Sorry this was supposed to be a longer chapter but I really wanted to get some content out before it turned into another huge wait and folks lost all interest. The next update may not be until after I move early August. Goal is to finish before my daughter is due in fall. Hoping I can make it happen.
Lots of love and good things to all who are following!
NEW CAPRICAN TENT CITY;LAURA ROSLIN'S TENT: 24 WEEKS SINCE CYLON OCCUPATION
"Laura!" came a frantic voice beyond the canvas. "Laura! Gods! Are you in there!? Laura!?"
It was Ellen Tigh's voice
Laura dropped what she was doing, rushing to the tent flap to untie it and then pulling it open to reveal Ellen panting out of breath, her eyes wet and wild with worry.
"Oh Laura! Thank Zues!" Ellen gasped with her hand to her heart.
"Ellen what's wrong!? What's the matter!?"
The distressed woman's eyes darted all around as if she were searching for someone who may have followed.
"Oh, Laura," she cried, putting her palm to her forehead, still trying to catch her breath.
Noticing Ellen's paranoia Laura took her own suspicious look around the area and then quickly grabbed her by the wrist pulling her inside.
With Ellen indoors Laura quickly shut the flap behind them securing the ties and buckles as if they could really stop an unwanted intruder.
"Ellen," she attempted a calm tone as she turned to face the other women, "take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong."
"It's Saul! They took him again! My gods, Laura this time they grabbed him, shoved him to the floor of our tent and then hauled him off! They didn't even give him a frakking chance to leave willingly!"
"Was he hurt?" Laura asked in alarm. It wasn't as if they hadn't been anticipating the Colonel being taken again, but Ellen hadn't become this frantic since the first time it had happened. The arrest tactics had obviously escalated. "What did they say?"
"I don't know, I don't know! It was New Caprican police! Those scummy little fraks! They never speak up much, bunch of cowards! There was a bullethead with them but no skinjobs."
"Okay. Ellen, calm down," Laura attempted, knowing nothing productive would come of panic. "It'll be alright. They'll let him out soon."
"No, Laura, listen!" Ellen spoke firmly, her eyes now suddenly focused and determined "You need to get down to one of the mines. Go through the entrance in my tent. Leave now. They could be coming for you next."
Laura was taken off guard by Ellen's abrupt commanding tone and for a moment she didn't know how to respond.
"They never take Saul and I at the same time," she reasoned, shaking her head in dismissal of Ellen's instructions.
Ellen's brows lowered and she shook her head in disbelief.
"They already warned you that they were going to take you again soon, Laura. What difference would it make to them if they happen to have Saul too? They're getting angrier, more forceful. Look, Sam was at my tent when they came for Saul. He trailed them to see what building he was brought to this time but first he told me to find you, make sure that you were alright and then tell you to get your ass to a bunker. He said that he'd send for lookouts and for someone to attend you down there as soon as he could. You need to go now."
Laura opened her mouth to protest but she hesitated. She'd been living in looming fear of being taken again for weeks, so why was she so reluctant to do what she was being asked in order to avoid it?
"Ellen, they'll just take me when I come out," she argued. "I can't live down there."
"Laura, you don't need the stress of being dragged into containment," Elle returned with an annoyed insistence to her voice. "The fear, the anxiety. It's not good for you. The baby is still so small, if anything happens now-" she stopped herself not wanting to put any more worry into Laura's mind than she already had. "Listen, the longer you can stay out of their custody the better. Please go. Even if it's just for a few hours."
The look of honest concern on Ellen's face wasn't ultimately what changed Laura's mind. It was the confusion in her eyes that told Laura she didn't understand why she wasn't immediately doing everything within her own power to hide and avoid danger. It snapped her out of her protest and for a moment she felt foolish and insolent.
"Fine, let's go," Laura finally agreed.
"No," Ellen said, shaking her head. "You go to my tent. Sam will have someone waiting. I'm gunna go find where he went."
"Ellen, no," Laura scowled. "Stay away from those buildings. Sam's there. Chief Tyrol probably is too by now. They know how to watch them without being seen. You won't do anything but worry yourself half to death staring at the barbed wire. The last thing anyone needs is for you to draw attention."
"I have to go, Laura. I'm sick of them taking my husband whenever they please. I can't take the nights of not knowing where he is."
"Ellen, don't go. He'll be out soon. They never keep us for more than a few days. At least wait until Sam or Galen return. Do you think they really want you chasing after them?"
"Saul is all I have, Laura. He's all I've ever had. There's no one else home waiting for me. There's no one else I need to consider. He's my husband. It's my choice. Please, go to my tent. You're the one who asked Sam for help. Now he's trying to protect you and your son as best as he can. Whether it's for a few more hours or until the fleet comes back to save us all, he just wants to keep you away from the cylons as long as he possibly can. Please do what he asks. I have to go. If you're still down there when I get back I'll check in then," Ellen promised as she turned to leave.
"Ellen, please…" Laura called after her, but Ellen didn't turn around.
"What if it were Bill?" she said as she unfastened the tent flap to leave. "What if it was the only person left in the world who really gave a damn about you?"
Laura didn't answer, she just watched as the other woman pulled the tent flap back.
"Go, Laura," Ellen said as she took off down the row of tents.
Laura's jaw was slack. She felt a wave of nervous nausea roll through her stomach. Without thinking she backed up all the way to the edge of her mattress and sat waiting for it to pass.
Ellen looked truly afraid. She looked about as afraid as Laura knew she should feel herself, but as the weeks had passed she'd found herself numbing to the terror.
It was as if she was slowly resigning herself to the inevitable. She was still paranoid, still worried, but little by little a sense that she could do nothing to escape the future had begun to sink in. Even with so many others now looking out for her wellbeing, it had done little to encourage her sense of optimism that things could work in her favor. She was becoming detached from the situation and on some level she knew it. Her one goal had become keeping her child out of cylon hands, but every avenue toward that goal was more bleak than the next. There was a chance he wouldn't survive, or perhaps neither of them would. She thought of that often even as Cottle noted improvements in her condition. She couldn't help feeling as though her body would fail the child in one way or another. How could it be expected to bring forth life so soon after it had faced death? Worse than the thought of losing her baby was the awful thought that it would be better for those around her if she did. One less danger and one less heavy burden. One less thing for the cylons to have over them. That thought hurt her soul to consider, but somehow the thought of what would happen if he actually lived to be born in secret as they planned was the cause of most of her distress and worry. The best case that Laura could hope for was giving her baby away the moment he was born. She would need to say goodbye to him before she could even truly comprehend that she was his mother and she'd be doing it without knowing if she would ever manage to get him back. She had to hope and pray for a situation that was going to leave her heartbroken. It was more than she could handle most nights alone in her tent, and so little by little her mind had started to numb itself to it all.
It was an old habit. She'd never processed emotions well. She was self aware enough to understand that it was probably some kind of defence mechanism but she'd never really fought against it. She'd always just lived with it but somehow now it made her feel deeply ashamed. She was asking so many others to help her, to care, to risk their lives and yet she had so little hope in what she was asking for. She felt immensely guilty and she had a grim sense of gratitude that no one around her knew her well enough to tell how truly withdrawn she felt most days.
That was until Ellen Tigh had visited her tent.
