A/N: *Spoiler alert* for anyone who hasn't played the Leviathan DLC. Starts after the scene in the mess. I've also taken a bit of liberty with James back story.

Just a quick shout out to my guest reviewers (meant to do this last chapter and forgot) Thank you for your reviews and for reading, I am pleased you're enjoying my little fic. ;p Anyway, hope you enjoy.


** 48 **

Everything hurt. James winced as he stepped out of the shower and dried himself. The muscles in his back tightened and a wave of pain ran down his spine, he could almost feel his skin turning blue. He grimaced as he pulled his shirt on. The sharp steel knives slicing the muscles around his elbow told him there was something wrong, that and the fact he could hardly bend it. The doc was not going to be happy. With a deep sigh that reminded him of his body's condition, he grabbed his shower pack and headed for the medbay.

'James,' Chakwas looked up as he entered the room. 'I was wondering when you'd show up.'

'Thought I'd at least have a shower so you didn't have to suffer,' he grinned at her.

'I might like the smell of sweaty, muscular marines, those pheromones do still work on me you know,' she laughed at his wide-eyed stare. 'Take a seat.' She waited for him to settle on the bed. 'Anything I should know?'

'Elbow took a beating when the prothean threw us all to hell, the wall behind me kinda stopped my flight.' He flinched as she lifted his elbow to examine it. 'Shoulders too, lower back,' he shrugged, 'hell, I hurt all over.'

'I'm glad to see you're not being all heroic and stubborn,' she frowned as she ran her scanner over him. 'Nothing broken, some ligament damage and severe bruising though.'

'Thought I was turning blue,' James watched as she grabbed a syringe from the medicine cabinet. 'How did Shepard pull up?'

'The Commander hasn't graced me with her presence yet,' she shrugged as she injected the contents into his arm. 'She was called down to the cargo hold where the prothean is quartered.' She scanned his arm and nodded, 'that should work, it will ease the swelling and the pain but your arm needs time to heal. No weights and no pull ups and I'm taking you off the active duty roster for a few days.' She held up her hand as he went to object, 'you might think you're invincible but I don't. You need to heal.'

'I also need to have Shepard's back,' he frowned at her. 'I can handle it, doc.'

'The first time that shotgun of yours recoils or you punch someone your arm is going to distract you. Armour can only do so much. You're only human,' she shook her head with a chuckle, 'one day you and Shepard might realise that.' James saw her eyes soften as she met his frustrated glare, 'I know you want to protect her but you're no good to her if you can't do your job effectively. Garrus will watch her back, you know that.'

'I know, it's just … ,' he sagged on the bed, let out a sigh and couldn't stop the wince as his back muscles complained.

'It's personal,' Chakwas patted his thigh and James knew she understood. 'It's just a few days and I don't think there are any missions that need your firepower. We're only going to pick up a scientist.'

'Famous last words, doc,' James picked up his stuff and headed for the door, 'I'll make sure Shepard comes to see you.'

'Good luck with that,' Chakwas laughed as he left the room.

His stomach grumbled as he passed the empty mess, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. Dropping his shower pack on the table he wandered into the kitchen. He wasn't up for cooking so he rummaged in the fridge, grinning as he found leftover pizza from last night's dinner. Campbell was good at keeping them fed and he was amazed at the meals she provided with limited supplies. He hoped she'd put in a requisition order for their next stop on the Citadel because good food always made being stuck inside a tin can much more bearable.

'Is there enough in there for two?'

James jumped and groaned as pain washed through him. He turned to see Shepard frowning at him.

'You okay?'

'Yeah, hitting a wall at speed isn't exactly good for the health but doc says I'll be fine in a few days.' He grabbed the pizza and led her to the table where they sat opposite each other. 'She has taken me off the roster though.'

'Good.'

'Good?' His eyebrows headed for his hairline as he stared at her.

'Yes, I don't want you on the ground if you're hurt.' She reached for his hand, 'I'd be worried about you and be distracted.'

