Disclaimer: The Mass Effect Universe and everything in it belongs to BioWare. I only lay claim to London and Teagan.

[Chapter Twelve: Oats We Sow]

Commander's Cabin

Second day of Flight to Omega

8AM

Shepard awoke with a start, instantly looking over his manhood to check its status update. All clear. He exhaled happily then turned his attention to a still sleeping Jack. She had not moved one inch during the entire night so there she lay with her ear over his heart and still very much entangled in him. Her arm was dominantly placed over his stomach and her leg was thrown over both of his, making it seem in an odd way that she'd been clinging. It made him smile.

John took the quiet moment to examine the top of her head then bring his free hand over to gently rub a thumb over her scalp. The need to chuckle overwhelmed him and he freely let it out, causing his chest to shake gently and stir the woman who rested calmly on it.

Her voice was thick with sleep and her lids fluttered open to reveal still tired eyes rimmed with pink. "…what's so funny that you felt the need to wake me up?" Her intonation would easy make any other grown man curl up in a fetal position and weep, but Shepard refused to remove that grin that infuriated her, and without any hint of self preservation…rubbed his thumb over her scalp a few more times.

Jack's head snapped up and glared anger made of molten lightning through her eyeballs. "Do I fuckin' look like a dog?"

Momentarily caught off guard by the fire and brimstone, he retrieved his hands and lifted his brows, suddenly becoming more amused than anything else. "…really not a morning person are you?"

She leaned in closer with her laser beams of hate and began to scowl. Shepard waved a mock white flag. "I wasn't petting you!"

She squinted, "Then what the fuck were you doing?"

John pointed a finger at her hair, "It's just…your hair. It's starting to grow a little."

Jack growled, "So? I ain't had time to fuckin' fix it the way I like."

Shepard grinned, "I know but I saw it and just couldn't help myself. I like it."

The fire in her eyes went out instantly. "…oh. Well… don't do it anymore."

The commander chuckled softly. "I'm sorry."

She examined his face, her eyes still seeming as if they were deciding on what to do with him. But before a decision was met, Shepard slightly leaned up to kiss her lips.

Jack instantly pulled away and rolled over to the cooler side of the sheets, "Guh! What the shit, Shepard!"

His eyes grew wide with concern as he moved into a sitting position, "What? What'd I do?"

"…morning breathe like a motherfuck!" She smacked her mouth as if just tasting something horrible then wiped her lips.

Shepard covered his face with his palm and laughed, "…I can't do anything right."

"You know what you can do right?" she asked, turning over to look at him with a disapproving face.

"What's that?"

"Brush your fuckin' teeth."

xxxxxxx

Med Bay

Same Time

Helen blinked away the morning and yawned loudly as she fixed her working space for the days events. It had been a rather long week and she had decided to go to bed without putting everything away in its proper place. Chakwas filled out last minute paper work, filed and labeled them, then turned to her terminal. She had completely forgotten to add the Normandy's new guests into her personal medical database. If something were to ever happen to her data pad, she'd always have the files backed up and ready to go again.

Dr. Chakwas plugged in her pad, typed in her code, and transferred the data from both girls. Helen had always been the type of woman to review what she had prescribed based on the results she had received, and though these two were not part of the crew, they were certainly still her patients and she would give them the same courtesy as well.

She reviewed Teagan first, making mental checks as she went along her list. "Everything looks good with this one," she said to the empty med bay, closing the data and moving on to her last target.

The results popped onto her terminal's display and Chakwas began her normal routine, mumbling to herself along the way, "Tissue…check…fine….fine….healthy….norm—" Helen stopped to rub what might be extra grogginess in her eyes and then checked again. "…Well that can't be right. I would have noticed a difference like that." The doctor opened a separate window and brought up Teagan's data once more, placing it side by side to London's. "…there is no possi—"

Helen blinked at her terminal's screen in confusion, calling the ship's A.I as she gathered her thoughts, "…Edi."

The A.I. responded quickly, "Dr. Chakwas?"

"Edi, I need you to bring John down here right away."

"Yes, Dr. Chakwas. What should I tell the Commander it is concerning?"

"It's concerning our new guests… and tell him it's urgent."

