Commander Shepard was in there, sitting on the little bench built into one bulkhead, staring dully at the window on the front of the washer, watching suds and clothes go around. It took her a couple of seconds to notice Vega's entrance; then she looked up and sort of reverse-nodded to him, elevating her chin slightly with an almost inaudible inhaled-"hey."

"Commander," he said, saluting. "You're up late."

"Too tired to do anything useful and too pissed off to sleep," Shepard replied. Returning her gaze to the washer, she added, "If I went to my cabin, all I'd do is pace up and down and keep Liara awake."

"Ah," said Vega awkwardly. "So... you and the professor, huh?"

Shepard glanced back at him, her expression very slightly wry. "Yeah," she said. "Thought you'd have figured that out by now."

"I don't like to assume," Vega said. "Good to know where things are, though."

"That's not gonna be a problem, is it?" Shepard asked, sounding like she didn't really give a damn if it was.

"No ma'am," Vega replied. "Not my personal scene, but I'm not the judging type. Besides," he added with a slight smile, "your ship, your rules."

"Damn right," Shepard replied mock-firmly.

"That being the case, though," Vega went on after a moment's hesitation, "kind of day we've had, I doubt she'd object to the company. You know?"

Shepard glanced at him again, making him wonder for a moment if he'd stepped too far, but then she looked back at the washer and sighed. "I'm right in the middle of my whites now," she said.

Vega stepped fully into the room and put a hand on top of the machine, saying briskly, "Don't worry about a thing, ma'am, I spent six weeks working in the base laundry at Camp Ermey. I assure you I am fully qualified to both fluff and fold." He grinned. "Hell, even Esteban appreciates my creases. And he doesn't let just anybody, 'cept his husband—" He paused. "Anyway, I'll handle it. You go ahead and rack out. You might surprise yourself."

Shepard sighed and hauled herself to her feet. "Starting to remind me of my mother, Lieutenant," she said wryly.

"Captain Shepard's a fine officer," said Vega with something comically like primness. "Man could do worse."

Shepard chuckled. "OK, I'll give it a shot, what the hell." She stepped past him into the hall, then paused and looked back through the doorway with a tired smile. "Thanks, James."