From: Admiral Rael'Zorah

To: Tali'Zorah nar Rayya

RE:

I don't understand. Why did you send me a holo of that human 'Mako' vehicle? You don't intend on bringing one as a pilgrimage gift, do you? The fleet has little need for such a thing.

Be serious about your pilgrimage, Tali. There's a lot expected of you.

. . .

Tali read her father's reply message on her omni-tool, as she lay in one of the beds of the Normandy's med-bay. She was by herself; it was late, and Doctor Chakwas had already retired for the evening. Tali smirked under her mask, and typed out her response:

No, I don't intend on bringing one back, father. It's just that the ship I'm crew of has one. I got to ride inside it recently. And I had a lot of fun.

I just felt like sharing.

Tali bit her lip and hesitated slightly, before finally sending the message. She would never tell her father specifically why she was so enthralled with the Mako, or the true meaning of her message, but she got a certain rebellious thrill from hinting at it. She knew he'd never suspect what his little girl had done with her dashing commander, inside the armored human vehicle she had sent him a holo of.

Tali turned off her omni-tool's holographic display, and lowered her arm back to her side. She coughed a few times from the illness her intercourse with Shepard had resulted in. After a short while, the med-bay door suddenly opened. She turned her head and saw Shepard walking inside. Tali smiled.

"Shepard!" she greeted eagerly, "You're back."

Shepard approached her and took her hand. "How are you feeling, Tali? Has your fever gone down?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes. I'm still pretty sick, but I'm definitely getting better," Tali responded, and coughed right after her sentence. Tali's voice was slightly congested from her clogged sinuses.

Shepard gently squeezed her hand. "I'm glad to hear it. You know I've been worried," Shepard said, his voice taking a remorseful tone.

"I know, Shepard, and it—" cough, "—it means a lot to me. You've spent more time here in the med-bay than in the CIC. But I'm fine, really," she assured him. "But you know, you're not being a very good commander, you've been neglecting your duties in order to visit me all day..." Tali playfully teased; she had been in a very positive mood ever since their experience in the Mako, despite the illness it had caused. While she didn't feel it was necessary, Shepard had insisted she lay down in the med-bay when her illness got particularly bad earlier in the day. He wanted her to be properly monitored in case she got worse.

"No, but I'm being a good friend, at least," Shepard responded, smiling again. He then grabbed a nearby chair and pulled it up next to Tali's medical bed. He sat down and took her hand again.

"On the flotilla, I don't remember any of my friends ever checking up on me so much whenever I got sick…"

Shepard's smiled widened, and he chuckled quietly, "Well, maybe that means I'm being more than just a friend."

Tali felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach from hearing him say that; she delighted in hearing those words come from him. She lifted her hand, and gently placed a finger on his lips. He gave her gloved finger a soft kiss.

"Good, I… really like thinking of you as more than just a friend…" Tali spoke with some nervousness, but it was clear she was very happy.

Shepard just kept smiling as he looked at her. There was a short period of quiet while neither said anything. Tali suddenly broke the silence as she coughed again, this time louder than before.

His smile faded as she coughed, and he sighed as he was suddenly reminded of her illness, "Tali, I'm sorry. I still feel bad about this. I shouldn't have risked your hea—" Tali interrupted him.

"Shepard please don't. This isn't your fault. My reaction really wouldn't be much better if we hadn't… um, you know. It would be almost as bad if we had just huddled like originally intended, and we needed to share body heat. We'd both be dead right now if we hadn't," Tali assured him, reaching up again and stroking his cheek as she spoke. Shepard placed his hand on hers, and kissed the palm of it.

Another short period of time passed, Tali quietly coughing a couple times during it. "Am I still under orders to stay in here?" she asked in a cute, playful tone. Shepard hadn't actually ordered her to stay in the med-bay, but he did heavily insist on it.

"Do you really feel you're getting better?"

"Yes, I do. Like I said, I'm still pretty sick, but I feel better than earlier. I'm going to be back to normal in a few days, I know it. I've been in a good mood all day, too, thanks to you…"

Shepard thought for a moment and finally said, "Alright, you don't have to stay in here. Under one condition, though."

"What is it?"

"That you sleep in the commanding officer's quarters tonight…" Shepard responded, giving her a smirk.

Tali giggled quietly. Her mask blocked her face, but Shepard could tell she had a big grin under it. "…just tonight?" she asked flirtatiously.

Shepard chuckled after her question, and then stood up from his chair. He leaned forward and slid one arm under Tali's knees, and the other around her back, lifting her up off the bed. Tali instinctively placed her arms around his shoulder and neck, and held herself close to him. Shepard then said in a playful tone, "I shouldn't let a sick girl walk around on her own, you know," and he began to carry her towards the door of the med-bay.

"Keelah, Shepard!" Tali exclaimed as she giggled again, "What will the crew think if they see us like this?"

Shepard stopped just before stepping out of the door and looked down at Tali. He smiled warmly for a brief moment, and answered her:

"That I'm the luckiest man on this ship."