Anderson

"I left strict orders that I was to be notified the second anything unusual happened at The Pearson Sisters' Sanctuary." Anderson jabbed his finger against the desk to emphasize his point. "A group of mercenaries attack the hospital, and I'm not told about it until after the situation has been defused?" Anger boiled his blood as he looked over the asari captain. "Where is Shepard?"

The asari continued to stand at parade rest, staring at Anderson until he finally ran out of steam. "I was not notified of your orders, Councilor. Spectre Shepard has gone to Huerta Memorial Hospital; one of her men, a Lieutenant James Vega, was seriously injured in the attack."

That certainly cooled his jets. Taking a bracing breath, he bowed his head and then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you have any word on Dr. Karen Chakwas? She was stationed there to monitor Shepard's recovery."

"Yes, sir. After leaving Lieutenant Vega with C-Sec, Shepard and her turian companion went back inside The Pearson Sisters' Sanctuary, insisting there was someone else inside they needed to get to. I sent a few officers in with her, under her command, while I worked to put an end to the situation on our end." Captain Shayanna shifted her weight and glanced over at a turian standing not too far away, just outside of her office, and nodded her head in his direction. "When I found her again, Shepard and her team had locked themselves inside a room in the medical wing with the doctor and her patients. I believe she accompanied Shepard to the hospital. Officer Tremit can provide you with more specific details if you need them."

"Thank you, Captain," Anderson said, already turning away from her. "That won't be necessary."

Being a member of the Council came with all sorts of privileges, but just then, the only one he cared about was no one standing in his way when he charged through Huerta Memorial Hospital and demanded to be taken to Lieutenant Vega. Vega was still in surgery, but the asari nurse led Anderson straight to the surgery waiting room. Shepard and Garrus sat in uncomfortable looking chairs, holding hands, eyes glazed over as they stared at the wall opposite of them.

"Shepard," Anderson said, drawing both of their attentions to him as he walked over. "Has there been any word on his condition?" He sat down next to her, hesitating only a second before covering her free hand with his own.

She didn't say anything, though, just turned her attention back to the wall. If it wasn't for the wetness she kept blinking away from her eyes and her thumb brushing back and forth over Garrus' hand, Anderson would've thought she'd disappeared on him again—'gone back inside' as Vega put it before.

"He lost so much blood, they're having to do a transfusion before they can even risk retrieving the bullets," Garrus said, mandibles flicking and fluttering without rhyme or reason. "They're also starting him on antibiotics, since he was cut with bare talons."

"Talons? Dear God, how bad is it?" Anderson asked, breath catching in his throat.

Shepard pulled her hands away from both of them and stood up, pacing away to stare through a window in the door leading to one of the surgical rooms. She had to be taking it hard, real hard. Especially considering she'd barely started putting herself together again after losing Joker. If Vega didn't pull through ….

"He was shot five times, mostly in his torso," Garrus said, voice low, keeping it just between the two of them. "More than a dozen lacerations to his face, arms, and chest from his attacker's talons. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes out of this with a lot of new scars. If … if he comes out of this at all."

Suddenly exhausted beyond all reason, Anderson flopped back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. "Were either of you hurt? Dr. Chakwas? Where's Thane?"

The deep, weary rumble rolling through Garrus spoke volumes. "We don't know for certain where Thane is, but he wasn't there when the attack happened. We … haven't heard from him in a couple of days." Chuffing, Garrus sighed, sounding every bit as exhausted as Anderson felt. "We were all asleep when it started. None of us were dressed let alone in armor. Shepard's feet are cut up from walking over broken glass to get to James. Otherwise just a few grazes here and there. Nothing Medi-gel couldn't take care of and keep us moving. Dr. Chakwas was hit somewhere, I'm not sure where, she'd already patched herself up when we got there."

"Mmm. Where is she now?" Anderson glanced at Shepard again before turning his attention back to Garrus.

Garrus jerked his head toward the surgical room. "Where else?"

Anderson let out a harsh, humorless laugh. "Of course."

