The Other Susan
By Capt. Ivanova
Disclaimers: B5 is not mine. This storyline was inspired by events on the show. No copyright infringement of any kind is intended. This is just for fun. This story is not to be republished, retransmitted, etc. without express consent of the author. Which is ME!
Warning: If you did not see the first 4 seasons of Babylon 5, then do NOT read this story. Please direct all feedback to [email protected]
It had been six months since Susan Ivanova died. Six long and lonely months since she had left Marcus alone. Some days were better than others were; but not a day went by without thinking about her, or talking to her from his heart. He missed her so terribly and still blamed himself for not getting her back to Babylon 5 in time. Marcus hated walking through his life without her.
Right after Susan died, Marcus went back to his duties. Doing undercover Ranger surveillance, helping to establish security within the new Alliance, basically anything Delenn had asked him to do. Anything that would keep his mind off of Susan and how he had failed her.....
Marcus Cole had just returned from an undercover mission to the Drazi homeworld. His shuttle was delayed and he was dirty and tired. He was looking forward to taking a nice long hot shower and catching some sleep. Any hope he had of doing just that had been shot down when he saw Delenn pacing the docking area waiting for him.
When Delenn had spotted Marcus she walked up to him and said, "Marcus. Welcome back. How was your trip?"
He bowed and said respectfully, "Entil'Zha. It went very well. I hesitate to go into the full details here in public, but you will find my report very interesting. I will say though, that our suspicions have been confirmed."
"I was afraid of that," Delenn replied.
"A full report and debriefing will be ready for you first thing in the morning."
The started walking in silence, down the corridors that would eventually lead them to Marcus' quarters.
"You want to ask me something," Marcus said, smiling slightly.
Delenn smiled back at him. "Yes. I have an assignment that I'd like to ask you about."
"Well then - ask away."
"Marcus, I know that you have just returned from a mission and you may not want to jump into something right away, but we .... I ... would really appreciate it if you would undertake this assignment," Delenn started hesitantly.
Finally arriving at Marcus' quarters Marcus asked, "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes Marcus, thank you."
"Please continue on," Marcus said.
"Well as I was saying, I would like you to do something for me."
Marcus gestured for her to make herself comfortable. As Delenn sat on the couch, she noticed a picture of Susan Ivanova framed and placed on the coffee table.
Continuing on Delenn said, "We have been in contact with a scientist that can help us with the Drakh threat. She will be coming to Babylon 5 under complete secrecy. Once she is here, she will need someone to guard her and to show her around the station."
Marcus sat down next to her. "That's all? You want me to be a bodyguard and a tour guide?"
"Dr. Barry was a top scientist in EarthGov until she went underground once Clark took office. She has studied the Shadows and Drakh extensively and is considered an expert on the subject. Even though Clark is no longer in control, she still fears that she will be a target for a Pro-Clark movement."
"Delenn, I guarded Dr. Kirkish when she came to Babylon 5 two years ago. Why would you think that I would object to doing it again?"
Delenn looked at him. "It's more than that Marcus. We want Dr. Barry to join our Alliance, to become part of our team. The knowledge she has is invaluable. If she agrees, she'll be living on the station permanently."
"I still don't understand why you were hesitant about asking me," Marcus said.
Taking on a softer tone Delenn said, "I wanted to make sure that you were okay."
The realization of the meaning behind her words hit Marcus. "You wanted to make sure that I was okay because of what happened to Susan."
"Yes."
He looked away from her and got up from the couch. "Delenn I can never forgive myself for letting her down; for not telling her how much I loved her - how much I cherished her. I won't lie to you - I think about her everyday and I wish that I could change the past, but I can't," Marcus paused before continuing on. "I realize that I have to continue where she left off. There is still work for me to do here."
Delenn walked up to Marcus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's hard for you Marcus. Just remember we are all here to help you through this."
Marcus turned around to face her. "I know Delenn and I thank you. So you need not worry, Dr. Barry will be safe with me."
Delenn smiled. "She will be arriving the day after tomorrow on the first transport. I'd like you to be there when John and I meet her."
"Then I will be there."
"Thank you Marcus. I think I should be going now. John must be wondering where I have run off to," she said as she headed towards the door.
"Good night Entil'Zha"
"Good night Marcus."
After taking a nice long, hot shower, Marcus flopped down on the couch. Lying on his side, he brought the picture of Susan closer. Softly he traced the outline of her smiling face. If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend that she was here and that he was gently touching her. Almost ....
Marcus brought the picture to his lips and tenderly placed a kiss on it. "Good night my love. I'll see you soon, in a place where no shadows fall. Wait for me."
Two days had passed and Marcus found himself waiting with John and Delenn for Dr. Barry's transport to arrive.
When the announcement was finally made, John and Delenn gathered just outside the docking bay to make sure that they didn't miss her. Marcus stayed towards the back, since he had no idea what Dr. Barry looked like. He'd wait to be introduced.
When Delenn and President Sheridan found her and waved for Marcus to come over, he was surprised. For some reason he was expecting to see an older person. Instead the woman he found standing before him looked to him to be about 30 years old. She had beautiful shoulder length blonde hair, stood about 5'6", hazel eyes and had the loveliest smile he had ever seen.
**Loveliest smile? Where did that come from? Get a grip Cole,** he said to himself. He wasn't sure how someone so young could know so much about the Shadows, but if John and Delenn trusted her, he would as well. He'd at least give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Dr. Barry, I'd like you to meet your bodyguard, Ranger Marcus Cole," John said.
She extended her hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cole."
Marcus extended his hand as well, "And it's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Barry. Please, call me Marcus. Everyone else does." He smiled at her.
She smiled back at him. "Okay. I'll call you Marcus and you can call me Susan......"
