Title: Mass Effect Two Chapter Five
Author: DinkyMew and JagesPages
Game: Mass Effect (Two)
Disclaimer: Bioware own all content and characters related to the Mass Effect franchise. Abigail Shepard is my own creation inspired by the character of Jane Shepard created by Bioware. Any original characters contained herein are my own creations (with the exception of Vindex Foster who is the sole property of Julie Jones and the Swagger Vasa Chronicles) and are not necessarily affiliated with Bioware. **You may not copy, edit or distribute this fanfiction as it stands without my expressed permission – thank you**
"Spec Ops"
JJ's chin was propped in her hand as she gazed out at the panoramic view of Ilium. The sun was setting and the massive skyscrapers with pink neon stripes soared into the darkening skies where rain began to fall. The city looked beautiful, but like most beautiful things in life it masked a dark underside. Illium was the entrepot between the Terminus Systems and Council space and as such the usually strict black market laws were lax here, not that she was here to break the law, but it certainly gave her extra options when gathering information from people.
JJ stirred and gently knocked her shoulder against her partners who was beside her, sleeping, gusty snores thrumming through the transport shuttle.
Crow came awake immediately, completely alert and relaxed, blue eyes wandering over the shuttle interior as he raked a hand through his blonde hair. He turned and smiled. "Did I sleep all the way here?"
She nodded and he rose, stretching to his full six foot one. He got their gear from the overhead compartments and one-shouldered the bags. He snorted when JJ pulled down her weapon of choice, the M-98 Widow sniper rifle. It weighed almost more than she did, but she carried it everywhere. It had saved their lives more than once.
"Sure you don't want to take something lighter?" he asked. "It's not like we're going to be storming Ilium."
Impish blue eyes gazed up at him. "No, this is my baby."
"Your baby weighs 39 kilograms." He said pointedly, but there was an affection to the tone that always made his words seem harmless.
"It's effective against armor, shields and biotic barriers." She countered smoothly tucking it into the carrier on her back, scrunching her shoulders forward until it settled.
"Now this bad boy," he crooned, bringing out his Samick recurve bow. He placed it in the carrier that was strapped across his chest. They had decided not to wear armour this time, just their black operative's reinforced suits.
JJ patted it fondly. "Yes, he's a badass," she agreed.
Crow stood aside for her to precede him out of the ship, down the umbilical walkway to the entrance to Ilium. He spread his arms wide once they passed through the hatch and turned; a wicked smile on his face. "Ilium, where drugs are legal as long as they're labelled and you can buy indentured servants and just about any weapon known." He nodded, his handsome face splitting into a wide grin as he rubbed his stubbled cheeks "My kind of place."
Ahead of them an asari flanked by two mechs came striding down the port walkway toward them. She looked regal – but then all asari did she supposed and she was looking right at them as she approached. JJ's hand twitched toward her pistol but didn't draw it.
"Special Operatives Bahasa and Jones," The asari said smoothly. "Welcome to Ilium."
"We were expected?" JJ met her partner's blank look. He always let her handle the diplomatic side of negotiations.
"You were cleared by Admiral Hackett of the Fifth Fleet." The asari gestured behind her. "Please, I have taken the liberty of downloading a map of our facility to your omni-tools. Liara T'soni requests you visit her in her office." She pointed. "Down the hall to the right."
"Thank you. We appreciate your hospitality." JJ waited for the asari to say something about their prominent weaponry, but she just smiled serenely.
"Enjoy your stay." With that she swept away again, the mechs following her like pets. JJ smoothed her long red hair and narrowed her eyes after the asari, something wasn't right.
"What the hell?" Crow said when they were far enough down the hall for the asari not to overhear them. "Hackett blew our covers!"
They had received carefully constructed identities that would pass any scrutiny when Hackett assigned them the mission – it didn't make sense for him to then go and blow their identities frivolously. JJ frowned. "I don't think so. I think T'soni may have something to do with it. Our covers were rock solid."
Crow sighed, rolling the muscles in his back as he stretched "Let's go find her and ask her," he said, increasing his long stride so that she had to break into a lope to keep up.
As they rounded the corner, swinging to the right, JJ stopped to admire the panoramic view of the city. She stepped close to the glass and gazed over to a steppe plateau of businesses and restaurants. "So different from Omega."
Crow settled his arm comfortably about her shoulders and for a brief moment she slipped out of the operative stance and leaned into him.
She shook her head sadly "We have to find Hobbs—we just have to!"
He gave her a cuddling squeeze and dropped a kiss on the part in her hair. "We will, sweetheart. We will." It was a solemn vow, and it offered her a little comfort. If nothing else Crow was a man of his word.
They left the scenic view and JJ rushed Crow past the vendors, knowing his penchant for always wanting to purchase mods for his bow. She had one herself to allow her to fire the Widow without the recoil breaking her arm. It was an aerodynamic brace that allowed free movement, but cushioned her arm and shoulder against the massive recoil, but like their Squad Leader Crow took modding to an extreme, clogging almost every storage space on the ship with retrofits and ammo-mods.
They took the stairs up to the admin office where they had been directed Liara would be. JJ didn't know much about the young asari other than she had worked with Shepard on the SR1 and that Hobbs was acquainted with her; that he had at some point last year been in contact with her about the time Commander Shepard's body was rumoured to be up for sale. They had tracked Hobbs to the body, but he was always a step ahead somehow and by the time they had arrived the facility was abandoned, shadow broker operatives left dead and absolutely no sign of their old Squad Leader. Not long after the rumours about Shepard's body dropped off the radar, and JJ had always assumed Hobbs had her. She had hoped he would bring her home, but they hadn't even seen him in the two year chase – just his breadcrumbs when he felt kind enough to leave some for them.
