[Disclaimer:The mass effect universe and all characters with the exception of London and Teagan belong to Bioware.

A/N: Wow...twenty chapters already? It's been a long ride and I'd like to say thank you to all of the readers who have stuck with me this far on my first fan-fiction journey. It's been an absolute pleasure.

So here we go, enjoy!]

[Chapter Twenty: Forebodings]

[Miles below the surface of a desolate moon/ Mercenary slaving base/5AM]

It's just not the same without you guys. I… miss my old team.

Liara placed a gentle hand on the commander's shoulder, "Shepard?"

John quickly shook the thought from his head then locked and loaded his Mattock rifle, "Right. This shit is about to get real messy real quick, soldiers. The objective is simple: put the slavers and freelance agents down—none of them make it out alive. If we find any biotic children escort them to the shuttle's landing zone. Copy that, marines?"

The unit Special Forces marines nodded their heads and responded in unison, "Yes commander Shepard, Sir!"

"Then let's move it out. Marshals, take lead of squads two and three and head down the eastern tunnels towards sectors C and D. Robinson, take squads one and four. Head towards the auctioning ward in sector E. T'Soni, Lee, and Castillo— you're with me; everyone move, move, move!"

The tunnels were pitch black and Shepard was on high alert. The band of elite marines moved silently through the murky, dank tunnels of the underground biotic slave encampment. John tensed; he was unable to hear even the faintest of echoes from mercenaries, slave dealers, or freelancers. The time was only 2AM; it was still much too early for such men to all be completely asleep. Something wasn't right. The muscles in Shepard's cheeks flexed as his squad mutely closed the gap and moved towards their destination. It was a place referred to as 'the play pen'; a large room where the biotic children of younger ages were kept and guarded.

The tunnel began to brighten telling the small unit they had finally made their way towards one of the structures many exits. The commander raised his fist towards his squad, causing the small band to cease moving and keep silent in wait of further instruction.

Shepard inched forward, being sure to not slush the dirty water beneath his boots to give the slavers any hint of his intrusion. As he poked his head around the curve of the large pipe, John could see that the entirety of the large room was empty…save for one woman with shoulder length, chocolate brown hair standing directly in its center. She was wearing black combat boots that protected her calves and covered her knees, tight, cut up blue jeans, and a black vest that showed off her two full sleeves of tattooed arms.

John's gut turned to ice, the sense of fear escalating by a thousand as he made out the figure he had known so well. He gave his troop the order to stay put as he cautiously paced his way over towards the woman whose back was towards him.

"…Jack?"

The tattooed figure didn't turn around. Her voice was soft, as if what she had to say was only meant for his ears. "I always figured that if we met again… it'd be like this."

John's body stilled, her voice bringing back the flood of memories he had forced himself to repress. "…Jack, what are you doing here?"

"Doing the job I was hired to do."

John lowered his tone, "Jack, nothing has to happen today. I can escort you out of here…no one has to know—"

The grin in her voice was clear, "I see ain't nothin' has changed in these five years. You're still playing the hero huh, Shepard?" When John made no effort to reply Jack simply snorted.

John inched forward, "…Jack…please…just turn around slowly and make your way towards me. We can walk out of here if you just don't do anything stupid."

"Stupid? Like what?" The biotic cocked her head to the side in thought, "Like… this?" Jack finally turned. The years since she had left the Normandy's crew had been harsh on the biotic. New scars adorned her pale, gaunt face; the high, elegant cheek bones protruding even more so than usual. Her eyes were weary, the small bit of flesh beneath her hazel orbs were purple in color and slightly sunken in. It was the attachment around Jack's stomach that caught Shepard's attention most, however: a small cylindrical case that appeared to be made of platinum. A miniature receiver was placed on top of the canister, and a small blinking light adorned the opposite end.

Castillo in the background raised his laser sight at Jack's chest, "She's got an explosive device!"

"Hold your fire!" John spat, raising his hand towards the marine before quickly turning his gaze back towards the biotic, "God damn it, Jack! What the hell are you thinking!"

