CHAPTER 7

I hated his visor. Not always. In battle it made him faster, sharper, deadlier. Here in the world of corporate sharks, political intrigue and concealed possibilities, it was an advantage.

If he hadn't been Garrus Vakarian, I would have drafted an official demanded. But I digress.

I really hate that thing.

Being a woman of violence and action, the realization that I was acclimatizing to my new role was like ice in my veins. A part of me clung to the solider. She had more armor. And it was idiotic when I realized why I needed armor now more than ever.

I thought I'd grow tired of the Councilor gig. I also thought the pencil pushing would grate on my nerves. That the slow easy sprawl of my office would suffocate me.

It did. And then it didn't.

There weren't many reasons for it – there was one.

I ,really, REALLY hated that thing.

Garrus was lounging on one of the sofas as we discussed the intel we'd received from salve traders on Omega. Aria had sent a floating, deactivated crate of Batarian slavers all stamped and wrapped. Predictably, the Asari Councilor had wanted to sweep it under the rug. But the Batarian had begrudgingly agreed to investigate the matter himself. I had glared at him until he relented.

"What exactly did you do to my warlord? The last time on Omega, you must have done some serious ass kicking, or kissing, to be in her good graces."

Raising an eyebrow from where I leaned against my desk, data pad in my hand, I snorted. "Your warlord?"

"Two names were spoken with much reverence on that reprobate rock." Garrus grinned, his teeth glimmering in the late afternoon glow of the make-shift sun outside my window.

"Aria and Nyreen?" I batted my lashes at him and handed the signed pad to Laila who hid a smile. She and I had become somewhat easier. I didn't hate her need to point out what I missed, deliberately or otherwise. She had learned to see past my mouth. It did seem to say the worst, most vile things. Unless he was around. Oh the horribly pink and fluffy implications of it all. Damn you Vakarian.

"Oh harsh." Garrus put a hand on his chest and took a lamenting breath. He also held up his pad as Laila passed him on her way out of my office. Aria was dealt with and Laila was used to finding the Turian Councilor often working from my couch. But she smiled at him as she went. And to my horror, I saw him wink back at her. Something heated in my blood and I glared at his ability to charm anything on two legs. Hmmm. Well anything with legs.

"You just like yanking my chord human."

"Chain."

"Oooh." His eyes suddenly caught blue mischievous fire. "Naughty Jane. Right here in the office?"

It was an instant. Like a struck match. An imploding star. A mass relay jump. A blink. A breath.

My throat ran dry, my mouth parted and my office swirled out into a vortex to replace the image of one Garrus Vakarian splayed out on my sofa. One long powerful arm pulled up, links of gold coiled around his wrist. Talons cutting into the black cowhide of my cushions. Head thrown back, mandibles flared, my name caught between a growl and a plea. Pale metal plates under soft suede hide, bare, shining with sweat, shifting, adjusting as I stroked, squeezed…teased…

"Jane?"

Snapped out of the vision, I jumped and my breath left me in a cracked curse.

Garrus had gone still, his visor the only thing alive and screaming silently in the room.

The forces of change hit me like a ton of bricks.

I would always remember the exact moment I wanted Garrus Vakarian and I realized now – he damned well knew it too.

"I can't find her."

"Come on T'Soni you're the damned Shadowbroker. That's just insulting," Garrus snarled low and agitated as walked from the skycar to the café he and Shepard frequented.

The Asari huffed into his earpiece. "Obstinate Turian! Did you not hear me! I said I can't find her!"

Blue eyes darting around the sparse eatery, Garrus paused when her words registered. "You mean for me."

"Of course! I AM the Shadowbroker."

Shoulders slumping a little, Garrus sighed. "Did she tell you not to tell me?"

"Honestly Garrus, you have no idea where she might be?"

"No!" Throwing up his arms, uncaring that a few eyes followed the perturbed Turian Councilor as he stomped through the presidium. An interesting sight indeed. "I came in today to find out she took a day off, Laila and I've been pinging her all morning to confirm next week's meeting with the Female clan head on Tuchanka. She had hydrotherapy with Dr. Mohsin in the afternoon, the man seems to think I waylaid her. I swear why does everyone think I'm the one who did something?"

The Shadowbroker was very silent and Garrus' feet smoked to a stop before he could get back into his skycar. "Liara?"

Silence.

Teeth grinding together, Garrus let out a rather threatening growl. "What does she think I did?"

"Oh stop it, you know. In her office."

Startled at the answer to his non-verbal coercion he blinked, mandibles fluttering out in surprise. "Her office?"

"When you found out," Liara's voice was hesitant. Almost unhappy with what it was revealing.

"I swear, no matter your species, your gender will never make sense to me."

"Oh stop it! Your gender seems to be oblivious to what's staring you right in their faces. Don't you remember when you were teasing her?"

"Uh…."

"Garrus!"

"T'Soni!"

The Asari took a deep fortifying breath and explained (or tried to) while he hyperventilated into an early heart-attack. "You were wearing your visor when you made that…uh…allusion to the…ahem…chains."

"What does that have to do with…" Brain back-peddling, events flashing before his vision, he scowled in frustration. Damn these women and their riddles. Liara was just as bad as Shepard at being straight…forward…with… "Oh."

"Yeah 'OH'! Your visor picked up her vitals when she realized she…uh. Well you know."

Running a hand over his face plates, Garrus prayed for patience as he dragged much needed calm back into his bones. "Liara…"

"What?"

"My visor has been telling me she's turned on by my teasing for years now."

"WHAT!?"

Laughter burning in his gut, Garrus didn't think either woman would appreciate his humor on the situation. "Ahem. So uh…how about you patch me into her omnitool and I hack my way in? You will be absolved."

There was a moment of silence then. "Done. And Garrus?"

"Yes Liara?"

"I think it's best you don't tell her about…"

"Contrary to popular belief, our gender is not suicidal. Thanks Liara." Rolling his eyes, he sat into the skycar and his omnitool flared to life. It was a good thing being around Shepard meant his hacking skills were top notch.

Where he found her though, set his breath to stall. There was no doubt in his mind where this would lead now. Oh spirits.

Shepard was in a high place, with a low boiling point and a sniper rifle.

TO BE CONTINUED...