CONTENT WARNING: This chapter has a special advisory for graphic descriptions of sexual acts.
I don't usually use trigger warnings or give content advisory as long as nothing is written that wouldn't have been easily featured within the series.
In this case the first scene contains language and situations far more graphic than would have been depicted within BSG 2003z
If this makes you uncomfortable you may skip to the second section without losing much plot value. This should be the only time such a warning is needed within this particular fic
ADMIRAL ADAMA'S QUARTERS BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 1 WEEK BEFORE CYLON OCCUPATION
"You're just going to sleep the entire time you're here?"
Bill teased as he stood beside his rack, hair damp from the shower and donning only a towel at his waist.
Laura stirred and stretched under the blankets, her eyes remaining closed but her lips bowing into a guilty smile.
"I didn't intend to, but it's just so comfortable and clean here," she sighed as she turned on to her stomach and nuzzled her face into the pillow. "And your sheets smell good."
Bill chucked but he felt badly for the conditions she slept in on New Caprica. He'd done what he could to help better her living space including sourcing enough rubber matting on Galactica and bringing it down to the planet to cover the floors of her tent with. At least there wasn't damp dirt under her feet any longer, but she still slept on an old used mattress with a poorly constructed excuse for a box spring below it and hand-me-down linens and blankets. They were comfortable enough the nights he slept there with her, but he hated thinking of her down there alone. Laura's living quarters on Colonial One hadn't been luxurious by any means but she was dry, warm and relatively safe, her ship always positioned closest to Galactica.
She often joked about the less than desirable conditions and questionable habitability of the planet that Baltar had forced them to settle upon, but she endured it like a champ and Bill had to admit that he was impressed. He imagined what her life was like back in Caprica City. No doubt with her position in the government and the successful career she'd lead she probably kept a more than modest home furnished with fine linens, high end furniture, top of the line appliances and quality comforts, but you'd never know it by watching her. In her muddied boots she trudged through every circumstance and obstacle New Caprica had to offer in order to get the school system up and running as quickly as possible for the children. It had become her main focus and nothing would stop her.
"You rest all you need," Bill said as he leaned over her, bracing himself with both hands at the side of the bed and kissing her exposed shoulder.
One of Laura's warm hands found its way beyond the blankets and gripped at Bill's wrist stopping him from straightening his posture.
"Join me?"
Bill gave her an inquisitive look as if to ask if she were sure.
"Did you really think I came all this way just to shower in private and catch up on sleep?" Laura teased with an arched brow.
Bill smiled and gestured for her to scoot over toward the bulkhead. She did so as she kicked the blankets down a bit for him.
"Almost sounds like incentive enough these days," he said with a soft groan as he sat upon the edge of the bed.
"It is nice," Laura agreed as she reached out and ran her nails gently over the expanse of his bare back in a figure eight pattern, "but that's not why I came."
Bill swung his feet up onto the mattress and reclined beside her, glad when she immediately cozied up to his side. Her body was so warm and her skin was so soft against his.
"You should come up more often," he suggested as he put his arm around her and encouraged her to rest her head upon his chest. "Now that the weather is changing."
"Somehow I don't think that's a wise idea," Laura admitted with a huff.
"Why not?" Bill scoweld. "Not that I mind coming down to visit. It's nice to get my feet on the ground when I can, but the appeal of our own head and all the privacy we want makes things a hell of a lot more comfortable," he mused, smirking over how often he had to remind her to hold back her erotic vocalizations when they made love in her tent. The proximity of neighbors and the thin canvas walls that surrounded them did little to insulate noise and Laura was far from a quiet lover. A few times Bill had to muffle her moans and cries with his palm, knowing that she couldn't help it in the moment, but that she'd be mortified if anyone heard, and more than upset with herself if she accidentally woke the infant that lived in the next tent over.
"I agree," Laura said with a long exhale. "Lords do I agree. I just don't think frequent trips to Galactica are in our best interest. I'm a civilian now and since President Baltar is currently requiring all non military visitors traveling to orbiting ships to submit prior requests I just have a feeling this might become an issue."
"You think he's keeping tabs on you?" Bill's brow furrowed in irritation.
"I'm sure he is."
"And do you actually think he'd start denying your travel requests?"
Laura shrugged within Bill's arms.
"I wouldn't be surprised and I think the more requests I put in, the sooner I may find myself stuck on New Caprica."
"That's preposterous," Bill complained.
"He doesn't like that I have your ear, Bill. He may be smart but he isn't very confident. The more he suspects that I might have an iota of influence over the military the more defensive he'll get. And he is, if nothing else, spiteful."
Bill frowned at the thought of the little bastard. On one hand he'd grown to regret that he'd stopped Laura from taking the election. On the other he knew that he probably wouldn't be laying next to her in nothing but a towel if he hadn't. Sometimes he still couldn't believe that it was happening. Sometimes it still felt like a dream. He was enamored with her in a way that he'd never been with another woman and the fact that she returned his feelings to any degree felt like a gift from the gods.
"Well he can't stop me from coming planetside," he grumbled.
"Let's hope not," Laura replied as she ran her palm over his chest. "I don't much care where we are anymore. As long as I can still see you," she said between light kisses to his pectorals, "and touch you…" she added, moving her hand lower down to his stomach and toward the towel at his hips.
"Is that so?" he baited.
Laura moved to lean up and over him.
"Yes, Sir," she said as she lowered herself down to kiss his lips.
She leaned against him and the silk of her negligee was rivaled only by the smoothness of her skin. The sensations caused Bill to moan into her mouth until the kiss was broken.
