A Very Bad Idea
Finale – (10 Hours From Ilos)
I was sitting in the Mako, going over the manual. If anyone asked, and at this hour I doubt anyone would, I was trying to decrease the firing time of the cannon. Problem was, I'd been rereading the same section for over two hours now.
I just couldn't stop thinking about her. She completely captivated me. She was the most intriguing person I've ever met. Easily the best CO I've ever served with. And I'm proud to call her a friend.
She'd invaded my thoughts. And in classic Shepard style: kick in the door, clear the room, then clear out the room. Shepard always cleared out a room. Always. We were in a firefight one time, she rolls out of cover, grabs something, then fights her way back into cover. I'm sputtering, what the hell, and with a huge smile on her face she holds up a credit chit.
She can confuse the hell out of you. There are times, when I wonder just who I'm talking to. I'm not saying she's a raving lunatic Sybil, not at all. Well, maybe when she's fighting. That Shepard's vicious and scary as hell.
Shit. I wasn't getting anything productive done. Already checked my weapons. Twice. The Mako was ready. I'd adjusted the aft nozzles, adding two percent more thrust. And when Wrex is sitting on the back bench, you want that two percent.
I wanted everything ready for this mission. This was it. Damn what the Council says. Shepard's right. Ilos is the key. It's also a good example of how good of a CO she is. We're hitting Ilos based on a vision only Shepard sees. In defiance of the Council. In a stolen warship. To save the galaxy.
Shepard gets the best missions.
I put the manual back in it's slot, climbed into the drivers seat, and after a couple minutes of searching, put it in recline mode. Can't sleep, may as well rest.
I briefly thought about seeing if Shepard's up, but I really didn't have a valid reason to knock on her door.
Closing my eyes, I pictured her eyes. Spirits, they were beautiful Deep dark brown. And they told you everything. They'd tell you when she was sad. They'd tell when she was happy. Ah, when they were happy, it was … I can't describe how they made me feel. It was infectious, maybe?
They warmed me. When she was truly happy and it made it to her eyes, they danced. They had a fire in them. No, that's not quite right. Her eyes always had a fire to them. And when they were angry, they blazed with an intensity that scorched.
Huh, I wonder if I still have it. When the Council had C-Sec investigate Saren, Pallin had me investigate Shepard also. Never found anything on either of them, but I did find a photo of Shepard when she was little. One of those family photos that get sent out around the holidays.
And, I found it. Yep, this is the one. She's sitting on her Dad's lap holding some black fuzzy thing. Both parents are in uniform, and she's wearing a blue dress, Heh, her hair's actually brushed. Bet she was a hand full with the mischievous look in her eyes. Just realized, she's never said a word about her parents. Only thing in her file about them is Mom was moving up in the Alliance, and her father was killed in a freak hover crash.
Wonder what she was like as kid. If the look in her eyes means anything, probably drove them nuts. Well, just her I guess. I always meant to ask her what the hell she has against hair brushes. I can't recall her ever brushing her hair. Just runs her hands through it. It's not that long, so it doesn't matter, just curious.
So, her eyes have always been that way.
Oh come on Vakarian. You're not thinking of her eyes. You know damn well what you're' thinking of. Yeah. Her eyes aren't the only thing that burns hot. I will think of that moment on my death bed. That was...something else. Intense...
That was the day I swear I really saw Shepard. Not the Commander, not the Hero. Not the diplomat. No, I saw Megan Shepard. I get the impression most will never see her. Kaiden once said Shepard keeps to herself. I don't think he was talking about the same thing, but it's an accurate statement. Her demeanor is different, and her eyes are … not predatory, close but not right. They're... free? Yeah, also close. I'll know it when I see it.
Breaking into a laugh. After Shepard left, I asked Ash if she wanted to spar. She smirked, already?, I'm impressed Vakarian. But, I don't think I want to spar that way, Vakarian. . Ash could fight. Spirits be with her.
Virmire. One fucked up situation. Shepard won't say it, but I will. I still feel Alenko fucked things up. Had to be the hero, and triggered the timer early. If we'd had a couple more minutes, there's a damn good chance we could've got Ash out of there.
I know it's irrational, but every time I look over and see the empty weapons bench, I want to punch him in the throat. Ash and I didn't start off well, but by the end, I would gladly fight beside her. Ash was OK in my book. And damn she could fight. She loved guns as much as I did, she was a great armorer.
Spirits be with you, and guide you, Ashley Williams. You will be missed.
Maybe I should see if she needs help with mission planning. No, that won't work, we have no idea what we're walking into.
Hey, Shepard, I know you're getting ready for the mission of your life, but want to spar. Wink-Wink.
Let's face it. I wouldn't have a chance anyway. She's never said a word about that day. She's actually been a bit aloof since then. Troubled almost.
Yeah, well you did dry hump your commanding officer. You're lucky you're still on the ship. True.
In my defense, she didn't exactly say get the hell off of me..
