Title: In Remembrance
Author:
northeto Rating: K
Timeframe: Between seasons 3 and 4
Word Count: 300
Author’s note: Because
bsg_aussiegirl said “Lee and Kara”, and
akachankami said “funeral”, and the muse said “Kara’s funeral”.
Disclaimer: Not my characters/world, not making money, no copyright infringement intended.
Bill makes it through the funeral somehow, manages even to finish the eulogy without completely choking up.
He and Laura walk back to his quarters, Lee and Dee and Sam trailing behind them, quiet and lost.
He is not old enough, and they are too young.
He reaches out and takes Laura’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers, gripping tightly. She squeezes his hand once, reassuringly.
Suddenly, he’s at the door, opening it, while Laura speaks softly with one of the marines, who nods and leaves.
They all file into his quarters and settle into the furniture. Everything is too complicated and no one seems able to find words, so there they sit.
A quiet knock breaks the silence some minutes later and Laura rises, opens the hatch, closes it, and returns carrying a tray with tea and mugs.
The tea breaks through their shock and they sit, swapping stories, crying, laughing.
Sam, Lee, Bill, Dee, Laura. They are, for a few precious hours nothing but friends, lovers, parents mourning the passing of a woman they held dear. No animosity, no judgment, no suspicion.
Later, when the tea is gone and their tears, have for the moment abated, Sam rises, thanks Bill and excuses himself to mourn his wife in private.
Dee gently leads an exhausted Lee back to their quarters.
Laura stirs from her place by his side on the couch, and he starts. He does not want to be alone, not tonight. He is afraid his grief may swallow him whole.
‘
“Stay,” he asks, voice rough. “Please.”
She says nothing, but leans back into the couch, her shoulder brushing his.
They pass the night in silence, and finally, he sleeps.
When he wakes in the morning, neck stiff and sore, she is still there, curled against him.