THE SHADOW BROKER

"Is taking over as the Shadow Broker really a good idea?" Jane asked Liara shortly after their battle on the Shadow Broker's ship. Saving Feron and killing a yahg were no easy tasks, but they did it. When the Broker's agents began calling in asking about the lost connection, Liara stepped with almost no hesitation.

"It was either that or lose everything: his contacts, his trading sources. Those will really help us." Liara spun back towards the screen, skimming over the launching lists of data coming through from the Broker's minions. "With the Shadow Broker's information network, I can give you…I can…"

The lump in Liara's throat wouldn't let her next words travel to her mouth. Tears began to well up in her baby blue eyes. Sensing the emotionally complicated situation, Feron and Garrus volunteered to check the power systems, leaving the two ex-lovers alone. As the door shut, Liara wept harder and whirled around back to Jane to release the overflowing sentiments she accumulated over the years, breaking through the thick levy of emotional strength she built.

"It's over. It's finally…for two years…"

Liara couldn't form complete sentences between the sobbing and gasps for air. Jane pulled her in tight and let Liara's tears fall on her shoulders. When her breathing stabilized, Liara parted her head away slightly and captured Jane's lips in a soft loving kiss. Jane broke the kiss first but still held her in her arms.

"It's been two years. I don't…" Jane trailed off.

"We're different people," Liara said, finishing the release of their embrace. "You have your mission, and now, I have this... All I wanted was to rescue Feron. But is it wrong that part of me wants this? With the Shadow Broker's network, I can help you. Maybe I can turn this operation into something better."

"How about I give you some time to settle in then?" Jane offered.

"Yes. Perhaps that's best. I need some time to...think and review everything here."

"Okay, see you later."

Garrus felt it best to let everything sink in, for Jane and himself, so he retreated to the main battery when they returned to the Normandy. He planned to work on his calibrations late into the night. Jane, on the other hand, tossed and turned in her bed, needing a different approach other than "sleeping on it" to ease her mind.

"Jane, need me for something?" Garrus asked as she tiptoed into the room, careful not to cause a disturbance this time of night.

"Got a minute? Or two?"

Something in Jane's voice told him this conversation's going to be a private, intimate one. He pushed a couple of buttons on the control console to close and seal the doors behind her. There were thoughts and feelings the both of them held that needed validation. The conversation of a relationship, or sex, started on one drunken night. Each pondered if the suggestion was to be fulfilled or just a trivial idea of two sozzled minds.

"Yeah. Actually, I've been wanting to speak to you," Garrus said, his demeanor and body language turning gawky. "I've been thinking about what we talked about… Blowing off steam and, uh, easing tension. I've never thought about cross-species intercourse." He paused for half a second, hearing the words coming out of his mouth. "And damn, saying it that way doesn't help. Now I feel…dirty and clinical."

Apprehensive and fumbling with his cognitions, Garrus began to walk back and forth when he resumed speaking.

"Are we crazy to be even be thinking about this? I'm not—" He released an exasperated sigh. "Look, Jane, I know you can find something a little closer to home."

He discontinued his pacing to face Jane with shaky confidence. Entirely different from his usual projection of cockiness. "Closer to home" meant Liara. Asaris are most physiologically similar to humans out of all the alien races, so he figured Jane would be most comfortable continuing a relationship with Liara. A connection left unfinished. There was no proper breakup, and he couldn't be certain what Jane felt towards either of them. He witness the kiss on Illium and their interactions on the Shadow Broker ship made Garrus sure there are several emotional loose ends the two have to resolve.

But Jane's heart didn't take its time to confess its true desires. And actually, she found his vulnerability quite endearing.

"I don't want something closer to home," she stated strongly, coming in close to the turian. "I want you. I want someone I can trust."

A rush of warmth ran through his veins. His mandibles flared in an unmeasured contentment. The fact that she wants him over anything, and anyone, else was beyond his expectations. Garrus never meant to steal her from Liara's arms, but he felt strongly for her for far too long to let an opportunity fall through his talons. Even with her lost memories – something that she is still yet unaware of – Jane found her way to him.

"I can do that," he responded, confidence piecing back together. "I'll find some music and do some research and figure out how this thing should work. It'll either be a night to treasure or a horrible interspecies awkwardness thing."

Garrus always found a way to make her laugh in any situation. One of the things she grew to like – love – about him. Humor hasn't always been a part of her life.

"In which case, fighting the Collectors will be a welcome distraction. So, you know, a win either way," he added.

