THINK FAST!

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone!  Thank you all so much for the beautiful, angsty, and sometimes giggle-inducing stories you told about both the depth and the limitations of Kara and Lee's mutual understanding.  So lovely! 

For today, we're all going to have to...THINK FAST!

THINK FAST! You are Helo. You’ve been pacing the corridors ever since you heard that the terrorists on Cloud Nine were demanding Sharon. The crisis is over now, but you’re still shaking with fear and adrenaline. As you turn to retrace your steps once again, you see Kara rush out of sickbay, her eyes fixed on something – someone – you can’t see. She looks like hell, and she takes one look at you and spins in the opposite direction. WHAT DO YOU DO?

THINK FAST! You are Laura Roslin, and this deluded, perfect copy of Kara Thrace has just handed you her weapon. Before you have time to act, Lee bursts in from the hallway at a dead run and puts himself between you and the resurrected version of Thrace. He mutters something to her about not knocking him out, too, if she knows what’s good for her, and then he’s staring at you with the desperate honesty he wears like a second skin. He pinned you with that same gaze when you were on the witness stand, and it raises something vicious (and something tender) in you now. “Let’s work this out together,” he says. WHAT DO YOU DO?

THINK FAST! You are Kat, and you’ve been able to tell for weeks that Starbuck is getting out of control. But for some reason, the CAG has been distant and distracted; he’s lost touch with the pulse of the squadron, as if it slipped away along with his own in that last frakked-up battle. He’s stopped holding Starbuck back, and they’re so in sync that once he screws up his job, she’s only a heartbeat behind. Things are getting dangerous, and it’s stupid, and you’re sitting alone, planning out your challenge to Starbuck’s so-called leadership, when the CAG wanders into the ready room and nods vaguely in your direction. WHAT DO YOU DO?

I’d love to hear your different answers to any of these scenarios. And please propose THINK FAST! moments of your own to help us imagine how very small changes might have taken canon events in new directions.

Thank you! :)  **hugs you all**

Comments

[swamp-ariadne.livejournal.com]

As Helo - run after her

As Laura - i aim the gun at kara. sorry, i'm laura and i think she maybe a cylon. lee get away from the frakking mysterious 5th cylon (i think). i'm confused... where's the kamala?

As Kat - "Sir, you gotta do something about Starbuck." and then we'll see what happens there. sorry, i've got jetlag right now. need more sleep.

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Sorry about your jetlag, I hope you are getting a lot of rest now! Your answers made me giggle, especially your take on drugged-out Laura. Hee! Thank you :)

[thegreenkitty.livejournal.com]

I love Kat's response, especially given we all know she's appealing to Lee w/ Kara rather than CAG with Starbuck problem pilot. And...Lee is the only one that can really get Kara to listen. And...it brings out the best in Kat (caring, committed) without the in-your-face w/ Starbuck dynamic during which Kat will never win the way Lee does.

A Time for Action (1/2)

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Helo called out to Kara, "Wait. What's going on?" He saw her stop and turn her head in his direction. Her face was pained and sad.

"A shooting," she said, dipping her head, and walking away slowly, arms wrapped around her middle.

Helo looks toward sickbay, "Who?" When he turned back, Kara was gone.

When Helo walked past the curtain, he saw Lee lying quietly in one of the beds with Dee sitting next to him, holding his hand. That's when understanding started to grow. He'd wondered about Dee's presence around Lee lately, and now he thought it must be something more.

He cleared his throat softly and Dee looked over to him with a deep frown. Her eyes were sad as she glanced back to Lee and then stood to walk over to the edge of the curtain to stand next to him.

She whispered hesitantly, "He got shot. Billy's dead. It was horrible." With the last words, tears start to fall down her face. "Lee was there because of me. I - we...I made a mistake, Helo." He put a hand on her shoulder, uncertain if he should offer more than that. The two of them had grown somewhat close as he spent more time getting to know the her. He'd helped Lee teach the self-defense class a few times and Dee had been a quick study.

"What happened in there?" he asked gently, squeezing her shoulder as she cried.

Wiping tears with the back of her hand, she answered. "Kara came in and then there was shooting and Billy tried to step in and he got shot. He died so fast, Karl. Right there in front of me and then Lee. Gods, they were both bleeding." She started to cry harder now, tears streaming down her face uncontrolled. Karl pulled her into a hug then and held her while she cried, all the while staring at Lee in his hospital bed.

After a few minutes, she pulled away and swiped two hands across her cheeks.

"How's Lee?" he asked.

"Doc Cottle says he'll be fine, but he's off active duty for a few weeks. He hasn't woken up yet." Her voice was thick with grief and the smallest bit of hope.

"You saw Kara earlier? She seemed pretty upset." Helo said.

