Special thanks to Drakkenfyre for beta reading for me! Hope you enjoy and thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own them Ron Moore and Sci-fi do.
Baltar. Bill could tell Laura was doing her utmost not to spit on him. Standing next to Laura in the brig facing, Dr. Baltar for the first time since the trial was not doing a lot to help settle Bill's nerves.
Bill was reeling from the conversation they just had. She was holding back something important, he could feel it. If she wasn't going to come out with it, then he would find other means of solving the mystery. Of course, now, he wasn't sure he wanted to go to that much trouble. Given where things ended up he didn't think either of them were really as invested in a relationship as they had seemed at first.
When Laura entered the brig at his side, she was all president. Her savvy political cool was probably for the best given the present situation.
"Look, we all know you really have no proof, so I suggest you let Samantha go before we press charges," Baltar whined, looking between Laura and Bill.
Helo was standing near the bars on the other side of the room. The girl inside the cell stood up and walked toward them.
"She works on the Tylium refining ship, and she made a visit to Colonial One two days before the air contamination," Laura hissed.
Bill resisted the urge put his hand on her arm and hold her back. When he had briefed her during the walk to the brig she took everything rather well, until Baltar's name came up.
"I say again, Madam President, you have no proof. Frankly, anyone could have been trying to kill you. There are a lot of people out there who think you are a fascist clown," Baltar remarked in his proper but ever so snide way.
"Better than what they call you," Roslin growled in her throat.
Bill could almost see the smoldering anger lifting off her shoulders. He wondered how much of her bad mood had to do with him and then shrugged the thought aside. She didn't seem to want a relationship as much as he thought. Giving you my whole heart…I don't think I can, repeated in Bill's mind. What was there to think about, really? She didn't trust him, that's what it came down to. The more he thought about the conversation the more upset he became.
"You know, I have nothing against you. I have only always respected you and-and I saved your frakking life, for frak sakes. It would be far more believable that you would try to assassinate me. You did try to steal the election. Oh, don't worry your pretty little head, I can't prove it, but we all know it's true," Baltar ranted.
"Why don't you—"
"Laura," Bill said under his breath, stopping her with a hand on her arm as she did try to step closer to Baltar.
She pulled away from his touch a little violently and took a few steps toward the corner with her back to both of them. Bill's mood got much, much darker.
"Admiral," Baltar said, obviously giving up on Laura, "You know you can't hold her in the brig without evidence."
"Lieutenant," Bill said, addressing Helo but not removing his eyes from Baltar, "Let her out."
Baltar was right. Sharon and Helo had been far too eager to arrest someone for the incident on Colonial One. Hell, he had been far too eager. They acted before they had enough evidence to hold her. Now, having done so probably ruined all chance of catching Samantha Kay, if in fact she was the assassin. Besides, he knew this would hurt Laura and right now that was the driving force behind his actions.
As soon as Bill gave the order he heard Laura let out a loud hiss of disgust as she turned back toward him. Inwardly, he took an amount of satisfaction at seeing the hurt hidden beneath her presidential rage.
The cell doors squeaked open and Helo gestured for Samantha to step out. She did so and faced Baltar.
"Thank you, Gaius," she said.
He nodded and she turned to follow him out the door. She stopped in front of him and bent down to tie her shoe. Out of the corner of his eye, Bill saw something flicker in the light. As soon as he realized what it was he shoved Laura into Baltar. Samantha leapt toward Laura with the blade of the knife from her boot aimed at Laura's neck. By pushing Laura, Bill succeeded in causing Samantha to miss her target. The blade sunk deeply into Laura's shoulder instead of stabbing her fatally. Before Samantha could strike again Adama snapped.
This person just hurt Laura. No one hurts my Laura, screamed in his mind. Catching Samantha, and himself, by surprise, Bill sent a right hook flying into her jaw and sent her sprawling to the ground in a daze. Helo and Baltar hurried to restrain the woman before she was oriented enough to stand up.
Bill turned to see Laura stumbling backward against the wall with the knife still in her shoulder. Absolute fear gripped him. His mouth went dry, his heart pounded wildly. In the CIC, with chaos everywhere around him, Bill was usually able to remain calm but here in the small brig with only a few other people around, he was out of control.
"Get her frakking ass back in the cell!" he yelled at Helo, who was already about three steps ahead of the order.
Samantha was forced back into the cell and Helo slammed the door closed.
"Helo, call doctor Cottle! Lie down, Laura," Bill ordered and then instructed Laura gently, with his hands on her arm and waist.
He tried to ease her to the ground but she winced in pain and protested, forcing his hands away.
"What the hell are you doing?" Baltar yelled at Samantha, the alarm in his voice was genuine.
