James Tejera stared through the window of the children's Wing Intensive Care Unit, "When it's cold like this, it means Demeter is crying over Persephone." He chuckled tiredly to himself, his wife dying only a few days prior. His daughter laid in the bed, doctors telling him they weren't sure if she would ever walk again.
Erica Tejera, all of nine, shivered. Having been pretty heavily sedated and otherwise medicated. "Da." Her voice was quiet, still pretty unsure of her surroundings, "Da." She said again, unable to turn her head.
The man moved closer to his daughter's side, "Hello, my little fish." He made sure he was in her field of vision, "I've missed those hazel green eyes of yours."
His voice was an instant comfort for her, causing her to smile a little. "Demeter cries...means winter is here."
James nodded, "I know that."
"Poor Demeter." Erica pouted, "Da...can we go home?"
"Well," James sat at the edge of the bed, "The accident did quite a doozie on you. Do you remember being in an accident?"
She fell silent a moment before replying, "Was it a really bad one?"
"I'm afraid so, little fish." The man watched his daughter, knowing she would be able to pick up on his emotion. "This is going to be really hard to imagine, but...I'm afraid your mother wasn't able to continue her journey here anymore...she went to the fields of Elysium."
"Mother died." Erica mumbled, knowing he was trying to find the right way to say it. "Did she...was she in pain for a long time?"
James shook his head, 'It was very quick."
"And Athena came down on her horse?"
He smiled sadly, 'Yes, little fish."
The young girl mimicked his expression, "I'm sorry I missed it." She blinked slowly, "just being there in the present moment, "Da."
"Yes, little fish?"
Erica swallowed, "Why can't I feel anything?"
Simon gently strokes his wife's hair as she slowly recovers from surgery. He notices Ellen Tigh standing at the foot of the bed, "Is the marrow working?"
Ellen doesn't answer immediately, just staring at the man before her still, "It's working."
"Good. I will be happy to see the President begin to recover." He nods, finally looking up when the woman doesn't move.
"I can't believe that you have the audacity to come anywhere near this ship." Her voice cold, almost hissing.
Simon isn't expecting that, "Okay...she's my wife and I love her more than anything. She told me of her new quarters and how things were changing. Asked me to join her." He nods slowly, "And I'm glad I did. She would have been alone right now otherwise."
"You know what I'm referring to." Ellen scowls toward him, "They may have burned your face to mask your identity, but that does not mask your voice."
He shrugs, "If I sound like someone-"
"I know that you're an enemy model cylon." She finally reveals, "Here to do more of Cavil's bidding, I bet."
Simon clears his throat, sitting back in his chair, "Because only the Eights are able and allowed to think and choose independently from the rest of their models."
"They're the only ones that have."
"Erica and I have been married for nearly two years. She's my rock and my savior." He looks down at his still sleeping lover, "This may have started as something to fool the humans, but it isn't that anymore." He clears his throat, "Leoben was always fascinated with Kara Thrace...so he was...hellbent on getting her to love him. Erica Tejera though...well, she close me."
Ellen shakes her head a little, "You aren't safe here, though."
"Let me be arrested." Simon shrugs, "I'll help them wherever I can."
"They won't treat you the same way they did with the Eights."
"I know...I was being optimistic."
"Then why risk it?" Ellen bites her lip, "Why stick your neck out? Another model is more likely to recognize you...regardless of a burnt face."
"Because I love my wife." Simon glances up at the blonde once more, "And I'll always stand by her side until I can't." He goes quiet for a moment, "I just ask, if you're willing to give me up, wait until she's awake so that I can say goodbye. You can watch me and everything, if you prefer."
Ellen shakes her head, "If you mean what you say...I won't give you up." She meets his eyes, "But, you must be helpful and honest."
He doesn't really know how to respond, shocked by her actions, "Thank you, ma'am."
Laura leaned her head against Bill's shoulder, needing him close after a rough round of treatment. She can't help but just let tears fall freely from her eyes. Happy to be in the moment.
Bill sang some old standard he remembered from his father's music collection into her ear, "With you by my side, I have nothing to fear, nothing to fear but love..." He felt her gently giggle against his chest, "Are you in pain?" He asked after a moment.
"A little, but I'm unable to really explain the type...or even the location of it." She cleared her throat, "Why me, Bill?"
He huffed softly, "Self pity has never been your strong suit."
"No, I mean, " Laura adjusted how she's holding him, "There are so many young, healthy women in this fleet. Why choose to fall in love with me?"
"The heart wants what the heart wants." Bill shrugged, "Besides, I have a thing for powerful women."
She chuckled harder this time. Falling silent for a moment, she continued, "You know that this is going to get a lot worse, right?"
He pulled back a moment, planting a tender kiss against her accepting lips, "I will be by your side every step of the way, Madam President."
"This had better frakking work." Cottle mumbles, coming to think of Laura Roslin as family.
"Us, yes, well...in theory, yes, it should." Baltar stumbles in his thought process, finally pulling up a syringe of what they had all been working on for over a day. He makes his way with the old doctor in tow, over to the space containing the President of the Colonies, Laura Roslin, "Doctor, I'm sure you remember what happened the last time."
Cottle nods quickly, removing the pillows from the head of the bed and laying it flat, "Listen, Admiral, this isn't going to be pretty. You might want to step out-"
"Not on your life." Bill doesn't feel very comfortable with the likes of Gaius Baltar helping his love.
"Suit yourself." He nods, motioning to Baltar to commence.
Once the injection starts, almost immediately, Laura Roslin begins to convulse violently. Her back arches and eyes roll back. The scene is terrifying to say the least. After a few moments, she simply stops. Her eyes open slightly, attempting to take stock of her surroundings. She feels a hand stroking her bald scalp.
"Everything is going to be just fine, young lady." Cottle's soothing voice speaks over her. It's his hand, she realizes, stroking her head.
Bill appears at a loss for words, obviously upset. Something he has learned over many years to conceal, now failing him. He finds himself frozen, just staring at her.
Gaius has never seen the powerful man in that state. "She should be a bit more lucid in a few hours."
"What was that exactly?" A stern expression paints the Admiral's face, nearly glaring to the other two men, "Why did that just happen?"
"Science." Gaius Baltar smiles, amused with himself as he caps the syringe. "I'm going to check on Ms. Tejera." He turns on his toe.
"Just hold her hand. Be here with her, like you usually are. Just be here." Cottle instructs, giving the man a knowing nod. "I've got other things to do. I'll be back in a little bit. If anything changes, call me."