Just a day before Saul was taken Laura received an unexpected guest. She'd taken the weekend to rest and make notes for Maya and Tory. They'd offered to take on more of the school's scheduling duties as she progressed further into her pregnancy and would need more time off.
"Knock, knock!" an overly cheerful voice had sounded from beyond the tent flaps.
Laura put down her notebook and with a sigh and a grunt she'd pushed herself up from the side of the bed. It was finally getting a bit difficult for her to do so.
"Anyone home?" the cloying voice called again.
Laura had rolled her eyes. It was Ellen Tigh, no doubt. She hardly knew anyone else on New Caprica who could still convey even the falsity of a good mood. Forced as it was, somehow Ellen still made the vain attempt to smile through the dismal days. Laura almost admired it. She could fake it well enough in front of her students, but not around other grown adults whose desperation she could see plastered on their weary faces. Ellen probably couldn't help it, she supposed. Acting as if things were not as terrible as they actually were was probably how she got through each day.
"I come bearing gifts!" the woman had called again just before Laura parted the flaps.
"Ellen," she'd greeted, seeing the smiling blonde standing before her holding a covered kettle in her hands.
"Hope I didn't come at a bad time," Ellen said as her grin faltered a bit.
"No. Not at all," Laura replied as she observed the large container and a small bag that hung from the petite woman's elbow. "Sorry," she added, suddenly noticing that she was actually struggling to hold it. "C'mon in."
"Thanks!" Ellen said with a giggle as she'd made her way past Laura and right to the small kitchen block that Bill had constructed months before. "Frak me!" she'd swore as she set the kettle onto the wooden surface. That damn thing is heavy! My fingers are numb!" she winced as she clenched and unclenched her fists to regain circulation.
"Sorry, Ellen. I didn't realize."
Ellen looked up at Laura who was still busy fastening the tent flap.
"You sure you don't want to keep that open? Get some air in here?" she suggested.
Laura turned around almost sheepishly and shrugged.
"I know it's silly. It's hardly a security system. I just feel better these days knowing it's closed."
"Oh. Okay," Ellen said, doing her best to hide her pity and concern before she suddenly paused focusing on where Laura stood. "Oh my gods, you look so cute!" she'd nearly exclaimed.
"What?" Laura had replied in obvious confusion.
"The bump! It's the first time I've noticed!"
"Gods, Ellen," Laura frowned as she pulled her sweater closed as if to conceal it.
"Oh, don't be shy. At least not in front of me! Nothing to be ashamed of," Ellen insisted. "In fact I think it's adorable!"
"Adorable?" Laura scowled.
She'd been doing all she could to hide her changing form from everyone around her whether they were aware of her condition or not. She was hardly comfortable looking at herself and for the first time since the move to the planet she was grateful for the lack of any full length mirrors.
"It's a baby bump, of course it's adorable!" Ellen proclaimed. "It's beautiful! You act like it's a frakking goyder for frak sake."
"It's adorable for twenty-five year olds," Laura countered as she crossed her arms over her bundled sweater.
"Oh get off it, Laura," Ellen had lightly chastised her with a smirk. "I get that you want to be discreet considering the circumstances, but don't tell me you're ashamed of being pregnant?"
The truth was that Laura found letting others know that she was expecting downright mortifying. The surprised look on the faces of those she'd informed, the unsure reactions when no one seemed to know if they should be congratulatory or concerned. The worst was that she could see the wheels turning in people's minds as they undoubtedly speculated or presumed who the child's father was. She and Bill had hardly been hiding things before he left, but this was a level of exposure she knew neither of them wanted and she felt undoubtedly guilty for it in his absence.
"At this stage in my life…" Laura shrugged. "Well wouldn't you be?" she'd challenged as she took a seat in the chair by her little writing desk.
"Me!? Frak no. Are you kidding? I'd be flaunting it like a pair of new tits," Ellen told her with a wink. "Look, people know now and if they don't they'll be able to tell soon. If they want to judge, frak em. You won't be able to hide your figure for much longer anyway. You can't drown yourself in sweaters!"
"I know. I know that," Laura had huffed.
As blunt and crass as Ellen Tigh was, she was also right. She wouldn't be able to hide it very much longer. Every day she felt bigger and try as she might to avoid looking at herself; she couldn't ignore the rapidly increasing movements and flutters inside. Soon everyone would see the evidence of what she could already feel kicking and squirming within.
"It's just…I don't know. I guess the more people know, the more people are going to be asking what happened when I'm no longer pregnant and there's no baby. No matter the truth, I'm just not looking forward to whatever explanation I'm going to have to give," Laura shrugged.
"Gods, Laura," Ellen had returned with what looked like heartfelt sympathy in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be so flippant. I'm sure it's difficult to be happy or to find joy in all this, but…you made a choice to bring this boy into the world because you love him and you want him. It's okay to show that you love and want him. It's okay to feel it. In fact it would probably be good for the both of you, mentally and physically if you just let yourself enjoy him for now. Stress can inhibit the hormones that help you bond. It's called oxy- oxy- oxyto- well, oxy-something-or-other. I can't remember. My point is, you may have to be apart soon, but today you have him with you. He can feel that as much as you can. You've taken care of him this long even though it hasn't been easy. You're all he needs right now, ya know? He's happy and warm and safe in there and you're doing a great job in spite of all the odds. I think that deserves a little joy."
Laura had felt her cheeks go warm. Even Maya hadn't been able to discern the disconnect that she'd been feeling and yet somehow Ellen seemed to sense it right away. She felt embarrassed and a little invaded. She'd always seen Ellen as rather shallow and self occupied. The level of her quick and surprisingly accurate observance had taken Laura by surprise, as had the woman's rather empathetic and heartfelt advice.
Laura didn't want to address it further. As well intentioned as Ellen might be Laura didn't know her well enough to speak on it. Still, she wanted to show some gratitude.
"I want to thank you for taking on the weight of this…situation, Ellen," she said with her eyes cast to her lap, as if avoiding eye contact would keep her guest from seeing further into her frame of mind. "I know it's putting you and your husband in even more danger and I appreciate your help."
"Of course, Laura. I know that you must think me so selfish and I get it. I know how most people see me. I won't even deny the general public opinion. I am what I am and I make no apologies. But this…this is a precious little boy we're talking about. Plus it's Bill's son and as much as that man can infuriate me at times I still love him and Saul loves him and that means we care deeply about this baby."
"Thank you, Ellen," Laura softly offered.
"Which brings me to why I came!" Ellen had announced with a smile and an emphatic slap of her open fist to the kitchen block.
"Oh?"
"I brought you something," she beamed, happily gesturing to the kettle atop the makeshift table like a gameshow model showing off a speedboat.
"Tea?" Laura guessed.
"Bone broth," Ellen promptly corrected.
Laura's brows lowered in confusion.
"What the frak is that?"
"Well," Ellen began as if starting some grand tale, "as of two days ago I had no godsdamned idea, but I've been enlightened!"
"How so?" Laura asked, admittedly both amused and intrigued.
"As it happens a little old Gemenise woman lives in the tent across from Saul and I, " Ellen began to explain. "She just loves making her way over to our tent when I watch Nicky Tyrol. She can't get enough of him. Of course I can't blame her. He's so stinkin cute. Those cheeks! He just makes her smile, the poor woman, I think she outlived her entire family. Anyway she's been so helpful. She can hardly stand without a cane and she's totally toothless, bless her heart, but she's given some great advice to Cally about so many things and she taught me how to wear Nicky in a Geminese style wrap so I can easily take him for walks and trips to the market vendors."