The receptionist who said her name was Nyxeris told them to go into the office across from her desk. JJ entered first. Liara had her back to them, tapping a datapad that was connected to the wall of screens in front of her. She looked stunning JJ thought, her skin a light shade of blue that seemed to reflect light as she turned to look at them. Her eyes were large and blue and moved smoothly over JJ and then over Crow, her mouth curving into a smile.
JJ had heard that Commander Shepard had a varied crew on the SR1, but Liara was a little more exotic than she had expected. She caught herself, glancing to the window as her eyes welled with tears. Commander Shepard, the title was so cold – she would always be Abby to JJ. Stupid, Crazy, paranoid Abby who had obsessive compulsive disorder and didn't know it – who stressed over the silliest things and hated having her picture taken.
Abby who bought matching shampoo and soap because having mismatched colours in the bathroom drove her insane. Abby who hid chocolate in her combats and never shared it; even with Hobbs, who often received a clobber for trying to steal some.
She shook her head, chewing the inside of her mouth as she turned her gaze back to Liara.
Liara waited until the door closed behind them. "Operatives," she said in a smooth, well-modulated tone. "Welcome to Ilium."
JJ got a nod from Crow for her to do most of the talking and folded her arms under her breasts meeting the cool gaze evenly. "Miss T'soni, it seems you have us at a disadvantage. Mind telling me how you know our real identities?"
Liara gestured to the flickering screens behind her. "I have an extensive network and it has been engineered to alert me of any activities to anyone connected to Commander Shepard."
"She's dead," Crow said bluntly and JJ closed her eyes patiently. She knew it was two years ago, but his bluntness had a way of catching her off-guard sometimes.
"But Operative Hobbins is not." Liara stated.
JJ breathed a sigh of relief – that had to be the best news they had had in some time. "Do you know where he is?"
"I know who has him and I have spent all my time since I arrived on Ilium to track him down: the Shadow Broker." Liara said cooly, blue eyes travelling carefully over their faces. Her expression was cold, unreadable.
JJ saw disappointment flare in Crow's eyes. This was not news for them. They already knew who put the hit out on Hobbs and who likely had a hold of him. Hackett had been thorough in the brief and all intel pointed toward the Shadow Broker having captured him on Omega; by the time he had contacted them they had already exhausted Omega contacts trying to track him down and were then ordered to Ilium on the suggestion that Liara had information for them; coming up against a brick wall again was beyond frustrating.
Crow sighed heavily, moving his shoulders lazily "If that's all you got…"
JJ nudged him in the ribs not so eager to let the asari go. "Has anything new come in to help you locate him?"
"Actually, since you are here." Liara glanced up to make sure her assistant wasn't in the room. "I do need help with something."
Crow rolled his eyes. "Of course you do," he muttered.
JJ smiled. "Quid pro quo, Miss T'soni. We do something for you; you help us find Hobbs." It wasn't negotiable.
Liara returned the smile, but there was frostiness in her large blue eyes. She explained what she needed done, and, before Crow could put his foot in his mouth again, JJ pulled him out of the office.
"Just once, I wish we could hand over some credits and get the data we need," he groused. "I hate jumping through hoops."
She craned her neck back so she could look at him and he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. "I know," she agreed. 'But how hard can it be hacking into some terminals for her?"
Crow was still irritated, stuffing a finger down the collar of his reinforced suit as he kept pace with her "I see why asari bug Hobbs so much. That superior attitude." Crow sighed, mouth set in determination. "Let's get this over with. We'll split up. It'll make it go faster."
JJ watched him go smiling fondly as he continued to mutter and complain to himself. She knew he was as worried as she was about Hobbs, it was half the reason they had been assigned the task of tracking him down – because they would do anything before carrying out the shoot to kill order; and despite their desperate stance the Alliance didn't want to lose Hobbs. He was their best agent.
She smiled; he had come a long way from the gritty bar brawler she had met so many years ago – before she knew Abigail, before she knew Crow. Things had been a bit different back then…
Julia Jones entered the place. A fight club, she thought. What am I doing in a fight club on my birthday? But he fought here. She'd seen him in the gym working out several times, never making eye contact, watching him pummel the bag until his traps were red from the exertion, as red as her face.
If anyone told her she left her dorm room with the purpose of getting laid, she'd have told them they were crazy. There was something about this guy, other than the obvious muscles and charm. There was something lonely behind his eyes, something that appealed to her.
He appealed to the wilder side of her nature. She had one, but she kept it buried deep; hidden – the Alliance didn't like wild; wild was unpredictable. Raised in a good home with wonderful parents and siblings, she had no excuse for seeking out someone like him, but here she was. Borrowed her best friend's outfit which consisted of skin tight jeans and a see-through black top, just revealing glimpses and flashes and thigh-high boots somebody had once given her as a joke on another birthday.
Sweet, demure Julia. She hated the name Julia. It meant "youthful" and "love's child" and fit her in a way, but she wanted to break away from the cloying sweetness and goodness, just for one night, if he'd bite. If he would even look at her.
Hobbs wove his way through the spectators, clamouring hands touching him senselessly as he was led away from the ring. His hands throbbed but he felt good, wiping sweat from his face he removed his gum shield, rolling his shoulders as he pressed toward the bar. All that fighting had left him thirsty and he had to pass some time while they gathered his credits – he had mercs to pay. Mercs that were out for blood.
