Transitions of Perceptions

Laura moved slowly into Sick Bay, her gaze falling on several figures silhouetted by a curtain before she glanced around an noticed all the medical staff busy at various stations. Shaking her head slightly, she continued into Cottle’s office, sinking into the chair in front of his desk. He wasn’t expecting her, well, not at any specific time, he’d just told her to stop by when she had a chance. No pressure, no expectations, just his gruff statement that if she was going to stop the treatments, he still wanted to monitor her. Just in case. So, out of respect for all he’d done for both her and Bill, she humored him. And, to his credit, he’d kept his word. So, she’d continued to stop by and let him poke and prod. For now.

And, truth be told, it was more than ironic that his office, smelling of medicines, the iron tang of blood, his cigarettes, and something else she couldn’t put her finger on, his office had become a refuge. The one place she could go that she would feel obligated to work with Lee, giving him the tools and skills she’d learned in all her years of politics, then honed and adapted since being named President. Bill would have come with her, and had she been here for a treatment, she would have asked him, but…with the ship practically falling apart around them, he was drinking more, and she had her suspicions about the pain medications Cottle had given him some time ago. And she’d come to appreciate the quiet moments she could share with the Doctor…now that he’d stopped arguing with her every time she’d come in.

So, here she sat. Alone, in the dim light, the combined hum of Galactica and the medical equipment lulling her…where she didn’t know. Her thoughts wandered back to when she’d sat in an extremely different doctors office, waiting for him as she’d remembered the previous hours, her meeting with Richard, realizing her suspicions were correct, that he really had no clue as to how frustrated she’d become in her job. She’d looked up through the glass atrium at ships passing by, Capricans going and coming, the sun streaming in, thinking about her upcoming meeting in the gardens with the union representative. And the door had slammed. Footsteps had approached. And her life had changed, or started to change in a split second. By a frakking government assigned specialist who’d presumed to judge her for not coming in sooner. Frakking egotist.

And now, she was in the doctors office she’d come to know as well as her own quarters on Colonial One, or Bill’s…their quarters on Galactica. Cold, metallic…dusty medical books mixed with medical equipment, filing cabinets…shivering slightly, she stood and crossed to the small closet hatch and opened it, pulling out one of the blankets she knew was stored there. Wrapping it around herself, she returned to her seat, slipping her shoes off and tucking her feet up under her. And Cottle was as different from that other doctor as…Bill was from Richard. Cottle had no qualms about telling her the truth, and had no patience for fools. She’d found his gruff exterior counterbalanced the man who’d sat and talked with her through medical treatments on Galactica and the cold windswept nights on New Caprica, when lonely, she’d wandered through the settlement, only to end up in the Medical tent, where she’d spend hours talking with him as they did menial medical work, rolling bandages, arranging medical trays for sterilization. She knew very well her decision was paining him, but…he respected her enough to not force her onto a bed and stick a needle in her again.

Closing her eyes, she sifted through the sounds around her, letting her thoughts wander. Voices, occasionally raised and arguing, but the words muffled, the sounds of medical monitors, that was all together too familiar. She wondered absently if she should go visit with anyone, if there was someone who was lonely, and wouldn’t mind…although when she thought back to her enforced stays, unless it was Bill, she hadn’t wanted anyone to see her.

Gods, Bill. She sighed softly, her fingers tightening on the blanket. He’d let her have her breakdown, gently prodding her and waiting until she’d been ready. He hadn’t yelled at her, or coerced her, or forced her back to Cottle. He’d respected her decision, just continued to talk to her and with her. And let her be…Laura. Frak, he’d given her back Laura, when all she thought she was, was President Roslin. Her lips curved up as she absently ran one hand up along the neckline of her jacket, remembering Bill’s gentle touch that morning before reality had intruded.

Her smile faded as she remembered the reason for the intrusion. She and Bill had been perched next to each other on the couch, coffee cups bracketing the reports they had spread on the table in front of them, heads together as they studied the contents. Lee had come with additional reports of looting, aggression…Caprica had been attacked in the lower decks, although Laura still wasn’t sure of why she’d been down there. But, violence was escalating, and the three of them hadn’t been able to come to a conclusion of how to enforce peace…there weren’t enough Marines, she’d finally convinced him that she didn’t need her full escort, that one was enough, and that only when she left the main decks of Galactica, which freed up several other Marines. But to find the additional manpower that was needed, they’d gone around and around.

