Shepard and Tali were chatting idly the next morning as they made their way through the docks, approaching the pick-up point that they had arranged with the rest of the team. The Citadel was absolutely heaving with traffic this morning and Shepard glanced at the chaos, wondering if it was wise to be hiring a cab in the middle of rush hour. A skycar was parking itself in front of them in one of the empty bays, the doors sliding up and out to allow entry. Walking towards it, Shepard froze as she surveyed the scene before her.

Wrex was sitting in the driver's seat, a big burly arm hanging over the passenger headrest as he stared back at her with a smirk on his unusually wide mouth. Liara had claimed the passenger seat – she too, just coyly looked at her with an arched brow. Shepard's eyes flicked to the back seat – which could only really seat two people – and her breath hitched as she saw the familiar blue of a visor. Her favourite Turian was seated in the back, one leg crossed over his knee and a casual arm resting over the backseat with a datapad in his free hand.

He was resolutely ignoring her.

''Get in Shepard.'' She heard Tali say and her eyebrows disappeared into her hair.

''W-what? You can't be serious…'' she trailed off as her heartbeat thudded loudly in her ears.

It really was a tiny sky car… like seriously, seriously fucking tiny… and…and…everyone would need to touch each other – and holy fuck, this means she would have to climb onto her Turians lap in order to fit them all in.

''Uh, you know what Tali, somehow I don't think we're all going fit into this car here… I think I'll just catch the ne- Ooomph!'' she grunted as she felt something hit her squarely in the back and she landed with a thump on her knees inside the car on top of the seats, her face now mere inches away from Garrus' crotch.

Shepard would swear to her dying day that she heard a nearly inaudible surprised squeak come from her Turian.

She cursed Tali who had dared to push her, plotting swift and sweet retribution for herself later. She lifted her eyes to meet Garrus' and she could have sworn that she saw amusement and laughter dancing in them as they swept over her form. Quickly backtracking, she tried to right herself, placing a hand on the floor to push herself up. Miscalculating, she landed on her ass on the seats with a curse. Her scheming Quarian suddenly pushed in from the open door and forced Shepard to press up close against Garrus, who visibly stiffened as their bodies touched.

''Shepard, you really need to move up, I can't get in properly and I doubt the doors will close this way.''

''Tali.'' Shepard growled.

Her irritation at being forced into such a situation and the – albeit welcome – contact with Garrus, made a vein on her forehead twitch as she glared at the younger woman.

''Well what the fuck do you want me to do about it! I can't very well climb onto Vakarian's lap!'' Shepard all but snarled, her temper getting the better of her.

''Well no, we wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable Shepard, would we? However, I don't think we have much of a choice – so scoot!'' Tali chuckled and Shepard inhaled deeply as she fought the urge to lash out at all her comrades.

She could do this! Yeah, it's not like she was afraid of touching people – She just didn't like it. At all… Unless it was Garrus. Okay, she could do this. Piece of cake!

The doors to the car started to come down and with a mad rush Tali squeezed in. Shepard moved onto Garrus' lap and his arms lifted to accommodate her. She felt the heat from his light-armoured covered body, penetrate her backside and she squirmed on top of him – trying to get comfortable. He growled low in her ear as he leaned forward, his breath tickling the back of her neck making goose bumps break out over her body as he dropped the padd he was holding into a slot next to her knee. His arms came up awkwardly to fold around her waist and Shepard gripped the headrest in front of her with enough force to choke an Elcor to death.

Someone… Anyone… Dear God… give me a threshermaw to kill! Anything but this humiliation. Mutiny! That's what this was. Fucking First Class Not-So-Subtle Mutiny!

She was trying to sit still... really… she was trying! But with a final push Tali had the doors closed and the darkness of the interior of the car, battered against her last remaining senses and she closed her eyes as the vehicle rose up and began their ascent.

''Comfy back there Shepard?'' Wrex hollered, making everyone in the car cry out in squeaks and growls in their surprise.

''Goddammit Wrex, no need to shout, I'm only on the backseat!''

''Hahah! Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention Shepard.''

Dear God have mercy… on their souls.

Cause she sure shit would'nt.

Reaching Anderson's office took just shy of twenty minutes. In those twenty minutes, Shepard had taken to picturing her nearest and dearest in varying forms of agonising death. Dying slowly. Dying painfully. Bringing them back to life and killing them all over again. She had accepted the bodily contact – not having much choice in the matter – but what she could not abide by was the constant smirking, the twitch of a suggestive eyebrow from Liara and the guwaffing from Wrex whenever he caught her eye.

