Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Sixteen
Helo swallowed hard, struggling to keep his voice even. "I know it's a shock Tory, but it's the truth. Your blood test isn't lying."
She shook her head. "I can't be a Cylon. I can't be. I would know if it I was, wouldn't I?"
He heard the note of doubt in her voice. "There are a few others who've turned out to be Cylons who never had a clue. My Sharon was one of them way back in the beginning."
She still had a look of defiance on her face but her eyes were darkly troubled. Helo felt as though he was looking at a younger version of himself - a troubled teen who'd been belligerent on the outside but had inwardly sought attention and approval. The situation was different to be sure, but the attitude was the same.
"Who else is a secret Cylon? Or is that 'classified information'?"
Helo tried not to let the sarcasm bite. "It's not classified but we need to keep it between you and me. They might not want it getting out."
Tory put her hands on her hips. "So give. Who are they? Do I know them?"
"Most definitely. Chief Tyrol is one ... "
"Oh my Gods. I don't believe it!"
"You might want to sit down Tory," Helo warned. "The next one is going to shock you." She sat, one hand covering her mouth in horror. "Your husband is a Cylon."
"Sam?" She began to laugh hysterically. "You must be mistaken. Sammy is the last person to ever be a Cylon. He hates them!"
Helo nodded as he spoke. "I know. I couldn't believe it at first either but it's true."
"I can't believe it. We're not machines Helo, we're not," she repeated vehemently.
"The final five Cylons are said to be different from the rest somehow. From what Sharon's said I gather the two groups don't get along."
Tory swept a hand through her tangled curls. "Oh Gods. Cylons. We're Cylons! I can't believe we're the enemy and we never even knew it."
"You're not the enemy and this doesn't change anything. I've already talked with Sam and the Chief about it. Since the other Cylons aren't a threat anymore and identifying yourselves as different could be dangerous here, we thought it would be best just to let you go ahead and live your lives like everyone else. You and Sam can find yourselves a place to live and jobs ... maybe even have children if that works out. No one ever need know you're different." He saw the doubt and fear in her eyes. "You're scheduled to be on the next transport out in the morning," he said softly. "Go be with Sam. You both need each other right now. I know this is a huge shock for both of you. Sharon and I will be here for you if you need us. We'll be staying here in Cuba till the last of the fleet is set free but we'll be heading out where you are after that so if you're having difficulties we'll be there to help."
Tory stood there, not knowing if she should hug him for being so kind and understanding or deck him for ruining her life. Not knowing was one thing. Now that she knew, there was no going back.
They stared at one another for a long minute then she nodded at him. "Thank you," she said simply.
Helo reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. "It's going to be okay, I promise. There's no need to be afraid."
She nodded and headed back into the compound, not entirely convinced he was right.
XXXXX
"I want to come with you." Michael's words came as a surprise.
"You do? Why?" Kara asked bluntly.
His brow furrowed. "Why? Galactica and flying were a big part of your life before you came here. You've talked about them but I've never been able to really picture it. This is my chance." He noted her disconcerted look and mistook it for worry. "Don't worry about me - I'll stay out of the way and let you take the lead since it's your element. If I'm there I can keep Zach with me and maybe they'll let you go for a spin ... for old time's sake."
Kara couldn't stop the flash of joy that spread across her face at the thought of being out there again. Maybe Apollo and Starbuck could fly together one more time ...
"I'd like that," she admitted, voice husky. "It's not that I don't love what I do now but I've missed flying."
Michael stepped forward and put his arms around her. "I know you have. You were forced to give it up before you were ready to. That's got to leave some lingering feelings."
You have no idea, she thought ruefully, then coloured as she realized that she wasn't thinking about flying her Viper. It probably wasn't appropriate to be held in one man's arms whilst thinking of another but it seemed to be her lot in life. She just couldn't help herself - thoughts of flying, of Galactica and of her life back then were so firmly entwined with her feelings for Lee that it was impossible to separate them. Of course on the flip side, it had made leaving Lee behind a little easier. Only a gaping wound that would never heal was left, no the total and absolute destruction of her entire universe.
Lee. Galactica. Flying. That had been her entire life for years - would have been for eight more of them had she not mysteriously vanished, ending up here. As thankful as she was to have her husband's support, she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to take him into that part of her life. It was her Starbuck life - the one where she flew, frakked and fought. Being a responsible wife, parent and art teacher had no place there. And while Michael knew what her life had been like back then and had helped shape her into the person she was now, she had a feeling he wasn't going to like the Kara Thrace he'd be getting a clearer picture of by visiting the past firsthand.
