Sex, Love, and Companionship

“Laura?” At the murmur in her ear, she turned her head slightly.

“Hmm?” A shiver ran up her back as a finger traced along her spine.

“Turn over.” Her lips twitched at the request.

“No.” Shifting slightly, she reached down and rested her hand on the leg nestled next to hers. “Comfortable.” Her refusal was met with a low chuckle.

“Sure?” His hand moved from her back to slide around her waist to link fingers with hers.

“Mmm hmm.” Laura sighed softly. “Read to me?”

Bill laughed softly. “We already read to each other.” His chuckle turned into a grunt as she dug her elbow backwards into his ribs. “Laura.”

“Read to me.” She ordered with a giggle. “Please? Since it was your phone call that woke me up.”

“Very well.” Leaning forward, he kissed her shoulder gently, raising an eyebrow at the light bruise he’d apparently left at some point earlier in the evening. “That hurt?”

“Hmm?” She glanced over her shoulder at him, “did I bruise? I do that easily, you know that.”

“Indeed.” He grinned as he reached up and slid his glasses on before picking up the book he’d left on the shelf earlier. “This however is one that Cottle…” his voice trailed off, remembering that since she was refusing to return for her Diloxyn treatments, they wouldn’t have to worry about explaining any…curious bruises. Not that he thought Cottle would be surprised, since the Doctor had started coming directly to him if he didn’t think Laura was following his medical advice, under the pretense that at least as Admiral, he had some pull with the President, that the President’s health was a matter for Security to deal with. Or rather, he believed Bill could break through to Laura.

”Well.” Laura nestled back into the pillow. “We don’t have to worry about that right now. You promised, no trying to convince me tonight.”

“Indeed.” Brushing another kiss across her scalp, he held back his sigh as he opened the book and began to read.

As his voice washed over her, Laura let her eyes drift shut again. Truth be told, she didn’t feel as good as she’d let people believe, she just didn’t feel…ill. Saul hadn’t sounded surprised at all when she’d answered the phone earlier, just greeted her with a ‘sorry to bother you, need to talk to Bill’. Which, considering her impulsive kiss to Bill in the corridor, a corridor with Galactica crewmen passing through, wasn’t a surprise at all. However, she was tired of hiding. Of being the President and the Admiral. Tired of the few hours here and there that they’d been able to find to be together. Or the times when either of them had been through something and needed something that only the other could give them, a mutual understanding of sorts…there were so many layers to their relationship…partnership…whatever it was they had.

It wasn’t the sex…although, in all honesty, it was good, really good, it wasn’t the driving force of what they’d found together…at the memories some of their more…creative meetings, finding moments here and there, she shifted slightly, a warmth spreading through her.

“Laura?” Breaking off from the book, Bill slid his hand down her side to rest at her waist.

“Fine.” She smiled slightly. “More, please…”

“Very well,” Bill frowned slightly at the flush that was running along her skin but obeyed, returning his attention to the book.

Okay, not just the sex, if Laura was being honest. Which, since this was a conversation she was having with herself, she could. So, in the spirit of being honest, not just the sometimes frakking amazing sex, there were many more times when it was just the companionship. Knowing you could pick up the phone and someone was there, someone to balance you, to listen to you, to inspire you…to comfort you, but not to patronize you, or humor you. There were just as many times that they had argued with each other to see opposing view points, finally agreeing to disagree. There were times that it was just needing a human touch, a human voice…to know that they weren’t alone in their ivory towers of their positions. Or glass towers, considering how many people she felt were watching them at all times, just waiting for one of them to falter. If the frakking Quorum ever knew how many decisions she’d come to after a late night conversation with Bill, not the Admiral, but Bill…well, they already didn’t trust her anymore, or believe in either of them apparently, so it really didn’t matter anymore. Really. Not at all. Really.

And, she wouldn’t have given up any of the times she’d fallen asleep on his couch while reading reports, only to find herself waking up in his rack, his arm protectively across her. Or wrapped in his arms still on the couch, her head on his shoulder, using him as a pillow. To the point, she’d finally taken to leaving an extra blazer and blouse in his closet when possible, which considering her limited wardrobe…was about as close to a commitment as they could have, without anyone else knowing.

