Yes, time for Garrus and Dani to patch things up! Woohoo!

Making it up as we go

Garrus had retreated to his own quarters, assigned solely to him to accommodate certain . . . turian traits. He took deliberate time in stripping down his armor and cleaning the different parts with painstakingly care. He took a scorching hot shower, even hot for his hardened and plated hide.
During all that, he sought for ways and words to apologize to Dani. As a friend . . . They were friends, right? Well, he should have known better at least.
Why the hell hadn't he just said hello? It was not like she hogged his time when he came back from a mission. A smile, a look, a slightly elevated heart beat he always noticed in both of them. That's all that passed between them. Ever. Sometimes with a bit of conversation thrown in.

He should have just ignored Tali's banter. Dani had made such great progress in her interactions with others and what did he do? Give her a great reason to retreat back in that little shell of hers. It didn't help to know that Joker had been teasing her as well. But, instead of avoiding him, she'd still been the first person to greet him back. Had Joker really been teasing her? About him? Was there even reason to? Apparently Tali and Joker saw something he didn't.
Or did he? No. He shook his head. Dani was his friend and he should have known better than to shoot her off like that. She deserved better, because,
Tali was right . . . she had been bending herself out of shape, for him. He quickly donned the first fatigues that came to hand and headed out.

In front of her room, he made his presence known and asked for permission to come in. The door controls flickered to green and the door slid open. When he stepped over the threshold, three pairs of eyes looked at him quizzically. A woman with dark skin and dark curls looked him up and down from over a holo-book she was reading.

"She's asleep," the woman stated and nodded at the figure in the nearest lower bunk.

"I'll wait."

"Gonna wait all night?"

Garrus glanced at the bunk. He didn't want to wake her up, but he didn't feel like standing around all night either. And he sure as hell wasn't going to give her the chance to retreat back in that shell of hers again.

"Yes," he finally said before walking over to Dani's bunk. "Got a problem with that?"

"I'm not sure if – "

"Good, if someone does have a problem, take it up with Shepard," Garrus interrupted her. He kicked off his boots, ducked his head down, crawled into the bunk and noticed Dani was lying curled up, still wearing her clothes and boots. Yeah, he wouldn't burn himself on an awkward situation if he removed her clothes, but he could at least relieve her from her boots. He tried to be as unobtrusive as possible when he wiggled the boots and socks off her feet. He was less careful when he dumped them next to the bed. He stole a curious glance at her pale extremities lying on the covers of her bed.

He couldn't help himself, he'd never seen bare human feet before. Or maybe he had but never really paid attention before. He didn't really know. What he did know, was that her feet looked tiny and odd and very alien. He slipped the covers from beneath her and gently tugged her in.
He stretched out his form next to her, shuffling a little closer while still keeping enough distance, wary of the prying eyes. Come morning, tongues would be wagging. He found he no longer cared, he just hoped he could fix the damage he'd done. Aware three roommates were still looking, he merely closed his eyes and pretended they weren't there.

It was hours before the roommates seemed to realize he wasn't going anywhere. That, or they were just tired and wanted to sleep. The lights went out, he heard the ruffling of quickly shed clothes and finally felt comfortable enough to open his eyes. He waited a few moments more until he could hear their breaths evening out, becoming deeper.

He exhaled in relief when he could finally raise his hand and trail the faint outline of Dani's cheek with a talon of his gloved hand. The first hours she had lain on her side, facing away from him. At some time she had shifted her position to her other side, shuffling a bit closer in the process. Close enough for him to feel her breath tickling against his mandibles each time she exhaled.

He'd cursed his cold behavior towards her when he first noticed the smudges of dried up tears when she had turned over. Now he slowly rubbed the back of his finger against them. Not for the first time he wondered at the history of her past. With Dani, all you could really do was take a guess, unless you had access to her personal file of course.

So cautious around other people. A sharp intelligent mind, but she failed to grasp the basics of something as simple as conversation. She heard and understood the words, but often she misinterpreted the way something was said and missed the different nuances. She took anger very personally, even if it wasn't directed at her. And sometimes, she looked so very lost amidst the other humans.

Fragile, fractured. Like something had shattered her a long time ago. Even before the Torques had entered her life. If he had to take a guess, they were probably the ones who had pieced her back together again. But the scars, the break lines still remained. Though whole, the structure had weakened.

"What happened to you?" he whispered softly, hooking a strand of that silky silvery hair around his finger. Why did he even care? He was from a very militaristic culture. Weakness was rooted out when it first reared its ugly head. Either you adapted or got cast aside. His two fingers curled behind her head, entwining in her hair while he grazed his thumb against her cheek. Finally he gave in to a weakness within himself, the urge he'd been fighting the moment she'd turned around to him in her sleep. He pulled her face closer to him and with a contented sigh that made his lower set of vocal cords quiver, he tenderly brushed his forehead against hers.

