Take Your Commander to Work Day Part Three: An Ikeaverse Installment
Title: Take Your Commander to Work Day Part Three
Rating: K+
Word Count: ~2100
Disclaimer: don't own them.
Summary: Bill and Laura get to the school. They talk about parenting and children. They go inside Laura's office and she muses about things while waiting for her computer to boot up.
A/N: This is part of an open 'verse, which begins with " Normaling"
When they got out of Laura’s Sunfire, Bill offered to carry her bag. More important, she let him; it was a sign of her trust. They walked side by side toward the front entrance. Bill watched as Laura walked with purpose and strength. Her long legs gave her a long stride, and she covered distances quickly. Bill had a similar walk when he was commanding his aircraft carrier. It was a walk that conveyed confidence and power. His lover’s strength inspired him. The truth was the retired commander was nervous.
It had been years since he’d set foot in a school. Because he was away all of the time, Carolanne had always handled the school thing for the boys. It was one of the many aspects of his life Bill felt guilty about (even if he claimed that he didn’t do guilt); he wished he had been a better husband and father. Lee had graduated the previous year and was a freshman at a prestigious university in the city. It was too late for Bill; he had missed his oldest son’s childhood almost entirely, and he’d never get another chance with him. But he still had a chance with Zak: His other son was still a sophomore. He didn’t have much time, but he swore to himself he wouldn’t waste it.
As Laura walked, she watched Bill through her peripheral vision. She noticed the change in his demeanor. She turned to face him, slowing her pace. He looked more nervous than she was on her first day of teaching. Laura stopped outside the door. She wanted to make sure he was ready to face the day before bringing him inside.
“You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” His face had taken his obstinate look, but Laura was unimpressed by it.
“Gee, I don’t know, but you look more nervous than I was my first day of teaching. What is it?” Laura’s face was sincere in spite of her teasing tone.
“It’s silly.” He was noticeably embarrassed by his display.
“I doubt that.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been inside a school, Laura.”
“Okay.” Laura didn’t understand his consternation. She knew it had been a long time since he was in high school, but that fact alone shouldn’t have affected him so much.
“I’ve never participated in school functions for my sons. I’ve missed Lee’s entire education. I’ll never get another chance with him.”
“Didn’t you say he was in college? He’ll need your support for that, Bill.”
“It’s different. He’s an adult; his own man. And he won’t need me.”
“Never say never, and never give up hope.”
“I…” He had nothing to say to that, really. He couldn’t see how someone who’d been through such terrible losses could still be so warm, so caring, but he’d learned that was just who Laura was. Bill felt truly lucky to have her in his corner.
“I’m sorry, Bill. I don’t have children. I can’t understand what you’re feeling.”
“Maybe not exactly, but it means a lot that you’re trying.”
“What about your other son? Zak, right?”
Bill nodded to confirm she had the name right and said, “He’s still a sophomore. He goes here.”
Laura grinned at him and said, “How convenient for you then.”
“Perhaps.”
“You’re dating an administrator, Bill Adama. That comes with certain perks.”
“I don’t want you to go out of your way, Laura.”
“I won’t. It won’t take more than a few keystrokes.”
“Computers.” He said the word like it was a product of the devil.
“I forgot you’re afraid of them.” That was something that had come up during their first date; although, Laura couldn’t remember how they had started talking about computers. It was one of those conversations that had no obvious trajectory.
“I’m not afraid; I just don’t like them.” Bill’s obstinate nature returned.
“Well, they’re the future, my friend. And it seems like they’re here to stay.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Isn’t that the truth, Laura thought. Although she had no qualms about computers, there were many things she accepted without liking. “No. It doesn’t,” she said.
“I’m sorry. You’re trying to help me, and I’m-” He lowered his face toward the ground in shame. Laura thought it was adorable.
“Don’t be,” she flashed him a reassuring smile when he raised his face again, looking her in the eye. She continued, “I’m glad you’ve got some fight in you again. Ready to go inside?”
“After you, Ma’am.”