Or, the times she’d looked up from her desk on Colonial One to see him sound asleep in one of the deep chairs in her office, where he’d been waiting for her to finish so they could have dinner or meet about something that had come up that day. The times that had made her wish for a lock on her door, not just a curtain and security detail outside…as President, she wasn’t as reckless as Laura would have liked to have been. So, instead of curling up on his lap in that chair, or waking him enough for both of them to stumble to her bed, she’d settled for just watching him, his very presence filling her with a serenity she didn’t know she’d been missing.

It was an interesting thing, this companionship she’d found when she wasn’t even looking for it. She’d always been the independent one, the woman who was able to drop her life at an instant’s notice to go to another colony to deal with an educational issue, or to make a political appearance. To smile and wave, see and be seen…the polished political…she shuddered at the thought of what she’d become before the attack. An independent…solitary soul.

Some of her most treasured memories were the times she’d been able to shed the Secretary’s mantle, and just go to visit classrooms as Miss Laura, to spend time with the children and remember why she’d become a teacher. Despite being on friendly terms with her neighbors, one of them a teacher who had invited her, however hesitantly, to visit the nearby school she taught at, she really didn’t know anyone that well at all. The children in the school had become accustomed to her occasional visits, and the teachers at the small school guarded her privacy, recognizing her need for a sanctuary when she hadn’t even realized what it was. To them, she just happened to have a high profile job and position which didn’t exist within the walls of the school. They saw Laura, their neighbor, not Secretary Roslin. But, they didn’t see…Laura. A blithe wave or cheerful smile, or a serious attention paid to a matter…that was who and what they saw. The few evenings she hadn’t been committed to attend one function or another; she spent at home, reading. Alone.

She didn’t even have anyone to share the devastating news of her cancer with, hadn’t known who to…with Richard, it hadn’t even been an option, she’d been trying to break off the relationship that she should have never fallen into with him and somehow remain Secretary of Education. She’d witnessed his vindictive side enough to be cautious, although his request, or rather, demand for her resignation had been a shock, it really shouldn’t have been, she had known how he’d take her actually doing something within her realm of power without his approval. So the news of the cancer, life shattering and changing, she’d handled alone…yet this time…she’d gone straight to the CIC, where Bill had taken one look at her and asked to speak with her in the Wardroom…latching the door behind them and sliding his arms around her, just holding her until she’d been able to choke the words out. Then just holding her and murmuring her name, letting her know that this wasn’t something she was going to go through alone, this time.

”Laura?” She suddenly realized he was indeed calling her, not just in her memory. “Laura, what is it?”

“Hmm?” Rolling over, Laura looked up at him, her hand resting on his chest.

“You shuddered. Are you all right? Too cold?” Automatically, he drew the covers up over her back as she nestled into him.

”No. Just a memory.” Tilting her head up, she kissed his jaw. “Please, go on. I love your voice…”

“You need your rest.” Starting to close the book, he paused as she shook her head. “Laura…”

“Please Bill.” Smiling, she nestled against him. “Just a few minutes more.”

With a sigh, he capitulated, his husky voice resonating through his chest and into her.

So, the sex…the companionship…she closed her eyes, her hand absently sliding around him to stroke his back. She really didn’t have any basis for comparison to what she had with him. It was more than she’d ever had, ever wanted…ever thought or dreamed of having. A partner who argued with her, fought with her, made her see reason, yet loved her enough to let her find her own way when she needed to, and trusted her to do the same. He let her convince him of her perspective, listened to her, held her as she raged, or cried, and together they were able to find happiness in the small parts of their lives they managed to have together.

It wasn’t perfect, they were two adults, each with a lifetime of history of their own. They’d each had lovers…he’d had a wife…two children, three if you counted Kara, which she did. She didn’t have any children, but had impacted millions of children’s lives over the years. She didn’t regret…well, she had regrets, they both did. But, if she hadn’t moved from teaching to the larger scale, they wouldn’t have met…and gods only knew what would have happened in that case. She tightened her grip on him, burying her face into his chest with a choked sob.