"You know, Garrus, if you're not comfortable with this, it's okay. I'm not trying to pressure you," Jane told him, placing a hand on his arm. Though Garrus already stated his agreement, she needed to ensure that an experimental sexual encounter was something he coveted as well. Garrus removed her from his arm, grabbing both of her small, delicate human hands to hold in his larger, rough turian ones. Their eyes locked.

"Jane. You're about the only friend I have left in this screwed up galaxy. I'm not going to pretend I've got a fetish for humans, but this isn't about that. This is about us. You never have to worry about making me uncomfortable. Nervous yes," Garrus chuckled shakily, "but never uncomfortable."

"So, when should I book the room?" Jane questioned with a lascivious grin, lust dripping off her tongue.

"I'd wait if you're okay with it. Disrupt the crew as little as possible and take that last chance to find some calm just before the storm."

Agreeing, Jane stepped back and said, "I'll let you get back to work then."

"Right… Cause I'm in a great place to optimize firing algorithms right now," he replied in a playfully caustic tone, the images of human-turian sexual fantasy flooding his mind, pushing out and distorting all thoughts of calibrations.

The following morning after breakfast, Jane took the shuttle by herself to Liara's ship. Upon her arrival to the office, a floating white translucent orb the size of a beach ball approached Jane. Wary of the unknown mechanism, Jane inched away cautiously. The orb levitated to Jane's face.

"Welcome back, Shadow Broker!" exclaimed the friendly piece of machinery.

Jane leaned off to the side around it and hollered at Liara. "What is this?"

"That's the old Broker's VI assistant. It's actually been helpful with rebuilding the network," she yelled back from behind her desk.

"Please let me know if I can organize anything else for you, Shadow Broker," the VI said before zooming away to an unknown task.

"How are you, Liara?"

"I'm a bit overwhelmed, to be honest. The Shadow Broker had more resources than you can imagine. Here, come on over."

At the console, Liara revealed that the Shadow Broker had top-level access to several Council species intel. It was a lot to take in. Liara was glad to at least get to share it with someone – specifically Jane.

"You're not going to turn into a recluse with creepy information on everyone in the galaxy, are you?" Jane asked in jest. A tiny smile came across Liara's lips.

"I can understand the temptation. I've got all the secrets of the galaxy at my fingertips. Give me ten minutes, and I could start a war. But I've got a purpose: helping you stop the Reapers. That will keep me honest."

This would be one of the rare times Jane would succumb to senseless chit-chat, but there's an end goal in mind.

"How's Feron doing?"

"As well as you'd expect after two years of intermittent torture."

Silence fell as Jane searched for a follow-up question. "Is he going to be okay?"

"I don't know," she said raising her shoulders. "He wants to work, so I'm letting him help."

Okay, maybe I should just cut to the chase.

"You know, I didn't come down here just to talk about data," Jane informed her. Liara shifted her gaze off to the side and crossed her arms in front of her chest in a protective stance. A navy flush painted her cheeks.

"Yes. About the kiss…we'd just finished the fight and… I miss you, but as you said, it's been two years. I don't want to put pressure on you. And I know that…you have someone."

As an information broker, and now the Shadow Broker, Jane wasn't surprised that Liara already knew about Garrus. This was her expertise now, after all. But it wasn't like Liara hadn't witnessed the way those two looked at each other and acted around each other. There was a special ingredient.

"And you deserve to be happy, Jane. I want you to be happy. So, tell me what you want."

"What I want?" Jane repeated, confounded. Jane never thought she'd be asked what she wanted. All she knows is what she feels, and she feels that her heart has another name on it. Just as Garrus and Jane settled their intentions the night before, Liara deserved the same clarification.

"What are you fighting for? A chance to give Garrus some peace?" Liara asked, gaze fixed on Jane'a pair of glistening ruby eyes. Jane replied without hesitation – her heart knowing exactly what she's fighting for.

"He's been hurt. Betrayed. He deserves something better in this galaxy to look forward to."

Liara gave a smile of genuine glee. Even though it's not what she wanted to hear, Liara sensed a love louder than the demons existed between the human and turian – beyond what they could ever achieve. And perhaps Liara always knew given their undeniable chemistry since the beginning.

"I understand. I hope the two of you find happiness, Jane. Really."

Jane reciprocated her grin and reached to give her an affectionate squeeze. Since the words of farewell couldn't be uttered, Jane instead said quietly in her ear, "Don't be a stranger."

Liara tugged her in tighter.

"I won't."