(minisode one for Razor is alluded to)

Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel. Minisode one for Razor is alluded to.

Chapter 26: Next in line

Roslin woke in Life Station, seeing Adama sitting in a chair next to the bed. He held her hand, watching her pensively. She squeezed back and smiled. "Bill, how long have I been here?"

"About thirty minutes," he mentioned, sitting up straighter.

She wondered why he was not sitting on the bed next to her. "What happened?"

Cottle stepped into view and lifted her other hand, which had an IV attached to it like an extra vein. "I've given you a nutrient mixture. It should be finished in a little while."

"Apparently you fainted, Madame President," the admiral told her.

Madame President? She blinked with irritation. "Bill, what the frak is- oh," she paused, noticing Zarek and Lee in the room.

"Lee and the vice president brought you here. Then they called me," Adama explained.

She looked over at the doctor. "Why did I pass out?"

"I wish I knew. Usually these things have a logical explanation, medically speaking. The nearest I can figure is that your body's not metabolizing enough nutrients from what you've been eating," Cottle deduces.

"What happened before you passed out?" Adama asked.

Roslin glanced over at Lee and Zarek before answering. "I need to talk to you, alone."

Cottle decided to help and walked over to the other men. "I'm afraid I have to ask you two to wait over there."

Zarek reluctantly headed over to the waiting area, followed by Lee. "So this is how things are," the older man stated.

"It's probably about Earth or something they can't tell us yet," Lee suggested.

Leaning forward in his seat, Zarek shook his head. "You and I both know that it's about a lot more than that. I should've seen it. Those two are involved, intimately involved."

"Then we should stay out of it," Lee mentioned.

Zarek eyed Lee suspiciously, thinking that he might be hiding something. "You know something about this, don't you?"

"It's none of our business," Lee responded, looking back toward the now curtained-off area where the president and the admiral were talking.

Having a curtain sheltering them from the all too curious vice president's view, Adama sat on the bed next to Roslin. "I had a vision," she began.

"Before you passed out?" he inquired.

She nodded. "The Final Five were in the boardroom. They each had a piece of paper in front of them, shaped like a puzzle piece. On those pieces were binary code sequences. Then everything blurred and went black."

"As if we needed any more puzzles," he stated.

Sighing, she laid back against the pillows. "Why is everything so complicated? It's never just quiet or boring. What I wouldn't give for a boring day right now."

"In the first Cylon war, all I wanted was to see action. Now, I would agree with you that I could really use a boring day," he remarked. She suddenly smirked and he raised an eyebrow as he looked over at her. "What?"

"You just reminded me that I'd like to know how you got your call sign before I die," she relayed.

He snorted. "You really want to go to the 'Great Beyond' with a story like that?"

She giggled. "Now I'm sure that I do. So tell me. How did you end up with 'Husker?'"

You sound like you've resolved yourself to death again, but we'll discuss that later. A nostalgic, yet mischievous smile crossed his face as he turned to her. "The only other person who knows what I'm about to tell you is Saul. Not even Lee has heard the whole thing," he began. "Back when I was just starting as a Viper pilot, one colonel used to do bed checks. That's when he would go around knocking on all of the pilots' doors, making sure that everyone was accounted for."

Roslin grinned before peering over Adama's shoulder to see a glass of water on the table. He followed her gaze and handed it to her. "Thank you. I'll bet those bed checks were pretty inconvenient at times."

"That's for sure," he stated as he put a hand behind his neck. "It's actually pretty embarrassing. Long before I met my wife, I had a girlfriend. She was actually a lot like Starbuck in personality. Anyway, she and I were up to what I will only refer to as 'certain acts of which a gentleman does not divulge'" he paused as Roslin snickered, "when the colonel decided that a more intrusive bed check was needed."

"Deities, don't tell me you didn't lock the door!" Roslin exclaimed, barely able to hold back her laughter.

Adama's cheeks flushed and he cleared his throat. "That would be no. Colonel Bracket saw far more than any superior officer should have. Then he shouted, 'That's one way to husk her' loud enough so that everyone probably heard him halfway down the hallway, in both directions. The next day I heard a bunch of whistles and one of the other pilots shouted, 'Hey Husker, how was your night?' And the name stuck."

The president giggled until Adama wondered what the interns, along with Lee and Zarek, might be thinking at that point. Taking a deep breath, she faced him with a devious grin. "I'm going to remember that one and call you 'Husker' when you least expect it."

