EPILOGUE - The Delicate Balance of In-Between
by Jimmy, June 2, 2001
"Beano, where do you think you're going?" Franklin asked patiently when he spotted his friend trying to climb out of her bed.
"Three steps, Stephen. I've been laid out for so long, I think I forgot how to walk."
"You have to take it easy, you know that."
"Bones are healed ..."
"Healing, you mean." Franklin interrupted quickly. "And we are still unsure about the rest of you."
"The rest of me is fine. You know that."
Franklin put down his folder, "This doesn't have anything to do with that Minbari named Lenann, does it?"
"What do you know about him?"
"Oh, just that I've been flooded with his calls, and the guy can't even speak English so I have no idea what in hell he's saying. If he keeps up Lennier is going to be on my payroll just so I can compensate him for abusing his translation skills."
Beano laughed outright, ignoring the pain drizzling down her body.
Franklin smiled and sat on the corner of her bed. "Want to tell me about it?"
"Promise you won't tell anyone else?"
"I promise."
Beano was only too glad to share her experience with her friend. Ever since Lennier explained to the doctor her first encounter with Lenann, she was bursting to talk to a human about it.
"I heard about love at first sight, but the Minbari really do have a way of going about it, don't they?" Franklin teased.
"I have no idea what it was to tell you the truth, and I'm not quite sure I can accept Lennier's explanation wholesale. But, it's intriguing. Don't you think?"
"Very, and you're still grounded."
"Rathenn's leaving in two days, Franklin. There are no guarantees I'm ever going to see Lenann again. It would be nice if I could say good-bye."
"And have your brain explode in the process?"
"I don't think it'll happen like that again. Come on, Franklin. Please?"
"Let me check your charts. If you remain stable for the next twenty-four hours, maybe under strict medical supervision, you can visit him. I still don't get why he can't come to Babylon 5."
"Neroon," Beano said darkly. "He thinks this whole thing's crap and won't stand for it."
"Even after what you went through?"
"Doesn't matter to the bonehead. He wants to make sure neither of us gets the chance to find out if this Recognition thing is genuine."
"Well, I guess it would be my civic duty to give the Warrior Caste an ulcer or two."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now get some sleep."
Only after making sure his friend was resting did Franklin leave her side to call Lennier. The Minbari aide, not to mention Delenn, was delighted with the idea of Quietbrook visiting Lenann before his departure. However, they faced heavy opposition once they made the proposal to Satai Rathenn and Satai Neroon.
Neroon glowered at the priest, refusing to dignify Quietbrook's request with an answer.
"Neroon, you cannot deny her entrance to my ship." Rathenn said in exasperation. "This is utterly ridiculous. Your behavior in this matter is unacceptable. I should not have consulted with you at all."
The priest turned to Lennier, "Tell the doctor I would be more than happy to have her visit Lenann on Yedor."
"I will agree on certain conditions, Rathenn." Neroon finally relented, realizing his wishes will be ignored altogether unless he changed his stance. "You have to agree we must proceed in this matter with extreme caution."
Rathenn did not like the glint in the warrior's eyes but had to ask. "What do you have in mind?"
End
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