Chapter 12 – Calibrations

ME2 after Garrus's loyalty mission, Sidonis alive

Shepard thought it was best to give Garrus some time to himself after the mission. But now she wanted to go speak to him. She couldn't understand why she felt so nervous though. She had done the right thing and stopped him from killing Sidonis. It still gnawed at her though, what if he wanted to leave the ship, leave her. She shook the thoughts away from her and headed off to the main battery to go check on him.

"Hey, can we talk about what happened down there."

"Sure Shepard." He finished what he was doing on the controls and turned to her "What's on your mind?"

She perched herself on the work bench to the side of the room.

"I know I got in your way down there, but I don't think killing Sidonis would have made you feel any better. In fact, I think it would make you feel worse." Her tone was controlled and monotone almost as if she had practiced it a few times before.

"You're right Shepard." He walked over to her leaning on the same workbench. "I got so caught up with taking him down that I forgot I'm not that person. Being on Omega everything was so black and white, good guys, bad guys, Sidonis sort of fell in the middle."

"I get that."

He smirked "So much for me making sure you don't do anything out of character."

"I'm just happy to return the favour." She paused for a moment "I care about you Garrus, I mean you've been with me from the beginning."

"I care about you too, I'm here because of you Shepard, not because of Cerberus or the Collectors."

Their hands touch but neither of them flinch or pull away, Shepard gently takes his hand in hers. "I don't know what I'd do without you." She lets go of his hand and gets up to leave.

"Shepard." He follows her to the closed door, grabbing her arm and spinning her round to face him.

"I don't exactly know how this would work between us Shepard, but if there is anyone I want to be with, it's you."

"I don't know about that Garrus, you seem to have a pretty good handle on it." She looks down at the hand gripping her arm then back up to him "that was pretty smooth."

He smirks, almost unsure of what possessed him in that moment.

"I feel the same way Garrus, there's no one else I would rather be with." She brings her free hand up to his face. "Let's figure this out, the same way we do everything else, together."

A week later

Shepard walks into the main battery Garrus is distracted by something he's reading at his console that the door startles him.

"You got a pack from Mordin too?" She laughs.

"I Erm, yes.. I was just looking through it."

"I'm actually looking forward to reading it now, if it's making you blush." She teases.

"I'm not blushing Shepard." He was so awkward it made her love him more.

"You are and I hope it's not giving you second thoughts?"

"No Shepard. I'm still interested, very interested." He got his confident demeanour back. "Though there does seem to be a queue of eligible bachelors knocking on your door. Maybe some who are a bit easier to spar with."

"When have I ever taken the easy road Garrus and green, it's a good colour on you. You're not afraid of a little competition are you?" She teases, as she walks up to him. "You have nothing to worry about Garrus, you're my guy." She strokes his arms.

"There I was looking forward to taking a few of them out." He moves his hands around her waist, pulling her close.

She laughs "I'll keep that in mind. And you keep in mind not to read too much of that pack, I want to still surprise you." She wraps her hands round his neck, bringing his head down to hers.

He wanted to kiss her and show her what he learnt from the pack & vids. But he also wanted to savour this moment and knew she was an insatiable flirt.

"I don't know about that Shepard, my research is always thorough." He pulled away from the embrace teasingly, heading towards his console.

"You'll pay for that Vakarian." Her heart was beating so fast in her chest, her skin was tingling.

"Can it wait Shepard, I'm in the middle of some calibrations."

She let out a sigh, and bit her lip.

"You'll definitely pay for that." She turns to the door hoping she can make it to her room and her cold shower before she combusts.

Garrus keeps his head down looking at his console, he's not even sure what buttons he's pressing. He just has to look busy till the door closes. It hisses shut.

"If the Collectors or Reapers don't kill me, Shepard will." He thought to himself.