A/N Simon Quinn is based on Malavai Quinn from SWTOR. Accent and all. MmmmMMmm. Ahem. Sorry.

"Lizzie?"

"I'm in the shower!" Lizzie called from the downstairs bathroom.

"LIZZIE?!" Miranda's voice was louder.

Lizzie sighed and turned off the water. She was only enjoying the luxury anyway. Best not get used to it. In twenty four it would be back to two minute colds again. She yanked a huge white towel off the shelf and wrapped herself in the indulgent folds.

"I'm in the bathroom," she called again to Miranda.

"What the hell?" Miranda came striding in, the measure of her her distress that she was slightly rumpled and her feet were bare, "Are you alright? Where were you hurt?" She clasped the taller woman's face with her hands and peered into her eyes.

"I'm fine, Miranda," Lizzie said gently clasping Miranda's wrists, "They grazed me with a shot. I have had worse and will get worse. They were total amateurs."

"An attack in the Presidium," Miranda shook her head and dropped her hands, "Is Tali alright?"

"Shaken up," Lizzie was serious for a moment, "But she is with Kal'Reegar. He has steadied her."

"Hmmm," Miranda was thoughtful, "And C-Sec?"

"They accepted my version of events, combined with security footage and an interview with the guy I hit in the knee, they have absolved me of blame,"

"That's something then!" Miranda drew Lizzie into a hug, saturating the front of her dress, "I'm not used to violence this close to home. Are you sure you are alright?"

Lizzie laughed, "Honestly, I'm fine. This is what I trained for. Those guys were idiots."

"If you say so," Miranda replied doubtfully, "You don't have to come to the gathering tonight."

Piercing blue eyes flashed in Lizzie's head. She thrust them aside fiercely.

"It's fine, Miranda. Tali will be there, and if she can handle it after a brush with violence, I'm pretty sure I can,"

"Just for that…you can wear your own shoes!"

"Hah! Wouldn't that be a good look? I hope you have a dress that will hide these bandages," Lizzie looked down at the waterproof dressing that neatly enclosed her upper bicep.

"I have just the thing!" Miranda pulled Lizzie excitedly toward her dressing room.

Lizzie looked at herself in the reflection of the massive doors at the entrance to the reception and wrinkled her nose. The copper hued dress had wide bands that handily clasped the biceps, covering the bandage. The neckline was a plunging monument to gravity, but hell, at least she had the fitness to pull it off. She had on a pair of sandals that wound up her calves in silk ribbons, and blissfully, they were flat. Miranda had slicked back her hair to a glossy cap and done something to her eyes to make them look smokey and sultry. That felt over the top, but at least she didn't feel like she would topple over at the slightest breeze.

As soon as she walked into the room, many eyes came to rest on her. Whereas last night they just dismissed her as a nobody, now they wanted to know who this novel creature was who had saved one of their own.

Tali broke through the crowd and wrapped her arms around Lizzie. The quarian's helmet was cold against her bare shoulder, but the warmth of the embrace more than made up for it. Lizzie's voice was soft, "Are you alright?"

Tali pulled back a little, "Oh, Lizzie," her voice cracked a little, "You saved my life."

Lizzie rubbed her arms up and down the black fabric arms of the other woman, "It was an honour."

Tali gave a smile behind the helmet. Kal'Reegar appeared beside Tali and held out his hand toward Lizzie, "You look lovely, Lieutenant Commander. I can't thank you enough for saving the life of Tali'zorah. She has become very…valuable to..uhh…my office."

Lizzie gave him a crooked smile, and returned the handshake, "You are welcome."

"Come join us," Kal'Reegar gestured toward the low couches where several people sat. She recognised the indolent form of Garrus Vakarian and snapped her gaze back to the quarian couple.

"Perhaps in a bit," Lizzie replied quietly, "I didn't get the chance to have food earlier, and I thought I might partake of the..uhh…y'know." She waved a hand at the buffet table.

"Of course, Lieutenant Commander," Kal nodded seriously, and took Tali by the arm, "We will see you soon."

Lizzie watched them move back across the room, and as she turned, she was brought up short by a broad chest. She looked up, her expression wary for a moment.

"Might I have the pleasure of introducing myself to the famous Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Shepard?" the voice was velvet smooth, belonging to a face that belonged carved on a marble statue. Dark eyes, fringed by lashes that had no business being on a man, regarded her with singular focus, dark hair brushed back from a high forehead, and angular features that all made her instincts sit up and go 'hell—o'.

Lizzie quirked a flirtatious smile, "Pleasure might be stretching it a little, but go ahead. Since you know my name it would be a such a shame to be at a disadvantage."

"Major Simon Quinn," the newcomer held out his hand, and taking hers he drew it to his lips and kissed the knuckles, "Alliance Military."

"Major Quinn…." Lizzie drew back her hand.

