The Old Man Challenge!!
title:The Second Time Around
author: redrockcan
words: 300
rating: A for angst
A/N: Thanks to defyingnormalcy for the beta even though gmail is being a pain!!
Laura was irritable tonight. She couldn’t get comfortable; she ranted about the Quorum, cursed Baltar, insulted Lee and raged about everything.
She complained about my quarters and muttered whether they’d been cleaned lately.
They were cold.
They were cluttered.
They were dusty.
I'm an Old Man, what does she frakkin’ expect?
Then dinner arrived; she was annoyed at my choice of algae. She grumbled that the tea I made was horribly weak. It seemed she wanted to be anywhere else but with me.
When she started in on my crew I’d had enough. Rather than head for the drink cart which would only antagonize her more, I simply said, “Goodnight, show yourself out when you’re done.”
She stopped talking and looked at me, tears welled in her eyes and she wearily slumped over on the couch.
I instantly felt like a cad.
I sat down beside her and took her hand in mine. “What is it Laura? What’s wrong?”
She pressed herself against me forcefully and whispered ghostly into my chest. “It’s back.”
I had no words. My breath was gone. It couldn’t be true.
But it was.
Cancer.
I’d foolishly convinced myself it wouldn’t return and she was safe from the evil we’d already beaten.
I silently led her to my rack and tucked her in beside me. It wasn’t appropriate political-military protocol but I didn’t care.
I touched her wherever she’d let me, gentle caresses in the dark hidden away where no one could see us. Soft, chaste kisses on her cheek and forehead as my lips and hands tried to heal her as best they could.
Then we lay against each other, holding on tightly as we’d done for years and as we would ‘til the end or for as long as time would allow us.
author: redrockcan
words: 300
rating: A for angst
A/N: Thanks to defyingnormalcy for the beta even though gmail is being a pain!!
Laura was irritable tonight. She couldn’t get comfortable; she ranted about the Quorum, cursed Baltar, insulted Lee and raged about everything.
She complained about my quarters and muttered whether they’d been cleaned lately.
They were cold.
They were cluttered.
They were dusty.
I'm an Old Man, what does she frakkin’ expect?
Then dinner arrived; she was annoyed at my choice of algae. She grumbled that the tea I made was horribly weak. It seemed she wanted to be anywhere else but with me.
When she started in on my crew I’d had enough. Rather than head for the drink cart which would only antagonize her more, I simply said, “Goodnight, show yourself out when you’re done.”
She stopped talking and looked at me, tears welled in her eyes and she wearily slumped over on the couch.
I instantly felt like a cad.
I sat down beside her and took her hand in mine. “What is it Laura? What’s wrong?”
She pressed herself against me forcefully and whispered ghostly into my chest. “It’s back.”
I had no words. My breath was gone. It couldn’t be true.
But it was.
Cancer.
I’d foolishly convinced myself it wouldn’t return and she was safe from the evil we’d already beaten.
I silently led her to my rack and tucked her in beside me. It wasn’t appropriate political-military protocol but I didn’t care.
I touched her wherever she’d let me, gentle caresses in the dark hidden away where no one could see us. Soft, chaste kisses on her cheek and forehead as my lips and hands tried to heal her as best they could.
Then we lay against each other, holding on tightly as we’d done for years and as we would ‘til the end or for as long as time would allow us.