Fic - The Situation part Twelve
Yay! Behold the lixest. Yes, this is an au fic where I propose a creepy incestuous relationship between two canon characters that was never even hinted at. So in that respect it is like every other incest fic. I also wanted to show that incest actually causes a lot of really messed up issues and isn't really just two hot brothers play raping each other. So this is a bit of a wrap up, there may be other stories in this 'verse but the basic story is done. Many thanks to Lorrainemarker for encouraging this little dwelve into icky subjects. Since the story is about the aftermath of an incestuous relationship, clearly you're warned about incest and dubcon.
She knew Bill wanted to ask, but she wasn’t ready. It was almost amusing, to see him looking so surprised, as they stood in sick bay, waiting while Cottle had Felix x-rayed. Those stupid bastards, she thought again, they were going kill the man who saved them. It made her blood boil. She spun around at him. “Where are the people who were involved?”
Bill met her eyes, and then looked at Lee. The younger man stepped forward. “I had the marines take everyone to the brig while we um…. Decide what we’re going to do… about this.” Lee looked down at his feet nervously. Everyone was silent for a long moment and then Lee returned to the small group of officers he was huddled with. Bill eyed them and then put a comforting arm on her shoulder.
“We’re going to need to talk about this, Laura,” he said quietly. “What you said…”
“What I said was true, and not a lie just to get those… people to stop.” She stopped herself and then considered. She knew the story Cottle had believed before he had discovered the truth. It worked, and if it was hardly flattering to her, the truth was worse. She pulled Bill close, and said softly, but loud enough that the huddle of officers that had all suddenly looked away could hear. “I had a child. I wasn’t married, I was just beginning my life… I couldn’t have a child. Having a child would have ruined the plans I had made so I gave the baby up. About seventeen years later, I went looking and… I acted badly when I found that he was an apprentice in the Libran Soliciator Guild. I was horrified and… we didn’t talk after that. I didn’t know where he was until I saw him here on the Galactica. On New Caprica… I realized what he was trying to do and I helped him. ” She knew in an instant that Bill bought the story.
“I knew Lt. Gaeta’s background, Cottle explained what the oddities in his records meant.” Bill sighed suddenly. “Laura, I can’t afford to brig those people. We need their skills.”
And that made her angry, but it wasn’t the time. She had an idea of what she wanted for punishment, but it wasn’t the time or the place. Bill Adama was a good man, and he loved her, she knew that without a doubt that he wasn’t going to let her give them the punishment they were meting out to collaborators. “I know… we’ll talk about this privately.”
It was at that moment that Tom Zarek strode into sickbay, holding paperwork and looking self important. “I’m glad you’re both here. I’d like to know why people who were acting on my presidential authority have been detained?” He looked at her, a smirk on his face. He was, she realized, acting as though he had done nothing wrong.
“Your presidential authority ends right now,” she hissed.
Zarek seemed taken back at first and then flashed that smug smile he had when he thought he had the upper hand. He shrugged expansively. “I’ve already agreed to step down in less than two hours, but I see no reason for people who were merely following my orders to be jailed.” He eyed her carefully. “I thought you’d prefer it handled this way, frankly. You won’t have to start your presidency with a series of executions. I’ve kept your hands clean.”
“Those people following your orders almost murdered the man who saved us.” Without thinking she slapped his face.
Bill grabbed her hand before she could do it again. Her handprint was stark on Zarek’s shocked face and she was glad suddenly for Bill stepping in between them. Bill looked at her worriedly and then at Zarek. “The people in the brig were about to execute Lt. Gaeta despite knowing that he was the source in the Cylon government that was assisting the resistance. The only reason he’s alive right now is because Ms. Roslin intervened.”
“Did you?” Zarek said to her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s…. interesting. What’s Felix Gaeta to you?”
She willed herself to say it again. There was no going back, after all. “Felix Gaeta is my son.”
Zarek blinked. Then he smirked. “Really? And here I thought he got you out of detention because he was your secret boy toy lover.”
