Author's Note: Just a brief chapter this time. I think that a Shepard and Garrus scene is long overdue.

I always get the impression that they each see the other guy as their best and most trusted friend in the galaxy, and that they'd each die for the other without any hesitation. Garrus is also a hell of a funny guy. Probably my favorite character (besides Tali, of course).

So what did Chambers want with Garrus last night and earlier today? I was eager to find out.

Shepard was still feeling somewhat awkward, and a little guilty, after his chat with Miranda as he approached the door to the Main Battery.

She took it pretty well, though, he thought. That makes things easier. I guess Tali will be pleased too.

The thought of her cheered him up considerably, and he strode into the Main Battery with a hint of a smile on his face.

"Shepard," said Garrus, turning from his console; "Need me for something?"

"Have you got time to talk?" Shepard asked, and Garrus nodded.

"I guess these calibrations can wait for a bit," he replied wryly.

Shepard sat down on a nearby crate, and Garrus folded his arms as he leaned back against the main console.

"So what's up?" the turian asked, and Shepard grinned at his friend.

"Just checking in," he replied. Garrus laughed.

"Don't give me that, Shepard," he said, "you want to talk about a certain quarian. And I've been expecting you. You two seemed happy enough this morning. How's that all going?"

"It's great, Garrus," Shepard replied. "Honestly, it feels like it's been longer than just part of a day since she and I had The Talk."

Garrus nodded twice.

"I can understand that," he said. "Really easy to move fast while it's all still new and exciting."

Now it was Shepard's turn to laugh.

"Sounds like you've had a few big romances of your own," he said, and the turian shrugged with a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh I could tell you some stories, John," Garrus replied. "Maybe next time we're drunk."

"It's a deal," Shepard replied. The two men were lost in their own thoughts for a few moments before Garrus spoke again.

"Well, I'm really happy for you two," he said. "Don't let this go to your damned head, but she's been crazy about you almost as long as I've known her. For reasons I will never be able to comprehend."

Shepard grinned at the jibe, but when he spoke his voice was more serious.

"I'm crazy about her too," he admitted. "She's one of the strongest, most compassionate women I've ever known, but she's also the sweetest. I've got it pretty bad."

Garrus smiled, nodding in agreement.

"Besides," said Shepard, "didn't I ever tell you that my favorite color is purple?"

The two men's laughter echoed thunderously through the whole length of the Battery for several long moments.

"Uh... there was one thing, just while you're here," Garrus said after a brief silence, scratching his mandible. "Your yeoman was down here a little while ago."

"Kelly?" Shepard replied, "What did she want?"

Garrus coughed, and shifted his weight to the other foot.

"Well, that's the thing," he began, searching for the correct words, "I'm... reasonably sure she sort of made a pass at me."

Shepard's eyebrows shot up, and he couldn't help but grin.

"Huh," he said. "Like what?"

Garrus glared at him for a moment, and then waved his hand as if to dismiss the question.

"You know the kind of thing," he said, folding his arms and glancing around the room. "Said that she'd really like to get to know me better, that we should have dinner together sometime, that she was 'intrigued' by me."

Shepard couldn't help but laugh, and after a moment Garrus joined in.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, John," he said, grinning despite his words, "I'm just hilarious over here."

Shepard waved his hands in apology, waiting until he'd stopped chuckling before responding.

"Intrigued," he repeated; "That's a new one. She has actually met you before, right?"

"I ever tell you how good I am with a sniper rifle?" Garrus retorted, and both men laughed again.

"OK, OK," Shepard said, raising his hands in mock surrender, "so what did you say?"

Garrus tilted his head to one side and once again shifted his weight. He looked at his friend for several seconds before speaking.

"I said why the hell not," he replied, drawing another snort of laugher from Shepard as he stood up.

"Then good luck," Shepard said with another grin, "and let me know how it goes. But not in too much detail."

Garrus rolled his eyes, before seeming to have an idea occur to him.

"Hey, we could double date!" he said, with sarcasm evident in his voice. "It'd be perfect. We all even know each other already."

Shepard clapped his friend on the arm then stepped towards the door.

"I have to look at your face when we're working," he said, with a grin which the turian returned. "I'm not signing up for it in my free time too."