DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING YOU RECOGNIZE
Chapter 10
The Normandy had just finished returning from Korlus where they were supposed to pick up the Warlord Okeer, but things got hairy quick and Okeer died saving his perfect genetic Krogan. The pod was brought on board after Jacob and Miranda advised him not to open the tank John did it anyway as a small fuck you to Cerberus. The Krogan identified itself as Grunt and after a little paragon persuasion John convinced Grunt to fight for him. While traveling through hyper space Commander Shepard got a transmission from the Illusive Man informing him that Horizon was the next colony set to be hit by the collectors. He also informed him that Ashley was stationed there, John already knew since he had been in contact with Ashley ever since the Citadel. Joker set a course for Horizon while John called the ground team to the briefing room.
"Ok guys, the collectors are set to hit Horizon next according to the Illusive Man, all hands on deck for this one. We're gonna split into two team's, Miranda you lead team two, take Jacob, Joseph, and Grunt, I'll take Jack, Garrus, Mordin, and Kasumi." John ordered
"Yes sir" Miranda nodded her assent as the team prepared for the upcoming mission. Things were pretty awkward between Miranda and Joseph ever since that day on the Citadel, she wasn't exactly comfortable being in too close a proximity of him, but they had a job to do.
John put on his armor, face showing nothing, but inside he was scared and worried for Ashley. The thought of her being packed into a pod taken on those bastards ship made him angry. By the time they landed everyone was ready for action and prepared for the worst, Mordin's countermeasure only worked in theory, It was a 50/50 chance of them being seen by the swarms but they had to risk it, all piling into the shuttle to head down.
They landed and split up agreeing to meet at the AA tower, covering the entire colony running into all types of collector resistance. They encountered the glowing collector calling himself Harbinger, who seemed to take a personal interest in John. When they finally regrouped at the tower they were met by heavy resistance and reinforcements from the collector's. It wasn't an easy fight but they got the guns up and running thanks to EDI and the collector's fled, unfortunately taking half the colony with them. As they were getting yelled at by an ungrateful, cowardly, survivor as Joe called him, Ashley Williams revealed herself.
"I thought you were dead Shepard we all did" she said pulling John into an embrace.
"I missed you Ash, are you ok" he said holding her tightly.
"Am I ok, really John two years believing you were dead and you ask if I'm ok, of course I'm not ok" she spat at him.
"I'm sorry Ash, I really was dead Cerberus rebuilt me they want me to investigate the missing colonies" he explained.
"Don't even get me started on Cerberus John, you know what they are and how they operate, yet your still choosing to work with them" she said angrily.
"Ash the Alliance and the council aren't doing anything about our missing people, its a necessary evil" he pleaded with her.
"Your a damn traitor John and to believe I actually loved you, I'm going to report back, see if the higher ups believe your story" she said walking away " be careful Johnny".
Miranda and Joseph sat back and watched the entire thing unfold, they watched John walk away dejectedly.
"He really didn't deserve that" Miranda said to Joseph looking at John stare off into space.
"Hell no he didn't" Joseph said walking in the direction Ashley went.
"Where are you going" Miranda yelled out to him.
"I'll be right back love, you don't have to worry" he said smirking at her.
"I'm going to murder you one day Joseph Shepard, mark my words" she shot at him holding back a smirk of her own.
Fifteen minutes later the shuttle landed as the ground team piled on board, John noticed someone was missing. "Where's Joseph" he asked legitimately puzzled.
Not a moment later they heard yelling with Ashley Williams walking fast ahead of Joseph Shepard looking completely pissed and slightly intimidated. "Get ya ass on that ship right now" he shouted at her "the man you claim to love suddenly alive and all you can do is disrespect and call him names, you should be ashamed of yourself. As a soldier you should know how many people don't get a second chance at love. Pissed me off for the day get on the damn ship you two are gonna fix whatever yall got going on TODAY." He shouted as they both hopped on board the shuttle," the lovely Ms. Williams has decided to lend us her services against the collector's" he said in his calm voice sitting down next to Miranda face still contorted with anger as the shuttle pulled off back to the Normandy.
"Relax Shepard" she said to Joseph still facing forward, "that was a nice thing you did, let's just hope it doesn't backfire".
"Please, after two years, we'll be lucky if they wait until we're back on the ship to start tearing each others clothes off" Joe said with a smirk.
Back on the Normandy Joe called it correct as soon as they hit the captain's cabin, John and Ashley were tearing each other's armor off. Quickly undressing one another falling on to the bed with John on top "I missed you hellcat" he said placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
"I missed you too skipper" she replied pulling his boxer briefs down exposing his hard member.
He quickly removed Ashley's bra and panties placing kisses on every inch of her body. Stopping to give the lower region some much needed attention kissing and licking non stop as Ashley's moans grew louder.
