The File

“Sir?” At the hesitant voice, Commander William Adama glanced up, looking over the top of his glasses.

“Come in Lieutenant.” Realizing she was carrying a sealed box of files, he stood and moved around the desk to take it from her. “What’s this?”

“We were cleaning out some of the secured storage areas, these were intel files I found.” She took a breath. “We shredded most of them, but I thought you’d want to review this box since it was marked for the Commander’s eyes only and sealed.”

“Shredded?” One eyebrow raised.

“Yes sir. They were intel files.” Her lips twitched. “We did recycle the shredded pieces though. Mixed them in with fertilizer. I thought you’d want to review some of these just in case however. They’re…well, you never know….”

“Thank you.” Dismissing her with a nod, he turned to the box and opened it. Lifting out the top file he glanced through it for a moment before setting it aside. Picking up the next file, he opened it and blinked at the picture on top. Staring at it, he sank down in his chair and started reading it.

At the soft click of the hatch opening again, he glanced up. After spending some time studying the second file, he’d leafed through several others, either returning them to the box for recycling or setting them aside in a drawer of his desk to be secured. “Hello there, Madame President.”

“Admiral.” Crossing the room, she set her case on the table next to his desk. “What’s this?”

”Some files they came across, Dualla wanted me to review them before they were destroyed.” Picking up the box, he set it on the floor.

“Ah.” With a half smile, she nodded. “Those kind of files, Admiral.”

“Indeed, Madame President.” He leaned back and watched her pour a glass of water, shaking his head when she held an empty glass up. “Although, there is one I’d like to ask you about later.”

“Intriguing.” Her eyebrows lifted and dropped as she smirked. “I’ll look forward to it.” Her eyes drifted to her case as she sighed. “It will give me something to look forward to.”

“Don’t you leave anything for your Vice President to do?” Bill crossed his arms as she returned to the table and pulled several file folders out, dropping one on his desk and selecting three more before returning the others to the case.

“Ribbon cuttings, somewhere.” Laura giggled softly. “No, really. He has half the petitions from the meeting today, and is meeting with several of the captains tonight. While I, however meet with the Admiral to discuss Fleet Security. If we can stand to be in the room together, after Baltar’s trial.”

“Hmph.” Bill frowned at the comment. “Do you want the desk?”

“No.” Laura stepped out of her shoes, crossing to the couch. “All yours.”

”I still say you have a fixation with my couch.” Picking up a pen, he looked at the file she’d placed on the desk. “What’s this?”

“Tory’s updated info on fuel consumption. I’m playing courier.” Tucking her legs underneath her, she sighed. “It’s her way of making me overcome my anger and speak to you. She thinks I’m still mad at you.”

“Are you?” He returned his attention to her as she looked up at him.

After several moments of silence she let out a soft sigh. “Mad, no. I…understand logically. I don’t really…It all comes back to us being who, and what we are. I would still be furious if you hadn’t called me last night…”

“You left.” He shook his head. “In the middle of the night. After a diloxin treatment.”

Laura’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him over the top of her glasses. “Don’t start. I’ve already been read the riot act by Cottle, and had to promise to never again leave Galactica within twenty four hours of a treatment.”

“What did he do, threaten to sedate or restrain you?” Despite himself, Bill’s lips twitched.

“Something like that.” She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath. “I’m…thank you for calling me last night.”

“Thank you for taking my call.” At the catch in his voice she looked back at him.

“You were afraid I wouldn’t.” Laura stated softly. “I’m sorry for that.”

“Don’t be.” He stood and crossed to her, bending to kiss her gently. “I knew we’d talk it out, but didn’t know how long it would take.”

“You should have seen Tory this morning.” She whispered, eyes locked with his. “When I was already on Colonial One…If Cottle hadn’t already been on the line waiting to yell at me, she would have.”

“If it makes you feel better, Cottle read me the riot act as well.” Bill returned to his seat. “I’ll call for dinner.”

“I’ll have a steak, potatoes, fresh vegetables…and a chocolate cloud torte.” She teased him before returning her attention to the file she held.

“Roslin, you’ll have your medically supervised algae proteins and like it.” He threw over his shoulder with a chuckle.

“Whatever.” Picking up her pen, she made a note on the page, studying the papers. When a knock sounded on the hatch a few minutes later, she glanced up. “Well, that was fast.”

“They were on standby.” Opening the hatch, he stepped aside as a young man carried in a tray.

