From: Alternate Universe Today Archivist Subject: To Save a Lost Soul Part I by Loree Gilley Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 08:11:16 -0700 name = Loree Gilley email = j_organa@hotmail.com title = To Save a Lost Soul warnings = Violence. Not recomended for the faint of heart. story = Hi all. This story is something a little different. It takes place about 14 after the Interstellar Alliance is established and Season 5's episodes. Deals mostly w/Delenn and John. More to come soon. My E-mail is j_organa@hotmail.com feel free to write me and tell me what you think, give constructive criticism, or to say hi, or whatever. As always anything pertaining to B5 is property of jms, Warner Bros. and whoever else has a claim. All except little Jade he exists in my mind alone. Writing is what I love to do so I hope this is adequate. Read and Enjoy. ____________________________________________________________________________ To Save a Lost Soul. He lay on the deck. He could feel the bruises already beginning to form on his tender body. The beating 'father' had given him had been horible, but at least he wasn't bleeding this time. His eyes were shut tight so if 'father' was awake he would think the boy unconsious, the boy didn't want him to know because he was afraid the beating would begin again. Sometimes it did, and some times it didn't. He knew he shouldn't have challenged "father," but he hated to call him that. The man was NOT his father, but for now it would be better if he didn't give the man cause to beat him again. Not so soon after the last one if he did it might be like last time and he didn't want to get sick again. Last time when he had tried to run away, the boy had been beaten so badly that he had been taken to the hospital after Throwing up his own blood and his breathing had stopped. 'Father' had made him lie to the doctors and say he'd gotten into a fight at school, even though he hadn't bee! ! n to school since 'father' had taken him from home. Suddenly the deck moved and caused him to wince in pain as he bumped the chair next to him. It was then he noticed that the ship wasn't moving anymore. He wondered where 'father' had taken them this time. He kept them on the move so much the boy had lost track of the places they had been. Now all he did was look for his chance to get away he was scared to try again, but he knew that if he stayed 'father' would end up killing him, then again if he tried to run and got caught again 'father' would beat him again. He felt sharp pain in the back as 'father' kicked him. "Wake up, boy! We're here." He raised his head off the deck and opened his eyes. Time to survey the damage this time. His stomach and back were mottled with bruises old and new as well as gashes here and there from the boots 'father' wore. His legs were a mass of cuts and bruises and even a burn from the time 'father' hit him with a very hot skillet. Even his feet were not untouched there were bruises from 'father' standing on his feet and kicking the bottoms when he woke the boy in the mornings. His arms had 'father's' hand prints and cigarette burns on them. The only place that was free of the destruction of the beatings was his face. The boy began to push himself to his feet, and then remembered to ask first. "Father," he said in a small voice "may I get up and change into some cleaner clothes? Please Sir?" "Why?" "Well, sir, I thought that if we are docking I should look clean." "Then do it and make it fast or else. We disembark soon." "Yes, sir." The boy sliped warily off to change. He came out wearing a long sleaved shirt and a pair of long pants. He carried a small bag with his dirty clothes and an old stuffed toy in it. 'Father' didn't know about the toy and the boy hoped he never found out then he would take it away. 'Father' was waiting for him and when he had finished checking the outfit for aproval they left the cabin of the liner. The boy didn't look up at anyone they passed and watched his feet the whole way to the off ramps. If he looked up and 'father'caught him he was in for another beating. He was a small boy though and he was curious about the new place where he found himself. So making sure to keep his head low, but up enough for him to see he moved his eyes around, but all he saw was the other pasengers and the customs area and there was not much to see. He did find the other passengers interesting though. There were all sorts of beings and some of them he hadn't seen before. T! ! he one next to them in the line had a large bone at the back of its head and no hair, where as one a little farther over had a tall half-moon hairdo, and another with no hair at all only spots those two were talkong and it looked like an argument and then there was another that looked like a metallic bee. He caught a breif glimpse of another human and a woman with the human. She looked kind've like that first alien, but she had hair long and dark. He didn't see anymore as 'father' put a strong hand on his shoulder and sqeezed HARD. The boy's head snapped down and his eyes returned to the floor as he covered another wince. Finally they were through customs and shown the quaters they would stay in. ***************************************************************************** Delenn stood beside her husband at customs in the diplomatic line. 'It is good to be visiting here again. Its been to long since the last time we were here. Ahead of her Vir and Na'Toth stood on line arguing over something. It is also good to see her arguing with someone.' Delenn had seen Na'toth only once since her liberation from Centauri Prime, was it fourteen years ago now. Well, anyway Na'toth had been deeply violated by the Centauri and hadn't even looked up at them when they had sent her to her home world afer arriving on Babylon 5. 