12
Everything is open...
Her words ring in his mind. Everything electronic maybe open to a tech like Alenko but Shepard was as enigmatic as ever. He felt like a heel but he had to know. Gnawing doubts had been growing worse since his rejoining the crew. Sitting down at her desk and opening his own onmitool he began to unlock her document blocks. Being a Spector had its benefits. One of the biggest was having the best of everything which included programs that could down security protocols like these in seconds. One by one files and vids began to unlock. He might not have Tali's prodigal skills he was still pretty damn good. The only question was how deeply he wanted to push since he had already taken advantage of Shepard's trust by doing this while she was out.
Placing the bug was a simple matter. Getting rid of the sinking feeling that accompanied it was not. He could still feel her warmth against him. The smell of her hair as she gave him that kiss on the cheek as she rushed out. An automatic action but a token of affection that was rare from her. After Saren before the first Normandy went down they had become more open about their affection but both were Alliance and knew they needed to be reserved. Everyone on the crew had known about them but years of training on both their ends had kept them apart more then he liked to dwell on.
The bug was a sleeper. It would remain dormant until activated. He could run it when he knew Shepard was away from her terminal which she used so infrequently anyway. He felt like a snake and vowed he would leave it alone until he could have a better idea what was going on between the two Specters. Twice now she had told him everything was open but they both knew how superficial that was. Everything tangible might be open but the whirlwind of temper and cunning that made up Jane Shepard was as difficult to understand as ever.
Even after meeting with the War councils she hardly ever called him up to vent her frustrations. He often would overhear bits and pieces of conversations as she made the rounds. Talking to Tali about the Geth/Quarian alliance and reconstruction. Garrus about the war efforts on Menea even the shuttle flier Cortez. The only one she never seemed to make it a point to talk to was Vega. And that bothered him almost as much as her tender sadness while talking about the Drell assassin.