Eleven

I try to explain the story as quickly as possible and Ashley remains quiet the entire time. When I'm done she can only stare at me, clearly stunned.

'Why?' She finally manages, 'why didn't you tell me, that day you admitted to being a biotic, why didn't you tell me you saved my life?'

'I didn't want to bring it up unless I had to. You were happier leaving it behind you and not thinking about it, I wasn't about to remind you of that horrible day.'

'But it might have helped! Maybe I wouldn't have been so quick to judge you had I known!'

'You left before we could really have a chance to discuss anything anyway!' I snap, 'you never even gave me a chance! You betrayed me instead!'

'You could have, I don't know, called me back or something!' She cries angrily.

Once again, without thinking, I move towards her and push her back against the wall behind her, her gun now pressed to my middle.

'I was trying to give you time,' I say, fury coating my every word at the very idea that she's still getting angry with me.

'I thought you'd come to me when you were ready! Not give me up!'

She winces at this and I finally see the first traces of guilt and regret in her eyes. I immidiately back away and wait for her to make the next move. She still has me at gunpoint.

Suddenly the door handle begins to shake from the force of someone on the other side, making us both jump.

'Williams?' A rough voice calls, 'you in there? Why is this door locked!?'

Ashley casts me one frightened look and then lowers her gun.

'Go!' She whispers urgently.

She doesn't need to tell me twice.

'Thank you,' I murmur back as I grab my gun from the floor. Now in a hurry, I repeat the same stunt as I did in dad's apartment and shoot the little window, punching out the rest of the shards that remain as best I can before pulling myself through it. I receive a few more cuts but I ignore them as I make for one of the abandoned Cerberus cars.

'SHEPARD!'

I whip around at the sound of my name and see Harbinger emerging from the main door of the building.

He doesn't get to me in time though, I'm in the car and flying away from the headquarters before he's reached his. I know that won't stop him for long though. I need to ditch this car as soon as possible.

It really doesn't take long for him to catch up, as I reach the city again and fly up high to join the traffic he soon comes into view. He manages to pull up alongside me despite the danger it's causing to others and I glance across at him, expecting the worst.

I start when I see it's not him at all. It's Miranda. She signals for me to follow and I comply because I don't really have a plan right now.

She leads me back into the heart of the nearby city and down to land in front of a reasonably busy nightclub. We ditch the cars and she leads me through the nightclub doors into a long narrow room with a set of double doors at the end through which the dull thud of bass music can be heard. Comfy yet stylish looking chairs line the room on either side, several of which are occupied. Miranda walks briskly down to the double doors and indicates for me to go through first. I do and step into a huge room full of people dancing, drinking and laughing through a haze of fog from smoke machines and bright lights flashing through the dark. Up on podiums around the room dancers perform, dressed but just barely and right across in the centre on a podium of his own, the dj can just be seen, illuminated by bright purple lights from a sign reading Purgatory. The name of this place I'm guessing. I immidiately question the odd lack of security in the club but Miranda steers me to the side of the room before I can point this out and practically pins me against the wall.

'What the hell do you think you were doing?!' She hisses at me, 'why did you run off like that?'

'I was trying to protect you,' I explain quickly, 'Harbingers after me, I didn't want you getting caught up in all that.'

'I'm already caught up in it, he knows what I am now. It's not your fault therefore you don't have to feel responsible for me.'

'Yeah well I do anyway,' I retort, 'you pretty much saved my life after Harbinger found me at my dads. That wouldn't make a difference anyway, point is I don't want you getting hurt because of me.'

She opens her mouth as if to say something and then shuts it again, clearly I've caught her off guard. She's looking at me closely now, those bright eyes sparkling into mine and I'm suddenly aware of just how close she is to me, the music and haze of the room seem to be swirling around us, encasing us, confusing my thoughts and for a second I want to kiss her. I'm sure I see a hint of desire in her eyes too and slowly I lean towards her, feel her arms slip further around my shoulders, no longer gripping me with anger but pulling me closer and our lips touch softly, a soft kiss that warms me through before it deepens, grows more passionate...and then I pull away suddenly.