He nodded to the bartender whose face split into a maniacal grin as he passed him his usual – a tall glass of cold water. "Another great win for the undefeated skin bag." The batarian rumbled "I must be about the only batarian in here that likes you kid."
"Just about." Hobbs smiled, hunching his shoulders as he passed the glass between his hands. He sniffed, wiping a hand over his brow again as he glanced down the bar flies. A few were regulars, and then right at the end was a red-head he had never seen before.
She looked feisty, skin-tight jeans clinging in the right places and he tipped back in his stool, craning his neck to get a better look. "Who's that?" He asked the bartender and the batarian paused in shining a glass to tip his gaze to the end of the bar.
"No idea." He said with a smile "Cute though. For a human. Too good for you kid." He laughed and Hobbs smiled, nodding in agreement. Taking his glass of water he sidled down the bar, aware that he was half naked and bruised and bloodied and sweaty, but figured if she could see past that he might be in luck tonight.
"You." He said flashing her a smile as he ducked onto the stool beside her "Do not look like you belong here."
Her eyes widened and she cautioned internally, "Be cool, be cool." She returned his smile. It was a nice smile; it reached his eyes. They were turquoise, she realized and for a moment she was lost in the green-blue pools, then she saw a flicker in them and knew the silence was stretching too long.
"Sorry," she said. "I was lost in my thoughts. Good bout."
"Good bout?" He smiled raising his eyebrows "You're a seasoned spectator then. Funny I don't think I've seen you here before." He took a drink from his glass.
"You're right; it's not my kind of place, but, today's my birthday and I wanted to do something completely different. You ever feel that way?" She brushed her fingers through her long red hair and circled a fingernail through the condensation from her drink on the bar.
"It's your birthday?" He asked quietly and when she nodded he flashed her that grin again "And you're here alone." He said carefully, puzzled "For your birthday."
She smiled, moving her shoulders "Maybe I wasn't looking for company." She said, her cheeks flushing pink and Hobbs noticed it, looked away to save her modesty as he glanced back down the bar and then turned so he was facing her dead on, catching her blue eyes in his vice gaze as he cocked a lopsided smile at her.
"Or maybe." He said quietly "You were just looking for the right company." He nodded "But I can take a hint." He said, taking his glass in one hand as he hopped off the stool. He paused, with his free hand lifting her fingers carefully from her glass and brushing his lips over her knuckles "Happy Birthday." He said, lips whispering over the skin of her hand. And then he let her go, swinging back toward the top of the bar.
The perfect setup to divine intention. If the girl was interested, surely she would throw him a lifeline. He took a long drink from the water glass, raking his free hand through his hair as he moved back to his original seat at the bar.
Julia was almost hyperventilating at her end of the bar. What should she do? She knew what she wanted to do. She wanted those same lips that had just brushed tantalizingly over her knuckles to take her breath away as he crushed them to her mouth. She wanted the tongue that was lazily playing with the toothpick he'd just inserted into the corner of his mouth, to duel with hers. She wanted those sweaty, bruised hands all over her body.
Was he really going to just sit there? She called the bartender over. "That man at the end. Give him anything he wants," she said, dropping a credit chit.
The batarian raised his expression at her, all four eyes blinking as he shook his head "I don't know about you girls." He said but nevertheless moved back to Hobbs.
He leaned over the bar grinning at him "I see your charm works as well as your fists." He said with a low, throaty chuckle "Drinks on the lady at the end."
Hobbs shook his head "I don't drink." He said carefully.
"Well," The bartender shrugged "She said you could have anything you want. Your call kid."
Hobbs smiled, shifting the toothpick in his mouth carefully as he took another drink from the glass. Gathering his nerve he got off the stool again moving back down the bar, he rubbed his aching shoulder gently and moved beside her, leaning an elbow on the bar top as he leaned his head round to look into her eyes.
She started, sitting back and he corrected his angle flashing a cheeky grin for her "What's your name?"
She fumbled with her words, blushing as she tried to regain her cool "Julia." She said.
"Julia." He nodded "Does that come with a last name?"
She smiled "Jones." And then frowned "Why?"
Hobbs moved his shoulders "I don't take gifts from strangers JJ." He quipped "I'm Hobbs." He sucked in a breath turning to lean both elbows on the bar "Anything I want." He said, and then he looked at her, drawing his bottom lip between his teeth as he smiled "Maybe that should be your call. It is your birthday after all." He inclined his head "Tell me what you want, I'll make it happen." His eyes flashed fire as he caught her gaze.
Don't blush, she thought, feeling heat rise in every part of her body. "I wish…that you would be my present." Did I actually just say that? JJ, he called me - JJ. OH, my God, this is really going to happen. She met the flashing eyes so close to her and she smiled. "Just so you know, I'm not a slut. But," she held up a finger to forestall him from speaking. "But, I want to be slutty with you, Hobbs. I've had many so-so birthdays, but this one I want to linger in my memory for a long time. One night with you would be the best birthday present a girl like me could want."
"I'm not looking for a relationship." He warned her carefully "I'm not that guy. Never will be"
"That's ok." She whispered and he caught her hand in his, pulling her off the stool and against him. She crashed against hard, bare skin and he grinned dipping his head, bumping noses as he coaxed her to raise her mouth to his. Her lips parted as she sucked in a breath and he kissed the cherry of her lip gently, backing off before she could properly get a hold of him.
"I think." Hobbs said, threading his fingers through hers "This would work better somewhere a bit quieter." He drew in his bottom lip and raised his eyebrows "You game?"
