From: Ruth King <101646.276@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Rain 1/1 (mild SPOILERS)
Date: 28 Mar 97 13:37:04 EST

Mild SPOILERS for the fourth season
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Thanks to Chevron for giving me something to think about.



Rain
By  Ruth King
101646.276@compuserve.com


 Babylon 5 is copyright Warner Bros. & JMS etc.  Please do not reproduce without
the prior consent of  the author.




He came to his final rest in 2281. His friends buried him in the earth he had
sacrificed himself to protect. Poems were read, songs were sung, tears were
shed.

Two women stood by the grave. It was growing dark and the substance Delenn had
crushed and spread upon the earth was glowing gently. Twenty short years had
passed despite her wishes.  He had taken her heart and, near the end, she had
wanted him to take her soul.

" They don't really know what's happened." Susan sighed as she glanced over to
where the children were gathered.

" In time they will understand, stories will be told, the people will remember."

The first drops of rain fell from the sky, Delenn welcomed them. It seemed
fitting. John had loved the rain.

" Did you see him ?" Delenn asked.

" Yes, on the hill. I don't know how he had the guts to show his face."

" You cannot hate forever Susan."

" After what he did ? I always said that I'd kill him."

" And will you ?"

" I don't know. I still love him too much."


The rain was falling in earnest now. The man on the hill did not move, staring
across the valley.

He had watched as the casket was lowered into the ground, listened to the voices
of  his companions raised in prayer and song.

He walked slowly towards the grave. They had all gone. It was time for him to
make his respects. For now the dark part of his soul could be silenced.

" Here lies John Sheridan, " He whispered to himself, " Hero."

It had all been true, every word. Twenty years ago he had laughed, how could a
man come back from the dead ?  How could he die again ? 

The crack of a twig behind him.

She was standing there. 

Exactly as he remembered her......Could she really have changed so little ? No,
her hair was streaked with grey.  Her eyes,  history of  the pain and hardship
he had caused.

" I'm sorry,  I didn't think that there was anyone still here." He said, their
first words in nearly twenty years.

There was no reply, no acknowledgement. Slowly, not taking her eyes off his
face, she pulled the gun out of her pocket. He didn't move. There was no point.
Death was appealing, no more running, no more hiding. The voices would stop
whispering, enthralling him with their empty promises. He smiled.

" Do you really think its going to matter whether you kill me  or not ?"

" To me yes."

She closed her eyes as she squeezed the trigger. The dull thud of the body
hitting the floor was the next  thing she heard. Forcing herself to move she
stood over him.

" Thank you," His lips stirred.

Slowly a finger caressed his cheek. 

Time paused. She stood staring at the body.  The rain fell.

" My God what happened ?"

" I'm cold. "

Her lips were blue, her skin almost translucent. Water ran down her hair, her
cheeks. Dimly she felt herself being wrapped in a jacket, a warm body pulling
her close. 

" Come on love, you'll catch your death out here." The gentle voice spoke again.

She allowed herself to be guided away, casting a single look back. For a second
she saw something dark, but it faded quickly. His eyes were closed, the blood
had stopped flowing.  

" I fought them and won," The man beside her whispered, " I think, if  I hadn't
I would have wanted death. You did Marcus a favour."

For the first time she looked at the man who walked beside her, the man who
shared her bed at night, the father of her children.

" I love you."

" I know honey, I know."