Two Roads Diverged : Chapter 2
Title: Two Roads Diverged (2/10)
Author: icedteainthebag
Word Count: 34,420
Rating: MA
Pairings: Ellen Tigh/Saul Tigh, Laura Roslin/Bill Adama
Warnings: None
Summary: Sometimes we make mistakes when we think we're doing the right thing.
Notes: See Chapter One, thank you to my frakking awesome betas.
Artist: MrsDrJackson
Link to Art: banner can be found here.
x x x x
The softest scent of wood smoke in the darkened tent greeted Laura as she slowly roused to consciousness. She felt a strong arm wrapped around her waist and realized she wasn't alone.
These were the mornings she awoke with a smile.
She rolled onto her back, her legs achy from being entwined with Bill's. She jostled him only slightly, but he sensed her movement and covered her body halfway with his, his nose resting in the crook of her shoulder. His mustache tickled her skin. She sighed contentedly at his comfortable, heavy weight and at the warmth shared between them as he snuggled closer.
"Morning," she said, keeping her eyes closed.
"Mmmh."
Bill was never much of a talker first thing in the morning. She ran her fingers through the back of his hair and over his broad shoulders. He let out a soft sigh, a sound that had surprised her the first time she'd heard it.
Such a gentle sound coming from such a big, tough guy.
It was nice to wake up to him with his guard down.
"Gods, you feel good." His voice rumbled against her neck. "Stay here with me."
"All day?" She laughed, stroking his shoulder.
"Mhmm." He kissed her ear.
"I've got school this morning."
Damn it.
"Cancel it." His fingers trailed along her skin and her body shivered at the sensation. "Make up a holiday."
"Miss Roslin Got Frakked Too Hard Last Night Day?"
He chuckled and put his hand on her cheek, turning her face for a kiss. It was a lazy morning kind of kiss, the kind people shared when all they had was time on their hands.
"Did she get frakked too hard last night?" he murmured against her mouth.
"Mmmm," she hummed, nuzzling her nose against his. "'Too hard' makes it sound like it was a bad thing."
"It wasn't a bad thing," he said, nibbling on her bottom lip. "It was a very good thing, Miss Roslin."
She smirked and looked into his eyes, indulging herself in his playful expression. She didn't see it often enough. She grinned and kissed him, twice, three times. "Speaking of good things…and bad things…I had an interesting conversation with Ellen last night at the bar."
"I'm sure you did."
Oh, did we ever.
"Saul must really love her, huh?" She closed her eyes, pointing her toes toward the end of the cot to stretch out her cramped muscles.
"Mmm. He does. Why do you ask?"
"I guess I just don't get it. She seems like such a train wreck."
She felt him prop his chin on her shoulder. "You've certainly developed a strong opinion of Mrs. Tigh."
"Well, she's good at giving impressions."
"She's complicated."
Complicated's one word for it.
"Hmmm. Do you think she's bad for him?"
"Saul? Nah. I mean…" He paused, as if searching for the right words. "They're in love. They've been together forever. I don't think she's completely bad for him. But nobody in any relationship is perfect."
"Didn't Ellen cheat on him with half the Fleet stationed on Picon while he was away?"
"It's easy for the rumor mill to churn when a guy's away from home for so long." His tone softened and she traced the side of his neck with her fingertips.
"Do you think they were just rumors?"
"Don't know, I wasn't there." He kissed her shoulder, leaving his lips on her skin. "Besides, it's not up to me to judge her. That's up to Saul. We all have our flaws."
"Oh, really." Laura opened her eyes and arched an eyebrow. "What're mine?"
Bill laughed and buried his face in her neck. "I fell right into that one, didn't I?"
"You bet you did."
"Can I take it back?"
"Nope. Your theory's out, flyboy. Now you need to back it up."
He sighed, his breath warm across her skin. His hand moved to her breast and cupped it, kneading gently. A soft moan escaped her, barely a breath. "I guess…you distance yourself," he said.
