Author's Note: BA BOOM! Next chapter! I am on a roll today! Hopefully I can get the next one up today (fingers crossed). Thanks again for all the comments, subscriptions, and favorites; Every little bit keeps me going and pulls me out of the lull.

Thanks again fans! You guys are awesome!

...

Chapter 20

Sean had been thinking about his past a lot recently since the attempt on his life. Dr. Green wanted him dead. Did he think Sean knew something or was he in fear of his own life? Or had he done something wrong and he couldn't remember it. The emptiness and confusion worried him. No matter what Kate had said, he wanted to know, he wanted some ground to stand on.

"Here you go." Gardner said handing the meal to Sean, snapping Sean away from his painful thoughts.

"Oh, yeah, Thanks." Sean said, stumbling on his words as he picked up his meal. He made a beeline to the elevator and punched in the fourth floor. He needed something to distract himself. As the doors slid open he slowly sauntered into engineering. He casually leaned against the panel next to Tali, waiting to get her attention. She slowly looked up. "You looked hungry." Sean said smiling and handing over one of her food tubes.

"Well..." She began. Then realizing this wasn't a conversation she could win she conceded, "Thanks." She said

"Any time." Sean said beaming, worry creeping into his mind.

"So, how have you been?" Tali asked.

"Different." Sean responded.

"Different how?" Tali asked, curious.

"It seems like for once, I'm calm. No worry, no sorrow, only happiness." Sean said, trying to trick himself to believe it. It didn't work. His eyes slowly looked up and off into the distance as his hopes dropped.

"Um… You know you're crushing your meal." Tali observed.

"I, what?" Sean said then quickly looked at his right hand and saw that his meal was slowly being smashed between his robotic fingers. "Heh, I guess I'm not totally adjusted to it." Sean chuckled as he began to pick the remains of the food out of the mechanisms of his fingers.

"Something on your mind?" Tali asked, worried.

"My past." Sean said his eyes dropping to the ground. The silence grew between them. They both ate quietly, pondering.

Butterflies began to arise in Sean's stomach. Come on, you know why you're here. His mind reminded him, tell her! Taking a deep breath, Sean spoke. "Hey, Tali?"

"Hmm?" She asked, taking a drink from her meal. She looked up, their eyes meeting.

Taking a deep breath to calm his shivering body, Sean said, "There's been something that's been on my mind for a long time now." Tali, for once, was happy she had a mask to obscure her facial expressions. She couldn't help but beam from behind it. She knew what he was going to say. She had been waiting for a long time to hear it. She didn't say a word; she wanted to hear him say it. Sean continued, "It's really hard to say, but-" his Omni tool chirped, cutting him off. He wouldn't let it stop him. He needed to say what was on his mind. "The truth is that-" Sean began, but again his omni tool chirped. "God Damn it!" Sean swore, "This better be really damn important!" He opened his omni tool and scrolled through the messages. There was a short pause as he began to skim the letter. Sean's face quickly changed from anger to disbelief.

"What is it?" Tali asked, completely confused.

"It's… they… another…" Sean babbled. Curious, Tali looked over to the omni tool's screen and read the message. It appeared to be a status report, on a doctor.

"Who is Dr. Green?" Tali asked, looking up to Sean's face.

"Another missing piece of my past." Sean said shutting off his omni tool, "I need to speak with Shepard." Sean said as he began to exit engineering.

"Sean," Tali began, "Be careful." Sean didn't answer. The doors slid shut, ending their conversation. Tali sighed as a tear rolled down her face.

"Where did you receive this intel from?" Shepard asked, not yet sold on this idea.

"I put out old friends and acquaintances out after I ran into that sniper back on Omega." Sean responded, "They contacted me immediately after they discovered this."

"I thought you were over this, Sean." Shepard said sternly.

"This isn't for revenge, I just need to know. I need to fill in the blanks." Sean said, beginning to pace about the room.

Shepard sighed as she reached out her arm and rested it on the railing of the galaxy map, "Where is this doctor supposed to be?" she asked skeptically.

"Noveria." Sean answered. Shepard paused, letting it stew in her mind. "I don't need a team." Sean suggested, "I can just go by myself."

"That'll be too risky. Whatever organization you were a part of before is looking for you. They won't hesitate to kill you."

"Listen, Shepard," Sean said, frustration rising in his voice, "I need to do this, and I will find a way to make this happen. With or without your help." Sean said turning and leaving the room.

Anger boiled inside of Sean as he paced about his room. His mind ached. He needed answers. The ship shook as the docking clamps of the Citadel anchored the Normandy. An idea sprung up in his mind. Shepard was off with Thane on a mission, leaving an open window. Sean leapt to action, attaching his armor to himself and holstering his weapons. He exited the room and casually walked to the airlock. He flinched as he saw Shepard and Thane enter the airlock.

Shit! Sean thought, praying that not a word would be said.

"Why are you in full combat gear?" Shepard asked.

"Safety." Sean quickly responded.

"And the weapons?" Shepard said, her eyebrow rising.

"One of the barrels is chipped. I need to buy a new one." Sean said. Shepard eyed him carefully until the airlock opened. She stepped out with Thane at her side. Breathing a sigh of relief and relaxing Sean stepped out and took a quick turn, headed to the public transport dock.

Shepard breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped back onto the ship, With Thane at her side.

"EDI are we ready for take off?" Shepard asked.

"Not quite." EDI responded appearing at a panel in front of Shepard, "Mr. Mason has not returned to the ship yet."

"No. Please don't do this." Shepard murmured to herself, massaging the bridge of her nose with her fingers. She quickly made a call, "Bailey. I need a favor."

"Sure, Commander, what's the problem?" Bailey responded.

"I need you to search for any recent activity from a Sean Mason." Shepard asked.

"Sure, did he cross you?" Bailey asked.

"He may be up to no good." Shepard said, anger rising in her voice.

"Ah, here we go." Bailey said as a file popped up on his monitor, "Looks like he bought a last-minute ticket to Noveria two hours ago."

"Thank you." Shepard said, immediately cutting off all comms. "Joker, set the fastest course to Noveria." She commanded.

"Aye aye, Commander." Joker responded.