A New Beginning
By: Meredith Richardson
Summary: AU What can one teenage girl do to fight for those she loves? The untold story about Kacey's teenage sister Allison, her life after the End Of The Worlds and fight to keep her family safe despite the ever growing threat of the cylons.
Disclaimer: I don't own Battlestar Galactica or any of its characters, if I did Kara wouldn't have gone POOF and Starbuck and Apollo would have walked off into the sunset together.
Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews I hope everyone's enjoying the story. Thanks again to Gweaz for beta reading my story. You've pushed me to make my story as realistic as it can be (at least for an AU science fiction story). I hope you enjoy and please review review review! Let me know what you like or what you think is going to happen next :)
Journal Entry 60 (87 days after the end of the worlds)
Sorry it's been awhile since the last time I wrote. For the first time in awhile the fleet is calm and operating like normal, if there is such a thing. The fleet regained their trust and respect for Galactica after D'anna Biers' documentary that was shown to the entire fleet.
I've been splitting my time between watching Kacey, hanging out with Jenny and Broady (who are attached at the hip), and in sickbay working with Mrs. Costanza and Doc Tompan. I'm no longer spending all my time cleaning equipment and emptying bedpans, though. They've allowed me to clean scrapes and even allowed me to assist Doc Tompan when he administered stitches to a young man that had come to sickbay after he received a laceration to his upper right arm in the engine room.
Both Doc Tompan and Mrs. Costanza think I'm a natural healer and that I've got great potential. My mom was so happy when I told her about Kacey's first word that she cried until we clung to each other laughing because of our silliness. Kacey laughed along with us. I think mom was happy to see that a piece of dad had lived on, despite his untimely death. I'm glad she sees something of him in me, but sometimes I know we both wish that it was something we could actually see. Dad always used to be so proud that I looked so much like mom. He was right. I had her eyes and chin, the same nose. The only thing I inherited from him was his stupid ears that stick out too far. I fear as time passes I'll forget what he looked like.
When I used to close my eyes I could visualize him perfectly, the way he looked, his smile and big dimples. Now when I close my eyes it's like a black and white movie, fuzzy around the edges. How can I tell Kacey about our father if I can barely remember the sound of his voice and the smell of his aftershave as he held me close and told me about his grand adventures late into the night? At least I'll have this a connection with him through medicine, something that even mom will never fully understand.
The desire and passion to heal people. I never thought it would happen after the attacks and now it's so close. I've accompanied Doc Tompan to a few ships to check on his patients and assist him by changing bandages, cleaning cuts, and administering medication to the direst patients.
Journal Entry 61 (94 days after the end of the worlds)
Yesterday one of the most amazing things happened. I don't even know where to start. Kacey and I were splashing around at the fountain in the garden when it happened. I had just splashed Kacey, completely soaking her baby fine curls when she screamed "Ally", or at least I think she said Ally, it sounded more like "Awy". Kacey's a little over five months now and while she's been babbling up a storm for quite a while she had yet to say a real discernible word, until now. I froze starring at her unable to believe what had just left her mouth when she said "Awy" again and slapped her hands against the water over and over again, soaking me completely.
I continued to listen closely to everything she said the rest of the day. Most of it was gibberish with a few "Awy's" thrown in. Kacey had said her first word and it had been my name. I burst into happy tears while Kacey giggled, rolling around the bed screaming "Awy" at the top of her little lungs.
That was how mom found us when she came home from work that evening. Kacey giggled and screamed my name in glee while I was bawling beside her. Mom ran over to Kacey, lifted her into her arms and spun her around the room telling her how proud she was that her baby had said her first word. She said that she was proud of me for taking such good care of my sister when most kids my age would've refused. I was relieved that I could share my joy with her, I'd been afraid that she'd be hurt or angry that Kacey's first word had been my name rather than mom.
Journal Entry 62 (99 days after the end of the worlds)
I think it's funny that after a baby says it's first word everyone tried to get it to say more, more specifically everyone's been trying to get Kacey to say their names. Over the last few days Jenny, Broady, and my mom have been coaching her every chance they get. Even Brendan, who finally got the time off to visit has spent the afternoon trying to get her to say Hotdog. I have to be the bearer of bad news but their coaching has had the opposite effect. They're driving Kacey crazy! She's just a little girl and she'll start talking when she's ready. Though I'll admit that I would be acting the same way if she hadn't said my name first.
Journal Entry 63 (100 days after the end of the worlds)
Last night was the first time I've seen my mom angry in a long time. She was furious. She had to work late, so I asked Brendan to hang out with me and Kacey in our room. We played with Kacey and fed her last bottle before Brendan, surprisingly enough, burped her, gave her quick bath, and changed her diaper. He astounds me more and more everyday! We tucked her in and I watched as he read her a bedtime story.
After she drifted off to sleep we cuddled on my bed and talked, it was completely innocent… until we started kissing. I don't remember much after that since we'd had a long day with Kacey, but we eventually stopped kissing and fell asleep in each other's arms. We were woken by mom mother's screams of anger. She had found us in bed together, I tried to tell her that we fell asleep on top of the covers but she wouldn't have it. She rambled on about how her fifteen year old daughter was going to end up pregnant. I was humiliated, and mom's screams woke Kacey who burst into tears, bawling and screaming for "Awy". It was a disaster. I told Brendan to leave while mom was distracted by Kacey. I was afraid she'd kill him or chop off his… you know!
