Infliction

Chapter five

Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate SG1 and Battlestar Galactica are the property of their respective owners. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended the original situations and plots are the property of the author. Not to be archived without permission.

Author notes: This story takes place mid season ten of Stargate SG1 and end of season two of BSG after Starbuck comes back from the rescue mission to Caprica. This is a continuation of my fanfic "Destination Earth".

Ignoring the pile of mission requests she was supposed to prioritize while she was at the Delta site Sam went back to the infirmary. With Kara still asleep she quietly took a seat and rested her head on the bed. Her silent tears dampened the sheet. Hearing Kara stir Sam looked into her eyes hoping to see red lines snake across her eyes telling her it was over. Instead she saw eyes clouded by pain.

"I'm so sorry I brought you into this universe," Sam said. I was trying to get out there to protect you. I thought I had to do everything to make it safe for you."

"I don't need protecting." Kara sat up and placed a bandaged hand on the nape of Sam's neck. "Honestly, I didn't think I needed anything until I met you. I hate myself for it…. but I need you." She brought her other hand up to cup Sam's face. "I don't want to go back to being alone. I'm not running. For once in my fraking life I'm trying not to run from a good thing. But it feels like you are."

"I know. I was wrong for spending so much time away. That's why I took the job on Atlantis. I took it—"

Throwing her head back Kara let out a tormented scream before collapsing forward, her body awkwardly folded like a novice yoga participant. Sam watched in horror as gashes opened up on Kara's arms and back as if an invisible attacker was slicing her skin. Sam sat motionless as Carolyn came rushing in.

"Kara," Carolyn said. "You need to tell me what I'm looking at so I can help you."

"Its glass…glass cuts," Kara whispered.

"How did you get them. There're all over your back?"

"Bar… Fight," Kara said between involuntary moans. "I… got thrown backwards through… a window."

"Okay Baylee, help me out here. I'll handle the cuts on her lower back you start on the shoulder region."

Sam hadn't even noticed Baylee and Helo were in the room until now.

"Helo do you know about this one?" Sam asked.

"She's been in hundreds of bar brawls. It's not exactly unusual or traumatic for Kara. Its how she used to express emotion."

"I heard that," Kara said. "You can all stop looking at me like a wounded puppy. This one's not a secret anymore." She blew out a deep breath as Carolyn started to clean the gashes. "After Zac died I went to the roughest bar I could find, chose the biggest guy and picked a fight." She screamed again as another wound opened up on her chest.

"Sam, more swabs," Carolyn ordered. "Baylee get a local anesthetic ready. We're both going to have to start stitching."

Sam stood vigil but gave them the space they needed to work. It seemed to take them forever to make the bleeding stop. She looked away from the pile of bloody swabs on the floor.

"Kara this wound at the front," Baylee said. "If you were pushed back into the window how did you get one at the front?"

"I guess I rolled over before I passed out. I was also extremely drunk so anything could have happened?"

"Yes but…"

"Baylee, let someone else fill you in on the Zac story. Ask anyone here they all know."

"Now's the best time to talk about this."

"Let this one go," Kara said.

"I can't."

"She said let it go," Sam said, stepping closer to the bed.

"Let's just give Kara a minute," Carolyn said before dragging Baylee and Helo out of the room.

Sam gently traced the outline of the bandage on Kara's chest. "That must have hurt."

"Not really, like I said I was very drunk."

"Do you want me to let it go too?"

Kara looked at Sam for a long time before answering. "I did it to myself," she said quietly. "I walked into the bar hoping to get somebody angry enough to…End it"

"End it?"

"To end me. I passed Zac. He died. I wanted to die too. The window was a good start but I landed on the side walk still alive. So I picked up a piece of glass and…"she looked Sam in the eye, tilting her chin, defiance radiating from her gaze.

Sam felt as if she was being dared to hear more. "You stabbed yourself with the glass?"

"I was weak from blood loss I couldn't go very deep. I was about to try again when I passed out."

"Kara I don't blame you for feeling that way."

"You understand?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I understand why you were feeling that way after what you went through?"

"I just assumed you'd think it was weak or cowardly or that I should've done a better job of ending it."

"You're the strongest, bravest person I know and if you weren't here I don't know what I'd do…" Sam stopped for a moment. "Carolyn, Baylee get back in here," Sam yelled. Turning to Baylee she asked. "Please tell me her eyes mean this is going to stop."

Leaning forward Baylee smiled. "Yes it is. Which means it's time for me to go," Baylee said.

"You'll be arrested," Kara replied.

"Yeah and this will be a high profile arrest so there will be a lot of attention on me. I have to get back to tell them why I did it. I can't let him control what the public knows any longer. I can't give him any longer to spin the truth. Blowing up the machine was only supposed to be step one."

"I'll wait outside," Sam said.

"So."

"I." Both began at once. "You first," Baylee said.

"So this was really, really fraked up. Beyond fraked up. But you were there and got me through."

"I'm sorry there was something to get through."

