Title: Ilos Chapter Two (2)
Author: DinkyMew
Game: Mass Effect (one)
Disclaimer: Bioware own all content and characters relating to the Mass Effect franchise. Abigail Shepard is my own creation inspired by Jane Shepard, created by Bioware. Any original characters contained herein are my own creations and are not necessarily affiliated with Bioware. **You may not distribute copy or edit this fanfiction as it stands without my expressed permission – thank you **

Author's Note: I owe this chapter to Eleneri: u/2946260/ - who inspired the idea of exploring the emotional impact on Operative Hobbins following Kaidan and Abigail finally finding solace in each other's arms. And to my wonderful JJ who put the scene in my head that would not friggin leave until I wrote it in somehow – thank you, you minx! To you, my dears! Thanks as always for your continued support and your amazing comments! :hug:

"Am I under arrest officer?" Shepard asked, throwing a pout his way, flicking her hair back over her shoulder with a smooth gesture.

Hobbs swallowed, shaking himself from his stupor as he realised she was speaking to him. "Hands on the hood." He said firmly, waiting for her to turn and spread palms on the hood of the flightcar before he lowered the pistol in his hand and approached carefully.

Her legs were incredibly long, her weight shifting from one foot to another made the short black skirt she was wearing inch inexorably up bare creamy thighs and he caught his breath, clearing his throat as he holstered his gun and kicked the stiletto heels she was wearing.

"Spread 'em." He ordered and she obeyed, pressing her rear against his crotch as she did so and he closed his eyes, pressing a hand into her lower back as he steadied himself.

"Shepard…" He breathed and she glanced over her shoulder, blue eyes sparkling with mischief as her mouth curved into a full, red smile.

There was no more waiting. He gripped the shoulder of her leather jacket, spinning her roughly to face him and kissed her fiercely. She laughed against his mouth, her tongue flicking against his as she drew her legs up to his hips.

He dropped the pistol, or the pistol was gone, he couldn't be sure – and he didn't care as she stretched beneath him over the hood of the flightcar. He slid his hand under the vest top she wore, feeling skin rise and ignite under his touch – watching as the blue fire of her biotics flared to life and began to flicker over her skin – this was another time.

A memory.

He had been here before, but there was no car last time; it had been playful love, lust and fantasy all rolled into one in their apartment on Arcturus.

Now it was something darker – something that bordered on need and desperation and pervaded his soul like a rampaging hunger.

"You'll have to try harder than that." Shepard whispered, crimson lips speaking softly, curving into a wide smile as she held his eyes fiercely.

Hobbs frowned, try harder? What did she mean by that?

With a smile he bent over her, running his mouth along her stomach, drawing teeth over her ribs as they spread in delight and up higher still as her breath staggered a little drawing a moan from her as he teased an aching nipple between teeth.

She wriggled out of her jacket, her fingers raking through his hair as she cradled him against her and together they removed the vest she wore – her hands immediately unbuttoning his shirt halfway, ripping the rest open as she pulled him back down onto her. He pressed hands onto the bonnet of the flightcar, shuddering as her nails raked his abdomen, travelling lower to his jeans.

"Oh…"

Hobbs smiled, his thumb grazing her sternal notch, sliding up her throat and brushing her bottom lip gently. She grinned, bringing her mouth down and around the digit, sinking teeth into the flesh gently, playfully.

He groaned, low and dangerous, as he pressed against her, replacing thumb with his own mouth and she moaned into him, hands snatching onto his shoulders as he pressed himself between her legs.

He felt the rush of electricity flush over his skin as her biotics came back with force, the tendrils curling around his biceps as he held himself steady on the bonnet of the car. She peeled away from him, arching her back as she stretched arms above her head, skilful muscle control threatening to send him spinning over the edge.

"Oh…"

You'll have to try harder than that…

Hobbs frowned, raising his head from her throat to look at her, but she hadn't said a word, her head was tilted back, her mouth open, her cheeks flushed as her hips rolled against him.

"I love you Tempy." He said, watching her as she broke into a smile, bringing her eyes back to his, they were dancing with blue fire – in that moment he saw everything that could be and should be in her arms, where he belonged, and he ached as he sank back onto her, his mouth covering hers hungrily.

