DEFENSE IN THE FIRST
Although I wished I owned these characters, alas, they are not mine and they are purely used for my pleasure of writing for them but in no way are they owned by this lowly writer.
SPOILERS: Any and all episodes before DIVIDED LOYALITIES.
This is my first attempt of publishing fan fiction and will accept all comments that are constructive.
Be warned this story contains references to love between the same sexes. If that is not your cup of tea, opt out now.
Thank God this day is over, Susan thought as she slid her Ident-card into her quarter's door lock. It swished opened for entry. When it closed behind her, she leaned against it, closed her eyes and sighed. It's so good to be home. She pushed herself off the door, and went to the kitchen and retrieved the bottle of vodka from the freezer. That a few ice cubes, and something that had turned to mold was all that was in it. But, I'm not hungry anyway, she thought as she closed the door with a soft thud. All she wanted was a stiff drink, and some silence. She picked up a glass, and returned to living room. She opened the buttons of her jacket, slipped it from her shoulders, and draped it over the barstool. Tiredly she sank onto the couch. She unbuttoned her shirt top buttons, and the cuffs. She sought to loosen anything that might bind her. The day had been binding enough. She poured a large amount into the glass. The glass felt cool in her hands.
The vodka went down well as she drank half of the glass in one long swallow. Sighing, she closed her eyes, and let her head drop back on the back of the couch. "Lights fifty percent," she called as she rested the cool glass against her forehead. I don't think there is a part of me doesn't hurt! She thought as she reviewed the lousy day that did not want to end.
It seemed like she had spent thirty-six hours in the last twelve. It started with her waking late, and not having time to get a cup of coffee. She had thought she would get one after she checked in with C&C, but they were waiting for her. It seemed a Minbari, a Centauri, and a Narn ship had arrived through the jump gate minutes apart. Each was demanding to dock first. Within five minutes, she had threatened to not let any of them dock until all traffic for the day had docked and unloaded. And, of course, she then had received calls from all Ambassadors who were now involved as well. To add to her pleasure, Captain John Sheridan, commander of the Babylon 5 station, dropped in to see why she hadn't made it to the mess hall for breakfast. It had taken an hour to get everyone, and everything to a compromise, but no one was really happy with it least of all her.
"Corwin" she growled. He looked up as she called his name, "You've got the com; I'm taking a break," and, strided out of C&C before he acknowledged her order.
She rounded the corner and hit a solid wall that turned out to be a body instead. "Watch where the Hell you're going?" she yelled as she was forced to grab onto this person to keep upright.
"Michael…" She stated as she finally saw whom she had run into.
"Morning to you, too, Commander," he said with a laugh as he reached out and helped her to stay on her feet. He released her once she gained her balance. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I needed a break," she said and waved at the door to C&C. "I need to get out of there before I…"
Michael had seen this Ivanova before, and he was just glad he wasn't the one she was upset with. "Gotta!" He reached out and attempted to straight her jacket.
"Stop it!" she said as she batted his hand away. She moved to step around him when he spoke.
"Commander, I was coming to see you…"
She groaned, and looked towards the ceiling, "Why are you conspiring against me… All I want is just one, lousy cup of coffee!"
Michael laughed, but tried to hide it with a cough, "Didn't get your quota of caffeine today, Commander?"
Susan heard the laugh and she hit him squarely in the stomach before she walked away. She didn't pull the punch a bit.
Garibaldi didn't have time to react. "Whoop," was all he could say for a few seconds as air was forced from his lungs. Michael knew he shouldn't have laughed. "Commander…" he weakly called after her. Catching his breath, he followed after the rapidly disappearing figure. "Susan, I'm sorry. It's just I didn't see you at breakfast…"he stopped when he saw her darken look before she continued towards the transport tubes access ports. He made sure he stayed out of her reach. "Okay… Sorry… but I do need your help." When she didn't respond, he continued, "You are the only one that might be able to help me with this one."
When they reached the tubes, she turned on him and was face-to-face with him. He saw the glint in her eyes. "What is so damn important that I can't even get a cup of coffee first?" She demanded.
"There was a murder this morning in Brown sector…" "So?" she replied.The Transport tube arrived, "Med-lab 4," Michael called the destination before she could speak.
She raised her right eyebrow, but remained silent.
"Of course, no one had any idea as to who he is, and 'no- one- saw- anything' or so they say. We didn't find any type of Ident-card on the body. As a matter of fact, the strange thing was we found a scrap of paper in one of his pockets, and it had your name and your quarter's location." Michael told her. "I need you to take a look at him… see if you recognize him. We're running his pic through the files, but so far no luck."