“Laura?” Concerned, Bill tossed the book back onto the shelf, his glasses following a moment later. “Laura…”

“I’m okay.” With a sniff, she shook her head. “Bad thought.”

“You’re not allowed those.” Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed the top of her head. “Tell.”

“No.” Laura shook her head again. “In the past.”

“Laura.” With a finger, he tilted her chin up so he could see her face. “Tell me.”

“I just…” She took a deep breath. “What if…”

“No.” Bill shook his head. “No what ifs.” He bent and kissed her. “You’re exhausted. How long did you run today?”

”Don’t know.” Laura shrugged one shoulder. “Long way.”

“And how exactly did you manage to get away from your detail.” It hadn’t dawned on him until he’d seen them stationed outside her door when he arrived, that they hadn’t been with her when she was running. And, while he’d dismissed them for the evening, his word that he’d assign guards to her quarters when he left, they should have been with her earlier. And he knew they hadn’t been.

“Trade secret.” She toyed with his dogtags, an action he’d come to find endearing, her slender pale fingers playing with the tarnished metal. The Security team had already read her the riot act for her eluding them for almost an hour, by the time they’d caught up with her, as she’d neared her room, they’d been on the verge of contacting Bill for assistance.

“Laura.” With a soft groan, he rested his forehead against the top of her head. “You need them. Trust me. It’s for your own safety. It’s…not like it was out there.”

“I was fine.” Her voice was a whisper. “I needed to…run. I didn’t want to go where people told me I could, or where I should…I needed to run.”

“Laura, there are…” Bill’s voice trailed off, “just…if you decide to ditch them, let me know. I’ll make sure someone’s around that…will keep an eye on you. Just in case. For me.” As she looked up at him, he met her eyes levelly. “Please.”

She blinked at the intensity of his gaze, a knot forming in her stomach at what he was, and wasn’t saying. “Okay.”

“Thank you.” He slid down slightly and kissed her again, tapering the kiss off into smaller lighter ones as she relaxed back into the mattress, her hand sliding around his neck.

”I’m just not used to someone…well, worrying about me.” She admitted softly. “I know the President needs the escort, but I…today…yesterday…Laura…”

“I know.” Absently, he traced her face with a finger, along her eyebrows…the cheekbones…with a sigh; he rested his forehead on hers.

“I like this.” Eyes closing, she reveled in his gentle touches, his fingers dancing along her skin. “We’ve not really ever had time to just…enjoy.”

“It is nice.” Bill inhaled, breathing in the light scent of Laura, “and you were right…we do deserve the time.”

“Can I get that in writing?” Laura teased lightly, her giggle smothered by his mouth covering hers again. When he lifted his head from hers, she remained where she was curled against him. “Good enough.”

“Good.” Easing himself back on his side, he waited as she resettled herself in her original position, her back against his chest, their arms and legs entwined, the fingers of her right hand resting on his left bicep. “Warm enough?”

“Hmm.” She nodded slightly. “Bill?”

“Laura?” He pressed a kiss to her shoulder then when she didn’t continue, tightened his arm around her waist. “What is it?”

“Tomorrow…” Her eyes focused across the room, “or rather later today, when we get up…”

His thumb absently stroked along her stomach as he nuzzled her shoulder. “I have to go back to work.”

“I know.” She whispered, her eyes closing as she tilted her head when his lips moved toward her neck. “Do you…I mean, could you find the time…” Laura sighed softly. “I suppose…”

“One day at a time, Laura.” Leaning over her, he waited as she turned her head so he could kiss her gently. “If you need me to go somewhere with you, you know I will. When you need me to.”

With another soft sigh, she smiled, relaxing back into him. “Thank you.”

“Laura,” He chuckled softly. “Of course I will. That’s what love is.”

”So it is.” Her fingers tightened their grip on his as her mind wandered toward sleep. This was perfection in the darkness of their life. The final piece of their relationship, so complex, and yet so simple. More than just the sex, and the companionship…it was love.