Chapter 2

"Wait! You don't understand!" - Alacrity Fitzhugh and Hobart Floyt

The Present – The Galactica

Drawn by the sound of a voice, Cassiopeia walked down the short corridor of the Life Station to the private room they had made available for Baltar. Salik and Wilker had done it more to ensure the rest of the Life Station was undisturbed by angry refugees wanted to see that justice was finally done, rather then concern for his comfort or even fear of his trying to leave.

Still Cassie was alarmed when she found the door partially opened and heard a woman speaking, or rather apologizing. She looked in and saw Athena standing next to the bed, leaning over him slightly and holding his hand. Baltar, lying on the bed, appeared to be asleep.

"I was afraid…I wanted to talk to you…but I had heard such terrible things…" Athena was saying softly, her voice wavering. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner…I didn't want to believe what they were saying…I still don't want to believe…"

"Then don't," he murmured, barely audible.

"What?" Athena asked, startled to hear him speak.

"Don't believe them." Although a bit stronger, he sounded weak and distant.

"Why not?"

"I wouldn't hurt you…never…"

"I know that but my father – " She broke off when he groaned. "What's wrong?"

"…overbearing…overprotective…"

"Stop." With one hand she placed her fingertips on his lips. "I think you're overwrought."

From where she was standing in the doorway, Cassie heard him make an odd sound, almost a giggle.

"I must be dead," Baltar said, still in that slightly slurred, distant tone.

"No, you aren't," Athena said.

"I have to be…I'm talking with you…"

"You're not dead." Her voice rose in anxiety.

"Don't worry, Athena, I quite like it."

"Why?"

"I can talk with you…I missed you…"

"I…I missed you also," she said and, bending over him, kissed his cheek.

Cassie must have made a sound since Athena looked back over her shoulder to the doorway and saw Cassie. Athena froze, her face becoming pale.

"But if I'm dead…why am I so tired?" Baltar asked.

"You rest now. I'll see you later," Athena told him, turning back to him. She released his hand and started to go.

"I'm not going anywhere…" Again Cassie heard him give a small laugh. Athena paused to give him a glance before exiting his room, Cassie stepping aside for her and closing the door after her.

"I suppose you want an explanation," Athena said. She looked tired and worried.

"Only if you want to give me one," Cassie said kindly.

"But first…why does he think he's dead?"

"You heard him. You're talking to him."

"But I'm not dead," Athena insisted, although there was a shade of doubt in her voice.

"Yes, but does he know that?" Cassie smiled. "He's still affected by the anesthetic. He'll come out of it."

"You must think I'm an idiot."

"Not necessarily," Cassie said sympathetically. When Athena looked at her in surprise, Cassie continued, "In my former profession, I saw and heard enough not to make assumptions. Since socialators maintain their clients' confidentiality, they tend to confide in us things that other people would not understand."

"I think this goes a bit beyond that."

"I've heard quite a bit."

"The last time I spoke to him was on Kobol," Athena said. "He told me what the Council had tried to do…and how it failed."

"You didn't tell this to anyone else?" Cassie didn't understand what Athena meant but she suspected there was more to it. Much more.

"Of course not, no one would have believed me, and it would have only hurt my father."" Athena wiped away tears. "I thought Baltar had been killed on Kobol during the attack. It was only later…and then it was too late…" Athena sighed.

"It must have been hard on you," Cassie said. She could only guess at stress and pain Athena must have been subjected to during the last yahren.

"It was hard on everyone, particularly my father. He had always relied on my mother for support. Without her…"

"You tried to provide that support." Cassie rested her hand on Athena's arm. She now at least could understand Athena's almost stoic attitude.

"It was necessary to keep the fleet going," she again sighed, and then reasserted her self-control. "I shouldn't have come to see him. It would be better if he didn't even know I was alive."

"Why did you then?"

"I know he's falling apart. I've seen him on the comline and he's not himself. He's not the man I – " Athena stopped with a flash of panic in her eyes. She took a breath and then finished, " – the man I knew."