"Saul's going to find that amusing," Adama commented, his hands covering hers.

"What happened to the woman? Did she get teased too?" Roslin inquired.

Adama looked away and sighed. "She died in an on-deck accident not long after that night."

"I'm sorry," Roslin said quickly.

"It was a long time ago," he stated flatly, his gaze fixed on a point past her bed. Then the moment passed and he looked back to her. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged. "I'm tired, but other than that, I've felt worse. We should bring Lee and Zarek back over."

"So it's back to business then?" he mused.

"I'm afraid so," she concluded. He left the bed, but not before giving her a tender kiss.

Zarek and Lee stood when they saw the curtain opening. "Finally. I was beginning to wonder if the doctor was just going to send us home."

Cottle was disconnecting her IV as the other men approached the bed. "Madame President, you're free to go."

"Thank you, Jack," she told him. Then she gracefully slid off the bed, facing the others. "Gentlemen, we need to make an announcement to the fleet."

She took the admiral's arm and led the way out of Life Station with Zarek and Lee following. "Is anyone ever going to let me in on what's going on?" Zarek complained.

"You have your own sources, Tom. How well they work for you is your business," Roslin teased.

"I'm glad you find all this amusing. I am terribly curious though as to what was so funny a few minutes ago in Life Station," Zarek mentioned.

Roslin and Adama both smirked. "A military answer to civilian invasive tactics," she replied.

"In other words, you're probably better off not knowing," Lee told Zarek.

They entered CIC and Adama gave Roslin the wireless. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked her.

She sighed and nodded. "It has to be done."

Zarek watched the two with interest, noticing the glances and silent exchanges. What they did not say was almost as important as what they did say. Holding the wireless, she turned her gaze toward the window where she could see some of the other ships. She wanted to address her audience. When she spoke, she detached herself emotionally from the words.

"Attention Colonial Fleet, this is Laura Roslin, President of the Twelve Colonies. As many of you know, I am dying. I regret to announce that I have weeks left. But one of my last acts is to appoint Mr. Lee Adama as my eventual successor. It has been a privilege to serve you. I thank you for your respect and your loyalty. I only hope that you can give the same to Mr. Adama as we continue our quest for Earth. Thank you."

She let out a breath as she handed the wireless back to Adama. He placed it back in the holder while resting his other hand against the small of her back for support. After a pause, both regained their usual propriety. Zarek watched the two with interest. "Cancer's made her a little unsteady," Lee whispered to him.

The president turned to the admiral. "I think it's time that we spoke to Dr. Felds again." He agreed and the two made their way to her quarters, Lee and Zarek trailing behind again.

Roslin knocked on the door of the guest quarters. Abigail opened it to not the usual two people, but four. "Madame President, Admiral, what's going on?"

"First of all, if we could have the coordinates to Saturn Station, then the fleet can begin the jump sequence," Adama told her as the group stepped inside.

"I can do that. Was there anything else?" she inquired.

The admiral glanced back at the president, who in turn looked at Lee. "I am dying. You've already met Lee. He will be my successor, and I was hoping that you might introduce him to your leader."

Abigail's brow furrowed, hearing that Roslin was dying. "I'm sorry, I really am. Of course I'll speak with him about the change."

Roslin entered the admiral's quarters to rest while the others returned to CIC. Zarek kept pace with Lee. "So you did bring someone back from Earth."

"We had to keep it classified," Lee told him.

"Don't you think it's a good idea that this leader meets the vice president as well as the presidential successor?" Zarek stated.

The admiral had to bite back the urge to tell him off. Surprisingly Abigail had the solution. "Actually it is better if the chancellor deals with as few people as possible. He doesn't speak to you Colonials with the rest of his leaders. It's about keeping things as simple as possible."

Zarek sighed heavily. "Fine then. Mr. Adama, I'll be at the shuttle bay waiting when this is all over. I want an update," he stated before walking off.

"You don't like him much, do you?" Abigail asked Adama.

"Not particularly," the admiral related.

Lee smirked. "That's my father's way of saying that he'd only trust Zarek as far as he could through him."

After they reached CIC and Abigail gave them the coordinates for the space station, she contacted the chancellor while the fleet was making preparations for the jumps. "Dr. Baldwin, it's always good to see you," Chancellor Byron stated as his face appeared on the screen in Adama's office.

