"So... if you've not got any plans until the 17th, do you want to come back to San Francisco on Monday with me?" They had been wandering aimlessly, arm in arm, simply catching up and basking in each other's presence but Trish's words brought the soldier to a halt.
She briefly wondered if she was coming on too strong, taking things too fast, but then they didn't exactly have a lot of time in which to take things slow. Besides, it wasn't as if she was inviting a complete stranger home.
"I mean... I've still got to go work during the day, I understand if you don't want to, especially since you'd be alone in a strange city all day but you could, I don't know... be touristy..."
"Be touristy?" Nikki chuckled and Trish just knew she was in for some teasing now. She didn't particularly mind though, there was something about the subtle shift in body language and a general vibe in the air that made her believe she knew what the end answer was going to be. She just hoped she was right. "I can't remember the last time I had fun going somewhere just to 'be touristy'. Really not your best argument there."
"Hmm, well... it's also warmer than Vancouver." Trish offered, stepping closer, eyes cast down as she fiddled with the collar on the marine's uniform.
She wasn't used to being nervous or uncertain in these situations, usually she positively radiated confidence and certainty, but she found herself desperately hoping she didn't do anything to mess this up. A finger under her chin lifted her head and she found herself looking into teasing eyes, a half hidden smile still visible on the soldier's face.
"Now that is a much stronger argument. I'm starting to consider it."
"And I do get a couple days off. Plus the evenings would be free..." She trailed off as Nikki closed the remaining gap between them, resting her forehead against her own.
"Ok, you talked me into it."
The kiss started off tender but it soon heated up, a neediness overcoming them as they rekindled the embers of a flame that had never truly been extinguished.
Eventually they had to pause for air but the break was short lived, lips crashing together once more as if their continued existence depended upon it. Shepard was unsure which of them let loose the soft moan but it helped bring her attention back and she gently pulled away.
"Trish... We should stop this while we still can."
"Maybe I don't want to stop." She was light headed but just about aware enough to catch the small smile on the marine's face.
"Me neither, but call me boring... I don't feel like spending my leave in jail for indecent exposure."
Trish slowly came back down to earth, becoming aware of their surroundings once more; the old couple sat on a park bench watching them with knowing smiles, the teenage boy looking at them wide eyed and practically drooling. She took a reluctant step back.
"Maybe you're right... To be continued?" Nikki's response was to throw an arm around her shoulders with a laugh as she dragged her back into a walk.
"Oh yeah. Definitely to be continued."
...
"Shit!" It was the sight of the uniform that did it. When Nikki heard the front door of the apartment opening her first instinct, after the almost compulsory expletive, had been to grab something to cover Trish up with. A noble gesture which would have been much easier to accomplish if they'd been on a bed instead of the couch.
As the newcomer entered the living room a flash of blue and gold caught Shepard's attention, years of training automatically taking over and causing her to instinctively leap to her feet, snapping to attention before her brain could even attempt to process the situation. As the marine stood ramrod straight and completely naked apart from her dogtags in front of an Alliance Admiral, she couldn't help but think that this particular deeply ingrained drill was the complete opposite of a lifesaving reflex.
"Uncle..." Nikki didn't dare glance back to see if Trish had managed to cover up yet, a mantra of swear words sweeping silently through the inside of her head. A subtle clearing of the man's throat put paid to any hope of any further back up from that direction.
Nick just hoped the situation was as unexpected for him as it was for her. She really didn't want to think what it would mean about Trish's love life if this was a regular occurrence. He certainly hid his shock well though. The ever so slight break in composure hidden within a fraction of a second.
"Name?"
"Corporal Shepard, 108th Marine Corps, SIR!" She rolled out, reverting to the familiarity of protocol to navigate the choppy waters, not shifting her gaze from a spot on the wall directly ahead of her and several inches to the right of the officer.
Then he stepped directly into her line of sight and she felt the blood in her veins freeze under his icy blue stare. Oh, Fuck. You've got to be shitting me! Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck!
She'd known for years that Mrs Stewart's younger brother was in the Alliance, remembered hearing from Trish how her uncle had been promoted to Rear Admiral... but at no point did she ever recall anyone saying the relative in question was THE mother fucking 'Hatchet' Hackett, mustang of mustangs and legend of the First Contact War.
