Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.

A/N: This chapter is rated M for sexual content.

Chapter 40

"Is everything taken care of?" I asked, wincing in pain as Vale re-entered the med-bay.

"Yes," he nodded, frowning as he once more examined the wound on my side. "Coordinates are set, transponder signal disabled, and f/f system modified per your orders ma'am."

I grunted at his dry tone, but said nothing else. He had done as I had asked although I knew he hesitated to return to Omega. Given our current predicament, however, we had few options. With a Cerberus bounty on our heads, our list of allies would be short indeed, and Aria's hatred of that particular organization was a bit of knowledge I held close. She would aid us if only to cause Cerberus to lose face.

And Aria and I still had unfinished business to resolve.

"How do you feel?"

I grunted again as I tried to sit upright, but fell short. I settled instead for propping my upper body up on my elbows and meeting Vale's disapproving gaze. "I've felt better, but the medigel helped."

A single eyebrow rose and he shot me a look that I had grown increasingly familiar with over the past half hour. "Take it easy, Jin. Lie down. Rest. You're going to be sore for a few days."

"I suppose that's to be expected," I grumbled, irritated that I had gotten hit in the first place. Granted, I should have been dead, or at least in the custody of those crooked soldiers, but somehow Vale and I had pulled off the hijacking of an Alliance transport. That was something I'd never done with a man before.

"Yes, it is." He skimmed over the medical terminal display before moving to my bedside, green eyes focused and countenance darkening. "That really was a stupid thing you did."

"Well I didn't hear you coming up with stellar ideas." I sat fully upright and swung my legs over the side of the bed, pushing away the throbbing pain in my side. I had been wounded before, and was intimately acquainted with pain, even welcomed it's embrace from time to time. However, as I watched him check my wound I realized the tension in my body was not wholly from the injury.

"Take off your shirt."

"What?" I asked incredulously.

He shot me that same look and gestured to my injury. "Or just lift up your shirt. I'll need to change that bandage and wrap it with a new one – make sure the medigel has adhered."

"Fine." I did as ordered, tempted to mimic his earlier dry comments, but held my tongue and pulled off my shirt. It was soaked in blood and made a wet smack as I threw it carelessly to the floor. Vale moved in closer to address my wound and I could feel the heat coming off his body. My skin prickled as he removed the bandage, tossing the stained gauze into the trash and reaching for another pack of medigel. It was cool upon my body, and I closed my eyes as the tingling sensation spread throughout. The pain was still present, but slowly receding under Vale's administration - a change from our usual interactions and that fact was not lost on me.

I closed my eyes and allowed Vale to work, relishing the feel of his hands on my body as he wrapped a new, clean bandage about my waist. He worked swiftly yet carefully, as if he had treated gunshot wounds countless times before. The thought didn't surprise me, but his tenderness did. I was unused to such a thing and it made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I was suddenly very eager for him to complete his task.

"Are you done yet?" I asked, failing to keep the impatience out of my voice.

He took a step back and crossed his arms, frowning at me in disapproval. "Yes."

I stretched my arms, testing my range of motion and hopped off the bed, relishing the jolt of pain that shot up my side. Pain meant I was alive - alive and in possession of a stolen transport en route to Omega. The thought both terrified and excited me. Oddly enough, I missed the grimy streets, the sharp scent of vermin, the din of the vendors. I missed the familiarity of it, even the surety of danger, and while I hated to admit it, I missed Aria.

"You sure you want to go back there?" Vale's frown remained plastered on his face.

I nodded and twisted a bit, testing Vale's dressing. "You're bright ideas haven't gotten us anywhere, so yes. Aria will want to see me and," I added, twisting the opposite direction, "I'm sure she'll be interested in any information you're able to provide her."

That damnable eyebrow arched slightly as his countenance darkened. "Information on what?"

"You worked for Cerberus. She'll want whatever you can provide." I paused in my movements and met his concerned gaze. "Consider it payment for her hospitality."