“Admiral, Madame President.” He nodded at them and set the tray on the table. “The cook sent up a thermos of tea as well.”

“Thank you.” Laura smiled at him. “Please pass along my…our appreciation.”

“Indeed.” Bill added as the young man saluted him before leaving. “Even my mess staff dotes on you.”

“Hmm.” Her lips twitched slightly as she studied the papers in the file she held. “They worship you Sir, however.”

“You overestimate them.” Uncovering the tray, he carried it to the low table in front of the couch.

“No.” Laura glanced at the tray and smiled. “Soup?”

“Indeed. Put your paperwork away.” Easing himself down onto the couch next to her, he moved two of the folders away.

“Hold on.” Laura held up a finger, reading the final paragraph before scratching out a few words and making a note in the margin. Closing the folder with a snap, she tossed it on top of the two he’d placed on the table and took the bowl of soup he handed her. “You’re not having anything else?”

“Late lunch.” He picked up his own bowl. “Quorum meeting went well?”

She made a face. “Same as usual. The only excitement was them waiting to see my reaction to Baltar’s freedom. And Zarek…”

“What this time?” He watched her face.

“The usual.” She gestured with her spoon. “With the added implications of how you and I had handled the decision. Namely, how I’d handled it.”

“Or, how you’d handled me?” Bill lifted an eyebrow.

“He did mention that he was willing to be a sounding board if I needed to talk.” Laura shrugged one shoulder. “I politely declined, but let him know that the offer was appreciated.” At his soft humph, she smiled. “What?”

“You being political again.” He shook his head.

”Well now that the entire Quorum knows that I’m on the Galactica for medical treatments…” She stared down at the bowl, with the amount of soup left in it and sighed before leaning forward and setting it on the table. “They can just…I don’t know…go frak themselves with anything else they might want to know. If even one of them mentioned anything about you trying to stop Lee from questioning me, I was ready to tell them where they could put their collective asses.”

”Language, language.” Chuckling, Bill set his bowl next to hers and watched her sip the tea she’d picked up. “If only they knew.”

“I’ve spent years honing the outside appearance.” Laura stared across the room blindly. “I’ll play as long as I need to.”

“Which actually brings me to an interesting point.” Bill stood and moved across the room as she watched him. “In the files Duella brought me…”

”Military Intelligence files?” Her mood changing, she giggled. “Sorry…just the old oxymoron…”

“Military Intelligence briefing files.” He turned and faced her. “From a courier just before the attack. About the guests coming aboard for the ceremony.”

Her chin lifted slightly. “Briefing files?” Laura’s tone was growing suspicious.

“A bit different from the dossier Billy had prepared for you.” Bill chuckled softly. “No press releases about the command crew…”

“How different?” An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

“See for yourself.” Extending his arm, he held out the folder as she stared at it, her name on the ID tab. “It won’t bite you, Madame President.”

“I…” Slowly she reached out and took the folder. Opening it, her breath caught. “Gods…” She stared at the color photo lying on top. Picking it up, she inspected it closely. “This…” her mind raced as she stared at the picture of herself, perched on a stone bench, one foot dangling in the water while she used the toe of the other to balance herself as her face lifted to the Caprican sun, her eyes closed and a peaceful expression on her face. All in all, had she not known what had been going through her head, she would have believed the woman in the picture was carefree and waiting on…what? A lover?

“You’re stunning.” Bill cautiously sank down on the cushions next to her, watching her reaction to the picture. “Now and in that picture. You were wearing that the first time I met you. I remember the…you didn’t really look like a political representative.”

”She’s so…” Laura shook her head. “Bill…this was taken hours before I left Caprica City. I was at the park…waiting on a Union representative…the Teacher’s strike…”

“That is not the face of a woman waiting on a union representative.” The statement was out before he could stop it. “Um…”

She couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled up. “Facing one’s mortality enables one to make decisions that hours before had been confusing.” The giggles segued into laughter, which in turn became tears as she bent over, not even noticing when he rescued the tea cup and enfolded her into his arms, rocking her as she sobbed, the picture still clenched in her hand.