'Yes it had to be fourteen years because we found out soon after of David's iminent arrival into our lives and he was to turn fourteen earth standard years old soon. His birthday was to take place two weeks from now, in fact that was the real reason they were here to visit Ivanova had recently returned from commanding her own ship and been appointed to head the station after Lochley became an admiral and decided to go back to Earth! ! . David was already on board had been for a month learning about and from all his parents closest and dearest friends. Well the ones who were here anyway. Those included Captain Susan Ivanova, Chief of Security Zack Allen, and the President of the Independant Telepath Government Lyta Alexander. Mr. Garibaldi was back home on Minbar still Head of Covert Intelligence, but no longer based on Mars where his former wife was Head of Edgars industries. He had come to Minbar after his marriage had fallen apart because of his hatered of the planet, and his want to be 'in the thick of things.' Dr. Franklin had long ago become comfortable with his position on Earth and elected to stay out of the public eye as much as was warranted for the man who had saved the dying Hyack race.' Delenn was jolted out of her reverie as they stepped through the customs exit and her son hugged her and greeted both his parents. John hugged his son briefly and left him to his mother as his attention wa! ! s captured by a friend he hadn't seen in far to long. Captain Susan Ivanova, she had passed all other promotions by so she could come back to B5 one day, looked much the same as she had at the end of the war except for some gray mixed in the dark of the everpresent pony-tail. John siezed her in a hug and smiled as she returned the favor. Ivanova stepped back and looked him over. He was just as tall and proud as he always had been but his eyes were haunted now and hi hair was almost white as was the beard and moustache he wore neatly clipped. It was still John Sheridan though smile and all. Then Ivanova found herself in the embrace of Entil'zha Delenn. She returned the smaller woman's greeting and noticed the gray in her elaborately as always styled hair. As well as the wrinkles of life in her face the ones of laughter at the corners of her eyes and mouth and the ones of worries on her forehead. "Welcome back to Babylon 5 my friends. David has been a delight to have around." Delenn's eyes flicked to her son and filled with pride. He looked very much like John except for the eyes and hair. He had dark hair the same as delenn and his eyes were the same penetrating green as hers. His build was like John's as well, and though he wasn't as tall as his father yet he was getting there. It seemed he had grown a foot since she had last seen him. She hugged him again unable to help herself. She loved him as much as she loved John, and no mother was more proud of her son as was Delenn. "Well, lets go and get settled in." John said, and they all walked to the lift talking of old times and catching up on what had happened in their lives. ****************************************************************************** The boy was no longer so miserale as he had been. 'Father' had gone out on business, and the boy was left alone. He was however still in horrible pain from the beating 'father' had given him for letting his eyes wander in customs. This time even his face had not been spared, since he would not be seen in public until the next time 'father' decided to move on. His left eye was swollen shut, and the right had a large gash above it that still leaked blood a bit. For now though he could be alone and not worry about a beating so long as he didn't do anything he had been told not to. 'Father' always left a spy camera on him so the boy just laid on his small palet in a tight little ball of aches and pains and he tried to sleep. Every once in a while he cried out in agony as a dream of remembered pain came to him. Pain that was all the boy had known for a long time now. He wondered what year it was, how old he was, what he had done to be given this punishment. He knew that i! ! f some one would tell him he would appologize for it, but what if this was the only way for him to make up for whatever it was he had done. He drifted off to sleep for the first time in this new place and had no idea he was on the station that was a shining beacon for hopes and dreams. End part one. Part Two to follow soon. ----------------------------------------------- From: Alternate Universe Today Archivist Subject: To Save a Lost Soul Part II by Loree Gilley Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 08:12:19 -0700 name = Loree Gilley a.k.a. Phax_Half-Elven email = j_organa@hotmail.com title = To Save a Lost Soul warnings = Violence toward a child story = Okay all but Jade belongs to The Great Maker. ( and all those T.V. guys that bought and air it.) ______________________________________________________________________________ To Save a Lost Soul Pt. II ***********************************B5***************************************** The boy slept for real when 'father' was gone, and for pretend when he was there. He did as he was told only taking the minor abuse that 'father' could give as the Boy walked past. Unless the Boy droped what he was carrying when 'father' tripped him then the Boy got a good beating and didn't sleep well for a while. He had no sense of time while he was there 'father' only used the alarm on his wrist and it didn't make any sound, but 'father' kept odd hours anyway, so the Boy never knew when it was day or when it was night. 'Father' knew of course that they had been here for two and a half days. He rather liked when the Kid messed up then he took out his failure on him and it made him feel more adequate. Stupid people should never have messed with him. They didn't think he would hurt a kid, so they didn't pay up to get the kid back. So, he had sent some friends to hurt 'em and show 'em he meant business. Now he was on the run. Always one step ahead of the EA and he was safer here than he had been anywhere else. This was neutral territory and they couldn't touch him. Life was lookin' up in 'father's' eyes. ************************************B5**************************************** Delenn sat at breakfast with the two men she loved most in the galaxy. John had a meeting soon and would be gone the rest of the day. She and David could have some time together just the two of them. It had been a long time since they had spent time just the two of them. As John got up to leave Delenn kissed him on the lips and held him close for a moment. He kissed her back and then left for his meeting. "Well what do you want to do today David?" she asked. "Why don't you show me around the station mom." "Alright I will show you whatever you like." The two of them cleared the table and put the dishes in the washer, once finished they got ready and then left their quarters. The station was busy as usual, and there were all different races present. Also as usual. "Where to first David?" "How about the Zen Garden." "This way." They headed to the lift tubes and boarded. "Zen Garden please." The lift took off and stopped on brown level twenty. A