Chapter 2
Helo discovered quickly that he had to pretend that the world was not over. He found himself the defacto leader of the survivors. They looked to him for answers and guidance. He couldn't lead if he thought that they were dead already. So he convinced himself, that there might be a way to not only save himself, but keep 20 other people alive.
After Kara's speech, the group of civilians gladly followed him. They traveled throughout the day under his guidance and now had made camp in a small clearing. They haven't seen any other humans or any sign of Cylons all day so he allowed them to relax slightly and build a fire.
Now he and Kara are sitting side by side each eating part of the small ration of food they were able to procure. Helo was sure that anyone who has food it pirating it away, and he knows that if they survive for the next day or two they will be forced to look for food. He takes the opportunity to study the blonde woman sitting next to him and she returns the scrutiny. Somehow, in all the stories Zak Adama had told of his wife, the mighty Starbuck, Helo hadn't expected her to be quite so beautiful, and so oddly fragile looking.
Helo has no idea what to expect from her, now that the legend of Starbuck is conflicting with the flesh and blood woman in front of him. He half thought she'd ask more questions about her husband, but she seemed content with the sparse details he had given her earlier. So he was slightly shocked when she suddenly curled up on the ground next to him and closed her eyes.
He exhaled his relief that she had chosen to sleep where he could easily and unobtrusively watch over her. He had only known this woman for a few hours but he knew that letting her out of his sight even briefly would be difficult, if not impossible. He had no idea what inspired such sudden and fierce loyalty. As he watched her steady breathing he knew it was more than just the state of her huge pregnant stomach. She looked almost painfully curled up on the hard ground, but he suspected that she would resist any kind of assistance he offered her.
Helo decided that he needed to sleep if he was going to be of any use as a leader. His little ragtag group of survivors would be all right for a few hours. Or they simply wouldn't be; there was no way to tell what tomorrow would bring. He arranged himself close enough to Kara's sleeping form that any movement from her would wake him, but hopefully still achieved an appropriate distance, considering that he had only known her for a few hours.
He tried to still his thoughts as exhaustion finally attempted to overpower the finely tuned instincts that were keeping him awake. As Helo drifted off to sleep something about the woman next to him nagged him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. His last thought before sleep swept him away was that he had been subconsciously surprised at Kara's huge stomach. In all of his adoring stories, Zak Adama had never once mentioned that his wife was pregnant.