They’d finally started to make headway on that topic, when DRADIS had picked up a contact, and then…opening her eyes, she shuddered, a bitter taste filling her mouth as she recognized one of the voices in the main Sick Bay, the sultry tones of Ellen Tigh. And unfortunately, not the Ellen Tigh she’d managed to strike a cordial relationship with on New Caprica, but the manipulative original Ellen, who despite being one of the…she shuddered again, Final Five, had somehow arrived in time to stir up trouble again.

And Ellen’s face when it had been Bill who’d pulled out a flask. Laura stood and began pacing, remembering her own exasperation at his action. Sure, she’d drunk with him the night before…fine, in all honesty, the nights before, and sometimes…but, in her defense…”Right Laura,” she muttered to herself, “good intentions…” had she really believed that if she’d drunk with him he wouldn’t drink as much? That was all well and good and worked when she was with him, but how much time did he spend alone when she was elsewhere…and he wasn’t in the CIC.

“Madame…” At Cottle’s gruff voice, she turned to face him. “I…no one told me you were here.”

“I don’t think anyone saw me come in. You were busy, so I just slipped in.” She remained where she was, barefoot and wrapped in the blanket, facing him across the office. “You all right?”

He eyed her for a moment before continuing to his desk and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Lighting one, he inhaled deeply and let the smoke out slowly before answering her. “No.”

“Oh.” Laura blinked at him, eyes wide in the dim light. Canting her head to the side, she returned slowly to the desk, facing him. Deliberately, she held out a hand, waiting as he lifted an eyebrow before relenting and handing her the pack of cigarettes. A moment later, she sank down in her chair, exhaling out a stream of smoke. “What happened?”

He stared at her for a moment before letting out a low chuckle. “You are a piece of work. I should be grabbing that out of your mouth right now.”

She took another drag from the cigarette and blew the smoke to the side. “But you won’t.”

“No. I won’t.” Cottle shook his head. “Should though. Admiral will kill me if he realizes.”

“He won’t.” Laura raised an eyebrow at him. “Just like you know I do things with him that I shouldn’t.”

“And that better be referring to drinking, young lady.” He grimaced. “And neither of you should be doing much of that.”

“So. What happened?” Resettled with the blanket around her, she watched him, both of them falling silent for a long moment as he gathered his thoughts.

“Doctor, here’s the…” Ishay stumbled to a stop as she realized he had someone with him. “Oh, Madame President, I’m sorry.”

“We’re just chatting.” Laura dropped the hand with the cigarette to the side, out of Ishay’s line of sight, not sure why.

“It’s all right.” Cottle extended his hand for the folders Ishay held. “How’s she doing?”

Ishay’s face tightened. “It…She’s resting.” With another nod at them, she turned and left the office.

“She?” Laura lifted the cigarette to her lips again, thinking. Suddenly, her eyes widened. “Caprica? Is she all right?”

He glanced up at her through his eyebrows for a moment before returning his attention to the folders. “No. She…”

“Doctor.” She leaned forward, the blanket falling behind her, “I spoke with her earlier today. I know what happened below decks…is she all right?”

“She lost the baby.” He finally stated quietly. “And no, I don’t know why. They…” he indicated the other room, “seem to believe that it’s some sort of metaphysical love frak and that because someone doesn’t love someone enough…it’s ridiculous.”

“No. Love’s never ridiculous.” Laura took her glasses off and rubbed her face. “Frak. She wanted…She and Saul both wanted that baby so much. Caprica…” She focused on Cottle, her earlier thoughts coming back to her. “Oh, frak. Ellen. Saul. Caprica.”

“Your language, Madame President.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve got to go figure out…”

”I’ll come back another time.” Leaning forward, she stubbed the cigarette out. “And before you ask, I’m feeling tired, frequently cold so have blankets stashed where I can, I’m not eating or drinking right, but who is. Bill makes sure I eat on occasion however, and that I rest. When I can.”