"Can't this wait?" Susan asked with a definite whine in her tone. She decided to try to reason with him. "Michael, I really need some coffee… Real coffee… I deserve just one cup, and then I'll go anywhere you want me to…" she saw the look on his face- a smirky smile- and he before he could speak, she continued, "…view the body." She started to punch him again, but he jumped back out of her reach, and held his hands up in an 'I surrender' motion. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Mr. Garibaldi."
"Just five minutes, and you are free to get as much coffee as you want. I'll even buy the first cup for you," he promised, "Cross my heart." The cart door's opened. "Besides, we're already here," he pointed out the open door.
"Alright, let's get this over with," she stormed by him brushing against his shoulder. The "bump'' nearly landed him on the floor.
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They rounded the corner, and walked into Med-lab. Dr. Stephen Franklin- chief medical officer of Babylon 5- looked up from his desk. "Good. I'm glad you're here." He walked away from his desk, and down the hall. They followed. "The team has just finished cleaning up the body, and I'm ready to start the autopsy." They walked into a room where a body was draped, and trays of instruments displayed.
Susan walked closer, and looked at the face. After a few moments, she looked at Michael, and Stephen, "Sorry, Garibaldi, I don't know him."
Looking at the chest, she saw a gaping wound over the heart. "Guess I don't have to ask how he died?"
"Doc, where are the items you found on the body?" Michael asked.
Stephen pointed to a small metal box on a table against the wall.
Michael opened the box and retrieved a plastic bag, and handed it to Susan. "This was what I was talking about."
Susan saw a rumpled torn piece of real paper, which had her name, and the exact location of her quarters sketched on it. A look of surprise crossed her face when she recognized the handwriting. "Michael, this is my handwriting…" she paused, "…but, I don't remember writing this." She handed the evidence bag back to Michael.
"Well, it looks like the paper is fairly old… You could had written this down any time since you arrived on station." Michael said. "We are going to try to date it, but I don't expect much luck." He was a little disappointed Susan didn't recognize this man, but he was use to things here on Babylon 5. Things were never easy.
Before he could say anything, Ivanova's com-link beeped. Susan rolled her eyes before hitting the link, and brouhgt it to her mouth. "Ivanova. Go."
"Sorry to bother you, Commander," Lt. Corwin's voice could be heard. "But, your presence is being requested by Ambassador Mallori. He is here in C&C."
"On my way. Ivanova out!" she growled.
Michael moved to the other side of the autopsy table before he spoke. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.
"Yoouu…" she pointed her index finger at him before she turned, and stormed out of the room.
They heard her mumbled to herself, but weren't able to understand what she was saying. The closing door blocked her mumble in mid-sentence.
Stephen looked at Michael, "Do I want to know what that's all about?"
Michael began to laugh to the point that he couldn't talk for several seconds. He just shook his head. After he got his emotions under control, "Let's just say, I am avoiding C&C like the Bohemian plague for the next few days."
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Susan's day hadn't improved, and she never got that cup of coffee. She was just glad to be home. She finished the vodka in the glass in one swallow; then refilled it. She was just beginning to feel the relaxing effects of the alcohol when her door chimed.
Who the Hell is that??? She thought as she groaned aloud. Maybe, if I ignore whoever it is, 'they' will go away. She smiled at that thought. That's the plan!
The door chimed again. A few second later, her com-link beeped. OH, GOD, why are You conspiring against me? What did I do to deserve this punishment? She begged the heavens to let her know. I apologize for what I did, and I promise to not do whatever it was ever again.
Her link beeped again. Sighing, she tapped the link, "Ivanova!"
"Susan, are you okay? I have been chiming your door with no answer for the last 5 minutes. Where are you?" Garibaldi's concerned voice came from the link.
"Door!!!" she yelled after she tapped her link off.
Michael stood there for a moment with a very concerned look that quickly faded to a very pissed off look, "Damnit! Don't ever do that again!" He shouted.
"Michael, I appreciate your concern, but I've had A VERY BAD DAY. I just wanted a few minutes of peace from this place!" Now, she was angry, too. "Is that too much to ask?"
Michael stopped to get his anger under control. When he had not been able to get in touch with her, he got worried, and thought only the worst. Remember, idiot, she doesn't know what you know… yet. He took a deep breath before he continued. Holding his hands up, he said, "Sorry, but, you weren't answering my calls." He paused before continuing in a calmer tone. "I got worried about you."
"Ok, apology accepted," she motioned for him to sit. She held up her glass, and took a sip. "So, why are you looking for me?"