"I'm going to do my best to visit more often," he told her.
"I'd like that," she smiled down at him.
"Maybe I'll see what I can do about sourcing you a bigger bed from the ship," he considered.
She was dedicating herself in service to her people in the best way she knew how even though they'd denied her as their president. Bill was in awe of her resilience. The least he could do was make sure that she was as comfortable down there as possible.
"Bring more blankets," Laura requested as she began to move down his body. "It's beginning to get cold down there," she told him between kisses along the scar that bisected his torso. Her hand worked at the towel, loosening it at his hips and slipping her fingers beneath the fabric.
"I'll just have to come down and personally warm you up," Bill stated in a low husking tone.
Laura peered up at him with a grin.
"I'm going to hold you to that, Admiral," she mused as she finally took his length in her hand.
"Laura, you're frakking amazing," Bill announced, groaning at the sensation of her warm palm and slender fingers working him.
"Then frak me," Laura replied.
"Yes, Ma'am," Bill gladly agreed.
Laura took no time in straddling his hips.
With feline movement she lifted herself, took him in hand again and lowered herself down guiding him into her until he could go no further.
She smirked down at him, her appreciation of the way he filled her evident on her face.
"You're beautiful," he proclaimed, resting his hands at her sides to thumb at her hips as his eyes danced over the expanse of her lustful form.
She clenched him within her and with one swift and graceful move pulled her negligee up and over her head, letting it fall somewhere among the sheets and blankets. She let Bill take in the full view of her breasts for just a moment before she leaned forward.
With her palms upon his sturdy chest Laura began to move above him. Her hips rolled against his pelvis as he arched into her increasing the pressure.
She moaned and hummed as loud as she liked, far away from the cold overcrowded tent city. The sound she made was like music. Music that went into Bill's ears and shot straight to his groin.
"Thought I was supposed to be frakking you," he reminded her, not at all displeased by her maneuvers but eager to return the gesture.
"If you'd like to take control, Admiral," Laura said as her hips suddenly stilled, "be my guest."
It was an invitation he'd have to be dead to turn down. As amazing as she felt atop him he wanted to frak her sensless.
He sat up guiding her off of him and onto her back.
Bill got onto his knees and looked down over her; fiery hair splayed out over the white sheets, lips curved into a sweet but sensual smile, her breasts full and nipples pert. He marveled at her and she parted her bent knees beckoning him to return.
He wanted to dive back in more than he wanted his next breath, but they had time, finally they had time. He decided as he looked at her that he was going to make use of every last moment. He'd promised her as much their first night together under the New Caprican stars. It was time to make good on his pledge.
He leaned over her to kiss her on the mouth. She accepted with a hum that turned into a grateful moan when one of his hands came up to palm at her left breast and roll her nipple, hard as a tiny stone, between his finger and thumb. She arched into his weight, tempting him inside. He resisted, moving his hand down her belly as he continued to kiss at her lips, chin and neck. He moved lower and he could feel his erection twitch as his knuckles grazed through her russet curls and down into her waiting warmth. Bill dipped two fingers inside of her and his tongue into her mouth. With a grunt he began to pump them in and out, stroking her sex from the inside. His thumb found her clit, applying pressure to the firm little bud with each pump of his hand.
Laura's own hands were on a frantic journey to make their way between their bodies, to find him, take him and guide him inside again, but Bill blocked her every attempt.
"Bill," she exhaled, as he continued his rhythmic ministrations inside of her. "Frak me, Bill."
He shook his head causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
"I want you to come first," he told her as he withdrew his fingers and began to draw gentle circles at her center.
"I will," Laura insisted, frustration evident in her voice. "Just please, frak me."
Bill smiled, delighted by her eagerness.
"Then come," he insisted, drawing the pads of his slick fingers up to her clit and lightly pinching the smooth firm little peak.
"Damn it, Bill," Laura swore as her hips jerked in response.
She threw her hand over her brow and bit at her lip to suppress a groan built up from both desire and exasperation.
"You just told me to take control, didn't you? Let me watch you come," Bill said again, in his always sure and steady tone "Then I'll frak you until you can't walk."
He said it as if he were proposing a compromise on some kind of government conflict all the while still stroking and rubbing her sensitive flesh. It was enough to drive her mad.
"Bill-"
"I want to see you, Laura," he interrupted in a purposefully much more soothing and humble tenor, "Please...Do this for me...Let me do this for you," he proposed.
Laura let out a breath of mixed frustrations. She ran her hands through the crown of her hair and took in his request.
Finally she nodded before opening for him a bit wider in acceptance.
"That's it," he said as he leaned back on his knees, watching the full display of his hand working her and her body writhing in response.
Her own hands went to each breast thumbing at her nipples and it made the smile on Bill's face grow into a full grin.
"You're beautiful," he said as he made tiny rotations around her clit.
She closed her eyes tightly and turned her face to the side as her cheeks began to flush.
"Laura, stay with me," he guided. "Look at me."
She hesitated, feeling somehow more exposed than she had been just a moment before. It made no sense and yet she felt as if she'd suddenly become aware of something new. She'd had no problem looking into his eyes as she rode him but now at his simple request she was struggling.
"I know you're close," he told her as he pressed his fingers slowly back inside of her. "I want to frak you so bad. Just let it go, come for me."
Both comforted and incensed by his words she spread wider for him and pushed down against his hand.
"Good. Almost there," he coaxed." That's it. Almost, Laura."
He looked up from where his hand joined her flesh to see the expression on her face. Her eyes were no longer shut tight but she was looking to the heavens and biting down on her lip, so determined.
