One Who’ll Watch Over Me

“Hey there.” Bill gazed down at Laura, letting his finger trace along her cheekbone, smiling slightly when she let out a soft hmm.

“Hi.” Opening her eyes, she managed to focus on him, realizing he was still in his bathrobe. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head slightly, “nothing. Why?”

“You should be in CIC by now.” She turned slightly on her side and winced. “You’re here.”

“Been to CIC. And back.” As she lifted an eyebrow, he managed a smile. “I let you sleep in while I went and did some things up there, checked on the maintenance, that sort of thing. But, we have a meeting in an hour. I thought you might…”

“Oh.” Her eyes slid away from his. The weakness that had captured her had been affecting her more and more daily, almost hourly, it seemed. While she longed to continue their strolls through the ship, they’d changed from the rambling walks that would take them anywhere and everywhere, to briefer excursions, usually to the Memorial Corridor, CIC, and occasionally Sick Bay, due to the simple fact that she was barely able to eat, and between that and just sheer exhaustion, she wasn’t physically able to go as far as wanted to.

“Laura.” Gently, Bill bent and kissed her. “Blue suit or green one?”

She lifted a hand to cup his cheek and immediately regretted it as it trembled before resting on his warm skin. “Surprise me.”

“Fine. Stay here for a few more minutes, I’m starting the shower.” Brushing another kiss along her lips, he stood and gazed down at her. “All right?”

“Yeah.” Laura managed a weak smile, which faded as he turned away from her. Gods, she loved this man, and it was killing her to have him help her the way he was. It wasn’t fair. Earth should have been the sanctuary they’d wanted it to be, they should have been able to settle down in a cabin, next to a stream, where he could go up to the Galactica as needed, and she could be reached if needed for any political reasons. They should have been able to be together there. Not here, on Galactica, the ship still falling apart no matter what they did to try to fix it, the people still fighting with each other…pulling them apart as their respective responsibilities were required.

Thank the gods Lee had stepped up as much as he had. At this point, she truly was just a figurehead, barely able to sign the paperwork, and was comfortable watching him stride back and forth as he made decisions, asking her opinions and on occasion deferring to her thoughts, but just as often, coming to the same conclusions on his own, or even taking her thoughts and adding to them, his work complimenting hers. Suddenly, she realized Bill was standing next to the rack again. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He’d stood there for a few moments, watching thoughts playing through her mind, her frustration ghosting across her expression. “Ready for a shower?”

“Mmm hmm.” Carefully, she sat up, wincing as her muscles and bones protested the movement. “Gimme minute.” Reaching out blindly, she felt him wrap his hand around hers, gently rubbing the tissue delicate skin on the back of her hand. “Sore…dizzy.”

“Used to be you didn’t mind it.” He chuckled softly.

“Used to be I loved the way you put me in this state.” Tilting her head up, she waited for his kiss, then wrapped her other hand around the back of his head, holding him against her for a moment before they finally broke apart. “Okay.” Carefully, she swung her legs off the rack and waited for him to pick her up, cuddling into him as he carried her into the head, her body already relaxing as the steam surrounded them.

“Steady.” Cautiously, he let her legs down, holding her as she gained her balance. “All right?”

“Yes.” Laura absently bit her lip as she reached out to grasp the sink for balance, lifting one foot then the other as he slipped the thick socks off her feet. Her lips curved up as he untied the belt to his robe, slipped it off, and hung it on the hook quickly before returning his attention to her. Seconds later, he’d pulled her nightgown over her head and had his arms around her again, easily supporting her as they stepped into the shower, where she let out a soft sigh as the warm water ran over her.

“Too hot? Too cold?” Bill eyed her as she settled against him, one arm around his neck.

“Perfect.” She relaxed into him as the water ran over her body, soothing the aches that went deep into her joints. Eyes closed, she felt him reach past her for the washcloth, before he gently started washing her back.

Thirty minutes later, Laura was perched on the edge of the rack again, this time clad in her navy blazer, grey slacks, and the teal blouse Bill seemed to like so much as she eyed her reflection in the mirror he held for her. “Even?”

He leaned from side to side, inspecting the wig before answering. “Yes. And…here you go.” Handing her glasses to her, he returned the mirror to the head and turned, watching her struggle to lift the glasses to her face. He’d only offered to help her do that once, and after the look she’d given him, realized it was a small bit of independence she needed. He helped her dress, shower, move around, and a myriad of other things she either couldn’t do any more, or that were so draining, he’d convinced her that it was better if she kept her strength up for other things. “Ready?”

