A/NHere are the last two chapters of this story. I decided to post the fifth chapter as a separate installment, I think it fits better that way. I hope you like it!

A week later Miranda is pleased with herself. She hasn't seen Jack all week and she has not once checked up on the other woman. Not even via the cameras. It's much better like this, she decides. They could never have worked out anyway. She wonders what she was thinking. Obviously Jack hates Cerberus. And how could she ever think it was a good idea to take Jack out on a date? What was she going to do next? Tell the Illusive Man that they're a couple? She shakes her head.

She doesn't really miss Jack. How could she? It's not like they ever really hung out together. They were only having sex. Sure, perhaps Jack did sleep in her bed those last few weeks. And they talked more than they used to. But it's all over now and it's only for the best.

She is shocked however, when a few days later, Shepard enters her quarters and bluntly states: 'Whatever you did to her. You need to fix it.'

Miranda is working at her desk, filing another report to the Illusive Man. She tries to play it cool and doesn't even look up from her work while answering: 'I have no idea what or who you're talking about.'

The redhead rolls her eyes. 'Sure you don't. I'm talking about Jack. You know, biotic, full of tattoos, swears like a sailor. You might have seen her around here, sometimes.'

Miranda raises her eyebrows.

'Come on, Miranda. Don't play dumb with me. I know the two of you were... getting closer. Or whatever you two want to call it.'

Heat rises to her face. She was so sure nobody had found out about the two of them. What does Shepard know? Does anyone else know? Did Jack tell her? Did she tell the commander about the restrictions on Jack's files?

'I wasn't aware you knew about that,' she states awkwardly. She looks up at the commander, who has sat down in the chair at the other side of her desk.

Shepard looks slightly embarrassed, a light blush tainting her cheeks.

'After your... fight – I had EDI keep an eye on you. I asked her to warn me if Jack would enter your office again. So when she did, I sent Kelly down there to listen at the door to make sure the two of you weren't going to kill each other. And well, then we found out you were doing something entirely else.' Shepard smiles.

'It's over now.'

'Is that why you've been holed up in your office for days and I haven't seen Jack at dinner even once the last weeks?'

'It's honestly none of your business, commander.'

Shepard smiles again, not at all insulted by Miranda's cold tone. It's something about Shepard that really irritates her. Everyone else would be put off by Miranda's tone by now, but the commander just doesn't seem to care. It's like she doesn't know when to back off. Or more like she just refuses to, Miranda thinks to herself.

'It is my business, Operative Lawson. I need you and Jack to figure your shit out. You know I don't give a rat's ass about what my crew members do with each other. I'd be a huge hypocrite considering... Liara. But our mission is too important to be compromised by your drama. We can't have any distractions.'

Miranda grips her desk tightly until her fingers turn white. 'There is no shit to figure out, commander. It's over.'

'Then why is Jack holed up in her... -in her convict cave, looking like someone kicked her puppy?'

'Perhaps you should ask her.'

'I did. She just told me to fuck off and go talk to the cheerleader.'

Miranda rubs her forehead. 'I did something bad. But before we started to... I know I was wrong. I apologized, I fixed the problem but she still refuses to talk to me.'

Shepard snorts. 'Well, that's all very nice and cryptic, but I want you to figure things out. Beg, apologize again, lick her pussy, I don't care.'

'She's the one that told me to go fuck myself after I took a risk by fixing the problem! I tried to say I'm sorry but I'm not going to apologize another time!' Her voice rises and Shepard has stood up from the chair and her tall form towers over Miranda's desk.

'Damn it, Miranda. It's not about apologizing, I'm asking you to be the better woman here. Take one for the team. If you spend your time figuring out who's wrong and who's right, your relationships will always be battles. Go down there and talk to her like a grown up.'

Miranda stands up as well. 'She is the one who is too bloody immature to listen to my side of the story. I've tried talking to her. She doesn't listen. She's the one who called me names and gave me the finger. She literally pissed over my efforts to apologize and make things better. So don't you come in here lecturing me about being a grown up. I put effort into it. She refuses to behave like an adult. So screw her. And screw you for acting so condescending!'

She wants to throw something at Shepard. She can't remember the last time when she felt so angry and out of control.

But Shepard... Shepard just laughs. She roars with laughter and it makes Miranda even angrier. Tears are leaking from the commander's eyes when she finally opens her mouth again.

'She actually pissed on something you brought her? Goddess...'

The asari term at the end of her sentence annoys Miranda even more.

'Shut up, you asshole!'

Shepard wipes the tears away from her freckly cheeks. 'Sorry. So I guess that's not something that gets your juices flowing then?'

'I prefer my company to be house trained,' Miranda snaps back and Shepard giggles. Miranda's pretty sure she's never heard the commander giggle before and it annoys her so much that she's tempted to slap the face she's spent so much time rebuilding.

She forces herself to calm down and takes a few deep breaths.

Shepard opens her mouth again and Miranda looks up defiantly.

The commander holds up her hands. 'Take it easy, Miranda,' she says gently. 'I know that Jack is a very difficult person. But you came with us to Pragia. You know she's suffered. I think deep down, very deep down, behind all the layers of anger and insecurity, there's nothing she wants more than to be accepted. To be loved. I'm not telling you how to lead your life. But I think it might do the both of you some good if you kissed and made up.'

Miranda doesn't react when Shepard squeezes her fingers and leaves her cabin.