Bill was dreaming, at least he was fairly certain that he was. He didn't recognize the room he was in. It was back on Caprica, he was sure, but he had never been in the specific room before. Despite the fact that he couldn't remember it the room had a cozy and familiar

feel as if he'd slept there countless nights before. It was night and he noted that he was in a soft bed in stark contrast to his firm rack on Galactica. Best of all; the woman he loved was asleep in his arms. In that moment he felt comforted and relaxed. He was filled with adoration and a feeling of completeness. Bill was surprised at how real the dream felt. He started to question if it was, in fact, a dream at all. Perhaps he was dead and it was Elysium, he considered for a moment. Had he not been such a disbeliever he almost would have been convinced.

He could feel the warmth of Laura's body against his. When he nuzzled his face into her soft hair he could smell her shampoo.

As Bill let his eyes wander around the dream room he saw in the corner by the bed, a small white cradle. Seeing the little bassinet tucked safely in the shadows of their room made Bill's heart feel so full. He kissed at Dream Laura's shoulder as she slept. This, he thought, is perfect. He didn't think he deserved it, but it sure as hell felt like some kind of cosmic reward for his sacrifices, if only such things existed.

As Bill settled back down on the pillow he heard a faint sound. He listened for a moment before it became louder and he realized it was coming from the bassinet in the corner. He watched the cradle for a moment, waiting to see if the fussing would stop.

When it didn't he lightly shook Dream Laura to wake her.

"Laura," he whispered softly. "Laura, it's the baby."

She remained still beside him and the cries suddenly stopped.

"Laura," he urged again just a little louder but she didn't stir.

All at once Bill felt the air in the room stiffen. His stomach felt sick and his heart felt heavy. He was confused. Something had quickly changed. He noticed that the little cries from the corner had ceased and the room had become eerily quiet. With great hesitation he rose from the bed. He tentatively walked toward the now quiet cradle. Though it had only seemed to be feet

away it felt as if it took him an eternity to reach it. Something stopped him as he went to peer inside. He had an awful feeling in his gut. How had things turned so abruptly? It had been so wonderful just moments before. He looked back at Laura unmoving in their bed.

He called back for her once more.

"Laura."

Nothing.

With a sudden rush of urgency and dread he turned to the cradle and yanked away the soft white blanket which covered its contents.

Bill felt his heart sink and his hair stand up on end when all that was revealed was a dark stain on the lining of the crib, a stain that even in the dim moonlit room, he could tell was blood. Bill started to yell but no sound came out. He tried and tried to shout out but it was no use. He began to notice that not only could he not manage to make a sound but suddenly he also couldn't seem to breathe. With an abrupt and forceful head-rush Bill's vision went black.

Bill awoke in his rack with a huge gasp for air. It took a moment for him to realize that he could both breathe and see again. His heart was pounding in his chest and drumming in his ears. What an awful dream it had turned out to be. He checked the clock. It was 0430 and he would have to get up soon. The night had been draining. He wished that he could keep Laura tucked beside him forever. He wished that he never had to let her out of his sight and that he could protect her from

everything and anything that might hurt her. He could be happy eternally holding onto her within his rack.

Sadly he knew he had to wake her. They both had responsibilities, people who were depending on them. They would have to get up to face them and whatever else was coming.

Bill kissed Laura's neck. He grazed her cheek with his nose and whispered to her gently.

"I hate to do this to you, Madam President, but it seems morning has come around," he told her.

Laura didn't wake. Bill squeezed her shoulder and placed a few more kisses on her cheek.

"Laura, if you want to sleep in for a while that's fine. I'll hit the shower and wake you when I'm out."

There was no answer. He sat up beside her.

"Laura?" Bill called a little louder and with a firmer nudging of her shoulder.

"Wake up, Laura," Bill almost shouted.

She didn't stir. In that moment the feeling from his dream set in again. The air was stiff, his heart was heavy and his gut was sick. He winced and as if on instinct he pulled back the blankets to find what he feared would be there; a pool of blood around her.

Bill shot out of the rack and headed for the hatch. He hoped like hell there was a guard close by. When it swung open he was already yelling.

"Medic! We need a Medic team now!"

He spotted a guard down the hall.