Laura led them inside. Bill couldn’t believe the size of the school. He had graduated in a class of 100, so the idea of there being class sizes of five or six hundred seemed overwhelming. From what he could tell from the front entrance, the school was essentially an oval with wings off of it, on two stories. Because they were there so early, there were no students, and there didn’t seem to be many teachers either. It was very quiet. Laura turned to her friend.
“What do you think?”
“It’s big.”
“That it is.”
“Quiet.”
“Not for long.”
“I guess not. How many students did you say go here?”
“Over 2000.”
“Wow.”
“Pretty standard for an area like this.”
“It just seems like a lot.”
“Times are changing, Bill. Have been for awhile.”
“I know. I’m just-“
“Not good with change, I know.” Laura’s smile told him she didn’t mind that particular quirk of his.
“So, where is this office of yours?”
“Let’s go. And remember, flexibility is the key to airpower.”
“That’s what my superior officers always tried to tell me.”
“Must be true, then.” They both laughed then. The pair linked arms and continued beyond the lobby.
Laura led Bill to the stairwell, upstairs, and to the Language Arts department, which was in the north-east wing of the school. Her office was at the very end of the hall on the corner. Laura had always liked corners, so she felt right at home in her office. She unlocked her door, and led Bill inside.
“It’s not much, but it’s all mine. Have a seat, make yourself comfortable.” Bill did just that after handing Laura her bag.
Bill thought someone with as many responsibilities as Laura should certainly have a bigger office, but he was used to similar circumstances in the Navy. He knew enough to keep his mouth shut. It was clear that his lover was dedicated to her job, regardless of how she was relegated. Once again, he was overcome with pride for her. Just knowing her made him want to be a better man.
Laura sat at her desk and settled in. She turned her computer on, knowing it would have to think for awhile before deciding to function. Monday mornings were always rough for her and her computer. Like the rest of the liberal and fine arts departments, the Language Arts department got the second hand computers, usually the ones from the science, business, and engineering academies after they got new ones. She understood the reasoning for that, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Over time, she learned that her computer worked best when she didn’t need it. So, on Monday mornings she planned to organize her desk and unpack her bag while it slowly came to life. Laura had stopped using the desktop for grading long ago. She did her grading and most of her work on her Macbook at home, especially after Dr. Baltar installed the new security systems on all the school computers.
She hated the idea of that man, Richard, and Tom being able to look at her activities. Again, she understood the need, but she didn’t trust any of those men. There had always been bad blood between Gaius and Laura, and he had his friendship with Richard to back him up. Laura only had the fact that her boss liked to hit on her, and she turned him down repeatedly. And Tom Zarek had always creeped her out. He was the quintessential vice principal, and none of the students could stand him, which was normal, but Laura had to admit there was something not quite right about him. She had always treaded lightly around all three men-and she encouraged her students to do the same, especially Starbuck.
She hadn’t checked her email since Friday afternoon, which was highly unusual for her. Laura liked to be on top of everything. Not that there was a lot of email activity during a standard weekend, but sometimes her students wanted to contact her, and sometimes Starbuck would email her to vent.
Laura knew the girl’s relationship with her mother wasn’t a good one. Kara had never given her any specifics, but Laura suspected the girl was abused at home. She had informed Richard of her suspicions, and when that yielded no results, she called Child Services. Evidently, Socrata Thrace was able to put on a good enough act to fool them. The idea that Laura could be wrong about the situation had never crossed her mind: She trusted her instincts, especially where Kara was concerned. The two had grown inexplicably close in the last two years. Kara was among the last freshmen Laura had taught before accepting the position of department chairperson. The girl was in her junior year, but she continued her association with Laura. Their bond was something that just was; neither had ever talked about it, but it was very important to Laura, and she knew it was to Starbuck too.
And occasionally, the girl would email her over the weekend. She never provided specific details, but Laura recognized it as her attempt to reach out. Kara had no one else to talk to: The only friends she had that Laura was aware of were boys-all athletes. She couldn’t talk to her mother for obvious reasons, and she avoided Mr. Conoy’s office at all costs. He seemed to be a fine academic advisor, but Kara wanted nothing to do with him. Laura never questioned it; she simply accepted her place as Kara’s unofficial advisor, and they continued accordingly.