"Look at me," he encouraged as he pumped his fingers in and out. "Take a deep breath and just look at me. Breathe, Laura."
Laura did her best to inhale but her breath shook the whole way down, suddenly finding herself overcome with emotion. She'd never felt so vulnerable during sex. For so long she'd used it as a form of escape; sensations to get lost in and forget about the world for just a little while. Later in life it had almost become some sick form of punishment for herself, often finding herself in her married lover's arms when she felt at her lowest. Now, now she was with a man she trusted, a man she didn't have to hide anything from, who only wanted to take care of her desires. So why was she suddenly so unsure of herself?
"It's just us. Only us and no one is coming to bother us or to interrupt this time. It's just us here. Look at me, Laura," Bill persuaded.
He waited for her focus to return to him and smiled at her as she nodded and wiped a tear from her eye.
Laura panted through every movement his hand made, his every exquisite caress bringing her closer to climax and his every word leading her toward their shared joy.
"Good girl, that's it," he told her as he thumbed her aching clit over and over. "I just wanted to watch you like this. It's beautiful, you're beautiful."
Her legs began to shake and tremble and she let out a sharp gasp. Bill knew it was finally happening. "There it is, Laura, don't fight it. Come for me," he told her as her body shivered and her inner walls began to clench down around his fingers. She let out an untamed roar as she peaked. "Yes, Laura, that's it, let it go," he went on, gazing down at where his hand met her quaking body and marveling at what they'd sired together. "Yes. Gods yes, Laura!"
She shook and trembled under his hand letting out a stream of impassioned cries and breathy whimpers.
Bill gently massaged her swollen sex helping her to ride out the last waves of her orgasm.
Eventually he withdrew his hand causing her body to twitch. He ran his knuckles gently up and down her thigh as he waited for her to catch her breath.
"You alright?" he asked after she'd calmed a bit more.
She nodded and smiled at him.
"I'm more than alright. I'm…" she paused and closed her eyes as new tiny tears were squeezed from beneath her lids.
"Laura, what's wrong?" he asked, now worried he'd upset her.
"Nothing," she insisted. "I just…That was amazing, Bill and I don't really know what to say."
She shrugged and they both let out a soft laugh knowing how rare it was for her to be at a loss for words.
"You don't have to say anything," Bill returned. "I'm just thankful you decided to share that with me."
"I am too," she admitted with a sniff, although she still wasn't exactly sure what had just happened or why it felt so different from any other sexual experience in her past.
"I'm glad, Laura. I don't expect you to say anything more than that. Just knowing that makes me feel better than I have in a very long time. I don't need to hear anything else, but I do want to tell you something," Bill confessed.
"Bill-" Laura began, as if reflexively trying to stop him from going any further but he spoke over her defence.
"You don't have to say anything back, Laura. You don't even have to feel the same way," he attempted to reassure her. "I just want you to know that I've never felt this way about anyone else but you."
Laura took in his words and for a moment she could only stare back as her eyes filled with fresh tears. Finally she nodded in acceptance.
They kissed deeply, Bill's tongue mirroring the earlier movements of his fingers. He lifted himself over her and she widened her knees inviting him between them. As he leaned into her she grasped him in her hand and guided him into her slickened heat.
He sunk into her, feeling her walls still pulsing around him from her last climax as he hit her depths.
After the blessed experience of watching her come undone at his hand just minutes before Bill knew he wouldn't last long.
He thrust into her as she rolled her hips beneath him, matching his rhythm, urging him deeper. Her moans and gasps fueled his already urgent need for release. She enticed him along with every moan, sigh and note of pleasure that escaped her lips.
Do it again, Laura," he warmly husked into her ear as he drove in and out of her. "Come for me. One more time. I know you can do it."
"Bill, I…I…" she panted between gasps.
"I want to feel you throbbing when I come inside you. You can do it, Laura. You can do it. Let me give this to you."
When he was sure that he felt her begin to quake around him again he finally let go. With a few more powerful thrusts Bill paused. Holding her tight he let out some primal cry of her name and spilled deep inside of her.
He held himself still, waiting for her to give him a nod before falling beside her.
They lay there together for a while, both too spent to say much. Laura's eyes closed and she gladly rested as the ship's air cooled her sweat dampened skin.
Bill's breath began to even out and his heart rate began to slow down. After some time had passed he sat up with a low groan.
Out of habit he began to look for something to clean up with and grabbed for his discarded bath towel. He began to wipe the perspiration and fluids from his skin knowing another shower would surely be in order. When he was done drying himself he reached over and held the towel between Laura's still trembling legs. She cracked open her eyes to see him waiting. It had become his crude gesture of chivalry when they made love in her tent, knowing that she had too long of a walk to the communal latrines to do it with his seamen running down her inner thighs. Usually she appreciated it, even letting out a soft giggle or two as he waited patiently for her to gently bear down and release a hot pool of liquid into his cloth covered palm, but this time she reached between her knees to shoo his hand and towel away with it.
"I don't need that this time," she said through a yawn.
Bill chuckled.
"So much for clean sheets," he joked.
Laura closed her eyes and shrugged, a satiated smile still evident on her face.
"This time...this time I get to keep you with me just a little longer," she whispered. "Sheets be damned."
Besides being erotic as hell Bill had thought it to be uncharacteristically sentimental of her. Laura might not be able to return his words exactly, but she could show him how she felt in her own way by wanting to hold on to even a small part of him so closely. He knew as he lay next to her that the thought of it would surely come to him on nights they were apart and lead his heart and his frustrations to a temporary release until he could touch her again. Neither expected how literal her lustfully romanticized statement would eventually come to be.