She punched him in the nose, sending him flying over a gurney. The crash of metal on metal drew everyone’s attention, and in seconds Cottle was storming out of the x-ray room. He took one look at Zarek bleeding on the floor and frowned darkly. “This is a place for sick people, not for fighting! Everyone who was fighting can get out! Now!”
“I’d like a report on Lt. Gaeta,” Bill said for her benefit. “Before you order me out.” More harshly, to make the point about who was actually in charge.
“He’ll live,” Cottle said gruffly. “He’s staying here for at least twenty four hours. I need to make sure the concussion from the kicks to the head don’t cause him to bleed into his brain, and that the bruising and broken ribs don’t escalate into internal bleeding. No,” he snapped at Laura before she could even articulate what she wanted, “you don’t get to see him yet. He’s in shock, and he needs rest. He was almost murdered, and had his biggest secret revealed to everyone. He needs a little time to digest that.” More gently he added, “He should be fine, but he’s exhausted and needs rest more than anything else.”
She found herself nodding numbly as Bill led her out of the room.
~*~
Bill Adama winced mentally as he stepped into the curtained off area that Cottle had stuffed Gaeta into. The Circle had done a number on the man’s face and body. The report from Cottle had included pictures. Gaeta had been lucky. Damn lucky.
There was a pilot sitting at the man’s bedside. One of the men from the Pegasus, Adama realized, a Lt. Allison. One of the ones that Kara and Kat had disagreed over. He had clearly been playing cards with Gaeta and they both seemed startled at his sudden appearance. Allison quickly stood at attention, while Gaeta looked more wary, carefully setting down the cards. “Sir,” he said quickly, while Allison merely nodded.
“I need to speak with the lieutenant alone, Mr. Allison.” He waited until Allison cleared out before he took the man’s seat. He picked up the cards. “I hope your hand was better.”
“Not by much, really. I‘m sure he was letting me win.” Gaeta flipped over his own cards, revealing an even worse hand. “I was trying to help him stay awake. So Brendan wouldn’t yell at him for sleeping while guarding me. I don’t think a guard is necessary but… some people have been insisting.”
“I’m having a marine assigned to you until I’m certain you’re not in any danger from rogue members of the crew or from any of the civilians. I’m planning a wireless announcement later today about what you did for the people.” He hesitated. “You did well, Felix. I didn’t want to lose you to the civilian government but… I’m proud of you, and of what you did down there. You did good.”
Gaeta nodded but still seemed wary. “I know you’re not prosecuting anyone for attempted murder,” he said quietly. “I heard about President Roslin’s amnesty announcement.”
He calls her President Roslin, Bill thought with no small amount of amusement. They must have one frakked up relationship, he mused. “I need their skills.”
“I mentioned that when Captain Thrace was advocating that I be murdered regardless of what I did for the resistance.” Gaeta’s expression darkened. “What are you planning to do, sir?” He said it with no small amount of resignation.
Adama was glad suddenly that he had made the time to give Gaeta the news, both good and bad. “I’m glad you understand that we need to be realistic about the fleet’s needs. The civilian participants in the Circle are being removed from the Galactica. They’re also barred from any military service.” Which wasn’t much of a punishment, but he’d be damned if he had known murderers living in the newly established civilian quarters. Disappointing in that Jean Barolay and Sam Anders were known as competent fighters, but he doubted he was going to need ground crew any time soon. “Everyone who is military has been removed from the chain of command.” That had been Laura’s idea and he had been surprised that she was willing to be that conciliatory, considering who Felix Gaeta was to her. “I’m moving Tigh to the position of operations officer, once he’s more… recovered.” He had been considering that move anyway. Tigh was somewhere between permanently drunk and in the throes of a serious breakdown. Her anger aside, Laura had made the very good point that allowing Tigh to resume the position of executive officer meant that a drunk with self control issues was one catastrophe away from commanding the entire military. Placing him in the operations role allowed him to work and help, and meant that he was no longer a command line officer. Helo would do until he found a way to get Lee to step in.
