Shepard's bare feet are pounding up the stairs and muscle memory carries her all the way to the flight deck before she fully wakens. Years of ship board living have not been wasted.

"Joker, status report now!"

He goes visibly pale, turning on the alarm in her quarters seems much less funny with a furious Shepard breathing down his neck than when Chakwas suggested it in the mess over breakfast. He sits silently, the complete lack of warnings on the flight console indicates no emergencies.

"Well?"

"Chakwas suggested that the best way to check for impaired reflexes would be to..." He trails off as her dirty fingers grip the back of his shitty polymer chair. Joker is unwilling to complete the sentence as he knows his CO could easily break half the bones in his body with a single slap. Hell she killed a thresher maw on foot yesterday, he can smell the grime and dirt on her as she breathes down the back of his neck.

The tension in the enclosed room melts as Shepard laughs. "Now that's just sad Joker, not only did you not think of it, you don't even have the balls to pretend it was your prank."

"What?"

"Seriously? With the amount of medical treatment you have had in your life I would have thought you would have been in on that joke."

A look of understanding dawns on his face, "Aw dammit Chakwas, I would have set up cameras."

The pace Shepard sets on the way back down to the mess is a lot slower. Now fully awake the metal floor is cold on her feet and the artificial lighting hurts her eyes. Though from previous hangovers the great Commander Shepard knows that any light can do that trick. She wonders about the level of Immunity left in her blood stream and decides that she is probably still technically under the influence. Excellent, she smiles and keys the com in the mess, "XO Pressley, you are to maintain command for the next 24 hour cycle."

With that minor task behind her Shep turns to the far more important task of burnt toast and powdered eggs. The first mouthful is great, but Shepard can see Dr Chakwas about to leave the med bay, not at all in the mood for interruptions or inspections she grabs her plate and sneaks into the elevator. The cargo bay has more activity than usual with Tali and Garrus stripping the MAKO wreck for parts. Ashley is listening to Tali squawk her shock over surviving yesterday with a smile on her face.

"Keelah, the controls were gone before the second hit we took. I didn't even notice any difference in the driving than normal."

Ashley starts snickering, "I am reasonably sure the Commander has never even picked up the manual for it."

"You are damn right Soldier, reading is for losers." All heads whip towards her, two looking slightly chastened for talking about their CO behind her back, the krogan looking amused at his squad mates being caught and Tali could be poking her tongue out for all she knew.

"I, what?" The Gunnery Chief is shocked at the joking statement being confirmed, "How are you allowed to drive it?"

"Under Alliance regs I'm not. I just yell spectre authority and all my problems go away, it's pretty neat." Shepard grins and sits on the removed MAKO seats. She shuffles a little before digging back into her rapidly cooling breakfast.

Activity resumes with quiet conversation as Shepard finishes her breakfast.

"Shepard."

"Wrex."

"A maw on foot Shepard, that would have been impressive without the vehicle support." She places the plate to the side and stands with a stumble. Yep still slightly high.

"It's impressive as fuck you old dinosaur. They ran for the hills." She pokes him in the chest and he rumbles with laughter.

"I killed a maw on foot during my rite. No vehicle artillery for me."

"Bet you had armour, you lazy cheat." Shepard and Wrex are toe to toe, glaring. "There is only one way to settle this." Wrex returns to his corner to remove his armour.

As Shepard reaches the MAKO she is bombarded with questions, enquiring everything from her sanity, the rules and the stakes.

"Winner gets a kiss from Ashley?"

"NO."

"Did not see you behind me there Chief. Wrap my hands for me would you?" As Ashley wraps her hands tightly Shepard leans in to whisper in her ear. "I, uh just wanted to say thanks. For last night I mean, I hate waking up in the med bay. And um, it was really sweet the way you tucked me into bed."

"Shepard, are you blushing?" She moves on to the left wrist.

"No, fuck you soldier. But seriously no one has ever done that for me before. So thanks."

"Aww, well that is you already to get pulped by Wrex. But hey win and I might give you that kiss."

"Really?" A hopeful glint enters the Commander's eye and Ashley knows she made a mistake. Shepard is high, sleep deprived and on her best day hand to hand with a Krogan Battlemaster is suicidal. Yet for a maybe she will not tap out.

The fight ended with red and orange blood liberally splattered all over the cargo bay. Liara had Wrex in a lift while Kaidan held a dazed Shepard in a Stasis field.

"I think you both need to visit Chakwas, and next time inform the crew of any friendly 'competitions' before Pressly has to order biotic riot control." Kaidan always seemed to be the voice of reason.

One hour later an incredibly bruised and sheepish Shepard returns to the cargo bay. She ignores Garrus and Tali's laughter, refuses to talk to a fully healed Wrex and taps Ashley on the shoulder.

"Did that count as winning?"

Ashley looks at the split and swollen face in front of her. Shepard's eyes are big and hopeful.

"No, not at all."

AN - Not trying to force reviews, but I like them and the positive re-enforcement they provide, any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks for reading.