Garrus… did not move a muscle for the entire journey. Either he was scared out of his mind at having his commander in his lap... or he was to scared out of his mind at having a woman in his lap who was known for beating people within an inch of their lives when said woman was touched.

Getting out of the vehicle was the most graceless spectacle Shepard had ever been seen in, in her entire life. She scrambled from his lap the moment the car doors opened and made sure to put atleast ten feet between her and everyone else.

''Shepard… we don't bite.'' Wrex barked at her from the other side of the car, his laughter shaking the metal walls.

She gave him the finger and upon turning she could have sworn she heard someone mutter ''maybe she's into that kinda thing''.

''All of you, hurry the hell up and let's get this over with. Vakarian, you said you needed to speak to Pallin about getting back in to C-sec, so we'll head over there first. Liara, your skinny blue ass is staying on the ship with me right?,'' at her nod Shepard looked over at Wrex. ''And you, oh great Krogan warrior, you've been as tight lipped as krogan could be possibly try to be ... what's the deal? You sticking around to kick some more ass?''

''No Shepard. I've got some ass to kick on Tuchanka. My idiot brood-brother is currently ruler and I've decided I don't like that very much. So we'll part ways for a while.''

''Ah, well I'll be sad to see you go… but at least everyone on the ship will get a decent night's sleep. Your snoring is fucking horrible Wrex.''

''And humans stink. What's your point?''

Witty retort on her tongue at the ready, she bit it instead when Tali interrupted.

''Shepard, would you mind dropping me off at the Flotilla? I need to get this data back to my father. I'm still technically on my pilgrimage.''

''Yeah and I'm not paying for a ticket to Tuchanka so you need to drop me off too.'' Wrex muttered as he glared at an Asari who brushed by to close them.

''Jesus, I feel like I'm running a taxi service.'' Shepard groaned but her group could tell she didn't mind ferrying them about.

''Ok, we'll get you all to your prospective planets.. or err.. ships and then I can kick ass in peace and quiet.. or as much as I can get when I'm not blowing shit up.''

The five of them made their way up the stairs, Shepard vetoing the whole 'crowded-in-a-elevator' idea before it could pass anyone's lips.

Yup, nipping that in the bud right now.

''Shepard, the council needs you to take a team out and wipe up the remaining Geth pockets we've had reports about.'' Anderson said, ignoring the outraged snort coming from the woman in front of him.

''Seriously?''

''Yes Shepard.''

''No, like SERIOUSLY? Sir.''

''Indeed.''

''Ah Anderson, if I had balls... you'd really be kicking them right about now. Sir.''

''I know you don't like it, that you have better things to do, like prepare for the reapers, but we need you to get this done first.''

''Yeah..'' she sighed, plonking her backside down on an empty seat.

''They don't believe me do they?''

''Who? The council?''

''Mmm''

''Would you believe you?''

''Maybe.''

''Get it done Shepard and come back. We'll start by getting together another team and digging through the debris, maybe we'll find something in all this mess that will be enough proof.''

''Ok, we'll do some clean-up for you, but when I get back – so help me- if the council doesn't take this seriously, I'm going to be hard pressed to NOT shove my size six boot up their asses. Excluding yours of course Sir.''

''Noted. Dismissed Commander.'' He smiled at her as she made a show of standing up. She saluted and made her way to the door.

''Oh and Shepard? Do try to stay alive won't you? I've got no one else to gripe to. You can't deprive an old man like me of one of his pleasures in life.''

''You got it old man.'' She smirked, giving him a wave as she slipped through the doors.

Having left the office she spotted Garrus at the end of the hallway, talking to another Turian, mandibles clicking furiously as he obviously argued with whoever he was talking to. Seeing that he had spotted her she stifled a smile as his back straightened and his mandibles pulled tight against his face.

''Commander.''

''Vakarian. You all set here?''

''Yeah, just having a difference of opinion.'' He grinned his toothy grin and made introductions.

''Chellick. Commander Shepard. Commander.. Chellick.''

''It's an honor to meet you Ma'am.'' His head dipped in greeting and he stuck out his hand.

''Uh…'' Shepard looked at his hand like it had grown a form of fungus and the man dropped it hastily. Raising an eyebrow at Garrus, she motioned him over with nod to her side.

Quickly, he stepped in next to Shepard and bumped shoulders with her subtly.

''Sorry Chellick.. I have a… thing… about touching people. Don't take offense please.'' She asked with a smile directed at him and he visibly calmed, his shoulders relaxing at the earlier perceived slight.

