Chapter 2- whats going on
Cottle waited for the obviously shocked Commander to collect his thoughts and reflected that Captain Adama must have been lying when he said his father knew about the surgery. "He sounded so convincing", he muttered out loud. Adama turned toward him blue eyes measuring, "who sounded convincing', he demanded. "Your son, commander when he told me you knew. That's why I assumed you'd approved his flight status", Cottle replied. Now Adama shifted his feet slightly as if relieving some tension. "Are you questioning his flight status", asked Colonel Tigh seriously from beside his commander.
"He's has about 15 sutures still in his back", Cottle remarked, "so yes, I'm questioning his flight status". Commander Adama seemed to finally get a grip on himself, "alright, have him report to the med bay and we'll get to the bottom of this".
The request went out over the intercom.
Lee was walking down the corridor with Starbuck and the other pilots when he heard the request for him to report to med bay. He didn't change direction however just kept walking. A puzzled Starbuck however reached out and pulled him to a halt. "Why do they want you in med bay", she asked seriously. Lee didn't answer for a few minutes then with a bitter tone replied, "maybe the Commander is having a moment of conscience". Starbuck frowned at him, "a moment of conscience about what , Lee", Starbuck demanded her fingers so tight on his arm that her nails were making indentations. For an answer Lee lifted the back of his shirt revealed the scar and sutures. Starbuck jumped back, "you've been up there flying with us all this time with sutures in your back', she muttered stunned. 'Yes, so, the Commander knew, it's nothing to get uptight about Kara", Lee muttered. Kara looked unconvinced, "with all the movements we've been pulling its amazing none of those have burst", she told him.
Lee just shrugged in reply. Kara bent to have a closer look at the scar, "so what happened", she demanded gruffly. Lee made no reply and Kara straightened up to look at him. She noted he suddenly looked a little pale, "was it that bad', she asked softly . Lee made no reply. "Well you'd better let the Doc remove those for you", Starbuck told him firmly. Lee bit his lip, "I guess', he muttered. "There is no guess about it Lee, I believe you were just ordered to med bay", Kara stressed the word ordered. Lee looked for a moment like he was going to ignore the order but then with a glare in Karas direction strode off toward med bay. Kara waited a decent interval of time before she turned to follow him, determined to find out exactly what was going on.
Cottle was standing with his arms crossed over his waist and an annoyed expression on his face as he saw Lee approaching. "I believe we got interrupted last time Captain", he remarked pointing to the bed. Lee began to strip off again. "I don't know why everyone is so concerned", he muttered. If the Commander thinks its alright for me to be up there when why shouldn't everyone else." Cottle had been waiting for a moment to bring up the Captains lie but it seemed the Captain was again bringing up the fact that his father supposedly knew about his surgery. The Doc was now puzzled as there was again a certainty in Lee's voice. He was about to comment further when another voice interrupted. "The Commander didn't know", William Adama remarked gruffly from behind Lee.
Lee actually jumped then turned to regard his father. "You would lie", he accused. "You didn't care enough to even check up on me as I lay in intensive care, and of course visiting me would have interrupted some other important schedule", Lee shouted. Bill actually stepped back a few paces, he was not so much shocked by the anger as still recovering from two words Lee had uttered. "You were in intensive care", he gasped.
Lee was staring right into his eyes as he said that and glimpsed the shock. It was almost like his father had no idea what had happened to him. He had no opportunity to reply further though as Cottle requested he lie on his stomach.
Lee turned over blocking out his fathers stunned face.
Cottle was looking at the sutures. "Looks like you should have had these out awhile ago Captain, the skin has started to grow over some of them. It might hurt a little when I take them out." Lee made now comment just closing his eyes as the doc began to pull on the sutures.
Bill had stood numbly slowly building up the courage to actually ask Lee what and happened. From the comment about intensive care he guessed it must have been bad and a part of his mind skittered away from the thought that he could have possibly lost another son.
Cottle didn't have the emotional concerns of his Commander and simply asked, Captain I would like to know what happened." Lee still couldn't understand why he was asking. "But you know", he steadfastly maintained. "Son I don't know why you think I know about this but you must believe when I say this is the first time I've even heard that you have had surgery", Bill answered moving closer to the bed and placing one hand on his sons shoulder. Lee lifted his face off the bed and looked at his father staring into the blue eyes that were so like his own. "But they told me they notified you", Lee mumbled shocked. Bill frowned, 'who told you", he asked. "The doctor aboard the Atlantia", Lee replied still watching his father. He saw the head shake, "nobody ever notified me Lee", Adama stated firmly. Lee had been prepared for many answers, but not for that one. He lowered his head back down onto the bed and lay there in stunned silence.
