Under the Table

“Ma’am, please.” At the unexpected pleading tone in Kara’s voice, Laura Roslin looked up and blinked. “You have to.”

“Kara…” Laura sighed and rested her elbows on the desk. “Why do I have to?”

“Because,” sensing a slight weakening in Laura’s tone, Kara pulled a chair up to face the desk and deftly straddled it. “I need you there. I mean, Cally, Racetrack, and a few others will be there, but, she…I mean, she wants to give this thing since Sam and I got married, you’re the only chance we have of not being her target…”

“So you want me there to be who’s target?” One eyebrow raised.

Frak. That had totally come out wrong. Kara frowned and took a breath. “That’s not what I mean. I know she had this whole, ‘I’m the XO’s wife and so I need to control everything thing going on up on Galactica’, but we’re not there now, and she still tends to be a bit bullheaded, and I tend to be a bit bullheaded, and since I’m not sure if she’s being nice or has her own agenda, and with you there, I stand a better chance of not frakking everything up. Ma’am.” She winced. “Like I think I just did.”

Laura took her glasses off and set them to the side before returning her attention to Kara, who looked like a taller version of one of her students, one strand of hair being twirled nervously around a finger as she bit at her lower lip. “Ellen Tighe? She’s the one who wants to give you a…what?”

“She said I should have had an engagement party or something before the wedding, but since Sam and I just went and got married, she wants to do a girls night thing.” Kara wrinkled her nose in disgust. “And she went and got a place and everything.”

“Kara…I’m, well, flattered, but,” Laura shook her head slightly in confusion. “Me?”

“You need a night out too.” Kara shrugged. “And don’t tell me you don’t know how to relax, because I saw you and the Old…I mean the Admiral, when Sam and I went and grabbed you…and well, if Ellen Tighe gets out of control, you can handle her…without…”

Laura’s eyebrow raised again, “without you breaking her nose?”

Kara sighed. “Something like that. Please?”

“What if I break her nose?” Laura leaned back and crossed her arms, enjoying the look of disbelief on Kara’s face.

“You?” Kara blinked. “I mean…no offense ma’am, but…”

“Kidding.” With a soft laugh she stood and came around the desk to lean on it as she looked down at the younger woman. “Here’s the deal. I go to this thing and keep you from killing Ellen Tighe, I want something in return.”

Kara’s eyes narrowed. “What in return?”

Laura crossed her arms. “I want you to come and talk to the students about…flying. What it takes, how it applies mathematical skill and knowledge.”

“To the kids?” Kara snorted, “like…nuggets?”

“Just the older ones.” Laura nodded. “That’s my deal.”

Kara thought a moment and nodded slowly before extending her hand. “Deal.”

“Deal.” Laura solemnly shook Kara’s hand. “I’ll give you a chance to work up to it, shall we say…next week?”

“I can do that.” She nodded. “So, you’ll be there tonight?”

“I can do that.” Laura echoed Kara. “Where?”

“The meadow.” Kara grimaced. “She had a tent put out there and arranged for a bar and stuff.”

“Ellen Tighe throwing a drinking party,” Laura laughed. “How surprising.”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” Kara stood. “Cally and I can swing by and take you with us, we’ll be by about seven?”

“I’ll see you then.” Laura turned and returned to the desk. “Can you ask Tory to come back and see me when you pass her? I have a feeling I might not make it in very early tomorrow.”

“Yes ma’am.” With a grin, Kara turned and left the small room.

Several hours later, Laura grimaced slightly as she tightened her belt. What the frak had she been thinking to say yes to Kara Thr…Anders. Just because she knew Bill cared for her as the daughter he’d never had, and ever since Kobol she and Kara had some sort of bond, that didn’t mean she’d had to say yes to an evening of entertainment provided by Ellen Tighe. While she could admit that Ellen was easier to deal with in recent weeks, that could also be because Laura hadn’t really been out and about except for the Groundbreaking Day last week. Her cheeks flushed lightly, remembering Bill’s visit, and them being dragged to Kara and Sam’s sudden wedding the next morning, both she and Bill drawing on every bit of reserve they could summon to appear sober and…well, appropriate as the Admiral and former President should be.

”Ma’am?” Kara’s voice came from outside the tent, followed by a hesitant knock on the center tent pole.

“Coming.” Laura glanced around the tent and deliberately took her glasses off, placing them on the table before she blew out the lamp and stepped outside. “And Kara,” she paused only to fasten the flaps before she glanced up with a grin. “Perhaps tonight you could just call me Laura?”

