Hi All. Surprise actually getting a second chapter out this week. It's a little short but then it's mostly about Castis dealing with Garrus's choices. He's not at all happy. Solana is more flexible about it. Hope you enjoy. Thanks to all the folk who continue to fav/follow/ and review. If I've made a mistake or you've got a comment don't hesitate to let me know. I'm far from perfect.

Detonation

Solana

"HE DID WHAT!"

For a second Solana thought her father's voices were going to crack like the young cadet upstairs.

"That's impossible." Solana was less certain. If anyone could get into a situation like this it was her idiotic big brother. She loved him; but he'd always gotten into and up to things that were downright unbelievable, decidedly unTurian…and usually annoying.

"I assure you sir, it's the truth." Jakan told him having not expected his reaction.

Realizing that her dad was seconds away from losing control.

"Doctor, why don't you take my father outside to explain. So the patients aren't disturbed." She suggested quietly. "I'll keep an eye on the Praetor, and my father can inform me later." Inwardly she wanted to scoff at that. The so-called 'bad' Turian was now a Praetor. Somebody had been really desperate.

"An excellent idea." Jakan indicated the door.

Castis gave her a look as he followed the doctor out into the hallway.

Solana looked down at Garrus. Lying there he just looked so vulnerable, something she'd never seen.

"What have you done now, Garrus?" She murmured quietly, stroking the plates on his forehead gently. A gentleness she'd tear a plate off before she'd exhibit it if he was awake.

"Is everything alright?" Came a voice behind her.

She spun, hand going to her pistol; but it was the human doctor – Chakkas?

The doctor held both hands up placatingly and Solana relaxed.

"I didn't mean to startle you." The older woman had a pleasant voice and a gentle smile.

"Sorry, still jumpy after all this time." Solana explained.

"You have every right to be." Solana was impressed; the human hadn't taken any offense to her reaction.

"It sounded like something upset your father?"

Solana gave a huff of amusement. "Yeah, you could say that. Jakan told us Garrus had taken Otak."

"I thought that might be it."

Suddenly thinking of something, Solana made her way to Garrus's left side. Carefully avoiding disturbing any of the sensors, she pulled the collar of his top away from his left shoulder. There was a simple bandage over what she knew had to be his bond mark. She carefully peeled it back to reveal a still healing wound that must have been badly infected at one time. Even scabbed over the wound looked wrong to her. Then she realized that it was shallower and obviously not from a Turian mouth.

"Spirits, did you bond with an Asari? I thought you didn't like them that way." Solana said out loud, not expecting an answer.

"It's human." The doctor answered.

"WHAT! WHO?." Now she sounded just like her father.

"The Commander."

Solana just barely managed to keep her voices under control.

"Shepard. His commanding officer?" The doctor nodded.

"What in Spirit's name was he thinking?" If Garrus had been conscious she would have punched him in the arm, several times, hard.

"I don't think thinking had much to do with any of it." The doctor replied in some amusement.

After a moment, Solana eased and she gave a short chuff of amusement. She had to admit that the doctor had a point.

"Chakkas?"

"Chakwas." The doctor corrected her. "Normally I'd leave this for Garrus to tell you; but Jakan will no doubt tell your father and I figured you deserved a heads up, as we say, before he comes back in here breathing fire."

"Breathing fire?"

"Human term means really angry."

"Very apt where my father is concerned." Solana shook her head. "And here they were sort of, finally, getting along."

"How upset is your father going to be?" Chakwas got serious.

"That I don't know." Solana was honest. "Almost losing Garrus made him take a close look at his attitude; but he was not expecting this."

Chakwas sighed, "And Garrus always said your father didn't like Spectres."

"No."

"A further heads up." the woman paused before turning to leave. "The Commander is suffering from amnesia from the period before the hunt for Saren until she woke up after the destruction of the Reapers so she didn't even remember Garrus being on the crew."

For a moment, Solana felt truly sorry for her brother. If he'd bonded to this woman then that had to have been like having a knife driven into his heart every time he saw her.

"And I won't.." Here Solana saw the steel underneath the gentle exterior, "..let him badger the Commander."

