Absolution - chapter 7

ZZZZZZZZ

Tigh had been muttering to himself all the way back to his quarters, and by the time he got there, he was having a full-out conversation with no one.

" ... accusing ME of letting MY personal feelings get in the way of duty. If that boy was mine, he'd have felt my fist enough times to know not to cross his superiors ..."

"What's the matter Saul?" Ellen Tigh simpered, standing up and discarding the book she was reading. It wasn't usual for her husband to stalk into their quarters and slam the hatch. The talking to himself however ... had become a little more routine of late.

"I need a drink," he said shortly, grabbing his bottle of whiskey and taking a long draught.

"What's wrong?"

"Wrong? You're asking me what's wrong?" He whirled around angrily, ready to lay into her, but then his anger fizzled as he realized his wife didn't deserve his wrath. He sighed, shoulders slumping down from their haughty position. "Everything's wrong," he said, in a quieter, calmer tone.

"Sit down honey." Ellen moved a chair behind him and pushed him into it. She began to massage his shoulders. "Tell me."

So he drank and sat, while she loosened the knots in his shoulders, and eventually the alcohol loosened his tongue as well, and he told her the whole story. She clucked a few times at the end, and then leaned over his shoulder. "Bill is just too easy on those kids. They get away with murder. Now if someone like YOU were in charge ..."

"I WAS in charge for two weeks, remember? I frakked that up nicely didn't I?" Tigh said bitterly. "Nearly destroyed the fleet. At least I'd go down in history as the man who single-handedly destroyed the human race. If there was any history to be had after that." He rubbed a hand across his stubbly face in a very characteristic way for him. "Let it be, Ellen. It doesn't matter," he said wearily.

"Of course it matters. You could be a much better leader if given the right circumstances." She kissed his cheek.

He turned to face her. "That's the problem. These aren't the right circumstances, and I don't belong here anymore." He sighed again. "Frakking cylons, ruining my life. I was looking forward to retirement too."

"Don't say that honey, you're not old." She stroked his face and put on her provocative smile. "Let's do something to forget about all this, shall we?" And suddenly she was straddled across his lap, dress hiked up to her thighs as her hands and lips worked his neck. Tigh sighed and gave in. It was the only pleasure he had left in life.

ZZZZZZZZ

"Nothing. Really. Nothing," Lee said, somewhat unconvincingly though.

"Didn't seem like nothing to me."

"We were just talking, like I said, and he got upset."

Adama turned to look at his son. "What did you say to upset him enough to want to hit you?"

"Called him a coward."

"That'll do it."

"Well he is," Lee said defensively.

"Whether he is or isn't, isn't the issue here. It's how you treat your superior officers."

"To be fair, he called me a bastard first," Lee said lightly, a little smile beginning to cross his face.

"For what?" Adama stopped walking. They were nearly there and he didn't want to have this conversation in front of Kara. Or the guard either, for that matter.

"For hitting Kara."

Adama nodded but said nothing.

"You think so too, don't you?" Lee searched his father's eyes.

"What I think stays right here." Adama tapped his head. "I'll admit though, I certainly wasn't happy to learn the truth, but I know you and Kara have had your differences, both personal and professional. Somehow you always manage to work them out. She's a very physical person - hits first, talks later - so I'd guess she laid into you first."

Lee nodded, eyes dropping to the deck. No matter WHAT she'd done, he should never have hit back.

"Don't dwell on it. The past is a lesson for the future, not a place to live. Remember what happened and don't let it happen again."

"I won't," Lee said earnestly, eyes shining suspiciously with tears. Adama put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"You've grown into a fine man Lee. You make me proud."

Lee searched his father's eyes again. They shone. "Thanks dad," he whispered.

"I'll see you in the morning. Oh, and don't insult your seniors again. The price paid will be higher next time."

"Yes sir," Lee smiled and turned the hatch to the brig. "Goodnight dad."

"Goodnight Lee." They exchanged a smile before Lee disappeared into his temporary prison.

ZZZZZZZZ

An hour later, Lee was shaken from his daydreams as the hatch opened and Doc Cottle entered.

"I'm here to check on my patient," he told the guard, who nodded and let him into Kara's cell.

He pulled up the chair backwards and straddled it, arms folded across the backrest. He stared at Kara for a few minutes before speaking.

"Looks painful. Is it?"

She nodded. He leaned an arm towards her and gently touched her cheek, feeling for swelling. "Seems to be getting a little better. Can you eat?"

She shook her head.

"Drink?"

She pulled a glass of water off the floor, showing him the striped straw sticking out of it.

"Good. Can you talk?"

She shrugged.

"Could you try?"

She shook her head.

"Come on Starbuck, this is medical examination. You need to cooperate."

She shook her head again.

In spite of himself, Lee had to smile. She was being her usual stubborn self - that was good news. This new, meek, speechless Kara frightened him, truth be told. Probably more so because he knew he was the cause of it. What he'd said and done had pushed her over the edge, and he was afraid she wouldn't be able to come back. This display of willfulness on her part gave him hope that she could work through her pain and come back. He needed Starbuck. And Kara. He missed them both.

"Lieutenant, please. I need you to talk for me." The Doc was obviously getting frustrated and angry with her. She stubbornly stayed quiet though, and Lee had to really work at it to keep from laughing out loud. She really was frustrating! But it was nice for a change that it wasn't him she was having a battle of wills with.

"Fine." The Doc gathered his bag and stalked out of her cell without a backward glance.

Lee finally let go and allowed himself to laugh. He felt as though he'd burst if he didn't. Kara turned and fixed him with an evil glare.

"Sorry," he said quietly, struggling to contain his laughter.

Then she caught him off guard - her lips curved upwards in a small smile. She winced in pain the next second though, and the unemotional mask was back - the smile almost nothing more than a wish on his part.

But Lee knew what he'd seen, and he smiled. It seemed she was beginning to heal - and not just physically either.

TBC