When the sobs finally melted into sniffs, he gently lifted her chin with a finger. “All right?” She nodded slowly. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She managed a weak smile. “The picture. I’d just found out about the cancer. I’d already set up a meeting with the head of the Teachers Union…the President had been prepared to use force against them, I just wanted no one else to get hurt…the children to go back into the classroom. All I wanted to do was go back to bed, or just go and keep going until I couldn’t think about the cancer. And Rich…the President wasn’t exactly pleased that I’d taken the initiative to contact Stanus about meeting, he had other…” Taking a deep breath, she rested her cheek against his chest, her eyes locked once again on the picture. “I got to the park early, it was the only place he’d meet me, open and public.”

“The Government Plaza?” Bill gazed at some of the sculptures in the background.

“Mmm.” She sighed again. “So, I was there early…and just decided to think. About some things I’d been wrestling with, thinking about, and about how I wanted to spend what was left of my life. Other than alone.”

“Laura…” He traced his finger along her cheek. From anyone else the statement would have been a ploy for sympathy, from her, it was just a statement of quiet fact.

“No. It’s all right.” Her hand dropped to her lap. “And I decided some things. One of which was that I was actually going to use my status for something more than developing idealistic educational programs. The children needed to be back in the classrooms. And, I believed I was representing the government in the best interests for all. So, I convinced him to give the President a chance. To go back in a manner of faith and trust so that they could negotiate with the government.” She fell silent. “There were also some…personal decisions I’d been wrestling with for a time that I finally…I didn’t like who I was, who I’d become on certain personal levels. And so I’d decided to stop wrestling and to start doing what I truly wanted to do. No matter how Rich…the President, anyone would try to convince me otherwise.”

“I see…” his voice trailed off as she looked up at him.

”No, you don’t.” One side of her mouth lifted in a wry grimace. “Really. I didn’t like myself very much, and while I’d been spending a lot of time thinking about some decisions I’d let myself be swayed into…I was in shock, the only thing I could think of to focus on was getting the children back into school. And it was so frakking beautiful that day, I honestly didn’t even want to do anything but sit there in the sun. Just go somewhere, stretch out and lie in the sun.”

“You look…” He bit back the rest of the comment and glanced away.

“I look what?” Laura tilted her head and watched him. “Bill?”

“It’s nothing.” Looking back at her, he managed a weak smile.

“William Adama.” At the tone, her ‘teacher voice’, he winced. He could ignore almost anything else but that.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but,” he ran a hand over his head, ducking slightly to elude her gaze. “The pose…” As he hesitated again, she looked back down at the picture.

“Oh.” A flush ran up her cheeks as she realized the moment she’d been caught in looked as though she was in an extremely private moment, hidden in public. “Well, I wasn’t. Really. What else is in here?” Dropping the picture to the side, she flipped through the next few pages then froze again as a picture appeared. Unlike the previous picture, where her private moment had been implied, this picture was definitely blatent, with her body in profile against a desk, her blouse open and falling off her shoulders, a recognizable man pressed against her, his hands under her skirt as he grasped her hips, their bodies framed by the Presidential seal on the wall behind them. “Frak…” Dropping the entire file, she shot to her feet and crossed the room.

“Laura?” Stunned as papers drifted to the floor, he watched her shakily pour a glass of Ambrosia and drink it. All in one throw back. When she filled the glass again, he rose and watched her lift it halfway to her lips before slamming the glass back on the table and running for the head. “Laura, what the frak is wrong…” Through the door, he could hear her throwing up. “Laura, open this frakking door…” He pounded on it, desperate to get to her. “Laura Roslin…open this door…” As it swung open, he broke off at the sight of her on the floor. “Gods, Laura…”

“Sorry.” Eyes closed she rested back against the wall. “Sorry.”

“Shh.” Kneeling in front of her, he grabbed a rag and gently washed her face. “The diloxin?”

“No.” Pulling her legs up, she rested her forehead on her knees. “Give me a minute. But, stay.”

“Very well.” Gently, he ran his hand over her head. “Breathe in and out, steady. Do you want me to call Cottle?”

“Gods no.” She shuddered. “This is nothing to do with that…”

“All right then.” Bill carefully eased himself around her, enfolding her body in his arms. “Better?”

”Mmm hmm.” Laura leaned into him. “Sorry…”

“I’ve seen the file.” He murmured into her ear. “And you’d told me about it. About him.”

“It’s just seeing…” She choked off into a sob, shaking her head as she burrowed into his chest. “I want a shower. Now.”

