Bill was acting odd. She could sense it in her communications with him of late, but she couldn't get an accurate read on him. Most of what he said or did could be explained away: he was tired, stressed out, overwhelmed. And she wanted to buy into those reasons, but she couldn't. Not in light of what that Leoben had said-even if she was pretty sure it had been a lie.

So she needed more information. Plus, she was tired of watching Billy sit on his thumbs about Dee. She was a lovely young woman, and she wouldn't wait forever. Billy needed to make a move, and an unofficial Presidential order was the perfect motivation.

"Billy, could you come here when you get a chance?"

She always asked although she knew he'd trip himself sprinting to her. He was...so good. But she would like to see him grow a backbone. He'd need one in their line of work.

Just as she'd expected, he was at her side in seconds. "Yes, Madame President."

"I want you to take Dee on a date."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry."

"That's right, ask her out. It's been weeks, and she won't wait around forever, you know." She winked at him. Maybe his mother would have talked to him like this, but Mrs. Keikeya was gone, as was Judith-and so many others. Laura was the best Billy had at the moment, and she was doing what she could. "And while you're out," she put on her Presidential face and tone, "I want you to inquire about Commander Adama. Don't be too obvious, please. Just ask how he's doing. If you want to remove suspicion you can share some stories about me." She smiled. "Just try not to share anything you wouldn't want me to hear on the wireless."

He cleared his throat. Maybe he was getting that backbone already. Good. Someone needed to keep her honest. "Um, I'm not sure I'm comfortable spying on Commander Adama. I have a lot-"

She put up her hand. "I know you respect him, as do I, but we can't take the chance that he's some kind of-"

"I know, Ma'am. I'll do it." He smiled. "And I have the perfect story in mind."

She mock groaned. "Oh no."

His grin widened. "And it's way past your bedtime, Ma'am."

"Bedtime enforcer."

He yawned. "Just be grateful I don't tuck you in."

She didn't bother with the Presidential glare and simply giggled. "Just be grateful I don't order you to."

He blanched slightly. Good. She needed some power over her aide. "Goodnight, Billy. And call Dee, okay?" She shot him her best Presidential look. "That's an order."

"Yes, ma'am."

She entered her quarters, falling asleep nearly as soon as she hit her pillow.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The best Billy could gather was that Bill had made off-log calls. Suspicious, yes, but not exactly proof of anything. Hades, she knew Adar had made plenty of "off-log" calls. Most politicians did. Maybe Bill had a woman somewhere. That would make sense. He'd want to be discreet around his crew, who looked at him like a father, and he'd certainly want to keep it from his President.

She'd heard of those places within the fleet. There wasn't much she could do about them, and while the chief military officer using them was potentially embarrassing, there wasn't much she could do about that either. The military simply didn't operate under the same rules as she did. And if that was truly Bill's worst trait, then she really didn't have the luxury of time to complain. He was her top military officer during a time of war, so unless he was a cylon or a traitor, she really couldn't (and shouldn't) fire him or take other actions against him.

Her phone rang. "President's office."

"Madame President," It was Bill. Speak of the devil. "I was wondering if you'd join Lee, Colonel Tigh, his wife, and I for dinner."

Interesting. "I'd be happy to. And, I'm sorry, did you say 'Colonel Tigh's wife'?"

"Yes, I did. I found her in the fleet this week and brought her to Galactica." She could hear the...disbelief in his voice. There was a story with this Mrs. Tigh; she could feel it. "It's kind of complicated, and-"

"You're not sure how much of the story is true."

"Exactly." He sighed. "Would you be free to meet before the dinner? I have some ideas I'd like to run by you."

"Of course, Commander. That sounds important. Also, we should talk more about that test."

"I thought we agreed that I would go first." He grunted. "After you tricked me into it."

"I'll go right after you." She snorted. "I'm pretty sure Zarek would lead a hunger strike or something if I didn't."

"How would he find out?"

"How indeed, Commander. That man has a lot of power aboard his ship, and information spreads quickly, you know that better than anyone."

"How's tomorrow at 1700?"

