Convergence

By: Absolute Edge

Chapter II

The Illusive Man skimmed through a report that had been carefully worded prior to his inspecting it. However, as well written as it may be one thing was quite clear; no one has any idea what happened to little isolated Karsus IV, home of the Quarian Disease Research Center. The Illusive Man smiled knowingly as he re-read the proof that his Marker blueprints had worked and that Felicia had done her job well. Now for the fun part; sending a team back to ground zero to find out what became of the facility, its occupants, and the Marker.

The Illusive Man waved a hand and a screen flicked to life at his side. He scrolled across the transparent surface and came to the name he wanted. After a few minutes a hologram blurred into fuzzy existence a few feet away.

"Commander Shepard, I have an important mission for you." The Illusive Man began as he turned in his chair to face the Commander. "A facility I have greatly invested in has gone dark and I need you to investigate."

"What kind of facility?" Shepard asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Miranda has all the details."

"Then why did you even call me?" Shepard said in irritation.

"Just so I could tell you that I'll be watching this mission very closely." The Illusive Man said flatly.

"Right, I'll go check it out." Shepard said with a sigh.

The screen blanked out and Commander John Sheppard stepped off the holo plate with a sigh. He hated the Illusive Man so much but literally owed him his life. John left the room and was about to make for his quarters on the Normandy when he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned.

"Commander, can we talk?" Miranda said softly. She was being uncharacteristically nervous and it intrigued John.

"What's wrong Miranda?" John asked walking over to a wall with her. She leaned up against it with a sigh and wrung her hands.

"I know what he wants you to do and... I don't know if I can go with you." She looked away from John, was looking everywhere but at him.

"The Illusive Man says you're my mission expert. Is he wrong?" John asked, though he was genuinely concerned with Miranda's behavior he wanted to know what she had to say before he judged her unfairly.

"No, he's never wrong." Miranda said with a defeated sigh. She thinks John doesn't care but that's not true, not true at all.

"So why don't you want to go?" John asked leaning next to her. Miranda looked up at him with an expression of quiet depression that was so alien for John to see on her face that it disturbed him to no end.

"Because I haven't just been there..." She paused on the verge of tears and John had an idea what she was about to say next.

"John, I... I caused it." Miranda looked away so John couldn't see her wipe the tears from her eyes and cleared her throat.

"Miranda you've ended lives before why was this so different?" John asked placing a hand on her shoulder and she peeked over at him.

"I was there for five months. I tried not to get attached to the people there but... Five months is a long time to be alone." She turned to him, "John, I killed eight thousand two hundred and seven people."

John watched her for a moment before pulling her into a hug. "I understand, you can just brief us then. You don't have to go."

Miranda hugged him back, "thank you John. Thank you so much."

"I'm just looking out for my friend." John said as they let each other go. "Go get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, good night John." Miranda said softly, she had stopped crying and looked absolutely relieved. As if a heavy burden was suddenly lifted from her shoulders. She walked away quickly, wiping her eyes once more before trying to regain a semblance on control. John did not envy her right now and went to his quarters.

John awoke to a soft metal tapping. He sat up somewhat groggy and looked around but found nothing out of the ordinary and yet the sound persisted. He rolled out of bed with nothing but spandex underwear on and took his pistol from the night stand. The sound was coming from outside his door – someone was trying to hack their way in. John took three deep breaths with slow exhales before activating the door controls.

John stepped out and pressed his pistol against the side of the head of the hacker, it was Miranda. She fell back in surprise with a yelp and quickly stood up, wringing her hands.

"Miranda? What- are you alright?" John said lowering his pistol and noticing the dark circles under her eyes and the dried tears on her cheek.

"I can't sleep... I keep having nightmares. Horrible, horrible nightmares." Miranda said softly and at length, she wouldn't look at him directly.

"It's about those people isn't it?" John asked and Miranda nodded slowly. "Come on in, I'll sleep on the couch."

John stepped aside and let her walk by, she glanced up at him and the look in her eyes betrayed her emotions. John could almost feel her fear, sadness, and hatred. He understood where the first two were coming from but why hate? He hadn't imagined the way her eyebrows were angled or the glint in her eyes. He would have to ask her later.