man got on the lift and stated his destination and then they were off again. They got off at the Zen Garden and entered the gardens. "So what do you want to know about the gardens David?" "What ever you want to tell me mom." "Well, I think that the most interesting thing about the gardens is that this is where I first realized I was in love with your father." "I thought the two of you fell in love the first time you met." "Yes, we did, but we didn't realize that until much later." "When did you realize it?" "I think it was when Lyta came on board to find the spy placed by psicorps. John had been having a bad day and I asked him if he wanted to talk about it. It was funny, at first he said no, but then proceeded to tell me about it. I made him laugh and held his hand. Thats when I realized it." David was listening only partialy as a man walked into the garden with two other men. He watched them closely. Then realized his mother was no longer telling her story. "I'm sorry mother. I was watching those men who came in. I think we had better go now." Delenn glanced at the men in question. "Yes I guess we'd better. How about going to the Zocalo and picking up some things for dinner to surprise your father with?" "Sure sounds like fun, we could cook it together like we used to." Delenn smiled and nodded. That had been the whole plan. They walked out of the Zen garden and got back onto the lift. "Zocalo please." She then noticed the look on David's face. "What are you thinking my son?" "Hmm, Oh I was trying to place that man who came into the gardens and I know he was the one who got on the lift when we were on our way to the gardens, and that seems to feel right, but it feels wrong too. I've seen him somewhere else, before. I don't know, I'll have to meditate on it." She smiled at him and they carried on. *********************************B5******************************************* He had finished with business for the day and was on his way back to his place in Brown Sector when he saw that Kid wandering around like a drunken ambassador. 'Father' grabbed the boy by the neck and pushed him into the rooms he'd rented. "I told you to stay in the rooms!" With every word the slaps got harder and then they were no longer slaps. They were punches. "Why can't you take orders like I give 'em?!" The blows were becoming harder and harder. The boy caught one of the punches in the nose and it began to bleed. "I, I, I didn't, I didn't leave!! I, I, promise I didn't!!!!" "Then why did I have to drag you back here when I got back!!!! Never talk back to me. Are you saying I am a liar!!!!!" "No, no, of course not, I, I, j j j just--" with that 'father' began the full beating and grabbed a rod that was near the door to remind the boy what would happen if he left while 'father' was gone. The rod left large welts on the boy where ever it landed and 'father' didn't care where it landed so long as it was on the boy. After a while even the sobs stopped because the boy was unconsious and couldn't even feel the pain anymore. Finally, 'farther' tired of the beating, and lay down to sleep. ***********************************B5***************************************** That night Delenn and David had a wonderful meal ready for John when he got home. They ate and had a good time together then settled down to their own work and intrests. Tomorrow Delenn had a meeting in the morning and would need to be up early. So she decided to call it a night relatively early and went to bed leaving the guys to do what they wanted. ************************************B5**************************************** The boy woke to the sound of 'father' snoring. Then the rest of his senses kicked in he tasted blood in his mouth and he felt like he was laying in a puddle of what he didn't want to know it could only be one of two things. Blood or urine both would hopefully be his. He uncurled from the tight ball he lay in and looked around as well as one can when one eye is swollen completely shut and the other is almost as bad. He moved silently and slowly so he didn't wake 'father,' and finally found an air vent within easy reach if he stood on the chair under it. He climbed on top and removed the cover careful not to drop it he put it on the rug in front of the chair. Then he climbed on top of the chair back and into the vent. He did not stop to look back and see if 'father' had noticed. He crawled for a long time even though it was agony to move at all if he got caught 'father' would surely kill him. He didn't understand why he'd been beaten in the first place he hadn't left his! ! palet all day. He kept crawling sometimes it was to small to crawl through and he had to slither like a snake on his tummy to get through. He crawled and crawled until he heard music and voices and finally fell into a fitful and tormented sleep. He was awakened by someone screaming it sounded like it was right outside the vent he was in though he was very far down it. Someone was yelling into the vent asking who was in there and telling them to come out. **********************************B5****************************************** Captain Susan Ivanova was having a rough day and it was only 0900 hours. First someone had reported a missing child and was fearful something awful had happened. The man who reported the child said he'd found the vent cover of the air recyling shaft on the floor of his rooms and discovered his son missing. He had given his name only as Bishop and signed off saying he was going to look for the boy himself and not wait around for paunchy security guards that took their sweet time. Then one of the arriving transports had had a malfunction in its engines and had collided with the docking port taking it offline for at least ten hours. She had finally given up after the reports of fighting in down below came to her desk. She left Corwin in charge and went for a bite down in the Zocalo. She bumped into Zack and Lyta who were talking about security for Lyta's quarters. "Well, all I am asking is one or two secirity guards patrol the area once in a while. I mean if you are going to put me in the low rent sector you may as well give me a little protection." Lyta spotted Ivanova, "Captain am I right I mean I am the President of the Independant Telepaths. I think I deserve a litte respect." "Well, we thought you would be able to protect yourself against the likes of us mundanes Mrs. President." "Even a mundane can get in a lucky shot every once in a while." Lyta smiled. Ivanova and Zack