Title: Error in Judgment; Part 2: Tighed One On
Author: Grace O'Malley PG-13
Characters: Adama/Roslin; Tigh/Ellen
Archiving: The more the merrier, but please let me know so I can provide any corrections and/or additional parts.
Disclaimers: Not my world; not my characters :sigh:
Spoilers: Set after "Tigh me up, Tigh me down"
Author's notes: Like the episode, this is more light-hearted and less angsty than Part 1.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please, please. We're in a laboratory. There are hazardous chemical compounds everywhere. That-- that's a thermo-nuclear bomb, for frak's sake!" -- Gaius Baltar in "Tigh me up, Tigh me down."
"That's insane, Ellen. Totally apart from the fact she thought he was a Cylon, they don't even like each other!" Saul Tigh rolled onto his back and stretched. His bed wasn't actually meant for two, but they had managed admirably. He felt relaxed and contented--even if slightly hung-over.
Ellen propped herself up on one elbow and smiled down at him. Mischievous eyes peeked out from behind a lace curtain of blonde hair. "I'm serious. A woman senses these things, you know. There is definitely something going on between those two."
Saul closed his eyes. The sound of her voice constantly mouthing gossip was not his favorite aspect of their reconciliation.
"Of course you wouldn't notice how she watched him over dinner, like a spider who fears a juicy fly might escape her web. And no wonder she was jealous, considering the way he was looking at me--"
Saul opened his eyes and gave her a frosty look. No way was he having this conversation again.
"Oh, I don't think he meant anything by it, you silly." She socked his arm, then rubbed the spot where she'd hit him. "Just, you know, it's not as if he's got much to look at around here. I'm sure she thought she had a clear field, but then someone prettier, more vibrant, and...younger...comes along. You can't blame the man for a few glances."
"If you say so," he caved in tiredly. This was not how he'd hoped to spend what was left of the morning before he had to report for duty.
"I do say so. And then--once you stood up for me and made it clear he'd better get any improper thoughts of your wife out of his head... Well, then he started paying attention to her again. She was positively panting for him. I'm sure that once we left they got back to whatever boring positions Miss Prissy Schoolmarm allows."
"Ellen," Saul said, more tired and exasperated than shocked or angry at his wife's crude imagination. "Shut up!" He reached over and pulled her down on top of him; her mouth tasted of ambrosia.
It was evening before Saul found the opportunity to catch Adama on his own. Since that morning, when he'd been certain Ellen was spouting nonsense, he'd come around to thinking she might be right after all.
Earlier in the day he'd been approaching Galactica's large conference room, when he realized the Commander and the President were already there, and in the midst of an intense discussion. When he heard the word "Ellen," he hesitated before entering.
"What I'd like to know is where she got her mitts on all that ambrosia. How much can be left in the entire fleet? She was swilling it with more abandon than the rest of us drink water."
That was Roslin's voice, and Saul had to admit he'd wondered the same thing.
Adama answered "I don't believe she was unconscious all those weeks on the Rising Star."
With a sinking feeling in his gut, Saul had already come to the same conclusion.
"Oh terrific," Roslin replied. "So, her patron either got fed up and bribed her to go away, or found out her husband was an officer on Galactica and bribed her to come here and send back inside information."
Saul had felt a bit sick, but not entirely surprised. Whether or not Ellen had ulterior motives, and he expected she probably--as always--did, he would never share any classified information. Just like he would never quite be able to break with her completely. Adama knew that--had to know that.
"As much as he loves her, he would never, ever, relay any classified information--to anyone. Drunk or sober. I'd stake my life on it."
Saul pressed his eyes closed and said a silent "thank you" for his friend's steadfast confidence.
Roslin sighed, but did not try to contradict Adama. "Here we thought all we had to worry about were Cylons, shortages, and Tom Zarek. Rising Star is filled with people of wealth and power who expect to wield influence--and it seems they think we should be arriving at Earth any day now..."
Saul could hear Adama speaking, but could not make out the words. They'd dropped their voices, and it sounded as if they'd also moved further away from the door. He stepped into the doorway and just watched them for a moment. They stood close together, not touching, not even smiling. They appeared to be talking about something of mutual importance, and were totally absorbed in one another's words. Not flirtatious, but deeply intimate. Neither of them had shown awareness of Saul's presence. --And they had been standing way too close together.
He cleared his throat loudly, and stepped into the doorway. He and Adama nodded at each other.
"Good morning, Colonel Tigh," Roslin had said with her best politician smile. "How's Ellen settling in?"
"Very well, thank you, Madam President."
"Good, good," she repeated while maintaining her phony smile. Then the smile dropped and she added with what he believed to be genuine sincerity, "It's good to see a family reunited. I wish you every happiness."
"Thank you, again, Madam President," he said. Then he had improvised, "Also...my wife wishes me to offer her apologies for that crack she made about Kindergarten teachers. It was meant to be a joke, but she regrets the way it came across."
Roslin waved it away with her hand. "Tell her not to worry. Obviously, she's never found herself in sole charge of a roomful of unruly five-year olds. Truly, there is no better training for what one has to contend with in politics."
Adama had looked amused, slightly embarrassed, and proud of her--all at the same time. Truth was, not so long ago Adama had made the same assessment of Roslin's capabilities, based on the same prejudgment of her background. Now he was respectful, as well as solicitous of her feelings.
On the one hand, if Adama and Roslin were lovers, it was none of Saul's business. On the other hand, Bill Adama was his oldest friend, and he wanted to return the favor of recognizing that a human being needed and deserved a personal life. Even if it was awkward. Maybe especially because it was awkward.
Saul finally caught up with Adama in his quarters, behind his desk, catching up on paperwork.
Adama looked up long enough to grunt and wave Saul to take a seat. "I'm almost done."
He sat down on the sofa, and helped himself to a bowl of noodles that sat, half-eaten, on the coffee table in front of him. Getting away with stealing his friend's food emboldened him. "Tell me honestly, Bill, are you sleeping with her?"
Adama looked shocked and angry at the question, and focused his attention on gathering up his papers. He spoke to Saul without looking at him. "I thought we got straight on that last night, Saul. Quite honestly, Ellen wouldn't appeal to me even if she weren't your wife. That's my final word on the matter--do not bring it up again."
"No, no! I'm not talking about Ellen."
Without raising his head, Adama glanced up from under lowered brows.
"Ellen thinks you're having an affair with President Roslin. I thought the idea was ridiculous, of course, but she did get me wondering..."
Adama looked down again, his skin darkening. "Wonder no more. The answer is no."
Saul's mouth fell open with a sudden realization. He closed it again, then voiced his surmise. "I think what you really mean is: 'Not yet.'"
"Colonel Tigh, you are speaking inappropriately about the President of the Twelve Colonies." Adama still did not look up, but he stopped sorting papers and rested his fists on the desk.
Throwing the last shreds of military protocol to the wind, Saul laughed out loud. "Oh my Lords. She shot you down, didn't she? And then she suspected you of being a Cylon. Ouch! That must have hurt."
"We are not having this conversation."
"Of course we're not. And I'm not telling you that for all her failings, Ellen's instincts about other women are generally on target. I won't put it like she did, but you should try again."
"You're dismissed."
Both men stood and came to attention, and Saul was relieved to see the anger in his friend's eyes had been replaced by wistfulness. He saluted his Commander, waited for the acknowledging salute, and left Adama to his own private thoughts.
The End
