Life aboard the Pegasus once more slipped into a routine. Attacks against the Cylons were beginning to be almost predictable and Lauren soon found herself treating the situation like any other part of her job. She visited Sarah in the sick bay while she healed and tried desperately to cheer the younger woman up but nothing was working. When Sarah returned to the flight bay she latched onto Mikos and was never far from his sight. Apparently he'd been visiting her in the sick bay as well and they'd developed an odd sort of friendship.
Sarah once more started accompanying Lauren to the gym, vowing that no one would ever be able to hurt her like that again. Lauren was pleased with Sarah's recovery and she was happy to be able to help. They were in the gym one afternoon when Mikos came to find Sarah. "We're going to head for the mess and then maybe a card game, you in?"
"Nah, I don't feel like I'm done yet. I'll stick around for a while." She smiled at them as they walked out, Mikos' arm draped casually over Sarah's shoulders. When she turned back to the machine she was working on she pushed herself until she was near exhaustion. She sat on a bench with a towel around her neck, leaning against the cool metal wall. When she felt like she'd rested enough she got up and went to a bench press and lay down. The hatch opening drew her attention to a burly man walking in and she nodded at him and returned her attention to the weights.
Suddenly the man was standing over her, lifting the bar up. "Need a spotter?" he asked with a grin.
"Sure, thanks." she took the weight of the bar and lowered it slowly to her chest, then pushed it back up into his waiting hands. She looked up as the bar was lifted up and realized that he was leering at her. Something about that didn't feel right to Lauren but she pushed it out of her mind as he let the bar back down into her hands. She did another 12 reps and then nodded to him that she was done. She rose from the bench and grabbed her towel and bottle of water. Taking a swig of the water she mopped her forehead and headed for the door.
"Leaving already?" he said as he followed her across the room, leering at her more.
"Yeah, I think I'm done for the day," she said not turning to look at him.
"Oh I'm just getting started, I think you should stick around." He leaned himself against the hatch, blocking her exit. "Besides, I'd really like to get to know you better if you know what I mean."
"I think I do know what you mean and I'm gonna have to pass." Lauren backed away from him but he followed her. She backed herself into a rack of weights and he closed in on her. She sidestepped the weight rack and skipped out of his grasp, sliding around a rowing machine. Unfortunately he was anticipating that and he chased her, throwing his arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides and stopping her retreat.
"Now now darling. What's your hurry? I just want to get to know you," he growled as he leaned down and licked her neck bringing a shudder of revulsion to her. Her struggling only made him hold on that much tighter so Lauren began to relax. This seemed to make him happier and he chuckled a bit thinking she was relenting.
Lauren searched her brain for a way to get herself out of this mess. The last thing she wanted to happen was for her to end up like Sarah in the sick bay. Finally the big oaf relaxed his grip on her and leaned back a little, running his hands up under her tanks towards her chest. Lauren took that opportunity to slam her elbow back into his ribs as hard as she could. Then she reached for one of the free weights on the rack in front of her and she turned on him threateningly. He'd doubled over in pain from the elbow and the look of anger in his eyes drained out as he saw the weight in her hand.
"I said no! I meant no! Get it through your fat head," she growled at him. Just then the hatch opened up and two of Lauren's deck crew walked in.
"Is anything wrong Captain?" one of them asked looking concerned at what was happening.
"No, we've just had a little disagreement haven't we?" she said, looking at her attacker with a sneer. "But we're all better now aren't we?"
He nodded at them, still bent over trying to catch his breath. Lauren walked over to him, weight still in hand and she pointedly dropped it on his foot and turned to walk out.
