Chapter 10 It's a strange world out there

Enjoy folks. As always, your feedback is much appreciated. Expect the next chapter some time in January, by the way, and consider this one my Christmas present to you. Happy Holidays :)

As always, nothing recognisable belongs to me.

Holding cell

Sam was sitting in the dark interrogation room Garibaldi had led him to. So far, Garibaldi had asked no questions and Sam had, of course, volunteered no information either. He knew though the time would come soon when he would have to start talking and he had no idea what he was going to say to get himself out of this mess.

Actually, Sam had no idea how he got in this mess in the first place. The Markab must have gone to Sheridan with the same story he had gone to Delenn. But was that all? Would a wild tale of him and Dean being some harbingers of doom and leaving destruction in their wake be enough for someone like Sheridan? Sam did not think so. Something else must have happened, something that brought the Captain's attention to Sam and his brother.

Sam wondered what Dean was doing at the moment. If he knew his brother, Sam was sure he was trying everything to free him. Sam only hoped that everything did not involve shooting his way to Sam and then blowing up the station in their wake. Truth be told, Sam was beginning to feel rather fond of the idea of Babylon 5. He could see how people could be so attracted to this place. Not from inside a holding cell, it was true, but still Sam doubted that even Dean would be unable to admit – however reluctantly – that the station really was of some use.

The door to the small room opened and Captain Sheridan walked in. Sam braced himself. So the Captain was going to question him personally. This truly must be serious then.

Sheridan motioned to Garibaldi that he could go. Garibaldi did so. As soon as they were alone, Sheridan turned to Sam.

"You came here," he began, "Calling yourself Sam Parks and claiming you're the cousin of a trivid creator. Surely you must have known that a thorough record search would have shown there is no Sam Parks – or that the trivid creator in question has no family. As a matter of fact, I'm surprised you did not realise a thorough record search was going to reveal your name as well. Although, the latest records on you claim you're dead, Mr Winchester."

Sam shrugged his shoulders.

"Not anymore," he declared.

Sheridan snorted at that, shaking his head. He had expected some resistance from the prisoner. The flippant remark, however, was spoken so flatly that one could have almost thought that Sam Winchester himself believed it to be true.

"I don't really believe in people coming back for the dead, Mister Winchester," he pointed out.

"No," Sam agreed. "I imagine it's not something you'd believe if it did not happen to you."

Sam had no idea what prompted him to be so upfront instead of resorting to the usual obfuscation he fed to authority figures. But he had spent enough time around authority figures to realise that Sheridan was not an ordinary military man. He was insightful and quick-thinking. After all, he had outwitted the Minbari during the war and he was the only human who had been able to do so.

Meanwhile, Sheridan was studying the younger man thoughtfully. He did not really know how to take him. The records found on him and his brother were made mostly of rumours and contradicting evidence. There was nothing that actually pointed out clearly that they were guilty of any of the crimes accused of. And even the crimes were so diverse – murder in one record, burglary in another, grave desecration and vandalism according to yet another source –that Sheridan was actually starting to wonder if there was not some bigger picture he was missing.

Still, Sheridan supposed, that was not really up to him. The truth was Sam and Dean Winchester were on Babylon 5 under false pretences and they had clearly bothered a few people. Not to mention the fact that they might be connected, however tangentially, to the murder of the lurker in Downbelow – and to the mysterious vendor. Therefore Sheridan had to deal with them – and he more than certainly had to find the real reason they were there.

"I just had Ambassador Mollari in my office," he told Sam confidentially. "You've met him, I believe. You sought an audience with him pretending you wanted to interview him. You can imagine he was a little ticked off when he found out you were not who you said you were. I had a hard time trying to convince him that EarthDome is not sending people to spy on our alien ambassadors."

Sam did not say anything. He was surprised about Londo. How exactly had he found out? Had the Markab, in a fit of desperation, gone to see him too? But why? He had already gone to the Captain why go to the Centauri Ambassador as well? Not to mention that Londo was not exactly on anyone's trusted list right about now. but if not the Markab, who had told Londo about him? Was it Delenn? Could Dean be right to mistrust her, and she was, in fact, playing some double game to suit her own designs? Sam still doubted that. he did not think she was the type to resort to such intrigues. And even if she was, she would have gone straight to the Captain, not to Londo. Someone else must have told Londo about them. And Sam had no idea who.

Meanwhile, Sheridan was looking at Sam as if assessing him.

