Chapter 5

Although it felt natural leaving the Normandy on Thane's arm, once they were submersed in Omega's low life, she started to feel nervous again. As numerous heads turned towards them, she felt a mixture of pride and self consciousness. The club was brimming with sexy, blue Asari, beautiful in their exotic skin. Of course, there were genders of all species filling the bar. A particularly rowdy turian couple to her left, a group of nervous looking salaries ahead.

As they passed the pushy turians, Thane pulled Shepard closer to him to avoid her being bashed by the bulky dancers. He was as unperturbed as usual but the close contact made Shepard blush. She could feel the heat climb up her throat as she smelt his fresh leather and mint smell.

The club was obnoxiously loud so talking was difficult. Thane steered her to the bar wordlessly. She had come to notice he could very easily take command of any situation, no matter who the spectre was. She liked that he was able to control her, not many could or would even dare to. Everyone usually found her so imposing. I wonder, why, she thought wryly.

Once they'd reached the bar, Thane beckoned the bartender over and ordered for them. Shepard was amused by his clumsy date etiquette. She could tell he was having trouble acting natural whilst on the job.

A particularly pissed off looking turian stood at the bar next to them. Shepard recognised him as the turian she had vomited in front of in the Dark Star toilets on the Citadel. Never forget a disgusted face.

"HEY," she shouted close to his ear.

The turian looked at her and mimicked the face of disgust she had seen the first time they met. Uncanny, she thought as he stormed off. Boy, you vomit in the men's room one time...

Suddenly Thane's arm slipped around her waist and he angled her towards him so he could speak into her ear.

"What was that about?" he asked.

For a long while she couldn't answer, his soft growl in her ear turning her to mush. It was like all her nerve endings shivered at once and sent a spark shooting into her pants. Oh God, she nearly moaned out loud.

"Huh?" she managed.

"The turian, he was rude," he said, simply.

"Mmm," she replied forgetting completely her role of commander. Thane looked down into her eyes, she looked different. Still as beautiful as he had memorised, but he wanted to take in the differences to remember her every way he could. He had resigned himself to only spending time with her in his memories or on missions from now on. It was a difficult prospect but tonight was a bonus.

"Aria has acknowledged our presence," Thane pressed on, passing her a drink.

Back to business. Right, concentrate, Shepard thought determinedly. She sipped her drink and began to scan the crowd. The target was a human male. Oldish looking with more than a little salt in his pepper, but looked like he could hold his own. Definitely not someone you'd like to meet in the dark. It would have to be a scary bastard that threatened Aria's reign. Although there were a lot of scarred faces in the crowd, she couldn't pin point the one they were after.

Shepard turned and put her drink on her bar and began to scan over Thane's shoulders, tiptoeing as she did.

"You look like you're looking for someone," Thane spoke in her ear, sounding amused.

Focus, Shepard sighed inwardly. She was so close to him. Their waists were touching and it was hard to ignore, but she had a job to do.

"I am looking for someone," her lips brushed his ear and he gripped her tighter, holding her flat against him. She couldn't help the noise that escaped her as she held onto the lapels of his collar.

He looked at her intently and leaned down to her ear again. "We are supposed to be on a date," he said, rather more hoarsely than he intended.

"What? As friends?" she said before she could really think about it. She was worried he would loosen his grip of her but he didn't.

"I read on the extranet about what was customary of dates amongst different species," he said, changing the subject.

"Oh yeah," Shepard replied. "Usually a lot of snogging and regret in my experience. I'm game if you are?" she laughed and chinked her glass against his.

He smiled. "I don't think I've ever done much 'snogging', although I certainly have a few regrets."

"Well, don't make me one of them," she said, revealing a little too much of the hurt she had felt earlier.

He looked affected by what she had said as he scrutinised her face. He brought his hand up to her face and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. His hand was so cool on her face, she was taken aback by the affection.

Before she could comment, he leaned in and kissed her so incredibly gently on her parted lips. His lips were smooth but much firmer than her own. Her full lips gave in to the delicate pressure of his. When he pulled back, her lips tingled. It was nice, like after they'd gone his lips were still making an impression on hers.

"Why so gentle?" she asked.

"You looked very fragile," he replied.

This struck a chord within Shepard, she liked the way he took control but she wasn't pathetic. "I don't need a pity kiss from you. Just do your job," she said in confused anger.

He shook his head slightly and was about to say something when he looked over the top of her head. He didn't bother to lower his mouth to her ear this time."The target is in the crowd on the dance floor, far right."

When she made no response, Thane jerked her slightly in his arm, not so much that anyone would have noticed, but enough to get her attention.

"Yep. Got it. Far right," she said scanning the dance floor. Professionalism's really taking a hit tonight, she thought.

"How would you like to proceed?" Thane asked her, loosening his hold of her but still maintaining an image of subtle intimacy.

Shepard downed the rest of her drink and slammed the glass down too hard. She gave Thane her most winning smile. "I'll just go talk to him. You stay here," she said and made to walk into the throng of dancers.

Thane caught her wrist and spoke in hurried tones, "You have no armour and no weapons, surely this is why I'm here with you," he said.

"Obviously I don't think I need your help," she said curtly. Where did that come from? That funny blue booze works fast. I don't feel too good.

"Shepard, what's wrong?" Thane had welded her to his side again and she was trying to push away.

"I'm fine... Thanks for caring..." she slurred insincerely, trying once more to push away until she went limp and blacked out.

Thane held her up against him and scanned the crowd again and saw the target smiling at them from the door. Lifting Shepard into his arms, he went in pursuit of the target. He hoped against hope that Garrus and Zaeed would recognise the man from the holo. He did not want to leave Shepard alone to capture the target himself. He didn't want to leave her at all.

…...

"Urghhh," Shepard groaned. "Wha?" she coughed. "Owww, my head hurts."

"You sound like a child, Shepard," Miranda scolded.

"Uh, hello," she said, opening one eye. "I've woken up in the medbay, where's the sympathy?"

Miranda just looked at her.

"Okay," cold bitch, she thought. "How did I even get here?"

"Thane brought you in," Miranda said pointedly.

Oh, she cringed inside.

"You're drink was spiked, again," Chakwas said, reading the machines by the bed. "You'll be fine, there's no lasting damage. The synthetics you were rebuilt with dramatically increased your healing time."

"Cool, cyborg organs for the win," Shepard said extending her hand to Miranda, looking for a high five. She got a reproving look.

"The 'mission' was fine by the way," Miranda said, "Garrus and Zaeed caught the target fleeing the scene and questioned him. Neither could pull off good cop so they used brute force. Once they realised he was working alone and not part of some Omega heist conspiracy they dragged his arse to Aria. They didn't see him again. I can only imagine Aria had no problem disposing of one nuisance herself as appose to the squadron she must have thought were coming for her."

"Weird, I wonder why she's so paranoid?" Shepard asked, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

"I don't care, Shepard," Miranda said matter-of-factly, "All I want to know is you're not gonna drop the ball like this on a mission that's of any real importance." On that note, Miranda span on her ridiculous heel and left.

Shepard was still on the bed, a little shell shocked by Miranda's rebuke. The worst thing was, she was right. I hate it when she's right.