Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel. Evelyn is mine. Spoilers and paraphrases from "Unfinished Business" are used as well as flashbacks and my addition to the flashbacks. "Dream On" is by Aerosmith.
Chapter 7: Reality's right hook
It was the day of the scheduled "dance," and too many people to count had come. /Lee boxed with Helo in the ring as Cottle stood by and Adama walked around the ring. Colonel Tigh referred the matches for the day./ Adama spotted Roslin, to his surprise, and made his way over to her, thinking back to the ground-breaking ceremony on New Caprica.
/Roslin had come over to him as he sat on the ground away from the crowd./
/"I didn't expect to find you playing in the sand," she teased./
/"Used to be the river," he told her. "It's full of alluvial deposits."/
/"It has been a while since you've been on actual ground," she mentioned, reading past his comment./
/His eyes strayed to her and took in the magenta dress and wrap she wore with admiration. "That's a nice color on you, it's good to see you, Laura."/
/She smiled appreciatively and tightened her wrap. "You too Bill"/
She sneaked up behind him as he had turned is attention back to the boxing ring. / "There you are," she commented with a grin./
Every time I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
/Hey, how are you? He asked her./
"Just fine, my back's been behaving itself lately," she mentioned.
"Where's Evie?"
"I know how boxing matches go, and I figured that she was a little young for it. She's in day care with the other children," Roslin replied. "How are you doing?"
The past is gone
It goes by, like dusk to dawn
"Not too bad these days. I didn't know you liked boxing," he commented, dodging her question.
She knew that he had only given her the briefest of answers, still embarrassed about the trouble with his past coming back to beat him up. /"My father was an avid fight fan and I adored my father so I love a good fight," she replied with a grin. "I heard about your so-called dance, accidentally I might add."/
"This isn't your usual fight. /Don't take it personally. This is sort of a private tradition in the military. There's a lot of frustration aboard warships. Arguments that become grudges end up being feuds, so it allows them to let off some steam out in the open so everybody can participate. Rank doesn't matter, everyone's fair game," he explained./
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay
/There was a mischievous glint in her eye as she asked, "Did you throw your tags in there?"/
Yeah, I know nobody knows
where it comes and where it goes
/Almost nervously, he answered, "No, no, I wish, all the frustrations that I have…" he trailed off. Roslin and Adama watched Kara box the living daylights out of another pilot, each thinking back to the groundbreaking ceremony./
/Neither had been particularly pleased at "President" Baltar's ceremony and had little to say when Gaeta came over to ask them a few questions before needing to dash off quickly. "He's a good kid," Adama remarked./
/"You say this stuff rolls around here?" he inquired, holding the short New Caprican cigar between his fingers./
/She took a puff as well as a drink. "It grows by a steam where the water is so clear, it's like looking through glass. I'd like to live in a cabin in a place like that," she responded./
/"It's good," he mentioned./
/"It is good," she added./
/Roslin and Adama continued to watch the match and then he looked over as Chief Tyrol discussed repairs with one of his mechanics. "Ship down chief?" Adama inquired./
/"Yeah, but we'll get it tomorrow," Tyrol responded./
/Adama decided that a point needed to me made. He turned to Roslin, handing her his glasses and dog tags. "Hold these." She grinned and accepted, interested to see what he would do in the ring./
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win
/Her mind drifted back to the groundbreaking ceremony again. She was showing the camp to Adama, making sure to give him a tour of the school tent. "I miss being president, but it's been nice to get back to teaching," she told him./
/He grinned, enjoying the look of pride on her face as she showed him what the students had been working on. "That looks like a model of Galactica," he commented./
/"The older ones decided to use it as an art project, but they've actually turned it into a math lesson, measuring everything down to scale," she explained./
/Roslin's attention was drawn back to the ring as the admiral looked around the room and his gaze settled on Tyrol. "Chief, get your fat, lazy as up here," he requested./
Half my life
is in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you
/Adama then took off his jacket and had Helo wrap his hands. "Make 'em tight."/
/"Yes, sir," Helo responded enthusiastically./
