V

Colonial One

Laura and Kacey Roslin went below decks to check in on Kara. Laura had been surprised at some of the changes in the lower part of the ship, especially the massive bedroom that had been built. But right now, her mind was focused on seeing her wife.

Charlie Connor had escorted her to the bedroom, then excused himself. Laura was holding Kacey's hand when they entered. Nurse Layne Ishay had some IV's hooked up to Kara, but she was breathing on her own.

"Oh, Kara", Laura said softly with a cry. Kacey tried to run toward her.

"Momma!"

Laura held her back, Ishay going up to the littler girl. "Kacey, Momma is sleeping right now, and needs her rest, so we have to be quiet, right?"

Kacey nodded her head. "Sorry, didn't mean to yell."

Ishay smiled. "That's OK, honey, I promise you'll get to talk to your Momma soon enough. Why don't you sit here next to your momma while I talk to your mommy, OK?"

Kacey silently sat in the chair, looking at Kara.

Ishay took Laura to the other end of the room.

"What can you tell me, Ishay?"

The nurse took a large breath. "Physically, she's gonna be fine, Laura. She has a few broken ribs healing, and she has some bruising on her back, her buttocks...well, all over the place. She has that big shiner on her right cheek, and some fading bruises on her face as well. She went through some physical punishment."

Laura wanted to collapse, but she stood tall. She would have time to cry later.

"I also can tell you that...and I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, that there are signs that she has been assaulted sexually. She has some minor cuts and bruising to both her vagina and her rectum, which indicates she was probably raped, and more than once."

Laura remained calm, but Ishay could see the anger building in the woman's face. Laura Roslin was not a woman that Ishay thought should ever be crossed. She was as strong as any woman Layne Ishay had met. Had this been her wife, she'd want to rip someone to pieces.

"As I said, physically, all of that will heal. I don't know how she'll be emotionally when she wakes up, or afterward." Ishay glanced down for a moment. "Please tell me if I'm stepping over a line, Madam President, I beg you, but I would be cautious, once she's physically healthy, in initiating sex until she can get a psychological evaluation."

Laura shook her head adamantly, grabbing Ishay by the shoulder. "Oh, gods no, Ishay, you're not stepping over a line. I appreciate your concern for both of us. I'm sure I would have thought of that, but thank you for being so honest with me." She gave the nurse a comforting, warm hug. She remembered how Ishay had needed to perform emergency surgery on Bill Adama years ago, when Cottle was stuck on another ship, during an attack, the lights and power ebbing and flowing on Galactica. Ishay had been frightened, but she had nerves of steel, and had gone well above her pay grade in saving the man's life.

"I would suggest that when the fleet is sorted out, we get her onboard Galactica. I know Cottle and the other doctors will want to get a look at her, and better evaluate her condition."

Laura nodded, hugging Layne again. "You're an amazing nurse, Ishay", she said with a smile. "Thanks for looking after Kara."

"It's my honor, Madam President. I'll give you and Kacey a few minutes of alone time with your wife. If you need me, I'm right outside the door."

"Thanks again, Ishay, I appreciate it."

The nurse took her leave, Roslin turning to see the image of their daughter holding Kara's hand softly, quietly singing to her Momma. Laura wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She approached the bed where Kara lay.

She looked down at Kara's bruised face, still seeing just how stunningly beautiful her wife was. She did give the unconscious woman a brief smile, then leaned in, giving Starbuck a soft, lingering kiss on the forehead.

"I love you, Kara Thrace-Roslin", she said softly. "We got you back, baby. We got you back."

She quietly pulled up a chair next to their daughter, and the two sat vigil.

Onboard Galactica

There had been an impromptu celebration on Galactica when the Raptors carrying some of the survivors from New Caprica had landed. Lee and Dee landed, with Saul and Galen landing shortly after. When the celebration had died down, which had been rather quickly, as everyone was emotionally spent, the two Adama's, Dee, Helo, Tigh, Galen, and Kelly occupied the pilot briefing room for a short debrief.

"What can you tell me, Tigh, especially about today?"

Tigh had saluted his friend proudly on arrival. Bill knew he and Tigh would talk quietly about what his XO had gone through on the planet.

