Son of the Force
Susan walked into CnC. As she had predicted, Marcus had come to her aid. He had told her of the way the Rangers' children are looked after and being one, was able to obtain permission for Andre to attend. The daycare was more of a twenty four hour care where parents could pick and drop their children as needed. She had left her son there at five thirty with lunch and snacks, before heading to starfury bay where she spent two hours with the pilots, helping in the training and endless starfury repairs and building of new ones. After work with the pilots she reported to C and C arriving an half an hour before her shift as usual.
Everyone stared at her. Yesterdays events were hardly secret. She had only spoken to Marcus about it, and he had been so understanding, so kind, she didn't know what she would have done without him. He had met them at the daycare and introduced himself to Andre and both of them to the minder. She was a ranger. All of them were, they all took turns, whenever they had the time. Marcus volunteered here on a regular basis, Susan was relieved to find out. She signed up for several night shifts, wanting to pull her share and contributed money as well to pay the rent for the area. Last she saw, Andre was being led to a group of children his age and he had waved happily as they welcomed him.
So far, no one had had the nerve to say anything to her, but she knew of the rumors that would be going around. She was already known as " Sheridan's whore" in some circles, this would only further the rumors. She felt as if she were under the scrutiny of dozens of gazes.
It was 0800 now. Alpha shift was reporting for duty. Sheridan entered. The crew parted for him. He wore an expression of anger and determination. He strode over to where Susan stood, directing the rush hour traffic. She ignored him, aside from a brief nod when she caught him in the corner of her eye. That was all the attention she had for him. Oddly it infuriated him even more. " Commander, my office, now."
" Yes sir" Susan said, nearly sighing as she did. She followed him into the corridor and to the left, where the first door was his office, in the exact opposite of her own office. When they arrived she stood at attention while he paced madly, muttering under his breath. " You wished to see me, sir" she asked after a respectful silence.
" Yeah, care to explain?" he asked sarcastically. " I am a father, to a five year old son. Only I didn't know about it until yesterday. And this from the person I thought I could trust."
Susan dropped her at ease stature and began pacing herself, stopping in front of him, angrily. " How dare you blame me that you never knew? You never asked, never gave a damn. Not that night, not ever. You used me when you needed me and then you left me to deal with it. Well I am sick of dealing with it, sick of being every man's whore. You thought you could trust me, well I thought I could trust you too."
" Lying daughter of Jezebel, you hid my son from me."
" No, I hid my son from you. You are nothing to him and you never will be. I am resigning, effective immediately, Computer note." she snapped, then ran from the room. She went to her quarters and calmed herself by reading from her Torah, then showered and changed into civilian clothes before leaving again.
Marcus was in one of the rooms used by the rangers, discussing a situation on Proxima three, where several rangers were stationed under cover. The ranger who was speaking stopped suddenly in the middle of a sentence and looked up. Marcus followed his gaze to the doorway. Susan was standing there, leading against it, her head resting on the metal. Her hands were fidgeting. She was not in uniform, but in her Russian civilian clothing, a long gypsy skirt and vest of navy blue and a peasant blouse, in white. She looked like a child waiting for permission to enter. Marcus silently dismissed the rangers and walked slowly towards her. She came forward a bit then looked at him questioningly, once again seeking permission. She came forth all the way and into his arms, leaning her shaking hands on his chest. She was crying. "Valen, what's wrong?" he asked worried, taking her by the arms. She sobbed a minute before muttering in tears, " John...Andre...father... angry... resigned..."
Marcus chose to say nothing more, allowing her to cry, murmuring that they would work it out.