"Flight Lieutenant Moreau. ETA 30 minutes to Mu Relay. This is Sub-Lieutenant Weaver, requesting relief from duty," Joker hears in his earpiece.
Joker stirs.
"Flight Lieutenant?" Repeats the voice.
Joker reaches up, half-asleep, to activate his comms. "Come again?"
"ETA 30 minutes to Mu Relay."
"Ah, crap." Joker mumbles to himself. In a louder voice he acknowledges. "Headed to the helm now."
"Weaver out."
Joker rubs his eyes and looks down to see Shepard's hand upon his chest. His eyes follow up her arm to the peaceful, sleeping face lying beside him, surrounded by a mess of hair. He smiles and pats the hand on his chest.
"Duty calls?" She asks, eyes still closed.
"Always. Weaver just informed me we're 30 minutes from the Mu Relay." He sighs. "I better get up there."
Joker maneuvers to sit up, but Shepard's hand pins him down. She opens her eyes with a playful smile on her lips and kisses him. "Damn mission. I wish we could just stay here."
"Me too."
"Hmm…" Shepard thinks. "You said 30 minutes. That just registered. I need to get my butt in gear, too. The boys will be wondering where I am."
Shepard flies out of bed agily, a flurry of motion. She quickly pulls her undergarments on and searches her armoire for under armor while brushing her hair. Joker pulls his torso up to a seated position and slides his legs to hang over the bed much slower. He stands up slowly.
"How do you feel?" Shepard asks, stopping suddenly to watch his movements.
"I'll survive." Joker stretches his arms while massaging his neck. He takes a few stiff steps. "It was worth it." His smile is pained, but genuine.
She smiles back and hustles over to his side of the bed to pick his garments up off the floor and hand them to him.
"Thanks," he says.
She loops her hair around her fingers and pulls it into that characteristic bun whose assembly process he's never witnessed while on her way to the bathroom. He painstakingly pulls his boxers on. The toilet flushes and Joker can hear the sound of Shepard brushing her teeth. He barely has his pants zipped when she emerges from the bathroom. She already wears her full body under armor suit and takes one last glance in the mirror before saying: "I need to suit up in my armor and check in with Garrus and Wrex. You're welcome to use my quarters to finish getting ready."
"Much obliged." Joker replies, taking a deep breath and pulling his shirt over his head.
"Unless you want help." Shepard says approaching him.
"I can handle it." Joker says. Regardless of the happenings the night before, his bones are always stiff in the mornings.
Shepard pulls his body against hers for another kiss. "It's all business when I exit that door." She says and grabs his buttocks. "Think you can wipe that silly smile off your face and do your job?"
Joker grins wider. "Aye, Aye, Commander."
"Good." She gives him a final kiss before parting. "See you in the cockpit later, Flight Lieutenant."