That and she wanted to keep him and Lee apart. Lee belonged on Galactica, belonged in that life she used to live as Starbuck. It was the only connection they had to the past. No, her subconscious reminded her. You and Lee share something much more important than any of that, right here in the present. Kara sighed. Maybe they could get a joint custody thing so Zach could go stay with Lee sometimes. Then he wouldn't have to come here and be a part of her present life. He didn't belong here as much as Michael didn't belong to the past.
Looked like she didn't have much choice in the matter though, there was going to be crossover whether she liked it or not.
For a fleeting moment she wondered if Michael was insisting on accompanying her back to her old life because he was afraid he might lose her if she went alone. No, he wasn't like that. It was just her brain thinking in convoluted circles the way it always had.
XXXXX
Later that night Michael sat at his computer, ostensibly working but rather staring off into space. Don't let her go back, his subconscious yelled. Don't let Kara go back to her old life - she'll stay there and you'll lose her. That's why I'm going with her, he reminded himself. The sparks are to obvious to ignore. Lee and Kara might say they've moved on and don't want to be together anymore but it's a lie. Once Kara gets back to her 'home' with him she'll never come back. Not only will that break my heart, it'll kill the kids.
A chilling thought occurred to him. What if Lee tried to take Zach away? What if Kara let him? He got up and walked around his office a few times, shutting off everything. There would be no more work tonight.
Kara was in bed reading when he joined her a few minutes later. She smiled then turned her attention back to her book. He waited, knowing it was best not to interrupt. He hated when people did it to him.
"So today went well," she said eventually, placing a bookmark carefully inside and shutting the book. "Lee and Zach really hit it off."
"Yes they did."
Something about his tone made the alarm bells in her head go off. Life on Earth had given her a measure of wisdom however, and where once she would have confronted him, causing a fight, she now took it into consideration to wait and see how he would respond.
"It was nice to see them getting along so well. I know they were both pretty nervous." She smiled, pouring a little bit of charm on. Michael said nothing. "Is something wrong?"
He turned to face her, unsmiling. "Kara, I don't want to throw a wrench into things but I'm wondering ... just how certain are you that Lee is Zach's father?"
"One hundred percent."
"You're absolutely sure?"
"Absolutely."
"You can't be though, can you? I mean Lee was just an affair. You were still married to someone else then. What if he's the father?"
"He's not."
"How can you be sure? Or weren't you sleeping with him anymore by then?"
"I was." The back of her neck grew warm, though she willed the flush not to rise to her cheeks. She'd endured enough embarrassment because of the affair. It was history now. Part of her past. "I know Lee is his father because Zach is exactly like him. Same looks, same personality ... it's like a mini version of Lee."
"But you can't be certain."
"I was married to Sam for two years Michael, I knew him. He and Lee are as different as night and day. Trust me, Sam is not related to Zach in any way." She ran a hand through her hair, sighing as she tried to let the anger and frustration melt away. "That reminds me, Lee wants to get a DNA test done to prove Zach is his son."
"Why?" Michael said sharply, eyebrows drawn. "If you're both convinced, why bother?"
Kara shrugged, trying to hide her growing anxiety. "To make it official I suppose." She watched him narrowly. "Why? Is it a problem?"
"It might be."
Kara's emotions, simmering close to the surface, broke through. "I don't understand. It's never been a problem before, in fact you encouraged me to tell Zach the truth about his birth father. Why are you suddenly changing your mind now?"
"Has it even occurred to you that Lee might be here to take Zach away from us?"
"What?" Kara shouted, then remembered the kids were sleeping. "Lee would never do that," she hissed through clenched teeth. "If you think that's all he's here for then you don't know him at all!"
"I don't," Michael said calmly. "And neither do you." He cleared his throat. "It's been eight years Kara. People can change a lot in that time. You did." When she opened her mouth to argue, he held up a hand. "Maybe he wouldn't have done something like this before but a lot of things must have happened to him in the time you've been gone. Maybe he's not the man you used to know and love anymore."
"He is" she whispered, eyes pleading. "He is," she repeated stubbornly. "I know Lee. No matter what's happened in the past I know he would never try to take my son away from me."
"Maybe it's not about you. Didn't you feel it when we were talking about him and his life the other night? His marriage didn't work out and he doesn't have a family ... maybe he's realized that he does have a family and that the only way to keep it is by taking Zach from you. He knows the three of you are never going to be a happy family together. Maybe he figures if he can prove he's the father he can get custody of Zach and then he and his girlfriend will have a ready-made family."
That theory sounds plausible but it won't hold. He doesn't want her, he wants me. Kara shook her head stubbornly. "No. I can't believe he's changed that much. He would never do something like that to me."