All this time he'd been angry that his father had seemingly neglected him. Yet it turned out he'd never even known about the accident. Lee was now feeling very confused.
Cottle rested one hand on the small of Lee's back while he used the other to pull out the sutures. He was about half way across the scar when he moved his hand onto another spot and the Captain visibly jumped. He'd noted that reaction before and immediately stopped removing the sutures. "Captain are you still in pain", he asked seriously.
"No", Lee lied. "Yes he is", interposed yet another familiar voice. "Butt out Starbuck", Lee muttered. "No way fly boy", Starbuck retorted. "He seemed to be in some discomfort after flying not long ago", she told Cottle.
"Hmm, I don't really think you should still be in pain Captain. From the looks of the scar what ever happened took place just before the war", Cottle mused. Lee nodded, "yes",he acknowledged. "So the Atlantia CAG gave you permission to fly", Bill asked seriously. Lee bit his lip, "well", he hedged. His fathers eyes were flashing now and his whole body was tense. If Lee could have jumped up and escaped he would have but unfortunately Cottles hand on his back prevented him from moving. "Well what", demanded an angry Bill. Lee ground his teeth, "I was only supposed to be flying in a fly by for Glacticas decommissioning. Then probably having at least another week before being return to full duty", Lee admitted." There never seemed to be any possibility I'd be flying combat maneuvers in a war", Lee remarked reflectively.
"So you put your life at risk because you were mad with me", Bill shouted
Lee ignored the tone, "I'm fine", he retorted. The next comment however shocked him, "I'm not so sure you are fine", Cottle stated gruffly. "As I said I don't think you should still be in pain and would like to run a few tests."
Lee didn't want to be stuck in med bay with so much going on and said, "no way, I'm too busy. Just take out the sutures and send me back to duty."
"I don't think that is your choice Captain", growled Adama using Lee's rank to remind him just who was boss.
"No actually it's mine", Cottle told both of them firmly. "So what would you like to do major", Adama asked Cottle both of them now ignoring Lee.
"I'll just do an internal scan of the area of the scar, just to see if there is any obvious problem. If that doesn't pick up anything then I may have to reopen the wound", Cottle told the Commander.
Lee was beginning to feel slightly freaked out and lifted his head off the bed to watch nervously as Doctor Cottle pulled a machine closer to the bedside.
Cottle looked into his patients eyes and saw a hint of panic, "just relax Captain, this is just a scanner, it's not going to be uncomfortable."
Lee tried to relax but had to admit it was difficult. The Doctor was right though when he said the scanner wouldn't hurt, all Lee felt was a slightly cold sensation as the sensor moved over his back.
Bill Adama, Starbuck and Cottle all gathered around the screen watching the picture of Lee's insides. "Who was your surgeon Captain", Cottle asked as he noted the scan had not picked up anything untoward. "Doctor Gerald Martin", Lee replied. "Hmm well they certainly gave you the best. Maybe the pain is simply caused by…, hold on what the frak is that…", Cottle stated loudly as the scanner beeped.
Three pairs of eye moved closer to the screen. "What is causing that doctor, Bill asked nervously as he saw a dark shape appear on the scan of his sons back. "That's not the type of mistake I'd expect from a top surgeon", Cottle muttered as he studied the screen.
"Mistake", Bill Adamas voice took on an edge that could almost be panic.
"Yes, it appears there is something in the Captains back, looks like a fragment of something", Cottle remarked. "It' doesn't appear to be too deep so I won't need to reopen the wound. However it will require surgery to remove. I can do this straight away", Cottle decided. Bill stared worriedly at the dark spot. "Of course, get whatever that is out of his back." The doctor was about to turn back toward his patient when the scan screen went blank.
All three watchers look puzzled, "a malfunction doctor", Bill queried.
Cottle swiveled his head toward the bed and quickly saw the problem, "no, I believe my patient has just skipped". Bill had to turn his own head to verify that his son had indeed gone, "why the heck did he just do that", he growled angrily.
Cottle shrugged, "I suggest you ask him that when you find him."
Starbuck stepped forward just as mystified by Lees sudden departure from med bay.
"You don't need to alert anybody, I'll go see if I can find him", she told Cottle and Bill.
Bill Adama had never entertained the idea that Lee was scared of hospitals or surgery.
But something must have bothered him enough to make him run off when he heard Cottle announce he was going to have to operate. Maybe the answer lay in whatever had happened to Lee. Bill suddenly needed to get answers quickly. But they had to find Lee first. He had a battlestar to run yet for a long time work had been given priority over everything else. That Lee had actually believed he was too busy to come when he'd been injured hurt like a wound that hadn't healed. Maybe now was the time to change. So Bill turned to Starbuck and remarked. "I'll help you look", he wasn't going to let Lee face whatever had happened alone again.