John witnessed as the biotic's face changed from being unfeeling to being saddened, her hazel eyes peering deeply into the commander's blue, "Remember what I told you back on the Normandy? Death is easy—fuckin' on and off switch; it's having to put up with everything else that's a bitch." The convict exhaled slowly and deeply, "It's been a damn long fight but I'm tired now, Shepard. Ain't nothin' left for me here so I figured why not do one more job… and go out with a bang?"

The biotic crept a hand down her thigh towards her pistol. John took quick notice and slowly extended his hand, "Listen to me…please. Jack, do you see that dot on your chest? Castillo back there is the best shot in the Marine Corps…and they have orders to shoot and kill all hostiles."

She looked over John's eyes and for the briefest of moments considered turning herself over, causing noticeable relief in the commander's stance. But when Jack moved her gaze to scan the man pointing his laser sight at her chest, she froze when catching glimpse of Liara instead, a newly found determination spreading across her features. Jack closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she responded, "…It's been fun, Shepard; and if there's such a thing as hell…maybe we'll meet again one day."

John turned his head to see what caused the convict's sudden shift in mood, his eyes widening as he turned back towards that tattooed woman. The biotic violently acted out as if trying to go for her gun causing the commander to scream and reach for the tattooed woman. "JACK, DON'T!"

Castillo took the convict's actions as hostile towards his commander and fired a single round out into the room. When the loud echo of the shot settled into silence John's legs collapsed and he fell to his knees, his armor clanking loudly as it struck the floor of the slaving base. Jack's normally lively, bright eyes had become wandering and lost, but as John emerged over her they seemed to have focused and locked with his own. Blood trickled from her mouth as she gave her best attempt to raise her head and whisper softly into his ear before her head rolled back and her body went limp, the radiance in her eyes dying out instantly.

John's eyes widened, his eyes trailing the length of her arm to notice the once tense fingers of her hand had relaxed and released their grip on a hidden trigger-switch, turning the quiet, solemn blackness of the room into a brightness that was louder than the sun.

"There ain't no such things as happily-ever-after. Chumps like us weren't meant to last, Shepard. I told you that sooner or later… we'd end up killing each other."

"JACK!" John eyes snapped open in a panic, his hands instantly and frantically searching around for the woman who had been sleeping by his side for more than six weeks.

She wasn't there.

His body was feverish; his skin sticky and damp despite the much cooler temperature of his quarters. It had taken the commander a while to calm his rapidly beating heart. He had thrown his legs over the edge of the bed and rested his elbows on top of his knees, rubbing his face roughly with the palms of his hand in attempt shake the dream from his memory. "Just a dream," John said in an attempt to soothe the anxiety he was feeling, "…it was just a dream."

The cabin was quiet for moments more before EDI spoke out into the room, "Commander Shepard, we have arrived at our destination. Dr. T'Soni and Specialist Vakarian are already waiting near the loading dock as instructed."

John sighed heavily and wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead. "Thank you, EDI. I'll be down there in a moment."

"Of course, Commander."

[ Hagalaz/ Shadow Broker's Base of Operations ]

It had been an off day. Shepard was tired and his body ached everywhere. It had been a lengthy, intense battle just trying to get into the Shadow Broker's base. He could feel the heat that his body was generating underneath his N7 armor, the sweat that dampened his skin. His shoulder was sore, throbbing from where he had taken the full force of a rocket launcher. There had been a point in one of the battles where the number of mercs greatly exceeded the numbers of his squad, and the offending mercenary had taken his right flank by surprise. The rocket's explosion had depleted his shields completely, leaving him momentarily stunned and breathless. If it hadn't been for Garrus grabbing him by the breast plate and tugging him downwards to take cover, something far worse might have happened to the commander.

But now they were finally there; finally staring the Shadow Broker in the eyes.

The Broker's voice was a deep, baritone growl, "Dr. T'Soni, your interference caused all this. Feron betrayed me when he handed you Shepard's body. The Drell is simply paying the price."

