Title: Transition of Power

Author: GEM

Rated: T

Word count: 4,571

Story Timeline: Season 3

Category: General

Warnings: None

Characters: Roslin/Adama

Summary: The Journey to find Earth continues as Galactica and the fleet has rescued the civilians from cylon occupied New Caprica. What price do the survivors pay as the fleet picks up the pieces and moves on. Roslin/Adama

Spoiler: Exodus Part II

There was a different feeling within the fleet since they had fled the cylon occupation on New Carpica. It was an eerily feeling, unsettling Laura Roslin thought. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

She turned the corner and smiled at the Marine guarding the hatch. She stepped down and took hold of the hatch, opening the door she stepped through. She kicked off her shoes and placed her files on the coffee table. She walked over to the familiar desk and wrapped her arms around the occupant of the desk chair.

"Mmm, I didn't hear you come in." Adama put down the file he was reading.

"You must have been engrossed in the reports." Laura said, Adama turned the chair and looked at Laura.

"I must have been. You look exhausted."

"I've been helping the refugees here on Galactica. The children are taking the conditions particularly hard but they will adjust."

"I'm sorry we can't offer more."

"You are doing all that you can. You have been more than generous given our current situation. Most of these people are just happy to be away from the ternary of the cylons."

Bill Adama hung his head. "I should never have left you there."

"Don't start Admiral. If you had stayed we wouldn't be here talking about this now. You were out manned and out gunned. You had no other choice."

Adama wrapped his arms around her waist. "My voice of reason."

"Someone has to be." Laura leaned farther into the embrace. "I hear you got nasty with the President today. Why would you do that?"

"I don't believe a terrorist should be in charge of the civilian government of this fleet."

"Oh, I see and who do you think should replace President Zarek?"

"You're mocking me."

"Am I." Laura stood up from her place on his lap and began to pace the room as she spoke. "Zarek stood up to Baltar. He saved my life, Bill." She stopped and looked him in the eye. "We were both in the same position. We were about to be executed. "He'll tell you I saved him, but he saved me. He pushed me down a hill when they started firing."

"And for that you think the man should be President."

"I agree that it is a dangerous proposition to put him in."

"I will not support him, this military will not recognize him as the rightful civilian leader."

"What are you going to do, stage a coup?"

"I don't think it will come to that."

"I should hope not since it went so well the last time. You can't force me into the office Bill. We have constitution. We have a line of succession for this reason. The military doesn't have the right to dictate who the President is."

"You're right."

Yes, I am but so are you. Zarek has asked to meet with me."

"You're not going alone are you?"

"I'm not afraid of him Bill. I have a feel he has gotten your message."