Suave Remnants

Also, long chapter to give me more time from Nightodie from KAST

----

Kaidan smirked as the last player left from his table. Tipping the dealer, he quickly collected the chips on the table and began the stack them. A few days ago, Anderson and Hackett got information about the Prothean Artifact that was discovered. Intel told them that it would be held as a prize at the Rorthang Casino Station. They had been trying to find a way into the underground Poker Tournament, when Jessica said she could pull some old strings and get them an invite. Hackett immediately said that he wanted this to be low profile. So instead of taking a whole squad of people Kaidan took Chavis, Williams and senior officer by the name of Callen. It was decided that he would be the poker player, while the others were the guard. Shaking his head, Kaidan finished stacking his chips when he felt a chill brush over him. Someone was watching him. Looking up, his eyes locked with the person he was told was still on the Citadel. He watched as her eyes stared at him.

“Shepard…” Kaidan whispered. He saw her open her mouth to whisper his name, when he heard Jessica’s call as she pressed herself against his side. Turning his eyes begrudgingly away from Shepard, he looked at his Lieutenant.

“You’re in the finals!” She smiled at him. Before he could say anything else, Chavis pulled him into a kiss. He didn’t respond at first, but she wouldn’t stop. They had discussed not showing affection at the casino, but it seems she forgot.

“Hello beautiful,” He heard as he pulled away. Chavis pulled him out of his seat, as he tried to see Shepard’s face. Her lavender eyes were wide in shock she looked up at the man.

“Handsome…” She replied quietly, but not silent enough for Kaidan to not hear.

The man’s hair was brushed back with a few slips of hair hanging in front of his face. He placed another kiss on Shepard’s hand and whispered something to her. Kaidan watched as the shocked look immediately melted away to what he knew as her Commander face. The man said something else and Kaidan noticed a small quirk of her lips in response. The man tugged Shepard out of her seat as Garrus began to walk to them. The woman gave a smile to her turian guard and gave him an unfamiliar short hand signal. Kaidan could see Garrus’s mandibles flutter worriedly before nodding and leaving the poker pit without her.

“Come on! Let’s celebrate!” Chavis interrupted Kaidan’s observation and pulled him out of the pit. She led him to the bar beside the pit that held a dance floor and tables like a high class restaurant. He didn’t get a chance to glance back to see Shepard or reaction to the man.

---------

Sarah Williams growled as she walked through the slot area. She couldn’t believe her message had gotten bounced back before they left the Citadel. As requested, she tried to send word to Brian that the Alliance had gotten an invitation to Rorthang. But before they left, she had gotten pinged back saying her message could not go through. Now that she was on the station she knew why. There were jammers set on the ship. They didn’t allow communications to the ships or to the outside. It made the occupants use the station’s terminals for networking, allowing them to track everything you do or send. She needed to find a way to get a message to Brian and Thane before…

“Sarah?”

She stopped as she was passing the Let it Ride card tables. Blinking, she looked at the man in the black suit with a sky blue tie and fedora with matching band. Her eyes stared at his face, not recognizing him until he turned back to the table.

“Joker?” She murmured. Joker quickly finished the hand he was on before taking his chips and using the cane to walk over to her. “You’re in the casino…”

“Yeah…” Joker said as he looked at her puzzled. “If you’re here that means…” Sarah nodded. “Shit…where’s Alenko?”

“The poker pit,” Sarah replied simply. “It’s just me, him, Chavis, and a man named Callen.”

“Double shit,” he grabbed her hand and began to quickly limp his way to where he knew Tali was.

“Where are we going?” She asked.

Joker looked at Sarah. “We’ve got to warn Shepard before she sees him.”

“She already has,” Garrus answered as he walked up to the two humans with Tali in tow.

“Is she alright?” The pilot asked.

“She’s with a man she knew from before the Alliance.” The turian explained. “He seemed to be able to take her thoughts of Alenko and Chavis.”

“His pet girlfriend was there too?” Joker said incredulously putting a hand to his neck. “I don’t believe him…”

“I assume you guys are trying to find back ways out?” Sarah asked looking at Tali.

“With no success,” the Quarian answered.

The human stepped forward, “Maybe I can help.” She said. “I would also like to speak to you about something I find…disconcerting.”

“Should I get Jack and Miranda?” Tali asked looking at Garrus.

The turian looked at the human girl in front of him. She was the sibling of a former comrade. He didn’t want to endanger her if he didn’t need to. Sure Sarah was strong, but if she had information, the other two might use it against her. No he didn’t want the other humans with them.

“Tell them we are going back to the rooms, I want them on the floor in case Shepard needs back up.” Garrus answered.

“I guess that means party time is over…” Joker sighed pocketing his chips.

------

Shepard looked up at the man as he kissed her hand for a second time before leaning in.

“You might want to wipe that shocked expression from your face doll, it’s not very Fox of you.” He whispered to her before pulling back. She immediately schooled her face into her stoic Commander expression. “Now tell that Turian guard of yours that I’m here to play nice.” He said as he helped her out of her seat.

There was a quirk of her lips as she realized what he was doing. Looking at Garrus, who was moving toward her, she gestured to him that she was fine and to leave. Her friend looked at her worriedly, before giving her a nod and doing as she asked.

Shepard turned back to the man before her and crossed her arms under her bosom. He was dressed in a pair of black slacks and matching jacket that was left open to reveal his pale orange shirt. “Carth Onasi, I see you still have your fondness for orange.”

“The lady Fox of the White Lotus,” Carth replied as he smiled at her. “I see you haven’t eaten dinner yet. If I may…” He bowed a bit before letting his arm out.

“Smooth,” Shepard replied. Wrapping her arm around his, she let him lead her to the bar. “I see you haven’t lost your chivalry.”

“Despite what they say, it isn’t dead.” He answered as he led them to a table close to the dance floor. He pulled out her chair and helped her sit down with her hand in his. “And neither are you.”