"You still care for him," Cassie said. Although she noted Athena's self-correction, she made no mention of it.

"I don't know what's worse: believing he had been killed or knowing he survived and not being able to help him."

"You did visit and speak to him. That should be of some help."

"Was he even truly aware? Will he even remember?"

"He's heard a friendly voice for the first time in a yahren or so."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he thought he imagined it," Athena said wistfully. "Please don't say anything to him or to my father. It would just complicate matters."

"What if he should ask about you?"

"He won't. Just as he won't say anything about the Council. As long as he doesn't know I'm here, he has no reason." Athena smiled dryly when she saw Cassie's look. "It's a political thing. He and my father have both put aside personal needs for political necessities for so long that it's become a habit."

"As you have?"

"Yes." Athena said and quickly slipped out of the Life Station.

The Past – Caprica City

A few days later, when Athena next entered the Sagitaran Councilor's outer office she found Baltar sitting behind the desk, shoulder to shoulder with a young, pretty dark-haired woman. They were both intently examining the desk's console controls. As Athena watched, he leaned over and showed his companion something on the screen, casually tapping a few keys.

"See, this isn't much different than the system at home," Baltar told her.

"But just enough to make me really confused," she answered with a slight Sagitaran sing-song accent. She wore a grey and rose tunic, civilian attire.

"You'll get used to it in no time." He patted her hand in a familiar manner, making Athena feel as if she had intruded. She stepped back, her movement catching his attention causing Baltar to look up at her.

"Athena, how nice to see you. I hadn't expected to see you today."

"I can always return later if you're busy."

"Busy?" He frowned, puzzled before realization set in and he gave her one of his merry grins. He stood and came around from behind the desk to join Athena.

"Athena, allow me to introduce you to Tesha. She'll be assisting me," Baltar said, making introductions. "Tesha, this is Lieutenant Athena. She's our Council liaison this session."

Tesha looked up from the console screen and smiling, gave Athena a small wave. Athena smiled in return.

"Tesha is also my niece," Baltar added.

"Oh, my…I feel so stupid…" Athena murmured. Now that he mentioned it the family resemblance seemed obvious.

"You shouldn't. I appreciate your compliment though." With his hands behind his back, he leaned in towards her, rising a bit on his toes.

"Compliment? I didn't say anything." Acutely aware of his presence next to her, Athena nervously looked up at him.

"You didn't need to…" Baltar's voice trailed off leaving some things unspoken.

"I think you're a bad influence on me."

"Promise?" he asked with a sly smile.

"Excuse me," Tesha called out. With a wistful glance at Athena, Baltar turned back to the desk. "What priority do you want me to give to these solicitations for off grounds events."

"If it has nothing to do with Council matters, send my regrets," he told her.

"And Council receptions?"

"Why do they do this to me?" he groaned. "They keep me trapped in a room with them all day and then think I want to spend all evening with them."

"Well, what should I do with the invitations?" Tesha waited for his answer, one hand poised over the keys.

"I know, let's ask our liaison. Athena, what should I do with them?"

"You don't sound as if you want to go."

"Although if I don't attend, I'd probably miss out on the more substantial conversations among Council members." Baltar paused considering the matter and then a sparkle appeared in his eyes. "I suppose attending would require a certain liaison to get me to the correct building on time…"

"I'm make confirmations for two then," Tesha said, already entering in the information.

"Wait, how do you know?" Athena asked.

"My uncle is a very good politician." Tesha winked at her.

----------

The following day saw the official start of the Council of Twelve's session. While little actual business was done, there were the requisite ceremonies of welcome and other assorted formalities which found Athena guiding her charge to various locations within the Presidium. In the afternoon, with a break in his schedule, she waited with Baltar in the inner room of the office suite that had been assigned to him.

"Why do you keep checking the time?" Baltar, wearing a white robe with large double sleeves and his Councilor's medallion of office, sat in a high-backed, black chair behind a desk similar to the one in the outer room. Athena occupied a more modest chair on the other side of the desk.