“Together.” He squeezed her. “Stay here a moment.” Waiting only a brief second for her nod, he stood and turned the water on, pulling his uniform off and dropping it outside the door before lifting her to her feet and carefully undressing her as she leaned against him. Ignoring the wrinkles that his action would leave, he dropped her suit on top of his clothes and eased her into the steaming water. “Hold on to me.” As she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder, he gently began to wash her back.

Sometime later, she was huddled against the arm of the couch, wrapped in his robe with her wet hair up in a towel, watching dully as he picked up the scattered papers and replaced them into the folder. When he moved to set it on the desk she took a breath. “No. I want to see it. I need to see it.” Holding out a hand, she waited until he’d handed it to her. “I’ll take that glass I left as well.”

“Very well.” Pouring himself a glass, he picked up the one she’d set down earlier and brought it to her, waiting as she resituated herself to lean against his side. “Better?”

“Yes.” Laura whispered softly, staring at the papers in her lap. “I must say, the military intelligence community would have made many of us uncomfortable if we’d known the extent of their capabilities.”

“The President was aware.” He murmured under his breath.

“I suppose he would have been.” She took a breath. “Gods. The only way that picture could have been taken…” Her voice trailed off as she pulled it out again and stared at it analytically. “He was a frakking idiot. No pun intended.”

“I met him several times. Various events.” Bill took a swallow from his glass. “No arguments here. And knowing you…”

“Hmm.” Laura shifted slightly. “You didn’t know me then. Or when I started working with him.”

”So tell me.” Bending, he kissed her cheek. “And remember, you’re not who you were then.”

“Thank you.” Closing her eyes, she rested against him. “I was heading up a committee in Caprica City, developing arts programs and curriculums for children who were at risk, or in potentially abusive situations. I’d started a pilot program in several schools which was going well.” She smiled slightly. “There was this one girl…somehow her fingers had been broken, she was relearning how to write, use her motor skills by painting, she was able to re-connect…I hope she became an artist, there was so much potential, even then. But, the program overall was a success, I’d gotten corporate and government sponsors, and the committee was invited to a reception hosted by the mayor. He offered me a sabbatical as an educational consultant for the city, able to impact more schools, more students, and then I could return to the classroom.”

When she paused, he felt her tremble slightly. “It’s all right, I’m here.”

“Mmm.” She drained her glass and blindly held it out to him, waiting as he took it and set it on the table next to the couch. “While this was going on, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She’d ignored the signals until it was too late, and I was so busy with my life I didn’t notice either. When she passed away, I don’t know, in hindsight I later realized I hadn’t dealt with it at the time, but poured myself into working with Adar’s campaign as an educational consultant, then later as an advisor as he went from mayor to governor and finally to President.” Closing her eyes, she shifted again, her hand clutching at the lapel of his robe. “A few years ago, I’d been working on a project that had taken everything I had and more, and traveling through the colonies, working to implement it. I was on my way back from Sagittarius and watching a young family on the transport when I realized what day it was, the anniversary of my mother’s death.”

Sitting up abruptly, she leaned across him and retrieved her glass. Staring at it for a moment, Laura stood and crossed the room, filling it again and taking a long swallow. “I started drinking on the transport, nothing much I told myself, just a celebratory toast to myself for a successful trip.” Lifting the glass, she stared through the liquid. “I didn’t…drink much anymore, and hadn’t except for socially for some time. After the transport landed, I went back to my office to drop off the files and noticed that the President was still in his office. He’d been so supportive of everything I’d done…”

Turning, she smiled bitterly, “again, something that was entirely different in hindsight.” Raising her glass, she took a sip as she moved back to sink down next to him. “Richard Adar had a…I don’t know, an aura about him. When you worked with him, you wanted to please him, he was seductively powerful, and a chameleon about getting what he wanted. When he focused all his attention on you, it could be a wonderful thing. I’d heard the rumors, but since there had been rumors about us and I knew they weren’t true, ignored those rumors. His sense of power was almost that of an entitlement to what he got, but not in an elitist way.” At the rumble under her ear, she lifted her head to look at his face.

“Sorry.” He touched her cheek. “Go on.”

Laura nodded slowly and took another drink before continuing. “He was so sincere, telling me he wanted to take the opportunity to hear about my trip, and how he’d read my reports. It was flattering, a validation of the time I’d spent on the program, which was in fact, almost all of my time.” Her lips twitched. “I’m a bit of a workaholic.”

“Do tell.” Bill chuckled softly. “Hadn’t noticed.”

