Bex couldn't sleep. With Vido now employing Ian's goons, she thought she might not sleep ever again. She almost wished she'd actually gone to meet them at the bar. Almost.

But anything she might have done, it was too late to act on it. Adams, the Normandy's chief engineer, had called to tell her that they'd found nothing outside of superficial damage, which had been fixed quickly. They were as ready to go as they were likely to get, so Bex had put out a call to the crew to be ready for departure at noon the next day.

Despite wanting to spend more time with Hackett, she knew this was for the best. On the ship, she'd have little to no time to worry about Vido; besides, the quicker they found and stopped Saren, the quicker she could actually do something about him.

After sitting up all night thinking, planning the best strategy for ending Saren's reign of chaos as soon as possible, all thoughts of him and Vido were pushed to the back of her mind when her omni-tool beeped with an early morning vid-chat hail from Joker.

Answering the hail with a yawn, Bex stared bleary-eyed first at the time on the bedside clock and then at the all-too-chipper face on her omni-tool. "What do you want, Joker?"

Her pilot seemed equal parts excited, apprehensive, and pissed off. "Have you seen the news?"

"First of all, it's oh six thirty. Second of all, it is—barely—the morning after my wedding. So no, I have not seen the fucking news, Joker."

"Shit. Sorry."

She frowned. "Why the fuck are you up so early anyway? We're not leaving 'til tonight."

"I'm staying with my parents—they insisted—and my sister is having a sleepover with your goddaughter. I got no sleep last night."

Bex tried not to laugh. "I'm so sorry. So what's up with the news?"

"Your favorite reporter is making waves again."

"At six thirty in the fucking morning?"

Joker shrugged. "Hey, I'm just the messenger."

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks, J. See you in a few hours?"

"Have a feeling I'll be seeing you on the news in about ten minutes," he said with a mischievous grin. "But yeah, see you later."

Hackett sat up as Bex's omni-tool went dark. "What's all the commotion?"

"Khalisah is on the news again."

"And?"

"Joker didn't say for sure, but I have a feeling it has something to do with you, me, or us."

Hackett scrubbed one hand over his face while the other fumbled for the tv remote on his nightstand. "I guess we better look into it."

Bex swore as the screen flickered on. "I know she's always in search of more dirt, but this is a new low." Khalisah stood in a very familiar hallway, and she wasn't alone. "Is that… your, our, your… front door?"

"Our, my love, and yes."

"There is not enough caffeine in the goddamn universe for this shit."

"I can't help but agree."

They watched in fascination as Khalisah interviewed Bex's old nemesis Admiral Wells. He wore his usual smug look, though it seemed tinted with weariness. Still, Bex couldn't feel sorry for the man, not after the way he'd tried to kill her career, and more indirectly, her.

"So tell me," Khalisah cooed, "are you surprised by the revelation that Admiral Hackett and Commander Shepard are married?"

Wells scoffed. "They're not married. No, there's no way. Screwing each other? Definitely. But married? No." He shook his head. "But am I surprised you caught them together? Not at all. They've been screwing each other for years."

Bex nearly lept out of bed before she remembered she was supposed to be resting her leg. Beside her, Hackett had clenched his jaw so tight, she wouldn't be surprised if he cracked a tooth.

On the screen, Khalisah raised an eyebrow. "You mean to say you've known of their relationship all this time but never reported it to your colleagues?"

Wells' face turned a rainbow of shades before all color drained from it entirely. He lunged at Khalisah and Bex heard a scuffle but saw nothing more as she launched out of bed and swiftly pulled on the nearest t-shirt and pajama bottoms she could find.

The moment she was decently clothed, she tried to race out of the bedroom but stopped almost immediately as her leg crumpled under her.

"Fuck this goddamn fucking piece of shit!"

Hackett appeared similarly dressed at her side moments later and picked her up before he continued on toward the front door. He set her down as he unlocked it and pushed it to open more quickly.

The moment she had a clear shot, Bex caught Wells in a stasis field and floated him to the other side of the hall, only just resisting the urge to slam him into the wall, while Hackett helped Khalisah to her feet. She caught his eye and jerked her head toward Wells and Hackett nodded, moving swiftly to detain Wells as soon as the stasis field vanished. When she was sure Wells was secure, Bex limped to Khalisah's side and wrapped an arm around her, guiding her into the apartment toward the kitchen.

Khalisah seemed stunned at the turn of events and was uncharacteristically silent as Bex found the first aid kit under the sink.