Dee shook her head and turned back to Lee. "No. I didn't see her. No one's been here except for me for the last hour."

She returned to her vigil beside Lee. He said a soft goodbye and left.

:: :: ::

(continued...)

A Time for Action (2/2)

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

A few minutes later he found Kara, sitting in her rack in full uniform staring at the bulkhead. He sat in a chair nearby. She glanced at him but said nothing.

"Hey. What happened over there? Lee's shot, Billy..."

After a minute, she spoke in low tones, barely audible, "I shot him, Helo. It was me." Tears glistened in her eyes, but she worked her jaw to control the threatening emotions.

Helo nodded somberly, "Friendly fire. I'm sorry, Kara."

She ignored his statement and continued to stare at the wall, completely still as if her body was frozen while her mind replayed the events of the evening.

"It was an accident, Kara. An accident. You can't beat yourself up about it."

She didn't move, didn't even blink at his words.

He leaned over to her and put his hand on the mattress next to her leg. He knew better than to touch her. In all the years they'd known each other, Karl had learned how to keep the distance she needed. His instincts said now that he should tread lightly, or she'd be out of the rack and gone before he knew it. And more likely than not, he'd have bruise somewhere from her shoving him away.

She stirred slightly when she sensed him leaning closer. He heard a sharp inhale, but he kept his eyes off her face, another trick he'd learned. If he looked at her, she'd stay silent forever.

"I knew it would happen someday. That I'd kill him, too." Her voice was flat.

Helo glanced at her, saw the pain in her face, the certainty she felt about her statement.

"He's not dead, Kara. He'll be okay."

He saw her shake her head and knew his words could not penetrate whatever cage she'd climbed into inside her head. He tried a different tack.

"Did you see him?"

Silence.

"Kara, you've got to go see him. It wasn't intentional. This stuff happens. It must've been crazy in there." He felt so helpless, saying things that he knew wouldn't make a difference to her. She was already gone, and he knew his words must sound like a distant voice, drowned out by the guilt written so plainly on her face.

She slid down her pillow and turned away from Helo to stare at the wall, dismissing him. "I'm sorry, Lee." he heard her whisper, so softly that he almost couldn't make out the words.

With an inward sigh, Helo leaned away again, settling back into his chair and just sat with her. He thought about the bookends he and Dee made at this moment, comforting these two friends who'd had so much between them, but were separated by grief and pain and fear. He wasn't sure what he could do for them. He'd watched them dance around each other, sometimes moving together, often out of step and now the distance seemed greater than ever before.

After a while, her breathing told him that she'd fallen asleep, even and steady breaths with occasional starts and he knew her mind must be flooded with dreams about what had happened. Or the hundreds of other terrible things that had happened in her life.

He waited for a long time before making up his mind to leave. Life was too short to let her keep wallowing in guilt. The Lords of Kobol had given him Sharon back and they'd saved Lee from dying from Kara's bullet. Now it was Kara's turn to be saved and there was only one person who could do it.

With a determined expression, he left her quarters and headed to sickbay.

Fin.

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Please tell me there will be more. Pleeeeeeeease!

I guess it's obvious how much I liked it, right? *hugs*

You ROCK.

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

This was so lovely and so *real,* I'm really impressed. Thank you for giving Dee a chance to grieve, and for giving Helo a chance not to solve the problem -- it's too big for a few words to change -- but to recognize the problem and set to work on damage-control with that patented Agathon stubborness. I think it was lack of communication that hurt Kara and Lee more than anything, and it's nice to see Karl plowing in to make sure there's not just silence between them.

I feel like these are the roots of Helo's friendship with Dee, which was one of the unexpected bright spots for me in The Woman King. And I'm really glad that he's going to Lee with his observations about Kara, because Lee and Bill are the only ones who will be able to understand that this is about the past - about Zak - as much as it is about the present. That in some ways, saying it was an "accident" only confirms her absolute worst fears about herself and her influence. Even Helo doesn't know the truth about Zak.

Beautiful story, as ever. Thanks so much for sharing it!

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

Love this! I love that Dee didn't even see Kara and the Helo knows he's probably not making a difference talking to Kara.

(I would totally read more too if that should happen. :D)

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[swamp-ariadne.livejournal.com]

you know, i never anyone could think this coherently this quickly. if this is what you produce for a think fast, i can only imagine what your response would be to a "take your time" prompt.

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[ddt73.livejournal.com]

Wonderful story.

I always felt Helo was wasted in the K&L story. He's been both of their friends. He's more of Kara's friend, but there's no doubt he became Lee's friend. Helo was by his side in the big send off in Six of One. Helped Lee get back in shape. All that time orbiting NC, they were both there on different ships but still.