broke into laughter. "You win Lyta I'll station a couple of guards outside your door and to follow you around as personal guards." "Thank you." She touched Zack's hand and he smiled then took his leave. "Well you made his day. I think he still has a sort of a crush on you Lyta." "Yeah well he's not such a bad guy, and once he got that uniform fixed to fit right he really does look good in it." "I heard that. It fits really well in the buttocks doesn't it." Lyta raised her eyebrows and both women chuckled. "Join me for an early lunch?" Ivanova asked. "Sure I could use a bite to eat." "Lets go to Airheart's place. She's got a great itallian dish that you almost can't tell its synthisised." "Sounds good to me." They headed off through the Zocalo proper to get to Airheart's. When they passed one of the air vents both women were hit with waves of unbearable pain and nausea. Ivanova even stumbled, and Lyta caught her. Then they both went to the vent. "There's someone in there." Lyta said. "I can feel them, but I can't get any farther than that. I think the anguish is preventing me." Ivanova already had her link out and was calling for security and a med team. After she finished she called into the grate. "Hello down there, can you hear me whoever is in there hang on we are going to get you out. Can you come out on your own? Hello, can you hear me?" She looked over at Lyta. "I think we just found our missing child. No one larger than a child could fit in there." ***********************************B5***************************************** "--We're going to get you out. Can you come out on your own? Hello can you hear me?" The boy's mind was in a frenzy of panic. They couldn't take him now if they did 'father' would get a hold of him again and that would be that. He needed to get away but he could hardly move and his leg felt as if it were on fire. 'Could it be broken he wondered?' Well he'd just have to keep them from getting him, he didn't know how he would do it, but he had to. End pt II Pt III tommorow ----------------------------------------------- From: Alternate Universe Today Archivist Subject: To Save a Lost Soul Part III by Loree Gilley Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 08:14:16 -0700 name = Loree GIlley a.k.a. Phax_Half-Elven email = j_organa@hotmail.com title = To Save a Lost Soul warnings = story = Well here's Pt. III. As before anything B5 related is property of jms and all the other companies that have a copyright. ______________________________________________________________________________ To Save a Lost Soul Pt.III Delenn walked through the Zocalo after her meeting with the new Pak'ma'ra ambassador. Her thoughts were not on the work she knew was waiting in her office. They were on the evenings plans that she and John had discussed during breakfast. As she neared Airheart's she noticed a commotion near the air vent opposite the entrance of the officer's hangout. She saw security teams holding back gathered onlookers. She also saw a maintenance crew setting up a cutting machine near the vent. As she got closer she recognized Ivanova's voice shouting orders at the crew. Then she saw Ivanova and also Dr. Stephen Franklin, who was supposed to be back on Earth running the Interspecies research team. She walked over to Ivanova and Franklin and noticed Lyta kneeling with a hand on the wall and a distant look that Delenn remembered seeing when Lyta was trying to scan someone or thing that was not on a line of sight. "Susan, what is going on here?" "There is a child down the vent, and we can't get him out. We can't tell if he is hurt or stuck or what. He's not responding to any questions we've asked and we are now planning on cutting our way down to try and get him out." Lyta stood looking drained. "I still can't get through either he is in to much pain or he is to frightened for me to perform a scan, and no one can forcefully keep me out. Not anymore." At that moment a man pushed his way through the crowd and was held by security. "Hey, let me through that's my son in there!!!" Ivanova signaled them to let him come over and they let him pass. "Mr. Bishop?" "Just Bishop." He said as he came up. "Where is my son?" Ivanova motioned to the vent and said "He's still down there. We can't get to him and he won't respond to any of our questions. Maybe you can get him to come out." "I doubt it." He looked ashamed, "See I don't even know his name. His mother took him and disappeared after he was born. I haven't seen him since he was a newborn. I am a complete stranger to him." "No wonder he is frightened." Franklin looked at Delenn. "Ambassador are you all right?" Delenn felt a wave of pain and fear ripple through her. She clutched her stomach as it threatened to expel her morning meal. "Yes," she finally was able to say, "I felt frightened and there was unbearable pain. I don't understand it." ************************************B5**************************************** The boy had been here for a long time now and the voice had stopped talking to him sometime ago, but then he heard new voices. One was like the dulcet tones of a lulaby, although he didn't know what a lulaby was. He OPENED himself to see whose voice it was. As he felt deeper he realized that it was the woman he'd seen in customs when he first got here. He realized that he was letting her feel him too and it was hurting her so he BROKE away by thinking of something else. Then he heard the voice that he never wanted to hear ever again. His panic became full-blown terror, and he let out a soft wimper. 