He breathed in slowly and let his nose and mouth fill with her scent; skin, sweat, salty tears, a subtle sweet fragrance and her. It felt right and wrong at the same time. Right because, oddly enough, this felt very pleasing. Wrong, because he felt like he was stealing some kind of forbidden moment from her, while she rested in slumber.

Her soft breathing, even and unhurried, made him aware how heavy his eyes felt. It became harder to keep them open. When he finally stopped resisting and his eyes drifted closed, the thought crossed his mind that though her appearance was soft, fragile and weak, she was one of the bravest humans he'd ever met. Fighting your enemies was one thing, fighting and conquering your own fears was something else entirely. She'd battled her demons, fought her fears in regard to him. It had resulted in something. He didn't really know what it was yet, but it was precious to him all the same. Now he was just bent on returning the favor.


A pleasant warmth seeped through her and chased away the sharp cold inside. Her sleep befuddled brain registered the feeling as nice, so she huddled closer to the source. Better than nice. A heaviness settled somewhere on her side. The thought how strange that was, floated somewhere aimlessly in her mind.
She preferred the feeling of warmth and security and let that singular thought drift away from her. But then other odd thoughts bubbled up. Like that ticklish feeling on her face, soft like a breath. Or how that heavy feeling on her side suddenly began to feel more solid. Dani stirred lightly, as she surfaced from the depths of peaceful slumber. Strange to wake up so content after . . .

Her eyes flew open as memories of the previous day cycle seeped through without mercy. A feeling of hurt and regret started to roll through her but crashed against reality as she stared in two very familiar blue eyes, softly burning into hers.

She couldn't hold back the gasp escaping her lips. She tensed and the heavy feeling on her side tensed with her. It was his arm, she realized. It was his arm, Garrus' arm on her side and his hand softly grazing her waist and she didn't know why he was here or even where she was or maybe she was dreaming?
All silly thoughts jumbling through her head. If she started breathing again, would he disappear? If she blinked would she find out he was just a figment of her imagination? Her eyes stung and a nasty burning tear slid down but she didn't blink.

"I'm sorry," he whispered so quietly that the soft flanging in his voice nearly drowned his articulation. The lack of air made her woozy but she dared no more than the quietest intake of air as possible. She still didn't dare to blink but her eyes were stinging very uncomfortably and she was sure she could feel another tear itching down. She wasn't even sure if she was glad for this apparition or just sad. Still, she forced her eyes to stay open and kept as still as possible.

"Is it okay if . . . " He let the question hang in the air and she had no idea what he meant. She caught a slight movement from the corners of her eyes, it startled her. Her eyes darted away and saw his stilled hand hovering near her face. Quickly her eyes shot back, afraid she'd made a mistake but he was still there. His hand inched into view and slowly, haltingly his thumb made the slightest contact with her skin. He pressed in softly, swiped his thumb up a bit and suddenly the stingy tear was gone.

His two fingers gently curved around the side of her face. Not quite steady. His eyes left hers, drifted lower and where his gaze went, his thumb and fingers softly followed. She could feel her breath flutter in her throat when his thumb came to a rest in the hollow at the base of her throat.

"I was such an ass yesterday," he muttered, his eyes transfixed on that particular spot causing her to swallow. "Bad day, foul mood. Poor excuses for being such an . . ." His eyes flickered to back to hers. "Idiot."

Bad day, foul mood. The words kept echoing in her head and with shocking clarity she realized she had overreacted in a big bad way.

"I made a mistake again, didn't I?" she choked out.

The fingers in her neck flexed, moved her head closer at the same time he leaned in, and suddenly his forehead brushed against her, his face plates rough and angular against her tender skin.

"No Dani, you didn't. I did," he muttered softly while nuzzling her forehead with his. His face was distractingly close to hers it made her jittery, nervous and uncomfortable. She pulled back and to her relief his fingers slid away, not keeping her trapped.

"Wait, you slept here?" she asked suddenly, glancing at his impressive yet lithe frame stretched out across her mattress. The massive bulk of his torso blocked her way and she bolted upright to create some distance, hitting her head against the bottom of the bunk overhead in the process.

Thankfully he was quick to react. He rolled back, moved his feet over the edge of the mattress, planted them firmly on the ground and got out.

Dani took a few grateful deep breaths to still her frayed nerves. She pressed her hand against her forehead where just moments ago Garrus had nuzzled her. She gingerly pushed the covers away from her and stumbled out of her bunk. Her back was turned to Garrus and looking down at her bare feet, she was mighty glad for that because her cheeks were lighting up like a bonfire.

Well, at least she was still wearing her clothes. If she wasn't, she was sure she'd have died of mortification.

"Sorry. You were asleep when I came here last night and I didn't . . . I really wanted to say sorry. Guess I didn't think much further than that. I hope that's – okay."