“Hmm.” Slowly, she stood, sliding her arm through his and leaning on him as he led her out to the table. “What’s the meeting about again?”

“The Chief is giving us an update on the repairs to the ship, how durable it’s going to be. Sonia is going to be here…” He paused a moment as she nodded.

“The Cylon representative.” Laura glanced at him as he seated her at the table and poured her a cup of coffee. “And Lee?”

”That’s it. Then I’ll head back to the CIC and you and Lee can finish going through the rest of the applicants you’re considering as representatives.” He seated himself and pushed a plate toward her. “The coffee and some toast. Just try.”

She lifted an eyebrow at him but obediently nibbled at a corner of the toast. “It’s not going to be good news is it. About the repairs.”

“I don’t think so.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “She’s struggling, and fighting with all she has. But…”

“But.” Laura blinked back a tear. “She’ll give you everything she can, you know that. Until she can’t anymore.”

“I know.” Reaching out, he caught her free hand, lacing his fingers with hers, noting absently that the tremors weren’t as bad in the mornings as they were later in the day, when her physical reserves were depleted. “And I love her for it.”

“We all love her for it.” She managed a weak smile in his direction before lifting the coffee to her mouth. After taking a sip, she grimaced. “Still tastes horrible.”

“Tea?” He offered, her body was so fickle, that sometimes something that had been palatable just the day before now caused nausea, and other things she hadn’t been able to keep down in weeks were the only things she could stomach.

“Please.” Releasing his hand with a squeeze, she picked up the toast again, nibbling at it as he stood and moved to prepare a cup of tea for her. “So what’s going on in CIC?”

“Raptors still headed out to search.” He called over his shoulder. “Starbuck’s making comments about the care of the ships, she’s concerned with the maintenance of a few of them. Assigned them to the shorter trips.”

“She’s doing well.” Laura’s voice was tinged with a slight hesitation. “Even though…”

“We’re trusting a lot of people we’ve never had to before.” Setting the tea down in front of her, he absently picked up her coffee and took a swallow. “And people we’ve trusted…we don’t know if we can.”

“Ellen’s been quieter…” She sipped the tea hesitantly, and sighed. “Better. The tea, and Ellen being quieter.”

“Yeah. Spends her time with Saul and Tory…” Bill shook his head. “Sorry.”

“Tory’s made her choices.” Taking another nibble of toast, Laura met his eyes. “I know that.”

“Yeah.” He winced after taking another hesitant swallow from her cup of coffee. “And, it’s not just you. The coffee is horrible.”

“Hmm.” She took a sip of the tea and raised an eyebrow. “You should get dressed. Before everyone gets here.”

Bill glanced down at himself, still clad in his boxers and tanks. “You think?”

“Consider it a Presidential order.” Laura managed a slight smile. “No matter that I’d prefer you like that.”

“You need anything before…” he tilted his head toward the back room of their quarters.

“I’m good. Go.” Her smile widened. “I’ll still be here when you get back.”

“Promise?” His smile faded slightly.

“This time, yes.” Reaching up, she touched his cheek. “I’ll be right here, Bill.”

“Holding you to that, Roslin.” Turning his head slightly, he kissed the palm of her hand, eliciting a soft sigh from her. “Right back.”

Wrapping her hands around the cup of tea, Laura inhaled the steam, letting her mind drift to the events of the previous night. She’d been lying there, gazing at Bill’s profile when he’d sighed…

“Can’t sleep?” His voice was husky as he laid there, eyes still shut.

“Hmm.” With a soft sigh, she relaxed against him….
“Laura?” She suddenly realized he was calling her from the other room. “Laura, you all right?’

“Fine.” She called back. “Just thinking…about last night.”

“Ah.” Returning to the room, he grinned. “You got some rest though, didn’t you?”

“Don’t sound so satisfied.” Laura smiled as he stopped in front of her and held out the glasses she’d taken off at some point while daydreaming about the previous night. When she reached out to take them though, her smile faltered as she noted the trembling of her hand. “Oh, frak…” This usually didn’t happen in the morning….and now…

“Laura.” Instead of handing her the glasses, he reached out and grasped her hand. “Laura, it’s all right. You haven’t eaten much.”

“No.” She shook her head slightly, still staring at their clasped hands. “Bill…”

“No.” Abruptly, he pulled her up against him, ignoring her soft gasp as she clung to him, her arms around his neck, hot tears against his neck. “Shh, Laura…it’s going…”

“No, it’s not.” She shook her head. “It’s not going to be all right. It’s never going to…But, we have to…we have to…do…meet…who’s coming for the meeting?”