She felt a twinge of defensiveness. "Sometimes I have. But not now. Not with you anymore."
"Mmm. No. Not nearly as much as you used to."
She stared up at the ceiling of her tent, feeling his chest rise and fall. "You distance yourself, too."
We're so much alike, more than I ever thought we would be.
"I never said that I didn't."
She sighed and kissed his forehead, an uneasiness settling into her. "No, I'm just saying that you do. You got to point out one of my flaws. It was my turn."
His hand slid off her breast and back to her side, tucking under her body. "I guess we both do," he said. He sounded uncertain.
Maybe he doesn't like someone telling him it's noticeable.
"But," Laura said with a pause, "at least we're not drunks, and at least I don't sleep around on you all the time."
Bill pulled away and she felt a blush spread across her cheeks, suddenly embarrassed at her lack of tact. He turned over and sat on the side of the cot, then stood up. She watched him as he picked up his boxers and tugged them on.
"I don't know what your hang up is, but Saul and Ellen are my friends. They've been there for me through a lot of things," he said, pulling his tanks over his head.
Laura sat up in the cot and pulled the blankets around her chest. "I'm sorry. I just don't quite get her."
He glanced at her briefly as he snagged his trousers from the end of the cot. "No. You don't."
She felt her stomach churn. "Bill."
"I just need a chance to cool my head," he interrupted, zipping up. He picked up his coat and shrugged it over his shoulders. "I don't want to get into an argument with you over the Tighs, Laura."
"I'm not trying to argue."
He walked over to her and leaned down to give her a soft, lingering kiss. He looked into her eyes. "Ellen isn't who you think she is. I'm sure that if she judged you by first impressions, her idea of who you are would be pretty off too."
Laura felt her jaw tighten as she gave him a curt nod, holding back any further commentary.
"I'll be back," he said, running his thumb over her lips. "I'll see if I can find us something warm to eat."
"Okay," she said, kissing his thumb with a halfhearted smile.
She watched him walk out of the tent and close the flaps behind him. She fell back onto the bed with a deep sigh, tears stinging her eyes.
Frak.
She didn't know why she cared so much about who Ellen really was, or what she said or even what she did. But for some reason, she did care, to the point of feeling anxious. Maybe it was what Ellen had said at the bar and the knowledge of Bill she seemed to have, whereas Laura felt like she had only begun to scratch the surface.
She didn't want to have to depend on Ellen to get inside of Bill's head.
x x x x
It was the same cycle of conjugal visits and departures. Every time Bill left felt the same as the last-though Laura knew he had to go back and command the Fleet, she wished things could finally be different.
She walked him to his Raptor, their fingers twined together. They never walked slowly enough.
He turned to her, the sunlight showing off the olive tone of his skin. She loved looking at him in the daylight, even loved the way the wind ruffled through his hair.
"You could come back with me," he said, squeezing her hand.
She reached out and brushed her thumb over his lips. He kissed it and smiled at her, that smile that made her melt a little inside every time she saw it.
"You know I'd go crazy up there," she said. "Nothin' to do, nothin' but time. They need me down here. The school needs me. The people need to see me, out, alive and well, just like everybody else."
"I know."
She could hear the hint of regret in his voice, as much as he tried to hide it.
They were silent for a moment, looking into each other's eyes. Laura took a deep breath and stepped closer to him to plant a kiss along his jaw line.
"So, how long this time?" she asked.
"Probably three weeks."
"Oh, Bill, you're killing me," she groaned. He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. She slipped arms around his neck. "Three weeks? Not a single day off?"
He chuckled and buried his face in her hair. She felt him breathe in. "I could probably manage to sneak away some night sooner than that."
"You'd better," she said with a sigh. "I don't want to wait that long."
"You've waited longer."
She hummed and tugged on his hair. He nuzzled her neck, then met her eyes.
"We don't have to wait anymore." Her glare was teasing. "No more waiting."
