Survivors

Characters: OFC, Franklin, Kemmer, Garibaldi, Sinclair, Ivanova, Allan, Corwin, Welch, Sheridan.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. I don't get money from it. Sue me and I'll laugh. And hide.

Warnings: AU. Violence, minor injury, very minor swearing.

Summary: Here comes the boom and the party.

Author's Note: I do not think that I can do a better, equal or even passable imitation of The Great Maker Stracysnski. This is just for fun. And, by the way, I lost the job I had before and have a new one coming up, the Muse-Killer is moving back in and I feel very bad for not updating so pleeeeeeeaaase review.

***

June 2258

***

Vicki walked towards the Bay, smiling. Two whole weeks of sod all to do. She was finally back!

Her wounds were fully healed and she had more energy now than she'd had for a long time. Garibaldi had nodded gruffly when she walked into the Hub. She knew he was happy to see her. Hell, she was happy to see him!

She walked into the Docking Bay, whistling happily. She usually hated whistlers but she could understand why they whistled now- she was over the moon. Even the reports of sneaking thieves messing with the Dockers' tools couldn't wreck her mood today.

As she half-walked half-waltzed deeper into the Docking Bay, Delvientos walked up to her, grinning. "Hey, Sheridan! They sent you for this?"

"Yeah, I think Garibaldi was hoping to keep me out of trouble-"

And that was when a fireball ripped through the room.

***

"VICTORIA LOCHLEY-SHERIDAN, WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO START TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF!!!"

"Stephen-"

"YOU ONLY JUST GOT OUT OF MEDICAL LEAVE AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO GO RIGHT BACK IN!!!"

"Stephen, come on, all I've got is one little concussion!"

"AND two broken ribs!"

"That's nothing!"

"Not to mention all your bruising and burns-"

"Oh come on, I've had worse friction burns!" Silence. "Get your mind out of the gutter Stephen, you know what I mean."

The door to MedBay slid open and Michael Garibaldi came running in. "VICKI! Oh god, never do that to me again." He walked right over to her and- to the intense shock of the young woman and the amusement of everyone else in the room- grabbed her in a bear hug. "You are not working outside the Hub ever again; I am going to chain you to your desk until you're 70..."

"With my luck, the Hub will get bombed while I'm there." Gasped Vicki. "Uhh, Michael..."

"Michael, let go of her before she gets asphyxiated." Said Stephen, having just got himself under control. As the burly Chief did so, he continued, "she was lucky this time- compared to what she's had in the past, this is nothing."

"Does that mean I can go back to work?" She asked. As the two men began to shout in union she roared above them "OH COME ON!!! I only just got off three whole fraggin weeks of leave, I can't stand anymore and besides, Stephen did say that I'm fine..."

"No, I didn't! I just said you could be a lot worse! Not the same thing!" Snapped Stephen sternly.

"OK, well, answer me this, matey- If I were an adult officer with these injuries, would we be having this conversation?" Both men were silent. "Besides which, I'm now 18 years old so-"

"Wait a minute, when did you turn 18?" Asked Michael, sidetracked.

"On my last birthday, why?" Said Vicki, confused.

"Look, either way, you cannot go back on full duty for a few days at least, THAT IS," he shouted as both Vicki and Michael began their objections, "the standard amount of time for any adult officer with your injuries to be removed from active duty. And her injuries really aren't too bad Michael." He added.

Vicki grumbled and stalked off for the SecHub, thinking about all the paperwork she was sure Michael saved specifically for her. As she left, Michael turned to Stephen.

"When did she turn 18?"

"Like she said, on her last birthday." Grinned Stephen. At the look on Michael's face, he elaborated. "Vicki used to get given a hard time on her birthdays. She'd be given silly little presents or childish cards, 'gifts' given solely to drive in the fact that the givers thought she was too young to do her job and should just go home. She grew to hate her birthdays. When I first came here she asked me to keep her date of birth a secret and I agreed. I'm not going to break that promise now."

"Oh come on Stephen, you know me, I'd never do that to her. And I don't think anyone else on the staff thinks of her like that anymore either."

"That seems to be true and I thank god for that every day. But still, I made a promise. And I'm sticking to it."

***

Vicki stared at the screen, going cross-eyed. After being allowed to work beat with the other officers a ridiculously easy assignment like chemical analysis was melting her brain through boredom. She needed to focus on something else, anything else, at least for a little while.

At that moment, a woman wearing the uniform of a Major and a group of men obviously under her command came bursting into the Hub. "You are Sergeant Sheridan?" She said, walking up to her.

"Yes Ma'am." Said Vicki, confused.

"I am Major Liana Kemmer with EarthForce Presidential Security. I was told that you're doing the chemical analysis on the explosion. What have you found?"

As Vicki filled her in she snuck several looks at the woman's face. Something told her this woman was after something other than justice...