The commander grinned, "You know…It'll be pretty hard to run a base this size with no crew."

John could hear the tinge of spite that came out of the Broker's voice when he responded, "They're replaceable. Your arrival is barely an interruption."

"Someone was bound to come after you for working with the Collectors."

"It was a mutually beneficial partnership. Fortunately, the Normandy's IFF will let me salvage the remains of the Collector's base. But enough talk, my operations are too crucial to be compromised by a traitor."

Liara smirked smugly, "You're quite confidant for someone with nowhere left to hide."

"You travel with fascinating companions, Doctor. It's good you brought Archangel, T'Soni. Your friends' rather large bounty is still unclaimed." Replied the Broker, his voice calm and collected.

Liara's brows furrowed, "You're not putting a hand on anyone!"

"It's pointless to challenge me, asari. I know your every secret while you fumble in the dark."

"Is that right?" the asari tested, "You're a Yahg, a pre-spaceflight species quarantined to their home world for massacring the Council's first contact teams. This base is older than your planets discovery, which probably means that you killed the first Shadow Broker sixty years ago then took over. I'm guessing you were taken from your world by a trophy hunter who wanted a slave…or a pet." The malice in Liara's smile was clear as day, "How am I doing?"

Garrus' mandible twitched as the ten foot Yahg stood up and grasped it's chair, launching it easily towards the Turian who managed to successfully duck. "HA. You missed-" The sudden, sheer force of the Shadow Brokers rather large desk coming in contact with his face shut Garrus up quickly as he fell to the floor unconscious.

Shepard groaned and rolled his eyes, "Duck and weave, Garrus. Duck and weave."

Liara aimed her sights at the Broker's head, "...I warned you to not put a hand on anyone. Now... we end this."

The Yahg released a hair raising, throaty laugh as a bright orange shield formed from his omni-tool. Shepard raised his arms then let them flop down to his sides, "A shield? Who the hell uses shields anymore?"

T'Soni released an entire thermal clip at the orange barrier, not noticing a single change. "Shepard! The shield is kinetically sensitive, energy and projectiles are bouncing off!"

John grinned as he popped his knuckles, "...then time to go medieval on his ass."

Liara smiled at his word choice, "To become savagely violent without restraint. I would say the human colloquialism is appropriate."

"I thought you'd like that one."

xxxxxxx

Shepard crossed the room helping the now conscious Garrus up off the floor then turning to look at T'Soni, "I'd say you did pretty well with that little speech of yours, Liara—if your intention was to piss him off."

Garrus dusted off his armor as he glanced over at the now dead Yahg. "Aww…you had all the fun without me."

John grinned, "It's a little hard to include you when you're ass up on the floor. You ducked...but you forgot to weave, Vakarian. Did you have a nice nap?"

The Turian chuckled, "…It would have been better if your pink armor wasn't so irritatingly loud."

Shepard clenched his jaw, "You made it this color."

"…and you look so beautiful in it."

"I hate you."

Garrus grinned, "I think it has…"

Feron limped through the doors; his gun in one hand pointing towards what he thought would be the Shadow Broker, while the other was holding his side, his face clearly portraying his confusion and shock at Liara. "—Goddess of oceans…it's you…but how?"

Shepard and Garrus simultaneously looked at Liara.

T'Soni furrowed her brows in thought. Her tone was almost unsure about the large decision she had just made, "Well…e-everyone who's ever seen him in person is dead…so…"

"You're…the new shadow broker…?"

Garrus looked over towards the commander, "I don't know about this, Shepard."

John made his way over towards the asari with concern, "I agree. Is taking over as the Shadow Broker really a good idea?"

Liara glanced over at the large information terminal, "It was either that or lose everything…his contacts, his trading sources. Those will really help us. With the Shadow Broker's information network I can…" her voice became thick with emotion, cracking and fumbling. "I can give you…I can—"

"—I'll… check the power systems." Said Feron quickly, noticing the need for Liara to have a private conversation with the commander. Garrus cleared his throat lightly before taking after Feron and following in his steps.