"You have an appointment soon. I wouldn't want you to be late."

"That's very considerate of you, but are you in such a hurry to be rid of me?"

"I didn't mean to give you that impression," Athena answered demurely.

"Then don't worry about the time."

"I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Why would I get in trouble?" he asked, curious. "The worst that could happen is someone calls and inquires as to what is keeping me."

"I heard that some of the other Councilors were not pleased by your lack of timeliness at the last session." Athena fidgeted in her chair, uneasy from his line of questioning.

"Really? If they did, they neglected to inform me." He leaned back in his chair behind his desk. With one hand, he idly tapped the glossy black desktop. "And it couldn't have been more than a few centons here and there…" he murmured.

With a sudden move, he slammed his hand flat against the desktop causing Athena to jump in her seat.

"Adama! It was Adama!" he exclaimed, leaning forward.

"What?" Athena asked, hardly daring to breathe.

"It was he who complained about my 'lack of timeliness'. He's the one who ordered you to get me to meetings on time."

"I wasn't ordered," Athena protested. "I was requested to help you while you are on Caprica." There was silence as they looked at each other before his irritated expression faded.

"Forgive me." He smiled apologetically. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset. You just startled me." She relaxed, although she wondered if he hadn't found out that her father had requested that she try to keep Baltar to Adama's standard of punctuality.

"You know what?" He leaned forward resting his elbows on the desk and his chin on his hands. The white sleeves of his robe cascaded down to the glossy black desktop.

"What?"

"I think Adama's going to be very annoyed with me." His mischievous grin worried her.

"Why?" she squeaked.

"I was supposed to be at the Council's portrait sitting about…oh…" He glanced briefly at a chronometer. "…5 centons ago."

"You were?" Alarmed, Athena jumped to her feet. "If we hurry – "

"Athena, calm down." He interrupted her and laughed. "They're probably just bickering anyway." Deliberated unhurried, he stood and came around from behind the desk to her side. "Shall we?" He took her arm is his and strolled with her out of his office and into the corridor. "I won't let Adama get you in trouble for my…er…failure to keep time."

"How can you do that?"

"Diplomatic immunity."

"Oh, that's fine for you. It doesn't apply to me."

"I can always create a diplomatic incident," Baltar said cheerfully. "Would you like to be the cause of a diplomatic incident?"

"It would have been less trouble to keep track of the time," she murmured.

"Hmmm…I'm finding that very difficult when you're with me."

"What do I have to do with your ability to keep time?" Athena looked up at him. He still seemed blissfully unconcerned.

"Ah, you see, I enjoy your company. I'm not in a hurry to leave you in order to get trapped in a room with a bunch of inflexible bureauticians."

"But you're a member of the same Council," Athena said, bewildered by his assessment of those he should have considered his equals.

"Don't remind me." He winced rather dramatically. If fact, too dramatically for it to have been other than mockery. Athena couldn't decide if he was mocking the Council or himself.

"If you don't like it, why do you do it?"

"Why are you a lieutenant in the Caprican fleet?" He asked, stopping as they reached the opened double doors of the Council's chamber. Athena could see the long meeting table and the emblems of the Colonies adorning the walls inside. The other Councilors, grouped in pairs and trios, were chatting amongst themselves. While most of the others wore some variation on the traditional long white robes, Adama's silver-trimmed blue uniform stood out. Adama caught sight of Baltar and frowned. As he walked towards them, Athena tried to slip away but Baltar held her arm firmly in his.

"Adama, pray excuse my delay," Baltar said smoothly. "Please do not fault my liaison for my failure to arrive timely. I assure you she made every effort to keep me to your schedule, however, I had to attend to some important business."

"Now that you're here, we can get to our business," Adama said.

"Of course, anything you wish," He agreed amiably and then turned to Athena. "I look forward to seeing you this evening for the reception. Don't forget I need your assistance." He smiled, releasing her arm and giving her a small bow.

As she left, Athena could not help but notice her father's disapproving glance at Baltar.