"Commander, commander?" Joker's voice echoed off the walls in Jane's quarters, she groaned rolling over.
"What is it Joker?"
"Um, Commander where are we going? We're drifting now as you haven't given me a destination. Oh and Dr. Chakwas wants to see you."
"Okay Joker I'm up, I'll be down presently and I'll get you a destination."
"Roger that Commander."
"As soon as I figure out where the hell to start." Jane mumbled as she sat up.
Jane took the time to shower and dress in a clean uniform before she headed out. A plate of food next to her console caused her to pause. It was Turian, Garrus must have made her dinner. She smiled and left the room heading towards the med bay.
The lights in the med bay were dimmed and as she entered Doctor Chakwas stood greeting her.
"Ah Commander; thank you for coming so soon."
Jane nodded noticing Kaidan on a bed to the side of her.
"Is Lieutenant Alenko alright?"
Chakwas nodded and Jane could see the corner of her mouth play at a smile.
"The Lieutenant is fine, just a bad headache he was a little dehydrated and I've got him sleeping it off. How are your headaches Commander?"
"I'll manage."
"I'm sure you will Commander. Now I called you here to talk about John."
Jane inhaled deeply through her nose, crossed her arms over her chest and instinctively dropped into a defensive posture.
Chakwas arched an eyebrow at her but the smile still played at her mouth.
"He's resting now, but he has been up. I think you should talk to him; he seems very confused. He's not really sure how he ended up here; I thought you might be able to help with that."
"Fine, when he's up again let me know. Now Doctor if there isn't anything else?"
"No that's all Commander."
When the doors to the med bay closed behind her Jane rolled her neck and flexed her jaw. She really needed to stop grinding her teeth.
"Commander."
Ashley moved past her in the hall and towards the mess. Jane followed and poured a cup of coffee watching as Williams rooted around for something to eat.
"Want something to eat Commander?"
Jane wrinkled her nose. "No, Williams I'm not much for breakfast. At least that breakfast; I'll just drink mine thank you."
She nodded and continued to make her breakfast. "Have you seen Lieutenant Alenko, Commander?"
"Yeah, he's in the med bay sleeping off a migraine. I'm sure he'll be up soon and I'm sure he'd love to join you. He loves breakfast; always used to drag me for it." She shuddered shaking her head.
Jane watched as Ashley chewed on the inside of her lip. Shit she thought, she'd talked too much and now the questions would start. Why don't people just leave well enough alone?
"So, you and the Lieutenant, Joker say's you're getting married?"
There it was. At least she was direct and to the point.
"Once, things didn't really work out."
"Because of the Spectre?"
Jane blinked, caught off guard by the question.
"Joker mentioned him, the one we found after you rescued me. I wondered about your reaction and Joker said that you and the Spectre grew up together. We've all heard the rumours and stories around that, but to know that you really never saw another human until you left for Jump Zero."
Jane lifted her left brow slowly in a perfectly practised arch, and raised a finger cutting her off.
"Joker says a lot." She let it sit at that and didn't continue so Williams fiddled with her fork and stared off at the wall.
"I just was thinking that you and Kaidan don't really seem, done yet. The way he talks about you it seems to me that he still thinks you're together."
Fighting the urge to close her eyes and groan Jane shrugged and silence dropped between them.
Jane cleared her throat and was about to leave after refilling her coffee when Kaidan popped his head in the room.
"Hey Shepard, having breakfast? Mind if I join you?"
Her face was blank as she shook her head.
"No I'm not but I'm sure Williams here would love to have breakfast with you."
Before she could leave Ashley spoke again.
"Oh I forgot to tell you Commander, Garrus wanted to see you. Asked me to tell you when I saw you."
Jane clenched her teeth again. She couldn't have said that ten minutes ago?
"Thank you Williams."
~~00o00~~
Garrus was sitting with his rifle on his lap his other weapons spread out around him.
