The next morning, Shepard gave in and went to talk to Wrex.
"Wrex."
"Shepard."
"I was an ass."
"Agreed."
"You were an ass."
"Agreed."
"Meet me in the lounge sometime to drink too much?"
"Of course. Shepard."
"Wrex."
And it was settled.
OoOoO
Shepard met with Mordin and Eve for the rest of the morning, learning everything she could about the genophage cure and the best way to administer it. Mordin suggested using the Shroud as the means to dispense it to the entire planet. Shepard brought Wrex and Liara in for tactical advice, and together the group hammered out a preliminary plan. Satisfied that the details could be finalized during the trip to Tuchanka, Shepard had Joker set course back to the krogan homeworld.
OoOoO
That evening, Shepard was in her quarters reviewing the seemingly endless supply requisitions that needed her approval. Technically off-duty, she had changed into worn jeans and a loose tee. She lounged on her couch, datapad in one hand and bourbon in the other. Her door chimed, and she called "Come!" without looking up.
"Shepard, am I disturbing you?" Shepard's head jerked up at the sound of Traynor's voice.
"Specialist…" Shepard began, in a cautioning tone.
Traynor held one hand up, as if in surrender. "Don't worry, Shepard." She held up her other hand, showing Shepard the chess set she was holding. "I believe you mentioned that you play?"
Shepard relaxed. A little. Still wary, she indicated a chair across the low table. "I'm a bit rusty, but I'll give it a go. It has to be better than requisition lists." She dropped the datapad, and began arraying chess pieces on her side of the board.
"Good. Playing chess with you should be more fun than playing with EDI. EDI doesn't sweat." Traynor leaned forward, her unbuttoned uniform gaping open at her ample cleavage.
Shepard tried vainly to avert her gaze. "You sweat when playing chess?"
Traynor looked intently at Shepard. Her voice low and sultry, she replied, "Depends on how much fun I'm having." Shepard swallowed hard, immediately turning her attention to the board.
Traynor was good. Very good. Shepard underestimated her (not for the first time), and was beaten quickly in their first match. Shepard hated to lose. Even if the opponent was better. So she called for a rematch.
Traynor appeared to consider the request. "What shall we play for?"
Shepard eyed her carefully. "What do you mean?"
"I've noticed that you have a rather large shower." Shepard was definitely on her guard now. "The crew showers are crap. If I win, I get to use yours tonight." Seeing Shepard's apparent discomfort, Traynor quickly added, "Alone." Shepard exhaled in relief.
"And if I win?"
"If you win, I'll review those supply requisitions for you."
Shepard only needed a moment to make her decision. "Deal."
Naturally, Traynor won again. She took only a moment to grab her shower gear and return.
Shepard had already settled in her chair, refocusing her attention on her datapad. She heard the shower turn on, and tried not to think of the woman about to step under it. That was easier said than done, particularly since Traynor was apparently going to carry on a conversation through the open door. Shit. The door is open.
"You're actually a much better player than I expected, Shepard. If you could reign in some of your impulse moves, you might actually beat me. You just need to stick to your strategy." Shepard tried very hard to not look in the direction of the voice. She didn't succeed. Traynor stood under the steamy water, head back, eyes closed, breasts out. Oh god. Those breasts. Look away. Dammit, look away. She didn't look away. She watched as rivulets of water ran down Traynor's ample breasts, cascading off her hard nipples. Heat pooled in Shepard's center. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat with a muffled whimper.
Traynor continued. "I was actually surprised when you took my rook. I thought for certain you were angling for my knight. Do you play often?" Shepard was only partially listening to Traynor. Her eyes finally left Traynor's chest, only they moved downward, past her surprisingly toned abdomen, towards the sparse hair above her sex. She rocked forward slightly in her chair. "Shepard?"
Still staring at the wet, naked body Shepard realized that a response of some sort was expected from her. "I'm sorry. I missed that last part. What was the question?"
"Perhaps if you were looking elsewhere, you would have heard." Traynor teased. Shepard raised her gaze to Traynor's face, realizing that Traynor's eyes were now open and she was fully aware of Shepard's ogling.
"Fuck, Specialist. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"Don't apologize, Shepard. I meant for you to." Traynor turned around, flaunting a narrow waist that flared out to the curve of her rounded backside. She continued to goad the commander as she lathered her thick, black hair, arching her back to emphasize her flank. "Would you care to join me?"
Shepard hated that her body responded so quickly to the sight of the bare flesh in front of her. And that she was still looking, despite her best efforts. The throbbing pulse in her center was becoming more insistent. So she did the only thing she could think of under the circumstances.
She ran.
She thought she could hear Traynor laughing softly beneath the sound of the shower as the door closed behind her.
OoOoO
Shepard gave Traynor plenty of time alone in her quarters with the shower before checking with EDI to see if her cabin was empty. She could have sworn EDI sounded almost amused when she reported that the room was vacant.
Flopping back down on the couch, she poured herself another bourbon and put her feet up on the table. She opened the message she'd received from Ashley while she was away from her cabin.
To: Commander S. Shepard
From: Lieutenant Commander A. Williams
Sloane - Good news! I've finally been fully released from the hospital. No more overnights needed. Still lots of follow-up appointments and physical therapy, but at least I can sleep in my own bed at night. Too bad you're not here to share it. Speaking of PT, a drell in my group class introduced himself to me and wanted to let me know that I'm under his protection. What the hell have you done this time? And I got my first Spectre task - the Council has assigned me to Udina temporarily. He really is an asshole, but I can deal with it. Wish I were there with you, love. Liara is worried about you (don't get pissed off at her - she's just concerned). Please take care of yourself. Stay safe. Love you. -Ashley
Shepard hammered out a quick reply.