'I'm sorry,' I say, placing a hand on her cheek gently, 'I can't risk anything like this until I know this chase is over. I'm still messed up after Ashley and like I said I can't let you get hurt. You have to get yourself somewhere safe.'

'And just leave you in danger?' she asks quietly, 'you don't want anything happening to me, well I feel the same way. There's something about you Shepard. I don't want to lose that.'

Her words respark that warmth in me, that she's grown to care for me in such little time is something I guess I didn't expect and it only strengthens my determination to try to protect her. If that means having to stay away from her than that's what I'll do even though I know it'll be hard for both of us. We've only known each other a short while yet apparently it was enough for us to feel something. Maybe the fact that we're currently the only known biotics now, on the run from everyone, has helped that fact. I'm still stinging from Ashley and I know that it will take time but when I'm ready there really could be something between us.

Depending on whether I survive Harbingers chase.

'You know I can't promise anything right now,' I tell her softly.

'I know. Just know that I'm not going anywhere. I can take care of myself,' she says with the hint of a smile.

'Yeah I know,' I grin.

'So what happened and how did you get out of there?' She questions as she starts to lead me through the club.

'Through a window,' I reply vaguely, not wanting to get into what happened with Ashley right now.

'That seems to be you're preferred method of escape,' she notes, amused.

'You've obviously been stalking me with Cerberus from the beginning of this.'

'I was one of the first people harbinger told when he found out about you. Of course I've been there from the beginning.'

We reach an area with tables and chairs scattered about and Miranda begins to scan the crowd while I wait patiently, wondering what or who she's looking for. After a moment she waves at someone and then pulls me through the crowd to meet up with a friendly looking man who to my shock is dressed in the Cerberus colors. Miranda quickly shoots me a look warning me to be quiet and then we follow her friend into a little side room, lit just a little bit more brightly in purple and blue lighting.

Miranda drops onto a plushy sofa and I sit tensely next to her while her friend seats himself opposite on a tall stool.

'Jeff, meet Jacob,' Miranda says brightly, 'Jacob meet Jeff.'

I turn to her questioningly and she looks at me pointedly and I suddenly realise she's giving me a fake name as precaution.

'Its nice to meet you Jacob,' I smile.

'You to,' he says and leans forward to shake my hand. Something isn't right though, his grip seems as tense as mine, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. He's clearly on edge and it's scaring me.

'So what's up Miri?'

'Ah where to begin,' Miranda laughs with a trace of nervousness and then she grows serious.

'Look, Jacob I know this may sound crazy but we need your help and we need it with no questions asked. Can you do that.'

Jacob eyes us both warily and seems to be struggling with something, conflict clear in his eyes. Then his shoulders slump in defeat and he looks at Miranda.

'I already know why they're after you Miranda. Or him to be more precise,' he says and I tense, my hand on my gun ready. Miranda doesn't move however, instead regards him sadly.

'Figures. I thought you might.'

'They know we're good friends,' he explains, 'I practically recommended you to Cerberus. They expected this.'

'I'd hoped they wouldn't think I'd go to another Cerberus agent for help,' Miranda says, standing up to pace.

'They've got agents out at every place they think you two would go.'

Both are silent for a moment, Miranda continuing to pace, Jacob watching her. For the moment I'm forgotten and I stay quiet because I have the feeling there's still more to say between them. I'm soon proven right.

'Miri is it true?' Jacob asks quietly. She freezes on the spot and turns to look at him.

'Yes. But Jacob you know me. I've had enough opportunities to hurt you but I never have. What does that tell you?'

'Why didn't you tell me?'

I feel a strange sense of weird déjà vu as I watch this situation, so similar to what passed between Ashley and I, unfold.

'I couldn't Jacob. I'm sorry I lied to you. But would you have told me if our positions were reversed?'