"I know you are. It was my choice to help you and even after going through it I really mean it when I say I'd do it again. I can see how the Fracas machine works. I can see how it gets results, especially on screwed up people like me. But it's an even more screwed up way to get those results."

"I think I'll use that line. Anyway… I'm pretty sure you're as hopeless at goodbye's as I am so I'm just going to go. But don't think you've seen the last of me... I'll find a way back into your life. You'll see."

"I don't doubt it for a second."

"Right then. I'm going." Baylee stood but didn't move, leaning forward she kissed Kara lightly on the cheek. "See you soon Kara Thrace."

"See you soon Baylee."

"I'll walk you to the gate," Sam said, as Baylee walked out the door. Putting her cap and sunglasses on they walked in silence to the Stargate.

Sam stopped at the DHD and nodded to Lieutenant Tanner who was on guard at the Gate. "If that's what you had to see everyday then I understand why you wanted Kara's help."

"Thank you for saying that. I know I don't have to say take care of her."

"No you don't."

"Then I'll just tell you that I'll make sure what Kara just went through is worth it. I'll make sure no one ever has to go through it again."

"Good luck," Sam said, before turning away. "Go ahead, dial it up," she ordered Tanner. She heard the whoosh of the Gate and couldn't resist turning around to watch Baylee step through. She decided as she walked back to the infirmary it was okay to be selfish and want Kara to herself again.

"You know you're going to have to take off all your clothes," Kara said as Sam walked over to the bed in the infirmary.

"Here?"

"Well we're going to have to go over the story of every scar on your body. Just in case this sort of thing happens to you. It will save us a lot of time." Grabbing Sam's arm she pulled her down for a kiss.

As soon as their lips met Sam felt their tenuous connection start to rebuild as if the frayed edges were being cauterized and the fabric rewoven.

"Before we do anymore of that," Sam said, pulling back from temptation. "I need to tell you the reason I accepted the post at Atlantis. It's a great opportunity for me but the reason I said yes is because they need more pilots. I said I'd only take it if you got reassigned. There you get the chance to be both. Go on away missions and be a pilot. It's not a viper but we're working on some ancient hybrids that might be more exciting for you."

"Don't you need the gene to fly them?"

"That's another reason I want you there and Helo and any of the other Galactica crew you want. Every one of you has the gene."

"The Galactic crew have the ancient gene?"

"Yes. Actually everyone from the twelve colonies does. Somehow I think it might turn out that Atlantis is more your home than ours."

"Does that mean the ancient's were…"

"Maybe it's not Earth you were looking for maybe the 13th colony left Earth for Atlantis." Sam reached into her pocket and pulled out Kara's pilot wings. "I was keeping these in a safe place." She placed them in Kara's hand. "I'm not going to do it unless you come with me."

Kara's eyes sparkled for the first time since arriving at the Delta site. "You've seen a lot, done a lot, but you don't lie about it, you don't let it turn you dark inside. It changes you but in a good way and somehow you don't seem to care that I'm the complete opposite."

"Kara I'm not—"

"What I'm saying is you're stuck with me. So yes I'll go to Atlantis with you." Kara pulled Sam down for another kiss. "I was serious about the getting naked part. I've got Helo on rack time watch for the next hour.

"You ordered him to keep watch so we can get naked?"

"Well since I'm covered in bandages it's just you getting naked and he knows this is the price you pay for saving my life."

"Well I guess if it will save us time in the future I really should." Sam said as she took off her t shirt."

Sam was pleasantly surprised how well her selfishness was paying off.

The End

Delphinus Contract by G.V. Nett now available from Amazon in paperback.

Talana Xian meets her soul mate at the exact moment she needs her the most and wants her the least. After daring to step outside the shadow of expectation to captain the space faring ship the Equuleus, the captain is determined to prove her all female crew can fight the inequity of her universe. She thinks she has everything she's ever wanted until her carefully constructed world is shattered by betrayal. Her only source of strength comes from a Delphinus stranger named Mia. Strikingly beautiful but tormented, this stranger claims they share a unique telepathic link. Talana is haunted by the intangible bond that threatens to expose her well guarded fears and vulnerabilities. As she struggles to pay the price of revenge Talana learns there is nowhere to hide from Mia.

Book two in series Past Dreams now available from Amazon as an eBook or paperback.

Just a dream… Except there's no such thing as just a dream anymore... There never was.

Life hasn't returned to normal for the crew of the Equuleus. As usual Talana is at the centre of the chaos as she tries to deal with interplanetary politics that threaten her livelihood. Leaving Isy to wonder if life on the Equuleus is worth the risk.

The fragile yet unremitting bond with Mia progressesstrictly on Talana's terms. While Mia feels like a moth constantly being burned by the flame of their unique relationship Talana is determined to keep her distance until a kidnap attempt reveals they're not the only ones who want to know the secret behind their connection. With her life hanging in the balance Talana and Mia must solve the mystery of their tenuous link before it's too late.

Find more lesbian fiction at GV Nett wordpress blog

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