VI

Laura Roslin wanted to stay with Kara constantly, but she had been appointed as Acting Colonial President, with the disappearance of Gaius Baltar after the rescue and the death of Vice-President Tom Zarek during the rescue. She had responsibilities to everyone in The Fleet, not just Kara and Kacey.

She met that afternoon with Admiral Adama, Commander Lee Adama, Colonel Saul Tigh, Karl Agathon, and the current CAG, Brendan Costanza. Also along was one of the members of the Quorum, Diedra Wych, who was the Caprican representative.

"I've called this meeting, obviously, so we can straighten out the government, since we're back in space. Diedra, I appreciate the confidence that the Quorum has shown in me. I will do the very best I can to uphold that confidence."

She shifted positions in her chair, inside the War Room, which had been appropriated for this meeting.

"First order of business, is that we need a Vice-President. I am open to suggestions, but I also have my own ideas on the subject. The floor is open."

For twenty minutes, the group discussed who would be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Most of the names bandied about came from current and former members of the Quorum, as well as other notable members within The Fleet.

Laura took all of it in, letting the discussion settle for a few moments, then making her own views known.

"I don't think there's a bad choice with any of those names", she said evenly, her best poker face on. "I want someone who commands immediate respect throughout The Fleet, most especially on Galactica, and someone who has experience in high-pressure situations, and can make a decision under such pressure."

"Anyone in particular, Madam President.?"

"In fact, Admiral, I was thinking that there's one person who fits all those criteria, and that's Lee."

Lee went pale for a moment. "Me?"

"I've listened to the audio transcript from CIC on Pegasus before it was destroyed. You remained incredibly calm while the ship was basically falling apart around you. You instilled a sense of discipline in your troops, and they responded well. You speak your mind, but you're also true to your beliefs, and you're as honest as anyone I know."

Bill Adama wanted to smirk, but this wasn't the place for it. He had always thought that Lee could do whatever he wanted, and thought Roslin had made an astute choice.

"What do you say, Mr. Adama?"

Lee pulled for a moment at the collar on his uniform, but as usual, spoke calmly. "I've never been a politician, Madam President."

"Bullshit", his father said, this time with a smile. "When you command a Battlestar, especially in war, you have to be a politician to an extent. Politics come with the territory."

"I've never held any office before", Lee objected. "I don't know the ins and outs of the Colonial Constitution."

Bill shook his head. "Your grandfather was a lawyer in Constitutional and Criminal Law, Lee. Remember him giving you all those law books? I have them onboard the ship. Book learning is only part of the education you need, but everything is in there. The rest comes with experience."

"There might be some blow-back from quite a few quarters", Saul Tigh offered. "An Adama running Galactica? An Adama as Vice-President? Just something to think about."

"He's right", Diedra Wych said with no overt feeling. "I think Lee is a good choice, but as you said, Admiral, politics and the military go hand-in-hand."

"What would we do about the CAG situation?"

Bill Adama turned to Karl Agathon. "I suspect for the short term, Hot Dog can handle it." He looked at the younger pilot and nodded. "You and Kat did a helluva job putting the deception together, and both of you performed well in the rescue."

Brendan Costanza added his two cubits. "I would imagine, once she's back to health, that Starbuck could resume her role as CAG if she wants it. I don't think either Kat or I would make any waves if we're her wingmen, if you will, on the chain-of-command."

Laura looked at Lee and Bill, the conversation stopping for a moment.

"It might be a while before Kara is back", Laura said calmly, but struggling to keep an even tone. "She was...tortured while in prison, and suffered more than a few injuries. There is more going on with Starbuck than that, but until she's fully awake, and regaining her strength, I don't feel comfortable discussing that possibility, so for now, Brendan, you're the CAG."

"Yes, Madam President", he said, wondering what all that was about.

Laura looked again at Lee. "Mr. Adama", she said formally, "I am officially asking you to serve as my Vice-President. Now, since I hit you over the head with this only a few moments ago, I won't require an answer from you today, but I would like one within three day." She held up her hand as Lee started to speak. "In fact, I'm ordering you to take that three days, and talk it over with anyone you like, including me."