"I'm sure when you first came down to New Caprica the last thing you thought you'd be doing was spending your days babysitting," Laura mused.
She'd been surprised the first few times she'd seen Ellen out and about with the Tyrol baby. Not only because the young couple had entrusted their child into a known lush's care but because Ellen had actually agreed to it and seemed perfectly sober, comfortable and capable with the child in-tow.
"I'll say," Ellen laughed, "But the Tyrols needed help and that little boy is just too cute to resist. He distracts me. I'd rather hear him cry all day than hear bombs going off in the distance. He's a little light in this frakking bleak disaster. Plus Saul never admits it but Nicky cheers him up when he's around. He loves playing with him."
Laura had to chuckle at the thought. If anything was more surprising to her than Ellen Tigh being good with children it was the Colonel becoming a softie over an infant.
"Anyway," Ellen continued, "I had the baby for a few hours the other day and Raya, the Gemenise woman, that's her name, she hobbled over to see Nicky and have some tea with me. She commented that she'd noticed that there were many babies being born over the last month or so and how her heart was breaking for all of the mothers who she feels seem too thin and sickly in their state. I told her that they were doing their best with what we have and the sad reality of lacking so much of what we need. Well, she told me that the older generation on Geminion knew how to go without and still bring hearty babies into the world. You know how the old folks go on about such things. Anyway, she went on to tell me that what all these expectant women needed was some good bone broth. She said that if they'd get the bones from whatever animals the butcher at the market had and simmered them with herbs for a day then they could drink it and keep up their strength and keep their babies well. She says it's as good as any medicine. She swore to Aphrodite that it was liquid gold for an expectant or nursing woman. She said that it will strengthen the mothers bones and teeth and put fat on the baby whether they're still in the womb or out and breastfeeding. She was emphatic. At first I thought she was babbling old wives tale nonsense, but she seemed to know from experience. I figured she's always been helpful, maybe there's something to it so I asked her to help me make a batch."
"Gods, Ellen," Laura remarked, quite thrown that Ellen had done something so kind for her. "You didn't have to do that…"
"I'm no cook," Ellen emphasized with a chuckle. "Ask Saul and he'll tell you I can't make frakkin toast. I'll mix a mean cocktail but bone broth doesn't have any ambrosia in it and so I was clueless to start. Lucky for you Raya watched me every step of the way and made sure I didnt frak it all up. Just don't ask what kind of bones I used. It was whatever the butcher had yesterday. I caught him before they took all the unwanted bits and bones to the dogs."
Laura couldn't help but wince at the raw description. Life in the Fleet had not been easy but she cringed at how they lived so primitively now in comparison.
"I promise though! It tastes pretty damn good! I figured Saul could use some too. His joints have been acting up, it's just so damp here…he has trouble sleeping sometimes…" Ellen said with an air of distracted concern before starting again. "Anyway even he said it was one of the least objectionable things I've ever made and that's a godsdamn compliment coming from him."
"You didn't have to bring me so much, Ellen. You spent all that time making it."
"I made it for you, Laura and for that little nugget of yours. You need calcium for one thing and the collagen is important too. I stand by what I said before. There's nothing wrong with women our age having babies if they can and they choose to, but bouncing back and healing after is another story. It's not as easy. Besides that little guy in there is taking everything from you and you don't have a lot to spare so drink up."
"Were you in the medical field before the fall, Ellen?" Laura had asked.
"No way," Ellen snorted. "Why? Could you imagine the jokes about my bedside manner?" she'd teased.
"Well you just seem so knowledgeable about these things. Little things here and there, I thought maybe…"
"No, I was a real estate agent. I sold high end beach condos on Picon and I was pretty damn good at it. Mostly I sold to retirees and middle aged men looking for a love nest to stash their twenty-year-old side pieces," she recalled with an amused roll of her eyes. "No medical training to speak of, but I spent a long, long time reading every book and watching every video I could on babies and pregnancy while Saul and I were still trying to have a family. We tried for years. All the time and money and energy we put into it and nothing was working, but I just kept telling myself that eventually it would happen and I wanted to be ready and informed. So I filled my head with a bunch of stuff that I just never ended up needing to use after all. I'm surprised I even remember half of it to be honest."
Laura felt herself flush a bit over the other women's casual divulgence of something so personal. Bill had mentioned that the Tighs had gone through some hardship that left the marriage in the state it had been in before the fall of the colonies. Perhaps what Ellen spoke of had been part of it. Maybe it had been what drove them both to the bottle and drove them to harbor such anger toward one another despite their obvious love. How awful, Laura thought. She felt even more guilt and embarrassment begin to fill her as she sat before Ellen Tigh. She wasn't exactly sure why. Maybe it was because she hardly knew the woman and yet she'd just openly shared something so private. Laura could never be so forthcoming with an acquaintance. For frak sake she could hardly tell Bill about her past. Watching Ellen smile through such a painful admission made Laura's heart clench in her chest. She'd never harbored the same desire to be a mother and yet for some reason the gods had given her this child that she was struggling to find joy over, while Ellen Tigh had spent years hoping and praying for a baby she obviously would have loved and adored without question. It made Laura feel unworthy.
"I feel so ignorant to so much of this," she said in a low voice.
"Your body knows what to do, Laura," Ellen had encouraged with a smile. "You're already getting better. Cottle said so."
"I appreciate you bringing this, Ellen, really I do. Maybe you could write down the instructions for me."
"Oh no, no. I'll make more when you're ready. And don't worry, I'll have old Raya over my shoulder to make sure I don't frak up."
"I'm sure I could manage on my own if you'd write it down. You don't have to trouble yourself again."
"I want to," Ellen had insisted.
"It's too much. I've already put such a burden on you and Saul."
"It's frakkin soup, Laura."
"Still I…"
"Look," Ellen interrupted as she moved out from behind the kitchen block and toward where Laura sat in her desk chair, "I know you're not my biggest fan and to tell you the Gods' honest truth, when we first met on Galactica I thought you were an icy bitch."
"Thanks, Ellen," Laura wryly returned.
"But you've graciously tolerated me since we came here, I'm sure mostly for Bill's sake, and through it all we've had a few fun times here and there, haven't we?"
"Yes," Laura agreed with a small smile. "We have."
"You're not so icy after all, Laura," Ellen smirked as she stood in front of her. "And besides all that, you've asked my husband and I for help. He and his men can do what they know how to in order to protect you and your son; they're trained and they have a plan. But me? I have nothing to offer you by means of help other than this kettle of Gemenise broth and whatever information I still remember from those years I spent hoping for my own little boy. It's not a lot and it's not worth what Galen and Sam and Saul can offer you, but I still want to give what I can to make sure this baby makes it into the world okay so that someday soon you and Bill will get to be with him in peace."
"Thank you, Ellen. I can't thank you enough, really."
Ellen bent down in front of Laura's chair. Knowing full well that it was rude not to ask she reached out anyway and placed a gentle hand atop Laura's slightly rounded belly. Laura didn't stop her and they both sat there for a second as if Ellen were perhaps hoping to feel him move.
