Lee cradled his father's head the best he could wearing handcuffs. He saw Colonel Tigh trying to stop the flow of blood with both hands pressed down on his father's chest, but the blood still seeped between his fingers. Lee tried but couldn't ignore the growing amount of blood beneath his father. It glowed in the light from the table beneath him. He took some comfort in seeing that his father's chest was still moving, at least that meant he was still breathing. The words 'for now' came to mind but he quickly pushed them away. But the growing pool of blood—no, he couldn't think about what might happen. He would be fine. He had to live. He couldn't desert him, too.

Someone came over and unlocked his handcuffs. He wasn't sure who it was. His eyes never left his father. It felt like an eternity before Dr. Cottle finally came and they hurried to Medbay.


Colonel Tigh watched Dr. Cottle leave the CIC with Bill and Lee. He just stared at all the blood for a moment, then he barked, "Someone get this mess cleaned up." Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone jump to do his bidding. He didn't know who it was, didn't care. He was staring at Boomer, or rather, what he thought of as Boomer. "So you're a frakking cylon."

Boomer just stood motionless, a marine holding tight to each arm. Tigh strode up to her until they stood nose to nose. His right hand clenched and unclenched spasmodically, finally stopping in a fist. His lip curled in disgust. "Take her to the brig."

Out of habit, he turned and opened his mouth to speak to the commander. Then he remembered. Bill's not here. He's in charge now. He never wanted the responsibility of a command of his own. He swallowed hard. He was surprised that he'd made XO, even if it was a long time friend who had promoted him. A good friend who was even now in Medbay fighting for his life. He'd do his best to make him proud and hold down the fort until he came back. Because he was coming back. He had to.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. He had to get away for a few moments. This was all just too much to take in at once. He had to talk to someone, straighten out what was going on his head. Everything was under control here right now. "Lieutenant Gaeta, you're in command." He left the CIC and hurried to his quarters.

Ellen knew something terrible had happened as soon as she saw him walk through the door. "Saul, what's wrong?" She hurried over to him and threw her arms around him.

"Bill's been shot."

"Oh my gods! What happened?"

His arms surrounded her and pulled her closer to him so she wouldn't see him close his eyes to hold back the tears that wanted to come. He swallowed hard and finally answered her. "Boomer's a frakking cylon. Bill was congratulating her on the great job she'd done blowing up the basestar and she just pulled her gun and shot him in the CIC right in front of everyone. There was so much blood…"

They stood that way for a few moments, then Ellen slipped from his arms. She went to the table and poured a drink. She walked back over to him and held out the glass. He reached for it but his hand stopped halfway there, hearing Bill's words in his head again. "I'd just grown accustomed to seeing you without the cup in your hand…you do your job good…that's why I need you, Saul…that, and we're friends."

He clenched his hand into a tight fist. "No. I have to get back to the CIC."

Ellen stepped closer to him and waved the glass beneath his nose. "But Saul, this will make you feel so much better."

"Dammit, Ellen, I said no." He slapped the glass from her hand and it smashed against the wall. The green liquid slowly slid down the wall to join the shattered pieces of glass in a pile on the floor below. Ellen just stared at him like she was the one that had just crashed into the wall. "I have to get back to the CIC." He spun on his heel and left.


Dr. Cottle brought Commander Adama straight into surgery to try and stop the bleeding. Lee slouched in a chair, his head resting against the wall behind him, his eyes closed. A single tear slid down his cheek. He reached up and wiped it away. He opened his eyes and they locked onto the closed door to the surgical room and willed the doctor to come out and bring him good news. It didn't happen. He missed Starbuck right now. She knew him so well and could always make him smile. Well, except for that thing with Gaius, but that was old history now. He looked to the closed door. Life was too short to dwell on the past.

Dr. Cottle finally came out. Lee heard the door open and looked up, then jumped out of his seat and rushed over to meet him. Lee didn't like what he saw in his eyes. "How is my father?"

"I won't lie to you, Lee. Neither bullet hit anything critical, but he has lost a tremendous amount of blood, so he's very weak. I had to remove his spleen, but he will do fine without it. He was lucky. If her aim had been just a tad to the left, she would've hit his heart and he wouldn't have had a chance. As it is, it's still touch and go, but I'm hopeful that he's strong enough to pull through. It's up to him now."

"You're hopeful? How hopeful?"

He patted Lee on the shoulder. "He has a good chance, son. Your father's a fighter. Although if I were a religious man, a prayer to the gods wouldn't hurt, either."

"Can I go in and see him?"

"Of course, son. I'm sure your father would feel better knowing that you're by his side."

Apollo stumbled at bit at hearing those words. They reminded him that he hadn't been on his father's side earlier when he had sided with the president against him. He thought about it and decided that he still thought that he'd made the right decision. It was wrong to just abolish the government because of one bad decision. He couldn't wait to tell his father so when he woke up.

He pulled up a chair and sat by his father's bedside. He cradled his hand between both of his own. "Please, dad," he whispered, "you've got to pull through."


Author's notes:

Wow, how about that season finale? It looks like I got my earlier wish and nothing else happened with Kara and Lee. Hmm, I'm not exactly sure where this story will take me, but that may have to change…

I'd also like to thank everyone who has taken the time to write a review. It means so much to me to know that other people enjoy my story.

Thanks,

Lady K