Shepard watched Carth round the table taking his seat across from her. A waiter came to their table for their drink orders. She smiled and ordered the raw oysters and some cold wild salmon with crème fraiche. Carth smirked realizing that she wanted finger foods, not a big meal, secretly ordered some dark chocolate covered raspberries and other fruit. Shepard ordered a pomegranate martini while Carth ordered a beer. When their drinks arrive, she took a liberal amount from her glass before looking at the man across from her.

“So, are you going to tell me about the rumors?” He leaned back, his left arm bend over the back of his chair.

“There are a lot of rumors about me flyboy, be a little more specific.” She answered as she leaned back in her chair, elegantly crossing her legs.

“You and the so evil Cerberus…” The man said with a wave of his right hand. “Heard you worked for them.”

“Worked is such a strong term,” Shepard said as she stared into her glass. “More like cooperated toward a mutual goal.” She took a sip of her drink. “Who else was going to stop the Collectors? The Council was still denying the attack of a Reaper when it landed in their front door and the Alliance…”

As she trailed off, Carth saw her shiver. He knew that her past with the Alliance was as jaded as a jagged serrated knife. Carth never understood why she stayed with them after everything that happened to her, but she had made her choice.

“Anyway,” She grinned at him leaning forward seductively. “Tell me what my second favorite flyboy is doing here?”

“Second favorite?” Carth questioned as her finger food came.

“Got to give Joker his props…” She said as she grabbed an oyster shell. Looking at the man across from her from under her lashes, she delicately tipped the raw oyster into her mouth, letting it slid down her throat. Closing her eyes, she licked her lips enjoying her food. “So…” She looked up to meet a smoldering gaze. “You going to tell me what you’ve been up to or will I have to force it out of you?”

Reaching across the table, he took one of her oysters and devoured it. “Let’s just say I followed Wolf’s path a bit.”

Raising an eyebrow, she took one of her salmon pieces that were on a piece of toasted bread with the crème faiche. “How so?”

“Come on beautiful, don’t tell me you haven’t heard of the Rebellion.” Carth said as he stole another oyster.

“You’re one of the Rebels?” She tilted her head at him as she took another piece of salmon.

“Try the Admiral,” Carth smirked as she coughed and choked a bit. He pushed his beer to her allowing her to take a swig to wash it down. “Maybe I should have waited before dropping the bomb…”

“Yeah, just a bit.” Shepard said as she cleared her throat.

He laughed and shook his head. “What about you? Lady Fox is reigning supreme again.”

“It was a way to get off the Citadel and take Wolf with me.” She answered. “My crew was getting restless and Wolf didn’t trust anyone to not stab him in the back.”

“He does have a lot of enemies…” Carth said as he helped her finish the oysters.

Shepard eyed Carth as she went for her salmon. “You are keeping your questions to a minimum about my supposed death.”

“I am more connected than you think,” He shot at her with a waggle of his eyebrows.

“You talked to Wolf.” She crossed her arms and glared a bit at him.

Carth let out another laugh and nodded. “I talked with Wolf.” Shaking his head, he took back his beer and took a deep swig from it. His voice became somber as he looked at her. “I was at the funeral.”

Shepard put her food down and turned to look out onto the dance floor.

“Beautiful…”

“One minute I was watching my ship being destroyed while I was being spaced, the next I was waking up in a laboratory that was being attacked.” Shepard said. “I left Wolf because I brought danger to the people around me Onasi, but Wolf is the only one who can come out of it unscarred.” She waved her hand out toward the dance floor where Kaidan was dancing with the queen of tacky. “I couldn’t even keep the man I loved from hurting.”

“Seems he’s doing okay…”

“Yea…” Shepard turned her head back to the tabletop. “With someone new…”

Frowning at her change in moods, Carth looked up as the songs were changing. He made a quick signal to his guard, who went to the DJ and whispered to them. He stood up and finished off his beer. Walking over to Shepard, Carth bowed at his waist and gently grabbed her hand.

“Then let’s show him what he’s missing signora.” The brunette man said with a grin.

----

“How’d you get here Sarah?” Joker asked after they got back to the rooms. Garrus and Tali both went through the room and destroyed any lingering bugs they had missed before.

“That’s the thing,” Sarah crossed her arms over her stomach. “Lieutenant Chavis said she had some old connections she was going to tap.”

Garrus and Tali looked at each other. “Are you saying that Chavis got you the invite to this station?” The quarian asked. She turned to her turian teammate. “How can that be?”

“It is not uncommon for officers to have a mole in the underground for them.” Garrus replied. “I had many when I was still with C-Sec…but to get an exclusive invite…that’s something else.”

“So Chavis is playing the Alliance?” Joker questioned. “Man…when Brian said the Alliance sucked, he was right.”

“Not necessarily,” The human woman said. “I just thought it was suspicious she got it so easily and quickly.”

“Garrus…” Tali murmured. “If she is a spy for someone, that means she could be part of Cerberus…”

The turian crossed his arms and thought to himself. “We can’t rule out the possibility but we can’t go jumping to conclusions. We could in danger Alenko and Fox.”

“So what do we do?” Joker asked. “We can’t just leave her down there.”

“We can’t do anything else right now.” Garrus answered. “We play it to her plan.”

“But…” Tali stopped when the turian looked at her.

Sarah looked up at Garrus. “Is there anyway to get a message to Brian or Thane?” She asked. She felt very out of her element here. This was cloak and dagger stuff, she was a soldier. She was use to seeing her opponent in front of her gun. Joker reached over and pulled her onto his bed and put an arm around her.

“Unfortunately we can’t, not without the owner spying on us.” The dextro-DNA turian replied.

“We won’t let anything happen to you Sarah.” Joker said confidently. “Whatever happens we will make sure you are okay.”

