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singerdiva01Title: Codetta
Story Description: Billy knew this would happen but how it happens is worse than anything he imagined. Angst, angst, angst. Set just before the start of Epiphanies.
Series: The History Books Forgot About Us
Series Description: series of short scenes between Laura Roslin & Billy Keikaya. Some humor, some angst, all look at what posterity will never know about the behind the scenes of the Roslin administration. Spoliers up to 'Sacrifice' to be safe.
Rating: T
Characters: Laura Roslin, Billy Keikaya
Billy tried to keep his voice calm and professional as he rescheduled the president’s appointments. He’d only left her only a few minutes ago but a little voice in the back of his head was telling him he needed to check on her.
She’d been fine this morning. Well, as fine as she could be these days, which meant that she’d asked for help getting dressed and settled behind her desk to work rather than staying in bed. But she was only able to hold herself upright for a little over an hour before Billy could no longer ignore her winces of pain and increasing distraction. He started to get worried when she didn’t even argue with his suggestion that she retire to her room to rest.
His anxiety increased tenfold when, after he’d helped her slowly to her bed, she pulled him into a weak and careful hug before letting him help her lie down. She’d whispered “thank you” into his ear with such intention that he knew she was talking about more than the arm to lean on. When she told him to go reschedule her meetings for the day, he’d promised to check on her as soon as he was done. Her eyes closed before he could get the promise he wanted in return.
Please still be here when I get back.
When he finally got the meetings rescheduled, he entered the president’s room quietly. He immediately heard the terrifying sound of her struggling for breath and ran across the room to kneel next to her bed.
She looked up at him, eyes frantic, as her chest heaved. “I’m sorry, Billy,” she gasped and as he brushed a tear from her cheek, he realized that she’d known this was coming when she hugged him earlier. She’d been hoping to die before anyone found her and he almost hated her for it.
“It’s ok, Madame President. Don’t try to talk. I’m going to get help.” She wanted to object but couldn’t form the words before Billy ran from the room screaming at another aide to call for a medical transport.
When he returned just a minute later the president was struggling even harder for breath and her gasps were punctuated by moans of pain as the involuntary movements racked her aching body. She clutched weakly for the blanket pooled around her thighs and Billy was frightened to note that she seemed to have lost any semblance of coordination.
“Ma’am, let me do that,” Billy said as he reached over and carefully pulled the blanket up. He caught her shaking hand and held it in his own. It was freezing, as if the life had already left her. He started praying to her Gods for the medics to hurry.
“Can’t. Breathe,” she moaned, grasping at something above her that Billy couldn’t see.
“I know, ma’am and I’m so sorry. Try to focus on one breath at a time.” Billy knew his advice was useless but he didn’t know what else to say. He’d never felt so helpless in his life.
His already racing heart skipped a beat when the president’s head rolled to the side and her eyes closed.
“No, no. Wake up, Madame President” he pleaded, “please, stay with me.” He ran his thumb across her cheek and let out an audible sigh of relief when her eyes flew open. They were unfocused and he knew she was confused, which frightened her, and was only adding to her difficulty breathing.
He tried to keep his voice steady as he reminded the president where she was, that help was on the way, and that the doctor would give her something for the pain soon. He wasn’t certain she heard him -- she seemed to be lapsing in and out of consciousness and her gasps for breath were now interspersed with sharp cries -- but every once in a while her eyes focused and caught his gaze. He forced back tears when she tried to smile reassuringly at him.
After what seemed like an eternity, the team of medics rushed through the door. Billy reluctantly dropped the president’s hand and moved back to allow them to surround her. One pulled out an oxygen mask and moved to place it over her face. Billy heard her cry out a strangled protest and saw through the mass of bodies that she was weakly trying to push it away.
“You’re frightening her! She doesn’t understand what you’re doing,” he said loudly from the corner but no one seemed to be listening. When he heard his boss cry out again, he elbowed his way into the circle and positioned himself above the president’s head. She relaxed visibly when her eyes found his face.
“Give me that,” he ordered, motioning for the mask. Once the medic released it, he held it pointedly in Laura’s eyeline.
“Madame President, I’m going to put this over your nose and mouth to help you breathe, ok?” A look of understanding crossed her eyes and when he gently put the mask in place she didn’t protest.
