IX

Cottle had given Kara a sedative to let her sleep. Like the President, he was extremely worried about the young lady. Before leaving Galactica, he had informed Admiral Adama that Kara had suffered some kind of trauma, and without checking with Laura, the Admiral arrived with him on Colonial One.

Laura had kept by her bed as Kara slept, holding her wife's hand gently, not wanting to disturb her. The worry was etched all over her face, the female Marine that had assisted her showing concern for her President.

"Madam President", Lieutenant Shriver said softly, "is there anything I can get you? Coffee? Some water."

Laura looked up at the woman, who was younger than Starbuck. She gave the young lady a reassuring smile. "Yes, thank you, Lieutenant, perhaps an ice water, if you can wrangle one up."

The Lieutenant nodded. "I'll have it here before you know it, ma'am." She disappeared into the kitchen.

As Laura sat there pensively, the door to the bedroom opened, and in came Doctor Cottle and Admiral Adama.

Laura was not happy.

"Doctor, I didn't say to invite anyone to come with you!" Her voice was quiet, but very hard. "This isn't a social call!"

"I'm sorry, Madam President", the doctor said, for once his feathers a little ruffled. "I thought he would want to know. You sounded half out of your mind, so I thought..."

Laura threw her hands up in exasperation. "If I had wanted the Admiral here, I would have asked for him." She was about to say more, but turned away, breathing heavily, her right hand over her mouth.

Bill walked up gently behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Laura, what happened? It's not like you to snap at the Doc for trying to help."

Both men were behind the President, and saw her shoulders start to rack with sobs. She slowly turned around, the two men seeing her face as bereft and as brittle as they could ever remember.

"Doctor Cottle", Laura said, bringing her Presidential face back on. "I apologize for my outburst. Is Kara going to be asleep for a while?"

"Quite a while, Madam President", he said softly, still stinging from the rebuke a few moments earlier.

"OK", Laura said simply. Lieutenant Shriver was still at the door. "Lieutenant", the President said, turning to her, "can you advise your partner to continue guarding the front door to our quarters. Advise him no one is to be admitted until my authorization, then I ask you to stay in here with Kara for a little while? I need to talk to the doctor and the Admiral in the living room."

The Marine looked quickly at Adama, who nodded. "Aye, Madam President."

In a few moments the front door was shut, as was the bedroom door, the three people taking a seat, the Admiral and Doctor on a sofa, Laura on a stuffed chair.

"Again, I apologize, Doctor Cottle, but...what happened was very traumatic. I think I know what happened, but I'm not the expert."

"Medically", Cottle observed, "she's fine, but she was definitely in a state of shock. I'm no psychologist, but I've seen Post-Traumatic Stress a few times in my day, and it looked like that's what she was suffering. Can you tell me what set her off?"

Laura went quiet, wondering what Kara would think of her telling the two men. But Laura also now knew that her wife had suffered mental trauma when in captivity. She raged at herself for moving so quickly with Kara-she should have known better. But people in love sometimes simply get so wrapped up in each other, they can overlook certain things. Laura had done that.

"Before I start, gentlemen, I will have to tell you, what I'm going to say cannot be repeated to anyone, save a psychologist, whom I want you, Doctor, to recommend for Kara and I?"

"I'm sworn to doctor-patient confidentiality, Madam President."

She looked over at bill, more sharply than she had intended, knowing he was an honorable man, despite his faults.

"You have my word, Madam President."

She recounted the stressful Quorum meeting, and afterward how she had come home, and found Kara taking a shower.

"I cannot go into explicit detail, gentlemen, but Kara and I were...being intimate in the shower, for the first time since she was incarcerated. At one point, she started screaming-it was a sound I'll never forget-and she ran into the bedroom, huddling in a corner, her eyes as wide as I've ever seen, her knees into her chest, and she was shaking violently.

"Two Marines heard the commotion and did what they were supposed to and check on us. We were...we were both naked on the floor, as I had run out of the shower. I was so frightened."

"You don't have to say any more, Laura", Adama told her flatly. "That's more than enough." He looked over at Cottle. "I'm no shrink either, Sherman, but yeah, that sounds like PTSD."

"A classic case of it." They were all aware that Kara had been sexually assaulted while being held. "And there's no doubt why she was triggered", he added with disgust for the people who had done this to Starbuck. "Madam President, I am going to give you the name of a psychologist. I used to work with her back on The Colonies, and she's a damn fine doctor. Her name Doctor Caroline Tribe."

"OK", Laura said, finally pulling herself together. She first turned to Lieutenant Shriver. "Lieutenant, will you inform your colleague to stay at his post outside the main door, and that no one is allowed entry unless I say so? And then would you stay in here with Kara, while I talk to these men in the living room."

"Yes, Madam President, right away."

In moments, the bedroom door was closed, with the Lieutenant and Kara inside. Laura approached the other Lieutenant-the one who had first seen she and Kara nude when the commotion had taken place.

