So this is just a tiny bit of fun-ness I thought of as I was playing through this scene. Just for the record, I'm aware that this occurs after the events of the next chapter but when I was trying to slot it in, I realised it didn't really make sense in my version. Time-wise, it seems to fit here.

Hooray!

I own nothing - I merely twist it to suit my own malicious purposes.

18. Exposure.

The Ship is quiet.

"Got the flush." Kaidan announces smugly, laying his cards on the table.

"Mmmmm…." James muses before revealing his hand with a grin. "Full house. Caught it on the river."

Kaidan ducks his head and sighs, "Shit."

They've been playing poker for hours now and Kaidan has had to admit he's more than a little rusty. It also is not helping that he's playing with the most devious son of a bitch in the fleet.

"Thought you were bluffing on the flush," Vega smirks, "Good for you."

While he knows he has a reputation for being more than a little uptight and 'by the book', Kaidan doesn't necessarily like being reminded of his naturally conservative nature.

"Can it Lieutenant." He grumbles into his beer.

Vega laughs and mock salutes before jauntily sweeping most of Kaidan's chips across to his side of the table, "Yes sir, Major Alenko, sir!"

The door to the lounge hisses open and Kaidan brightens perceptibly. "Garrus! I'd deal you in but Vega here just cleaned me out."

The Lieutenant scoffs incredulously, "Is that really as deep as your pockets go?"

Kaidan shrugs, "For tonight you bet it is. You're ruthless Vega. I know when I'm beaten."

The scarred Turian pulls up a chair and leans back with his legs propped up against the table. "That good huh?"

"Good? Back on Earth I could have given the professionals a run for their money man."

Kaidan snorts into his drink in amusement. "Sure Vega, sure."

"Hey Shepard said to send you up to the bridge if I ran into you Kaidan." Garrus says, his oddly disembodied voice echoing around the room.

"Oh? Did she say what for?"

"No, it didn't seem urgent though."

James laughs from the other side of the table, "I can probably guess." He says, his voice dripping with suggestive images.

Kaidan carefully and deliberately sets his drink down on the table "Really."

Sensing the Major's dangerous mood swing, Garrus can almost see the Lieutenant backpedalling. "Uh no… I meant… I ah…" He turns to Garrus pleadingly.

The Turian holds up both scaled hands and grins, "Oh no Vega. You can dig yourself out of this one."

Kaidan's anger evaporates as he remembers that the crew shouldn't know he has something to be angry about yet, "Wait…"

"Yeah Kaidan, everyone knows." Garrus tells him, his alien grin widening further.

"Everyone?"

"Yep."

"They know that…?"

"Oh yeah."

"Me and…?"

"Are all married and such? Yep."

"Huh." Kaidan frowns then leans back in his chair, his brain furiously processing. "Well I suppose that makes some things a bit easier."

James laughs, slapping the table, "Hell yeah it does. Way to hit that Sir."

If looks could kill, the withering stare Kaidan shoots in the loud-mouthed Lieutenant's direction would have melted the skin off his bones. Vega coughs uncomfortably and is suddenly very interested in the label on his bottle of beer.

"Careful Vega." Kaidan's voice is dangerously quiet, "That's my wife you're talking about."

"Sorry sir."

"I think it may be time to call it a night, don't you?"

Garrus fights hard to hide a smile as the massive Lieutenant squirms uncomfortably. "Ah yeah… Goodnight." The doors hiss shut behind his hurriedly retreating back.

Almost as soon as he's gone, Kaidan's face splits into a wide grin and he and Garrus double over the table in laughter.

"Oh man," the Major says, getting himself under control eventually, "that was way too much fun."

Garrus wipes his eyes, still convulsing with mirth, "You've been waiting to say something like that for a while though, haven't you?"

Standing, Kaidan claps his friend on the shoulder before moving to the door and the bridge, "Oh you have no idea."

The ship is quiet.