Cleaning and calibrating thought Jane as she entered, the smell reminded her of home and the pit in her stomach grew as she thought of her dad.
"You wanted to see me Garrus?"
He nodded not looking up as he lifted the rifle peering through the scope and made another adjustment.
"I did, good to see you up and about. Did you get the food I left you?"
"I saw it, haven't really had time to eat but I thank you for the thought. I've tried to figure out where to start. We have no leads besides the fact the bastard has my dad." She leaned against a workbench watching him.
"Right that's what I wanted to talk to you about Jane." He sat the rifle aside and stood brushing off. His eyes searched hers and she fought the urge to look away. His gaze reminded her so much of her dads.
"I got a message from a buddy of mine back at C-sec. Seems they arrested a stowaway Quarian. Funny thing is she's been ranting about this important message she needs to tell the Council. Something about Geth and Prothean's. Says she had knowledge of the attack on Eden Prime and who did it. He gave me the heads up, thought we might want to know, what with Eden Prime having been mentioned."
Jane stood up straight and nodded. "Well that sounds just like what I wanted to hear. That's the best news I've had in days."
Garrus nodded watching her. "Yeah so back to the Citadel, at least it's a chance right?"
"You're damn right it is Garrus, it's a lot more than I had five seconds ago."
"Hey Jane, you should eat. And I was thinking we could.." Garrus was cut off as Jokers voice came over the comm.
"Commander you're wanted in the Med bay."
"Thank you Joker, by the way I have your destination, we're headed back to the Citadel."
"Awww the Citadel, I've already seen the Citadel."
"Thank you Joker."
She rubbed her head not looking forward to the talk she was going to have back in the med bay.
"Thanks Garrus, don't know what I would have done without you." Jane's fingers tapped together nervously and Garrus couldn't help but smile, if she would have had talons the clicking would have signaled that she was nervous and wanted to talk.
"We'll find him Jane." He noticed the bloodshot ting to her eyes but knew better than to bring it up now. And told himself her personal life was hers. As long as it wasn't getting in the way of her job then it was of no concern to him. That's what he thought but a nagging part of him had the need to make sure she was taking care of herself. He quickly pushed that down and nodded.
"I'll see you when we get to the Citadel Jane."
Rolling her shoulders back Jane tiled her head shoulder to shoulder and sighed.
"What am I supposed to tell him? Mr. John Hackett."
Garrus shrugged and picked up his pistol going through the motions of cleaning it though she doubted it needed it. But she knew it wasn't so much a necessary task as it was a mental calming technique.
"Tell him the truth."
"Right the truth, what the hell is that?"
She heard him laugh as she left the room and headed towards the med bay.
~~00o00~~
The daughter of a very Turian military father learns the proper way to handle nearly any situation. What ammo is best, what to do when you're surrounded, how to hide, when to keep your mouth shut and how to handle pressure when tortured. Everything Jane thought wryly except what to do when faced with a twin brother who most likely doesn't know you exist. Maybe they should put that in a manual somewhere.
"Doctor?"
"Commander, he's awake."
His back was to her but she could make out his red hair in the dim light and she knew what she would see when he turned to her.
"Does he know about me?"
"I don't believe he does, I mentioned your name and he didn't seem to react besides recognizing you as N7. We've all heard the stories."
"Yes, I realize that doctor. Turian girl."
Before Chakwas could respond Jane walked towards the bed stopping just on the other side and cleared her throat.
"John Hackett." Her eyes lowered to his uniform and she corrected herself. "I'm sorry, Major Hackett." She fell to attention and saluted even though he hadn't turned to her yet.
His voice was thick with sleep when he spoke still not turning to her.
"Please Commander this is your ship don't trouble yourself with protocol."
Jane snorted. "If you knew anything about me Sir you'd know that's the last thing I would do."
He tried to laugh but it came out as a choked cough.
"I've heard as much about you Commander."
Jane pulled her shoulders back and together and stepped around the end of the bed and stood by his side.
