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Holiday lights Chapter 10: Realization
In a voice that was barely above a whisper, Marcus called, "Lights," and the computer obliged so that he was able to see the face of his love. She was pale but smiled at him and he whispered, "Susan?" she nodded and he held his finger up to say he would be right back as he ran out and returned a moment later dragging in Stephen who laughed. He knelt by Susan, asking how she felt; she shrugged. "Fine when do I get out of here?" Stephen slipped his hand up her gown to check her wound, and she nearly cried out. Both Marcus and Stephen noticed as Stephen called for pain killers to be brought and gently injected his almost little sister and best friend. Michael, Susan, and Stephen were best friends . They were like siblings and John was one of them now. They all saw Susan as a little sister that they did their best to protect. He now held up her skeletal frame and allowed Marcus to take her as they helped her sip water. The road ahead was long and difficult. It took days for her injuries to heal. In the mean time, everyone who could visited her, and her room was filled with flowers. One day, John went to see her. When he was at the door, which was cracked open, he heard Corwin inside. Lieutenant David Corwin was a young man around 30, 32 who was Susan's second. He ran Command when she was not there. He sat at her side holding her hand and John peered deeply to see what was going on. Corwin had brought some flowers that he had lain in her lap. He was talking to her and telling her about certain crew members, the station's situation, and the war as it was at the moment. Corwin got up and said, "Get well soon Commander; we all miss you." She smiled at him as he stood and waited at attention. She looked at him not understanding till Corwin cleared his throat and she smiled and whispered in her loudest voice at the moment, "Dismissed," as he saluted with a crisp, "yes ma'am." As John entered a group of about ten came in also to see her. They were the Maintenance workers he had seen the other day. Their leader carried flowers and they all had and two cards. One was extremely large and the other regular size. John was expecting trouble and frankly did not know why Susan would have such visitors. When John told them to go ahead one of them replied with politeness he hadn't expected that they could all go in together. Stephen had asked that her visitors go in a few at a time and John mentioned this. They told him that they had cleared their large group with the chief medical officer. John didn't know what was going on but guessed that these men were important to her and that was why it had been cleared. John wondered what it was that clearly everyone in Medlab knew that he didn't. They walked in together, and Susan smiled as John watched in amazement as every one of them snapped to attention with respect for this tiny woman lying wearied in front of them. She called them to ease. Then they handed her the flowers and small card from them. Next they showed her the large card that was held up by two people. It had been signed by the entire crew. All five thousand of them. John wondered why he hadn't been asked to sign and resolved to find out. She thanked them and each one stepped up giving her a peck on the cheek, before leaving respectfully. John walked over to her and sat down in the seat, asking how she was. Her response was weak as John began to talk of their baby, which seemed to catch her attention. He talked for quite a while. John left as well. As he reached the door, Michael walked in with a covered bowl and spoon, and kissed her on the cheek. She protested, but he refused to listen, saying, "I went through all this trouble to make this; the least you can do is eat it," as he opened the bowl and, sitting beside her, began to feed her tomato soup. John left seeking out Stephen who seemed to be expecting him. "The card?" asked Stephen knowing what John wanted to know. He nodded. Stephen began, "You have to realize what Susan means to the crew. They approached me for help and I gave it. John, you have to realize how many people here have been trained by Susan. As you know Earth Force did not have much faith in Babylon 5 so they gave her a crew of old rough untrained workers. A drop out for a security chief was approved, a warrior for a diplomat and a person younger than 90% of the crew at then 24 for second in command. But Susan trained them, the men were poor Maintenance workers from broken homes, without any hope. She turned them into pilots. There are Engineers who couldn't do a thing who have been trained by her. She may have a short temper but she will help any one who needs it. The lower decks personnel, when they aren't sure what to do and panicked for fear of punishment she doesn't write them excuses she helps them with the problem and teaches them. She was the factor in uniting this crew. She helps me when she can here, allowing the nurses and other doctors to instruct her as they would any petty officer. She makes them feel as if the are something special. They don't forget something like that. She works nearly 3 shifts a day, and everyone knows it. The reason you weren't asked to sign is because the crew feels you don't appreciate her." John felt realization sweeping across him, "I never knew." "Well now you do; that woman is the most loved and respected person on this station and we have decided it's time she knew."
