Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel.

Chapter 12: And I can breathe again

While they waited for the 'peace talk,' Adama decided to make the fleetwide announcement. "Attention Colonial Fleet, this is Admiral Adama. Our journey has taken nearly four years. We've struggled, we've lost, we've fought, and now we've won. Earth is only a short Raptor trip away. We have finally arrived. Recon missions will be sent before landing parties go down to the surface to ensure peoples' safety. In our joy at arriving, let us not forget those who have died along our journey. We will honor them with our lives as we continue not to only survive, but to live."

Laura beamed with pride as her eyes locked with Bill's. They moved toward each other almost in slow motion. Then they met each other half way for a heart-felt hug. When they broke away, Dee came down to hug him. Seeing the two of them, Laura understood what he had said earlier; Cylon or not, she was still family. As Laura turned back to the viewscreen, she was met by Garfeld's open arms as he hugged her.

"Thank you for bringing us this far," he told her as they separated. That was a bit strange, but I suppose he was just caught up in the moment, she figured.

The peace talk went more smoothly than either side would have imagined. The Cylons took D'Anna back with them after agreeing that the humans would settle on the planet first, then the Cylons would land on a remote island. An invitation was also offered for any Cylons within the fleet to join Anders and his group. He and Adama were the last to leave the room.

Adama placed a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Sir?" Ander asked.

"If you want to speak with Kara, I might be able to arrange something," the admiral offered.

Anders sighed and shook his head. "Thanks, but it's over between us. She made that pretty clear. I have another place to be now. The Cylons want me as their leader."

Outside the boardroom, Garfeld caught Roslin. "Madame President, Laura, I would be honored if you would join me for lunch."

She smiled politely. "I need a word with the admiral first."

"Of course. I'll wait right here," he replied.

Laura passed Anders before finding Bill. "You were speaking with Mr. Anders?"

"He feels that his place is with the Cylons. They've made him their leader," Adama told her.

"I'm not surprised. They seem to make leaders of the Cylons who are different from the collective masses. Kara still wants nothing to do with him anyway," Laura responded.

He folded his hands in front of him. "You didn't come here to talk about the Cylons though."

She shook her head. "Garfeld asked me to have lunch with him. After that I'll probably have to hold a press conference and then Cottle wants to see me to discuss tomorrow's procedures."

Bill studied her for a moment, noticing the black skirt, matching jacket, and light pink blouse she wore. "I think the vice president has a crush on you," he said seriously.

She eyed him incredulously and laughed. "That's ridiculous. First of all, I'm probably ten years older than he is."

"Since when has age mattered?" Bill asked, his brow furrowing.

Placing a hand on his forearm, she spoke. "It's different if the woman is older. Age aside, I'm also not exactly in superb health, although that will be improving."

"I'm just saying be careful," he reminded.

She leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. "You have nothing to worry about. I'll just tell him that I'm already spoken for."

Though Roslin and Garfeld picked up their lunches from the cafeteria, he led her to the Observation Deck to eat. With the excitement of the day, the algae sandwiches even tasted edible. After taking a few bites, Roslin thought back to what Adama had suggested. "Mr. Garfeld-"

"Please, just 'Cornelius' will do."

"Cornelius, as much as I like the view from the Observation Deck, why are we here?" she inquired.

He took a few more bites of his food. "With all the excitment, the galley is too noise to have a conversation, and I don't have quarters on this ship. Also, I did want to ask you something."

As he smiled at her, she blushed. "And what would that be?"

Garfeld took a deep breath and faced her. "Madame President, Laura, you are a remarkable, beautiful woman. I have grown fond of you and would like to pursue a relationship, other than friendship, with you."

Why did Bill have to be right about this? She folded her hands in her lap, formulating a response before looking back at him. "Cornelius, you are very kind, and supportive. I need to remind you of a few things. I am older than you-"

"So?"

"I have cancer, though it may get better, and what you see isn't my real hair," she admitted.

He reached for her hands. "None of that matters. You are a wonderful woman whom I would like to spend more time with."

She moved away and stood. "I'm flattered, truly, but I can't."

Following her as she started to pace, he asked, "Why not?"

"It's not you, it's... well, what I mean to say is that I'm spoken for," she explained.

He raised an eyebrow. "May I ask whom you would be referring to?"

She crossed her arms and looked back toward the enormous window. "The admiral."

"The admiral," he echoed quietly. "So the rumors..."

Quickly she turned back to him. "Most of the gossip is just gossip as far as the details. However, there is some truth to the rumors. He and I are, well, close."

Garfeld sighed heavily. "Well, it was worth a shot. I hope he knows that he's the luckiest man in the fleet. "

She stepped over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Someday you will find the right woman for you. And when you do, I'm sure she'll be lucky to have you."

He nodded politely. "Maybe you're right. In the meantime, I do believe that we have a press conference to arrange."

After the press conference, Adama and Roslin decided to visit the brig and question Dino Fife. As the two most powerful people in the fleet entered the room, Fife looked up from the cell bed at them. Only five feet tall and stocky with a black moustache and badly died red hair, he shook his head at them. "Took you two long enough. I was starting to wonder if I'd be in solitary confinement indefinitely."

Roslin noticed as Adama tensed at the shoulders before he spoke. "Do you know why you're here?"

"I got caught, plain and simple. Next question," Fife retorted.

The president crossed her arms as she looked at the prisoner. "Mr. Fife, you were trafficking in narcotics. Not only that, because of your impatience to receive illegal substances, thirty people are dead."

Fife shrugged. "My bad. They should've known better. Your own vice president was in on it too. It was his way of paying me for information."