“It’s not me that I’m worried about.” She said looking from Joker to the two aliens. “Ashley told me how close my Commander was to her. I’m afraid that seeing him with Chavis will push her to her limit…to a point she might be able to handle.”

“You see it too…” Tali said quietly.

Garrus stared at Sarah before nodding. “We tell her first thing in the morning.” He said finally. “I don’t think she’ll be able to handle it tonight, not after seeing Alenko as one of the players she will need to deal with tomorrow.”

“I’ll go rally up Miranda and Jack.” Tali said.

“Don’t tell them anything,” Garrus said as he looked at the two humans. “Joker, I want you to escort Sarah to her room. Make sure that you know where it’s located. We might need to know where she is to pull her out.”

“Got it,” The pilot said as he stood up.

“Thank you,” Sarah said as she got up and grabbed Garrus’s hand. “I don’t think anyone in the Alliance would have believed me.”

“The Alliance is becoming as blind as the council…” The turian said. “And if you want to help us, try to find holes in their security. Be careful.”

“You too Vakarian,” Sarah said.

Garrus watched as the young woman reached up to touch the cross hanging around her neck. A cross he was intimately familiar with. Joker grabbed Sarah’s hand and pulled her out the door as Tali closed it. The turian’s fist curled as his face plates fluttered. Perhaps there was some hope to remind a certain Commander how stupid he was.

Kaidan had given Sarah the cross Ashley wore on the Normandy.

The one that Shepard bought for the Gunnery Chief.

----

“What the…” Chavis stopped her dance with Kaidan as the music turned to a spicy mix.

Kaidan watched as many of the couples that were dancing pulled off the dance floor leaving only a few of them left. “It seems someone wants to take the floor over.”

“Someone alright,” The woman glared as she nodded over to the other end of the dance floor. Kaidan turned to see Shepard striding away from her companion in time with the beat of the song. He was hypnotized as her hips began to shift and circle as she stopped in the middle of the dance floor. The woman’s hands went into the air circling above her head before sensually tracing down over her head and body. Chavis tightened her grip on Kaidan as the man that pulled Shepard away from her poker table stalked around her.

He says he wants you, he says he needs you
It’s real talk then, why not make him wait for you
If he rally wants you, if he really needs you
Really got to have you


The woman known as Fox sprung out of Shepard as soon as Carth spun her out onto the dance floor. One of the passions Shepard had since before the Alliance was her passion to dance. After she left White Lotus, she had locked it away with her Fox persona, letting it gather dust. But apparently Carth wanted to dust it off and show it to everyone. She lost herself in the music, moving to the beat and lyrics.

Take your time and feel him out
When he’s a good boy
I mean a really, really good boy
Why not let him lay with you
That’s when you give it to him good

Carth stopped in front of her and reached out pulling her to him quickly. She smirked and arched an eyebrow at him, letting her hands do as the lyrics say and feel him out. Her hands went from his shoulders down his chest to around his waist. Carth grinned and braced his hand at her back and dipped her back at the end of the first verse. Shepard hiked up her right leg, hooking it around his hip as she tilted back.

Dip it low
Pick it up slow
Roll it all around
Poke it out like your back broke
Pop, pop, pop that thing
I’ma show you how to make you man say “Oh!”

As the chorus started, Carth brought her back up holding her thigh in his right hand. He rolled his hips into her and waggled his eyebrows back at her. Shepard gave a delighted laugh as he let down her leg. She grabbed his hand and held it up in a traditional tango position. Her feet began to move, kicking out on either side of his and her hips swiveling with the rhythm of the song. Carth began to move about, leading Shepard around for the dance floor. They danced around like that through out the second verse of the song and the bridge.

You’re getting bold, he’s growing cold
It’s just the symptoms of young love growing old
You think it’s time
And you’re thinking of leaving, but give it time
It’s late at night, he’s coming home
Meet him at the door with nothing on
Take him by the hand, let him know what’s on
If you understand me, y’all come on

Jack grabbed Miranda’s arm, stopping them as they were passing the bar. She nodded inside. Both of them quickly made their way in. When they caught sight of their Commander on the dance floor, their eyes widened.

“Check it out,” Jack laughed.

“I didn’t know she could move like that…” Miranda whispered.

The convict smirked. “Who knew she could dance like THAT?” She said looking at the man Shepard was dancing with. “And she has good tastes too.”

Both women watched a bit more before Miranda forced Jack to leave. Despite the show, they still had work to do.

All my ladies wind it up
If you know just how to move
All my fellas jump behind
And show her what you wanna do

The next chorus began with Shepard spinning away from Carth and moving on her own. She moved her arms out to her sides, while bending back arching in practiced ease. Coming back up, she spun around to face Carth. Her hands went around her stomach and chest as she gave him a one shoulder shrug.

Liking the challenge, the flyboy raised his hands collar and popped his collar when the lyrics said to. He then dusted off his shoulder before moving forward to Shepard, who was shaking her hips to the beat. Spinning, he went low ending up on his knees in front of her. She leaned forward forcing Carth to lean back. He smirked as she put a hand on his chest and pushed him back, so he was laying flat on the ground. Using his hands, he flipped up in time to watch her shimmer and dance away from him. Sliding he made his way back to her. Carth grabbed her hand was waving out from her body and used it to spin her back into his chest. They were chest to back as they rocked their hips to the small bridge in the song.

We can move if you wanna
We can move if you wanna
We can move if you wanna
We can move…

Shepard’s hands were moving, one was up around his neck, and the other was scratching its way up from his thigh to his butt. When the last chorus began Carth spun her back around as they circled their hips as they moved around the floor again.