"Oh…" She whispered, right in his ear this time as he pressed kisses to her throat and shoulders "Oh!" Her nails gripped his shoulders, sending a spasm through him that made him shiver "Oh!" Her hands dropped lower, gripping his rear as her biotics hummed brighter, the blue light dancing over her skin as she reared back against him.

"Oh! KAIDAN!"

Hobbs started awake, the movement so abrupt he almost toppled out of the crew bunk but just managed to grab the cross-bar in time stopping his ungainly descent to the floor. Sinking back into the pillow he pressed his hands to his forehead as his breath raged in and out of his lungs.

What. The. Hell.

He shook his head, he had to get off this ship – it was really starting to mess with his mind. He took a moment, letting the fragments of the dream filter through his head once more as he let the pain of the memory wash through him.

Had he really just done that? Had he actually sat outside her quarters and protected her image as Commander by distracting passers-by from the noises within her cabin? What the hell was wrong with him?

Hobbs was no stranger to intimacy, not now anyway, and he hated feeling this way. He didn't own Shepard, she was free to be with whoever she wanted, just like he was – but damn didn't it hurt to know she was moving on. Didn't it just hurt to think of her in Kaidan's arms, Kaidan's mouth on her throat, Kaidan's hands on her thighs – and the thoughts kept rushing around in his head until he felt sure he was going to have a nosebleed or an aneurism. Or both.

Had she given that smile to Kaidan she used to reserve for him? Had she moaned beneath Kaidan the way she used to with him? How could he live in this kind of purgatory, without any glimmer of light or hope?

The answer was obvious. He couldn't.

He had to leave.

Sitting in the bed carefully he swung his legs to the floor, pressing boots on the grating as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. Could this get any worse?

Getting to his feet stiffly he stepped out of the crew quarters and into the mess, pausing as he spotted Alenko gathering some energy drinks from the fridge behind the kitchen counter. Figures, he thought darkly as he passed the man by, flicking the switch on the coffee machine and leaning his hands on the counter as he let his head hang, his chin resting on his chest.

"You alright?" Kaidan asked, raising eyebrows his way "You look a bit pale…"

Hobbs snorted, clearing his throat as he gave the lieutenant a cold smile "Still look better than you Alenko." He said cooly.

Kaidan seemed unfazed by the insult though and reached a hand toward him "I'm being serious you look washed out Hobbs." He said firmly, his hand touching his shoulder in an attempt at support he was sure, but the static shock he got – that shot through his skin like ice making him flinch – only incited his anger further.

It was a cooling down process for biotics to give off static shocks – and Hobbs knew exactly what the bastard was cooling down from.

"Get your hand off me Alenko." He said firmly.

Kaidan obeyed, moving his hand back as he picked up the energy drinks he had sat on the counter "Alright." He said easily "You should maybe check in with Dr Chakwas though." He suggested and Hobbs ground his teeth as he poured himself a mug of hot coffee.

"Maybe you should mind your fucking business." He muttered.

"Ok." Kaidan said softly "Sorry." With that he pushed past him and turned back into Shepard's quarters leaving Hobbs in the mess once again.

Alone.

Shepard pulled her hair back roughly, securing it in a scraggy knot at the back of her head as she checked the latches on her armour once more. They had got the shout from Joker that they were approaching Ilos; it was game time.

Dropping to the edge of the bed she forced a foot into a boot and began to strap the laces into the metal teeth.

"Everything ok?" Kaidan asked, he was sitting behind her, dressed in his Alliance casuals watching her intently.

"Sure." Shepard said "Just getting focused." She smiled over her shoulder at him musing at how easy it all felt with him. She had feared it would be awkward to assume command again after their moment of passion, but Kaidan made it all too easy to fall between roles almost seamlessly.

"Have you thought about a plan?" He asked her quietly and Shepard sighed.

"I think two groups should be good." She said switching to the other foot "If I take a point team and go after Saren the secondary team can bring up the rear and clear out the reinforcements that will be sent after us." She frowned "What do you think?"