“Yes Ma…” She sighed. “Um, Laura.”

“Better.” Laura glanced at the petite brunette. “That goes for you too, Cally.”

“No problem.” Cally smiled at her. “Thanks for doing this, I mean, I can’t drink, but well, I mean…”

”Just think of it as a mission you have to complete.” Laura fell in step with the other two as they strode down the street. “Break it up and find the small stuff to focus on, ignore the annoying things or break them down into smaller things to focus on.”

“Like, dealing with Ellen can be broken down.” Kara grimaced. “I shouldn’t say it, I mean I know she’s trying, but for gods sake…”

“I remember when she first came to the Galactica.” Laura laughed softly, remembering that absurd dinner Bill had conned her into, on the pretense that she could get a better idea of what Ellen was like. “She was…well, she didn’t…in politics, and in the military…well, it’s good that…Saul adored her. So there had to be something there.”

“Still believe that?” Kara sighed as Cally laughed.

“Of course.” Laura paused as they crossed from the main part of the settlement onto the path that would lead them to the meadow, where they could already see figures moving around in a dimly lit tent. “She does have good fashion sense. And, since she’s been here with Saul…”

“They do love each other.” Cally inserted quietly. “It’s kinda strange, I mean with what she was like up there, but here…”

“True.” Laura nodded. “But…” her voice trailed off with a sigh as Ellen’s voice, muffled slightly by the tent, pealed in laughter.

“Laura.” Kara stopped and looked at her head on. “Um, thanks. And please don’t let me hit her?”

”Back at you.” With a laugh, Laura gestured toward the tent. “Let’s go ladies.”

“Kara! The guest of honor…” Ellen’s eyes widened in disbelief at the woman who followed Kara into the tent. “Madame…”

”No longer.” Laura nudged Kara in the back, forcing her into the main area of the tent as Cally pulled her coat off. “Just back to being a teacher.”

“Of course.” Ellen recovered and indicated the bar. “Ladies pick your poison.”

“Easy enough for me.” Cally sighed and moved toward the bar. “Water.”

“Um, Ellen. Um,” Kara stumbled as Laura nudged her again, “I mean, I wanted to say thanks again for the party.”

“Don’t thank me too much dear.” Ellen raised her glass. “Saul’s doing the same for dear Sam.”

“So I heard.” Kara shrugged her coat off. “Something about fair’s fair.”

“Go get a drink.” Laura whispered in Kara’s ear and pushed her toward the bar as she stepped forward. “It was nice of you Ellen. Thank you.”

“I’m surprised to see you here.” Ellen stepped forward, one arm around her waist, the other gesturing with her half empty glass. “I didn’t think Kindergarten teachers went for this sort of thing.”

”This sort of thing?” Laura glanced around the tent, at the table set up with cards on it, and the bar with bottles and glasses. “Well, I do have more students than kindergarteners, so we’ll see. And anyway, Kara asked me.”

“Ah, a family thing.” Ellen raised an eyebrow and laughed.

“A family thing?” Laura mimicked the eyebrow move and waited, wondering where the frakking woman was going with her thoughts.

“I mean, you and she were close, finding Kobol and all.” Her head tilted toward the bar. “But, here I am, talking away and you don’t even have a drink yet.”

“No.” Her smile cool, Laura pulled her coat off and hung it on a rack next to the door. “Not yet.” She glanced over her shoulder at the other woman. “What are you drinking?”

“Ambrosia.” Ellen lifted the glass. “But, you don’t drink that, do you? I mean you didn’t have any at that little dinner Bill threw. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of tea and water.”

“Hmm.” Laura smiled and crossed to the bar. Selecting a glass, she scanned the bottles and reached out for one.

“Laura.” Kara blinked in surprise. “You know…”

”I know what it is.” Pouring the green liquid into the glass she turned around and lifted it toward Ellen then brought it to her lips and tilted her head back, draining it in one swallow. Raising the now empty glass toward Ellen again, she turned around and refilled the glass.

“Frak me…” Kara’s whisper broke the sudden silence.

“Well.” Ellen swallowed and gestured toward the table. “Ladies, take a seat.”

Several hours later, they sat around the table, playing cards discarded on its top, all of them laughing at Kara’s latest story about Sam’s attempts to build a pyramid field and get teams together.

“To men,” Ellen lifted her glass. “And their games.”

“Of all kinds.” Kara added with a laugh before they all took a drink.