We were able to calm Kacey fairly quickly after Brendan's departure and mom seemed to lose most of her steam after he left. I told her that it was completely innocent, that we'd fallen asleep above the covers shortly after we'd put Kacey down for the night. I blushed and was embarrassed but I knew we had to have this conversation if she was ever going to let me see Brendan again. She talked about sex and I told her I wasn't ready, that Brendan and I were still getting to know each other and I definitely was not ready to have kids of my own. Kacey was excellent birth control! I admitted that we'd kissed, a lot, but we'd never taken it further. Brendan is a gentleman; he'd never push me to do anything I'm not ready for. I apologized, but told her that I couldn't really feel sorry about us cuddling. He'd made me feel truly safe for the first time since the cylons' return. And he'd needed the comfort just as much as me. He'd seen more death, been near death himself so many times since he got his wings, he needed to feel safe too and he needed to remember who he was fighting for.
Mom told me she was sorry for overreacting but I was, and will always be, her little girl. She just wants to keep me safe and this is one of the few things she can protect me from even though it's not needed. I didn't tell her that it was too late, Brendan Costanza had already stolen my heart. We stayed up for a while cuddling on her bed like we used to years ago. She admitted that Brendan could've been a cross-country champion in another life. She'd never seen someone run so fast in her life!
Journal Entry 64 (101 days after the end of the worlds)
It was a little awkward at breakfast this morning, I think Brendan feared my mom would jump out and attack him, even after I told him that mom had calmed down after I explained what happened. I told him mom was struggling because every part of her was determined to protect us from harm and she's forced to sit back while others fight to protect her children from the cylons. That Brendan, a young man out to steal her daughter's innocence was something she could actually affect. I put his worries at ease and told him mom was ok as long as she didn't find us in bed together anytime soon. Which wouldn't happen because he was about to leave for Galactica. I also told him mom and I had stayed up late laughing over how he would fight deadly cylons but was terrified of an angry mother!
He was sweet. He really liked me and wanted to have a good relationship with my mother. He also told me he would never push me to do anything that we both weren't ready for. The war against the cylons may have forced us to grow up, but I'm still only fifteen years old. I don't plan on rushing into anything, at least physically. It's easier to control your body than your heart, especially mine. My heart's already invested so much in Brendan that I'm terrified the cylons are going to take him away like everyone else.
Journal Entry 65 (112 days after the end of the worlds)
The last few weeks have been extremely busy, but the most educational of my entire life. Mrs. Costanza and Doc Tompan are amazing, I can't believe they have so much faith in a fifteen year old girl who never got to finish high school, even if it's because of the end of the worlds. I've only been working in sickbay for a few months and Doc Tompan already wants to me accompany him on a few "house" calls. I don't know if they think I have a calming effect on his patients or if he's just extremely desperate, but I couldn't say no to such an amazing opportunity. I said yes after I received my mom's permission, and have a lot of time since traveling throughout the fleet. In most cases I sit and talk to Doc Tompan's patients to get their medical history, why they came to see the Doc, and to calm them. There have only been a few instances where he's allowed me to treat a patient, but I'm ok with that. I know I have a lot to learn and Doc Tompan is giving me the chance.
After spending the last two weeks exploring and witnessing the lives of those throughout the fleet, I've come to realize how lucky I am. The living conditions aboard Cloud 9 are so much better than on a lot of the other ships. Cloud 9 was designed for the comfort of its passengers, while a lot of people were living on ships that were barely designed for a short-term stay let alone indefinitely. The morale of the fleet continues to dwindle as more time passes. People are upset about the deteriorating living conditions and are losing hope that we'll ever find Earth.
I spoke with Brendan last night, who I haven't seen since my mom had him running for the nearest exit. He said that Galactica's experiencing the same depression that has spread throughout the fleet like a plague. People are irritable, snapping at each other for no reason, and small skirmishes have broken out throughout Galactica. The people need something to believe in.
Journal Entry 66 (117 days after the end of the worlds)
Received an exciting surprise today, instead of accompanying Doc Tompan to another small vessel amongst the fleet I'm being sent to Galactica to shadow Doc Cottle for the day. The best part is if Doc Cottle doesn't "kick me out" I'll get to spend more time on Galactica learning from him. I'd finally get to spend some time where the action is. And the fact that I'd actually get to see my boyfriend more than once every few weeks would be a huge plus. Who am I kidding? I'm dying to see Brendan! I hope I'll get the chance to see him. Unfortunately, Galactica is quite a large ship and I won't have the chance to let him know of my arrival.
Journal Entry 67 (still 117 days after the end of the worlds)
I'm sitting alone in the small doctors' lounge on my lunch break. I was so nervous about meeting Doc Cottle. I was positive that he'd take one look at me, see how young I am, and kick me out, but he didn't. Instead he said, "What the hell are you doing just standing there. We've got patients to see!" It wasn't the friendliest welcome, but he didn't laugh in my face like a few people among the fleet. Some had noticed my age and refused to let me near them. I understood where they were coming from but it still hurt. Don't they understand that I'm only trying to help?