"Christ I can see my reflection in your boots Commander." he choke laughed again and raised his face to hers. Jane heard his sharp intake of breath and watched his eyes go wide.
Jane stood in awkward silence as John's gaze went over her face again and again. She knew he was noting, same eyes, same freckles, nose, hair and mouth same as she had done when she first saw him. It was like a mirror.
She watched him blink and his mouth opened like he was going to say something but he quickly close it and then tried again. Jane would have laughed if it was a different situation as he was starting to resemble a fish out of water. She finally saved him by motioning to herself.
"Yes Sir I know what you must be thinking."
"Actually Commander I'm not sure you do. It has a lot of cuss words in it though."
"Yes Sir then we're on the same path exactly." Jane motioned to the chair next to his bed.
"Permission to sit Sir." John nodded vigorously.
"Yes of course and for the love of God stop calling me Sir."
She sat with a resounding sigh and leaned forward on her knees.
"Listen Sir, I've spoken to your father. Apparently you were taken from wherever you were stationed by a Turian named Saren Arterius. You've had a nasty blow to the head but other than that you seem to be fine."
John waved all this away with a flick of his hand. She knew that motion it was one his father used.
"I don't care about that, what I want to know is, well what is this?" He made a gesture between the two of them.
"Okay right well it's complicated." Jane muttered and Johns eyebrow shot up, she wanted to be pissed at him but the look on his face said he was as clueless about this as she was.
"You're damn right it must be complicated now tell me Commander."
She had no good way to put this so she just went for broke.
"Well Sir, your father informed me that you and I are twins."
John pursed his lips. "Well that much I can see, so when you say my father you mean our father." He stopped short and dropped his head to his hands. "Shepard, was my mothers name. How the fuck did I never put that one together."
"Most likely because there was no reason to Sir."
"Commander I told you not to call me sir and I meant it."
Jane shook her head. "I'm sorry Major."
"How long have you know Shepard?"
"What? That the Admiral is my father or that I have a twin brother? Because the two are separated by quite a few years. You I just found out about."
"Damn him. I'm not sure I understand Jane, every story I've heard about you says you were taken during the First Contact War."
"Yes I was, from a biotics and genetics lab were they were doing experiments on children, to make super soldiers."
"What?" Johns mouth dropped open and landed somewhere down with the Mako.
"I told you this is complicated."
His face went firm as he nodded making up his mind. "I want to hear this, all of it Shepard. Tell me."
Popping her neck Jane felt an odd pulling in her chest and her head was starting to pound but lifting her eyes to his and seeing herself there she nodded.
"Alright, but this is going to take coffee."
~~00o00~~
"Holy Shit."
Jane smirked at his reaction. Really what other one could there be.
"I had no idea.."
He was cut off as Jokers voice once again came over the Comm.
"Commander we're arriving at the Citadel, the Council is asking for you."
Jane rolled her eyes and stood.
"Thank you Joker."
John watched her stand but remained seated, she could see the cup he held trembling in his hand.
"Well Major, we're at the Citadel, I believe Captain Anderson is still here if you like I can take you to him."
John stood his back straight. "Thank you Shepard, I'll see to it." His eyes narrowed as he looked over her shoulder. "I need to speak with the Admiral."
"Yes, of course."
Not knowing what else to say Jane saluted and turned away from him leaving the room she went to her quarters grabbed the bag hidden in her things, pinched sniffed and waited for the headache and pulling in her chest to pass. Washing her face and hands she hid the bag and left the room bumping into Garrus and Kaidan as she made her way towards the bridge.
"Vakarian, it's like you read my mind. Ready?"
"Sure thing Shepard."
"Alenko you don't really need to come on this one."
Kaidan's arms were already firmly crossed over his chest.
"Permission to go anyway Commander."
Jane shrugged and turned to leave.
"Fine, granted."
