I don't own Babylon 5 or the characters, or the places, or probably even my own ideas. In that case...um..something. Whatever.
Sorry it's been a while since I updated! Fortunately, faithful reader, you still love me. If you don't, then you're not reading this anyway, so screw you.
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Susan sat at the bar at Earhart's, a smile on her face and a drink in her hand. She watched as John led Delenn out onto the makeshift dance floor— created by simply pushing some tables aside— and attempt to teach the Minbari how to dance. Delenn moved rather stiffly at first, with a look on her face that clearly said she didn't understand this human custom, but with John's encouragement, she began to loosen up and move more freely.
When the song ended, Delenn pulled John back to their table before another song could begin. Susan saw Delenn lean over and speak in John's ear. They shared a quick kiss, then John stood up. He tried to politely get everyone's attention, but when that didn't seem to be working, he resorted to his usual method.
"HEY!" he yelled at the top of his voice. All sound immediately ceased, except for Garibaldi's voice.
"You can tell he's a CO."
Everyone chuckled.
John shot his former security chief a look, and Garibaldi held up his hands as if warding off an attack.
"John, we all know it's true."
Another burst of laughter filled the room, with even Delenn joining in. John smiled ruefully.
"Even my wife's ganging up on me now."
After the laughter subsided, John began to speak.
"I want to thank you all for everything you've done over the past few years. In every crisis, every battle, you could always be depended on. In all my years in Earthforce, I've never had a crew as good as this one."
Everyone applauded. They all liked being made to feel special.
"Delenn and I appreciate you all coming to help us celebrate our marriage. It really means a lot to us."
Suddenly the sound of tapping on glass was heard. People turned to see Garibaldi tapping his glass of water with a spoon, a wicked grin on his face. Susan immediately grabbed a nearby spoon and joined in. John glared daggers at the both of them, but it did no good. More people joined them, until the room was filled with the sound of metal on glass.
John sighed, looking slightly annoyed. Delenn, meanwhile, looked confused, until John pulled her to a standing position and kissed her deeply. The crowd cheered.
As they parted, Garibaldi signaled for the music to start up again, and couples moved back onto the dance floor. Susan saw Stephen dancing with Dr. Hobbs and Zack leading Lyta onto the floor. She felt a momentary longing to be out there dancing with someone, but her traitorous mind kept pulling up the image of Marcus out there with her. She resolutely pushed the image out of her mind.
Suddenly, a figure in a wheelchair appeared at the entrance. It was Marcus.
Oh shit.
---
Marcus entered Earhart's, one hand on the controls of his motorized wheelchair. He performed an experimental spin, and was pleased with the responsiveness of the unit. If he had to be in a wheelchair, at least he was going to have fun with it.
As soon as Dr. Franklin had left, Marcus had gone to work convincing the nurse on duty to let him go to John and Delenn's reception. It hadn't been easy, but by promising to take it easy and stay in the wheelchair, he had gotten out of Medlab.
Marcus made his way over to John and Delenn.
"Entil Z'ha," he said respectfully, then, "Mr. President."
"Marcus," John said warmly. "Good to see you."
"You, too," Marcus replied. "Congratulations to the both of you. And now, I need to go find Mr. Garibaldi. He owes me twenty credits."
"And why is that," Delenn asked, "Or do I not want to know?"
"I told him you two would get married privately. He said he and Ivanova would be there. I won."
"So, you were betting on us," John said, laughing. "I find that mildly alarming."
"Well," Marcus said, "I know for a fact that you and Garibaldi were betting on how soon I would be up and working after the denn'shah with Neroon, so I call it cosmic retribution."
Delenn turned to John, mock disapproval on her face. "You were gambling? That is not a good activity for the new president of the ISA to be engaged in."
"I'll reform," he replied. "Besides, I won, anyway."
As Delenn pulled her new husband into a kiss, Marcus discreetly left, heading towards the bar. He dodged a rather inebriated Londo and nearly collided with a chair that was in his path. Then he saw Susan.
---
Susan could hear the motor of the wheelchair as Marcus moved around the room, though she tried to ignore it.
Oh, god, he's coming closer. She did not want to have a confrontation right now. She entertained the idea of pulling her PPG on him, but it would cause no end of trouble. And paperwork. She hated paperwork.
He was behind her now, and he seemed to be moving back and forth…She had no idea what he was doing.
Bzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzt!
"Shoot!"
Bzzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzt!
"Oh, come on, you bloody stupid machine!"
Susan gritted her teeth and tried to ignore him, but the hum of the wheelchair was drilling its way into her head.
Finally she turned to him, and, in the coldest voice she could muster, said, "Marcus, what the hell are you doing?"
He didn't get the hint, or, more likely, ignored it.
"Trying to parallel park, actually. Would you mind moving your chair about…" he looked down at the position of his wheelchair compared to her chair, "…eleven point six centimeters to the left?"
She obliged without really thinking about it, and immediately reprimanded herself mentally. Now she was going to have to talk to him.
Marcus maneuvered in next to her, and after a second's indecision, pressed one of the buttons below the joystick control. A loud screeching alarm immediately began to sound, and the Ranger hastily pressed the button again to silence it.
"Sorry, false alarm," Marcus said to everyone in the room. The group relaxed, and Zack and Garibaldi took their hands off their PPGs.
"Panic button," Marcus muttered to Susan, "In case someone in Down Below tries to mug the helpless invalid."
Susan snorted. Even in a wheelchair, Marcus was anything but helpless.
Marcus looked at the buttons again.
"Okay, not the red button. Maybe it was the yellow one."
He pressed another button, and the seat of the wheelchair raised itself to the level of the other chairs at the bar.
"There we go. Handy feature," Marcus said. "Unfortunately, it locks the wheels in this mode, so I can't go riding around like this. I might have to do some adjusting."
There was an awkward silence when Susan didn't respond.
"Susan?" he said hesitantly, and she flinched. "Susan, are you…are you alright?" he asked, and hesitantly reached out to lay his hand on her arm.
As soon as he touched her, she turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger. She snatched her arm away and practically snarled at him, "It's none of your business how I feel, alright? Just…just leave me alone!" And with that, she stood and strode out of the restaurant.
Several concerned pairs of eyes followed her departure, including Marcus's. But he made no move to follow her.
There had been something besides fury in her eyes.
