Repentance
Title: Repentance
Author: twilight_sad
Rating: T
Word Count: 300
Timeframe: missing scene, set during Crossroads, spoilers for New Caprica. Companion piece to Through a Glass Darkly
“Why, Bill?” She is demanding an answer, not asking a question.
“Baltar's not innocent. But I'm the guilty one. Acquitting him is my penance.”
“Gods, I should have known. Why didn't I see this before? This is so you.”
“This isn't about me.”
“Of course it is. About you and how you embrace guilt instead of shouldering responsibility."
"You're calling me irresponsible?”
“No, Bill. I am calling you selfish. Because that's what this is all about. The personal crusade of William Adama, who thinks that by taking on the cumulative guilt of the entire rest of humanity he can atone his conscience. Well, let me tell you something, Bill, it doesn't work like that.”
“So how does it work, Laura?”
“New Caprica is not your fault, Bill. Don't you see that? It was the people's choice.”
“The cylon occupation wasn't.”
“No, that was inevitable. We both know that. We talked about it, too, remember?”
Images flash before his eyes, acutely remembered: her head on his shoulder, her hand on his heart. And then more images, merely imagined, but no less powerful: the tent city under attack by an army falling from the skies, his people defensless. Her in a prison cell, helpless.
“I ran.”
“You made a military decision, which saved all our lives. Bill, you will eventually have to forgive yourself for saving humanity.”
“This isn't funny.”
“You're right. It's absurd.”
“Laura, you don't understand.”
“Then make me, Bill. Make me understand why you feel so guilty for saving my life that you acquit the man who was so adamant on taking it away.”
“Tell me what they did to you in that prison cell.”
“Is that an order, Admiral?” Her whole being a challenge.
His whole body an appeal, as he quietly answers. “No, Laura. It's a plea.”
Author: twilight_sad
Rating: T
Word Count: 300
Timeframe: missing scene, set during Crossroads, spoilers for New Caprica. Companion piece to Through a Glass Darkly
“Why, Bill?” She is demanding an answer, not asking a question.
“Baltar's not innocent. But I'm the guilty one. Acquitting him is my penance.”
“Gods, I should have known. Why didn't I see this before? This is so you.”
“This isn't about me.”
“Of course it is. About you and how you embrace guilt instead of shouldering responsibility."
"You're calling me irresponsible?”
“No, Bill. I am calling you selfish. Because that's what this is all about. The personal crusade of William Adama, who thinks that by taking on the cumulative guilt of the entire rest of humanity he can atone his conscience. Well, let me tell you something, Bill, it doesn't work like that.”
“So how does it work, Laura?”
“New Caprica is not your fault, Bill. Don't you see that? It was the people's choice.”
“The cylon occupation wasn't.”
“No, that was inevitable. We both know that. We talked about it, too, remember?”
Images flash before his eyes, acutely remembered: her head on his shoulder, her hand on his heart. And then more images, merely imagined, but no less powerful: the tent city under attack by an army falling from the skies, his people defensless. Her in a prison cell, helpless.
“I ran.”
“You made a military decision, which saved all our lives. Bill, you will eventually have to forgive yourself for saving humanity.”
“This isn't funny.”
“You're right. It's absurd.”
“Laura, you don't understand.”
“Then make me, Bill. Make me understand why you feel so guilty for saving my life that you acquit the man who was so adamant on taking it away.”
“Tell me what they did to you in that prison cell.”
“Is that an order, Admiral?” Her whole being a challenge.
His whole body an appeal, as he quietly answers. “No, Laura. It's a plea.”