Hey all! Had some time off work sooo had time for this! I am so happy for all the positive reviews and feedback! It makes this all worthwhile. Had one very strange review…would have loved to respond to it BUT it was a guest so go figure. It's a long chapter so….anyways….hold tight it will come. Hope you all enjoy!

Shepard had finally left engineering and was now up in his cabin reading up on the two remaining dossiers. Illium; he sighed and rubbed the palms of his hands on his eyes. It was going to be a busy, but at least he was going to get two birds with one stone. On a brighter side as well, he was going to see Liara again. He really hoped that she would react better to seeing him then Ashley did. He pushed that memory aside.

Instead he thought about his conversation with Tali. Something about her made him feel happy…a happiness he had never felt before. She made him feel like he was a normal guy, not just some "hero" everyone needed. He never felt like that with Ashley. The realization was starting to dawn on him. He had feelings for Tali..not just friendly feelings but more. His heart started to pound a little faster. He pushed away from his terminal and walked across the room and began pacing. He had never really felt this way about anyone; sure there were always crushed growing up, but this was more.

It scared him. He took in a deep breath and clenched his fist, he swung half way to the wall and stopped. He let out a long sigh. He knew he couldn't tell her about it. For starters he was kind of a mess and couldn't..no wouldn't drag her in to that. But most importantly she probably…no definitely didn't feel the same way…did she? He let out a small pained groan. Why would she like him anyway? She is so special… Why would a quarian like a human? He stopped his pacing at sat at the edge of his bed. He thought to himself for a few minutes. He couldn't tell her. It would just ruin things and make them weird…and he couldn't do that to her. She deserved to much better than him.

She stood at her terminal but found it very difficult to focus on getting any work done. She thought about the long conversation she had with Shepard. It made her heart flutter to even think about him. She sighed. He was so special..He saw the first person to treat her like she wasn't quarian…he saw past that and treated her with respect. She trusted him…and most importantly he trusted her. He even opened up to her…

She stared blankly and the controls in front of her. She knew for a long time how she felt about him…a long time. It was hard to watch him with Ashley back on the original Normandy…and as wrong as it was she was kind of happy things didn't work out. What was she saying?

"This is ridiculous!" she muttered to herself.

She shouldn't be happy about something like that. But a small dark voice in her head said it meant she had a chance. And then the rational side kicks in and laughs at the thought. Like Shepard would ever feel that way about me….

Shepard decided that since this was going to be a longer mission he would bring three crew members along instead of the normal two. He was bringing Garrus along, it never hearts to have another fighter, especially one with a dead-eye. He also brought Tali, never know when you'll need an amazing tech, and Kasumi since she had similar skills as the assassin.

The four had become a small group. Shepard needed another guy on his side whenever he was around the girls. The two women had become fast friends.

When they docked on Illium they were approached by an Asari.

"Welcome to Illium commander Shepard! Your docking fees have been taken care of." She said with an over polite smile.

"Taken care of? By who?" Shepard questioned.

"By our information broker, Liara T'soni." She replied, with that creepy smile.

"Thank you." Shepard replied cautiously.

"She is expecting your arrival." She said more business like now.

"We will see her soon." Shepard said while watching the women.

She smiled politely and gave a slight bow before walking away.

Garrus and Kasumi had stopped to browse through a terminal on one of the weapons kiosks. Tali walked over to the railing and looked over the city.

"This place is amazing. They never let the fleet dock here to trade..it's a shame. There are so many fascinating things here that could really help the fleet." She said sadly.

"It's their loss. I can fight to defend the galaxy all I want, but I can't change the ignorant people set in their racist mindsets." Shepard replied sadly.

"You know I would if I could. I would make them see the quarian people for what they really are." He added fiercely.

She looked over at him and smiled. She looked down at their hands, they were nearly touching.

He noticed about the same time she had. Their hands were so close. He moved his hand slowly to put it over him, but before he could Kasumi appeared right behind the two.

They immediately pulled their hands to themselves guiltily.

On the walk to Liara's office Kasumi fell behind the other three. Garrus was oblivious and rambling on about something. She watched how Shepard and Tali would steal the occasional glance at one another. It was so obvious! She smirked to herself. She was going to see these two together! Even if she had to do a little pushing.