"Ohhhhh John, don't stop" she moaned placing her legs on his shoulders, gripping the back of his head as he continued his non stop tongue action. Ashley came hard and loud body shaking but still wanting more as she pulled John on top of her lining him up with her wet cat. They both moaned in satisfaction as he pierced in, after two years Ashley was tighter than he remembered " definitely didn't take anyone else" he thought to himself stroking deep inside of her. It felt like time stood still as they showed their love for one another physically over and over again ending with Ashley collapsing on top of him spent.
'Knock, knock' Joe was banging on Miranda's door waiting for her to tell him to come in.
"Enter" came her voice through the door.
"Lawson I need to borrow your bed, I'm exhausted, the crew quarters are full, and for some odd reason I can't get into the starboard or life support rooms" he pleaded with her.
"What about Shepard's cabin don't you usually stay up there" she asked quizzically.
"EDI said he and Williams are up there and I quote 'consumating like rabbits' cmon please Miranda I'm begging you" he said.
"Alright fine but be quiet I'm very busy right now" she said as he walked back towards her bedroom area stripping down to his boxers.
"Do you really need to strip down to your underwear to sleep" she asked looking at him annoyed.
"Nothing you haven't seen before" he said with a smirk.
"Do you want to get out" she shot back at him.
"Relax Lawson, just messing with you" he said pulling back the covers. "As for your question yes I do have to strip down to my boxers to sleep comfortably, will I tell you why, no" he said getting in the bed laying down.
"Goodnight Shepard" she said as she turned around and continued what she was doing.
They were headed for Illium to pick up the justicar and the assassin and to pay a visit to Liara. John was hoping he could get her to join up as well seeing as his recruitment for old friends was going so well. During the and Ashley still had issues to work out that sex couldn't fix.
"Skipper how are you alive" she asked laying on his chest.
"I don't know Ash you would have to ask Miranda if you want a detailed explanation. All I remember is blacking out in space and waking up on an operating table with Miranda yelling instructions to me over a PA system." He replied while running his fingers through her hair.
"Miranda that's the one wearing the catsuit right?" Ashley asked with a twinge of jealousy in her voice.
"Yeah she headed the Lazarus Project or my resurrection, Ash you have nothing to worry about there" he said picking up on her tone of voice. "Miranda's pretty but she's not my type way too emotionally detatched from everything, that woman has a heart of stone literally"he reassured her.
"Who was the asshole that forced me onto the shuttle, I take it you two know each other seeing as you allow him to call you Johnny" she joked at the nickname.
"Yeah that would be Joseph Shepard, my older brother" he told her.
"Wait" she said jumping off of his chest. "You have a brother, how come you never told me skipper, I was wondering why he was so concerned over our relationship" she said kicking herself for not figuring it out. As she thought about it more she started to see the resemblance between the two Joseph just had a different eye color and was taller.
"Sorry Ash it never really dawned on me to tell you, for a while Joseph was just a painful memory for me" he said sheepishly.
"What happened John" she asked looking up into his eyes.
"I ruined his life" John said shedding a single tear.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to John" she said wiping the tear away.
"I love you Ashley" he said kissing her lips.
"I love you too Johnathan" she said laying her head back on his chest.
"Let's get some sleep before we get to Illium" he said before closing his eyes.
In Miranda's Room
"Ohhhhhh god Joseph, don't stop" Miranda yelled as Joe pounded her from behind over her desk.
"Fuck Miranda, how are you this tight" Joe said thrusting faster into her smacking her beautiful ass and pulling her hair.
Miranda pushed him off of her pushing him onto the floor climbing on top of him bouncing up and down hard and fast pulling the hair on his chest.
" Make me cum daddy" she screamed in his ear. That was almost enough to push Joe over the edge as he grabbed her waist slamming up into her as they both climaxed together. Collapsing on the floor holding each other tightly.
"Mmmmm Miranda that was great" he said breathlessly stroking her back softly.
"Yeah it was" she had to admit looking up into his eyes as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I don't know what this is I'm feeling for you Miranda, but I feel something, I guess only time will tell" he whispered in her ear.
At that Miranda jumped off of him looking for her clothes to get dressed. "Miranda stop it" he said standing up and grabbing her arms "what are you afraid of" he asked looking into her eyes.
"This, feelings, emotions, I'm not built for this Joseph, it won't work I'll end up hurting you or you'll end up hurting me , we can't have emotions getting in the way of the mission right now" she said pulling away from him picking her catsuit up off the floor putting it on.
"I'm not letting you get out of this easily Miranda, you can't run from every emotion you feel because your afraid of something different. Open up your heart I won't hurt you, I promise." He said pulling her into him holding her tight.
"I think you should go Joseph, I need to think" she said holding back tears.
"Ok Miranda, I'll go" he said putting his clothes on placing a kiss on the top of her head before walking out of the room.
When he left Miranda locked the door and let the tears fall as she heard Joseph yelling from the kitchen area. "Goddamnit Johnny, you forgot to pick up food for Gardner, now we have to starve until we get to Illium, shit." He groaned out.