Shepard squeezed Carth’s ass as the end was coming to an end. The man embraced her tightly, easily lifting her as she jumped up to wrap her legs around his waist. When the last few lines were sung, she bent back, her hands pulling Carth’s head to her breasts. They stayed like that for a few moments, his head mere millimeters from her chest. Letting out a laugh, she placed her hands flat on the floor. Carth let got of her, keeping one hand on her back as she untangled her legs from his waist and did a slow backhand spring to stand up. His hand followed her, spotting her unconsciously as he walked with her body until she was upright. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips before spinning her out and bowing as the applause erupted from everyone.

Chavis huffed. “Show off…” She murmured. Kaidan and she, like everyone else moved off the floor when the two began to dance. She didn’t recognize the man, but apparently he and Shepard had a past. Knowing that the dance had caught every man’s attention she looked at Kaidan. Chavis grinded her teeth as she saw him staring at the woman. This wouldn’t do at all.

Kaidan stared at Drusilla as the man reached forward and spun her around two more times, getting more crowd applause. He knew that she liked to dance. She often had done it when everyone was either asleep or in the privacy of her room. He had watched her dance with that man and she was enjoying it. The smile she had the whole time and the moves they did. His fist clenched against his leg. He shouldn’t be feeling this way. Not when he had moved on with Chavis, but he couldn’t help but…

Shepard shook her head as she looked at the grinning man across from her. She looked around her at the crowd that had come into the bar just to see the commotion she and Carth caused. Her cheeks tinged pink a bit as she sent a minor glare to her dancing partner. “How’d you get that song?”

“Because I’m was only decent dance partner you’ve had in a long time beautiful. I kept all your songs,” Carth said as he grinned at her. He spun her to him and whispered into her ear. “Plus, I think the audience is calling for an encore, let’s give them a show.”

“I would rather sit this one out,” She said as she pulled away. Turning she began to head back to the table.

Carth quickly ran the distance and slid in front of Shepard. “What are you afraid of?” He watched as she glanced at the Alliance Commander from the corner of her eye as a slower song began. “Don’t you think I understand your heart by now gorgeous?” That turned her eyes back to Carth.

“Handsome…” She murmured.

He grabbed her hand and led her back slowly to the middle of the dance floor, never breaking eye contact with her. Carth spun her once then guided her hand to the back of his neck before putting one hand on her waist and the other grabbing her free hand. “You know I understand how you feel right now,” He moved their bodies in a slow rhythm to go with the new song. “Want to tell me what happened?” He asked softly.

“Cerberus’s head son of a bitch sent me to Horizon when the Collectors hit.” Shepard whispered. “Kaidan was there…we…Garrus and I was stonewalled by Anderson when we tried to find him. Then to see him there…” She turned her head away from him. “His words were more vicious that I had imagined. We fought Sovereign together, we heard the message from the Prothean VI on Ilos…after everything we saw and faced I thought he would believe me.” She shook her head. “He told me I changed…”

“He wasn’t looking deep enough,” Carth said as he tilted her head toward him. “He saw only the thing the Alliance and Cerberus wanted him to. In protecting himself, he hurt you. Shattering the little bit of hope you had that things could go back to normal…”

“Things can never go back to normal…” Shepard interrupted suddenly drawing away from Carth. “I can’t go back to being the woman I was before. She was too vulnerable, too obedient…”

“Too much of a paragon?” He stepped forward, forcing her to put a hand to his chest to keep him from getting too close. “Tell me, have you even coped with your death yet? Or did you just cope with the fact you don’t have the person that holds your heart is with another person?”

She didn’t realize it, but her eyes were getting watery. “Carth please…” She whispered brokenly her fingers curling against his chest. “I can’t…not here…”

“Then when?” He asked calmly. “When will you be able to let yourself deal with everything you’ve had to survive…to go…” Carth was cut off when a couple bumped into them.

“I’m sorry,” A sickly sweet voice said. Both Carth and Shepard looked over to see Chavis and Kaidan, the latter looking a bit cross. “Did we interrupt?”

“Actually…” Carth narrowed his eyes.

“No,” Shepard replied as she turned to look at Carth. “We are finished here.”

The Rebel turned his glare onto her. “Don’t think for a moment we are.” He said to her in a stern voice.

Shepard raised her free hand to his cheek. “Now Admiral,” She said, her face shutting down from any expression that was on it before. “We both know the outcome that will come if you force this issue.”

“Is he bothering you?” Kaidan directed the question to Shepard. He knew she was not enjoying herself like she was before. Something in their body language had changed from the carefree nature they had during their first dance. Shepard didn’t even glance at him as she stepped away from the ‘Admiral’. She didn’t even acknowledge. Instead she turned and began to walk away.

Carth had the decency to smirk at her back. “I’ve learned a few new tricks sweetheart.”

Shepard paused in her walk and glanced back at Carth from over her shoulder. “Sono morto e sono tornato Admiral, non ho pietà,” She said to him before leaving the bar.

Chavis watched her go. She didn’t understand what the woman said, but it had left her companion speechless. “Sorry to make her leave.”

Her voice snapped Carth out of his shocked stance. He stood up tall and looked at Chavis and Kaidan. Eyeing the Commander, he could feel his anger rising, but quenched it. This was Shepard’s fight and decision, not his. Looking at the woman in pink, he shook his head. “It wasn’t you who made her leave,” He replied tiredly.

“You two looked….good together.” Kaidan forced out. “On the dance floor I mean.”

Okay, just because it was Shepard’s fight doesn’t mean he wasn’t going to have a little fun.

“We had a long time to get use to our bodies moving together,” Carth replied. He could practically see the man get angrier under his calm façade.

“Oh!” Chavis put a hand to her mouth. “I had heard Fox slept around…”

That was a cheap shot. Carth crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow. “Really now, because if you knew anything about her, you’d know differently.” He looked at the Alliance man, seeing him staring at Chavis with curiosity.

“How would you know?” Kaidan asked looking back at the man in orange.

