Written by Laumae

AU retelling of ressurrection ship part two. None of the characters are mine, only the thoughts and ideas contained here with in. Character death.

Part 1:

Roslin woke up tired and depleted. She had been getting up later and later everyday.

Billy was at her side as she awoke.

"Madame President?" He queried, sadness hung in his voice.

"Billy." she said hoarsely. "I must look pretty bad -" she started coughing. He gave her a glass of water. She took a drink, it was cold and hurt going down. She winced. "Thanks."

"I'm sorry." Billy said tears running down his cheeks as he couldn't help but see her condition; she was dying, and soon she would be gone.

"Billy, my son-" Laura said starting to cry. The end would come so soon, she could feel it. Billy took her hand, and gave her a hug. He held the frail woman until her frame no longer shook. "Thanks, I needed that." Laura smiled at the boy.

"Did you mean it? Am I really like your son?" The tears hung in his eyes like they were waiting for her answer.

"Ofcourse." She squeezed his hand. Her breathing was uneven and painful. "How's Dee?" Laura asked trying to change the subject.

Billy shook his head. "She's amazing, I love her." He said forlornly.

"What's wrong?"

"She doesn't love me. She hasn't said anything, but. . . The way she looks when she speaks of him." Billy made a fist and rested his forehead on it for a second.

Laura was stunned, she thought everything was going great. "Who? I wasn't aware that there was anyone else. . ."

"There isn't, he doesn't love her, he doesn't think of her like that. It's Apollo. So, you know how he is with Starbuck." Billy was clearly upset about it.

"Oh, Billy I'm sorry." she tried to smile. "I have so much to do before. . ."

Billy nodded, "Anything I can help with?"

"Feel like delivering any messages, after I go?" The words didn't want to come out, they stayed in her throat, as if she still had to say them.

He grimaced, "I'll do anything for you, Madam President."

"Tell Anastasia that I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye personally, but that I know what she did for me, and for the fleet and I appreciate it." Laura took a drink of water again.

Billy nodded, then stopped, "To what are you alluding Madam President?"

"That is, as they say, nonya." She smiled. "Billy, I wrote another will last night. It's on the desk. I want you to make sure that-" She started coughing. "Make sure that Bill speaks at my funeral.' She whispered.

"Commander Adama ma'am?" Billy asked knowing full well who she meant.

She nodded and tried to sit up. "Send to Galactica and ask him to come asap, there's not much time left." She said breathlessly. "If he doesn't make it, give him the black box on the stand, he'll understand.' Laura faintly squeezed his hand. He got up and left the room.

The pain was so intense, so extreme. She passed out.

Billy came back in to the president's quarters. He shook her arm. "Madam President, the Galactica is currently in the middle of the battle." She didn't respond at all. He shook her arm again.

Billy picked up the phone and asked one of the other aids to find Cottle.

Cottle came out from seeing the President.

"How is she?" Billy asked wringing his hands.

"Son, she's dying. There's nothing I can do. I've given her the strongest pain killer we've got." Cottle shrugged.

Billy started nervously pacing; he was terrified of what might happen. Cottle approached him, and grabbed his arms. "Laura is dying, son, face it. She doesn't have allot of time, get the people she cares about here." Cottle said harshly, but not with out compassion. Cottle put out his cigarette and went back to the President.

Billy called the Galactica again. "Dee?" Billy asked, in the background it sounded like a party.

"Billy?" Dee asked, "Billy, The resurrection ship is gone!" She said excitedly.

"Dee, the President just collapsed, Tell Adama to get over here as soon as possible."

"Oh gods, Billy." Dualla said as it hit her. "Right away." Dualla said tearing up. "Commander Adama, you're needed right away on Colonial one, it's the president." she said starting to Cry.

Adama knew it was bad, tears welled in his eyes replacing the merriment of just moments before. Fisk saw the change. He saw Adama's humanity.

"Order two transports to prepare for Colonial One." Adama ordered. .

"He's coming Billy. I'm so sorry." Dee said hanging up.

"Tell Apollo and Starbuck to join me when they get back. I can't wait for them." He said running out of the room.

As the news quickly spread through the large CIC that Adama had just left to see the president, the rumors varied from that he was just going to tell her the good news, to that she had died.

