Word Count: 2,074
Date: 2004
Series:
Rating: K+
Category: Character
Pairing/Focus: Lee / William Adama / Tigh
Warnings:
Summary:
Spoilers/Disclaimers: Set after Season One, Season one Spoilers
Chapter 1.
Seven days after being shoot twice in the chest, Adama is sitting up in his bed. His mind is clear. As he assesses the situation he is pleased. Kara has returned. She’s been beaten but will heal. She returned with Apollo’s Arrow, Helo, and a Sharon model Cylon. Adama remembers the comfort of his son’s presence through the fog of his injuries and later as he recovered from surgery. Tigh has explained the lack of Lee’s presence with the need to rescue the survivors of the raptor crash. The Chief Tyrol, Cally, Crashdown, and Vice President Baltar are safe. Lee has taken Apollo’s arrow to the temple on Kobol.
Adama hears the cry of pain. In spite of his natural personal bravery, he is not and will never be prepared for this cry. Instinct takes over. He hears himself yell “Lee!” He is rapidly confronted with a pair of pain filled glassy blues eyes. Lee is disheveled and bleeding from his mouth and left arm. Adama watches as his son halts in front him confused. Without thought his arms have moved to embrace his child. Lee’s pursuer’s stop open mouthed at the sight of the Captain sitting in the arms of the Commander.
Adama listens to himself say, “Your safe. Nobody’s going to hurt you. Shh, Don’t cry Sweet Pea.” As Adama tries to understand what has happened he feels his son’s fever racked body shaking in his arms. Adama can feel the power of his embrace as on Lee. His son’s breathing slows. Adama continues to hold and coo.
“Commander, You need to let us treat the Captain. He is seriously ill. You are in no condition to hold him like this,” Dr, Cottle says impatiently as he enters the Commander’s room.
“Doctor, Explain. Now,” Adama barks. Adama feels a rage rise. He has only felt rage like this once when he thought he had lost Lee to the Cylons and then was confronted with a Cylon at Rangar Station. He will protect Lee at all costs.
“The Captain is suffering from an infection. He has a dangerously high fever. Unfortunately, he was allergic to the first antibiotic we gave him and went into anaphylactic shock. We had to put him on a respirator. He is breathing on his own but we don’t have the infection or fever under control. He is hallucinating. He doesn’t understand that we are trying to help him. When we tried to put him in restraints he fought. He’s pulled out his IV. When he heard you call his name, he rushed to you like a frightened child. We need to stop the bleeding and get him into bed. You are at risk of infection we need to remove the Captain.”
“Lee show me where you’re bleeding. It’s OK show Dad where you’re hurt,” Adama says softly to his son. Lee turns in his father’s arms and shows him the steadily bleeding wound on his arm and raw sore lips, mouth and throat.
“Lee, we need to let the doctor fix your arm. I want you to let the doctor help you. I’ll be right here,” Adama says softly but firmly to his son. Lee promptly holds out his injured arm to the doctor. Lee holds his father’s hand with his free hand.
Once the doctor has the access to the Captain’s arm a med tech pushes in medical cart that provides the doctor with he equipment he needs. The Captain is still as the doctor cleans the wound, uses a glue to stop the bleeding, and covers the wound with a bandage. He tries to pull away when the doctor bring out a new needle necessary for an IV.
“It’s OK Lee you need the medicine form the IV. Stay still. Look at me. That’s my brave boy,” Adama says as Dr Cottle puts inserts a needle.
“Thank you, Commander, we’ll get the Captain into bed now,” Cottle says.
“Doctor, you’ll bring another bed into this room for my son. He stays with me. You still have a lot of explaining to do Major Cottle,” Adama says.
“He can’t stay here he increases your risk of infection,” Cottle says firmly.
“I’m been already exposed. He stays,” Adama says quietly. “What can you do about his throat and mouth?”
“The Captain should remain quiet and let the damage heal. Ice chips for the mouth and throat. Lip balm wouldn’t hurt,” the doctor replies.
Lee sits silently eating ice chips out of a plastic cup. Adama keeps a hand on him, talks to him assuring him that he’ll be all right, his dad is here, and that he’s a good brave boy.
Within a few minutes the Commander’s private room has been turned into a double. The beds are within a foot of one another. The Captain quietly gets into his new bed when his father tells him to. He lies quietly intently looking at his father, through the rail of the bed until he falls asleep.
Chapter 2.
Once Adama is convince that Lee is in a deep sleep, he uses his call button and asks to see Doctor Cottle. Adama is made to wait but both Colonel Tigh and Dr. Cottle respond to his summons.
“Explain how Captain Adama became ill. What is the risk to the ship?” Adama asks in a whisper.
“There’s no general threat the fleet. The Captain became susceptible to infection due to unusual physical and emotional stress,” Cottle replies.
“I require details, Major,” Adama replies.
“Commander, as you know you and the Captain share a very rare blood type. You required more than the combined stockpile of yours and Apollo’s blood. In order to ensure your survival Apollo donated 4 pints of blood to you. Although it was replaced with O negative it put a strain on his immune system,” Cottle replies in a quiet whisper not wishing to wake Apollo.