"Of course."

xxxxxxx

Commander's Cabin

Same Time

He gargled, he spit, and he spun around to meet the grinning Jack, "All better now, highness?"

The biotic leaned against the doorframe with crossed arms, "Don't give me your shit. If you could have smelt whatever was in your damn mouth—you would've bitched about it too."

Shepard casually made his way up to her and leaned on the same side of the door frame, only inches away from her, "…what about now?"

Jack could clearly see his need to kiss her in his eyes. Normally she would have pushed him back violently or just walked away herself, but something at the bottom of her stomach made a small flip when he asked the question. If there was one thing she ever had to give Shepard credit for—it wouldn't be for saving the galaxy, it would be his kisses. They were damn good.

John had began his lips decent onto hers when Edi quickly rang out into his cabin, "Excuse the interruption Commander, but Dr. Chakwas requests your presence in the medical bay stating it was very urgent and about the Normandy's new arrivals."

Shepard looked at Jack then walked out of the bathroom and into his living area. "Tell her I'll be there right away, Edi."

"Yes, Commander."

Jack turned around and looked at him, "…she said 'excuse the interruption'. Is she always…watching us?"

Shepard laughed as he quickly began to get dressed in his casual wear. "Edi is the Normandy. I think you already know the answer to that question, Jack."

The biotic eyeballed the ceiling of Shepard's cabin. "Fuckin' pervert."

When the commander finished dressing he made his way to the door then turned around towards Jack, "Did you want to come?"

She only stared at him with a cocked brow.

Shepard grinned, "Figured as much."

Jack walked into the bathroom again, "I'm gonna' grab a shower—talk later."

xxxxxxx

Shepard pressed the elevator's button to head down to deck three, "EDI, tell Lawson to meet up with me at the medical bay. If it's urgent, I want my second in command there."

"Yes, Commander Shepard."

xxxxxxx

When the elevator doors opened to the third deck, Miranda was already in front of the elevator waiting for him. "Shepard," she greeted with her usual business demeanor.

John put a hand on her shoulder and tugged her in the direction of the Med Bay, "Walk with me, Lawson. I just got a call from Helen saying it was urgent."

"Concerning, Sir?"

"Our new arrivals, and before you ask—that's what we're about to find out."

When the pair walked through the door they were greeted by Dr. Chakwas' back. She was reviewing her data pad for the fourth time and was ranting on to herself in a tone that was barely audible. When she heard the hiss of her doors she swung around, a slight worried look on her face.

"I'm sorry to call you down so early Commander, but it seems I missed a rather large detail in their medical reports. I would have let you known last night but I was just so tired and—"

John put a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, "Helen, it's alright. It's been a hell of a last few weeks and we're all tired. We haven't had a break, so just take a second to breathe and then tell me what's going on."

Chakwas exhaled then took a second to gather her sentence, "John, what I'm about to show you and Miranda has still got to stay behind closed lips. I will not breech my doctor/patient confidentiality more than I already have to. But you need to know about this simply because the find is…odd. Or rather, it makes no sense given the relationship we've seen."

Miranda raised an eyebrow and looked to John who extended his hand to accept the data pad. "Unless it concerns lives aboard this vessel, it will remain between us," he reassured. Shepard looked over the comparison of data and shook his head, "Okay, forgive me but I have no idea what I'm looking at here. These charts, those letters—I'm not seeing the problem."

Lawson grinned and leaned over to examine the pad with him. Her eyes scanned the data, falling onto London's vaginal scarring results first, and then moving on to the next section, brows going up in curiosity. "…well that can't be right."

John looked at Miranda then Helen and then back again between the two. "Okay I hate being the one to break up such a moment of jaw dropping discovery, but would someone mind telling me what the hell I'm looking at?"

Miranda pointed at the pad's section on tissue and genetics. "Shepard take a look right here. Do you see these letters and the diagram next to it?"

He nodded, "And?"

"Compare them to Teagan's genetics."

He sighed, starting to get annoyed. "I don't see anything, Lawson."

"Exactly."

He glanced at her, "What?"

Miranda took the pad and held it up before the two, "Shepard, in siblings the genetic material is identical by at least fifty percent: twenty five percent from their mother and twenty five percent from their father."

