[Series] Clarity in Disguise: Decommissioning Day - Part Four
Title: Clarity in Disguise
Chapter: Decommissioning Day - Part Four
Rating: Teen for now
Featured: Laura and Bill meet for the first time, as far as they know...
Beta: bsg_aussiegirl
As Roslin and Adama were walking back to the Commander’s Quarters, they bumped into a young girl who had come jogging around the corner. Laura felt her guide tense somewhat and was anticipating that he may direct a reprimand towards the jogger, however, once he recognised which member of his crew the girl was she felt him relax.
The girl they encountered had short blonde hair and an athletic, nicely shaped body. Looking at the girl’s body made Laura recall her younger years.
Then she had been mentally healthier, considering her parents and sisters had still been alive. She also hadn’t had cancer slowly eating her up from the inside.
She had been fitter physically. She had often enjoyed jogging. Although, she acknowledged to herself with some mirth, that she wasn’t quite as athletic as this girl. She had loved to jog just after sunrise. It was one of her favourite things to do. Jogging in one of Caprica City’s suburbs at that time of the day had been amazing.
*
“What d’you hear, Starbuck?” asked an amused Bill.
Starbuck smiled. “Nothing but the rain, sir!”
“Then grab your gun and bring in the cat.”
Adama heard a soft murmur when Starbuck was about to reply and turned just in time to catch a fainting Laura Roslin. He lowered her to the ground and checked her pulse, relieved to find it steady, though slightly faint.
He ordered a surprised Starbuck to promptly call for Doctor Cottle and was thankful of their proximity to sickbay when the doctor and two medics arrived only minutes later.
They laid the Secretary gently on a stretcher and carried her to sickbay as he trailed in their wake anxiously.
Bill didn’t understand how this could’ve happened. He wondered if they’d maybe walked too much. She seemed to be in good health. Surely, there was no way that their walk could have affected her so much.
The other thing that left Bill puzzled was what he heard her murmur before she had collapsed.
*
“Kara?”
Laura had only time to utter one word before her vision dimmed and she lost consciousness. The second she heard that name, all kinds of images rushed through her brain with lightning speed. Unfortunately, none of them made sense. She saw this Starbuck giving her a hug, a golden arrow, pointing a gun at her head and many other things she couldn’t keep track of. It had all flashed through her brain too fast.
These images appeared to Laura so vividly, that they almost looked like memories. The problem was that they couldn’t be memories, because she knew they hadn’t actually happened. Some of these images gave her such a bad feeling that she wanted to escape. She wanted it all to stop but she didn’t know how.
Laura panicked, and suddenly the speed of these images increased, until she sat bolt upright on the bed.
Thankfully, at this point, the images disappeared.
She opened her eyes slowly, feeling instantly disorientated. She looked around, moving her head slowly to avoid any increase of dizziness and saw other beds and medical equipment. She hadn’t been in this part of the ship before but she thought she was most likely in sickbay.
Blood rushed to her head again so she gently leaned back on the bed.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw two shadows behind the closed curtain on her right side. She heard the unmistakable low tone of the Commander.
“What’s wrong with her, Cottle?” he demanded in an alarmed voice.
“As far as I can tell, nothing serious. I’m running some blood tests, though. They should be ready in fifteen minutes. Now why don’t you --”
“Ms. Roslin, you’re awake!” said one of the nurses, interrupting Adama’s and Cottle’s conversation.
Almost immediately the curtain was shoved aside by large tanned hands to reveal the rough, yet caring face of Adama and another older gentleman in a white coat who she assumed was the doctor.
“How are you feeling? Can I get you something?” Bill asked.
“I’m fine now. Have felt better though,” Laura said with a wry smile.
“You sure had us worried there for a bit, young lady,” the doctor said and turned to Adama, “If you don’t mind, Commander, I need to speak with my patient. Alone.”
Laura saw the Commander hesitate before walking towards a phone on the wall outside her room to make a call. She already knew by the look that the doctor gave her that he suspected something regarding her condition but she was determined that she wasn’t going to indulge him with additional information. Dr. Cottle closed the curtain again, and sat down on the chair.
“Now, do you mind telling what you know about your health?” the doctor asked while lighting a cigarette.
“Actually, I do... Do you mind?” Laura asked gesturing towards the cigarette.
“I do. So, we seem to be at a crossroads, young lady. I’ll put out the cigarette, if you tell me what’s wrong.”
Laura glared at the man. The doctor didn’t seem to want to budge so she decided to play it another way. “How long have I, uhm, been out?” she asked.
“About five minutes. You can stay here for a bit longer. I’m just waiting for your blood results. It would be a lot easier if you just told me your prognosis so I knew what I was looking for.”
Dr. Cottle studied her for a moment, then stood with a headshake as if realising that she wouldn’t give in and admit to her ailment. She followed the doctor’s trail from her bedside with her eyes until the doctor’s shape was replaced in the doorway with that of the Commander’s. She could see from her angle that he was talking to Starbuck.
