lls_mutant

Eight Rounds

"Sit," Tigh ordered Felix. Felix obeyed, if nothing else because he was going to fall over. "All right," Tigh said. He pointed to a key in front of Felix. "This is a C. You got that?"

"C. Got it, sir."

"Pinky there. And then hands go like this. See?"

"Yes, sir. C?"

"No, see."

"That's what I said. C."

"No, not the note C, "see" like with your eyes."

"Aye, sir."

"Gaeta, shut the frak up and let me teach you the piano, will you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now this is the C."

***

Nine Rounds

The Tighs had gotten a real toilet. Felix gripped the porcelain, hoping that he was done.

Nope.

"Oh, Felix," Ellen sighed. "Guess I'd better get you some water, and some bread. I think you're going to have one hell of a hangover."

***

Ten Rounds

The settlement was quiet. Here and there there were lights, but for the most part, it was dark. Tigh guided the flashlight unsteadily.

"Thanks for walking me home," Felix said, leaning heavily on Tigh's arm. "I'm not sure I could do it alone."

"A sure sign you're drunk," Tigh muttered. "Didn't think I'd ever hear that confession from you."

"Yeah, well." Felix had to concentrate more on keeping his balance on the prosthetic. "Will you get back home okay?"

"Sure, because I'm going to sleep on your couch tonight, and you're going to give me breakfast before I leave."

"Yes, sir."

"Would you stop that?"

"Yes, sir." Felix grinned into the darkness. But the grin faded fast. Already, his head was starting to pound. But they were by the stream now, the one that led out to the banks where their house stood on the same side as the Zareks', across from Sarah and Jesse and Todd and Jim. Felix felt like he was going home.

But of course, he was.

"I was serious, you know," Tigh said suddenly.

"About what?"

"If you want to learn the piano. I'll try to teach you. You obviously understand music."

Felix thought about it. "Yeah. All right."

"Good. And you can teach me physics."

"Sir?" In his drunken shock, the address was automatic.

He saw Tigh grin in the faint light. "Apparently I was one hell of a scientist," he said. "But try as I can, I can't remember that at all. Maybe bringing back some of the science will bring back some of the memories."

"We can try," Felix agreed.

The light was still on in the window of the small cabin that was now home. Louis was probably in bed, Felix realized, but the light made him smile all the same. They made it to the door, and Felix fumbled for his key.

"Nice place you've made," Tigh said when Felix opened the door.

"Thanks." It was smaller than a lot of places, but Felix hadn't realized how much they'd succeeded in making it cozy and comfortable until he saw it through Tigh's eyes. "The couch thing there is pretty comfortable," he said, pointing. "And our bathroom is through there."

"Great. Go sleep. I can take care of myself."

"All right. There's a cup in the cupboard if you want some water."

"Thanks, Gaeta. Have a good night."

"You, too. And Colonel? Thanks for everything tonight."

"Yeah, well, take it seriously. I meant everything I said."

"I know."

"And stop calling me Colonel, sir, or anything else but Saul or Tigh. Got it?"

"Yes, sir," Felix said, and barely evaded the smack upside the head Tigh sent in his direction. He made his way out of the living area and back through the doorway to the bedroom.

Louis was stretched out under the covers on the big rush-filled mattress that made their bed, sound asleep, his back wedged firmly against the wall. He only stirred when Felix finally slipped into bed beside him.

"Hey, baby," he murmured sleepily. "You home?"

"I'm home," Felix said, sliding over and kissing Louis on the cheek. "Have a good night?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Yeah. Hey, Louis?"

"Yeah?"

"We need to talk in the morning."

Louis opened his eyes more fully. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah. We're not married yet."

"Oh." A smile tugged on Louis's lips, and as Felix slid closer he slipped his arm around his waist. "Yeah. We have to talk in the morning."

"Good. Good night. Love you."

"Yeah. Love you, too."

Felix passed out.