Chapter.12
Exposed Love.
Tali paced back and forth behind Jokers chair as she spoke angrily. "He lied to you Shepard, this is a trap. He will try to infiltrate the Flotilla again."
EDI had just finished informing Shepard, Garrus and Tali about Gillian. The data the illusive man sent was very sketchy and had numerous holes in it.
Shepard was leaning against the wall and thinking quietly to himself, trying to find a way around giving the young girl to Cerberus. He had not told the crew about the reaper technology inside of him, instead he had just told them that he had unstable parts in him that were malfunctioning and the girl knew how to control them. He hated lying but didn't think they would be comfortable around him knowing he was an abomination.
Shepard looked up at Tali who was waiting for a response. "Were not going to give her to Cerberus. We all know that's not an option, but I need to speak with her…and figure out what I can do about my…problem."
Miranda walked up behind the group and stepped in front of Shepard, cutting his view of Tali off.
"Cerberus will defiantly try something on this; they invested enormous sums of resources into her….as well as you Shepard. If you give her to them and allow them to 'augment' you…..you probably won't wake up the same man." Miranda said triumphantly.
Shepard was glad to hear her talk down about Cerberus, he had been skeptical at first about her true loyalty but everyday she proved him wrong.
Shepard pushed of the wall and shifted his weight on one leg. "Alright, so we need to find this girl and see what she can do about….me. The only place we know to look is the Migrant fleet. Tali are you ok with this? I don't want you to think were endangering your people." Shepard said in a kind, comforting voice.
Tali looked up through the window into the empty space, thinking about whether it was a smart decision to return to the fleet. "The Normandy and its crew are Alliance, but who knows what tricks the illusive man could have planned" Tali looked over at Shepard who was staring at the ground. "Shepard wouldn't let anything happen to us. Besides he needs this to help his problem, and I…I need him to be safe." Tali having made her decision breathed in a deep breath and spoke.
"We have to do this, without her your...problems could increase and we can't let that happen." Tali said with a bit of fear in her voice.
Shepard put a hand on her shoulder; he sensed that she was afraid and tired of this constant fighting that waged on around them. They both wanted it to end, but they had to find this girl. "Without this girl I could lose myself…I could lose Tali." Shepard thought as he looked into Tali's helmet.
The group was silent as Shepard comforted Tali, they all had their suspicions about the two but had no confirmation. Shepard comforting Tali only added to the future gossip that would be spilled out whenever the two weren't present.
Tali nodded her head at Shepard letting him know she was fine. The commander turned to Joker and slapped the chair beside his head, making Joker jump. "Set a course for the fleet Joker, and alert me when we get close." Ordered the commander as he turned around to walk to the main deck leaving the group behind except for Tali who followed closely.
Miranda watched the two walk away and when they were out of hearing distance she leaned over beside Joker and asked him. "So what's going on Joker? You've known those two for a long time…is anything*"
Garrus who had been standing by the airlock cut her off. "I can answer that one, but it's really none of our business."
Miranda replied back sharply. "I'm only looking out for their best interest and I want to make sure there both ok with the mission."
Garrus laughed and looked down at Miranda who was very small compared to the Turian. "Their best interest hu? Somehow I doubt that, I've seen the way you look at Shepard…and it says a LOT more then you think." Garrus snapped back.
Miranda turned around and crossed her arms. "Who says I don't look at you that way." Miranda gasped after she had realized she spoke out loud and made a quick dash to the elevator, leaving Garrus standing there stunned.
Joker was in an uproar of laughter. "Oh my God! The racist Cerberus queen has a thing for Garrus! This is so good it has to be fattening."
Garrus shook his head in disbelief. "Damn…well that was…unexpected."
A sly look spread across Garrus's face and he walked toward the elevator were Miranda had retreated to.
Joker snickered to himself. "At least I didn't mention the recording of Tali and Shepard I have."
EDI's face appeared beside Joker. "You no longer possess those recordings, I deleted them."
Joker looked over at EDI appalled. "WHAT!...Why?"
"I deemed them unnecessary and a violation of privacy standards." Replied EDI.
Joker sighed. "Well shit. I could have used those to get him to buy me an extranet connection." Joker said in a defeated tone.
3 Hours later…
Shepard and Tali had fallen asleep holding each other tenderly, they both had smiles across their faces and were content to stay where they were for much longer but Joker made sure to interrupt.
"Commander, were 15 minutes out from the Migrant fleet…you and Tali should hurry up…and no this isn't on speaker only you two can hear me. Sooooo rise and shine thee who are too far away to cause physical harm to me." Joker said happily.
Tali groaned and shouted back at the intercom. "I have a shotgun."
"uhh…point taken." Joker's voice clicked off.
Shepard sighed and brushed his hand against the side of Tali's helmet; she nuzzled her covered face closer to his hand and purred softly.
"Shepard?" Tali said innocently.
"Yes, Tali?" Shepard tried to reply softly, but years of shouting and fighting had caused his voice to grow very coarse and rough.
"I just wanted to know if you were serious….about what you said the other night." Tali replied as she raised herself up off her back and leaned against the headboard.
Shepard smiled at her question and spoke back reassuringly. "Don't worry Tali, I've spent too much of my life fighting and when this last war is done…were going to focus on us. We'll do anything you want to do and never look back on all this sadness."
Tali felt better after hearing him reassure her, she had wanted to be with Shepard for so long and now that she was with him there was no time to have to themselves.
"Thank you Shepard, I'd like that." Tali said affectionately.
Shepard leaned a little closer to her."And maybe that damn immune system of yours will start to trust me, so we can enjoy some personal time." Shepard said jokingly.
Tali pushed him slightly in the shoulder. "You big bosh'tet." She replied sarcastically.
Shepard stood up from the bed and leaned over scooping her up in his arms. She giggled softly as he picked her up off the bed.
"Where are you taking me?" Tali said curiously.
Shepard smiled and replied. "To see Joker of course where else would we go?"
Tali laughed. "You do realize that they'll suspect were together with you carrying me?"
Shepard kicked the door release with his foot, and headed to the elevator. "It'll give them something to gossip about." He said jokingly.
As the elevator closed and headed down the two lovers held each other intimately, focusing their love into each other's eyes since they could not physically touch one another.
After a few seconds of pure silence filled with love between the two, the door slid open reveling a startled crew.
Shepard began his proud march over to Jokers station still holding Tali as she buried her face in his chest trying to hide her already hidden face filled with embarrassment.
Thane was standing off to the side watching the two when a smile spread across his face and he tried to give a big 'thumbs up', but due to the nature of his hands it looked more like he was pointing at them.
Shepard had a wide smile spread across his face as if he was holding a prize that he had earned.
When Shepard reached Jokers station he let Tali down gently and she coughed slightly trying to mask her embarrassment.
Joker just laughed at the two's antics and began patching through to the Migrant fleet.
Joker pushed a few button and looked up at Tali. "Alright communications are patching through…make sure to restrain yourselves while talking to them though…wouldn't want them to think we were unprofessional now would we?"