Hey y'all,Sorry, this chapter is a bit overdue. I had a long holiday and I just now got around to edit this to get it to the point where I feel comfortable with it.Thank you for your continued support.- Mul

His world seemed to pass like an echo- sounds were muffled, and sub harmonical screams could be heard in the distance. There was something ringing, but he could not pinpoint where it was coming from. He struggled to comprehend just how much time had passed between the explosion and when he finally regained some form of consciousness. He was disoriented by the blast- the room teetered when he tried to get up. He couldn't focus, but he looked around the room frantically anyway. The wall to his left had been blown out and debris covered the office space. It was currently unclear if the area was still unsafe, regardless- Garrus knew they couldn't stay.

His eyes finally landed on a dark figure curled up across the room and he scrambled over to it. He had to move some debris out of the way before making it to the human female form.

"Shepard." His heart pounded hard when she didn't respond. Her hands covered her ears and she had her face tucked away. The woman's body shook furiously and when he listened closely, her inconerent mumbling could be heard. He had done some research on PTSD after finding out that she was diagnosed with. It worried him to see her in such a state.

"Thalassa- I'm here." Garrus rested a hand against her waist and the other he used to tug at the arm closest to him. Her body shifted while beginning to take notice of him. Her eyes met his and they were pierced with terror, unlike anything he had ever seen before. Her face was streaked with blood and grime. She managed to sit up, but practically fell into his arms with a clatter of armor as she tried to stand. Her uncontrollable shaking reverberated through his arms. He could not believe the sheer horror she was experiencing in her own mind.

"It's okay, I'm here. We need to move. Can you stand?" Garrus eyed her vigilantly and watched her nod. "Yeah-" He regretted not making sure she had worn her helmet, but thankfully the glass hadn't shattered despite being cracked in countless places.

"Is Victus still in here?" She asked. Her eyes were distant and struggled to stay focused on anything for long, she squinted and bobbled a few times. It was evident that she wouldn't get very far.

"I'm fine." She hissed before he even opened his mouth because she sensed his concerned gaze. After she adjusted herself upright without his help, Garrus scanned the room for the primarch.

"Primarch Victus!" He called out- it was a long shot, but Victus was a tough bastard. "Victus!" The moment Garrus turned away- Shepard collapsed behind him. "Dammit, Thalassa."

He immediately checked her vitals to be sure that she was alive, then gathered her up into his arms. She passed between consciousness, fighting to stay awake. "I'm- I'm fine."

He called for Victus once more with a sweep of the office and a reply came from one side of the room. The desk had landed right on top of the primarch against the cracked window. "Sir, I have to go get help. I'm sorry- I'll come back for you."

Victus replied with exasperation.

"Go! Someone will find me."

A sudden glow of blue took Garrus by surprise. The large quantity of debris that had piled on top of Victus was thrown across the room along with a pained cry from Garrus' arms. The desk crashed into the glass window, causing the long cracks to spread like webs. Thank the spirits for Turian infrastructure.

Garrus looked down at Shepard in concern. "That- it... didn't feel good." She slurred weakly before her eyes closed. The sudden heaviness of her body set panic into his bones. Before he could do anything for her, he first got Victus to his feet and they started to make their way toward the noise. People bustled in the chaos and sirens blared. A couple soldiers swarmed them and Victus was taken away by some medical personnel. Garrus was left to be stared at from afar. Humans weren't a common sight on Palaven. The majority of Turians had never seen a human with their own eyes, and to add to the shock factor, he was almost positive that many of them recognized her. The human spectre who took down Saren and the Reapers.

Some of the windows in the building were blown out, so naturally, Garrus was concerned about exposing Shepard to any form of radiation which employed a quickenning of his stride. He emplyed his omni-tool to inform the Jullianus. "Klarkin, inform Dr. Chakwas that I need her to meet me at the airlock ASAP."

Everything around him passed in a blur.

He felt like he was running through thick water. The uncertainty hung in his chest, painfully pulling air in and out of his lungs.

Chakwas was ready for him at the airlock when he approached. Her face creased with age and concern, she followed him quickly toward the med bay. The doctor immediately began to run some scans to assess Shepard's injuries on the way.

"What happened?" Chakwas asked in a high pitched voice filled with confusion.

"An explosion. I don't know how, who or why-" The crew's curious gazes followed them as they went. The Turian doctor on staff followed them in a hurry. "Sir, let me be of assistance."

"No, Klarkin. Stay out of the way."

He set Shepard down on a med table and it was then that he realized how pale she was. Blood trailed from her nose and touched her lips- her hair was still in a bun but some of it was matted and glistened as if it was wet.

"I have knowledge of human biology- I can at least assist Dr. Chakwas."

Klarkin continued on in defiance and Garrus blew a gasket. He knew that Klarkin had a habit of inserting himself into situations that did not concern him- Garrus didn't have the time for it. The pheromones in the room only exacerbated Garrus' outburst- he grabbed the other male Turian and pinned him against a set of cabinets which knocked over whatever they contained with a few clattering noises. "You won't lay a talon on her- you hear me, Klarkin?" Garrus growled in anger, bearing his sharp teeth in dominance.

"Garrus!" Chakwas grabbed his arm, but his eyes remained on Klarkin. "You're wounded and need medical attention- please let him help me and then we can patch you up as well." There was a tense pause between all three of them and then Garrus gave Klarkin one more good shove while releasing him.

"Dr. Klarkin, listen to my instructions carefully." Chakwas said as Klarkin escaped Garrus' reach.

Chakwas' hands were swift and unclasped Shepard's armor with ease. Garrus' frustration pushed him out of the med bay.

He paced the halls to gather his thoughts. When the adrenaline in his system lulled- he noticed the blood on his armor. The deep purplish hues where their blood had mingled told him what he hadn't felt earlier. His silver chest plate was smeared with red and blue fluids. A few droplets had run down his legs and more was smeared on his arms. Just the sight of her blood on him made his own blood boil which helped him decide that whoever set off that explosion was already dead.