Bill Adama was a deep thinker, Saul knew. Countless times the colonel had witnessed his best friend lost in thought as he stood in CIC planning an attack or turning over facts and figures inside his head. But this intense, almost catatonic gaze that Bill was currently leveling at the console was something new.

Saul was reminded of the weeks following Boomer's assassination attempt; Bill's return to the CIC had been punctuated with heavy silences and many a long look at the lit surface that had still borne small smears of dark blood.

This sudden return to that level of focus was slightly disconcerting; Saul could not imagine what might have occurred to send his best friend and commanding officer back into such a state.

"Bill?" The quiet attempt at the admiral's attention drew no response, so Saul tried again, louder this time. "Admiral Adama."

The other man eye's eyes slid back into focus immediately and he turned to his XO sharply.

"Colonel?"

"Everything alright there, Bill?" His voice was casual, but the concern was clear in his eye as he addressed his friend.

Bill grunted.

"I was just thinking about something the president said earlier."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Saul waited, but it seemed that Bill did not feel the need to share whatever it was that Roslin had said. This piqued his curiosity, but he knew better than to press Bill Adama for information and so the two men resumed their silent vigil.

A minor crisis on the flight deck threw them into motion for a few minutes. Lords of Kobol, how Saul hated nuggets. More trouble than they were worth in his opinion. Once this problem had been dealt with Bill fell back into his trance, eyes focused on the CIC console.

Saul knew something was up; whatever Roslin said earlier had really gotten to Bill.

That damn woman, Saul thought. She really knew how to get under the Bill's skin. Though the colonel was beginning to suspect that his friend rather enjoyed that now.

When he saw the admiral run his hand along the edge of the console, a look of contemplation on his rugged face, Saul decided it was time to try again.

"Bill, something's on your mind. That much I know. What's going on?"

Bill turned his gaze upon his friend then looked away and rubbed his face wearily.

"My thoughts, I can't seem to control where they go these days."

This wry declaration prompted a small laugh from the XO.

"And where have they been off to today?"

Saul could have sworn he saw a red flush rise just above Bill's collar.

"Somewhere they shouldn't."

A smirk found its way to Saul's face.

"They wouldn't have happened to be visiting a certain president, now would they?"

Bill's glare was dampened somewhat by the blush that had spread across his features. Saul blinked. Bill Adama was blushing.

Something told Saul he probably shouldn't inquire further, if only for his own sanity. But he did anyway.

"And how was Madame President today?"

Bill shook his head and chuckled, no doubt marveling at how awkward and inappropriate it was to be having a locker room conversation in the middle of CIC.

"She was fine," he muttered. "Very fine indeed."

Saul snorted.

"You've got it bad my friend. So what was it she said this morning that caused your wayward thoughts to go back for a second round?"

Bill said nothing and Saul's smirk grew.

"What? Roslin say she'd frak you in CIC?"

The other man seemed to choke on his own saliva and Saul thumped him on the back.

"Not exactly," he rasped.

Saul's one eye widened and images he had never in his life wanted to imagine flashed through his mind.

"I was kidding, Bill. I didn't think you two were actually…"

"We're not. My mind forgets that sometimes."

"Ah."

The two men were silent once more. Saul fidgeted with the cuffs of his uniform and posed another question.

"So should I ask why you've been staring at the console all day?"

Bill cleared his throat.

"No, you probably shouldn't."

"Oh," Saul nodded in agreement. Then his eye widened again. "Oh."

It was definitely time to stop this line of questioning. Bill Adama was having CIC fantasies about Laura Roslin, the president of the frakking Twelve Colonies. In CIC. That was far more than Saul needed to know.

At least he knew Bill wasn't suffering from any morose thoughts about his near death experience, long ago as it was, atop the CIC console. Saul blinked rapidly. Best not to think about anyone lying atop that console.

"Well Bill, I think I should go check on those nuggets. You know, give 'em a kick in the ass for being such idiots." Anything to get out of CIC for a few minutes.

Bill glanced absently at a report in front of him.

"Sure, good idea."

Saul could tell from his tone that Bill was distracted again. And it wasn't by that fuel report.

Saul exited the room as quickly as he could without breaking into an outright run.

Damn woman.