COLONIAL MEDICAL TENT: WEEK 14 OF CYLON OCCUPATION
"We're here to speak to Dr. Sherman Cottle," the Doral copy told an anxious medic who couldn't help but stare past the skinjob to the centurion at his back.
"He's busy with a patient," the young man in scrubs replied, looking up at the looming red-eyed machine. "Can you please have that thing wait outside? There's not a lot of room in here."
Doral ignored the medic's request and just looked back at him with a smug smile.
"It's urgent that I speak with Dr. Cottle," he insisted.
"And I can't pull him away from what he's doing at the moment, but if you come back later-"
"No. We'll see him now. Later doesn't work for us."
The medic looked back and forth between the bullet head and the cylon man, irked that the skinjob was referring to the over-chromed droid as if it were a person with a schedual.
"There may be a civilian doctor free if you'd like me to check," the young man offered as a last resort.
"No," the Five denied with obvious insolence.
"Look," the medic replied in irritation. "I know you all like to push everyone around, but this is a medical physicality. You can't just demand-"
"Private Oladele," Cottle's gruff voice sounded from behind. "I'll take things from here."
"Sir-" the medic began to protest, but Cottle wouldn't allow it.
He'd been alerted by a civilian nurse when the cylons first arrived and immediately feared what the visit might concern. No matter what it was about they wanted him and he wouldn't compromise any of his staff. He'd finished up with what he was attending to and promptly went to intervene.
"The patient in curtain five needs assistance, private," Cottle instructed.
"Yes, Sir," the man saluted before taking his leave without further protest.
"Dr. Cottle," Doral greeted with a disingenuous grin.
"That's me," Cottle confirmed, though he was sure it wasn't necessary. "Can we get on with it? What's this interruption about?"
"Well," the Five began. "I'm here to discuss an important matter with you, Doctor."
Cottle looked to the centurion and then back at the skinjob.
"Don't tell me you're finally providing us with the medicine and supplies we've been asking for?" he guessed in jest.
Doral's eyes narrowed.
"All requests for necessities must go through the president's officials," he recited as if programmed with the specific line of bullshit.
"Yeah, well too bad he's a horse's ass," Cottle said as he stuck his hands into his coat pockets. "So if you're not here to help then what do you want? I have rounds to finish."
Doral's prim simulated smile returned.
"This won't take long. At least it doesn't have to."
"Out with it already."
"I'm here to talk to you about a certain patient of yours," the Five informed the doctor.
"I can't do that," Cottle shrugged. "Primitive as this setup is, I still maintain confidentiality. I can't discuss any of my patients."
"I'm not here to ask you anything, Doctor. You misunderstand. I'm here to pass along a message," Doral stated, the look in his eyes becoming more pointed.
"About?"
"A certain expectant mother you've been treating," the cylon replied.
Cottle's jaw immediately clenched. He'd been worried that Laura might be taken again soon and any records he'd recorded confiscated. He wondered if they already had her.
"I have about a dozen at the moment. Birth control is running low. Plus it's cold and there's not a damn thing to do around here so you can imagine what that leads to," Cottle replied, doing all he could to speak in the most general terms possible, but he knew very well whether they believed him or not they had no qualms about taking anything and everything they wanted by force.
"Right," Doral returned with a nod. "This one I'm sure stands out. It's a special case. Quite...unexpected."
Cottle wasn't sure what to do. Short of a gun being pulled he wasn't about to betray a patient, let alone sell out a friend, but violence was the last thing needed in the overcrowded clinic.
"I don't know what it is you want," he began with a stern and angry scowl, "but you need to-"
"What you need to do is make sure that no harm comes to the child," the cylon said, cutting him off mid sentence.
"I don't need to be told how to do my job."
"Except that you do," Doral returned. "You've been cited previously for requesting drugs and equipment needed for terminations."
"There are women whose lives are at stake," Cottle defended with vigor.
"We're only interested in one women, one child at the moment," Doral clarified, "And you know who it is. Let's not pretend any longer. I'm here to warn you not to do anything foolish. After all, your patients rely on you, Dr. Cottle. It would be devastating if you or your staff were compromised in any way."
The doctor eyed the overly manicured Five like he wanted to give him a tracheotomy with his bare hands.
"You know very well there are complications, as long as we aren't pretending here," Cottle mocked the other man's previous words. "I can't control nature. I'm not a frakking deity, I'm a doctor."
"We understand that and in this case we're willing and glad to step in to help at any time," Doral announced, his awkwardly feigned smile returning to his lips.
"And why's that?" Cottle posed, curious as to how much he would divulge, but Doral ignored the inquiry.
"I advise you to take this visit seriously and continue on with your oath," he insisted. "Do no harm? Was it?"
Cottle stared at the cylon with stern contempt but inside his blood was boiling. There was nothing left for him to say.
"Goodbye, doctor," the Five said as he moved to exit the clinic with the centurion following at his heels. "We'll be sure to check in again soon."
LAURA ROSLIN'S TENT
Laura surveyed her humble living space with a sigh. It had become a cluttered mess since she'd returned from her last stay in cylon detention. The bedrest was one excuse, but even as she'd felt well enough to begin moving about and venturing outside she'd found that she lacked the drive to tidy her tent. It was so unlike her but the will to do it was notably missing. It was as if the simplest of tasks had become the most daunting. She'd even attended and participated in the resistance meeting and yet a day later just staring at piles of her own clothes and stacked bowls and dishes she felt too overwhelmed to begin cleaning. She was starting to become disgusted with her own behavior. A few times Maya had come in and offered to help. Embarrassed, Laura had stopped her from doing so, insisting that she'd get to it.