"Is EarthDome sending people to spy on our alien Ambassadors?" he asked sharply.

Sam hesitated. If he wanted a way out, Sheridan had unknowingly just offered him one. He could say he was sent from EarthDome – from the president himself, even – and Sheridan would be forced to let him go, ask no questions and even cooperate with him. At any other time, Sam would have taken that approach readily. Not know, though. Now he thought that the only way to get himself out of this – or at least, buy himself some time until Dean got him out – was to be as close to the truth as possible.

"No," he said. "No, they're not. Or, at least, if they are, I've got nothing to do with it."

Sheridan nodded, smiling slightly.

"I thought so," he said. "Because spies of EarthGov would not bother with vendors of supposedly occult objects. Oh yes," he added, seeing Sam's concerned frown, "I know that. my people saw you talking to someone called Ralph the Vendor. We were not tailing you or your brother at the time. We were tailing him. But you being there – well, it certainly makes it suspicious. And there have been a bit too many suspicious things in this business."

Sam nodded at that.

"Yes," he agreed. "There are. But we can fix it – my brother and I. That's what we do, fix this kind of things. So why don't you let me go so we can do our jobs. The sooner we do that, the sooner we'll be off your station and out of your hair."

Sheridan shook his head at that.

"I'm afraid it does not work that way, Mister Winchester," he warned.

Sam sighed resignedly.

"Yeah, I figured out that much," he admitted wearily.

The Captain's link buzzed then. Sheridan answered it impatiently.

"Sheridan," he said. "I'm a in a bit of a situation down here, so can't this wait?"

"Captain," the voice at the other end answered, completely unfazed by Sheridan's brusque manner. "Ambassador Delenn says she has to see you in your office right away and she has asked me to convey to you that she is not going to take no for an answer."

Sam looked up, trying not to appear too hopeful as he watched Sheridan hesitating.

"Fine," the captain said in the end. "Tell her I'll be right there." He paused considering Sam thoughtfully. "You'd better pray real hard she's not there to complain about you," he said as a parting shot.

Sheridan turned swiftly and left. Sam passed a weary hand over his face. He really hoped Delenn was there to get him out. He was finding the mess more and more complicated with each second that passed.

Captain Sheridan's office.

Sheridan strode quickly into his office to find Delenn already waiting impatiently for him.

"Captain, good," she greeted without any further introduction. "I was hoping to speak with you as soon as possible."

"Ambassador," Sheridan responded cautiously. "What can I do for you?"

"Captain, I was hoping you could grant me a favour," Delenn stated. "In a strictly off-the-record capacity."

Sheridan looked even more wary. It was not that he did not want to accommodate Delenn – far be it from it. Still, he had to admit to himself that her requests had so far been rather…whimsical, ranging from dinner in the Fresh Aire Restaurant, to recruiting him for some sort of upcoming war that could flatten the galaxy. He supposed nothing could top that and yet, with her, he never knew.

"If you name it, I'll be more than happy to help in any way that I can," was the only thing that he said aloud.

Delenn inclined her head, pleased to see that things were going well so far.

"Captain, I believe you have a human prisoner in your custody," she began. "He goes by the name of Sam Parks…"

Sheridan nodded at that.

"I've already had Ambassador Mollari in hear complaining about him," he told Delenn. "Among others. Now, he'll most likely be deported back to Earth – along with his brother, as soon as we find him. Did you wish to make a complaint about him?"

Delenn looked vaguely amused at that.

"Hardly," she replied. "I was actually here to ask you to release him."

"What?" Sheridan demanded. "Delenn, you've got to be kidding me."

"I am not," Delenn replied calmly. "He and I have a…shall we say a slight arrangement. I think it would be much better for all of us if you let him go."

Remembering what had happened the last time Delenn had come to him demanding he set a prisoner loose, Sheridan was almost too afraid to ask. Still, he felt that he needed to know.

"This doesn't by any chance have anything to do with Morden, does it?" he inquired. "I mean, he's not connected to the Shadows you were telling me about, is he?"

"Oh no," Delenn hastened to reassure him. "He and his brother are connected to an entirely different matter. But it is one that threatens to grow and distract us from the true struggle that is to come. Which is why I believe we should allow the Winchesters to deal with this matter themselves. It is going to spare us a lot of grief in the long run."