I've never been with a human, and until being around Shepard, never even thought about it. Now. Well, now I think about it. Quite a bit actually. Well with her at least. Yeah, with her. I want to hear that sound again. She'd baited me about needing a kill to win. She forgot about my teeth. So I tapped her neck with them, a reminder.
I figured she'd say fuck, and get pissed off. Ah, no. She never better make fun about my waist again. I looked it up. And with some humans, their necks are erogenous zones. And guessing by her reaction, she's one of them.
I didn't even think I could react to a human. Spirits, did I react. My brain was light years behind what my body was doing. That hip thing she did. Never before. Ever. I could get used to it. Very very used to it.
If other human females are like her, then the asari have some serious competition.
I know the hip action was intentional, at least I think it was. I just want to hear that breath sound again. And I will do whatever it takes to hear it again. And again.
Oh, yeah. I'm hitting the shower before we hit the relay. I hope she wears heavy armor also. Where the hell did she find light armor that looks...
The elevator? Sounded like it. I reach up and flip the switch, put the seat back up. I don't hear anything. Wrex found some storeroom to sleep in, so I don't have to hear him snore anymore. Thank the spirits for that.
Guess it was..
"Hey. You up?" I spin the chair towards the left hatch. I break into a smile. Nothing like hers though. I almost want to laugh. She is sporting the wickedest smile I have ever seen on a human.
"Yeah, Yeah, come on in." I get up as she climbs in. She flops down on the back bench, putting her pack on the floor.
I move to the gunners seat. "You OK?" I ask her, she's bent over digging through her pack.
"Yep. Can't sleep. You?" She sits back up and hands me a bottle. Has one of her own in her other hand. I look at it. Holy shit. "Holy shit, Shepard. This is .. this is ah, expensive as hell." Cipritine whiskey, fifteen years old. Damn good.
She tilts the neck of her bottle toward me, we clink the necks together, and take a swig. Good smooth burn.
"Eh" She shrugs her shoulder, then stretches out across the bench, knees bent. I'm very glad, but wished she hadn't worn shorts. It never used to do anything for me. Now. Now, it does a lot of things. Now I get why Kaiden wouldn't spar with her dressed like that.
Pointing the neck of her bottle at me. "Still think cleaning out merc bases was silly?" I flip the lock on the fold-down seat, and let it drop, put my feet up. Now, we're both angled so we're face to face. She puts the bottle down between her legs, (lucky bottle) and brings up her OT.
"And this is your cut." My cut? She waves off-handedly at her OT, so I bring mine up, she taps a couple keys, and mine pings. I bring up whatever she just sent. It looks like a bank statement. That's because it is a bank statement. What the..
"Is this real?" She nods at my question. "This is from ..."
"Yep. That's your share from what's left over. Ground team all got the same cut. Minus ten grand I gave to Joker, Adams, Chakwas, and Pressley. Just see Barla Von to access it. You OK with that?" How the hell her smile became more mischievous is beyond me.
Holy hell. "Holy hell" I repeated out loud. "All from merc bases?
"No. Cerberus and Exo-Geni pitched in also." She winked and took a swig. Fuck it, I'm rich, I'll take a huge swig. I can afford it now. Damn, Shepard.
"Uh. Thank you. This is.. wow. Thank you." One of my more eloquent moments
"Think nothing of it. Thanks for being here. I mean it, Garrus. Thank you." She nodded, and tipped her bottle towards me. We clinked, drank.
"So. You ready?" I genuinely wanted to know. If anyone could be ready for this, it'd be her.
"No. Yes. Not sure how you can be ready for something this unknown. And thinking about it has me too keyed up. You?" She shrugged while speaking, then arched an eyebrow when she finished.
"Couldn't sleep. Tried to rest. Just thinking about things." Shit. Shit. I know Shepard. She's going to want to know what I was thinking. She has a way of knowing if it's embarrassing, and will really press the issue.
She tilts her head. "About?" Classic Shepard. Probing move. Test defenses, boundaries. She'll kick the door in shortly.
I tilt my bottle to her, and shake my head. "No. This one's for me." I take a swig. I look at her for a moment, and can't help but smile. What a great ride this has been. Then I lean down to place the bottle on the floor. Don't want anything to happen to this one. Not just the cost, but the thought.
"Is it?" A momentary pause. "Just for you?" I had been just starting to sit back up when she said it. I paused just for a second. Her voice was … different. Huskier? I want to say sexier, but that's just projection on my part. I sit back up, and look over at her.
"It's you." I blurted out. It was her. Right there. Right fucking here. I thought my smile couldn't get any bigger. She had the most devilish smile. Spirits what a smile. It meant many things, none of them good.
Her eyes were just ablaze. They danced with an intensity. They were... feral. Dangerous. Primal. Beautiful.
Her entire manner was … even her demeanor untamed.
"You asked what I was searching for. I was searching for you." I never thought I'd see you again.
And I swear, as she said it, "You know, we never did finish..." I swear she purred.
A/N: Finally. Thank you to all that took the ride. Journey was longer than I intended.
As usual, please R&R, if you feel like it.
Many, many thanks to those that sent comments. They were very nice, and very helpful. I appreciate it more than you know.