“Hmm.” She sighed. “He poured me a drink and sent his security team away, he would do that when he was in his office, it was a secure place and they had an office at the end of the hall. We’d met before in private and I didn’t think anything of it. We were drinking and talking, the conversation had moved from the educational program to…” she shook her head, “I don’t even remember. Something mindless. I was tired, but exhilarated, had drunk ambrosia on an empty stomach, and trying to keep both thoughts of my mother as well as the memory of the family I’d seen on the transport out of my head, they’d just looked so happy, together. When he leaned forward and kissed me, it just seemed the most natural thing to do to kiss him back. When I woke up, he was back at his desk, working on something. I remember…” Laura took another swallow of the Ambrosia, “I remember trying to remember why I was lying on his couch with practically nothing on when he looked up and stared at me. When he realized I was awake, he came over to me and held out his hand…”

“Feel better?” Richard Adar pulled her to her feet, wrapping an arm around her bare waist as she stumbled slightly.

“Um.” Laura blinked and grabbed at his shoulder as she caught her balance, blinking to try to focus her eyes.

“Here you go.” Leaning over, he picked up her glasses and slid them on. “Now?”

“This is us.” He bit her earlobe gently. “A man and a woman…and admit it Laura, you’ve wondered what it would be like, haven’t you.” As he watched, she closed her eyes, a soft groan emerging as he bit her neck. “To frak the President. A simple little school teacher turned politician, it’s what you’ve wondered. You’ve not dated in years, and now you now how it feels to frak power.” Richard reached down and unfastened his pants, pushing them out of the way. “So Laura, how does it feel?”…

“He thought it was about power.” Laura stated softly, bitterly. “Because that was all he dealt with. Power and control. To my own credit…or discredit, I discovered I could use him just as much as he used me. The fact that we were now in an affair was a bygone one after that night. We’d have meetings and briefings that were nothing more than an excuse. He never wanted anything more from me than my body, and what it could do for him. I had the knowledge of that, and that occasionally I could do the same. That picture…” Leaning over, she picked it up and stared at it, this time more analytically. “I’m sure he had quite the collection of pictures like this. Of the others before me…and during, I’m sure. He thought he was in control over the women in his life, but in my case…”

Bill took the picture from her, looking closer at her face in it. “It was a physical thing for you here, wasn’t it? You’re detached…”

Laura closed her eyes. “Actually, based on what I was wearing, or well, barely wearing, I’m pretty sure it was the last time. And he knew it. Didn’t like it, but knew it.”

“Say it Laura.” Richard growled at her as he pinned her against his desk, his hands pushing her blouse off her shoulders.

“Say…what?” Braced on the desk with both of her hands, she stared out the windows on the far side of the room as he shoved her skirt up out of the way and pulled her underwear off. “Frak me Mister President?”

“That’s below even you, Secretary Roslin.” Grabbing her leg, he wrapped it around his waist and entered her.

“Thank you Mister President.” With a final smile, she opened the door and stepped through.

“You had a bandage on your hand when I met you.” Bill stated softly, pulling the towel off her hair and gently rubbing it against the wet strands, drying it gently.

“Yes, I did.” She took a swallow of the ambrosia. “I learned a lot from him. Learned more from my own experiences, and you, sir. He was focused on power, on results. Sometimes I become him…and then I don’t like myself in the morning. Sometimes, I know I have to.” Draining her glass, she closed her eyes. “I understand more…but I also know there are alternatives. He didn’t have anyone that dared to contradict him, and if they tried, he removed them from office or diminished their responsibilities.” At the grunt from his chest, Laura nodded slightly. “I met with the Teachers Union representative, came to a settlement, one which he felt was a dangerous precedent. He didn’t expect me to succeed, and when I did, he stated I was to give him my resignation when I returned from Galactica. Although I was more than welcome to stay on in an advisory capacity.”

“So, not only were you the last Cabinet Member standing, you wouldn’t have been a cabinet member much longer?” At the irony, he chuckled.

“No, I was going to fight it tooth and nail.” Sitting up, she looked down at him. “I still had things to do with my office.”

“Like networking computers?” He teased.

“Shut up.” Hitting him on the chest lightly, Laura bent over and picked up the rest of the file. “You know, I still find myself wondering about decisions. Decisions he made, I make…”

”Laura…” At the tone of his voice, she looked back at him. “There’s a big difference. You have continually adapted to the needs of the present. You’ve admitted when you’re wrong, or have made decisions on a personal level instead of a Presidential level. You’ve changed your decisions when presented with information that would necessitate a change. And, you’ve held your decisions both with and against popular belief, as well as with and against what Laura Roslin wants on a personal level.”