"I understand, Madam President." He gave her a rueful grin. "Keep a block of time open for me, because I suspect I'll want to talk to you.

Two Days Later

Kara had obviously needed the rest. Doc Cottle headed over to Colonial One to check up on the young lady. He told Laura, and the two Adama's what they already suspected. She had waken for only a few moments at a time, Doc Cottle saying that was normal after what she had gone through. Cottle thought she'd be coming around, an truly waking up within three or four days.

"She lost about twenty five pounds-she's very emaciated. Kara had multiple bruises all over her body. I expect all those to be pretty much healed within a week. She had a few broken rips, but those have to heal on her own. Surprisingly, there were no other broken bones."

Then he delivered the news they didn't want to hear. "She was sexually assaulted, numerous times. I can simply give you the written reports, gentlemen, if Laura doesn't want me to say any of this out loud."

"It's alright, Doctor", Laura assured him. "They are the top two military commanders of The Fleet, and they have a need-to-know on this. I've already hinted as much to them about what happened to Kara."

Cottle sighed. "She had abrasions, some small contusions and bruising in both her vagina and her rectum. The exam tells me she is not pregnant, and her ovaries and uterus are not damaged, either."

Laura sat still, not looking at anyone for the moment. The Admiral and the Commander's faces both became animated with what could only be described as rage, but they remained silent.

"I expect those injuries to subside rather quickly. I've given her the antibiotics, and if there's any lingering suspicion of infections, that should take care of it."

"How long will she be confined here?"

"I'm not sure yet, Admiral", the doctor replied. "She needs to rest, eat, and drink a whole lot of fluids. I'd rather keep her on here for at least a while. The lords know that when she goes back to Galactica", he added, looking at Laura Roslin, "she's going to be under a bit of a microscope. People are gonna wanna know what happened to her, and most of the people have no clue about Kara and Laura being married now."

"I'll deal with the latter when the time is right", Laura said firmly, but not unkindly. "I'll need to talk to my wife about that, and see how we want to proceed. We don't want to hide the fact we're married, but I'd like to see...how Kara's doing psychologically after what she's gone through."

Lee nodded. "I'll keep her off the active list for as long as you need, Madam President. We're in no rush for this."

Laura gave a small smile. "I'm a little surprised the two of you", she offered, looking at Lee and Bill with a smirk, "are taking the fact that Kara and I fell in love and got married so well."

Both men turned a little red. For Lee, it was realizing, finally, that Kara was off-limits, that he did love Dee, and he needed to act like a gentleman. For Bill, his "daughter" was finally married, and had a little girl of her own. It was a lot to take in.

"Madam President", Bill said softly, "yes, it was a surprise, but Kara couldn't have picked a better, more honorable, more courageous Human Being to be married to. Whatever happened down there, I'm glad that, after Sam died, Starbuck had someone who was looking out for her."

"She stayed in a shell for quite a while, Bill. Honestly? I simply wanted to be a sounding board for her, and her for me, from everything we'd gone through. I fell in love with Kacey almost immediately, and it took a little longer before I fell in love with her mom."

Lee smiled. "What's the old saying? Love works in mysterious ways? I think you two are great for each other-although I doubt you'll be able to tame her smart-ass mouth when she returns to being CAG."

The large grin on his face assured Laura he was only being half-serious, and she laughed at his remark. "Of that, I have no doubt, Commander."

"I do have a request, Laura, when Kara is feeling better?"

"What is the request, Admiral?"

Bill looked down at his shoes for a moment, then back up. "When everything settles down, I'm hoping you two can do a proper wedding in front of your entire family-and we are your family, everyone in this fleet, although I don't think everyone will be invited."

Laura gave him a warm smile. "I've been thinking about that myself, Bill. I also want both of you to spend some time getting to know Kacey. You two are Kara's family, along with Kacey and I, and I can't think of two better men to have in her life than the Adama men."