He smiled and kissed her nose.
She hugged him tightly and held onto him as long as he would let her.
x x x x
Two weeks later
It was a normal day-New Caprica gray is what they called the sky, something the turn of the seasons seemed to bring on along with the bone-chilling cold. Laura boiled a kettle of water so she could drink tea while she watched children gather in the schoolyard. The steam felt good on her face, the scent of the wild herbs she'd gathered calming her. It was reminiscent of late autumn mornings on Caprica, those days right before the first snow when hats and gloves started making their appearances on the playground. She was overcome by a sense of nostalgia she hadn't felt in ages.
She closed her eyes and listened to the rising sounds of youthful laughter and singsong melodies.
This could be home.
The morning went as it always did. Maya taught math; Laura was never good at figures and was happy to have the help of an assistant who took geometry less than three decades before. Laura taught language after lunch, watching closely as students dabbed their finely sharpened sticks-they nearly looked like pencils-into ink refined from tree bark.
For as little of humanity that was left, they certainly were resourceful people.
Parents had just arrived to take their children home when Laura first heard the screech overhead, a sound that seared her ears. Listening more closely, she heard it again, along with an accompanying rattle of pencils on tables.
Another screech and the vibration settled into her bones; she felt as if her stomach had dropped. Her gut swirled sickly as she moved to the entrance of the tent, took a deep breath and looked up toward the sky.
Laura stood still when she saw the Raiders, heavy metal streaks across New Caprica gray.
The calm that remained within her left her emotionless on the outside with a slow-burning anger stirring on the inside. Those were Cylon ships gliding overhead. They’d been discovered. This was an attack.
Shouldn’t I be afraid?
She searched the sky for any Fleet presence, but saw none. She looked around her and saw her fellow citizens, faces of humanity upturned to the sky in wonder until the reality of things set in.
Their screams sounded distant but grew louder as she lowered her eyes. With the low swoop of a heavy Raider overhead, Laura was snapped back to the reality unfolding around her and suddenly, every sound was deafening. Screeching. Screaming. She watched the people on the ground run, stumbling over each other, frantic to reach the false protection of their tents.
This must have been what Caprica sounded like…
It had to have been a surprise assault. There were no Vipers pursuing these ships in retaliation, no Fleet forces saving the day. She was helpless, useless, idly standing by on the ground.
I hope you're fighting up there.
She expected to hear bombs, but she didn't as time passed. The silence was harrowing in the minutes after the Raiders landed, before the first Centurions began their march into the camp, step by mechanized step.
The parade was luridly captivating.
x x x x
Ellen clung to Saul when the Centurions began walking among them.
The whole thing was like a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up. She held back her tears, unsure if they were being drawn from anger or fear. Saul was notably silent. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what was going on inside his head.
Where the frak are you, Bill?
She didn't dare say it aloud.
She felt Saul pull her closer and realized, as she pressed herself into his side, that he was trembling. That frightened her more than the sight before her eyes.
"Lords of Kobol," Saul finally breathed. He sounded nearly in awe.
"It's okay, Saul," she said, slipping her arm around his waist. She kissed his shoulder and pressed her cheek into it. "It's okay."
He glanced down at her, then back to the processional of machines.
"We can't lie to ourselves anymore."
x x x x
"Where's the Admiral, Chief? Have you heard from him?"
Laura had followed Chief inside his tent and immediately started barking her questions. Chief had been hard to track down in the hours since the Cylons had landed and begun their immediate occupation of the city. She finally gave up stalking his usual haunts and waited for him where she knew he'd eventually return.
Chief looked exhausted, his eyes weary and hair incurably tousled. He rubbed his hand across his eyes, then looked at Laura.
"First thing we did was secure the ground ops center. We've got it under watch," he said. "Luckily the Colonel's a paranoid old frak so we'd already planned for the big 'what if.' We've got all the equipment we need to communicate with the Fleet underground."