"Simon, please, we aren't on duty here," Simon looked her up and down, with a wicked smile, "You are out of uniform, soldier."

Lizzie glanced down at herself, and regarded the twin creamy mounds that her dress revealed. She laughed and looked back up to meet his appreciative eyes, "I don't think it meets Alliance regulations."

"It might make the mercs pause a moment?" Quinn held out his hand.

"It might make them fall over laughing if someone like yourself wore it, yes," Lizzie put her hand into his own, "Lead the way to the damn buffet table. I'm starving." To punctuate her sentence, her stomach rumbled.

Simon laughed, "By all means. I would not dare ask the lady to dance until she is replete."

Lizzie smiled at him again as she piled up a plate with various delicacies. He led her to a table and took a seat across from her. He gestured for a waiter and arranged for wine.

"So tell me," Simon drawled, "Is it all true?"

"Is what true?"

"Than an N7 graduate took down five men singlehanded and unarmed?"

Lizzie paused, then took a bite from something green and squishy, she chewed hesitantly, swallowed enthusiastically and replied, "I wasn't unarmed for long."

Simon laughed, and the sound sent coils of heat through her body. He saluted her with his own glass of wine.

"You are a singular woman, Lieutenant Commander,"

She picked up her wine, and replied with piquancy, "Lizzie, please. We aren't on duty here." Her green eyes sparkled at him over the rim of the crystal.

He laughed again, "Come, you must dance with me!"

"I have a great secret, Simon. I can't dance," Lizzie waved a flippant hand.

"The incredible Lieutenant Commander Shepard can't dance?" Simon drawled with mock-horror, "I will not believe it!"

He stood. She shook her head. He insisted, and leaned forward, "Trust me."

Lizzie took a breath and accepted his hand up. She looked longingly at the plate of food but followed him to the dance floor. Simon slid his hand around her waist and brought her close to his hips. Lizzie looked up with a quirked eyebrow.

"So I can help you move," he murmured.

"Said the spider to the fly," she muttered in reply, but with a smile.

Simon Quinn guided her through the dance, murmuring the steps once in a while. She followed awkwardly, and trod on his toes several times…not that he seemed particularly bothered. She was spun, held close, caressed all the name of a social nicety. And thoroughly enjoyed the experience now she wasn't in heels. The song ended, and his lips hovered a mere breath from hers. There was applause for the band around them and with a smile, Lizzie pushed him back, "Fancy moves, Major."

Lizzie followed him from the dancefloor but they were brought up short by the tall figure of Garrus Vakarian standing resolutely in their path. Simon greeted him with an easy smile, "General Vakarian. Good evening."

Garrus regarded Simon with a thoughtful gaze before turning to look at Lizzie, "It would be an honour if you would dance with me, Lieutenant Commander."

Lizzie opened her mouth in surprise. Closed it again. Well, hell. It was not like she could refuse. He was a freaking General after all. And in this crowd, it might hurt Kal'Reegar, and therefore Tali. She nodded her head in agreement, "Of course."

Garrus held out his hand, she placed hers within it and as he lead her back to the dance floor she looked over her shoulder at Simon and shrugged apologetically. The Major smiled complacently and thrust his hands into the pockets of his formal trousers.

Garrus swept her up into a formal hold, his arms holding her at a precise distance, his hand pressed to the small of her back. He steered her movements with such precision, she had no choice but to follow. He didn't speak. Not once.

"Okay, seriously," Lizzie attempted, "You can talk to me. We might not have anything in common, but you can at least comment on the …I don't know…the weather. Or the pleasant music…or something. There must be one topic we wont argue about."

The turian's sharp blue gaze caught her own and she stumbled a little. His arms caught it and straightened her spine, and he spoke coldly, "You should not be here."

Lizzie's eyes narrowed, "What?"

"You were wounded today. Coming out to drink, eat and flirt with anyone who pays attention to you is not how you should be spending your time," Garrus' voice was arrogant.

Lizzie jerked to a halt, he attempted to pull her back into the dance, but she resisted.

"You know what, General Vakarian, fuck you," her voice was barely above a whisper, but its intent was harsh, "I don't know what role you are putting yourself into here…but I can promise you, there isn't a single one wherein I need to go 'Yes, master, no, master,' and follow blindly."

" I was just…" Garrus began, but she snarled an interruption.

"No! Since I got here you have treated me like a blight on the social stratas. You know what? You got your wish…As of tomorrow night, I'm gone," her eyes flashed a sparking green, her biotics barely hovering beneath the surface.

The General stared down at her with an icy blue gaze, "Very well."

Lizzie turned and swept toward Tali, where she spoke conveniently with Miranda. Garrus watched her speak with the two women, cast him a glance filled with invective and turn to head towards the doors. The silks of her dress flowed and swirled around her in the sudden draught. He barely heard the words spoke to him by another, and had to turn, apologise and ask for a repeat before his mind was back on the job.

Simon took a sip from his wine and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.