Title: Pegasus Constricting
Rating: K (general audience)
Summary: Adama's thoughts during the episode "Pegasus"
Pairing: A/R very much implied
At first when he sees her, he's relieved. He's been exhausted for longer than he remembers. But he's worried the minute he sees her eyes. They're cold and harsh and its all he can do not to move just a little closer in front of Laura because of them. The President doesn't seem to notice, or if she does she gives no indication that she knows he's being overprotective.
They shake amiably, as do Cain and himself. When the deck erupts in euphoria, everyone is hugging and jumping around like kids just minutes into summer vacation. He has to smile then, just a bit, enjoying the sight of so many grinning officers and deck crew. Laura, Lee, and Kara all laughing and looking around at all their new acquaintances with absolute joy. The sight of the three in particular brings enough joy to his old heart to temporarily banish his immediate worries about Admiral Cain. It feels like how it used to, with Carolann and the boys. Family. They're happy so he is happy. Simple as that.
His warm feelings slowly begin to dissipate as he, Laura, and Cain move into his quarters to share the tales of their survival and plan for the future, but not because of her coldness.
She's his superior officer and he knows what that entails. She is going to, kindly or not, assert herself in that position and take control of Galactica. And, by the gods, he can't stomach Laura seeing him bend to the will of another person. The reason for that he doesn't even want to contemplate.
When she does it, he keeps his attention on her, not finding it in himself to look at Laura as he is handed down orders and obeys them. There is something akin to shame welling up inside him at Cain's attitude. He feels Laura's eyes on him, but he doesn't know the fury and disbelief that that gaze holds until Cain calls her on it. Shot her dog, indeed.
Looking at her, part of his shame disappears. Oh, she is furious. And honestly, shes never looked more beautiful. Shes furious, but in defense of him. Something about that takes his breath away, though he dare not think too much on it.
He keeps his face straight as Laura covers her anger with polite half-truths and then leaves awkwardly. Usually they part with warm smiles and a squeeze of an arm. With Cain before him, he is glad she doesn't; he won't give Cain any more reason to question him, and the way he acts with the President would probably see him under 24 hour scrutiny (again, he won't think too much into that, there lies dangerous territory).
But damn it if hes not going to defend her back.
" The Secretary of Education?" Her tone is dismissive, bordering on the insulting.
"Shes come a long way." She raises an eyebrow at the pride in his tone.
The gauntlet is thrown.
I love the look Mary puts on her face during that "you look like I just shot your dog" comment/scene. I wonder if Cain went "omfg they're so not what I think they are." LOL