Lee spent an uncomfortable night in the brig, unable to find a restful position with his hands cuffed together. Lying on his side wasn't bad but he wanted to stretch out his arms and he could not. What was the frakking point of keeping him chained up like this? He could hardly escape whether his hands were free or not. When he did manage to drift off, he relived the events of the day in his dreams. Horrific alternate versions of the events. Roslin's staff was massacred by the marines. He actually shot Tigh. His father hit him, not just once but over and over. Kara's raider exploded in a ball of fire over Caprica's radioactive skies. Each time he jolted awake in terror, the cuffs cut painfully into his wrists.

Lee finally gave up on sleep and sat up on the cot with his back leaned against the wall. He drew up his knees and rested his elbows on them and propped his head against his hands, a picture of despondency. He had no idea what was going to happen now. He decided he didn't want to know. Mutiny during wartime was a capital offense. Would they execute him? If they didn't, would he be sent to the Astral Queen to live out his days as a captive? Death would be better than that. He closed his eyes in despair and tried to stop thinking about it. He couldn't block out the image of his father's face, contorted in rage, as he struck him. He couldn't remember the last time his father had inspired such fear. It wasn't so much the fear of physical wrath, but that he had disappointed his father. Frak, he was a grown man. He shouldn't need his father's love or approval. But he wanted it. Frak, frak, frak! He ground the heels of his hands into his eyes. He would not start crying again. He was a Colonial Warrior. Or at least, he had been.

Adama's sleep had been no more peaceful than his son's. No matter how he looked at it, the only solution was to restore the president to office and admit he'd overreacted. Yes, she was wrong to order Kara on the mission to Caprica. Of course, technically, she was commander in chief of the military, even though she had given her word not to act in that role. But had she ordered Kara? And why the frak would Kara go along with it? He had to admit to himself that that was the true source of his anger. That she had betrayed his confidence to Kara. She must have told Kara that he had no idea where Earth was. How else could you explain Kara's last words to him before she jumped? Not to mention Kara's 'how long until we get there' questions just before she left on the mission.

He didn't know who he was angrier with – Laura for causing this whole mess, Kara for going along with it, or himself for having such an over-the-top reaction to it. Oh and Tigh, for not having the guts to tell him up front that his actions were illegal, and Lee, for doing something so incredibly wrong despite that he did it for the right reasons. Even if he was able to reinstate the President without further incident, what in the twelve worlds was he going to do about Lee? His son would have to stand court martial. He could be sentenced to life imprisonment or even death. Bill shook his head to clear it of those thoughts. That couldn't happen. He didn't know how, but he couldn't let that happen. His dreams had been filled with the remembrances of his failures as a father. All the times he hadn't been there for Lee and Zak. The terrible day he received that "we regret to inform you" communication. Lee's words of anger at Zak's funeral. Lee's expression only hours before in CIC. He thought perhaps the end of the world would give him a second chance with his surviving son. Had he destroyed any hope of having a relationship with Lee?

The first thing the next morning a marine arrived to collect the President, saying the Commander wanted to see her.

"He knows where he can find me. If he wants to talk to me, he can come here."

"Madame President, I have my orders. I can force you to come with me."

She merely smiled. "What would that accomplish?"

He considered her words and left alone. He wasn't looking forward to reporting to the Commander, however. He soon stood before Adama's hatch and knocked tentatively.

Adama was pacing his quarters waiting for the president to arrive. He had lain awake all night trying to think of what to do. He knew he had no basis for removing Laura Roslin from office. He didn't like admitting he was wrong, though. This was not going to be easy. They couldn't just pretend the whole thing never happened, could they? He guessed he was about to find out.

"Enter!" he commanded.

The marine opened the hatch, entered the room and stood at attention.

"Where is the President?" Adama demanded.

"Sir! She refused to accompany me, Sir!"

"She what?"

"Sir! She stated if you wanted to talk to her you could come there, Sir!"

Adama was enraged. She refused to come? He took a deep breath. The marine was clearly expecting to be reprimanded but Adama recognized shooting the messenger was not the answer. He knew what Laura was trying to do. Coming here with the marine would give him an advantage. If he came to her, he would be acknowledging her authority. Frak! When did that school teacher learn to play hardball?

"Very well. You're dismissed," he addressed the marine, who saluted and left at once, clearly relieved.

He took a moment to think. He had not anticipated this turn of events. It was bad enough that he was planning to apologize, but he damn well wanted her to apologize as well. And he wanted her to go first.

Trying to think objectively, he realized that his offense was in fact, the more severe, and so it did stand to reason that he should go to her. Frak. He would have felt much better having this conversation in his office. Maybe if he showed up in the brig himself, he could convince her to leave with him. He resolutely headed there, despite the fact that it was the last place in the universe that he wanted to be. He did not want to face Lee. He had no idea what to say to him and he had no idea what his son might have to say back. However, the situation with the President was paramount. So far, word of what he had done had not reached the entire population, but it was certainly only a matter of time. He had to restore the president to her office before it got all blown out of proportion. Already there had been protests staged on some of the ships that did know. If the media got hold of that, the whole fleet could collapse into chaos. He had to stop it before it got any worse.

He entered the brig and was greeted by the guard's salute and Laura Roslin's triumphant smile. Damn, he wanted to strangle that woman. He stared at her, but then couldn't help but let his gaze wander into the next cell. He saw a dejected figure with his head in his hands. For a minute it didn't even look like Lee. My gods, were his hands still in shackles? He'd been left like that all night?