Shit!
Shepard did the only thing she could in the situation: kept her face blank, eyes front and didn't move a muscle.
The Admiral's gaze however was free to roam and he took in the discarded clothes on the floor, the leftover takeout and empty bottle of wine on the table, his eyes hardening as they finally focused back on the marine in front of him.
"I suggest you double time it out that door Corporal and never come near my niece again."
"Sir, no Sir!"
"Excuse me?" The voice oozed danger but Nikki didn't back down.
"Trish is a civilian Sir, fraternization regs don't apply. I'm aware you can still bust me a hundred different ways to Sunday and understand you being protective of family Sir, but with respect, it's not your decision to make. If Trish wants me out her life now or at any point in the future then I'm gone, but until that day I believe she's worth fighting for Sir."
The silence seemed to drag out for eternity as Hackett's eyes bored into her. He had been protective of the girl since her father died he would admit. Not overly protective as far as he was concerned, just... justifiably so.
He'd run off more than a few hopefuls over the years. The powerful combination of his death stare and the violent scar across his face weeded out more than a few on their own. Some contenders would promise to leave his niece alone only to attempt to keep seeing her behind his back, those were the cowards he hated most. Others had voiced a similar opinion to the marine before him; that neither his position as Uncle or Admiral gave him a right to interfere in his niece's affairs. However it was the first time he could remember a prospective partner listing Patricia, and not themselves, as the person who's decision mattered.
"You've got balls Shepard, I'll give you that."
"I think we can all see that's not the case Sir." The perfect deadpan delivery was followed immediately by shocked widening of the eyes as Shepard realised what she had just said and to whom. For the first time in the conversation Hackett caught a glimmer of pure panic break onto the woman's face, lasting the briefest of seconds before schooling it back into the perfect parade ground mask.
A smothered giggle audible from his niece drew his attention, fortunately she had managed to cover up all the areas he had no desire to see on a blood relative.
He analysed her face and body language closely, she was far more relaxed than should be expected considering the situation, but still with an undercurrent of anxiety that, if he read her right, had more to do with concern over what he'd do next rather than embarrassment of being caught.
Her eyes practically begged him not to mess this one up for her, but there was also something else in those blue orbs that he'd never seen reflected there with anyone else before. His eyes flicked back to the marine.
"If you ever hurt her..." He subjected the woman to his best death glare but she didn't even flinch.
"I'll be the subject of unimaginable and entirely justified retribution. Message received and understood Sir." He eyeballed her a little longer, searching for the slightest hint of deceit or maliciousness. Finding nothing he graced her with the slightest of nods.
"Dismissed Corporal."
Shepard threw an immaculate salute, pivoting in a parade ground perfect about face and marching towards the door.
"Corporal!" She froze. "Put some clothes on before you leave my house."
...
Author's note:
And now you know who gave Trish that omni-tool for her birthday! How many of you saw that one coming? I have a confession to make: the second part of this with Hackett was actually one of the first chapters I wrote when I started this story, in fact Trish's birthday chapter was specifically written as an explanation for why Hackett and Shepard hadn't already met.
It's gone through several drafts, in the original Private Shepard discovered the infamous relative after reuniting with Trish in a bar following her passing out parade. However I decided I wanted more time to pass before they got back together even if it was unseen, that way they had more time to develop as people and get some more life experiences apart so that they can know what they have is special and not just falling back together because it's easy and familiar.
Anyway, I hope you're enjoying reading as much as I'm enjoying writing. I plan to keep this rated T but my understanding of the rating system is purely based on what I've read on here, not only did I grow up using a different rating system but we completely ignored the one we did have. I remember playing GTA (rated 18) at a friend's house when we were only 11 and film ratings only meant you couldn't watch it at the cinema and someone else had to buy the DVD for you. What I mean to say here is that I'm not entirely sure where the line is and if at any point anyone thinks the rating needs to be upgraded just let me know and I'll change it.
Oh and for those that don't know 'mustang' is a military term for an officer that started their career as an enlisted soldier, so by the time the games come round Shepard will be one too.