A/N: It might be word mentioning I've started another ME fic, working title Galaxy At War: N7, following the multiplayer N7 teams. Check my profile if you're interested, the first chapter also has a request for some involvement from readers/reviewers which might be interesting to some.
lando24: Thanks on all three counts. As for the not focusing on Shepard, that was something I really fancied doing - to be honest, Shepard's one of the least interesting characters, side effect of being a blank slate I guess...
"Garrus, when can I get out of this damn bed?" Shepard moaned. The turian had just appeared in the med bay to visit him and Liara, and had immediately been presented with the same protests Kaidan and Chakwas had been enduring for the last two hours.
"As soon as you can stand without me or Kaidan holding you up," the turian groaned, sardonically.
"Got it. Javik!"
"Glad to see your sense of humour's back, Shepard..."
"That would be the meds talking."
"Ah..."
"Seriously, though, Garrus, how did the summit go?"
"What summit, Commander?"
"You think I don't hear things, Garrus? Besides, Joker left the comms on open..."
"Damn it, Moreau..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"So... the summit?"
"Err... right. I'm not sure Hackett wanted me to tell you yet, Commander."
"Then it's a good thing Hackett doesn't give you your orders..."
"Are you pulling rank on me, Shepard?"
"Damn right I am..."
At that, Shepard began to giggle, and broke into a bout of laughter which went on for at least five minutes, to the point where Garrus too began to shake with mirth, the sort of infectious laughter that no-one could really explain or justify. When it finally subsided, and the meds were coursing slightly less vigorously through his veins, Shepard tried to make his face look more serious – Garrus' expression indicated it hadn't worked, but he persisted nonetheless.
"So, what happened?" he repeated.
"Fine..." Garrus sighed. "They mostly just sorted out the refugees – the wounded, and the civilians from the Crucible. The turian fleets are going to Rannoch, the rest to Eden Prime."
"Did they mention anything else about... the Crucible?"
"Why?"
"Just tell me, Garrus... I need to know if they're blaming me," Shepard muttered, wearily.
"Hackett told them to reserve judgement until you had a chance to explain" – Shepard let out a sigh of relief at that – "and most of them agreed."
"Most?"
"One of the salarians had... doubts. He thought you might have been... delirious, indoctrinated, even."
"And what did the others say to that?"
"Well, Wrex tried to rip him in half, how's that for an answer?"
"It'll do nicely... Good to know someone's on my side."
"We're all on your side, damn it! I thought we established that when we went to Earth!" Garrus growled, frustratedly.
"Anything else?" Shepard asked, ignoring him outright.
"Hackett and Victus are in the War Room."
"Our War Room?"
"Yes... don't worry, I told him you weren't in any state to be debriefed yet, he won't bother you."
"I... okay... thanks. Why are they even here?"
"They're with Wrex and Shala'Raan – I guess they needed somewhere secure to talk. As far as I can tell, the krogan and quarians might be getting seats on the Council."
"Good..." Shepard nodded. "They're loyal to us, no issues with dissent like the salarians."
"Let it go, Commander, it was one salarian."
"Is that an order, Garrus?"
"Yes, it is... you're not turning into a paranoid wreck while we've got anything to say about it. I'll speak to you later, Commander."