Which would lead to cries of nepotism. At least, he thought with amusement, Laura could now officially share in that problem. “Galen Tyrol is being demoted and so is Kara Thrace.” And Gaeta didn’t need to know that part of his deal with Laura Roslin to keep his best viper pilot from a life in the brig was that Kara Thrace was permanently barred from higher command. Kara hadn’t gotten that piece of news yet, or the news that her husband couldn’t live on the Galactica. “I know this isn’t justice for what happened. I do plan to keep a guard on you until I’m convinced you’re not in danger. I‘m sorry that this happened. It won‘t happen again.”
Gaeta nodded slightly. “Thank you, sir. I know that there’s been some… awkwardness.” He seemed to hesitate. “I didn’t mention the… nature of my relationship with President Roslin because until New Caprica we had been estranged and I…” He took a deep breath and then looked intently at Adama. “I’m not ashamed of my time spent as a soliciator apprentice. I didn’t get any real choice about it. But telling people about who my mother is always leads to where and how we met, and it’s… my business and I didn’t want my business or my family background, or my past to be a topic of gossip. People already talk, I don’t deny my past if someone directly asks. I just didn’t want to deal with all the talk, and President Roslin asked me, not long after the destruction of the colonies to be discreet.” He looked down. “We’re not close but the situation was unstable and she didn’t need the added issue of a mystery child that she gave up when she was barely an adult. Add in my past, and it would have given the opposition something to use and… it had nothing to do with her ability to lead so I agreed to be silent.”
Bill wondered suddenly how he had missed it. They didn’t look very much like mother and son, but Felix Gaeta had that streak of cold logic that Laura Roslin had in abundance. He had the raw cold courage as well. Playing double agent to Cylons… it was the sort of move that he had expected of Laura, and that it was Gaeta, her son, simply confirmed the lineage. “I knew,” he admitted, “that you had been in the Soliciator Guild. A long time ago, Jack told me what to look for. You understand that because of what happened, there is going to be a lot of talk about your background? This isn’t something that President Roslin plans to deny.” She had been quite adamant on the point, that she was done denying her past.”
Gaeta shrugged, wincing just a little. “If she is going to be vocal, I certainly can’t deny how we met.” He blushed suddenly, and Bill realized that the man was embarrassed. No doubt not looking forward to the upcoming hysterics from the fleet over it.
“If anyone gives you any trouble over your past or over President Roslin’s acknowledgement that you are her biological son, I want you to let me know.” He didn’t expect a lot of trouble, to be honest. The story of what Gaeta had done, coupled with what Laura had done, had already slowly turning into a fleet legend. There was likely to be some issue with the more disgruntled, but he planned to stamp down hard on that behavior.
Laura would likely have his ass if he didn’t, after all.
~*~
Felix wasn’t surprised when Laura moved aside the privacy curtain surrounding his bed. He also wasn’t surprised to see the large number of curious patients and staff staring. Laura saw it too. Her eyes narrowed as she carefully closed the curtain.
“I thought,” she said as she took a seat, “that we should talk. About… things.”
“Thank you,” Felix said simply. “They were going to kill me. You saved my life.” He hesitated. “You didn’t have to say what you did. They would have stopped just because you had a gun. You didn’t need to say that you were my mother.” He was still shocked. It wasn’t going to make things easier for her.
“I did,” she said simply. “I had to say it.” She looked down, and he was struck by how vulnerable she looked. And by how beautiful, and he shook that thought off in an instant. She looked up, and reached over, taking his hand. “Felix, I am a terrible mother in so many ways, I don’t think there’s a word to describe it. And you were right, when we first talked after the Cylon attack. I’ve always been able to walk away, and you’ve always had to pay. You deserved better than that when we first found out the truth, and I decided it was time I… acted like your mother instead some disinterested party. You’re my son. I’m not going to deny that any more.”