She allowed herself relax and let her gaze to settle and linger on him.
He would definitely stand out in a crowd, she thought. His posture and air had something so prominent, so impressive, and it seemed to affect his immediate surroundings too. No wonder his crew respected him so much. She respected him too, and she had barely even known him for twenty-four hours.
Although he was so awe inspiring, he wasn’t intimidating. He could probably be so if he desired but he seemed quite gentle, even if his exterior appearance belied her supposition. She got the impression one would feel safe around him. Laura had come across this trait only a few times in her life and was always attracted to it.
*
“You’re absolutely sure, Kara? You don’t know her, and you’ve never seen her before?”
“Yes, sir. I would’ve remembered her, with hair like that, quite unusual,” Starbuck replied, “You sure you heard her say my name?”
He was absolutely sure of it. Doubt had fleetingly crossed his mind but he was certain he had heard Kara’s name loud and clear. This perplexed and troubled him. How could Roslin know Starbuck’s name?
Bill waved Kara off, and glanced in the Secretary of Education’s direction. He saw her watching him before she suddenly turned her eyes away with a slight blush.
“How do you feel?” Bill asked her a short while later after he had spoken to Doctor Cottle.
“I’m much better.”
“Dr Cottle indicated that you can leave sick bay. He suggested that we go and have something to eat. You must be famished.”
“I would like that but don’t you have to go to the, what’s it called, CAC by now?”
Bill chuckled. “That’s CIC. And no, not yet. My shift starts in one hour. Come on, we’ll go to my quarters and I’ll call the galley to send something up for us.”
Laura Roslin smiled to Bill in thanks. It was one of the most beautiful and serene smiles he’d ever seen. He couldn’t agree with Starbuck more. She was unusual. Quite so.
Bill helped her off the bed and walked with her to his quarters. As she settled her on the couch, he ordered them some food. When it arrived a short time later, they ate in companionable silence despite the fact that he was eager to ask her one question in particular. He was unsure how to word his question, considering he knew too little of this extraordinary woman, as to guarantee an answer.
Since Bill had met Laura Roslin, he had perceived her as being extremely independent and possessed a strong iron will. She wasn’t afraid of confrontations and spoke what was on her mind. He admired that. He hated indecisive women. She was quite different.
Bill made up his mind. This was his last chance to ask it anyway.
“I was just wondering, Ms. Roslin, how did you know that Starbuck’s name was Kara?”
Chapter: Decommissioning Day - Part Four
Rating: Teen for now
Featured: Laura and Bill meet for the first time, as far as they know...
Beta: bsg_aussiegirl
As Roslin and Adama were walking back to the Commander’s Quarters, they bumped into a young girl who had come jogging around the corner. Laura felt her guide tense somewhat and was anticipating that he may direct a reprimand towards the jogger, however, once he recognised which member of his crew the girl was she felt him relax.
The girl they encountered had short blonde hair and an athletic, nicely shaped body. Looking at the girl’s body made Laura recall her younger years.
Then she had been mentally healthier, considering her parents and sisters had still been alive. She also hadn’t had cancer slowly eating her up from the inside.
She had been fitter physically. She had often enjoyed jogging. Although, she acknowledged to herself with some mirth, that she wasn’t quite as athletic as this girl. She had loved to jog just after sunrise. It was one of her favourite things to do. Jogging in one of Caprica City’s suburbs at that time of the day had been amazing.
*
“What d’you hear, Starbuck?” asked an amused Bill.
Starbuck smiled. “Nothing but the rain, sir!”
“Then grab your gun and bring in the cat.”
Adama heard a soft murmur when Starbuck was about to reply and turned just in time to catch a fainting Laura Roslin. He lowered her to the ground and checked her pulse, relieved to find it steady, though slightly faint.
He ordered a surprised Starbuck to promptly call for Doctor Cottle and was thankful of their proximity to sickbay when the doctor and two medics arrived only minutes later.
They laid the Secretary gently on a stretcher and carried her to sickbay as he trailed in their wake anxiously.
Bill didn’t understand how this could’ve happened. He wondered if they’d maybe walked too much. She seemed to be in good health. Surely, there was no way that their walk could have affected her so much.
The other thing that left Bill puzzled was what he heard her murmur before she had collapsed.
*
“Kara?”
Laura had only time to utter one word before her vision dimmed and she lost consciousness. The second she heard that name, all kinds of images rushed through her brain with lightning speed. Unfortunately, none of them made sense. She saw this Starbuck giving her a hug, a golden arrow, pointing a gun at her head and many other things she couldn’t keep track of. It had all flashed through her brain too fast.
These images appeared to Laura so vividly, that they almost looked like memories. The problem was that they couldn’t be memories, because she knew they hadn’t actually happened. Some of these images gave her such a bad feeling that she wanted to escape. She wanted it all to stop but she didn’t know how.