As Laura went about her Monday morning routine, she noticed Bill watching her. Ordinarily, the woman didn’t like being watched. It made her nervous. Laura preferred to meet her visitors’ needs and send them on their way, so she could continue to work in peace. But Bill’s gaze didn’t bother her at all. She knew he was cataloging everything in her office and gaining a better understanding of her professional side. She liked that he was content just to watch her: He didn’t say a word, and Laura didn’t feel like she had to entertain him. Bill understood that her work was important and respected her for it.
Just as Laura had unpacked the last of her papers, her computer came to life, and she logged in. She was glad to see she had gotten no emails that weekend, so Starbuck must have been okay, for the most part. She knew she’d be seeing the girl in person soon enough-Starbuck came every day almost like clockwork. Sometimes they talked; sometimes Kara just wanted to sit, and Laura would let her, doing her work, as the girl worked through her thoughts.
Laura looked at the time. It was quarter to eight. The warning bell for homeroom rang at 7:48. Then, at 7:50 the homeroom bell would ring, and the pledge of allegiance and announcements would begin promptly. At 7:56 the first bell would ring, giving everyone four minutes to get to their first class. Some time between 8:00 and 8:15, Dr. Baltar would throw Kara out of class, and she’d head straight to Laura. Kara had once joked that she learned more about Anatomy and Physiology in Laura’s office than she could ever learn from Dr. Baltar, and Laura believed that was true. She didn’t understand why he didn’t just stick to his speciality-Physics. There were other, more qualified, teachers available, but Baltar insisted on teaching all of the sciences. He had quite the ego, and neither Laura nor Kara could stand him. While, Laura didn’t condone Kara’s behavior, she knew Kara had an honor code of her own, and she couldn’t be swayed. Laura admired that about her young friend.
“Laura?”
Laura blinked and turned to Bill. “Yeah?”
“You were far away there for a minute.”
“I was thinking about Starbuck.”
“I’m very curious about that name.”
“Oh. I’ll let her tell the story. She tells it much better.”
“I doubt that. You’re a wonderful story teller.”
“You’ve never met Kara.”
“I look forward to it.”
“It won’t be long now, Bill.”
Next Installment
Rating: K+
Word Count: ~2100
Disclaimer: don't own them.
Summary: Bill and Laura get to the school. They talk about parenting and children. They go inside Laura's office and she muses about things while waiting for her computer to boot up.
A/N: This is part of an open 'verse, which begins with " Normaling"
When they got out of Laura’s Sunfire, Bill offered to carry her bag. More important, she let him; it was a sign of her trust. They walked side by side toward the front entrance. Bill watched as Laura walked with purpose and strength. Her long legs gave her a long stride, and she covered distances quickly. Bill had a similar walk when he was commanding his aircraft carrier. It was a walk that conveyed confidence and power. His lover’s strength inspired him. The truth was the retired commander was nervous.
It had been years since he’d set foot in a school. Because he was away all of the time, Carolanne had always handled the school thing for the boys. It was one of the many aspects of his life Bill felt guilty about (even if he claimed that he didn’t do guilt); he wished he had been a better husband and father. Lee had graduated the previous year and was a freshman at a prestigious university in the city. It was too late for Bill; he had missed his oldest son’s childhood almost entirely, and he’d never get another chance with him. But he still had a chance with Zak: His other son was still a sophomore. He didn’t have much time, but he swore to himself he wouldn’t waste it.
As Laura walked, she watched Bill through her peripheral vision. She noticed the change in his demeanor. She turned to face him, slowing her pace. He looked more nervous than she was on her first day of teaching. Laura stopped outside the door. She wanted to make sure he was ready to face the day before bringing him inside.
“You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” His face had taken his obstinate look, but Laura was unimpressed by it.
“Gee, I don’t know, but you look more nervous than I was my first day of teaching. What is it?” Laura’s face was sincere in spite of her teasing tone.
“It’s silly.” He was noticeably embarrassed by his display.
“I doubt that.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been inside a school, Laura.”
“Okay.” Laura didn’t understand his consternation. She knew it had been a long time since he was in high school, but that fact alone shouldn’t have affected him so much.
