Chapter 10

Firmer ground

Garrus woke up groggy and confused as obvious as that would sound after losing large amounts of blood it took another few minutes of groggy tiredness and a slight mumble of 'is this going to happen every morning now?' before he finally awoke and looked around. The first thing he noticed to his pleasure was the freshly cleaned, bandaged, and healing shoulder and a rather funny placed one on his jaw that went over his mandible.

However… it took him a while to come to terms with the fact he was bare-chested.

A fact about Turians is they can't stand to be without clothes. In fact about the only thing, either then faces, a handful at best of Turians will show off is their hands when in the presence of other races.

'It seems dumb,' Garrus had thought as a kid. There most essential anatomy was something that was kept safe away within their bodies behind strong plated skin. Even for Turian females whose only difference, surprisingly to other races, was the fact they just didn't have the horns to add to their fringe.

It was the fact that there was nothing truly obscene about them that made them so conservative. The fact that they were maybe one of the most different of all the alien races not saying that they weren't alike in any way.

However he had grown up in an uptight family… an uptight race if he really thought about it. And growing up in all that made him feel damn well awkward without anything covering him.

Come to think of it… if he's all bandaged up then it must mean he had been touched by a human bare-chested. Eeh, he thought a bit as he shivered with disgust, or more likely humiliation, immediately regretting it as his shoulder throbbed from the soreness.

"Where is she?" He wondered as he rubbed his arm lightly.

"Good morning." He heard a voice somewhere from behind catching him off guard as he saw her silhouette hidden within the shadows of the cave.

"Huh," he said making it sound more like a laugh. "Seeing as I don't see our Varren friend in here I take it you're the one that bandaged me up." He meant for it to be sarcastic but saw by the way her brows scrunched she didn't really understand it. Ignorant human probably doesn't even know of Varren.

"Yeah I guess you could say that," her tone suggested all seriousness. It wasn't compliant and sure as hell gave a dominant tone. She wasn't afraid of him and she wasn't messing around she was in control now. His eyes began to adjust and he could see something by her side now, she was smart, she found a weapon.

"So you found the gun? Don't tell me you're going to get revenge and make me march now." He said putting as much venom in his tone. He wasn't the type to be so easily overshadowed.

"Nope, you would be no use to me then, and unlike you I don't waste my time being stupid." ok that statement caught him off guard.

"What?" He said losing some of his venom and taking to question. "What do you mean use?"

"Well you see I have given it some thought." The old Sheppard charm and golden tongue would only be half used. She had already thought out her strategy for this confrontation. She knew she wouldn't like this anymore then he did but, oh well.

She slowly began to walk out of the shadow and strolled casually by his side as though she had no care in the world. A good tactical use that was both docile and threatening if the mood was set right, with cool confidence and solemn intrigue she began her speech carefully.

"So how is your arm?" she said making sure not to look at him.

His eyes narrowed a bit, "fine," he said reaching for the bandage on his face slowly pealing it off so he wouldn't have a hard time speaking.

"Good," she said turning on her heal making her tone sound as comforting as possible just like they were old friends while carrying her serious captain in command expression.

"Where is the rest of my armor?"

She looked over at the lip of the cave where his armor sitting unceremoniously next to some fresh tree branches.

"So, I find it a little strange I mean you're awfully compliant for someone who was lugged around like a prisoner for hours. Why? What's your game?"

"Nothing, I just think that you and I could become good allies?"

"Aha," his skepticism lay thick within his voice as his mandibles slackened and laid against his face lightly. "How do you figure?"

"I figure because I am someone with survival experience. I am the one with the medical supplies, the water, the food, and…" she picked the pistol up and shook it playfully in her hand as though she held a children's toy instead of a deadly weapon. "I have the gun."

"So you have everything and I have nothing. What do you need me for?" His body continued to relax as though he was without threat as his tone held interest; it was true she now had good essential equipment. Where she got it he didn't know and hell maybe it was a bluff but then again his arm was bandaged up so it couldn't be not to mention her new wardrobe. He was too tired to be really stubborn so he decided to play along. At least as far as word play went.

"You see the one thing I don't have is information."

"Information?"

"Yes, such as whatever that dog thing was a… ver-hen?"

"You mean Varren?" Ha! He could have laughed.

"Yes, your better associated with alien life, better than I am. We would both have a better chance of survival if we stuck together instead of continuing this ongoing charade of who saves whom before we drag each other off." He noticed the odd way she stood up tall and put her hands behind her back as though she wasn't just demanding attention but deserved it. 'Interesting'

"What makes you think that I have no survival training of my own? Why would me lugging around a human being be best for me?"

"First off!" Her tone went held more anger then she wanted it. "What happened before was just a rare occasion. I had underestimated my opponent and was caught off guard. That willnot happen again!"

"It won't?" He said accusingly. He had no doubts she was serious but couldn't help but amuse himself with her serious nature on the subject. Her pride had been hurt.

"No, if anything this is just an offer. You can refuse or you can oblige, either way I am going to get off this alien planet and get back home alive, how about you?"

He sat for a minute and looked on not really saying anything the tension was nerve racking. His features were alien enough that he gave nothing away for her to take notice of. She wasn't half bad what she said was true. In unknown territory keeping her as a hostage would slow him down, if they split up being apart would hinder both their chances at survival. The best way was to stick it out together ad hope for the best.

"So if I agree," he said slowly, "this would make us ally's on equal terms."

"Yes," she said skeptically.

"So no lying, no… what's the term I'm looking for? Ambushes in the night this just isn't some cheap trick." He knew it wasn't but a little prying never hurt.

"What do you mean?" she said with a little harsher a tone then she had in mind.

"I know about humans they'll do anything in order to get what they want or do what they think they have to."

"What makes you say that?"

"You proved that to me on the ship didn't you?"

"Hm," Shepard suppressed a smile.

"What's so funny," he said. He was just noticing how much humans seemed to mimic asari mannerisms and emotions. It was definitely going to give him an edge.

"If I wanted you dead on the ship, you would be dead."

He couldn't help trying to suppress his worry because he understood why his people believed humans so ruthless because in that moment her eyes told him everything.

She really would have.

A/N:

Another short chapter TT^TT I'm sorry guys I really am. I have been away again for about 5 days. I went to visit my Great Grandfather who is probably going to die soon. His health is plummeting and the people who are taking care of him are really only using him. It is a nine hour trip from our house to his so we can't do anything for him. I can only hope they will leave and my family will be able to find someone better to care for him.

I also wanted to thank all the wonderful people who reviewed me. Even if it was just one or two words the fact you actually spent the time to do that for me is much appreciated. To be honest the reviews are what makes me crave writing these stories because I love it when someone tells me if I am doing good or bad.

I also want to thank the people who favorite and subscribed that really helps to.

Bless your face! :D