~~00o00~~
As the they entered C-sec Garrus left them to talk to a man in the back. Kaidan fidgeted next to Jane and she sighed knowing what was coming.
"Shepard, I'm worried about you."
"Don't be, I'm fine."
"Shepard you're not fine, we're not fine. We need to talk."
Jane turned her head to him and the look on his face caused her to pause. It wasn't sadness or the pathetic look she was used to seeing. It was anger, frustration and she relented.
"Yeah, okay Kaidan. When we get back to the ship. Let's focus on this first alright?"
A shadow of shock crossed his face and he nodded.
"Thanks Shepard."
Garrus walked back to them she knew that look. He was annoyed.
"What's wrong Vakarian?"
"They couldn't hold her, so they let her go. My buddy says she didn't have a way off the Citadel, she's got a jump on us though but I have an idea where she'd go to try to get away from here."
"Alright then, lead the way."
"It a rough part of the Citadel, lucky we're with a Spectre." His mandibles fluttered subtly and Jane caught it. Was he flirting with her? Suppressing a smile Jane nodded, right let's go then.
As they went deeper into the Citadel Jane's head began to throb as the Red Sand wore off. They were coming back worse and worse.
As they rounded a corner she could hear raised voices down the hall. Jane held up a hand halting her team. Pointing to her ears, eyes and then down the hall she motioned them forward.
The hall they were in exited into a large round room. Only way out was the way they had come, dead-end. The yelling was coming from three people to the left. Jane noted the two dead humans on the ground. There was a human holding the Quarian she was sure they were looking for. In front of them his back to them was a Krogan weapon pointed at them both.
The human saw them enter and laughed. "You've got to be shitting me. Shepard? This must be my lucky day. Sent for the Quarian and I get you in the deal too."
Jane laughed and trained her rifle on him stepping forward. "I wouldn't call this your lucky day, you seem to have not only a Krogan bearing down on you but two of the best shots in the galaxy lining up your head. You seem to have something I want. Let her go and I'll think about not painting the wall with what little seems to be in your head."
"Shepard I can't get a clean shot." She heard Garrus at her side but didn't move.
The Krogan snorted and took a step back towards her team and the exit. "You wouldn't happen to be Commander Shepard would you?"
Jane quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah that's me, how did you?"
"Not now, we'll deal with this puke and then discuss that."
"Who is he?"
"His name is Fist, he's a traitor and a bad one, got caught. Works for some blasted Turian named Saren."
Jane's eyes narrowed on him. "So what do you say, shoot her, kill him. Move on?"
Jane heard Kaidan sputter behind her.
"Damn it Jane you're not going to shoot her, those suits protect them, besides the fact the shot might kill her the infection most certainly will."
"My shot wouldn't kill her, my placement is perfect, just make her drop enough so Garrus can get the shot. Besides we have a good doctor on board. We'll get her back in time."
"You aren't actually thinking of doing that are you?" She could hear the fear in Kaidan's voice.
Jane went silent and Kaidan grabbed her shoulder.
"Jane, don't."
Before he finished Jane fired the shot, it caught the human off guard and as the Quarian dropped Garrus fired.
"What the fuck Jane?" Kaidan was next to the Quarian.
"Stop talking Alenko and grab her, let's go. Move it. Krogan you coming?"
"Hell Yeah I gotta see how this works out."
They double timed it back through the Citadel and to the Normandy ignoring looks as they went. Thankfully Shepard's status as a Spectre afforded them the right to do as they pleased.
On board the Normandy after substantial yelling by Doctor Chakwas they found themselves in the hallway Kaidan's breathing was ragged and he stared in disbelief at Jane.
"What. The. Fuck. Jane?"
She shrugged.
"Acceptable risk. Their suits seal should they be punctured. Something my dad told me. My shot merely grazed her, didn't even barely break skin. Just enough to get them to twich. Like I said it was a perfect shot. As was Garrus's." She smiled and he nodded.