"What sort of information?" Adama questioned.

The prisoner shrugged again. "Information from the Prometheus, anything he could use. He paid me in what we'll call 'questionable collateral,' and I used it to buy whatever I needed. Doesn't matter anymore, now that he's dead."

No remorse. This man has absolutely no remorse, Roslin realized. "Don't you realize that with your criminal activities and what you've done, you might not even get a trial?"

Fife snorted. "Lady, do I look like I care? I want out, and you only have marginal proof that I actually did anything wrong. I never got the delivery, and nobody heard me telling that transport to speed when it did. You got nothing."

"I think we're through here for now," Adama stated, clenching and unclenching his fist as he headed for the door.

Laura followed him and the two did not speak until they had entered the admiral's quarters. Bill paced back and forth, careful not to run into the coffee table. "I don't know what to do about Fife."

Laura pulled her feet up on the couch, her gaze following him. "What he did was vile and costly. You know, you could take revenge on him for what he's cost you."

"Revenge doesn't work, Laura. I could try to take revenge against the Cylons. But Helena Cain tried that and look what happened to her. No. revenge is wrong. Dmitri Fife is trash, but I can't justify killing him. It still won't bring Lee back," Bill relayed.

He joined her on the couch as a contemplative silence descended over them both. Then she stood and placed crossed her arms. "You might not be able to airlock him, but I can. It's a bigger problem than just revenge. Fife's request cost not only your son, but twenty-nine other people their lives. Fife is a liability, a risk to the fleet. I will not allow that man hurt anyone else, and you know as well as I do that he'd do it again."

After talking with Bill, Laura headed to Life Station for an appointment with Cottle. "Nice to see you're on time," the doctor stated as she entered.

She smiled wryly. "You're lucky I'm here on time. It's been a busy day. We've reached Earth, made a peace treaty of sorts with the Cylons, dealt with the press, and argued with an annoying prisoner."

Cottle smirked back. "All in a day's work. Why don't you have a seat and I'll tell you what to expect for tomorrow."

Though Cottle had explained things well enough, Laura cringed at the reality of what was to come the following morning. She walked back to the admiral's quarters in silent reflection. Bill found her on the couch, hands folded in her lap. She looked up when he handed her a cup of tea. "How did it go with Cottle?" he asked, joining her on the couch.

She took a long, meditative sip before facing him. "Jack went over the procedure with me. He'll be performing it himself, just a standard, simple lumpectomy."

Watching her carefully, he noticed her gaze drop. "If it's as simple as you say it is, then what's bothering you?"

Her eyes closed and her reply was a near-whisper. "I'm afraid. What if it's not that simple?" What if I really do have to leave you? I can't do that to you.

Gently he took the teacup from her hand and placed it down on the coffee table. Then he enveloped both of her hands in his. "Laura, don't talk like that."

"But Bill, medically I don't expect good luck. I got off easy once. I'm supposed to be the Dying Leader. Do you really think my luck will hold again?" she argued.

Worry reflected back to him in her eyes. Instead of feeding her concerns, he chose to give her a bold smile. "All this from the woman who doesn't believe in luck. You told me 'A lighter is just a lighter,' remember?"

She gave him a half-smile. "Touché, Mister Adama."

He dropped her hands. She rose and took the teacup over to his sink. She did not realize he had followed her until she felt his hands on her shoulders. "Laura, it'll be alright."

Did he say that more for my sake, or for his? "I suppose." She felt the warm pressure of his hands as they glided along her neck and shoulders. "Mmm, what are you doing?"

"Returning a favor," he responded in his gravely voice.

If he keeps this up, I might just forget about tomorrow, and the day after that, she mused. But her mind would not allow her to find peace. What if there are no more tomorrows? What if it ends here?

Bill stopped his ministrations when he suddenly felt hot tears on the backs of his fingers. Grasping her shoulders, he turned her around. "Laura, what's wrong?"

She hastily wiped her eyes. "I have to face the reality that things might not go as planned. I want you to know something though."

"You have my full attention," he told her.

She took him by the hand and led him back into the living room. Then she looked directly into his eyes, smoky blue meeting vibrant green. She licked her lips. "I love you Bill, more than I've ever loved anyone else. And more than I even thought possible."

He reached out and touched her face, cupping her cheek with his hand as he smiled warmly. "You are my sin qua non, that which I cannot live without. I love you too, Laura."

Then he leaned in to kiss her. Both had waited so long for the moment that the tender kiss took both of their breaths away. Suddenly it was as if an electrical charge had spread through her veins. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. Her fears over the surgery melted away as he kissed her passionately. As his lips strayed to her neck and throat, she popped open the buttons of his uniform jacket.

He shrugged it off, not caring where it landed. They kissed languidly while he unbuttoned her blouse. Though he had more trouble with her tiny buttons than she had with his, the blouse soon followed his jacket to the floor. She moaned as his calloused hands explored her back. An "oh Bill" slipped out as his lips found her neck again. She slid her hands under his tanks and plucked them off. "Laura," he rasped as she roamed her hands over his chest and back.

They had been moving toward his rack without much notice. Realizing where they were, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, his hands lingering on her upper arms. Her brow furrowed. "Why did you stop?"

"Is this really what you want?" he asked, stroking one of her arms with his thumb.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders, her mouth inches from his. "You have no idea how badly."

Her mouth claimed his hungrily and the two sank into his rack. Hands and mouths sought out skin. Clothing was discarded and ignored. They fell asleep later, her heart pressed against his, the two beating as one.

(My thanks to SMCKI10 and Mamabella for reviewing :D)