“So Laura.” Ellen leaned forward and refilled all the glasses, except Cally’s. “You seem to have your own games.”

“Hmm.” Laura’s husky laugh caught Kara’s attention, there was something about it that she recognized as…nah, couldn’t be. Kara glanced at Racetrack, who had the same confused expression on her face. Despite the past few hours, which had been almost pleasant, Kara couldn’t imagine Roslin, well, her last laugh had been almost…as if all of a sudden she was playing with Ellen Tigh.

“I mean, with being in…politics for so many, many years.” Ellen’s lips twitched. “You must have seen all sorts of things.”

“That’s one way to put it.” Laura’s voice was completely steady as she gazed at Ellen. “As would have you, being a career military man’s wife through the years.” She raised her glass. “To the men who…entertain us.”

Ellen nodded slightly. “Who entertain us.”

“And,” Laura’s voice stopped all of them, midway to bringing their glasses to their lips, “Entertain us…faithfully.” Eyes locked with Ellen’s she nodded and lifted her glass, draining it.

Racetrack leaned over to murmur in Callie’s ear. “What the frak is she doing?”

Callie shook her head and glanced at them. “I don’t know,” she murmured back as Kara cleared her throat.

“Um, to us,” She glanced at Laura, who was demurely filling the glasses on the table. “May we continually keep our men off balance…”

Racetrack grinned, “and in our racks.” She lifted her glass, waiting as the others burst out in laughter and raised their glasses. They’d just downed the drinks when a soft chime sounded, eliciting a groan from her. “All right, last flight back up, let’s go.”

“Me too.” Cally yawned. “I’ll walk back with you. Kara…”

“Thanks Cal,” Kara gently hugged Cally, running a hand along her stomach. “Take care of the kid, y’know?”

“So I can have more and you don’t have to.” Cally grinned. “Sam might have something to say ‘bout it.”

A few minutes later, the tent flap fell and silence fell across the remaining three women, who eyed each other thoughtfully. “No running away schoolteacher?” Ellen leaned back in her chair, eyes challenging Laura.

“Kara asked me, she’s here, I’m here.” Laura leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, it had been a long time since she’d let herself relax, be part of the girl talk. And truth be told, she it was nice to let her sensibilities be…dulled slightly, for a short time.

“Um…” Kara looked back and forth between them. “I guess we should call it a night…”

“We’ve still ambrosia.” Ellen sat up and filled the three glasses. “Your toast, teacher.”

“Hmm.” Laura lifted the glass and eyed the contents. “My toast. Let’s do it differently.”

“Really.” Ellen lifted her glass. “Ambrosia kink. Interesting.”

“You’d think that way, wouldn’t you.” Laura sat back and nodded at Kara, who slowly picked up her glass. “Truth Ellen.”

“Ah.” Ellen laughed, her head falling back. “Truth? Very well. If you can tell.”

“Kara?” Laura glanced at her.

“Um. Okay.” She felt like she’d fallen into an FTL jump without coordinates. “Truth?”

“Ellen.” Laura tilted her head. “Truth. Saul.”

“Ah.” Ellen laughed again and downed the drink. “Saul. When I met him, he was the epitome of an up and coming officer, he just needed some…molding, some encouragement. And when he didn’t fulfill…I went elsewhere.”

“I called truth.” Laura murmured after a long moment. “Finish.”

“Drink.” Ellen challenged with a lift of an eyebrow. “Both of you.”

“Very well.” Laura tossed back the drink, followed a moment later by Kara then waited until Ellen filled the glasses again. “Finish.”

“Your turn.” Ellen’s eyes darted from Laura to Kara, then back again. “Kara. Did you know that Laura was frakking the Admiral?”

Kara laughed and tossed back the drink. “Hasn’t happened yet. Fun to watch them figure it out though.” She shook her head and reached for the bottle before realizing Ellen and Laura hadn’t emptied their glasses yet. “Frak….” Her eyes widened in shock. “Um…drink?” After they obediently drank, she filled their glasses sloppily, while they stared at each other. “Laura.”

When she fell silent, Ellen’s smile spread lazily. “Go ahead Kara, ask it.”

“Um. Laura.” Kara took a deep breath. “Are you…um, frak. You and the Admiral…”

Laura raised the glass and downed it. “Yes.” She lifted the empty glass toward Ellen and waited.

Ellen laughed softly and downed her drink as Laura picked up the bottle. “The teacher has depths. Who knew.”