***

"If you put your personal feelings about him aside, you will see his guilt as clearly as I do!" Snapped Major Kemmer.

"I don't think you're seeing anything clearly right now Major! With all due respect!" Spat Vicki, her tolerance almost gone. Some dying scumbag said Garibaldi's name and planted some evidence- evidence which was obviously planted, since Michael would not have left anything like that lying around if he WAS responsible for the bombing- and this pumped up cow wanted to put Michael in a cell for it! No wonder he'd run, there was something between him and this woman.

"It's my call and I'm making it! Now, if you don't mind, join the damn search teams and help them arrest Garibaldi!"

"NO! I won't! And you cannot force me to do it!" Vicki snarled at her opponent. One of the Major's aides came in and handed Kemmer a small pad. She perused it and then smirked.

"Can't I?" She said smoothly, continuing the discussion. "Either assist in the search for Garibaldi or I'm dismissing you."

"On what grounds?" Demanded Vicki, seeing red.

"Medical. You were injured in the bombing, so unless you agree to actually be helpful, you're gone."

Vicki glared at the smug cow for several seconds, before whirling around and stalking off.

***

Vicki trotted down the corridor, listening carefully. Londo had been evasive and G'Kar had been smiling knowingly. Despite what they said, Vicki could tell the truth. Michael had been to both of them. She'd thought for a long time and was now certain that she knew his planned path.

She rounded a corner- and smacked right into Sinclair.

"Oh... ahh..." She said, averting her eyes. Blessed- or rather, cursed- with the ability to remember things that happened to her when she was drunk, she knew what had happened. She'd told her commanding officer that she was seriously in love with him and had then practically sexually assaulted him. Why he hadn't sent her packing yet she didn't know but she still couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes.

"Sergeant." He said cordially. Then the sounds of fists against flesh came to them and, embarrassment forgotten, they both ran to the source.

Which was Michael Garibaldi lying on the floor with three thugs pounding their fists and feet into him. Quickly Sinclair and Sheridan dispatched the attackers and Michael uncurled from the floor. "Jeff... Vicki..."

"Michael! Are you alright?!" Vicki reeled out, the bruising and bleeding evident on her boss and friend scaring her more than being in a fight.

"I'm fine. What are you two doing here? If Liana catches you your jobs will be on the line."

"Mine already is. She put me on enforced medical leave!" Fumed Vicki. Michael snorted. "Not funny!"

"Listen, Michael, you can't do this alone. You need help." Said Sinclair.

"Jeff, Vicki, it means a lot to me that the two of you would come for me like this but... I have to do this myself, you understand?"

"No, I don't-" snapped Sinclair but his link beeped. As he spoke into the back of his hand Michael edged off to the side and Vicki followed him. "Alright, now back to you..." Began Sinclair, only to see he was preaching to an empty hallway. No Security Chief and no Sergeant. He sighed. "Great. That's just great."

***

"Fancy meeting you here."

He sighed. "You don't give up, do you?"

"Not when I'm dealing with someone who deserves their chance. And you've earned your fair share of them."

"I gotta admit, I'm a little surprised I didn't realize I was being followed."

"Yeah, well... I'm good."

Vicki sat next to her immediate CO, who was looking more and more morose as the seconds passed. She studied his face for a moment.

"What is it she's after Michael? Why is she acting like this?" He sighed, examining the table closely. "You do know, don't you?"

He turned to look at her- and then grabbed her shoulders and pushed his face into her neck.

More shocked than she'd been in weeks, Vicki stammered out, "OK, I was offering a shoulder to cry on but I didn't think you'd take it quite so literally..."

"Some of Liana's bloodhounds are at the door." He whispered into her hair and she whipped her hands around his neck, tilting her head slightly so her hair, now several inches past her shoulders and currently free and loose, swung in front of his face, obscuring his whole head from the view of the door. They wouldn't be able to tell he was human, never mind which human.

After several seconds, Vicki reached over to one of the glasses next to her and checked the reflection of the door. Nothing. Michael raised his head slowly and confirmed they were gone. They both sighed and laughed uneasily.

"So," she said, pulling her hair behind her neck. "As I said. What the hell?" He smiled at her, his eyes distant.

"It a bit of a tale." At which she leaned around him and signalled the bartender for two waters.

Three minutes later, Vicki sat back, her eyes downcast. She'd known Michael had a chequered past- but she'd had no idea...

"And now, Liana's as dead inside as I was, and she wants justice from me for what happened. She blames me and hell, sometimes, I wonder if that blame is right..."

"No, it's not." As he looked at her, she continued. "What are you trying to say? That you shouldn't have done your job? You should have avoided those particular bad guys? That you should have been psychic and known what they were planning? You couldn't have known. The only people who deserve the blame are the ones who blew him up, not you. You did NOT intend for it to happen, you didn't want it and you couldn't have stopped it. Blame and guilt should only be assigned where there is intent or real negligence. And you had neither."