“That, Alliance,” The brown eyed Rebellion leader looked at the Alliance man. “Is something you won’t find out tonight kid. Now if you excuse me…”

Kaidan watched as the man briefly stopped at his table to tell the waiter something before leaving the bar. He couldn’t help but wonder who that man was. He seemed so familiar…

----

Shepard entered her room, immediately taking off her heels and tossing them against the couch. She made a brief stop at Garrus’s room to tell him not to bother her for the rest of the night. He told her that Tali, Jack and Miranda were in their room and that Joker had escorted Sarah back to hers and didn’t come back. She had grinned at that and told Garrus not to worry about Joker. Anything else they had found could wait until she got some sleep to deal with it. Slipping out of her dress, she put it away and went to get her sleep wear. Shepard really had to give Alma her props on keeping things sexy enough for a woman, but comfortable enough for her.

Grabbing her sleepwear, Shepard went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She took a little longer in there, enjoying the heat against her skin as she scrubbed away the sweat from the night. Afterwards, she got out and headed to her bedroom. Dressing in only a black pair of lacy tanga shorts and matching bikini lacy bra, she slipped into her luxurious bed. Getting comfortable in the silken sheets, she allowed the stress from the day to pull her into the humble bliss of darkness.

---

Brian sat on the edge of the chair as Doctor Chakwas looked over Samara. He didn’t mean to show her the full strength of what was inside him. His barriers had gone down for just a few seconds, but it was enough time for Samara to get a glimpse of what was there. He silently cursed himself for being careless.

“How is she doing Doc?” Brian asked looking at Chakwas.

“It’s surprising to say the least to see an asari of Samara’s caliber like this.” The elder woman said as she stepped away from the cot. “Everything physically seems to be in order, but it seems her biotics are acting like they have been attacked by something.”

“She was put in a coma to protect herself.” The male Shepard said as he leaned back in the chair.

“So it would seem,” Chakwas answered. “There is nothing more I can do.”

“It is enough that you knew that much Doc,” Brian said. “I think biotics are a little out of your field.”

The doctor nodded and moved to grab something from her desk before turning to the man. “The only biotic I have served in long term with is Commander Alenko, and even then I only knew how to alleviate his headaches.”

The organization leader smirked. “If you want to learn more on biotics Doc, I can get Alma to send you her reports on my medical records.”

“She’s your doctor?”

“Spy, Scientist, Doctor, Confidant…she’s a close friend.” He explained.

Chakwas smiled. “Was she anything closer?”

Brian tilted his head and looked at Chakwas. “Doctor, I am not stable enough to have a lover like my sister did.” He answered.

“Is it unusual that the Commander got attached?” She frowned at the man.

“Yes,” Brian said. “We are a danger to everyone around us. If our control slips for a fraction,” he looked down at Samara. “We can hurt people, even the ones we love.”

“You disapprove of her attachment to Kaidan?” Chakwas asked.

“I disapprove of a lot of things my sister has done Doc,” Brian said softly as he looked back up at the human woman. “But I am not going to try to control her like the Alliance has done. I will stand behind her and brace her for any hurt that comes her way.”

“You must have gone to great lengths to stay hidden, but so close to her.” Chakwas whispered.

“Do you know why she got her wings as soon as she got back from the O-4 relay Doc?” He sighed when the woman shook her head. “She wants to be free. She wants to be able to do what she needs to without consequence.”

“Everything has consequence,” Chakwas countered.

Brian stood looking down at the comatose asari. “Yes, but unlike everyone else, I can take care of most of the consequences that are headed her way.”

“You can’t protect her forever.” The doctor said.

“No,” He answered in a defeated tone. “But as her brother I’m obligated to try.”

---

Sometime later, Shepard felt herself being pulled from the realm of sleep, not that she was getting any rest. But she knew it wasn’t the nightmares she normally had that pulled her from her faux slumber. It was something else, something that was making her instincts yell at her.

Listening to them she rolled to the left, her eyes snapping open just in time to see her pillow being stabbed with a needle. Her eyes turned cold as she saw a man dressed in black standing up from where he tried to attack her.

Shepard’s hand slipped under the bed and pulled out one of her longer knives. This one was the one she wore on her back sometimes. Spinning the knife to lay along her right forearm, she immediately jumped at the man before he could get his bearings. The man barely had time to breathe before Shepard sliced his neck open, causing blood to spray onto her. Not caring for the body, she quickly pulled on a white fish-net tunic that ended mid-thigh. It hung off one shoulder and clearly showed everything underneath, but she wanted to pretend she had something on other than her underwear. Shepard stayed quiet as she opened the dresser drawer and pushed her underwear away and pulled out another long knife.

Creeping toward her bedroom down, she stayed low as she looked out the crack. Surveying the room, she saw four other assailants and snorted silently to herself. Three men and one woman. The female was walking around the room, while the men were stationed in strategic positions. As the woman came toward the door, Shepard shifted the two long knives in her hand. Her mind shifted into a battle survival mind set as the woman opened the door.

“Hey Meg, did Al finish her?” One of the closer men asked staring at the woman just stood in the door way. After a few moments of silence, the men frowned. “Meg?”

Shepard pushed the woman out of the doorway letting her fall to the ground as she stood in the doorway covered in more blood.

The men looked down at men, to see the needle with the paralytic in Meg’s thigh. The woman had two vertical slices from her lower abdomen all the way up to her chest before it curves into a point at her throat. They immediately knew the woman was dead since the paralytic didn’t allow the blood in her to clot.

They brought up their guns and aimed them toward the door, but Shepard was already on the move. She jumped tackled the closest man, rolling him behind the couch away from the line of sight of the other two. He tried to choke her since he dropped his gun, but Shepard still had her knives. As the man tried to find a hold on her blood covered throat, she shoved her knives up into his chest toward his heart. The man gasped as he choked on his own blood while staring into cold stoic lavender eyes. Pushing him up a bit, she put her bare foot on his stomach and pushed him off of her and her knives. The guns immediately started to fire on the flying body as she heard a familiar feminine voice.