JJ couldn't breathe, she was sure this was what suffocation must be like – only it was totally not. Hobbs battered her into the apartment, and she was barely able to keep her feet as he walked her backwards, one thumb in the loop of her jeans anchoring her hips against his, the other tangled in the length of her hair as he kissed her and kissed her and kissed her some more.
It was everything she had dreamed, those full, cupid-bow lips seemed to find every hidden recess inside her and set it on fire. There was a hunger to his movements, a gaze he flashed her between kisses that whispered to a primal darkness inside her – it was the look of a predator, a hunter.
The drums started, the hunt was on.
He backed her into a room at the end of a hallway, she managed to glimpse a refrigerator as he backed her up against the counter. Her back struck tile and she gasped against his mouth, expecting him to switch tact, or move to another room, but he didn't.
The thumb in the loop of her jeans tugged, lifting her far too easily as he sat her on the counter, hands coming firmly to her thighs as he squeezed through her jeans, his grip just this side of bruising, leaving her aching with sweet, wondrous want.
He backed off, only enough to get his hands on the zipper of her boots, yanking them from her and then he was back, pressing to her greedily, her hands fluttering onto his shoulders as he kissed down her throat, sank teeth into her shoulder that sent a frisson of heat and lust up her spine.
He pulled back hands moving deftly to the zipper of her jeans and JJ caught her breath, helping him as she wriggled free.
"You sure about this?" He asked her, his voice was deep and husky and velvety and she shivered against him unable to speak and so simply nodded emphatically, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He smiled, the sensation like a shooting star against her mouth as he lifted her, turning and moving toward the hallway once more. She locked her ankles at his back surprised by how easily he could carry her, but then she supposed that made sense. He was rippling with strength.
They made it to the bedroom, just, and Hobbs dropped her on the bed from waist height so she bounced back on the mattress a little. She blinked at him, stunned by the motion, and by the sight of him unzipping his own jeans. He didn't take them off though, instead he moved to the bed, kneeling between her legs as he crawled over her his eyes coming over her own again as that dark gaze came over his face once more.
He kissed her and she closed her eyes, flashes of him fighting painting dark scenes in her mind as she felt that overwhelming struggle to breathe seize her chest once more. His hands gripped her body, fingers considering the buttons of her blouse before he made a noise, something akin to a moan low in his throat and then yanked it open roughly, the buttons breaking from the fabric as his hands slid inside against raw, waiting flesh.
Her back bowed, hips arching as she tried to get close to him, and he smiled, pushing down on her chest, flattening her back on the mattress once more, spreading his fingers gently over her ribs, down the flat of her stomach, rolling over the rise of her hip and grazing the skin at her inner thigh.
Julia could hear those drums again; his eyes that looked black in the dim light, and she was his prey. Her heart began to skip and thump in time with the drum – or maybe it was one and the same thing – thundering against her ribs so loud she was sure he could hear it as he kissed her, his tongue pressing into her mouth as a single finger pressed somewhere else making her cry out as she pulled him to her.
He was caught off guard, his arms giving way and he crashed onto her, the contact of his skin setting her alight as she arched her back under him, the angle drawing his hesitant caress to where she ached for him the most; his touch there drew a moan from her and he responded by grinning against her mouth.
She reached for him, winching his jeans open just enough as she pulled on his hips drawing him into her.
Julia who chose to call herself JJ from that day forward, hunted for her clothing in the dark. Hobbs was nice enough to go into another room while she pulled on the torn top and yanked on her jeans. Her body throbbed from his love making and it took a while for her to be able to find the strength to pull on the boots.
She expected to feel cheap, but she didn't. He had been totally honest with her that he wasn't looking for a relationship. Their raw, sexual encounter had indeed been the best birthday present ever. She paused in the doorway and saw he was gazing out the window, another toothpick in his mouth. That incredible mouth that had kissed her senseless.
"I…thank you for that, Hobbs."
He smiled turning away from the window as he moved to her not in the slightest way bashful about walking around naked. "Don't thank me JJ." He said "Makes me feel… awkward." He gave her a smile – a nervous smile – and behind it she thought she could see a glimpse of the man under that cool armour he wore; the man that hid in the depths of the fighter that had taken her so fiercely.
He cleared his throat, obviously revealing more than he had intended and folded his arms over his chest, leaning against the doorframe. "Will you be able to get home ok?" He paused "I should probably give you my number. Can you..." He laughed a little, almost embarrassed "Can you call when you get back - just so I know you got home ok?"
She laughed a little self-consciously. "I'll tell you what, Hobbs, just so we keep this the way we wanted it, I'll call the bar and the bartender can call you." Her eyes met his. "You're kind of addictive, so if I had your number I might call you more than once. It's better this way. We keep it just one night of mind-blowing sex."
She touched the sensor panel and the door to his place opened. He was framed in the door, leaning against the door frame. Her eyes roved his naked body one last time, committing it to memory. She rushed over and kissed his cheek. "Best birthday present ever!" she said, smiled and walked out of his flat.
JJ blushed at the memory as she fed the last information from the hacked terminal to Liara via her omnitool. Hobbs had been a different man back then, if he could have been called that – the animalistic nature still came out in him, but it got rarer and rarer the longer he was with Abby. It was as though her very presence had soothed the beast inside somehow.
There were three security terminals, all in the southern section of the Nos Astra area. She met Crow at the last one and giggled at the expression on his face. "What?"
He looked pained sighing as he leaned into her "She didn't say you had to follow the beeps and look like an ass while you do it."
She giggled again. "Oh, honey, anybody who saw wouldn't get past all those muscles."
He looked mollified. "Ya think?"