John squint his eyes as he reviewed both sets of data, the truth starting to become clear in his mind. "But these aren't identical in the slightest..."

Miranda brought the pad down to her side and looked at him, not able to fathom the words leaving her mouth, "Correct. Sir, London is not Teagan's sister. They're not even related."

Dr. Chakwas nodded her head, reaching over to take back her data pad. "I'm sorry I didn't catch it sooner, Commander."

Lawson furrowed her brow, "…there has to an explanation, Shepard. They have to be related. We've seen how London is with Teagan, how she snaps to attention and acts out when she feels the child is in danger. That's what we do," she said, her own mind racing over thoughts of Oriana, "…that's what a big sister does."

John lifted his hands to silence his two rambling crew members, his frustration beginning to build up. He hated being lied to, "Everyone calm down. Medical data doesn't lie and our equipment is definitely not faulty. It's simple. They're not related. And though we are shocked to hear about it, we need to find out who the hell London is to Teagan and why they're together in the first place. I will not have them aboard this ship with secrets that could put our lives in danger." The two nodded their heads silently, waiting for Shepard to finish his train of thought and command. "Alright, Helen just go on about your day as if normal and we'll take it from here…and thank you for bringing this to my attention. Miranda, it seems we owe our older guest a visit. I am not partial to lies, and she has some serious explaining to do if she expects to remain on my ship."

Miranda exhaled softly but nodded her head, "Of course, Commander."

xxxxxxx

Portside Observation/ London's Quarters

Like every other morning for the past five years, London's eyes snapped open with a heaving chest and damp skin. Teagan, who fell into routine of calming her, patted her older sister's stomach with a lazy hand and groggy voice, "…s'okay London...safe."

London covered her face with the palms of her hands and exhaled, rubbing away the terrible nights sleep but careful not to touch her facial wound. "…go back to sleep, Tee. I need to get up already."

The only reply she got from the child was an unclear mumble and a random giggle that followed.

London threw her feet over the edge of the bed and popped her neck and back before attempting to stand. Though her sleep wasn't good, it was better than most days so she felt oddly refreshed as she searched through her pack and pulled out a clean pair of laced white undergarments, another tank top that was also white in color, and low cut blue jeans. She had felt the urge to have a hot shower again that morning and indulged herself in such an act while Shepard and Miranda entered her room.

The two searched the quarters only to find a sleeping Teagan and the sound of water from the bathroom. John sighed then nodded his head towards Miranda in the direction of the door. They exited.

When it shut behind them Shepard called out, "Edi, patch into the portside observation's bathroom and tell London that we need to speak with her now. Don't wake the kid."

"Right away, Commander."

London had just finished rinsing her hair out when Edi's voice made her literally jump within the small confines. "Miss London, Commander Shepard would like to speak with you outside your quarters now."

She eyeballed the entire room, covering her breasts and squeezing her thighs shut as she spoke up, "What the hell—just um…tell him I'm in the shower, please."

Edi's voice chimed back in her usual matter of fact tonality, "The Commander did not express his authority as a request, but rather an order."

London, still covering herself, sighed loudly and continued to look around the room. "Okay—um, can you just leave please? This is rather unnerving as seeing my position here. Just tell your Commander that I'll be right out, I need to dress if you don't mind."

"Very well."

Edi's voice came back out to speak with Shepard, "Commander, she requested that you wait while she dresses."

John only rolled his eyes, turning to Miranda who put a hand on his forearm trying to calm his soon to be angry demeanor. "Commander, it is 8:30AM and most people do shower in the mornings. So let's just give her a minute then we'll talk."

Shepard patted her hand once and a little too roughly before leaning his back against the empty wall by the door. "She has one minute."

Miranda gave a small smile of relief, surprised at her own growth in patience these past few weeks.

After forty-five seconds London appeared outside the doors in her chosen attire, turning her eyes to meet Shepard's and then Miranda's. "You wanted to talk?"

Shepard clenched his jaw tightly before Miranda made the first move, eyeing Shepard then looking to London, "If you would follow us into my office, please."

xxxxxxx

By the time the three arrived at Miranda's office, Shepard was already well into irritated. "How can she act so damn casually about this?"

