Title: Gentle – Epsilon Sentence Ficlet
Author: Monti
Date: August 01, 2007
Rating: PG
Pairing: Lee/Kara
Word Count: 712
Category: Drama/Angst
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Up through season 3
Author's Note: Just wanted to try some thing a little different so I pulled out the sentence sets.
Summary: What if Kara had brought back some liberated 'patients' from a farm?
06 – Gentle
She rarely showed her gentle side, but it was evident with the women recently liberated from another farm; later she'd tear the hide off anyone or anything that got in her way…Lee planned to steer her to the punch bag as soon as humanly possible.
GENTLE
Lee had a lot on his mind as he made his way down to sickbay to check the status of its temporary occupants. Kara had done it…brought everyone left on Caprica back to the fleet. All of the refugees had cleared quarantine but a few were quietly transferred to his ship for a longer observation period since the facilities on Pegasus were more up to date and Cottle needed a little more time with this particular group. Physically, they all seemed fine but Tyrol recognizing Cavil as a Cylon had left the small bunch very unsettled…especially since he'd been among the ones rescued.
Rounding the corner, he stopped short when he noticed Kara talking with the cluster of women in the small alcove they occupied. At his request, she'd taken some time to come and accept gratitude and appreciation from the special group. From the looks of it, Kara had come directly from CAP…she was still in her flight suit.
Standing back from the action Lee observed as Kara spent a few moments with each woman. He was glad he'd agreed to their wish to see Starbuck personally. He'd almost turned them down, knowing how affected Kara was by her own experience, but he figured it might help the women acclimate not only to being rescued but it might help them adjust to would be very different surroundings. A nudge from Cottle indicating the same made Lee ask the favor of Kara…and he did consider it one.
She rarely showed her gentle side, but it was evident with the women recently liberated from another farm; later she'd tear the hide off anyone or anything that got in her way…Lee planned to steer her to the punch bag as soon as humanly possible. She didn't have to tell him how difficult it was for her to visit the small group, let alone grant them access to 'Kara' and not just 'Starbuck'. But she was doing it…mainly because he'd asked it of her.
Still hanging back, Lee observed the women transform from despairing to hopeful. By now they all knew her story and seeing Kara in her flight suit as a fully functioning officer of the fleet who contributed to the safety of everyone had an amazing effect. So did Kara's acerbic wit and the quick flash of her grin, which had the ladies laughing and put them at ease. If the smile didn't quite reach her eyes and the jokes were primarily a front for what Kara was really feeling…only Lee knew that.
The group looked comfortable for the first time since they'd arrived.
Lee watched as Kara sat with the last woman her soft touch in sharp contrast with the coiled tension in her shoulders. This one was in the worst shape…had been held among the Cylons the longest…and her escape from the planet was largely due to the other four women not letting her give up. He didn't hear what Kara said to her but whatever it was made the woman sit forward to hug her. Again…only Lee noticed the heartbeat it took for Kara to return the embrace.
As Kara stood to say good-bye to the group her gaze was drawn to him and the haunted look in her eyes squeezed at his heart. He nodded, his eyes full of thanks, understanding the toll it took on Kara to do this. As she made her way toward him, the tenuous smile she sent back in acknowledgement let Lee know she was barely keeping it together. Reliving her own experience at the farm through these women hadn't been easy.
Backing out into the corridor when she reached his side, Lee drew his hands from behind him to reveal his boxing gloves, which she accepted without question. "Go on. Helo's waiting in the gym…I've cleared it with Galactica." Lee wished for the first time he didn't have the burden of command on his shoulders…he would gladly take Helo's place as an outlet for her anger, sadness and pain.
This time the smile reached Kara's eyes and her whispered thanks told Lee he'd had the right idea. And as she walked away, he could see some of the tension drain away as her step became lighter.
Helo didn't stand a chance.
FIN