Chapter Text
This next section is a collection of different scenes over the three years until John went beyond the rim. How things would have changed because of my story. That kind of thing. Enjoy.
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Susan still sat at the front of the room. The atmosphere was despondent and filled with sorrowful undertones. Jade walked into the room and saw Susan sitting by herself. He walked quietly to her and stood in front of her. He noticed that her mind was elsewhere. He tilted his head to one side and looked at her with compassion filling his expression. He reached out and took her hand. "I'm sorry, Susochke, I did the best I could. I'm sorry."
She looked at him sharply. "For what Dushenka?"
"Because I didn't heal him good enough. I didn't know he would die so soon. I'm sorry."
She pulled him to her and looked him straight in the eye, "It is not your fault that he died Jade. You healed him perfectly. His body was just tired. Marcus would be upset with you if he were here. You shouldn't blame yourself for the twists of fate that come our way."
"But now you won't have anyone to be with all the time."
"That's okay, Jade. I have mastered the art of living alone, and I will still have you coming to stay with me, or have you gotten too big to stay with me."
"Of course not, I like coming to stay with you Susochke. I miss you when I'm on Minbar with Mommy and Daddy. I wish I could see you all the time."
"I know you do, but I have to stay here, and you belong with your mama and papa."
"Yeah, come on Susochke lets leave its too sad in here."
"Yes it is," she stood and held out her hand to the seven year old, "lets head back to my house with everyone."
He took her hand and they left the room and all it’s sadness.
Epilogue
Nine year old Jade stood behind Susan as she told her secretary to cancel her appointments. After she had and the others had left she turned to him. She did not get the chance to speak as he said, "Its Dad isn't it. He has to leave soon."
The grief in his voice about toppled her. "Come here love." He ran across the room to her and she gathered him in a comforting hug.
"I don't want him to leave Susochke."
"I know, I know. I don't want him to go either, but Delenn and I will still be here."
"But I want my daddy. Mom doesn't know how to play ball or fish or any of the things that dad and I do together. I don't want him to go." He sobbed onto her uniform shoulder.
She comforted him and held him close, and finally, he calmed. "Lets go pack my Dushenka. We will be going to Minbar on the White Star as soon as we can get on board."
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Jade sat in John's lap and listened to the stories being told. As he looked around at all the happiness and mirth he thought that he could almost forget that everyone was here to say goodbye to his father. Jade leaned back against John and closed his eyes against reality. He wanted to stay in this moment for the rest of his life, but alas, he was jostled as John shifted him to raise his glass in the toast.
Dinner was over and Jade was sitting with the guys listening to them reminisce. He didn't notice Susan, standing in the door, turn and leave. Mr. Garibaldi was describing how his daughter had played a tennis match, and how much he loved being back with his family on Mars. Then Dad yawned and decided it was time to turn in for the evening. The two other men agreed and offered to take the Emperor to his room. John stood and lifted Jade into his arms. "How are you feeling Jade? You've been awfully quiet."
"I don't want you to go, Dad. Who'll take me fishing? Who'll I call father now? I don't want another father. I want you."
"I know Jade. I want to stay with you, but I can't stay." Jade's lower lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears.
"Please don't go dad." He whispered it.
"I wish we had more time. You're my little partner."
Jade hugged John tight, "You're my father. I'm not afraid of him anymore because you are my father. I love you dad."
"I love you too buddy. More than you could ever know."
"Can I sleep with Susochke?" His voice was still strained. John wanted him to stay with Delenn and himself, but Jade needed to feel secure and at the moment Susan was the one he was depending on for that security. So, John couldn't tell him no.
"Of course you can pal. Take good care of her for me, and take especially good care of your Mom too."
"I will," his voice cracked in mid word, "I will take care of them. You take care of yourself 'cuz I'm gonna want to see you again sometime."
"I will, and I'll check in on you sometimes."
Jade nodded, and hugged him again planting a kiss on his father's cheek. Susan walked past after they had let go of one another, and Jade, with one last look to his father, ran to catch up with her. John watched the two of them as they walked. He feared that Jade was becoming too dependent on Susan. He feared that after he was gone Jade would spend more time with her than with Delenn. Delenn would need him. She would need a lot of things.
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Jade sat at breakfast with the others. The atmosphere was subdued and thick with grief. He sat between Susochke and Mom. Closer to Mom. He felt that they needed each other now. She wasn't eating and didn't pretend to try, neither did Jade. He finally leaned over and lay his head in her lap and sobbed. Delenn let him grieve, and ran her hands through his hair while he cried. It seemed then that Everyone had been waiting for a sign to begin grieving. Susan leaned her head into her hands and let a long sigh escape before she began to cry. Garibaldi stopped eating and moved to comfort her, by taking hold of her hand across the table. Emperor Vir had silent tears streaming down his face, as did Dr. Franklin. Jade slipped his arms around his mother, and it was a long time before he stopped crying. When he did he asked, "Where did he go mom?"
"He wanted to feel the stars beneath him once more. I suspect he wanted to go and say goodbye to his station also."
"He won't be back will he?"
She shook her head slowly, "No my little love, he will not be coming home again. He is going to meet Valen." This set Jade to crying again, and she held him until he finished. The only sounds in the room after that were the sniffles and muted sobs of grief.
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A few weeks later Babylon 5 went off line. The sign off was the first time the group had been back together since John's passing. Jade stood with Susan Ivanova. He spent a lot of his time with her in these days of turmoil. Delenn had things to keep her busy with the Alliance Presidency, and made an effort to spend at least two hours a day with her son. She was glad he spent the time with Susan instead of spending it all alone. They were all closer since Susan had moved to Minbar. The three of them often ate their meals together, and Jade took turns staying with each of them. He stood near Susan now as they looked around the empty Zocalo for the last time. Delenn felt a rush of memories that had taken place here. She could see the same rush on the faces of the others. Susan lifted Jade from the floor and entered the lift. The others followed suit. Garibaldi, the first of them to enter the station, was the last to leave.
The End.
May God Stand Between You and Harm.
In All The Empty Places Where You Must Walk.
An Ancient Egyptian Blessing