"Does he have a name?" she asked softly as she took her hand away.
"Not yet," Laura answered.
Ellen nodded and cleared her throat before standing and turning to make her way toward the exit.
"I have to get going, but you just drink up and get some rest," she told Laura as she made her way to leave. "Oh and remember, you shouldn't really lay flat on your back for too long. Left side is best. Something about the blood flow and circulation and all that. I'm sure Cottle told you."
He hadn't. If he had then Laura had forgotten or been too distracted to hear him, or perhaps he hadn't even thought of it. Obstetrics was far from his specialty and though he was a fine doctor even he often reminded Laura that his training in OB GYN care was limited to what he'd learned in medical school. He was a general practitioner for the military trained in emergency medicine mostly. She'd put her trust in him through her entire illness and now with the fate of her baby, but they both knew there were limits to his capabilities.
"Oh. Okay. Thanks," she said as she stood to walk Ellen out.
"Don't mention it. There's some bread rolls in the bag that I left, oh and some nuts. Gotta love nuts," Ellen winked as she pulled the tent flap back.
Laura smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Please thank Saul for me too," she asked her.
"Oh you'll see him tomorrow, I'm sure," Ellen had shrugged and she stepped through the opening. "Remember, Laura," she'd said looking back at her over her shoulder. "It's okay to have a little hope."
Laura had been so touched by Ellen's gesture. Even if she didn't fully trust the woman she could tell that at least at that moment her sentiments were genuine. She'd been so friendly, so positive and optimistic.
Now less than twenty-four hours later seeing her rush off, frantic, scared and worried sick over her husband's arrest made Laura's heart lodge within her throat. Things could change so quickly.
Ellen's last words had been a plea for her to leave her tent and head to the bunker as Sam asked, but Laura felt frozen. If the cylons were after her she could risk being followed, risk the bunker and their com station being found. Sam had been right to be so skeptical when they'd first asked for his help. No one could stop the cylons from abducting whomever they pleased. If she left her tent she could very well be apprehended on her way and if she stayed she'd be sitting duck just waiting on edge for them to come.
Laura thought of Ellen's message.
Sam had been asked for his assistance, he'd accepted the charge and now he was asking Laura to do what he thought would keep her safest. If she was asking for his help then she needed to accept it and trust in his instruction or else why had she even called upon him? Just to ignore or argue with his plan? Ellen was right, Laura decided. She needed to go.
She rose from the side of the bed and went to the table that held a jug of water. She poured herself a glass and downed it, tepid as it was. She grabbed a heavy sweater from where it hung over a chair and put it on over herself before heading to her desk, folding some blank paper and shoving it into her pockets along with one of her precious ink pens. If she was going to be in the bunker until Sam decided it was time for her to come out then she'd need something to do to calm her nerves. With a deep breath and a quick prayer Laura was ready to leave. For a moment she considered going next door to Maya just to let her know where she was headed, but she quickly decided against it. Better that Maya honestly didn't know where she was if someone came looking. Laura was sure that word would get back to her soon once Sam or the Chief let Tory know where she was. She would make sure that Maya wasn't too worried.
Laura pulled her sweater closed tight and stepped toward the tent opening. She swiftly undid the ties and clasp but then suddenly she paused.
A familiar sound came from beyond the tent flaps. Laura stilled and listened closely. It was the sound of centurion footsteps in the mud along with the whirring zoom of chromed limbs. She waited; frozen, listening. The noise stopped just outside of her tent.
She was too late.
She didn't know what to do.
For a split second she foolishly considered trying to make it under the back of the tent structure. The canvas was pulled tight and secured well against the rubber floor that matting Bill had scrapped from the ship. Any attempt and it would jostle the entire pitch and alert anyone outside looking at the tent to her struggle. The thought of escape was fleeting and before Laura could even consider another option the tent's opening gently parted.
Instinctively she jumped back a foot or two in fear.
"Laura?" a calm voice called as the face of a Six appeared in the entryway. "Laura, it's time to go."
Laura shook her head. Unable to reply.
The Six, the same one who had come the last few times, she was sure, took a few more steps into the tent.
"I told you that they would want to examine you soon. I did warn you," the cylon reminded her with a look on her face that almost read as regret. "It's time. I promise that you won't be harmed at all and your baby will be just as safe. Please come willingly. There are New Caprican Police with me. I wish they didn't have to be here, but if you'll just calmly follow me none of them will lay a hand on you. You have my word. This doesn't have to be difficult."
"You've just arrested Saul Tigh for the frak-teenth time. I don't give a shit about your word," Laura seethed.
"I didn't arrest anyone," the Six corrected somewhat dispassionately. "And I know little about that decision, but you are not under arrest, Laura. You're not going to the detention center and you won't see the inside of a cell, I can assure you. I know that you're frightened, but I promise that if you just cooperate now that you'll be back here in your own bed by tonight just as long as all goes well."
NEW CAPRICAN TENT CITY 24 WEEKS SINCE CYLON OCCUPATION
"Chief!" Tory called as she ran after Tyrol.
She'd been searching for him, finally catching a glimpse of him as he'd rushed by.
"Tory, I gotta go," he said, only slowing his steps so as to face her while he hustled in a backwards jog. "If you're looking for the prez she should be down in the bunker. Sam sent someone for her. I gotta go," he said as he did an about face and continued forward.
"No she's not!" Tory hollered after him. "She's gone! They took her!"
Tyrol finally stopped his trek and doubled back toward Tory.
"You're frakking kidding me," he said as he rushed toward her and she met him, closing the space they had to speak. Shouting such things through the tent rows was probably a bad choice.
"Several witnesses saw her being escorted onto a cylon transport cart," Troy swiftly informed him.
"Shit," Tyrol swore.
"She knew it was coming," Tory said, shaking her head and trying to catch her breath. "They'd warned her its just-"
"Frak that," he snapped again.
All he could think of was the Old Man's son being taken by cylons.
"She may not be at the prison," Tory posed. "They wanted her for a medical exam. At least that's what she was warned they would take her in for. I don't know if that's better or worse."
Tyrol let out a frustrated groan and rubbed his hand over his face.
"Tigh's gone too," he told her. "They took him earlier today."
"Frak," Tory cursed. "I didn't know."
"Now what?" the Chief muttered.
"Well, I kind of hoped you and Anders would know the answer to that," Tory frowned.
"That's where I'm headed," Tyrol said with a nod as he took a look around them to survey their surroundings.
"He and a few others went down to the prison to stake it out after the Colonel was taken. Last I heard Ellen had followed him down there. She wouldn't listen to him when he told her to get the frak home. They fought, she went off on her own and now he lost track of her."
"Great," Tory caustically responded. "That woman is a damn menace."
"Na- I mean, yeah, but Nicky loves her," the Chief couldn't help but speak in the missing woman's defence. "She helps us out. She's not all bad. I just wish like hell she'd stayed put."
"Listen, we have to retaliate fast," Tory insisted. "I thought Anders said that was the plan from now on. One disruptance for every unjust arrest or abduction. They took Roslin and Tigh, thats calls for two big targets."
"Yeah, yeah I know," Tyrol grimaced, "and I know what Sam's gunna wana do, but I've gotta go find him. Without Roslin and Tigh we have no one to give the go ahead on a new target."
