Normandy, 4th floor
He kicked around, his arms reaching for the floor and his trying to get back to the floor he now floated parallel to. The woman was up, her arm held out at him. She too was covered in the blue aura.
"Oh shit!" he heard her say.
Suddenly, the pressure he felt that was causing Patrick to float in the disappeared. There was a brief moment when he saw the blue disappear, and he could see the heavily tattooed woman looking at him, her stance defensive. Then he felt a pain all over and the cold metal of the floor beneath him. While it was only a few foot drop, he still landed on his stomach with a thud. Patrick curled into a fetal position and began to cry.
"Oh crap, kid I'm sorry," Jack said as she began to approach him.
The sound of the door above opening startled Jack.
"Patrick? Where are you?" Shepard's voice rang out. She could surely hear the crying and was now in a frantic rush to find him.
"Patrick! Oh my god!" Shepard yelled coming into view midway down the stairs.
She jumped down the stairs, landing next to him. She lifted him into her arms.
"Shhhhh It's ok, I'm here," she whispered to him rubbing his back. "What did you do?!" she yelled at Jack.
"It was an accident Shepard!" Jack replied.
Liara was next down the stairs. She kneeled down next to Shepard.
"I was asleep and he snuck up on me so all I did was hold him in a biotic field and-"
"YOU USED FUCKING BIOTICS ON HIM?! HE'S A CHILD! MY CHILD!" Shepard screamed.
Her owns hands and body began to expel a blue aura. As Garrus and James Vega came down the stairs, Liara took Patrick from the increasingly angrier Shepard and slowly began to back away.
"Shepard, easy now," Garrus said.
Garrus and Vega jumped in between Shepard and Jack.
"I'm taking him to the medbay!" Liara said as she rushed up the stairs with Patrick.
Shepard was shaking and covered in blue aura. In a flash, Shepard rushed forward. Garrus and James didn't even have time to react before she was past them. Jack only had a moment when she saw Shepard in front of her. Her eyes completely whitened, her hands covered in a blue glow. Shepard forearmed Jack with a biotic blast, square in the chest, that sent her flying back into a darkened part of the ship, crashing through her old quarters. Garrus and James turned around and stared in shock. The blue aura around Shepard disappeared, her eyes returned to normal. She blink, suddenly realized what had just happened. A small sound came from where Jack had gone flying, it sounded like metal bending.
" . . . Jack?" Shepard softly whispered.
Suddenly, everything lifted into the air in the room. Garrus and James were sent through the air into the wall.
"I can't move!" James yelled as he tried to lift his limbs from the wall.
Garrus was also struggling to move himself. Shepard looked forward as Jack emerged from the rubble, her eyes white and her hands covered in blue. Jack floated in the air over toward an awestruck Shepard.
"Kick her ass ma'am!" a voice yelled from the stairs.
A few of Jack's students came down the stairs, cheering their instructor on. Shepard turned back and Jack was just inches from her.
"Jack . . I'm-" Shepard began.
"As much pleasure as it would give me to return the favor," Jack started. The color in her eyes returned, the biotic aura faded from her hands and she landed on her feet. Garrus and James fell from their places in the air on the wall. "Some of us actually have self control."
Jack walked past Shepard, purposely bumping into Shepard's shoulder on the way past her students, who followed her back up the stairs.
"You guys okay?" Shepard asked going overt to Garrus and James, both already back on their feet.
"I'm fine Lola, but what the hell was that?" Vega asked.
"I'm not sure, but I gotta make sure Patrick is ok," she replied turning and heading towards the stairs.
Normandy Medical Bay
Dr. Karin Chakwas was sitting in her chair behind her desk sitting on tea while reading medical reports on some of the students from Grissom Academy. What some of these poor children had been through. Liara rushing in with Patrick in her arms interrupted her thought.
"Dr. Chakwas! He's been hurt!" Liara said rushing over towards the examining table.
The doctor tossed the data pad onto the table as well as her tea. She ignored the tea that slipped over the top of the cup and hit the desk, within a moment she was next to Liara, looking at Patrick, who was still crying.
"What happened?" Dr. Chakwas asked.
"I'm not sure, I got down there after Shepard had already picked him up," Liara said.
"Patrick, what happened sweetie?" Karin asked him, leaning down to get on his level.
He ceased crying but was sniffling uncontrollably. Dr. Chakwas felt his arms and legs.