“I want you to stop back by tomorrow, do more of a checkup on you.” He nodded. “Get some rest, Laura. And get him to get some rest too, if you can.”

“We’ll…try.” Standing, she folded the blanket and left it on her chair as she stepped back into her shoes. “Do you think I could see her? Or is she resting?”

“Up to you.” He nodded toward the door. “She’s in your old cubicle, you know the way. Should be resting, I had to sedate her. Saw the others head out a few minutes ago, Saul…he’s not doing well.”

“He’ll have gone to Bill. I think.” Laura managed a weak smile. “I’ll just…I won’t bother her if she’s asleep or if…someone’s there.”

“She’s not one of the final five. They have other things on their minds.” Cottle shrugged one shoulder. “Sharon may swing by when she comes to see Helo, but I think Caprica’s alone for now. Sam’s on the other side, Starbuck’s not with him right now either.”

“Very well.” Tucking her glasses into her blouse, she nodded at him. “I’ll see you later then, Doctor.”

“I’ll expect it.” He watched her leave before returning his attention to the folders in front of him.

Laura paused for a moment to get her bearings before turning to her left. A moment later, she was easing through an all too familiar curtain, stepping inside and pulling it shut behind her. Gazing at the woman on the bed, she bit her lip and took a hesitant step forward. “Caprica?”

“Madame President.” She turned her head to gaze at Laura.

“I’m so sorry.” Laura took another step forward, her hand automatically reaching out to rest lightly on the bedrail. “I was in Cottle’s office…I…I know words really won’t mean much right now, and you have no reason to believe me, but I am…sorry.”

“Thank you.” Caprica continued to stare at Laura. “Are you here to ask if I’ve started the visions yet?”

”What?” Laura straightened, eyes widening, “No, actually, I hadn’t even considered…I just…you wanted this baby so much…he was so important to…” her voice trailed off as a tear ran down Caprica’s cheek.

“Liam.” She whispered. “That was his name. I wanted Cottle to take him out of me…so he’d live. Saul wouldn’t let him…Cottle wouldn’t do it…I didn’t care…”

“But you would have…” Laura blinked, realizing that Caprica hadn’t cared about herself, that all she’d wanted was for the baby to live. “Oh, Caprica…”

“I don’t want your pity.” Caprica stared at Laura, her eyes hard.

“It’s not pity.” Absently, Laura reached out her hand resting it on Caprica’s. “I’m sorry if it…but it’s not.”

Caprica regarded her for a long moment before nodding slightly. “I believe you. Thank you.”

“Do you need anything?” Laura glanced around the cubicle, “I don’t know where Saul is…”

“He’s with…” Caprica’s voice trailed off, suddenly sounding very alone and frightened. “I don’t know where he is or who he’s with…Ellen was here, he sent her…but she…she came back…she wanted a baby. Said they couldn’t have one. It’s not my fault…wasn’t my fault, Liam, the baby that is.”

”Shh.” Taking another step closer to the bed, Laura bent toward the younger woman. “You’ll be fine. He’ll be back, I’m sure he just went to see Bill. Caprica, he loves you…”

”He thought I was Ellen.” Caprica sniffed. “Sometimes. At least once. He whispered her name…”

”Oh Gods…God.” Laura corrected herself out of deference to Caprica’s sudden tensing. “Ellen. Caprica…it’s all frakked up now, isn’t it.”

Caprica blinked in surprise at Laura’s vehemence. “What?”

“The ship…Saul…you, Ellen…Bill…me…” Absently, she wiped a tear away. “All frakked up. Sorry.”

“It is frakked up.” Caprica sighed softly. “If you find Saul…”

”I’ll tell him to come back here.” Absently, she reached out and brushed a curl off Caprica’s forehead. “Or I’ll airlock him.” At the other woman’s expression, she laughed softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t do it.”

“Thank you.” When Laura stepped back, Caprica managed a weak smile, “and thank you for coming to see me.”

