Shepard was currently at Noveria. She really didn't expect any trouble in the port so she took only Kaidan with her as he was the only one who she was sure won't go around gun blazing or raise too much unwanted attention.

Back at the Normandy, the crew was currently mostly at the mess hall eating when Liara walked out of the medical after her nap. She was almost embarrassed that she managed to sleep so long. She quickly grabbed one tray with the provisions only to hear one of the human crewmates cat whistling at her. She turned around confused by the sound but before she could say anything someone used actual words to talk to her.

"Hey, newbie!" Wrex called after her. "The nonhumans sit here." He pointed at the table he, Tali, and Garrus were currently sitting at.

Garrus nodded to his words and gave a turian equivalent of a smile towards her. "The only table on the whole ship without racism…"

Wrex scoffed. "I can't believe I'm forced to sit next to a turian…"

His words made Tali sigh and quietly ad: "Maybe a tiny bit of racism…"

Liara gave the three a little smile back and went to join them.

"Yeah sit at the freak table, right where you belong!" It was the same man who was cat whistling at her before, seemingly annoyed by the lack of her reaction from before.

Some of the human crew laughed at his words while Ashley who sat among them looked torn but didn't say anything.

Liara on the other hand sighed and just quietly sat on the chair.

Garrus mandibles moved angrily. "We could say the same about them being freaks. What do humans need five fingers for, huh? It's not like it helps them type faster or anything…"

His words made Tali chuckle. Which unfortunately made a whole hell let loose. The human male got angry. He slammed his fists into the table and stood up. "The fuck you're laughing at, lamp? We should never let you freaks join on our ship…"

It was Wrex's time to slam his fists into the table, but unlike the human, he made actual dents into it before getting up. He had enough and snarled at the racist crewmate.

"What is happening here!?" Everyone turned to the voice only to see Shepard angrily moving to the tables in her full battle gear with Kaidan in tow.

It was the human male time to speak. "The krogan is getting out of hand, maybe we should put him down…" There was a clear smirk on his face as he said that.

The smirk disappeared almost immediately as the commander used her biotics to slam him to the nearest wall. "You have me for a complete and DEAF idiot?" She was fuming at that moment, not liking anyone messing with her crew, especially with Tali after their last talk. She took a few long strides toward the male while the biotics formed around her a blue aura. "Get the fuck out of my ship before I'll kill you. I'm not in the mood to write a report about an accident that got you killed…"

The male to his credit got up and started limping away but he still had to at least threaten with something. "A-Alliance will hear about this!"

It made Shepard's last nerve slip and she marched after him. The intent to smear his insides all over the mess hall was clear in her eyes. The only thing that saved the male was actually specialist Traynor showing up after she heard the noise from the command center. She rushed towards the commander and put her hand on her stomach, not saying anything just stopping her in her tracks, not wanting her to do something she would regret in a few moments.

The simple touch and the understanding look Traynor was giving her actually made the commander close her eyes and take a deep breath. The biotics around her slowly disappeared before she opened her eyes again, noticing the male actually finally left. She nodded her thanks to Traynor who just gave back a little smile and let her hand fall to her side once again.

The commander looked around the room. "Is there anyone else who has problems with the nonhuman crew? If so then GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SHIP!" She looked around at all the humans in the mess hall as two of them got up and left, mumbling something about 'damn aliens'.

She didn't care and continued. "If some of you didn't get the memo this is no longer alliance ship. I'm a Spektre on a COUNCIL mission. We represent a united galaxy and you better realize it." She looked around once again, her eyes stopping for a second at Ashley and giving her a disappointed glance before she once again stomped away into her room.

The silence spread around the mess hall, no one dared to move for a long time before surprisingly Tali got up and followed after the commander. She found her in her room, throwing her chest plate angrily on the ground.

She knocked but the human didn't seem to notice so she just took a few cautious steps towards her. "C-commander?" When she didn't get any reaction she tried again. "Shepard…?" She could see the redhead's hand jerk a bit so she took one more step toward her and touched her arm very softly. "Chloe…" She said her name quietly, as a plea, which it really was. A plea to stop, to calm down, to talk to her.

Shepard took a deep shuddering breath before finally speaking. "I'm…I'm…" She wanted to apologize but then she heard his words again in her head and she groaned. "The fucker is lucky that Traynor stopped me!" Her back stayed to Tali as she continued in a softer voice. "You're one of the sweetest beings on this fucking ship and he has the nerves…"

Tali behind her froze for a few seconds at being called 'sweet'. She watched the commander's back and her wildly gesticulating arms as she kept cursing the racist male. At that moment, she could feel her heart beat faster and her hand squeezed Chloe's arm softly.

