Chapter 2
Sharon felt as if she had been hit by a ton of bricks. Starbuck who had been listening to Cottle, came up to Sharon and put a sympathetic arm around her shoulder.
"We have to put a special order for a leg that would fit him, but for the time being we have a spare that can work."
Everything was blurring, slowing down 'What the hell is Cottle saying?' "Umm…yeah um…he…he's alive?" 'I just need to know that he's alive. Don't tell me anything else…just tell me he's alive. Just tell me he's alive.'
Cottle looked at Sharon with a confused look as he chose his words carefully. 'Crap, please don't choke me.'
"He's alive but---" Cottle couldn't finish what he was going to say, before Lt. Agathon ran passed him. "Wait Lieutenant!"
Sharon didn't stop at the doctor's cries. She burst though the marked off corner of the sick bay…he wasn't there. Turing around she heads to where they place all the patients. Thankfully there were only two curtains covering their patient's privacy. Sharon threw back the first curtain, took in what she saw and headed to the other closed off bed.
Hotdog embarrassed that Athena had seen him receiving treatment for a rash he developed, quickly pushed the curtain back into place. He prepares himself as he receives his second shot. 'Ouch! Damn it, alright remember a hot piece of ass isn't worth two shots in the ass.'
Ripping back the finale curtain Sharon felt a mouthful of hot acid bile rushing up the back of her throat.
'Karl…'
His face was covered in scrapes and bruises, but was the least damaged. His arms and hands were wrapped up due to his burns. However, the weirdest and most horrifying image was that she could see the outline of Karl's left leg under the bed sheet, but on his right…the blanket was laying against the mattress. Trying to keep her tears from actually falling, Sharon took a stool by one of the other beds and moved it right by Karl's head. She didn't know how long it was until Cottle and Starbuck came but she hardly paid any attention to them.
"We gave him a lot of sedatives, so he's going to be out of it for some time. I suggest that you come by later and---"
"I'm not leaving." said Sharon taking her eyes off the husband and looking at the doctor. "Say whatever you want, but I'm not leaving my husband."
Knowing that Sharon wasn't going to change her mind Kara decided to get the doc's attention.
"Hey doc let's just leave them be."
Taking a moment to think about it Cottle took a last look at the couple before leaving.
"Frak me." whispered Kara.
"He's going to be alright." said Sharon although her voice was too shaky for Kara to think that Sharon actually believed her own words. Deciding to go along with the denial, for the sake of Sharon's sanity Kara played along.
Several hours passed before Kara had to go and switch shifts, so someone else can cover both their CAPs. Sharon tried not to look at Karl's leg, but it became increasing difficult task to accomplish.
"Hey" said a raspy voice
Sharon quickly turned her head to see Karl smiling at her.
"Please don't kill me or anything, but you look like crap." said Karl
Sharon chuckled at Karl's lame attempt at a joke. "I'm sorry, does my rugged appearance upset you. And here I thought I was being the devoted wife never leaving her husband's side. Man I am such an asshole." says Sharon, smiling a real smile once she saw Karl giggle.
"Do you remember anything about the accident?" asked Sharon, almost hoping he did so she wouldn't be the one to break the news to him about his leg. Noticing that Sharon wasn't joking around anymore, Karl started to get a little worried.
"No…not really. I mean I remember ejecting and hearing the explosion, but that's it."
Taking a couple of seconds, so she can prepare herself for what she had to do next. "Karl, there's…there's something I need to tell you."
The look on Karl's face made Sharon's heart break when she told him the devastating news. At first not believing her Karl struggled to push his blanket off of himself. His hands still wrapped in bandages, Karl had a hard time lifting the sheets. Once understanding that Karl needed to actually see his legs, Sharon helped him lift up his sheet.
Karl hasn't said a word in 33 minutes. Sharon was at a loss at what to do, so she just kept leaning her head on his pillow lightly stroking the back of his head. It wasn't until Starbuck came to visit that Karl came out of his own world.
"Hey Karl" she said in a somber tone.
"Hey"
Silence once again took over the room, as the three of them didn't know what to say next.
"What's going to happen now?" asked Karl not really asking someone specifically.
