A/N….I'll try and get this posted on a regular basis – enjoy!
Chapter 14 A Slow Morning
Laura stepped out of the head, water dripping from her auburn tresses running down her face…the Admiral blinked the provocative image away. Now is not the time, he reminded himself as the medical technician began cleaning the dressing on his side.
"Sir…" The young woman stammered, and as Adama's eyes met hers, she seemed to shrink back. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Adama noticed her hands were shaking as she unwound the bandages. She was perhaps 20-22 years old, and desperately trying not to be afraid. She's the reason, he thought as his heart skipped a beat, that we get up every morning. He took a moment to glance around the sickbay, most of the technicians were young; not originally commissioned personnel. They all are. He mused. The reason why humanity MUST survive; to give these kids a chance for a life – and one not to be lived in fear, but in the comfort of peace and love. Love…the simple word brought Laura's face to mind. As his thoughts lingered there for a moment, her face was replaced by her long neck, elegant back…Woooo, Bill, he swore slightly at how fast his thoughts traveled back to this morning. Quickly regaining control of his mental state, Adama gently placed his hand on the Tech's shoulder, she paused flushing out the stitches and met his eyes. "No, thank you for still fighting." Squeezing her shoulder, he removed his hand, "And," He glanced at his side and back up to her, "Treating me and my crew."
"Aloysi," Cottle rounded the corner, "Is the Admiral giving you a hard time?" Cottle stopped and eyed Aloysi and the Admiral.
She shook her head, "No, Doc."
Cottle nodded, "If any of the crew do, even the Admiral, you come and tell me." She nodded her head in response, "Good, now if you can give the Admiral and I five minutes." With that Aloysi vanished in a heartbeat. Cottle answered Adama's question before he could even ask. "I have a several new staff, who are learning quickly, but a few persons have given them a hard time."
"Any military personnel?" Adama did not like the sound of what he was hearing.
Cottle leaned over to look at his side, "Yes. Admiral, I am going to take an X-ray. I don't like the color along your side." He straightened, and pulled his chart. "Your blood pressure is lower than normal." Cottle and the Admiral's eyes met, "I'm concerned you are still bleeding internally. Having problem's breathing?"
"I get winded walking to CIC from my quarters." Adama's concern regarding Cottle's new staff shifted to himself, and from the look Cottle gave him – he needed to be more than worried.
Cottle reached behind him and grabbed a stethoscope, "Breath." He placed the cold metal against Adama's skin. "Again." He moved the end, "Again." There was a pause, "Can you breathe deeper?"
Adama tried to comply, but was rewarded with a sharp pain closely marked by the other end of the stethoscope.
Cottle pulled the stethoscope off, "Damn unlucky." He pulled a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his lab coat pocket. "Your lung is filling with fluid."
Bill took a steadying breath, "The x-ray will confirm that."
Cottle shook his head, "Yes, but the color, your breathing restrictions, and the way you sound…" He fired his lighter, "Let's get you an x-ray." He pulled the curtain back, stepped through and began barking orders to his staff and moving the necessary equipment to have the Admiral x-rayed.
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Kara couldn't help her yawn as she stepped out of the cockpit from her the CAP.
"Tired Starbuck?" Tyrol's familiar voice greeted her ears.
"Galen!" Starbuck slid down the ladder in a heartbeat before they enveloped each other in a hug. "When did you get back?"
"Cally and I had to find space before I could return to Galactica." A tender smile crossed his face as they separated, "How are you doing?"
She knew he was referring to Anders, as Galen and Sammy were good friends. Kara bit her lip before answering, trying to stifle the persistent tears. "Its hard. I miss him."
Tyrol placed his hand on her shoulder, "If you need to talk, Cally and I are here."
"I know Chief." She stated, pulling herself behind the decorum of professionalism. "Thanks." She motioned to her viper, "The throttle is a little touchy when panning aft."
"We'll take a look at it. When is your next shift?" He asked as Kara was trying to bite back another yawn.
"Too soon." She took a step, "We are on 20 hour rotations, and despite the military personnel enlisting and re-enlisting, we are still short on pilots."