In a few days she'd be back at the school with little time home to catch up on such things. She needed to force herself and power through.
Slowly but surely Laura begrudgingly began to pick up the blankets and items of clothing, sorting, folding and putting aside what needed to be taken out to the laundry. She moved slowly, worried that she might once again become lightheaded.
It had already happened once in the presence of too many people. Laura had kept her word to Saul and attended the resistance meeting. Though she'd declined the Tigh's invitation to dinner in their tent beforehand she'd still gone over a bit early to thank Ellen for her previous thoughtfulness and to touch base with the Colonel before meeting with the others.
Leaving Ellen behind in the tent to serve as one of several strategically placed lookouts Laura and Saul descended into the old mining space using the entrance hidden within the Tigh's tent. Saul had gone first and awaited her at the bottom of the ladder. As Laura climbed down she'd felt her palms go sweaty and her chest and face begin to flush. She'd made it to the bottom but then stumbled into Colonel Tigh's arms. Samuel Anders had rushed to help steady her. The two concerned men held her up as Chief Tyrol brought over a chair and another man offered up a canteen. She'd been more than embarrassed by the episode and the following onslaught of concern. Thankfully she'd recovered quickly. She'd explained it away with an excuse of not having eaten since breakfast and insisted that they move on with the meeting.
As Saul had mentioned during his visit to her tent, the number of camp abductions by cylons captors was steadily increasing and it was no longer just suspected resistance collaborators. It seemed as though people were being taken at random from the general population for such minor infractions as curfew violations. In other cases baseless accusations of theft or assault were made. More and more often no reason was given at all. Children were being left behind as their parents were removed from the camp and imprisoned for days at a time. Things were escalating at a rapid pace. Galen Tyrol and Sam Anders were looking to Roslin and Tigh for permission to retaliate.
"We need to do something big," Tyrol had proposed. "Show them that they can't just do as they please with no consequences. We have to fight back."
"And it has to hurt," Anders had added. "We need to hit them where they'll feel it."
It was more than personal for the two men. Anders hadn't seen his wife since the first week of cylon occupation. No one knew if Kara was alive or dead. Cally Tyrol had been taken once for suspicion of collaborating with the resistance with no regard for the fact that she had an infant at home who needed her. As much as the cylons professed that children were blessings, they seemed to have little concept of the precious bond between parent and child. Chief couldn't handle Cally being taken again and Sam had nothing left to lose.
They wouldn't do it without Tigh's and Roslin's joint approval. Their plan included small strategic bombings following every reported capture of a colonial citizen. Targets would include New Caprican Police Vehicles, centurion guard stations and various transportation routes used to deliver goods between cylon buildings.
The mounting violence had Laura's stomach in knots, but after some convincing from Tigh and the others she'd agreed. They could no longer stand by and let their people be taken at whim.
The meeting had disbanded with Tyrol and a few others traveling along the old mine route to exit elsewhere. Under the cautious and watchful eye of Anders and Tigh Laura made it back up the ladder and into the tent where Ellen was waiting with a pot of hot tea.
"Are you okay, Laura? You look a little pale," Ellen had observed to Laura's dismay.
"I'm fine," she insisted again. "It's been a long day."
Ellen had nodded in understanding but Laura couldn't help but feel exposed under the other woman's observing eye. Thankfully neither Saul nore Sam mentioned her spell in the bunker and the subject was dropped.
The four of them sat at the Tigh's table sipping at their steamy mugs in an effort to warm up until curfew drew near. With the insistence of the Colonel, Anders escorted Laura back to her tent. She didn't bother to protest.
Laura wondered what she would say to the children when she returned to the school. Not only would they be asking where she'd been as they always did when she returned after being taken, but soon she would have to explain the sounds of random explosions as they sat at their desks and attempted to do their schoolwork. How would she convince them that they shouldn't be afraid when they had every right to be? For a moment she considered that she shouldn't go back just yet. Soon she would need to go to Cottle and get things over with. There was no telling how long her recovery might be or if any complications would follow and she questioned returning to school just to leave the children again for an unknown period of time.
She cursed herself for not having done it already. She was leaving Tori, Maya and the few other instructors they had volunteering with so much to handle. She knew that she needed to, but much like the dirty dishes she just couldn't find the will to make herself do it. She'd wasted entirely too much time wondering, why her? Sometimes she wished that decision would be made for her, as morbid as the thought was. She'd already bled out once. Her condition was hardly stable. She was still spotting most days. It wasn't too far fetched to presume that her body wouldn't be able to sustain it much longer. She wondered how it had been so far. She spent each day expecting that every little twinge or ache would lead to the inevitable. Out of all the awful ways she considered things could go it was the only thought that made her feel like a coward. She was beginning to resign herself to the inevitable. Laura was used to loss. She'd almost become numb to it and yet she knew this time was different. She'd be losing part of herself. It would hurt but she could handle that. It was losing all she had left of Bill that was so crushing, especially not knowing if she'd ever get him back.
Reaching across her mattress for a sweater, Laura paused in place when she heard a noise beyond her tent. She'd come to dread the distinctive zoom of centurion motion and the unmistakable way their feet stomped against the mud and dirt. Each time she heard one on patrol she stopped and prayed that it would move on down the row of tents and keep going.
Another moment passed and she couldn't hear it anymore. She listened, praying that it hadn't stopped nearby. They always brought at least one bullethead when they came to take her into detention. She winced, considering that she'd waited too long, that they were there to take her and take all that they wanted from her.