(One Week Later)
Today was the day that Helo was being released from sickbay. After getting not only one, but two new legs. One of the legs was a hard formed plastic type of leg. Its main purpose was basically for everyday use, but unfortunately it wasn't the type of leg designed for mobility and speed. The second leg was a result of Sharon's non-stop pestering of Dr. Cottle to come up with something that can at least have Helo have a jog around the ship. Helo's always been an active guy and Sharon knew that if he couldn't go out and move around with some speed she knew that a part of him would fade away. The leg was shaped like an upside down question mark, which was great because the curve bend in the metal would allow Karl to move with much more quickness. Karl was so thankful for Sharon's persistence, but at the same time the non-stop constant reminders of his lost leg made him feel weak and useless. He tried not to show it, but Karl became more and more depressed as more things changed.
But for now, he has to put on a brave face and a fake smile as he slowly walks in his "everyday" leg and cane, towards the pilots rec. room. The party was nice in fact it was pretty good and not because of all his friends or comrades showing that they cared, it was the mass amounts of booze that some of the pilots "borrowed" form Joes. Soon Helo feels the warm sensation leave his chest and start to cloud his senses.
'This is nice. Just to forget, even if it's only for a few hour but still…it's nice.'
Sharon's eyes never left Karl's throughout the little celebration. She knew that he didn't want to be here. He was having a difficult time adjusting to his new situation and was slowly cutting himself off to everybody even her. The only time he gave a genuine smile was whenever Hera was with him.
'I knew it. I shouldn't have listened to Starbuck, he's miserable. Although to be honest you hoped that being surrounded by friends you hoped he feel better.'
Sharon decided it was time to leave. They spent enough time here that it wouldn't be rude if they left now. Sharon crossed the room and gently wrapped her arms around Helo and placed her head on his chest.
"You ready to leave?" she asked against his shirt.
"Yeah…I've been ready." he said
Sharon knew that Karl wasn't being rude, but the way he said 'I've been ready' he just sounded so…not Karl. He was changing. 'I have to talk to him.'
As they were walking down the hall heading towards their quarters the couple hasn't said a word to each other.
'Okay, you can do this Sharon. Just talk to him. Everything will be all right, but you have to talk to him. Come on do it, just do--'
"Karl" she said without thinking what she was actually going to say to him.
He turns back to her looking back he looks right into her eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Never mind"
Giving her a second to changer her mind, Helo went to their door to open it.
'Frakking coward' she thought. Hopefully Karl will get his act together and everything will get back to normal.
(Joe's Bar)
Karl walks as best as he can with his cane into the bar. He was not in the mood today, all he wanted was to get so fraked up that he wouldn't remember a frakking thing. The bar was crowded, all except for the far end, which held Galactica's XO. Not really caring about the Colonel presence Helo sat down and ordered his first drink.
"Agathon" said Tigh acknowledging Helo's presence.
"Colonel" replied Karl.
Both men sat in silence as Karl got his drink and as he slammed id down in one gulp.
'Well, I guess this is the best way to celebrate my last day in the Colonial Fleet.'
(1 hour ago-Agathon Quarters)
If the men and women on Galactica thought that Galen and Cally Tyrol could sell tickets to their fights, the Agathons would sell out. Karl came home lamming the door open and extremely pissed off.
"I'm done! They permanently grounded me." said Karl as he sits down on the couch.
Sharon, who was sitting on their bed with Hera, was afraid that this would happen. They have finally taken away Karl's wings.
"They offered me some job in the CIC, a frakin desk job!" seethed Karl.
"Sweetie during the occupation you were in the CIC, not a raptor. Why is this bothering you now?"
"The reason that it's different now is because back then I knew I'd eventually be demoted back again to flight status. Well not any more, not with my frakin leg hacked off!" shouted Karl as he kicked a footstool with his good leg.
Hera startled by her father's anger started to whimper, which pissed Athena off.
"Karl! What the frak! I know you're hurting, but life hasn't been fair or easy for us. It kills me that I can't do more for you---"
"Let me stop you right there, Sharon. You don't know a frakking thing about what I am going though. What I don't need from you right now is that look of pity you give me every single time we're in the same room!" shouts Karl. He doesn't know why he's exploding now, but after all this time frustration and anger has been building up in him just waiting for it to explode.
