Chapter 66 Progress Report

As Admiral Adama followed Laura Roslin into the empty wardroom, her fatigue was obvious to his discerning gaze. He'd known that her sessions with Kara were draining, but seeing the toll they were taking after less than a week worried him. He didn't need to be told that tonight had been especially trying, the drawn lines across her brow and around the thinned lips attested to the stress of the past hour.

"Water?" he offered. Then as Laura took a seat, a weary sigh escaping her, he suggested instead, "Or should I send for something stronger?"

"Water, please," she answered. "I have several petitions still to review before tomorrow, and any more to drink tonight and I'll never get them done," she said, explaining her refusal.

Nodding his understanding, Adama passed her the requested glass and settled into his own chair, patiently waiting for her to update him on the latest developments.

Laura sipped at her water, perhaps organizing her thoughts over what he needed to know and what should be kept between her and Kara.

"I've been trying to establish a timeline for Kara's four months in the detention center," she began. "The first six weeks she spent confined in the apartment with Leoben. After that, a Six model interrogated for another two weeks or so," she reviewed. He nodded, they'd already covered this in more detail the previous night, so he didn't feel it necessary to comment further.

Laura continued, the effort apparent as she strove to keep her voice calm, "Around week nine, D'Anna Biers executed Kara's husband in front of her." Again he nodded for her to continue. "The next block of time is unclear, I tried to get Kara to tell me what happened, but she had such a intense flashback that I couldn't get any details out of her, just that Leoben was involved."

The Admiral's face hardened at the name, his worst fears seemed to be confirmed, that Leoben had severely traumatized his girl. He forced his fisted hands to unclench and worked his jaw sideways to loosen it before he could force the words out.

"Did he…rape her?"

"I don't know, Bill," Laura answered. "The flashback hit her so fast…and afterwards she was in a state of shock. I almost called Dr. Cottle, but got her to lay down and now she's sleeping." At his raised eyebrows, she added, "I left Lee watching over her. I don't know what state she'll be in when she wakes. Didn't want to leave her alone with just a Marine guard."

Unable to remain sitting, Adama rose to pace the small room. "What now?" he asked of the watching woman.

"I'm…I'm not sure," she admitted. "I think I need to consult with Dr. Cottle. The flashbacks…" she trailed off. Rubbing her temples, she continued, "Maybe he can give her something to…I don't know…distance it some?"

"Anything else?" he hesitantly asked, afraid what else she might add.

"Not for tonight. I'll be a little late tomorrow, have a working dinner with the representative from Tauron," she said, rising to her feet. "I'll be over as soon as I can afterwards."

"Should we give it a night off?"

"No," she answered with a headshake. "I want to press her while she's still feeling unbalanced."

"Is that wise?"

"You're asking me?" She was obviously feeling out of her depth again. "I just feel that it'll be even harder if she has more time to shore up those shields of her."

Escorting Laura to the door, he decided that he was just going to have to rely on her instincts and hope they stayed true. As he watched her walk away, he noted again the dragging heaviness to her step and sent a pray to gods he didn't really believe in that the Laura had to strength to bring Kara back from the precipice on which she teetered.

[ I I I I I ]

Finally calling it a night a few hours later, Bill made a point of entering his quarters as quietly as possible. Though what he walked into was different then he'd expected. Lee was slouched sideways in a chair, his even breaths attesting to his deep slumber despite his awkward position. As his gaze shifted from his sleeping son to the figure on the couch, he was surprised to see green eyes watching him appraisingly. The familiar face was pale but alert as Kara eased herself into a sitting position, rotating her neck to ease stiffened muscles. She gave him a silent nod and just as quietly disappeared into the washroom.

Adama stared after her a beat, both reassured by her calm demeanor and secretly disturbed by it after what Laura had told him. Tearing his attention from the closed door, he laid a firm hand on his son's shoulder, giving it a small shake to rouse the figure.

Lee came abruptly awake, staring around him with bewildered eyes as he placed where he was. The younger man's face took on a slightly pink cast when he realized he'd fallen asleep. Bill saw the moment when panic gripped Lee as he saw the empty couch and scrambled to his feet, searching the cabin with frantic eyes.

As Bill spoke, Lee's gaze shifted him, "She's in the head," he said, answering the unspoken question.

"She's Ok?" Lee anxiously asked.

"Appears so. I'll take it from here," the Admiral said, the dismissal clear in his voice. As Lee started to protest, he was waved to silence with an upraised hand by his father. "Call it a day, Major. We've all had a long one."

Lee gave his father a nod of acquiesce and left the cabin with stiff strides.

[ I I I I I ]

The Admiral was waiting for Kara with her sleeping pill cupped in his one hand and a glass of water in the other when she finally left the lavatory. Seeing the Old Man standing patiently waiting for her with her medication, Kara grimaced, then strode up to him, extending her own hands. Silently she turned away as she knocked back the pill, gulping the water to wash the aftertaste down.

Kara fidgeted with the empty tumbler, not wanting to have to see again the concerned pity in the Admiral's eyes which she knew would still be there if she faced him. She felt his presence as he stepped closer behind her and tensed for the expected physical contact. When it didn't come, she was surprised enough to glance over her shoulder, only to see him move back with his arms held rigidly at his side.

Disappointment and a lonely loss suffused her at the same time as relief at his withdrawal.

Damnit, Thrace. What the frak's wrong with you, she berated herself. Don't want to be touched, yet mad he didn't hug you? What are you, a child that needs 'daddy' to tell you it'll all be frakkin' Ok? She looked away again, castigating herself for the conflicting emotions.

"See you in the morning, Kara," the Admiral said, moving past her to his own sleeping compartment.

"Yes, Sir," was all the young and confused woman managed, not sure if he'd even heard her, the only words she'd spoken since waking. She finished getting ready for bed, already feeling the medication causing a lassitude to spread through her limbs. Sinking again into the blankets spread across the sofa, she sent a whispered thank you to the Admiral for insisting that she down the pill and forestall the dreaded nightmares.

She let her eyes droop shut, knowing that she could drift off, unafraid of hands disturbing her for tonight at least.