“I’ve spent quite a bit of time staring at these curtains.” Glancing around, Laura sighed softly. “Would you mind if I stopped by later? If you’re still here?”

“If you’d like.” Caprica watched Laura leave, slowly pulling the curtains shut, before her eyes fluttered shut again, the hum of Sick Bay machines around her.

Ten minutes later, Laura paused at the hatch to Bill’s…their quarters and gazed up at the marine stationed there. “Is Colonel Tigh with him?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He reached for the hatch. “Arrived about twenty minutes ago.”

“Thank you.” She smiled slightly and stepped through the hatch, pausing only to slip her shoes off inside the door as she gazed at the men seated on the couch. “Saul…I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you Madam Pres…Laura.” He nodded in her direction.

“You’re welcome.” She smiled slightly at Bill before continuing into the back part of the quarters, listening as the low rumble of voices started again, accented by the clink of ice in their glasses.

Padding through the room, Laura stepped into the head, staring at her reflection as she absently picked up a brush and carefully pulled it though her wig, somehow it looked slightly different on her today. Setting the brush down, she reached up and opened the small medicine cabinet, glancing at the door before picking up the small bottle of pills and opening it. Gazing into the container, she sighed. Definitely less than the day before. “Oh, Bill…” Closing the container, she replaced it quietly and closed the cabinet.

Picking up her bag of toiletries, she took out her toothbrush and brushed her teeth. She smoked rarely…if ever, and the aftertaste reminded her why. Rinsing out her mouth, she caught sight of the gash in the wall behind her and turned to gaze at it. Bill had appropriated some of the Cylon…goo, he’d called it, and treated the gash. Tilting her head, she leaned up on her toes and gazed at it, it was almost fully covered, with a few flashes of red appearing between the crusted areas, almost throbbing with the hum of the ship. Watching it, she sighed. They were patching the fleet together, a fleet that didn’t seem to want to be patched, but wanted to remain separate…divided. Paranoia and distrust having replaced pride and focus.

She smiled faintly at a random thought of the discovery of a planet that would sustain them, and she and Bill taking a raptor and just leaving everyone and everything behind. Living with each other, no conflicts to solve, no requirements to live up to, just loving each other for the small amount of time they had left together. Not that she had any wish to leave him…but, she’d rather leave him with memories of time together being…not time together as she lay in a bed, him sitting with her as she faded. Shuddering, she stepped back and turned to face the mirror again, running the water, this time to splash on her face, the cold water mixing with the warm tears that had fallen.

Returning to the other room, she perched on the rack, half listening to the conversation in the outer room. This was something Bill was infinitely more prepared to deal with, no matter that he’d lost his almost adult son, and Saul, a son that hadn’t been born yet, they’d both suffered through the loss. Caprica’s face had almost broken her heart, after her inane conversation so many hours before, when Caprica had thought that she was implying that her child was only special because of prophecy, she genuinely hadn’t. She thought. Every child was important…or should be important to someone. No matter that the entire Cylon race probably thought she was celebrating the loss of a Cylon child somewhere, and she wouldn’t blame them after the Hera fiasco. The only difference was the few who understood that she truly thought she’d been doing the right thing. The only thing she could have done to save the child’s life until the child was strong enough…until Helo and Athena could raise the child safely. Not that it mattered in the long run. At least she’d been able to see Hera grow…

Suddenly, a thought struck her and she stood, too quickly apparently as the room tilted around her, causing her to stagger slightly, grasping the rack for balance until her head stopped spinning. Moving to the drawer Bill had designated as hers, she pulled it open, moving the few things she had around until she found the pale green scarf that she’d wrapped in a delicate piece of tissue paper. Emily had given it to her, and she occasionally wore it, usually when she needed to feel stronger, or safer, and since moving in with Bill, she’d kept it safe in the drawer…Pulling out the silky material, she let it run through her fingers. It had meant so much to her when Emily had left it…and Emily would understand…Suddenly she realized that it sounded like Saul was getting ready to leave.