Hera now crying clings to her mother, while Sharon gets up. Placing Hera in the crib, Sharon turns to face Karl. Knowing that she should stop before things go way out of control, but her own anger takes over as well.
"Karl, I've never---"
"Every time I strap this gods damn thing on you treat me like…like I'm no longer the man you married. That the only reason you put up with me is because of pity."
"You think I do all that out of pity?" she asked Helo very pissed off.
Getting off the couch Karl headed towards the door.
"Where the frak are you going?" asked Sharon
"Out" he says as he unlocks the door.
"Hey! I love you Karl. I love you, and I was doing all of it out of love NOT pity."
Not looking back at her Helo pushes the door open and walks out.
(Joe's Bar)
Karl slams down another shot as he receives another one from the bar tender. Tigh having been watching the young officer struggling with his own inner demons, decides to give him a piece of his won mind. 'Well it won't be as good as the old man's speeches, but hell it's better than nothing.'
"What's the matter Captain, wife kick you out?"
"No offence Colonel, but you don't know a frakking thing about me or my marriage. So pardon me when I tell you it's none of your frakking business. Also, it's no longer Captain." grumbled Helo as he tries to ignore the Colonel.
"Right…So, Mr. Agathon what are you going to do? You going to spend all your time down here becoming a waste of space?" asked Tigh
"Says the drunk." snarled Karl
Tigh knew that Helo was purposely going below the belt. 'If that's the best he got, he really is losing it.'
"Yeah, but unlike you I'm not the one who's jobless and getting fraked up here instead of snuggling up with your cylon wife. Life sucks Agathon, especially for you. But you better get used to it. I'd do it fast if I were you cause you don't want to lose the only good thing you have." said Tigh as he finished his drink and left the bar. Karl's eyes were still on the door of the bar then he turned his attention back to his drink.
(Agathons' Quarters- One week later)
'Great. Another one.' thought Sharon as she discarded another ambrosia bottle into the trash. Life for the Agathons were crashing faster than Galactica's atmospheric FTL jump. 'And the worst thing about it,' thought Sharon 'was that everyone knows about it.'
It wouldn't be so bad if everything was kept behind closed doors, but unfortunately their last four fights have been in public. Two of those fights happened at the bar, where Athena had to force a very drunk Helo home. Once in the pilots rec. room and the last was in the hallway right outside Galactica's day care. Sharon never felt so ashamed when she and Karl stopped their fighting only to see on of the daycare workers holding Hera. From the moment Sharon refused to fight, and ever since then frustration and anger has been building up.
Sharon having just dropped off Hera, was heading to the mess for a quick bite to eat. Halfway there she heard her name being shouted. Turning around she found Racetrack catching up to her looking very uneasy.
"Athena, we got a situation." said Racetrack
(Hanger Deck)
"Heads!" shouted Karl as he showed Tyrol and the deck gang his coin.
"See I told you, I could do it five times in a row." Helo was standing on top of a Raptor flipping a coin with one hand and holding a bottle in the next.
"Helo, come on get down." said the Chief. He has been trying ever since his shift started he has been trying to get his fellow comrade to come down.
"You have got to be kidding me." came a small voice from behind the Chief. He turns around and sees none other than Sharon Agathon standing there in disbelief.
"How long?" she asked never taking her eyes off of him.
"Since before my shift started, 45 minutes ago." replied Tyrol.
Taking a deep sigh, Athena gets onto the wing of the raptor and climbs on up the ship. 'How the hell did he get up here?'
Sitting right to the side of Helo, Sharon watched as he continued to stand up and flip his coin again.
"Heads!!"
"Karl can you just…can you sit down please?" begged Sharon.
Sharon must have done something right, because Karl getting bored with his game listened to his wife. Sitting side-by-side Sharon was the first to speak.
"Karl, come on lets go home." she said gently taking his arm in her hand.
Helo without warning shrugged Sharon off and glared at her.
"Can't you just leave me alone." he said with such ferocity.
"I don't know if you've been noticing, but I have been leaving you alone. Cause if I haven't, we wouldn't be here at all. Now, stop acting like an asshole and lets go home." she said again as she puts her hands on Helo's arms again.