The squeeze finally made Shepard fall quiet and after a moment turn to face the quarian. "Sorry…I didn't mean to yell…"

Tali shook her head. "It's okay, Chloe…it's okay." She looked up as the commander was a bit taller than her and she studied her expression, unable to place it. Her hand slowly released the redhead's arm and fell back to her side.

The expression on Chloe's face changed. She immediately missed the contact but she still kept her eyes unwaveringly at Tali's.

Neither of them knew how long they spend there before the quarian looked away without any words.

Shepard did the same almost immediately, blushing slightly. She quickly started taking the rest of her gear down. Hoping that busying herself will get her brain to think about something else than the cute quarian in front of her.

Tali on the other hand nervously played with her hands. "I-I just wanted to know how you're doing and make sure you're okay…"

Chloe sighed softly and once she was finally done with the armor she sat on the bed, looking really tired for a moment. "We found Benezia…" She looked Tali in the eye. The redhead seemed like her next words were hurting her more than any bullet could. "How do I tell Liara that on our next mission, we are probably going to kill her mother?"

"Oh…" The quarian momentarily stopped playing with her hands and took a few steps to sit on the bed next to the commander while thinking. "That's why you're back so soon?" She asked softly and after one nod she continued. "Well if I was in her place I would want to go with you on the mission as well as hear the truth beforehand so I can mentally prepare…" Her eyes watched the commander intently as she spoke.

Chloe listened, glad for the advice. "That's exactly what I wanted to do. It's just…"

As Shepard fell quiet for a moment Tali finished for her. "...hard?"

Once again the commander nodded to her words. They stayed silent for a few long moments before she suddenly took a deep breath, got up, and squared her shoulders. "My crew, my responsibility." She said those words mostly to herself with one more nod before smiling at Tali. "Thank you…I really needed that."

Tali got up as well, taking it as her cue to leave. "Well, I really didn't do anything but it's good to see the smile of yours back on your face Chloe." She was glad that her helmet blocked her face as she was pretty sure she was blushing right now.

The Commander's smile grew even bigger. "And as a reward for pep-talking me…" A little grin showed up on her face. "You're gearing up and going on the mission with us. You're welcome!" The tone of her voice and the grin were making it obvious she is saying it this way only to lighten up the mood.

So Tali, with a chuckle, answered the same way. "Bosh'tet!" The word made Chloe erupt in a loud laugh and Tali's eyes shined under her helmet with happiness, finding the sound truly beautiful.

Once the commander calmed down a bit the two of them made their way outside, saying bye to each other. Tali went to finish her food while Chloe looked around for Liara. She didn't see her in the mess hall so she went to the medical where her hunt for the girl was successful.

The asari was sitting on the chair in her room, writing down some notes, not even noticing the sound of the door opening.

Shepard took one deep breath, the good mood quickly leaving her as she took a few steps towards Liara, knocking on her shoulder with her finger.

The surprised doctor turned to her. "Oh hi. I-I didn't hear you." She quickly got up and stood opposite the other girl. "How can I help you, commander?"

The human decided to slip into the usual banter first before bringing up the news. "Well, first of all when we are not on the mission 'Chloe' is fine." A little smile graced her lips.

Liars surprisingly matched the smile and nodded. "Chloe it is then…" She was glad to see the commander in a good mood compared to what happened in the mess hall. "So Chloe…" She emphasized her name this time. "...what can I help you with?"

Suddenly the smile left Shepard's face as she squared her shoulders, needing to be more commander than human at that moment. "We've found Benezia…" She said matter of fact while watching Liara's reaction carefully.

As the asari's only reaction was the slumping of her shoulders and a little nod the commander continued. "Wanted to ask if you wanna go with me and Tali after her?"

This time the answer was verbal. "Yes, I would appreciate that."

Chloe nodded and with a soft sigh, her shoulders slumped. "We…we might have to…" She bit her lip, desperately trying to find words that are different than 'kill her'.

Luckily for her, she didn't need to find any as Liara simply nodded once more. "I understand…"

There were a few moments of silence before the commander nodded as there was nothing more she could possibly say to that. "Alright, gear up and meet us at 20. We are going right away."

Guys, I'm curious…who do you think I'll let die on Virmire? :D

Also, who do you think will be the first one to kiss Shep?