Authors Notes: First of all, as always, my thanks goes to voltagelisa for her marvellous work beta-reading this and for the masterfully written fight scene. You are great!

CottoncandyGk: I tried Jacob to some point and now I would gladly bleached my brains just to forget, but well, then I would be a vegetable and couldn't write anymore. Completely agree, they should show all genders. Thanks, I am happy that you liked it.

Kiki Aries: Yes, it is not a fun mission. Aww, that's great!

As always, reviews are very much appreciated as they tend to fuel my fire. Also thanks for adding to favourites.

About this second parts: If you love Jacob, then I am sorry, but this had to be done and I don't regret it. This is thus far probably my favourite chapter. Anyhow, loads of Thane awaits you so I shall shut up and let you read it.

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Chapter 5: SUBJECTIVE PANDEMONIUM Pt.2

After the little talk that Angie had with Jacob, she grabbed a quick meal and locked herself in her room. She was tired, no, she was exhausted. After a quick shower she collapsed onto her bed and drifted away. Angie wasn't sure how much time has passed, but she woke up in panic, sweat covering her body in a thin layer. It took a long while before she stopped shaking from nerves and fear, she finally calmed when she realized that she was on the Normandy, safe and alive. Maybe I should start taking sleeping pills, she frowned at the thought. She knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore, so she put her olive green tracksuit on over her black sports bra and grey shorts. Angie stopped in the mess hall and grabbed an apple before heading into exercise area.

Sometimes when the nightmares were just a bit too much to endure she went there, exercising until she was too tired to think. This night, as she thought, exercise was exactly what she needed. She took a bite of her apple and put the rest aside for later. Angie stripped out of tracksuit, leaving her in shorts and sports bra once again. She sat down at the mats stretched a bit to warm her muscles and then decided to do run on the treadmill.

… … … … …

Thane heard somebody entered the mess hall. He pulled himself into air vent and decided to see what was going on. He noticed Shepard taking an apple and leaving towards exercise area. What was she up to? He thoughtas he went to follow her. Through the ducts as he followed Shepard two voices became louder and louder. Miranda and Jacob, he recognized them. They were obviously arguing about something.

"I don't believe that Illusive Man would do that Jacob," Miranda stated coldly.

"And why not? Can you explain how I got the information then? He lied to me, Miri!" he protested heatedly.

"I know it wasn't him!" she answered with certainty.

"Then who, Miri?" Jacob demanded. "Besides you, nobody else could…" his irises dilated as a realization hit him. "It was you!" He looked at her, jaw dropped.

"Finally, you figured it out," Mirada's voice sounding victorious.

"Why the hell would you do that? I thought him dead!" Jacob scowled.

"I keep my promises, Jacob," she scorned him.

"You shouldn't have kept that one. It was better before," He protested.

"Maybe, or maybe not. I concluded that it is for the best, and you know, that I am NEVER wrong," she spoke, with an overabundance of confidence in herself.

Jacob shrugged, "Perhaps, Miri, perhaps…" his attention snapped towards her suddenly, quickly he moved before she had time to react and pinned her against the wall. "What about your other promise? Are you going to keep that one also?" he purred huskily against her skin, hope and lust shining in his eyes.

"Someone might come in here," Miranda reminded him as she tried to escape.

"Yeah, It is heavy risk… but Miri… think about the priiize," he grinding his body into hers so she could feel his desire.

"I have seen how you look at Shepard, Jacob!" she spat into his face, pushed him away and stormed to her own room, locking the doors behind her.

Jacob looked after her in shock for a moment before he spit on the floor after her: "Guess you aint so perfect then, bitch."

Thane, fought hard to suppress the chuckle that threatened to escape.

Jacob walked across the room straight to the cabinets. He eagerly searched and searched, while muttering curses under his breath until he found his Holy Grail. He didn't bother with a glass, he popped open the bottle of Scotch, taking a whiff of its contents. Man, Gardner will be pisses, he thought with a smirk ashe looked around the empty room considering. It's a heavy risk if caught, he chuckled andtook one small sip. But the prize! Jacob laughed loudly and sat down on the floor, allowing himself to generously drink.