He chuckled darkly. "Hospitality? Right. Why don't you call it what it is: slavery."

The tone of his voice and the very word he uttered sent a chill up my spine. I suddenly felt naked beneath his stern gaze. "You know nothing of slavery."

I saw the question in his eyes at the steel in my voice, but I know not why he held his tongue and I didn't care. Shoving aside memories best forgotten I strode past Vale and toward the hall, intent on escaping the conversation. And him.

"You're never going to be anything more to her, Jin. I hope you know that."

I spun on Vale, molten anger flooding my veins and fueling my rage. "As if I'm anything but a payday to you! You made that perfectly clear from the start."

"You know it started out that way, but –"

I didn't want to hear him or his excuses. I was tired of being used, of the lies, and my attempts at learning his secrets had been useless. Indeed, in that moment I was unable to discern if I was more furious with him or my own ineptitude. Turning on my heel I again made to leave, but in two long strides Vale was on me, his grip firm on my wrist. I spun around to face him, the fury in my eyes mirroring his own, and on impulse I slapped him.

The impact seemed to echo in the small space as we stared at each other, each absorbed in varying degrees of surprise and disappointment. I welcomed the sting of my palm, dismayed that I had so quickly lost control. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. What was there worth saying?

He touched his reddening cheek absently, his eyes never leaving mine, and my sudden need to escape resurfaced. Again I made to leave, but he tightened his grip on my wrist. I tried to yank it away, my anger returning with a vengeance at this violation, but before I could voice my protest, his lips were suddenly on mine.

Shock overwhelmed my senses and I fought for control as he pressed his body against mine. I tried pushing him away, but the longer I struggled, the less effort I exerted, desire gradually displacing the anger pounding in my ears. He seemed to recognize my indecision and pressed his advantage. The breath spilled from my lungs as I was forced against the wall, the welcoming explosion of agony in my side intoxicating. I gave up all pretense of resistance as he pinned my wrists above my head, his kisses hot and hungry, and I recognized in him a yearning that mirrored my own.

I'd broken almost every rule I had ever set for myself, abandoned everything I had ever known with this man, and I realized I didn't care anymore. I wanted this, and so ignored the warning bells in the back of my mind. What was one more rule to break when I had nothing left to lose? If I was going to make another mistake, I'd make it worthwhile. And so I gave in to the heat radiating off his body, to the firm hands grasping my wrists, and welcomed the hunger in his kisses upon the bare flesh of my body.

I watched in silence as he pulled his shirt over his head, relishing the sight of his bare chest and the guttural noise that slipped from his throat. I ran a finger over the scar that marked him, a question on my lips. His eyes met mine, but I found only lust and so pulled him close, the need to feel him inside me growing nigh unbearable.

Clothing was peeled off with barely controlled fervor and I pushed him to the ground, settling myself atop his warmth and drunk on lust. I savored the feel of the hard floor, cool against my knees and mingling with the keen ache in my side. It was my choice to inflame my wound, to exacerbate my pain, and I welcomed the agony within as I welcomed him.

He filled me without hesitation, the feel of him hot and desperate, and I could have cried out for the sheer pleasure of it. He moved with a bold ferocity, the risk of our actions lost amidst the violence of our coupling. And I wallowed in the mix of pain and pleasure, gasping with a shocked breath as he flipped me onto my back, his pace slowing, deepening ever so deliciously.

I could feel his breath heavy on my neck, could smell his flesh as he sheathed his length deep within. A jolt of pain shot through my side and I cried out in release, a rush of memory and ecstasy flooding my being. Still he continued, riding my wave of euphoria until he at last was sated as well and collapsed atop me.

We lingered for a time on the floor in a tangle of limbs and a mess of clothes, and I tried half-heartedly to wrap my mind around what had just transpired. It had been a mistake - I had known that going into it – but as I studied his eyes, heavy lidded and satisfied, I realized it was likely the best mistake I'd ever made.

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