Chapter 14

"The assault happened here," Adama pointed out to Cain as he stood in the middle of Life Station. Cain had informed him about Lieutenant Agathon and Chief Tyrol protecting the Cylon in the brig when Lieutenant Thorne had tried to rape her. He felt the need to applauded them for their action but something about Admiral Cain's voice made him rethink that notion. "They should face court martial on Galactica."

"Commander I am the senior convening authority present and they will be tried on Pegasus," Cain's voice came through the static.

"They're my men," Bill argued.

"One of my men is dead," Cain pointed out.

"Fine. We both have strong feelings about the case. That only underlines the need for an impartial trial."

"Oh you mean an independent tribunal? Because according to your logs Commander, you dissolved the independent tribunal when you didn't like the verdict, and if I'm not mistaken, Chief Tyrol was on trial there as well."

Adama hated how Cain was using all his past mistakes against him. He wondered if she had a photographic memory or tape recorded everything people said in order to recall it later. "That was a different time."

"Yes…it was…I'll be in touch commander, thank you."

Bill heard the familiar sounds of the wireless disconnecting and he held the speaker to his unit in his hand…wanting to break it. Throw it against a wall, anything to get his rage at Admiral Cain out. Annoyed he hung up the wireless and returned to Laura's bedside.

Taking a seat by Laura's bed he watched as her chest rose and fell. Its movement was shallower than it had been with the ventilator, but Bill was happy to see that she was breathing for herself. Bill looked at her face, so peaceful and undisturbed after they'd removed the ventilator.

"I know it's hard," he said taking her hand. "But you have to keep fighting. Please, Laura. Just keep fighting." He brought the back of her hand to his mouth and kissed it. He let out a deep breath as he fought the tears that threatened to fall down his face. Reaching up with his free hand he stroked her hair, making sure that it framed her face correctly. His hand flinched as Dr. Cottle came in with a syringe. Adama watched him intently as he moved towards Laura's IV, ready to inject her. "What is that?" he asked calmly.

"It's serazone," he reported. "I'm going to make an effort to slip her a dosage every few hours. It's my hope that chemical help might be as effective as mechanical." Adama nodded in response, "Don't tell Cain or she'll have my ass."

"I really didn't want to do this?" Adama confessed. "I don't think I can stand watching her die like this."

"The end has been coming for a long time," Cottle reminded him.

"I know, but that doesn't make this easier to deal with. I wish she would wake up so I could say goodbye."

"She's still strong. There's a good chance she will survive without the ventilator. We just have to keep a close eye on her respiration."

"Dammit, I can't believe the Admiral, she told me we should have let her die on the flight deck," Adama said, his eyes starting to tear. "I couldn't have done that. I couldn't have just let her die in my arms. What does that say about me?"

"You did all you could," Cottle said. "You love her, even I can see that."

"Then how can I just let her go?" Adama questioned.

"You aren't just letting her go," Cottle said. "You're here for her. You haven't gone into hiding. That says something."

"It hurts so much for me to see her like this."

"I know…I think you can use some rest commander…"

Bill nodded as he settled his hand on top of Laura's hand. He breathed as the warm skin of his forehead connection with her knuckles. Closing is eyes he allowed himself to drift away, holding onto her like a lifeline.

The chains clinked as the guards unhooked the Cylon from her restraints. Gaius watched as they set the restraints aside and stood up, looking to him for further instructions.

"Thank you," Baltar said. "Now get out!"

He watched as the door slid shut and the guards took their positions outside the door. He turned and looked back at the broken woman laying on the floor and the plate of food laying a few feet away from her. Taking off his coat he dropped it on the floor as he moved towards the wall. He crouched down so that he was in her line of site before he began speaking.

"The food is yours," Gaius stated. Immediately he noticed anxiety washing over her as she eyed the food. Poor thing probably hadn't eaten in weeks. "It's not a trick, I'm not gonna take it away at the last second." Sitting against the wall, he watched her wanted her to trust him. "I'm um…I'm just going to talk, right now. I don't expect you to say anything."