Laura nodded, her heart racing. "Did you check the wireless for a message from Galactica?"
"Took a quick look," he said. He looked down and shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
"Galen," she said, "tell me what it said."
Please, please, I don't want to hear that...
"Last communication we got…Galactica jumped," Chief answered, not looking up. "Pegasus jumped."
"Oh my gods."
Oh my gods, he's gone, and the last time I saw him-
"Unknown coordinates, obviously." Chief interrupted her thoughts and she tried to steady herself. "Wireless transmission said five Baseships jumped into orbit, all at once, and it was a complete clusterfrak up there. They'd have had no chance if they stayed in orbit. They'd have been blown to pieces five times over if they didn't haul ass outta there."
"We're defenseless," she said, her stomach churning.
Bill, where the frak did you go?
"No, we're not," Chief answered sharply. "They're out there somewhere. They didn't abandon us, Ma'am." He paused. "I think you know the Admiral a little better than that."
It hit her like a punch to the gut.
She'd thought she knew a lot of things that were quickly proving to be false. It had been foolish of her to feel safe, to feel like they'd finally found a home.
So foolish.
"I do," she said. She blushed as a tear slid down her heated cheek. She brushed it away. "He's coming back, I'm sure of it, once they come up with a plan."
She thought of what must be going through Bill's mind-the worry, the guilt over jumping away. His concern for the people, his desperation to always prevail in this seemingly eternal battle.
He won't lose the war, not in a million years.
"We've got a plan," Chief said. "Everything's gonna be fine. We just need to regroup."
Laura forced a smile. "Thought of everything, didn't you? All those times I thought Bill and Saul were getting drunk, maybe they were actually strategizing after all."
There was a quiet moment between them. She watched Chief and suddenly became anxious about his safety, about everyone's safety.
"You don't think that they'll come looking for us…" She faltered. She had to stop there. She didn't want to think about any possible reasons why they would want Saul, maybe even Chief, maybe even her.
Get your head on straight, Laura.
"We don't need to hide," she said. "We don't need to panic. We need to show them we were first on this planet. We just need to tread carefully. Keep our friends close, our enemies closer."
"Damn straight. You never know who'll side with them and give 'em whatever info they want to frak us over."
She nodded, scraping her teeth over her lower lip.
"Don't worry," Chief said. "Keep the school open tomorrow. Those kids are gonna need that from you. Colonel Tigh, Sam and I will take care of the stuff behind the scenes."
Laura thought about Cally, amid all of this upheaval and Chief running around, trying to save the world. She had to be nearly due. "Take care of yourself first."
x x x x
Days were long without Saul. They'd been long when he was on Galactica, most likely watching dust collect on the information table in the CIC. But now that he was out with Sam and Galen, wherever doing whatever, the days were intolerably longer.
Every time Ellen ran out of ways to distract herself she'd wonder whether he was going to make it home. She would go to the market to pick up some meager offerings for the dinner she didn't know if he was going to be around to eat. She would go to the bar to drink and tense up when she heard a mechanized drone pass behind her back. She would sit inside their tent at the table and wait for him as the evening grew later, her silent moments punctuated with panic and anxiety that she couldn't shake.
The Cylons-not those hard-wired, simple-minded tin cans that patrolled the streets, but the smart ones that looked human, the "skinjobs," as Saul called them-had to know the identities of the Fleet's most valuable assets. Sam. Chief. Laura. Saul. Maybe even her.
Those smart ones probably knew exactly where they were at all times, keeping tabs on their movement, watching for anything awry. They were too intelligent not to suspect that there was an entire resistance movement in place nearly the instant their Raiders touched the ground.
There were times she was proud of Saul. Times when his courage and his will and his strength inspired her and made her love him more.
It was a double-edged sword, being married to a man like that. She could feel it slowly twisting in her gut, the inconsolable uneasiness that his absence caused.