“Was that so frakking hard?” Billy turned to glare at the medic whose only response was to motion for him to move back to his place near the wall. The young man seemed to have learned a lesson about dealing with the president and her terrified aide, however, because a moment later he leaned down and told her that they were going to move her to a stretcher.
Billy winced. The cancer had gone to the president’s bones in the last few days and even the slightest touch or movement that she didn’t carefully and slowly initiate was agony.She screamed pitifully as the medic lifted her body to carry her the few necessary steps. He could tell from the change in her labored breathing that she was crying by the time the team had her settled and ready to move.
“Ok, let me get to her,” he said as he once again forced his way to the president’s side. He took her hand and used his free one to wipe the tears from her face, which was contorted in pain.
Everyone on the shuttle, pilot included, would have agreed it felt like the longest trip to Galactica ever logged. By the time the Battlestar was in sight the president was mostly unconscious although she jolted awake every few minutes to look around, seemingly to put figure out what was happening. Each time her aide would squeeze her hand and mutter comforting words into her ear that the medics couldn’t quite hear.
Once she was transferred to a bed -- a move that she blessedly didn’t seem to register -- and hooked up to machines, Cottle leaned over her, a sad and resigned look on his face.
“Can you hear me, Madame President?” When he got no response, he turned his sad look on the boy hovering worriedly nearby.
“Let’s make her as comfortable as possible,” he said before walking away to get a nurse.
Billy stepped closer to the president and wrapped her delicate fingers through both sets of his own. She tried again to smile reassuringly at him but the gesture turned to a grimace when a new wave of pain ricocheted through her body.
“Oh, Gods,” she gasped. He struggled to find comforting words but couldn’t manage anything other than “it’s alright” and that was a lie she’d insisted he stop using as a crutch when things got frightening. He settled for massaging the cold, trembling hand he was holding, trying to warm it in his own.
It was only when Cottle returned and gave him an odd look did Billy realize the soothing humming sounds, the president’s signature mode of reassurance, were coming from his own throat.
[Chapter 6]
Story Description: Billy knew this would happen but how it happens is worse than anything he imagined. Angst, angst, angst. Set just before the start of Epiphanies.
Series: The History Books Forgot About Us
Series Description: series of short scenes between Laura Roslin & Billy Keikaya. Some humor, some angst, all look at what posterity will never know about the behind the scenes of the Roslin administration. Spoliers up to 'Sacrifice' to be safe.
Rating: T
Characters: Laura Roslin, Billy Keikaya
Billy tried to keep his voice calm and professional as he rescheduled the president’s appointments. He’d only left her only a few minutes ago but a little voice in the back of his head was telling him he needed to check on her.
She’d been fine this morning. Well, as fine as she could be these days, which meant that she’d asked for help getting dressed and settled behind her desk to work rather than staying in bed. But she was only able to hold herself upright for a little over an hour before Billy could no longer ignore her winces of pain and increasing distraction. He started to get worried when she didn’t even argue with his suggestion that she retire to her room to rest.
His anxiety increased tenfold when, after he’d helped her slowly to her bed, she pulled him into a weak and careful hug before letting him help her lie down. She’d whispered “thank you” into his ear with such intention that he knew she was talking about more than the arm to lean on. When she told him to go reschedule her meetings for the day, he’d promised to check on her as soon as he was done. Her eyes closed before he could get the promise he wanted in return.
Please still be here when I get back.
When he finally got the meetings rescheduled, he entered the president’s room quietly. He immediately heard the terrifying sound of her struggling for breath and ran across the room to kneel next to her bed.
She looked up at him, eyes frantic, as her chest heaved. “I’m sorry, Billy,” she gasped and as he brushed a tear from her cheek, he realized that she’d known this was coming when she hugged him earlier. She’d been hoping to die before anyone found her and he almost hated her for it.
“It’s ok, Madame President. Don’t try to talk. I’m going to get help.” She wanted to object but couldn’t form the words before Billy ran from the room screaming at another aide to call for a medical transport.
When he returned just a minute later the president was struggling even harder for breath and her gasps were punctuated by moans of pain as the involuntary movements racked her aching body. She clutched weakly for the blanket pooled around her thighs and Billy was frightened to note that she seemed to have lost any semblance of coordination.