Lee looked at his dad, who glanced back. "She's gone 'round the bend, dad", Lee said with a chuckle he couldn't resist.

Bill looked at the President-which she officially was again-and grinned. "I think you'll need to see the shrink as well. Lee's right about that."

Laura laughed delightedly one more time. "Everyone is a critic. I'm glad to see neither of you have lost your salty wit."

"Seriously, Madam President, thank you for the confidence", Bill said, the Old Man obviously touched by her faith in he and Lee. "And I can tell you that I definitely want to get to know my granddaughter."

Laura tried to suppress a giggle, but couldn't, both men looking at her oddly. "Does that mean I have to call you dad, Admiral?"

Bill's eyes bugged out, making Lee laugh hysterically.

"You ever call me that, Roslin", he warned her, with a sly smile, "you're out an airlock."

"Yes sir", she winked impishly at him, giving him a sloppy salute.

Later that afternoon, back on Galactica, Lee Adama finally sat down with President Roslin, to discuss her offer for him to be her Vice-President. It had taken Lee totally by surprised, but after talking to his father, and a few others, he was starting to warm up to the idea.

He still wasn't completely sold.

"What do you think your priorities will be now that we're all back together, Madam President?"

"I know there are some hard feelings between those who stayed with The Fleet, and those who were on New Caprica. I've heard too much, already, that The Fleet abandoned us. That isn't true", she added quickly, "because if they didn't, there would be any Humans left now, but that's the gist I get. Conversely, I hear those who were on the ships say that those on the planet haven't given enough credit for the rescue mission.

"Unity, and reminding everyone that we're all in this together, and that it's not over, will be the first step. After that, I would like to introduce legislation that makes it easier for people to simply not be tethered to a job because their parents did it, or because they were born on a certain Colony. I hear Diana Seelix...Hardball, right?" Lee nodded. "Diana wants to be a pilot, but because of where she's from, she'd never have a chance. That has to change."

"Experience from what you saw on New Caprica."

"Exactly", Laura said, like the teacher she was, happy that a student got her point. "I saw people who have never been in the military, pick up weapons and defend themselves an others. I witnessed, during two Epidemics, people with no medical experience stepping up, volunteering to help the doctors and nurses, and make a huge difference. I saw people that are pilots, whose hands are their lives, helping to build and keep the community operating through hard, physical labor."

Lee nodded. "I like that, Madam President."

Laura touched his arm. "When it's just you and me, Lee, I'm Laura. You do remember my name, don't you?"

Lee sheepishly grinned. "I do indeed, Laura. Thank you."

"As far as policy goes, there's one we have to become more serious about. I've always been an advocate of the belief that a woman's body is her business, and no one else's. Yet we've lost almost four-thousand people since we landed on New Caprica. We have got to start having babies, and a lot of them."

Lee got it immediately. "You're gonna limit the number of abortions that can be performed."

It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact.

Laura nodded. "In normal times, on The Colonies, I wouldn't dream of such a thing, but there's about thirty-seven thousand of us left, and we will lose more. We have to start replacing our numbers. We might even have to consider conscription if we're out here another decade or two."

That was a lot for Lee to take in, but he saw the merit in President Roslin's path going forward. Unity and procreation. She was right. Both were essential for the survival of the Human race.

"If you like-and if I accept your offer, I can be the one to introduce the need for us to have more children. Maybe I'll take some of the heat off you."

Laura smiled at him. "You still have one more day, Lee. I expect you to take it, and really think this over tonight. We'll meet again tomorrow."

In a matter of fifteen minutes, Laura was heading back toColonial One, to be with her wife and daughter.

The next few days were quiet in The Fleet, allowing Laura to give her undivided attention to Kara and Kacey. Kara was still in and out of consciousness. Dr. Cottle advised Laura each day that Starbuck was starting to gain a little weight, and her injuries, at least the physical ones, were healing nicely.

Kacey was at a table in a corner of the bedroom, having fun with a coloring book. Laura had been reading some reports from The Fleet, as well as a book that Bill Adama had loaned her.