/"He's an old man, he's not serious," Tyrol stated as another pilot wrapped his hands./
/As Tyrol entered the ring, the colonel walked over to Adama. "Sure about this? It's your funeral," Tigh remarked./
/As the bell sounded, Tyrol was cocky about fighting and was unprepared when he turned and was punched hard in the jaw by the admiral, who added "Get up chief, we're just getting started."/
Sing with me, sing for the year
/Roslin's mind wandered again, remembering the night of the admiral's visit. "Is this really it, Bill? This is how we'll spend all the rest of our days. Maybe we should just enjoy this," she told him as they snuggled together to combat the chill in the air./
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
/"I am," he responded in the gravely voice that she loved. It was so much more than his voice though at that moment. The wool, spice, and soap smell of him gave her a strong sense of comfort./
Sing with me, if it's just for today
/"I mean enjoy being here on this planet as long as it lasts. I mean maybe the Cylons come back, maybe they don't. But for now, you got a break," she hoped he understood./
Maybe tomorrow, the good lord will take you away
/"I've got people who want to get off this ship, move down here," he mentioned, pulling her slightly closer.
Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
/"Can't say as I blame them. I mean, what are you going to do?" she inquired rhetorically./
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
/Adama told Tyrol, "No excuses, show me you're s soldier, get up!" as Roslin continued to watch with interest./
sing with me, if it's just for today
/Tyrol hit Adama hard and he staggered for a second. Roslin held in a gasp as she watched with worry. Adama retaliated and Tyrol struck him again. Though Adama hit back again, he went down. He struggled to get back up and Tigh assisted him. Cottle shook his head with irritation./
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
/"That's enough already, you should quit," the doctor asserted./
/Roslin joined them, pressing an ice pack to Adama's face as he cringed. "You insist on doing this, alright. Keep your guard up, get him with your left hook," she recommended. "You wanna win?"/
/He did not look her in the eyes when he said it. "I'm not gonna win."/
/Roslin watched dejectedly as Tyrol punched Adama again, blood on the ground where the admiral had fallen. Adama looked dazed for a moment and Tyrol pulled him up. Roslin sensed what was coming as Adama turned and looked at everyone in the room. "When you stand on this deck, you be ready to fight, or you dishonor the reason why were here, and remember this when you find a man who's not your friend, same goes when you leave me, I forgot that once, I let you get too close, all of you, I dropped my guard, I gave some of you breaks, let some of you go before the fight was really over, I let this crew and this family disband and we paid the price in lives, that can't happen again."/
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dreams come true
/With Adama's speech over, he left the ring. Tyrol left to fix the ship and Roslin walked Adama out with Tigh following. "Alright, the dance is over, get your booze and your dog tags and get outa here," the colonel told those remaining./
He was more than sore as the three of them returned to his quarters. Roslin had been silent the whole way and Adama had the feeling in his gut that she was planning to lecture him. Tigh spoke first though. "Well that was stupid. Bill, what were you thinking?" he challenged his friend.
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dream comes through
Adama sat down slowly on the couch and closed his eyes for a moment. "They needed to know. It's important now more than ever that we stay alert."
"And you thought they needed an example? You could've given that speech after anybody else's match," Tigh countered.
Roslin knew what Adama actually meant. She faced him and sighed heavily. "It wasn't about an example, was it? You took the blame on yourself," she stated.
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On
He tried to face her. "It was my fault you were down there. If I hadn't given leave-"
She interrupted him. "And if I hadn't tried to steal an election. Deities, Bill! The universe is not made up of 'what ifs' or 'should haves.' This was not your fault."
"I could use a drink," he croaked. She stopped him before he could try to stand.
"I'll get it. Saul, you want anything?" she offered. He nodded and Adama did not seem to mind.
When she had gotten all three of them drinks, the conversation resumed. "I agree with Saul; it was stupid of you to let yourself get beat up, especially after the incident with Novacek two weeks ago."
