I feel the end is near, the next chapter may be the last!

Capsized 21

Bill Adama's brain went into overdrive; by his reckoning he had some making up to do with the woman of his dreams.

All his hard work at wooing Laura Roslin were now null and void. He'd made a fool of himself with Zarek, well according to Laura, he had. She appeared to be able to read him like a book these days and now he was playing catch up. He wasn't even sure she was coming to dinner tonight as they had arranged.

In a fit of temper he had been more than disrespectful to her and gained himself a slap in the process, the first one in his life! Carol-Ann would never have done that, she had been into long drawn out silences, and if that didn't work she would resort to banging objects about, to get her point across.

Laura was the one pulling all the strings now. Truth be told he was a little nervous about the sex part of things, he thought back to Laura's words - 'the perfect moment' - she'd said he was waiting for, he wasn't so sure, maybe the moment his courage kicked in would be a better analogy. He hadn't actually been what you would call active, before this whole run for Earth had started; "rusty" may be the tip of the iceberg he thought, "seized up" was probably closer to home! He shifted his weight to his other foot suddenly uncomfortable with his thoughts. CIC probably wasn't the place for this. As he pulled the hem of his trousers down slightly. He wasn't even sure he wanted her to come to dinner!

Tigh stood over the other side of the table top and listened to his friend and Admiral sigh, again. He'd come back from the meeting with President and Vice President of this ravaged fleet, in rather dull spirits. He could understand that being in a room with one of them would be bad enough; the pair together must be like going to the drinks cabinet and finding it empty!

Bill was usually able to cope with them though, and this rather introverted Adama was different, The Admiral was often uncommunicative but Saul couldn't say he was in a bad mood because he wasn't the bad tempered Admiral was easy to spot. The Colonel resisted joining in with Bill as a sigh bubbled up inside him.

Laura Roslin! Tigh thought, she had some hold on his old friend and Saul suspected he knew which part too!

"How did your meeting go?" Tigh asked trying to pull the Admiral out of himself.

"Fine," Adama said watching the ships moving round Galactica.

"Zarek his usual slimy self?" his XO said quietly.

Bill suppressed the urge to agree and just gave Saul a hard look, before carrying on with what he was doing.

"Oh come on," Tigh said, never knowing when to let go, "you can't tell me, you haven't noticed how our esteemed Vice President is always first to any meeting with Laura Roslin."

"Mmn," Bill said trying to ignore his baiting.

"He's hoping to get her alone, so he can try and worm his way into her affections."

The Admiral's eyes turned quickly to his friend, and he was unable to stop his sharp tone "What?"

Tigh's customary smirk was in place as he answered, "He's after her."

Bill gritted his teeth at the insinuations, after all he couldn't disagree, he'd long thought that given the opportunity he'd jump at the chance. No matter what Laura said it didn't change the fact that Zarek would always try.

Bill forced his head back to the screen and said, "I'm sure the President can handle him."

Tigh snorted, "I'm fairly sure that, Madam President could handle every man she came across."

"So say we all," Bill muttered under his breath, out of Saul's ear shot.

"You say something? "Saul enquired.

"No and I think you have said more than enough."

"OK, OK, Admiral," his XO said turning away and wandering across to the other side of CIC, whispering to himself, "He used to be much more fun when he was just a Commander!"

"Saul," Adama shouted across the room making his Second in Command turn back towards him.

"Sir?"

"I have some reports to go through and phone calls to make, I will be in my quarters for the next hour or so," he said starting to walk away, "you have command."

"Yes Sir."

As the Admiral exited the XO mumbled to himself in a sarcastic voice, "Hello, Madam President, this is your tame Admiral speaking, did you know that Tom Zarek wants to frak you? Not to mention, your ever ready, willing to serve, Admiral of the fleet."

Once the Admiral returned to his quarters, his first job was to pick up the phone, "Give me a secure line to the President please."

"Laura Roslin," came the controlled voice from the other end.

"Are you still coming back for dinner?" He asked hopefully.

"I don't know," she said making his heart sink, "Will you make it worth my while?" Laura said lightheartedly.

Bill thought for a moment, "Ah, what sort of incentives do you require, Madam President?"

"Really Admiral your going to have to use your imagination," she laughed.

Making her spine tingle he growled down the phone, "I'm using my imagination right now, and it's not repeatable even down a secure line."

"Mmn, I getting interested," she said in a low sultry voice.

"Interested enough to come to dinner?"

"Yes, I think I could manage that."

"OK," he said hesitantly.

"Bill? Have you changed your mind?" She asked in concern at his tone.

"NO!"

"I'll be there in about an hour then, make it an hour and half, I have to freshen up and change."

"OK," Bill swallowed.

"You're doing it again," she laughed.

"Sorry, it's fine," he said covering his nervousness with a joke, "I'm just thinking about my limited wardrobe."

Laura whispered down the phone, "I'll give you a break; I like a man in uniform, see you later, Bill."

The Admiral replaced the phone. It seemed so simple on the phone but now she was coming over and they may not have said it, but he had no doubt that this would be the night…Performance anxiety… FRAK.