When she didn't hear any further movement after a beat she forced herself to continue with her task. It wasn't long until she heard a new disturbance outside of the thick canvas. This time it was the muffled sounds of women's voices. Laura's ears perked as she tried to discern who was speaking. The voices were elevating in volume and she could tell that someone was upset. Perhaps the bullethead had stopped close by after all. Perhaps they were taking someone.
"Why wont you people leave her alone!?" Laura heard, the voice now clear as day.
It was Maya.
Laura's heart nearly stopped, her mind immediately going to Hera.
Without another thought she dropped the sweater and headed for the tent flap.
"We aren't here to harm anyone," Caprica insisted, doing her best to seem less intimidating to the obviously concerned neighbor. "This is just a visit."
"I told you, she's resting!" Maya bravely argued with the Six outside of Laura's tent. She'd witnessed the cylons' arrival when she'd stepped outside to shake the dirt off of her boots. She'd quickly called out to them before they could even attempt to get Laura Roslin's attention. "She's not supposed to have visitors. Don't you people have any common sense? You treat us all like-"
"Maya," Laura sharply interrupted the young woman's well intentioned rant.
Maya stood by the front of her own tent, her boots in hand with Hera nowhere in sight. A Six with a centurion escort stood just feet away as a handful of neighbors peeked outside of their tents or watched from a distance.
"Laura, I was just trying to get them to leave you alone. You should be resting," Maya explained.
"I've been trying to tell your neighbor, " Caprica said, attempting a neutral smile, "I only came to talk. That's all."
Laura looked to the Six. She was alone, save for the centurion. There were no other copies, no other cylons from any line and most notably no New Caprican Police officers. It was always the police who cuffed her and brought her to the prison. Frakking traitors. Rarely would skinjobs get their hands dirty in view of the public. That was reserved for behind the walls of the detention centers.
"Maya, go inside," Laura instructed.
"But, Laura-"
"Go to Isis, Maya," Laura cut her off. "Please," she added in a softer, less alarming tone. "It'll be okay."
Maya reluctantly dropped her boots at the threshold and with a wicked glare to the Six she reluctantly returned inside to her daughter.
"What do you want?" Laura sternly gritted at the statuesque cylon woman.
Caprica smiled. She began to step forward but stopped herself when she saw Laura begin to back away in fear.
"Please don't be afraid. I'm only here for a visit and to check in on you," the Six appealed. "I heard of your hospital stay and the recent news. We just wanted to see how you've been feeling."
"I'm fine," Laura curtly answered, praying like hell they'd take her answer and leave.
Caprica's smile faltered.
She'd been sent to gather information and to give Laura Roslin a specific message, but she didn't intend on scaring the woman, especially in her condition. Caprica needed another way in. With a dozen concerned citizens staring in their direction she was fairly confident she wouldn't be able to get too far very easily.
Caprica hadn't been pulling her weight since they'd arrived on the planet and she knew it. She'd miraculously found Gaius again and everything on the new world happened so fast. It wasn't what she'd envisioned at all. So much had gotten out of hand, so many mistakes had been made. She'd become empty and numb to it all and Gaius was the only thing that made her feel anymore. It had become easier to hide within the pleasures of his bed than to deal with things and she hadn't even felt guilty about it until her sister's last visit brought it all to the surface.
After Laura Roslin's last containment Boomer had come to see her demanding help. She claimed that she'd deserted their plan and let her down. Caprica hated to admit it but the Eight was right. She had done just that. When Boomer asked her to go to Roslin she'd protested at first. She was as concerned for the child as the rest of her brothers and sisters and yet she felt a deep discomfort in what she was being asked to do.
After an argument and realizing that no one was going to let her off the hook, including her own line, she'd agreed. She would visit the woman, she'd assess her condition, she'd even get the desired message across, but she promised herself that she'd do it in her own way.
"Can we talk?" she asked. "I promise, I'm not here to take you. I'm not here to harm you. I know that it's hard for you to trust us, but I'm really just here to chat. Can we step inside?"
Roslin stared at her for a long moment.
"I'd rather not."
Caprica bit at the inside of her cheek. She didn't want to use any force. Their goal was the health and safety of Roslin and her unborn child but beyond that she was sure that God wouldn't look kindly upon aggression toward an expectant mother. She had no personal desire to do anything of the kind, but she did need to make sure that she accomplished all that she'd been charged with in order to redeem herself in the eyes of her sister. She had to give Roslin a reason to comply without raising a hand or letting anger overtake her voice.
"Well, I'd really like to offer you my congratulations on the good news!" she said cheerfully, in full view and earshot of all the concerned onlookers. "What a blessing!"
Roslin's eyes widened at the statement and Caprica was pleased with her choice of tactic as she noticed the woman glancing around to gauge the reactions of anyone who might have heard.
"I don't feel much like talking at the moment," Laura returned, crossing her arms protectively in front of herself.
Caprica's smile fell. For a moment she'd been certain that it had worked. Roslin was shaken but unmoved.
With a resigned sigh she took a few steps closer, even as Roslin continued to slowly back away.
"Laura, please, trust me," she beseeched in a lower and more serious tone. "If you don't talk to me then others may feel the need to bring you back in after all. I don't want that to happen. I know you don't either. The last thing you need right now is more stress," she said with what Roslin probably assumed was false compassion. She knew that even her sisters might not understand why but she did feel quite a bit of compassion for the woman. "Now, I can go back and tell them that you've refused my visit, but I don't think either one of us wants that. Please? Things have gotten so complicated."
Laura stared back at her with a blank expression for a while longer before she nodded and silently turned into her tent.