'I get that,' he squeezed her fingers gently before releasing his hold and reaching for the pizza. 'You haven't been to see the doc yet, are you okay?'

'Yeah, I only slid along the ground when Javik went all biotic on us.'

'Javik?'

'Our prothean guest, that's his name.' She picked up a slice of pizza and her lips closing around it as she took a bite fascinated James.

'I bet Liara's over the moon. Joker wanted to know if there was bouncing.'

'Hmm-mm,' she mumbled around her food, chewed and swallowed. 'He's not what she expected though.'

'How's he dealing with the 50,000 year nap?' He bit into his food and warmth flooded over him as he saw Shepard watching his lips. Who knew watching someone eat could be sexy.

'As well as can be expected I suppose. What can he do, we can't send him back. It's hard losing time but 50,000 years, that's impossible to imagine. I only lost two years and that was bad enough.'

There was still pain there and as she dropped her eyes James reached out and brushed the side of her face gently.

'I'm just glad you came back.'

'Me too, now,' she let out a soft sigh, 'for a while there I wasn't.'

'No?'

She shook her head and finished another bite, 'I woke up naked on an operating table with an army of mechs after me and a space station disintegrating around me. Then I find I'm in debt to Cerberus, two years of my life are gone, I can't go back to the Alliance and the galaxy is under threat – again.' She played absently with her fingers, 'if it wasn't for Joker, Chakwas and Garrus I don't think I would have made it.'

'Liara wasn't there?'

'No,' she smiled as she looked at him, 'I know, I owe you an explanation.'

'Whenever you're ready,' he shrugged and picked up another slice of pizza.

'Have you ever wondered how Cerberus ended up with my body?' He nodded and she continued, 'Liara gave it to them.'

'How? Why?' James stumbled over the questions, not sure which to ask first.

'How. She found out the Shadow Broker was after my remains, offering a good price for them apparently. She couldn't let him get me so she made sure he didn't.' She scowled and James watched her fingers curl. 'Then she handed me over to Cerberus because they promised her they could bring me back.'

'Why? Why didn't she just hand you over to the Alliance so they could bury you. Handing you to Cerberus is just wrong, she had no way to know if they could do what they said. They could have done anything with your body.'

'Exactly,' she nodded, 'but she couldn't lose me.'

Clarity slapped him in the face. 'She's in love with you and couldn't let go.' He sat back in the chair. Would he have done the same if he had found her remains and promises were made? Could he have just let her go?

'Unfortunately, yes,' Shepard placed her elbows on the table and James could see the frustration in her eyes before she buried her face in her hands. She rubbed her face roughly and sat back. 'She thought that by bringing me back I would fall into her arms in gratitude, especially after what happened on Horizon with Kaidan.'

'I'm glad you didn't,' James chuckled.

'There is no way I ever would. I could never feel anything other than friendship and she didn't like it. I was a little afraid that when she took over as Shadow Broker she might take her anger and disappointment out by destroying my life.'

'But she didn't.'

'No, she kept hoping and trying though, every chance she got.' She leant forward and folded her hands on the table, 'she's been enamoured of me since she first came on to the SR-1, tried to get me to have a relationship with her back then but I was already smitten with Kaidan. I thought she'd got over me, especially after two years dead. But she hadn't, still hasn't.'

'Then why did she encourage me?' James frowned at her, 'she told me you'd need someone, that I should be there for you.'

'She probably thought I'd shoot you down, that if I was lonely enough she might stand a chance,' she grinned at him. 'After Kaidan she probably thought I wouldn't start another relationship with a crew member. If I hadn't met you on Earth and discovered the man you are I wouldn't have.'

'So I'm lucky Anderson put us together.'

'Yeah, he knew exactly what he was doing.' Shepard laughed and James had to agree.

'I owe that man a beer.'

'You and me both,' she reached out and he leaned in and took her hands. 'I hope she doesn't make you uncomfortable.'

'Nah, I can handle it.' He locked his fingers with hers, 'unless she destroys my life with the push of a button.'

'I doubt she'd do that because she knows I'd never forgive her.' She met his eyes and grinned. 'Do you have any secrets I should know about just in case?'

