Chapter 7

Five months down four to go. Kara thought while rubbing the very small bump forming in her lower abdomen. She had some serious thinking to do. Today she was cleared by the doctor on base to fly. He said her knee should have no problems withstanding the thrusts of the Viper. She was screwed.

She needed someone. Someone she could trust, confide in. Her closest friend, which by most people's standards really wasn't close at all, was Brett. Brett was the flight instructor she was teamed up with this semester.

He was a good guy, genuinely seemed to be concerned about her and her knee. He picked her up every morning and drove her to work. Carried her bag while she tried to maneuver around on the crutches she was forced to use to keep her rouse up as long as possible. They ate lunch together every day, he drove her home every evening, but never did their conversation stray to anything other than work. He knew about Zack, and what Kara had been going through. Kara didn't miss the glances he cast her way when he thought she wasn't looking. She knew with any amount of encouragement Brett would love to be more than friends, but he was not the type of guy to push. Easy going, friendly, polite, honest, these were just a few of the great characteristics Brett possessed.

Unfortunately for Brett this was not the kind of man Kara was used to, or the type of man she was attracted too. Granted Brett was physically attractive, blonde hair, blue eyes nice athletic body, but Kara continually found herself comparing every man she ever met to two other men, and for some reason none of them were even on the same page.

She had to do it. She needed his help. The next evening when Brett was driving her home she sprung on the opportunity. "Brett, I was wondering if you could come in for awhile, there is something I want to talk to you about." She said flatly.

He turned quickly to look at her. "Is something wrong Kara?" He asked quickly, he could tell by the look on her face something was on her mind.

"Yeah Brett, there is, I just don't want to talk about it until, well until you aren't behind the steering wheel of a car."

"Sure Kara, we can talk, you know I am here for you." He said reaching over and giving her hand a squeeze.

The simple gesture nearly brought tears to Kara's eyes. It had been so long since she had any type of human contact other than a nurse or doctor prodding or poking at her. She swallowed hard and stopped the tears before they could even form. One thing she was sure about, she had never cried so much in her life as she had the past 5 months. The midwife kept telling her it was a hormonal thing. Kara wasn't sure she could blame it on the hormones, or the fact that her life was such a screwed up mess.

When they were seated at Kara's kitchen table, each with a cup of coffee in hand, Kara began her story.

"Brett, I was cleared today for Viper's; the doc says my knee should hold." She began.

"Kara, that's great! I know how much you miss it," he exclaimed.

"There is more to it than that Brett. I need to tell you something, I haven't told anyone else. I, I feel like I can trust you." She stammered. "I need your help."

"You know I would do anything for you," he said quickly again reaching out to grab her hand in his.

"I'm pregnant," she didn't mince words, didn't want to beat around the bush, she just said it. Only it came out in more of a choked whisper, instead of the matter of fact way she had planned.

"Excuse me?" He said, not sure he heard her right.

"Brett, I am 5 months pregnant. No one knows, they can't know, it will ruin my career. I could probably hide the pregnancy without problems, but I cannot fly a Viper. The baby couldn't take it."

"Oh Kara," he replied squeezing her hand tighter. "So the baby is not Zack's?" He asked getting a little more personal than what Kara wanted.

"No Brett, Zack died 7 months ago, I am five months pregnant, doesn't quite add up," she said a little sharper than she should have.

'I guess it's none of my business," he said pulling his hand back from hers.

"Brett I am sorry, I shouldn't have snapped. I'm embarrassed to talk about it, to even admit I slept with someone so soon after my fiancée died. It was a mistake, but now I have to deal with the aftermath."

"What can I do to help?"

With that question Kara was able to find the ally, the support person, the friend she needed to get through the next few months.

With the help of Brett, Kara managed to get through the next few months. They made a good team, and were soon good friends also. They were able to come up with ways to keep Kara out of the Viper. Mostly it involved Brett taking on most of the work, but it was something he was happy to do, and he was well rewarded for his efforts.

Kara soon realized a pregnant woman had needs to. She had urges, and feelings, fleeting thoughts she did not think possible. Laura blamed them again on the hormones. Brett was more than happy to help Kara meet those needs. He knew she wasn't ready for a relationship, he knew she did not love him, nor would she probably ever, so he just took what she could give him and tried to be happy

Kara had four weeks to go. She found herself falling in love, not with the man that occasionally shared her bed, but with the little person that was sharing her body. It was a girl. Laura had given Kara the news after her last sonogram. Kara had her misgivings thoughts of the relationship she had with her own mother made her wonder if maybe a boy would have been easier, but the thought of raising a little Adama man was more than she could handle.

