A/N: Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites for chapter one! I value your continued support. This story wouldn't continue without your encouragement! I hope you all enjoy chapter two.

A Helping Hand

"So you've never hooked up with anyone you're stationed with? Ever?" Ashley asked in shock tossing Shepard a dry towel. Since the gunnery chief joined the crew, the two had taken to training together. Early on their workouts were simply to help Ashley acclimate, but the routine had become a great bonding experience for her and the commander. They used the time to learn about one another's previous work in the Alliance military, among other things. Today's conversation was certainly an interesting one, and at times Ashley's straightforward questions had made Shepard feel a bit uncomfortable, though the commander just laughed it off.

"Nope, never." Shepard answered just before taking a big gulp from her water bottle.

"I don't know how you do it." Ashley shook her head as they both began dabbing the sweat off their bodies.

"Well, I mean, I've had flings before shipping out, but never with anyone in my unit. Usually just civilians who like the uniform." Shepard sat down on a nearby bench to catch her breath. "I don't want to risk losing authority on the battlefield."

"These military guys just need to be put in their place." Ashley smirked. "Remind them who's on top, and they'll respect you in a fire fight."

"You have no shame." Shepard sighed.

"Who needs shame with a body like this?" the unashamed gunnery chief struck a confident pose that made Shepard laugh. Even though Ashley could be opinionated and crass, she was still a good friend who knew how to entertain. Joining Shepard on the bench, Ashley continued with her questions. "So there's no one aboard the Normandy that you're interested in?"

"No." Shepard's reply was simple. After all, she believed it to be true. Ever since Liara came aboard, Shepard had certainly had a fondness for the asari, but she'd not interpreted it as romantic interest. The commander just enjoyed looking after her, and given that she had first found Liara in peril that seemed perfectly normal.

"Well people sure have their eyes on you…" Ashley said matter-of-factly as she draped her towel around her neck.

"What do you mean?" Confused, Shepard eyed Ashley suspiciously. She obviously knew something that the commander didn't.

"I mean Alenko. He follows you around like a lost puppy."

"What?" Shepard asked in shock. She had noticed that Kaidan was awfully flirtatious, but assumed that it was just part of his personality. In her travels, Shepard had encountered plenty of admirers in her fellow soldiers, but usually ignoring their advances was enough to give them the idea to back off. Apparently the Lieutenant hadn't taken the hint, or he was just incredibly persistent.

"Seriously, Commander, you can't be that stupid." Ashley joked, seeing the look of utter shock across Shepard's face.

"Thanks for your confidence." Shepard replied flatly. Sarcasm had been a frequent visitor to their conversations, and as uncomfortable as this one had become for Shepard, both of the women couldn't deny the fun they were having.

"At first I thought the two of you were an item, the way he was chatting you up."

"Kaidan's a nice guy, sure," Shepard started, trying to shake the rather amusing visuals Ashley's comment had spurred in her head, "But he's just a friend."

"So, does that mean he's available?" a mischievous grin crossed Ashley's face. It wasn't that Shepard disapproved of Ashley's opinion toward crew member romance, but at the risk of disrupting squad productivity she would rather discourage it. Instead of voicing her thoughts, Shepard went along with her playful mood. She rolled her towel into a tight ball, catching Ashley off guard when the soggy terry-cloth projectile hit her square in the face.

After having a good laugh, Ashley headed to the crew quarters for a shower and Shepard took their used towels to the laundry. It wasn't until they had parted ways that Ashley's words rang through Shepard's mind again.

"People sure have their eyes on you."

Shepard hadn't really gotten a true answer about that statement, now that she had thought about it. Ashley had brought up Kaidan, but last time Shepard checked he was only one person. Had Ashley really meant that there was at least someone else aboard the ship that had an interest in her? And if so, who? Then again, maybe she was reading too much into it. Shepard decided that must have been the case and told herself to not worry about it anymore.

As she approached the elevator, Shepard was a bit surprised to see Liara standing in front of the lift. Liara had been aboard the Normandy for a little over a week now, but had rarely ventured far from the med bay. Why would she been down here below deck? Shepard was so distracted with the mystery of Liara's presence that she almost didn't notice the large box in the asari's arms, or the second box that was suspended biotically behind her. Shepard picked up her pace to a peppy stride to reach Liara faster.

"Hey, let me help you with that." She insisted as she took the box from Liara's arms. Obviously the asari hadn't been expecting anyone to be nearby, or to help her for that matter.