"Um, sure," she mumbled picking up her socks while trying to avert his gaze.

"Are we okay?"

The soft low tones distorted the syllables a bit. Was he nervous? It sounded like it, but she highly doubted it. She could sense him carefully approaching her and when she felt the tiny hairs in the back of her neck stand on end, she didn't need to turn around to know he was standing right behind her. He was there, he was real and he was standing so close.

"I was worried," she mumbled. "Yesterday, I felt jumpy the entire time. I ended up bothering Joker. It helped, for a while. And then we heard that – explosion. The colonists went crazy and Shepard didn't respond. And there were all those geth. And every time you guys go on a mission, it affects me more and I don't understand what it is I feel. All I know is, that somehow for some reason, the only thing that calms me down, is when the mission is over and I can see Tali, Shepard, Liara even Wrex, stepping through that door again. And you," she added quietly. "Somehow it's most important that I see you. I was so scared of you at first and now . . ."

She shivered when his hand gently descended on her shoulder. His other hand soon landed on her other shoulder. When he turned her around, so tentatively, she didn't object.

"So, um, universal gesture of affection . . . Can I – give you one?"

Words fled her like startled birds. She raised her eyes to meet his, had to crane her neck to do so, and gave a quick, slight nod. He stepped in closer to her and let his hands, his talons, slide down her arms and wound them loosely round her waist. Then his arms tightened, a soft pull and he settled her against his chest. His chest was all ridges, hard planes and lines, she could feel them pressing into her through the padded fabric of his fatigues. So alien.

Yet, when she pressed her face against him, it felt strangely nice and previous worries seemed to melt away. She could feel, hear his heartbeat and in wonder she let her hands drift up, let her fingers slip in his deep collar. He sighed, rested his head on top of hers and let one hand travel up her back. She found her small form completely enveloped by his, felt him breathing into her hair and she'd never felt more safe.

"Don't worry," his voice rumbled through his chest, she could actually feel it. "We'll figure this out."

Dani allowed herself a moment before she leaned back in his embrace. "I'd really like to see Tali now," she said seriously. It made Garrus chuckle.
"And then a shower. But Tali first."

"Good to see you still got your priorities straight, Pryde.

"Is that . . . a joke?"

He just nudged her shoulder and she could see his mandibles flare in a grin. She quickly put on her socks and boots.

"So, what time did Raiez, McKenna and Davis leave?"

"Very early and very considerately."

She could feel the blood rush to her cheeks when they both walked through the door. They walked next to each other, but his left arm was draped round her back while his hand rested in her neck. The looks they got, well some of them were quite funny. Others though . . . Instinctively she leaned into him for support.

"Oh," she gasped when they rounded the corner in the direction of the mess hall. "I want to go by Shepard's office first."

"Sure."

No other words were needed. Shepard's office wasn't locked. Garrus tapped the control pad and the doors slid open.

"Hey, good morn – ing . . ." The words died on his lips when Shepard gazed from Dani to Garrus.

"Good morning," Dani replied. She just recently got used to the fact that day cycles and night cycles were addressed as she was used to.

"I um, I'm glad your back."

The smile beaming on his face was enough to make her want to shrink back, but Garrus' hand in her neck gave her little room. She glared at him when she noticed his smirk.

"And I'm very sorry Shepard, but that's all you gonna get from her this morning. She's dying to see Tali. How do humans put it – I kinda threw a tool in the works yesterday, in regards to their um, girls' night."

"Wrench," Shepard said, a muscle twitching suspiciously in his right cheek.

"Girls' wrench? Uh, I'm pretty sure that's not the phrase Shepard."

"No Garrus," Shepard chuckled. "You throw a wrench in the works. Not a tool. I'm glad you . . . Glad things worked out. So – are you?"

"No. It's, ah, blurry though. Can we leave it at that?"

Shepard smiled warmly at both at them. "Of course."

"I don't think I get that last bit," Dani said, her brows knitted together.

"Let's keep it that way," Shepard winked at Garrus. "So Dani, I have some news you might like. Admiral Hackett contacted me. . ."

Garrus groaned but Shepard ignored him. Well, at least he tried to but that muscle in his cheek was twitching again.

"And he requested me to broker a negotiation between the Alliance and a man named Darius. Apparently he claims some Eezo rich asteroid as his property and is attacking miners daring to intrude his territory. Element Zero is valuable so I get to play the negotiator. Walk in the park."

"Like it so usually is," Garrus snorted. Shepard smirked.

"I'll give Tali and Liara the day off. I'll even get Williams off your back. She's coming with me. How 'bout you Vakarian? Feel up to it?"

Dani couldn't repress the smile when she saw Garrus flinch.

"Williams? Really Shepard? I'd rather go and snog a Thresher Maw."