About then they heard the door to the med suite open.

"You're suppose to be an advisor to our young, Primarch." Came Castis's very angry voice, his sub harmonics frustrated and even angrier.

Chakwas glanced at the door and frowned. "Looks like your father is out for blood." Though Solana didn't understand the phrase, she recognized the sentiment as Chakwas went back to her patient.

Solana stepped out from behind the curtains to the doorway of the med suite where Castis was confronting Victus. Castis must have been beyond angry to chastise the Primarch. The older Vakarian was every bit the good Turian Garrus had never been. Jakan had slipped by them and headed for Garrus.

"It's a little hard to advise when I'm not around, Castis." Fortunately Victus seemed to be fairly calm despite the anger her father was broadcasting.

"Dad." Solana sought to defuse the situation.

"Solana." Castis acknowledged her but kept his attention on Victus.

"Whatever you may feel my role as Primarch is…" Victus paused to calm his rising sub harmonics. "Garrus is an adult and neither you nor I can really tell him what to do."

"You should be guiding our young." Castis protest sounded weak to Solana.

Victus stared down at Castis. "It's a parent's job to guide their off spring, Castis."

Castis froze. Solana knew that he was sorry for the years that he and Garrus had been estranged. He'd accepted that some of that was his fault for trying to force Garrus into a mold he could never fit; but to have it thrown back in his face had to hurt.

Castis quieted at that. Fortunately Victus didn't pursue that avenue.

"Did Kolyat show you to your rooms?" The Primarch's voices had quieted.

"Yes, sir." Castis replied, the good Turian apparently back.

"You're free to visit here as much as the doctors will let you, but their word is law." Victus told them as Chakwas came out from behind the curtains. He nodded to her and to Solana's surprise she nodded back in respect.

"Primarch, are you and the others okay?"

"Cold and wet but yes." He paused and eyed her. "I thought you were going to keep him in bed?"

"Garrus was obeying your orders until Corso made his threats, then we knew you needed help." Chakwas was unfazed by his stare. "And once Cerberus came up there was nothing we could have done to stop Garrus."

"You had a sedative." He tossed at her.

"Yes, and Garrus would have killed himself fighting it to protect you and the Commander." She returned.

Victus made a low sound of displeasure in his sub harmonics but nodded.

"How is the Commander?"

"Still unconscious and will be for a few hours; but other than a terrible headache when she wakes up she should be fine." Chakwas told him.

Victus turned to Castis. "I'm sure you'll want to talk to the Commander when she wakes up."

Castis gave a terse nod.

"Doctor Chakwas will let you know when you can." He paused. "I know you don't like this but treat the Commander with respect or I will bar you from the med suite."

Castis paused for a second and then nodded again. Solana knew that he was frustrated and angry and locking down his sub harmonics. Victus knew it too; and Solana was surprised at how tolerant the Primarch was being. Fedorian despite being a friend of her fathers would have been chastising him for his attitude.

Victus turned to go with a sigh. "According to Whiteson the rain has made the roads impassable so now I have to see to our other 'guests'."

"Hackett?" Chakwas spoke up.

"Yes, plus two Alliance Colonels, an N7 Lieutenant Vega…"

Chakwas smiled at that. "It will be good to see James again."

"Major Alenko and Admiral Renfield." Victus didn't sound happy about that and Chakwas scowled

"I'm not permitting Renfield in here to badger the Commander." Chakwas stated. "And I'm not so sure about Kaidan either after he went along with Renfield's ridiculous plan."

At her look, Victus went on. "I'm putting guards on the door – you and Jakan can tell them who to let in or not."

"Thank you, Primarch."

Victus turned to go, but stopped to look at Castis and Solana. "I'll have Hendan come downstairs to guide you back up to your room when you're ready."

"Thank you Primarch." Castis said.

Victus paused for a moment and then leaning down so only Castis could really hear said quietly. "Give him a chance to explain, Castis…and be glad that he's here to explain." Obviously alluding to the death of his son, Tarquin.

With that Victus was gone before either Vakarian could say anything.