'Father' was out there some where close by and he would get ahold of the boy soon. He would be beaten again. Then without warning a peircing screech began and the low light coming from the end of the vent became a blinding flash. The boy lost all the self-control he still possesed and wet on himself. ************************************B5**************************************** Ivanova looked at Bishop, "Well this is your decision, should we start cutting through or do you want to try to talk him out." "Cut him out. I think he would only become more frightened if I were to speak to him as I said I am a virtual stranger to him." Ivanova shrugged and gave the order to start cutting, and the motors started up. As the crowd watched sparks began to fly and the light in the corridor increased. Delenn felt as if the world had crumbled as she felt a mind numbing terror. She realized that she was screaming at the workers to turn off the cutters and crying at the same time. Finally the motors died down and quit. Ivanova was at her side an arm around her supporting her. "What? What's wrong? Delenn?" "I don't know I just felt the most unimaginable terror when the light and sounds started." She looked at Lyta who was shaking her head in disbelief. "What is it Lyta?" "That kid has to be a strong telepath. I felt him in there as I was walking by earlier, so did Susan. For her to have felt it he would have to be telepathic because her ability is limited, but for you to be able to he has to be at least a P12. At the very least, he's not even on a line of sight." The others looked confused and Lyta filled them in on her suspitions. "I think he is letting us know how he feels through you, Delenn." "I wonder why he is projecting to Delenn though." Franklin mussed. "I mean you two are the ones who initially found him and have been here talking to him. He knows Bishop best, yet he is using Delenn. Do you know him maybe?" Delenn looked at them, no she didn't think she knew the boy, but the father she had seen yesterday with David. First in the lift then again in the Zen garden. "I don't know, but maybe I can get him to calm down and come out if I talk to him." Bishop had moved over to the vent tiring of their in actoin. "Hey kid COME OUT HERE NOW!!!" Delenn felt the terror rise again and that caused her to have an idea. "Susan, or Lyta walk over there and talk to the boy I want to try something." They looked at her and shrugged then Lyta walked over and started talking to the child in the vent. Delenn felt no emotion at all. Then Bishop started talking again and the terror returned. She turned to Ivanova and Franklin. "I think we should get that man away from here. When he speaks the terror returns, but when Lyta speaks there is no emotion. If he was afraid of strangers I would feel the terror no matter who was speaking. What if that man is from Psi-Corps and taking this child to Earth. The boy would be scared of him yes." "I see where you are going with this, and I agree, but Bishop isn't wearing the standard Psi-Corps pin and black gloves." Delenn had no answer for that. She only knew that they needed to get the man away from here. Ivanova shrugged "can't hurt to try." She walked over to the tall man with dark thinning hair and put a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you come over here and sit down I'll get you a cup of coffee I think the ambassador would like to try talking to your son." At first he resisted, but finally gave in, and went to sit. Ivanova went into Airheart's and grabbed a cup of coffee off a table and as she did she noticed it was well after the lunch hour and moving toward evening. When she returned she handed the cup to the man and went over closer to Delenn who knelt by the vent. "--only want to help you. Please let me know if you are alright." *********************************B5******************************************* He lay there on his tummy and tried not to move every movement was agony. The horrible noise had stopped, but then 'father' had yelled at him he held a constant connection with the woman now and he knew she felt his fear. Then to his shock she began speaking to him. "Hello, I am ambassador Delenn of Minbar. I don't want to harm you or frighten you. I only want to help you. Please let me know if you are alright." He felt his heart begin to slow from racing to rappid beats. He looked into her and showed her a memory that he hoped was pleasant to her. *************************************B5*************************************** Delenn saw a memory of herself holding an infant David and kissing his small forehead. She sighed relief. Ivanova had walked over and was looking at her. "Any response?" Delenn nodded and went back to talking to him. As the time wore on she felt that the fear had subsided and that it was time to ask him one last question. "Will you come out of there now?" *************************************B5*************************************** The boy lay there for a long time and just listened to her talking to him and letting her voice drive away his fears. Then she asked if he would come out now, and he felt a fluttering of the fear return. Still there was no where to go but out and he was tired and hungry and he wanted to see her again. So he started to pull himself along the vent shaft. It took all of his will not to cry out in agony all that got out were wimpers. It felt as if his left side was on fire and the bruises on his body cried out with each tiny action he made. ************************************B5**************************************** Delenn's heart nearly stopped after asking him that question, and she felt his fear rise again. Then she felt more than heard him moving. She looked at Ivanova and Lyta, and nodded. Ivanova nodded back and started issuing orders to keep the crowds back and keep them quiet. Franklin told Ivanova to get a medical team here fast and asked her permission to talke over the boy's care. She consented and called for the team. Meanwhile Delenn was still looking into the vent and finally she saw a movement, she had heard the wimpers and moans in pain, but the movement had not yet stopped. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Bishop get up and move toward her and the vent opening. At that moment the forward movement became backward movement. She motioned Ivanova and the other woman came over. "He has stopped comming and is moving backwards. He started to when Bishop came near the vent. We need to get him out of here or the boy will never come." Ivanova wasted no time, "Security I said keep 'em back, that order now includes Mr. Bishop here I want him with the crowd if you can not run him off completely." The motion returned to a forward one, and after long minutes of waiting she could have touched the child. Though she did not for fear of his moving away again. *****************************B5*********************************************** The boy slithered forward little by little until he felt 'father' coming closer. Then he began moving away. Delenn had sent him away again though and he started forward again. Once he got close enough to touch her he became wary and hesitated he looked out the end of the shaft and then he he moved a little closer. *********************************B5******************************************* As the boy's face came into the light when he looked out the end of the vent shaft Delenn gasped at the bruising she saw and his eyes were almost