Battlefield cross
For ar_drabbles challenge #24, alternative universes. bsg_aussiegirl specifically said "pre-attacks, no attacks, no cancer, no President, no Commander." Well...
"I wouldn't bother. It's missing the last chapter."
He turned away from the bookshelf, toward the woman who had addressed him.
"I have a copy. I can loan it to you."
"Never loan books."
"I'm here with my mother. Terminal breast cancer."
"I'm here with my son. Stage II brain cancer."
"A child. I'm sorry." She laid a hand on his arm.
"He's 24. A viper pilot."
"He's still your child."
He nodded. To him, Lee would always be a child. "My ex is due soon to relieve me. There's a bookstore down the block. We could buy the book, donate it when I'm done."
She turned back to the oncology ward's library. "A book of short stories might be more appropriate. People tend to come and go. Mainly go."
"We can get both."
"I can't; there's no one else to sit with Mother."
"All the more reason you need a break. When's the last time you got some fresh air?"
"It feels like years ago," she admitted.
"Then you need it. I'll buy you lunch. We'll get something for your mother."
"And for your son. I'm Laura Roslin."
He took her arm, leading her to the door. "Bill Adama."
"I wouldn't bother. It's missing the last chapter."
He turned away from the bookshelf, toward the woman who had addressed him.
"I have a copy. I can loan it to you."
"Never loan books."
"I'm here with my mother. Terminal breast cancer."
"I'm here with my son. Stage II brain cancer."
"A child. I'm sorry." She laid a hand on his arm.
"He's 24. A viper pilot."
"He's still your child."
He nodded. To him, Lee would always be a child. "My ex is due soon to relieve me. There's a bookstore down the block. We could buy the book, donate it when I'm done."
She turned back to the oncology ward's library. "A book of short stories might be more appropriate. People tend to come and go. Mainly go."
"We can get both."
"I can't; there's no one else to sit with Mother."
"All the more reason you need a break. When's the last time you got some fresh air?"
"It feels like years ago," she admitted.
"Then you need it. I'll buy you lunch. We'll get something for your mother."
"And for your son. I'm Laura Roslin."
He took her arm, leading her to the door. "Bill Adama."