Tyrol took a step closer, and dropped his voice. "How short?"
"We are still down 30 pilots. We have enough to staff both Galactica and the
Pegasus with skeleton crews, but we are going to have begin training nuggets ASAP. And until we have some additional pilots, Galactica and the Pegasus will be shifting the CAP patrol weekly."
"20 hour rotations?"
Starbuck nodded her head, "Yeah, makes for long days."
Kat stepped out of her viper giving Tyrol's deck gang a hard time, "And cranky pilots." He mumbled, "Excuse me." As he headed toward Kat and the developing scene on the deck.
Kara stepped off the deck, fully intending to pass out in her rack for a few hours shut eyes when she spotted Lee heading directly toward her. His jaw set and eyes ready for a fight, Kara cringed inwardly. Whatever he was irritated about, would not help out their relationship; actually… she thought, it will probably put a deeper frakkin' wedge between them.
"Since when do you assign the CAG of the Pegasus their flight schedules?" He yelped down the hall.
Great, Kara thought, I've have to deal with this, now?! "Since I was assigned to be the CAG of the Galactica and the Admiral asked for a Combat Air Patrol for the Fleet."
Lee stopped within inches of Kara, "That was 3 days ago."
Kara placed her hands on her hips, "Yes, it was Commander. And we have been operating with skeleton crews since leaving New Caprica. Prior to each rotation, I look at the number of pilots we have on both ships to develop the best strategy and submit the CAP accordingly."
"My crew will not be pulling 20 hour shifts. It is unnecessary."
Starbuck pulled her hands off her hips as she crossed them in front of her, "Really?" She quipped, "So only the Galactica crew needs to work?" She paused for a moment, her eyes dragging up his body from his head to his boots, pausing momentarily on his rotund midsection…her cavalier remark driving her point home. "Well, that explains the look."
Lee felt his cheeks turning red as she looked at him, and at her retort he popped and went to belt her across the face. Kara had been expecting his reaction, and quickly blocked his punch and struck him in his flabby gut. She drew back as he sucked in a deep breath of air. "Talk to the Admiral, Commander." Kara was all ready regretting her commentary and her punch. "I'm just following my orders, Lee."
Lee straightened up, seething. "And I'm just making sure that the hotshot CAG from Galactica is not pushing where she obviously doesn't need to."
Kara let the remark slid and began to ease down the corridor, "Get our numbers up, Commander and none of us will have to be pulling long frakkin' shifts."
Kara turned her back and had taken another handful of steps, when Lee found his voice. "Kara." It wasn't that of the Commander of Pegasus that called her, it was the voice of her 'old' friend. Kara paused, but didn't turn around as he spoke. "I was sorry to hear about Anders."
Kara nodded her blond head, "Thanks." She threw over her shoulder, and then she was gone.
Absently, Lee rubbed the spot Kara had decked him. I do need to lose this, he thought and then his thoughts drifted to Kara, and he wondered how he and Kara were going to stop the growing wedge that was building between them. He looked down the corridor where she had last been, she needs a friend. Sighing, he headed to the deck to return to the Pegasus, and I miss mine.
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"Ma'am." Tory stepped into the Ward room on Galactica.
Roslin signed another tedious report regarding allocation of food stores. "Yes, Tory." She glanced up to see her aide's worried expression.
Tory swallowed the lump out of her throat. She didn't like giving Ms. Roslin bad news, and this was definitely not good news. "There was a death of a woman on the Rising Star."
"Cause of death?" We can't afford to lose anymore people, she thought sourly.
Tory's voice went up an octave, "She was murdered and her 18 month old daughter is missing."
The word's stopped Laura cold. Eighteen month old child missing? "Do we know who the victim is?" Laura's heart stopped, fearing it may be Maya.
"No, Ma'am. Colonel Tigh is sending an investigator to the Rising Star."
Why hadn't Bill contacted me when he received the report? Surely he would be as concerned as she, that it could be Maya and Hera. "Do we know where Maya is?" She asked softly.
Tory shook her head, "No, Ma'am. She and her daughter are chartered for the Rising Star, so it is a possibility." Her voice barren of any emotion.
