Chapter

"To be frank it's all a little infantile," Lillian replied blushing slightly.

"What do you mean?" Delenn asked, now really curious. Hobbs had never struck her as one to hold grudges for silly reasons. But it was pretty obvious that the two women really had issues with each other.

Hobbs blushed even more, but realised that neither of the Minbari was going to let this go.

"It really began from the first Council dinner after she took over. She had, Ill admit worked her ass off to get everything just so. At first everything seemed okay, but as the night went on…"

"Go on Lillian," Delenn encouraged wondering just what had occurred, as she had not heard of any monumentous blunders or fights.

"It was just that there were a lot of new representatives from the non-aligned worlds etc, and all they wanted to talk about was B5s past. The Shadow war, Vorlorns, yourself, The Rangers and President Sheridan seemed to be the topics for the night.

So that made David…Commander Corwin, Mr Allen and me very popular, but isolated the Captain. I think that her nose was put a bit out of joint…"

"Nose out of Joint!" Turval questioned not recognising the odd phrase.

"Sorry Turval. It means that she was angry and upset because as the new Commander of Babylon five she should have been the centre of attention, but events dictated otherwise. Not a very auspicious beginning and as time has gone on our various clashes…well she's a soldier while I am primarily a healer. There was no way we were going to be friends." Hobbs concluded quietly aware of the various staff members moving about.

"Well we cant do anything about it today so I am going to visit with Marcus," Delenn stated with a small smile as she continued, "After all I do have the Captains permission." Then she turned away and disappeared into the ranger's room.

Turval smiled and Lillian managed to stifle her giggles.

"Well Turval I really must get back to work," she finally said

"Very well Doctor Hobbs and leave that matter with me. I will come up with something." The old Minbari promised bowing slightly.

"That would be great…and Turval my name is Lillian to my friends." The doctor said returning the bow.

Turval took in the petite human who stood before him, so fragile and yet strong too.

"You honour me…Lillian."

"DAMNIT!" he snarled.

"Marcus calm down or I will administer a shot," Hobbs threatened loudly. She had been correct when she had told Turval that this session was going to bring up all Marcus volatile emotions.

As they had progressed through the programme Marcus frustration and resentment had built quickly. Hobbs was glad she had decided to do this initial session by herself, if others had been present who did not know the ranger they would not understand his unfocused fury.

"Look Marcus I will say this once again. You are NOT going to be one hundred percent just because you want to be,"she patiently explained. "You will have to take it slow, work with your body not against it. All your muscles, nerves and joints have been sleeping for a long time. They are all fine they just need to remember just what it is they have to do… Don't scowl at me Cole, I understand the…"

"UNDERSTAND! How the hell can YOU understand?" Marcus screamed into her stunned face. "I wake up missing five bloody years which is bad enough. But now I find that my own body is useless and you have the gall to say you understand," he sneered contemptuously.

Lillian took a step back from the stranger in front of her. She knew that Marcus was just venting and didn't really mean to scare her, but scared she was.

She had never before faced the dangerous man that all the Rangers had talked about at the Memorial service. Marcus had always hidden that away from them all until it was needed. But today she saw the lethal warrior in her friend's eyes and it scared her.

But he was still her patient and she would not let him fall, just because she was terrified.

"Yes Cole I do know. Not about the missing five years, but the frustration, the self-hatred, the resentment and the white hot fury. Yeah I know them intimately, those I understand," she stated harshly fixing her brown eyes onto his turbulent green ones.

"I have been where you are?"

Silence fell in the small gym as Marcus took in her words. His breath exited his body in harsh pants.

Oh Christ! What the hell have I done?

"Lillian…I…" Marcus began knowing he had hurt her and regretting it as the flash of rage began to cool.

"NO! I don't want to hear it," she yelled as her own anger overtook her fear. "You are going to just listen cause I will not take this crap from you ever. When I was young I got involved with gangs that ran about our town. It was my little rebellion. That rebellion nearly cost me my life. As it was I ended up in a body cast for months and had physio for what felt like forever. So I know every thought and feeling that's running through your mixed up head Ranger. But I will not be your whipping boy Marcus. I don't deserve your anger …and neither do you." Lillian took a deep breath as she finished hoping that she had got through to him.

"I know you don't Lillian. I am so very sorry," he whispered his eyes on the red floor. "I was totally out of line shouting at you like that. It is just so…overwhelming. I feel so out of control…"

Lillian looked at her friend once again and wondered the best way to proceed as he fell silent. Then out of the corner of her eye she noticed a shadowed form in the corner by the door and smiled.

Turval silently walked over to his pupil at her regard

"Marcus you do know that Lillian is correct do you not?" he asked quietly as he sat down beside the exhausted man.

"Sech Turval," Marcus moaned not expecting the appearance of his teacher. "You heard," he stated with embarrassment.

"Yes I heard. Quite a display of venom wouldn't you say?" Turval queried as the man lifted his head.

Marcus focused his expressive eyes on the doctor once more as he replied.

"Yes and totally unjustified. I hope you can forgive me someday."

"Marcus it would take more than a mini-tantrum to destroy our friendship. But listen up next time you mouth of at me…I WILL turn on every single one of your Beeping mechanical friends," Lillian announced with a deadpan face that had both rangers wondering.

"Thank you Lillian," he replied gently inclining his head in a slight bow.

"Good. Now Lillian do you think we should apprise him of our ideas?" Turval questioned smiling at both these unpredictable humans.

"When did you two get so chummy?"Marcus groused surprised by this unforeseen development.

"Why does it scare you Ranger?" Turval teased hoping it would defuse the lingering tension.

"I am crazy not stupid. You two would terrify anyone."

"I'm not too sure if that's a compliment or not. But I'm going to look on it as one," Hobbs put in laughingly as she got up to retrieve a flask of water from the shelf opposite.

Marcus nodded his thanks and slowly sipped the fluid as Hobbs instructed. When his thirst was quenched he capped the flask and looked at his silent companions.

"Okay, I think I'm ready. Let's hear these ideas of yours. Valen help me."

Over the next two hours the three of them discussed Marcus treatment from both Physical and emotional perspectives. In the end he agreed with most of their suggestions, once Lillian made it clear that anything Turval passed on would not be put on record without Marcus final approval.

"…Anyway your records are protected by a cipher I challenge even you to break," Lillian had teased.

"Maybe tomorrow," Marcus teased back, devilment flashing in his eyes.

"Valen help us he's on his way back," Turval muttered happily.