In The Distant Future

By caramelapples

Chapter 14

Bill felt cold hard ice pierce his heart the moment Laura fell motionless.

Please… please… please… please… please… please…

He listened intently for the sounds of her breath and watched for any tiny movement she might make.

But there she laid, motionless, eyes closed and deathly pale.

"Laura?" he called, softly, afraid that any sound he made will banish the tiny bit of life left in her body.

Please… please… please… please… please… please…

He looked up at Cottle who was watching the monitor beside her side so intently. The straight line and even tone was killing him inside more than any other thing.

"Laura…" he said again, but this time so softly that only he himself could hear. "Please…"

And as though the Gods were listening to his silent prayer, the monitor started beeping and the even line was forming mountains and ridges. He breathed in but did not breath out, afraid that any movement might break the spell. Cottle glanced across the bed and shot Bill a look that said it was going to be all right.

Laura was going to be all right.

Laura was going to be all right!

"Before you celebrate, Bill, the doctor that's going to treat her for cancer have to do some tests and make sure that it's clear. But you have to be prepared if it turns out that it's not completely gone or if it hasn't worked at all. At this stage, we wouldn't know anything yet," Cottle said, breaking the silence.

"But for now, she'll be all right?" Bill dared to ask.

"For now, yes," Cottle said, frowning. "It's good that her system did not fight it. But her immune system might prevent it from working. The last time, her immune system was not prepared for it and did not put up any defense as thus, allowing it to destroy the cancer cells and they left her alone," he explained as Bill listened intently. "But then her immune system destroyed the stem cells and the cancer came back. And we fought it with Diloxin, remember?"

Bill nodded. The light hearted feeling was beginning to evaporate from his chest as he realized that it wasn't that simple. "But now?" he asked, pushing the stray hairs from Laura's face. She looked so beautiful when she was sleeping. She was his angel.

"Her body have most probably build a resistance against the cylon child's blood and well… She'll most probably still have the cancer after today. Maybe not as advanced, maybe it'll stop totally… But we don't know for sure that she won't succumb to it again." Cottle shot a glance at the sleeping woman. "But she's a strong one."

Bill smiled. Cottle did have feelings after all. He squeezed her hand. Please be all right, Laura. For us. Please…

Four months later…

Laura leaned back against the rocking chair, a little bit cautiously and held the bundle closer to her.

"Relax, Laura," Bill said, chuckling, kneeling beside her.

"How exactly can I relax when this might break any moment?!" she said, eyes open as wide as saucers. "You sure it's safe?"

"I made it. Of course it's safe," Bill said.

Bill reached out to stroke his baby's soft cheek. Both mother and daughter's large eyes followed him as he adjusted his position to get a better view of his family.

"What are you-Bill!" Laura exclaimed as a white flash blinded her. "Put that thing away!" she exclaimed in horror as she realized that Bill just took a photograph of her. "Put that thing away!"

He shrugged and chuckled. She was so beautiful, he thought and his heart swelled with pride.

"Laura," he said, and gazed into her eyes, "It's for the scrapbook." The moment he said it, he felt the happiness of the moment drain out of the atmosphere. But they had made the scrapbook and he wanted to finish it before time ran out. And he knew Laura had been writing letters to their child. He wouldn't ask to read it of course for it was for their daughter when she could read, when she was old enough.

When Laura was gone.

"Oh." Laura looked as though she might cry but didn't.

She looked down into the baby's face and Baby Laura reached out for her mother's index finger. Laura smiled as she felt tiny fingers wrap around her finger and cooed at the infant. "I love you, Laura," she told her child. "Mommy loves you," she said and felt tears prickling her eyes. "Very much."

"This thing can take videos too," he informed her. "Let me take a video of you both," he suggested.

She laughed. "Doing what?" she asked, incredulous. Bill was glad that he had somehow cleared the melancholy air.

"Sing to her."

"Sing?" Again she questioned him, incredulous.

"Yes, sing to our baby. Hum to her. Sing a lullaby."

"Oh Bill…"

"Please?" he asked, showing her the gadget. "It's something she can watch."

"All right," she sighed. "Any song?"

"Any song," he affirmed, turning the digital camera on and focusing it on Laura and their baby.

She smiled slightly at him and returned her attention to her baby.

"Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing…" she sang at first, a bit unsure but went on when he gave her an encouraging smile.

"Where have all the flowers gone? Long time ago… Where have all the flowers gone? Young girls picked them every one… When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?" Laura sang, her voice becoming more even, adapting to the unheard melody. She loved this song as a child and she still did.

Bill smiled and felt tears prickle his eyes as he watched her through the tiny screen, occasionally glancing at the real thing.

"Where have all the young girls gone? Long time passing…"

Baby Laura sighed softly. She was enjoying her mother sing. She was enjoying the woman's beautiful voice. She loved the warmth that she got from her mother. She loved the smell of her mother. She loved her mother to rock and bounce her gently.

"Where have all the young girls gone? Long time ago… Where have all the young girls gone? Gone to young men every one… When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?…" Laura glanced at Bill and smiled, singing at the same time.

Bill fought the urge to go over and kiss her senseless. He wanted to cry although he knew that he shouldn't as he was a man. He didn't want to be watching this in the future with their baby without her with him. He listened to her sing, his heart breaking with every change of note, with every smile she gave him.

"Where have all the young men gone? Long time passing… Where have all the young men gone? Long time ago.."

Bill felt the warm liquid spilling over and staining his face but he couldn't care to fight them anymore as he watched the woman he loved rock their child and singing to her. Where will my Laura go?

"Where have all the young men gone? Gone to soldier every one… When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn? Where have all the soldiers gone? Long time passing… Where have all the soldiers gone? Long time ago… Where have all the soldiers gone? Gone to graveyards every one…" she looked up at Bill and saw him crying, her heart constricting and she held her baby closer to her. She broke off and stared longingly at him.

"Go on," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Where have all the graveyards gone? Long time passing… Where have all the graveyards gone? Long time ago…" she started again. "Where have all the graveyards gone?" she sang, trying to keep her voice steady as tears stung her eyes. "Gone to flower every one…"

Laura continued singing the last two lines and brushed angrily at a tear. Bill switched off the gadget and went to her side. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you both so much…"

Where have all the flowers gone?

To be continued…

A/N- I heard Marlene Dietrich singing 'Where Have All The Flowers Gone?' and I had to put it in this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter will be the Epilogue. All feedback greatly appreciated! So tell me if you like it, dislike it or how you felt about this chapter via the button at the bottom! Thanks!