Hours passed before a nurse came back out to tell them that Vega had pulled through surgery and was receiving another blood transfusion. Miracle of miracles, nothing vital was hit by a bullet, but he'd lost a lot of blood and with being such a big man, it meant oxygen deprivation had set in when his heart rate and blood pressure dropped.

"Keeping him in a Stasis likely saved his life," the nurse said, "but we won't know if there is any lasting brain damage until he regains consciousness and is stable enough to undergo a series of tests and scans."

"When will we be able to see him?" Anderson asked before glancing over at Shepard, still asleep and tucked in against Garrus' side.

"His transfusion will be finished in about an hour, and then he'll be moved into a room where you can see him." She gave him a soft, consoling smile. "He'll likely remain unconscious for several hours more, though."

"I see." He nodded his head. "Thank you for letting us know." He watched her walk away until she disappeared around a corner, and then turned his attention to Garrus. "Why don't you go ahead and take her back to my apartment, let her get some real sleep?"

Garrus chuffed. "And have her rip my head off because James woke up and she wasn't here? I don't think so, Councilor."

"Mmm. I suppose you're right." Anderson chuckled, shaking his head. "She ever tell you about that time in N7 training when she put every single male member of her class on the mat after they had the audacity to suggest that she and the other females have separate hand to hand combat training for their own safety?"

A soft rumble rolled through Garrus, filled with pride and affection. "No, but I can't say I'm surprised." He purred and looked down at the woman snuggled in against his side. "She's really something, isn't she? I've never met anyone quite as strong and determined as she is."

"And you never will. I'd like to say Shepard is one of a kind, but …." Anderson raised a hand, palm up, before letting it fall back to his lap. "Well, she's already proven that's not entirely the case."

Humming, Garrus turned his gaze toward a couple of asari standing at the other side of the room, huddling together as they talked. He let out a sigh after a few seconds and said, "Being inside her head during the meld, seeing all the other versions of her, hmmm, well all those that are still left in there …. I don't know how she does it."

"She doesn't have a choice," Shepard said, voice sleepy, as she shifted around in her chair before settling in again. "Did I miss anything?"

"James did well in surgery." Garrus nuzzled against the top of her head. "They're giving him another transfusion before putting him in a room of his own. We can go see him, then."

"The nurse said he probably won't wake up for a few more hours." Anderson squeezed her shoulder. "Why don't the two of you go get some sleep at my place. Find something to eat, too."

"I want to be here when he wakes up." She sat up, stretching out her arms and yawned. Eyeing Anderson a moment, she said, "You can go home, if you need to, though. Don't worry, I'm not going to flee the Citadel while you sleep."

Sleep really wasn't his concern, though he did take a nap after leaving Huerta. He was up again two hours later when his alarm went off. Then, he made his way back to his office, putting steel in his spine to prepare himself for dealing with the Council. Undoubtedly, they'd want to know what happened at Pearson's and where Shepard was currently. He'd also have to contact Vega's family and the families of the two guards who died protecting Shepard. Before he'd even crossed the floor to his desk, Udina came storming into the office.

"Anderson!" He charged across the room to come to a stop in front of Anderson. "Why wasn't I informed of the catastrophe at The Pearson Sisters' Sanctuary? I am still humanity's ambassador, Councilor. I should be informed when the first human Spectre's life is threatened and Alliance soldiers are slain on the Citadel." He huffed and crossed his arms. "Not to mention the other human patients and staff who were killed or injured in the attack. Who do you think is going to clean this mess up? And where is Shepard? I suppose I'll have to find another hospital for her to continue her convalescence, preferably one with better security."

Anderson sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Udina, I'm tired, and I have to speak with the Council. I don't have time to deal with your wounded ego. Shepard is not your concern. She is a Council Spectre, and the Council will take care of her. I will take care of her." He stared at the irate ambassador, making it clear he wasn't willing to argue the matter. "If you want to make yourself useful, help C-Sec identify victims and contact their next of kin." Holding an arm out toward the door, he added, "Now, if you don't mind, I have my own work to take care of."

Udina huffed and pointed at Anderson. "Having a human councilor was supposed to help humanity. All you've done is coddle Shepard and kowtow to the aliens."