''Not to worry Shepard. I'd be happy to get to know why.. if you're free for a drink later?''

''Commander Shepard is busy.'' Shepard looked at her Turian, crossing her arms and faced him with a look that said 'since when do you speak for me?'. He shrugged and to prove some kind of point to Chellick that she was obviously missing out on.. he bumped shoulders with her again.

''Well, it was nice to meet you Chellick and maybe we can get that drink when I get back from patrol.'' She gave him another smirk and with a half wave, motioned to Garrus to follow her. He did.

Naturally.

As the silence stretched to breaking point, she sighed. Ok, this awkwardness had gone on long enough. Turning to him and leaning back against the railing of their meeting spot she looked him up and down and cocked her head to side.

''Vakarian.''

''Yes Commander?''

''I like you.''

''Uh…''

''I mean I LIKE like you. Romantically I mean. Do you get it?''

''Uh..mmm.''

''Is this going to be an issue?''

''Uh…. No?''

''You sure?''

''Ah… yeah?''

''Well alright then.''

As they stood there in their little silent bubble she reviewed the conversation they had just had. She thought that went rather well. She got straight to the point, didn't fuck around with messy feelings or long drawn out speeches. He had accepted her statement with little fuss and apart from the monosyllables from him and the shell-shocked look on his face; she thought he took it rather well.

''Commander?''

''Yeah Garrus?''

''…''

''Garrus?''

''Yeah, sorry. Brain froze up.''

''… ''

''Well?''

''Is Alenko going with you on patrol?''

''Wow, Garrus. Complete sentences. I'm shocked.''

''… ''

''Sorry Vakarian, that was mean. Yes, the boy scout is coming with me. Why?''

''Just wondering.''

''Oh.''

''When do you ship out?''

''Anderson's given me a two weeks to rest up and get my shit together and then I'll be out in the black for god knows how long while I clean up geth schmoop off the bottom of my boot.'' Shepard watched him as he scratched absent-mindedly at his chin with a glove covered hand. His eyes on constant watch around them as the gears in his head formed his next sentence. She counted the plates on the side of his neck while she waited for him to speak.

After reaching twenty she lost her patience.

''Spit it out Garrus. The guys will be here soon and I don't know If I want them to get in on this conversation.'' She pushed of the railing and stopped in front of him. Arms folding in a mirror image of him.

'Is he capable of watching your six? Will he… keep you safe?'' he looked down and only then seemed to realise how close she actually was. He reflexively took a step back, but to her own surprise her hand shot out to grab at his elbow and she pulled him back to her. Her translator crackled in her ear when his garbled, panicked subvocals reached her and she winced and rubbed it in annoyance.

''Sorry Shepard.'' She saw him take a deep breath. '' I always kind of expect to get beaten when I touch you. Even with your recent… declaration?.. I'm still a bit jumpy.'' He smiled sheepishly at her.

''Declaration? Jesus, Garrus I didn't declare my undying love for you. Just told you that you had the potential to get that kind of response from me.'' Her brows furrowed and she heard him chuckle.

''Youre not very good at this whole romance thing are you?'' he laughed at her when she scowled.

''What, do you want me to buy you some chocolates or flowers and make a big hoo-ha about the whole thing? Get over yourself. You know me by now; we've bled together more times than I can count so you should know that hearts and feelings aren't something I do often. Or at all.''

''Yeah, I get that Shepard.''

''Yeah.''

''Thank you Shepard.''

''For what?''

''For liking me.''

''Is this the part when you say 'it's me not you'?'' she pinched the bridge of her nose and huffed, eyes closed as she considered how she was going to handle this upcoming rejection.

''Not at all, Shepard. I just… need some time... to think about things. It's not like human women confess to me daily…'' she swatted him hard on the arm and squealed 'confession my ass!' as he laughed and stepped back to avoid another blow.

''Just let me try wrap my mind around it.''

''Alright Garrus. You win. Have your time. But I'd rather you just get it over and done with when or if you decide that you don't like your partners to be human.''

''Noted.''

She nodded at him and went back to her railing, having spotted the crew walking towards them. She shook her head fondly and in exasperation as Liara waggled her eyebrows and Tali and Wrex made rude hip thrusting motions in her direction. Getting in to the vehicle this time was easier, as now that she had taken care of the whole teenage angst 'I like him but does he like me' bullshit, she climbed onto his lap without further ado. She leaned back against his chest and folded her arms. The startled looks of her team mates made her uncharacteristically burst out laughing and as she felt the Turians arms come around her waist again, she sucked in a breath as she heard him whisper into her left ear.

''Definite potential.''