I do not own any of the characters below – I am only borrowing them – and will not be financially benefitting from the story in anyway. No copyright infringement is intended.

Another long chapter this time guys, I hope you enjoy it :0)…It's party time!

The Missing Link Chapter 14

Laura sat, perched on a bar stool which felt unsteady on New Caprica's uneven terrain. In an effort to stabilise the wobbling she leant forward against the table, resting on her forearms as she nursed a drink between her hands.

She wasn't entirely sure what the concoction was; it burnt her throat like a whiskey, but lacked the oaky taste. Whatever it was, it tasted vile. Not that it mattered to Laura much; combined with the emptiness of her stomach the mysterious cocktail was giving her a wonderful warm and fuzzy feeling – one that that warned her that her next drink should be a soft one.

As she sat waiting for Bill's return from Baltar's Ground Breaking speech Laura looked desirously across the planes to the mountains; bulging masses of rock protruding from the otherwise flat landscape that immediately surrounded the settlements. The school field trip earlier that week had given her the opportunity to explore uncharted areas of the planet and she had come across a particularly beautiful spot next to a lake; a certain New Caprican leaf grew there in abundance.

Laura's thoughts drifted back to the item she still had stowed in the lace confines of her bra and she pondered what Bill's reaction to it would be.

'Probably shock' she mused humorously; Laura rarely exercised her mischievous side, but something about today seemed to be bringing it out in her.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

'Not even for all the cubits left in the universe…. ' Laura internalised before turning to acknowledge the blonde that had taken a seat at her table

"Good to see you Ellen…" She lied through a forced smile "I assumed you'd be watching the ground breaking performance – having been such a vocal supporter of Baltar's campaign …"

"It's good to see you too Laura," Ellen prolonged the farce, "the speech?…Oh Blah!" She waved her hand in the air dismissively as a look of disgust touched her features… "…I find politics so terribly dull…"

"It certainly can be…" Laura answered reflectively.

"In fact," Ellen continued with a flick of her hair, the blonde waves brushing her shoulders, "it was this planet that finally swung my vote…" She took a sip from her drink and eyed Laura over the top of the glass – lifting a finger accusingly in her direction "and I must say that for someone so opposed to us settling, New Caprica certainly seems to be agreeing with you – you look quite the colonist…tell me, did you make that dress yourself?"

Laura hummed and bobbed her head, a tight smile forming on her lips as she recognised in an instant that the other woman's words were far from a compliment. "I had it made for me…I didn't have your foresight I'm afraid…"

"Foresight?" Ellen cocked an eyebrow as she swirled her drink around languorously in the glass.

"To have secured more of my wardrobe when the colonies were attacked…"

Ellen laughed throatily and placed her drink on the table, leaning against its edge with both hands "Well, you know Laura…you're always welcome to borrow something…however you may find them to be a little…loose up-top…"

"Thank you," Laura responded quickly - yet in a measured tone, whilst tucking a strand of auburn hair behind her right ear. "But the weather here is so unpredictable…" She gestured with her arm languidly, "It's unlikely that I'd get the opportunity to wear anything that reveals a lot of skin…"

Laura looked away and took a sip of her drink to calm herself; their conversation had stooped to cutting remarks from the outset - which was completely out of character for her - but Ellen had an uncanny ability to get under her skin. Yet, as unaccustomed as the cattiness was to her - Laura did take some satisfaction from the short period of stunned silence that her last comment had achieved.

"Yes, I hear that it's cold here most of the time…" Ellen continued after a few beats, pretending that she took no offense to Laura's quick thinking counter.

Sensing an opportunity to end the battle of tongues, Laura dropped the sarcasm from her tone and swiftly moved the conversation on, turning back to face Ellen. "Do you plan to settle down here eventually?"

"We do," Ellen nodded enthusiastically but there was pessimism in her expression as she fingered the rim of her glass "Soon I hope…" She wrinkled her nose and took another swig of her drink. "But that's not really our decision…"

"Oh…" Laura understood, "The Admiral…"

"Oh Bill's just an old stick in the mud… and he'll come round eventually…he always does…"

"You've known him a long time, Bill…" It wasn't a question, more an observation.