“Shepard!” It was Kasumi, she was cloaked and taking care of the far guy.

Shepard scrambled over the couch toward the guy at the door, who was trying to reload his gun. Growling and losing a bit of her control, she raised her leg and kicked him in the chest. Her biotic abilities infused itself into her kick and sent the man flying at the door. The door splintered and broke as the guy flew into the wall across the hall. Shepard followed as he tried to get up and attack her. She waited until he was close enough before raising her two knives and pulling them outward abruptly, decapitating the man. The head rolled off as blood spurted from the body drenching her as she coldly watched the body fall.

“Shepard…” Kasumi stayed cloaked so she wasn’t caught on camera. Shepard stepped away from the body as the alarms went off. The thief frowned and decided to quickly tell Shepard what she found on the body. “I found nothing on their omni-tools. There is no identification on them other than a spider tattoo on their forearms.” When her Commander didn’t say anything, Kasumi moved to put her hand on Shepard’s back, only to stop when a biotic barrier appeared around her. Kasumi was about to reveal herself when she heard footsteps running toward them. She cursed silently. “Shepard, I need to leave!” Without waiting for acknowledgement Kasumi, still cloaked, left the area so she would not be detected. She hoped that Shepard would be alright, especially after having an assassination attempted on her.

----

Carth and his bodyguard raced down the hallway. They had heard the alarm go off and had grabbed one of the guards as they were running past. Carth had demanded to know what the hell was going on from the man. He had cowered and immediately told the man.

“It’s the White Lotus representative, Fox.” The guard had said. “There was a disturbance in her room.”

When they made it to her hall, they saw a crowd of people around the door way. Cursing, both men pushed their way into the crowd toward the center. When they broke through, they stopped and stared at her.

Shepard was in her underwear and a white fishnet shirt that was hanging off one shoulder, except it wasn’t white anymore. Blood drenched her nearly from head to toe, with a pool of blood surrounding her feet. She held two long, blood stained knives tightly in her hands. Her eyes were glowing eerily as a guard tried to sneak up behind her. He had a neural device in his hand. He could guess they had tried to calm her down and it wasn’t working. The guard was pushed roughly into his companions as soon as he got close to her.

His eyes looked around at the group and spotted Joker and Sarah, along with Alenko and Chavis. Carth turned to his guard as he unbuttoned his shirt.

“Snap her out of it,” He said as he shrugged off his shirt. “I’ll find out if the idiots pulled protocol and confined her guards.” Carth added as he slipped by toward the fallen security.

“No problem,” His guard grinned as he moved closer to the woman. He approached her from the front, causing her eerie eyes to follow him. “Hey girlie,” he said to her, cautiously moving closer. “Put those things away.” His answer was one of the knives flying past his head embedding itself into the wall behind him. “Don’t make me do something we’d both regret Fox. Remember, you still can’t beat this Mandalorian.”

That got to her. Shepard eyes stopped glowing as she looked down into the pool of blood she was standing in. Her stoic façade cracked momentarily, but before anyone could see it was back up again. Her grip on her knife relaxed as she recognized the man in front of her.

“Ordo,” She murmured. Her body relaxed all at once when she realized she was among friends.

Kaidan watched as the bodyguard reached out and put his hands on Shepard’s shoulder, steadying her. He saw the stoic expression on her face, it was shaky but it was holding. She was still playing her part as the White Lotus leader. His heart ached as she leaned into the guard’s touch. Kaidan wished he was in the man’s place, to be able to touch her like that again.

Chavis put her face in Kaidan’s neck, forcing the man to come back to himself. He put a hand on her head keeping her from the sight that Shepard presented. Right now, Shepard must have looked like a mad-woman covered in blood, but to Kaidan…she looked like an elegant War Goddess in the aftermath of a battle. Who knew Kaidan would get turned on by a blood-drenched Shepard?

Just then the brunette man came back and put his night shirt around her, hiding most of the blood from view. “They are detaining your guards in their room.” He said as he nodded to his guard. The gray haired man disappeared into the room while the other spoke with Shepard. “Can’t say I’m not impressed, taking on an assassination squad in nothing but lingerie.”

Shepard looked up at Carth with a miniscule smile. “You know me...”

“That I do,” He responded as Canderous came back out of the room with the needle. Carth glanced at him as Shepard stiffened at the sight.

“A paralytic,” Canderous said looking seriously at Carth.

“Lady Fox, we must ask you to explain to us what happened.” The security guard said.

Shepard narrowed her eyes at the man. “If you are implying that I had anything to do with this other than self-defense, you are sorely mistaken.”

“Just trying to make sure the facts are straight ma’am,” He replied. “You left no witnesses.”

She sneered at the guard viciously, jumping at him only to be held back by Carth. “They were shooting at me! Trying to paralyze me and-or kill me! Of course I left none alive. You would have to be stupid to think you would be able to get anything out of them.”

Carth stared down at the bloodied woman in his arms. “You know who sent them.”

“The Crimson Spiders,” Shepard said.

“Shit,” Canderous murmured. “We knew that Wolf had problems with them, but we didn’t think it would go as far as an assassination attempt on a neutral station.” The man looked at Carth. “We need to set her up somewhere safe tonight.”

“I’ll be fine!” Shepard glared at the older man.

Carth grabbed Shepard’s face and turned her toward him. “Beautiful listen to me, if they are after Wolf, they are after you.” He kissed her hair, which was streaked with dried blood. “I’m taking you to my room tonight.” She tried to struggle away, but he tightened his grip. “Don’t! You are not thinking clearly right now. I won’t let you die because of that.”

Shepard sagged in Carth’s hold. “I need to check up on my team. If they are being detained, then…”

“They can wait until you’ve washed…”

“No, this is the one thing I won’t budge on.” Shepard said sharply looking up into his brown eyes. The man stared back. He knew that she would fight him if he pushed it.