“You don’t think I’m a drugged up religious political hack who can’t see beyond her glasses?” Her lips twitched. “Or a short sighted puppet of the military fascist Admiral Adama?”

“Watch who you’re calling a fascist.” He growled, pulling her back onto his lap. “Puppet.”

“No strings.” She held up a hand. “But, you do think I’m a drugged up…” She broke off as he kissed her. When he released her mouth, she sighed softly. “Gods, you’re good at that.”

“That impresses you.” Bill chuckled. “But in answer to your earlier question. You’re the President. You make decisions I agree with and disagree with, both on a personal and military level. But, you also take the time to listen to perspectives, eventually, and base resulting decisions as needed. And, when they’re the difficult decisions or even wrong decisions, you don’t lay blame elsewhere. You take the responsibility.”

“Thank you.” Laura held up the file. “Can we go shred this? I really don’t want it lying around.”

“On one condition.” As her eyes narrowed, he took the file from her and leafed through it as she slid off his lap.

“Bill, what are you looking for?” Returning their glasses to the tray, she glanced over her shoulder, realizing he’d disappeared. “Bill?”

“Back here.” He called from the bedroom area.

“What are you doing?” Rounding the corner, she froze. “Bill, no.”

“Why not?” He grinned at her. “No one else comes back here but you.”

“You are not putting my picture on the inside of your locker.” She stared at the picture of her in the sunlight that he was taping inside his locker. “Admiral William Adama, that is not funny.”

“President Laura Roslin, pin up girl.” As she moved toward him, he deftly closed the locker and stood in front of it. “It stays there or gets put out where someone else could see it.”

“Bill…” As flattering as it felt, that he wanted to keep it, there still felt as though there was something wrong about it.

“Let me keep it and I’ll let you throw the rest of the file into the incinerator.” He lifted an eyebrow.

She bit her lip with a soft hmm as she thought for a moment. “Not recycled?”

“I don’t think either of us wants that information out where there’s even an infinitesimal chance of the wrong people getting their hands on it.” Holding out a hand, he waited until she took it. “Deal?”

“Deal.” With a quick jerk, she pulled him closer. “But if anyone finds out that you have a picture of me in your locker…”

”Not from me they won’t.” With a kiss on the tip of her nose, he moved past her to the living area, “now get dressed, we need to take a walk.”

“Fascist.” Laura muttered under her breath, picking up her clothes.

“I heard that.” He called back.

“My suit’s wrinkled. Again.” She sighed. “Can you bring me my bag?”

“We’re going for a walk, wear something comfortable.” He picked up her bag. “We can drop the suit by the laundry.”

“Again.” She sighed. “You know, I should just have my own laundry bag over here.” At his silence, she looked out at him, pulling her hair out of the collar of the sweatshirt she’d just pulled on. “Bill?”

“It was something Dee suggested when you started having to stay over for your treatments.” He admitted. “I’ve been putting your things in them while you’re asleep. That way they get cleaned properly.”

“You could have told me.” Laura smiled gently. “I’ll have to thank Dee. And I suppose even if I’d used yours, they would have figured it out.”

“It’s behind mine on the door.” He passed her, edging by her to grab it. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” She put her clothes in it and took it from him, closing it. “I need to stop and see Cottle as well. Something about him not believing I’m in close proximity unless he sees me himself.”

“Frak it, I told him you would be back here tonight.” Bill grabbed his laundry bag as well as hers.

“Blood test.” She shrugged. “Again, something about him wanting to check on it.”

“Is there something you didn’t tell me?” Catching her arm, he gazed at her face.

“Not about my…medical condition.” Laura managed a smile. “Come on, I want to get that file burned.”

“Yes Madame President.” Chuckling, he led her to the hatch. “Good evening gentlemen.”

“Sir, Ma’am.” The sentries snapped to attention before falling in step behind them.

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be Bill and Laura?” She mused, glancing at him as he absently touched her back.

“We are Bill and Laura.” He teased softly.

“I mean outside of your quarters.” She paused as they stopped at the hatch to the Laundry Detail. When he returned from dropping off their bags, she continued. “So do you?”