About two hours into her uninterrupted vigil, Kara began to move around more than she had since coming onboard the ship. Laura heard a few groans as the younger woman began to wake. Ishay was close by, Laura getting her attention that Cottle should be summoned.

On the bed, eyelids began to flutter, a mouth twitching, extremities stretching and moving. Laura would let Kara simply come to on her own, as she didn't want to startle her. A few moments later, the sight Laura had been waiting for happened: Kara opened her eyes, looking around, blinking furiously.

With a startle, Kara sat bolt upright in bed, and began to scream, clearly not knowing where she was. Kacey moved further away, a frightened look on her face, hearing her Momma scream like that.

Laura was on the bed in moments, trying to grab Kara and calm her down, but the blonde fought her, trying to push away, her eyes bulging out of their sockets, the cries continuing, her body shaking.

Laura had tried to softly talk to Kara to calm her down, but it hadn't worked. Laura took a more drastic measure.

"Kara!" She literally screamed the words. "Starbuck, snap out of it! Kara!" As the fearful crying continued, Laura turned Kara toward her, and slapped her hard across the face. She hated to do that, after all Kara had been through, but it did the trick.

Kara stopped screaming and crying, still glancing around as if someone was going to do her harm. Finally, she focused on Laura.

For a moment, she couldn't speak, the look of terror still etched on her face. She began to calm, confusion sluicing through entire being. After another thirty seconds, she finally realized who was in front of her.

"L...Laura?"

Laura was on the verge of tears, but for the moment, held it together for her wife. "Yes, baby, it's me."

"Laura? Gods...where?"

"You're onboard Colonial One, my love", Laura said tenderly, putting a palm on the cheek she had slapped. "You're safe now."

The terror on Kara's face was replaced by one of sheer, overwhelming relief. "Laura! Oh, my gods!" She collapsed into her wife's arms, both of them sobbing with a combination of elation, grief, and lingering fear.

"Oh, gods, my sweet Kara! I've got you, honey. I've got you. I've missed you so...so much."

Kara didn't want to let go, still afraid that someone would enter and assault her, even though her mind began to tell her that wasn't going to happen. "Laura...oh, gods, Laura." She repeated those words over and over as the at last accepted the fact that she was home-that wherever Laura was, was now home.

They cried for a good ten minutes, Kacey silently waiting in the background, her own fear subsiding at what she had seen.

"How long...how long have we been here?"

"Five days, honey", Laura said, letting out a shuddering breath. "The Fleet came back...it was total mayhem."

For a moment, Kara became frightened again. "Where's Kacey?"

Kacey ran up next to her Momma, tears in her own eyes from being scared. "Hi, Momma", she said with a squeak of her normal voice.

Laura and Kara laughed, the blonde reaching from her bed to clasp her little girl. "Oh, Kacey, my sweetheart! Honey, Momma's missed you so much."

"You yell loud, Momma", Kacey said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Kara laughed again. "Yes, I do, baby. Now you know where you get it from." She clutched the little blond child to her bosom, just feeling the love coming off of her daughter, something she sorely needed at that moment.

With Kacey still on her lap, the tears finally gone, a semblance of composure on her face, she looked up at her wife, Laura. Their eyes locked, both fearing the tears would come again. They just looked, deep into each others' eyes, feeling the sureness that they were back together.

With a fast movement, Kara leaned in and kissed Laura's lips hard, possessively, and passionately, moans coming from both of them, as their lips and tongues remembered that that had been lost. The kiss went on an on, Kara praying this wasn't a dream.

After a good five minutes, they broke the kiss, breathing heavily. Kara touched Laura's face lightly. "I almost gave up, Laura", she said with stark honesty, "but I thought of Kacey...and I thought of you, whenever things were worst. It kept me going. I love you so much."

"It's gonna be OK, baby", she said with more relief. "It's over. I'm never letting you go again, my love." They resumed the passionate kissing, realizing the gods weren't playing a cruel joke on them.

The two women spent the next hour holding each other, kissing each other, and hugging and kissing their daughter. Kara could finally say, truly for the first time, that she had found her home.