It takes several feedback sessions before Jack musters her courage to ask Kahlee leisurely, once they are done talking the students: "So... if I may ask..."

"Yes?"

"You and Shepard... how did you two meet?"

The woman blinks, once. "I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure of meeting the Commander."

Jack eyes her from head to toe: the blonde mane, the pretty face, the slim figure, the sparkling eyes, nothing showing her age. "You haven't?"

"No. Why – ah, I see. When I said that a friend had asked me, I meant David Anderson. You know Anderson?"

"Uh, not in person. Shepard – Shepard mentioned him a couple of times." More than a couple, in fact. Jack never saw the man in person as she always stayed on board those few times when the Normandy docked on the Citadel. Anderson. Shepard's CO, mentor, friend... and the Councillor. Soooo...

Embarrassed how relieved she feels, Jack nearly overlooks the obvious.

Seeing her frown and narrow her eyes, Kahlee produces a small smile – a bit warded, and a little bit mischievous. She taps her fingers on her table. "Me and David go back a long time. We sort of bumped into each other when he was being tested as a Spectre candidate, and never really let go, I suppose. - Never really pursued anything much, either," she ends on a somewhat pensive note, looking past Jack for a moment, but as her eyes focus again, she raises her brows and tilts her head. "Did you?"

Did what? Pursue? Let go?

Jack's throat tightens.

The mischief is gone in an instant, replaced with concern as Kahlee leans forward. "I'm sorry, Jack. I shouldn't have pried. Sorry."

Jack nods stiffly, unsure of her voice, and angry with both Sanders and herself, for giving away so much of... what? Sanders knows, or has figured out, anyway. "What did Anderson tell you about me?" she asks bluntly.

"He gave me your dossier – your past and your psychological profile, and said that you deserve a chance, that you have earned it and that a trustworthy friends has vouched for you."

The implication is obvious and Jack doesn't bother to confirm it.

"Jack."

Startled, she looks up, and Kahlee looks straight in her eye. "I understand why he didn't tell me, and that this is strictly confidential. If the media got wind of this..." She shakes her head, disgusted, but then her eyes sparkle briefly. "Though I'm not going to pretend that I'm not curious."

To her surprise, Jack finds herself reciprocating the smile. "You wouldn't believe."

A raised brow. "I might surprise you."

For a while, they grin at each other just like some teenage students.

Light chatting about one's love life turns out an unexpectedly pleasant experience.