Sheridan frowned. He was surprised to hear Delenn casually mentioning Sam's real name. He knew he should not be surprised by anything Delenn did. She had probably found out who the two were long before he had. He supposed he should have been angry that he had failed to report anything about the brothers to him. He knew, though, that Delenn had her reasons and the tendency to deal with things in her own way. He might be annoyed by that, but he would have been a fool to deny how effective her methods were.

"So," Sheridan summed up, as if trying to make sure he had all the facts, "The only reason you want me to free him is because he could stop something that might distract us from the upcoming battle with the Shadows?"

He had not meant to sound incredulous, but he could not help himself. Delenn inclined her head, acknowledging and, in a way, even agreeing with his disbelief.

"I suppose we could say that we are all meant to battle a certain type of darkness and that we might do more harm in going against something we do not understand," she said in the end. "Also," she added, smiling slightly, "I think you should know his brother was bent on tearing the station apart to get Sam Winchester out of your custody. I told him more could be gained by asking nicely, first. I do not think you want me to be proven wrong in this matter, Captain."

Sheridan laughed in spite of himself. He supposed that, if he had done it once, he could do it again. And freeing Sam Winchester was nothing like letting Morden go – at least, that was what Delenn assured him of. Plus, except for the false identity and a few rumours from Earth, he did not have much to hold Sam Winchester for, anyway.

"All right," he sighed heavily. "I'll cut him loose. I'll have Garibaldi take you to the holding cell and you can tell him the good news yourself. I do hope you're aware you'll owe me big time for this, Ambassador."

Delenn was smiling broadly now.

"I know," she said. "How about a traditional Minbari dinner to make up for it, Captain? I can set it up with Lennier and have everything ready in two days."

Sheridan shook his head. If someone would have told him a few years ago he would ever be invited to take part in a Minbari dinner, he would have laughed in their faces. He would have been doubly sure he would never accept anyway. And yet…

"Thank you, Ambassador, I'd love to," he said grinning broadly. "Now go collect your prisoner. I'll have Garribaldi escort you."

After Delenn left, Sheridan wondered what exactly would EarthDome say if he knew the latitude he had been giving the Minbari Ambassador recently."

Holding cell

Sam was just contemplating whether he could not somehow engineer his escape from there when the door opened again. He was sure it was Sheridan, ready to resume his interrogation. It was Garibaldi actually. The other looked at him mistrustfully. Sam had been enough around Dean, however, to recognise someone who did not trust the world in general.

"Get up," Garibaldi told him. "You're free to go."

Sam looked taken aback at this.

"I am?" he repeated, as if trying to make sure.

Garibaldi shrugged his shoulders.

"Unless you'd rather stay here," he replied. "Personally, I wouldn't be against it, but it seems you have friends in high places that might be a little ticked off."

Delenn was waiting for him outside the cell. She nodded wordlessly to Garibaldi and then motioned to Sam to follow her.

"All right," Sam said, "Sheridan seemed quite determined to keep me here for a very, very long time. What did you have to do to change his mind?"

"I asked him to dinner," Delenn replied calmly.

Sam gaped at her. He had no idea if she meant it or if she was only pulling his leg – and he felt slightly afraid to ask.

"Do not overthink this, Mister Winchester," Delenn told him, sensing Sam' unease. " I am here to take you to your brother – nothing more."

And that sounded so good to Sam that he decided he really should not question it any further and just go with it.

Morden and the demon stood watching as Sam and Delenn headed away from the holding cell. The demon shook his head.

"There goes your plan," the demon said, and even though the turn of events affected him maybe even more than it did Morden, he could not help feeling gleeful at the thought of his companion's failure.

Morden gritted his teeth. He was sure that Mollari would make enough noise to Sheridan to have the captain retain the Winchesters, maybe even deport them to Earth. He had no idea that Delenn would interfere – or that Sheridan would even listen to her.

"This shouldn't be happening," he said to himself. "It's not part of our plans."

"Join the club," the demon said darkly. "By the way, I'd watch out for her –and for the Captain – if I were you. Take it for someone who's been there. If you want your own doomsday to be more successful than ours, here's the two you should take care of before you get all your plans ruined."

Morden had an inkling that was so. he also knew he had not received any permission from his associates to do something about Sheridan and Delenn – not yet at any rate.

"All in good time," he said vaguely. "And your job is to get the Winchesters off my station. That's all."

"Right," the demon agreed briskly. "Your plan failed. It seems it's my turn now."