Bioware owns Mass effect, not me. If I did there would be more Shirtless Kaidan.

This is for Nightodie at the KAAS forums. :D

Dirty Little Secret by All American Rejects

"What do you mean?" Tali asked.

Shepard sighed and looked at Garrus, raising her hand. Her eyes shifted to a glowing silver-blue as her biotics took a hold of the pistol and gently lifted it away from Brian's being toward the ceiling. "This is what I mean."

"But you don't have implants or amps…" Chakwas murmured. "How are you doing that?"

"Pure mind power…" Letting go of the power, her eyes returned to normal as she looked at the Doctor. "My mother was addicted to Red Sand and exposed to Minagen X3 and Eezo."

"Oh dear..." Chakwas said. "How did you survive?"

"My mother was a biotic. There was a biotic field surround her womb while we grew. It had absorbed the elements before being absorbed into us."

"Us?" Tali questioned.

"My name is Brian Shepard, I am her fraternal twin brother." The man from the couch said with a little wave of his left hand which was thrown across the back of the furniture.

Garrus turned his head and looked at Shepard to see her nod at him. He felt himself relax a bit as he put his pistol away. He walked to her bed and sat down with her. "So you've been a biotic all this time."

"Brian and I are the first natural biotics. We don't need the use of implants or amps." Shepard answered. "We are a government secret, well were anyway. They experimented on us and all that."

"The Alliance would never…" Chakwas paused before turning from Shepard to her brother. "Elysium…the Skyllian Blitz. That's why people confuse your hero worship. Some don't know which is true."

"I was the sole survivor of Akuze," Shepard said tiredly.

"And I was the one who repelled the batarians." Brian said. He snorted. "I'm an N7 too, funny huh?"

"I see…" Chakwas put a hand to her chin. "That would explain a lot."

Shepard gave her a small smile as she turned to Tali and Garrus. "Do you understand now why I trust Brian more than anyone now?"

"Of course Shepard!" Tali came over to the bed standing behind Garrus. "Wolf is your family."

Garrus leaned forehead and touched Shepard's forehead to his. "I wished you trusted us sooner with this."

"I'm sorry," She murmured as she pulled away and looked up at the turian. "I didn't think we would get disturbed while he was going over my memories."

"Going over your memories?" Tali tilted her head.

"She and I have a biotic link." Brian explained. "It is somewhat like telepathy. We can feel each other out across the systems. And we can feel the other biotics."

Chakwas raised an eyebrow as she went and sat down with Brian. "Why did Shepard scream?" The Commander leaned against Garrus, letting her brother answer.

"I was shifting through her memories since I've been absent from her life," Brian said as he looked at Chakwas. "From Saren until now, I didn't realize how frail her control was until now."

"What's wrong with her control?" Tali asked.

Shepard sighed before speaking. "Because our biotic abilities are so in grained in us, when we die, they die."

"When Cerberus brought you back to life…" Garrus started.

"Our biotics are connected to our minds," Brian said. "When they brought her back, her biotics considered her foreign because of the cybernetics. It is making it difficult for Shepard to keep them under her control when she gets over emotional. By the way, that was a stupid move you pulled back before Ilos."

Shepard moved closer to Garrus, hiding behind him a bit. The alien's mandibles flared in amusement. He chuckled with Tali. They've never seen Shepard try to hide away from anyone.

"It wasn't stupid at the time…" Shepard protested.

"What stupid thing did she do?" Tali asked.

"She fused a part of her biotics with her Lieutenant's," Brian answered. "And because of this, I was feeling her residual power in him when she died. It's one of the reasons why I didn't find her while searching for her." He looked at his sister. "Did Julian tell you I nearly destroyed a planet?"

"Said you lost control," Shepard said as she came out from behind her XO.

Brian smiled a bit painfully. "A talk for another time. Are we going to tell the rest of the crew who I am?"

Shepard frowned. She didn't think that far ahead. Frankly, she still didn't trust Miranda and Jacob despite all they've been through.

"I suggest we only inform those who helped us last night," Chakwas said seeing Shepard struggle. "That would be Thane, Kasumi and Joker. At least for now until the Commander decides what to do."

"How will we explain Wolf's…er…Brian's presence on the ship?" Tali questioned.

Brian smiled charmingly at Tali. "I think you should call me Wolf in front of the crew," He said. "We can tell them that Shepard is giving me a run down of the Normandy and what she plans to do."

"Plausible," Garrus agreed.