If anyone else understand their frakked up relationship on that ship it was him. Yet there was never one scene with Kara or Lee talking about their relationship. I could understand no one else talking to either one of them about it, but if anyone was close enough to them to broach the subject it's him.

Even worse? There was a deleted scene where Helo tries to comfort Dee after Dee left Lee, trying to give her hope they'd get back together. WTF. I hope that's because someone realize how unbelievable that would that be.

Anyway I love stories where Helo helps, cause he's probably the only one who could.

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

This is fantastic H. Like everyone else, I'd like to get in line and ask for MOAR PLZ!!!!

xoxo

Re: A Time for Action (2/2)

[thegreenkitty.livejournal.com]

Awesome as always, my dear. *hoping desperately for more*

Love it. You write Kara so beautifully, bb. <3

Re: A Time for Action (1/2)

[kag523.livejournal.com]

Why is it that I can tolerate your version of Dee but no one else's? Honestly, I'd like to know that. *scratches head*

Re: A Time for Action (1/2)

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

It's because her version actually MAKES SENSE. :-)

Pieces 1/2

[amidala-thrace.livejournal.com]

(I am being a very bad girl and writing commentfic at work. At least it's lunch hour? XD)

She knows he's there before she sees him. But when is he not there?

Helo's job, always, is to pick up the pieces.

Kara whirls in the opposite direction. She doesn't know where she's going and she doesn't need to know. Just away. Away from what she's done. Like guilt's a physical thing you can leave in the dust.

Of course he calls out.

"Kara?"

Not Starbuck. Kara.

She should keep running. Keep going.

"What, Helo?" Spoken tightly, through clenched teeth.

"What's going on in there?" Somehow he's caught up to her, and she gets the unpleasant sense that he could be talking about either sickbay or her own head.

"You saw." Her hands go to her hips. "Hostage incident. The president's assistant was killed. Terrorists are dead too. Lee -"

But there she stops.

Helo picks up the slack, his gaze wide and concerned. "Lee was shot."

Kara's eyes close, and she hears again the radio transmission she made to the Old Man.

It was friendly fire. Lee got hit by friendly fire. ... I think it was me.

She nods in response to Helo's statement. Tenses her muscles to run again.

"So why aren't you in there with him?" He grips her shoulder, and just as quickly she pulls away.

"Dee's there." Kara shrugs, like this explains everything. "She'll be with him when he wakes up."

If, taunts an ugly voice in her mind.

"So because Dee's there, you're not allowed to visit him?" Helo asks. He's all innocence, but there's a shrewd calculation behind the question.

"I didn't say that," Kara snaps.

Deep sigh from her friend. "Look, Kara, I know he'll want to see you. Even if it's just for a few minutes." A small smile creases Helo's face. "Maybe he's waiting to wake up because you're not there."

"Don't be dumb, Karl." The harshness of her words pulls her mind away from Lee in that bed hooked up to those tubes and the knowledge that she's the one who put him there. "I am the last frakking person he needs to see right now so just -" Anger and guilt war within her. "Just lay off."

"Fine." He touches her arm again, and this time she lets him, drained of resistance. "But I know if I were the one in that bed, I'd want a friend with me. No matter what else happened."

Pieces 2/2

[amidala-thrace.livejournal.com]

The truth hovers on the tip of her tongue: I shot him. It was me. But it's too much. Too damn many pieces for even Helo to pick up this time.

Helo embraces her as she stands stiffly, squeezes her once, and relents. He starts to walk away, then turns back like he's just remembered something. "Kara?"

"What?" She's slumped against the bulkhead. It's holding her up because nothing else can.

"I'm going in there. Just to check on him." Helo gestures to sickbay. "You coming with?"

"Helo, I already said -"

"I won't stay long. Gotta go down to Sharon. But I want to see how Lee's doing."

She could run. She could turn and run and get away and nothing more would ever be said.

Slowly Kara peels herself off the wall.

It would be so easy.

She takes one step toward Helo. Another.

He's already at the door of sickbay.

Suddenly they're both through.

Through the door and walking toward his bed and she tells herself she can leave at any time, she can turn around and retrace her steps, Helo would never know, she can run now and again she tenses her muscles to turn -

But they've reached the bed.

Nothing has changed. Lee still lies there, deathly pale, almost gray, the tubes and beeping monitors surrounding him like greedy vultures. Dee still holds his hand in hers. It seems he's barely breathing; Kara has to stare at his chest for several moments before she notes movement.

Helo's talking quietly with Dee, inquiring after Lee's condition, and then he brings up Billy and Kara knows she ought to say something, but she's got nothing left to give. Karl does the whole comfort thing better anyway. He knows exactly what Dee needs. He knows that a hand squeezing her shoulder will be accepted and even welcomed.

Kara just stares at Lee.

She wills him to wake up.

She wills him to stay asleep.