Holiday lights Chapter 10: Realization
In a voice that was barely above a whisper, Marcus called, "Lights," and the computer obliged so that he was able to see the face of his love. She was pale but smiled at him and he whispered, "Susan?" she nodded and he held his finger up to say he would be right back as he ran out and returned a moment later dragging in Stephen who laughed. He knelt by Susan, asking how she felt; she shrugged. "Fine when do I get out of here?" Stephen slipped his hand up her gown to check her wound, and she nearly cried out. Both Marcus and Stephen noticed as Stephen called for pain killers to be brought and gently injected his almost little sister and best friend. Michael, Susan, and Stephen were best friends . They were like siblings and John was one of them now. They all saw Susan as a little sister that they did their best to protect. He now held up her skeletal frame and allowed Marcus to take her as they helped her sip water. The road ahead was long and difficult. It took days for her injuries to heal. In the mean time, everyone who could visited her, and her room was filled with flowers. One day, John went to see her. When he was at the door, which was cracked open, he heard Corwin inside. Lieutenant David Corwin was a young man around 30, 32 who was Susan's second. He ran Command when she was not there. He sat at her side holding her hand and John peered deeply to see what was going on. Corwin had brought some flowers that he had lain in her lap. He was talking to her and telling her about certain crew members, the station's situation, and the war as it was at the moment. Corwin got up and said, "Get well soon Commander; we all miss you." She smiled at him as he stood and waited at attention. She looked at him not understanding till Corwin cleared his throat and she smiled and whispered in her loudest voice at the moment, "Dismissed," as he saluted with a crisp, "yes ma'am." As John entered a group of about ten came in also to see her. They were the Maintenance workers he had seen the other day. Their leader carried flowers and they all had and two cards. One was extremely large and the other regular size. John was expecting trouble and frankly did not know why Susan would have such visitors. When John told them to go ahead one of them replied with politeness he hadn't expected that they could all go in together. Stephen had asked that her visitors go in a few at a time and John mentioned this. They told him that they had cleared their large group with the chief medical officer. John didn't know what was going on but guessed that these men were important to her and that was why it had been cleared. John wondered what it was that clearly everyone in Medlab knew that he didn't. They walked in together, and Susan smiled as John watched in amazement as every one of them snapped to attention with respect for this tiny woman lying wearied in front of them. She called them to ease. Then they handed her the flowers and small card from them. Next they showed her the large card that was held up by two people. It had been signed by the entire crew. All five thousand of them. John wondered why he hadn't been asked to sign and resolved to find out. She thanked them and each one stepped up giving her a peck on the cheek, before leaving respectfully. John walked over to her and sat down in the seat, asking how she was. Her response was weak as John began to talk of their baby, which seemed to catch her attention. He talked for quite a while. John left as well. As he reached the door, Michael walked in with a covered bowl and spoon, and kissed her on the cheek. She protested, but he refused to listen, saying, "I went through all this trouble to make this; the least you can do is eat it," as he opened the bowl and, sitting beside her, began to feed her tomato soup. John left seeking out Stephen who seemed to be expecting him. "The card?" asked Stephen knowing what John wanted to know. He nodded. Stephen began, "You have to realize what Susan means to the crew. They approached me for help and I gave it. John, you have to realize how many people here have been trained by Susan. As you know Earth Force did not have much faith in Babylon 5 so they gave her a crew of old rough untrained workers. A drop out for a security chief was approved, a warrior for a diplomat and a person younger than 90% of the crew at then 24 for second in command. But Susan trained them, the men were poor Maintenance workers from broken homes, without any hope. She turned them into pilots. There are Engineers who couldn't do a thing who have been trained by her. She may have a short temper but she will help any one who needs it. The lower decks personnel, when they aren't sure what to do and panicked for fear of punishment she doesn't write them excuses she helps them with the problem and teaches them. She was the factor in uniting this crew. She helps me when she can here, allowing the nurses and other doctors to instruct her as they would any petty officer. She makes them feel as if the are something special. They don't forget something like that. She works nearly 3 shifts a day, and everyone knows it. The reason you weren't asked to sign is because the crew feels you don't appreciate her." John felt realization sweeping across him, "I never knew." "Well now you do; that woman is the most loved and respected person on this station and we have decided it's time she knew."