“He’s the CAG, How could you increase the risk to the fleet by endangering his health? Adama asks.
“The Captain can be very persuasive. I was told that he had committed mutiny in a time of war, a capital offence. He convinced me that he wasn’t the CAG and not even an active pilot. He was a willing and available organ donor. He reminded me that these were not ordinary times, I had to do what was necessary to save your life for the fleet,” Cottle whispers.
“Husker, I really had my hands full in CIC, I’ve got a Cylon to deal with, the President in the brig and communications blackout that causing unrest in the fleet. When I could finally break away from CIC I found that Apollo had exaggerated his status. I needed him on his feet. I insisted that the Doc pump him up. The Doc gave him some more blood and stimulants. The Captain took care of the rescue and the search for the temple of Athena. He found the temple but it was in ruins. He brought back the hand from the destroyed statue and detailed mapping of the sight. He also found the temple of Apollo. He said that Apollo’s arrow fits into that statue as well it points back toward the colonies. He had a fever and was shaking I sent him down to life station before he was completely debriefed. He had an allergic reaction and has been in danger for only a few hours.” We’ve had to jump twice to avoid Cylons,” Tigh says in a whisper.
“The Colonel and I agreed that you didn’t need to know the details of the Captain’s condition. Once we get the infection under control he should recover quickly,” the doctor adds in a whisper.
“How long until his infection is under control?” Adama asks.
“His fevers all ready down out of the danger zone. He’s tolerating it well,” Cottle says. “We really should move him while he’s quiet.”
“Doctor, I’m keeping him with me while he’s confused. I won’t let him suffer. We can leave this discussion for another time,” Adama says to end the discussion.
“Commander, the Captain will be very embarrassed if he remembers tossing three medtech’s around and running to his daddy. It wound be easier on him if we move him, His fevers down so he’s less likely to hallucinate. Your behavior encouraged his infantile behavior,” Cottle says.
“Are you sure you can keep him calm?” Adama asks.
“Don’t worry Commander, I’ll never forget that Captain Adama is your ‘Sweat Pea,’” The doctor says covering his mouth so the chuckle can’t be heard.
“Sweat Pea?” Tigh asks as Cottle pushes him out of the room.
Alone Adama thinks about the last couple of hours. Cottle was right he had encouraged his son’s child like behavior. It started with his instinctual reaction to the sound of his child in pain. He had an overwhelming need to protect and comfort. After Lee was safe, he refused to be parted with his son. He felt possessive, remembering a bound formed with his first child. He enjoyed Lee’s closeness, blind trust, and love. He had the chance to touch his son without fear of rejection.
It’s painful but he is able to sit on the edge of his bed and press the lever that releases the side rail of his son’s bed. He makes sure he is alone with his son. Moving carefully, he touches his son’s hair and kisses his son’s forehead. Lee raises his head slightly in response. He remembers Caroline barely touching the top of Lee’s upper lip when he was asleep. Lee’s mouth would move into a pout. Caroline called it a “kissy face.” If Adama came in late she’d offer him her son for a brief kiss. He moves a finger across Lee mouth. Adama’s grateful when Lee reacts as he remembered. He takes his kiss.
He puts up the rail and gets himself back into bed. Once settled he moves a hand between the bars and waits for the life station staff to move Lee. Adama feels son slowly take his father hand in both of his and rest his forehead on top of his father’s knuckles. Adama drifts to sleep with sweet memories of marriage and being father to his blue-eyed son.
Chapter 3.
Lee wakes with a pounding headache, very sore throat and all over body ache. It takes him a minute to remember the events of the last two days. His father will live. Kara has returned. Most of the passengers of the raptor have been saved. The President has stopped taking whatever potion that caused her to visions. He hasn’t been thrown into the brig for mutiny yet. He should be relieved but his not. The people he cares about are safe, he should be grateful. He doesn’t have anyone he trusts.
He can’t trust Kara as far as he can throw her. The President abandon a raptor load of people and sent Starbuck on what should have been a suicide mission. How can he trust the president again? His father and Tigh would have killed civilians to take revenge on the president. Tigh’s giving Starbuck orders without telling him. He can’t pretend to be CAG anymore. Boomer was right under his noise. How could he not see? What was the story with Tyrol? When did he know something was wrong with Boomer?
Prison or a quick death will be preferable to trying to carry on.
“Good Morning, Captain, please remember to try not to talk,” the med tech says, “your fever is down to 100.9F. You should be feeling better. We can start you on some liquids.” She checks his IV. She hands him a couple of pills ice water with a straw. She leaves a tray with broth, tea, and red Jello.
Apollo is grateful that he’s not supposed to speak. It gives him some time before he has to deal with people he cares about but doesn’t trust. Why does he still care? He should be able to drop them and move on. He has nothing to say.
Tigh and the Commander are usually satisfied with yes sir, No Sir. They are the least of his problems. They will send him to the Brig. Hell Starbucks angry with him. The President’s likely angry too. He just won’t talk until the Doctor insists.