Kaidan looked between the two of them.
"Are you kidding me right now? You're okay with this? That she just, shot someone to...I don't even know what to say Jane."
"Relax, she's fine everyone to the bridge."
~~00o00~~
"So Krogan you are?"
They stood together ignoring the looks the crew was giving them. Kaidan was still pouting Jane noticed and Garrus and the Krogan were exchanging looks she could read very well. Distrust anger and she knew why. The look the Krogan turned on her was very similar.
"I'm Urdnot Wrex and I like your style Shepard I've heard lots about you. Though too bad you're half Turian. Kind of ruins the moment. If you know what I mean."
She nodded. "I do, I understand. Now this Turian is Garrus Vakarian and the sour looking human there is Lieutenant Alenko."
He grunted and turned his attention back to her. "So why the hatred for your fellow Turian and Spectre Saren?"
"How do you know I hate him?"
"Well that look in your eye when I told you Fist was working for Saren. You know you could have asked him where Saren was. But you jumped right to killing him. That's hate."
Jane nodded. "I did think about asking him, I figured he'd just tell me what the last two did, nothing. So I just skipped a step."
"Are you always so brutal? Not that I mind of course."
Jane shrugged and stepped back. "I need to talk to our new Quarian friend and get to the Council. You headed back to the Citadel Wrex?"
"If it's all the same to you Shepard I'd like to talk to you when you get back."
"Sure, make yourself at home, foods in the mess. Garrus on me, Kaidan go cool off."
And with that Jane and Garrus left Wrex and Kaidan alone.
"So human, how long you been doin the Commander? Like that in charge woman don't you? Yeah you know it."
"What? How could you possibly?"
Wrex laughed.
"You need to work on that face of yours. Even when you're mad at her, in your mind you're in her if you know what I mean. Hey hey don't look at me like that, I get it she's a tough lady. She'd make a good brood."
"What?"
Wrex clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Breeding, she'd make good babies as long as the Turian part didn't come out anyways. Come on let's get some food I'm starved."
Wrex directed a shocked and stuttering Kaidan towards the direction Shepard had motioned.
~~00o00~~
A very upset Doctor let Shepard back into the med bay and as she approached the Quarian she sat up seemingly no worse for wear.
"You must be Shepard, the Doctor here told me a little about you. That was a nice shot."
Jane blinked. "I must say I'm surprised you're not upset."
"Well I'm not dead and that was the other option had you not showed up."
Jane nodded.
"I'm Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Please to meet you Shepard, I'm glad you showed up when you did."
"Me too, now I'm in a rush I'm sorry, I need to ask you about the Geth and Saren."
Tali told Shepard everything she had run into on her trip to the Citadel and offered her the recording she had of Saren before Eden Prime.
"I'm sorry I wasn't in time to save them."
Jane bit her lip. She was too but that didn't matter now.
"Thank you Tali."
~~00o00~~
Garrus waited outside as Jane spoke to the Council about Saren. As she exited the room she was smiling though it was a rather cold smile.
"So what did they say?"
"Saren is no longer a Spectre and now I have full authority to kill him on sight. Though they told me Reapers are legends and they think he's using it to control the Geth, we need more information on them. The council received a distress call from Virmire something to do with Saren and more Prothean artifacts. So we at least have somewhere to start."
As Garrus and Jane were walking through the docks towards the Normandy, John was waiting for them by the airlock.
"Major, I didn't expect to see you back."
"I know Commander, but I've spoken to our..."
He stopped cold at the look of disgust Jane levelled at him. "Um well my, shit I've spoken to the Admiral. I've told him I'm with you until he decides to come clean with both of us. So Commander I'm here to help. And I thought we could get to know one another."
Jane's face was empty as he searched for something from her but she just lifted a shoulder at him.
"Alright then Major, I won't say no. Welcome aboard."
