(no subject)
through these space gaps
battlestar galactica. admiral cain. gina. kendra shaw. pg. 973 words
set during razor. two days after attack. shaw sees cain's first sign of relief since the attack. prompt #19 separation axiety for my psych_30 table.
She walked down the archways. Two days later. No sleep.
What’s left of her crew scattered, acknowledging her presence while doing their jobs. She knew what they thought, she thought it to.
I want to go home.
The only way to deal. Regressing to a childlike state of mind where everything was simple in explanation.
They wanted to go home. They wanted revenge. They wanted their families.
As the Admiral the most difficult task was maintaining stamina, never faltering. Whenever she saw someone giving up, hope lost, even after the speech, after her promise, she kept her spine straight and her eyes strong. Give enough so they can take, keep going. Soon enough they would get rest, but not now.
Certainly not for her.
She entered a cargo bay, boxed supplies moved aside for cots. Each one of them filled with a wounded crewman. There weren’t enough and many were sitting on the floor or standing. From where she stood she could see a few nurses and doctors, all of them overcome with the load. Fortunately they had help from several soldiers and techs volunteering.
“You’ve come at a good time, sir.”
Kendra Shaw came from behind her, a chart in her hand. Like her, the young lieutenant still hadn’t slept. She couldn’t hide it as well as Cain could, her tiredness evident in her eyes, the way she moved.
“I’ll decide that, Lieutenant.”
“No deaths so far,” Shaw explained with a faint smile on her face.
It was good news, and they could take that in spades.
Cain nodded at Shaw, gestured for her to continue with her work. Right then Cain couldn’t remember what that was. Cain knew Shaw was capable. With that, she eyed the cargo boy. Familiar faces, all of them young, near Shaw’s age.
Two days, no sleep. No time to check calls, no time in her quarters. Two days of living with the utmost desire to live, and it wasn’t what kept her awake.
The long list of names handed to her every twelfth hour. More names each time. A record of the dead. She was careful not to react if she saw it, but it wasn’t there. Pessimism wasn’t something she took to without much consideration, but not seeing that name there, it got her on edge. It could be on the next, or the one after.
Having lost track of the time, Cain wondered when that list would be in her hands again. If it’ll be there. It made her ache and that made her want to laugh.
She stifled a yawn. Cain let her thoughts be troubled by this singular emotion for a few seconds before dismissing it altogether.
Perfect timing.
It’s not something she’s felt often, once or twice in her youth, never in her adult life. Relief and joy bottled together in the pit of her stomach, a release of tension on her shoulders, the first time since the attack she’s truly felt at ease.
Shaw was speaking to an ensign when she caught Cain standing still. She was sure the Admiral wasn’t aware she wasn’t moving, stuck, staring, her eyes unblinking.
She looked to where the Admiral watched and it took her a moment to realize it wasn’t the various soldiers and nurses making their way across one end of the bay to the other she was paying attention to. Still obscured, but in view, Shaw caught Gina Inviere huddled over a wounded soldier, a wide smile on her face, keeping him company.
Gina seemed to have sensed the eyes on her. She looked around until finally catching the Admiral’s glance.
It was there too, Shaw saw.
Gina rose and made her way to the center pathway, the place busy and everyone moving. She wasn’t so subtle, and Shaw could see the woman’s eyes slightly water.
It was strange, Shaw thought. Although it was obvious, it was unnoticed by the dozens all around. She's seen it all over, the happy reunions, the hugs. She knew it wouldn’t get to that.
It didn’t.
Gina stopped a few yards away, her hands fumbling on her sides, while the Admiral sighed heavily then gave her attention to one of the doctors. Occasionally passing a glance back to Gina, who remained where she stood, her smile now fighting to contain itself behind her mouth.
Shaw was given the list, and she knew this time passing it to Cain would instill a different reaction. She made her way to the center pathway, towards the Admiral, when she spotted Gina doing the same to leave.
It was only an inch of space that separated any physical interaction, but it was enough. Quick, and missed by everyone, Gina passed by the Admiral and she smiled at Shaw on her way out.
The Admiral had her arms crossed over her chest, one of her hands up under her chin, her fingers fidgeting that way Shaw noticed since she arrived on Pegasus, and her chin was slightly turned to the exit where Gina just passed.
“Excuse me, Admiral.” Shaw extended her hand, the list ready for her to see.
Cain took it without any hint of change, silent and deep in thought. Her eyes scanning the first page. “Good job, Lieutenant.” Cain gave the Lieutenant as pleasant a smile as she could. It was different, humble and reserved. “Tired yet, Lieutenant?” she asked, her seriousness masked by fatigue.
“I should say the same to you, sir,” Shaw retorted boldly.
It was too exhausting to be stern. Cain actually welcomed it. “Of course you should,” she said, breathing in heavily to cover what would have been another yawn. She gave the young lieutenant a nod and made her way out of the cargo bay.
“You there,” Shaw called to a guard. He came over quickly, saluted.
“Yes, sir.”
“Make sure the Admiral isn’t disturbed.”