She looked at his name badge. "Lieutenant Culver", Laura said softly, with a smile on her face, to put the young man at ease. "I want you to know you did nothing wrong earlier. You were responding as you were trained, and, despite how you found my wife and I, I thank you for your quick response. One never knows if it would mean life or death."

"Even so, I am sorry, Madam President, for seeing you that way. It wasn't what I expected." He turned beet read, Laura giving him a gentle laugh, and grabbing his forearm.

"No, I bet it wasn't", she said, with the same smile. "Thank you for your service, young man. I will call you when we're finished."

"Yes, ma'am", Lieutenant Culver said, feeling a little better. Laura closed the door behind him.

It didn't take long to find one Doctor Caroline Tribe. Adama put out the all-ship bulletin, and within an hour, the psychologist was onboard Colonial One. Admiral Adama had returned to Galactica, however Cottle had stayed behind, in case he needed to consult on any medications for Kara with Dr. Tribe.

When she was escorted in, she gave a smile to the President, only hearing a snippet from Cottle what had occurred. "Madam President, I'm honored to be of service to you and your wife."

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Dr. Tribe", Laura said, her face drawn and worried. "Please, take a seat." The doctor took a seat, Laura bringing over two glasses and a pitcher of water. Cottle was in with Kara, in case she woke up.

"So tell me, Madam President, how may I be of service today?"

Laura shook her head. "First of all, in here, I'm not the President. I'm Laura, who is very worried about he wife."

Dr. Tribe smiled. "Very well, Laura. Can you tell me what brings me here today."

For the next thirty, Laura first recounted what Kara had divulged to her about the torture she endured in the prison, highlighting the sexual assaults. Then she recounted her whole day, and, unlike when Cottle and Adama were discussing the incident with Kara, Laura went into explicit detail about what had triggered Kara's terrifying reaction.

"And when I went to...to enter her with my fingers, that's when she went out of her mind. I've never heard a more terrifying scream in my life. I should have known better, so soon after she was freed from that prison."

"We'll discuss that part later, Laura", the Doctor assured her. "I know Sherman said when I arrived that it sounded like a classic case of PTSD, and from your description, that's where we'll start. It certainly does sound pretty much like PTSD, however."

"I'm sure you'll want to interview Kara, correct, Doctor?"

The psychologist nodded. "Yes, I will. I would imagine you'll want to be present for the first session?" Laura nodded. "I will talk to Kara about that before I interview her. You realize it's entirely up to Kara if you're present or not?"

"I understand, Doctor." Laura took a shuddering sigh. "I could just kick myself for even thinking that was a good idea."

Dr. Tribe shook her head. "Love is the most complicated, intense emotion that we have, Laura. You obviously find your wife attractive, and from your description, Kara wanted it as badly as you did. There's no shame in that, nor in what happened. I'm sure you will be included in most of the therapy sessions, as this has obviously affected you in a deeply personal way."

Dr. Tribe informed Kara that, for the moment, she would take a small guest quarters on Galactica, to be close to where the President and her wife would be. "Kara's going to be out all night, and a good portion of the day tomorrow, which is what she needs-a lot of rest. I'll make arrangements for my first interview with Kara at 0900 day after tomorrow?"

"That's a good time, Doctor, thank you. I take our daughter Kacey to school on Galactica at that time. In fact, we are planning to move our living quarters to Galactica, if Kara decides she wants to fly, and be the CAG again."

Dr. Tribe knew she didn't need to remind Laura that Kara was still a long way from flying again. She knew the President had figured that out.

After their talk, Cottle came out and discussed a few things with Dr. Tribe, who prescribed a light sedative for Starbuck to take twice a day, for at least the next four or five days, just to keep her mind and body calm. Cottle returned to Galactica to retrieve the medicine, instructing Laura on the dosage and when Kara should take it.

Later that day, Laura picked up Kacey, and they had a quiet dinner together, Kacey asking about her momma, Laura being as honest as she could with the young girl. Kacey went to bed, promptly on time. Shortly after that, Laura climbed into bed with Kara, lightly wrapping one arm around her wife, relieved to hear easy, deep breaths coming from her. Kara would be asleep for a while.

It took Laura quite a while to fall asleep herself.

Kara woke up late morning the next day. She felt like she and Lee had squared off in another boxing match. When her eyes cleared, she saw Doc Cottle again.

"Doc?" Kara yawned after saying the word, rubbing her eyes. "What the frak are you doing here?"

"Looking after you, young lady", he said, not unkindly. "You don't remember what happened yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Kara's face was trying to recall. "Got up, Laura took Kacey to school, came back, we had coffee...she went to the Quorum meeting...then she came home, and I..."

Kara froze, Cottle softly moving to sit on the bed next to her. She looked at him with horror on her face.

"Oh, my gods", she said with a soft, horse, voice. "The shower and..." Kara remembered Cottle was there and turned beet red.

"It's OK, Starbuck", he said gently. "Laura told the Admiral and I a little about what happened. Not in detail, but enough. It seem that you..."