It didn't take long to see how much Liara had changed. She was cold, power hungry, rutheless…

She showed a brief front of her old self when they walked in, but something inside of her snapped and she shut down, and shut them out. She revealed to him that she was the one who had turned his body over to the Collectors. But she made it seem like it was out of duty, not that she actually cared. The warm, sweet Asari he knew was gone.

She had him hack terminals to get information for her and in turn she would give him the information he needed about the assassin and the justicar. The team was quiet during the side mission. Kasumi could feel the tension. She knew better then to ask about it at the time.

They had no trouble getting her the information. Her assistant turned out to be the one she was looking for, and when Liara found out she had no problem crushing her. Shepard had finally had enough of the way she was acting.

"What happened to you?" he asked softly.

"What do you think happened?" she asked coldly.

"You're blaming me for this?" he asked while standing.

Tali made a move forward but a talon hand stopped her.

Liara didn't say anything but looked away.

"You're no better than Ashley Liara. You two act like I died on purpose, like I wanted to!" Shepard exclaimed.

"Because she is right! Look at who you are working with Shepard! I never would have turned you over had I known you wouldn't go back to the Alliance! How could you drag Tali and Garrus along? You have corrupted everyone." She hissed

He winced. That hit Shepard like a slap across the face.

Liara realized that was too far too late. She made a move to him to apologize but he put a hand up. He shook his head and walked past the three standing behind him.

Tali shook her head briefly and slowly followed Shepard out.

Kasumi stared at the Asari with a cold stare and disappeared in to thin air.

Garrus was alone with her.

Liara opened her mouth to say something to the turian, but the look on his face detoured her from it. He frowned at the asari and slowly backed out of the room.

"Shepard…"Tali tried calling to him.

He was a few feet in front of her and slowed his pace and then stopped.

"You know she is wrong Shepard! You have not corrupted or tricked anyone in to this. Garrus and I are behind you all the way. We know you are doing the right thing. We trust you Shepard..we believe in you." She said firmly while giving his arm a squeeze.

This eased his mind. She was right. If Ashley, Liara, or anyone else couldn't see that it was still him and that he was doing the right thing then so be it.

"Thanks Tali." He said with a genuine smile.

Garrus and Kasumi watched the exchange.

"Well I be. I thought we were going to have to drag a drunken Shepard back to the Normandy." Garrus said with a smile.

Kasumi rolled her eyes. He still didn't see it.

The team followed the directions Liara had given them down to the transport station. They had no problem finding Seryna's office.

"Are you Seryna?" Shepard asked the asari sitting at the desk.

"That's me what can I do for you?" the asari absent mindedly responded while clicking away at her terminal.

"What can you tell me about Thane Krios? Shepard asked, trying to remain patient.

The asari stopped what she was doing and looked up at the group in front of her.

"Who are you?" she questioned while eyeing him suspiciously.

"Commander Shepard. Before you say anything, the rumors were only half right. I'm back and I have a difficult mission ahead of me. I am looking to recruit Thane." He informed her.

"He landed a few days ago. Tough guy to track or find anything on. But with T'soni up there, we do have a little bit on him. He's an assassin, which I am sure you already know. From what we gathered he is going to do a hit on Nassana." She informed Shepard.

He could tell she was still not telling him something though. She wouldn't maintain eye contact and she seemed nervous.

"What aren't you telling me?" he asked with a raised brow and crossed arms.

The asari sighed.

"I used to be the head of security for that bitch Nassana. I found she was doing illegal business, and when things didn't go her way she would send hits out on those people." She paused before continuing.

"I found she was responsible for the death of my sister. When I confronted her about the issue she fired me on the spot. I may have…let some information about her slip to Krios…"she finished slowly.

Shepard thought about that for a minute. He would have done the same thing if he was ever given the chance to avenge his sister.

"How do we get there?" he asked with a mischievous smile.

They all crammed in to the small car.

"Someone is going to have to sit on some else's lap." Seryna said while jumping in the drivers seat.

Garrus was already in the car in the back behind the passenger's seat. He would have sat up front, but all of their weapons were there.

"Don't even think about it Shepard." Garrus said with twitching mandibles.

Shepard snorted and Tali chuckled. Kasumi jumped in the car and plopped herself on Garrus lap. He let out a small grunt and gave a confused look to Shepard. Shepard just laughed.