. end
battlestar galactica. admiral cain. gina. kendra shaw. pg. 973 words
set during razor. two days after attack. shaw sees cain's first sign of relief since the attack. prompt #19 separation axiety for my psych_30 table.
She walked down the archways. Two days later. No sleep.
What’s left of her crew scattered, acknowledging her presence while doing their jobs. She knew what they thought, she thought it to.
I want to go home.
The only way to deal. Regressing to a childlike state of mind where everything was simple in explanation.
They wanted to go home. They wanted revenge. They wanted their families.
As the Admiral the most difficult task was maintaining stamina, never faltering. Whenever she saw someone giving up, hope lost, even after the speech, after her promise, she kept her spine straight and her eyes strong. Give enough so they can take, keep going. Soon enough they would get rest, but not now.
Certainly not for her.
She entered a cargo bay, boxed supplies moved aside for cots. Each one of them filled with a wounded crewman. There weren’t enough and many were sitting on the floor or standing. From where she stood she could see a few nurses and doctors, all of them overcome with the load. Fortunately they had help from several soldiers and techs volunteering.
“You’ve come at a good time, sir.”
Kendra Shaw came from behind her, a chart in her hand. Like her, the young lieutenant still hadn’t slept. She couldn’t hide it as well as Cain could, her tiredness evident in her eyes, the way she moved.
“I’ll decide that, Lieutenant.”
“No deaths so far,” Shaw explained with a faint smile on her face.
It was good news, and they could take that in spades.
Cain nodded at Shaw, gestured for her to continue with her work. Right then Cain couldn’t remember what that was. Cain knew Shaw was capable. With that, she eyed the cargo boy. Familiar faces, all of them young, near Shaw’s age.
Two days, no sleep. No time to check calls, no time in her quarters. Two days of living with the utmost desire to live, and it wasn’t what kept her awake.
The long list of names handed to her every twelfth hour. More names each time. A record of the dead. She was careful not to react if she saw it, but it wasn’t there. Pessimism wasn’t something she took to without much consideration, but not seeing that name there, it got her on edge. It could be on the next, or the one after.
Having lost track of the time, Cain wondered when that list would be in her hands again. If it’ll be there. It made her ache and that made her want to laugh.
She stifled a yawn. Cain let her thoughts be troubled by this singular emotion for a few seconds before dismissing it altogether.
Perfect timing.
It’s not something she’s felt often, once or twice in her youth, never in her adult life. Relief and joy bottled together in the pit of her stomach, a release of tension on her shoulders, the first time since the attack she’s truly felt at ease.
Shaw was speaking to an ensign when she caught Cain standing still. She was sure the Admiral wasn’t aware she wasn’t moving, stuck, staring, her eyes unblinking.
She looked to where the Admiral watched and it took her a moment to realize it wasn’t the various soldiers and nurses making their way across one end of the bay to the other she was paying attention to. Still obscured, but in view, Shaw caught Gina Inviere huddled over a wounded soldier, a wide smile on her face, keeping him company.
Gina seemed to have sensed the eyes on her. She looked around until finally catching the Admiral’s glance.
It was there too, Shaw saw.
Gina rose and made her way to the center pathway, the place busy and everyone moving. She wasn’t so subtle, and Shaw could see the woman’s eyes slightly water.
It was strange, Shaw thought. Although it was obvious, it was unnoticed by the dozens all around. She's seen it all over, the happy reunions, the hugs. She knew it wouldn’t get to that.
It didn’t.
Gina stopped a few yards away, her hands fumbling on her sides, while the Admiral sighed heavily then gave her attention to one of the doctors. Occasionally passing a glance back to Gina, who remained where she stood, her smile now fighting to contain itself behind her mouth.
Shaw was given the list, and she knew this time passing it to Cain would instill a different reaction. She made her way to the center pathway, towards the Admiral, when she spotted Gina doing the same to leave.
It was only an inch of space that separated any physical interaction, but it was enough. Quick, and missed by everyone, Gina passed by the Admiral and she smiled at Shaw on her way out.
The Admiral had her arms crossed over her chest, one of her hands up under her chin, her fingers fidgeting that way Shaw noticed since she arrived on Pegasus, and her chin was slightly turned to the exit where Gina just passed.
“Excuse me, Admiral.” Shaw extended her hand, the list ready for her to see.
Cain took it without any hint of change, silent and deep in thought. Her eyes scanning the first page. “Good job, Lieutenant.” Cain gave the Lieutenant as pleasant a smile as she could. It was different, humble and reserved. “Tired yet, Lieutenant?” she asked, her seriousness masked by fatigue.
“I should say the same to you, sir,” Shaw retorted boldly.
It was too exhausting to be stern. Cain actually welcomed it. “Of course you should,” she said, breathing in heavily to cover what would have been another yawn. She gave the young lieutenant a nod and made her way out of the cargo bay.
“You there,” Shaw called to a guard. He came over quickly, saluted.
“Yes, sir.”
“Make sure the Admiral isn’t disturbed.”
. end