Chapter 8

Sorry for the wait guys. I feel like these chapters aren't coming out fast enough so in the future I'm going to try and pump them out faster. No promises but I'll try.

While Kasumi, Samara and Legion continued on their mission the rest of the Normandy team relaxed in the ship's cafeteria eating a delicious meal prepared by Mess Sergeant Gardner. Nothing however was truly relaxed, in fact the team's morale showed on their faces and their faces showed that the current situation they were in was far from relaxed. Cerberus was after them seeking blood, and Styx Company was out there performing sick experiments on innocent humans again and had to be stopped. The Normandy and her crew were far from safe or relaxed and there was a silence at the table like no other. It was a dark silence, filled with death and dread. Shepard could feel the tension in the air, the stress of each individual squad mate, all wearing down on him like files on wood. He had his head down in his food but his eyes were pointed up looking across the table and at each individual squad mate. Miranda, Jacob and Mordin were all pretty agitated, just eating their meal like zombies just trying to keep their minds off things. Reegar himself was also being very reserved but given that he hadn't gone on the suicide mission with the rest of the team he was most likely just shy or nervous around an originally Cerberus aligned group. Grunt just chomped through his plates of food ferociously as if he hadn't eaten in days without a care in the world but that was typical of a krogan. Jack wasn't present at the table, she wasn't anywhere to be seen so Shepard just assumed she stayed behind down in her hidey-hole as usual. Whether she actually gave a damn about anything that was happening was unknown. After checking on everyone else he subtly looked towards his left, at Tali, who was sitting right beside him, and saw that she was just in bad a state as everyone else. Her expression was hidden behind her mask, but the way her fingers studded around her nutrient paste, how they were constantly tangling up with each other. It pained him to see her like that, worried and uncertain about the future, likely the fleet's future, but more likely her future with Shepard. He wasn't going to let anyone dwell on the negatives, least of all the love of his life, and if a speech seemed inappropriate right now the least he could do was break the silence.

"So Rupert, nice grub," Shepard complimented enthusiastically.

"Ah what? Oh right thanks Shepard," Gardner accepted hastily, being put off by the sudden break in silence. The rest of the squad looked up in surprise almost instantly as if a bomb had just gone off. Maker these people were in a trance, Shepard thought.

"Seriously guys you all look like somebody just died, something the matter?" Shepard asked playfully. Jacob and Reegar giggled once they realized just how serious they had been. They were on standby for a possibly dangerous mission but that didn't mean they couldn't enjoy themselves a little bit before having to throw themselves into the heat of danger.

"Just having my mind occupied with things you know?" Jacob commented.

"Sorry Commander, just waiting things out," Reegar clarified.

"Shepard, we have a job to do," Miranda lectured, "we should be staying focused.

"Yes, focused, but that doesn't mean we have to be so… lifeless right now does it?" Shepard asked. Miranda giggled at the dangerously casual remark but it made perfect sense to her. She wasn't Cerberus's second in command anymore; she should lighten up.

"Not many years left, still much to do," Mordin replied hastily, words charging out of his mouth like bullets from a revenant as he left the table taking his empty plate to the sink, "so many experiments, better get started." With his final word he walked off out of sight of everyone else present and took the elevator straight towards his lab in the CIC. Everyone was stunned and confused at his sudden display, Reegar especially so, but the rest of the team recovered quickly having been used to his awkwardness and started chatting amongst themselves, except for Grunt who was still busy pigging out. Even Reegar started socializing more ever since he first stepped aboard the Normandy. Shepard smiled to himself as he listened to everyone's conversations on various topics, weapons, history, technology, art, things that had nothing to do with Cerberus or the Reapers and he even joined in happily. He was even more happy to see Tali being happier all of a sudden like everyone else as she started joining in conversations with the crew but when she looked at Shepard she stopped talking and stared into his eyes for moments before she simply rested her head on his shoulder. Comforted, Shepard wrapped an arm around Tali's shoulder and the two of them continued to stare into each other's eyes longingly with the palms of their hands touching, their fingers interlocked.

"Tali," Shepard whispered quietly.

"Yes Shepard," she replied sweetly.

"I love you." Tali tilted her head up further still, albeit slowly. He couldn't see through her mask but he knew she was stunned, wide-eyed, her mouth gaping open in a surprised smile. She held his arm tightly in affection.

"I love you too," Tali stammered out as the two held onto each other as the rest of the team talked not taking any notice.

Having restored the whole team's morale, chatting up his crew, and displaying his affection to Tali, he walked over to the sink handing his empty plate to Gardner. He proceeded to the elevator, thinking of attending his duties as the ship's captain but just before he could call the elevator he got bear hugged from behind. Surprised he took a quick glance at the arms around his stomach to see two three-fingered hands covered in a black and purple suit gripping onto him tightly, and he let out a happy sigh when he realized who it was.

"Need something Tali?" Shepard whispered smiling. Tali leaned in closer to his right ear sending goose bumps all throughout Shepard's skin.

"Shepard… I," Tali's voice trailed off distantly, having all of a sudden lost her words as she looked up at her lover. Shepard shivered at her current resolve not knowing what was bothering her.

"Something wrong Tali?" Shepard asked confused as he turned around to hold her by her hips.

"No, not that, I just," Tali kept stammering over her words but in the end she got her tongue together and finally said what she wanted to say, "I don't really want to be alone right now, do have a free moment?" Shepard gave her a sweet reassuring smile and held her tighter and brought her closer till she was digging her visor into his chest.

"Anything for you Tali," he whispered into her ear, "come up with me." Tali looked up, slid the back of her right hand across his right cheek, and let go of him so she could hold his hand as they went up to the captain's cabin together.

And that's chapter 8. Next time we'll look at Kasumi, Samara and Legion's mission on Illium and see how they're going. If you like this story so far review, favourite and follow. Cheers!

-Frostbrandt