Shepard sat in the middle, so Tali could have the most room if she leaned closer to the side of the car.

Before they could even close the door she floored the engine and they were off.

They were on the outer edge of the building as they watched the asari fly off. They all let out a sigh of relief to have made it in one piece.

"I am so glad that's over." Tali said while stretching out.

"I don't know….I wasn't that uncomfortable." She said sly and with a wink at Garrus.

Garrus looked back at her in complete shock. She couldn't hold it in any longer and nearly doubled over laughing.

"Come on, let's find our assassin." Shepard said while rolling his eyes.

They were finally on the last floor, fighting through what was hopefully the last wave of mercs. Garrus was positioned farther back snipping away. Shepard couldn't see Kasumi, but knew she was just cloaked somewhere. Tali was about ten feet to his right. A moved to a closer position to get next to Tali, but was hit hard with a shotgun, and it completely took down his shield. H jumped next to Tali and gasped in a breath of air. The shot knocked the wind out of him.

"Shepard are you alright?!" she asked worriedly while checking for a wound.

"Ya, it just took out my shield and knocked the wind out of me." He said while catching his breath.

Tali and Shepard both stood up when they heard the all clear from Garrus. The two checked the room and all seemed well. The two were ahead of Garrus and Kasumi.

"What do you think we'll fin-" she was cut off by Shepard her back and throwing himself in front of her.

They both failed to notice the merc on the floor that was still alive. Since his shields were down he took the shot full on in the shoulder. He hit the ground and pulled out his pistol and finished the guy off.

"Shepard!" Tali screamed as she rushed over to the fallen commander.

He coughed and tried to sit up, but she gently pushed him back down. Kasumi and Garrus rushed over and him.

"I'm fine you guys, just throw some medi gel on it and I'll be fine!" he said while sitting up.

Tali glanced at Garrus and he nodded in approval. She reached in to one of her many pouches and a packet of medi gel. With nimble fingers she carefully opens it and squeezes it in to Shepard's shoulder, between the small hole in his armor. He hissed a little from the sting of it, and then sighed in relief.

"Thanks Tali." He said while trying to make eye contact.

She avoided looking at him.

"Why did you do that? Your shield was charging and mine could have taken the hit?" she asked bluntly.

"It could have done more damage to you then it would have to me. Besides, you never would have seen it coming. I saw it…so I prevented it… I didn't want you to get hurt…" he finished sheepishly.

She wanted to get mad at him, but she saw the sincerity in his eyes. Plus how could she get mad at someone that took a bullet for her?

She smiled at him and sighed.

"Thank you Shepard." She said while finishing applying the gel.

The team helped Shepard up and they went through the final door to find Thane Krios.

Shepard watched as a quiet figure slipped from the ceiling and took at the guards before shooting Nassana point blank in the stomach. She let out a gasp of pain and crumpled forward in to the assassins arms. He placed her on the consult and said a silent prayer.

After a few minutes of discussion they all made their way to the Normandy.

"No Shepard. You cannot do another mission until that arm is healed. Do you understand me?" the doctor stated firmly.

He sighed. "Yes Doc."

"Good. You can either wait or have someone else take point on this one." She said while stitching up his arm.

"Garrus would you mind?" Shepard asked.

"Take whoever you need." He added on while watching the doctor.

"Sure thing boss." He said while his mandibles twitched up in to a grin.

"Want to come Tali?" he asked the quarian woman.

She had not left his side since he had taken the shot for her.

"Uh..A..Actually I am going to stay here. Someone has to make sure this bosh'tet gets some rest." She said while giving his good shoulder a small slap.

"Suit yourself" he said while standing up and stretching.

They both watched him leave.

"Can I at least leave the med bay Doc?" he pleaded with the doctor.

She looked over to Tali.

"Make sure he takes these in four hours for pain, these in two hours for infection. And please make sure he takes it easy." The doctor said while scribbling down notes.

"Of course doctor, t-thank you again." Tali said.

"It's what I am here for." She said while closing the note book.

Tali carefully helped him out of bed. The two walked out of the med bay.

"So how about that movie night?" Shepard asked with a goofy grin.

"N-Now?" she asked.

"Sure!" he said with a big smile.

"We have plenty of time and it will give us a chance to talk." He added, smile never fading.

"I'd like that." She said with a huge smile underneath her visor.