"We lost a lot of good people today, Bill, but everyone performed above the call of duty, of that there's no doubt. I'm proud of every one of 'em."

Lee looked at his long-time nemesis. "Colonel, any word on Kara and Roslin?"

Saul shook his head. "None. I imagine when things settle, we should contact Colonial One and get an update. Charlie Connor and Diana Seelix, along with Laura, went to the prison to look for Kara and free the others."

Bill Adama was going to object to Laura being taken on a combat mission, then thought better. "I bet you tried to talk her out of going there."

Tigh gave a grim laugh. "No way was I gonna talk her out of going. In her place, I'd have been going too, to hell with what anyone said. I know Helo said all ships are accounted for, so we know that bird is in the air."

Lee and Dee recounted the final moments on Pegasus, with Lee pointing out that they had to get The Fleet somewhere safe and hidden, so Galactica could undergo repairs.

"Yeah, she took a pounding", Bill Adama admitted, "but she's still got a lot of life left in her."

For the next half hour, Tigh and Tyrol recounted as much of the last eighteen months as they could. Bill was aghast at how many people had died from the two epidemics. Combine that with people who had died of old age, other illnesses, or as prisoners, and they had lost a good two thousand people.

"Lords of Kobol", the Admiral mused. "I read when you sent your Sitrep that we had lost Sam Anders, which is stunning, healthy as he was."

Lee and Sam had had more than one pissing match over Kara, but that was all history. Kara was married to Laura Roslin, of all people, and Sam was dead. Lee felt some genuine pain and shame for how things had turned out.

"Sam was as tough as they came, dad", Lee ventured. "If that virus took someone like him, we're lucky we didn't lose more people."

As the meeting broke up, Bill and Lee had Kelly raise Colonial One, and advised the Captain of that they would be en-route shortly.

Ishay came in to check on Kara, but tried not to bother Laura and Kacey. Laura told the nurse to do what she needed to do, and to not mind them. Ishay had given the blonde a sedative, to let her rest and sleep, knowing that was the best medicine for her recovery.

"I want to talk to Momma", Kacey said softly. She had cried a few times, but not very hard. She simply hadn't seen her Momma in more than a month, and had missed her terribly.

"I know, Kace", Laura said, giving her a hug. "Momma will be awake soon enough. She was hurt when we rescued her, and need to rest. You know, like when you have a cold, and you get lots of rest."

"Sleep makes you better, Momma says."

"She's right about that. When Momma is feeling better she'll wake up, and I know she'll want to talk to you about what you've been doing."

Kacey gave Laura a warm hug, and kiss on the cheek. "Love you Mommy."

Laura chuckled. "I love you too, sweetheart."

Ishay was done with her check on Kara. "Laura, she's doing fine right now. Again, she's been through a lot, this is the best thing for her."

"I understand, Ishay. I just...there's so much I need to say to her."

Ishay smiled at both she and Kacey. "Both of you will get that time with Kara soon enough."

Ishay left the room, and there was silence again.

A few minutes later, there was a small commotion outside of the room. After a few moments, the door opened...

Laura lost her composure immediately.

"Bill! Lee!"

"Madam President", Bill said with a warm smile, Laura rushing to give him a huge hug.

"Oh, gods, Admiral, I've missed you so much. I didn't know if we'd ever see you again."

The hug lasted for a few minutes, Laura simply needing the comfort of a friend.

"It's my honor to see you again, Laura. I have missed you, too. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"We do, and I promise we will."

She turned to the younger Adama, who had been the very first one to support her when the Presidency had fallen to her. As with his father, she brought him in for a fierce hug.

"Captain Apollo", she said, bringing up the first time she had joked with him, about his name sound nice. Lee laughed as he accepted the hug.

"It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it, Madam President." He hugged her back hard. "I'm happy to see you again."

"Gods, you two, it seems like a lifetime has gone by! Oh", she said, suddenly remembering that she needed to make introductions.

"Kacey, come here, baby." Shyly, Kacey came to her second mother, and allowed her to be picked up. "Kacey, this is Commander Lee Adama, and this", she said turning to Bill, "is Admiral William Adama. Gentlemen, this..." She almost lost her composure again, "is our daughter, Kacey."