Thane shrugged as he silently moved through the air vents, slowly advancing towards exercise area. He stopped; held his breath, being extremely careful. He knew that Shepard has enhanced hearing, so he needed to be at his best or so he thought. As soon as he looked at her, running on the treadmill he noticed that she had headset on, listening to music. He quietly observed her and lost himself into his musings.

… … … … …

Thane wasn't sure how much time has passed when the doors opened. He blinked few times and his muscles tensed as he noticed Jacob approaching Shepard. Angie didn't notice anything. She was lost in the music, running in a steady rhythm. Suddenly she felt a hot hand on her shoulder. Before she realized what is going on, the treadmill was stopped and she was turned around abruptly, another hand snake around her waist yanking her closer to the intruder. Thane wanted to make his presence known, but was unsure of how Siha would react, so he fought the urge.

"What the fuck are you doing Jacob?" Shepard asked, with annoyance thick in her voice.

"Angie…" Jacob breath hit her nose as he spoke.

"Let me go Jacob, you are drunk," she demanded as she tried to push him away and he kept trying to crush her closer to him.

"You don't want that," he purred as he leaned closer trying to claim her lips with his.

Finally she managed to push him away. Angie hated drunken man. They reminded her of that time, when she was only six… she killed him, had to. Jacob laughed at her, stepping forward, his intention clear on his face. "I suggest you back off, Jacob. I am warning you!" she threatened. She disliked Jacob, but she didn't want to harm him regardless.

Siha is powerful woman, Thane thought, she can deal with him.

Jacob grabbed her roughly and tackled her to the floor. She tried to get up, but before she knew it his body was covering hers, pinning her down to the ground roughly. His hands roughly groped her skin, squeazing, pinching rouchly leaving marks in their wake. He leaned in and crushed his lips against hers; forcefully he tried to use his tongue to gain entrance. That was it she was pissed! Shepard viciously bit his lip, tasting his blood. Jacob cried out in pain, his eyes opening wide in shock. Angie used that moment, to gather all her strength. She used that strength to sent Jacob flying in the air where he smashed into nearby wall.

That's my Siha, Thane thought proudly, relaxing a bit now that he has seen she can handle Jacob on her own.

Angie got up, straightening herself before turning her attention back at Jacob. "What the fuck are you thinking?" she snarled. "I am your commanding officer!" She was pissed.

Jacob recovered from his fall, storming towards her. "It's a heavy risk, but you know that you want the prize also!" He tried to grab her again, but all he got was a kick in his groin.

"Don't make me hurt you, Jacob. Just DON'T!" She snapped. Angie had hard time controlling her temper as all the memories of her life on Earth surfaced.

Jacob swore loudly. He furiously snarled at her, "You ungrateful bitch! I was looking after you for two fucking years and this is what I get?"

"I didn't ask you. Cerberus did. Go to Illusive Man and tell him to pay for a whore or have him bend over for you if you are that desperate!" She sneered as her temper was at an all-time high. "Oh wait, you can use Miranda for that!" she spat at him.

Jacob stopped, emotions playing havoc on his face, before he finally gathered the rage in him, "You are fucking cold bitch." He snarled taking a step closer to her as he gathered the cruelty for his next sentence, emphasizing every word. "Dead. People. Should. Stay. Dead."

All colour disappeared from Angie's face as he used exact same words that Kaidan used before. This was over the top, she couldn't take anymore. First that fucked up mission, then the nightmares, resurfacing memories of rapes, and now this. Her mind closed off. She swayed on her feet, struggling against gravity. Her hands fell limp against her body, her eyes devoid of life. This was it, she couldn't take it anymore, and she was just gone deep within her mind. Jacob laugh darkly, feeling his victory. He moved towards Angie, grabbed her around her waist and pulled her closer. She was limp in his hands but he didn't care, this was so much easier. He had his hands on The Prize.