Suddenly she wants to touch him, to take his hand, but Dee's already got that covered.

So she leans in. Squirms around the IV pole and the heart monitor and the tubes and wires until she's right beside him and she forces her feet to stay rooted to the floor. She makes her hand snake out to stroke his hair. Just once, and when he doesn't react, she does it again, again, again.

Kara becomes aware that the conversation between Helo and Dee has ceased. But somehow that's not important anymore.

They're not stopping her and for once she is not stopping herself.

She sucks in a breath when Lee stirs, just slightly, his eyes fluttering beneath their lids and his head turning, slowly, into her touch.

But she doesn't stop.

Just keeps picking up the pieces.

Re: Pieces 2/2

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

*SOBS*

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS THIS THIS!!! Why not this???????? Oh show!!!!!!!

*CRIES* YAYAYAYAYA!

Re: Pieces 2/2

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

OMG. Okay, we seriously need to rewind time, hire you as the official head writer for the show and have you fix all the crap that was wrong with it. This is SO good! Why couldn't it have been like this?

Re: Pieces 2/2

[kag523.livejournal.com]

Wow! I just adore this fic. So beautiful and succinct and perfect in its portrayal of all of them.

I LOVE this. *hugs*

Re: Pieces 2/2

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Jaw...is on floor...

Unable to...think coherently...

Wow. It's beautiful things like this that remind me once again how lucky I am to be part of this fandom. Gorgeous, real, restrained and perfect. Thank you so much.

Re: Pieces 2/2

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Soooooooo lovely. Why couldn't it have happened like this? *sniffs*

Re: Pieces 2/2

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

This is is fantastic. Helo needed to use his powers over Kra for good. Plus, I love IneptComfort!Kara.

Scar drabble: Kat and Lee smackdown!

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

~~

The CAG’s half-hearted nod pricks your temper. Something about the look on your face seems to catch his attention, and he frowns at you.

“Lieutenant?” It’s less a question than a polite notification that his patience is running thin.

You’ve held your tongue and kept your distance up to now, mostly out of respect. There’s always been something about him that discouraged ease, but the first impressions he gave – fair, strict, honest, indiscernibly in charge – held true longer than you expected. You’d been on the job for two months when he threw himself into the path of a charging Centurion, and maybe the corona he burned into your eyelids that night never really faded. You can still hear the fear in his voice sometimes in battle, but it’s the clean shots and quick orders and tactful silences you remember afterward.

He impressed you, and now he’s disappointing you.

You overdosed on disappointment years ago (among other things). Maybe that’s what makes you stupid in this moment, though you’ve never really needed any excuses before.

“Permission to speak freely, sir?”

The twitch of his shoulder says he doesn’t want to deal with whatever you’ve got brewing, but after a slight pause he slaps his papers down on the podium and waves a hand.

You cut to the chase. “Starbuck’s a mess.”

He huffs and quirks an eyebrow, as if to say You think that’s news?

It makes you angrier. “And frankly, sir, so are you.” He tightens up, looking dangerous, but you couldn’t care less. It feels so good to finally say it. “Maybe you’re still a better leader than me. And maybe she’s a better pilot. But it’s hard to tell when she spends her time inside a bottle and you spend yours under a rock.”

He lets the silence stretch, cold and frightening, but you don’t back down.

“Starbuck would’ve decked you for that, Lieutenant. And believe me, I’m tempted to do the same. But we’re here to fight the Cylons, not each other, so let’s get one thing straight: You’re not Kara’s competition. And you’re sure as hell not mine.”

“No, sir.” He can’t miss the contempt in your voice. Starbuck’s not much of a challenge these days, and he’s not even putting himself in the ring. You glare at him, riding the high. “You got here before me, both of you. That’s never gonna change. But it doesn’t mean I’ll always be behind. You step out, someone else steps up. And there comes a time when it doesn’t matter anymore, who came first. It only matters who’s best, who’s right.”

Something horrible and pained skitters across his face, something so human it makes you blink to see it.

Then he’s locking himself down tight. Any second now this will all be over and you’ll be demoted or worse, but you want the last word so for once in your life you push past the posturing. “She’s out of control. It’s messing with the whole squad. And you’re not there. Sir.”

He closes his eyes, his mouth drawn thin. You wait a long time before he speaks.

“Your opinion is noted, Lieutenant.”

He walks out.

~~

Re: Scar drabble: Kat and Lee smackdown!

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

This is great. I love the tension and Kat showing leadership impulses. :D

Re: Scar drabble: Kat and Lee smackdown!

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Ha! Very nice. The tension here is palpable and feels very real. I love Kat's perspective and a well-done second person perspective. (Now I want to know what he's gonna do differently...)

I love the idea of the small changes that could affect canon. I'm gonna think about this one....