“Ma’am, let me do that,” Billy said as he reached over and carefully pulled the blanket up. He caught her shaking hand and held it in his own. It was freezing, as if the life had already left her. He started praying to her Gods for the medics to hurry.
“Can’t. Breathe,” she moaned, grasping at something above her that Billy couldn’t see.
“I know, ma’am and I’m so sorry. Try to focus on one breath at a time.” Billy knew his advice was useless but he didn’t know what else to say. He’d never felt so helpless in his life.
His already racing heart skipped a beat when the president’s head rolled to the side and her eyes closed.
“No, no. Wake up, Madame President” he pleaded, “please, stay with me.” He ran his thumb across her cheek and let out an audible sigh of relief when her eyes flew open. They were unfocused and he knew she was confused, which frightened her, and was only adding to her difficulty breathing.
He tried to keep his voice steady as he reminded the president where she was, that help was on the way, and that the doctor would give her something for the pain soon. He wasn’t certain she heard him -- she seemed to be lapsing in and out of consciousness and her gasps for breath were now interspersed with sharp cries -- but every once in a while her eyes focused and caught his gaze. He forced back tears when she tried to smile reassuringly at him.
After what seemed like an eternity, the team of medics rushed through the door. Billy reluctantly dropped the president’s hand and moved back to allow them to surround her. One pulled out an oxygen mask and moved to place it over her face. Billy heard her cry out a strangled protest and saw through the mass of bodies that she was weakly trying to push it away.
“You’re frightening her! She doesn’t understand what you’re doing,” he said loudly from the corner but no one seemed to be listening. When he heard his boss cry out again, he elbowed his way into the circle and positioned himself above the president’s head. She relaxed visibly when her eyes found his face.
“Give me that,” he ordered, motioning for the mask. Once the medic released it, he held it pointedly in Laura’s eyeline.
“Madame President, I’m going to put this over your nose and mouth to help you breathe, ok?” A look of understanding crossed her eyes and when he gently put the mask in place she didn’t protest.
“Was that so frakking hard?” Billy turned to glare at the medic whose only response was to motion for him to move back to his place near the wall. The young man seemed to have learned a lesson about dealing with the president and her terrified aide, however, because a moment later he leaned down and told her that they were going to move her to a stretcher.
Billy winced. The cancer had gone to the president’s bones in the last few days and even the slightest touch or movement that she didn’t carefully and slowly initiate was agony.She screamed pitifully as the medic lifted her body to carry her the few necessary steps. He could tell from the change in her labored breathing that she was crying by the time the team had her settled and ready to move.
“Ok, let me get to her,” he said as he once again forced his way to the president’s side. He took her hand and used his free one to wipe the tears from her face, which was contorted in pain.
Everyone on the shuttle, pilot included, would have agreed it felt like the longest trip to Galactica ever logged. By the time the Battlestar was in sight the president was mostly unconscious although she jolted awake every few minutes to look around, seemingly to put figure out what was happening. Each time her aide would squeeze her hand and mutter comforting words into her ear that the medics couldn’t quite hear.
Once she was transferred to a bed -- a move that she blessedly didn’t seem to register -- and hooked up to machines, Cottle leaned over her, a sad and resigned look on his face.
“Can you hear me, Madame President?” When he got no response, he turned his sad look on the boy hovering worriedly nearby.
“Let’s make her as comfortable as possible,” he said before walking away to get a nurse.
Billy stepped closer to the president and wrapped her delicate fingers through both sets of his own. She tried again to smile reassuringly at him but the gesture turned to a grimace when a new wave of pain ricocheted through her body.
“Oh, Gods,” she gasped. He struggled to find comforting words but couldn’t manage anything other than “it’s alright” and that was a lie she’d insisted he stop using as a crutch when things got frightening. He settled for massaging the cold, trembling hand he was holding, trying to warm it in his own.
It was only when Cottle returned and gave him an odd look did Billy realize the soothing humming sounds, the president’s signature mode of reassurance, were coming from his own throat.
[Chapter 6]
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Date: 2013-12-05 05:01 am (UTC)I thought it was sad that we didn't see Billy speak more than a few words to Laura in that episode but he's holding her hand in every shot! So...this. :)