AN: A gift for Aeowyn99, to satisfy her needy self. :P I decided to go for some fluff, since I hadn't written any in a really long while. Normally, I write Sam and Shep differently, but I wanted to experiment with this one. Hopefully, y'all enjoy it. It'll be a two-parter, more than likely. Or who knows, maybe I'll go crazy with it. We'll see.

Shepard propped up her legs on the table, slouching back onto the couch. She was beyond exhaustion and had decided to leave any duties aboard the Normandy to EDI for the time being until they reached the Citadel. Hunting down a bunch of artifacts just to gain support in the war wasn't exactly how the Alliance soldier had planned things to go, but she didn't have many options to begin with. A galaxy divided wouldn't stand against the Reapers, and she alone couldn't stop them, no matter how tough she and her team might be.

The only good thing about the entire war was meeting a specific communications specialists. Samantha Traynor was an amazing woman, beautiful, sensual. Her caramel eyes were beacons that drew in Shepard's green gaze, putting her in a trance she never wanted to escape from. Her sweet, perfect, dark skin had been explored on multiple occasions by Shepard's hands and tongue. The very memory coaxed a soft sigh from the commander. She had half a mind to drag the woman from her duties and ravish her. Deciding towards her better judgement, Shepard closed her eyes, choosing to sleep for a short while, hoping that the nightmares left her tired mind to rest for once.

"Commander, there is a situation."

Shepard groaned at the ceiling, opening one eye. "I told you to deal with anything that arose, EDI."

"Yes, but I am afraid this will require your presence. Comm. Specialist Traynor is having a rather heated argument with the new recruit."

"Sam?" Shepard sprang to her feet, hastily walking out of her cabin and into the elevator.

"The recruit apparently...toyed with one of Samantha's personal files. He hacked into them."

"He did what?" Shepard yelled at the ceiling. "Do something about this goddamned elevator, EDI! Move it faster!"

"It is already at top speed, Shepard."

Shepard growled, tapping her foot impatiently. The elevator gave a short ping, the doors sliding open shortly afterwards.

"-think I'm stupid? I know code better than anyone here; all my personal files are encrypted, why were you trying to go through them?"

"I wasn't-"

"Everybody quiet!" Shepard ordered. Samantha was a furious red, hands clenched at her sides, her breathing coming erratically. Obviously, she was holding back one hell of a punch for the new recruit. "Traynor, what happened?"

"Reynard, here, decided to go through my terminal and access personal documents." Traynor claimed.

"That isn't true! I was just-"

"You better have a damn good explanation, McNally." Shepard said.

"I wasn't doing anything. I didn't do through any of her things. I swear it." The petty officer crossed his arms, looking away.

"EDI," Shepard began, "run a full scan of Sam's files and check the security cameras. Track McNally's every move in the past 24 hours stat."

"Scanning." A moment passed. "There is evidence of tampering in Traynor's files. I cannot find, however, activity of the past hour on the main deck. There seems to be an issue with the camera feeds, one that bypassed my security scans."

Shepard glared at McNally. "I brought you aboard because you seemed like a good addition. Clearly, I was wrong." She stood straighter, holding her hands behind her back. "Petty Officer Reynard McNally, you are under arrest until we can figure out the situation."

"What?" Reynard exclaimed. "No! You can't do that to me!"

"I just did. Now shut it before I put in a charge for insubordination." By this point, a small crowd had formed, listening in on the situation. "Lieutenant Williams, escort him to the observation deck. He'll stay there until we can find more evidence, hopefully by the time we arrive at the Citadel. Also, interrogate him. I have a feeling he's not saying the truth."

"Yes, Commander." Ashley grabbed the man by the shoulders, activating her omni-tool to cuff McNally.

"Everyone else back to your duties. Traynor, come to my cabin, please." Her expression softened at the end.

"Of course, Commander."

"Thank you, Jane. I was pretty close to punching that bloody bastard."

"It's over now, Sam." Shepard ran her hands up and down the Specialist, soothing her anger. "If I can ask, what was in those files?"

Traynor lowered her gaze. "Old photo albums. A few friends, my parents, events. It may sound silly, but that is one of my most treasured possessions. I also have a diary of when I was much younger." She shrugged. "Maybe it's not important, but it is to me."

A slender finger gently lifted Sam's chin. "Hey," Shepard said softly, "it is important. And it's not silly. If I had those things, I would safeguard them as much as you do. The important thing is that the files are fine, thanks to your incredible abilities at coding, which I will never understand."

Samantha chuckled. "Probably because you charge everything like a krogan. Thank you, though. For helping me with this. Hopefully, we'll find out what McNally wanted."

"We will. And even if I wasn't madly in love with you, I would've helped you." Shepard's eyes widened, realizing what she had just said. She stepped back, looking at her fish tank, rubbing the back of her neck. "I-uh… I didn't mean to…What I meant was…"

"Is the great Commander Shepard blushing?"

"No! I am just...hot."

"Yeah, you are."

Shepard turned her gaze to teasing brown eyes. "You are so ruining my calm, calculated, charming nature of wooing you."

"I didn't realize that was possible. But.." Samantha took a step forward, tiptoeing to lock lips with Shepard's. The kiss was deep and passionate, their arms bringing them closer to each other. Sam dug her fingers into Shepard's red locks, wanting to stay like that forever. The need for air was too much, however. Breathless, the brunette pulled away. "I'm madly in love with you as well."

Shepard grinned. "Even if you're able to destroy my charming and gentlemanly manners?"

"Even then. Besides, you look hot as hell when you blush."

"I didn't blush."

"Right. And I'm an asari."

"You're hotter than them, that's for sure."

It was Traynor's turn to blush now. "Fair enough, Commander. You win this one, only if you show me just how madly you love me."

"Yes, ma'am." Shepard said, wrapping her arms around her lover's waist and diving in for another long kiss.