"So what?" Tory balked. "Do you really need it?"
"Not if you ask Sam, but…"
"He's right, Chief," Tory said, cutting him off. "This isn't Galactica. This is guerilla warfare. It's time for you both to take charge. Look, as frakked up as it sounds we need to face the fact that one day one or both of them won't be returned."
Tyrol cringed at the blunt statement. It wasn't as if he didnt think of it daily but the harshness of Tory's words was hard to take in.
"Yeah. Yeah I know."
Tory watched him for a moment. She appreciated his work ethic and his bravery. She'd been more than impressed when she'd learned he'd organized the workers union. What she couldn't stand was his propensity to hesitate.
"Go," she told him. "Find Sam. I'll wait for word."
He nodded and turned to leave before pausing again, doubling back to her and leaning in closer to speak
"Please, Tory, will you go to Nicky and Cally and take them down to one of the bunkers? Duck and Norah's maybe? I know they're probably fine but- just til you hear back from me or Sam," he requested in a low tone, careful of who might hear them.
He knew that the Colonel had probably been right. The cylons probably wanted nothing to do with Nicky, but with them being so arrest happy he just couldn't shake the thought.
"You got it," Tory assured him.
He nodded in thanks before he took off running again.
NEW CAPRICA CYLON MEDICAL CENTER
As much as she'd despised it Laura had gone with the Six without resistance. She knew that she had no defence against the gang of armed police and the bullethead they had in tow.
They'd walked her to the end of her tent row where a cylon transport cart had met them. The Six had offered her hand to help Laura into the vehicle but she dismissed it much to the strange cylon women's dismay, instead struggling on her own to hoist herself up. The Six and one police officer joined her on the ride, along with the vehicle's driver and his passenger side companion, both of whom Laura recognized to be Twos.
Quite a few onlookers had seen her leaving camp with the cylons and she knew word would travel quickly.
The ride was bumpy and the Six seemed to cringe in concern with each jostle of the cab, asking Laura almost every time if she were alright. Annoyed and afraid Laura had mostly ignored her.
As promised they'd taken her directly to the cylon hospital. Leaving the Twos behind in the vehicle the armed police officer had escorted Laura and the Six all the way inside to a curtained exam area. He finally departed with the Six's permission. The Six however, had not left Laura's side once.
"Are you going to hang around the entire time I'm here?" Laura asked her about an hour after they'd arrived.
She'd been given a hospital gown and a bed. With little choice but to sit and await whatever it was they had in mind for her Laura did her best to remain calm.
Caprica stood by the curtained partition, out of the way enough not to be hovering but close enough that Laura hadn't been free from her sight since the moment she'd picked her up at her tent.
"Are you comfortable?" she asked, dismissing Laura's irritated jab.
"Of course I'm not," Laura sneered in her direction.
"Can I have them bring you some water or maybe a warmer blanket?" the Six offered, sounding as if she truly believed there was anything that could make the situation better.
Laura looked at the cylon woman with a bewildered expression. She was odd to say the least and though Laura suspected the statuesque blonde's behavior was all an elaborate game designed as part of a plan to attempt to gain her trust she still couldn't help but feel a sense of almost palpable concern coming from her. It was almost physical. It was that which unnerved her about the Six most of all. Was she imagining it?
"Why don't you just leave?" she asked, her voice laced with irritation. "You got me here. There are centurions all over this place. It's not as if I can get out."
"Am I bothering you?" Caprica frowned.
Laura's brows rose. The woman was also talented at playing tone deaf. Or perhaps the particular cylon honestly didn't understand human emotion well.
"Well, you more or less kidnapped me, took me here against my will and since I've arrived you've insisted on staying by my side while I undressed, put this godsdamned gown on, oh and while I peed in a frakking cup. Now you're just staring at me."
"It's not my intention to make this worse for you," Caprica plainly replied, but Laura scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I told you that you and your son wouldn't be harmed today," the Six reminded, but what she truly wanted to say was that she was there watching to make sure of it. "I'm sure Simon will be in soon."
"Whatever," Laura huffed in dismissal.
There were a few quiet minutes before the Six spoke again.
"When he's through would you like me to take you back home or would you maybe prefer to go to the Colonial medical tent?" she posed, hoping that the offer would reassure Roslin that they had no ill intent during the exam. "That way your own doctors can examine you to confirm that nothing harmful was done today. Would that be better?"
Laura squinted at the blonde for a few moments. She was too good at mimicking human emotion making the theory that she couldn't interpret it less plausible. The concern in her demeanor and the sympathy in her voice could almost be believable had Laura not known any better. She wondered for a moment why they always sent the same one. Surely each copy of the line had the same capabilities and programming. For a moment her stomach rolled again. Why did she assume it was the same one?
No. Not assume.
She knew it. It was more than an assumption.
It was the same Six. But how did she know?
How had she picked out Boomer or D'Anna Biers for that matter?
"Are you alright, Laura? You look flush," the Six said, taking a few steps toward the bed.
Before she could come any closer the curtains opened and a Simon model in maroon scrubs entered.
"Welcome back, Ms. Roslin," he greeted.
"What the frak took so long?" the Six questioned in obvious annoyance. "She's been sitting here for an hour and no one's even been in to take her blood pressure."
The Four glanced over at her with an expression of restrained aggravation.
"There was an accident at the quarry this morning," the cylon man answered, switching his focus from Caprica to Laura. "A few small explosions of mining machinery," he said with a passive aggressive tone and some accusation in his eyes. "Several were injured. We've been busy," he explained.
Caprica crossed her arms in front of herself not bothering to comment further.
"Ms. Roslin, how have you been feeling lately?" Simon asked once the subject of his promptness was dropped.
"I was fine until you brought me here," Laura bitterly answered.
The Four looked to Caprica and then back at Roslin.
"You know this will go easier if you can be honest and provide us with some proper information," he lectured with a bit of firmness to his tone
"Laura, it's just a few questions," Caprica tried to quickly appeal in a lighter manner.
She shot her brother a look of vexation. How did any of them expect to both gain Roslin's cooperation and ensure her optimal health by using constant intimidation? It was beyond frustrating.
"That's alright, Caprica," Simon said with a trite smile and a shrug. "The tests we'll run today should give us all the answers we need."
Laura glared at him.
"I want to know what the frak you're going to do before you touch me," she demanded.
"I'll be sending someone in to take your vitals and draw new blood work," Simon informed her as he stuck his large hands inside the pockets of his scrubs. "Then I'll be giving you another scan to take a look at the fetus. There should be no need for an internal exam this time, if that makes you feel any better," he finished.
Laura fought off the urge she felt to shiver. Whether they planned to hurt her or not, just the idea of undergoing an invasive personal exam against her will made her sick. She had little to be grateful for but if the Four was telling the truth at least she wouldn't be subjected to such exposure and violation this time.
"Get on with it then," she muttered.
The best she could hope for was that it would be fast and that the Six was being honest about returning her after it was over.
"I'll be back to do the ultrasound scan just as soon as the other tests are completed. Someone will be in to hang an IV as well. Please don't fight it this time. It's only fluids and some extra minerals. You'd be wise to accept it. I don't think there's a human on this planet who couldn't use some," he said as he turned to leave.
Caprica could see Laura's shoulder's raise, no doubt ready to make an angry remark about the general welfare of her people in response to Simon's comment.