Miranda sat down at her station then offered the chair opposite to London who took it and shot glances at them both. "Mr. Shepard, is this about the conversation we needed to have regarding your Mr. Anderson?"

John, who remained standing, shook his head as he leaned onto Lawson's desk. "Actually, it's not. I think you know what this about, London. Please, do not play stupid with me. As it is, my patience and good natured self is starting to wear down into someone you really don't want to fuck with."

The woman furrowed her brows, "I honestly don't have the slightest clue as to what you're possibly upset with me for." She began to think back to her examination, "…is this about my scarring? Because I fail to see why that has anything to do with you."

Shepard raised his brow then clenched his jaw, "I don't know what damn scarring you're talking about. London, I know about the genetic similarities between you and your so called sister. There aren't any! You're not even related!"

London's eyes grew wide and her fingers circled around the arms of her chair tightly. "How could I have been so stupid as to overlook the possibility that this ship had the capabilities to determine such detailed information from a simple body scan and tissue swab…"

Shepard leaned in a little further, "Well?"

London cleared her throat, trying to find the means of responding, "Listen, I know this is unexpected but I don't think you—"

John had just about had it with her excuses and avoidance, "—don't try to talk your way out of this one. If you don't start explaining right now, I'm going to escort you off my ship through a trash compactor. Now London, I know you don't know me very well, but let me explain something to you: I take my role as Commander of this ship very, very seriously. And when I pick up a perfect stranger from a low key mission, and allow them to stay on this vessel while showing them as much courtesy as I can offer—I expect them to be compliant."

Miranda couldn't protest. He was right. They had been incredibly good them this short stay on the Normandy, and with the only known facts about them being their name and their supposed sibling status. But out of the two known details—only one ended up being true. Not a very good start for the sniper.

London was silent for the longest of time, looking down into her lap and trying to gather enough focus to respond. There was no getting out of this one. "She is my sister…just not by blood."

Shepard stood up correctly and crossed his arms, "Explain."

"…do you remember when you asked me where I learned to shoot?"

The commander raised an eyebrow but nodded, "Your father."

London looked up to meet Shepard's heavy gaze, "My father was a mercenary for the Blue Suns. Seven years ago he along with three others were hired to kidnap a biotic child and turn it in to a group of scientists for a buyer who had an interest and a lot of creds. It wasn't the kind of mission my father took interest in, but the pay was very good and my family wasn't exactly well off."

She took a breath, going back along the length of her memories to explain, "They turned the child in as expected. What my father did not expect, however, were the tests and experiments. It was just a baby for God's sake. I remember him telling me that he was stationed to guard the secluded facility for days after the child was brought to the scientists. Night after night he would guard the baby's door and endure the ear splitting wailing of a child in pain."

Shepard kept his steel gaze upon her but Miranda, guided by London's choice of words, was the one to ask a question, "…he took the child, didn't he?"

London swallowed, feeling her throat becoming dry. "My mother and I knew what my father was. He was a mercenary—something that we as a whole were not to proud of. We all knew the risk factors and of the sometimes unmoral choices he needed to make. But with a sick wife and no one wanting to hire me for a second job, his job paid the bills. And while he did not like the person he was while on the job, when he came home my father was a good man. He was just trying to do his best for his family."

Shepard, though still somewhat angry, found it in him to lower the evidence of it in his voice, "Continue, please."

London nodded. "My father took the child yes… and when he did, my mother and I didn't hear from him for four months. I think it was because he didn't want to lead the Suns back to his family, but to this day I'm still uncertain as to why or where he went. However, when he did eventually return…it was with the baby: with Teagan."

Shepard couldn't hold his anger forever, and he was starting to understand why they weren't blood related, "…so your family took her in."

"Mr. Shepard, from the moment I laid eyes on her I knew I loved her. Call me a Drell, but there's a specific moment I can recall with utter clarity: I remember my giant hand reaching into her tiny bed trying to touch the newly sprouted tuft of hair on the top of her tender head. But, as I reached down…this pair of tiny hands reached out to clasp my finger. She looked up at me with these big green eyes that just exploded with joy to see me, and she gave me the largest smile I had ever seen. Granted it was a very toothless smile, but it was positively the most beautiful. I admired how even though her little ear obviously still hurt her, was deep red and stitched in all sorts of directions, this little person had the courage to keep smiling, to keep living and loving." Her voice was uncharacteristically soft as she blinked away any signs of teardrops, "I knew then, at that exact moment, that this was my little sister and that I'd protect and watch over her for as long as I lived. It didn't matter to me that we weren't blood. I felt blessed that whatever or whoever it is leading us on our paths up there was kind enough to send her to our family."