"I've known Bill for a life time Laura," Ellen moved in closer, a wide grin spreading across her inebriated face, "and boy…I could tell you some stories…" She chortled and moved away again, draining her glass before grabbing a bottle to top it up.

"I bet…" Laura smiled, "You're a military wife – you've got to be used to living by alone for extended periods…"

"Move down to the planet by myself you mean?" She frowned as she placed the now empty bottle back on the table.

"Why not?"

"I'm not really the living in a tent kind of gal…"

"Yeah," Laura snorted in agreement and took a sip of her own drink, "I never really enjoyed camping much myself, but you do get used to it…after a while…"

"Did you hear that President Baltar has plans to build condos by the market place…?"

"I heard that…" Laura nodded and smiled wanly; the idea that colonials would want to live in an apartment block when there was so much open space available mystified her. "Though personally, I think I'd prefer to live somewhere a little more remote…" she added wistfully and Ellen followed her faraway gaze that had turned, once again, towards the mountains.

X

By the time Bill and Saul returned to the bar, Ellen had left to flirt shamelessly with the finance minister and Laura was nursing her second alcoholic drink – which she had opted for over something softer in an effort to dull Ellen's incessant pro-Baltar ramblings.

"Was that fun?" Laura asked teasingly as Bill reached her side, instantly grabbing at one of the bottles that sat on the table and sloshing the brown liquid into a tall glass.

"Not really," He responded coolly before knocking back his drink and refilling the glass.

"Frakking painful if you ask me…" Saul took the bottle from Bill and collected two glasses from the table. "Ms Roslin…" He nodded a welcome to Laura, "You look well…" He raised an eyebrow and threw an approving a glance towards Bill, who pretended not to notice.

"Thank you Colonel, will you be staying on New Caprica this evening?"

"Yes ma'am – never like to leave a party early… especially when there's an open bar…" He held the bottle up in front of him and nodded his head in the direction of his wife, whose flirtatious laughter drifted through the air towards them. "If you'll both excuse me?"

"Have a good evening Colonel…" Laura wished Saul well and Bill tipped his glass as the XO headed off to join his wife, whose abrasive tones now filled the whole bar.

"There you are Saul…honey, you've just got to come hear Sam's story about the locker room and the straws…tell him Sam…"

Laura glanced over her shoulder to where Starbuck, Sam and the Tigh's were making the most of the open bar, before turning her attentions back to Bill.

"Oh my Gods…" She shook her head slowly, a wry smile appearing on her lips, "That woman…"

"Ellen's a piece of work…" Bill spoke matter of fact.

"And some…" Laura slowly got to her feet, and absently rubbed her behind – she'd been sitting in the same position for quite a while. "I could do with stretching my legs…" She touched Bills arm, "Walk with me?"

"Why of course m'lady…" Bill joked and held out his arm, which she accepted with an appreciative chuckle before they made their way from the bar in a comfortable silence…at least Bill thought their silence was a comfortable one.

Laura, in contrast to the calmness of Bill was internally struggling to find the courage to broach the subject of what she was currently hiding between the constraints of her right breast and the underwire of her bra.

As they reached the peripheral of the market place the now unfamiliar sound of live music exploded from behind them, forcing a stunned Laura to cling on to Bill's arm to prevent from being carried away by the surge of people heading towards the makeshift dance floor.

Once the stampede had abated Bill brought them to a stop and letting Laura's arm drop to her side he tugged delicately on her fingers, asking softly "Would you like to dance?"

Laura felt the butterflies that had subsided earlier, reappear in her middle instantaneously. "Maybe after a few more of these…" She held up her drink to him and smiled nervously.

"Not much of a dancer?" He said as they resumed walking, nudging her teasingly with his shoulder.

"I dance… She turned her head to smile at him briefly. "You know I dance…"

"I do…" He nodded, his mind flashing back to Colonial day and that very dance. It was the first time Bill got to physically appreciate the contours of her body, to smell the flowery scent of her hair, to feel her hot breath on his neck as he held her close, swaying in time to the music.

At the time he hadn't appreciated the intimacy of that dance quite as much as he would now, for they were both so still unsure of each other then. Yet in the several months leading up to her fall from presidency, the memories generated from that night had filtered into his thoughts on more than one occasion.

