Title : The Old, Forgotten Art of Reaching Out

Author : Helen C.

Rating : PG

Summary : The obligatory, post Day in the Life, introspection piece. Three 500 words ficlets.

Spoilers : Everything aired up to now (A Day in the Life) is fair game.

Disclaimer : The characters and the universe were created and are owned by Ronald D. Moore and Universal Television Studios to name but a few. No money is being made. No copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN. Huge thanks to joey for beta'ing this.

The Old, Forgotten Art of Reaching Out

Helen C.

Part One

Bill looked at his father's law books, carefully preserved in their box. He hadn't had any good reason to take them out of storage before, but today felt like the right day for it. He couldn't forget the smile on Lee's face when they had talked about Lee's visits to his grandfather's office—a stark contrast to the discussion they'd had later in the day.

I know that's what you want to believe, Dad.

He looked at the picture still on the table. He had always thought about his marriage as a happier time, despite the fights and the growing resentment his wife felt toward him. He had been so sure that she was giving their kids a good home, a stable life—things he couldn't give them while pursuing his career in the military.

Did you really think that, Bill? Carolanne asked. Or was it just what you wanted to believe when you left me alone with them?

He tore his gaze away from the picture at her angry voice.

It looked like he had been sorely mistaken.

Oh, of course, there were good times, in the beginning, she said. Even if it was just for a little while.

Before he focused on his military career. Before her mood swings and her constant reproaches drove him away from her, from his family.

Before you abandoned us for the sake of your duty, because the fate of the world was more important than us, she snapped, filling a glass with expert hands.

"You were my world," he snapped. "You, and Lee and Zak."

His voice echoed in the empty quarters.

Yes, she said after a while, from somewhere behind him. As long as we were far away from you. But every time someone gets close to you again, Admiral Adama comes in and builds some walls. It's easy to love from a distance, Bill.

He would have loved to protest, but what could he say? Lee was both his son and a man under his command, and Bill had to keep some distance between them for the time being, but that hadn't always been the case. And sure, Lee didn't make it easy on a good day, and good days were few and far between in the Adama family.

He still could have tried harder to reach out to his son, before anger and bitterness made it almost impossible for them to even be in the same room without arguing.

And then, one day, finally, the apologies even stopped.

Bill closed his eyes, willing himself to forget Lee's words.

I can't apologize either, son. I loved her.

He bent down on his desk and wrote a short note, hoping Lee would understand.

I love you.

He called the private waiting outside and ordered him to take the box to his Lee's quarters.

It's the best I can do, son. It felt strangely like defeat, and Carolanne's glare from where she was standing, next to his bed, didn't help. I'm sorry.