A/N: If you thought I was perverse before, you'll hate me now :) I'm nearly caught up to where I was before. That's the good news. The bad news is...I don't think I have any. I did add an actual chapter nine rather than an author's note, if you didn't read it. Chapter ten makes much more sense if you do. So thanks for reading and reviewing and following and faving! Bioware owns nearly everything!

An urgent beep sounded. They froze, still an inch apart. It sounded again. They both pulled away. Again. Garrus growled and pulled up the message. Sidonis. His face went from annoyed to disbelief to anger. He stared at the message for a long, painfully silent moment. Finally, Shepard drew her hand up to the uninjured side of his face.

"Hey, talk to me Garrus."

"Sidonis. One of my old contacts found him."

"Where?"

"The Citadel."

"Perfect, we're already on route. We'll take care of it."

"Thanks, Shepard."

She watched him. The things she saw in his expression startled her. Murderous rage didn't begin to cover it. She wanted to help him put this behind him, but she wouldn't lose him to it. Would she lose a friend if she stood in the way? She decided not to think about it anymore.

"Do you need some time to think about how you want to handle it?" She asked.

"No, I already know exactly what I want. Besides, you need me right now," he replied as he closed the message. That comforted her. He could step away and put a friend first.

"Want to fight it out?"

"With the way you were taking hits earlier, I don't think that would end well. Why don't we just pick up where we left off?" He realized what he said a half second too late.

"Where we left off. And where was that?" She gave him a teasing smile sensing his discomfort.

He gave her a mock glare. He knew her game. "Rest. You need rest if you want to make it to the end of this alive."

"I think we covered that already."

"Oh, really? Then what agreement did we come to?"

"That I'll rest as long as you stay with me."

"I'll never leave you."

"I know. I trust you, Garrus."

He felt the weight of those words more than he understood them. He was never good with words so he pulled her close in a tight hug. Ever on top of the situation, Shepard curled into him, fitting perfectly against his angular body. She breathed slowly, willing herself to remember the earthy clean smell that was uniquely Garrus. He buried his nose in her hair, the soft smell of her shampoo mixing with her natural slightly spiced scent. He ignored the metallic note that was the only marker left of her death and focused instead on the silky strands that tickled his plates. He had never had an interest in hair before, but now that he had pushed it against his face, he wanted to run his talons through it. It was so soft and it moved. For some reason he had assumed it was like the asaris' crest, set in position. He doubted he would ever get the chance. Shepard never took it out of the bun. Then again, he doubted he would be where he was at that very moment, so anything was possible. Shepard traced the lines on his shirt softly. He could still feel it through the fabric. It sent shivers down his spine. He wanted to feel her fingers tracing lines against his bare chest. The thought startled him, but he didn't shy away from it this time. Denying it now was pointless. He closed his eyes. He had never dared to hope that they would ever turn into anything more than crew mates, but they had become friends. He had never dared to hope he would see her again in this life, but she had come back. He had never dared to hope that they would be whatever they were now, but they were. He gently stroked her back. She groaned in appreciation.

"Did I find a weakness on the great commander?"

"Whatever you want to call it, don't stop."

"Is that an order?"

"It's relaxing me too much for me to make it an order."

"Relaxing enough for you to sleep?"

"Don't push your luck." He could hear the smile in her voice.

"And why not?" She looked up and gave him the most pitiful glare he had ever seen. "Is that really the best you can muster, Shepard?"

"Austin."

"What?"

"My first name."

"Austin." It felt good on his lips, "I like it. It fits you."

"Why do you say that?"

"It's just . . . like you I guess."

She laughed, "Like me? You really haven't changed."

"Yeah, well, you know me." He grinned.

"That I do. So, this thing called 'sleep'. How does it work?"

"Generally, you get into something comfortable and lay down; I think humans usually use a bed. A bed is that big thing over there," he pointed to the large mattress against the far wall, "And then close your eyes. After that, I think you just kinda drift off."

"It's the drifting off part I can't manage."

"I don't know if I can help with that." He hated that he couldn't help her.

"Sure you can." She stood and pulled him up with her. She led him to the bed and sat down.

"I don't know about that, Shepard."

"You've pulled me out of the shower naked, stripped me on Tuchanka and pinned me to the ground when we sparred, yet you hesitate about a friendly sleep over?"

"Well, when you put it like that, it's really not the worst thing we've ever done."

"My point, exactly. Come on."

Garrus let her pull him onto the bed. She crawled under the sheets and cuddled close to him. He put his arm around her and held her close. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He resumed stroking her back. He was rewarded with a soft sigh and the feeling of her relaxing into him. The last thing Shepard was aware of was his talons on her back and the steady beat of his heart under her cheek. Garrus kept his talons moving along her back long after she fell asleep. He didn't know what else to do. He had come up here to check on her, force her to rest if he had to, not get in bed with her. He didn't quite know how to react. What was he supposed to do? His thoughts were running circles in his head. He shifted his position just enough so he could lean his head against hers. He took a deep breath. The smell of her instantly calmed him. His hand fell still on her back and he moved it to rest on the natural curve of her body. He let his eyes drift closed. Everything about this moment felt so right. Even the news of Sidonis didn't matter. She was in his arms, where she belonged. And with that thought, he too drifted off.