Fic: Daylight
Title: Daylight
Rating: K+
Pairing: Laura/Sam
Summary: Brief thoughts on the last morning on New Caprica
Word Count: 1197
Laura watched from the mouth of the cave as a pale orange sun rose over the desolate New Caprican landscape. She pulled her coat tightly around her shoulders and shuddered as a cold breeze swept by and penetrated just deep enough into the hollow of the cave to reach her. She knew that she probably shouldn’t be this close to one of the openings of the tunnel system of caves - that Colonel Tigh and the others would tell her she ought to be deep in the caves below where no harm could come to her, but at this point she simply didn’t have it in her to care.
Today Galactica was coming back, and one way or another everything was going to change. What did it matter if she stood a little too close to a cave entrance far from camp that overlooked only dirt and shrubs? Surely if something bad was going to happen to her today it was already fated to occur?
She knew the others would disagree, that they would tell her the hard part was only beginning today, that her role of bringing the people back together after the horrors of New Caprica was far too important for her to die doing something stupid like watching the sunrise. And they were probably right. But right now she didn’t feel particularly prophet-like or presidential, she just felt like a typical New Caprican citizen - both desperate for and somewhat afraid of the changes that would be coming today.
Leaning against the wall of the cave and glancing back over her shoulder, Laura watched the way the soft orange light fell on the exposed shoulders and back of her sleeping companion. The color seemed to soak into his smooth, pale skin and if she stared long enough he almost seemed to glow.
Shaking her head at her ridiculous observations, she thought that she should probably pull the blanket further up his torso - he was bound to be cold against the cool floor of the cave - but she worried that the movement would alert his resistance leader reflexes and wake him. He deserved all the sleep he could get.
Today was going to be a big day for him. She let her eyes trail the same path across his muscular shoulders and biceps that her fingers had skimmed the night before and sighed at how even in his sleep his body didn’t seem to fully relax. He had so much to deal with, far too much for someone who - if the interviews she’d watched from back corner cafes where they showed the pyramid games were to be believed - had once been so young and full of playful energy. He had to deal with helping run a resistance, worrying constantly about his wife, and taking care of civilians like her all at the same time. It was no surprise that even his subconscious carried those burdens in his sleep.
As he turned, unconsciously throwing a hand over his eyes to shield them from the incoming light, Laura smiled slightly at his teenage-like movements and simply continued to observe him. She looked at his strong jawbone, the one that held so much tension, his soft lips, which she could still feel traveling over her skin if she closed her eyes, and the planes of his chest that she knew felt strong and solid - comforting - under her touch. Laura smiled again and turned back to the landscape. The early stages of dawn were passed now, and the land had taken on the harsh brightness that accompanies sun in a desert.
It was one of those rare New Caprican days when the sun wasn’t completely shrouded by clouds, and Laura could tell from its ascent that it would be time for everyone to be up and putting the pieces of today’s plan in place soon. Toying with the edge of her coat, she thought of the man sleeping behind her and how little she wanted to wake him. Today would be it for him - either he would live through spearheading the resistance movement or he wouldn’t - either he would find Kara alive or he wouldn’t, and there’d be no coming back for a rescue operation this time.
Laura was certain of that. She knew that as soon as they were off this planet, assuming that’s the way things worked out, there would be no coming back. Anything that was left behind would stay lost here forever.
And sometimes, she thought as she glanced back at Sam again and this time allowed her gaze to linger on the small metal chain hanging from his neck, it was better that way. The comfort that they’d gained from one another over the past months had been invaluable. The ability to forget the dismal horrors of this planet for just a short while was something that she’d always be grateful for - not to mention the sex was amazing - but it was right that that too would be left behind on New Caprica.
Whatever today’s outcome, Sam would no longer be the same man she’d spent so many late evenings with on this planet. Either, and she fervently prayed this was the case, he’d have his Kara back and wouldn’t need to spare a second glance at the woman who would once again take on the mantel of President, or he’d be so distraught that she feared there would be no real recovery for him.
They didn’t need a ‘talk’ to set their relationship straight or a time for tearful goodbyes - this was simply the way things had to be.
It was one of the things she liked most about Sam, his ability to earnestly dedicate himself to something and yet still be pragmatic enough to step back and know when it was time for a change. It was something she could relate to.
Of course he’d never been very pragmatic about Starbuck, but then they all had their limits. Sending one last whispered prayer to the Gods that the gentle, caring young man before her would find what he was so desperately looking for, and that they would all make it through the day, Laura walked back to where he was sleeping.
Kneeling down, she gently placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered his name softly, “Sam.” He blearily opened his eyes and smiled at her. The sort of soft, uninhibited smile that warmed her insides, and that, if she was honest with herself, she knew she would miss on the cold nights to come.
He reached up to cup her cheek and toy with the ends of her hair, and she said gently, “It’s time to get up.” Pausing to look at her for a moment Sam smiled sadly and nodded, “It’s time.” She pulled his hand from her hair, giving it one last comforting squeeze, and confirmed, “Yes, it is.”
After all, she thought as she stood up and walked to the mouth of the cave to give him some privacy to dress and collect his thoughts about the day, all good things must come to an end - and maybe, hopefully, there would be something better to look forward to tomorrow.
