Minbar's government dealt with the Iksha problem itself. The Minbari couldn't let an attack on their ambassador go unchallenged. Delenn herself had opted out. After she repeatedly assured Lennier that she was feeling better but just needed some rest, he took over the talks with the government.

She was grateful for that, because even though she was feeling somewhat better physically, Delenn felt barely able to sort out her own emotional chaos. The kidnapping and the subsequent escape with the captain had left her deeply unsettled, and no Minbari ritual could help.

No. This time, there was no ritual for that, because Delenn understood that this was about her own feelings, so she couldn't talk to Lennier about it. He wouldn't understand.

Two days had passed since she left the Medlab. Dr. Franklin had given her pain medication and told her she needed to take it easy. She hadn't left her quarters since. Captain Sheridan hadn't contacted her since then, and Delenn had tried for a long time to convince herself that it didn't bother her. The captain was certainly busy.

But that was wrong. It did bother her. She needed to set some things straight, but she lacked the courage to do so. As an ambassador, she didn't shy away from uncomfortable situations, but this time was different. This wasn't about some kind of trade or political relationship. It was about a personal relationship between her and the captain. She needed to talk to him because... they were both still stationed on Babylon 5.

That evening, Delenn realized she could no longer postpone the inevitable. She chose not to wear her traditional robes, as she couldn't bring herself to do so after Cadir's intimidation. She opted for wide, long trousers and a dark blue tunic that fell loosely around her.

Nervously, she set off for the Blue Sector, but she soon realized that the path was longer than she had expected. Her stomach ached terribly, and she felt hot. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to walk so far so early with her injuries.

By the time she arrived at the captain's quarters, Delenn was so exhausted that she felt like sitting down on the floor. Hesitantly, she pressed the door buzzer.

For a brief moment she thought he wasn't there, but then his voice rang out: "Yes?"

"This is… Delenn," she answered timidly.

The moment until the door swung open seemed like an eternity to Delenn. Sheridan was in civilian clothes and stared at her, irritated. She couldn't tell if he was pleased to see her.

She was standing at his door. Somehow, it caught him completely off guard, and Sheridan wasn't sure he wanted to see anyone at this hour, especially not the woman who had made it hard for him to concentrate for the past few days.

She wasn't wearing her usual attire, but looked quite different in her dark blue tunic and wide trousers. More approachable was a good way to describe it. More charming would be an even better word, but Sheridan immediately dismissed the thought.

"Ambassador," he began formally.

She looked at him with an unreadable look, then lowered her head and began to speak.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late, but... I wanted to talk to you about something."

He actually didn't want to let her into his quarters, as it felt intimate, and Sheridan didn't trust himself how to handle it. But she seemed so vulnerable and somehow pale that he couldn't bring himself to turn her away. So he stepped aside and let her in. Delenn stopped in the middle of the room. Her gaze wandered around a bit, and he knew she was examining his quarters.

"So, what was so important that you had to come here?"

Was he annoyed? She couldn't tell. Delenn searched for the right words.

"I came to… apologize."

The captain frowned in irritation: "For what?"

"For… For everything that happened."

Now he stepped back from her a little: "I… don't quite understand."

Delenn clenched her hands in her tunic.

"Well, ... it's obvious that you don't like me and... after everything that's happened between us, this must have been very uncomfortable for you..."

"Woah, wait, what? I don't like you?"

Now he sounded angry, and Delenn hardly dared to look at him. Had she chosen the wrong word? A stronger one, perhaps?

"All right. One more time. You despise me and..."

"Stop!" Sheridan could only say in shock.

Had she... gone crazy? Somehow, that made him really angry.

"Perhaps you should leave now," he said coldly, "and come back when you have something to say that isn't such nonsense."

Delenn looked at him hurt, and Sheridan almost felt sorry for her for throwing that in her face.

He was angry with her. Delenn lowered her head, no longer able to look at him.

"Yes, Captain."

She had obviously completely misunderstood the situation, and for some reason, Sheridan was now beyond angry. Her heart ached, and she couldn't understand it. Delenn slowly turned toward the door, only aware of the pain in her stomach growing. She couldn't stagger now. She had to make it to the door. But Delenn's knees simply buckled beneath her. She suppressed a cry of pain, and she knew she was going to fall.

"Hey!" Sheridan exclaimed in horror, and strong arms grabbed her from behind, catching her.

"You're not going to faint in my quarters," his panicked voice sounded right in her ear.

Delenn couldn't stop shaking and felt him maneuvering her toward his couch.

"Just take me to your door," she stammered.

Sheridan made a sound that was somewhere between a growl and a laugh: "You won't faint in front of my quarters either."

With that, he forcefully sat her down on the couch: "Have you taken your painkillers?"

She looked at him in confusion, which made him sigh.

"The pain medication Stephen must have given you?"

Delenn turned even paler, if that were possible, then shook her head, caught.

"Honestly, you're..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but disappeared into his bedroom, and Delenn watched him, disturbed. Sheridan immediately returned, ran to his kitchen, and fetched a glass of water. He sat down on the second couch opposite Delenn and placed a pill in her hand: "You take this now, and then... I'll talk."