James dropped his eyes and was quiet for a moment. Her fingers tightened around his.

'James?'

'Yeah,' he sighed, 'if she digs she might find something that is not what it seems.'

'Okay,' she dropped her head so she could meet his eyes. 'Do you want to tell me?'

'Mi madre died just after my seventeenth birthday.' He sucked in a breath as the memory brought back all the grief and pain he'd thought long buried. 'Mi padre couldn't handle it. Within a year he was a mess, always drunk, no job and using what little insurance money we got to pay for it.'

He paused and Shepard switched seats to sit beside him, her hand sliding into his. His breath hitched as she sat close enough for their thighs to rub and he adored her for wanting to be there for him. It gave him the strength to continue.

'He started using red sand but I didn't know. I should have but I stayed away from home, spent most of my time with my uncle Emilio because I couldn't stand to see him like that.' He wrapped his other hand over hers, wincing as he lifted his arm and placed it on the table. 'La madre would have been disappointed with me but he didn't want to listen, he just wanted to live in the grief. Anyway,' he sighed and squeezed his eyes shut to stop the burning. He opened them as Shepard rested her head on his shoulder. 'One day, just after I'd enlisted but before I left for basic, he called me up and asked me to pick up his medications. Not thinking anything of it I went to the pharmacy but I wasn't supposed to go inside.

'He'd sent me to pick up his sand but the police were there. I managed to escape but el padre threatened to report me if I didn't stay and help him. The pharmacist knew who I was and gave the police our address. Told them I was dealing in sand. Uncle Emilio got me out before they arrived, convinced me to leave and not come back. The police were after me but he covered for me, used his friendship with someone higher up to get them off my back but not before they put me into the system. Emilio contacted Anderson, they were friends, served together apparently, and let him know what was going on. He smoothed over my enlistment so the drug thing never arose.'

'I guess I owe him a beer too,' Shepard kissed his shoulder. 'I could never imagine you using or dealing in sand, you take too much pride in your body.'

'Thanks, Lola,' he dropped his head so it rested on hers. 'If Liara finds the police notes she could say something but I hope it doesn't go that far.'

'I don't think it will but who knows. These are strange times.' Shepard sat up pulled the pizza towards them, 'I think we should finish this,' she grinned, 'it's too good to go to waste.'

'Campbell is a good cook,' he agreed as he bit into another piece.

'Yeah,' she nodded, 'it was a good idea I had, taking her off guard duty, even if I do say so.'

'You have lots of good ideas, Lola,' James nudged her shoulder, 'you did end up with me.' He smirked and continued, 'I have a good idea too,' he watched her raise her eyebrows, 'when we've finished here you should go see the doc.'

'Fine,' she rolled her eyes at him and let out a deep sigh. 'But my good ideas are better than yours.'

'Of course they are,' he agreed, 'you're the boss.' He laughed as she punched his shoulder then grimaced as his body complained. Damn, everything still hurt.


'We're only going to pick up a scientist,' James repeated the doctor's words as he rushed to the bridge. 'Knew she'd jinxed us.'

'EDI, we need to get through that jamming,' Joker was flicking screens across his workspace.

'Sitrep,' James stopped behind his chair.

'We lost all communication with the surface and the ground team. Something is blocking us.' Joker glanced up at him, 'there are Reaper troops on the ground.'

'Fuck,' James went to punch the back of Joker's chair but the pilot's glare made him think twice. 'Can we get through the jamming?'

'I am working on it, as is Traynor.' EDI informed him even though she sat motionless in the chair.

'What about Cortez?'

'No good,' Joker flicked another screen across, 'he's out of reach too.'

James paced. The man in him wanted to be down there, watching her back. The soldier in him knew she was more than capable and she had a good team with her. Garrus and Kaidan would make sure she stayed safe. That didn't stop him from worrying though. The officer in him knew he had a job to do.

'Are we safe? Has anything shown up on scanners?'

'No, whatever dropped the ground troops has gone, or it's hiding,' Joker switched to the radar screens.