“I’ve never participated in school functions for my sons. I’ve missed Lee’s entire education. I’ll never get another chance with him.”
“Didn’t you say he was in college? He’ll need your support for that, Bill.”
“It’s different. He’s an adult; his own man. And he won’t need me.”
“Never say never, and never give up hope.”
“I…” He had nothing to say to that, really. He couldn’t see how someone who’d been through such terrible losses could still be so warm, so caring, but he’d learned that was just who Laura was. Bill felt truly lucky to have her in his corner.
“I’m sorry, Bill. I don’t have children. I can’t understand what you’re feeling.”
“Maybe not exactly, but it means a lot that you’re trying.”
“What about your other son? Zak, right?”
Bill nodded to confirm she had the name right and said, “He’s still a sophomore. He goes here.”
Laura grinned at him and said, “How convenient for you then.”
“Perhaps.”
“You’re dating an administrator, Bill Adama. That comes with certain perks.”
“I don’t want you to go out of your way, Laura.”
“I won’t. It won’t take more than a few keystrokes.”
“Computers.” He said the word like it was a product of the devil.
“I forgot you’re afraid of them.” That was something that had come up during their first date; although, Laura couldn’t remember how they had started talking about computers. It was one of those conversations that had no obvious trajectory.
“I’m not afraid; I just don’t like them.” Bill’s obstinate nature returned.
“Well, they’re the future, my friend. And it seems like they’re here to stay.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Isn’t that the truth, Laura thought. Although she had no qualms about computers, there were many things she accepted without liking. “No. It doesn’t,” she said.
“I’m sorry. You’re trying to help me, and I’m-” He lowered his face toward the ground in shame. Laura thought it was adorable.
“Don’t be,” she flashed him a reassuring smile when he raised his face again, looking her in the eye. She continued, “I’m glad you’ve got some fight in you again. Ready to go inside?”
“After you, Ma’am.”
Laura led them inside. Bill couldn’t believe the size of the school. He had graduated in a class of 100, so the idea of there being class sizes of five or six hundred seemed overwhelming. From what he could tell from the front entrance, the school was essentially an oval with wings off of it, on two stories. Because they were there so early, there were no students, and there didn’t seem to be many teachers either. It was very quiet. Laura turned to her friend.
“What do you think?”
“It’s big.”
“That it is.”
“Quiet.”
“Not for long.”
“I guess not. How many students did you say go here?”
“Over 2000.”
“Wow.”
“Pretty standard for an area like this.”
“It just seems like a lot.”
“Times are changing, Bill. Have been for awhile.”
“I know. I’m just-“
“Not good with change, I know.” Laura’s smile told him she didn’t mind that particular quirk of his.
“So, where is this office of yours?”
“Let’s go. And remember, flexibility is the key to airpower.”
“That’s what my superior officers always tried to tell me.”
“Must be true, then.” They both laughed then. The pair linked arms and continued beyond the lobby.
Laura led Bill to the stairwell, upstairs, and to the Language Arts department, which was in the north-east wing of the school. Her office was at the very end of the hall on the corner. Laura had always liked corners, so she felt right at home in her office. She unlocked her door, and led Bill inside.
“It’s not much, but it’s all mine. Have a seat, make yourself comfortable.” Bill did just that after handing Laura her bag.
Bill thought someone with as many responsibilities as Laura should certainly have a bigger office, but he was used to similar circumstances in the Navy. He knew enough to keep his mouth shut. It was clear that his lover was dedicated to her job, regardless of how she was relegated. Once again, he was overcome with pride for her. Just knowing her made him want to be a better man.
Laura sat at her desk and settled in. She turned her computer on, knowing it would have to think for awhile before deciding to function. Monday mornings were always rough for her and her computer. Like the rest of the liberal and fine arts departments, the Language Arts department got the second hand computers, usually the ones from the science, business, and engineering academies after they got new ones. She understood the reasoning for that, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Over time, she learned that her computer worked best when she didn’t need it. So, on Monday mornings she planned to organize her desk and unpack her bag while it slowly came to life. Laura had stopped using the desktop for grading long ago. She did her grading and most of her work on her Macbook at home, especially after Dr. Baltar installed the new security systems on all the school computers.
