Capsized 11

"Admiral"

Adama turned back to look at Laura and closed his eyes in disbelief before growling to Dualla, "Wait outside."

Dee looked aghast as she stammered, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…"

Adama turned towards Dee and stopped her mid splutter by calmly repeating, "Dee, wait outside."

Still wide eyed with shock she responded with, "Sir," before turning smartly and quickly departing the shuttle to wait outside as ordered.

As Bill, once again, turned back towards the President, she said frustrated, "Well that little secret lasted all of five minutes."

Bill remained calm and tried to smooth it over, "Dee will be fine, I'll explain things to her and she won't say anything, she is one person that can be trusted, don't fret."

Laura found herself amazingly calm, now that she had made up her mind and committed to this relationship, she wasn't going to easily be deterred and besides, she thought with amusement, she wasn't the one that was going to have to face the hangar deck full of people - all curious about what was happening in here.

She nodded in agreement at his words as he took her hands and brought them up to his lips to kiss her knuckles before asking, "Please try and find a little time slot to have dinner with me?"

She grinned at his term as he continued, "now I'm going to go bravely out there, like a bomb has gone off… that way, hopefully, everyone will think that we've had a disagreement and will keep a good distance."

"I'll make sure that Tory gets the same message," she said then smiled, "Perhaps then we will need a late night meeting to try and reconcile our views."

"Oh, I like your thinking Madam President. With that he let her hands drop and said his goodbyes.

As he turned away from her, she called his name, gaining his attention again, she then stepped forward and snaked her hand out behind his neck dragging his head forward passionately bringing their lips together. The kiss lasted for only a few seconds before with equal speed she stepped back and said cheekily, "Goodbye, Admiral."

Breathing more heavily, Bill shook his head in amusement before turning and heading for the hatchway.

As he drew near the hatch he straightened his shoulders and fixed his features into annoyance and stepped down from the shuttle, even if internally he was much happier than when he got on.

He moved swiftly over to Dualla and cut her off before she said anything by saying, "Walk with me," in icy tones.

Dee grimaced as the Admiral quickly walked past her, ignoring the blatant stares from around the hangar deck. Dee found herself having to trot along to keep up with Adama and he didn't stop until they reached a long corridor deserted of people.

The lieutenant jumped in before Adama had an opportunity to say anything, "Sir, you don't need to order me not to say anything, I would never tell anybody what I heard."

The Admiral smiled at Dee's hasty gabble of words and reassured her, "Dee I would never order you to keep quiet about something like this, this is not your problem. The President and I would obviously prefer that this didn't get out right now, but I won't insist that you keep it a secret." He stopped her, as she was about to speak in their favour, "We would of course appreciate if you didn't say anything, but I won't order it."

"I understand, Sir, you don't need to worry, nobody will hear anything from me."

Adama nodded his head in thanks, and Dee continued, "And may I say Sir, I think it's wonderful that you have found someone and President Roslin is a perfect match for you."

"Mmnh," Adama grumbled, "No you may not," he started to walk away leaving Dualla standing unsurely until the Admiral turned and smiled indicating with his head that she should follow.

They continued walking through the halls of Galactica in comfortable silence until the Admiral gently enquired, "How have things been for you, Dee?"

"I'm fine, thank you Admiral," she smiled, this man endeared so much love round this ship and it was at times like this that she knew why.

Visibly uncomfortable with asking but doing so anyway he said tentatively, "have you spoken to Lee recently?"

She sighed, "Yes, he wants us to get back together."

"I see, how do you feel about that?"

"Sir, I know he is your son but…."

Adama stopped and laid a hand gently on her arm, "Dee you are my daughter-in-law, that makes you as much my family as Lee."

Her eyes filled with tears at his words and said, "Thank you, it's just with Starbuck…. I'm not sure he really knows what he wants and I'm frankly fed up with playing second fiddle."

Adama's eyes fell to the floor in guilty understanding and acknowledged her words, "He's a fool if he can't see what he has in you Dee."

She smiled at him as they resumed their walk. From everything the Admiral had said to her, she had a feeling the President was one lucky lady. Having Bill Adama as a partner meant Laura Roslin was in for an entirely different relationship to the one she and Lee shared and Dee realised that she envied her.

Adama suddenly had an idea and turned to his daughter in law, "Dee can you do something for me?"

"If I can Sir."

He said quickly, "Well I need something, Dee, and it will be a little difficult for me to explain a reason for getting it without causing curiosity, and I was wondering if maybe you could put some feelers out for me?"

Dualla looked slightly bemused at the apparent embarrassment the Admiral was in, as he tried to explain himself.

"I need…," he put an arm round Dualla's shoulder and spoke quietly, "I need chocolate, in some form or other, chocolate."

Dualla looked at the Admiral in surprise at his request, she wasn't sure what she was expecting but it wasn't that. She smiled at the obvious sentiment behind the desire for chocolate, she had little doubt the presumed gift was for the President and she felt privileged that he trusted her enough to ask for her help.

"I'll see what I can do, Admiral, it may require some bargaining power if you know what I mean."

"Let me know what you need," he said as he squeezed her arm before letting go as they continued toward CIC, both feeling they had shared something special.

As he walked into the hustle and bustle of CIC, Adama's thoughts turned to the sticky problem of flowers!