A/N: Thank you to my new followers and favorites! Yay! We are getting to the good stuff! Enjoy and review!

HERS

This week was really not going Shepard's way and she was pissed. First, Virmire went to hell in a handbasket and she lost one of the best female friends she had ever had. Second, the Council pulled a fast one and seemed to promise some real support against Saren then backed out. Third, then Udina locked the Normandy down when they reached the Citadel. And now, goddamnit, I can't get this shitty locker open.

Shepard punched the locker and slumped to the floor, rubbing her knuckles. Too bad that locker wasn't Udina's face, son-of-a-bitch. She looked up and saw Kaidan standing there. He looked surprisingly not worried.

"Commander, are you all right? Or maybe I should ask is the locker ok?" he smiled. "We're still under Alliance authority, not the Council. Anderson has your back too. There's got to be a way to appeal."

Shepard looked at the floor. "All official channels are closed. They made that quite clear."

"Closed. And we're supposed to accept that?" Kaidan's expression had changed. Now he looked irritated. "So where do you think the best view will be when the Reapers roll through? If we have to sit it out, we may as well have a good seat." He's so cute when he's mad.

"Kaidan, we're not out of this yet. We'll think of something. I just need to figure things out." Damn, I wish I had a real plan. Udina, you stupid piss ant! Give me back my goddamn ship! Anger welled up inside Shepard. I hate feeling stuck.

"If I can be of any help, let me know," Kaidan said softly. "I hope I'm not out of line saying that." So marine Poster Boy would really do something against authority? Evil and lustful thoughts began creeping into Shepard's brain, and she decided to take this conversation in that lascivious direction.

"Are you always this cautious with a sure thing?" Shepard's smile held more than a simple friendly look.

"Yeah, you know I am. I always leave a way out." Uncertainty crossed Kaidan's face. "I'm here for you, but this is a tough spot, and I don't want to muddy things." What kind of "things" would he be talking about? I'm pretty sure I'm as clear as a fucking crystal. I want your body.

Kaidan closed his eyes and shook his head. "Not like things were all that clear to start with. I mean, are we the pride of the fleet or not? Are we valued agents or just peons?" So I guess he wasn't talking about "things" between us. Aw, hell. I can't catch a break this week. The anger came back.

"I'm sick of it too, goddamnit. Maybe we need to take a little initiative."

A smirk appeared on Kaidan's lips. "You have something up your sleeve, Shepard? What am I saying? When don't you? That's what I lo—appreciate about you." A faint blush rose in his cheeks. Holy shit! Love?

"Careful," said Shepard playfully. "When this is over I might pay more attention to what you say."

Kaidan chuckled, "So it's back to business after playing with me. You're something else, you know?"

He held out his hand to help her up. Shepard tripped over her own foot, and landed against Kaidan's chest. She straightened up and felt Kaidan's hands slide to her waist. His smouldering gaze caught her eyes. She couldn't deny him or herself anymore. Her face moved closer to his and she could feel his breath. Shepard's mind went blank as her whole body tuned toward the physical experience.

"Sorry to interrupt, Commander," Joker's voice broke in. "Got a message from Captain Anderson."

God. Damn. It! Fuck you, Joker. I cannot catch a damn break.

HIS

The Normandy was pretty much empty. Being locked down means no one can really do anything except take some shore leave on the Citadel. Kaidan walked down to the crew deck to get his credit chit. Joker had asked him to go blow some money with him at Flux.

As he rounded the corner, he heard a crash and saw Shepard sit on the floor by her locker in a huff. Even when she's mad, she's beautiful.

"Commander, are you all right?" Kaidan thought he should play it safe with protocol in case anyone was on the ship still. "Or maybe I should ask is the locker ok? We're still under Alliance authority, not the Council. Anderson has your back too. There's got to be a way to appeal."

Shepard looked dejected. "All official channels are closed. They made that quite clear."

"Closed. And we're supposed to accept that?" Now Kaidan was angry. He had seen enough to believe in Shepard. "So where do you think the best view will be when the Reapers roll through? If we have to sit it out, we may as well have a good seat."

"Kaidan, we're not out of this yet. We'll think of something. I just need to figure things out." Does she mean we like her and me, or just we as in the crew….Kaidan, this is important! Focus! But he couldn't completely.

"If I can be of any help, let me know. I hope I'm not out of line saying that." I would like to help you out of your clothes…

"Are you always this cautious with a sure thing?" Shepard's gaze when right through him, and Kaidan felt like his thoughts were exposed. Back to business!

"Yeah, you know I am. I always leave a way out." Please don't think I'm trying to find a way out from you! "I'm here for you, but this is a tough spot, and I don't want to muddy things." What the hell am I saying? She's the only thing making my life clear!

Kaidan closed his eyes and shook his head, angry at his internal struggle. "Not like things were all that clear to start with. I mean, are we the pride of the fleet or not? Are we valued agents or just peons?"

Shepard's voice was terse. "I'm sick of it too, goddamnit. Maybe we need to take a little initiative."

Her anger made Kaidan smile and flirtation crept into his words. "You have something up your sleeve, Shepard? What am I saying? When don't you? That's what I lo—appreciate about you." Well played, Alenko. Shit.

"Careful. When this is over I might pay more attention to what you say." Hey, this conversation is getting good. Time to turn on the charm.

Kaidan chuckled, "So it's back to business after playing with me. You're something else, you know?"

He held out his hand, because after all, his mom did raise him to be a gentleman. Shepard took it and tripped into his arms, her head leaning against his chest. Breathe, Kaidan. This is nothing.

She straightened up, and seemed to move her body closer to his. Kaidan moved his hands to her waist and gazed at her face, looking for a small sign of approval. Trying to kiss your CO? Maybe you aren't such a gentleman after all. He found it when her eyes wouldn't leave his, until they softly closed. His eyes did the same as his lips waited to feel hers on them.

"Sorry to interrupt, Commander," Joker's voice was like a knife in the back. "Got a message from Captain Anderson."

Kaidan was going to make sure Joker was broke in more ways than one.