She nodded and he bent and kissed her on the mouth. She caressed his jaw, then turned and squared her shoulders. "Let's see what our little asari has to say now."
Minutes later, Crow was fuming as they walked down the steps from the Administration office. He did a simpering female voice, "Oh, thank you so much, operatives Jones and Bahasa. I must have more time to figure out the next step, blah, blah, blah…" He patted the pistol in its holster at his waist. I wanted to put my gun to her head and say 'Lady, either you tell us what we need to know or I blow your brains out over that big-ass desk!'"
JJ shook her head. "She's a powerful biotic."
"I can deal with a biotic." Somewhere he'd found a toothpick and kept switching it from one side of his mouth to the other, a habit he'd picked up from Hobbs and JJ flushed looking away from him.
"We need her," she reminded him. "Besides, she paid us 2,000 credits. You can hit the arms shop like you've wanted to do since we got here." She was placating him and she knew he knew she was, but it would also help pass the time.
"I can think of a better way to while away the hours," he said, leering at her.
"Not by shopping? I'm shocked—I really am." JJ snorted. "Did you see the dress Liara was wearing?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, that shade of green clashes with her shade of blue. At least her assistant's matched her purple skin."
"Does she have it poured on and then it hardens to her figure?" JJ asked rolling her eyes. She smacked his arm when he seemed to be considering that mental picture.
"I was serious. Why don't we go back to the ship?" He leered again and licked his lips suggestively.
"Because the team's on the ship and it has thin walls." She blushed.
He gestured to the hotel across the way that could be seen from the viewing window. JJ sighed. "Tempting as that is, we really should be hacking the other five terminals she asked us to. I have a feeling Hobbs won't be kept alive much longer and God only knows what they've been doing to him." He always did have a habit of getting himself in trouble.
He looked glum. "I'll put a bullet in everyone who's laid a hand on him and that's a promise." He made a fuck-you gesture in the air. "Okay, let's split up again, but keep in touch since we're doing a bit of detective work this time trying to find The Observer."
JJ trotted off, depending on the HUD located on the map Liara had provided their omni tools. She went north, seeing the arrow start to ping as she went up a flight of stairs and ended up in the Eternity Bar. She found the terminal near the computer dais where an asari matriarch tended to customers.
She found another terminal in the eastern section of the parquet. Crow's voice echoed in her ear. "Found two. All we lack is one. On my way to it. Meet me at her office."
The club was busy and JJ was enjoying the atmosphere as she wound through the Alliance cadets. There was a nice mix of fresh recruits and graduates from the neighbouring Blue Horizon facility – she had no idea what they were graduating from, rumours said it had something to do with biotics, but JJ could never be sure. They looked normal enough, dressed normal enough – the only distinguishing feature the small gold badge they were all wearing pinned to their various outfits.
She swept her hair over her shoulder, glancing nervously to the entrance of the club. She had left an invite with the batarian bartender at the fight club, and secretly she was hoping Hobbs might make an appearance. After all, you didn't live on Arcturus if you didn't at least support the Alliance. She wanted to see him again; had wanted so see him again since she had left his apartment but had thus far resisted the temptation to go back to the fight club and seek him out.
"Awesome party." Someone drawled next to her and she turned in time to see a bodybuilder type take a seat beside her "Crowded though."
She rolled her eyes, glancing to the bar where she saw him – Hobbs – and held her breath. He was speaking to a brunette, that charming smile on his handsome face as he laughed and it looked so genuine that it gave her pause. The girl was speaking animatedly, hands moving and he leaned his head on his hand listening to her. He looked smart, she thought idly, dressed in jeans and a shirt – old fashioned tastes considering the fashion today, but he looked good.
She thought about going to speak with him, but decided against it as she turned her attention back to the bodybuilder "Do you need something?" She asked archly and he grinned at her.
"Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing honey."
She grimaced getting to her feet "I'm not your honey." She said sharply and strode away from him – right into the path of Hobbs as he was cutting away from the brunette at the bar.
He paused, looking at her, recognition sparking on his face as he made a noise – something between surprise and acknowledgement.
"Ah!" He smiled "JJ." He tipped a glass toward her "Thanks for the invite."
She paused, feeling awkward as she nodded "No problem. Having fun?"
He smiled, glancing back to the bar and back to her "Actually I am." He said and he sounded mildly surprised "I can't hang though…" He looked as though he was going to say more and then he paused "You know the people here?"
She moved her shoulders "I checked the roster."
"Who's the brunette at the bar?" He asked, and he tried to make it sound so casual that she couldn't help but smile at him.
"I met her earlier." JJ said firmly "Her name is Shepard. Abigail Shepard."
"Shepard." He nodded "I have to go- but thanks." He smiled and she watched him as he muscled through the crowd toward where a man was waiting. She thought she recognised him from campaign posters or something but the memory eluded her as she turned back to the dance floor.
The brunette was dancing, shimmying against her friend and JJ caught her breath moving toward her. She had spoken with her briefly and she had seemed nice enough, she had mentioned she wanted to join the Alliance and that made JJ curious. Just as she approached though the bodybuilder appeared again, his hand landing heavily on her shoulder as he spun her around to face him.
"I think we were talking babe." He said gruffly.
"Not interested." JJ ground out and his grip tightened on her shoulder a little.
"She said she's not interested." A voice interrupted and JJ turned to see Abigail by her side, blue eyes boring into the man "That means let her go."
For someone so small she commanded presence, the look in her eyes enough to intimidate even this giant apparently as he ticked his gaze from Shepard to JJ and back again. He removed his hand, turning back into the crowd and JJ turned to her mouthing a thanks.