"Nothing broken," she said. "Where does it hurt honey?"
'All. . all . . . all over," he managed to squeak out through the sniffles.
Shepard came in through the door and joined the others. Patrick leaped off the table and wrapped his arms around her. Shepard embraced him, while holding him up.
"Anything major?" Shepard asked.
"Well nothing is broken, but I still don't know what happened. He only told us it hurts all over," Chakwas replied.
"Jack did something involving biotics to him," Shepard replied.
"I have evidence regarding the situation," EDI's voice filled the room.
"EDI?" Shepard asked.
Shepard's omnitool lit up and she raised it, holding Patrick in her other arm, who had ceased sniffling and buried his face in the side of Shepard's neck. It was a video from the security camera on the fourth floor. It replayed what the happened. Patrick had found Jack asleep, attempted to leave without waking her, dropped his toy, and was lifted into the air with biotics. However, upon realizing her mistake, Jack stopped using biotics, but Patrick fell on his stomach instead of his feet, where moments after, Shepard arrives. It also showed what happened after, with Shepard attacking Jack.
"It appears that Jack was telling the truth, Commander," EDI said.
"How do you- right. Everywhere and everything," Shepard said realizing what she was about to say.
"Do you require anything else Commander?" EDI asked.
"No, thank you EDI," Shepard said.
"I should run a scan on him, just to make sure nothing is bruised on the inside," Dr. Chakwas said.
Shepard nodded and handed Patrick over to her.
"I'll ping your omnitool when I'm done," Dr. Chakwas replied.
Shepard and Liara left the med bay.
Mess Hall
Shepard sat down in a chair and put her palms on her temple and her elbows on her legs.
"Shepard," Liara said. "What happened down there?"
"You saw the footage, you saw what happened," Shepard said.
There was a silence.
"I over reacted. Is that what you want me to say," Shepard said.
Liara crouched down and looked Shepard in the eye.
"Do you remember it?" Liara asked.
"No. I was yelling at Jack and the next thing I knew, I was standing where she was and she was gone," Shepard said dropping her hands.
Before they could discuss further, Garrus came around the corner.
"Are you alright Garrus?" Liara asked standing up.
"Yeah, makes sense that day one back with Shepard and I'm getting thrown around. Just like old times," he joked. It got Shepard to chuckle.
"How's the little one?" Garrus asked.
"He's ok, but Dr. Chakwas is running a scan just to be sure," Liara said.
"Jack and her students have taken up residence in the hanger bay," Garrus said.
That got the smile to leave Shepard's face.
"Cheer up Shepard, the krogan representative is almost here," Garrus said.
"Why would that cheer me up?" Shepard replied.
Normandy Hanger Bay
"SHEPARD!" the loud voice of the krogan representative rang out. He marched over and shook the hand, which in turn shook her entire body, of his old comrade, Commander Shepard.
"Wrex? It's great to see you," Shepard said, realizing this is what Garrus met.
"Great it is indeed. Today is a historic day for the krogan people," Wrex said.
"And why is that?" Shepard asked.
A grin locked into his face. "You will see," he replied as they walked towards the elevator. Shepard peaked over at Jack and her students. Jack was staring a hole through Shepard. Correcting that wrong would take some time, but now was not it.
2 hours later, Liara's office
Liara was typing away, trying to find a translation for a prothean marking that needed translation for the Crucible project. She looked up and found Shepard standing in the doorway.
"Busy? Shepard asked taking off her formal Alliance officer's hat.
"I have time if you'd like to talk. In fact, I could use the distraction," Liara replied.
"What's on your mind?" Shepard asked entering the room.
"How long it took the Reapers to eradicate the Protheans, and how long they'll need for us," Liara said coldly. She stood up. "It took them centuries to conquer the Protheans. We're not quite so widespread, but it would still take at least 100 years."
Shepard frowned and sat down. That war summit was rough, and here Shepard was trying to get away from negativity and Liara was here talking about what if the Reapers win. Well, we all die.
"It's selfish, but I keep thinking that if we fail . . . I'm only 109, Shepard. I could live to see the entire cycle come to and end," Liara said.
Shepard decided to change the subject.
"Only 109 huh?" Shepard remarked smirking.
"I know. It must seem strange to complain about a thousand-year life span. I used to think it was sad most aliens lived such short lives. Maybe it's not such a privilege to loutlives so many . . to witness so much death," Liara said.
