WHTMH - chapter 7

Keep in mind, this is now AU, though I will be trying to use some elements from the actual episodes.

oooooooooooooooooo

Sam had a huge grin on his face as the doc gave them the good news. Kara's was fairly large as well, but inside she was also terrified. Me, a mother? Gods! I hope the gods know what they're doing here. Given my experience growing up, I shouldn't even be allowed near children, let alone having one myself.

"You're going to need to watch your diet very carefully Captain," Cottle began, interrupting her thoughts.

"Um doc ... I'm not in the military anymore," she said quickly, before he could continue.

"I know that," he answered gruffly. "But I don't have anything else to call you. I don't do first names."

"You could always call me Thrace," she suggested.

"Or Anders," Sam put in, grinning widely.

Kara punched his arm lightly. "Yeah, and then people would be getting us mixed up. Everyone still calls you Anders."

"Well, soon it'll be easy - you'll be the 'fat Anders'," he smirked.

Kara's mouth dropped open, and she gave him a look. THE look.

"Looks like someone will be sleeping on the proverbial couch tonight," Cottle added, giving Sam a meaningful look.

He leaned over towards Cottle and spoke quickly, but not so quietly that Kara couldn't hear. "Fighting's good - gives us a chance to make up." He winked.

"Isn't that how you got into this situation in the first place?" Cottle asked dryly. "As I was saying," he continued on, as if he hadn't been interrupted, "you'll have to make sure you get extra helpings of fruit and vegetables and that stuff they're passing off as milk. I'll give you a written authorization for that. I'm headed to Galactica in a few days, so I'll pick you up some vitamins as well. Now you missy," Kara bristled at the term. "Take it easy. Not that you'll listen to me, never have yet, but you," he pointed at Sam, "make her get some rest and take it easy."

"Will do sir," Sam said, mock saluting, then broke into a violent fit of coughing that had him doubled over. He stopped a few minutes later, and spat into the sand. Cottle didn't miss the fact that the blob of mucous was red.

"Maybe I'd best take a look at you too," he suggested.

Sam waved it off. "It's nothing. Just a little cough."

"Since you're here anyway ..." He pulled out his stethoscope.

"Really, I'm fine, honest." He began to cough again and Kara had to slap him on the back as he very nearly began to choke.

"Look at him," she mouthed silently to Cottle, nodding slightly.

"Sit down Mr. Anders and let me be the judge will you? Last time I checked, I was the one with the credentials."

"Fine." Sam shrugged and sat in the chair recently vacated by Kara.

Cottle looked him over and listened to his lungs. "Hmmm," he murmured. Kara gave Sam a worried look but he just cocked his head sideways at her.

"Hmm. Trace of pneumonia. Had this cough long?"

Sam shrugged again. "Not really."

At the same time kara answered. "Three or four weeks." Sam gave her a dirty look.

"Well, it looks like the two of you are going to have to take care of each other then. No hard work, plenty of bed rest, and keep warm. Well, as warm as you can," he amended, remembering what spartan living conditions they had. "I'll bring back some antibiotics with the vitamins. They're being stored on Pegasus at the moment, so I'll have to make a trip over there while I'm on Galactica. In a couple of weeks you should be a new man."

"Aw that's too bad, I kind of liked the old one," Kara teased, putting an arm around Sam's neck.

Cottle rolled his eyes. "Get out of here before you make me sick. Go on."

Sam took Kara's hand and they left the med tent both smiling happily in anticipation of the future.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

It turned out that Cottle's trip to Galactica ended up being rather delayed. First there were malfunctions with the Raptors, pushing back the routine delivery of supplies, and then one medical emergency after another had taken his attention. Broken bones, Cally's baby had decided it was time to come, and then little Isis had developed some sort of mysterious ailment that had him baffled and virtually refusing to leave her side.

So Kara's vitamins and Sam's drugs had had to wait. Kara was fine without the vitamins, but the weather had taken a turn for the worse, and with it Sam's pneumonia. He hated to admit it but he could hardly move and every breath pained him dreadfully. He was, of course, reluctant to share this with Kara, even though he was a big fan of openness and honesty between the two, because he felt, though it was somewhat old-fashioned, that it was his job as the man to protect and care for his wife and unborn child.

So he dutifully continued on, pretending everything was fine. Till a few days later, when Sav, his former teammate, pulled him into the pyramid court and insisted he join them since he hadn't played in so long. He knew it was a bad idea, but he couldn't refuse, so he gave it a try. It was like walking through lead and breathing water. Nothing in his life had been more painful. He was on the verge of quitting and telling the guys he'd had enough, when he heard her.

"Sam, you idiot!" Kara was stalking towards him, a murderous look on her face.

Suddenly the ball came flashing past his surprised face and a head thwacked into his already hideously painful lungs. Sam blacked out almost immediately. Kara rushed towards him, the look on her face changing to worried concern. He was still breathing - thank the gods! But barely. The air rasped in and out and he sounded like each breath was going to be his last.

"Help me Sav! Get him back to our tent." And, like the family they were, all the players helped him get to bed. Kara began wiping his hot, feverish forehead with a cold cloth, willing him to wake up. "Go find the doc," she ordered, voice shaking, and they all took off immediately, splitting up for better coverage.

When an hour had gone by and still no one was able to find him, Kara decided more drastic action needed to be taken. She left one of the others with Sam and headed purposefully, if fearfully, to the Raptor that had become their permanent communications station. She punched the controls like a pro, though she hadn't touched them in months, and took a deep breath, waiting for Pegasus to answer.

"Pegasus here, who am I speaking with?" Frak, it was Dualla. Of all the people ...Kara had no beef directly with Dee, but she knew that leaving without saying goodbye to Lee would have hurt him dreadfully, and now that she was gone, Dee was the person he was closest to. And likely the one he'd confide his feelings in. So it was probable that Dee would be pissed at her as well for hurting Lee.

"It's Kara. May I speak to Lee please?" She tried her hardest to keep her voice steady.

"Oh, it's you. I'll see if he's available." Her voice had definitely cooled off after hearing Kara.

Kara waited. And waited ... and waited, wondering if Dee was leaving her hanging on purpose. Finally there was a sound - someone breathing.

"What do you want?" Lee asked quietly. So, she told him who it was.

"I need a favour," she went on, remembering Sam's desperate need and swallowing her pride. It didn't matter that he was angry with her, she had to do this. To save Sam.

"Is that right?" The words cut like a knife. She'd always felt sorry when Lee used that tone on anyone else, and now she was feeling it first hand. She took a deep breath however, and ploughed on.

"Anders is sick ... he has pneumonia Lee. Cottle said he'd be bringing medication down for him, but he's been too busy and now we can't find him."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"I hear you've got all the meds on your ship. Could you send some down? Please?" she begged.

"If Cottle said he would, then he will."

Kara's temper flared and her voice raised. "But when?"

"I'm sure he'll get to it soon." Lee's voice was like ice. "Now if that's all ..."

"Couldn't you send a Raptor down? Even a Viper? It would only take one person ..."

Lee interrupted. "There's a supply run going down in a few days."

"He may not have that long!" Kara blazed.

"Not my problem. I'm a busy person and I need to go now. Nice talking to you," he added sarcastically.

A click told Kara he'd cut the connection. Fury welled within her. Bastard!

TBC