Brian shifted and leaned forward onto his knees. He knew he had to tell this to her before he convinced her to get off the ship. His eyes caught Garrus's. The turian stiffened as he seemed to understand what Brian wanted to tell the Commander.

"Mia sorella…there is something else I have to tell you." He said solemnly. Tali and Chakwas turned their head to him in interest. Brian took a deep breath as he began to tell his sister the news. "When Alma was on the Piedmont she gained some information that I think you should know." He noticed as the defeated look came over her face. "Alenko and his Lieutenant are together and they have the support of the crew of the Piedmont."

"That bosh'tet!" Tali said as Chakwas gasped.

He and Garrus tensed waiting for the reaction from Shepard. They didn't expect her to sigh as her shoulders slumped.

"I know," Shepard said quietly.

"When did you realize?" Garrus asked putting an arm around her.

"Because I know Kaidan, I know his body language." She said tiredly. "When he helped Chavis in the elevator, I knew it was deeper than it seemed."

"Is that why you punched her?" Garrus asked.

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "She insulted my brother," She looked up at him. "What would you have done?"

"Shot her," He said plainly. "But that's just me."

"Shooting wouldn't have made Kaidan see me in a better light. It would also have made a mess." She said. "But I do want to stay away from him for a while. Maybe, if you can help me get my biotics under control."

Brian nodded as he stood. "I will leave you in the hands of your XO," He said looking at Garrus. "I have a package to pick up so I won't be around for two days. When I get back we will start your training."

"We'll try to keep her out of trouble," Tali said. "The key word being try."

"She does love to attract trouble."

"You guys are so supportive!"

"We are not the one that makes things explode constantly." Garrus said.

Chakwas smiled as the three began to argue. She turned to see Brian with a gentle smile on his face. "Do you think she'll be okay?"

"For now," Brian asked. "The fact she fused her biotics with the other Commander is a bit troubling." He answered as he turned to face the Doctor. "And since the Alliance has turned their backs on her, she has freedom to use her biotics now."

"I suppose things will get a whole lot interesting now." Chakwas said offhandedly.

"You have no idea," Brian said.

He didn't know how the turian found out but he knew it wasn't good. Kaidan considered himself lucky that Garrus didn't shoot him. The alien certainly looked like he wanted to.

"Kaidan, what's wrong?" Chavis asked as she came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. This caused him to tense up before relaxing when he realized who it was.

After being shut out of the Normandy, Kaidan had gone back to his apartment. His thoughts were filled with Shepard and what had transpired. Why was Wolf being allowed to see her? When did Garrus and Shepard get so close? Why did that drell look at him as though he was being tested? Too many questions where popping up and Kaidan knew he wasn't going to be getting any answers by just loitering outside the Normandy. So he went to home. He didn't remember he gave Chavis a key to his apartment.

"Nothing," Kaidan answered as he turned to look at the woman. He gave her a tight smile.

She frowned and leaned up, kissing him. "How'd the meeting go? I didn't like that you didn't take anyone with you."

The biotic kissed her back before pulling away. He went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. "It wasn't like Shepard would have done anything Jess, especially with Anderson and Hackett there. Plus she wasn't there she sent Garrus and her drell teammate today."

"She punched an Alliance Lieutenant Kaidan," Chavis crossed her arms. "You're telling me that if they made the same statements she wouldn't have?"

He looked up at Jessica, noticing her stance. She was worried now that Shepard might change his mind about them. In all honesty, he didn't know how he felt now.

"Shepard has a long history with them. I think it was just because you were not in her inner circle that she punched you." Kaidan said easily as he walked to her. "Don't worry about it." He kissed her. "Don't think about it."

"I can't help it," Jessica said. "I don't want to lose you to her."

"You won't," Kaidan answered.

Chavis smirked and wrapped her arms around Kaidan. "Let's be sure."

"Come on Commander, you have to get off the ship." Joker had said. "We can take Garrus with us! If we see Alenko, Garrus can shoot him."

"I like this idea." Garrus agreed.

And that's how they convinced her to get out of the ship. It had been four days since some of her crew found out about her brother and two since he sent word that getting his package was going to delay him. Joker had gotten fed up with her just staying in her room during that time and suggested they go out shopping. Brian had transferred a large amount of funds when Garrus had sent him word of what Joker was thinking. He had left a message for Shepard to let the whole crew buy a new wardrobe without the Cerberus logo on it. After a lot of pestering from Joker and some from Kasumi, Shepard agreed.