They continued their walk in silence, coming to a stop by the alluvial deposits that Bill had shown such interest in earlier and Laura watched Bill as he drained his second glass of liquor. "Baltar's speech that bad?" She asked tipping some of her own drink into his glass.

"Hmmm?"

"Taking the edge off witnessing the 'Better Tomorrow' speech?" She nodded towards his glass.

"A bit…" His voice was gruff, "I'd say a whole bottle would do the trick…"

"Would you perhaps be interested in partaking in something…a little stronger?"

"Than this?" He stared at her wide eyed, holding up his drink. "Not possible…"

"Oh…this isn't for drinking…." Laura kept her eyes on Bills face as his own eagerly followed her fingers into her bra and pulled out the weed just enough for him to identify it, before popping it back into its hiding place.

"Is that…?" Bills predictably shocked gaze shot up to meet her playful one, "…Laura Roslin…well I never…." He shook his head in mock disapproval.

She found herself giggling; a sound that even surprised her. "I confiscated it from some of my students; it grows in the mountains over there…" She outstretched her arm towards mountain range.

"Is that right?"

"Yes Sir…" She smiled impishly, lowering her arm "In abundance…."

Bill simply stared at her, his expression caught somewhere between admiration and disbelief.

"So what do you say then Admiral…hmmm?" Laura waggled her eyebrows and shook her shoulders giddily. "Want to get high?"

XX

"You say this stuff grows around here?" Bill took another hit off of the loosely rolled leaves, drawing the sweet smoke into his lungs.

"Umm hmm," Laura took a deep breath, savouring the musty, herbal aroma "In the mountains north of here," She pointed languidly towards the horizon, "there's this little stream, it comes down there to this lake," She turned back to him, "The water is so clear it's like looking through glass… I'm thinking of building a cabin…"

As Laura took a sip of her drink she watched amused as Bills drug confused brain slowly absorbed her plans. She too, hadn't realised the gravity of her statement until the words had left her lips; in her hazed state she found herself giggling at the ridiculousness of that fact.

Her words had painted a picture so vivid and had been laden with such promise…the true meaning of her projection was blatantly clear – Laura's cabin would be built for two.

Bill felt suddenly awkward and he transferred his weight from his left foot to his right; completely unsure of how to react to her words. Was she really alluding to them making a home together?

That thought made Bills heart flutter and the image he saw in his mind's eye of a large open fireplace and Laura lying naked in his arms sent his attentions to an entirely different region of his body.

He brought a hand to rest on his hip, puffed out his chest and released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding as he threw his weed to the floor. "It's good…" He wasn't even sure if he was referring to her idea, or to the weed which had now start to pleasantly slow down his stream of thought.

"It is good…" Laura took a final drag from her smoking joint and flicked it into the alluvial deposits like a pro. "It's strong…"

"Kids from you school were smoking this stuff?"

"Hmm hmm" She answered dreamily, swaying slightly side to side, causing her long red skirt to swish against her tattered boots.

"Remind me to thank them…"

"Hmmm" She laughed through her hum, "I gave them detention…"

Bill grinned.

"Oh my Gods..." She laughed, "That's awful…" She laughed a little harder," I'm so awful…"

Bill joined in with her laughter, "You set a fine example Ms Roslin…"

"I think so," She straightened her shoulders and tried to compose herself with a firm nod of her head, but then burst out laughing again as Bill stared back incredulously. "Ok…maybe not but I'm sure they learnt something…" She linked her arm with his, "You want to head back, get something to eat?"

"Yeah, food…" His foggy mind was now seemingly unable to string anything together other than single syllable words.

As they made their way back towards the party, it occurred to Laura that this was the first time she had looked forward to eating anything that this planet had to offer since she had landed. Even the thought of New Caprica's signature broth sounded quite pleasing to her – the weed might prove to be a little problematic on a planet with a shortage of food.

"Gods…" She sighed - her limbs felt heavy "I don't remember it taking us this long to reach the settlements…I feel as if I'm walking on sponge…"

Bill laughed.

"What?" She asked defensively.

"When was the last time you walked on sponge?"

