Word Count: 13,762
Date: 05/27/05
Series: One
Rating: M
Category:M
Pairing/Focus: Lee, Kara
Warnings:
Summary:Kara tells Lee about her violent childhood. See "Out of the Darkness."
Spoilers/Disclaimers:
Telling Others By Beth Newell Author Notes: Big thanks to Beth from the Apollo/Starbuck Fiction Yahoo Group for Beta Reading.
Though it was late at night, there were crewmembers that witness Lieutenant Kara Thrace helping a battered Emily Cally to Life Station. As they walked into Life Station, Kara hoped that Doctor Cottle was not on duty tonight.
"Some how I don't think that old man could be much help to a frighten girl that was just raped." Kara thought as they finally came to Life Station. Walking to the medical wing of the Battlestar, neither woman saw any medical personal.
"Hello, is any one here?" Kara said as she continued to support Cally.
"Sorry about that. It's been slow tonight. So I was doing a supply count."
Turning around Emily and Kara to see a woman in her mid-thirties, with red hair and green eyes and in a lab coat.
'Hello. I'm Doctor Hall. Looks like we had a bit of an accident." She said looking at Cally very closely.
"Specialist Cally was attacked. She needs some care and I need to inform the duty officer." Kara said as she looked at new medical officer. "I assume that we can try keep this quite. Emily deserves some privacy."
"We will do our best to take care of her. I can assure Lieutenant." Doctor Hall said.
"Emily I will be back soon. Is there anything that I can get for you?" Kara asked.
"I don't think so." Cally answered, feeling scared again. "You will come back right."
"Yeah, I going to tell Tigh, as the XO he will get the investigation started. Then maybe I can see about getting my shift covered tomorrow. I'll stop by your rack pick up anything you might want."
"That will give us time to see Specialist Cally needs. I more than likely will keep her here for a day or two. So take your time Lieutenant." Doctor Hall as she once again looked at the women.
"Your in good hands. I'll be back soon." Kara said as she gave Cally an encouraging smile. Once leaving the Life Station Kara quickly made her way to the nearest public restroom, where she quickly threw up the remains of her dinner. As she took a towel to wash her face, Kara began to realize that the attack would have broad impact on the whole crew.
"Now we have a rapist running around. Just what we need." Trying to push the dark thoughts away Kara once again started off for CIC.
Walking into Combat Information Center, Kara saw the night shift hard at work protecting the Fleet from the cylons. Looking across CIC, Kara saw the man that she was looking for. Colonel Paul Tigh, a man who a few months ago Kara would not go to the man even if he were her last hope for survival. But time and a strong word from William Adama and Kara had let up on the man. Walking across CIC, Kara slowly approached her superior officer and waited to be acknowledged.
Looking up from his reports, Tigh was surprised to see Kara Thrace standing before him.
"It's a little late to be up and wandering around?" Tigh asked a he continued to read the latest fuel report.
"Yes sir. I was in the landing bay and something has happen that you need to know. Can we discuss it in private?" Kara asked looked around to see if anyone was listening.
Looking up, Paul Tigh saw something on Kara's face that he rarely saw. Fear.
"Let talk over here." Tigh lead Kara over to corner CIC. In a low voice he asked the question. "What happen?" And on some level not wanting to know the answer.
"Emily Cally was attacked in the landing bay. I think that she was raped. Her left arm is broken for sure. I took her Life Station. I know that as XO, you would be the one to get the investigation going."
"Does she have any idea who did it?" Tigh asked.
"I don't think so. She was really out it. Maybe she can give more details now, but earlier she was in no shape."
"Wait here. I'm going to get an update." Grabbing the nearest phone, Tigh called down for news. A few minutes later he came back to Kara, looking grim. "I spoke to Doctor Hall. You were right. The rape kit was positive. Her left arm was broken. Cally has been sedated for the night. I'll inform CID. They will want a statement from you. Are you on early shift tomorrow? I'm so dammed tired I can't remember."
"I have mids with Crash. I'm covering one of Sharon's shifts because of her pregnancy. Some should tell the Chief. He doesn't deserve to here second hand. He really cares for Cally."
"I'll make sure that he knows. The old man is not going to take this well either." Tigh comment. "Go get some rest. You look like you need it to."
"I guess that I do. Good night Sir."
"Goodnight Starbuck."
Walking back to the blue squadron's quarters, Kara realize for the first time ever she was scared while on the Galactica and it wasn't the possibility of an attack by the enemy but of a fellow crewmate. Changing direction, Kara headed towards the CAG's room. Coming to the door, she wonders if she knocked would Lee welcome her in. Taking a risk, Kara knocked. After waiting a few seconds the door was opened by a tired Lee Adama, Commander the Air Group. For a few seconds blue eyes meant brown and neither of them said anything, remembering the last time that they were alone together in his quarters.