Moving out into the main cabin, she watched silently as the two men clung to each other, Saul so broken…”Colonel…Saul…wait.” The men turned to watch her approach. “This is for…Liam.” At the choked sob echoed by both men, she glanced at Bill before returning her attention to Saul. “It was a gift from someone that came to mean a great deal to me before she died, it was given in love and understanding…I’d like to give it to you and Caprica for the same. For Liam…you’ll need…to wrap him in…”

Saul gazed down at Laura, standing barefoot, her hands extended with a pale green patterned scarf, her eyes filled with tears. “I…we can’t…”

“Yes.” She smiled slightly, a tear trickling down her cheek. “Yes, you can. And you will. Please, Saul?” Silently, he reached out and took the delicate material from her. “Thank you Saul.” Leaning up, she brushed a soft kiss across his cheek. “We always look after our own.”

“So say we all.” Bill echoed softly as she stepped back to his side, lacing his fingers through hers.

“So say we all.” Saul choked out, looking at Laura. “Thank you, Laura. I’ll take it to her now…”

“Good.” Laura nodded at him. “Saul, take care of her…no matter what happens, she needs you right now. Caprica needs you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded slightly and turned, the hatch shutting quietly behind him.

”You all right?” Bill glanced down at Laura, realizing she was shivering in the cool air, and that she probably hadn’t even realized it. He’d found her like that before, so engrossed in something she was concentrating on, she hadn’t realized her body was almost icy.

“Yeah. You?” She sighed softly as he led her toward the couch.

“Been better.” He sat, easing her onto his lap. “Emily’s scarf?”

“Mmm.” Relaxing into him, Laura absently reached out for the blanket and pulled it over her, nestling into Bill’s warmth as he tucked the blanket around them. “Could you help Saul?”

“I drank with him. Talked with him.” Bill dropped his head back, tightening his grip on her waist as she dropped her head against his neck. “Listened to him.”

“Caprica said they were naming him Liam.” She toyed with his collar. “After you?”

“Apparently.” They fell silent, resting against each other, both of them letting their thoughts wander. “You went to see Cottle?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah.” Laura sighed. “It was right after…he wants me to come back tomorrow. He was busy.”

“Figured you’d been to see him.” He sniffed her hair. “Smells like his smoke.”

“Hmm.” Her lips twitched. “Yeah. He was smoking. His office, his rules.”

“Lee said you were headed down there after the two of you finished up going through some more policies.” Bill took a deep breath. “Did we do the sane thing? Arming…Baltar’s people?”

“He had a point Bill.” Lifting her head, she traced his cheek. “We spoke about it this morning, before the DRADIS contacts interrupted us, the attacks in Dogsville are getting worse, there are gangs springing up with power, the Marines are spread thin. It was a solution. For now. That buys Lee a little more time to come up with a Council, and a framework for a new government. And, frighteningly enough, Gaius is actually thinking for the people. Genuinely become one of the people. I hope. It would be time for him to grow up, or have yet another personality change.”

“It’s a frakked up time, Laura.” He turned his cheek into her caress, smiling as he realized her hands were warmer now.

“Yes sir, it is.” She leaned forward and kissed him gently. “And next time, you might want to explain that your project in the bathroom involves a large gash in the ceiling…” He chuckled, “And yes, I know very well you wanted the shock value. And for him to feel like he was a lower priority that your personal needs in the head.”

“Frakking idiot grabbed my arm.” Bill still couldn’t believe Baltar had the audacity to grab him.

“Hmm.” Remembering Bill’s expression as he’d glared at Baltar when the younger man had reached out and grabbed his arm, Laura’s lips twitched as she closed her eyes and rested back against him. “What’s Saul going to do about Ellen and Caprica?”

“He doesn’t know.” Closing his eyes, he fell silent for a long moment. “Ellen hadn’t changed much.”

“I noticed.” She murmured then tensed in his arms. “Saul hasn’t told her about us, has he?” While they had continued to reveal their relationship in public, it had been subtle, at their own pace, when and where they chose to. If Ellen had the knowledge…who knew how it would be spun. Except for the fact that she had a sneaking suspicion that Ellen had believed that Laura and Bill had been in bed with each other since before her first arrival on Galactica. When there hadn’t been anything, but now that there was…she didn’t want Ellen’s perspective on what they had.

