I'm so happy that new people have added this story to their alerts and favorites. Inspired by this, I have pumped out Chapter 11

Chapter 11:

Comforter and Thief

"Sooooo, what exactly are we doing at Flux Commander?" queried Joker. "You and I don't exactly have the best track record here."

"So I noticed," responded Laura, as the beat of the music pumped into her ears. "Still, if Anderson wants to see us, it must be important."

Captain Anderson was not a hard man to find. Even in civilian clothes, Anderson's bulk made him stand out and other civilians avoid him. Anderson was nursing a clear drink in a tall, thin glass. As Shepard, Joker, and Garrus approached him, the captain nodded solemnly. "Have a seat Shepard. You want to get out of this place?"

"Like a bat out of hell sir," responded Joker.

"Like a what?" asked the turian.

"Never mind," answered Laura. "You got a plan Captain? I believe we're all ears."

Anderson put his glass down and hunched over the table. "I believe I have two possible ways of getting you and the Normandy off of the Citadel. Udina may be my superior now, but I'm not about to let the universe get blinked out of existence because he's an ass," Anderson paused and looked up as two Alliance crewman passed their table. "One option is to get to the dock and override the lockdown codes. The other is for me to withdraw Udina's orders from his computer."

Joker raised his eyebrows in surprise at the Captain's daring. Shepard huddled with her team, trying to sort everything out. "What do you think Garrus?"

"Well, the consoles at the dock will most likely be guarded by C-Sec, and now Alliance," the turian reasoned.

"Yeah," added Joker. "And somehow, I don't think Udina is so paranoid as to have his office guarded. Besides, Udina has made it personal."

The group agreed that getting into Udina's office would be much easier. When Garrus pointed out that if worst came to worst, Udina would only be at his computer. This idea seemed to amuse Anderson. "I'll take care of Udina. Just let me know when you're ready in the Normandy."

"Good luck Captain," said Shepard as she stood. "I'll let you know when I've wrapped everything up here."

The three companions squeezed through the crowded seating areas and then the dance floor. As they came to the top of the steps, Joker had the feeling that they were being followed. As soon as he turned to voice his concerns, Garrus fell unconscious down the steps from a well-placed pistol whip. Laura also fell as she was shoved from behind. Joker feared that he would suffer the same fate, when a beefy arm wrapped around his neck, threatening to suffocate him.

Joker strained his neck to look at his attacker before the black spots in front of his eyes covered his vision completely. You got to be kidding me. This guy looks like an older and more ugly version of my two favorite thugs. Joker turned back to face front and look at Garrus and Laura. Garrus was out cold, lying in a crumpled heap. Laura however, was struggling to her feet, sporting a nasty gash over her right eye.

"So now the cripple can walk, and the mighty Shepard can actually bleed," growled the thug.

Joker's thoughts raced from screaming for help, to realizing that the deafening music would drown out his pleas. Laura drew her sniper rifle and steadied the firearm on the separator between the two sets of steps. "Joker," stated Laura. "Don't move."

I'm a freaking hostage, what the hell am I supposed to do? I knew I should have stayed on my beloved ship.

"Your shot better be damn good Shepard," warned the thug, as he shrank even more behind the pilot while still maintaining his stranglehold.

Joker could only stretch his neck more to alleviate the pressure of the man's bicep. The pilot simply could not break eye contact with Laura as she tried to focus through her scope. Jesus, her eye, thought Joker as a new icy fear worked up his spine. Then Laura did something that Joker though might as well have been his death sentence. Laura switched so that her left eye without the gash was peering through the scope. The pilot stopped struggling and stood completely still in order to allow Laura the best possible shot.

Joker took a deep breath, and bowed his head. One…oh lord…two… I swear I'll never surf the intranet again…three. A shot rang out, silencing the music from the nearby Flux. The man that previously held Joker slumped to the floor, with his head hanging over the steps. Joker simply sat cross-legged next to his attacker and slowly let out his breath that he had previously held. "Jesus."

"You can call me Laura."

"Please don't ever do that to me again. If Saren wants to destroy Flux and the thugs that hang around it, he can be my guest," Joker said lowly.

"As selfish as that is, I'm inclined to agree, Laura said as she offered her hand to the seated pilot. "By the way, I think we're even now. Two for me at Flux, and one for you on Therum and here."

"Yeah, sure. We should check on Garrus," Joker said as he looked down the flight of steps. "Who knew the turian couldn't take pistol whip."

Garrus groaned and slowly got to his feet, "I heard that."

The ground shore party made it back to the Normandy without any other incidents, but the crew that was not privy to the meeting with Anderson was still dejected. "I'll talk to the non-Alliance people like Wrex along with Ashley, while you talk to your crewmates," Laura told her pilot once they exited the airlock.

Once in front of his fellow Alliance personnel, Joker could find nothing to start the conversation. What am I supposed to say? 'Hey everyone we're purposely breaking regulations and we can all get court-martialed,'?

Pressly spoke up first, "We're not staying here are we? Anderson must have come with a plan."