It seemed like years ago, but in fact it was only two weeks. Lee and Kara were lying on Lee's bunk. Slowly Lee lends down and started kissing Kara. Slowly the kiss became deeper. His hands started to undue her clothes.
"Lee, please don't" Kara said as she started pull away from Lee.
"Come on Kara. You know that you want this. Just let it happen. I will make you happy. I make you forget all the pain. I want us to be close." Lee whisper into her ear as he continued to try to take off her clothes.
"I said no and I frakking mean it!" Kara screamed at Lee as she shoved him and scramble off his bunk.
"Lords the talk about you is true! You are a tease. Do you get some thrill getting a man all worked up and then turning him down? Did you do the same to Zak?" Lee yelled right back to Kara.
"You don't know anything about me or my relationship with Zak. So just stay the hell out of it." Kara countered.
"I know that you let my brother died." The second that those were out of his mouth, Lee wished that he could take them back, but it was too late. "Kara I didn't mean that."
"Yes you did. I knew that this was a mistake. A mistake that I won't make again, Goodnight Captain." Turning with tears in her eyes Kara left, taking any joy that Lee felt with her.
"Hey." Lee said as looked at Kara wondering if she was remembering the last time they were alone together.
"Hey yourself. Something happen and I wanted to tell you before its hit the rest of the crew. Can I come in?" Kara said.
"Sure. I was just finishing some paperwork. It never seems to end." Lee commented as stood aside and let her into his quarters.
Walking into the small CAG's quarters, Kara sat on Lee's bunk and took a deep breath before she told what had happen tonight. "Cally was raped in the docking bay earlier. She's in Life Station now and doesn't have a clue who did it."
Lee just looked at Kara for a moment to stun to say anything. "How could this happen? I don't think I have ever heard of this happening on a Colonial ship before."
"Who knows? I just want the person found and sent the Astral Queen. Nobody is going to feel safe until the guy is found." Kara said. "I should get going it's late. I wanted you know. Tigh was going to make sure that Tyrol was told."
"Thanks for letting me know." Lee paused for moment wondering if he should bring the up the events of the last time they were alone. Then deciding that he really didn't have anything else to lose.
"About what happen two weeks, I was angry and I know that I said things that shouldn't have. I want things to be back to the way that they were. Since that night I feel that I have been half dead."
For a long time Kara didn't say anything, she just looked at Lee. "I have to tell you something. It's something that I haven't talked about in a very long time. Maybe then you can understand why I reacted the way the last time we were together. When I start, please just let me talk. Let me tell you before I lose my nerve."
Sensing that this was very important to her, Lee sat down in his chair and waited for Kara to talk.
"You know that my mom ran out on me when I was seven. So it was just my dad and I. He drank, but I was able to get by for a while. That was until he meant Larry. Larry was dad's drinking buddy. After a few months, Larry moved in. For the most part they left me alone. I went to school and did track so by the time I got home they were usually past out. Well one night why dad was pasted out Larry came into my bedroom and he raped me."
"Kara." Lee whispered.
"Let me finished, Please. This is hard enough. One minute I was sleeping and the next he was on top of me. Ripping my nightgown off. His hands were everywhere. I just wanted it to end. After, when it was over do you know what Larry did? He gave some cubits and told me that was a best frak that he had in a long time."
"Did you tell anyone?"
"No. It didn't matter. Three weeks later, they were both killed in Larry's transport on the Caprica expressway. Since nobody had a clue to where mom was I put into the custody of the Department of Children Services. I spent eleven years there. Most of the time it was foster homes. but some group homes. It was never the same for very long. One of the reasons that I decided go to the academy was chance to belong, to be a part of the whole. Guess it sounds silly to you."
For the longest time, Lee couldn't say anything. He always thought that he knew Kara Thrace, but he realized that he didn't. Rising from his chair, Lee slowly moved over to Kara. "Come here." Lee lead her to the to the top of the bunk and together they laid down. For a while, neither of them said anything. Instead they held each other in a close embrace. One of them was trying to forget the nightmare that was her childhood. The other, wishing beyond hope that that he could some how take away pain that the woman that he loved felt and replace it with happiness and joy.
"I don't want Cally to turn out like I did. She deserves better that." Kara said as continue to lie against Lee's shoulder.
Looking down at Kara, Lee was angry with Kara for the statement that she had just made. "Kara you deserve to be happy. What happened to you was wrong. I wish that I could go back in time and stop it from happening, but I can't. But now you have chance to help both Cally and yourself."
Silence hovered both of them, each of them deep thought of events both of that day and the past. "I afraid that everyone on the Galactica will find out about what happened to me. You know how everyone loves gossip. Lords, can you image what Cally's going to face tomorrow?"
