The pain was starting to intensify as Kara sat patiently on one of the sickbay beds. Honestly, if it hadn't been for that small fact, she probably would have ignored Lee's little command to come down here. But the way her mind worked, she knew that she wouldn't be able to survive another day without some sort of pain killer.
"Lieutenant Thrace. Good to have you on board again."
She slid off the bed to stand up as Doc Cottle shuffled into her little corner. "I don't want to beat around the bush, Doc. We both know where I've been. I'm sure you have a small idea of what I've been through. But what it comes down to is I'm in pain. A lot of pain."
He took notice of the strain in her voice and set down the small clipboard he had been carrying. "Okay."
"But before we do this, I just want you to know if anything that goes on this room is going to filter outside, then I'm not sticking around. Pain or no pain, I'm gone."
"If it impedes your ability to fly or your safety in any way, I have to report it to the Commander, Lieutenant."
"I know that. This won't impede me in any way that concerns anyone's safety." Sighing, she pulled up the edges of her tanks a few inches and showed him her stomach.
Doc Cottle's eyes went wide as he stepped in to look closer. He reached out to guide her down onto the bed. When she was settled, he carefully prodded the marks on her stomach with his hands. She hissed in pain but did not object. "This looks like you've been through an operation."
"I have been," Kara said.
"What happened?"
"I don't know, sir. A lot of my time on board the Sacrifice is a blur. At one point, the Cylon in charge got the better of me. He knocked me out and when I came to, those marks were there. My best guess is that I was out for a few days."
"And you have no idea what they would have done to you?"
Kara shook her head. "Not a clue."
She watched as Doc Cottle took a step back and picked up his clipboard. "I'm not sure how much you know of human anatomy, Starbuck, but with the placement of the scar-"
"I know," she said. The tears held in so tight were beginning to sting her eyes again. "I know what it might mean."
"I'm going to have to do some tests to see."
"I have to know."
"I will do what I can."
"Doc? Just do the scans on my stomach. Don't go digging into my history."
Doc Cottle stared at where one of the Fleet's strongest women sat, staring at her hands. She looked battered and as close to broken as one could get. His mind suddenly recalled rumors of past trauma in Kara Thrace's childhood. Stories that told the listener what made Starbuck the way she was. He knew what she was asking when she told him not to dig too deep.
Kara looked up, the tears shining in her eyes. "Please."
Doc Cottle gave her a slight nod of understanding before leaving her alone to her thoughts and the sharp pains brought about by both a scar long ago and one that was completely fresh.