"So how is he really Zack?"Sheridan asked watching the security officer's face closely as they walked along the familiar corridors.
"You don't have to worry Mr President, he's doin real good. Anyway he wouldn't dare get ill with Hobbs, Turval and your good lady on his case 24/7," Zack replied with a grin. "Doc Hobbs told me that they are going to try crutches for a while tomorrow. I personally think it's a premptive strike to prevent Marcus from taking a PPG to the wheelchair she's got him in."
Sheridan found himself laughing at the picture Zack painted. It was just so typically Marcus Cole.
"Oh god!" he gasped, "He really is back."
"Not One hundred percent yet sir. But you know how stubborn can be,"Zack responded with a chuckle.
"Don't I just. Are you coming in?" Sheridan enquired as they approached their destination.
"Not just now sir. I'll maybe visit him later if I get five minutes. With your leave sir?"
"Thank you Zack," Sheridan replied with a warm snack.
"You are very welcome Sir," then with a smart nod Zack marched quickly down the long corridor.
Well its time Sheridan thought as he took a deep breath and rang the chime.
"Enter," his wife's soft voice commanded.
He smiled feeling the tension in his neck release a little at her calm tones.
He was through the door as soon as the door slid open, anxious to see both his beautiful wife and much-missed friend.
"John welcome home," Delenn declared as she threw her arms around her rock. " I am so glad that you are here," she muttered snuggling into his familiar strength and warmth.
"Hello love," he responded smiling as he held his world safe in his arms. As she raised her face to his, he placed a gentle kiss on her soft lips. He felt the warmth of her presence flow through his system and rejuvenate him.
"Ooops sorry!" an embarrassed voice uttered softly.
Sheridan straightened up and found his eyes filling at the sight before him. For there leaning on the door frame was one who had stood by his side in past struggles, not the cold facsimile he had seen placed in the cryotube so long ago. No this man was his comrade in arms, his wife's protector long before she was his wife and the stations official pain-in-the-ass.
He glanced down at his wife as she released her hold on him and saw the happiness in her striking eyes.
"Welcome home Marcus," he offered huskily as he extended his hand to the younger man as he moved toward the Ranger.
As Marcus clasped it Sheridan unexpectedly followed his heart, and pulled the man into a tight hug.
Sheridan knew that tears fell silently from his eyes, but didn't fight them.
He reckoned that if a man couldn't shed a tear or two when a friend returned from the grave, then something was wrong with him.
After a moment he pulled back slightly, but placed his hands on Marcus shoulders as he declared brokenly. "You have been missed my friend. Not only as a Ranger…but more importantly as a man. I understand…your reasoning…but don't EVER…do that to us all again. Okay?"
Marcus could only nod as Sheridan's choked words caused a solid lump to form in his own throat. But it seemed that this was enough for the other man as he smiled as he ushered Marcus to the soft coach and sank down beside him.
Delenn smiled to herself as she went to retrieve the tea tray she had prepared earlier. She half listened to the soft chat between the two men as they retied their bonds of friendship.
She thought back to the awful time that preceded Marcus demise. Susan's hasty departure, Steven's grief and her own sadness were all well known. But John had hid his feelings well from the station.
Even she hadn't realised that John felt guilty for Marcus death, until she came upon him one night talking to Marcus tube.
She learned that through the convoluted reasoning that Humans were so fond of he had reasoned that it was all his fault; if he had listened to Ivanova and not gone to Mars, he wouldn't have been caught, therefore Susan wouldn't have been in command and so wouldn't have been injured, and if Susan wasn't hurt Marcus would never have found out about the alien healing machine.
When Delenn had made her presence known and tried to talk some sense into him he wouldn't listen to her. But kept wondering how he was going to ever face Susan.
Surprisingly it was a call from Susan that straightened him out.
She called from her new Warlock ship and seeming to know exactly how her former commanding officers brain worked, proceeded to read him the riot act Ivanova style.
Which illogically seemed to help.