"That's ok." Abigail smiled "We met earlier, Abigail."
JJ nodded "JJ." She said with a smile.
Abigail had been her best friend. They had done everything together – compared notes on guys, talked late into the night about nothing and everything – been there when they had cried, and laughed and worried. She missed her like a part of her soul had died.
JJ watched the sensor map on her omnitool, following the blip closely that represented her partner. She climbed the stairs to Liara's office once more and waited. When he joined her he looked just as harassed as when he had left her side and she smiled at him, amused at his temperament.
This time the receptionist didn't say anything to them, Nyxeris simply nodded before they entered Liara's office again together.
Liara turned to face them as they entered, folding her arms over her chest demurely as she gestured to the seats on the other side of her desk. Both operatives remained standing.
"None of these people match the parameters for the Observer," Crow told Liara. "All of the suspects are male, yet the Observer seems to be female." There was an awkward silence as Liara seemed to be processing thoughts, her brow creased in thought as her gaze wandered the length of her desk absently.
Behind they heard the door open as the receptionist walked in looking hesitant.
Liara looked up and looked annoyed. "Not right now, Nyxeris." She bit off but the receptionist didn't move. Instead she sucked in a heavy breath and reached behind her back.
"It will only be a matter of time," Nyxeris said, and a gun appeared from behind her.
It took only a second for Crow to pull his bow, notch an arrow and let it fly. It struck Nyxeris in the neck and blood sprayed to the ceiling as the explosive round ignited.
"She was the Observer," he said, moving aside as the body dropped to the floor. "Some information broker you are, lady. You hired a traitor."
As Liara started to glow blue, he notched another arrow. "Lady, I guarantee I can fire this before you throw or lift or singularity me." It was a bluff; he had fought biotics before and he knew how difficult they were to take down.
JJ's gun was out and pointed at Liara. "And I will defend my partner to the death."
Liara's biotic power winked out. "I…apologize. I just wasn't expecting." She turned away from them, pressing fingers to her forehead as she shook her head.
"We've been damn patient," Crow said through bared teeth. "That ends now. I want the location of the Shadow Broker and I want it now!"
"I know you do not want to hear this, but I must have time to process the data you gathered. I promise I will get in touch with you as soon as I know something." Liara said absently, sitting at her desk once more, she looked like she knew more than she was willing to tell them and that irked JJ – she hated being in the dark.
"You have 24 hours," Crow said and stalked out of the office. He glanced back, almost hesitant as his eyes ticked to the body on the floor and the pool of blood spreading on the white tiles. "Sorry about the mess."
JJ backed out of the room, her gun still drawn. She swatted his behind. "What the hell, Crow? Shooting off an explosive round in such close proximity?"
"Half strength," he said, grinning down at her. "I'd never put you in danger, honey-baby."
She laughed—he could always get over her by using his pet names. "So, you suspected there'd be trouble?"
He gave her a quizzical look. "You didn't? Something was hinky about this whole thing from the beginning. She better not take off on us."
JJ shook her head. "I don't think she will. Shepard trusted her and I say we extend that trust to her."
"Long as she doesn't blow it." He draped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. It was hard to walk with the differences in their height, so he settled that by taking her hand.
"What's with all the affection in public?"
"I want people to know you're my girl."
"I was a girl eight years ago. I'm a woman now." She said firmly and he smiled.
He growled into her hair and jerked her around to face him. "All woman." He pulled her off her feet and she had to entwine her arms about his neck. "I want you to kiss me, right here, right now—in front of everyone," he added.
Suddenly, she felt shy. "Put me down, nutcase!"
"I'm nuts about you and it's about time I showed the whole world." He nuzzled her neck. "Kiss me, c-mon, kiss me—you know you want to."
She giggled and nibbled his ear. "I don't make out in public."
"Hotel it is," he said stepping back so she either had to hang on and look silly or let go. He bent down quickly so attention wouldn't be drawn to them in a negative way. He winked at her. "You're just a little thing."
"And you're so tall."
"Be happy it's me and not Hobbs. He'd look like one of those skyscrapers in the skyline."
"24 hours will be up pretty fast," she commented and looked down when her stomach rumbled. "I guess I'm hungry."
"Tell you what, baby-cakes, you get us a hotel room and I'll get us some food. Sound good?"
She beamed a smile up at him. "Very good."
They parted company and Crow watched until she was out of sight. He activated his omni-tool and beamed when he read the amount in his bank account. Enough. Finally-with the additional $5,000 credits Liara had paid them, it was enough. It was time.
He entered the market district, browsing store fronts before he selected one he thought was appropriate. An attendant hurried over when he entered the clothing store. "What may I do for you, sir?"
Crow stroked his chin and frowned. He needed a shave, he thought.
The attendant was a salarian and his eyes roamed over Crow. "Oh, my, my!" he gushed. "I'll bet you have a problem finding clothing that will fit such a magnificent physique. We get so few humans here, but I know I can find you something." The salarian held up one three-fingered hand. "And we have a barber shop as well in case you want to freshen up."
Crow batted his eyelashes at the attendant. "And what, fine sir, do you suggest?"
"Do you mind stepping into one of the private rooms?" The attendant scanned him, getting his measurements. Crow shrugged and stepped into the opulent room. There was a full length, gilt mirror on one wall and he paused giving himself a cocky grin as he waited. Another attendant knocked softly and when he bid them enter, she smiled and left a tray with expensive liquor sparkling in a fluted glass.