Shepard exhaled lightly, rubbing his eyes. He shouldn't have raised his tone with her. He should have given her the chance to explain. But how could he have known? "…what happened to your parents?"

London took her time as she guided her mind through fragile memories and re-opened her old wounds, "The year I turned twenty and Teagan turned two we discovered the same men who worked with my father had been hired to find him, kill him, and retrieve the child. Our home was harder to find than most peoples. We were on a small planet well outside any known cities and hidden beneath large and wild plant life. But in the end, location is no match for skill. We were found none-the-less. My mother, weak as she was, took me and Teagan to hide in a crafted space underneath the floorboards of her and father's bedroom. She placed dad's incisor rifle in my hand and told me to stay with Tee, that if anyone of those mercs came even remotely close to us to shoot them without thinking…just like daddy had taught me. She told us that she and my father loved us with all their souls and that she had to go back and try to help rid them from our home."

London's lower lip began to tremble lightly as her eyes shut and took her back to place she didn't want to be.

"Shh…shhhh, its okay, Tee. We'll be alright, I have you…"

The two year old whined softly. "…dark..."

London whispered, rocking the child gently in her left arm as her right hand gripped the rifle with fright and intensity, "I know, sweetie. But we'll be out of here soon enough, just keep holding your hands to your ears and it'll all go away soon."

Her eyes snapped open, letting a shaky breath leave her lips, "There was a lot of screaming. I could hear them yelling at my mother first, my father yelling back at them to leave her out of it. They kept asking her, 'Where is the girl! The child! Where is the biotic child!' …and when she didn't answer…there was a gunshot."

London looked up at the lights on the ceiling, refusing to let her tears come out. "I'll never forget the sound my father made. It started as this deep, guttural wail…but ended in a scream so angry and hurt I swore it shook the very walls of our home. After what sounded like they beat and tortured him they realized he'd never tell them where I or Teagan were hiding. So, just like my mother, they shot him and tried to look for us themselves. I heard their loud footsteps boom around the entire house from underneath the floorboards, furniture flipping over and glass shattering now and then. Teagan was being a good girl and held her hands to her ears like I had told her, remaining as quiet as she could possibly be. Then after what felt like an eternity I finally heard a storm of angry talking and loud curses as they left our home, the sound of a vehicle leaving soon after."

The sniper brought eyes down to her lap, rubbing them gently as though tired.

"…when I felt it was safe to leave, I took us out of our hiding spot. I made sure to leave Teagan in my parent's bedroom as I went out to get some of our belongings." She swallowed a lump in her throat, "…I already knew what to expect, but nothing you could ever prep yourself for would prepare you for seeing the people you loved dead on your living room floor. But no matter, I placed their bodies side by side and covered them with some quilts I had helped mama make."

London wrinkled her brows, voice starting to crack, "You know…I never even had the chance to mourn or bury them properly. But," she tried to regain her composure, "…I knew what had to get done. I took my father and mother's joint account credit chit, packed some precious belongings and clothes, and then took my little sister and left the place we'd only ever knew. However many credits were on that chit was what I used to buy for our ride on the first shuttle off the planet. Unfortunately it was to Omega," she scoffed, "…oh the irony. We leave to escape the Blue Suns only to end up in a city they preferred. But we had the upper hand. They had no idea what either of us looked like. As long as I played it cool I knew we could get by while being right under their noses. So I kept Teagan's hair long to hide her ears, found us a hole in the wall to live in, and started to work odd jobs around Omega, home-schooling Teagan as she got older."

"Odd jobs?" Shepard asked.

London nodded, "Omega is a hard place to live in, Commander. I did whatever I could to get paid. Petty theft for paying clients, secret deliveries or transports—you know, things that no one is ever proud to do. I did things this way until about six months into living in that wretched city. The times started getting rougher and there was no longer any work to be found. I couldn't afford to pay our rent on time and there was barely any food on the table for Teagan to eat. I needed something that paid more and something that paid fast."

