"Did you finish the scotch?" Laura asked noticing the empty glass on the way to the living room.
"Guess so."
"What are you working on over there?"
"Two discharges, two leave requests, and a transfer."
"All sorts of activity on base," Laura replied taking a seat across from Bill on the couch. "Who are the winners?"
"Dualla wants to be discharged - I hear to go be with Billy in Minsk."
"That's wonderful!"
"Gaeta wants a discharge - to work for Zarek," Bill continued picking up the next file. "The Agathons want a leave for the baby."
"That's a happy occasion. Surely makes up for Gaeta."
Laura looked up at Bill when he did not respond and noticed him intently inspecting the next folder.
"Who wants a transfer?"
"Socrata."
"What?" Laura gasped.
"Apparently Dreilide wants another chance. She wants to be transferred to be close to him."
"You're not going to approve that."
"I have to."
"No. No you don't. You're commanding officer," Laura protested.
"I don't have a legitimate reason to deny the request," Bill replied frustrated. "What am I suppose to write in the file. Transferred denied because I like her daughter too much to let her go?"
"How about she's an unfit mother and can't be trusted unsupervised with her child? You can't send Kara away with her," Laura exclaimed shooting up to her feet.
"We don't have -"
"Proof? Are you kidding me? She's negligent at best and abusive is far more likely. Lord knows what she'd have done to Kara is we weren't watching her."
"She may not be the best mother but that's doesn't mean we can arbitrarily take her child."
"You make it sound like I'm trying to kidnap Kara. I'm trying to protect her!"
"I know what it's like to be away from your children. No matter how undesirable or undeserving we may think she is - it's not our place," Bill said signing the paper and tossing the folder on the table.
Returning to her seat on the couch Laura crossed her arms and rested her head on the sofa. "So what's next?"