“We’d have to do our own laundry.” Bill took her arm.

“There is that.” Laura sighed softly but remained silent until they arrived at another hatch.

“We’ll be right back. Just have to get rid of some trash.” He met the gazes of the detail and opened the hatch. “President Roslin?”

“Thank you Admiral.” Stepping through, she stared at the large incinerators in front of them. “Where are we?”

”Armory, this is where we forge metal repairs, they’re kept active at all times.” He crossed the room and picked up a pair of tongs, using them to open a small panel. “And let me have the file…” Taking it from her firm grasp, he handed her the tongs. “And open them…” Together, they carried the tongs to the incinerator, watching as she extended them through and dropped the file into the flames. “And it’s gone.”

“Thank you.” She whispered, staring at the flames while he took the tongs back from her and closed the panel.

“All right?” Replacing the tongs, he moved to stand in front of her. “Laura?”

“Fine.” Resting a hand on his chest, she smiled. “Thank you. I mean, I know people know about it, and there will always be rumors, but at least I have some sort of closure on it.”

“Let’s go see Cottle so you can get back and lie down. You’re exhausted.” Together, they returned to the corridor.

“I need to talk to Tom also, about the meetings he had with the captains.” She glanced at him. “He needs to brief me tonight, I have an early Quorum meeting tomorrow I’ll need some of the information from him for that.”

“I’ll put the call through as soon as you get back.” He grumbled. “As long as he isn’t planning on coming…” Catching sight of her face he groaned. “Really.”

“Mmm hmm.” Laura sighed. “Something about his being able to reassure the Quorum that you’re not keeping me under lock and key, or under the military’s control.”

“So you’ll be in the guest quarters?” Together, they entered Sick Bay. “And you’re just now telling me this?”

“Actually, I’ll be in here.” She glanced up at him through her lashes. “I really didn’t want to be alone in the guest quarters with him, security escort or no escort.”

“I see.” As Cottle approached, they stepped apart. “Well then Madame President, I’ll see you later.”

“That would probably be for the best.” Laura smiled. “Thank you for dinner, Admiral.”

“She eat?” Cottle stopped next to them. “Or just push it around on her plate?”

“I ate.” Laura stopped and sighed. “Oh, frak.”

“I’ll get out the iv.” Cottle jerked his head. “You know the way, Madame President.”

“I threw it all up.” Laura sighed again. “But it wasn’t the dyloxin.”

“Don’t know, don’t care. All that matters is you need something in you.” He pointed. “Go.”

“I’ll be back for you later, and make sure Zarek knows where to find you.” Bill touched her cheek. “Do you want me to come back and read to you?”

“No, I’ll be fine. Just an iv, and a check.” With another resigned sigh, she moved to follow Cottle as he watched her go.

“When the Vice President gets here,” he paused next to her security detail, his voice low, “I want at least one of you with them. Understood?”

“Yes sir.” They nodded sharply.

“Good.” Turning on his heel, he strode out of the room.

Several hours later, he glanced up at the sound of the hatch opening again. “Madame President.”

”Admiral.” With a smile, she glanced back over her shoulder. “Thank you, gentlemen.” Closing and locking the hatch behind her, she leaned against it, dropping her head back.

“Took a while.” Standing, he crossed the room to face her, taking the folders from her hand.

“Cottle insisted on keeping me for a bit then Tom insisted on taking me back to the Guest Quarters.” Leaning on him as they crossed the room, Laura let her eyes float shut, trusting him to lead her. “I’m so frakking tired, Bill.”

“Shh.” Leading her to the rack, he eased her down. “What time do you have to leave in the morning.”

“Transport due here at eight thirty.” As he slipped her shoes off, Laura sighed and rolled over. “Up by seven?”

“I’ll put your files in your briefcase.” Brushing a kiss across her forehead, he smiled as she mumbled something at him. Returning to the living area, he slid the files she’d been studying earlier as well as the ones she’d just brought in back into her briefcase and shut it. A few minutes later he settled on the rack behind her, wrapping his arm over her as she settled against him. “Better?”

“Mmm.” Laura giggled softly.

“What?” He tightened his grip on her.

“Nothing.” She smiled and yawned, “I just like this. Us. A lot.”

“Me too.” Bill nuzzled her neck. “Feels good.”

“Mmm.” She sighed softly and drifted back into sleep. “Good.”

“Yes.” He chuckled softly. “It is.”