Standing, Roslin grabbed her jacket. "What do we have next?"
"You have a meeting with the Captain of Colonial One. He is going to update us on the repair status of Colonial One."
Roslin finished sliding her arm in, "Tory, will you tell George that I am sorry, but I had an emergency I had to deal with. And can you get a situation report regarding the repairs, updating me later this afternoon?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Tory replied as Roslin picked up the phone, discreetly situated on the wall.
"CIC." Roslin stated.
Helo's voice greeted the President's ears. "CIC."
"Major Agathon, may I speak with Galactica Actual?"
"Yes, Ma'am." The Major recognized the President immediately and transferred the call to the commander on deck.
"Galactica Actual." Tigh's voice rang through the receiver.
Frak. Where was Bill? She wondered as she began to speak with the Colonel. He had a meeting with Cottle two hours ago. "Tory has just informed me of the murder on the Rising Star. Do we know the identity of the victim?"
"No, Ma'am. A team has been dispatched to the Rising Star. As soon as we have any information, we will inform you immediately."
"Thank you Colonel." She paused for just a moment, and though this was not the most appropriate time – Laura knew that all time was precious. "And Saul," She paused for him to register that she had dropped his title and was using his first name. "I have not taken the time nor made the effort, when I should have a week ago. Thank you for everything you did on New Caprica."
There was a lengthy pause on the other end of the receiver, and a slight clearing of the throat. "No thanks necessary Madam President. I was just doing my job."
Roslin couldn't help the small smile spread across her face, this is what Bill sees in Saul. Despite his mistakes, he is loyal, trusting and when Ellen isn't manipulating him to a fault, modest. "Well thank you for everything Colonel." With that, she hung up the phone, wishing not embarrass him further.
Turning to Tory, "Who else is on the itinerary today?"
Tory quickly rattled off the days' events.
Scheduled from morning to night, Laura thought as Tory continued reciting the President's schedule. With Tory taking the meeting with George, that will give me a forty minute respite to talk with Bill regarding the issue on the Rising Star.
"Thank you Tory," She buttoned the front of her jacket, moving to the hatch. "I'll be back in forty minutes." With that, the hatch was opened and Laura Roslin was gone.
Xxxxxxxxx
Tigh rubbed his blurry eyes, he was tired. Where was the 'old man'? He wondered. Adama had called this morning, asking Saul to stay on shift until he finished his appointment with Cottle – that was close to three hours ago. Two hours, with Cottle…something was wrong. And in that heartbeat, Tigh made his decision. Turning to Helo, "Mr. Agathon, you have the deck." And Tigh left CIC in a blue blur on his way to Sickbay.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cottle hung up the X-rays, shaking his head as he did. "We need to operate." He pointed to Adama's right lung. Fluid distinctly just over halfway up his lung. "And we need to do it before your blood pressure begins to fluctuate any further."
"What will the surgery entail?" Adama dreaded the answer.
"I'm going to have to drain the fluid from your lung, and I'll scope the exterior of your lung to ensure the lung tissue is closed." He took a drag off his cigarette, "You have fluid coming from somewhere, as much as I hope it isn't, I hope the fluid is blood. That is explainable."
"How long will the surgery take?"
Cottle shook his head. "Don't know." He paused when he noticed russet colored hair peaking through the curtain. "Madame President."
"I'm sorry," She started to spout needing to speak with the Admiral for a moment, and then fumbled to a stop by the look of their faces. "What's wrong?" She asked, switching gears.
Cottle nodded to the hanging x-rays. "The Admiral's lung is filling with fluid. I am going to have to do surgery…" He paused as his tired eyes met steadfast blue ones. "As soon as I can prep the room."
Roslin looked at Cottle, the x-ray and then to Adama. Her mouth moved, and then stopped. It was the third time Cottle had seen the President at a loss for words. It was three more times than he ever would have liked. "How serious?" She asked, voice slightly higher than usual.
Before Cottle could respond, Saul's head popped through the curtain. Face full of concern. "Bill," He paused as he realized who else occupied the small room. "You all right?"
Cottle shook his head, "What kind of ship are you running here?" He mumbled.