Gah! Liara had tracked the conversation back onto negativity!
"Don't drive yourself crazy about this, Liara. We're still in the fight," Shepard said.
"Only because you're still driving it forward. We finally have other leaders on our side, but none will take us as far are you can. Sometimes I wonder how you do it," Liara said.
Shepard smiled because she saw her chance.
"Every time the world's about to end, I think about how mad you'd get if I didn't stop it," Shepard replied. "I don't know if I could do this without you."
Liara smiled. She sat down on Shepard's lap and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Flatterer," she said.
"I try," Shepard smirked.
Just as Shepard was about to put her arm around Liara, she stood up. She was going back over to her blinking computer.
"I'll see you soon, Shepard," Liara said.
Shepard stood up and was going to leave when she went over to the computer next to Liara. It had an update from the migrant fleet, from one of the Shadow Broker's agents, named Sarv'er nar Koleps. Shepard recognized the name. It was a character in Fleet and Flotilla, Tali's favorite movie. Shepard smirked and saw a moment for fun. Shepard read the message. It an update on the quarians. She read over the report, about how the quarians were going to war with the geth, making a push to take back Rannoch.
"Those idiots! Now is the time for unity, not war," she said to herself.
She scanned down update and found a message stylized personally instead of in the from of an update. It was that the sender was doing well and was an voted to be an admiral, but the others admirals mostly fought amongst themselves. The sender stated how they missed their family, the Normandy, Shepard, and . .
Forward Battery
Garrus was calibrating the Normandy's gun when the door to the battery swung open. Garrus lifted his protective mask and wipped the sweat from his head.
"Shepard! What brings you down here?" Garrus asked.
"Thought I'd give you an update on how the war summit went, unless the Primarch already filled you in," Shepard said.
"Yeah, he already filled me in," Garrus replied, turning to face Shepard. "We heading to Sur'Kesh?"
"Yep. Ground team is you, me and Liara," Shepard replied.
She leaned against the wall.
"You hear anything from home?" Shepard asked.
"Last I heard my sister and dad were trying to get off planet, but the Reapers hit first. I haven't heard anything yet. I haven't given up hope they made it in time," Garrus said.
Shepard nodded. She remained silent. It was good to have hope; she just didn't have words to express that. So she decided to go with the real reason why she came down here.
"Have you heard anything else? About other efforts for the war?" she asked.
"The asari are mobilizing on Thessia, the krogan are killing anything that comes onto Tuchanka, Earth and Palaven are on fire and we are heading to Sur'Kesh," Garrus joked.
"That's dark man," Shepard said.
"Just sharing what I know," Garrus said.
"Have you heard anything from the Migrant Fleet?" she asked.
She noticed a slight flare of his mandibles. He was interested. Got him.
"Uh, no. I haven't to be honest," Garrus replied.
Garrus turned to face her directly.
"Have you?" he asked.
"As a matter a fact, I have," she replied.
No mandible movement this time, but the turn showed his rising interest in the subject.
"What have you heard?"
"You mean have I heard anything about Tali?" Shepard teased.
"Really, Commander?" Garrus asked.
While she was teasing him, she was looking for a give away. However, his reaction was solid, no give aways.
"I kid, I kid. Anyway, it turns out that despite my warning, like always, they are going to war with the geth on Rannoch," she replied.
"Those fools! Can't they see this is not the time for division," Garrus said.
"I don't think the Reapers will do anything to the geth, since they are synthetic, but their arrival would certainly crush the quarians. No way they could survive a two front war," Shepard replied.
"Why does no one ever listen?" Garrus asked.
"Because then it would be easy," Shepard joked. She stood upright.
"I'm going to start mission prep. See you down there Garrus," Shepard said walking towards the door.
"See you then Shepard," he replied.
She looked over her shoulder just as she was in the doorway.
"By the way, I did hear from Tali. She's alive. She's an Admiral herself now," Shepard said as she exited the doorway.
That got Garrus's mandibles to flare and he made no effort to hide it. He was glad to hear about Tali's safety.
"She misses you by the way," Shepard said as the door whooshed closed just as the last word left her mouth. She smiled and walked towards the elevator, pleased with herself.
Sur'Kesh, Hours Later
Shepard was staring down at the Cerberus troop, two massive holes in his chest. Garrus approached next to her.
"Remember me to never cross a krogan female," he joked.