"Laura, please," she said, hoping it would
stop her, "we're almost done. Just don't argue. As long as everything comes back stable they'll let me take you home shortly."
Laura waited until the Four was gone and the curtain was closed again.
"What the frak are they doing?" she snapped at the Six "What do they want with my baby?"
Caprica swallowed and took a few steps toward the bed, trying to do so without coming off threateningly.
"Laura, you need to listen to me," she said as she placed her hands gently to the bed's side rail. "I mean you need to really hear me," she urged. "For the sake of your son, please, this is important. He's a very special baby and he's of great interest genetically. If you would just agree-"
"Agree to let him be taken and experimented on?" Laura cut in before the cylon could finish.
"No! No! Listen," Caprica pressed on. "He is a symbol of integration and unity that is desperately needed. We don't wish to take him from you by force. If you could just agree to let our doctors continue to monitor him and-"
"Study him like an animal!?" Roslin gritted, again unwilling to let the other women continue her appeal.
Caprica checked her composure. She couldn't let her emotions get the better of her one way or the other. Walking the line was proving a difficult endeavor.
"Laura, had your people still the means to examine and evaluate such a child efficiently they would surely do it too. Do you deny that testing was done on Sharon's baby before it was even born?" she questioned, but Roslin stayed angrily tight lipped "You can't tell me that you don't want the absolute best for your son's health," Caprica attempted, pushing past the comparison that seemed to upset Roslin even further. "He's unique and may have different needs than a purely Colonial child. If our cylon doctors can learn how to better help him if he ever gets ill or injured wouldn't that be a good thing? And then perhaps in the future if there were ever more children like him they would know-"
"More like him?" Laura echoed through her teeth. "You're planning on using him to make more like him? Is that what sick plan is going on?"
"No. No, Laura," Caprica began to backtrack, "I just mean that we still have hopes for integration despite the state of things right now. A cylon human hybrid child was already born once within your fleet. Sadly the child is gone, but that's not to say one like her will never be born again. Living on this planet all together it may only be a matter of time. Now your son isn't a hybrid, but he holds within him cylon and colonial DNA and knowing more about him could help us be prepared for the future. And you, with your influence being what it is, well agreeing to harmless occasional exams would go a very long way in showing both Colonials and Cylons that there is hope of peaceful living."
Laura stared back at the Six for a long moment.
"Not a chance," she returned with a mocking smirk.
"Laura, they'll keep taking you, and they'll take him when they want to," Caprica bluntly continued, her brows creased with concerned frustration. "Why should it be by force and fear when your cooperation could do so much good?"
"You don't get to decide that my child is some symbol of your agenda."
Caprica looked down at her feet and considered how to reply.
"Had Hera lived there would be far less interest in him, but the way he came to inherit his unique cylon genetic attributes is also of great intrigue. There is no getting around it, Laura and I'm begging you, to ensure you and your son can live in relative peace you must agree to some level of cooperation. It's the only way I can promise to keep helping you."
"And how have you helped me?" Laura challenged the Six but before the cylon could reply a medic entered the curtain.
It was a Five and Laura loathed to have him touch her. He hung an IV and drew several vials of blood all without saying much. He left momentarily only to return with the ultrasound machine. He then left again letting the ladies know that Simon would be right in.
This time the Four arrived promptly. He dimmed the lights in the exam area and conducted the scan without much commentary.
Laura hated every moment of it. The last time that she was there they had performed all the tests they'd done while she was still unconscious. This time she had to feel their hands on her and anticipate the possible intentions of their every move.
She glanced at the monitor a few times during the scan as Simon took pictures and typed in notes. The machine was far better than Cottle's and she was struck by how clear the fetal images were. She could see the baby's features and even caught him pop a thumb in his mouth at one point. It made her heart race but she fought with all she had to stave off any visible signs of emotion. She wouldn't let them see her break down. She knew that they would use any sign of weakness she showed against her, if not now then later on. Still, it was difficult to hold back when looking at the screen. At one moment Laura thought she had faltered. She'd heard sniffling and thought for a split second that she had lost her battle against her tears. That was, until she realized that it wasn't coming from her at all. She glanced over at the Six and saw the fair young woman's face illuminated by the screen's light within the darkened room. She was smiling in awe at the images on the screen and had real tears glistening on her cheeks. Laura was caught off guard by the cylon's reaction and she watched her closely, missing the final fetal images on the machine before Simon turned it off and put the probe away.
Soon the lights were back, the machine's cart was rolled out of the curtain and Simon returned to Laura's bedside to give his report, or at least whatever version of his findings they wanted her to know.
"Well, we're glad to see the Placenta Previa is resolving itself," he began. "There is still some overlap of the cervix so I imagine you're still having some bleeding, but since you won't confirm that I'll have to assume that it's at least lessened a great deal. It should continue to resolve completely well before delivery. That's mainly why we wanted to bring you in today. This is a very positive improvement," he noted. "Baby is on target for size and we find no anatomical anomalies of note. The amniotic fluid is within acceptable range, but it's a bit on the lower side of average. There's no evidence of hypertension or a tear so we'd encourage you to increase your water intake and if you'll allow it, return biweekly for saline IVs to help," he suggested.
Laura looked back at the man as if he'd sprouted a second head.
"I'm not coming here so you can put gods only know what in my arm," she scoffed.
"Perhaps you can inform your doctor," Caprica interjected before Simon could respond. "The military physician. Maybe he can administer it without you having to come here as often as Simon suggested. We could make sure Dr. Cottle has what he needs."
Simon gave Caprica a blank stare before returning his attention to his human patient.
"I'm sure that would need to be discussed, but your regular doctor should be informed either way. I'm positive his treatment plan would be the same. However, Ms. Roslin I would implore you to seek all further medical and prenatal care here with us. Our facility is far more equipped and efficient. We can offer you the best of care."
Laura couldn't believe that any of them would think that she might return as a willing captor for any reason no matter the amount of amenities.
"Am I free to go yet?" she flatly asked.
Simon's irritation with her was subtle but obvious enough.
"Just waiting on a few more results from the blood and urine samples but you may get dressed," he answered. "We'd like to offer for you to stay a bit longer. Have a few decent meals and sleep in a clean comfortable bed, but if that's not important to you and all the labs come back okay then, yes, you'll be free to go."
Laura said nothing in return and after a moment the cylon physician left the curtain.
"That's so wonderful to hear," Caprica said with a joyful smile. "The baby is doing well, Laura. You must be relieved."
The cylon woman's demeanor had Laura beyond puzzled.
"Will you take me to Doc Cottle, like you said before?" she asked, choosing to engage on the topic of her child as little as possible with any cylon.
"Yes," the Six agreed right away. "Yes, I can do that."
Laura nodded.
"When will you come take me here again?" she asked.
"I don't really know," the Six said with a shrug, her smile fading at her own reply. "It's not really up to me."
Laura studied the woman's face for a moment longer. Whatever game the machine was playing Laura had to admit there was something different about her. She just couldn't explain it.
"Why do they call you Caprica?" she asked, keeping her scrutinizing gaze on the Six.
"Excuse me?"
"That doctor, and the Three you were with at my school, they call you Caprica," Laura observed. "The name of my home. What was my 've taken it as your name, or been given it. Why?"