Michael walked to the kitchen instead. They had been friends since she transferred to the station. Just friends. This was the first time in his life that he had ever had a 'girl' friend, and surprisingly, he enjoyed it. After getting a glass of water, he came back in the room. He paused and took a large gulp from the glass before saying anything.
Susan was confused. He comes to check on her; lost his cool when he couldn't find me. I wonder what is up? She decided to wait, and continued to sip on her drink.
Michael cleared his throat, "Susan…" he paused again as if trying to make up his mind about something. Then walked over the BabCom unit and inserted the file crystal he pulled from his pocket. "This is the information I have been able to get so far about the dead man."
Susan stood and joined him at the computer.
After a few taps on the keyboard, a three dimensional image of the man appeared. Michael began to fill her in. "His name is Henri Mayweather. Or, at least it's the oldest alias we have been able to obtain so far. He was a mercenary." Michael clicked to the next page. "He served in EarthForce Special Division for eight years. After a very messy mission, he resigned from the service. My information after that becomes pretty sketchy," Another screen, which contained multiple pictures. "His name has been linked to several assassinations of key political personnel throughout, Earth, Earth colonies, the League of Unaligned World, and beyond. Of course, there has never been enough evidence to convict him. But, my sources say he has never taken an assignment that he hasn't completed."
Susan looked visually shaken, and had paled considerable. Michael stepped over to the coffee table, and retrieved her glass. "Drink this," he said as he slipped it into her cold hand.
She looked at him dazed, and appeared as if she didn't understand him.
Michael reached out, and took her hand with the glass, "Susan, drink," he encouraged, and he helped her to bring the glass to her lips. He felt her hand shaking under his. After she took a sip, he guided her back to the couch and sat beside her. He held her hand, and waited. He had never seen Susan show any type of vulnerability let alone show this kind of emotion, or weakness. He began to wonder if he should have waited to tell her. It must have been one hell of a day if she reacting like this.
"Michael, who would really want me dead?" she asked very quietly. She stared at the glass, and swirled the liquid in it before finishing it off with a slight grimace. "I know I haven't made friends with a lot of the Captain's out there, but…"
"Susan, we're not sure that's why he would have your address," he tried to sound reassuring, but he knew he failed miserably. "It could be he was working for a delivery service as a cover, and he had the unfortunate luck of being someone whom a lurker was trying to rob him, and it got ugly."
She poured another shot of vodka into her glass, and drank it in one gulp. Quickly, she put back on her Commander mask. Now, is not the time to fall apart, she chided herself. "You've got to get your people down into Brown sector," she ordered. "Try to find out how long he has been here on Babylon 5, and how he got here? Hopefully, it will give us a lead to who hired him, and if he was truly after me."
Michael just stared at her. Talk about an 180… But that's my Commander… "Already on it. I have Zack and the others out shaking down all of their contacts; we will find out what's going on." He patted her hand, and then stood. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm posting an officer outside your door. You are not to go anywhere without security."
She stood, squared her shoulders, and looked him in the face, capturing his gaze. "Michael, I appreciate the offer, but no thanks." Her face took on the famous 'Ivanova stubborn' look.
"I am not taking 'no' for an answer," Michael had the ability to be as stubborn as her. He crossed his arms, glared back at her, and prepared to wait her out.
They stayed this way for a few minutes as they each tried to stare the other one down. Susan spoke first. "Mr. Garibaldi, I am your superior officer, and I am ordering you to stand down. Besides, I am a big girl- no, a very capable EarthForce officer- and I can take care of myself."
"Susan, they will be discreet…" Doubt crossed his mind. Maybe, she is more stubborn than him. He hadn't expected her to try to pull rank on him. Michael decided to try to reason with her. "You won't even know they're there. At least let them be there until we answer the question of 'who' he was after, and we can reevaluate the situation after that."
Susan turned, and walked away towards the kitchen area. She knew he was right, but she couldn't wrap her mind around having someone following her every move outside her quarters. He might as well lock her up. But, she knew Michael would order someone to follow her whether she agreed or not.
She turned back, and walked over to him. "Alright…" She gave him a hug, "But tell them to be discreet, or I will not be held accountable for what I do to them. Got it?"
Michael smiled, "Got it!" As an after thought he said, "No more not answering your link without let me know first."
Waving her index finger in his face, "Michael, don't push it."
Michael knew he had pushed her as far as he would be able to… for now anyway, "I had to try." He returned her a hug, and then left.
"Now, I know the Gods are against me," she muttered as she went to bed.
Please review this for me… Like all writers I need feedback…