When the two left the room Shepard turned his attention back towards his old love, walking up towards the asari who had covered her face with her palms to quiet the gentle sob that surfaced from her tight throat. John placed a hand on her back, "…Liara…"

T'Soni wiped her eyes slowly and turned to face him, "…it's over…it's finally….for two years…"

John's actions were slow, his arms sliding around her waist and pulling the woman in for a warm hug. The reconnection between the two bodies was instantaneous, causing the asari to murmur lightly, pleasurably and John to tighten his hold around her. His voice was tender, loving. "…it's alright."

Liara leaned into John and rested her cheek against the nape of the commander's neck. His smell was well known and welcoming, bringing back the memories of a time when she had loved him dearly. Slender fingers ran up his back, re-familiarizing themselves with the curves and lean muscles that housed themselves under the tight flexi-weave of his armor. John inhaled deeply, thick fingers moving from her waist down to tightening their grip around her hips. Liara shuddered beneath his touch, tilting her head and leaning forward to press her soft lips against the commanders.

Shepard's eyes closed. His kiss was insistent, yet still slightly hesitant as his lips met Liara's fuller ones. John suckled her lower lip, and then stopped, waiting to see if she would respond. She did, pulling on his top lip gently, urging him on. Shepard obliged her, flesh moving sensitively and sensuously against flesh, the commander deepening the kiss, Liara's mouth opening in acceptance and moaning as his tongue swept around her mouth tentatively, then with more hunger. The sensation of this first invasion of her body threatened to curl her toes and Liara pulled away, looking at him with wonder and shock. "—goddess, Shepard," she finally managed to say, her voice shaky yet full of desire. "…I don't…we're different people now. You have your mission and I have—"

John interrupted, leaning in to place the tenderest of kisses on the asari's crest. His eyes closed once more, breathing in the intoxicating, lightly scented skin of Liara's more vulnerable area. The asari gasped and clutched at his chest, "…John…"

"I know," he said finally, removing his lips and looking down into her eyes, "…I know."

The pair stood in each other's quiet embrace for several long moments more before Liara could muster the will power to remove herself from his arms. "The attraction between us will always exist, Shepard. There will always be love for you in my heart…but with your mission and," Liara glanced around the base's information center, "…and me acquiring all of this…"

John nodded, smiling gently at the asari in front of him. "I know, Liara. I knew from the moment I first met you on Illium that we had both changed. I suppose I just…really, really missed you."

"I've missed you too, John…"

"—But," he said with a half-hearted but brighter tone in his voice, "you're right. You have this and I…" His voice trailed off, thinking of the woman who had won his heart over so completely that he suddenly felt guilty that he could ever kiss another in such a manner.

"…and you have her." Liara said softly, acceptingly yet with a trace of regret and loss.

"I do." He responded faithfully, "Liara…I—"

"You don't have to say it Shepard. I already know. So let's just try to focus..."

John nodded his head in understanding. "So, since we're keeping this ancient hunk of metal might as well see what we got…right?"

Liara smiled delicately and nodded, "Right. Let's see what our options are. There are no safeguards or user restrictions…it's like he never anticipated anyone but himself being here. And it's all ours."

"And you're sure you wanna stay here?" John asked once again, looking around the now battered interior of the base's intelligence center.

"I have to stay here." The asari said almost apologetically, "We can't pass this up Shepard. All I wanted was to rescue Feron, but…is it wrong that part of me wants this? With the Shadow Broker's network maybe I can help you. Maybe I can turn this operation into something…better."

John rubbed the stubble on his chin in quiet contemplation before nodding with a smile, "Well I can't deny that having this information could prove invaluable. As a matter of fact…there's a small problem I seem to be having with a mission Anderson sent the Normandy on. We've got no leads and…and I could really use all the intel I can get, Liara."