“Lee, Tyrol, Sonia…” At a knock on the hatch, he lifted his head and swore under his breath before raising his voice. “Hold on a minute.”

“Be okay.” She shuddered again. “Need to be…”

“Okay. We make it through this, together.” He walked her over to a chair and eased her down into it. “Blanket?”

“No. Not yet.” She took another breath. “Go. Answer the door.”

“They can wait.” Grabbing a tissue, he carefully wiped her face. “Glasses?”

“Yes.” Taking a breath, she reached out and took them from him, neither of them commenting on the trembling of her hand. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Watching as she carefully slid them on, he caught her hand and pressed a kiss against her palm. The palm of the hand that had held the fate of fifty thousand people, now thirty thousand, that had lifted twice as she’d taken an oath to protect and to serve…which she had. Having given her all, and then some. The delicate hand that had soothed a child’s tears, helped a child learn to write, signed decrees that had pardoned…and killed. The hand that had loved him tenderly, had linked with his discreetly to give him strength. The hand that now betrayed her with an all too blatant demonstration of the cancer that was sapping her strength, taking her away from them all, from him.

“Bill.” She smiled wearily at him. “Let them in.”

“Yes, Madame President.” Straightening, he watched her clasp her hands together in her lap. Moving to the hatch, he opened it to meet Lee’s concerned gaze.

“Everything all right?” He met his father’s eyes levelly, trying to read what wouldn’t be said between them.

“We were finishing breakfast.” Bill stepped back as Lee entered. “Sorry.”

“I’m early. Wanted to go over some things with the President, before they got here.” Lee nodded at Laura. “Madame President.”

”Lee.” She raised an eyebrow as he sighed.

”Fine.” He swallowed nervously. “Laura.”

“Thank you.” Tilting her head, she indicated the couch next to her. “What is it?”

As they started a low conversation, heads bent toward the folder Lee held out for her to see, Bill quickly cleared the dishes from the table and wiped it before moving to his desk and pulling out a report he’d brought back from the CIC that morning. Before opening it, he glanced over at the couple on the couch, a smile touching his lips as he watched Laura coax answers out of Lee, still teaching even as she delegated and trusted him with more and more decisions, knowing full well that when the others arrived, she’d sit back and let Lee take the lead, not controlling nor contradicting him, but letting others see that he had her full support and trust as a successor, deftly guiding him around pitfalls she’d found and experienced.

An hour later, he closed the hatch behind Lee and Sonia and turned to face Laura. “Water?”

“Yes. Please.” She nodded slowly. “You heard him, he’ll be back in a few minutes. We need to finish discussing the council of Captains, they’ve had some good ideas about the new Quorum.”

“You’ll let him run the meetings?” Handing her the glass, he was relieved to see her hand steady again. He’d seen the struggle she’d had during the meeting taking her glasses off, although she’d managed to get them back on fairly easily.

“Yes.” Sipping at the water, Laura sighed as he tucked the blanket around her legs. “Admiral overprotective.”

“Madame overdoing it President.” It was an old argument by this point, one that they gently teased each other about, knowing the other was serious about their point of view. “You’ll take the time to rest?”

“As if you hadn’t already discussed my schedule with your son.” She smiled to take the sting out of the comment.

“Might have.” His smile faded. “Try to eat something later as well. You barely touched your toast.”

“And it was such lovely toast.” Finishing the water, she handed him the glass back. “Go back to work, Admiral. You’ve a CIC to run and ship to check on. I’d like another opinion other than the Chief’s about the state of her hull. Much as we trust him…the Boomer model has always been able to manipulate him. He’s not taking her being in the brig well. It may be impacting his judgment on other matters.”

“You going to return her to the Basestar?” Crossing the room he refilled the glass and put it on a table within her reach.

”I’d like to.” Watching him, she smiled sadly. “I don’t like her on the Galactica. Or near you. And that is a purely personal opinion, by the way.”

“Of course it is.” He set a pen and pad of paper next to the glass of water and glanced around the room. “Anything else you might need?’

“Aside from you?” Laura wrinkled her nose.” I think you anticipate things before I even realize I might need them. CIC, Admiral.”

“Very well.” Bending, he kissed her gently. “I’ll try to make it home for supper.”

She smiled at him; their now familiar parting lines an affectionate joke between them. “I’ll have it ready.”

Bill chuckled softly and kissed her again as her hand slid up into his hair, holding him to her until they broke apart, breathing heavily. “About time.”

”Yeah.” Laura kissed him lightly and let her hand fall to her lap before it could start trembling again. “About time.”