FIC: Hand of the Almighty (BSG, Laura/Kara, 1/3)

[tellitslant]

Title: Hand of the Almighty
Author: Kathryne, tellitslant@ livejournal.com
Fandom: BSG
Pairing: Laura/Kara
Spoilers: 2x20
Disclaimer: Not mine, Ron Moore's.
Summary: Before. During. After. Three days in a rebellion.
Notes: Written for jennyo in the Starbuck round at getyourtoaster. Jen, my apologies - there are two more parts to this that I have not managed to finish yet, because I suck and also the story turned out to be much longer than I thought it was. Um, oops. But here's part one! *looks cute*

I. Before.

Mostly there were pitying looks, but there were also a few crude, muttered jeers as Laura Roslin joined the group heading off to dig latrine trenches. Kara stopped wrestling with a particularly obstinate tent pole to watch the unenthusiastic crew. She caught Roslin's eye and lifted one eyebrow in curiosity. Roslin merely shrugged, smiled enigmatically, and shouldered her shovel as the group set off.

"See how the mighty have fallen," the nugget beside Kara muttered, following her gaze.

"Hey!" Kara snapped, rounding on him fiercely. "You want to be permanently assigned to detail covering over those trenches once they're full? No? Then keep your frakking mouth shut and show some respect." Grumbling, she threw her weight against the pole, trying to force it to thread through the seams of the canvas tent. Instead there was a loud rip as the end of the pole tore through the fabric.

"Frak," she snarled, dropping the pole, tent and all, with a clatter. She turned to the nugget, who was gaping at her. "Well, what are you waiting for?" she demanded. "Go find us a patch kit. Go!" she added when he didn't move fast enough. She kicked the tent in frustration and turned to watch the tent diggers disappear behind a grove of trees.

Something wasn't right there, Starbuck decided. Something.

Two hours later, Kara was still grimly struggling with the same tent. Granted it was a frakking big tent - probably meant to be a meeting hall of some sort, she thought - but she was still in a foul mood when Roslin and the others returned. Again, she stopped what she was doing to watch the procession.

The former president was smeared with dirt and moving stiffly, but no more so than any other member of the group. Kara shook her head. She'd seen the woman's unflagging endurance on Kobol, but that trek had been one of necessity. Now, there was nothing so urgent driving Roslin.

Was there?

The pole Kara was leaning on snapped suddenly into place, and she glanced up in surprise. "Frakking finally," she said, stalking away from the completed structure. Let Baltar come down and set up his own tents for a while, she decided.

Later that evening, Kara tapped at the flap of Roslin's tent and slipped inside. Roslin smiled up with what looked like genuine sincerity. She had washed and changed clothes; the only reminders of the day were the bramble scratches on her hands.

"Captain Thrace," she said pleasantly. "Is there something I can do for you?" She gestured to the bed she was sitting on for lack of chairs, and Kara sank down gracelessly.

"Look," Kara said immediately, "what are you doing? It - I mean, it might not be safe for you to go out of the city, you know that? There's got to be plenty of stuff you can do here, if you're so set on helping get this place set up so Baltar can tear it down. Hell, I could use another set of hands with the damn tents. You shouldn't be doing the shit jobs." She heard the words the moment after they came out of her mouth and winced.

Roslin laughed softly. "Literally," she mused, looking into the distance while a slight smile curved her lips. Then she turned the full force of her gaze back on Kara.

"I know the jokes that are being made," she said directly. "You don't imagine I care, do you? I don't think Baltar has the instincts to lead our civilization to solid ground when we're already standing on it. But what he does have are some very keen advisors, and they will be paying attention to me for quite some time."

Laura sighed. "The fastest way to get out from under their watchful eyes is to bore them into complacency. Eventually I will suggest that I could do better in a job more suited to my knowledge and abilities. Or someone else will take pity, watching me, and suggest it themselves." Her teeth bared in a feral grin. "Until then, Captain, yes, I do need to do the 'shit jobs.'"

Kara looked at her in admiration. "You never give up, do you?" she mused. "I keep thinking you've got no chance of getting what you're after... and every time you're beat, you find a new way to play the game." For the first time, it crossed Kara's mind that maybe she could learn a lot from Roslin.

Roslin tipped her head back and smiled at Kara. "I've always found it easiest to write my own rules," she said saucily, and placed a warm hand on Kara's knee.

Comments

[jennyo.livejournal.com]

Now I really do want to see more. Cuz the set-up is good.

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

Lovely!! :) Eagerly awaiting the other segments!

[thenewhope.livejournal.com]

I like the subtle details of your New Caprica, and the motivation behind Roslin's actions makes perfect sense. this was definitely an interesting start!

thanks for taking part in this round!

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

*jumps and claps*

I'm glad there's more of this coming...

[selenay-x.livejournal.com]

"I've always found it easiest to write my own rules," that so screams Laura. I love your set up. Baltar should be very afraid

[sinful-caesar.livejournal.com]

ohhh yes i agree with jenny, lovely set up! i cant wait to read more!