Liara thought silently for a moment, "If its information you're looking for, I'm almost positive I'd be able to find you the answers here. Just…give me some time to gather everything up and organize the files."

"That's fine," Shepard assured her, giving Liara a last, long look before deciding it'd be best if he left, "I'll wait back at the Normandy. Send me a message when you think you're up for the challenge."

"I'll do that, Shepard."

"Just…don't be a stranger this time, T'Soni."

"…small chance of that…oh and Shepard?"

The commander stopped, turning to look her over. "Liara?"

"That woman with the tattoos and anger issues…she loves you. Whether she has said it or not, she loves you very much."

John could feel the heat in his cheeks as he grinned and rubbed the back of head, turning to walk out of the room and towards the Normandy without response.

Liara exhaled softly, a broken grin spreading across her lips as she turned her attention towards the informational terminal. "…come back soon…"

xxxxxxx

[Planet Watson/4PM]

"That's it then, lass? You're just going to stay there?"

London's eyes fell to the ground, "I'm tired, daddy. I don't know what to do anymore…and Teagan is still in trouble—"

The tall, muscular man with golden hair and almost honey colored eyes sat down next to his daughter. "So you're just going to give up? That's not how your mother and I raised ye, child."

"Papa it's just—"

"What did your mum teach ye?"

The sniper nodded her head sadly, "To keep climbing and keep going. I know—"

"And what did I teach ye?"

She sighed softly, "…to be smart about it. Use my head and think."

He smiled kindly as he wrapped a thick arm around his slender daughter, "You have your answer…and you know where to look. You just have to think."

London groaned unhappily, causing the Irish man to bellow out in laughter, "We raised ye to be strong, London. You'll be fine…you always are and always have been."

The gray eyed woman leaned into the warmth of her father, "It's so hard without you here."

"Oh my little one, your mum and I are always here. You are the better parts of us both…made into one young, beautiful woman. When ye need us just look inward and there we will be. We've stored all the answers in our specially crafted little lion."

London wrinkled her nose, thoughts of both her parents being intimate making her a little queasy. "Did you just call me specially crafted?"

When there was no response she raised her eyes up to meet his, "Papa, I was kidding." She took notice of the change in his eyes. They had become alert and cold, "…what's wrong?"

His gaze was focused in a certain direction and he frowned suddenly. Her father tightened his hold and quickly placed a small kiss on London's temple as he gently shook her in his arm, "It's time to wake up, London. They know. It's not safe, you need to keep moving."

The sniper shook her head, "…Daddy?"

His tone became more urgent, "You need to wake up. Open your eyes. Wake up…"

"….wake up, Miss. Hey—hey are you alright? Miss, wake up!"

London's eyes flittered open upon the man's beckon, "…Daddy?" Her vision was blurry and her head was pounding. The earth smelt wet and she was extremely cold, her body shivering uncontrollably as she laid on the damp soil. Gray eyes could make out the large stone at the head of a large grave and they instantly watered again, her mind retracing the steps she had taken to get to the point she was now. How long had it been since she collapsed near the burial ground and wept…?

A rough hand was placed on her cheek and forehead, "…aw damn, you're burning up. Come on; let's get you back to the house. We need to get you out of here."

The sniper groaned as she was lifted off the soil, her head resting on a broad shoulder as she was cradled in strong arms. "Don't worry, Miss. I gotcha. We'll take care of ya, my wife will know what to do."

London's throat hurt badly as she tried to speak through chapped lips, "…F…Frank? How?"

He chuckled softly as he carried the young woman towards his home, "Hey you remembered my name! And to answer your question I go to the grave every other day or so to say thank you and maintain the area. Plants grow fast around here…I don't want weeds to cover their resting place."

London could hear the wheeze in her breathing and could feel the sting in her chest as she tried to respond.

Frank shook his head and smiled, "Rest now. It's a long walk…we'll be there soon enough, just hang in there."