"Oh, Commander!" her blue eyes widened, "You do not have to assist me. If you have other duties-"

"Going up?" Shepard smiled as she cut her off.

"From this floor, that is the only option." Liara stated. It was obvious that she didn't understand the phrase.

"Yeah…" Shepard awkwardly replied. Though she found it easy to carry a conversation with Liara, it was little things like that that made their talks unnecessarily amusing. Instead of bringing attention to her social difficulties, Shepard activated the elevator. Noticing that the box in her hands was open, she didn't find it rude to look at its contents. "What's this for?"

"Oh," Liara acted shy for a moment, wringing her hands like a child caught misbehaving. "I heard there was a spare terminal in storage, and since it was not being used, I…"

"So you can continue your research." Seeing that Liara was having trouble, Shepard finished the thought for her. "That's a great idea."

A slight tinge of purple appeared at the top of Liara's cheeks upon receiving the commander's encouragement. She looked down at her feet as she tried to think of what to say next, but was saved from searching as the elevator doors opened. They had reached the crew's quarters.

"After you." Shepard motioned with her head, and smiled as she watched Liara's blush deepen in color. The shy scientist frantically exited the lift and walked briskly towards the med bay, keeping her head down as if she didn't want to be seen. It was only when she was safe inside the familiar room that her regular posture began to return. Following at a normal pace behind her, Shepard crossed the threshold of the med bay door a moment after Liara.

"Afternoon, Doctor." Shepard greeted Dr. Chakwas, who was sitting at her desk as usual.

"Oh, hello Commander." Chakwas replied, pleasantly surprised. It didn't take long for her to notice the box that Shepard carried. "That's very nice of you to help Liara."

"I had the time." Shepard shrugged. She had set a very specific moral code for herself years ago, and believed that if she was capable of aiding someone else she was obligated to do so. She didn't like to make a big deal over something that she was happy to do.

Liara walked straight back to the storage room at the back of the med bay with Shepard in toe. Rumor had it that Liara had taken to the room and made it her own, though Shepard had yet to return to see it for herself. After their first private conversation, the talks they had had since were in passing.

"I see this terminal isn't the only spare item you're putting to good use." Shepard nodded toward the bed in the corner, which now had sheets and a pillow.

"Oh, yes." Liara's head followed Shepard's gaze before she nervously turned to the box she had brought in.

Shepard tried sparking a conversation. Since she had plenty of time to kill, she was determined to spend some time with the new passenger. It was a well-known fact that most of the humans aboard felt the alien additions were crowding their space, and with Benezia working with Saren, Liara had been persecuted the most. With everything that Liara had been through, Shepard wanted her to feel safe on the Normandy, and took it upon herself to befriend the prothean expert.

"So, will this help you to pick up where you left off? In your research, I mean."

"I would hope so. Though all I have is my back up drive. The rest of my notes were left on Therum, and were most likely destroyed in the cave in." Liara's brow furrowed. She was clearly upset about leaving those behind.

"That must be hard. Losing everything you have, with little more than the clothes on your back." Shepard sympathized. She had never had much in the way of possessions, but with each tour she served she found it hard to pack only necessities. But even then she knew that she would be able to get the items she left behind out of storage. She couldn't imagine losing important information from decades of study.

"I will get by." Liara sighed, and the two began unpacking the boxes. Shepard was especially pleased to set down the heavy package and relieve her already sore muscles. She had always pushed herself hard in training, but the gunnery chief had a competitive spirit, and Shepard wasn't about to be shown up by an inferior officer. Finally letting her arms relax, and rolling her shoulders for good measure, Shepard began helping Liara set up the terminal.

"The most critical of information I stored on the drive." Liara continued. "Anything with sentimental significance is still on Thessia, in my moth-" she stopped abruptly and changed her choice of words with a crack in her voice. "Still at home."

There was a sadness in Liara's eyes that made Shepard's heart ache. What must she be going through, knowing that her mother had sided with the very person they were out to stop? And what words would make this easier on the asari maiden? Liara turned toward the desk behind her, mindlessly handling terminal parts as a distraction, though not truly making any progress. Shepard could tell that she was mostly turning away to hide her face as she gathered herself.

