"Susan! Susan!" Marcus thought frantically. He got no answer. He had begun pacing the room. He tried again to contact the commander. Silence was the only reply. He ran back to the bridge, eyes wide, sweat beading on his face and his breathing rapid and shallow.

"Can we open a channel? I must contact Babylon 5." Marcus said frantically.

"Not while the jammers are online. What's wrong? You do not look well, my friend." Y'nosh replied.

"It's Susan. She's in trouble. I need to get to her, get help somehow."

"I doubt there is anything you could do even if we could get through. They are ready to make the final jump to earth. We have to go now."

"Can you connect me to Delenn?"

"Yes."

"Do it and jump when ready. I need to speak with Delenn privately." Marcus rose on steadier feet this time and made his way back to the sleeping chamber. He turned on the com screen.

"Delenn,"

"Yes Marcus?" the Minbari ambassador replied.

"Something's wrong with Susan. The jammers are preventing me from contacting the station. Is there anything we can do?"

"We can not get through either, Marcus. Are you sure she has worsened?"

"I felt her pain like before. Delenn, I think she's dying."

"The Minbari doctors are with her and Dr. Hobbs will attend her too. I'm sure they are monitoring her condition. I contacted Stephen. As soon as the way is clear he will go back to Babylon 5 and see to her as well."

"I…" Marcus began. Y'nosh's voice on the ship's intercom interrupted the ranger's thoughts.

"The Captain is calling for the attack, Marcus. You are needed on the bridge."

"Be right there, Y'nosh."

"It is time." Marcus said to Delenn, "She wanted me to finish what she started. And right now that is the only thing I can do for her." A tear trailed down the ranger's face.

"It will be alright, Marcus. Love is a powerful force. Send her your love and strength. She will be waiting for you when this is over." Delenn bowed and the screen went dark.

Marcus took a moment to pull himself together and then went quickly to the bridge.

The pain seemed to intensify for Susan. She reached out to Marcus. But it was too much and the connection was lost. Her lungs burned with the lack of oxygen. She felt her body getting lighter. She couldn't see anything but darkness. The alarms that had been sounding around her seem to be coming from far away. Then the med lab was gone. In its place was a green meadow with flowers and birds and blue sky. She had not seen sky for so long. She walked up the slight incline in front of her. In the distance she could make out a gazebo like structure and there was someone sitting there in its shade. Susan approached and as she got closer she could make out a Minbari female in long flowing cream colored robes.

The Minbari rose to her feet and smiled.

"Welcome Susan. I am Serebyth."

"Is this heaven? Am I dead?" the commander asked.

"No. This is just an in between place. We are both still on the white star. I am one of the Minbari who has been attending you. I am a telepath. You were in distress and so I have taken your mind to this place of peace so that you might rest. Your body is being stabilized." Serebyth explained calmly.

"What happened? I remember the pain hitting and I couldn't breathe. I tried calling out to Marcus. He heard me and tried to help. Then it became too much and the connection was broken."

"You sustained numerous injuries. Among them were a couple of broken ribs. We think one of the injured ribs hit one of your lungs causing the breathing difficulty. And your natural reaction was panic. So I was asked to calm you down while the others treated the injury."

"How long?"

"Just until the others are finished. Then I will release you and you will sleep. For now, just rest."

Susan sat down next to the Minbari priestess on the steps of the gazebo. She looked at the sky. It had been so long since she had seen sky. She remembered the conversation she had with Marcus aboard the White Star.

"Ask you a question? What do you want to do when the war is over?"

"Go home. See St. Petersburg, Paris, visit my father's grave. I didn't make it back for the funeral. Couldn't take it at the time. Travel. I haven't seen sky in three years."

"Anyone special waiting for you back home?"

"Not any more. You?"

"Yes, She doesn't know it yet."

"That's a strange way to pursue a relationship."

"I want it to go right."

"Wow, a romantic. I haven't felt that way since the first time."

"That's what I'm talking about."

"You mean you don't, you've never, any one? You're a…"

"Yes."

"Never met the right person."

"And I thought the first ones were rare. I hope she appreciates it."

"Me too."

Of course back then she had no idea he had been talking about her. He was...

"Marcus! Serebyth, he doesn't know what happened. He'll be worried." Susan said in a panic.

"As soon as it's possible, I will send a message to Marcus and let him know you are alright. They are in the thick of battle and communications are being blocked." Serebyth said trying to soothe the commander.

"Can't you link to him telepathically?"

"No. Only to those who are telepathic."

"Then how am I able to link to him?"

"I'm not sure. Marcus is not telepathic is he?"

"I don't think so."

"It has been said that the heart always rules the head."

"What the heck does that mean?"

"The power of love is stronger than even the powers of the mind." Serebyth answered with a smile.

Marcus focused on the battle, but his thoughts never strayed far from Susan. Y'nosh kept a careful watch on his fellow ranger. He had not been acting himself. He'd heard talk that the ranger had a thing for the female officer that had been hurt. There is no place in battle for emotion. Y'nosh thought to himself. He shook his head once more and then went back to monitoring the weapons systems on his monitor.