"You're right Gaius. It is time for a new era. They only way to end the rule of the royals is to undo their power," Samantha yelled, as she gripped the metal bars.
"I didn't mean we should attack them," Baltar yelled back frantically.
Baltar, always such a weasel, Bill thought as Laura finally did reach out for his hand for balance. He helped steady her against the wall and she this time she didn't resist.
"We have to keep the bleeding down," Baltar said, standing beside Laura and taking off his jacket.
"You're not actually going to help the frakking traitor?" Samantha asked from inside the cell.
"Shut the frak up," Helo said.
He banged the butt of his gun on the bars. Baltar sent a glare in the direction of the cell and Laura winced in pain as Baltar carefully inspected her wound.
"Don't. Touch. Me."
Bill felt a little sorry for Baltar. Being on the receiving end of such hostility from Roslin was never a good thing. If looks could kill than right now Baltar was dying a thousand painful deaths.
"Laura, he's trying to help," Bill's soothing voice said.
He swept his hand gently through her hair only half conscious of the action.
"I'd rather die," she hissed in pain as much as in anger.
"Laura…" Bill grunted.
She tried to move away from Baltar ignoring both of them.
"Don't let her move," Baltar ordered.
Bill felt her grip tighten on his hand and saw her exchange a glance with Baltar.
"Madam President, you will live as long as you stay still until the medical team can get here," Baltar diagnosed, as Bill watched him wither under the death glare from the president.
Frankly, at this moment Adama didn't care who it was helping Laura, as long as someone was there to make sure she wouldn't leave him.
…but she was going to leave him. Suddenly, the grand epiphany slammed into him with razor-sharp force. The grand epiphany that makes a man goes completely against his nature and tell a woman he loves her and wants to be with her forever. This awakening had hit him with Carolann, but with Ann there had not been this sense of overwhelming fire consuming his emotions. This urge to hold that dying flame for as long as he could. This feeling that he was willing to lose almost everything, his command, the respect of his officers, the chance to lead the people to earth, just for one moment in Laura Roslin's arms. How could he have been so stupid not to realize it sooner? The idea you might love me appealed to me very much. He did love her.
"You think I'm joking. Get away from me," she said with soft hostility.
"Or what? You'll throw me out the airlock?" Baltar asked.
The scientist twisted his coat into a sling instead of using it to dab at the blood seeping from Laura shoulder.
"Shouldn't we remove the knife?" Bill questioned Baltar's actions.
The words sounded surreal in his ears in light of what he had just discovered. He needed something to say. Needed to put himself back in the room with her. He always needed to be with her, now. Now is all they would ever have.
"No, right now the knife is helping to postpone the bleeding. From the angle it looks like it's only a flesh wound. Madam President, you need to keep your arm still," Baltar explained with genuine concern in his voice as he tied the sleeves of his suit coat around her.
Then he added, "Yes, I know." He seemed to be talking to empty space.
"You're going to be fine, Laura," Baltar repeated and he tried to smile.
"Frak you," Laura snapped back.
"The knife was meant to kill you, lady," Samantha hissed.
"I think it would be best for you to shut the frak up," Baltar yelled, this time before Helo could.
Bill was about to get to his feet, and—Kobol help him—he was going to beat the living crap out of the girl behind the bars. Only Laura's fingers wrapped tightly around his hand stopped him.
He was more than relieved with the medical staff finally showed up with a stretcher and professional equipment. They worked quickly to get Laura on the stretcher, with her protesting the entire time. Bill could see she was a little shocked by how much blood was on his and Baltar's clothes and hands.
"Madam President, I am so sorry—" Baltar began but a single look from Laura shut him up.
"Don't talk to me," she demanded.
"It wasn't my fault," he continued, "I had no idea what she was planning."
Bill very nearly told Baltar it was probably best if he didn't say anything but he had too many other things on his mind at the present. He watched as the medical team took Laura to the life station. Bill let out a deep breath, sure now that Laura would be okay.
"I hope you realize this doesn't change the next chapter in my installment," Baltar yelled after the President.
Bill fought the temptation to smack Baltar across the jaw.
"What?" Baltar asked innocently.
Adama moved his eyes toward the girl in the cell. Her eye was swelling and her lip was bleeding.
"Admiral," Helo said from the door.
Bill knew his officer was respectfully warning him not to do anything he might regret later. Slowly, Bill approached the bars but the girl stayed a good distance away. She lifted her chin defiantly.
Adama simply stared her down. He stared her into submission and relished the look of fear in her eyes as she moved toward the cot and sat.
"Admiral, what should we do with Baltar?" one of the marine's who had just arrived questioned.
Baltar's beady little eyes silently pleaded with Bill.
"Nothing," Bill snapped, and glared at Baltar.