Caprica smiled and followed.
As they entered Laura quickly moved to the far back canvas and stood by the crate that served as her bedside nightstand.
"If you don't mind I'd rather you stayed over there," she told the Six before she could step too far away from the tent flap.
"Oh," the cylon woman paused. "Okay. I guess we can hear each other just fine this way," she shrugged. "But, Laura, please, you don't have to be frightened of me," she insisted but Roslin remained silent. "I know that must sound so silly to you."
"That's an understatement," Laura curtly replied.
Caprica frowned. She and Boomer had such high hopes. They'd been so foolish.
"I wish that wasn't the case," she offered.
"But it is," Laura returned.
Caprica nodded in disappointment.
"Anyway, I wanted to express my well wishes," she said, giving Laura a wide and toothy grin. "You must be so surprised by this unexpected miracle. I'm sure things can seem quite daunting now, but I want you to know that if you need anything at all from medical care to supplies or food we can help you."
"Last week you threw me in a concrete cell with no water," Laura cooly countered.
Caprica almost argued that she'd had nothing to do with any detainments whatsoever, but she realized how foolish it would sound. To Roslin she was no different from any other Six, or any other model for that matter. They were all toasters in her eyes and Caprica couldn't blame her any longer. She'd annihilated the woman's previous existence after all. She hadn't a leg left to stand on.
"I don't have any defence for that. I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm sure you know by now that the safety of your child is important to us. Sharon said that she explained why. The tests they did were all very informative. I read Simon's notes myself. I know that they could offer you excellent care if needed."
"I don't want any cylon help," Laura protested.
"I can understand that, but I also know that the resources you'll have at the colonial med tent may be insufficient."
"Yes. I know that. Thanks to this occupation and our delinquent president."
Caprica's expression nearly deflated.
"Gaius is limited in what he can do to help, He's trying-"
"Oh he's limited alright," Laura snapped to ridicule, causing the Six to become even more noticeably offended.
"It isn't easy. You of all people should-"
"I never betrayed my people to save my own ass!" Laura shouted before the cylon woman could even finish the comparison.
She watched the Six for a moment, her face almost sullen as if a neighborhood bully had kicked her dog. Laura had always assumed that the cylons were just using Baltars cowardly compliance. She never imagined he held their respect in any measure, so why did this particular copy seem so personally offended by criticism of his horrendous failures?
A thought occurred to her. For a moment she studied the copy before her.
"All that aside," Caprica said, interrupting Laura's concentration. She continued on, most of the warmth now gone from her voice. "I'm sure the health and safety of your child is of the utmost importance to you and that you wouldn't do anything...anything at all to put this child in jeopardy."
Laura stared back at her. There it was. Veiled in sympathy and concern and delivered in a beautiful platinum package, the threat she'd been expecting. Boomer had already mentioned it once. The blonde was their seraphic reinforcer.
"This really is such a blessing," Caprica deliberately went on. "I have to admit...I'm envious," she shared, allowing some compassion to return to her cadence. "To know what it would be like. To bring forth a life and experience the joy and love of such innocence. Aren't you happy?"
"It's a private matter," Laura answered.
"Of course," Caprica returned with a nod.
As she'd left Colonial One Giaus had sent her off armed with a bit of extra information. She decided as long as she was there she might as well test Roslin's reaction.
"It must be difficult without your baby's father nearby," Caprica stated.
Roslin's eyes flared wide with shock and anger. She said nothing in response but Caprica considered Giaus' assumption all but confirmed.
"Perhaps he'll return soon," she posed.
Laura remained silent for a moment, her face flushed with suppressed rage.
"You and your ilk better hope and pray to whatever God you claim to believe in that he doesn't," she fumed in response.
Seeing that she'd upset the woman beyond her intention, Caprica nodded, dropping the subject, but she was surprised to hear the blanant admission. It would at least be something of value for her to report back with.
"Well, I really came to see if you've experienced any further issues stemming from the complication that Simon noted."
"I'm fine now," Roslin answered, her tone arid and her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I really am glad to see that. It would just be such a shame if anything were to happen to you or the baby."
Laura was done listening to the clyon's attempt to buff the tarnish off of the situation. She'd gotten her message across well enough.
"I think I'd like to rest now," she curtly told the Six.
"Of course. You need all the rest that you can get. I'll leave you two alone. You take care and if we can help in any way at all please let us know. They may not send me next time but...I really hope that they do. I look forward to seeing you pop out a bit," the Six playfully gestured.
The image caused Laura to flinch. She hadn't yet pictured that. In fact she'd been trying like hell not to.
"Good afternoon," she forced herself to say as her cheeks burned with new heat.
"Good afternoon," the Six replied. "Oh and Laura?" she said as her lithe body slipped partly through the tent flap. "I thought you'd like to know," she smiled, intending to leave Roslin with something she felt would be far more effective than any threat or scare tactic.
"What?" Laura tersley prompted, just wanting her gone already.
"It's a boy."
As the Six left Laura felt herself go flush. She was only vaguely aware of the pain before she doubled over, fainting beside her bed.
COLONIAL MED TENT
Laura knew where she was before she even opened her eyes.
The beeps and clicks of the machines gave it away well enough. Even if it had been silent, the amount of disinfectant being used in order to combat the less than desirable conditions was overwhelming to say the least.
Her throat was dry as she swallowed and she desperately needed some water.
Among the beeps and clicks and clattering Laura could hear the distinct gravel of Doc. Cottle's voice and it immediately comforted her.
"Sherman," Laura hoarsely called against the soreness.