“Ellen.” Laura held up her glass as Kara stared at them. “Does Kara know about you groping Lee and telling Saul that both Adama’s wanted her?”

“How the frak…” Ellen’s smile disappeared and she downed the drink as Laura matched her. “Laura.” She filled their glasses then stared at the other woman, her eyes narrowing. “Does Bill know about your affair with the former president?”

Laura laughed and downed the drink. “Of course he knows. And I know about Carolanne.” She watched Ellen’s face pale. “And before you ask, I knew about Richard’s other affairs, the ones I wasn’t supposed to know about. All of them.” Watching Ellen drink the liquor, she filled the glasses, both of them ignoring Kara, still staring between them, her drink sitting forgotten in front of her. “Ellen. Tom?”

Ellen’s hand shook as she lifted the glass and drained it. “For Saul. I thought.” She accepted Laura’s tilt her head as the end of an acceptable answer. Her hand still shaking, she filled the glasses. “Laura….” Laura stared at her, waiting for the question until Ellen took another breath. “How long?”

Laura lifted the glass and hesitated. “Clarify.”

Ellen’s bitter laugh cut through the air. “How long have you and the Admiral been frakking us all around about the separation of military and civilian powers?”

Laura nodded and drank. “We never…frakked around when we were both in office. In your own terms. Drink.” She waited until the glasses were empty. “Ellen.”

“Frak.” The other woman hissed as the green ambrosia splashed into the glasses.

“Hmm.” Looking into her eyes, Laura took a deep breath. “Do you love Saul?”

“Do I…” Ellen shook her head in confusion, trying to clear it.

“Do you love Saul.” Laura repeated softly. “Finish the first answer.”

Ellen shakily drank the ambrosia. “Yes. I changed. No one but Saul now…Love him. Anything for him.” her head dropped to the table with an audible thump as Kara and Laura watched. Seconds later a soft snore came from her.

“That was…” Kara broke off as Laura lifted the glass to her lips and drained it. “Frak. You drank her under…” her voice trailed off again as she realized Laura was lifting an eyebrow in her direction. Obeying the unspoken order, she drained her glass, still staring at Laura. “You and that prick of a President? What the frak were you thinking?”

Laura burst out in laughter as Kara refilled their glasses. “That’s what you want to ask me?”

“He was a…” Kara grimaced. “You…and he?”

“It was a stupid thing, that turned into a convenient thing, that turned into a…” Laura drank and set the glass back down heavily. “Frak it Kara, I don’t know. Looking back…I was different then, full of frakkin ideals of what it meant…it was just stupid…” Picking up the bottle she hesitated, waiting for Kara’s nod before continuing.

”I don’t think any less of you.” With a grin, Kara finished her drink and pushed the glass toward Laura, who filled it. “Makes you more human.”

“Okay.” Squinting, she filled both glasses. “Kara. Do you love Sam.”

Kara grinned and lifted her glass. “Frakkin’ a.” She tossed it back and waited for Laura to do the same before she grabbed the bottle. “Keep up teacher?”

“Her I take it from. You, no.” Laura grinned. “And yes. I can.”

“You sure you weren’t a pilot?” Kara filled the glasses and frowned. “That’s it.”

“So make the question count.” Laura leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Starbuck.”

“Fine. Airlock.” Kara’s eyebrows raised as she waited for Laura’s reaction.

“I know about the frakking callsign.” She grinned. “Bill told me. So, make the question count.”

“Ah.” Kara picked up her glass and gazed at it in the lamplight for a long moment before a grin spread across her face. “Fair’s fair Airlock. Do you love the Admiral.”

Laura’s head dropped back as she laughed. “Fine.”

“No. Wait.” Kara shook her head. “Different question. You didn’t drink yet.”

Laura’s laugher dissolved into a giggle. “Make up your mind.”

“Wait. Wait…” Kara bit her lip, eyes wide with mischief. “Okay, I’ve got it. Okay. Um, when Sam and I came to get you to be our witness…”

“Don’t go there…” Laura shook her head. “Don’t even go there.”

“Too late.” Kara giggled. “And I’ve got a backrub from Sam riding on this. Never thought I’d get to collect though. Did we wake you up or interrupt…”

“Frak.” Groaning, Laura ran a hand through her hair then tossed the drink back. “Frak it. Fine. But, if you ever tell anyone but Sam, or Sam tells anyone, I’ll find a frakking airlock and prove I earned my callsign.”

