Chapter 10: A Family's Strength

Bill sat beside his wife, who lay in their bed more than twelve hours later still unconscious. Ellen had returned with Cottle and, suprisingly, Cally. The latter woman, after seeing to it that Cottle did his job, helped Ellen dry and dress Laura in her nightgown. Ellen had pulled out a comb and set to work smoothing out the tangles in Laura's red hair. It had been a sight that he'd quickly averted his eyes from. Despite the differences in the three women, he had a nagging feeling that for him to look upon it was somehow profane.

Cally and Ellen had left eventually, Cottle too, and left Bill with careful instructions on what to do when (he'd ignored the if that came in Cottle's eyes as he'd spoken) she woke up. And so he waited.

And thought. And finally came to a conclusion.

He couldn't throw the burden of saving them on Saul's shoulders.

He trusted Saul was fighting every second for a way to save them, even as Bill began to see how impossible that'd be. The man he'd known for thirty years wouldn't leave his best friend—or his crew—behind, even if he merely returned to die with them.

He rose from her side, mind already forming a plan. He needed an in to the Cylon plans. He needed to get someone who had nothing else to lose and everything to gain from helping him start what he was contemplating.

Bill needed to get to Felix Gaeta. It was time for revolution. He was not going to remain hidden much longer, not if his people were going to be subjected to the kind of torture Laura showed signs of. He thought of Cally and the bruises he'd seen on her arms when she'd rolled up her sleeves to wash Laura's face and hands. He thought of Sam's numb wanderings and his Kara Gods knew where. It was too much to wait anymore. He couldn't let his faith be all that stood between his people and death. In his heart, Bill was a soldier, uniform or no.

He took one last look down at Laura, pulled on his coat, and snuck out into the evening.

Sam Anders, Bill, Gaeta, Chief, and Cally sat at the table in the Adama's tent, the curtain around the bed shut tight on Laura. She'd come out of her drug induced state and was now resting peacefully.

Gaeta threw uneasy glances at the curtain, making Bill more confident in his choice to reveal himself to the former Lieutenant despite his role so close to Baltar's puppet administration. He knew no member of his crew was emotionless when it came to Laura. She was their president first, and then their Admiral's wife, the latter automatically granting her the protection of every one of them. No doubt Gaeta's misplaced guilt would be advantageous. Bill smirked; He was beginning to sound like a politician.

"I can't be seen around here," Gaeta began," so if you want me to relay information, we'll need some sort of system. Some place, perhaps, where I can safely leave what you need."

"Hm..," said Bill, frowning," Any suggestions?"

"Mn...Bill?"

The group froze, all of them sharing a breathless second before Bill jumped out of his seat and rushed behind the curtain. The others followed, a bit more sedately, round the curtain.

Laura was still lying on her back, but her eyes were open and she was slowly turning her head towards them.

"Laura..," Bill choked out. He sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his. She sniffled, choking back a sob as he ran his thumb over the back of her hand. He smiled softly down at her.

"I thought," Laura croaked, so many hours of disuse having worn her voice to nothing, "I thought I'd never see you again."

His heart broke with the admission.

"But you have, Laura. You're stronger than them."

Laura sighed and turned away, taking in the others for the first time since waking.

"Hey, Ma'am." Said Cally, coming to sit on the other side of the bed. She took Laura's other hand and tried her best not to cry at the state her former president was in. A livid bruise stood out near the junction of her lower jaw to her skull and all present knew there were scars that may never heal hidden within her.

Sam and Gaeta came forward as well, the latter taking a seat next to Bill while Sam sat down beside Cally. Laura looked round at them all with a brave smile, happy to see that her people were still relatively unharmed.

Cally turned back towards the Chief, frowning. He squirmed and shuffled back a bit.

Making the decision for him, Cally stood up and pulled Sam out of the way, glaring at her husband until he approached Laura's side. Laura took his hand before he could say anything and gazed up at him proudly.

"You risked your life for me...thank you Galen." She said softly. Chief blushed scarlet and looked down at where Laura held his hand.

"I....you're my president. And....our Old Lady. We'd all stick our necks out for you, ma'am." He said. Bill knew the man was still feeling more guilt at failing to save her than embarrassment at the praise, but hoped it would reverse in time.

It also did something glorious to his heart to remember how very stupid crashing into a Centurion was, and that Galen Tyrol thought nothing of doing it for the sake of his Admiral's wife.

"What...," Laura breathed," are you all here at once for?"

A dark feeling ghosted through all of them. Their smiles faltered at Laura's question. Bill knows why. None of them are reluctant to fight this head on, not even Laura, but they know the ways that will certainly be employed the longer it takes for Saul and the others to come back—if at all. And Laura, though she has the strength and the ruthless streak, was not capable of the kind of warfare they were going to employ. She still had her compassion for life.

"Stop...looking at one another like I can't read your expressions."

"Ma'am.," Sam began, but she shot him her best teacher look and he fell silent.

"I'm a teacher, Mr. Anders. I know what happens when an oppressed populace has had enough."

"Laura," Bill said, leaning closer to her as she struggled to turn her head his way," They know what happened to you. Ellen got you here yesterday, but Cally told me quite a few eyes were on you when you were released."

"Hmm..."

"It isn't just the people in this tent that still stand with you," Sam said.

"And with Doctor Doofus's screwup...", Cally added, making a face.

Laura made a face at the young woman's name for Baltar, giggling until a pain in her chest stopped her short. She burst into coughs, her face frozen in agony until Bill and Sam helped her sit up and control her breathing.

They all looked so pained at her distress that she didn't complain when Sam went to start some tea or Cally readjusted the pillows. Normally their mothering would bristle against her carefully constructed facade of power, the strong politician. It was a sign of how severely she'd been hurt and how much it weakened her that she allowed them to control the situation.

"We'll talk about fighting back later," Bill said finally, once Laura had laid back in bed and Sam had helped her drink some tea," Right now, you just rest. I'll be here."

"I know." She said, picking his hand up in both of hers and kissing his knuckles," I know."