Taking a deep breath Gaius began to talk. "Back on Caprica, before the attack, and sometimes I forget there was a world before the attack. I knew someone. A woman, unlike any other woman that I had ever known. She was unique; beautiful, clever, intensely sexual. When she wasn't in my bed she was in my thoughts. She was a Cylon and she changed my life in a very real, very fundamental way. And quite literally I never stop thinking about her, because I love her. Till this very day I love her. And she looks exactly like you." The Cylon was still. Unmoving, at the sound of Baltar's voice. "My name is Gaius Baltar and I'm here to help you."

It was only when the Cylon didn't think that he was looking anymore did the Cylon move her hand from behind her back to reach for the fruit on the plate. Weakly pulling it towards her she moved the piece of fruit into her mouth and began to nibble on it. Gaius watched her out of the corner of his eye as his ears were greeted with a sniff. Was she crying? He could see her eyes were closed as she savored the flavors of the fruit and her face was turning towards the floor.

Gauis closed his eyes, letting his own anguish wash over him as he let his tears fall.

"Commander Adama, contact CIC asap."

The noise coming from the intercom shook Adama from his sleep. He glanced at Laura quickly, hoping she had the strength to hand on through whatever was about to come their way. Running to the wall he picked up the wireless.

"Adama."

"I just talked to Fisk," he heard his XO say. "The court martial is over."

"Over? When did it start?"

"I don't know, but they've been found guilty on all counts, she's gonna execute them both for murder and treason."

Anger flowed through Bills veins. First she forced several of his men to transfer, then she asked him to take Laura off the respirator, and now she was going to execute his men without a fair trial. Glancing down at the ground he fought back a scream. "I want a marine strike team in a raptor in five minutes. Prepare to launch alert fighters."

He returned the handset to its proper place and darted out the door. He walked briskly to CIC, pacing several crewman who wordlessly created holes for him. When he finally reached the CIC he ordered Dee to get him a secure channel. Steam was about to come through his ears if he didn't do something about this woman's oppressiveness right now.

"Pegasus this is Galactica, please secure channel, Commander Adama would like to speak to Admiral Cain," Dee reported to the Pegasus. Once it was confirmed that Admiral Cain was on the line Adama picked up the wireless and began venting his controlled rage.

"You told me they'd get a fair trail. What kind of trial could they have possibly gotten?"

"I assure you I heard them out. I weighed their statements against those of the guards and I took into consideration their service records and commendations. It was a difficult decision Commander, but I dare say it was a fair one."

"They have the right to have their case heard by a jury."

"I am a flag officer, in a detached service during a time of war. Regulations give me broad authority in this matter," Cain informed him.

That was it! That was the absolute last straw! He could not take this woman's arrogance one more minute. Covering the mouthpiece with his hand he turned to Dee, "Launch the fighters!" he ordered before uncovering the mouthpiece. "You can quote me any regulation you'd like. I'm not gonna let you execute my men."

"I highly suggest you rethink that statement," Cain advised. There was a brief lull in the conversation and Adama knew that Fisk had discovered the raptor and vipers on dradis. "Commander…" her voice once again took on that matronly tone that he hated to the pit of his core. He was a Commander in the Colonial Fleet. He didn't need his mother telling him what to do. "Why are you launching vipers?"

"Please arrange for Chief Tyrol and Lieutenant Agathon to be handed over to my marines as soon as they arrive."

"I don't take orders from you!" Cain hissed.

"Call it whatever you'd like, I'm getting my men."

"You are making such a mistake."

"I'm getting my men." Adama said. He waited a few seconds for her to start replying, but when no response came he slammed the phone down. He'd had enough of this woman and her power hungry attitude. Something needed to be done about her. He stood still ready to give the next order, should Cain challenge their vipers.

A minute later he had his answer. "Sir," Dee began. "Pegasus just launched her vipers."

TBC