She daydreamed often, something she rarely took the time to indulge in the past few years. She tried to imagine what she would look like, would she be more like her mother, or take after her father. Sometimes Kara pretended she was Zack's it would have been so much easier. If she were Zack's she could maybe ease the hurt in Zack's parent's hearts at the loss of their son, but if they knew the truth it would only make the hurt worse.

Kara new one thing about this little girl, she was an active little thing. Some day's Kara felt like there was a pyramid game going on in her belly. The little girl could kick! Kara could sit for hours reading a book, hand on the taught skin of her belly just waiting for movement.

Laura was right; Kara had no problem hiding her pregnancy. She got a few bigger uniforms, did not gain any weight other than what was necessary to maintain a healthy pregnancy. When around people she put on the pretense of over eating, and hoped they all chalked the extra weight up to depression.

Kara had a visit scheduled that day with Laura, her midwife, and now friend. "Laura, I need to have this baby now," Kara insisted that afternoon.

"Kara, you have four more weeks to go. Some people go early, but not usually with their first child. In fact they usually go late," Laura patiently explained.

"You don't understand. I have to be on a Battlestar in four weeks, I need to have this baby now. I can't give birth one day, and then be in the cock pit of a Viper being the hot shot pilot they all think I am," she continued.

"Kara honey, have you thought any more on what you are going to do with your baby, while you are busy flying your Vipers?"

"I can't give her up Laura. I've considered it, I know there are good families who would take better care of her than me, but she is a part of me, I don't feel right just giving her away." Kara said the anguish of her decision seen clearly on her face.

"Then give up flying. Leave the military find a job and raise your baby." Laura said.

Kara sat there for a moment letting the thought wander in her mind. She seemed to be considering it, and then her face grew very dark. "I will not end up like my mother. I will achieve my goals my dreams, and I will not become the bitter woman that is left alone with a child she despises for ruining her life!" Kara croaked, tears running down her cheeks.

Laura reached out and took the young woman in her arms. She stroked the back of Kara's hair and tried to soothe her fears. "Kara, you are not like her. You are a good person, and I know you are filled with love for this child. You will figure out what is best for her and you!"

She let Kara go to the restroom and wash her face before they continued with the exam. After the pelvic was done Laura discussed her findings with Kara. "Well Kara, good news, you are already dilated to a one." Laura said.

"Okay what the frak does that mean?" Kara questioned.

"Watch your language." Laura warned, for she was not a fan of cursing.

"Sorry." Kara mumbled.

"It means you could possibly have this baby earlier than later," she explained. "I think we could safely induce your labor next week. I have never induced labor in a non-hospital setting before, it is not recommended, but under these circumstances I will do it for you Kara."

"That is great news. If I had her next week that would give me three weeks to recover before I had to report to Galactica."

"Kara, I think I have a possible solution to your other dilemma." Laura said suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"About what to do with the baby, let me look into it. Call me in two days and we will talk about it," she said looking deep in thought.

"Laura, you don't' know how much you have helped me through this." Kara said grasping her hand.

"It has been my pleasure. You remind me of the daughter I never had. I know you will find this hard to believe but I was a lot like you in my younger days," she said with a smile.

She was right Kara had to laugh. There was no way this kind, proper, wise woman could have ever been anything close to the frak-up Kara Thrace was.

As Kara was leaving the office, Laura had one more piece of advice for her. "Kara there is a chance you could go into labor on your own. What you need to do this week is plenty of walking, stairs are great. Stay on your feet as much as you can. Also the deed that got you this way is great for helping speed the process along." She said with a quick smile.

Kara had to laugh at her piece of advice. "I will remember that, thanks."

As Kara drove herself home that evening she talked the out loud the whole way home. The great thing about being pregnant was she no longer had to talk to herself. She had a captive audience every time she opened her mouth. Kara talked to her baby often, from the time Laura told her the baby could hear.

Kara felt a wave of sadness rush over her when she realized in another week, she would be alone again.

AN: Okay, I know probably not the chapter you were hoping for, but I really wanted to stick to telling Kara's story before she boarded Galactica. Thank you everyone for your feedback on the last chapter it was greatly appreciated. I will try to get more up soon. Have a great week.