“I don’t think they’ve talked much about anything, except maybe Caprica.” With a sigh, he tightened his grip on her. “They actually never talked much. Argue, drink, frak…it’s always been a strange relationship, but worked. Usually.”

“I wonder if they were always like that.” Laura winced. “Still getting used to it being both of them.”

“Yeah. Me too.” Leaning over, he grabbed his glass and took a swallow.

“Don’t finish it.” She caught his hand and brought the glass to her lips, taking a sip before taking the glass from him and setting it back on the table. Sitting up, she turned to gaze at him, one hand lifting to run through his hair. “Feel up to a walk?”

“Comfortable here.” Bill grumbled, glancing around the room. “And you need rest.”

“No.” Standing carefully, Laura folded the blanket and tossed it back on the couch. “I want to walk. We both need it. To see…we can’t insulate ourselves Bill. We did that, you to the mechanical and military parts of Galactica, me to surviving politics, and just surviving. Didn’t work out so well. We need to go see, and feel.” She held out her hand, waiting. “I’m not saying we should go down to Dogsville, for Gods sake, not unless we both change into civilian clothes. I just want to take a walk with you through Galactica. We don’t have to be the Admiral and whatever I am now, but just Bill and Laura. Taking a walk. I really don’t think anyone will care if they see us, but they will if they don’t.”

With a sigh, he took her hand and stood, careful to not pull her over as he did. Gazing at her, he tilted his head. “Your hair looks different.”

“My hair?” She blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah. It’s…” he paused, thinking. “It’s not as dark, maybe it’s the light in here. Looks…softer too.”

“I washed it last night…” Laura shrugged, remembering she’d been thinking the same thing earlier when looking in the mirror. “It’s been slightly getting lighter the last few weeks. Maybe there’s something in the water that reacted with it over time. And, I laid it a different way when it was drying. Maybe that’s it too.”

“I like it.” As she dropped her chin, a blush rising in her cheek, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Still like you without it too.”

“Bill.” Laughing softly, she rested her hands on his chest, leaning forward and kissing him gently. “You’re not getting out of the walk.”

“Wasn’t trying to.” Stepping back, he led her toward her shoes, holding her arm as she slipped one, then the other on. “Ready?”

Laura took a breath and glanced at him. “Yeah. You?”

“Yeah.” He spun the hatch and waited as she stepped through, the guard outside taking her arm as he released it. Minutes later, they were moving through the corridor, his hand on the small of her back. “Where to?”

“I’d like to see the progress of the engine room.” She glanced at him. “And then through the Memorial Corridor?”

“A full lap it is then.” He glanced down at her shoes.

“I’ll be fine.” She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, “I’m not planning any catwalk climbing excursions. This time out.”

Bill chuckled and tightened his grip on her waist. “Glad to hear it.” They fell silent as they passed people, military and civilian, not ignoring anyone, but not engaging them in conversation, just content to be together. As they entered one of the bulkhead access areas where the patchwork was being completed, he turned and caught her hands as she stepped through the hatch. “All right?”

“Yeah.” Scanning past him, Laura gazed at the bulkheads, scaffolding surrounding them with Sixes and Eights industriously applying the material in some areas, others with it visibly hardening. “Galactica’s so large…is there enough for what you need? I mean, if this is just one area…”

“We’ll keep going until the Chief says.” He stood next to her and reached up to touch one of the hardened areas. “He says it’s like cartilage, what the…”

“Base ship is made out of.” Laura finished with a nod. “And he’s able to bridge the two? Galactica and the new material?”

“Apparently.” Satisfied with the texture of the area he’d touched, Bill glanced at her as she dropped his hand and moved forward slowly. “Laura?”

“Hmm?” Leaning slightly over the railing, she craned her neck, gazing at the workers along the scaffolding. “Just looking.”

“Be careful.” Stepping next to her, he followed her gaze. Nothing he hadn’t seen throughout the day in his various stops, but it was the first time she’d been able to see it.

