Nikon 105mm

I recently got the nikon 105mm F2.8 VR macro lens, but i found out while shooting that i can't get an aparture of F2.8 unless i focus on something really close (for macro work) but i want to shoot portrait the minimum F stop i can get is 3.5!
Is this normal for the lens or there is something wrong?!

Odd...

I use that lens all the time for event photos and use 2.8 for a lot of the photos without any problems

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fenoswi...57623611986524

Used it in all sorts of lighting as well.

What lighting and ISO were you trying to use??