It was something he hadn’t realized he had wanted to hear until she said it. But he couldn’t help but mention the obvious. “My past is not going to help your presidency. And people might wonder… You spent a lot of time on Libra.”
“I know,” Laura said after a long moment. “But my optimistic side notes that almost all of the Libran survivors were in from the working class who didn’t have so much access to the Soliciator Hall. I think someone would have made the accusation sooner.” She smiled suddenly. “It may not be as much of a problem as you might think.”
“Oh?” He had his doubts. People liked to ask questions. The Guild Hall titillated them.
Laura’s smile broadened. “Tom Zarek apparently thought that the reason you had gotten me out of detention was because you and I had to be secret lovers. When he said it, I punched him in the face. People might be… hesitant to say something similar.”
“I can imagine.” He had to admit, the truth made it all the more hilarious.
“I broke his nose,” Laura shared, her voice rolling with amusement. “I shouldn’t be laughing… we shouldn’t be making jokes about this… “
He couldn’t help it, he chuckled as well. “Now that you’re being open, with punching people and threatening with guns, there are some mean kids in the landing deck crew who make fun of me. Maybe you could hurt them?” That made her laugh more. “Do I have to call you Mom now? Because that might be awkward in front of the Admiral.”
She laughed more. “I think Madame President would best for in front of the Admiral but…” Laura almost giggled. “You really should have seen his face.”
Felix had to admit, while it was awkward, it also had a certain charm. “Honestly the look on Kara’s face when you said it… That was nice.” It was still awkward, he had a feeling that anytime that they were alone that it would always be a struggle to avoid their past, but it did feel good to be able to talk openly. “Since we’re talking, and its all right to say we’re related, I have a question. Do you have any idea who my father was?” It wasn’t a big deal, and he was certain that whoever it was had died in the attack, but he had to admit, he’d always been curious.
And it was funny to see Laura Roslin blush with embarrassment. She gripped his hand harder. “I think the answer will disappoint you, Felix, but… in the spirit of honesty… I don’t know. I think I got pregnant at a party. There was a lot of ambrosia and someone invited a group of Viper pilots and they were wild, and I was wild and….Your father could have been one of about seven men who I was with and I never got their names.”
Felix blinked. “You know, when the news media asks you the same question, can you make up something that doesn’t sound so… trashy?”
“I’ll think of something,” Laura promised.
She knew Bill wanted to ask, but she wasn’t ready. It was almost amusing, to see him looking so surprised, as they stood in sick bay, waiting while Cottle had Felix x-rayed. Those stupid bastards, she thought again, they were going kill the man who saved them. It made her blood boil. She spun around at him. “Where are the people who were involved?”
Bill met her eyes, and then looked at Lee. The younger man stepped forward. “I had the marines take everyone to the brig while we um…. Decide what we’re going to do… about this.” Lee looked down at his feet nervously. Everyone was silent for a long moment and then Lee returned to the small group of officers he was huddled with. Bill eyed them and then put a comforting arm on her shoulder.
“We’re going to need to talk about this, Laura,” he said quietly. “What you said…”
“What I said was true, and not a lie just to get those… people to stop.” She stopped herself and then considered. She knew the story Cottle had believed before he had discovered the truth. It worked, and if it was hardly flattering to her, the truth was worse. She pulled Bill close, and said softly, but loud enough that the huddle of officers that had all suddenly looked away could hear. “I had a child. I wasn’t married, I was just beginning my life… I couldn’t have a child. Having a child would have ruined the plans I had made so I gave the baby up. About seventeen years later, I went looking and… I acted badly when I found that he was an apprentice in the Libran Soliciator Guild. I was horrified and… we didn’t talk after that. I didn’t know where he was until I saw him here on the Galactica. On New Caprica… I realized what he was trying to do and I helped him. ” She knew in an instant that Bill bought the story.
“I knew Lt. Gaeta’s background, Cottle explained what the oddities in his records meant.” Bill sighed suddenly. “Laura, I can’t afford to brig those people. We need their skills.”
