Steve Cortez was halfway through his third drink at the lower bar in Purgatory when he heard the unmistakable sound of one Lt James Vega. Even over the drone of the base from the speakers, he could make out the familiar clomping of his less than subtle friend.

It was late, not that that meant much on the Citadel much less Purgatory but he had been considering calling it a night. Watching the people dance had its amusements but being wasted this early in the morning on his second day of impromptu shore leave did not appeal to the flight lieutenant He had noticed Joker and EDI take their leave and had considered doing the same until he had gotten a message from Vega saying he was on his way over.

"Late as usual Mr. Vega." He says by way of greeting and slides a beer over to his friend.

"Yeah,yeah. Not my fault every grunt wants to buy me a drink when they hear I am arms master on the SSV Normandy." Even in the boast, Vega sounded more gruff than usual.

While not plastered Steve could tell Vega was well on his way.

Better keep him off the stronger stuff.

"Keep drinking like that Mr. Vega and those ladies will have plenty of other stories to tell by morning."

"Nah nothing like that Estaban. Besides it beats watching the show." Vega's face darkens and he grumbles into his bottle. Now Steve was curious.

"What's this now? Suddenly gyrating females no longer interest Vega? I'll have to alert the extranet.

"No, not that show. That. Them." He gives a jerk of his head toward the VIP area. Standing to get a better view over the crowd, Cortez is surprised to see the Commander and Major sitting and having drinks with Aria T'loak. However, the Pirate Queen was barely on Vega's radar judging by his friends insulted man pout.

Oh boy here we go.

"I mean don't get me wrong. The Major's alright but I just don't get it. Ya'know?"

"You're jealous."

Cortez sits back down at the stool besides the other man. As much as he enjoyed giving the larger man shit Steve knew that Vega was generally a good guy. A bit dense, a lot full of himself, but overall he was a decent person and a good friend which was something that meant a lot when the whole galaxy was going to hell in a hand basket.

"What? No! I mean so what? he has that crazy biotics but so what? And on Mars I thought she was gonna tear him apart."

"Right but then things went sideways and he got hurt, made Specter and rejoined us. We have all come a long way in six months. Even you Lieutenant."

"Yeah right. We both know that N7 thing is never going to happen. Hell at first I thought Shepard suggested it just as a way to...well you know."

Cortez cannot help but chuckle. The big man had gotten more than he bargained for in several ways with that setup. Before the gym had been set up Vega had been strutting around like king rooster, just waiting for his chance to show off to his idol. That was until she beat him thoroughly in less than 2 minutes (not that his pride would let Vega admit that of course.)

"Ok let's say I believe that. On Earth before the attack you were the only person aside from Anderson Shepard was allowed to see. How well did you get to know Shepard then?"

"Didn't. She was under arrest, wasn't allowed to talk to anyone. They intercepted her mail and everything." Vega didn't see how this was supposed to cheer him up. Usually Cortez was a lot better at this.

"Right. But she asked for news and little bits of information when you came by. Didn't you ever think she needed someone just to you know talk to? You saw the Collectors, knew what had happened out in the Terminus."

"Yea but she is Commander Shepard. She does things like that on a yearly basis. Mindoir, Elyssium, Citadel, Collectors" Vega lists them off slinking deeper into his drink as if that should explain everything he was trying to convey. Cortez leans over and slaps his friend on the back.

"And that Mr. Vega is why you will always be a grunt to her. A good solider, a respectable guy to have at your back but not someone she hangs out with at the bar." Vega had taken particular offence to the fact that she had met up with Steve at the bar and neither had invited him along.

"Your hero worship doomed you my friend. Admiral Anderson handpicked you because you were a sympathetic ear when Shepard hit Earth. They served together for years; he knew she needed someone while the Alliance let her languish."

"I dun get it."

Cortez shakes his head. Sometimes explaining things to Vega was like fixing the Trident. If you cannot get it to work right head on you have to back off and try another access point.

"When Shepard told me to go to the hanger and watch the ships she didn't do it as my XO, she did it as a friend. She came to the Memorial wall with me and just stood there. She was not in her uniform, she wasn't giving a speech. She was just being a friend when I needed it. "

"Yeah I guess so. Like Garrus giving her shit about driving the Mako. Or the doc and her drinking in med bay where the whole mess could see."

"Exactly. Tell me if Toni were still alive you wouldn't have him sitting here between us going shot for shot?" Cortez had heard the man compare Shepard to his old Commander several times before.

"Hell yeah! But Lola she's different. "

Cortez chuckles and signals for another round for the two before continuing.

"She is only different because of how you see her. Remember the soldiers at the bar you had her by a round for? Talk all the shit you want, you are the same as them. You list off her accomplishments without taking into account the kicks in the pants she has gotten along the way. You just get to see her in person more than they do."

"Ugh! All right all right. Damnit Dr. Love you are so annoying when you are right." Vega shakes his head laughing in spite of himself. Scoping up the beer Cortez ordered he sits up and takes a long pull from the bottle.

"So what is your advice Doc?"

"Today? Finish that bottle and find an Asari dancer to kill some time with. Later go chat up that Adler's reporter and practice your Rico Suave on her."

"That I can do." Vega says with a lecherous grin. One day James Vega was going to find out that he was not half so charming as he thought he was. But today was not that day and Cortez would not be the one to tell his friend, regardless.

After the round the two Lt's make their way away from the bar and toward the dance floor. Cortez notices the VIP area is still occupied but that was not his concern tonight. It is not long before they are approached by two Asari dancers that seemed to materialize out of thin air and Vega wastes no time practicing his so-called charms. Even going so far as to introduce his good friend "Dr. Estaban Love" to the women who had made a beeline for the two men once they had spotted them in the crowd.

Vega was going to have a very hard time once Steve was done with the armor masters procurements. Pay back was always fair when these two were involved. If he had to play wingman for Vega with these two it sure beat watching James mope but he was not about to let Vega think this was acceptable friend behavior.

The two Asari introduced themselves as Shar and Plava. Or was it Plava and Shar? Steve was too far gone to remember exactly. But Vega was more than willing to do the talking. Did the girls know they were both Lieutenants? Oh yea seen plenty of action, had they by chance heard of a ship called the Normandy? Steve noticed the look passed between the two Asari that Vega took as a good sign.

OH Mr. Vega you are going to have a hard time indeed. Cortez thinks but he can't help grinning as he watches his friend preform for the two ladies. Yes it was good to be alive, and in good company.

Digital cookies for anyone who gets the reference with the girl's names. Decided to go with a little bit of a lighthearted chapter for the big 50.

Happy Holiday to all!