“Fine,” Carth said as he looked at Canderous. The man smirked and produced a towel he got from inside. Leaning on the guard, Shepard began to clean her feet. Canderous held out her thigh holster with her push knives.

“Thanks,” She said as she traded the larger blade for her holster.

“I’ll escort her to her team.” Carth said he said this to the security guards. “She will be bunking with me tonight, so I suggest you get all these people back to their rooms.”

While Carth was smoothing things over with the security, Shepard looked at into the crowd and spotted Joker with Sarah. “Canderous,” She whispered. The man raised an eyebrow and moved closer. “That guy there,” She vaguely indicated Joker to him. “Tell him to stay with Sarah and give him a gun if he needs it.”

“Guard?” He asked.

“Pilot, who came along for the ride,” She whispered. “Now…”

“Got it,” Canderous said gruffly as he helped the security break up the crowd. As he passed Joker, he passed on the message. Joker looked up toward Shepard and nodded before taking Sarah back to her room. Canderous frowned when he turned to the people who wouldn’t leave. “Go back to your rooms.” He glared at the man and woman.

“Not until I know she’s alright,” Kaidan replied glaring right back at the man.

Chavis was ignoring both of them and watching as Shepard spoke in whispers with the mysterious man. The look on Shepard’s face wasn’t happy, but she nodded. Adjusting the man’s button up shirt, she closed it trying to hide as much of her body as she could.

Carth walked over to Canderous and talk to him in an unknown language. The grey haired man tilted his head and looked back at Kaidan, before nodding and disappearing into Shepard’s room. “The Lady Fox wanted you to know that she is alright and that you should consent to the security’s wishes to go back to your room.”

“She can tell me that herself.” Kaidan said looking past Carth toward Shepard. The woman just stared at him before turning down the hall and walking toward Garrus’s room. One of the security men had told Carth that’s were they gathered her guard.

“Take a hint kid…she doesn’t want to speak to you.” Carth said before turning to catch up with Shepard.

“Damn it,” Kaidan cursed before turning and walking back to his room.

Chavis narrowed her eyes and looked down at the dead man. Scoffing, she shook her head and turned, following Kaidan back to their room.

----

As soon as Carth opened to door to Garrus’s room and allowed her through, Shepard was immediately hugged by Tali. Shepard patted Tali’s shoulder; glad most of the blood that wasn’t covered had dried. The quarian stepped back and looked at her closely.

“Keelah! Are you alright?” She asked.

“I will be,” Shepard answered. “Are you guys okay?” She looked over toward the security guards to see Jack tied up with neural disablers and Garrus being subdued by gun point. Her eyes widened.

“Jack and Garrus were being a little excessive.” Miranda said as she came out of the bathroom.

Stomping up to the guards, she jerked the muzzle of the gun away from her turian friend. “If you want to keep your lives release them both.”

“But ma’am,” A guard tried to object.

“Don’t tempt her,” Carth interjected. “Just take your men and leave. Go help with the clean up in Fox’s room.”

The guards immediately jumped at Carth’s stern voice. Knowing who he was, they immediately released Jack and backed away from Garrus. The turian stood up and walked to Shepard looking her over while Jack shook off the effect of the disable. She hissed at the guard watching in amusement as they scrambled out of the room.

“Pussies…” Jack murmured as she looked at Shepard. Raising an eyebrow, she commented on her. “I like the new look Shepard. Red is definitely your color.”

Shepard frowned but didn’t say anything.

“What happened? Why did they detain us?” Garrus asked. His mandibles were flutter rapidly in his worry. No doubt he could smell the blood more keenly than any of the humans other than her. “Why are you covered in blood?”

“There was an assassination attempt.” Carth said from behind Shepard.

“Who is stupid enough to try to kill you?” Jack asked as she cocked her hip out.

“The Crimson Spiders,” She answered looking up at Garrus. “I can’t go back to my room.”

“Stay here,” Tali immediately suggested.

“No,” Carth immediately said. “They’ll expect that. She’ll be staying with me.”

Miranda walked up to Carth and circled him. “And who exactly are you?” She narrowed her eyes.

The man crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “I’m known as the Admiral, leader of Rebellion.”

“Admiral huh?” Jack leered at the man.

“He’s an old friend of ours, Wolf’s and mine.” Shepard explained looking between Tali and Garrus. “I trust him.”

The turian narrowed his eyes at the man. “I’m not going to argue, but just watch yourself.”

Shepard nodded, but paused. “What did Sarah want to explain earlier?”

Garrus saw Tali shaking her head, before looking at Shepard. “Don’t worry about it. Go with the Admiral and get some rest. I’ll take care of this here.”

“I hold you to that Garrus,” Shepard said with a smile. The turian leaned down and briefly put his forehead to hers.

“Go,” He said. “You need to get the blood off of you.”

“Yea Shepard, before it stains your hair.” Tali added.

The Commander pulled away from her second and looked at Tali. “Oh ha-ha, very funny, make fun of the woman with white hair.” She turned to see Carth grinning at her. “Let’s go before Jack starts.”

“Hey!”

----

Carth was putting Shepard’s knives at the corner of the bed, hanging off the headboard. Canderous had found the sheaths in her room and brought them to his after the clean up. He also had to clean up, changing into a pair of cotton pants to get out of his bloodied cloths. The brunette sighed as he heard the shower turn off finally. She had been in the shower for a few hours. He knew she needed some space to cool down and think things through, so he didn’t bother her.

The door opened slowly. He turned to see the steam billow out of the bathroom as she stood in the doorway. Her hair was damp and she was wearing one of the short white towels. Straightening, he looked into her eyes to see her mask had been dropped.

Exhaustion.

Pain.

Heartache.