"Perfect. I'll be ready for the shuttle tomorrow afternoon."

He disconnected the call, and she placed the phone in the cradle and went back to work. Perhaps Bill Adama didn't have a woman somewhere, but apparently Colonel Tigh did, and something about it made the seasoned Cylon War veteran uncomfortable, which made Laura even more uncomfortable.

Dinner would be interesting, at least.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

At the appointed time, Laura boarded the raptor, and seeing Bill in his flight suit was a surprise, a good one. "Commander, I didn't expect to see you here."

"I like to fly the raptors occasionally." He smiled. "It gives me a little taste of the old days. You know, I started out flying raptors. I was trained as a viper jock, but when I got to Galactica, my Commander wiped my cockiness away." He smirked. "Well, most of it. He explained I was needed to fly raptors and that's what I'd do." He sighed. "I've never forgotten that."

She smiled. "It's a good lesson." She got into her seat and buckled up, keeping quiet as he maneuvered.

Before long, they were on Galactica's hangar deck. He helped her out of the raptor and escorted her to his quarters.

Once inside, she turned to him. "Okay, what is it you wouldn't tell me over the phone?"

"Right to business." He grunted. "All right, have a seat. This story requires something to drink. I'll get you one after I change. I'll just be in the head, Madame President."

She sat on his sofa, waiting for him. When he came out, she watched as he poured two glasses at his drink cart. He handed her a glass and took the seat next to her. "All right, spill," she said, having waited long enough.

"Saul's had one great love his whole life." He paused. "Maybe two: the Fleet and Ellen."

"His wife."

Bill nodded. "I don't trust her. I never did, and now-"

"Something about her story doesn't add up."

"No. It doesn't." He sighed. "She claims she was rescued by a stranger when she was on Picon, and somehow ended up on the last transport out, and in our fleet, unconscious until a few days ago."

"Possible but unlikely."

He nodded. "I've been looking after her for a few days. She really was unconscious, but the bit about the stranger. I...I don't buy it for a second."

"So you think she's a cylon?"

"Cylon or not, the woman is nothing but trouble. She's inspired every bad decision Saul's ever made, and since their separation, I was starting to get him-"

"You aren't responsible for your friend, Bill. He's a grown man. And his wife only added to what was already there. She couldn't create the problem from nothing."

"You're right, but-"

"You're protective of your friends." She smiled. "I know; it's one of your best qualities. Just be careful, okay? You have the weight of a battlestar on your shoulders as it is."

He sighed. "You think I'll buckle under the pressure?"

She shook her head. "I certainly hope not. I...you're very important to the fleet."

"I won't let you down, Madame President. But most of my success is also attributed to my friends, family, and crew. I need them every bit as much as they need me, and that includes Saul."

"Hence this dinner to find out if she's a cylon."

He nodded. "I've sent a vial of her blood to Dr. Baltar. It should be ready within twelve hours."

"I thought you were going first, Commander."

"I'll go next, I promise. I just...can't take a risk with her."

"I understand, but if you're a cylon, I'd like to know."

"If I'm a cylon, you're screwed."

She giggled. The man had a way of stating the obvious. "Okay, Bill. What else have you got?"

It seemed like many of Bill's recent actions could be explained by what was going on with Ellen Tigh. Still, it wasn't enough to clear him. It could be a double blind. Even if Ellen were a cylon, that wouldn't prove Bill wasn't, and wouldn't it make sense for him to reach out to her to perfect their plan before he brought her to Galactica? Also, perhaps she was right about his woman on the side. Maybe it was this Mrs. Tigh. She couldn't see him betraying Colonel Tigh's trust like that, but she hadn't known him long and didn't know him very well. Plus, she'd been so wrong about Adar's character; perhaps she was wrong about Bill's as well.

"I can hear you thinking, Laura. What is it?"

She blinked, he had been speaking and she hadn't been paying attention. "I'm sorry, Commander. I was thinking how fortunate we'd be if Ellen is indeed a cylon."

He grunted. "Yeah? How's that?"