"Same goes to for me," Shepard said.
"By the way Commander, you don't have to get my hopes up like that," Garrus replied.
"Wha-" Shepard began to speak and turn, but Garrus was already walking away. She frowned.
Normandy Captains Quarters, the next day
Shepard looked over the message from "Sarv'er nar Koleps." She had edited it to make sure that it was clear that Tali was the true sender. She forwarded the message to Garrus and put the data pad down on her desk. She looked over at the bed and saw that Patrick was waking up. She stood up from her desk and walked over to the bed.
"Hey buddy, did you get a good sleep?" she asked.
With half open eyes Patrick stretched and nodded his head. He leaned up in bed and rubbed his eyes, before looking at Shepard, who was now sitting on the bed edge next to him.
"We are going to be at the Citadel any minute now. Let's say we get you changed and get you some breakfast there. Sound good?" she asked.
"I get to come with you?" he asked.
"Yeah, I only have to see my friend while we are here, so after we eat, we only have one stop to make," she said.
Patrick smiled with eager anticipation.
"We should talk about yesterday," she replied.
The smile left his face and he looked down towards his feet.
"It was an accident Patrick. You did the right thing trying to leave," she said.
He looked to her.
"But it was also a mistake heading down there while Jack was sleeping but you couldn't have know," she said. "Both of us will have to apologize to her."
His gaze went down to his feet again.
She shifted her one hand to his arm and the other under his chin, genteelly moving his face to face hers. "Hey, it's how things work. If you are wrong, you apologize. When others are wrong, you apologize to you."
"And if they don't apologize to you?" he asked.
"Then all you can do is make things right on your end. You can't save everyone," she replied.
"Save?" he asked.
Shepard blinked. Did she really say that?
"Please. I meant please. You can't please everyone," she said, correcting herself.
"Docking at the Citadel now, hanger 44," Joker's voice filled the room.
"Come on," Shepard said standing up. "Let's get you changed and some grub."
Normandy, Level 2
Shepard was talking to Samantha with Patrick next to her when the elevator opened. Jack and her students began to exit. Patrick left Shepard's side and approached Jack. Shepard turned and was about to rush over when she heard Patrick say, "Sorry."
Jack looked astonished. She shook her head slightly and then couldn't help a small smile.
"I'm sorry too little dude," she said extending her fist.
Patrick just stared at it.
"You bump it," she replied.
One of Jack's students held out their fist and Jack bumped it with hers before returning her fist to where it had been before.
Patrick slowly extended his arm and quickly bumped his fist against Jack's.
"You got it," she said.
Her gaze went up towards Shepard.
"Thank you," Shepard mouthed to her.
Jack flipped off Shepard. She joined the rest of her students in leaving, heading towards the airlock.
"That's a conversation I'm happy I don't have to have," Traynor said to Shepard.
"Rub it in, Specialist," Shepard said.
Samantha went back to her console.
"Come on buddy, let's go see Ashley," Shepard called to Patrick.
At the mention of Ashley's name, Shepard noticed that Specialist Traynor's ears slightly perked up.
"Interesting," she thought to herself. "That might require further investigation."
Citadel, Huerta Memorial Hospital
Shepard and Patrick walked through the door to see Ashley Williams, standing upright on her own and looking out the massive window.
"Good to see you up and around," Shepard said.
Ashley turned at the noise.
"Yeah," Ashley replied.
"Everything alright?" Shepard asked.
"I guess. Oh, I took Udina's offer," she replied.
"Spectre status. Congratulations," Shepard said smiling.
"Seems small compared to what's going on," Ashley replied motioning at Patrick.
"Being a parent and a spectre are two different things. You're a fine soldier with an impressive record. You deserve this," Shepard said. "By the way, this is Patrick. He's my boy," she said using her one hand to slightly nudge him forward.
"Thanks. That . . . means a lot coming from you," Ashley replied. "Nice to meet you Patrick, I'm Ashley. The Commander here is like a sister to me," she said shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you," he replied.
Ashley looked up at Shepard again. "Udina said we'll have the official ceremony soon . . . once I'm out of here," Ashley said.
"And after? Any plans to come back to the Normandy?" Shepard asked.
"If I have anything to say about it, yes," she replied.
"I'm glad," Shepard said smiling. "You feeling better?"
"I'm fine, other than the pile of paperwork the doc's gonna throw at me. Sorry I'm so distracted, Shepard. It's just . . ." Ashley began.