One of the marines signaled to Fisk asking if it was the right time, as the phone rung for Adama. Fisk picked up and told Cain that Adama had just left for Colonial one. Fisk hung up, and signaled back to the marine. He called it off. He would not kill Adama, he would not end his reign of humanity. The marine shrugged and joined the celebration of the resurrection ship.

Adama's pain overwhelmed him as his transport flew to the colonial one. He was going to loose her, just as he had got her.

Billy shook the president's shoulder. "Billy." she said painfully.

"Adama's coming." She smiled.

"He can't se me like this, get me my suit." Billy went and got her suit.

"Help me get it on, please." She asked him taking off her robe to reveal a long white teeshirt. Billy hesitated. "For god's sake Billy, this is no time to be squeamish." She said feebly trying to get her blazer on. He put her arms through the sleeves. Then he helped her stand up, and put the skirt on her around the long teeshirt. "Thank you." She whispered weakly, and exhausted.

She grabbed the black box on the bed stand, and tried to stand up, failing miserably. "Oh gods." she said despairingly. "Billy help me get to my office." He nodded, and put her arm around his shoulders. He stood up with her, and got her to her office. He helped her into her chair, and gave her some water. "Good, thank you so much, now get me some make up." she said with a bit more spirit. Billy laughed. "You think I'm joking?"

"Oh, Yes Ma'am." Billy smiled, leaving the room to get her make up.

Laura drank the water gratefully, it was going to take all her energy she could muster to pull this off. Billy soon returned, and the make up was applied.

Billy looked at her when they were done getting her ready, she looked like she death warmed over, even with the make up.

"How do I look?" Roslin asked tentatively.

"Great." Billy said choking up. He hung his head. A knock came from the door, and Adama entered. His eyes went to Laura. She encompassed his world. He could see death in her eyes. He went slowly and laboriously to her side. Her eyes followed him, swelling with tears.

She held out her hand for him. It shook fearfully, the tears streamed down her face. He took her hand with both of his and sat down across the desk.

"Billy." She whispered, nodding for him to leave. Adama realized there was another person in the room, and looked at Billy.

What Billy saw in his eyes shocked him. Adama was scared, Billy could see Adama's heart breaking. He could see the pain and sorrow. Billy had never thought of it before. Adama loved the President. Realization flashed through his mind. He stumbled out of the room. He had never seen him so scared.

Adama turned back to Roslin. She squeezed his hand and let go. She pushed the black box over to him. "It's the only thing I can do for you." she said with as much strength and voice as she could.

He took it and opened it. She was making him Admiral. He hunched over and started crying.

"Bill-" she said choking up. "Put it on." She said the tears rolling down her cheeks. He attached the pin to his Jacket.

He looked up at her.

"Don't leave me." She said as well as she could. He stood up, and got around the table. He took both of her hands, and leaned against her desk.

"I promise." He said. He looked into her eyes, they were scared, and searched his eyes for security, for comfort. He bent down and encompassed her with his arms. She threw her arms around his neck. "Laura." He said crying.

"I'm sorry, Bill. I love you." She said going limp in his arms. He picked her up, and carried her behind the curtain, to her bed. He laid her down, put the blankets around her, and tenderly kissed her lips. She stirred slightly. He caressed her cheek, then left to get Billy and Cottle. He knew she would have to be taken to the med bay on the ship. It was time, if anything was to be done at all.

They got Laura down to the med bay. Adama held her hand the whole time. They hooked her up to the machines, they gave her pain medication. It's help was only marginal.

Apollo and Starbuck came in due time. They both knew, or rather suspected, the relationship between Adama and Roslin.

Roslin opened her eyes to find Adama still at her side. He was still there for her. She weakly smiled.

She tried to speak but nothing came out.

"Shh, it's okay." Adama said calmly.

A tear ran out of Roslin's eye. Adama petted her hand, and gave it a small kiss. Roslin tried to squeeze his hand, but it was a feeble attempt. Her time was up, and Adama knew it.

He gently stroked her cheek, and leaned in to kiss her lightly. He looked into her eyes. They told him everything, she was leaving.

"Bill." She faintly whispered, "love you, goodbye."

Tears streamed out of his eyes, as her expression went blank, and all life left her body. He put his arms around her dead body, and cried for her.

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