"Well, then at least we'd know and then you'd have an excuse to keep her away from Colonel Tigh."

"Yeah. I suppose that's true."

"Still, there are several more models to identify."

He nodded. Then he looked at her hard. "And you're gunning for me to get tested. Why?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm hardly gunning for it. And you know why. I need to be sure the man I trust with my life and the fate of the fleet is indeed human. Makes sense, right? And it's the same reason I'm to be tested next. You need to be sure your President is human."

"Only I'm not constantly thinking about it like you seem to be."

"Well, maybe you're just too godsdamned trusting."

He snorted. "I'm not a politician. I can afford to have friends, which is what I thought...never mind."

Either she'd wounded him or he was a really good actor. Even so she was sorry, and he was right. His job allowed for friendships in ways hers didn't. "Bill."

He put up his hands. "It's...fine, Laura. I get it." He forced a smile. Perhaps there was something of a politician in him after all. "They'll be coming for dinner soon. Let me just take care of some preparations, and you can sit. Relax for a change."

He was back to being her host - polite, friendly. But the hurt was still there. Was he such a good actor that he could keep just enough sadness in his eyes even while attempting to appear fine? She doubted that, but who knew what the cylons were capable of? Of course, in retrospect, Doral was pretty obvious in his godsawful suit. Perhaps that model didn't have a fashion advisor. Bill Adama, however, would have to be a very special cylon in order to ascend to the upper echelon of humanity so easily. She couldn't leave anything to chance.

So she nodded and smiled. "I'm sorry, Bill. And I do value our friendship, believe me." She'd value it more if she knew he were human, but appeasing him was the best move for the moment. "And thank you for your hospitality, as always." She gestured to his bookshelf. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take advantage of your library-and the quiet."

His gaze softened. "By all means, Laura."

She pretended to read as she considered her options.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

She looked up from her book. "Do you need any help, Bill?"

He shook his head. "I got it under control." He grinned. "Jaffee's bringing everything, anyway."

"Oh, okay, then."

It was becoming awkward in his quarters and borderline domestic. Like they were hosting a dinner party together. What would it have been like to host a party with him on Caprica? Would they cook together? Split the chores? From the state of his quarters, she could see he liked to keep things neat. She preferred organized chaos. Would he constantly pick up after her? She shook the thoughts away.

There was a knock on the hatch. Thank the gods. Bill opened it, and Laura was relieved to hear Captain Apollo's voice. Bill invited Lee to sit down, and Lee sat on the sofa next to Laura. "Good evening, Madame President." He smiled. "Do you know why we're here?"

She nodded. "Do you?"

Apollo smirked. "Vaguely. My dad took me aside and asked if I had dinner plans." He shrugged. "It was a bit odd, but then he told me about the Tighs."

"Yes. Good. Have you met Ellen?"

Lee nodded. "A few times when Zak and I were boys. My mom didn't care much for Colonel Tigh, and even less for Ellen, and then when my parents split...well, when we saw my dad, it was usually just him and us." He looked away. His childhood clearly hadn't been like hers. She'd been one of the lucky ones-she and her sisters-to have had two parents who loved each other and their children unconditionally. It was clear Bill loved his boys very much, but she didn't know about their mother.

She smiled sympathetically. "So we're in for a treat then."

Lee smiled.

Just then, there was a loud knock at the hatch, followed by an obnoxious "The party can begin now. I've arrived."

Lee groaned, and Laura thought she heard Bill groan simultaneously. Bill opened the hatch and was immediately pulled into a blonde woman's arms. Everything was a mix of jovial laughter, as Colonel Tigh and Ellen moved into Bill's quarters.

When they reached the sofa, however, Colonel Tigh cleared his throat, and formally addressed Laura, introducing her to Ellen. Laura shook the woman's hand, as Ellen winked at her and promised to catch up later, whatever that meant.

From Bill's barely-disguised disdain, Laura knew one thing for sure: Even if Ellen and Bill were both cylons, there was no way they were working together, not on their terms, anyway. Of the two, Bill made much more sense, although Ellen was strategically placed and a less obvious choice. Perhaps this-whatever this was-was a facade. It would seem that a cylon would prefer to hide in plain sight, though. And if one thing was clear about Ellen Tigh, she would neither want to nor be able to hide.

