Okay, so BSG skipped a year in the middle of the series so I figured I could do the same. I thought about posting this separately but it is the same story so I decided not to. Thanks for reading and the reviews! You crack me up with your responses!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all belongs to Ron Moore and Sci-fi ect.
1 year and six months later…
For a few brief weeks, everything in Galen Tyrol's life was good. He had a beautiful, sassy wife whom he loved deeply. His son was a handsome, soft milky white assortment of arms and legs usually wrapped in a stained but clean white blanket. Life on New Caprica was over. The bitter cold of the New Caprica wind was replaced by the body heat of a dozen refugees cramped into his once spacious officer's quarters.
He was deck chief again. That alone made things right. The smell of engine grease and the scraping of metal on metal filled his senses like a soothing medicine. Adama was leading the people. Galactica was operating at peak efficiency. Laura Roslin was president and earth was once again within arms reach. Yes, life was good. He never thought it could be after what they had endured.
He left Dr. Cottle's office feeling even better. He had donated blood for the good of the refugees and had been given a clean bill of health by the doctor himself. He stepped into the florescent light of Galactica's corridor. With a deep inhale he started back toward the hanger deck. Yes, right now, life was good.
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William Adama rarely did things against his better judgment. There were times, however, his better judgment had to take a short sabbatical. Such times usually meant his heart dictated his action. The incident a year ago in the vent with Laura Roslin was one instance. He could still feel the heat pricking at his toes as if it had just happened yesterday. He could still vividly see her wild red hair and the cuts on her face but something had changed the memory over the year. Each time he thought about what almost happened his veins were filled with a bitter burning instead of an electric thrill. He never thought about his feelings for her anymore. They were lost somewhere between the time and space between Galactica and New Caprica. He wasn't sure he cared to find them again.
The rescue from New Caprica was another such time his lost his better judgment, although it was a much larger and more dangerous scale, or so he told himself.
Now, in the solitude of his quarters, looking directly into fierce yet respectful eyes he again suspended his better judgment. Lt. Karl Agathon was a loyal solider and a good man. Adama had never questioned that. Perhaps, that is why the young man's request to meet with the President did not fall on deaf ears. Adama knew why Agathon wanted to talk to her. Part of him felt that Roslin deserved to face the consequences of her action. She had to own up to her choices. Helo and Athena now knew the ultimate fate of their child, and Adama could not blame Helo for wanting to resolve the issue with the perpetrator.
Yes, it was against his better judgment, but as often happened, his heart took over. No one could change the past, but Adama knew what it was like to lose a child. He knew Helo would feel better if his anger found a target. Adama tried to convince himself the target should not be Roslin, but he failed to see her as innocent in the whole escapade. With a heavy sigh he reached for the phone and scheduled a meeting with Laura Roslin.
Only a few short hours later Adama slowly stepped through the doorway of Roslin's office aboard Colonial One as he had done so many times before. This would not be a happy occasion and he was sure what was to be said would hurt her. He made up his mind to let things play out as they may and leave her to her own mind. Whatever the Admiral and the President had to discuss could wait for another day.
Once in the room Adama turned and drew his eyes up to face the tall officer behind him. Helo did not hide his contempt. He approached Roslin's desk with three strides of his long legs. Roslin suddenly stood up as if the action could help defend her against the anger in Helo's eyes.
"Permission to speak freely," he asked, addressing the Admiral.
"Granted," Adama said staring at his officer intently.
Strangely enough, Adama did not feel Roslin's life was in danger. Adama had always trusted Lt. Karl Agathon a great deal. He trusted the officer enough even now, to bring him aboard her ship in a state of blind fury.
"How dare you," Agathon began, pushing back his shoulders.
His tone was restrained but Adama could see he was trying his best not to shout at the President.
"How dare you take my baby and lead us to believe she was dead. How dare you think you could protect her better than we could," Helo continued his voice picking up volume as he went on.
"We have done nothing but help you. Our baby saved your frakking miserable life. How dare you frak around with my family! I hope someday, someone takes away the thing you love. I hope you never get it back! I hate you more than I could ever hate the cylons because you are human. You should know better. But you aren't better. Never forgot that. Never." Helo looked as if he was about to continue but Adama suddenly stepped forward and caught Agathon's attention.