useless one swollen shut completely. Cuts and dried blood and bruises were all she could see. She felt anger at whoever had done this, but then he moved a little more, and she felt she should say something. "Its alright little one no one will hurt you. I will not let them." His eyes never lifted, but then he was moving to her. ******************************B5********************************************** He heard her say she wouldn't let anyone hurt him, and that drove away the lingering fears. He moved to her, and then was out of the vent and in her arms. He closed his hands on her clothes as other people moved close. "Do not worry." she said to him. "They will help you. Don't be afraid. I've got you. It's alright now." His whole body was covered in blood and what she could see of him was traumatized in some way or another. If it wasn't a bruise it was a cut or a welt or a scar or a burn. She didn't see one tiny area of untouched skin. It sickened her to see it and to smell the urine and fear on him. Still she held him and promised him nothing would harm him. She noticed his hands holding her robesthe knuckles were white even through the bruises. Then she felt a wetness against her and looked more closely she saw blood. He was bleeding. She called to Frankiln "Stephen he is bleeding! Badly!" "Okay no time to wiat on a stretcher, and I doubt if he'd let go long enough for us to strap him into it. Come on lets get him to medlab." He helped her to stand and Security cleared them a pathall the way to Medlab. Ivanova and Lyta followed close behind. He felt different than he had in a long time he no longer recognized the feeling of safety, or of comfort, but Delenn felt it from him and was herself comforted by that. **************************************B5************************************** John Sheridan was going out of his gourd with worry. Delenn had been due home two hours ago and everyone he asked said they hadn't seen her. He was about to try to find her himself when the com beeped for attention. He answered and was relieved to see her on the screen, even though she looked like she'd been to hell and back again. Her face was white and she looked worried and tired. Then he saw the blood on her robes. "Delenn what happened? Where are you? Are you hurt?" The worry turned to fear for her health. "I am fine John, I am in Medlab with Stephen, and I will be here for a while. You don't have to come if you don't like--" "What the hell do you mean by that I see you there in front of me two hours late getting back and with blood all over you and you say that. HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME FEEL!!" in the background he heard a cry of fear or pain he couldn't tell which, and Delenn looked away distracted by what was happening out of view. "David and I've been worried sick and now we find out your in Medlab. Of course we are coming to you." "I am sorry John I have been a little busy the blood is not mine and if you are coming bring me a change of clothes. ANd see if you can find some of David's old outfits from when he was around say six years old. I find we have need of them here." Another cry and Delenn looked away again. "Wiat stay there I'll be right there. Don't move you will bleed again." She looked back to John, "I have to go John do not for get the clothes please. Hurry if you are coming." The screen went blank. John went into the small storage closet and found a couple of David's old outfits and then wentto his and Delenn's closet and pulled out one of her more casual outfits. Then he and David were on heir way to medlab. ******************************B5********************************************** Delenn ended her call to John and returned to the side of the frightened boy. Stephen was doing a cursory examination of the boy and the fear had returned when she had left his side. She felt her frustration rise at the lack of a name. Just the boy. she shook her head Ivanova and Lyta stood back from them so he wouldn't be more frightened than absolutely neccessary. She took his hand and held it the fear subsided. She spoke softly to him, "What is your name little one? Will you tell me?" He closed his eyes tigher, Stephen had given him an anti-inflamitory and while it hadn't taken the swelling down completely it had lessened it enough that he could open both eyes once again, but he elected to keep them closed. She wondered at that. Then she felt his hand tighen around hers and in her mind she saw a woman calling to a toddler, "Jade come to mama my sweet little boy." Delenn suddenly found herself fighting off tears, and she said, "Thank you Jade. Thank you for telling me that." His hand tightened again, and she squeezed back softly so as not to hurt his bruises. "Well so far so good," said Stephen, "the swellong has gone down and the x-rays show only two fractured ribs no internal bleeding that I have detected so far and no other broken bones." The doors to medlab whisked open and John and David came running in. John went to Delenn and hugged her to him tightly. When they parted he kissed her lips. David just looked at the boy on the bed. "John let me go he is frightened again." John looked puzzled and Delenn turned back to Jade. His breathing had become short gasps and his heart rate had hit the roof. "Its alright Jade they are my family, you are safe now." Still his heart raced. She layed a delicate hand on his head and stroked his hair. His heart began to slow. John saw the child Delenn was speaking to and almost hit the floor in shock. This boy looked as though he'd been through a barroom brawl and a street fight and a gang beating all at once. he looked worse that John had when Earth Gov. had tourtured him. He had blood both fresh and dried on him and staining what little cloting he had on, and that wasn't much. It looked as if his small body were one massive bruise except on the arms and legs across them were straight lines of bruises. John felt sick to his stomach and decided to sit down before he fell down. Stephen spoke up "We really should get him cleaned up and do a more thorough examination. Then see if he can hold down any food, and get some rest." He looked at them "That was a nice way of saying 'get out.'" He saw Delenn's look of skepticism. "You of course can stay Delenn, and you too John, but everyone else I want out, especially you David." "Why?" "Because no one should have to see this least of all a fourteen year old." "I can handle it." "I didn't say you couldn't. Its just that this will