And that made her angry, but it wasn’t the time. She had an idea of what she wanted for punishment, but it wasn’t the time or the place. Bill Adama was a good man, and he loved her, she knew that without a doubt that he wasn’t going to let her give them the punishment they were meting out to collaborators. “I know… we’ll talk about this privately.”
It was at that moment that Tom Zarek strode into sickbay, holding paperwork and looking self important. “I’m glad you’re both here. I’d like to know why people who were acting on my presidential authority have been detained?” He looked at her, a smirk on his face. He was, she realized, acting as though he had done nothing wrong.
“Your presidential authority ends right now,” she hissed.
Zarek seemed taken back at first and then flashed that smug smile he had when he thought he had the upper hand. He shrugged expansively. “I’ve already agreed to step down in less than two hours, but I see no reason for people who were merely following my orders to be jailed.” He eyed her carefully. “I thought you’d prefer it handled this way, frankly. You won’t have to start your presidency with a series of executions. I’ve kept your hands clean.”
“Those people following your orders almost murdered the man who saved us.” Without thinking she slapped his face.
Bill grabbed her hand before she could do it again. Her handprint was stark on Zarek’s shocked face and she was glad suddenly for Bill stepping in between them. Bill looked at her worriedly and then at Zarek. “The people in the brig were about to execute Lt. Gaeta despite knowing that he was the source in the Cylon government that was assisting the resistance. The only reason he’s alive right now is because Ms. Roslin intervened.”
“Did you?” Zarek said to her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s…. interesting. What’s Felix Gaeta to you?”
She willed herself to say it again. There was no going back, after all. “Felix Gaeta is my son.”
Zarek blinked. Then he smirked. “Really? And here I thought he got you out of detention because he was your secret boy toy lover.”
She punched him in the nose, sending him flying over a gurney. The crash of metal on metal drew everyone’s attention, and in seconds Cottle was storming out of the x-ray room. He took one look at Zarek bleeding on the floor and frowned darkly. “This is a place for sick people, not for fighting! Everyone who was fighting can get out! Now!”
“I’d like a report on Lt. Gaeta,” Bill said for her benefit. “Before you order me out.” More harshly, to make the point about who was actually in charge.
“He’ll live,” Cottle said gruffly. “He’s staying here for at least twenty four hours. I need to make sure the concussion from the kicks to the head don’t cause him to bleed into his brain, and that the bruising and broken ribs don’t escalate into internal bleeding. No,” he snapped at Laura before she could even articulate what she wanted, “you don’t get to see him yet. He’s in shock, and he needs rest. He was almost murdered, and had his biggest secret revealed to everyone. He needs a little time to digest that.” More gently he added, “He should be fine, but he’s exhausted and needs rest more than anything else.”
She found herself nodding numbly as Bill led her out of the room.
~*~
Bill Adama winced mentally as he stepped into the curtained off area that Cottle had stuffed Gaeta into. The Circle had done a number on the man’s face and body. The report from Cottle had included pictures. Gaeta had been lucky. Damn lucky.
There was a pilot sitting at the man’s bedside. One of the men from the Pegasus, Adama realized, a Lt. Allison. One of the ones that Kara and Kat had disagreed over. He had clearly been playing cards with Gaeta and they both seemed startled at his sudden appearance. Allison quickly stood at attention, while Gaeta looked more wary, carefully setting down the cards. “Sir,” he said quickly, while Allison merely nodded.
“I need to speak with the lieutenant alone, Mr. Allison.” He waited until Allison cleared out before he took the man’s seat. He picked up the cards. “I hope your hand was better.”
“Not by much, really. I‘m sure he was letting me win.” Gaeta flipped over his own cards, revealing an even worse hand. “I was trying to help him stay awake. So Brendan wouldn’t yell at him for sleeping while guarding me. I don’t think a guard is necessary but… some people have been insisting.”