Every night he came home she held him tighter. Every morning he left, she missed him more.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10
Author: icedteainthebag
Word Count: 34,420
Rating: MA
Pairings: Ellen Tigh/Saul Tigh, Laura Roslin/Bill Adama
Warnings: None
Summary: Sometimes we make mistakes when we think we're doing the right thing.
Notes: See Chapter One, thank you to my frakking awesome betas.
Artist: MrsDrJackson
Link to Art: banner can be found here.
x x x x
The softest scent of wood smoke in the darkened tent greeted Laura as she slowly roused to consciousness. She felt a strong arm wrapped around her waist and realized she wasn't alone.
These were the mornings she awoke with a smile.
She rolled onto her back, her legs achy from being entwined with Bill's. She jostled him only slightly, but he sensed her movement and covered her body halfway with his, his nose resting in the crook of her shoulder. His mustache tickled her skin. She sighed contentedly at his comfortable, heavy weight and at the warmth shared between them as he snuggled closer.
"Morning," she said, keeping her eyes closed.
"Mmmh."
Bill was never much of a talker first thing in the morning. She ran her fingers through the back of his hair and over his broad shoulders. He let out a soft sigh, a sound that had surprised her the first time she'd heard it.
Such a gentle sound coming from such a big, tough guy.
It was nice to wake up to him with his guard down.
"Gods, you feel good." His voice rumbled against her neck. "Stay here with me."
"All day?" She laughed, stroking his shoulder.
"Mhmm." He kissed her ear.
"I've got school this morning."
Damn it.
"Cancel it." His fingers trailed along her skin and her body shivered at the sensation. "Make up a holiday."
"Miss Roslin Got Frakked Too Hard Last Night Day?"
He chuckled and put his hand on her cheek, turning her face for a kiss. It was a lazy morning kind of kiss, the kind people shared when all they had was time on their hands.
"Did she get frakked too hard last night?" he murmured against her mouth.
"Mmmm," she hummed, nuzzling her nose against his. "'Too hard' makes it sound like it was a bad thing."
"It wasn't a bad thing," he said, nibbling on her bottom lip. "It was a very good thing, Miss Roslin."
She smirked and looked into his eyes, indulging herself in his playful expression. She didn't see it often enough. She grinned and kissed him, twice, three times. "Speaking of good things…and bad things…I had an interesting conversation with Ellen last night at the bar."
"I'm sure you did."
Oh, did we ever.
"Saul must really love her, huh?" She closed her eyes, pointing her toes toward the end of the cot to stretch out her cramped muscles.
"Mmm. He does. Why do you ask?"
"I guess I just don't get it. She seems like such a train wreck."
She felt him prop his chin on her shoulder. "You've certainly developed a strong opinion of Mrs. Tigh."
"Well, she's good at giving impressions."
"She's complicated."
Complicated's one word for it.
"Hmmm. Do you think she's bad for him?"
"Saul? Nah. I mean…" He paused, as if searching for the right words. "They're in love. They've been together forever. I don't think she's completely bad for him. But nobody in any relationship is perfect."
"Didn't Ellen cheat on him with half the Fleet stationed on Picon while he was away?"
"It's easy for the rumor mill to churn when a guy's away from home for so long." His tone softened and she traced the side of his neck with her fingertips.
"Do you think they were just rumors?"
"Don't know, I wasn't there." He kissed her shoulder, leaving his lips on her skin. "Besides, it's not up to me to judge her. That's up to Saul. We all have our flaws."
"Oh, really." Laura opened her eyes and arched an eyebrow. "What're mine?"
Bill laughed and buried his face in her neck. "I fell right into that one, didn't I?"
"You bet you did."
"Can I take it back?"
"Nope. Your theory's out, flyboy. Now you need to back it up."
He sighed, his breath warm across her skin. His hand moved to her breast and cupped it, kneading gently. A soft moan escaped her, barely a breath. "I guess…you distance yourself," he said.