Rating: K+
Pairing: Laura/Sam
Summary: Brief thoughts on the last morning on New Caprica
Word Count: 1197
Laura watched from the mouth of the cave as a pale orange sun rose over the desolate New Caprican landscape. She pulled her coat tightly around her shoulders and shuddered as a cold breeze swept by and penetrated just deep enough into the hollow of the cave to reach her. She knew that she probably shouldn’t be this close to one of the openings of the tunnel system of caves - that Colonel Tigh and the others would tell her she ought to be deep in the caves below where no harm could come to her, but at this point she simply didn’t have it in her to care.
Today Galactica was coming back, and one way or another everything was going to change. What did it matter if she stood a little too close to a cave entrance far from camp that overlooked only dirt and shrubs? Surely if something bad was going to happen to her today it was already fated to occur?
She knew the others would disagree, that they would tell her the hard part was only beginning today, that her role of bringing the people back together after the horrors of New Caprica was far too important for her to die doing something stupid like watching the sunrise. And they were probably right. But right now she didn’t feel particularly prophet-like or presidential, she just felt like a typical New Caprican citizen - both desperate for and somewhat afraid of the changes that would be coming today.
Leaning against the wall of the cave and glancing back over her shoulder, Laura watched the way the soft orange light fell on the exposed shoulders and back of her sleeping companion. The color seemed to soak into his smooth, pale skin and if she stared long enough he almost seemed to glow.
Shaking her head at her ridiculous observations, she thought that she should probably pull the blanket further up his torso - he was bound to be cold against the cool floor of the cave - but she worried that the movement would alert his resistance leader reflexes and wake him. He deserved all the sleep he could get.
Today was going to be a big day for him. She let her eyes trail the same path across his muscular shoulders and biceps that her fingers had skimmed the night before and sighed at how even in his sleep his body didn’t seem to fully relax. He had so much to deal with, far too much for someone who - if the interviews she’d watched from back corner cafes where they showed the pyramid games were to be believed - had once been so young and full of playful energy. He had to deal with helping run a resistance, worrying constantly about his wife, and taking care of civilians like her all at the same time. It was no surprise that even his subconscious carried those burdens in his sleep.
As he turned, unconsciously throwing a hand over his eyes to shield them from the incoming light, Laura smiled slightly at his teenage-like movements and simply continued to observe him. She looked at his strong jawbone, the one that held so much tension, his soft lips, which she could still feel traveling over her skin if she closed her eyes, and the planes of his chest that she knew felt strong and solid - comforting - under her touch. Laura smiled again and turned back to the landscape. The early stages of dawn were passed now, and the land had taken on the harsh brightness that accompanies sun in a desert.
It was one of those rare New Caprican days when the sun wasn’t completely shrouded by clouds, and Laura could tell from its ascent that it would be time for everyone to be up and putting the pieces of today’s plan in place soon. Toying with the edge of her coat, she thought of the man sleeping behind her and how little she wanted to wake him. Today would be it for him - either he would live through spearheading the resistance movement or he wouldn’t - either he would find Kara alive or he wouldn’t, and there’d be no coming back for a rescue operation this time.
Laura was certain of that. She knew that as soon as they were off this planet, assuming that’s the way things worked out, there would be no coming back. Anything that was left behind would stay lost here forever.
And sometimes, she thought as she glanced back at Sam again and this time allowed her gaze to linger on the small metal chain hanging from his neck, it was better that way. The comfort that they’d gained from one another over the past months had been invaluable. The ability to forget the dismal horrors of this planet for just a short while was something that she’d always be grateful for - not to mention the sex was amazing - but it was right that that too would be left behind on New Caprica.
Whatever today’s outcome, Sam would no longer be the same man she’d spent so many late evenings with on this planet. Either, and she fervently prayed this was the case, he’d have his Kara back and wouldn’t need to spare a second glance at the woman who would once again take on the mantel of President, or he’d be so distraught that she feared there would be no real recovery for him.
They didn’t need a ‘talk’ to set their relationship straight or a time for tearful goodbyes - this was simply the way things had to be.
It was one of the things she liked most about Sam, his ability to earnestly dedicate himself to something and yet still be pragmatic enough to step back and know when it was time for a change. It was something she could relate to.
Of course he’d never been very pragmatic about Starbuck, but then they all had their limits. Sending one last whispered prayer to the Gods that the gentle, caring young man before her would find what he was so desperately looking for, and that they would all make it through the day, Laura walked back to where he was sleeping.
Kneeling down, she gently placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered his name softly, “Sam.” He blearily opened his eyes and smiled at her. The sort of soft, uninhibited smile that warmed her insides, and that, if she was honest with herself, she knew she would miss on the cold nights to come.
He reached up to cup her cheek and toy with the ends of her hair, and she said gently, “It’s time to get up.” Pausing to look at her for a moment Sam smiled sadly and nodded, “It’s time.” She pulled his hand from her hair, giving it one last comforting squeeze, and confirmed, “Yes, it is.”
After all, she thought as she stood up and walked to the mouth of the cave to give him some privacy to dress and collect his thoughts about the day, all good things must come to an end - and maybe, hopefully, there would be something better to look forward to tomorrow.