"Classy joint," he muttered, feeling so out of place he almost fled, but JJ was worth it, he reminded himself lifting the glass.
The salarian knocked and came in, bringing three suits which he laid out on the chaise. "Any strike your fancy?"
Crow was starting to think this was a bad idea. He'd never owned a civi suit since he'd joined the Alliance. He could feel he was sweating under his armpits.
"That one," he said."
The salarian rubbed its hands together. "Oh, I was hoping you'd choose that one. It compliments your eyes. I must say few men have such piercing blue eyes."
"Must you?" Crow asked, giving the fawning attendant a pained look.
"Step into the booth and try it on with this shirt and tie, please."
Crow scratched his neck, sighed and took the articles of clothing. He stripped his special ops armor off and put on the shirt, tucking it into the pants before he buckled the belt around his trim waist. The tie was beyond him and he threw it over one shoulder in disgust. He slipped on the jacket and risked a look in the mirror. The suit was black—he had no idea what color the shirt was and it had neon stripes. Lovely. Thank God Hobbs wasn't there to see it or he'd never hear the end of it. Sighing, he exited the booth.
"Ah, I see you need help with the tie. Allow me." The salarian took the tie. "My you are a tall one, aren't you?"
Crow stooped a little so the salarian could pull the tie around his neck and secure it with a flourish.
The salarian fanned its face. "You look delicious!"
Forget the shave, he thought, feeling the color flood to his face. "How much?" He just wanted out of there as fast as possible.
The attendant named a figure and Crow's eyebrows crept into his hairline. "How much?!"
"Oh, oh, wait, oh, I am so sorry, sir." The attendant was looking at his computer. " Liara T'soni has sent word to all the establishments on Ilium that you are exempt from being charged." He beamed at Crow. "She's given you carte blanche as the French of your kind say."
Crow stepped out of the store, his walk jaunty, humming under his breath. He made three more stops, and then headed to the hotel.
JJ glanced at the door again, hoping to see Crow come through it. For one, she was hungry; two she was wondering what the hell her partner was up to. She'd followed his blip from place to place. What he was doing, she could only wonder, flopping down on the bed, then immediately getting up to pace the room.
"Where are you, Gage?" she murmured. "Did T'soni rope you into another of her schemes?"
She discarded that comment because she knew he would've gotten in touch with her before he went off on his own. He wasn't tied to her because they were partners—had been for eleven years—but it was just common courtesy. As time crawled by, she lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
Crow arrived to find her curled on her side, clutching a pillow to her cheek. The sight touched him so deeply he couldn't speak for a long moment. He just stood and drank in the sight of this woman that he loved.
He put the take-out on the small kitchenette counter. He saw her nose twitch like a little space hamster and he grinned. "Wake up, sleepy head."
She sat up and yawned, rubbing her eyes. When her hands lowered and she saw him for the first time, her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. "Are we going to a ball?"
He laughed. "How do I look?"
"Like a stranger." She pulled her knees to her chin. "What's going on, Crow? You've been gone for two hours."
He avoided the question lifting the carry out bag "Hungry?"
"Starving."
"Get your lazy butt up then and eat."
She almost flew off the bed to the kitchenette, rummaging through the bags of Chinese take-out. "Ooh, my favorites!" she moaned, sniffing each container as she opened it. "Where's yours?"
He looked at her and then shook his head smiling "Ha-ha."
"You think I'm kidding?" She arched a brow at him mock seriousness. "You'll have to wrestle me for some."
He chuckled and sat down on the sofa, content to watch her eat. She glanced over at him and stuck out her tongue. "Okay, Crow, that's just creepy." She put down the last container. "I left you half of each," she added.
"I'm not hungry."
"I have to ask, why the suit?" She joined him on the sofa.
"You don't like it?" He sounded almost genuinely hurt.
"It's not the 'you' I know, but you look nice in it."
"I just wanted to clean up for you." He said, grinning.
"What are you up to?" She sat up and cradled his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. "I like you the way you are- in jeans or Special Ops garb." One hand fell to the tie and she gave it a tug. "A tie? It's a tie occasion?"
He slid off the sofa and stood and pulled her to the window where they could watch a view of the night sky of Ilium. He fished a small red velvet box out of his lapel pocket and held it up. JJ started to back up, but he reached out a hand and drew her back.
"Before I met you I never thought I could spend my life with a single person, but now that has changed." He opened the box and a diamond sparkled in the light. "Because now I know I can't spend the rest of my life without you, JJ."
"What are you? Are you?" JJ gasped as he took the ring from the case and slid it on her finger up to the knuckle.
He gazed deeply into her eyes. "JJ, will you marry me?"
"Gage…"
He tilted his head. "Please?"
"Yes!" She watched as he slid the ring on all the way. "It's beautiful! It must've cost a fortune!" She held it up so it flashed in the light. "It's a frigging rock!" She threw herself into his arms, bowling hi over to the floor.
"Hey," he said, laughing, trying to fend her off when she straddled him. "Watch the suit."
She hopped off him and gave him a hand up. "Take it off," she told him. "I want my husband-to-be naked. Right now."
"That goes for my wife-to-be, well, after you try on for me the present I have in the silver bag." He gave her a suggestive wink.
JJ walked over to where he'd set the bag and brought out a box. "This is for me?"
"Actually, it's for me." He was having trouble loosening the tie and ended up pulling it out of the shirt collar, shedding the jacket and shirt.
She opened the box and pulled out a leopard thong. "Uh, Crow, this is for you, not me."
He blushed realising the salarian must have been more taken with him than he had realised. "Damn salarian," he growled. "There should be something underneath the paper."