London exhaled and could feel her eyes grow heavy as her fever took over, the light of day becoming overwhelmed by the blackness of closed lids. Everything was so quiet now. She could hear a bird chip off in the distance; it was lovely and she badly wanted to smile. She could hear the sound of heavy boots crushing dried leaves and twigs beneath her. These steps were not her own. Then after several moments…finally there was softness and warmth pressed against her bare skin that calmed the ache in her chilled body. She could feel a hand push gently at the back of her neck and tilt it forward as the edge of a small container pressed against her lips.

"Drink this, sweetie. You'll feel better soon enough," the soothing voice of a familiar sounding woman said.

The brunette's face twisted and she released a cough as she swallowed the foul, lukewarm liquid down her throat, her body tensing then relaxing into the plush material beneath her. The older woman laughed quietly as she then placed a warm cloth on London's forehead, "…it doesn't taste the best, but it gets the job done. Your fever will break by tomorrow morning so you should rest until then. When your clothes dry properly I'll bring them in for you—and don't worry, no men were present when they were removed. I figured it may be better for you that way since we have the same womanly bits and all." The sniper gave a half-conscious grin as she felt the soft material of a comforter being tucked in around her own body.

"You've had a long day…sleep now. We'll see you in the morning."

xxxxxxx

[The Normandy/ Cargo Hold/4PM]

"…Jack?" Shepard said as he made his way down into the hold, his eyes needing to take a moment to adjust to the darkness of the room, "…Jack, are you down here?"

The response was simple, but not angry. "Hey."

John could feel something heavy be lifted off his chest when he heard the biotic's voice. She was sitting on her old cot; her face was calm and expressionless as the Shepard made his way over. "Can we talk?" he asked quietly.

Jack's refused to look at the commander and instead kept her gaze on a wall far opposite her seat. Her tone became a little more assertive when she finally decided to speak, "Did you figure your shit out?"

Shepard took a place beside the tattooed woman and nodded, "Jack I need to tell you something…"

The upper lip on Jack's mouth lifted into a slight curl, "it's a simple question, Shepard." She said, antagonizing him with slowly spoken words, "Did you figure… your shit… out?"

John exhaled loudly and nodded his head, "I did."

"…Just say it."

"Jack," he began softly, "I'm not going to lie to you and say that there wasn't an attraction between me and Liara," Shepard took notice of how hard the biotic was clenching the side of the cot and decided it was best if he got to the point quickly, "but both me and her are very different people now. We don't fit well anymore—at least not the way we did two years ago. She's different and I'm different. We have dissimilar goals and expectations, and besides… I already have someone." He said matter-of-factly. "Jack, I will always care for Liara but…that's nothing compared to how I feel for you." John looked down at his hands; unsure of how she'd react to the words he wanted so badly to say, but knowing he needed to say them. "…I love you."

Jack clenched her jaw, a minimal amount of moisture forming at the base of her eyes. Her knuckles had become white from how hard she had been holding onto the cot. "…fuck you, Shepard."

John swallowed the dryness in this throat. He felt his heart beat wildly in his chest and his blood go hot. "Is that all you got? I said I love you, Jack."

The biotic's lip trembled as she pushed him away roughly, "Get the fuck out of here with that."

John took hold of her arms and held firmly, "No. You told me to figure my shit out and I did. I figured it out a long time ago and I'm going to say it whether you like it or not."

Jack yanked her arm back violently only to push at him once again, "I said get out of my fucking room, Shepard!"

The strength of Jack's push had forced the commander off the cot, only to have him stand smoothly on his feet and take place in front of the biotic. "Or what? You'll kill me?"

"Don't push me."

"Fine. Fucking take a hit at me. It's not going to change anything. I love you."

The biotic stood on the flat of her combat boots and inches away from the commander, her body glowing lightly. "I asked you to figure out who you wanted. Love ain't got nothin' to do with this, Shepard. I just wanted to know which bitch you wanted to fuck more."

John's face twisted in anger, "That's not what you wanted and you know it, Jack. Don't you dare pull that shit on me." He took a step forward, "You know, for such a badass all you seem to be doing is running scared."

