No Phoenix for Roslin

Chapter 11

[time: current]

Much to Doctor Cottle's dismay, Adama had set up office in Life Station and worked his way through the daily reports in a corner of Laura's curtained-off personal area. He wanted to be with her. Adama knew he couldn't do anything at all, but there was nothing to be done about his need to be there. He told Tigh it was just in case she woke up, and that was certainly part of it, but to himself he admitted the need went deeper than that.

Adama's sleepless presence scared some visitors away, among them the Vice-President who endlessly hovered, hoping to take over the presidency as soon as Laura's death was confirmed. At one point Baltar tried to imply that Adama had kidnapped the President from Colonial One and ought to release her into his custody. Adama's livid glare convinced the Vice-President not to pursue that idea any further. Realizing what havoc Baltar's presidency would wreak almost made Adama reconsider Sharon's offer.
The devil you know. Indeed.

Billy Keikeya sat quietly on the other side of the bed, working his way through Laura's paperwork in much the same way as Adama worked through his. The boy showed common sense and loyalty and, it didn't take Adama long to realize, genuine devotion for the woman on the bed. They found their common ground there and cooperated in looking after her and keeping her peace undisturbed.

Laura was hooked up on machines, the function of which Adama didn't want to hazard a guess about, but he'd quickly located the one that monitored her heartbeat. At times he caught himself watching it; listening, counting, dreading.

Whatever it was Cottle had done to her, she looked imperceptibly better than she had when Adama first delivered her to Life Station; more asleep than dead now, her heartbeat slow but steady.

&&&

Cottle stood near the bed, checking medical displays and scribbling on her chart.

"How's she doing?" Adama asked. Billy looked up from his reports.

Cottle paused and considered the men.

Adama silently opened his hands to indicate that he thought that doctor-patient confidentiality had outlived its usefulness now. Apart from their personal feelings, both he and Billy needed a prognosis to work with.

Cottle nodded in response. "The cancer has reached her brain," he said. "Some motor functions are damaged. Cognitive areas seem unaffected ... for now." Cottle hesitated.

Adama narrowed his eyes. "Let's have it, Major."

"If she regains consciousness, then this, this and this tumor," Cottle pointed at the scan he held in his hand, "will make it increasingly difficult for me to keep the pain at an acceptable level and allow her to be alert, or even coherent, at the same time."

"But she will wake up?" The doc had Adama's full attention now. He didn't want her to suffer... but to be able, at least, to say 'goodbye'...

"Will she?" he pressed.

The doctor tapped on the scan, circling the unaffected areas with his finger. "I'm keeping her sedated, but everything indicates she's still there."

Adama sighed in relief.

"Don't get your hopes up. She doesn't have much time left."

"How much?"

"A couple of days at most. Could be less."

Adama wondered at what point in the past fifty-three sleepless hours this kind of information had turned into 'good news', but it had and it was.

"So yes," Cottle continued his original line of reasoning, "she'll wake up... if we let her." The doctor sounded as if he had some reservations. "Do we want to?"

"No, we don't," Billy stated firmly.

"Yes, we do," Adama overruled him.

Apart from his personal need to see her eyes just one more time, the Raptors he'd sent out had located the Cylon production unit. Though he didn't doubt the outcome, the time had come for Laura to choose.