Shepard laughed and Dani affectionately bumped Garrus' side. When she stole a sideways glance at him, she smiled at his turian smirk.

"Too bad Vakarian, suit up!"

"Oh man! This is punishment, isn't it?" he whined, his sub-harmonics catching on the words.

"Actually, it's a reward. Just consider. Boring negotiations, you and Ashley ready to kill each other, hours and hours of nothing to do but waiting. I don't know. Someone might offer to comfort you after a day like that."

Garrus visibly perked up. "Smooth Shepard, really smooth!" Garrus smirked.

"Thought as much. Now Dani, relax, stop worrying and have fun with the ladies. I'll give them a heads up you're on your way. Garrus, be ready in fifteen."

"Looking forward to it, Commander," Garrus snorted. "Come on Dani, I'll walk with you."

A large crate in Engineering had been cleared out, its contents stacked against the side walls of Engineering and converted into a small room for Tali. It wasn't much and it certainly wasn't big, but it was easy to lock up and keep the environment inside sterile. Garrus rapped his hand against the front of the grate.

"Tali?"

Dani took a quick peak at Ashley and wondered at her uncharacteristic silence. Most of the time she had a large range of insulting remarks at her command.

The front of Tali's room folded back. "What do you want?"

Dani frowned at the tone. Odd, Tali and Garrus always seemed to be on friendly terms. Well, they were after they cleared the air when Garrus had insulted Tali. "The quarians endangered the entire galaxy when they let the geth break free. I hope your people are properly contrite, Tali," he'd said or so Tali had told her.

"Just here to drop off someone who's itching to see you," he said and stepped aside, revealing Dani standing behind him.

"Dani!" the quarian squealed in delight. "Have you heard? Shepard gave us the day off. I'm waggling my eyebrows, just saying because you – you know – can't see it."

Dani smirked. "I heard. Just came down from his office actually."

She moved her hands as if she wanted to grab Tali's but thought the better of it and stopped the motion. Tali reacted in a flash and before Dani could drop her hands, Tali held them clutched in hers.

"It's good to see you Dani," Tali said softly. "I'm sorry we couldn't talk yesterday."

"Me too," Dani bit her lip. She felt uncomfortable now that she realized how over-dramatically she had reacted.

"Well, off you go Vakarian. No need to lurk around. You should suit up."

Tali looked at Dani, and motioned her head for her to step inside, but Dani took a startled step back instead. Her hands still locked in Tali's, she twisted her head to look at Garrus and found he'd already turned around.

"Garrus," she breathed and pulled one hand free out to grab his. He halted his step and looked down at her trembling fingers clenched around his wrist, as if he was surprised to find them there. He slowly turned back around and only needed one step to stand right next to her again. This close, she needed to crane her head again to be able to look him in the eyes.

"Dani, what are you . . . ?" Tali yelped in surprise. "Just let the bosh'tet go."

Clinging to both of their hands, Dani looked up pleading from one to the other.

"No! Please you're my friend. And Garrus – he's . . . he's . . . so is he. Please, don't be angry. For me?"

Dani was fumbling for words. She just didn't know what words to use to express herself. Hell, she didn't even know what feelings she wanted to express as she understood so little of them.

"But – yesterday!" Tali protested.

"Tali, she's fine," Garrus interjected softly. "We're fine."

"I –" Tali looked from Garrus to Dani, "Oh!" She gasped, "So you're . . . ?"

Dani twisted her head and she narrowly caught him shaking his head. Right, this was one of those conversations where one only needed a word and gesture to understand the other. So annoying when that happened! Conversing was hard enough without half the party communicating by what might as well be telepathy. She dropped both their hands in a heartbeat.

"Hey, it's not polite using secret language in front of others!"

Tali chuckled, and while Dani was relieved at the ease of tension, she still didn't like being the only one who didn't get the joke.

"No secret language Dani. Just, happy to know you're all right. You too, Vakarian," Tali finally conceded and she nodded at him. "I'm here when you're ready. Liara should be here soon."

Tali went back inside and closed the door behind her. Garrus gently picked up Dani's hands again, his thumb fumbling over her fingers.

"So, ah – have a good time – and um, I'll see you when I get back?" A question, not a statement.

He left the choice to her.

"I'd like that," she said ever so softly, afraid that by saying it louder it wouldn't happen.

"Be careful?"

"Of course," he said and let one of her hands slip from his to trace her jaw with his finger.

The moment was fleetingly short and Dani had to repress the silly urge to keep his warm hand against her face. Silly. She just wished . . . He nodded at her before he turned around to walk away and with him went the thoughts that had just barely began to form in her mind.

"Tali?" Dani called through the door. "I've not had a chance to – Would you mind terribly if I grab a quick shower first?"

"Only if you promise to hurry up and drag your butt here as quickly as you can. I've got stories to tell!"