Chapter 17

"You could get in trouble for this." Jessica warned as Kara led her through a confusing maze of hatchways and dark corridors.

"I'm not afraid of Colonel Tigh-One-On." Kara assured her. "You should be there when he comes to. Doc says you saved the commander's life. Three shots to the chest. The last definitely near-fatal. An inch to the left..." Kara's voice choked with fearful emotion and Jessica placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I imagine everyone's worried about Lee right now, but how are you doing?" she asked, stopping Kara.

"Oh let's see. I just found out the woman I considered my best friend is a Cylon and this woman/Cylon plugged three holes in a man who's the closest thing to a father I have. I've had better days, yeah." Kara said.

"You wanna take a minute?" Jessica offered, feeling the tight ball of fear and rage throbbing in the pit of Kara's stomach.

"No, cause if I do that, I'll hit something." Kara warned.

"Well, I'd offer, but I'm afraid you can kill me with your pinky." Jessica pointed out, which made Kara laugh a little.

"Just let me get at one of those Cylons we have locked up and I'll feel a hell of a lot better." She said flexing her fingers at her sides.

"I'm surprised we haven't flushed them out the airlock yet. What's Tigh waiting for?"

Kara's scowl deepened and she turned away continuing their journey towards sickbay.

"President Rosilin says to hold off. Thinks the toasters might be good for intel."

"It's annoying have a logical person around isn't it?" Jessica said with a grimace.

"Yeah well, I'll take great pleasure in getting the president her information, believe me." Kara seethed.

"Just remember, they can't very well talk if they're dead, okay? Or...well...expired...whatever."Jessica cautioned. "You're right. It is frakking annoying having a logical person around."Kara said narrowing her eyes. "Oh and just so you know, Lee's the one who asked me to come get you." She informed Jessica when they stopped outside sick bay "Really?" Jessica asked, cursing herself for sounding so pleased.

"Well, when he wasn't konked out." Kara explained as they noticed Lee sitting in a chair next to Adama's bed, his head on his father's leg. After two days of frantic worry, exhaustion had finally caught up with him and he was sound asleep. Kara stayed for a few minutes but her nerves were eating at her and she informed Jessica that she was gonna go relieve some stress. By interrogating one of their Cylon prisoners, Jessica imagined.

She was relatively alone now, as both men in the room were unresponsive at the moment. They both looked so incredibly fragile, these men, who for the short time she had known them had both seemed so...bigger than life. Jessica leaned her chair closer to the commander and looked at his hands. Small, stocky, sturdy hands. How much death has come at these hands? How much life? Her own. Jessica shivered and rested her head on her hand as she looked over at William Adama's face.

"Well, I know you of all people deserve a vacation but this is a little extreme don't you think?" Jessica joked then lowered her head as tears came to her eyes. "I owe you my life. I'm...so sorry I couldn't save you in return. I wish I'd known sooner. I should have known sooner that Boomer was a Cylon. " She covered her hand over her mouth and shook her head. "You're not allowed to die. Do you hear me? You're still needed here. So where ever you are right now, you get your ass back here cause I think we're all gonna fall apart if you don't come back. I imagine it's pretty great where you are. Peaceful. But your work is not done here. " Jessica covered his hand with her own and spotted Lee's next to it.

"You cannot leave him now. Lee won't recover if you die. He'll break inside. He's frakked up enough as it is. I know you don't believe this but your son needs you. We all...I need you. You Adama's are not easy. You wouldn't let me hate you." She said with a burst of laughter. "You kept at me until I grew to respect you, you old frakker. So now you don't get to bow out. I'm gonna need you to...to help me understand him." Jessica stroked the back of Lee's head. An image teased the edges of her mind and she tried to concentrate on it to make it stronger.

William Adama sat with a sweet faced, dark haired toddler on his lap. He was making silly faces at her and she was giggling and squirming in his arms. Jessica gasped, aching to see the toddler, knowing this was her child. "Silly Gappy! Top dat! Top! Gappy!" The child shrieked happily as her grandfather's fingers dug into her ribs.

Jessica's tears rolled down her cheeks. He would live. He would live to play with his granddaughter. Jessica smiled and debated on whether to wake Lee and tell him of her vision. She waited, hand hovering over his head. Let him rest. Her fingers lowered to Lee's neck and stroked softly, his mouth curved softly upwards. Jessica stopped, surprised, then did it again. Softly, her fingers stroked the back of his neck and again, his mouth curved in an unconscious smile. She laughed softly, amused. Her heart swelled in her chest and happy tears filled her eyes now. She leaned in and pressed her head against Lee's, stroking the back of his neck as she felt his breath against her face. Jessica whispered, "I love you." This time when his mouth curved in a smile, it was followed by a soft sigh and his shoulders sagged in relaxation.

"He's not out of the woods yet." Doctor Salik cautioned.

Lee studied his father's fragile form. "But you said-"

"The operation was a success. That's as much as we can hope for right now."

"He'll be all right. I know he will." Jessica assured him.

"Let's hope you're right." the doctor said. "Now I suggest you both get out of here and go get some sleep." Reluctantly, Lee got to his feet, eased that the worst part seemed to be over.

Jessica yawned as she rose and they both stopped when Tigh stormed into the room.

"Why aren't you in the brig?" He demanded.

"Cause no one put me there?" Jessica replied narrowing her eyes at him. "I'm under house arrest, not in hack so if you don't mind." She moved to walk around him but he blocked her way. "Don't you have some hooch to go drink?" She burst in annoyance.

"Relax, I asked her to be here. And you know my father is gonna give her a full pardon after he hears what she did for Cally, not to mention that she saved his own life." Lee insisted.

"You think so?" Jessica asked, warmed by Lee's defense.

"I do. You heard Doc Salik, that last bullet would have done him in, if you hadn't tackled Boomer." The gratitude in Lee's eyes made Jessica's eyes burn,

"Well, I don't know about that, she said-"

"I do." Lee insisted cutting her off.

"Be that as it may, the commander isn't awake yet, so his orders stand. Get back to your room, and I don't want to see you without a guard or I will toss you down in the brig." Tigh snapped, though his surlish attitude was tempered by the relief that his best friend had thus far, survived.

"What is he? Invisible?" Jessica pointed at Lee.

"Forget it, Jess." Lee said leading her out. She shivered at the feel of his hand on her back. She fought a smile as he led her back to her room. Sure they had five...well, six now, Cylon prisoners on board, an out of commission commander and a lush in the position of command. But William was gonna be all right, and Jessica Talbot loved Lee Adama. That was a hell of a silver lining.

A.N:

Sweet A.K: I think the writers know how beautiful Jamie looks when he's all angsty so that's why they torture him so. Thankie for your lovely words, wanting Jess as a character on the show is very high praise! Lee would kick Archie's butt in a fair fight, but I agree that Archie is a clever, tricky one!

Mas: Thankie for your feedback. Hope you enjoy this chapter too!

albtb: Thankie for your lovely feedback. Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait.

Lady Rheena: I'm glad you're enjoying this story. I tend to enjoy writing AU's best. Hope this chapter was worth the wait.