"Liana is broken because of me. That's my fault, I ran away because I was scared, I ran to the bottle, I should have been there for her..."

"So be there now." Vicki said. He raised his head, startled. "If, as you say, she wants to get the bad guys, then she needs to know that her Uncle Mike is not one of them. Then maybe you can both start to heal."

***

"Think about it, Major. Even you must realize that a security chief- your personal opinion of his abilities aside- would never have left such damning evidence in his quarters. And besides, why would he demand payment in Centauri Ducats? And why would he need a blueprint of the Bay?"

Liana Kemmer sat and looked at the short Sergeant, thoughtful. Her heart still burned over the death of her father and everything in her screamed at what her mind was thinking. That maybe she'd been wrong. Maybe the Uncle Mike she thought she'd known as a child wasn't a sham.

"Alright." She said in clipped tones. "Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I believe you. Who is the real bomber? It would have to be someone on the inside, someone besides the deceased, to plant the evidence. Who?"

"It can't be a member of our team." Said Vicki. At Kemmer's raised eyebrow, Vicki elaborated. "You don't think Michael would have noticed the ducats and map in his quarters if they were there before? Once the bomb went off no-one went into his quarters except..."

"My team." Said Kemmer, her face draining of colour. "I can't believe that. There must be something we've missed." At the twin looks at her, she rose to the defence of her teammates. "I trust them for a reason. I've been with each of them for months." At that moment, her second called in to say the last bomb check before the Presidential cruiser arrived had been completed without incident. She affirmed- and Vicki snapped her fingers.

"It's him! That bastard!" Both Kemmer and Michael were staring at her. "Who scanned Michael quarters? Who gave you the info to put me on leave? In fact, Major, who suggested you question the suspect? Huh? It was him wasn't it? You second?"

Liana's face, already white, went grey in shock. "My God..."

Twenty minutes later, Vicki, Michael and Liana were running into the Docking Bay. Just in time to see the traitor straightening up from a device planted on the power lines from the doors. It was clearly set to blow half the power grid on the station the moment the doors were opened. Before they could stop her Liana leapt for her treacherous 2IC. "You son of a-"

He right hooked her, managing to land a hard punch, but the Major was up in a heartbeat, her own fist connecting with the side of his face. He staggered back; surprised she was still up, as her foot followed the fist, slamming his head against the wall.

The back-stabber collapsed, unconscious, and Michael and Victoria ran for the bomb. "It's on a timer! I think I can disarm it, but I need your help Michael!" Shouted Vicki.

"You got it!" Panted Michael, helping her peel the casing away. Vicki fingers, light as air, fluttered over the wires inside, seemingly randomly pulling out the filaments connecting the various parts. Michael's hands held the larger connection wires in place, preventing the twitching wires from igniting the explosive matter. Within seconds, the bomb whirred down, disarmed. The Chief and his Sergeant sat back, puffing in triumph.

Turning around to speak to Kemmer, Vicki smirked. "Tell your boss he can ride on in."

***

Vicki sighed, happy. C+C had been bustling, the absence of Sinclair, Ivanova and Corwin making things seem more hectic. But her paperwork had been filed without incident and she was, once again, fully reinstated. Well, she was still on a few days of MedBay enforced careful duty but she'd happily take it! She hated being useless.

She waltzed into SecHub, whistling. Until she saw that all the lights were turned off. "Hey! What the he-"

"SUPRISE!!!" Screamed several different people and shock along stopped her from shooting them (well, that and the fact that she didn't have her PPG) out of sheer surprise. Standing around her were Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova, Petty Warrant Officer Michael Garibaldi, Doctor Stephen Franklin, Sergeant Zack Allan, Second Lieutenant David Corwin, Sergeant Lou Welch and Major Liana Kemmer. In front of them, on the table, was a triple dickered chocolate cake with 18 candles on it. Several coloured boxes were piled next to it.

"You've got to be kidding me..." Choked Vicki, shock muting her for the moment.

"Let me just say that it wasn't Stephen who told me when your birthday was, he refused," Michael took a second to glare at his offending friend, "I had to trawl through two years of newspaper articles before I found the notice about your birth. I finally did, and we just had to celebrate. It's not every day you turn 18, even if you were a mini adult your entire childhood. Since we missed the day, a belated celebration will have to do. And, by the way," he continued, seeing that she was about to start spitting swearwords, "there's one big present I know you'll love."

He took her by the shoulders and guided her to a very large conference screen- with a connection to the EAS Agamemnon. Her father, blue eyes shining in happiness as he took in his daughters glowing face. Vicki felt the tears of love filling her eyes as she looked at her father, a sharp pang of longing nearly crippling her as he said, "Happy birthday, Sweetie."