“I’m having a marine assigned to you until I’m certain you’re not in any danger from rogue members of the crew or from any of the civilians. I’m planning a wireless announcement later today about what you did for the people.” He hesitated. “You did well, Felix. I didn’t want to lose you to the civilian government but… I’m proud of you, and of what you did down there. You did good.”
Gaeta nodded but still seemed wary. “I know you’re not prosecuting anyone for attempted murder,” he said quietly. “I heard about President Roslin’s amnesty announcement.”
He calls her President Roslin, Bill thought with no small amount of amusement. They must have one frakked up relationship, he mused. “I need their skills.”
“I mentioned that when Captain Thrace was advocating that I be murdered regardless of what I did for the resistance.” Gaeta’s expression darkened. “What are you planning to do, sir?” He said it with no small amount of resignation.
Adama was glad suddenly that he had made the time to give Gaeta the news, both good and bad. “I’m glad you understand that we need to be realistic about the fleet’s needs. The civilian participants in the Circle are being removed from the Galactica. They’re also barred from any military service.” Which wasn’t much of a punishment, but he’d be damned if he had known murderers living in the newly established civilian quarters. Disappointing in that Jean Barolay and Sam Anders were known as competent fighters, but he doubted he was going to need ground crew any time soon. “Everyone who is military has been removed from the chain of command.” That had been Laura’s idea and he had been surprised that she was willing to be that conciliatory, considering who Felix Gaeta was to her. “I’m moving Tigh to the position of operations officer, once he’s more… recovered.” He had been considering that move anyway. Tigh was somewhere between permanently drunk and in the throes of a serious breakdown. Her anger aside, Laura had made the very good point that allowing Tigh to resume the position of executive officer meant that a drunk with self control issues was one catastrophe away from commanding the entire military. Placing him in the operations role allowed him to work and help, and meant that he was no longer a command line officer. Helo would do until he found a way to get Lee to step in.
Which would lead to cries of nepotism. At least, he thought with amusement, Laura could now officially share in that problem. “Galen Tyrol is being demoted and so is Kara Thrace.” And Gaeta didn’t need to know that part of his deal with Laura Roslin to keep his best viper pilot from a life in the brig was that Kara Thrace was permanently barred from higher command. Kara hadn’t gotten that piece of news yet, or the news that her husband couldn’t live on the Galactica. “I know this isn’t justice for what happened. I do plan to keep a guard on you until I’m convinced you’re not in danger. I‘m sorry that this happened. It won‘t happen again.”
Gaeta nodded slightly. “Thank you, sir. I know that there’s been some… awkwardness.” He seemed to hesitate. “I didn’t mention the… nature of my relationship with President Roslin because until New Caprica we had been estranged and I…” He took a deep breath and then looked intently at Adama. “I’m not ashamed of my time spent as a soliciator apprentice. I didn’t get any real choice about it. But telling people about who my mother is always leads to where and how we met, and it’s… my business and I didn’t want my business or my family background, or my past to be a topic of gossip. People already talk, I don’t deny my past if someone directly asks. I just didn’t want to deal with all the talk, and President Roslin asked me, not long after the destruction of the colonies to be discreet.” He looked down. “We’re not close but the situation was unstable and she didn’t need the added issue of a mystery child that she gave up when she was barely an adult. Add in my past, and it would have given the opposition something to use and… it had nothing to do with her ability to lead so I agreed to be silent.”
Bill wondered suddenly how he had missed it. They didn’t look very much like mother and son, but Felix Gaeta had that streak of cold logic that Laura Roslin had in abundance. He had the raw cold courage as well. Playing double agent to Cylons… it was the sort of move that he had expected of Laura, and that it was Gaeta, her son, simply confirmed the lineage. “I knew,” he admitted, “that you had been in the Soliciator Guild. A long time ago, Jack told me what to look for. You understand that because of what happened, there is going to be a lot of talk about your background? This isn’t something that President Roslin plans to deny.” She had been quite adamant on the point, that she was done denying her past.”
Gaeta shrugged, wincing just a little. “If she is going to be vocal, I certainly can’t deny how we met.” He blushed suddenly, and Bill realized that the man was embarrassed. No doubt not looking forward to the upcoming hysterics from the fleet over it.