Jack pushed violently at Shepard's chest, "You're a goddamned idiot, Shepard."

"Says the woman who wants to believe we're nothing more than really good fuck buddies even though she spends far more time cuddling her buddy than fucking him. So don't stand there and act like this is nothing."

Jack clenched her jaw, "You think this shit is easy for me?"

"And you think it's been all fucking ice cream and cotton candy for me! Jack, trying to be with you is like constantly trying to pull teeth and fingernails!"

The tattooed woman stopped, her eyes widening and mouth slightly hanging open. "So there it is… you just finally got the balls to say it. You want out, Shepard? Here's the goddamn opening you've been looking for. Go."

"No, Jack. That's not what I'm saying, that's you hearing what you want to hear to find an easy way out—like always. I love you, but I'm being honest when I say that this relationship wasn't easy to form by any means…but I worked, and worked, and worked, and got us somewhere. I never backed down. It's you that just doesn't have the balls to return the feeling. So before you go on to call me a coward, take a good long look at yourself… because the only pussy I see here is you."

Jack cried out as she smashed a biotic fist hard against Shepard's jaw, the force of the punch knocking Shepard flat against a wall with a sickening crash. The commander slid to the ground and took a moment to gather his wit before he got up again, "That the best you got?"

The tattooed woman's chest rose and fell heavily as she quickly marched over and unleashed a blow right into his stomach, the power behind it knocking all of Shepard's air out of his lungs as he fell to his knees. Jack didn't wait for him to catch his breath before bringing the tip of her steel toed boot to greet the side of Shepard's face which toppled him over. Standing upright Shepard couldn't help but groan as he covered his now bleeding ear with his hand.

Jack shook her head in disbelief as she stumbled backwards, "What the hell is the matter with you? Stay down!"

John chuckled tiredly and wiped his lip, "Stay down? You haven't won a damn thing, Jack. I'm just getting started."

"What the fuck are you talking about! You haven't done shit! Either hit me back or stay the hell down!"

"Nah. What's the fun in that, right? Besides…I've already done plenty. I can tell."

Jack froze, her head shaking from side to side. "You don't know what you're talkin' about. I must have kicked the hell out of your head."

John grinned, "Eh. Barley felt it."

Jack took a step back in disbelief, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Well," he said resignedly, "I figure you're either going to kill me, or realize just how much you love me back."

Jack closed both her hands into lightly trembling fists, "I fucking hate you, Shepard."

John winced as he took a few steps towards the cot and sat down on it with a loud groan, then looked up at her with a bemused smile. "Then I must look like an idiot sitting here and still loving you the way I do."

The biotic cursed an endless stream of obscenities before she finally made her way up towards Shepard, standing between his legs and looking down onto him pleadingly, "I sleep with you at night, I fuck you senseless in the day, and I kiss you back and mean it…what else do you want from me, Shepard? I ain't got nothin' left to give."

John put his hands on either side of her hips and looked up with earnest eyes, "I want you to tell me."

Jack could feel herself losing the battle and tried so desperately to hold on to her emotions. She placed her hands on Shepard's face roughly and looked deeply into his bright blue eyes, her voice faltering, "…I fucking hate you so much."

John leaned into her hands as his thumbs caressed the soft skin of Jack's hips beneath them, "…why?"

"Because…" she said angrily, "Because…" she tried again, only to growl half-heartedly and motion to move away. Shepard stopped her movements, holding her firmly by the waist and forcing her to look at him. "Jack, tell me why you hate me."

The biotic felt as if her knees were about to buckle beneath her if it had not been for Shepard's hand holding her steady. Her breathing was heavy and she could feel the butterflies in the pit of her stomach as she opened her lips to speak, "I hate you because I fucking love you to a point of passion that unhinges me. It drives me bat-shit crazy."

John looked at her with wide, confused eyes and Jack couldn't help but release an unenthusiastic chuckle, "…what? I read shit too, Shepard. I've 'borrowed' some of the thief's poetry books. Kinda like that stuff."

