warming up to me… a little." James smiled down at his friend, "You saw her face, didn't you? She is so damn beautiful when she smiles."

Steve nodded, "Yeah. I could see that. I could still appreciate feminine beauty, and she's a prime example. Plus she's smart, too. And she and Dr. Chakwas saved me."

James took a deep breath and let it out, "I know."

There was a silence from Steve, and James looked down at this friend to see him grinning wide. He blushed at the knowing smile Steve was giving him, and pretty soon the shuttle pilot started chuckling. "Oh man, you got it bad for her."

James' face flamed a bit more, and he waved his hand, "Me? No. No, I don't."

Steve burst out laughing, holding his stomach so it wouldn't hurt, "Dude, you just sighed! And your face is all red like you've had too much tequila!" His laughter subsided to a bit of chuckling, "You are hit so hard, you don't even notice it."

James blinked and he opened his mouth to answer, but he realized he couldn't. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, and he was saved by the timely arrival of Dr. Chakwas.

"Lieutenant Vega, visiting hours are up." Dr. Chakwas said as he stood, and Steve was still chuckling on his bed. She smiled when he saw that he had cheered up her patient. "Try in visit again tomorrow, I think Mr Cortez appreciates your visits."

"Uhh…" James said, scratching the back of his head, "Sure, Doc. Catch you later, Esteban."

James made his way towards the doors of the MedBay as Steve nodded, and when the Marine was out of earshot, Steve chuckled.

Dr. Chakwas sat down the chair James had occupied and smiled at Steve as she scanned her with her OmniTool. "I'm glad you're able to smile now, Cortez. How are you feeling?"

"A little better, now that I've seen James all flustered and blushing." Steve said as the doctor finished her scans. Dr. Chakwas' silver eyebrow rose and she leaned forward to the shuttle pilot.

"Flustered and blushing? Now I have to hear more of that." She smiled at Steve, "Do tell more, Mr. Cortez."