"You… are an idiot," Bex said, rummaging through the kit to find a cold pack for Khalisah's rapidly swelling eye. "Or maybe you're just ignorant. I dunno. But that was bloody stupid."

"That has never happened," Khalisah said, giving her a weak smile as she accepted the cold pack. "I've asked some inflammatory questions before—"

"Have you ever asked one that wasn't ?" Bex countered.

"That's my job, Commander."

"Is it? So chasing people across the bloody station to catch them kissing outside their private quarters is part of your job?"

"I—"

"I could have sworn your job was to tell the news."

"You are news."

"The fuck we are," Bex snapped. "We are people ."

"You are people in the public eye," Khalisah said, some of her usual fire and venom back in her voice. "They have a right—"

"No, they don't."

"Of course they do."

"Fine. Then let's turn that shit around, shall we?" Bex crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. "Tell me, Khalisah, whose bed do you sleep in every night? Your own? A lover's? Perhaps you have several?"

Khalisah sputtered and the cold pack exploded in her hand as she clenched her fists.

Bex pressed on. "How many cocks did you have to suck to get your cushy job? Hmm? Couldn't be that you are talented and did it on your own, right? You must be sleeping with the head of ANN. Otherwise—"

"Enough!" Khalisah's face was mottled red where it wasn't bruised and tears streaked through her make-up. "I have never … you have no right! How dare you!"

"Hey, you started this." Bex shrugged. "At least I didn't ask on camera for the whole bloody galaxy to hear."

"I worked my ass off for every single story, every promotion, every posting." Khaliah sniffled. "You—"

"And I did the same." Bex pushed off the counter to stand up as straight as she was able. "I have shed blood, sweat, and tears—and I mean that literally—for every goddamn promotion I've ever gotten."

"What about your status as a Spectre?"

"Why was I put up for consideration in the first place?" She shrugged again as she leaned back against the counter. "That's something only Nihlus Kryik could have answered. Unless you've got a way to talk to the dead, that will remain a mystery for all time. But I guaran-goddamn-tee it wasn't because I was fucking him."

"It's just… such an odd choice."

"You don't have to tell me that." Bex reached into the first aid kit and handed Khalisah a second cold pack. "Look. I never wanted anything more from the Alliance than my freedom from my past. I never asked for promotions and I sure as fuck didn't ask for the Spectre position."

"So you've said, Commander."

"Yet, you don't seem to believe me." Bex sighed. "And please, call me Shepard. Or… no, just Shepard. You haven't even come close to earning my first name yet."

"Everyone knows your first name."

"Knowing my name and being entitled to use it are two entirely different things."

"And yet you call me by my first name all the time."

"It's sort of the vibe you give on-air," Bex said defensively. "And not that it's an excuse, but every single time you've tried to interview me, every single time I've used your first name—to your face—I've been pissed off, either by you or something else, and propriety wasn't all that high on my list of priorities."

"So I've noticed." Khalisah seemed hesitant to speak again, but finally she asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Bex's eyes narrowed. "Doing what?"

"Helping me."

"Because… I'm not a heartless bitch?" She crossed her arms. "You wouldn't have done the same?"

"Perhaps." Khalisah shrugged. "I don't know, really. But the cynic in me says you are only doing this for attention."

Bex snorted and doubled over with laughter. "Bloody hell, woman, you really have no idea who you're talking to, do you?"

Khalisah frowned. "What are you even talking about?"

"If you had done even an ounce of research, ever, instead of just chasing sensational stories for your goddamn ratings…" Bex stopped a moment when her injured leg wobbled. "Hold that thought." She gestured for Khalisah to follow her as she limped into the living room and flopped on the couch. "Sit."

"I can honestly say I never imagined standing in Admiral Hackett's living room." Khalisah didn't move from where she stood just inside the doorway, staring slack jawed around the room. She spared a smirking glance at Bex before she added, "Or see him, or Commander Shepard, in pajamas."

"Sit!" Bex huffed impatiently. "If you fall over, I won't be there to catch you this time. It'll take me five minutes just to get off the bloody couch by myself."

Khalisah finally relented and sat in the closest armchair. "This is beautiful. It's, well, no offense, but I can't imagine you picking any of this out."

"I didn't. This is all Steven. These are his quarters, after all."

Khalisah raised an eyebrow. "So Wells was right? You're not married?"

"They are our quarters, Rebekah," Hackett said as he finally joined them, looking mildly annoyed that his least favorite reporter was sitting in his favorite armchair. "And no, he was wrong, about many things."

"So, Com– uh, Shepard, what did you mean before, when you said something about if I'd done my research?"