~~00o00~~
Back on the Normandy Jane saw to getting Wrex who had requested to stay for the ride, Tali and John all settled, before heading back to the mess for coffee. Kaidan was there sitting at the table on the side of the room and she ignored him as she filled her cup and made to leave for her quarters.
"Jane, you said we could talk, I think that time is now."
Closing her eyes Jane almost groaned. "Not now."
"Now Jane." She glanced towards the door and freedom in her quarters and sighed dropping at the table.
"Garrus is in the kitchen don't you think we could?"
"It's fine Jane I just need you to know something. All of this that has gone on, the anger the spite. That's not the girl I know." His hand lifted and brushed her hair away from her face. She didn't move or pull away just directed her eyes over his shoulder rather than at him.
Garrus tried to ignore the exchange but he could see Jane's face clearly every muscle she moved. Her movements even her stillness was every inch Turian and Kaidan was doing that thing again where he was trying to make the Turian act human.
"Jane, I know what Saren said was true, about the Red Sand, I get it. I understand we all have weaknesses. You're not perfect, let me take care of you. This isn't like Jump Zero, you don't have to shoulder everything on your own. You're only human."
Garrus heard what he said and he saw the muscle under Jane's eye twitch the line of her jaw clinched and he knew that look. Kaidan had just gone somewhere he shouldn't have. She needed help but not like that. This man didn't know her at all.
"Thank you Lieutenant for your concern. Right now though I'm worried sick about my father and I don't need you treating me like a child. That will be all."
"Jane I.."
"I said that will be all Lieutenant."
"God damn it Jane." And with that Kaidan stormed off down the hall leaving Jane staring at the far wall.
Garrus decided something as he saw her look towards her quarters. She was going to go back there and dump herself into oblivion. That's not what she needed. He knew what she needed so he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Come on Shepard, I need to show you something."
"Can it wait Garrus?"
"No actually it can't."
She knew by his posture he wasn't joking so she followed him back towards the mako and as he turned to her he put his hands behind his back.
"Jane I shouldn't care what you do with your personal time but I can't see you like this. How do we solve problems? How do we deal with them? We use this." He pointed to her head. "When we're angry and frustration is driving us to extremes what do we do?"
She had heard this from her dad so many times and her heart caught in her throat.
"Garrus I know you think I."
"No Jane I know what you need."
He dropped back into a combat stance and when she didn't copy him he advanced on her and threw her to the ground.
"You know what comes next Jane."
Her instincts took over and she jump kicked back to standing and he nodded circling her.
He knew he had reach on her but she was fast and flexible as she dodged and blocked most of his blows and returned them. At one point she rolled between his legs and landed a kick to his back.
He stayed still on the ground as she moved round to take the last blow but he moved tossing her on her back. She was laughing underneath him and he felt his body respond to her threatening to make his armour very uncomfortable.
As he watched her eyes crinkle he realized everything about her, every movement every quirk was Turian, the way she spoke the way she carried herself and he realized the reason he cared what she did on her off time was because his body was responding to her as it would to a potential mate. The realization caught him off guard as his eyes went to her neck. Spirits she was so soft under him.
Jane's breath caught in her chest as she saw the look on Garrus's face as he hovered over her. She licked her lips and he took a talon and traced under her eye.
"Jane, your eyes are so beautiful, don't ruin them. Tell me you haven't been using long."
"I haven't, my headaches.. and I was so angry, I'm still angry."
"I know Jane." Without thinking he leaned his head down against hers.
"I'm here and I'll kick your ass anytime if it keeps your eyes that clear green I love to see."
Jane sucked in a breath as his head touched hers.
"You can't save me Garrus. I thought once that would work, it doesn't."
He shook his head still holding it against hers.
"I don't want to save you Jane. You're a big girl and can do as you like. I just want you to be the Turian I know you are and solve your own problems." His mandibles trembled as his talon traced gently down her face.
"I'm just thinking I could give you a few more."
~~00o00~~
Oh if only things could be fixed so easily.
^.^