Caprica was flustered by the question but did her best to remain stoic.
"Well many of us choose names to stand out, to form more individuality. We aren't the exact copies you might think. We do have different personalities, opinions. Some of us," she added.
"And why Caprica?" Roslin continued to press.
The Six knew she was in danger of exposing herself if Roslin hadn't already recognized her. Perhaps Boomer was right. Perhaps the woman could somehow sense one cylon from the next. Or maybe she was intelligent enough to connect the clues, cylon abilities or not. She should have been more careful. Gaining Roslin's trust was proving beyond arduous and if she were to realize that she was looking at the very cylon who had set off the nuclear destruction of her home planets Caprica knew the woman would never look at her again except to maybe spit in her general direction.
"I suppose I picked it because it was pretty and sort of strong," she said with a shrug.
Roslin looked her up and down for a long moment.
"Yes," she replied. "It was."
Caprica averted her eyes from the other woman's almost penetrating glare.
"Let's find your clothes so we can get you on your way."
CYLON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; OFFICE OF JOHN CAVIL
He'd noticed her by chance, loitering around the gates as he arrived with his single centurion escort. He had paused yards away, not entirely shocked to see her, assuming why she was there but no less overcome by the sight of her face. It was, after all, the first face his eyes had ever seen, looking down at him with pride, welcoming him to existence.
He'd watched her for a while as she'd nervously paced, worried, wringing her fretful hands in front of herself, not at all how he remembered her a lifetime ago; always composed and resolute through times of crisis. He gazed upon her, taking a few moments of satisfaction at her distress.
He remembered long ago resenting her bravery and the comfort she'd attempted to offer him during times when he knew there was no real honest protection to be given, just fluffy sentimentalities of a pseudo mother figure. The others would always fall for her reassurances. He considered them all lucky to have no memory of it now. The Seven, his brother Daniel had always willingly and lovingly accepted her succoring. And why shouldn't he have? She'd loved him most of all. Why not choose to be blind to her limitations and faux promises when she'd treated him like a prince while all others received her generic affections out of whatever maternal obligations she'd felt?
John had never been fooled. He prided himself on it.
She'd thought she'd hid her disappointment in him so well, with her warm smiles and patience in his faults, but it was always obvious to him. He was her first attempt, filled with glitches and hiccups. Daniel was her joy and her success.
It was nice to finally see her out of control, John thought. No one to lead and no one to follow her, no more ducklings at her tail.
Though he'd stripped her of her memories he'd no control over what would be left of her nature and each time he'd called for Saul Tigh to be taken he'd wondered if her tenacity would come through. Now there she was.
A few times he watched her approach a New Caprican Police guard only to be sent away, ordered to remain at a six foot distance from the fence as they did with all Colonial civilians. He took his time before approaching her, studying the fear in her eyes, the dark circles and stress lines on her face. It angered him that he still found her so beautiful but it delighted him to know that he held so much power over her.
"Can I help you, miss?" he'd said as he finally walked up to her, motioning for his centurion companion to stay back a bit.
When she turned to see him she took a few steps backward in distrust, obviously recognizing him as a Cylon, and nothing else.
"M-maybe," she spoke. "I hope," she corrected as she decidedly took a brave step forward.
She half attempted one of her flirtatious smiles and though it faltered with apprehension it internally enraged John all the same. Always the whore, he thought.
"My husband was taken from our home today by New Caprican Police. I went to the detention center and I asked every police officer and cylon guard who would talk to me, when he would be released. No one had any answers. Finally one of them said that if I was going to get any information that I would have to come to this building. So I did, but no one here will talk to me either. I just want to know if he's okay and when he'll be out."
John smiled at her.
"Well ", lets see, I may be able to help you with that. What did you say your name was?" he asked, playing ignorant, all the while his grin as sly as could be.
His satisfaction grew when he saw her hesitating to answer. If he'd ever hated anything more than her attempts at tenderness toward the models she'd created it was her love and devotion to her patriarchal counterpart. Their partnership, their love and their unification had always made his skin crawl. John admitted that he might have craved her attention at one time but he'd never given frak about him. Upon first learning that they'd found one another again in this lifetime John's brain had almost short circuited. The pair had always been so proud of one another. He took some gratification in now seeing her demurring over claiming the old fool.
"I'm Ellen Tigh. My husband is Col. Saul Tigh," she said with a bit more irritating confidence, though he could tell that she was holding back some threatening tears. "He keeps being taken and this time I want to know where he is and when he'll be returned."
John stared at her with a small smirk, enjoying the silence between them as he watched her await his reaction.
"Please," she began again, tempering her tenor to one more meek and beseeching. He knew it was one of her old tactics, playing damsel in distress, but in this life she had no advantage in any game. He'd eliminated her brilliance, her knowledge and made her think herself human. "Can someone at least tell me if he's hurt? He's been taken so many times, but this time the police were so rough with him. They didn't even allow him a chance to come willingly. Please? Can you help me?"
Cavil took a look around to see which of his brothers and sisters might have them in view. He didn't much care if he was seen or not, but he liked to know who was aware of what he did and when he did it.
"Why don't you come with me, Mrs. Tigh," he'd invited her. "This really isn't the place to talk about these matters. If you'll join me in my office I'm sure I can get you some better information."
She'd hesitated for only a moment before thanking him and following him into the building.
He could feel her fear and the fact that she'd followed valiantly despite her terror only added to his old seething resentment of her. He'd sent the centurion off when they'd entered the hall to his office. Only a few of his brothers and sisters working in the building had given them a second glance.
When they'd arrived at his office door he let her in, instructed her to take a seat on the sofa and informed her that he'd be back shortly.
He'd left, closing the door behind himself, his only intention to make her wait and build up as much tension as possible.
It was a good twenty minutes before before he strolled back in.
Ellen sprang from her seat as soon as she heard the door click open.
Cavil didn't look at her. Instead he busied himself hanging his hat and coat, seating himself at his desk and proceeding to shuffle through an unmarked binder full of documents.
Ellen stood by the sofa, her coat still on and arms crossed as she tried not to nervously rock in place.
The One cleared his throat as if to begin speaking, only to remain silent and continue his maddening paper shuffle.
She didn't know what to do. She'd followed a skinjob into a building guarded by wire fences, centurions, and New Caprican police. She'd more or less imprisoned herself for all she knew. Even if someone had seen her walking inside she knew that Sam and Galen wouldn't be able to get her out if the creepy little machine man who'd led her inside decided to keep her there. What had she done? She'd been so desperate to figure out a way to get Saul back. Had she made things worse for them both? Sam had warned her when he first saw her at the prison building, begged her to go back home and sit tight with Laura. She wouldn't hear him.
"When Kara was taken you stayed out here for a week before ever setting foot back in your tent! Don't tell me what to do, Sam! You may have given up on your wife but I'm not giving up on Saul!" she'd snapped at him, intending to hurt him only so he wouldn't come after her.