To: Lieutenant Commander A. Williams
From: Commander S. Shepard
Ash - Miss you, love. Getting ready to reverse the krogan genophage. Feel like I'm actually doing something good for once. Now that you're out, we'll get you transferred aboard the Normandy soon. Unless you're really enjoying your assignment to Udina. Thane is a good guy - I know you don't need "protection", but that's his way. Atoning and shit. And I wish Liara hadn't said anything to you. She's not wrong, though. I do need you. Fuck. I'll get through it. I have to. Love you. -S
OoOoO
The mission was a bittersweet success. The genophage cure was deployed, but it had cost Mordin his life.
"Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong." That noble bastard.
Shepard sat in her quarters with a healthy pour of bourbon, replaying the mission in her head. Mordin's loss weighed heavily on her. Short Salarian lifespan or not, he still had a few years left, and so much more he could have contributed to the galaxy.
The return of her nightmares wasn't helping.
The combination of grief and sleep deprivation shortened her temper even more than usual. She was going to need to apologize to both Cortez and Chakwas later. For now, she was just going to wallow.
Shepard was nearly done with her third drink when her door chimed. Cursing herself for not putting a "do not disturb" notice on, she barked, "Come!" Standing to see who was about to annoy her, she felt the combined effect of too much alcohol and too little food. She dropped back down on the couch just as Traynor entered. "Fuck."
"Commander, if now isn't a good time…"
"Depends on what you need. If you need an executive decision made, it's really not a good time. If you want to listen to me cuss and rant, it's a very good time." Shepard drained her glass.
"Ah. I read your report before forwarding it on to Admiral Hackett. Did you know the Salarian well?"
Shepard snorted. "Yeah." She offered nothing more.
"My condolences, then." Traynor sat next to Shepard, setting the datapad she'd been carrying down on the low table in front of the couch. "Did you want to talk about it?"
"Not with you. No." Shepard closed her eyes. "Sorry. I'm not very good company right now. Nothing personal."
"No worries, Commander. I apologize for the intrusion." Traynor hesitated, not quite getting up to leave.
"Did you come and bother me for a reason, Specialist?" Shepard knew she was bordering on the rude, but couldn't help it. Another apology I'll have to make tomorrow.
A pause. "Yes, but I don't think it's a very good time for it right now." Shepard felt fingers graze gently across her forearm and the back of her hand just before Traynor stood. "I'll save it for later, Shepard."
Too drained to respond, Shepard just listened as the door opened to allow Traynor to exit. She briefly considered more bourbon, opting instead to lay on the couch and let exhausted sleep take over.
OoOoO
The next day found Shepard in the mess with a plate of bacon and a mug of coffee in front of her, holding her head. Not her finest morning. She inwardly groaned when Traynor approached with her ubiquitous cup of tea. Time to start the apology tour.
Shepard began before Traynor could sit. "Specialist, I'm sorry for being rude last night. I wasn't at my best, but that's no reason for me to behave badly."
Traynor gave her a warm smile, looking at her from beneath her long, black lashes, taking the seat next to her. Shepard couldn't help but appreciate how attractive the woman was. "No, Shepard." It wasn't lost on the commander that Traynor was no longer using her rank. "I'm the one who should apologize. I should not have intruded. I was thinking only how I might enjoy your company, when I should have been more aware of what you needed at the time."
What I needed was Ashley. "Nonetheless, I am sorry." Shepard inartfully folded a piece of bacon into her mouth, followed by a gulp of coffee. She almost choked on both when she felt a hand on her knee under the table. Her eyes darted to Traynor's face. The specialist held an utterly innocent expression, causing Shepard to almost doubt what she had felt. "Specialist?"
"Yes, Shepard?" Traynor practically cooed.
Shepard nervously put another piece of bacon into her mouth. They weren't alone in the mess, and she didn't want to start any rumors. Especially not this close to Ashley's anticipated return. "My leg."
"Yes, it is."
"Your hand."
"Yes, it is."
"I thought we'd talked about this." Shepard dropped her voice so that hopefully only Traynor could hear her.
"Yes, we did."
"And yet. . . ?"
"And yet."
"Specialist…" Shepard was definitely uncomfortable. As much from the contact as the sensations it was sparking in her. "I am seeing someone."
"So you say, Shepard, but I don't see her here."
Shepard distracted herself with another slice of bacon. "Specialist." Her voice began to rise. She made an effort to quiet it. "Specialist," she began again. "I cannot deny that you are very attractive." Traynor moved in closer, allowing her warm breath to tickle Shepard's neck. Shepard could not hide the shiver that went down her spine. "But I really can't return your attentions."
"But you want to…" Traynor's voice vibrated against Shepard's ear and her hand slid up Shepard's thigh, reaching her center.
"Yes. I mean, no!" Shepard hissed as she involuntarily bucked into the contact. She finally got a hold of Traynor's hand, holding it firmly under the table. She took a shaky breath. "Specialist, please stop. The woman I love is waiting for me on the Citadel, and I can't do this."
"Oh." Traynor withdrew her hand from Shepard's grasp. "Beg pardon. I didn't realize that you were that serious with someone. I'm… terribly sorry. Please forgive me."
"As long as we don't do this again, Specialist. You're very persuasive. I'm just not available. I enjoy working with you. We might even become friends. But that's all. Are we clear?" Another slice of bacon nervously consumed.
Traynor had the decency to look somewhat chagrined. "Yes, ma'am." Shepard nodded, and began to get up. "I'm still going to watch you walk away, though." Shepard eyed her warily, sidestepping away from the table as Traynor chuckled quietly to herself.
