I recommend that you read this however you feel is most appropriate - but just a smidgen of "space marine" might help.

Chapter 4 - Coupling

I hate to admit it, but a wave of relief hits me when I step through the Normandy's airlock doors. Even though I was the one to approve the shore leave, somehow I knew that it wouldn't be much of a break for me. In a way, being on the Normandy is the only real shore leave I have - my only reprieve from being the "Hero of the Galaxy." I'm not on some desperate mission to save everyone and everything at all times. No, on the Normandy, I'm just issuing orders. The crew does all the work. Hell, Joker has more to worry about than anyone.

And if I want to help out one of my squad with a minor errand, it's for no other reason than because I want to. Not because I'm the hero completely incapable of ignoring the most minor of requests, not because that person is offering something I need as a reward for playing fetch, not for any reason other than that I care about my crew.

After that shore leave, though, I might not want to run any errands for... at least a week. Two weeks, max.

Which is why I have to suppress an irritated sigh when Kasumi materializes beside me as I enter the CIC. "Man, that was a hell of a shore leave, huh, Shepard?" she asks, rounding the Galaxy Map with me.

I exhale as we reach my terminal. Tapping the display, I flick through my inbox, staring at the titles without actually seeing the words. "I know. With the power outage, I had to spend the whole time helping Bailey get the emergency lighting to work."

Kasumi winces sympathetically. "Sounds rough."

"It wasn't that bad." Stifling a yawn, I give up on checking my messages and shut off the terminal. "Just... disappointing." I turn to face Kasumi fully. "I had hoped to take a break from doing everything all the time."

"I hear you," she nods, her eyes gentle beneath her hood. She crosses her arms, which is what Kasumi does when she wants to hug you but feels that you wouldn't find the gesture appropriate. It's sweet, really - a rare moment of sensitivity and tact from her.

I return the sentiment with a small smile, but another thought interrupts me. I sigh and shake my head. "I just hope that the extra hour of leave I gave Garrus and Tali will be enough, seeing how they were my support team during the emergency light debacle."

Kasumi actually squeezes my arm encouragingly. "They understand. I know they do."

I manage a real smile this time. "Thanks, Kasumi."

"Anytime," she beams, but her face falls suddenly, and she twiddles her fingers as she steps back. "Listen, Shep, I hate to send you running around some more, but maybe you ought to check our engines. Just in case."

I furrow my brow, leaning against the console. "I'm sure Tali and the others have it under control."

Impatience flickers across her face, but it's gone in an instant. I almost dismiss it, but then Kasumi squeezes her crossed arms, controlling herself.

So much for sensitivity and tact.

"Oh, come on, Shep," she says. "It can't hurt, right?"

Straightening, I cross my arms, too, tipping my face up just slightly to study her at a different angle. "What's your game, Kasumi?"

She makes a surprised face, which is what Kasumi does when she isn't surprised at all. "Game? Honestly, Shep. I'm just worried that an electrical sabotage like that could've fried something while the ship was hooked up to the dock."

I stop short. "Sabotage? No one said anything about sabotage."

Rolling her eyes, Kasumi rests her hands on her hips. "Come on, Shep. The Citadel has backup systems after backup systems, and then there are the Keepers to boot. You really think that was just a 'catastrophic generator failure'?"

She keeps drumming her fingers against her sides. Her lips purse a little of their own accord.

For a thief, Kasumi has a lot of tells.

I step back, eyeing her. "What aren't you telling me, Kasumi?"

She widens her eyes at me, shifting her weight to one hip. "Shep, really, I can't be a little concerned-" I raise my eyebrows. She frowns and turns away, crossing her arms in an entirely non-sweet way. "Oh, for the love of..." Her face shifts: a flicker of realization, followed by an abrupt scowl. Under her breath, she mutters, "I. Am a moron." She expels a breath and announces at normal volume, "Well, maybe I saw Miss Gabriella Daniels helping guide civilians into Rodam Expeditions when the lights went out and thought you might want to recognize her leadership efforts."

I am unconvinced. "Why didn't you just say that? I'd be happy to recognize Gabby."

"Maybe I thought you wouldn't believe me," she retorts, pouting at the galaxy map.

Now I am thoroughly unconvinced. "Kasumi, you're not making any sense."

"Oh, would you just get down to Engineering?!" she snaps.

I raise my hands in surrender, stepping back. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Obviously this is important to you."

"Yes. Thank you. Go." She pushes me into the elevator. The doors ding shut on her impatient frown.

I stand in awkward silence as the elevator whirs down to Engineering. I'd stretch, but I'm sort of worried Kasumi might pounce on me if I behave in any way other than absolute obedience.

The doors ding open, and I step out onto the viewing platform for the lower deck. I'd stop to survey the vehicles for a moment, but with Kasumi's irritation fresh on my mind, I turn and head straight for the opposite deck, where Ken and Gabby should be working. I pass through the stairwell and walk straight through the doors to the Engineering Deck.

Where Ken has Gabby pressed up against the wall beside their terminals, with her arms around his neck and his hands sliding up her shirt.

I turn right around and walk straight back to the viewing platform. I stare at the lower deck until my eyes burn. A phantom giggle echoes through my mind - Kasumi, always gossiping about how perfect they'd be together. Of course. This is all her handiwork. She's probably giggling with Joker now at the surveillance vid of me walking in on my engineers. At least they were too... busy to notice me. I hope. If they weren't... I groan and thunk my forehead against the window.

God, I could really use some shore leave.

END

That took long enough, didn't it?

I know, I know - "Screennameless, you made me wait months, MONTHS I tell you, for a 1,000 word chapter!" Yes, I did, because I am picky. You see, the original plan for this chapter was to actually show Shepard, Tali, and Garrus turning on the emergency lights, with Kasumi luring Shep upstairs to find Ken and Gabby. But it just wasn't working. I had issues like, "Why aren't they just fixing the generators? How the hell did Ken actually ruin the generators so much, anyway?" And on and on. All these technical issues were getting in the way of the conclusion, which broke down to, "Shepard finds them. The end." And I just couldn't get around them if I used that scenario.

So today, months later, I sat down and said, "Goddammit, I am going to write something to wrap this up, even if it is not up to my usual length or standards." And this was the result.

So, as always, thanks for reading and please, please let me know how I should improve it, because I really am disappointed with it, but I was tired of leaving you guys hanging.