He took a deep breath, the bed shifting behind her as he shuffled closer, pressing a warm kiss behind her ear "We're going to do this Shepard." He said firmly "You're going to do this."

She nodded – the words jamming in her throat as she half turned to look into his dark eyes. She wanted to tell him how he made her feel, that she was so scared of losing him, but instead she simply smiled as her eyes misted with emotion.

"Hey." He said gently, pressing his forehead to hers gently "I know. I think about losing you and I can't stand it." He whispered "Whatever happens out there Shepard, I want you to know that I love you."

"Kaidan…"

"And if the worst happens I'll be waiting for you." He added quickly "Always."

He pressed a kiss to her mouth, sealing the promise tenderly and then swung his legs off the bed carefully "I should go and get geared." He said "I'll see you on deck Commander."

She watched him leave, his walk somehow more confident in her eyes and she smiled fondly, turning her attention back to her boots.

When she entered the mess Hobbs was sitting at a table in the corner, his hands folded over his chest his head was flung back and he was snoring loudly. With a smile she approached him, prodding his arm gently as he started, immediately wiping his mouth and looking at her sheepishly.

"There are beds here you know." She said with a small smile and his face darkened as he moved his shoulders.

"Yeah, I guess I just drifted off." He said absently.

"We're almost at Ilos." Shepard said gently "Wanna come up to the cockpit for the descent?"

Hobbs moved his shoulders "I actually need to tell you something first." He said pushing the chair back he was sitting on with a screech.

He got to his feet, running a hand through his light brown hair and fixing her with a serious look "I… I'll go to Ilos. But that's it. I'm out after that."

Shepard blinked, the tone of his words was cold and it gave her pause as she looked him carefully up and down. "You're out?" she asked "As in leaving?" She shook her head "Why?"

Hobbs shook his head "Doesn't matter Tempy. The reason. I just can't be around … this ship." He concluded lamely and she caught it – knowing full well the ship wasn't the problem.

"But your brother…" she said carefully "He joined to be with you Hobbs. What about him?" It was an awful tactic, to use his younger brother as an anchor instead of telling him she simply didn't want him to leave, but it was all she had to use.

"I know." Hobbs said carefully "I'll talk to him."

"Talk to him?" A voice interjected hotly and they both froze, turning to see Foster dressed in his new Alliance uniform.

He looked incredibly smart and clean in comparison to how he had looked when he first came aboard. Shepard saw Hobb's hesitate and touched a hand to his shoulder gently.

"I'll be on deck." She said gently and he didn't answer her, his eyes were on his brother, but she saw his jaw flex and decided it would be best if she removed herself for the time being. Hobbs started to speak but Foster shook his head angrily, not giving him a chance before he stormed away back toward the crew quarters.

Hobbs entered the crews' quarters and barely dodged a boot that sailed past his head, striking the door with a thud. The mate followed, clipping his ear. He felt blood ooze down his neck. A data pad crashed against the door and a cup and a plate and a fork that almost impaled his neck. Foster stood there in his new Alliance clothes, face red, puffing from exertion, eyes incinerating him. Foster yanked the chain from around his neck with his new regulation dog tags strung on it and flung them. They collided with Hobbs' cheek, cutting into the skin below his cheek bone.

He ducked and closed the distance between them, getting into Foster's space, hissing in anger. "You throw one more thing at me and I'll end you."

Foster took a swing at him and Hobbs deflected the blow easily. "You fucking shit!" Foster's voice was hot. "You tell me you searched for me all those years and, by some miracle we find each other on Edolus. We killed a maw together; we took out Cerberus together; we survived!" Spittle struck Hobbs in the face. "And now, after I join up, give up my life, my freedom, my ship!" White teeth flashed in the tanned face. Eyes were blue flames this close. "You're cutting out on me?! Because of a girl?!"

Hobbs was shocked when Foster jammed a hand into his privates. He gave his brother a brutal shove. "What are you doing?" he roared.

Foster glared at him. "Just checking to see if you still have any balls!"

"Fuck you Foster!" He shouted, "You have no idea what I am dealing with – what I have dealt with – don't you dare fucking stand there and accuse me of tucking tail!"