Adama raised his eyebrow, "This is your sickbay." He responded in kind.
Cottle chuckled, That is why he had signed to work on the Galactica. Not only was Adama fair, but he could take and spin a joke – even at times like this.
The Admiral looked at his friend and the woman who had captured his heart. They had both known, on their own accord, that something was wrong. He nodded to Cottle, and Cottle exited to prepare for the surgery.
He nodded to the x-rays, "My lung is filling up with the fluid. I need to have surgery to drain it."
Tigh's face became mildly panicked, "When?"
Adama pulled off his glasses, "Cottle is preparing as we speak." He squinted to see his friend, "Saul, I need you to get in contact with Lee. I would like to see him before surgery, Kara too."
Tigh nodded and paused, "See you in a few hours." He stated with more assurance than he felt.
"Go through with Gaeta's jump sequence this evening as planned, and where are we at with the Pilot's numbers?"
Tigh's cheek twitched, "Still down 30 pilots. Starbuck has completed the CAP assignments for the next 2 weeks, rotating 20 hour shifts between Galactica and Pegasus per week."
"Are you comfortable with her patrol?"
"Yes. It's well thought out. Pushing the pilots, but giving them time off after one week." Saul paused, thinking how out of character it is for him to defend Starbuck.
"Anything else that can't wait until this evening?" He directed to Saul.
"We had a murder of a young woman and a missing eighteen month old child on the Rising Star."
Adama slipped his half moon glasses back on in a heartbeat. "Where?"
"The Rising Star. I have dispatched an investigatory team."
Adama glanced to Roslin, and then back to Saul. "Very well. Have the reports ready for this evening."
"Yes, Sir." Saul glanced at Roslin and Adama. She's probably here to discuss the murder, he continued his thought, and how that will affect moral and safety within the Fleet. Both are hanging by a thread. "The reports will be ready."
"Thank you, Saul." With that, Saul departed leaving the President and the Admiral alone.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Laura waited for Saul to leave before she took another step closer, bringing her hand to rest gently against his arm. "I…" She shook her head, and tried again. "You'll be fine." She stated trying to reassure both of them.
Bill's eyebrow rose ever so slightly, "Is it Hera?"
"We don't know who the victim is." She took a step back, trying not to pace. "Tory did inform me that Maya and Hera are on the manifest of the Rising Star." Her grey eyes met his blue ones. "I don't think it is a coincidence."
He shook his head, "Me either." Bill adjusted his glasses, "We need to arrange discreet protection."
Roslin's face tightened, "Okay, that is if she isn't dead."
Bill chuckled at her comment, "Good point." His voice dropped to a gravely whisper, "You looked gorgeous this morning."
Her retort died in her throat at his comment as her cheeks began to turn a slight shade of pink. "Thank you." She replied quietly and took a half step closer. "What else did Cottle say?"
Cottle's head peeked through, "Admiral, Madame President, you'll need to wrap up."
Roslin turned to the Doctor, hoping her face has remained a professional stone mask and the blush isn't noticeable. "How long do you expect the surgery to last?"
"How the hell should I know? Once we drain the fluid, I'll have a better idea what is causing the Admiral's lung to fill with fluid."
"Do you think it is remnant of his previous injury?"
"I'm sure there is a Geminon Oracle around here you could ask." Cottle rolled his eyes as and ducked back out.
Roslin turned to Adama, "I'll be back this afternoon." Her voice stated shakily.
Bill reached out and took her hand and squeezed, "And I'll be here."
Laura's face twitched, as she desperately tried not to permit any stray tears to slip through. "You better be."
He brought her hand to his lips, gently placing a kiss on her knuckles and then brought his thumb and traced her cheek. "Where else would I want to be…" He paused until she locked eyes with him, "Except maybe my quarters earlier this morning." The blush she had staved off earlier came back in full force.
Roslin raised her eyebrows and was about to respond when Adama released her fingers, and she heard Lee's voice asking for his father. She smiled as she took a half step back and mouthed, I love you. Adama's heart leapt in response as Lee stepped through the door with a worried expression plastered on his face.