A Warrior's Tears

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TITLE: A Warrior's Tears
AUTHOR: Aen
TYPE: Story
RATING: G (Note: this is Skrillwerks works rating, not that of the authors)
DISCLAIMERS: All characters and situations in Earth: Final Conflict are the property of Tribune
Entertainment, Kirshner-Roddenberry, Atlantis and related companies. No copyright infringement is intended.
SPOILERS:
NOTES: Here's one of my older fanfics entitled A Warrior's Tears. I am currently
working on a continuation story entitled Pardon. I will post it to this
list as soon as it's completed.

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A Warrior's Tears
by Aen <taelon1@bellsouth.net>

         Captain Lucas Johnsonclosed his eyes, trying for the millionth
time in that LONG day to ignore the headache he had. He shifted
on the cot of his prison cell, pulling his legs up to his chest.He closed out
the world around him, trying to relieve that headache.
         It had been two monthssince he had participated in the kidnapping of
the American Companion, Da'an, and it was two months since he was gunned
down by the Taelon's rescuers. Those wounds had healed, but they were
unable to help him in any other way physically.
         It was after he wascertified as physically fit as he could be in his situation
that he was summarily court-martialed for desertion, charged and triedfor the
kidnapping of Da'an. He was now serving a very LONG sentence indeed.
         It did not compareto the prison of his body.
         It was a very lonelyprison indeed. He had not been allowed any contact with
his family whatsoever. They had been notified that he was alive, butthey had not
been permitted to see him.
         The door of his cellopened and Johnson looked up to see William Boone as
he stepped into the cell. He started to speak but then he saw Da'anstep into the cell.
         "How have you been,captain?" Boone asked.
         Lucas snorted but didn'treply. He looked at Da'an instead, focusing intently
on the Taelon. Da'an observed his gaze.
         "Boone, please waitoutside so that I may address Captain Johnson in private."
Da'an requested. Boone looked at Johnson and saw that the man wasn'tgoing to
harm Da'an. He nodded and left the cell.
         "Why? Why are you here?"Lucas asked.
         "Because you were withme when I faced the void. You showed me mercy by
taking my hand in death. I cannot easily forget this act of mercy andcompassion.
I wish to alleviate your difficulty in any manner in which Iam able." Da'an answered,
gesturing gracefully as he spoke. Johnson swung his feet onto the floorand motioned
for Da'an to sit down by him. Da'an sat down beside the soldier andLucas sighed
deeply. He bowed his head into his hands.
         "The only way you canalleviate my difficulty is to allow me to see my
family. I've accepted the prison of my body and the prison I'm in now.But I can't
accept the prison of loneliness." Lucas replied, looking at the Companion.
         "Then I shall workto ease your loneliness." Da'an promised.
         Lucas smiled at him,the first smile he had had in several weeks. "Thank you." he said.
                                              ***
         Several weeks passedand Lucas did not see nor hear from Da'an and he believed
that the Companion had forgotten his promise. He was alone again. The day was beautiful
and the guards took the inmates outside to walk around the courtyard,soak in a little sunshine.
Johnson found himself a bench and sat down, seeking to escape anyoneone who wanted to
converse with him.
         "May I join you?"
         Lucas looked up tosee Boone standing there. He motioned a reply and Boone
sat down next to him.
         "Has Da'an forgottenme?" he asked.
         "No, Lucas, he hasn't.He's, in fact, waiting to see you right now in your cell."
         "Let's go then."

         "Has Da'an made anyprogress in getting family visitation rights?" Lucas asked.
They were only a few feet away from his cell.

         "I'll let Da'an answeryour question." Boone said. Lucas heard voices from his
cell. He looked at Boone.

         "They're in there,aren't they?" he said. Boone nodded and Lucas rushed into his
cell, past Da'an's bodyguards. Lucas wife Maddy (short for Madeline)saw him first
and she was the first in his arms. Cal wasn't far behind and the familytearfully
embraced. Lucas wept in the arms of his family. Da'an left unobserved.

         "Boone, remain behindplease and escort Mrs. Johnson and her son to their home
after they have completed their visit."
         "Will do."
____________________________________________________________________

         It was several hourslater when the Johnson’s finally completed their visit. Boone
waited patiently and went back into speak to Johnson after they emerged.
         "Has Da'an left?" Lucas asked, washing his face.
         "Yes, he has."
         “I never got a chanceto thank him, Boone."
         "He saw the joy onall of your faces. He knows what this meant to you, Lucas."
         "Is Da'an going tovisit me again?"
         "Yes, I believe so."
         Boone turned to leaveand stopped.
         "Lucas, you're notalone anymore in this. Da'an and I are here with you. And
now so is your family." He left the cell.
         "Ready?" he asked Maddy.
         "Yes."
         "Let's go then."
                                                            THE END

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