Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel. AU: the original posting of this didn't happen nearly as I was hoping, so I've revised a few things.
A New Roommate
Part One: The Talk
"The wind touched my face. I could hear you whispering, feel your touch. In that moment, you hadn't left me, rather you had come with me to this new land." Bill rested his hands on the book and turned back to Laura, whose eyes were still closed in one of the brief moments of peace that her life allowed.
He had turned his gaze back to the book when Dr. Cottle cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but CIC wants you, something about a test run for a shuttle that hit the deck a few weeks ago."
The admiral nodded and stood, looking back to Laura. Gently he touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry to leave early, but I'm needed in CIC."
She blinked and gave him a small smile. "It's alright. We'll finish the chapter later."
Giving her hand a small squeeze, he left. Usually they remembered to close the curtain surrounding her bed so that the other residents in Life Station would not pay any mind that the president there. Today they had simply forgotten. Claire Kowalski had stirred in the next bed when Bill had started reading.
Curious on who her roommate was and what was going on, Claire had watched the tender scene unfold. The man with the most comforting, amazing voice that she had ever heard, read to the tired woman, who looked to be on the same treatment that Claire herself was receiving. She had seen the woman close her eyes and smile dreamily. Then the man had closed the book, but he kept talking as if he were still reading. It was one of the most touching, most fascinating things that she had ever witnessed.
It was only as he left that Claire recognized him as the fleet admiral. Then who was he reading to? She had caught sight of a wedding ring, but did not recall any news on the admiral being married. Claire decided that it was time to find out. She sat up and turned toward the other woman. "Excuse me. I don't believe we've me. I'm Claire Kowalski."
The other woman slowly sat up and faced her. She studied Claire, finding it difficult to believe that this woman had no idea whom she was. Then again, without the glasses or the podium, she did not look very presidential at that moment. "Laura," she responded.
Claire nodded. "So what are you in for?"
"Diloxin," Laura replied, frowning at the IV.
"Me too. Lousy sentence. Personally I'd rather be in his shoes," Claire remarked, pointing to a man who had just entered Life Station to ask for directions.
Laura smirked, deciding that she liked this oddly nosy woman. "That would be nice."
"I'm sorry if I've been a busy-body. I just never noticed you there before," Claire stated.
"We usually remember to close the curtain," she responded. Then she rubbed her temples, realizing that she had accidentally said 'we.'
"It's nice to have a visitor like you do, if you don't mind me commenting," the other woman stated.
Laura faced her again. Having a normal conversation with someone was not a luxury that she experienced often. "It's fine."
Claire glanced down at her bony hands, folding them in her lap. "You're lucky, you know. I wish my husband had time to read to me like that."
Laura's eyes widened. "We're not- I mean we're just friends."
"Then that's some friend you have. What I can't figure out is how he keeps reading to you after the book is closed," Claire commented.
Laura sat up straighter, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Claire smiled at the woman's surprising lack of awareness. "He closes the book, but keeps talking. It's as if he's got more to say to you, but he disguises it with the book."
Taking a deep breath, Laura looked out past her bed at nothing in particular. "Maybe you're right. It would be just like him."
Was that a look of affection in her eyes that Claire noticed? "He cares about you. Would it really be so bad if he was more than just a friend?"
Laura debated telling the other woman that she was being intrusive, that this was not a topic for a discussion with someone she had just met. Instead, she found herself saying, "It's not that simple. He and I both have very complicated lives."
Claire shook her head. "Excuses. You and I are her for the same reasons. We know we're dying, but we keep telling ourselves every day to keep going and keep fighting. It's better if you're not fighting alone."
Somehow this woman had managed to get into Laura's head. She swallowed back the urge to let the tears through her defenses. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "I was once told that every day is a gift."
"That's because it is." Claire paused to smile. "Every day is a gift, but there's more to it than that. It can be received, and it can also be given. If there's one thing I've learned from this experience, it's to get rid of regrets."
Laura snorted. "Easier said than done. You have no idea how many I would love to get rid of."
"It wouldn't be that hard to get rid of one. The man who reads to you, he cares about you, and I suspect you care for him. Wouldn't it be better to share your feelings instead of regretting that you never told him how you felt?" Claire suggested.
Laura lay back on the pillow. "If he knew, it would hurt him more when I'm gone."
Shaking her head, Claire took a drink from the glass of water sitting on the rolling table on the other side of her bed. "You're wrong. It'll hurt more, him thinking that you never shared his feelings. It doesn't matter who you are outside of here, or who you are on the job. What matters is who you are when you're with him."
Raising an eyebrow, Laura looked back to the other woman. "You sound like you've done this before."
"Let's just say that almost dying once should teach a person something about living," Claire responded.
Laura would have commented further, but a distinguished man with a curled mustache and salt-and-pepper hair entered the room. Claire's face brightened as he neared her bed. "Victor, I thought you were still at work."
The man approached her bed and sat down next to her, pulling her into a hug. "I took off early. I can make it up tomorrow morning. I had to see you."
She grinned. "You didn't have to do that."
"I love you. Of course I did," Victor stated before kissing her warmly.
Laura looked away, seeing Cottle nearing her bed. Victor and Claire continued to talk as Cottle arrived to disconnect both of their IVs. "I'm sorry that this is probably horrible for your social life, being cooped up here."
"Actually it's not so bad. I met someone today," Claire said, turning to look at Laura. "Victor, this is Laura. Laura, this is my husband."
Unlike Claire, Victor's face showed a flash of recognition as he shook Laura's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Laura."
"You as well, Victor," she responded politely. "Claire, it was nice chatting with you. I should be going."
"Bye, Laura," the other woman responded.
Laura left Life Station quietly, heading back to the admiral's quarters to rest before her next meeting. This new woman, Claire, had given her a lot to think about.