"I said get your mother frakking hands off of me!" he shouted as he shoved Sharon off of him. Only this time he shoved too hard, throwing Sharon off balance and headed face first off the front of the raptor onto a workbench table full of tools. Athena's face collided with the workbench with a bone crunching smash and continued to fall onto the harsh metal deck.
"Oh my gods." said a thoroughly shocked Helo.
Everything happened so fast. Racetrack and Tyrol were the first ones to help Athena as Helo climbed down the raptor as fast as he could.
'Oh my gods, oh my gods' he kept repeating in his head.
When his foot hit the ground. Helo saw both Racetrack and Tyrol pull Athena onto her feet with her back towards him. The shocked looks on both their faces as they saw Sharon's face made Helo reach out and grab Sharon's arm. Just like he's done with her, she ripped her arm out of his grip and turned to face him. 'Oh my gods'
Blood was rushing down her nose even worse than the last time. The taste of copper in her mouth caused by the gash on the inside of her lip filled her mouth. Sharon didn't need a mirror, only Tyrol and Racetrack's shocked faces to know that she needed to go to sickbay. Once she felt his hands reach for her arm did she snap. Sharon just looked at Karl at first with so much anger then the anger turned to despair, knowing what she had to do next was going to kill a part of her.
"I'm getting off CAP at 21:00 hours, after that I'm going to pick up Hera. Your stuff better be gone by then."
Stunned at what just came out of Sharon's voice Helo tried to come up with some great apology, something amazing to say, but he was drawing up a blank. It was when she was starting to leave did he come up with something.
"Sharon wait---"
"No Karl! I can't do this anymore. I can't keep watching you fall and destroy yourself. You're going down in flames Karl and the worst thing about it is that you're taking me and Hera down with you!" spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor. Taking an extra beat at staring at the floor Sharon took a deep breath to keep her falling tears at bay before she looked at him.
"I don't think this is going to work. Not with you like this."
"Sharon listen---"
"I will NOT have my daughter being raised by a drunk."
That hit home to Karl. Hera. She was going to take Hera away from him. 'She has every right to.' Watching the resolve look on Sharon's face Karl felt worse than he ever felt.
Having nothing more to say Sharon walked passed Helo with Racetrack by her side.
'No, I can't lose her.'
"Sharon, I love you!" he shouted as his last ditch effort to keep her with him.
Slowly he watched as her shoulders slumped as she turned to face him. As she walked towards him she pulls off her wedding ring and placed it in Karl's hands.
"When the man I loved comes back, give me this ring back." was all she said as she once again left him standing there.
Helo couldn't see, cause her back was towards him, but Racetrack saw Sharon's face breaking down as more and more tears started to fall with each passing step. 'I better get her to sickbay faster, before she completely loses it.'
Starbuck got to the hanger deck just in time to see Athena take a nosedive and to see the end to her friends marriage. 'No he can do it. I know he can…he just…gods please help them.' Starbuck stepped up from the crowd and went to Helo's side
"Frakin' moron" muttered the Chief towards Helo as he went back to work.
Starbuck puts a comforting hand on his shoulders when he looks up at her with tears in his eyes. "Come on Karl, you can stay in my bunk."
It had been two days since he had talked to his wife 'no ex-wife, no don't give up she's still your wife.' During those first two days he'd pretty much stayed in Starbuck's rack. Realizing that he was cheating his dearest friend out of her own bed Karl ended up at the pilot's rec. room. Which for the time being was empty. Pulling together three chairs Karl mad his own make shift bed and tried to get some more sleep. He got a good solid 15 minutes in when he felt someone shaking him up.
"Come on, get up." said a soft voice
Opening his eyes he was Duella standing over him.
"Come on Helo, I got a couch with your name on it." she said as she pulled him up.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about---"
"Karl, you let me stay with you when I was having marital problems. Let me return the favor." she pleaded
Too tired to argue both Dee and Helo walked to her quarters.
"I don't know Dee, what about Lee?"
"Don't worry, he doesn't snore like you do." she said as she opens the door to her room. Inside Lee was standing in the middle of the room reading one of many books.
"The couch is yours, sorry for it being kind of small though." said Lee as he looked at the couple.