"Sweetie, wait just outside the door, we need a moment," Shepard said to Patrick.
Patrick nodded and left the room.
A few minutes later, Shepard exited the room.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
"Is everything ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, Ashley just had to give me an update on something private," she replied.
Patrick frowned.
"Say, how about we go and get a replacement model ship for the one that broke?" Shepard said.
"Can I get my own?" he asked.
"Sure thing buddy," she replied ruffling his hair.
Presidium Commons
Shepard and Patrick walked down stairs at the Presidium Commons. Patrick was awestruck as the size of the place. Shepard gazed around and saw Liara on the far end, sitting at a table reading something. As they continued down the stairs, Shepard thought she recognized someone on the left. She was sure of it. She directed Patrick off to the right, into a toy store. Just as they got into the store, Shepard kneeled down.
"I want you to buy yourself whatever you want, and then you see Liara over there?" Shepard said pointing over to her.
"Yes," he replied.
"I want you to go over to her and wait for me with her. If she asks tell her I'll be there in a second," she said.
Patrick nodded. She gave him some credits and left the store, heading back to the left. Patrick was looking around the store for something to get. Shepard walked over to the bar and motioned for a drink. The asari behind the bar began to get her a drink.
"Hey, I remember you. Shepard, right? Heard you're fighting the Reapers," the bartender said.
"Matriarch Aethyta. You were working on Illium. How'd you end up here?" Shepard asked throwing out back her drink.
"Eh, with the Reapers making noise, I figured it was time to get somewhere safer, so I moved here," Aethyta replied.
Aethyta looked passed Shepard to Patrick, who was making his was towards Liara.
"How'd you end up with a kid? He looks a bit old to yours naturally," Aethyta said.
Shepard looked back to him.
"Long story, but I save him," she replied turning back to face the bar. "I don't believe you by the way," Shepard said.
"I beg your pardon?" Aethyta said.
"I've seen some video footage . . . of you looking at Liara," Shepard said in a serious tone.
The pair looked over at the table Liara was at, Patrick having just joined her. They then faced each other again.
"Yeah . . . Matriarch Benezia was . . . was her mother, and she doesn't know it, but I was her father," Aethyta said.
"Liara would love to meet you," Shepard said.
'Why?" Aethyta said. "She doesn't even know me from a hole in the ground. Benezia ran off before the kid was born. Besides, this isn't charity work. She's one of the biggest intel brokers in the galaxy. And she's got some shady connections . . . . . . like a girlfriend who used to work for Cerberus. Sound-"
"I only worked with Cerberus to fight the Reapers," Shepard stated.
"And you're not with'em now, I know. If you were, you wouldn't get within a light year of Liara," Aethyta said.
Shepard crossed her arms. "Is that a threat?"
"I'm no commando, but I've had a thousand years to learn to fight dirty. Nobody messes with my girl," Aethyta replied. "Anyway, you combine her work with Benezia and . . . well the matriarchs might've ordered a hit if-"
"That's not going to happen," Shepard cut her off putting her hands on the table.
"No argument here," Aethyta said putting her hands up. "I only took these crap jobs to keep the matriarchs happy that she's under control."
"Just as long as we're clear, nobody messes with my girl," Shepard said.
"Ha! Maybe you're good enough for her after all," Aethyta chuckled.
"I'd bet she'd like to meet you," Shepard said.
"Yeah. We'll see how that goes," Aethyta replied.
Shepard walked over to Liara and Patrick at the table.
"My two favorite people!" Shepard proclaimed.
"Oh! It's nice to see you Shepard. Patrick here said you were nearby," Liara replied.
Patrick hugged Shepard, who picked him up and sat in the seat he was in.
"That bartender over there?" Shepard began.
"The matriarch hired by the asari government to track my movements?" Liara said bluntly.
Shepard's jaw dropped. She's the Shadow Broker. Right.
"She's your father," Shepard said.
"I know," Liara said putting her hands on the table.
"You know?" Shepard asked.
"I'm a very good information broker," Liara replied.
"And you haven't talked to her about spying on you?" Shepard asked.
"If I did that, they might send someone who wasn't as sympathetic to me," Liara said. "Besides, this is hardly the time for family reunions."
"Liara . . ." Shepard said making a cute face.
"Oh, fine," Liara relented. She stood up and started to walk over to the bar.