… … … … …

Thane worked fast and silently. He dropped to the ground softly and swiftly moved forward. His scaly hand forcefully removed Jacobs's hand from Angies; he twisted it around, pinning it to Jacobs back at a sharp angle, close to breaking it. Jacob whimpered in pain. Thane notice that Angie was about to collapse on the ground. He wrapped his hand around her waist quickly stopping her from collapsing to the ground and pulled her close to his body, helping her stand. Thane pushed Jacob away, kicking him in the knee causing Jacob to fall to the ground as his knee bent at an odd angle. Angie tiredly let her head fall onto Thanes shoulder and rest there. Jacob was getting up, rage in his eyes as he was denied of what he thought as HIS prize.

"Put your hands around my waist," Thane whispered to Angie as his eyes were focused on Jacob. Angie was still lost in her mind, but she heard him and without really thinking she anchored her hands around his waist tightly. Thane smiled and got ready to kick Jacobs's ass.

Jacob moved towards Thane with a scowl, he smirked knowing he had the upper hand in this fight. There was no way Thane could fight while holding someone else. Jacob swung out aiming for Thane's face, but Thane saw that coming and dodge it with ease.

Thane turned his body gracefully, kicking out, he smirked as he heard the sound of bone breaking. His fist was already in motion, connecting with Jacobs jaw, crushing the bone there. A drell's strength could be a wonderful thing.

Jacob cried out, blocking the next hit, Thane grabbed his wrist twisting it brutally. He had no tolerance for men forcing themselves on women. With a graceful sweep of his foot he brought it down on the arm he had trapped, breaking a few bones and dislocating his elbow and shoulder. Thane thought the fight would be done now, but the rage in Jacob's eyes told him otherwise.

Jacob took a staggering step swinging out awkwardly, Thane allowed the fist to glance off his shoulder. A person watching would have seen grace in motion, a dance as Thane finished off Jacob, a step and a kick, a swing and another bone broken. He made it look effortless, all the while he held Shepard securely.

He couldn't believe it when Jacob made one final attempt, he knew it was going to be the final attempt, he would make sure of it. Three graceful moves and Jacob lay on the ground in a bloody heap.

Garrus entered the room and as he seen Jacob looking almost dead on floor, Angie clinging still to Thane's waist, with distant eyes, he didn't know what to think. "What the hell has happened here?" he asked.

"Nothing really, I just showed Mr. Taylor what happens if you don't behave yourself," Thane calmly responded.

"I hate this guy, but seriously Thane, was this necessarily?" Garrus asked.

Thane explained everything that happened. Garrus strolled over towards Jacob, giving him a good look over before kicking at him and kicked him hard. Only hushed groan come out of Jacob.

"I would kill him, but I don't believe that Siha would be very pleased with that when she comes out from where she is now," Thane said to Garrus.

"Siha?" Both, Garrus and Angie asked at same time.

Thane found himself in a corner. He didn't want to explain, not yet, not now and certainly not in front Garrus. "You should take him to the med bay," he said to Garrus ignoring the question.

Garrus muttered complaints as he picked up Jacob, throwing him over his shoulder like a heavy sack and walked out, making sure that Jacobs's head connected with every solid surface with every corner he came across.

"Come Si…Angie," Thane murmured, he looked down at the top her head, he could feel her still shaking. Even though she had heard him that didn't mean much, the mind could be a fragile thing, and Shepard had already been through more than most people could survive. He knew from her reactions that her past had a large part to play in what happened. He smiled softly when he noticed that her hold didn't loosen, with his mind made up he took her to Life Support.

… … … … …

"Wait here," Thane said to Angie as he sat her down on his cot. "I shall be back shortly." He left Life Support as Angie nodded silently to him.