"Maybe it's his father's idea then. Having the weight of an Admiral behind his back might be enough to convince a judge to give custody of Zach to Lee."
Kara stood, anger seething. "You don't know what you're talking about! You don't know these people at all. They're my family, they would never hurt me."
"You can't know that Kara. That's all I'm trying to say. They don't know you anymore and you don't know them. Time changes everyone."
It's impossible not to know someone who's been in your heart longer than you've even known them, she thought, but bit the words back. He might know already but it was best not to say them aloud. "I'm going downstairs to get a drink," was what she said instead, knowing she needed to put some space between them.
He let her go without a word, knowing she needed the space to calm down and deal with it when she wasn't so emotional.
Kara took her glass of water into the living room and sat, staring out the window into the darkness. Oh Lee, what are you doing to me?
XXXXX
Roslin smiled bemusedly as she twirled the metal band around her finger.
Adama, equally amused, watched her. "You like it?" he asked, smiling.
"I think it suits me," she said, smiling coquettishly. "I'm not sure I believe it yet though, it all happened so quickly."
He nodded. "I know what you mean." Once they'd mentioned to the Vice President that they'd wanted to get married, things had moved very quickly. He hadn't expected it to be as easy as it had been though.
There was a knock on the door. They glanced at one another, each seeing irritation at the interruption of their privacy.
"Mr. Vice President," Adama said, ushering him in.
"I need to have a word with you regarding your son," he said without preamble.
"My son?"
The Vice President refrained from allowing the sarcastic comment on the tip of his tongue out. Humour had no place in his job. "He's made a formal request that he be allowed to remain here in the United States."
"He is my son and you said family would be allowed to remain together."
"That refers to children under the age of adulthood, who are still under their parents' guardianship."
"So he'll have to move then?" Roslin said sharply.
The Vice President looked at her then back at Adama. "He's filed a petition stating that he has a child living in this country and wishes to remain close to him."
That was quick, Roslin thought, admiration warming her inside. He's certainly learned not to waste time when something important is at stake.
"Is this true?"
Adama held the other man's look, long and hard. "I believe so."
"You believe so? You don't know?"
"It's a long and rather complicated story, and I haven't met the child yet so I can't say for certain. I don't believe my son would be lying though."
"You best tell me the story. Unless there's a way he can prove this to be true, he'll be moving along with the others."
Adama sighed and began the tale, leaving out the embarrassing parts. No need to tarnish Lee's reputation here. It had suffered enough of a beating already.
"So you're saying he had no idea she was pregnant when she disappeared." The Vice President was clearly skeptical.
"None of us did. She probably didn't know either," Adama replied firmly.
"So all we have is her word that your son is the child's father."
"Wouldn't DNA testing prove it?" Roslin broke in. "Lee's a lawyer now, surely he'd know that."
"If the test did prove correct, would that mean Lee would be allowed to stay?" Adama was single-minded.
"Provided he files for joint custody of the child. On his alleged son's birth records it states that he was legally adopted by a Michael Smith. The boy obviously has a home and two parents so unless he can prove they want him to stay and be a part of his son's life I see no reason to allow it."
"That's unfair!"
The Vice President turned to face Roslin. "No it isn't. You know how politics work, better than some I would guess. Life isn't fair, don't expect it to be." He cleared his throat. "Besides, there are people already bending the rules - like yourselves, so that's going to make it difficult for us to implement our plan. I don't plan on allowing any more loopholes." He turned back to Adama. "I've tried contacting him but there's no answer. If you see him before I do, let him know that I'm going to need a DNA test and a join custody form signed by the child's parents in order to grant him his wish."
Adama shut the door behind him several minutes later, leaning against it with a sigh.
"I sure hope Kara's husband is an understanding sort of guy or there's going to be one hell of a fight going on here," Roslin said, eyebrow raising.
"This is Kara Thrace we're talking about here," Adama reminded her. "Anyone willing to marry her would have to be understanding."
"She's changed Bill," Roslin said softly, walking towards him. "I don't think we can predict her actions anymore."
"Could we ever before?" His eyes twinkled just a bit.
"We could always predict that she'd be unpredictable," she replied, smiling.
"I suppose that's true," he agreed. "I just hope she and Lee are able to see eye to eye for a change. I'd hate to see little Zach get hurt because people are fighting over him."
"You might just have to step in and assert your Admiral-y authoritativeness," she said playfully, stepping into his arms.
"As if I have any say at all in the matter." He smiled sadly.
"You do Bill. They both respect your opinions, always have, though that hasn't always been obvious to you."
"Parents are always the last ones to know."
TBC