Joker nodded, "If any of you aren't willing to face the military board, than now is your chance to leave." Nobody moved. "Alright then. Everybody needs to be ready as soon as we get the green light. If we do this right, the Citadel fleet won't be able to catch up."

Everybody simply scattered to their stations and began running system checks and diagnostics. It was not long until Shepard came up to the flight deck and stood behind Joker in his chair. "I've contacted Captain Anderson, it shouldn't be long now." The pilot nodded solemnly and made a steeple with his fingers. And so they waited. The two simply stared at the orange light indicating that they were still locked out. After ten minutes, Joker turned apprehensively to his commander to which she responded with a shrug. As they turned back, the light thankfully turned green.

"Get us out of here Joker," Laura said as she pounded her fists in excitement on the back of the pilot chair. "I want us gone two weeks ago."

Joker smirked and throttled the Normandy in reverse and k-turned out of the Alliance hangar. They were already entering the nearest mass relay when the first alarm was raised. Like taking candy from a baby. Except this candy is one of a kind and costs trillions.

Once the Normandy exited the Mu Relay, Joker set it to drift in stealth mode. "Good work flyboy," said Laura as she flipped Joker's hat off of his head. "I'll be in my quarters should anything go amiss."

"Aye ma'am," nodded Joker. "I'll be here. We have several hours before we reach Illos. Maybe I'll stop by later," he ended as joke.

"I'd like that," she whispered into his ear. And with that, she slinked off towards the stairs.

Is it hot in here or is it just Laura?

All right now calm down. Relax. Start breathing.

Yeah, there is no need to rush in like a sex-starved maniac.

Even if I am.

This isn't just about you!

It isn't?

No, it's about you being romantic (finally) with Laura.

So how long should I wait?

Wait until the skeleton crew is on duty. You know "nighttime."

Proud of his decision, Joker nodded to himself and put his hands behind his head. N his final act of contentment, Joker did something he had seen in the old holovids. He crossed his legs, and placed them over the console as he made to get some rest.

When Joker woke from his nap, he found that he had been asleep two hours. With the skeleton crew in place, Joker once again asked Pressly to hold down the fort, and proceeded down the steps. As the pilot approached the door to Shepard's quarters, he noticed that the lights were off, but the neon orange glow of the computer flickered from within. As he approached the entryway, the doors slid open to reveal that Commander Shepard was asleep in front of her computer.

Not exactly the most romantic mood. Joker sighed, saved every open document, and switched off the computer. Next, he lifted Laura into his arms, and gently placed her in the bed. Hoping that she was comfortable, Joker kissed Laura on her forehead and went t remove her arms that he had placed around his neck.

The only problem was, Laura had no intention of letting go. "Leaving so soon?"

"I thought you were asleep," Joker whispered.

"I was, but I'm glad I'm awake," she replied and kissed her pilot in the crook of his neck.

"I'm glad you're awake too," he chuckled as he sat in the bed. "You nervous about Illos?"

"'I've been in a lot of crazy situations in my military career. But this? This makes my entire career look like an appetizer," stated Laura quietly as she sat up. "I don't know Jeff, this feels like a sort of last hurrah."

"You don't think, you're coming back from this?" the pilot asked as he wrapped Laura closer.

"I'm not sure. Something tells me that it won't be Illos, but this whole Reaper mission," Laura replied as she rested her head on Joker's shoulder. "This goes deeper than just Saren and Sovereign, and I'm truly frightened."

"I know that I'm scared shitless too. And I don't have the same wealth of experience to draw upon," said Joker, as he kissed the top of Laura's head.

"Don't worry handsome, I'll protect you," Laura teased as she kissed her lover on the lips.

"What about me? I can still save your ass from places like Therum," he teased back, returning the kiss.

"Or you could shut up and kiss me Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau."

"Aye aye ma'am."

The kisses began at the lips, but soon turned towards the neck and chest area. Joker's shirt came of first, followed by Laura's, and so they traded clothing piece by piece. The two did not hesitate to caress and kiss every curve and inch of each other. It was the most romantic night for the two of them, not to mention a personal first for a previously crippled pilot.

Hours, yes, hours later, Laura woke to find joker gazing at her from the other side of the bed. "Rise and shine commander."

"That was…" Laura sighed. "Oh Joker."

"Really?" queried Joker, raising an eyebrow. "I can handle the truth Laura."

"Come here lover," Laura said opening one arm while the other held up the sheet.

"Aye aye ma'am"

"You did promise me the stars didn't you?" asked her pilot as the snuggled together. "You sure delivered."

"That's not what I meant when I said that I was the best the Alliance had to offer," Joker noted.

"Would you like to reapply?"

"Sounds like a challenge," growled Joker, rubbing his coarse beard into her neck.

"Not the beard!" exclaimed Laura between fits of laughter.

"Attention Normandy crewmen," came Pressly's voice over the comm. "We are now one hour from Illos, all hands on deck."

"Damn it Pressly, your timing is horrendous," groaned Joker as he reached for his clothes.

I'm also proud to note that the ten chapters of this fanfic have been viewed more than my completed 15 chapter Star Wars fanfic. Thanks guys! Also, as always, any reviews, comments, concerns, questions, and suggestions are welcome1