He introduced me to a medic, Layne Ishay, who took me under her wing and gave me the official tour. I felt like I was being juggled around between them but I didn't mind. I was in Galactica's sickbay and I was learning from the best. As I watched them interact with each other and their patients I tried to soak up as much as possible. Everything was so much faster paced here in comparison to Cloud 9, it had to be the military training. I finally realized why Mrs. Costanza and Doc Tompan had thought to send me here. There is so much to learn and I'm loving every minute of it.
Allison walked leisurely back into sickbay after finishing her lunch, but came to an abrupt halt at the hatch to the sickbay. It looked as if the sickbay had exploded with action. The near empty infirmary that she had left only a half hour ago was now bursting with patients, covered in small cuts and abrasions. There was a small commotion at the sickbay entrance and Allison moved closer to see what was wrong.
There was a young man supporting a short, petite black woman in green military slacks. She had a pained look upon her face, a small trail of blood coming from her nose, and her shaking form looked like it proved that she couldn't support her own weight. Allison was snapped out of her shock when Doc Cottle spoke from behind her.
"Why the frak are you just standing there? Get that patient to a bed and take a look at her! I'll be over in a bit if the worlds don't end… again," Doc Cottle spoke gruffly before striding off.
Allison froze for just a moment in utter terror before quickly moving forward and directing the crewman to set the woman down on a nearby cot before dismissing him. She had a patient to attend to. "Hi, my name is Allison and I'm going to take a look at you. What's your name?"
The woman who had been looking down at the floor raised her dazed eyes, "My name is Dualla, but you can call me Dee. What am I doing in sickbay?"
"It's nice to meet you Dee. One of your friends brought you in. It looks like you took quite the spill. Do you remember what happened?" Allison coaxed gently, sitting down on a stool in front of Dee to check her pupils.
"I was in CIC and the computers started acting strange. I was about to mention the malfunction when the computer sparked, and I was on the ground," Dee stated, shaking herself out of her daze and coming to her senses. "Aren't you a little young to be a nurse?" she asked, finally noticing the age of the woman before her.
"I'm actually here to observe and learn from Doc Cottle, I live on Cloud 9 and work in their sickbay. But I promise you, I know what I'm doing," Allison said lightly, trying not to let the words sting like so many times before. "As long as I'm not doing surgery, we're good! I'm just going to clean up your cuts and Doc Cottle will be over to take a look at you. He'll determine if you'll spend the night in sickbay. You may have a minor concussion."
Dualla noticed the hurt on the young woman's face when she'd mentioned her age and felt terrible. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you, I was just a little surprised. I actually know how you feel. When everyone looks at me they see this tiny young woman that needs protecting, but I don't need their protection. I'm smart, I'm strong, and I can definitely take care of myself," Dee boasted as Allison began cleaning the small cuts covering Dee's hands.
Allison laughed, "Maybe you could teach me a thing or two. Everyone acts like they need to protect me as well," Allison sighed lightly as she applied the disinfectant to one of Dee's cuts, "especially my mom and my boyfriend."
"Ooo a boyfriend! Who's the lucky guy?" Dee teased, trying to ignore the slight sting of the disinfectant.
Allison finished with the disinfectant and retrieved the gauze, also reaching for a tissue, "Hold this to your nose and tilt your head back, it'll help to stop the bleeding." It was silent for a few moments while both girls got situated. "You might know him, he's a viper pilot. His name is Brendan Costanza, but you probably know him as Hotdog."
"Hotdog! You're Hotdog's girlfriend? I can't believe he's dating such a nice girl, he's such a goof here on Galactica," Dee stated, a little shocked by the turn of events. "We've actually spoken before this, now that I think about it, right after Commander Adama was shot. I'm the communications officer in CIC, we spoke when you were trying to talk to Hotdog."
"Oh, I remember now. Thank you so much for letting me know that he was all right. I didn't want to get you into trouble, but my mind was racing with every disastrous possibility," Allison grinned, truly grateful of her patients previous kindness.
"Not a problem, besides I'd say we're even. You've been so nice, usually I have to deal with Doc Cottle's complaining while he's taking care of my injuries," Dee stated unaware that she'd be overheard.
"Did someone say my name? You wouldn't be complaining to my young intern would ya Dualla?" Cottle stated, striding over towards the now blushing women. "What the hell did you do this time. I told ya I didn't wanna see you down here for awhile after your last concussion," said Cottle, looking over Dee's now bandaged hand and using a pen light to check Dee's pupil response. "It looks like you got lucky this time, no concussion. I want you to lay here until your nose stops bleeding. Then get the hell out of my sickbay," he said before turning to Allison, "Good work, now go help some more patients."
Both girls watched as the old man strolled across sickbay muttering to himself about power fluctuations and equipment failures ruining his day. Allison turned to Dee, "Well you heard the man. You're good to go once your nosebleed stops. I'm going to go help another patient. It was nice to meet you in person."