be easier the less people there are in here because apparently your mom is the only person around that that little boy will respond to in any way at all. So do me a favor and spend some time with your Aunt Susan?" "Sure Doc I'll see you both later Mom and Dad." With that he left the room and the three adults were left alone with the small frightened child. *********************************B5******************************************* In the end it wasn't too bad other than the ribs there were no brolen bones and no internal bleeding 'thank Valen' as Delenn said it. However Jade ended up with just over three hundred fifty stitches to close up all the cuts. The bruises were a different matter. Franklin found that the bruising ran deep in most places and that indicaed he had been beaten before. there were cigarrette burns making a circle on his small back. Franklin had never seen a body so small so damaged. Once they had washed off the blood and had him in clean clothes Jade didn't look all that bad. The one thing that really bothered all three of them was that Jade kept his eyes averted or closed completely refusing to look at any of them, even Delenn. Jade felt better after he had been bathed and put into clean clothing. He held tightly to Delenn's hand the whole time and had not been caught the few times he had looked up at her. Then they tried to get him to eat something, and he was more than willing to oblige. In fact he ate several helpings he was so hungry. Then Delenn had left him and he had been panic-stricken once again, to be left alone with the two men. John had tried to talk to him, but he had curled up into a ball and wimpered until her return. Then they tried to put him to sleep. Until Delenn had held and rocked him for an hour they didn't have much luck, and finally after she had rocked him to sleep she lay him on the bed in Medlab. He curled into a tight fetal position and slept the whole night through with John and Delenn taking turns watching over him. **************************************B5************************************** The next morning he ate breakfast with John and Delenn and David. He ate all his food as he snuggled against her. He did NOT look at John or David, but he did raise his eyes to meet Delenn's gaze. Dr. Franklin had Given him a shot for the pain and to speed the process of healing the bruises. It was still hard for him to understand all the things he was feeling. Delenn stayed with him all morning and spoke to him. He had begun to drift off to sleep again after lunch when he felt 'father' near by. His eyes snapped open and his legs curled up to his chest as he clutched at Delenn's clothes. She felt the fear rise in him as he gripped her shirt, and she was worried by his actions. Then she saw him walk into Medlab proper; she thanked Valen that they had moved to the privacy of the Isolab so he wouldn't be upset by all the people coming and going from Medlab. Then she saw Stephen stop Bishop and then turn him around and escort him out of the room. Jade's fear subsided, but he didn't go back to sleep. He was no longer the least bit drowsy. Franklin and David entered the Isolab and walked to the bed where Delenn sat holding Jade to her. He in turn held her tightly, 'father' had scared him badly. "Well, I have some good news for you both." Stephen said. "After that guy Bishop showed here I called security they picked him up for questioning about an hour ago." "That is good to know." Delenn said as she felt the child in her arms relax. "Yeah," David entered the conversation, "Dr. Franklin says Jade will be free to go this evening after one more test." "What test is that?" she asked "Well Security went into Bishop's place and confiscated a whole bunch of stuff. Mostly illegal stuff, but also they confiscated a rod and they want me to see if the rod could have been used to beat Jade." Franklin pulled out the rod and Jade went from totally and completely calm to totally and completely horrified. He was trembling in fright and had buried his face in Delenn's stomach as his arms tightened so that she was afraid he might squeeze the air out of her. "I guess that settles that." he shook his head. "How could anyone do this to a child." "I don't know, but I intend to make him pay for it." David moved to her side and looked at his mother holding the small boy. "I guess he'll be staying with us for a while, huh?" "I suppose so. We haven't really discused it have we." Delenn looked at her son with worry. "Do you not want him to stay in our home?" "Me I don't mind I think it would be cool I could have a little brother for a while. I don't think Dad will mind all that much either. What about you, Mom?" "If he could not stay in our home I would stay where he was placed. If only to protect him. I will not allow anyone to cause him more pain." **************************************B5************************************** That evening John came into the isolab and kissed Delenn on the forehead. He tried to run his hand over Jade's head, but the child flinched and he quickly pulled his hand away. "Are we ready to take him home?" "Yes, most definitely, it will be good to be home. They walked into their quarters and Delenn was surprised to see all the changes that John had made to help Jade adjust. There was an extra chair at the dinner table next to the one where she usually sat. In their bedroom on her side of the bed there was a smaller bed that looked like it would fit him perfectly. He had gotten out all of David's old clothes and hung them on hangers in the closet. Jade stood in the living room with Delenn waiting as John had told them to. Finally John came in the room and gave a gift to Jade. "Open it." Jade did and his eyes lit with joy as he pulled out his toy. It was an old bear that had been so loved the fur was comming off. But Jade didn't seem to mind at all as he hugged it tightly. Delenn smiled at him as he looked up at John for the first time in the week since he had come out of the vent. A few nights later after David, Delenn and Jade had gone to sleep John sat watching the small boy. He had never seen such a traumatised child before never. Oh, he'd seen children that were homeless and children who had been abused, but never had he seen a child that wouldn't talk to anyone, or one that slept in a ball as tight as Jade did. John reached out and caressed Jade's cheek as he had done to David so many times when he used to watch him sleep. Jade stirred a little and John removed his hand, and went back