"Thank you John." She paused as he shut the door, "Do you mind if I take a shower?"

John smiled, "Of course I don't, take as long as you need."

Miranda made a beeline for the shower and closed the door gently. John sighed and shook his head. Taking someone's life from a distance with a sniper was easy, closer up with a rifle hits you harder than you might think, and executing someone with a pistol or knife is so... Personal that no one he knows has ever spoken about it. Miranda and John have done it all, killed in so many ways it became as easy as breathing, but Miranda didn't kill a handful of people she killed eight thousand. John didn't want to imagine what Miranda was going through, what those dreams were about.

John sat down on the couch with a sigh and lied down on his back. He was a little surprised to find out just how comfortable it was and he drifted off to sleep.

A soft rustling pulled John back to reality and he looked around. Miranda was tossing and turning, muttering nonsense.

"Fuck it." John said quietly as he wandered over to his bed. He crawled under the covers and threw a hand around Miranda's waist and held her close to him. She stopped squirming and breathed out slowly. She had calmed down quickly enough and the silence was welcome. Somehow John knew it would work. She was afraid and felt alone; though she is asleep her body felt comforted and relaxed.

"Good night Miranda." John whispered closing his eyes.

"John?" Miranda whispered back.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Any time." John said patting her hip. Miranda took his hand and cuddled with it. They fell asleep moments later.

A soft beeping woke John and without opening his eyes he reach out and turned off the alarm. John realized he was lying on his back after a moment and that there was a weight on his chest. He looked down to find Miranda lying partially on top of him with an arm wrapped around him. John stared at her before dropping his head back onto his pillow with a sigh. He noticed something odd, felt something different. John looked back at Miranda and noticed she was in her underwear. Her skin felt like silk against him, it was pleasant.

"Fuck it." John said dropping his head back again. Miranda was his friend and subordinate but even though he may be attracted to her his sights lay elsewhere. He considered sleeping with her for a moment but decided against it on the grounds that her mind is currently in a bad state. If they did do it John didn't want to feel as if he took advantage of her.

Miranda stirred and stretched out her limbs. She rolled her head over to look at him and smiled. "Morning John."

"Good morning, how did you sleep?" John asked as he scratched her back. Miranda sighed pleasantly and wrapped her arms around him.

"Very well, no nightmares this time." She moaned quietly as John's fingers made long strides across her back.

"I'm glad." John said lying his head back down. Miranda sighed and closed her eyes letting John scratch away.

"You want to take a shower?" Miranda muttered against John's chest.

"Sure, cleanliness is next to Godliness after all." John said as Miranda rolled off so he could get up.

John stood up and stretched out his arms and walked over to the bathroom. Miranda was still lying down but had propped herself up on her elbows and watched him. "See you soon."

Miranda watched him wave back as he went to shower and smiled to herself. She waited until the shower had been running for a minute or two before getting up and stripping off her underwear. She wandered around the bed making her way to the shower. Peeking in Miranda waited until John was facing away before sneaking in. She crept up to the shower and opened the glass door. John looked over, completely shocked.

"Oh shi- Miranda? What are you doing?" John said as she pushed him back against the wall making room for herself.

"Well I did say I'd see you soon now didn't I?" Miranda said with a laugh but John was still recovering from the sudden intrusion but was unsure as to how he felt emotionally after already deciding he wouldn't go down certain roads.

Miranda pressed her body against John's and placed her hands on his waist. John shifted his weight slightly and Miranda looked up at him taking his adjustment as being uncomfortable.

"I want to thank you for understanding and being a good friend." Miranda said sending her hands down south but John grabbed them gently before they made their destination.

"You don't owe me anything. You don't have to do this." John said making it perfectly clear in case Miranda had become a little delusional. She smiled warmly and kissed him.

"I know, but I want to." Miranda said wiggling out of his grip, "and I know you do too."

To Miranda's delight John exhaled sharply as she took a firm grip down under. Miranda giggled and sank to her knees with a dirty grin on her face.