'I suppose not,' he says thoughtfully after a minute of contemplation.

'I hope we can talk about this properly sometime in the near future, but right now Shepard and I need to get out of here. Unless you're planning to turn us in?' She challenges.

Unlike Ashley, there's no hesitation from Jacob and it's clear he's willing to let us go but there's another complication that he's quick to point out.

'Cerberus are already here. They're in the club.'

'Dammit,' Miranda says frustratedly, 'is there a back way out?'

'Yes but that's now being watched more than the entrance because they're expecting you to go that way.'

'Then we go out the front,' I say decisively, standing up and back into their awareness.

'You need to disarm me,' Jacob says quickly as we prepare to head back into the club, 'I'm supposed to be keeping you here so Harbinger can get to you. This is meant to be a trap and I had no way of warning you before you got here.'

'If you had would you actually have warned us?' Miranda asks quietly.

'I don't know,' Jacob admits, 'but I'm on your side now, I promise.'

I can't help but feel slightly bitter at this. I'm so glad that Jacob is willing to help us but it hurts that he's trusting Miranda so easily while Ashley seems to be finding it so hard. A part of me wonders if there was ever something more than friendship between Miranda and Jacob but I don't dwell on it. There isn't time. We need to get out of here.

Miranda takes Jacob's gun from him and then without warning hits him hard across the head causing him to stumble backwards, dazed. She grabs my hand and leads me back out, on to the dance floor, weaving us through the crowds.

'What the hell was that for?' I hiss at her, keeping an eye on the black and yellow figures that suddenly begin to appear on either side of the room.

'He told us to disarm him. Don't worry he'll be fine,' she replies quickly, clearly having noticed the same thing I have.

We quicken our pace while trying to blend in even though we've no doubt been spotted now. A jolt goes through me at the thought that Ashley could easily be one of the Cerberus agents here in the club. Despite what she's done I don't want to hurt her. When the agents finally start to run towards us, pushing people out of their way I push Miranda forwards, urging her to run as well. She responds immidiately and we make a straight line for the exit.

When the first shot rings out, panic immidiately erupts around us. No ones been hit but we know we're the targets and a second shot soon follows, thudding to the ground right where I was a second ago. Suddenly I spot Harbinger up on one of the dancing platforms, laughing almost maniacally as he holds up his own gun and aims straight for Miranda. I pull my hand from her and throw myself against her to push her away, at the last second I jump back and just barely miss Harbingers shot. It's a miracle no one else has been hit. I've lost Miranda in the crowds fleeing for the exit but it's probably a good thing. I skid over to the bar and throw myself down just behind it while I desperately try to think of a way out of this. It's not looking good.

Jacob appears without warning beside me causing me to jump.

'Miranda?! Where's Miranda?!' He demands loudly over the noise, sounding panicked.

'We got split up,' I shout back, 'Jacob you need to find her, get her to safety.'

The look he shoots me then scares me, something's definitely worried him but he takes off before I can ask.

I take my gun from my belt and take a breath knowing I need to try and run for it again but I pause halfway up when his voice somehow rings out clear through the club.

'Shepardd! This is some party huh?' He laughs delightfully. Most people are out of the club by now and I see that he's descended to the floor, stood near the doors out.

'I'd love to stay and chat but I'm...entertaining a friend of yours. Perhaps you'd like to come out and join!'

I swallow with dread, wondering who the hell he could possibly be referring to. It must be Miranda, Harbinger must have told his agents to seize her when we got split up, it would explain Jacob's reaction. Anger seizes me and I stand up fully to see him slipping through the doors grinning.

'Quick quick Shepard or you won't make it,' he taunts and holds up what looks like a mini control pad, 'don't want to let your friend Kaidan down do you...?'

With that he presses a button on the pad and disappears. It takes me a second to realise what he's done and horror fills me at the situation I'm now in. The main exit is to far away so I run fast for the nearest exit to me, a fire escape. I kick the doors open and just barely make it out before an explosion rips through the club behind me...