"No don't worry, I've been staying in Kara's cigar stench rack for the past couple of days, compare to that this heaven." Helo said as he sat down.
Briefly kissing his wife, Lee headed out the door. "Oh, before I forget I should be getting a package soon, so just let whatever they have in." he says as he exits.
Helo didn't know what to think about Apollo. It's not that he didn't like him, it's just that they never really saw eye-to-eye on things. To be honest Helo wasn't expecting a lot from his fellow crewmates, let alone Lee Adama.
"How you doing Helo?" asked Dee.
"Honestly, I feel like I'm stuck in a hole with no way out. And the worst thing about it is I'm the idiot that dug it."
Dee moves over to Helo and hoped that being there could at least give him some kind of comfort.
"Dee, how's Sharon and Hera?"
Taking a deep sigh Dee spoke. "Officially, Lt. Agathon has been a complete professional. Never letting her personal feelings interfere with doing her job." she said like it was a rehearsed speech. "Unofficially, Sharon's a complete wreck. I overheard her saying that nights are the worst, like she's back in her cell."
Helo sat there letting Dee's words repeat in his brain.
"Gods, I miss her so much. Her smell, her taste, the way her spine glows whenever were intimate, frak I even miss the way she would knee me in the groin every time she tosses in her sleep."
"Whoa, wait she has a glowing spine?"
"I'll tell you about it some other time. But most importantly I just miss all of us being together. Me, Sharon, Hera. Those two are my entire world, my life. Without them I'm…I'm…"
Cutting off Karl's emotional conversation with Dee was a pounding noise at the door. Dee quickly opens it up revealing the Admiral carrying a big box.
"Admiral" she said in a professional tone letting him in.
"Dee. I've said you can call me Bill when I personally visit you." said Adama
"Of course, slipped my mind. Do you need help with that sir?" asked Dee as she cleared off the table. Helo not wanting to be rude got up and helped Dee clear off the table as well.
"Mr. Agathon, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine Admiral." said Helo
Adama stared at Helo for a couple of seconds and then turned his attention back towards Dee.
"Dee, could you give us a couple of minutes. I'd like to talk to Mr. Agathon here for a second."
Dee gave a quick look towards Helo then nodded, leaving the two men alone.
"Sir, what did you wan---"
"Shut up Helo. When I said I wanted to talk I meant that I would be the one talking and you're going to shut the frak up and listen. Now, I've come to a decision about your unique situation. The way I see it you've got two choices. One, you can remain a civilian, be escorted off my ship and find another place to live without your wife and I'm guessing only periodical visits with your daughter. Or two you accept my job offer in the CIC, become an officer again and get your life back on track. The reason I'm giving you these two ultimatums is because right now you're a cancer on my ship. You're poisoning my crew's moral, probably more than you realize, and I won't stand for this on my ship. Now I'm giving you to the end of the days sift to make up your mind. If you haven't come up with a decision during that time period I'll have a squadron of marines escort you to one of the raptor to take you somewhere else. You're a good officer Karl, and more importantly you're a good man."
Adama turns and opens the door before he says his departing words.
"There are many men out in the fleet that have lost their families Helo, don't let yours slip without a fight."
Helo stood there stunned at what the Admiral had said. He looked at the clock and saw that the day's shift was going to be over in 10 minutes. 'I don't even need ten seconds.' he thought as he headed towards the Admiral's quarters.
(Adama's quarters)
Admiral Adama just sat down at his desk when Helo walked in. Standing in front of his desk Helo snapped into a tight and perfect salute.
"Captain Agathon reporting for duty sir."
Adama stares at Helo for a couple of seconds before he says anything.
"Helo, you have to understand that a Captain has to prove that he's worthy of the rank that he has been given." says Adama as he stands up and steps right in front of Helo.
'He's going to demote me back to lieutenant, but after everything I pulled I'm lucky I'm not back to ensign.'
"Same goes for Major."
'I knew it all those years of hard work down the…wait what did he just say?'
Adama sticking his hand in font of him waits for Helo to shake his hand.
"Congratulations Major Agathon." says Adama as he reaches in his chest pocket and pulls out a pair of Major pins.
To be cont...