"It's an honor to meet you, Kacey. I am a good friend of both your mothers." He put his large hand out, and Kacey shook it, making Bill Chuckle.

"Momma is hurt", she said, looking back to Kara.

For the first time, Bill looked down at the woman that he would always consider a daughter. She looked pale, and very skinny. A pall came over his demeanor. "I see that, but I know she'll get better."

Lee came up next. "You have two very special mom's, you know that?"

Kacey nodded. "I love them both."

Lee looked at her. "So say we all."

Ishay brought in some chairs so Bill and Lee could get some information.

"I don't even know where to star, gentlemen. I guess I should start with me...and my wife over there."

She went into the evolution of the relationship between she and Kara, Laura recounting how Kara didn't even get a decent chance to mourn for Sam, and how Laura had helped her out of her isolation, the dinners, and the quick development of their falling in love.

"Then the virus came, and the Cylons set an elegant trap for us. D'Anna said we could have all the medicine we needed for the Epidemic, if we gave them custody of Kara."

Anger was evident on the faces of the two Adama's.

"How long was she held", Lee asked, trying to stay on an even keel.

"Just over a month." She paused to gain her composure. "Ishay has done a cursory exam of Kara. She was beaten, more than once, and she was raped." Laura didn't feel the need to tell them how she had been raped. What she said was hard enough.

"Frakin' bastards", Bill said with a quite rage. "They'll pay for this."

"When we found her, she was unconscious. It looked like she had been punched."

"Kacey wasn't with you when you went to the prison?" Lee didn't want to believe that.

"No, she wasn't", she assured them. "I had...you won't believe this, but I had Tom Zarek and three of his men get Kacey to Colonial One."

"I still think that bastard belongs back in jail", Bill said evenly.

Laura nodded solemnly. "You won't have to worry about that. He and one of his men were killed in front of the ramp to Colonial One. But they got Kacey onboard."

That caused a long moment of silence, broken by Lee. "At least he went out with some honor."

Laura nodded. "Yes, he did. I have to tell you he was a valuable asset for the insurrection. But I doubt he would have remained on good behavior if he had made it back to space."

"We'll just remember this part-that he saved your daughter."

Laura continued. "When I arrived on Colonial One, there was another surprise: Felix Gaeta had been shot to death, and was lying dead in the office."

That startled the two men. "Felix was the Chief-of-Staff for Gaius, wasn't he?" Lee couldn't quite remember.

"He was", Laura confirmed. "We're going through all the papers, files, both written and on the computer to see if we can make sense of everything. And there was no sign of Gaius when we arrived."

"Maybe The Cylons offed him", Bill offered. "I wouldn't shed a tear."

"I don't think so, Admiral. I think he's a bargaining chips for The Cylons. He's alive."

Bill sighed. "I know you have more important things on your mind, but I'm going to gather the Quorum together on Galactica, and suggest that you be named Interim President, until we can schedule a special election."

Laura nodded. "I don't object, although I'm not sure if I would run for the office again." She looked down at Kacey, and then back at Kara. "I still want to be a voice in the government, but...well, my priorities have changed. I have a wife to get re-acquainted with, and a daughter to raise."

She gave both men a broad smile.

The two men rose to to take their leave. "We didn't want to bother you for too long, Laura, but we had to visit you, to make sure you and Kara were OK, and to get at least some information on what happened down there."

"I plan to submit a full report to you and the Quorum, Bill, but it may not be for a little while. Those of us who led the insurgency-myself, Tigh, Galen, Seelix, Charlie Connor, we all agreed to put everything down in writing so there's an official record."

Laura stood as well, looking at the two men she admired so much. "It is so good seeing you both again...I can't believe that nightmare is over. You two are welcome any time to visit Kara while she recovers."

The two men walked over to the bed, taking a silent moment to look down on the very special woman lying unconscious in front of them.

Lee bent down, kissing Kara on the forehead. "You get well, Starbuck. I'm gonna need my best CAG back." he glanced at Laura who smiled.

Bill touched Kara's cheek lightly, placing his own kiss on her forehead. "I'm gonna grab my gun and bring the cat in, my dear. I'll talk to you soon."

Both men gave Laura another hug, and she kissed them on the cheek, and they quietly walked away.