She felt a twinge of defensiveness. "Sometimes I have. But not now. Not with you anymore."
"Mmm. No. Not nearly as much as you used to."
She stared up at the ceiling of her tent, feeling his chest rise and fall. "You distance yourself, too."
We're so much alike, more than I ever thought we would be.
"I never said that I didn't."
She sighed and kissed his forehead, an uneasiness settling into her. "No, I'm just saying that you do. You got to point out one of my flaws. It was my turn."
His hand slid off her breast and back to her side, tucking under her body. "I guess we both do," he said. He sounded uncertain.
Maybe he doesn't like someone telling him it's noticeable.
"But," Laura said with a pause, "at least we're not drunks, and at least I don't sleep around on you all the time."
Bill pulled away and she felt a blush spread across her cheeks, suddenly embarrassed at her lack of tact. He turned over and sat on the side of the cot, then stood up. She watched him as he picked up his boxers and tugged them on.
"I don't know what your hang up is, but Saul and Ellen are my friends. They've been there for me through a lot of things," he said, pulling his tanks over his head.
Laura sat up in the cot and pulled the blankets around her chest. "I'm sorry. I just don't quite get her."
He glanced at her briefly as he snagged his trousers from the end of the cot. "No. You don't."
She felt her stomach churn. "Bill."
"I just need a chance to cool my head," he interrupted, zipping up. He picked up his coat and shrugged it over his shoulders. "I don't want to get into an argument with you over the Tighs, Laura."
"I'm not trying to argue."
He walked over to her and leaned down to give her a soft, lingering kiss. He looked into her eyes. "Ellen isn't who you think she is. I'm sure that if she judged you by first impressions, her idea of who you are would be pretty off too."
Laura felt her jaw tighten as she gave him a curt nod, holding back any further commentary.
"I'll be back," he said, running his thumb over her lips. "I'll see if I can find us something warm to eat."
"Okay," she said, kissing his thumb with a halfhearted smile.
She watched him walk out of the tent and close the flaps behind him. She fell back onto the bed with a deep sigh, tears stinging her eyes.
Frak.
She didn't know why she cared so much about who Ellen really was, or what she said or even what she did. But for some reason, she did care, to the point of feeling anxious. Maybe it was what Ellen had said at the bar and the knowledge of Bill she seemed to have, whereas Laura felt like she had only begun to scratch the surface.
She didn't want to have to depend on Ellen to get inside of Bill's head.
x x x x
It was the same cycle of conjugal visits and departures. Every time Bill left felt the same as the last-though Laura knew he had to go back and command the Fleet, she wished things could finally be different.
She walked him to his Raptor, their fingers twined together. They never walked slowly enough.
He turned to her, the sunlight showing off the olive tone of his skin. She loved looking at him in the daylight, even loved the way the wind ruffled through his hair.
"You could come back with me," he said, squeezing her hand.
She reached out and brushed her thumb over his lips. He kissed it and smiled at her, that smile that made her melt a little inside every time she saw it.
"You know I'd go crazy up there," she said. "Nothin' to do, nothin' but time. They need me down here. The school needs me. The people need to see me, out, alive and well, just like everybody else."
"I know."
She could hear the hint of regret in his voice, as much as he tried to hide it.
They were silent for a moment, looking into each other's eyes. Laura took a deep breath and stepped closer to him to plant a kiss along his jaw line.
"So, how long this time?" she asked.
"Probably three weeks."
"Oh, Bill, you're killing me," she groaned. He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. She slipped arms around his neck. "Three weeks? Not a single day off?"
He chuckled and buried his face in her hair. She felt him breathe in. "I could probably manage to sneak away some night sooner than that."
"You'd better," she said with a sigh. "I don't want to wait that long."
"You've waited longer."
She hummed and tugged on his hair. He nuzzled her neck, then met her eyes.
"We don't have to wait anymore." Her glare was teasing. "No more waiting."