"What? I haven't…I mean…" She laughed and shook her head before slapping his arm causing him to laugh even harder "Oh you know what I mean…spongy like…" Her muddled mind desperately grasped at words and adjectives to help to describe what she meant to no avail. "…sponge…" She fell against him, taken over by another fit of giggles.

"Spongy like sponge?"

xXx

By the time they reached the Mess tent the sun had started to set, and they were still beside themselves with laughter. Their stomach muscles ached as they wiped tears from of their flushed cheeks, both of them having completely forgotten the catalyst for their hilarity – both understanding that the real cause for the merriness was weed.

"Wait Bill," Laura tugged on his arm and brought them to a stop by the entrance, "its Lee…"

Bill stopped laughing temporarily, "Why are you whispering?"

"He might…know…"

"That we're stoned – Oh No!" Bill feigned worry, but when he saw genuine concern in her green eyes he continued. "I doubt it would be his first guess…"

"He looks so serious…"

"That's his face; it always looks like that…" Bill joked, "Got it from me – look…" Laura looked at him as he tried his best to keep his expression sombre; failing miserably when a dopey smile crept across his face.

"You're incorrigible…shhh," She pulled her arm from where it was still linked with Bills and nudged his shoulder, as she tried to compose herself "He's coming this way…"

"Hmmm?" Bill moved his bloodshot eyes from hers to Lee who was now strolling over to them with a plate of food in his hand.

"Ms Roslin," Lee nodded a hello and Laura smiled back at him wider than she wanted to. "Admiral, I was hoping to get the opportunity to discuss Officer Dualla's transfer to Pegasus…do you have a moment?"

"Okay…" Laura could almost see the cogs turning in Bill's brain as he strained to generate an appropriate response – she sniggered when his only reply was "Good…"

"Good?" Lee frowned at Laura who averted his gaze by looking at his plate of food. "What do you mean?"

Bill seemed to snap back to attention "I mean good," He cleared his throat, "Go ahead…"

"Would it be possible to have the discussion in private?" Lee looked again to Laura who was still staring at his plate of food – he was pretty sure he just saw her lick her lips.

"Of course…" Bill stammered, "…Ms Roslin?"

"Hmmm?" Laura pulled her eyes away from Lee's food at Bills formal use of her name.

"There's something that Commander Adama and I must discuss..."

"Oh," She shifted slightly, "Oh of course Admiral…excuse me…enjoy your evening gentlemen…" Laura smiled and with a slight nod of her head she left the father and son and moved further into the Mess tent in search of the delicious looking bread that she had spied on Lee's plate.

xXXx

Having eaten close to her body weight in bread and broth, Laura had made her way back to the bar to wait for Bill. She now stood silently, enjoying the cheerful expressions on the faces of her fellow colonists as they whirled one another around the dance floor to some vaguely familiar folk music.

To see their gleeful behaviour made it easier to forget the troubling situation that Baltar had landed them in. That combined with the cocktail of booze and drugs in her system meant that Laura was feeling unusually relaxed – that tranquillity however was short lived.

"Ms Roslin, may I say you are looking lovely tonight?"

She felt her shoulders tense and her buzz starting to subside at the sound of Tom Zarek's voice.

"Thank you Mr Vice President," She glanced briefly in his direction and smiled falsely before turning her attention back to the dancing – finding it odd how she had used her politicians smile more times today than she'd had need to in a long time.

"They look happy don't they?"

'Ignorance is bliss' Laura thought, but kept it to herself. She didn't relish the thought of getting drawn into a political argument right now - instead she simply hummed and continued watching the display on the dance floor.

Her lack of response didn't seem to be deterring the Vice President, who was still at her side; she could feel his eyes on her and she self-consciously pulled her wrap around her chest.

"It's quite a party…" She rolled her eyes, exasperated when he continued to try to spark a conversation; she didn't think that she could make her lack of interest anymore apparent.

"It is…" She responded flatly, eyes still focussed on the dancers. The music had now slowed in tempo and the groups of people reduced as couples formed; arms wrapped affectionately around one another.

"Would you care to dance Laura?"

"What?" This time she did turn to him, eyes wide with shock that he had the audacity to even ask.

"Would you…?" Zarek gestured to the dance floor and flashed her a boyish smile.

"You're serious?" She balked, past caring if he found her rude.