He knew those things well and knew how she felt. It came with the knowledge that you had lost the one you hold close to your heart. She looked at him with a lost look in her face. The fact that she had fought of an assassination attempt was mixed in with that look. He couldn’t leave her like that, not when he knew how it felt to be floating out in the dark by himself.

Stepping over to her, Carth embraced her intimately. He was trying to take the pain from her to let her heart heal. Before he knew what he was doing, his lips were on hers. Shepard’s hands were on his neck pulling him closer, searching for something—anything. Slipping his hands over her thighs, he lifted her up against his hips. Her legs wrapped around his waist, clinging to him as though he was her lifesaver. The kisses turned heated as tongues were pressed against each other.

He didn’t know how, but somehow Carth managed to get them back to the bed. He fell back against it, allowing Shepard to be on top. She pulled away from his lips; attack his neck as she grinded against him. He groaned when he felt that she was wearing no underwear underneath his shirt.

As if wearing nothing but his shirt wasn’t enough of a turn on…

Shepard sat up, her hands trailing down his chest and tracing his define abs. Her hands deftly traced back up to his chest. Her lavender eyes stared into his brown ones. Shepard leaned down and caressed his bearded cheek. She didn’t see it in his eyes. He wasn’t asking her to be something she wasn’t.

She wasn’t a hero.

She wasn’t some kind of perfect soldier.

She was just a woman, who wants to protect people.

Carth wasn’t asking her to be anything but herself.

“Re…”

“Shh,” She cut him off with a kiss. “That name is not to be uttered.”

“But it’s your name…” Carth murmured leaning up into the kiss. She shook her head and pulled away, sliding back to grab a hold of his waistband. She kissed his chest, abs, following the light trail of hair down his lower abdomen. He groaned and tilted his head back as she nipped at the curve of his leg as she slid down, taking his pants with her. Once his pants were off, she re-took her seat on his stomach. Shepard put her hands on his chest tilting her head down so her damp hair skimmed the side of his chest.

“Please…” Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked up at him. “Just us…just…”

Carth flipped them so she was under him. He climbed up her body, kissing her through the shirt until he got to her face. His tongue flicked out wiping the tears away, his lips pressing against the corner of her eyes.

“Okay beautiful…tonight it’s just for us.” He whispered gently as his fingers skillfully unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing. It was slow, because tonight Carth was taking care of Shepard. He pressed kisses to her body as it was revealed to him. She lifted herself up, letting him take the shirt off of her and throwing it to the side.

In the light, Carth could see the scars. Even on her arms and shoulders there were scars. His brow furrowed together as he kissed along one of the scars that went from her shoulder to her collar bone. “You hide them…”

“Chakwas gave me a special formula to blend them into my skin.” She said softly. “I don’t want to do the surgery…these are…”

“Reminders…” Carth kissed the column of her neck as his right had caressed her stomach. “I know, I have them too.”

Shepard reached up and grabbed Carth’s shoulders. She arched her body into him as his hand slipped further down between her legs. Throwing her head to the side, she let her body beg him into her.

The brunette leaned down and kissed her left breast as he slipped one finger into her gingerly. He knew that Drusilla wasn’t one for casual sex, but she was breaking and her heart needed help. Carth worked her until he was able to slip another finger into her. He smirked as she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. He relished the contact as he continued his work on her, adding another finger. When she bucked under him, he groaned.

“Easy sweet-thing,” He whispered against her chest. It’s been so long for her, he could feel her already hitting her limit. “The main event still has yet to happen.”

“I need to…” Shepard moaned, arching her back while pushing up her hips. “Don’t make me wait Onasi…”

“All you had to do was ask Beautiful,” Carth told her as he curled his fingers, pressing his palm against her.

Shepard’s head was thrown back as her body arched off the bed in ecstasy. Her hands dragged down his arms, leaving red streaks as she rode out her orgasm. She couldn’t catch her breath throughout the whole her. As her body came back down to the bed, she tried to find some air as she stared down at the man, who was currently making love to her stomach. She hissed as Carth dipped his tongue into her belly-button before moving down between her legs. Any air she had gotten quickly left as his fingers were replaced with his tongue.

“Dio mio,” She rasped as Carth finished. He slowly crawled up her body, licking his lips.

“I’m glad you think of me like that sweetheart,” He said as he pressed his lips to hers. She mewled at him, reaching to grab his hips and pull him to her. Grinning against her lips, he gave a small nod and slipped into her. One of his hands slipped around, squeezing her ass momentarily before pressing her up onto him. Both of them groaned as Carth began to set a rhythm. It was slow, sensual and provocative.

Shepard wrapped her arms around him, her hips moving in time. The pressure began to build in the pit of her stomach again. She knew from the moment that Carth danced with her tonight, that they would end up like this. He was the only one to ever help her without getting too intimate. But after everything that has happened over the past couple years, their relationship has escalated. When Carth switched their position she gasped as she neared her peak. His hand found its way between her legs again and as he shifted the tempo. Oh that felt so good…

Carth had switched their position so she was now sitting up on his lap. He thrust up into her feeling now only her end but his own as well. Shifting the tempo, he tried to draw it out for as long as he could. Leaning forward, he began to kiss and suckle her neck. She mewled like the vixen she is. That noise alone caused him to come before her. But he didn’t falter in his thrusts. He knew a few seconds later that she was ready as her whole body tightened. Drawing it out, he took pleasure in the fact that she came moaning is name. Falling down beside her, sweat and covered with their lovemaking he pushed her hair back from her eyes.

No words were said as watery lavender eyes looked up into brown ones.

As she buried her head into his neck, he petted the back of her hair. Carth was relaxing not only her body but his body as well. She stayed pressed against him as her tears began to wet his shoulders. No sounds were made other than their breathing. He knew how she felt. He had felt it not once, but twice. So Carth knew…

There were no words to fix her heart.

Especially none from him…only the actions of a certain Alliance kid would heal her.

But Carth didn’t know if it will be in time.