Bill approached the gaggle, clearing his throat. "Madame President, son, my friends, dinner has arrived, let's eat while it's hot."

Laura moved to rise from the sofa, and Bill was there instantly to assist her. "Thank you, Commander."

"Thank you, Madame President," he said softly.

She nodded, smiling. For tonight at least, they would be a united front. She hoped they could continue that way because she had no one to replace him. No one of any significant rank, anyway, and from everything she'd seen, Bill Adama had the complete trust and loyalty of his crew. They'd be shaken even more than she if he were revealed to be a cylon.

He led her to the dining room table he had set just for that occasion. It looked...like a standard dinner party, like ones she would have attended on Caprica had the worlds not ended. The rest of the party followed them, and they took their seats around the table. Bill and Laura sat at opposite ends. Lee sat to Bill's left, Ellen to Bill's right, and Saul next to Ellen.

Ellen commandeered the conversation. She must have been the life of the parties she'd been to throughout the Colonies. Saul looked at his wife the way a parched man looked at water. Lee wore an expression of polite discomfort. Laura suspected perhaps it had to do with Ellen and her foot. It seemed she needed to keep an appendage on each of the men in the room, and if Laura hadn't known better, she'd swear Ellen had made eyes at her too.

The food was okay-slightly better than the company. Laura maintained eye-contact with Bill. For some reason, she found it comforting. Ellen asked Bill about his sons, about Zak, and the way Bill's face fell, Laura knew Leoben had lied. No machine could feel such anguish and continue to feel it so long after a loss. That was a strictly human condition, and one with which she was familiar. She gave him a sad smile as Bill explained his loss, of which Ellen should already have been aware. That was something she should ask Bill about later.

Laura had had enough, so she jumped in. "How exactly did you survive the attacks?"

Ellen told her story-the one Bill had recounted. It didn't add up, but Saul was blind to it, ready to accept it as a miracle. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her although he kept his hands near a bottle throughout the meal. Ellen gave him a run for his cubits, as she chugged glass after glass of ambrosia. Once again, Laura was thankful she had always avoided drinking, particularly after the girls' and her father's deaths. One glass was enough during social events, but if she never drank again, she would be perfectly fine with that. Knowing she would never be in danger of acting like the Tighs made abstinence all the more attractive.

Ellen made some crack about Laura being a kindergarten teacher. Laura smiled. That was old rhetoric which every politician including Adar had loved to throw at her sometimes. Well, they were dead, and she wasn't, so that put her in charge. Could she have made some argument about wrangling children every day being the perfect preparation for a life of wrangling teenagers within the fleet (because honestly they for the most part were not adults, not according to her standards anyway)? Sure, she could have, but what would be the point? The job was hers, and she wasn't willing to waste her time defending it when there were cylons-and a million other crises-demanding her attention. So she smiled and thanked Ellen for her support or whatever politically-motivated words came out of her mouth. Her mind wasn't on the current conversation but the future ones. In fact, it was nearly time to strike.

"All I really want to know is where is Earth, and when are we going to get there."

"That's class-" Bill started to say.

"There's that word again," Ellen said.

Colonel Tigh tried and failed to get his wife under control. If he couldn't manage, it was doubtful anyone could. Ellen made some remark about everyone here being family and being privy to the information.

Laura had had enough, and of course, wanted to get some of the pressure off of Bill and his lie. Who would have thought a politician would be covering up for someone else for a change? "We have to be very careful about disclosing information to anyone, Ellen, or haven't you heard? The cylons look like us now."

Ellen scoffed. "Oh, that. Yeah, I knew that."

"Really? That news was only released a few days ago. I'm surprised you've heard it."

Ellen paused, seemed to be looking for the best answer. She explained that news like that traveled fast. Laura glanced at Bill. He was struggling with Ellen's answer too. The possibility of there being a cylon in the room became a big joke to Ellen, who succeeded in making both Laura and Bill flinch. Then Bill appeared to have had enough because he essentially dismissed the Tighs, thanking them for coming.