She split up the funds before they left. Jack had gone off by herself after promising not to cause too much trouble. Thane, Samara, Mordin and Grunt resorted that they didn't need anything so they stayed on the Normandy. Legion was a geth, he didn't really need anything. Miranda and Jacob went off with each other, which was not surprising. Chakwas had disappeared with the other humans from the crew, which left a majority of the ground team with her. Tali, Kasumi, Garrus and Joker had come with her.

"What about this Commander?" Joker said with a grin as he held up a lacy see through bra. "This could be part of the new dress code on the ship."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you fantasized about me in lacy transparent underwear Joker."

"Got to entertain myself somehow when EDI blocks my bookmarks," Joker replied easily.

"You're a pervert," Tali said before snatching up the bra. "Where did you get his?"

"Over there," Joker said pointing to the lingerie store across the way.

Shepard shook her head and continued going through some of the clothes in the store they were currently in. Garrus and Kasumi briefly departed to check out some of the infiltrator upgrades one of the stores they had past. She continued onward. She really wanted to burn some of the Cerberus clothes she had. As Tali and Joker began to bicker, she moved further into the store.

One article of clothing caught her eye near the back. She walked over to it and let her fingers run over it gently. It was a halter neck vest with three elegant oriental clasps on the front. But it didn't stop at the waist, from the last clasp it part and reach down mid-calf in two tails. It was also made of strong yet soft fabric that was the color of chocolate. It reminded her of his eyes.

"You should try it on," Joker's voice said softly from behind her. He had noticed her missing and found her staring longingly at the vest. She turned to look at him.

"Where's Tali?" Shepard asked instead, ignoring his comment.

"She went to go drag Garrus and Kasumi from the upgrades." Joker answered. "Shepard, if you want the vest…"

"Alright, let's go help her." She said as she passed him and out of the room.

The Normandy pilot frowned as he turned to look at the vest again. What was that about?

Shepard smiled as her teammates talked with vigor among the table of the restaurant they were at. This was the way things should have been. They were worry free enjoying their time off. For now at least, but everyone was alive and safe. It was everything she could hope for.

Joker did his miming of Legion, causing everyone to laugh. "Swear that Legion and Edi have something going on."

"Aw, is that jealousy Joker?" Kasumi questioned.

"Hell no!" Joker said putting his arms down as they waited for their drinks and food. "I just don't want to call EDI and have her bite my head off for interrupting."

"They are AIs Joker," Garrus reminded him.

"Still!" The pilot murmured. "It's like listening in on my mom."

Chuckling, Shepard leaned back in the chair. Due to the fixing of her scars and her newly silvered hair, no one at the restaurant realized who she was. It was something she was grateful for and desperately hated. She could pretend for a few moments that she wasn't a warrior. That she was a normal woman out with her team members her crewmates…her friends.

Soon their food arrived and everyone dug in. Tali, was the one to bring up the question she thought Chakwas would have asked.

"Shepard…if you have biotics, why don't you eat like one?" Tali said looking curiously at her plate of sushi. Shepard had more food than she normally ate, but not enough for a biotic.

"We don't know," Shepard said. "Brian and I think it has something to do with the fact that we don't need amps."

"That's interesting," Kasumi said as she stole one of Shepard's sashimi. The Commander glared and stole one of pieces of pork from the thief's ramen. "Hey! I'm the thief!"

"And I'm the Commander," Shepard counted as she quickly ate the pork before turning to Tali. "There are times where we will eat more like a normal biotic, but it's not an everyday thing."

"Doesn't it get frustrating?" The Quarian continued.

"Sometimes," Shepard said as she popped another piece of sushi into her mouth. "But it isn't as bad as when our power grew and Brian and I had got strange cravings. Some of the White Lotus thought I was pregnant…that didn't go over too well with Brian."

"Can you imagine…Shepard pregnant?" Joker smirked when Shepard tossed a clump of rice at him. The other three laughed when Joker took the rice and ate it.

"What's so bad about it?" She asked not noticing who was passing behind her or the fact that Garrus was reaching for his pistol. "Being pregnant isn't a bad thing." She said as she bit into a piece of sushi.

"Pregnant?" A shocked voice said from behind her.

Shepard straightened as she swallowed the food that wouldn't go down. Kasumi looked at her in concern, but she shook her head and turned. Kaidan stood, staring down at her in shock. She really didn't expect to see him down in the Zakera Wards. And from the look of his face, which was slowly turning into anger, she knew she was glad Garrus was sitting next to her with his pistol already in hand.