Author's Note: Well it took me a while to write this chapter, mostly because I wasn't in the Mass Effect mood. Then I found a package addressed to me… turns out, my friend sent me the Joker (SR2) hat! Really boosted my spirit! With the power the hat gave me I wrote this chapter and a few more!

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Chapter 17

Sean twisted in his cot trying to find a more comfortable position. This was the first time in a while that he had been unable to sleep. He sighed as he turned and stared at the clock. Only five minutes had passed since he last looked at it. He moaned in frustration and flopped onto his back. He stared at the ceiling, letting his mind wander.

Minutes later, his alarm chirped at him, reminding him of his appointment with Dr. Chakwas. Sean moaned again as he kicked the covers away from his body, feeling the warmth quickly dissipate into the frigid air of the Engineering deck. He staggered forward, wiping the sleep from his eyes, and placed a stable hand on a crate. As his mind focused he reached out and grabbed his robotic arm. He smiled as thoughts of Tali leaped into his mind. Giving it a sharp twist, he locked it onto the plug on his right arm. His muscles tensed as a weak electrical wave rippled through his body. He flexed the arm and wiggled the fingers, testing its connections. Sean quickly pulled on an old "N7 Code of Honor: Medal of Duty" shirt and his cotton gym shorts. He quickly tried to brush the wrinkles out of his shirt. Satisfied, Sean slowly walked out of the room. He paused staring forward as his vision glazed over and his eyelids felt heavy. He shook away the feeling and slapped his cheeks, trying to wake up. Slowly stepping forward Sean collided with Kelly Chambers.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sean and Kelly said in unison.

"Didn't expect to see you up this late." Kelly commented straightening her uniform.

"Trouble sleeping." Sean replied, "What beings you down to Engineering?"

"I try to get to know everyone on this ship." Kelly replied examining Sean.

"Well we've never really talked, but I have to visit the doctor." Sean said.

"Well I would like to talk to you sometime…" Kelly trailed off.

"Later." Sean said quickly walking out of the room. Kelly's eyes followed him out of the room. A shiver ran up Sean's spine as he stepped onto the elevator. He keyed it for the Crew Deck and casually leaned against the wall as the elevator smoothly moved upwards.

Sean casually strode into the Med Bay sighing audibly.

Swiveling around in her chair, Dr. Chakwas asked, "Don't like hospitals, Sean?"

"Don't like shots." Sean said taking a seat on one of the operating tables. "Let's get this over with." He said focusing his eyes on one of the many blinking lights on the ceiling.

"I'm going to need you to remove your arm." Chakwas asked.

"Oh yeah. Sorry." Sean said sitting up and unlocking his arm. He set it beside and propped up his body with his other arm.

"How's the arm feeling?" Chakwas asked, trying to strike up a conversation to distract Sean.

"Surprisingly well." Sean said.

"How's Tali?" She asked.

Sean's blood went cold. "Wait you know about that?" Sean said twisting his head to look her in the face.

Letting out a quiet laugh Chakwas responded, "The whole ship knows about you two!"

"So much for subtly." Sean said sighing as he lay back down on the table. His muscles tensed as he heard the doctor begin to shuffle around, piecing the syringe together.

"I think it's quite cute." She said smiling. "You sacrificing your life for her." She said. A weak smile formed on her face as her appearance became sorrowful. Her head slowly dropped.

"Was there someone in your life?" Sean asked.

"A long time ago." Chakwas said mournfully.

"What happened to them?" Sean asked curious.

"Times changed." Chakwas said, "We fell apart. Went our separate ways. So much had changed since then…" She trailed off.

"Time seems to do that." Sean said. There was a long silence as both of them dwelled in their own thoughts.

"Sorry." Chakwas quickly said, shaking her head as she came back to reality. She continued her procedure. "Just don't let it slip away from you." She said.

"I won't." Sean assured, "She's- She's really special to me. I just wish I could find a way to say it to her."

"Just explain exactly how you feel to her." Chakwas said, smiling once again.

"What? Just go up to her and say 'Hey Tali, I really and truly lov-" Sean was cut off as Chakwas administered his shot to Sean's stomach. Groaning in pain, Sean said through gritted teeth, "Great timing Doc."

"I don't need to hear it. She does." Chakwas said helping Sean off the table. She quickly became professional and reminded Sean, "Remember, don't attach you arm for the next ten minutes."

"Sure thing, and thank you. You really gave me a lot to think about." Sean said as he staggered forward, out of the Med Bay.

"Oh, one more thing." Chakwas said. Sean paused bracing for something unexpected. "I am sending your medical report to Shepard. I have cleared you for active duty." Sean's expression brightened as happiness took control of his body. He happily strode back into the empty Mess Hall. A door quietly opened on the far side of the room. Sean turned and saw Shepard leave the front batteries. Their eyes locked on each other.

"Why is it that we seem to run into each other like this?" Shepard asked chuckling.

"Who knows? I guess I'm a night owl." Sean said smiling. There was an awkward silence as they both glanced around the room, trying to think of something to break the ice. Coughing, Sean asked, "So how are you and Garrus doing?" Shepard's eyes widened as she tried to search for an answer. Sean couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry. You're secret's safe with me." Sean reassured.

"Oh well…" Shepard said, trying to find words. "We're going well. How are you and Tali?"

Sean's mind began to race. "Very well, I mean… we aren't really 'together'… well I want… just…" Sean sputtered trying to form a coherent sentence.

"That well huh?" Shepard chuckled.

"I just don't know how to say how I feel." Sean said, his head drooping, "It's just so hard!"

"Don't be so nervous. She likes you too. I'm sure it's mutual." Shepard reassured.

"Probably, thanks Shepard." Sean said as he walked onto the elevator.

Sean rested his arms on the railing in the core room. He stood quietly staring up into the fluctuating core losing himself in the gentle waves emitting from the center.

"Got a lot on your mind?" Tali asked slowly walking up behind him.

"Plenty." Sean said smiling as Tali wrapped her arms around Sean. "I don't know why, but the core seems to clam me." Sean added.

"Is sure is nice." Tali said as she too stared into the core. Sean sighed quietly.

Come on say it! Sean's mind screamed at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He quickly closed his mouth. Frustrated and angry with himself he just wrapped his arm around Tali and hugged her tightly, letting the moment last for a while longer.