From captjohns@iw.edwpub.com.com Tue Dec 24 17:29:26 1996 Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 05:12:31 -0500 From: Sonja McFarlin Subject: Story submittion Another story from me. Tell me how you like it. BABYLON 5 THE CHRISTMAS DAY MASSACRE. This story takes place after Za'Ha'Dum and before Hour of the Wolf. Babylon 5: 13:30 hours Ivanova's quarters Decmember 20th 2260, Bleep blip blip went the door to Ivanova's quarters. "Come." The door opens to alow Delenn entrance. "Delenn, what can I do for you?" asks Ivanova. "I came to ask you a question." "What kind of question?" "I was reading about your religious holidays and I found something that I don't understand." "And you thought that I might be able to help you to understand it better?" "Yes." "Have you asked the Captian about this yet?" "No I don't think that it would be appropriate to ask him. I was reading about your `Christmas' and I read that you exchange gifts with one another." "Yes in some familys they give gifts in some they only give the gifts to their children but in most familys they give gifts to each member of the family." "Do you have any idea what traditions Captain Sheridan's family followed?" "His family gave gifts to each other but in his family they didn't have to return the favor some times it is hard to find a gift that some one wants so they just give... Delenn are you thinking of giveing the Captain something for Chistmas?" "Yes but I don't know what or how to give him a gift, I don't know what he would like for `Chistmas' and I don't know what will be appropriate to give to him. I don't know if I should expect something in return or not. I don't know what to do." "Okay I'll help if you promise to give it to him when I'm around. I have something I want to give to him too. Here I'll show you but you must promise not to tell him about it." "I won't say a word about it to him." with that said Ivanova walks over to a drawer opens it and pulls out a box, she brings it back over to Delenn and opens it. "It's a batting helmet, you wear it on you head when your playing baseball. You see the Captain's a big baseball fan." "I didn't know that. Do you think if I got him something that has a baseball theme to it he'd like it?" "Delenn I have a feeling that he'll like just about anything you get for him. But I think you might have a very hard time finding something with a baseball theme on station, Delenn don't your people have similar traditions of exchangeing gifts?" "Yes but I don't know if he'd understand or if it would be appropriate to give him a Minbari gift it's a Human religious holiday wouldn't it be sacrilege for me to give him something from my world?" "Delenn, there's an old saying in my family. If it comes from the heart it is the best gift you can give." "So he wouldn't get mad if I give him something from my world as a Christmas gift?" "Delenn if it comes from you he's sure to love it." "Thank you I think I know just the gift to give to him. And I would be honored for you to be there when I give it to him, uh, may I be there when you give him your gift?" "Yes I think you'll get a kick out of seeing his face when I give him this. You should have seen his face last year." "What did you give him last year?" "I gave him... Maybe I shouldn't say you might not like what I gave him." "Why would I not like it?" "Well maybe if I tell you why I gave him that gift you won't get mad about it." "Why would I get mad about your Christmas gift to him?" "I'll tell you why I gave it to him first then I'll tell you what it was. The reason was because everyone said it was imposible to destroy one of your peoples ships but he did, I gave him shrapnel from the `Black Star' as a reminder that just because someone says it's impossible doesn't mean that it can't be done it just means that no one else has done it yet." "Is that why your people never give up?" "Something like that." "Good because without your people we wouldn't as you say `stand a ghost of a chance' against the darkness." Delenn turned and walk out the door. Babylon 5: 13:30 hours; Delenn's quarters; Decmember 21st 2260, "Lennier, I have and errand for you to run. I'd like for you to return to Minbar and find these items for me." she hands him the list. "Very well it shouldn't take more then three days to find all of these and return with them. May I ask what they are for?" "They are to be a gift to some one for his religious holiday." "Oh. I'll return in about