Oasis (Part Three)

By Socket

Lee ambles along the corridor; his double-shift has just ended and he's in no hurry to return to his quarters. If anything - he takes as many extra-shifts as possible, to keep from thinking of Laura and to avoid Dee.

He and Dualla share quarters still, but sleep in separate bunks. He's agreed to stay with Dee and they will raise the baby together, but he cannot love her. He won't pretend anymore, won't deny Laura her rightful place in his heart.

Dee doesn't seem to understand; she keeps trying to entice him into bed, trying to create intimate situations for them. She's oblivious to the fact that it takes all of his energy and self-control not to flee The Pegasus in search of Laura.

Sometimes, he worries that the friction between them will adversely affect the baby – but in the three months that have passed since he gave Laura up, Dee has never once complained of undue stress. Nor does she seem to suffer from morning-sickness, cramps, cravings or… anything.

Sometimes, Apollo wonders if Dee really is pregnant, but can't bring himself to believe that it's all been a ruse – can't believe that Dualla is capable of that kind of deception. Then he recalls how she'd helped him and Laura escape the brig by tricking the XO, how she'd lied to Billy, how she'd helped Tigh rig the Presidential election…

Lee reaches their quarters, he takes a steadying breath and then enters to find the lights dimmed, a romantic meal for two set on the table, a bottle of chilled wine and soft music playing.

Dee wears a low-cut dress and smiles radiantly at him. She moves toward Lee, but he quickly side-steps her before she can kiss him.

He glances at the table. "It looks nice," he says, trying to sound appreciative of the effort she has gone to, without giving encouragement.

"It was nothing," Dee insists.

Lee sits down and she serves him first, then fills her own plate. She sits beside him and they tuck-in to their meal.

She pours him a glass of wine and Lee grins.

Dualla's eyes light-up. "What is it?" she asks, glad that she has pleased him in some way.

"This is Laura's favourite wine. I bought a bottle of it for her last birthday and when she opened it – " he stops dead when he sees Dualla's crushed expression.

Dee's eyes quickly harden. "Don't talk about her," she cautions.

He flings his knife and fork down, they clatter against the china plate. "You won't allow me to see or speak to her – you won't even let me keep a photograph! But you can't take my memories, Dee - you can't police my thoughts!"

With one swift move, Dualla stands, picks-up the bottle of wine and throws it against a bulkhead. It shatters, showering the room in glass and wine. "That's what I think of your whore!" she screams at him.

Apollo leaps to his feet. "Don't call her that!" he shouts, his face crimson with fury.

She takes a confrontational step towards him. "Why? What are you going to do? Hit me? Hit a pregnant woman?"

"If you are pregnant!" he retorts heatedly.

Dee's eyes widened, she reels, as if he has just slapped her. "What did you say?"

Lee looks away from her.

She strikes his chest with her fist. "What did you just say to me?"

When he doesn't answer, she hits him again.

Lee grabs her wrists, restraining her. "Prove it, Dee," he hisses, because he can't believe he's sacrificed Laura for her. "Show me a scan, show me a doctors report… anything!"

Dee pulls away from him. She sits on the edge of their bed, head in hands and starts to sob. "Why are you doing this to me?" she cries. "All I ever wanted was to make you happy… but I can't win, no matter what I do! I can't take this anymore, Lee – I'm so miserable. It wasn't supposed to be like this…"

He takes a seat at the table and watches her closely, forcing himself to stay calm. "Are you pregnant?" he demands.

Dee wipes her tears away, her shoulders shake with the sobs she's trying to hold-in. "I love you," she declares.

"And I love Laura," he retorts.

Dee covers her eyes with her hands. "Why?" she whimpers. "Why her and not me?"

Lee never meant for it to get this bad - to be this painful. "Because she's the one for me - I know it, I feel it, and there's all there is to it," he answers.

"Then you gave her up for nothing!" Dee says haughtily. " I'm not pregnant, alright? It was a lie – I thought if I could get you away from her, if I got pregnant straight-away, you'd never know! But you haven't so much as looked at me, let alone touch me since you got back…" Dee lies down on their bed and continues to cry.

Reeling from this disclosure, Lee stands and quietly walks out of the room.

He has no patience for Dee, no sympathy… just rage.

He closes the door behind him and leans against it. He feels a surge of relief - he's been given a reprieve… feels liberated…

And then he's running down the corridor - running so fast that his throat burns, his lungs scream-out in protest and his legs threaten to buckle beneath him. One thought drives him; Laura.

Roslin has just dismissed her class; she's about to gather-up the children's artwork when she hears someone enter the school tent. She glances-up to see Lee Adama.

Her breath catches and her heart ruptures.

Lee stands motionless; staring at her as if she were a chimera.

Neither of them speak; afraid to break the moment.

He takes a step into the classroom and Laura feels her equilibrium falter – she grips the side of her desk for strength; he always did render her defenceless. She's been without him for three months and still struggles to get through the day, battles the lonely nights… and then - there he is, standing before her, just like that. No warning.

If she takes a few steps, she'll be able to touch him…

"Laura?"

He says her name as if it is a precious commodity.

Instinctively, Roslin closes her eyes; she never thought she'd hear his voice again. "Yes?" she replies, her eyes flickering open.

Lee's heart is in his mouth. "Can I hold you?" he asks, so tentatively, she wants to weep.

Laura nods, and suddenly, they are falling into each other.

Her arms surround him and he holds her tight; besieged with relief and joy.

"Forgive me," he whispers in her ear, because it's all he can think to say.

She starts to cry uncontrollably – the accumulation of three months of repressed hurt and anger wells-up and spills over – Lee gently rocks her.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs; ashamed of the unrestrained emotion she feels. "I thought I'd lost you."

"You could never lose me," he proclaims through his own tears. "You're in my thoughts constantly - wherever I go, whatever I'm doing… I will never be lost to you, Laura."

Lee draws back and cups her tear-stained face. "Let me look you," he says softly, gazing into her chameleon eyes.

Laura wavers for a moment, then leans forward and claims his mouth with hers. His hands rest on her lower back, pressing her closer to him. At the feel of her body pushed against his, Lee sighs blissfully.

Roslin breaks the kiss and they rest their foreheads together.

"The only thing that got me through the last three months was the hope of you," she confides. "The possibility that one day, maybe, I'd see a glimpse of you… walking through the marketplace, in the crowd of a Pyramid match… somewhere."

He strokes her cheek.

Laura bites her bottom lip. She doesn't want to ask – but she needs the answer. "What happened with Dee?"

Apollo frowns. "It was messy. I'll tell you everything when we get home."

Laura nods in understanding. "Shall we go?"

He pulls her into a fervent kiss, then draws back, savouring the taste of her on his lips.

"Now I'm ready," he declares and holds the door open for her.

They step out into the bustling marketplace and head for Roslin's tent.

As the reunited lovers walk side-by-side; Lee reaches out and slips his hand into hers. Laura starts at his public display of affection, but Lee gives her a reassuring smile that immediately eases her.

"No more hiding," he says.

Laura smiles at him; being free to express her feelings for Lee is something she'll enjoy getting used to.