"You as well, Chancellor. I must tell you of a change that has occurred. President Roslin, whom you've met, is most unfortunately dying. She has appointed a successor though and they thought that I should introduce him to you," Abigail explained.

"I am sorry to hear that. But by all means, please proceed," Byron told her.

Lee stepped over to her so that he could be seen in the screen. He had asked to be introduced by his formal name. "This is Mr. Leland Adama. Mr. Adama, meet Chancellor Byron."

"How do you do, sir?" Lee began politely.

"I'm quite well, young man. Are you by any chance related to Admiral Adama?" the chancellor inquired.

"He's my son," Adama told him.

"Ah. Well, once again I am sorry to hear that President Roslin won't be with us long. Please accept my condolences," Byron expressed.

The admiral shifted from one foot to the other, the subject matter becoming uncomfortable. Abigail noticed and decided to change the subject. "Chancellor, would you please tell us how things are progressing with General Chesterton?"

Byron sighed and folded his hands in front of him on the desk. "I'm sorry to tell you that he's still a problem. However, he is losing popularity with the general public."

After the conversation with the chancellor, Abigail returned to her temporary quarters as Lee headed to the docking bay to meet Zarek. As Adama stood in CIC to finish his shift, the phone rang. "Adama," he answered it.

"Bill, I almost forgot. Have you seen Tory lately?" Roslin inquired.

He thought for a moment. "No, I haven't, not since Lee and Zarek brought you in. All I know is that she's cleared your schedule for the rest of the day."

"Tomorrow I should find out how Getani is doing. We may still need her working in the lab," the president concluded.

"Alright. But today, you should rest while you have the opportunity," he reminded.

"I will, thanks Bill," she said before hanging up her end of the phone.

On the next day, after a breakfast of algae pancakes, Roslin met Cottle as she entered Life Station. "I've come to check on yesterday's patients."

"The woman just woke up," Cottle mentioned, motioning for Roslin to follow him. He led her to a bed on the quiet end of Life Station. Sonya turned her head as the two arrived. "Baltar. What… what happened to Baltar?" Sonya inquired, still groggy from the anesthesia.

Cottle stepped closer to her bed. "We removed the bullet and he's alive, but he's lost a lot of blood and I'm not sure when he'll wake up."

Sonya turned her head to face the ceiling as she lied back against the pillows. "That frakkin' idiot. This is because he came back for me."

"How are you feeling, Miss Getani?" Roslin inquired.

The other woman closed her eyes for a moment, taking a long deep breath. "Sore. I've been shot, but that will heal. What I'm having trouble with is the fact that my enemy saved my life. I told him that I hated him, and he still went back for me."

"You should be back on your feet in a few days. If you're planning on going back to the Prometheus though, I'd say stay out of the oca," Cottle advised.

"I can't go back to the Black Market, not after what's happened regarding my boss. For the first time in a while I don't have a backup plan," Sonya realized.

Roslin folded her hands in front of her. "That can be determined when you're feeling better. I want to know about Nigel Gorgon. Have you ever seen what he looks like? Did you know he was a Cylon?"

Sonya smirked. "You don't waste time, do you, Madame President?"

"I don't have time to waste," Roslin responded.

"I met him after New Caprica. No, I've never really seen what he looks like. He's always kept his office dim, and then there's the oca smoke that makes everything hazy. I suspected that he might possibly be a Cylon on my last trip to the Black Market, when I noticed the data port in his arm. However, he's been known to try some strange things, so I tried not to think much of it," Sonya answered.

I could lecture her on putting the fleet in danger, but at the moment it wouldn't do any good. "We'll talk more later. Good day, Miss Getani."

Sonya nodded. "Madame President."

On her way out of Life Station, Roslin found Tory standing in the doorway. "Madame President," the aide greeted. "I was told that I'd find you here."

"Tory, where have you been?" Roslin probed.

The younger woman showed her a folder of Six's results from the binary code testing. "I wanted to look over what happened with the experiment. The fact is that you need to find out what the last code does, and to do that, you need another Cylon."

"It's not exactly a safe experiment. Who would want to put themselves in that kind of danger?" Roslin questioned.

Tory eyes met Roslin's with conviction. "I would."

(A/N: I was curious and looked up what the name 'Leland' means. It's land that "lies fallow," or in other words, land not being used or rested in crop season)

(My thanks to voodooDRUG, The Breeze, carolann, Calico Star, Ceridwyn2, and kappaomega for reviewing :D)