'Keep us out of sight, Joker,' he stopped pacing and peered through the windows even though there was little chance of him seeing anything.

'I think I've got something,' Traynor spoke over their heads.

'Nor … ay … ent … .' The signal dropped out.

'Can we get them back?' James moved to stand beside EDI.

'I think so,' she sat up and flicked on her screens. 'Whatever is jamming the signal is not Reaper technology.'

'How so?'

'It has similarities but it is also different, older.'

'How is that possible?' Joker spun to face her.

'Unknown but I am sensing a different presence to the Reapers. There is something else here.'

'Whatever it is we need to find it and disable it.' James reminded them.

EDI stopped moving and was silent for a moment. Joker's screens flashed into life, the feed from Shepard's armour suddenly visible. They were safe, not under attack and obviously inside whatever structure was down there. James watched in amazement as the two men behind what was obviously a reception desk responded to Shepard.

'That will be all, step away. You don't belong here.'

He looked at Joker then back to the screen a she looked at Kaidan and back to the two men. Cold ran down James back and he shivered. Something was definitely wrong here.

'Well that's not creepy at all,' Joker visibly shuddered.

'Sir,' Traynor's voice had him glancing at the ceiling, 'I think they're indoctrinated.'

'Not by Reapers obviously,' Joker scoffed.

'No, this is something else. I'm picking up a faint background signal, it's like static really, but it's all over the base. It's not jamming but it's doing something.'

'Thanks Traynor,' James nodded even though she couldn't see him. 'Keep working at it, see what else you can find.'

'Cortez to Normandy.'

'Go ahead, Steve,' James acknowledged.

'I'm picking up some weird signals down here, it's electronic but I can feel it in my head.'

'I suggest Lieutenant Cortez wait outside the barrier around the base, whatever is affecting these people could be affecting him also.' EDI was flicking through screens so fast it made James dizzy just watching.

'You hear that Steve, take off and wait for Shepard to call for pick up.'

'Aye, aye.'

'What about Shepard and the team, will they be affected?'

James forced himself to relax, to believe everything would be okay. It was a hard battle because all he could think of was Shepard down there without him.

'I believe so,' EDI nodded and glanced up at him. 'Although I cannot guarantee that.'

'Shepard,' James spoke into the com, watching as she moved among people that were almost zombie like. It was creepy to see so he imagined it would be uncomfortable on the ground.

'James, knew you'd break though. What is it?'

'We think these people are indoctrinated.'

'By what, not the Reapers or they'd already be inside.' He could hear the confusion in her voice.

'No, EDI thinks it's something older.'

'So, Bryson was right, there is something here.' She motioned Kaidan forward as they came across a security screen. 'Are we at risk?'

'EDI doesn't think so but I ordered Cortez to wait off station. It would be better if you made this quick.' He knew she'd hear the concern in his voice.

'Roger that,' she followed Kaidan as he pointed around a corner. 'We'll make this fast.'

'I hope so,' he muttered to himself and Joker grinned at him. 'What?'

'Now you know what it feels like, being stuck up here watching.'

'Yeah.'

His fingers curled and he resisted the need to clench his fists. There was nothing he could do but wait and watch and hope they made it out safely.

'We've got incoming!' Joker warned. 'Reaper inbound, dropping off more troops.'

The Normandy dropped fast as Joker moved to put the asteroid between them and the incoming ship. James' boots left the floor and he gripped the back of Joker's chair. The floor suddenly hitting his feet jarred his legs and he cursed. So did Shepard as Garneau ran and they came face to face with the new arrivals.

The resounding echo of assualt rifles, the electronic hiss of drones and tech, the moans of husks, the flashes of blue and the boom of ravager cannons created a chaotic scene of noise and light. James broke into a sweat, they were getting overrun trying to get the doors open. He needed to be down there. For a moment there was silence but it was short lived as the scream of banshees made his blood run cold. He clenched his fist and his teeth hurt as his jaw locked. She'll be fine. He paced but his eyes never left the screen. She'll be fine.