She felt badly about it now and promised herself that she'd apologize if she ever made it out of the strange office. She had no real friends left in life since the fall of the colonies and yet somehow Sam Anders had become her most trusted companion soon after settlement began on New Caprica once she and Saul began to visit. With Kara and Saul putting their old fleet issues behind them she and her new husband had become suitable drinking buddies for the Tighs. Sam and Kara could keep up with them as well as seasoned drinkers and unlike Bill and Laura they never had to be coaxed into a night out. At first Ellen had thought her connection with the former athlete to be one of pure flirtation and silly banter but as Kara and Saul spoke of fleet gossip and war stories Ellen had found the young man surprisingly easy to talk to; honest and kind. She felt like she was speaking to an old friend, someone she trusted. Saul seemed to like him too for the most part. It was as if they had known him for years and were just getting reacquainted. They were glad to be moving down to the surface with the promise of the young couple's help and companionship. No sooner had Saul and Ellen spent their first night on the planet, then the cylons had come. Kara was taken and Sam was lost. Though he had many friends among the settlers he'd turned to the Tighs in the weeks following, perhaps feeling the same kinship or connection that Ellen did, perhaps because he knew he'd need the Colonel close as they formulated plans to resist the invasion. Either way Sam and Ellen had grown closer and she felt awful to have thrown the pain of Kara's abduction in his face. She just hoped that he understood why she'd do anything for Saul. Anything at all.
"Mrs. Tigh?" Cavil finally spoke, the interruption of the silence causing Ellen to nearly jump out of her skin.
He looked up at her.
"Ellen," she told him, offering another attempt at a pleasant smile ruined by weary eyes and the trembling that ran through her body.
"Ellen," he repeated with a saccharine grin. "I'm Brother John Cavil," he told her. "You know, Ellen, you're quite familiar to me. I feel like I must have seen you somewhere before," he prodded, making sure to look directly into her eyes.
He knew that there was no way to trigger her memory. It was gone. Deleted. He'd made sure of it. Still he didn't mind taunting the shell he'd left.
"Well, maybe you've seen me around," she suggested with a nervous shrug.
"No, no. I tend to keep away from the tent city. Besides, I'd hope that I would remember encountering a beautiful lady such as yourself."
She thanked him with a tenuous, almost bashful smile, not befitting her true personality and the facade irritated John to no end.
"I must just have one of those faces," Ellen replied politely, but inside she wanted to scream at the motherfrakker to answer her godsdamn questions. The longer she was inside the cylon building the more she feared she'd made a huge mistake.
"I was just looking over your husband's case here," he lied as he stood from his desk. The binder held nothing related to any arrests at all. "Would you like some water?" he offered, making his way to a small table that held a pitcher and some glasses.
Ellen's mouth and throat were so dry. She had hardly eaten or had much to drink the entire day and her nerves had her feeling beyond parched. She desperately wanted a drink of water. Lords knew the cylons had the only easy access to safe cold running drinking water. She just couldn't trust it. She was afraid to take anything from the man. She just wanted her answers.
"No. Thank you," she declined as he poured himself a cup and drank.
Placing it back on the table he moved toward her.
"Well, Ellen, unfortunately your husband's arrest warrant has him listed under suspicion of inciting violent acts against the government. That's a very serious crime."
"But, Saul hasn't done anything. He doesn't have any weapons. He's with me most of the time. He hasn't hurt anyone."
"Well you see, that's just not true, Ellen, at least not completely. If he's part of the resistance against the New Caprican government, any conspiracy to commit acts of violence is a crime. You must have noticed that bombings and fires have increased over the last few weeks."
"My husband hasn't set any fires and he sure as hell hasn't bombed anything or anyone. You have no proof of him doing any of those things. How can you just arrest a man because you think maybe he might be involved? What kind of government is that!? How do you expect anyone to adhere to your laws when they make no frakking sense?"
"We arrived here with an offer of peaceful coexistence and have been met with nothing but barbaric acts of opposition. Perhaps if your husband and his cronies would have given us a chance instead of reacting with violence we wouldn't have had to resort to such harsh policing methods."
"How did you expect any of us to want to live with you after destroying our home and chasing us through the galaxy? You soulless mother frakkers were crazy to even try!" Ellen snapped and before she had time
to even realize how irate she'd become she felt the man's knuckles connect with her left cheekbone.
Cavil had cracked her across the apple of her cheek with the back of his open fist. Her hand flew up to cover her face and she stumbled back in fear that he would hit her again.
"Oh dear," he said with an insincere tone of concern. "My apologies. Truly. I didn't want to do that at all."
Ellen was stunned and terrified. She looked to the door in fear, knowing that she was totally screwed. Even if she could overpower the man she'd never make it out of the building.
"Please don't panic," he told her. "I see I've upset you. I overreacted. You see I just don't take well to being called names."
Ellen watched him warily, her palm still covering the place on her cheek where the welt was forming.
"You don't have to be afraid. In fact you're free to go and you can expect your husband to be home by morning as well."
Ellen watched him, still disoriented, unsure if he was mocking her or telling her the truth.
"But if I were you, Mrs. Tigh, I would sincerely consider speaking with the Colonel about rethinking his involvement with any resistance methods. I can't promise his safety if he's endangering others, of course, you understand."
She couldn't speak and so just gave him half a nod as the shock wore off and her cheek began to throb.
"Now, if something like this should ever happen again, where you feel as though your husband was unjustly or mistakenly apprehended please know that you can come to me and we can work on figuring out how best to handle it so the least amount of harm is done for all. How's that sound?"
Ellen was still so jarred by the strike, her fear, and the man's odd offer that she was having trouble uttering a single word. She finally just nodded again.
"Good. I'm glad that's understood. My door is always open to you, Ellen. Gosh, you know, you really are so familiar. Do I maybe look familiar to you?" he teased even further but before he could fully enjoy the bewildered expression on the woman's injured face he heard the door open behind him.
Ellen's eyes widened as she saw another cylon enter but the cylon seemed even more surprised to see her.
"What's she doing here?" Boomer asked with a furrowed brow.
"Nothing, Eight," Cavil said as he turned to fully face her. "Mrs. Tigh was just here checking on her husband and now she's leaving."
Boomer looked toward the blonde woman and saw that she was clutching her cheek and obviously shaking.
As if sensing that she should, Ellen dropped her hand from her face and looked downward attempting to cover the bruise with her hair.
"What's going on here?" Sharon questioned further sensing the odd tension within the room.
"I told you. I just informed Mrs. Tigh, uh, Ellen here that as long as no further acts of violence occur within the next few hours the Colonel should be out of detention by morning. She was just about to leave to head home. Get the door for her, will ya?"
Boomer scowled at him and then looked back at Ellen. She reached for the door handle and opened it but the woman seemed frozen in place. She nodded at her and motioned for her to come, trying to reassure her it was okay to move.
Finally Ellen made her way toward the exit.
"Thank you for your time," she said softly as she passed the grinning One.
"My pleasure, Ellen. And if anything else should come up well, now you know where to find me."
She paused and looked back at him. She gave him a delayed nod in acknowledgement before turning around and glancing at Sharon before she left.
Boomer closed the door behind her and turned to Cavil with crossed arms.
"What the frak are you doing?"
"Never mind that, it's nothing."
"What's the Colonel's frakking wife doing here?"
"Oh, we're old friends."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Now onto what's important. How did Roslin's exam go? Have you spoken to Caprica Six?"
Sharon looked to the closed door. Cavil was obviously lying but she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't share anything with her that he didn't explicitly want her to know. She let it go and looked back at him.
"From what I understand," Sharon began, "the results were…very interesting."
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lots of love
LLA