Shepard tried hard to recollect everything that happened. Most of it was a haze to her, but as more and more pictures come together, the more clear it become. Oh my god, I lost it… I completely lost it… and Thane… Her line of thought was broken as Thane returned with two cups of tea. He offered her one before he sat down beside her. They drank their tea, nobody spoke for some time.

"How do you feel, Angie?" Thane asked her, while he gently moved hair from her face to behind her ear.

She shivered slightly. "Fine…" her words chocked. "Is Jacob…" she couldn't bring herself to ask.

"No." Thane said darkly. It took all his self-control not to kill him. "Dr. Chawakas and Mordin are taking care of him. He won't be fit for duty for months to come." he gently touched her chin turning her face so that he was able to look her in the eyes, "If, he will ever be again." He was searching her for any hint of disapproval, but all that he could see were held back tears.

But then it changed; her eyes became harder, unforgiving. "Good," she whispered. "Thank you, Thane…" she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Anytime…" Thane breathed.

They sat like that, for some time before Shepard straightened. This time she spoke clearer, her Commander mask back in place. "I guess, I owe you an explanation for my failure…"

"No, you don't. You didn't fail." Thane tried to comfort her.

She stood up and started pacing the room before she turned back to him. "But, I did fail and I do owe you an explanation." Thane tried to object again, but remained silent as she raised her hand to stop him. "I failed. I should not have froze like that. I should not be weak. I am a leader and I should be strong. It is not good if those that look up to me see me… broken. For that, I owe you apology… You should not have had to witness what you did…" she sat down, shaking her head.

Thane walked over to her, kneeling before her and took both her hands in his. "No you don't always have to be strong. And you are wrong about that. You are not a machine, Angie. I will never look down on you because of what happened. There is so much resting on your shoulders." He forced her to look at him before he continued, "It is only when you would be unbreakable that I would lose my faith in you, Si… Angie."

Shepard nodded, showing she understood what he was trying to tell her and gave him a little smile; a smile that he returned.

At that moment Garrus entered Life Support. "I guess he is safe now. His vitals are stable." He said and then hesitated. "Am I disturbing something?" he asked warily as he took in the scene before him.

"No… not really," Angie answered as Thane let go of her hands and sat on the cot so that he was away from her.

Garrus came closer to Angie and sat on the remaining free chair. "So Angie… will you tell us why you… you know…" Garrus motioned vaguely with his hands, not able to ask the question out loud.

Angie nodded. She felt she owed an explanation, "You know I am having nightmares… about everything that happened when we hunt Saren, about my own death, about Proteans and Reapers… I woke from one of them, tried to forget… but then Jacob came and tried to…he tried to…"

"You don't have to say it… I know…" Garrus tried to help her.

Angie nodded: "And I remembered my first kill… and everything bad that happened to me when I was on Earth… but then he, he said something that…" she couldn't speak anymore. Garrus put his hand on her shoulder trying to calm her.

"Jacob said that dead people should stay dead," Thane answered Garrus' silent question.

"That's what Kaidan…" Garrus stopped when Angie nodded her head sadly. "He should be dead… he should be really dead! I should go and just finish him." Garrus stood up and wanted to execute Jacob.

"No! Stop! He got what he deserved." She cried out after him.

"Why Angie, why shouldn't I?" Garrus demanded.

"Because I am asking you not to…" she whispered.

Garuss just nodded to Angie before he turned back to Thane. "Take care of her… I need to… break something…" He muttered, patting Angie on her back before he left Life Support searching for something that he can obliterate.

"Thank you again, Thane… for everything…" she whispered to the drell. "I think I will leave now…I need to sleep…"

"You can…" he paused wondering if it would be appropriate to ask, "sleep here…" he searched her eyes for any sign that would tell him if he overstepped himself. "If you would prefer to not be alone…"

Angie stopped and thought for a bit before asking: "But where will you…"

"Don't worry," he cut her protests off. "I was planning to meditate anyhow."

Angie nodded and stayed. She just didn't want to be all alone…