"I trusted you!" Foster matched Hobbs' volume now. "I fucking trusted you! I let my guard down-all for you!" Foster launched himself at Hobbs and Hobbs danced out of the way. Hand-to-hand combat was his area of expertise. His brother didn't stand a chance.

"You need to calm down," he advised. "Or I swear Fos I will lay you out."

Foster laughed bitterly. "I'm sorry you lost your girl, Socks. I'm sorry, because it's turned you into a whipped sod!" He made the sound of a whip snapping, mimicking the motion with his hand.

Hobbs launched at the smaller man, only semi-aware that he could inflict serious damage if he didn't rein himself in a little. He threw a punch, changing it last minute to an open-hand slap to his brother's face in an attempt to stop himself beating him to a pulp. Foster's head whipped with the momentum and when he looked back around his nose was bleeding.

The sight of first blood would have normally incited Hobbs to keep going, but this time as his brother's face turned back to his he felt the anger rush from him instead, those blue eyes still held a fierce anger and Hobbs backed off, forcing fingers into his hair as he turned from Foster, moving to stand in front of the wall, leaning an arm there as he hung his head sucking heavy, calming breaths through him.

"You need to grow a pair. You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and deal. You. Lost. Shepard. Stinko's a pale substitute, but he's what she wants. Fucking deal with it! You're not the brother that runs away when things get bad. You stayed, Socks. You helped those kids. You made a difference." Foster had lost some of his venom and tears sparkled in his eyes. "You want to jump ship now? Saren and the geth are the biggest threat we face-every species. What do you plan to do? Take a nice cushy ops job? Try to be a one-man army like you did when you charged that Atlas?"

"It's easier." Hobbs said quietly, smoothing his palm against the wall as he focused on the space between his fingers "When you're a one man army no one cares if you come home."

A sob broke through. Foster seized Hobbs' right hand, clasping it and then drew him into a tight hug. Hobbs awkwardly patted his little brother on the back with a manly three pats. Breathing harshly, Foster stepped back. "What you did was suicide, bro."

"What I did was meant to be suicide." He smiled "I wanted to protect you Beer. You're my little brother; I'd give my life for yours, you know that."

"Then...stay. If you want to protect me, stay with us on this mission. I signed up for the long haul." Foster ran his hands over his head. "Hell,Socks, ya never know how much time you've got. I spent 15 years without you. Don't walk away now."

Hobbs nodded, slowly, thoughtfully and at last he gave his brother a small smile "You might be small man but you pack a punch to the balls you know that?" He rubbed his crotch "I feel a bit sick now."

Foster wasn't giving up, it wasn't enough, he had to hear it in plain words from the man and he held his brother's gaze unrelenting "So you'll stay?"

Hobbs nodded "Can hardly leave you here to be kicked around by Shepard and Stinko alone can I?" He quipped, and when Foster's eyes misted again he pulled him into a tight hug "Come on." He said, rubbing his brother's head "We need to get geared for Ilos."'

"Will Shepard let me come? I'm the noob. Somebody—I think he said his name was Pressley—told me about a Richard Jenkins and that scut on board the ship is she took his loss hard on Eden Prime." He sighed and ran his hands over his much shorter hair. "She might not want me along."

"I think she assumes awesomeness runs in our genes." Hobbs smiled weakly "I tried to tell her it doesn't" Hobbs moved his shoulders lightly "You don't want to come?"

"No – yeah, well, she needs her most experienced team and, scut says Garrus is a crack shot with a sniper rifle. What use does she have for me?"

"You're an engineer?"

Foster nodded and then a light turned on behind his eyes. "I could prove useful in that capacity. If I'm given an omni-tool I can summon a fighting drone. It explodes when it's destroyed. Its' geared to fight synthetics."

Hobbs nodded "You ever fight geth?"

"Nope. I've never fought a lot of things. Never fought a maw before but I did okay. Stop with the worry face, Socks."

"Maybe it's not a good idea you come." Hobbs considered "I'll speak to Shepard."

Foster grinned incorrigibly and whacked his brother on the arm. "Hey, if she lets me go do you think she has a spare suit of armor? Mine still reeks."

"You never know your luck." Hobbs smiled "Come on let's get ready in case."