“I am.” Laura glanced over her shoulder at him. “You won’t let me fall. And you wouldn’t have brought me here if it wasn’t safe.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Right?”

He chuckled. “Right. Still.”

“I know.” She returned her attention to the workers, watching them for several minutes before she returned her attention to him. “Why all Cylons?”

“There’s some civilians and marines assisting, but…we’re stretched thin.” Bill shrugged a shoulder. “And the Chief wanted to use primarily Cylons.”

“Hmm.” Nodding slowly, Laura stepped back. “Ready?”

“If you are.” Catching her hand, he led her back through the hatch, tucking her arm through his as they moved into the hall. “You’ll tell me if you’re getting tired?”

“Bill.” Laughing softly, she bumped her shoulder against his. “Stop hovering.”

“Not hovering.” He grumbled.

“Then stop being overprotective.” She smiled at a passing crewman.

“Not being overprotective.” He sighed and nodded at another passing Six.

Laura laughed softly. “Fine.”

“Fine.” He sighed. “Lee coming over tonight?”

“About twenty hundred.” Glancing at him, she watched his expression tighten. “He’s going through some dossiers on potential temporary candidates from each ship. A stopgap measure so we can have additional input on how to formulate the government. He’s going to have some people for us to look at.”

“You eaten today?” At her look, he clarified. “Just wondering if we should eat before he gets here, or if we should wait. Since he’s going to be here later.”

“I had something…I don’t know, a few hours ago.” Laura squeezed his arm. “So, I’m all right waiting until Lee gets here, if you are.”

“Yeah.” Bill nodded slightly.

As they turned down another corridor, she met the gazes of a Six and Eight as they passed down supplies for the repairs. Laura managed a slight smile in their direction before Bill had led her around another corridor. Closing her eyes, she trusted him to lead her along the familiar pathways, relaxing in his presence and the comforting noises of Galactica surrounding them. If she ignored the faint smells of blood and gunpowder, she could almost imagine the mutiny had never happened…that they were just an ordinary couple strolling along together in the evening. Something she’d never really done before, probably would never do, so this was what she had. And surprisingly, Laura didn’t mind at all.

Sometimes, in her previous life before the attacks, when she was still the Secretary of Education, she’d missed the companionship of a lover, the little things like walking along hand in hand, glances between the two of them at shared memories or jokes, being held in a strong pair of arms just because…the affair with Adar had been accidental at the beginning, too much champagne, too little food, too many memories that she’d wanted to erase, all combined with a lapse in judgment, that led one night she didn’t remember to something she’d settled for, realizing very quickly that she was in over her head with no way to get out. There wasn’t really a quid pro quo, per se, but…she had so much she wanted to do, and needed to be where she was professionally to do it. And so, right until that last day on Caprica…Involuntarily she shuddered, remembering.

“Cold?” Concerned, Bill stopped and looked at her, blue eyes meeting her hazel green ones as they flew open, startled as he reached up to touch her chin so he could see her face.

“No. Memories.” Glancing up and down the corridor and realizing it was empty; she gave into impulse and brushed a kiss against his cheek. “Of before. I’m fine, really.”

He sighed again. “Sure?”

“I’m here, with you.” Laura smiled and nudged him with her shoulder. “Yes.”

“If you’re sure.” Resuming their walk, they approached the Memorial Corridor, stopping briefly so Laura could light a candle in front of the pictures of Billy and the Quorum, Bill’s eyes moving along the other pictures in the area as he waited. As she stood and slipped her arm through his again, he pressed her hand. “Ready?”

“Hmm.” Not trusting her voice just yet, she smiled slightly, nodding at a familiar marine who was passing them. They’d just resumed their walk, when Laura glanced to her right, down an adjacent corridor and caught sight of a Six, reaching out to touch a picture. Reaching out to Bill’s arm, she whispered, ‘wait,” and turned, watching. She knew it wasn’t Caprica, the hair was different, and she knew Cottle wouldn’t have let her out of Sick Bay yet, but there was something about the way the Six was gazing at a section of the picture covered wall that entranced Laura. As the Six moved away from them, Laura glanced at Bill quickly then stepped toward the wall, letting her hand run along Bill’s arm as she turned, catching his hand and leading him toward the section of wall the Six had just left.