"It's okay to be upset, Liara. Anyone would be." Shepard placed a hand on Liara's shoulder to console her and could feel startled muscles jerk at the sensation of touch. Having been away so long in the solitude of dig sites, Liara hadn't been used to physical contact with others for some time. Feeling another person comforting her was a strange, but welcome sensation. And knowing that it was the commander, the one person she felt truly accepted by on the Normandy, made the consolation that much more personal. Determined to not make a scene in front of the commander, Liara pulled herself together and turned to face Shepard again.

"Would you be upset, Commander?"

"I…" the question caught the human off guard. Shepard had rarely thought about her parents in her adult life, let alone the scenario posed to her. "I don't know. I suppose I would."

Liara may not have been accustomed to human behavior, but she recognized that this was a touchy subject. Although she was desperate to understand what the perplexed look on Shepard's face meant Liara didn't want to overstep her bounds with such a new acquaintance. Curiosity was in her nature and often times got her in to bad situations. The last thing she wanted was to risk offending and scaring away the object of her young affections. But she didn't have to wonder about it long before the commander revealed the honest truth.

"I never knew my parents."

It certainly wasn't what Liara was expecting to hear, but she was grateful for Shepard's sincerity, and took it to mean that she was willing to talk about the subject.

"What happened to them?" Liara asked warily.

"I don't know. Maybe they died, or couldn't take care of me for some reason." Shepard spoke comfortably. "Or maybe they just didn't want a kid." She shrugged casually with her last sentence.

"I am sure that was not the case." Liara tried her best to dissuade her comment and struggled with the idea of anyone not wanting Shepard around.

"Don't worry about it. I got over it a long time ago." Shepard wanted Liara to understand that, if that were the case, it didn't bother her anymore. Adding a smirk to be sure she appeared as honest as she felt, Shepard returned to piecing together the terminal. "I spent most of my childhood being moved from family to family in the foster care system, until I got sick of the instability."

"What did you do?" Liara hung on her words, fascinated with the new information.

"I ran away." Shepard stated as if it was the only sensible option. "I spent some time in a couple different gangs, getting in and out of trouble. Then I started taking my future seriously, and the military seemed like the logical choice."

"Incredible…" the asari stared at the commander as if she were a priceless artifact. Realizing that Shepard was the only one assembling the terminal on her desk, Liara snapped out of her trance and hastily connected some wires. Embarrassed, she hoped that Shepard didn't notice, but the human smiled to herself at Liara's enthralled reaction.

Shepard hadn't divulged her personal history to many people. When she first joined the alliance, she was determined to leave her past behind her and start a new life. And after the trauma she experienced on Akuze she had become closed off, even after returning to service. But there was something about Liara that made Shepard feel at ease; a comforting knowledge that the asari wouldn't judge her for anything she said in confidence.

With a few last connections, Liara powered up the terminal to make sure it worked properly.

"Yes!" Shepard shouted triumphantly when the holographic screen lit up. Turning to Liara, the commander held up one hand around eye level, but got nothing but a peculiar look from the asari.

"W-What are you doing?" Liara inquired, though she wasn't entirely sure that she wanted to know.

"It's called a high five." Shepard laughed. "It's just something us humans do. We raise our hands and slap them together in celebration."

Liara awkwardly complied with the human tradition.

"Well, that's a start." Shepard said optimistically after Liara's fumbling first attempt.

"That is a very strange thing to do." Liara partially defended herself, grinning at the unusual custom.

"Only because you made me describe it." Shepard chuckled. "Well, my work here is done, and there's a nice, warm shower calling my name."

"Oh," Liara's cheerful mood changed to disappointment. But if the commander was leaving, she would make the most of the last moment she had with her. "Shepard, thank you, for being so open with me. I appreciate your trust in me, and I hope that you continue to trust me as much as I trust you."

Shepard smiled. If that were the only response Liara received from the human, she would have found it enough.

"Thanks for listening. It's nice to know I have someone I can talk to." Shepard replied, pleasantly surprised by Liara's gratefulness.

"I enjoy our talks, Shepard."

"Me too."

Liara's purple blush returned behind her childlike freckles. Shepard felt herself beaming at the natural reaction with only one word running through her mind.

"Adorable."

Was that an appropriate thing to think about a member of her crew? Acknowledging that she liked the uncontrollable physical response didn't seem awful inside her head, but would it, just like describing the high five, sound atrocious if spoken aloud?

"I should go." Shepard said somberly. As much as she tried, she couldn't pull herself away from the complex debate in her head, and the implications of the singular question ringing throughout her mind.

Was she romantically interested in Liara?