"What?" Bex frowned. "Oh that. Just that if you knew me at all , you'd know I don't do anything for attention."

"It's true," Hackett said as he sat beside her and slung an arm around her shoulders. He turned his attention fully on Khalisah. "Are you all right?"

She shrugged slightly. "I think so."

"I've called Karin Chakwas as a precaution. She should be here momentarily to look you over."

"I, uh… thank you?" Khalisah stammered; she seemed entirely out of her depth again, not at all the confident and arrogant woman she appeared on camera. "I don't think it's necessary but if you insist."

"I do."

"So what happened with Wells?" Bex asked, breaking the tense silence that filled the room while Hackett answered a text.

"I alerted the MPs but they were already on their way. He was arrested and taken to the brig. I informed them that Ms. al-Jilani would be available after she had been cleared by a doctor. I also alerted the rest of the admiralty, as I knew it was unlikely any of them had caught the interview."

Bex quirked an eyebrow at Khalisah. "Why did you arrange an interview so bloody early?"

"He was the one who asked for the interview, wanting to do a smear piece on you, Shepard."

"Fucking bastard."

"He's always been a thorn in my side and while I was glad to take the interview, I still wanted to annoy him. Which I clearly did."

"Clearly."

"Anyway, it wasn't meant to go out until later. I didn't actually know I was live until you two came out in the corridor."

Bex had other questions, many other questions, but before she could voice them, Dr. Chakwas appeared in the doorway.

"Interesting company you two are keeping at such an early hour," she quipped before she introduced herself to Khalisah and began asking her questions.

Bex and Hackett moved to the kitchen to give them privacy, though Hackett seemed reluctant to have Khalisah out of his sight.

"She won't do anything while the doc's with her," Bex said, reaching a hand out to him as he paced the kitchen.

"You have more faith in her than I do," he said quietly, brushing a kiss along the knuckles of her outstretched hand before he set about making coffee. "She's a snake."

"True, but she's also injured. And Chakwas can't be intimidated, bought, or charmed."

"Speaking from experience, my love?"

Bex stuck her tongue out at him and gingerly hopped up on the counter. "I may have tried to get her to convince the Council I needed another few days' rest for my leg. She didn't take the bait."

"That's because I know you all too well, Shepard," Chakwas said as she and Khalisah joined them in the kitchen. "If left to your own devices, you'll do anything but rest."

Bex opened her mouth to retort but thought better of it as she saw the gleam of intrigue in Khalisah's eyes.

"Thank you again for your timely rescue," Khalisah said, waving off an offer of coffee. "I shudder to think what would have happened if you hadn't intervened."

"Maybe next time think before you try to interview a bloody bastard like Wells," Bex said, narrowing her eyes as she added, "or ambush interview someone."

"Noted."

"I'll walk you out," Chakwas said, giving Hackett a grateful smile as he handed her a travel mug. "And I'll see you in a few hours, Shepard. Until then, stay off that leg!"

Bex gave her a mocking salute but remained seated until Hackett had made sure the door was locked behind the departing women. "Well, that was fun."

"You have a strange definition of fun, my love."

"You can't tell me it wasn't fun seeing Wells in omni-cuffs. Besides, I think I might have gotten through to Khalisah."

"Oh?"

She told him of the conversation she and Khalisah had had prior to his return. "I just… well, if nothing else, I at least made her think. Probably."

"You are absolutely incredible." He swept a lock of hair from her eyes and kissed her. "Oh how I am going to miss you."

"I wish I could take you with me," she said, pulling him closer until she'd trapped him with her good leg. "Travel the galaxy together, fighting geth, Saren… other dipshits."

"Tempting. Very tempting. It's been a long time since I was stationed on a ship. I do miss it. But—" he punctuated every few words with a kiss—"I can't help but think you would spend more time in your quarters than in command."

Bex giggled. "You're probably right."

"But more realistically, when this whole business with Saren is over, we'll take a nice long honeymoon, anywhere you want to go."

"I've been all over the world, all over the galaxy," she said softly, "and I can't think of a single place I'd rather be than right here with you, fucking your brains out for a week uninterrupted."

Hackett looked startled at the sudden change in tone but quickly recovered and pulled her impossibly close, so she could feel just how much her declaration affected him. "I wish I could keep you here for a week now ," he murmured against her skin as he kissed a path along her jaw.

"Steven, if you keep this up, I'm going to end up breaking the one rule the doc set that I haven't already broken." She whimpered when his kisses continued down her neck. "Oh fuck it. Take me to bed!"