"Deadly." His grin was still there, unfaltering even after her expression clearly showed a lack of interest, "Shall we?" He held out his arm.

Laura shook her head and looked back towards the dance floor, stunned by the thickness of his skin. "One advantage to not being President anymore is that I no longer have to keep up appearances…" She turned to face him again, poker-faced "So no Tom – I really don't want to dance with you…now if you'll excuse me…"

Laura turned to leave but Zarek grabbed her wrist roughly, preventing her from moving and she spun back to him glaring – her nostrils flared in anger.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I'm not naïve Laura," His smile was still there, just a little more strained than before. "I see what's going on here…"

'What does he mean he knows what's going on? Does he mean with Bill and me?' She swallowed hard as she saw Bill emerging from the Mess tent carrying two drinks in his hands. "Meaning?"

"I see that people are suffering here," He released his firm grip on her wrist and she snatched it back to her chest, massaging the skin where he had applied pressure. "And I'm not too proud to admit that…maybe I backed the wrong horse…"

'Maybe you backed the wrong horse?' Her mind screamed, 'frakking maybe? You practically recruited Baltar into running against me!' But Laura bit her tongue and chose her next words wisely.

"Hindsight…" She harrumphed. "Let me give you a little advice Mr Vice President – politician to politician. " The corners of her lips curled up and she narrowed her eyes, "Keep your eyes focussed forward, not staring out of your ass."

"Excuse me?"

"Your people need you. If the Cylons come back, what good are your regrets? What you need… is a plan…" She stared at him for a few seconds, watching her words sink in and the smug expression slip from his face. "Goodnight, Mr Vice President."

Leaving a stunned Zarek behind Laura walked over to meet Bill and he handed her a drink, from which she took a sizable swig.

"You ok? What was that about?"

"Oh nothing, just Zarek being his usual arrogant self…." Laura took a smaller sip of her drink and hummed. "I think he killed my buzz…" She smiled mischievously and swayed her shoulders.

"Want to get out of here?" Bill caught on quickly.

"Best idea you've had all night…did you speak to my security?" She looked towards the soldier who had kept a responsible distance from them all day, but was still quite obviously following them.

"Not yet…should I?" Bill gestured towards the young man who was currently sitting, trying to look casual on the opposite side of the dance floor.

"No," Laura smiled cunningly as she handed him her glass, "Hold this… I'll be right back…"

Bill watched as she manoeuvred her way skilfully through the crowd of revellers towards the corner of the dance floor where a three piece band sat, and once they had brought the current song to an end, she leant to whisper something in the ear of the fiddle player.

Only a few words were spoken between them and Bill could see her thanking the man before hurrying back to him, grinning from ear to ear as she stepped down from the dance floor to where he stood.

"What was all that?"

"You'll see in a few seconds," She took her drink from him again, "Get ready to make a run for those tents…" She pointed to the edge of the settlements.

"What?" Bill frowned, but as the band belted out the opening bars to an upbeat Caprican party classic; he understood.

"Now," Laura shoved Bill "Quick go…"

When the charge of partygoers headed back onto the dance floor, temporarily blinding the young soldier to his charges location, they hurried away from the crowd to hide behind the tents that lined the market place.

They came to a stop and breathless, Laura peered around the corner. "I think we lost him," She turned to Bill, smiling proudly.

Bill smiled back, "Good move…" He snaked an arm around her waist, "think we lost everyone… c'mere…" He pulled her flush against him and planted a wet kiss on her lips.

"Wait, not here," She pushed him back, "Follow me…" Laura grabbed his hand and the two of them made their way across the darkened settlements in search of a little more privacy.

xxXxx

"I lost her Sir…" The young soldier found his superior standing alone by the bar.

"Take the night off Private Wilson…" He spoke without looking up from his drink.

"Sir?" The soldier pressed the older man for clarity.

"She's alone with the Admiral…" He drained his tumbler, inhaling sharply as the acidic liquid burnt its way to his stomach. "The recording devices are in place…" He rolled the empty glass in his hands and looked sideways at the young man. "And everybody loves a good sex scandal."

TBC…

End Notes:

Thanks for reading and please feel free let me know what you think – it helps to keep me motivated :0)