They left, after Ellen grabbed the Ambrosia bottle that Laura was holding out for her. Then she turned to Bill. "You think that woman is a cylon?!"

Lee and Bill had begun gathering the glasses. Why were there so many for their relatively small party? Lee paused. "I hope so; otherwise, we're in a lot of trouble."

They finished clearing up for Jaffee to take everything away. It was revealing of Bill's character that he'd make the young marine's job as easy as possible. Bill wasn't one to take advantage of his power. Was that fact alone enough to prove he was human?

Then they went into Dr. Baltar's lab. The test wasn't ready yet. Dr. Baltar had mostly excuses: not enough time, little assistance, too many subjects. Laura put up her hands. "Enough, doctor. Just tell us how much longer."

"It shouldn't be more than an hour."

Bill looked at her, as though to ask what she wanted to do. She gestured to the table with the blood samples. He nodded. If they stayed, perhaps the good doctor would move things along.

It turned out she was wrong. Dr. Baltar gave them specific directions not to touch anything, particularly the thermonuclear device, and then he left the lab, saying it was his dinner time. Of course, that allowed them to speak freely.

She smiled. "That was some dinner."

Bill nodded. "I told you."

"This twelve hour test is not very effective, is it? There must be a better way."

"We'd best not leave it to Dr. Baltar, though. I suggest we look for alternative methods. Perhaps the next time we find a cylon, if you could refrain from airlocking it, we could get some information out of it."

Laura shot him a look. "You and I both know we wouldn't have gotten anything out of the Leoben model. In fact, you may be interested to know what he said about you."

"Yeah, what's that?"

Laura smirked. "That you're a cylon."

"Me! That's...wait a minute. Is that why you've been on me about the test? And why Dee said Billy asked her a lot of questions." His face was a mix of pain and anger. In the corner of her eye, Laura saw Lee back away. Perhaps watching them argue reminded him too much of his childhood.

She gazed at Bill. "What I did was for the safety and security of this fleet. And no, I didn't believe Leoben, but I would have been foolish not to investigate his claims. I couldn't take the risk, and you know it. And I couldn't exactly ask you, point blank." She sighed. "And then you're making these off-log calls-"

"Off-log calls?" Lee asked.

Bill turned to his son. "I was checking up on Ellen. I didn't want to bring her back here too soon. And besides, I wanted to have her near me."

Just then the hatch slammed open and Ellen ran in with Colonel Tigh and Dr. Baltar in tow. "I knew it! I told you he wanted me. He's always wanted me."

Colonel Tigh yelled at Bill about checking up on his wife, and Bill attempted to explain and just dug himself deeper. Ellen was being obnoxious, so Laura said, "Ellen, be quiet!"

"You don't tell me to be quiet!"

"Yes, I do. Yes, I do."

The alarm sounded - Bill, Lee, and Saul ran off to investigate. Ellen, seeing there were no men to seduce, as Dr. Baltar appeared to be busy talking to himself, looked at Laura. "Well, I should unpack. It's been a whirlwind of activity today. Why were you all here, anyway?"

Laura smirked. "We thought you might be a cylon."

Ellen laughed. Everything was a joke with the woman. "And am I?" Did she not know, or was she speaking in jest? It didn't matter. Laura decided to speak to her as though she were a cylon.

"We'll know in less than an hour."

"Should I be afraid? I hear you airlock your prisoners."

"Well, you're in luck. Commander Adama and I just implemented a new policy. We'll be studying any captured cylons now. Of course, if you're indeed human, you have nothing to worry about."

"Of course. What a wonderful system you and Bill have here. Well, I'll see you in an hour then. Those boys, huh?"

Laura nodded, unsure of which ones Ellen was referring to, as she'd been with so many, according to Bill.

When Ellen left, Laura slammed her palm against her forehead. The evening had been a disaster, and she and Bill were at odds. That wasn't good.

Maybe it wouldn't matter in an hour...