He smiled and kissed her nose.
She hugged him tightly and held onto him as long as he would let her.
x x x x
Two weeks later
It was a normal day-New Caprica gray is what they called the sky, something the turn of the seasons seemed to bring on along with the bone-chilling cold. Laura boiled a kettle of water so she could drink tea while she watched children gather in the schoolyard. The steam felt good on her face, the scent of the wild herbs she'd gathered calming her. It was reminiscent of late autumn mornings on Caprica, those days right before the first snow when hats and gloves started making their appearances on the playground. She was overcome by a sense of nostalgia she hadn't felt in ages.
She closed her eyes and listened to the rising sounds of youthful laughter and singsong melodies.
This could be home.
The morning went as it always did. Maya taught math; Laura was never good at figures and was happy to have the help of an assistant who took geometry less than three decades before. Laura taught language after lunch, watching closely as students dabbed their finely sharpened sticks-they nearly looked like pencils-into ink refined from tree bark.
For as little of humanity that was left, they certainly were resourceful people.
Parents had just arrived to take their children home when Laura first heard the screech overhead, a sound that seared her ears. Listening more closely, she heard it again, along with an accompanying rattle of pencils on tables.
Another screech and the vibration settled into her bones; she felt as if her stomach had dropped. Her gut swirled sickly as she moved to the entrance of the tent, took a deep breath and looked up toward the sky.
Laura stood still when she saw the Raiders, heavy metal streaks across New Caprica gray.
The calm that remained within her left her emotionless on the outside with a slow-burning anger stirring on the inside. Those were Cylon ships gliding overhead. They’d been discovered. This was an attack.
Shouldn’t I be afraid?
She searched the sky for any Fleet presence, but saw none. She looked around her and saw her fellow citizens, faces of humanity upturned to the sky in wonder until the reality of things set in.
Their screams sounded distant but grew louder as she lowered her eyes. With the low swoop of a heavy Raider overhead, Laura was snapped back to the reality unfolding around her and suddenly, every sound was deafening. Screeching. Screaming. She watched the people on the ground run, stumbling over each other, frantic to reach the false protection of their tents.
This must have been what Caprica sounded like…
It had to have been a surprise assault. There were no Vipers pursuing these ships in retaliation, no Fleet forces saving the day. She was helpless, useless, idly standing by on the ground.
I hope you're fighting up there.
She expected to hear bombs, but she didn't as time passed. The silence was harrowing in the minutes after the Raiders landed, before the first Centurions began their march into the camp, step by mechanized step.
The parade was luridly captivating.
x x x x
Ellen clung to Saul when the Centurions began walking among them.
The whole thing was like a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up. She held back her tears, unsure if they were being drawn from anger or fear. Saul was notably silent. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what was going on inside his head.
Where the frak are you, Bill?
She didn't dare say it aloud.
She felt Saul pull her closer and realized, as she pressed herself into his side, that he was trembling. That frightened her more than the sight before her eyes.
"Lords of Kobol," Saul finally breathed. He sounded nearly in awe.
"It's okay, Saul," she said, slipping her arm around his waist. She kissed his shoulder and pressed her cheek into it. "It's okay."
He glanced down at her, then back to the processional of machines.
"We can't lie to ourselves anymore."
x x x x
"Where's the Admiral, Chief? Have you heard from him?"
Laura had followed Chief inside his tent and immediately started barking her questions. Chief had been hard to track down in the hours since the Cylons had landed and begun their immediate occupation of the city. She finally gave up stalking his usual haunts and waited for him where she knew he'd eventually return.
Chief looked exhausted, his eyes weary and hair incurably tousled. He rubbed his hand across his eyes, then looked at Laura.
"First thing we did was secure the ground ops center. We've got it under watch," he said. "Luckily the Colonel's a paranoid old frak so we'd already planned for the big 'what if.' We've got all the equipment we need to communicate with the Fleet underground."