"Udina!" Anderson snapped, hands balling into fists. "Get out of my office, now, or I swear on everything I hold dear, humanity will have a new ambassador before the day is done."

Udina spun on his heels and marched to the door before stopping and turning back. "Be careful, Anderson. You're not the only human with pull on this Citadel." He opened the door and disappeared before Anderson could respond.

Circling around behind his desk, Anderson collapsed into his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. Pushing the intercom button, he called out, "Rebecca, get the other councilors on the line for me, please."

"Right away, sir," his personal assistant said.

It was late evening before he managed to make it back to Huerta to check in on Vega. The Council had quite the earful to say about the fact he'd allowed Shepard to stay at the hospital with Lieutenant Vega instead of ordering her transfer to another mental health facility right away. Never mind the fact that he wasn't entirely convinced she still needed to be in a mental health facility. After all, she was coherent enough to not only defend herself, but she saved Vega, helped C-Sec get to the civilians, and then went back in for Dr. Chakwas. It sure as hell sounded like the Shepard he knew.

In the end, they left the decision to Anderson on how to handle her moving forward. It was both a relief and a burden, but in the end, he knew if he was right and Shepard was herself again—even just a fraction of herself—she'd be making the choice for him.

He wasn't at all surprised to find her still there with Vega, sitting in a chair next to his bed. Vega looked … terrible. Just terrible. It truly was a miracle Shepard managed to keep him alive until help arrived. The pain must've been excruciating, even with Medi-gel and painkillers. He was awake—at least Anderson thought James' eyes were open beneath the swelling—but he didn't seem at all coherent.

Shepard glanced up at Anderson as he moved closer to the bed, but she didn't say anything. She'd been crying; her eyes were red and swollen, the skin beneath rubbed raw. Garrus sat in another chair tucked back into a corner, watching Shepard in silence.

"Councilor …" Vega rolled his bandaged head along the pillow to look at Anderson. A cocky yet weak smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You didn't need to come down here just to see little ol' me."

Anderson chuckled. "You look like hell, Vega."

"Yeah … well, maybe without my good looks, people will take me seriously now, yeah?" Vega glanced at Shepard when a strangled whimper escaped her throat. "Hey, Ídola … don't, you don't need to cry for me. I'm fine. You'll see. I'll be out of this bed and ready to kick some reaper ass in no time." He lifted a hand, wires and tubes trailing away from it, and offered it to Shepard in a show of comradery, then let her keep hold of it after he'd loosened his grip.

Anderson cleared his throat and moved to the foot of the bed, tucking his hands behind his back. "I've contacted the next of kin listed in your file—an uncle, Emilio Vega?" Recognition and acceptance flashed in Vega's eyes. "He's on his way to the Citadel now."

"Gracias, sir." Vega's eyelids fluttered and eventually stayed closed. "Emilio is like a father to me, more of a father than my own ever was. It'll be good to see him."

The next morning, Shepard and Garrus waited for Anderson outside of his apartment door when he'd opened it to leave. He stopped in his tracks before taking a step back into the apartment and holding his arm out, gesturing them inside. She gave him a soft smile as she moved past him and took a seat on the couch, Garrus following her lead.

"It's time, Anderson," she said as soon as he sat down opposite of her. "I'm calling Miranda and telling her to send the Normandy to the Citadel. I'd really appreciate it if you don't force me to fight you on this."

Sighing, Anderson shifted forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Your armor and weapons are in the spare bedroom, along with the rest of your stuff from the Normandy. Miranda had it shipped to me, she thought you might want it nearby. I'll have them and your other things from The Pearson Sisters' Sanctuary sent to your cabin when the Normandy arrives."

Relief clear as day on her face, she relaxed and leaned forward, mimicking his posture. "The Council?"

"Don't worry about them. I'll take care of the Council." He smiled. "It is my job now, after all."

"Thank you, sir. For everything." She rubbed her hand over her face. "I think we're going to get some sleep. After that …" She looked at Garrus. "… we're going to find Thane."