Interlude I
(Third in the "Screw Fate" series)
by elfin
As usual, John felt Kosh behind him before actually seeing him. He slowed his pace, allowing the Vorlon to catch up.
"Afternoon, Ambassador," he started with a respectful bow of his head and a smile.
"We must talk, Sheridan."
Used to the changes between formal, intimate and frankly rude expressions of speech, John simply nodded his assent.
"What would you like to talk about?"
"You. The path is laid. You must walk it."
He tried to process the words. "Have I done something... to upset you?"
"Delenn."
"Delenn? What about her?"
"You and her must walk together into the fire."
John nodded patiently. "We're working together just as you want us to."
Kosh stopped and the captain had to back-step and turn to face the long snout and the single green eye.
"The fight must be from the heart and from the soul."
Confusion wasn't a new feeling when he was in the company of the Vorlon
but, up to now, John had believed he was getting better at
understanding, if not translating. This time, however, he was
foxed.
"I'm sorry, Kosh.... I believe in everything we're fighting for."
"You must fight for each other."
"We are doing. For each other, for the good of everyone. Do you doubt me?"
"No."
"Then...."
"You do not understand."
"Then help me to."
The smooth head of the suit turned in contemplation. "You and Delenn are one."
"We... will fight as one."
"You must love as one."
John opened his mouth and closed it again. The Vorlon couldn't be
suggesting what it sounded like he was suggesting. Could he?"
"You're not saying... we should be... lovers?"
"Yes." The single word was drawn out. "Sharing all. Soul, heart and body."
John shook his head, bemused. "I'm sorry, Kosh. No."
"You must."
"She's... really not my type."
"You are the right people -"
"- in the right place at the right time, yeah, I've heard -" He
was cut off by a sharp slap to his face. It snapped his head
around and he felt blood trickling from a rugged cut in his cheek.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Insubordination."
John's anger flared. "I don't work for you, Kosh! You don't
own me. I've pledged myself to your cause but I won't let you
direct my personal life as you direct my career. I want something
for myself and this is it." He touched his fingers gingerly to
the fresh wound and flinched at the sting.
"Mr Garibaldi."
So Kosh knew. "Yes."
"A man."
"Yes. And don't give me a lecture on the nature of relationships."
"You are unable to procreate with another male of your species."
"You mean kids? What makes you think I would ever want to bring a
child into this universe? It's not a pleasant place, Kosh."
"But David has a destiny."
"David?" He couldn't help the smile. "You're talking about
a son, aren't you? My son? A possibility. No - not
even that. This is insane." John turned. The slash
across his back was like a lash for an energy whip, sharp and
agonising. He arched, biting down on the scream of pain almost
ripped from him. He staggered forward but refused to give the
Vorlon the satisfaction of falling to his knees.
"Your answer."
John faced the Vorlon squarely, ignoring with difficulty the pulsing
tear in his back, feeling blood running from the long wound.
"You can shove it up your encounter suited butt."
"A shame."
Only when the Vorlon started to move off, did it occur to John that he'd just placed Michael in extraordinary danger.
"Hey! Listen to me." Kosh turned, perhaps expecting a
compromise. John lowered his voice, sweat forming on his brow,
his body screaming for medical attention. "And listen
carefully. If anything happens to Michael, I will quit."
"Quit?"
"Walk away. From her, from you, from this station, from your war."
He thought he heard sorrow and shock in Kosh's reply. "Billions will die."
"Fine."
Silence. Then, "You have my word. Garibaldi will not be harmed."
"Good. Make sure it stays that way."
Only when Kosh was gone did Sheridan finally allow himself to collapse
to the cold metal floor. Activating his link, he paged Stephen.
There was a long pause before he heard the blessed voice. "Franklin."
"Doc?"
"Captain? What's happened? Where are you?"
"Blue... fourteen. Help?"
~
Garibaldi's eyes went wide when he saw the mess made to John's back.
"What the hell happened?" he asked, approaching on the bed on which his
captain lay. Only when he got closer did he see the injury to the
man's face too.
Stephen glanced up. Both wounds needed stitches and he was
waiting for the local anaesthetic he'd just administered to take effect.
"Kosh," John answered from behind gritted teeth. At least the
agony was starting to fade now thanks to Stephen's blissfully
fast-acting drugs.
Michael stroked his hand over John's hair, letting his fingers settle
there while he bent to look at John's blood covered cheek.
Stephen had concentrated on the open back wound - since it ran almost
the length of his torso and needed immediate attention.
The doctor noted the intimate touch allowed by their captain. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
Taking the small suture device, he ran it very slowly along the open
edges of the wound, top to bottom. Garibaldi winced in sympathy
as he the tiny needles pull together the torn skin with neat
stitches. John's eyes were closed and he didn't appear to be
feeling any further pain.
"I'm going to give him a sedative," the doctor explained, "he needs to
rest for a while. After that you can escort him to his quarters
but he's going to need the pain meds I'll give him. This is going
to hurt for a while."
Garibaldi took in the lived redness of the skin and nodded to
himself. Oh, yeah. No carnal athletics for a while, that
was for sure.
Still, maybe it would give he and John a chance to talk. That was
the problem with mind-blowing sex, it always got in the way of
conversation.
~
Delenn found Kosh on the observation deck.
"Did you speak to John?"
He 'looked' at her, eye closing. "Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He said -" *"You can shove it up your encounter suited butt."* "- no."
fin
elfin
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