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[rose_griffes]

Ugh, usually I love Saturday naps but today I woke up with that eyes-glued-shut brain unwired feeling. I still feel about three steps behind my body.

I need to do more shopping but I'm putting it off. Too scary to contemplate the stores right now. (Hm, if I keep putting it off I'll have to deal with the stores on Christmas Eve. That's even more scary.)

Feel like being tortured by incomplete stories? Then this is the post for you! Here are some stories I'm never going to finish. Two are for Battlestar Galactica, one for Life.

First up, Gaeta on Earth. This whole idea lost momentum with, um, certain revelations in the season three finale.

Felix stepped out the front gate of the detention center. He didn’t turn around. The sky was cloudy but he found himself squinting at the brightness. He had been outside before, within the confines of the camp, but this was different. He breathed in deeply, feeling the air fill his lungs. Did the air taste different, smell different now that he was out; or was he just projecting his relief and fear? He was among the last to leave the center. Those still inside were mostly former prisoners from Astral Queen.

He stepped to the left. He didn’t know if that was the correct direction but he wanted to start this new journey. He started walking, slowly at first and then he increased his pace. Coming his direction he saw another person. As they drew closer he realized it was Chief Tyrol. “Gaeta, look at you!” he said enthusiastically. “You’re out!”

“Hard to believe, isn’t it,” Felix said. “It’s good to see you, Chief.” He was surprised to be greeted by him. He had seen others be released with a small contingent of other Colonials waiting to celebrate outside of the gates.

“I’m here to visit Cally.” Felix nodded. “We didn’t know you were getting out today,” he added, looking embarrassed. “Hey, do you need a place to stay? Or transportation.”

“No, I’m good.” He patted the battered duffel bag he’d been given. “I’ve got clothes, an address and directions, subway tickets, meal tickets, some money…” His voice trailed off. A new life seemed more daunting with such a small list. Tyrol seemed conscious of that as well.

“Hey, let me take you somewhere for a drink. We should celebrate.”

“No, I need to be somewhere. Go on and see Cally.”

“Well, at least let me give you Helo’s information. He lives near my place, he’d love to see you.”

Felix nodded. It was easier than refusing. Tyrol wrote down his contact information and Karl Agathon’s too. Watching Tyrol go in the gates he had just left he shifted the duffel bag to his other shoulder and started walking again. He was glad Tyrol hadn’t asked for his contact information or where he had to be. His new life was starting in “supervised living.” Whatever that meant. He knew it was connected to the report that labeled him as having “violent tendencies.” He had to be there before 9 p.m. tonight.

Here's one for Life. The fic itself just doesn't work for me, but I liked the last bit--it has partners hugging! Always a favorite theme in fic for me.

The uniformed police had led Marie away in handcuffs, head bowed low. Dani and Crews were standing outside the house.

"She wasn't a monster. She just wanted something to love."

Dani glared at him. "She was still a monster."

"But was she always a monster? Or did losing the thing she loved make her a monster?"

"You know what? I don't care."

They started walking toward the car. Dani could still hear it--Marie's voice, talking about Hannah. "She just wouldn't stop crying." It rang in her head. She wanted a drink.

Crews didn't get in the car. He stopped; his arms were loose at his side and his head bowed, like a marionette waiting for its puppeteer.

Dani knew about bodies: murder scenes, violent crimes; bodies joined in the dark, searching for oblivion. Sometimes a body needed to be touched, to feel human warmth. She walked around the car and put her arms around her partner. She knew what not to say--it's okay. Because it wasn't okay, and it wouldn't be okay. So she whispered, "Hey now, hey" and rubbed his back.

He shuddered and tightly wrapped his arms around her. They stood there until he finally spoke. "As my partner embraces me I know that we are real." His whispered words tickled her shoulder.

She pulled away and rolled her eyes. "Get in the car, detective."

Someone thought a Leoben Christmas fic would be interesting. So now I've (gently) mocked one of my own church experiences and made Leoben possibly sacrilegious. Heh. What's really scary is I could write more to this, but I think I'd better stop now before I commit any more accidental blasphemy.

Anne's hands were cold, shoved in the bottom of her coat pockets. She was glad to be here, knew that what she was doing was important, but why did it have to be so cold?! Then there was her partner in this activity--Sister Susan. She was grinning at Anne, an overtly happy smile that radiated good cheer. Anne didn't know what it was about Sister Susan that made her grit her teeth, but so it was. She refrained from rolling her eyes and tried a small smile in return. Apparently that was a signal--Sister Susan said, "Oh Sister Anne, I just know this next door will have someone ready to listen to us!" Great. Sister Susan was Exercising Faith again. The capital letters were part of the way she talked--Exercising Faith, Practicing Charity, Producing Good Works.

"That would be nice." Anne would love to share their message, but more immediate was the thought that maybe they could get into someone's apartment long enough for her hands to thaw out. Her turn--reluctantly she pulled her hand out of her pocket and knocked on the door.

A man answered a few moments later--not young, blond, a big smile. "Hello!" He seemed pleased to see them. Already this was a change of pace for their evening.

"Hi. I'm Sister Anne and this is Sister Susan." His blue eyes widened at the introduction. "We're here with an important message."

"A message? Is it about Kara?"

Anne looked over at Sister Susan, who appeared to Exercising Faith enough that she didn't pay any attention to Anne. "Um, no? I don't know any Kara. This is a message about God."

"Oh!" He smiled again. "I believe in God. There's one true God." Instead of declaring himself to be satisfied in his beliefs and closing the door in their faces, he looked at them expectantly.

It took her a moment to collect her thoughts and start talking again--apparently he wanted to listen. "That's right. There is one true God. And we have a message about how much He loves us, a Christmas message."

"Christmas! I've been wondering what that is!"

Anne felt a twinge of concern. This guy was just strange. She glanced at Sister Susan again. Maybe it would be best to send some of the brethren, rather than go in themselves. Unfortunately Sister Susan didn't seem to have the same qualms. "We'd love to talk with you about him. May we come in?"

*****

He listened politely, occasionally agreeing with Sister Susan's statements. Anne didn't know what to make of him. Clearly he spoke English well but he seemed culturally...well, ignorant wasn't a strong enough word. Even non-Christians who grew up in the West knew more than him. It was like he'd been dropped off here from somewhere else. When she read from the book of Luke he looked bewildered at the idea of God being born into a body. Then something seemed to click when she talked about Christ's death and resurrection.

"So he died and came back to life again?"

"Yes. Because He loves us."

"My people know about that." He smiled, a slow, almost flirtatious smirk. "I've died a few times for love."

Sister Susan had a glazed look in her eyes. Apparently this statement was enough to get past her Exercising Faith attitude.

Comments

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

I love the Gaeta ficlet, the Leoben at Christmas thing made me giggle maniacally, and I really love the non-sexual touching in the Life ficlet.

[grimorie.livejournal.com]

Even though you'll never finish your

Life

fic, what you have here is pretty fantastic enough. It's poignant and somewhere down the line I can see Reese voluntarily hugging Crews then rolling her eyes at him after.

I really love the dynamic they have and a little bit enamoured that the girl is the cynical, jaded cop.

[mamaboolj.livejournal.com]

I like the Gaeta ficlet too.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed them.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, Life does a nice job with Reese's character, I love that dark nature she has.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks. I still hope to write at least one more (complete) on-Earth fic someday.

[grimorie.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas!

And, yes, I do love that Reese has this dark nature, you know she has this cloud over her head but the fantastic thing is she doesn't let it affect her work. Also, I love that she made that douchebag drunk rapist's pain look like emo drama queen against her darkness and pain.