John looked at her with a questioning gaze.

London sighed gently, hating that she had to talk so much. "I ran into this guy named Flex, a human with a cheap purple suit and a poor attitude towards females in general. He looked me over and I guess liked what he saw. He offered me a job at Afterlife as a dancer and server. He said if I could gain the cliental that he'd be paying me very well and on the spot. I wasn't in the position for declining."

Miranda, who remembered London's medical review, spoke up, "…the scarring…is that—"

"—Yes, ma'am." London's eyes became cold and unfeeling towards the subject matter, "You get paid a lot more if clients accept your proposal of 'company' after private dances." She sighed, "These men were not ones for 'prepping' their partners. They got what they wanted no matter how it felt for me—and believe me when I say that I can't count a single one of them that was gentle."

Shepard looked struck, "…how many were—"

"Does it matter?" she responded flatly. "I did what I had to do to ensure that I put food in Teagan's mouth and that I kept her happy and healthy."

Miranda's eyes were saddened but she tried to keep her tone professional, "…does she know?"

London shook her head, "She does not and I would very much appreciate it if it remained that way."

Shepard had heard enough, "It will. I promise. And…" he sighed heavily, "I'm sorry."

The sniper shook her head and lightly shrugged her shoulders, "No need. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Not just for coming off a little strong towards you, but for everything that—"

London cut him off, her tone softer but still firm. "—like I said, there's no need."

John quietly nodded his head, taking her point. "I need to speak with Dr. Chakwas. I'm sure she's wondering what's going on."

Miranda nodded her head and watched him go, leaving the two women alone.

The Australian cleared her throat, "…may I ask you something?"

London was quiet for a moment, but to Miranda's surprise, she gave Lawson a half smile and tired shrug. "You might as well, Miss Lawson. I believe at this point you know every personal detail of my life… so what's another question, right?"

Miranda blinked, "Did she just actually make a joke?"

London stared at her, waiting for the question to be asked.

"Right, this may be a bit stupid to ask but have you ever had feelings of remorse after everything that's happened to you?"

London grinned half heartedly and shook her head, "What? Like did I ever once blame Tee for all the wicked turns of events?"

Miranda could only shrug, now embarrassed that she had even asked.

"Never. Like I said before, my family knew the repercussions of my father's job. Besides, it wasn't Teagan's fault that she was just born with a biotically gifted body. She didn't ask to be stolen or experimented on, or even ask to be brought to my family as a matter of fact. My mother and father died protecting a child they loved and for that I will never hold her responsible." London sighed, "…anything else?"

Miranda kind of hated herself right now, "…yes, I'm sorry. It's just you never mentioned how Teagan got taken from you."

London groaned lightly, "I guess you should know that. Well, we lived alright for five years on Omega. But one day as I came home from work, I saw my apartment door open and two Suns taking my flailing sister by the arms. Somehow they found out about her. She was trying to defend herself but her biotics are highly untrained, she could only ever flare up and from time to time and cause biotic burns…but even then they had armor. I knew if I were to act, not only would I have gotten killed, but there'd be no one to help rescue her this time. So when they took her I grabbed a bag, my rifle, and trailed them. I even managed to board the same vessel they used to take her to Almos and that's where you all came in. I'm pretty sure the rest is clear to you all after that."

"Almost. Do you know anything about the one who wanted to buy your sister?"

"I do not. I'm still unclear as to how they even managed to find out we were on Omega. But believe me when I say that I will find out, and when I do… they will die."

Miranda considered her words as she typed away at her terminal, "Thank you very much for answering everything we had to ask."

"May I go? I need to check on my sister and make sure she's fed this morning."

Miranda gave her a considerate nod. "Yes, I'm sorry for keeping you so long."

The two woman exchanged looks before London went off on her way.

Miranda let out a huge exhale then placed her warm forehead on her desk's cold surface. "… shit," was the only thing she could manage to bring herself to say.

[End 12: Oats We Sow]

A/N: I rather enjoyed typing out London and Teagan's story methinks. I would love to hear back from everyone. What are you all thinking so far?