three days with these items." Lennier leaves. Northern parts of Minbar: 13:30 standard hours; shops Decmember 22nd 2260, Lennier is shopping for items on Delenn's list. Southern parts of Minbar: 13:30 standard hours; shops Decmember 23rd 2260, Lennier is doing some more shopping. Babylon 5: 20:30 hours; Delenn's quarters; Decmember 24th 2260, "Lennier did you find every item on the list?" "Yes." "Good. You may go now. Good night Lennier." "Good night Delenn." Lennier leaves and Delenn starts to put the items together. Babylon 5: 13:30 hours; Ivanova's quarters; Decmember 25th 2260, "Delenn, did you get my message?" "Yes when do we give John our gifts?" "How about at 20:00 hours?" "That will be fine. Where?" "How about in his quarters?" "That will do. I'll see you then." "Yes." Delenn leaves. Babylon 5: 20:00 hours; Sheridan's quarters; Decmember 25th 2260, Bleep blip blip went the door. No response. Bleep blip blip went the door. No response. Bleep blip blip went the door. Still no response. The door opens. "Captain?" No response. "John?" No response. The two women look all over but no one is home. "Were could he be?" "I have no idea." Ivanova taps her commlink. "Ivanova to Sheridan." No response. "Alright now I'm getting worried." taps her commlink again "Ivanova to Garibaldi." "Garibaldi go." "Have you seen the Captain lately?" "Yes he's here in Medlab 1." "Is he hurt?" "I don't know doc won't let me in." "We're on our way." "Fine. Whatever." taps commlink off. "Do you think he could have been hurt?" "We'll find out as soon as we get to Medlab 1." They walk out of Sheridan's quarters. Babylon 5: 20:10 hours; Medlab 1; Decmember 25th 2260, "Could some one please tell us what is going on?" Ivanova says. "We brought the Captain in about fifteen minutes ago, unconscious, and then Franklin kicks us out said it was to full in there." "Was he hurt some how?" "Delenn, I don't know. He was just unconscious, no obvious signs of injury just out cold thats all I know." Delenn goes over to a commlink and taps it on. "Delenn to Medlab 1." "What can I do for you Ambassador?" "You can open the door and let me in." "I'm afraid that you'll have to wait for about ten minutes we have an emergency in here right now." "Then can you tell me the Captains medical state?" "I can't rightnow sorry." "Is he the emergency?" "I'm sorry but he is." "Then you will open this door right now. I want to see him." "I'm sorry..." "Now!" "Alright alright, just a second." The doors open and everone outside goes in. Sheridan is lieing on a medical bed with about twenty people around him. He looks like he's just asleep but then Delenn notices a small almost invisible bump on his right temple. "Doctor could that be way he's unconscious?" she asks pointing at the bump. "Could what be?" "That small bump on his right temple." she walks up to the sleeping Sheridan and gently touches the bump. "Here." "How did you see that?" "I have good eyes." John moves. He opens his eyes slightly, then closes them tightly and moans. "Ow. That's the last time I do that." "Do what?" "Not wear a batting helmet." Ivanova smiles silently to herself. Delenn just looks at him with a mixed relieved/bemused look. While everyone else gives him dirty looks. "I get the impression that you were all worried about me." "We were." says everone at once. "You should alwas be carefull John you could get your self seriously hurt." "I know that Delenn but... Susan what is that?" "This is... here open it. Merry Christmas." "Huh? It's Christmas already didn't you just give me a Christmas... yeah it is Christmas again isn't it?" "Yes now open it." He opens it and smiles. "I wish you would have given me this about two hours ago when I needed it." "Sorry but I had a deal with Delenn to wait and give it to you when she was around to see your face when you opened it." "I see and... Delenn what is that.... Oh no Delenn you didn't?" "I didn't what?" "Both of you?" "Here open it." He opens the box and his jaw drops at the sight of the object in the box. "John? Do you like it?" "Like it Delenn I love it. It's beautiful! Where'd you get it?" "I had Lennier go to Minbar and get the items I needed and then I put it together last night." Sheridan stares at her for a moment and then get to his feet and hugs her. "Thank you, Delenn." "Your welcome, John." ********************************************** *You'll just have to guess what's in the box.* ********************************************** ^Z