Laura nodded, her heart racing. "Did you check the wireless for a message from Galactica?"
"Took a quick look," he said. He looked down and shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
"Galen," she said, "tell me what it said."
Please, please, I don't want to hear that...
"Last communication we got…Galactica jumped," Chief answered, not looking up. "Pegasus jumped."
"Oh my gods."
Oh my gods, he's gone, and the last time I saw him-
"Unknown coordinates, obviously." Chief interrupted her thoughts and she tried to steady herself. "Wireless transmission said five Baseships jumped into orbit, all at once, and it was a complete clusterfrak up there. They'd have had no chance if they stayed in orbit. They'd have been blown to pieces five times over if they didn't haul ass outta there."
"We're defenseless," she said, her stomach churning.
Bill, where the frak did you go?
"No, we're not," Chief answered sharply. "They're out there somewhere. They didn't abandon us, Ma'am." He paused. "I think you know the Admiral a little better than that."
It hit her like a punch to the gut.
She'd thought she knew a lot of things that were quickly proving to be false. It had been foolish of her to feel safe, to feel like they'd finally found a home.
So foolish.
"I do," she said. She blushed as a tear slid down her heated cheek. She brushed it away. "He's coming back, I'm sure of it, once they come up with a plan."
She thought of what must be going through Bill's mind-the worry, the guilt over jumping away. His concern for the people, his desperation to always prevail in this seemingly eternal battle.
He won't lose the war, not in a million years.
"We've got a plan," Chief said. "Everything's gonna be fine. We just need to regroup."
Laura forced a smile. "Thought of everything, didn't you? All those times I thought Bill and Saul were getting drunk, maybe they were actually strategizing after all."
There was a quiet moment between them. She watched Chief and suddenly became anxious about his safety, about everyone's safety.
"You don't think that they'll come looking for us…" She faltered. She had to stop there. She didn't want to think about any possible reasons why they would want Saul, maybe even Chief, maybe even her.
Get your head on straight, Laura.
"We don't need to hide," she said. "We don't need to panic. We need to show them we were first on this planet. We just need to tread carefully. Keep our friends close, our enemies closer."
"Damn straight. You never know who'll side with them and give 'em whatever info they want to frak us over."
She nodded, scraping her teeth over her lower lip.
"Don't worry," Chief said. "Keep the school open tomorrow. Those kids are gonna need that from you. Colonel Tigh, Sam and I will take care of the stuff behind the scenes."
Laura thought about Cally, amid all of this upheaval and Chief running around, trying to save the world. She had to be nearly due. "Take care of yourself first."
x x x x
Days were long without Saul. They'd been long when he was on Galactica, most likely watching dust collect on the information table in the CIC. But now that he was out with Sam and Galen, wherever doing whatever, the days were intolerably longer.
Every time Ellen ran out of ways to distract herself she'd wonder whether he was going to make it home. She would go to the market to pick up some meager offerings for the dinner she didn't know if he was going to be around to eat. She would go to the bar to drink and tense up when she heard a mechanized drone pass behind her back. She would sit inside their tent at the table and wait for him as the evening grew later, her silent moments punctuated with panic and anxiety that she couldn't shake.
The Cylons-not those hard-wired, simple-minded tin cans that patrolled the streets, but the smart ones that looked human, the "skinjobs," as Saul called them-had to know the identities of the Fleet's most valuable assets. Sam. Chief. Laura. Saul. Maybe even her.
Those smart ones probably knew exactly where they were at all times, keeping tabs on their movement, watching for anything awry. They were too intelligent not to suspect that there was an entire resistance movement in place nearly the instant their Raiders touched the ground.
There were times she was proud of Saul. Times when his courage and his will and his strength inspired her and made her love him more.
It was a double-edged sword, being married to a man like that. She could feel it slowly twisting in her gut, the inconsolable uneasiness that his absence caused.
Every night he came home she held him tighter. Every morning he left, she missed him more.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10