Laura panicked, and suddenly the speed of these images increased, until she sat bolt upright on the bed.
Thankfully, at this point, the images disappeared.
She opened her eyes slowly, feeling instantly disorientated. She looked around, moving her head slowly to avoid any increase of dizziness and saw other beds and medical equipment. She hadn’t been in this part of the ship before but she thought she was most likely in sickbay.
Blood rushed to her head again so she gently leaned back on the bed.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw two shadows behind the closed curtain on her right side. She heard the unmistakable low tone of the Commander.
“What’s wrong with her, Cottle?” he demanded in an alarmed voice.
“As far as I can tell, nothing serious. I’m running some blood tests, though. They should be ready in fifteen minutes. Now why don’t you --”
“Ms. Roslin, you’re awake!” said one of the nurses, interrupting Adama’s and Cottle’s conversation.
Almost immediately the curtain was shoved aside by large tanned hands to reveal the rough, yet caring face of Adama and another older gentleman in a white coat who she assumed was the doctor.
“How are you feeling? Can I get you something?” Bill asked.
“I’m fine now. Have felt better though,” Laura said with a wry smile.
“You sure had us worried there for a bit, young lady,” the doctor said and turned to Adama, “If you don’t mind, Commander, I need to speak with my patient. Alone.”
Laura saw the Commander hesitate before walking towards a phone on the wall outside her room to make a call. She already knew by the look that the doctor gave her that he suspected something regarding her condition but she was determined that she wasn’t going to indulge him with additional information. Dr. Cottle closed the curtain again, and sat down on the chair.
“Now, do you mind telling what you know about your health?” the doctor asked while lighting a cigarette.
“Actually, I do... Do you mind?” Laura asked gesturing towards the cigarette.
“I do. So, we seem to be at a crossroads, young lady. I’ll put out the cigarette, if you tell me what’s wrong.”
Laura glared at the man. The doctor didn’t seem to want to budge so she decided to play it another way. “How long have I, uhm, been out?” she asked.
“About five minutes. You can stay here for a bit longer. I’m just waiting for your blood results. It would be a lot easier if you just told me your prognosis so I knew what I was looking for.”
Dr. Cottle studied her for a moment, then stood with a headshake as if realising that she wouldn’t give in and admit to her ailment. She followed the doctor’s trail from her bedside with her eyes until the doctor’s shape was replaced in the doorway with that of the Commander’s. She could see from her angle that he was talking to Starbuck.
She allowed herself relax and let her gaze to settle and linger on him.
He would definitely stand out in a crowd, she thought. His posture and air had something so prominent, so impressive, and it seemed to affect his immediate surroundings too. No wonder his crew respected him so much. She respected him too, and she had barely even known him for twenty-four hours.
Although he was so awe inspiring, he wasn’t intimidating. He could probably be so if he desired but he seemed quite gentle, even if his exterior appearance belied her supposition. She got the impression one would feel safe around him. Laura had come across this trait only a few times in her life and was always attracted to it.
*
“You’re absolutely sure, Kara? You don’t know her, and you’ve never seen her before?”
“Yes, sir. I would’ve remembered her, with hair like that, quite unusual,” Starbuck replied, “You sure you heard her say my name?”
He was absolutely sure of it. Doubt had fleetingly crossed his mind but he was certain he had heard Kara’s name loud and clear. This perplexed and troubled him. How could Roslin know Starbuck’s name?
Bill waved Kara off, and glanced in the Secretary of Education’s direction. He saw her watching him before she suddenly turned her eyes away with a slight blush.
“How do you feel?” Bill asked her a short while later after he had spoken to Doctor Cottle.
“I’m much better.”
“Dr Cottle indicated that you can leave sick bay. He suggested that we go and have something to eat. You must be famished.”
“I would like that but don’t you have to go to the, what’s it called, CAC by now?”
Bill chuckled. “That’s CIC. And no, not yet. My shift starts in one hour. Come on, we’ll go to my quarters and I’ll call the galley to send something up for us.”
Laura Roslin smiled to Bill in thanks. It was one of the most beautiful and serene smiles he’d ever seen. He couldn’t agree with Starbuck more. She was unusual. Quite so.
Bill helped her off the bed and walked with her to his quarters. As she settled her on the couch, he ordered them some food. When it arrived a short time later, they ate in companionable silence despite the fact that he was eager to ask her one question in particular. He was unsure how to word his question, considering he knew too little of this extraordinary woman, as to guarantee an answer.
Since Bill had met Laura Roslin, he had perceived her as being extremely independent and possessed a strong iron will. She wasn’t afraid of confrontations and spoke what was on her mind. He admired that. He hated indecisive women. She was quite different.
Bill made up his mind. This was his last chance to ask it anyway.
“I was just wondering, Ms. Roslin, how did you know that Starbuck’s name was Kara?”