"Alright, you've said your piece you're dismissed," Adama gently instructed. Agathon returned to his ridged restrained stance.
"Permission to ask one last question sir," Helo said, with his eyes straight ahead. Curiosity plucked at Adama's interest. He looked toward Roslin, who seemed to be holding up rather well under the slew of insults. Adama nodded his head.
"Do you feel anything, any guilt or sadness for what you've done or is your heart made of stone?"
Helo lifted his chin after speaking. His eyes burned with rage as he faced the President. Adama was suddenly glad looks could not kill or Roslin may have really been in danger.
"I don't owe you an explanation," Roslin said, almost flippantly.
Adama refused to let her get away with being so cold. Agathon had a great respect for her office. The fact the young solider hadn't come here with the intent of ripping Roslin apart bodily told Adama he deserved the same respect he had shown the President.
"I beg your pardon Madame President but I think you do," Adama stated.
Hurt plainly crept across Roslin's features. He watched her take her eyes away from him as if looking at him caused her physical pain. The words he had spoken were taken as a betrayal. Adama stood solid and restrained with his eyes pinned on her. No, Laura, you're not getting away with this one, he thought with a deep inhale.
Slowly rounding her desk Roslin came to standstill in front of Helo. Her physical presence was small in the looming figure of Agathon's.
"Do you really think that allowing the child to remain with you would have kept it alive? It was put into hiding as much for its own benefit as the fleets. I have no guilt for what I have done." Roslin's tone was emotionless, rational and very condescending.
Adama felt his heart tighten at her tone and cursed himself for letting it get to him.
Helo shook his head and Adama watched a sneer try not to form on his lips.
"Our baby is not an 'it.' Her name is Hera. Sharon was right. You really are a nutty old hag," Helo spat. Roslin dropped her shoulders back a little and Adama was glad to see at least some of Helo's words were affecting her.
"That's enough Lt. You are dismissed," Adama ordered.
Agathon look his sneering gaze away from the President and his eyes once again filled with respect as he looked at Adama. With a nod and clenched teeth he turned and left the room.
"Was that necessary?" Roslin hissed at Adama the moment Helo was out of ear shot. Adama was a surprised at the anger in her voice.
"Actions always have consequences," Adama replied coolly.
"I know that," Roslin said her tone sharp and harsh. Adama rarely ever saw her show so much emotion when she was angry. Helo must have upset her more than Adama originally thought.
"You don't know," Adama replied his voice calm, "How could you know what he is going through. You've never experienced the emptiness that comes from losing a child."
Roslin jerked her head up to meet his gaze. The fierce anger he saw clearly on her face showed him he had said the exact wrong thing.
"I never expected such a pig-headed ignorant remark from you Bill," she snapped. "Get out of my office. Don't come back until you can talk sensibly."
Laura Roslin had done many things, but throwing him out of her office was one thing he never thought likely. In fact, he was so much in shock that he obliged her in a daze. He was on a raptor back to Galactica before the full force of the conversation had hit him. Helo sat across from him avoiding eye contact and obviously not wanting to engage in any kind of conversation. Adama was grateful because it gave him time to examine what had happened.
Roslin had never been so irrational as to throw him out of her office. If anything he had expected a heated argument about what had happened to the cylon child and an ambiguous but stable resolution. Adama certainly wasn't fully against Roslin's actions as she did have good reason to hide the child. He just wanted to her understand even a fraction of the pain she had inflicted on the parents. A pain he knew all too well.
He looked out the window of the raptor into the deepness of black space. There was so much emptiness in space. There was so much emptiness within the fleet now. Everything seemed empty and pointless. Adama sighed. His thoughts went back to Roslin. Empty and pointless…that's what had become of their relationship.
The conversation played over in his mind once again. Adama knew enough of life to understand that women only acted irrational for two reasons: children and love. Adama was now certain Laura Roslin had an issue with children. Why would a woman who apparently loves children have never married and had her own? She had said Adar was 'safe.' What did 'safe' mean? Was he safe because he wouldn't have wanted children?
As soon as the after effects from the encounter with Helo cleared, Adama decided he would ask her point blank. He usually avoided personal questions when talking to her, but, if it was having an affect on her judgment then it needed to be addressed. Of course, his love for her used to affect his judgment and he had failed miserably at bringing that up. It didn't really matter anymore…she probably never felt the same about him anyway…