Title : The Verdict
Author : Pierre
Rating : PG
Genre : Drama
Word Count : 555
Spoilers : Season Two
Disclaimer : nihil mihi
Beta-testing & pertinent suggestions : Mamaboo
THE VERDICT
She lifts her head up and stares at him, her eyes full of anxiety. After a moment, she moves slowly forward, a rattling sound following her. The hatch closes as she passes nearby, isolating them from the outside.
He watches her approaching the couch and carefully sitting down as asked. Did she shiver? He can feel her apprehension when he takes his place besides her. She lowers her head, changes her position, and looks at him again. Hiding his feelings, he reaches for his glass and asks her the question which torments him. Then he drinks a sip of water.
She moves slightly once more and exhales. She appears to have expected worse and seems somehow relieved. But also annoyed. She thinks briefly, choosing her words, and speaking cautiously, as if each word causes her pain, clearly tries to elude his request. He sees her swollen eyes, red from crying, and understands her reluctance. Her lips are moving but no sound is getting out. A flow of emotions rushes over him. But he must learn the reason. He assures her that she can express herself freely.
She breathes, and when he remembers what the Doctor said, the day he apologized to her, he knows why she does this so carefully. Did this atrocious thing have to happen, aboard his ship and on his watch, to make him realize? She is a living and sensible being. She never was something else. For a second, he almost wants to take her in his arms and tell her that all this is only a terrible mistake. But he can't. She is still the enemy.
She has obviously regained some assurance and has started her explanation, searching her memories for arguments, her eyes vague. She refers to an event that she didn't really witness. But she was there, in some way. She speaks slowly, her hands motionless, just holding the cable of her restraints. He remembers her sitting on the sickbay bed, broken, twisting these same hands, nervously, with the bruises on her wrists. And the scar. From the wound she inflicted on herself the day she helped them. On that occasion, only the Tactical Officer treated her as a person, and taught them a lesson. One word made all the difference. But he, he needed to see her hurt, mentally and physically, to acknowledge that he had lied to himself about her.
She pauses. She has arrived to a point where she is unsure whether to continue or not. Lost in his thoughts, he doesn't look at her, so he can't see her expression. So far he agrees with what she has said, with what he himself had said. Somehow he feared that she would dig up these paroles. He clenches his teeth, like he did in that cold room, some time ago. Today he will not let his emotions take over. At least he will try. He knows that he has put himself in an impossible situation. But he has allowed himself to admit his feelings towards her and has made his decision. No matter what happens, he won't lose her again.
Before long, he will discover if he has guessed right. The Commander sits calmly, waiting patiently for the Cylon, his daughter, to draw the logical conclusion of her speech.