"Love you," Shepard said to Liara as she walked away.
"Are we going back to the Normandy now?" Patrick asked.
"Let's shop for a little more, then we'll go back," Shepard said.
Normandy, 1 Hour Later
Shepard, Patrick, and Liara exited the airlock and walked down the main corridor of the Normandy. Patrick ran ahead to show his friend Sam his new toy.
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Shepard asked.
"No. We agreed to occasionally keep in contact," Liara replied.
"I'm glad," Shepard said, taking Liara's hand in her own.
"Yes, I can see- Oh Commander!" Samantha said saluting Shepard. "You have a guest waiting for you in your quarters."
"Someone is in my quarters, whom I may not know?" Shepard asked. "Did you know about this?" she turned to Liara.
"Yes," Liara replied.
"Who is it?" Shepard asked.
Liara moved closer to Shepard. She brought their lips just centimeters from each other. Shepard could practically taste her. At the last moment, Liara moved her face to the side of Shepard's and whispered into her ear, "Payback."
It sent a shiver down Shepard's spine as Liara left for her quarters.
Captain's Quarters
Shepard, with Patrick, entered the door and her mouth hung a jaw. A woman in Alliance blues was looking at the fish in the fish tank. She turned to face Shepard.
"Captain!" Shepard said standing up straight and saluting the woman.
The woman stared at Shepard for a moment.
"Oh cut the crap . . . ," she replied.
Shepard's arm went down to her sides.
". . . And come give your mother a hug," the woman said opening her arms.
Shepard moved quickly and wrapped her arms around her mother.
"Oh mom. It's so great to see you," Shepard said closing her eyes and basking in being in her mothers embrace.
"It's great to see you too sweetie. My little Starchaser," Hannah Shepard replied.
Patrick stared in shock. Hearing all the stories about Shepard, there was never mention of her parents beyond that they were both in the Alliance. Shepard clearly loved her mother, based on how she reacted when she saw her. The women were still hugging.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Hannah asked.
The hug broke off, Shepard trying to hide the face she had shed some tears. She turned to Patrick.
"Patrick, this is my mom . . and your grandma," Shepard said.
Patrick smiled and walked forward towards them. Hannah met him half way and got down on one knee.
"It's nice to meet you Patrick," she said.
Patrick looked at her for a moment before throwing his arms around her and giving her a hug. After a brief moment of surprise, she returned the hug.
1 Hour Later, Airlock
Shepard was walking her mother off the ship.
"It was really great to see you again mom. Where will you go now?" Shepard asked.
"Probably to Crucible, to help out where we can," Hannah replied. "By the way, after Liara contacted me and set this little meet up together, she showed me a video."
Shepard froze. She knew what video she was talking about.
"What about it?" she replied.
"Alexis, you haven't had a outburst like that since you were a child," Hannah said.
"It was nothing, a momentary lapse in judgment," Shepard replied.
"Lex," Hannah began. "It was more than that. You are a parent now. Parental instincts are incredibly powerful emotions. They affect biotics just as any other of your feeling will."
Shepard remained silent and stared at the floor. Hannah put her arms on Shepard's arms.
"Honey, I know your in control, no matter how blinded you might be. Promise me you'll be more careful," Hannah asked.
Shepard looked up.
"I promise," Shepard replied.
The two woman hugged.
"And apologize to your friend you smacked across the room," Hannah said breaking the hug.
"I was planning on it," Shepard said.
She watched as the airlock closed and her mom was gone.
"EDI?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, Commander?" EDI's voice replied.
"Get me a cab," Shepard replied.
"Certainly Shepard, en route now," EDI replied.
Purgatory Bar
Shepard entered the bar with the bottle of whiskey she had purchased. Almost instantly, she spotted Jack, sitting alone, watching her students, who were drinking at a few tables. Shepard walked over and sat next to Jack, who simply held up the middle finger to Shepard and didn't even look at her.
"I'm sorry Jack," Shepard said. "I mean it."
Jack didn't move or change her posture.
"Ok fine," Shepard said.
She opened the bottle, tossed the cap in front of Jack, and took a swig. She looked at the bottle and held it over to Jack. After a moment, Jack stopped flipping off Shepard and took the bottle. She took a swig and crossed her arms, sitting not looking at Shepard. Shepard stared forward and smiled.
"This is just a start, by the way," Jack said.
Shepard gulped.