Kara stopped him. "Freaked out...gods." Her hand came to her face. "Where's Laura?"

"She is up in her office, talking to Dr. Tribe."

"Who is Dr. Tribe?"

"She is a psychologist that I recommended to Laura after we...after we got you sedated."

It all came flooding back to Kara. "Oh, my gods, what I did to her, Doc! She must hate me!"

Cottle grabbed Kara by both shoulders. "Take it easy, Starbuck", he said firmly. "She doesn't hate you, but she was and still is frightened out of her mind." He patted both her shoulders, and she began to calm again. "I have some ice water, and some aspirin ready for you. I bet you have a helluva headache."

"Yeah, I do, come to think of it", she said quietly. "Thank you, Doctor."

He retrieved the items, Kara swallowing the pills and gratefully washing them down with the cold liquid.

"Let me go out to the living area, and call upstairs to Laura and the Doctor. I'm sure they'll want to be here."

"Thank you again, Doc", Kara said, giving the gruff old man a small smile.

As the door closed, Kara began to think back on the events of yesterday. She had no idea why she flipped out-well, she actually did, but it hurt to even think what Laura's reaction had been. She knew Laura would blame herself, but the truth was Kara did want Laura to do what she had been doing. Yet Kara remembers a feeling of dread coming over her, when Laura's fingers started...started to do what those Sharon's and Leoben had done, albeit, not as gentle as Laura was doing. She recalled sheer terror and fear washing over her, but not much else.

Maybe Laura could fill in the gaps when she arrived.

Within ten minutes, Laura opened the door, and was by herself, quietly closing it behind her, Kara looking at her with as fragile and as bereft a look as Laura had ever seen. The President silently walked over to the bed, sitting beside he wife.

She reached out, and softly took Kara's hand. "How you feeling, baby?"

"Gods, Laura", she said, falling into Laura's chest, "I cant imagine with I put you through yesterday. I'm so sorry. I don't remember much, but I remember freaking out."

"Shh", Laura gently ran her hand through Kara's golden hair, "it's OK, Kara, you owe me no apology. You went through hell and back. If anyone should apologize, it should be me."

"Why you?"

She placed her forehead on Starbuck's. "Because I should have known better than to rush things, after what you went through, dammit. I should have just let it slide for the moment."

"Laura", Kara whispered, "look at me, honey?" Laura met her eyes. "I wanted it. I wanted it so badly. It just suddenly hit me, and...I got terrified. I thought of Sharon and Leoben, and..."

"I know, love. I know." Laura kissed her on the cheek. "I was terrified in my own right." She told Kara how she had bolted from the shower, and how the Marines had found them both naked in a corner of the bedroom, Laura trying to bring her under control.

Kara felt humiliated. "I can't believe I put you-and those Marines-through that, babe. Good lords..."

"It's OK, baby. Both of the Marines were fantastic-a little shaken at first, but they gave me a lot of help yesterday."

"I do want to make love to you, Laura", Kara said with her lips trembling, "but part of me was afraid that was going to happen. I just feel so...empty."

"We'll get through it, my love", Laura said, kissing Kara lightly on the lips. "The for better or for worse part means something, and I'm certainly not abandoning you."

They melted into a gentle hug. After a while, while still in the embrace, Kara spoke up.

"Can I meet this Dr. Tribe, that Cottle told me about?"

Laura looked at Kara and smiled. "Yeah, we can do that. I talked to her last night, and, well, was talking to her this morning. She seems to be a great person. Why don't I bring her in."

Laura started to rise, but Kara grabbed her, another anxious look on her face. "Laura...you will stay with me when she's in here."

Laura sat back down, cupping the younger woman's cheeks. "If you want me to stay, I stay. That's totally up to you, sweetheart." She gave Starbuck another gentle kiss. "Let me go get her, OK?"

Within a minute, Laura was back with the Doctor. A set of kind, brown eyes looked back at the pilot.

"Kara", the woman said gently, "I'm Dr. Tribe. I'm happy to meet you. I've had two good conversations with your wife. How are you feeling right now?"

Kara took a deep breath, looking over at Laura. "With Laura here, I feel OK. She tells me that you think you can help me."

Dr. Tribe nodded. "I do. I can tell you, right off the bat, that what you suffered was a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It usually happens to soldiers who have been through intense battles, but can show up in other cases. I still have to confirm that, but what you went through, it sounds like a classic case."

"Can we get started right now?" She looked at the Doctor, then kept going. "I mean, I know we usually make an appointment, but...I don't want to go through that again, or put my wife through that again, if I can help it. The sooner I get started, the better."

Dr. Tribe smiled. "That's a good sign, Kara", she said with an approving nod. "Facing up to something like this, and not running away from it is a good first step. I do have an opening question for you: do you want your wife to remain here while I interview you?"

"Yes", Kara said immediately. "I don't remember everything that happened yesterday-and while I know we'll talk about what happened to me in the Cylon prison, Laura can still fill in some blanks."

"Very well", the doctor said. "Shall we get started, ladies?"