She opened her eyes, at first to a haze that quickly cleared.
"Gave us another scare, young lady," Cottle said, dismissing the civilian nurse he'd been consulting with and heading to Laura's bedside.
"Mmm," Laura gave her weak acknowledgement, cringing over the sandpaper state of her throat.
Cottle sat her bed up with the side control and then handed her a cup of water from the nearby stand.
She drank it in small sips until it was half empty and handed it back to him with a nod of thanks.
"You were bleeding again," he told her, discarding the cup and reaching for his stethoscope. He put its tips to his ears and its bell to her chest, giving her heart a precautionary listen. "Did you know?" he asked, removing the instrument and placing it back around his neck.
"There was some earlier in the day. Nothing too alarming," she recalled. "You said that would happen off and on. It wasn't heavy so I didn't come in."
"It must have escalated suddenly," he noted. "Any cramping?"
"A little earlier...I think. I can't remember. My frakkin' head hurts," she complained.
"You lost consciousness. We couldn't find a noticeable bump or laceration but you may have hit your head on something as you fell. Maya found you. She said she'd gone to check in on you and found you beside the bed. She called for help."
"The burden I've put on that poor young woman," Laura winced, pinching the bridge of her nose between her finger and thumb.
"I can't be sure how much you bled the last time but this time there were no additional uterine contractions which could be why you didn't bleed out as quickly. Fetal heart rate is still normal."
Laura let out a long sigh but said nothing in response to the onslaught of information. She wondered how many people had seen her rushed to the medical tent this time.
"Your pupils show no sign of concussion but I dont have the means to scan for it to be sure so you'll be getting bed checks every hour tonight," he warned.
Laura gave a slight nod as she solemnly looked down into her lap.
"Maya said that a cylon had been in your tent with you just before she came in," Cottle prompted.
Laura's eyes remained downcast to her bedsheets as she recalled her interaction with the Six. At first the details were fuzzy but it all came back to her clearly enough. She remembered what the cylon had said as she left and as the words echoed in Laura's mind her heart sank like a stone within her chest.
"Are you alright?" Cottle tested, noticing her sudden distress.
She nodded, despite her troubled expression, leaving him unconvinced.
"The cylons, did they do anything to you?"
"No," Laura assured him, without much volume to her voice. "It was one of those tall blondes. She hardly came near me. Just wanted to talk."
Cottle let out a low groan and nodded.
"I had my own encounter earlier. A visit from a Five, I think it was, with a very specific message."
Laura looked up at him for a moment only to then drop back against her pillows in aggravation.
"Gods, Sherman, I'm so sorry," she lamented, woefully shaking her head.
Her eyes began to fill with tears and she had no strength to spare to fight them away.
"I can only presume they were sending us each the same warning more or less," the doctor theorized.
Reaching for a tissue in his pocket he cleared his throat.
"Laura…" he began, extending his hand to offer it to her. She looked up and took it with a silent nod of appreciation. "Laura, I know that this is hard...but as soon as you're stabilized for a bit I think we should prep you for the procedure. I have an experienced civilian nurse ready to assist. Waiting any longer is becoming dangerous for more than a few reasons and now, with you being brought in for a spontaneously occurring complication the loss will be easier to explain. I have to insist."
Laura sat listening to his words. They all made sense. It was the best choice. It was the safest choice, the most responsible. She trusted him, trusted his staff. She knew that they would do all that they could to make sure the procedure went as planned and that they would help her to recover to the best of their ability. The cylons wouldn't stop until they had what they wanted. Cottle was right. It was exactly what she should do.
"Sherman, I can't," she finally told him, painfully fighting through the tightness of her throat.
The doctor's large weathered hand came up to rest upon her shoulder.
"I know that this is a lot to go through, Laura, but I'm going to do all I can to make sure that you get through this. I'll keep you admitted for a while, do everything I can to lessen the probability of infection. Since you came in with a very obvious emergency we'll be able to explain it as naturally occuring. I can't say we'll get off unscathed but it'll be over. They'll have no proof of anything other than the result of a known complication. I have someone very trustworthy who will dispose of any remains. The cylons won't be getting their hands on anything. You don't have to worry. I've taken care of the arrangements."
Laura put her head in her hands to hide the streams of steady tears.
"No," she wept. "No, I mean I can't. I can't go through with it. I know that I should, but I can't endanger you or your staff and I just can't bring myself to do this. I don't want to bring a child into this world whose fate holds nothing but exploitation, but I just can't...I just can't let him go."
She was mortified. She couldn't quite believe what she was saying herself and nevertheless it had all come out.
Cottle was admittedly surprised and a little confused by Laura's proclamation. He hadn't expected the procedure to be an easy one to endure but he hadn't really considered that she wouldn't do it. She'd seemed completely resigned to it before. Knowing her well enough he imagined that even without the issues of looming cylon interference Laura still wouldn't have assumed such a burden at her present station in life. He thought it out of character for her. He was unprepared for what she'd just expressed to him, but even so he knew it was his job to help her at any turn no matter how unexpected.
"Are you positive, Laura?" he asked, his forehead creased in obvious concern.
"I know it's crazy...but, yes. I'm certain" she confirmed with a hitch in her breath. "I just...I don't know what to do now."
Thank you for your time and patience. I have a toddler at home and another little one on the way so getting this chapter out was more difficult than usual. I appreciate the feedback and thank all who are sticking with the story despite it being slow to post. I hope that Ill be feeling better soon and able to get new chapters up a bit more promptly. All feedback and notes of readership are gladly and thankfully accepted and used as motivation and encouragement to continue. -LLA