Laura saw what Adama was looking at and broke the heavy silence. "It's cruel of you to keep him chained up like that."

Adama turned back and glowered at her. "I didn't order that he be left like that." Then he favored the guard with his glare. "Remove Captain Adama's handcuffs."

The guard quickly complied. Lee never looked up when the guard entered his cell but he did rub his wrists stiffly when they were free of their restraints.

"What has he told you?" Adama asked, without meaning to.

Laura's expression was unreadable. "He hasn't said a word since he was brought here."

Adama sighed. He would have to figure out the situation with his son later. "Madame President, we need to talk."

"Really? You have something to say to me? Because I certainly don't have anything to say to you."

Adama cursed inwardly. She wasn't going to make this easy. He supposed if he were in her place he would feel no differently. He sighed again. "Yes. I have something to say to you. I was hoping we could speak in private."

"Very well, Commander. We can go somewhere private. If that's what you want." She smiled tightly at him.

"Pass the word to Commander Adama. Commander Adama report to CIC."

Adama looked around annoyed at the interruption. What now? "I'll be back," he promised, and quickly headed for CIC.

"Sitrep!" He barked upon entering the command center.

SAR mission returning from Kobol. They report the surface is crawling with Cylons." the comm officer answered."

"Dradis contact! Cylon raiders confirmed," Gaeta interjected.

"Launch alert fighters," Adama ordered. "Get our raptors aboard and prepare to jump!"

The battle was fierce and frenzied. One heavy raider broke through the defending vipers and impacted Galactica. Soon CIC received word that Cylon centurions had boarded the ship.

In the brig, Lee and Laura heard the sounds of gunfire in the distance. Lee pushed his morose feelings aside and came to stand at the door to his cell. Something serious was happening, he should be out there defending the ship.

"Corporal, you have to let us out of here!" Laura ordered.

"Madam President, you know I can't do that."

"Corporal Venner, I have no intention of staying here and being shot like a rat in a cage! Now OPEN THIS DOOR!"

Reluctantly, the guard complied, realizing that she was right and rationalizing that part of his job guarding her was to protect her. He was also to keep her confined of course, but he could still do that. He would not let her out of his sight.

When they were free of the brig, Lee took command automatically. "We'll need ammunition. There's a small arms munitions locker on Deck 12." Venner was quite uncertain as to how to proceed so he accepted the Captain's orders.

Laura smiled inwardly, watching Lee transition almost seamlessly back into her Captain Apollo. He would get them out of this.

Reports coming in to CIC informed Adama that nearly all the Cylons had been destroyed. However, there were two centurions headed unopposed towards Aft Damage Control, one of their primary objectives.

"Sir! I have Corporal Venner on the line. He's on Deck 12, here," he indicated the position on a map of the ship which lay on the desk. "He's got Captain Adama and two other marines with him."

"Between the Cylons and Aft Damage Control," Adama allowed a measure of hope to creep into his voice.

"What the hell is Venner doing with Apollo out of the brig?" Tigh muttered. Adama realized with horror that the brig had been directly in the Cylons' line of advancement. The occupants would have been easily killed had they not been relocated. He took the phone himself.

Venner was a bit taken aback to hear the commander's voice. He began to try to explain his actions. "Sir, the prisoners were in grave danger and I felt I had no choice but to move them to a more secure location." Adama didn't have time for those details. Every second counted. He interrupted the nervous man, "You did right, Corporal. The situation is critical. You and your men are all that stand between the Cylons and Aft Damage Control. If they make it there, we lose the ship. You get there first. Do whatever it takes to stop those centurions."

"Whatever it takes, Sir?" Venner asked. "Should Captain Adama..."

"Whatever. It. Takes." Adama tacitly gave approval for Venner to allow Apollo to be armed.

"Yes Sir! Venner out!"

Corporal Venner looked at Lee. "What's the best route to Aft Damage Control? We have to get there before the Cylons or we're all dead!"

"Calm down," Lee spoke evenly. "First, we need to get the President to safety. Sick bay is the closest shelter. One of you take her there."

One of the marines nodded and took the President's arm. "This way, Madam President."

"Remember, head away from the sounds of gunfire!" Lee instructed.

"Captain," Laura called out. "What about you?"

Lee smiled wryly. "We'll be heading towards the gunfire." Lee passed out guns and explosive rounds as he spoke. After the president and her escort had disappeared around a corner, he nodded to the remaining men, "Okay, let's go toaster shopping!"

Apollo stealthily crept around a corner. He could hear the Cylons advancing in the distance. He pressed up against the wall and motioned for the men behind him to hold their positions. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Boomer emerge from an intersecting hallway, sure he was about to watch the young pilot be killed. She was too far away for him to help her. He held his breath, hoping they hadn't seen her. However, they turned and moved towards her. They lowered their weapons and moved past her without attempting to harm her. The Captain blinked hard and shook his head in disbelief. Did he actually see them nod slightly to her, the way one would acknowledge a superior? Surely not! But why didn't they attack her? He didn't have time to ponder this any longer for now the Cylons were headed directly for his position. He hastily moved back around the corner and they passed without noticing him. He quickly motioned for the marines to follow him through an access stairway. They would have to hurry to get to their destination before the Cylons did.