"Thank you, Admiral, I knew you would see reason," Baltar said.
Bill grabbed Baltar by the lapels of his suit jacket and hoisted him against the wall.
"If you ever and I mean ever, let one of your people pull something like this again, I will throw you out the airlock myself. Is that clear?" Adama growled.
Baltar swallowed hard as tears formed in his eyes.
"Yes, Admiral," he replied.
His smug self-satisfied look was completely gone.
Bill went straight from Samantha Kay's cell to the cell just down the hall. He didn't bother to clean the blood from his hands or to inform anyone where he would be. He needed answers and even if he had to grovel at the cylon's feet he was going to get them.
"Leave us," he ordered the guards once he stepped into Six's cell.
The woman was sitting on the floor. Once Adama entered her eyes widened. He looked down and remembered his hands were covered in blood. Six stood up instantly.
"What happened?" she questioned.
The alarm in her voice seemed legitimate.
"How much do you know about what happened on New Caprica?" Bill asked, ignoring her concern.
"Whose blood is that?" she asked again.
"The president's," Bill answered, not taking his eyes off the cylon.
The woman's features grew visibly tense as if she did have a real fear for Laura's well being. Cottle had been right, Bill observed.
"Is she alright?"
"Yes, she'll be fine. One of Baltar's cult tried to kill her," Adama explained.
Six sat on the bed with her mouth slightly parted. She hesitated before she asked her next question.
"Is Gaius all right?"
Bill thought a moment before he answered that. He still considered the cylon a hostile enemy and resisted give his natural aversion to providing her with any information.
"He's fine. He wasn't responsible for the attack," Bill answered.
Relief washed over the pristine features of the cylon's face. She slowly nodded and Bill took a step forward.
"What about New Caprica?" the cylon asked, making direct eye contact.
Not only was the cylon highly intelligent, she also seemed to be bargaining with Adama. He shared information she wanted, now it appeared she would answer his questions. Maybe Roslin did share a connection with the cylon. Their similarities were easy to see.
"I want to know what you did to the President," he said.
His words caused the cylon to stand again and walk toward the barred windows.
"What has she told you?"
Six folded her arms and continued to look outside.
"Nothing."
Bill decided he had nothing to lose by continuing to tell the truth. He had found that a little truth seemed to go a long way with the cylons.
"Why do you ask?"
Bill had to make a decision now, whether to continue with the truth or to tempt fate and tell a well crafted lie. The idea that you might love me appealed to me very much…
"She's holding something back. Something important," Bill replied.
Six finally turned to face him. Her eyes narrowed and she lifted her chin as she studied his expression.
"No, I mean, why do you, Admiral Adama, ask?"
He wasn't sure what the cylon wanted him to say, but if it was something like 'because I love her,' the cylon was out of luck. Bill stood very still and did not answer this time.
"She doesn't know you're here. She'll be mad when she finds out," Six began as if she was testing his patience.
"Probably won't speak to me again," he finished for her.
At this point, what the hell did he have to lose anyway? The cylon smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth.
"The cylons you know as Brother Cavil and D'Anna Beirs wanted names of resistance members they could bully. They wanted to attack the resistance at its heart, so the first person they went after was Laura Roslin," Six said.
"I'm listening," Bill replied.
Six sat down on the cot with her legs folded underneath her before she continued. Adama got the impression she was almost excited to tell the story.
"When Roslin wouldn't give them names they drugged her. Still, they got nothing. Cavil applied physical pain but she still wouldn't talk. He seemed to find…" Six's eyes looked over Bill's shoulder as she seemed to search for the word.
"He seemed to find special pleasure in torturing her… I left the room but decided we couldn't risk the consequences of killing her. The resistance would fight back twice as hard. When I returned I found a 'Doral' bullying her. I managed to distract him long enough for us to escape," Six told him.
"Dr. Cottle said the cylons played mind games, tell me about that," Bill suggested.
He wasn't sure if the cylon would continue answering his questions, so he had to pick them carefully. Six nodded.
"She held up pretty well, considering. He told her she wasn't your religious prophet. That your gods don't exist. He said you left her and your people to die. The only time Cavil's words seemed to get to her, I mean really get to her, was when he said something about Roslin being guilty of genocide because she has no children," Six continued, and she put particular emphasis on the last words.
"You think that's what's bothering her?" Bill asked, not quite believing he was putting any stock into the opinion of a cylon.
"Maybe. These dreams we've been having about Hera have to do with the fate of humans and cylons and our children. It's a puzzle. Sharon and I have two pieces. Roslin has the third but she's holding back. She won't talk to us."
"Don't feel special," Bill shrugged, causing the cylon to lift an eyebrow.
He called for the guards but before leaving he turned.
"Thank you," he said, and stepped out of the cell.