As he stopped behind her, fingers still laced together, her breath caught at the pictures of the Cylons mixed with humans…”These are the Cylons that have died with us since the alliance.” Her voice was low, raspy, as she realized that the intermingling of the humans and Cylons wasn’t just limited to flying together or repairing Galactica. She looked back at Bill as he stared at the wall. “I didn’t know they were doing that, did you?” Although as Laura gazed at him, she knew he hadn’t known. The stoic warrior look was back, which meant he was holding tight rein on his emotions, confusion running through him as sensibility fought with history. As he shook his head slightly, she returned her attention to the wall, looking at the slight differences in the different pictures of the models.

Shaking his head slightly, he took a breath. “It’s already happened, hasn’t it.” At her soft hmm, he stepped forward. He’d known she would know exactly what he was talking about, continuing a conversation that had been started and broken off hours before. Involuntarily, he reached up and toward a Galactica ID card of one of the Eights…Boomer, almost touching it before his hand drifted away.

Silently, he released her hand, tucking it into his elbow again before they resumed their walk, both of their minds wrapping around the pictures they’d just seen as they continued through the corridors.

When they returned to his quarters, Laura sank down on the couch and watched as he moved to the table and picked up the liquor bottle, eyeing it for a moment before replacing it with a soft click and pouring two glasses of water. Carrying them over toward her, he handed one glass to Laura before seating himself next to her. “Thank you.” She took a quick swallow and sighed, pulling her glasses off and placing them on the table in front of her before leaning back and nestling into him. “What time is it?”

Bill glanced at the clock on the wall, “Just before nineteen hundred.” Leaning forward, he tossed his glasses next to hers. “Lee’s here at twenty?” She hmmed softly and took another swallow of water. “You need to review anything before he gets here, or can you rest some?”

“I should review what he sent earlier, but I already glanced at it. That should suffice for now.” Tilting her head back, Laura finished the water. “Can we just…stay here for a bit?”

Finishing his water, he glanced at the pile of folders on his desk. “Sure. Hold on a minute.” Nudging her, he took the glass from her hand and set the glasses on the table before angling his body so he was leaning against the corner of the couch. “Here, better?”

She slid over and rested against him, eyes closing as his arms went around her. “Feet cold.”

“Of course they are.” With a resigned chuckle, he reached back and grabbed the blanket, tossing it so it covered their feet. “Better?”

“I know. Should keep shoes on.” Laura sighed and listened to his heartbeat under her ear.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Pressing a kiss against the top of her head, he smiled. “Rest, Laura.”

“Mmm.” Safe in his arms, she let her mind wander again, thinking about the walk they’d just taken, the condition of Galactica, the people’s faces…human and Cylon…and to earlier that day, Caprica in Sick Bay, Saul’s grief…Did it really matter if they were human or Cylon? She of all people had no right to be hypocritical of the Cylons…she wasn’t one, but part of her blood was. Something most people, including her, didn’t even think about anymore. Except Gaius, and the frakking idiot only brought it up every frakking time it was convenient for him.

“Stop thinking about Baltar.” At the murmur, her eyes flew open. “You have a certain huffy sigh when you’re thinking about him.”

“Huffy sigh?” She grimaced. “Fine.”

“Laura.” He tightened his arms around her again. “We have about twenty minutes before we need to get back to dealing with everything. I’d like to spend that time with you resting in my arms so I can rest. All right?”

Laura giggled softly, running her fingers along his arm. “All right old man.”

“Not going to work, Roslin.” Bill chuckled. “My son is traumatized enough by that kiss a few days ago without having him walk in on us…doing anything else.”

“Apollo’s a big boy.” She shifted, turning in his embrace. “But, I do agree.”

“So then, rest.” Closing his eyes, he sighed softly. “We’ve a lot to do.”

“Yes,” Laura gazed at him for a long moment before leaning up and kissing him lightly. “And, we’ll do it together.” His lips curved up in a slight smile as she settled back down, both of them drifting in their thoughts.