She hated the idea of that man, Richard, and Tom being able to look at her activities. Again, she understood the need, but she didn’t trust any of those men. There had always been bad blood between Gaius and Laura, and he had his friendship with Richard to back him up. Laura only had the fact that her boss liked to hit on her, and she turned him down repeatedly. And Tom Zarek had always creeped her out. He was the quintessential vice principal, and none of the students could stand him, which was normal, but Laura had to admit there was something not quite right about him. She had always treaded lightly around all three men-and she encouraged her students to do the same, especially Starbuck.
She hadn’t checked her email since Friday afternoon, which was highly unusual for her. Laura liked to be on top of everything. Not that there was a lot of email activity during a standard weekend, but sometimes her students wanted to contact her, and sometimes Starbuck would email her to vent.
Laura knew the girl’s relationship with her mother wasn’t a good one. Kara had never given her any specifics, but Laura suspected the girl was abused at home. She had informed Richard of her suspicions, and when that yielded no results, she called Child Services. Evidently, Socrata Thrace was able to put on a good enough act to fool them. The idea that Laura could be wrong about the situation had never crossed her mind: She trusted her instincts, especially where Kara was concerned. The two had grown inexplicably close in the last two years. Kara was among the last freshmen Laura had taught before accepting the position of department chairperson. The girl was in her junior year, but she continued her association with Laura. Their bond was something that just was; neither had ever talked about it, but it was very important to Laura, and she knew it was to Starbuck too.
And occasionally, the girl would email her over the weekend. She never provided specific details, but Laura recognized it as her attempt to reach out. Kara had no one else to talk to: The only friends she had that Laura was aware of were boys-all athletes. She couldn’t talk to her mother for obvious reasons, and she avoided Mr. Conoy’s office at all costs. He seemed to be a fine academic advisor, but Kara wanted nothing to do with him. Laura never questioned it; she simply accepted her place as Kara’s unofficial advisor, and they continued accordingly.
As Laura went about her Monday morning routine, she noticed Bill watching her. Ordinarily, the woman didn’t like being watched. It made her nervous. Laura preferred to meet her visitors’ needs and send them on their way, so she could continue to work in peace. But Bill’s gaze didn’t bother her at all. She knew he was cataloging everything in her office and gaining a better understanding of her professional side. She liked that he was content just to watch her: He didn’t say a word, and Laura didn’t feel like she had to entertain him. Bill understood that her work was important and respected her for it.
Just as Laura had unpacked the last of her papers, her computer came to life, and she logged in. She was glad to see she had gotten no emails that weekend, so Starbuck must have been okay, for the most part. She knew she’d be seeing the girl in person soon enough-Starbuck came every day almost like clockwork. Sometimes they talked; sometimes Kara just wanted to sit, and Laura would let her, doing her work, as the girl worked through her thoughts.
Laura looked at the time. It was quarter to eight. The warning bell for homeroom rang at 7:48. Then, at 7:50 the homeroom bell would ring, and the pledge of allegiance and announcements would begin promptly. At 7:56 the first bell would ring, giving everyone four minutes to get to their first class. Some time between 8:00 and 8:15, Dr. Baltar would throw Kara out of class, and she’d head straight to Laura. Kara had once joked that she learned more about Anatomy and Physiology in Laura’s office than she could ever learn from Dr. Baltar, and Laura believed that was true. She didn’t understand why he didn’t just stick to his speciality-Physics. There were other, more qualified, teachers available, but Baltar insisted on teaching all of the sciences. He had quite the ego, and neither Laura nor Kara could stand him. While, Laura didn’t condone Kara’s behavior, she knew Kara had an honor code of her own, and she couldn’t be swayed. Laura admired that about her young friend.
“Laura?”
Laura blinked and turned to Bill. “Yeah?”
“You were far away there for a minute.”
“I was thinking about Starbuck.”
“I’m very curious about that name.”
“Oh. I’ll let her tell the story. She tells it much better.”
“I doubt that. You’re a wonderful story teller.”
“You’ve never met Kara.”
“I look forward to it.”
“It won’t be long now, Bill.”
Next Installment