Disclaimer: Babylon5 is not mine, never will be and never has been.
A/N: A blatant AU. Stephanie thanks again for the beta and advice.
Chapter 3: Arrival
The news of Marcus' imminent arrival spread quickly. Everyone was busy with preparations for it, new and bigger quarters (courtesy of Delenn); a lot of new reading crystals and books (though Marcus refused to write and speak he hadn't stopped reading) from various Earth languages to minbar religious caste language to translated centauri and narn; fresh food and real coffee (gift from Susan) and water shower.
It was a happy company that waited to welcome their lost friend. Everyone was full of hope that Marcus would start talking again.So when the shuttle finally landed and when Marcus didn't start to chat with everyone it was kind of a disappointment to them even if it was unreasonable of them to think otherwise. The actual greeting they got was what they really should have expected
The company had gathered to welcome Marcus. Susan was tapping her feet, G'Kar and Londo were insulting each other again, Dr Franklin and Garibaldi just stood there and Delenn, with Lennier howering behind her, watched the still closed door like it had the answer to the question of the universe. Sheridan stood apart from everyone.
Finally the door opened and Marcus stepped into the corridor with his escort (namely bodyguards and some healers, all minbari). He was clothed entirely in black robes and Marcus looked like some kind of statue, eyes dead and hollow. The only things that distinguished him from a corpse were the facts that he stood on his own feet, that his chest rose and fell with each breath he took and the beautiful tan he had on his skin.
The second Marcus noticed the crew of Babylon5, he gave them an almost nonexisting smile so Franklin and Garibaldi were not even sure he had smiled.Yepp that was all, the whole reaction. When his bodyguard rangers saw Delenn, they bowed respectfully and one of them rushed beside Marcus and started to put a ranger pin on him. Marcus gave the minbari a cold glare. The minbari flinched and stopped, the pin was not put on.
Delenn stepped forth, her face smiling and hands risen in friendly greeting. "Marcus, it is a pleasure to see you again. You look well," she said happily only to be stopped in her tracks from the icy glare she got from him. There was only ice in his eyes for Delenn, rage and hate so powerful that the half-human wanted to look away. Marcus stood rigidly, back straight, head held high, face in a sneer. Then it went completely blank. An empty sheet, impossible to read because there just was nothing that could be read. An uncomfortable silence hung over the company.
"Well, we should bring you to your new rooms Marcus. So you could settle in and familiarise yourself with them," offered Lennier finally. Marcus nodded once sharply. Lennier led the way and Marcus followed with his escort.
Delenn watched helplessly as they left. John gave her a comforting hug and whispered:" It will be alright."
"Somehow I really doubt it," Susan cut in. "Excuse me now, I have work to do." And she left after saying her piece. After some silence Garibaldi added: "She is right, you know, work will not wait." So he left with Franklin.
G'Kar and Londo watched the drama unfold before them with interest. Londo broke the silence:" That was interesting."
TBC