“If anyone gives you any trouble over your past or over President Roslin’s acknowledgement that you are her biological son, I want you to let me know.” He didn’t expect a lot of trouble, to be honest. The story of what Gaeta had done, coupled with what Laura had done, had already slowly turning into a fleet legend. There was likely to be some issue with the more disgruntled, but he planned to stamp down hard on that behavior.
Laura would likely have his ass if he didn’t, after all.
~*~
Felix wasn’t surprised when Laura moved aside the privacy curtain surrounding his bed. He also wasn’t surprised to see the large number of curious patients and staff staring. Laura saw it too. Her eyes narrowed as she carefully closed the curtain.
“I thought,” she said as she took a seat, “that we should talk. About… things.”
“Thank you,” Felix said simply. “They were going to kill me. You saved my life.” He hesitated. “You didn’t have to say what you did. They would have stopped just because you had a gun. You didn’t need to say that you were my mother.” He was still shocked. It wasn’t going to make things easier for her.
“I did,” she said simply. “I had to say it.” She looked down, and he was struck by how vulnerable she looked. And by how beautiful, and he shook that thought off in an instant. She looked up, and reached over, taking his hand. “Felix, I am a terrible mother in so many ways, I don’t think there’s a word to describe it. And you were right, when we first talked after the Cylon attack. I’ve always been able to walk away, and you’ve always had to pay. You deserved better than that when we first found out the truth, and I decided it was time I… acted like your mother instead some disinterested party. You’re my son. I’m not going to deny that any more.”
It was something he hadn’t realized he had wanted to hear until she said it. But he couldn’t help but mention the obvious. “My past is not going to help your presidency. And people might wonder… You spent a lot of time on Libra.”
“I know,” Laura said after a long moment. “But my optimistic side notes that almost all of the Libran survivors were in from the working class who didn’t have so much access to the Soliciator Hall. I think someone would have made the accusation sooner.” She smiled suddenly. “It may not be as much of a problem as you might think.”
“Oh?” He had his doubts. People liked to ask questions. The Guild Hall titillated them.
Laura’s smile broadened. “Tom Zarek apparently thought that the reason you had gotten me out of detention was because you and I had to be secret lovers. When he said it, I punched him in the face. People might be… hesitant to say something similar.”
“I can imagine.” He had to admit, the truth made it all the more hilarious.
“I broke his nose,” Laura shared, her voice rolling with amusement. “I shouldn’t be laughing… we shouldn’t be making jokes about this… “
He couldn’t help it, he chuckled as well. “Now that you’re being open, with punching people and threatening with guns, there are some mean kids in the landing deck crew who make fun of me. Maybe you could hurt them?” That made her laugh more. “Do I have to call you Mom now? Because that might be awkward in front of the Admiral.”
She laughed more. “I think Madame President would best for in front of the Admiral but…” Laura almost giggled. “You really should have seen his face.”
Felix had to admit, while it was awkward, it also had a certain charm. “Honestly the look on Kara’s face when you said it… That was nice.” It was still awkward, he had a feeling that anytime that they were alone that it would always be a struggle to avoid their past, but it did feel good to be able to talk openly. “Since we’re talking, and its all right to say we’re related, I have a question. Do you have any idea who my father was?” It wasn’t a big deal, and he was certain that whoever it was had died in the attack, but he had to admit, he’d always been curious.
And it was funny to see Laura Roslin blush with embarrassment. She gripped his hand harder. “I think the answer will disappoint you, Felix, but… in the spirit of honesty… I don’t know. I think I got pregnant at a party. There was a lot of ambrosia and someone invited a group of Viper pilots and they were wild, and I was wild and….Your father could have been one of about seven men who I was with and I never got their names.”
Felix blinked. “You know, when the news media asks you the same question, can you make up something that doesn’t sound so… trashy?”
“I’ll think of something,” Laura promised.