A loud exhale came forth from Shepard's lips as he gently brought the willing biotic woman down to straddle his lap. He reached up to remove the moisture that had formed underneath her stunning and always bright hazel eyes, "…that's all I needed to hear. No more questions, I promise."

Jack wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned down to press her forehead against his, her eyes closing in the process. Shepard too closed his eyes and caressed the sides of her thighs as she sat upon him in silence. Moments passed by before the biotic reached to take his chin and tilt it upwards to place a kiss upon his lips, staining her own full lips with the commanders vivid red blood. Shepard hesitantly placed his warm hand over one of her much cooler ones, "Jack…I need to tell you something. Me and Liara…after we finished with the Shadow Broker…we—"

"I don't wanna' know." The ex-convict said flatly.

"Jack I need to tell you—"

"I said I don't want to know. But let's just make one thing clear. You wanna be mine? Fine. That means that," Jack looked down into his eyes, her face portraying a sense of severity and dominance. "this," she said, roughly reaching in between her own legs and grabbing John's crotch through his pants ,taking the member firmly into her hand, "…this…is mine, and I sure as hell don't fucking share what's mine, got it?"

Shepard winced but bit his tongue harshly in refusal of showing the pain Jack's motion had intentionally caused him…again. "Understood."

"...if she so much as looks at you the wrong way again—I'll put a shotgun blast in the back of her fuckin' head. And you? If you ever so much as think of her in that way—" Jack didn't have to finish the sentence, the sheer force she was using on the commander's sensitive organ was enough to get her point across, and John could only nod firmly and suppress the yelp that wanted to leave his lips.

It took a moment for the biotic to calm, but soon she released her grasp and looked down onto her lap. John's lips had turned into a thin line as he took the time to settle the knot his stomach had become and to ease the pain in his groin. After several moments, Shepard finally had to ask the question he had been wanting to all night.

"Jack…will you please come back to the cabin later tonight? It's been really," Shepard paused, thinking of a word that Jack would have used in this situation, "….shitty…sleeping without you."

Jack looked over to her commander with a questioning gaze, "Nightmares?"

He closed his eyes for a second, the haunting words from his dream echoing clearly in his head. "There ain't no such things as happily-ever-after. Chumps like us weren't meant to last, Shepard. I told you that sooner or later… we'd end up killing each other."

John sighed softly, looking up to give her a crooked, guilty grin, "…yeah. Bad ones."

Her brow furrowed as she looked back onto her lap, "Me too."

"So you'll come by tonight?"

The biotic shrugged as she slowly slid off John's lap, deciding to sit next to him instead. "I'll think about it."

Moments more had passed in silence and Shepard sighed loudly as he relaxed his back against the cool surface of the wall behind him. Instinctively he lifted his arm to which Jack naturally responded by slipping under it and leaning her small frame against his more muscular one. She placed her cheek on his chest and John couldn't stop himself from kissing her scalp. He could feel her finger tips dig into his sides as if clasping and never wanting to let go. John crumpled his eyebrows softly in sadness, "I'm sorry I put you through this…about Liara I mean."

The muscles in the biotic's cheeks flexed as she tightened her hold on him, "…just don't fuckin' do it again…and…sorry about kicking your ass."

"It's fine. You hit like a girl anyways."

"Yeah well, you ain't gettin' sex for a month after pulling all this shit on me."

"Yeah, yeah, ye—wait WHAT?"

[End Twenty: Forebodings]

"Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest, and it opens up your heart, and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses; you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you. Then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life…and you give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day…like kiss you or smile at you, and then…your life wasn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love."

-Neil Gaiman

[[ A/N: The next few chapters might be coming in a lot slower than usual. About to graduate in December and I have a lot of stuff that I have to do till then! If you're curious to see what I'm up to check out my profile. I've been updating my story status there :D I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and feel free to leave a review. See ya next time! ]]