"People can be hard, but both you and Cally are well liked by just about everyone. Anyway, do you really give a frak what people think? And as for Cally, reach out to her, maybe you can help each other."
"I guess that you are right. I never thought that I would ever talk about it. If you want to know the truth I never even told Zak. " Kara confessed. "I cheated him."
"You didn't cheated Zak. I loved my brother, but I know that this is something that he couldn't handle. You both were young, and you were not ready to deal with it."
"I guess. But things were not so great between us before he died. He wanted more and I couldn't give it. I think that a part of me will always regret it."
"Kara I don't what I say to you. That's why you need to talk to some one. Elosha, a professional therapist from the hospital ship, somebody. The sooner that you get this out, the sooner you can move on."
"You know I came to tell you about Cally and I told you my deepest, darkest secret." Kara said with a little smile.
"Maybe you wanted to tell someone and Cally's attack was just excuse you wanted to let it out. Listen Kara, just close you eyes and go to sleep. I'll make sure that you get early before anyone would see you. You need to rest and you shouldn't be alone. Just close your eyes and rest. The nightmares can't hurt you tonight. I'll be here to make sure of that." Lee said as pulled a blanket over them.
"Thanks Lee." Kara said with a yawn. Kara allowed herself to given the sleep that was needed.
As Lee watched Kara sleep, he made a vow that what ever it took he would make sure that Kara got the help that she needed and the rest of her life she would not know the pain and suffering that she felt as a child.
As Kara began to awake, she quickly realized that she wasn't in the pilot's quarters. Opening her eyes she found herself in Lee's embrace. Quickly the events of last night came back to her.
"Good morning." Lee said as looked down at Kara.
"Morning yourself. Tigh was going to arrange for me to talk with CID today. I guess I should get cleaned up and head down there.
"Yea, I should get going too. I'm sure that Dad had been informed about what happen last night. He isn't going to take this well. I know that soft spot for the younger crewmembers."
"That's why everyone loves that he cares. I know that sometimes its does not seem like it, but he does." Kara said continued to look at Lee. "I will have to miss the morning briefing and I have patrol with Crashdown. Then I am going to have a talk with Cally."
"It will help both of you I know." Lee said as continue to look at her with love and compassion. "Maybe we can get together later for dinner. I mean if you want too."
"I would like that very much." Kara answered, feeling strangely shy around Lee, a man that she had known for years.
"Great I'll see you around eighteen hundred hours at the officer's mess."
"Eighteen hundred. See you then." Kara said as she went towards the hatch. As Kara headed back to crew quarters, Kara realized that she couldn't wait for tonight. "Thanks the Lords that frat regulations have been relaxed."
Quickly Kara took shower and changed in a duty uniform for interview. As she expected, Kara couldn't give CID much details about what happened to Cally. After the interview, Kara had a quick bit and headed to the flight deck for raptor flight with Crashdown. Walking onto the deck, Kara could sense a difference. Seeing Chief Galen Tyrol, Kara walked to him.
"Hi, Chief." Standing next to Tyrol, Kara could she that she wasn't the only person who had a hard night.
"Lieutenant." Tyrol said as continued to watch his crew work. "Thanks for helping Cally. It means a lot that you took the time to care for her."
" It was nothing. After patrol, I'm going to stop in and see her."
"Emily would really like that I know." Tyrol said with a sad smile.
"Good. Here comes Crash, I'll see later Chief." Kara said as she walked away from him and towards her EEO and raptor.
The patrol seemed to take forever. Neither Crash or Kara said much each other. As the raptor started back to the Galactica, Crash finally as the question that he had been longer for the last three and half hours.
"Hear about Cally?"
"I was the one who found her last night and I really don't want to talk about it. So can we drop?" Kara said as she continued to focus on her flying.
"Sure, no problem."
After a picture perfect landing back on the Battlestar, Kara quickly made her way to Life Station. "Could you tell me where Specialist Cally is?" She asked the nurse on duty.
"Bed four. Try to keep your visit short, its past visiting hours and she has had long day."
"Sure I'll keep it short."
As came to Emily's bedside, Kara saw that Emily's left arm was cast up and she burses all over her face.
"Hey, Emily. How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I guess. I got some sleep earlier after CID came. Commander Adama sent a note, hoping that I feel better soon and I wasn't going to lose my leave time."
"That's good. I mean about leave I mean. Emily I now that the last twenty-seven hours have been hard, But I have been though it myself you need to get some help and I'll be here too."
For a moment Emily Cally could say anything. The realization about what Kara saying was sinking in. "You mean you were raped?"
"It happened a long time ago and I never got any professional help. Maybe I should have. Here is your chance. Don't let it pass you by. I'll be here if you need me. Who knows may be we can help each other."