He took a drink and looked out. "Laura, you don't understand," he commented.
To his surprise, she grabbed him by his bloodstained tanks and pulled him to his feet. "You're right, I don't understand. So you're gonna explain it to me while I clean you up," she ordered as she tugged him into the bathroom. Tigh smirked and shook his head, deciding to make his exit.
Roslin took a damp rag and dabbed Adama's face with it. "I took on the punishment, so no one else has to settle any more debts. I'm responsible for them, for keeping them safe."
She took a deep breath to keep her emotions in check. She understood what he meant all too well. "You're not the only one who feels responsible for everyone," she told him in a whisper. "But when everything's said and done, who's responsible for you? Stop playing the martyr to solve your problems. You really should see Jack about your injuries."
Sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Adama smirked. "And get a lecture from him too? I think I'll sleep on it and find him in the morning."
Setting the rag down in the sink she crossed her arms. "Stop doing this to yourself! The whole fleet looks up to you. Evie looks up to you. She adores you and I know she can learn things from you, but not if you end up getting yourself killed. You are coming to Life Station, now."
The truth was that he was too tired to argue with her as she took his arm and they walked to Life Station. Cottle glared at him and headed for the gauze. "Honestly Bill, I'd think after what happened the last time you were here, you'd have learned your lesson. We need to get you out of those tanks so I can see what damage needs fixing this time," Cottle scolded.
sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
"I need to pick up Evie. I'll call you later," Roslin mentioned as she left.
At the day care, Evie ran up to hug Roslin as usual. She had explained to the woman in charge that her "niece" called her "Mommy" so there would be no questions. "Mommy, I had fun today! We saw pictures of dinosaurs and their bones, and we got to color dinosaurs!" the girl relayed.
Roslin smiled warmly and took the girl's hand as they walked out into the corridor. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Roslin stated.
"Mommy, are we gonna see Bill today? I want to tell him about the dinosaurs. Did you know that they had really tiny brains? But their bodies got really big," Evie continued.
"Not today, sweetie. Bill hurt himself and needs to rest," Roslin conveyed.
"Oh," Evie said quietly. "Can you make him feel better?"
The older woman sighed as they reached the Raptor that would take them back to Colonial One. "I don't know."
Sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Evie colored something while Roslin scanned through her paperwork. A while later Evie approached her with a piece of paper and a few crayons. "Can you help me make a feel better card for Bill?"
Roslin smiled warmly at her daughter's compassion, wondering whom she had heard about get well cards from. "Of course," she responded. Evie sat on her lap as they made the note. She stuck it in the priority mail bag, knowing that he would get it in the morning. Then she decided that it was time to call him.
He had been released from Life Station after receiving another lecture from Cottle. The phone rang as he stepped into his quarters. "Adama."
"It's Laura. I was calling to see how you were doing," she began.
"Jack put me back together and I should be fine in a few days. How was Evie's day?" he inquired.
"She can't wait to tell you dinosaurs. Apparently they had a lot of fun learning about dinosaurs today," Roslin relayed.
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away...
"I'm looking forward to it then," he stated. "And Laura, thanks for earlier. I needed a good kick in the ass."
She chuckled on her end. "Any time, Bill."
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dreams come true
Just before they were to say goodnight, she told him to check the mail in the morning. When morning finally arrived, every inch of him was sore as he waited for his mail after his morning coffee. On the top of it was a simple folded piece of paper addressed to him. It was a form of get well card in crayon, with Laura's name and Evie's name on it. He smiled as he read what Laura had written:
"The only way we're going to survive is if we learn how to move on," she told him, echoing what he had told her earlier.
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dream comes through
"So say we all," he said aloud as he continued to prepare for his day.
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On
(My thanks to miss mcGonagle, caramelapples, carolann, and Mariel3 for reviewing :D. Also, I know someone's montage used Aerosmith's "Dream On," but I couldn't find it again to attribute it.)