She dug past the tissue and found a dozen red roses and a vase, which she filled with water and arranged the flowers in. She smelled them, gazed at her ring, looked at him and burst into tears.
He was at her side in an instant. "Baby, honey, sweetheart, are you crying?"
"H-happy crying," she said, laughing through her tears. Her hands traveled to the belt and opened it, then unzipped the pants, sliding them down his legs.
He stepped out of them and kicked the shiny black shoes he'd also purchased across the room.
"Strip."
She obliged and crawled on the bed, acting like a cat, arching her back and making a purring sound at him. He made a noise deep in his throat and came to the bed. "Do you have protection?"
He grinned. It was a standing joke between them – had been for some time.
"Plenty," he assured her.
"Would you do me one more itsy bitsy favor?" she asked, the curtain of hair swinging forward to conceal her breasts as she crawled towards him.
"What?" He only had on his underwear which was getting tighter and tighter by the second.
She picked up the thong she'd brought to the bed and twirled it around her finger. "Would you put that on for me?"
He grabbed the thong and tossed it across the room and then he launched his body at her. She shrieked and tried to dodge, but he was fast and he soon had her pinned down on the bed. She matched his hungry kisses, making little kitten sounds in her throat she knew drove him crazy.
"Protection?" she squeaked.
"I want kids," he said, his voice matter-of-fact, like they were discussing the weather.
"What?"
"Not now, but some day-one of each flavor ya know. Daddy's little girl and a son to toss the ball to." His words were flecked with humour but there was a sincerity there that gave her pause, made her stop and look at him carefully.
"What does that leave me?" She asked honestly.
"You'd be such a great mother. You have such a caring nature- so nurturing, so maternal." He parted her legs with one knee. "A baby, would that be such a bad thing?"
"Do we really have to talk about this now?"
"How you feel about it kinda determines something for me." He kissed her long, hard and deep, then let her come up for air.
"Some day I want kids," she said, seeing that he really wanted an answer.
He sighed and left her for a moment, coming back with a condom in his teeth. He broke the seal and looked at it, sighing again.
"Want me to help?" She blushed when his fierce eyes almost burned her alive. He turned his back on her and she sat up, feeling bereft. "Gage," she said softly.
"I'm sure you have your reasons."
"Crow, you can't spring something like this on me. It's not fair! We just got engaged."
He spun around shoulders heaving. "I'm from a big family, JJ. We've been together as partners eleven years. We've been lovers ten. I'm not fucking springing this on you!"
JJ recoiled from his anger and remorse flooded into his face. "I'm a jerk. I'm sorry." He snuggled into her neck as his arms came around her. "I'm sorry, honey. I guess I got carried away by the moment." He kissed her cheek. "You forgive me?"
"I'm not mad at you, Crow. But for now, while we're still in Ops, I don't want a baby. I couldn't stand being at home worrying about you—not being there to back you up. It would kill me."
"Okay, condom it is," he said and she helped him slide it on. "I love you, JJ."
"I love you, Gage. Can that love be enough for right now?"
He nodded. "Absolutely. Mark it down to temporary insanity on my part."
They made love, born from intensity, from the insanity of their job, tore down any walls between them with passion, skin on skin, heartbeat to heartbeat, lips locked, becoming one, building to a crescendo of incredible force. He shouted into her mouth and she screamed into his, her hands fisting into the rumpled sheet, their bodies quaking as wave after wave of desire ripped through them.
And afterwards, came the sweet languor of limbs tangled, his arm about her waist, spooning her to him. Her lying there staring at her ring, eyelids slowly drooping as his breathing changed and he snored softly into her neck. A small smile of contentment and JJ fell asleep in his arms.
Until…
"Wassat," he muttered sleepily as a sound penetrated.
JJ yawned and activated her omni tool. There was a message from Liara to meet her in her office. It was urgent.
JJ hopped out of bed and smiled indulgently when Crow muttered something under his breath and reached for her, still half asleep.
"Get up," she said, tugging him into a sitting position. "Get dressed."
His hair stuck up in spikes all over his head and he rubbed the crust from his eyes, but she saw he was waking up, the fierce eye of the eagle coming over him. He jumped up, not caring he was "starkers" as Hobbs would have called it. He got dressed with the cool precision they had learned in their profession and he strapped on his crossbow and tucked his pistol in the holster.
"I got something for you," he said, going to where another bag sat on the chair near the door. He took out something and turned on the overhead light. "I know you won't want to wear your ring in the field."
She stared at the beautiful carved wooden box he gave her. She opened it and he placed her red case inside, the lid open to accept the ring he'd given her, to keep it safe. Tears gathered I her eyes but she held them back and smiled at him.
"You are so, so sweet." She patted his cheek. Heaving a sigh, she removed her ring and placed it in the case, shut it and lowered the lid. He handed her a key-card.
"Just press the blue button and it'll lock the box and activate security measures."
She laughed as she placed the box in her duffel. "We need to stop at the ship so I can drop this off. I'm not taking any chances." She gestured and he bent down so she could kiss him. "I hate taking it off."
"Every time we get back from a mission, I'll put it back on your finger, baby."
"Promise?"
He held out his pinky finger and she curled hers around it. "Pinky swear," he said grinning. "So, fiancé, ready to go kick some asari butt if she doesn't come through for us?"
"Lead the way," she said, giving one last glance to the roses on the counter and the very rumpled bed. She smiled when he took her duffel bag and hefted it over his shoulder. "We should come here for our honeymoon."
He chuckled. "We should. I want Hobbs as my best man."
"Let's go make it so."