to bed. Delenn woke as he slid in next to her and asked, "What is wrong my love?" "I was just watching him sleep I don't think I have ever seen a child as bad as he is." "Nor I, but he is getting better. He no longer wakes five or more times in the night, soaked with sweat and crying. I only hope we can find his family soon. Let them know he is alright." She hesitated. "I will miss him though I have grown to love him I think." "I know what you mean. I feel the same way. I mean the first time he actually looked at me without fear in his eyes I thought my heart would melt." Jade on his bed began thrashing underneath his covers and moaning in fear he still had nightmares on occasion. Soon he was sitting bolt upright and looking frantically around the room. Delenn got up and went over to him and lifted him out of his bed, carried him back to theirs and sat down with him on her lap. He hugged her neck and looked at John lying behind her in bed. John sat up and smiled at the boy. "Are you ever going to feel safe enough to talk around us kiddo hmmm?" Jade hid his face in Delenn's hair and soon was asleep once more. Delenn didn't even bother to take him to his own small bed she just layed him between herself and John and went back to sleep herself. Finally John found himself fast asleep too. ***********************************B5***************************************** The next day was David's birthday, and there was a party scheduled for that afternoon. That morning John was in his office finishing up what little work he had left for the week. That way he cold spend the weekend with Delenn, David and Jade. As he was finishing up and getting ready to close up his office Ivanova walked in and handed him a data crystal. "Whats this?" "Just look it over John." Her voice was soft and angry, one of the most dangerous sounds John had ever heard. He put the crystal in the port and looked at the screen. As he read the file he felt himself becoming ill. He tapped the link on the back of his hand, "Delenn, I need you to come to my office please." "Alright we'll be right there John." She could tell by the sound of his voice that it was bad. She and Jade walked into John's office and Jade went to sit on the couch, but John called him over to them. "You need to see this too." On the crystal was Jade's family history, it showed his grandparents and his parents and even a younger sister. It was all happy at first then it flashed a news cast and on it the reporter was talking about the brutal murders of the Nisen family. His parents, grandparents, and sister had been killed two and a half years before Jade would have been three years old and his sister would have been two. John could only thank God that there were no pictures of them. It would have been too much. The reporter went on to state that a second child the older of the Nisen children was missing and that a full investigation was being conducted. The file ended with the news that the case had now been closed and the child found alive and was being taken care of. "That was horrible." Ivanova said. Jade sat on John's lap for the first time, and even though that should have been a happy occurance the look on Jade's face made happiness an impossibility. Delenn put her hand on his shoulder to try to comfort him. "That guy Bishop he should be spaced for this. I, Damn it I wish I could go down there to the brig and rip him to pieces with my own two hands. A personality wipe is to good for him." "John you know you can't do that." The adults in the room began to get louder and louder. Jade took the crystal out of the screen and put it on the desk. "Delenn," his voice was soft from not having been used for a long time and no one heard him at first. "Delenn." He said again still they didn't hear him. "Delenn, Delenn." The discussion stop and there was dead silence. He looked at each of them in turn. "Can I stay with you or will you make me go away now?" She stared hard at him for a second then she knelt beside him and put her arms around him. She looked at John and he nodded his head. She closed her eyes and hugged him tighter. "Of course you can stay with us. We will be your family now." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held him close and John wrapped his arms around both of them. Jade pulled away from Delenn and then wrapped his arms around John's neck. John said to him, "I love you, son." Then very softly they heard "I love you too." John kissed him on the cheek and then kissed Delenn on the lips and she then kissed Jade on the forehead. Jade looked up at Captain Susan Ivanova and said, "You must feel left out. Why don't you join us." Susan smiled and politely declined. He shrugged as if to say your loss. Delenn looked at him very grave now, "Are you alright Jade?" "What do you mean?" "Your real family, are you alright?" "Oh," he let his eyes lower for a moment "yes I'm alright I knew they were dead. 'He' made me watch you know. 'He' stood there and had his men kill them and he made me watch them. My mom and dad wouldn't pay him for something and he said they would suffer for it. Then he told them they were going to die and that all but the most prized member of their family would die with them. That person alive would be hurt and they wouldn't be able to do anything to stop it from happening and then he killed them. They are at peace now though. Because I am safe. And because I love you so they know that I was not hurt too badly." He finished with a smile directed at her and she enfolded him in another hug and this time Ivanova did join in. He smiled at her and said, "Hey doesn't David call you Aunt Susan?" "Yes he does. Why?" "Well I was wondering does that mean you're my aunt now?" "I guess it does doesn't it." John looked at Delenn, "How are we goin to tell David about this?" Jade again, "I have an idea." "Well you going to fill us in?" "You could wrap me up in a box and sign it from your brother and make him open me up at the start of his party." "Good plan. Lets get to work its only about half an hour away." They found a big box and Jade climbed inside and they wraped him up and pu the card on the box next to the bow. David opened it when he was told and he acted surprised even though he knew pretty much what it was. The party was a great success and they went home that night as one big happy family. End. B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5B5 Hope you enjoy it. Even though it is something a little different. -----------------------------------------------