End Part 1
By Capt. Ivanova
Disclaimers: B5 is not mine. This storyline was inspired by events on the show. No copyright infringement of any kind is intended. This is just for fun. This story is not to be republished, retransmitted, etc. without express consent of the author. Which is ME!
Warning: If you did not see the first 4 seasons of Babylon 5, then do NOT read this story. Please direct all feedback to [email protected]
It had been six months since Susan Ivanova died. Six long and lonely months since she had left Marcus alone. Some days were better than others were; but not a day went by without thinking about her, or talking to her from his heart. He missed her so terribly and still blamed himself for not getting her back to Babylon 5 in time. Marcus hated walking through his life without her.
Right after Susan died, Marcus went back to his duties. Doing undercover Ranger surveillance, helping to establish security within the new Alliance, basically anything Delenn had asked him to do. Anything that would keep his mind off of Susan and how he had failed her.....
Marcus Cole had just returned from an undercover mission to the Drazi homeworld. His shuttle was delayed and he was dirty and tired. He was looking forward to taking a nice long hot shower and catching some sleep. Any hope he had of doing just that had been shot down when he saw Delenn pacing the docking area waiting for him.
When Delenn had spotted Marcus she walked up to him and said, "Marcus. Welcome back. How was your trip?"
He bowed and said respectfully, "Entil'Zha. It went very well. I hesitate to go into the full details here in public, but you will find my report very interesting. I will say though, that our suspicions have been confirmed."
"I was afraid of that," Delenn replied.
"A full report and debriefing will be ready for you first thing in the morning."
The started walking in silence, down the corridors that would eventually lead them to Marcus' quarters.
"You want to ask me something," Marcus said, smiling slightly.
Delenn smiled back at him. "Yes. I have an assignment that I'd like to ask you about."
"Well then - ask away."
"Marcus, I know that you have just returned from a mission and you may not want to jump into something right away, but we .... I ... would really appreciate it if you would undertake this assignment," Delenn started hesitantly.
Finally arriving at Marcus' quarters Marcus asked, "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes Marcus, thank you."
"Please continue on," Marcus said.
"Well as I was saying, I would like you to do something for me."
Marcus gestured for her to make herself comfortable. As Delenn sat on the couch, she noticed a picture of Susan Ivanova framed and placed on the coffee table.
Continuing on Delenn said, "We have been in contact with a scientist that can help us with the Drakh threat. She will be coming to Babylon 5 under complete secrecy. Once she is here, she will need someone to guard her and to show her around the station."
Marcus sat down next to her. "That's all? You want me to be a bodyguard and a tour guide?"
"Dr. Barry was a top scientist in EarthGov until she went underground once Clark took office. She has studied the Shadows and Drakh extensively and is considered an expert on the subject. Even though Clark is no longer in control, she still fears that she will be a target for a Pro-Clark movement."
"Delenn, I guarded Dr. Kirkish when she came to Babylon 5 two years ago. Why would you think that I would object to doing it again?"
Delenn looked at him. "It's more than that Marcus. We want Dr. Barry to join our Alliance, to become part of our team. The knowledge she has is invaluable. If she agrees, she'll be living on the station permanently."
"I still don't understand why you were hesitant about asking me," Marcus said.
Taking on a softer tone Delenn said, "I wanted to make sure that you were okay."
The realization of the meaning behind her words hit Marcus. "You wanted to make sure that I was okay because of what happened to Susan."
"Yes."
He looked away from her and got up from the couch. "Delenn I can never forgive myself for letting her down; for not telling her how much I loved her - how much I cherished her. I won't lie to you - I think about her everyday and I wish that I could change the past, but I can't," Marcus paused before continuing on. "I realize that I have to continue where she left off. There is still work for me to do here."
Delenn walked up to Marcus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's hard for you Marcus. Just remember we are all here to help you through this."
Marcus turned around to face her. "I know Delenn and I thank you. So you need not worry, Dr. Barry will be safe with me."
Delenn smiled. "She will be arriving the day after tomorrow on the first transport. I'd like you to be there when John and I meet her."
"Then I will be there."
"Thank you Marcus. I think I should be going now. John must be wondering where I have run off to," she said as she headed towards the door.
"Good night Entil'Zha"
"Good night Marcus."
After taking a nice long, hot shower, Marcus flopped down on the couch. Lying on his side, he brought the picture of Susan closer. Softly he traced the outline of her smiling face. If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend that she was here and that he was gently touching her. Almost ....
Marcus brought the picture to his lips and tenderly placed a kiss on it. "Good night my love. I'll see you soon, in a place where no shadows fall. Wait for me."
Two days had passed and Marcus found himself waiting with John and Delenn for Dr. Barry's transport to arrive.
When the announcement was finally made, John and Delenn gathered just outside the docking bay to make sure that they didn't miss her. Marcus stayed towards the back, since he had no idea what Dr. Barry looked like. He'd wait to be introduced.
When Delenn and President Sheridan found her and waved for Marcus to come over, he was surprised. For some reason he was expecting to see an older person. Instead the woman he found standing before him looked to him to be about 30 years old. She had beautiful shoulder length blonde hair, stood about 5'6", hazel eyes and had the loveliest smile he had ever seen.
**Loveliest smile? Where did that come from? Get a grip Cole,** he said to himself. He wasn't sure how someone so young could know so much about the Shadows, but if John and Delenn trusted her, he would as well. He'd at least give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Dr. Barry, I'd like you to meet your bodyguard, Ranger Marcus Cole," John said.
She extended her hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cole."
Marcus extended his hand as well, "And it's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Barry. Please, call me Marcus. Everyone else does." He smiled at her.
She smiled back at him. "Okay. I'll call you Marcus and you can call me Susan......"
End Part 1