“I knew it!” Kara drained her glass and slammed if down. “Hey, Airlock, it’s fine you know? I mean, he’s…he needs…you. I mean, you two are just, I don’t know, right together.”

“Kara. Starbuck.” Laura reached out and grabbed her arm. “You can’t tell anyone. As far as anyone and everyone is concerned, he’s the Admiral, I’m a teacher down on New Caprica. For now. That’s what everyone needs to know.”

“Laura. Airlock.” Kara beckoned her closer so they were almost nose to nose and dropped her voice to a whisper. “I don’t think it’s that much of a secret.”

“But no one has proof.” Laura’s lips curved up in a sly smile.

“Sandbags aren’t that private.” Kara giggled. “And tents aren’t soundproof.” Laura’s face flushed, her eyes widening in panic before she dropped her face into the crook of her arm as Kara burst out laughing. “Hey, Airlock…not really. Just wanted to see your face…Lee and I saw you at the sandbags…” her voice trailed off as Laura lifted her face to stare at Kara.

“What?” Kara frowned defensively. “Lee and I were talking. Sam and I…woke you. That’s all.”

“Uh huh.” Laura stared into Kara’s eyes until the other woman looked away. “Kara…”

“I love Sam.” She whispered, her eyes darting around the room until she finally looked back at Laura. “I do.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Laura edged her chair over until she could wrap her arms around Kara. “Shh, it’s all right. Kara…”

“I’m okay.” Kara sniffed and shook her head. “Really.”

“Mmmhmm.” Laura reached up and brushed Kara’s hair back. “You’re married now Kara. That’s more than I’ve ever managed.”

”Yeah. But, you…” Kara shrugged one shoulder. “Do you…”

“Bill makes me feel…” Laura dropped her head for a moment then raised it to gaze into Kara’s eyes. “I wish I’d met him years ago. But, I’m not who I was twenty years ago, ten years ago, two years ago…I never wanted to be President, or anything else I’ve ended up being to, well, everyone. But I am. Bill makes me feel like Laura. Just Laura. I don’t have to think, or be, or frakking lead anyone or be anything to anyone but just his Laura. And I needed…need those moments, the five minutes a day I could just be…”

“I have to fly.” Kara mumbled. “It’s…I’m someone else, everything I need to control when I’m not in a viper…I can do…But, I’m me…”

“And that’s what being is about.” Laura smiled and glanced at Ellen, still snoring softly on the table. “We should let Saul know. He’ll worry about her.”

“You and the old man going to get married?” Kara leaned back in her chair.

“Why the frak is it that every time someone gets married, they have to marry everyone else around them off.” Laura groaned. “And no. Once again, he’s the Admiral, I’m a teacher on New Caprica.”

“Uh huh.” With a grin, Kara leaned forward and pulled at the necklace Laura wore, finally pulling out the small item under her shirt. “And you started wearing dogtags when? Which means technically, the Admiral is out of uniform.”

“Frak it Kara.” Laura pulled back and pushed the necklace back under her shirt. “It’s one of his tags. Not both. So no, he’s not out of uniform.”

“You’re going steady then?” Kara burst out laughing as Laura tried to stand, losing her balance for a moment before propping herself up. “Mom?”

“Don’t.” Laura pointed down at Kara and attempted to fix her best teacher look on the laughing woman. Which had no frakking effect at all. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Just letting you know, I have no problem with it at all.” Kara stumbled to her feet. “Don’t know about…Lee, but, just so y’know, I don’t have a problem with it at all.”

”Just with walking.” Laura burst out laughing. “C’mon Starbuck, You have a husband to get home to.”

“Hey, Airlock.” Wrapping her arm around Laura’s waist, Kara waited until they’d balanced against each other and headed toward the tent entrance. “Hey, wait a minute.” She leaned over and picked up an almost empty bottle left on the bar. “To Airlock.” She opened and shut her mouth a few more times, then unable to find the words, shrugged and took a drink out of the bottle before handing it to Laura. “Your turn.”

“Fine.” Laura laughed. She hadn’t felt like this in far too long. Too bad Bill wasn’t around to see it, although he’d gotten a glimpse of this side of her at the Groundbreaking Day. “Um. To…Starbuck.” She lifted the bottle and paused, a twisted smile on her face. “And the men we frakkin love.”

“Frakkin a, Airlock.” Kara burst out laughing again as Laura upended the bottle, finishing it before carefully replacing it on the bar. “Frakkin a.”