Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel. The lyrics are from Anna Nalick's "Wreck of the Day," in ChemicalAttraction's montage.

Don't Let Go

Part 1: To be near you

They Cylons had lost the Colonial fleet in the Ionian nebula because the particles gave off false readings once the fleet had entered. It had been a long hard week and Lee's claim of seeing Kara stop by his Viper and then begin to lead them had stirred up considerable confusion. He and his father were still not on the best of terms, but Lee had managed to rejoin the pilots. Admiral Adama had a serious rift of a different sort to repair first, which led him to Life Station.

Driving away from the wreck of the day
And the light's always red in the rear-view

President Roslin had just received her second round of the new treatment for her cancer that Dr. Cottle had developed. She was resting on a bed, still in her sky-blue blouse and black skirt, her jacket draped over the end of the bed, when she heard voices. Then the doctor moved her curtain aside.

Desperately close to a coffin of hope
I'd cheat destiny just to be near you

"I told him that you didn't want visitors, that you'd be out again in a few hours, but he insisted." Then he spoke over his shoulder. "Now don't go irritating my patient."

Cottle stepped aside to reveal Adama and then the doctor headed back to his desk. The admiral closed the curtain and took a seat in the rickety chair near her bed. "Admiral, whatever you have to say can wait. As you can see, this is not a good time," she spat.

If this is giving up, then I'm giving up
If this is giving up, then I'm giving up, giving up
On love, On love

Adama took a deep breath, studying her for a moment. "No, it can't. You need to know that I agree with you, about Baltar. But that was the reason that I had to make the decision for acquittal in the end. I had an already biased opinion when I was supposed to be a non-biased judge. Lee was right, at least in the point that we were trying to dump everything on one man. It wouldn't have made things any better if we'd airlocked him."

Driving away from the wreck of the day
And I'm thinking 'bout calling on Jesus

Roslin glared at him. What he had just said cut into her soul for a moment and she swallowed to prevent tears. "Do you have any idea what he did to us on New Caprica? Do you?" she demanded.

"Do you remember the dance?" he asked, referring to the boxing match. "You have no idea how much I've been kicking myself since we had to leave you down there. But I didn't come here to talk about New Caprica."

She continued to glare at him. "No, you came down here to tell me that I was wrong and that you've turned against me. I can't believe you'd do-"

"Giving him the trial was your idea," he pointed out.

"Just leave," she snapped. What he heard through the anger though was how hurt she was.

'Cause love doesn't hurt so I know I'm not falling in love
I'm just falling to pieces

"Not 'til you hear me out," he countered. "The decision was for the sake of the fleet, and it proved that our legal system, though flawed, still works. But I didn't betray you, and I don't intend to just leave you alone in this."

And if this is giving up then I'm giving up
If this is giving up then I'm giving up, giving up
On love, On love

She would not look at him, too proud to admit that the trial had been as much or more her fault than his. "You've said your peace, Admiral. I'll get back to you at our next meeting. I don't feel up to pity."

And maybe I'm not up for being a victim of love
When all my resistance will never be distance enough

He reached out and took her hand. She tried to pull it back, but his grip only increased. "It's not pity, and there's no 'Admiral' this time. I didn't come here to be the 'Admiral.' I came here as 'Bill,' and I didn't come to argue with the president. I came to tell 'Laura' that she's not alone," his voice had dropped to a whisper.

Driving away from the wreck of the day
And it's finally quiet in my head

Driving alone, finally on my way home to the comfort of my bed

"Do you mean that?" when she questioned him that time, the anger was not there.

And if this is giving up, then I'm giving up
If this is giving up, then I'm giving up, giving up
On love, On love

"Yes. I made you a promise on Kobol, that we were in this together. I still mean that, and the truth is that I can't do this without you. Please don't let a disagreement cloud your judgment and shoot down our friendship. I'm still the same person you called a week ago when you wanted someone to yell at you so that you'd get out of bed," he conveyed as he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.