"You! Alert someone to get a stretcher in here and then run to call Doc Cottle! Tell him it's the president. Go! Now! Now!" The Admiral shouted at the guard who was already running to do as he was told.

Bill rushed back into the room and kneeled by the bed. He called Laura's name over and over. He tried lightly slapping her cheek and shaking her gently.

"Laura, Laura, you have to open your eyes."

He felt for a pulse. When he found it easily he let out a sigh of relief and squeezed at her limp hand.

He considered going for his phone to call again for a medic team but before he could even complete the thought several Marines stormed through the open door of his quarters.

"Admiral?" One of them called to him.

He stood up.

"The President…" Bill started, "She's bleeding. I can't wake her."

"We're meeting a medic team halfway, Sir. Cottle's been alerted," The Marine said as he and his team loaded Laura onto a backboard stretcher and strapped her in. Before they could leave Bill tore the quilt from the bed and made sure that she was covered before they took off.

He hurried to put on his slacks and tanks and followed

them down to Sickbay never taking his eyes off of her. It seemed like forever before they were met by the medic team. He couldn't even think about what would happen if or when rumors got out that she was taken from his bed in wee hours of the morning.

"How long has she been like this Sir?" One medic asked him as soon as they arrived in LifeStation.

"I don't know. I just woke up," he confessed, all at once worried that he didn't have the information they needed and worried that he would be embarrassing Laura by admitting they'd been sleeping in the same quarters. "I couldn't wake her," he added with a gulp.

They quickly transferred Laura onto a bed behind a curtain. As they moved about swiftly stringing fluids and taking vitals Bill held on to her hand.

"Madam President, can you hear me?" Ishay asked, forcing Laura's eyes open and shining in a pen light.

"Where the hell is Cottle!?" The Admiral yelled at her.

Before poor Ishay could answer the old gruff doctor made his presence known.

"Godsdamnit! I told her! I told her not to put it off. I knew it. I knew this would happen!" Cottle shouted as he shoved his way through the curtains. "Ishay what are her vitals?"

"Don't start Cottle! Just help her!" Bill shouted angrily.

"She's stable," Ishay replied over the shouting.

"Back off Admiral!" Cottle bit back as he moved to work beside his team. "I was trying to save her from this. How many times does this woman want to test the Gods?! Now just back up and let us work!" he yelled. "Mr. Kim," the doctor said to another medic, "Help the Admiral find a spot outside where he won't be in the way."

Bill shot Howard Kim a look that told the young medic that he would regret stepping one foot closer.

"You're not making me leave Cottle," he barked through gritted teeth.

Just then he felt Laura's hand squeeze his.

"Laura!" he turned and knelt down by her side.

"She's awake, Doctor!" Ishay announced.

"Bill," Laura said weakly through hooded eyes. "Go."

"Laura, it's going to be alright. You're gunna be fine. And no I'm not leaving your side," he told her, thumbing her pale cheek.

"Bill!" Cottle grunted.

"Go, Bill. Let them do what they have to do," she whispered.

Bill hesitated, taking in all the bustling medics. He went to object again but she stopped him.

"Go, Bill. It's okay," she said with a faint smile.

Defeated, Bill nodded. He brought her hand up to kiss it.

"It'll be alright," he told her.

She nodded in return and began to close her heavy eyes again.

"Oh no you don't young lady. Wake up. We have work to do." Bill heard Cottle tell her as he reluctantly followed Mr. Kim out of the curtained room.

He found a wall that was out of the way. Leaning against it he put his head in his hands and then slid down to the floor where he waited and waited.

Bill sat slumped there for what seemed to be a light-year. All he could think about was how he couldn't lose her. He couldn't. He cursed the Gods he didn't even truly believe in for making her go through this, for threatening to take her again. How would he ever manage without her? He could hardly remember how he'd managed before he met her. He thought of the night they had just shared, how vulnerable and sweet she was, how she looked so broken yet so beautiful. He knew that no matter what happened that he would consider that night to be the most precious time he'd ever spent with her. He could only hope that in some way it had helped her, that it would help her as time went on.

"Bill," he finally heard Cottle call after an hour or so had gone by..

He glanced up to see the old goat looking down at him. The doctor extended his hand to help his friend from the floor.

"She's going to be okay, Bill," Cottle told him before he could manage to ask.

Bill let out a huge sigh of relief. It felt as if a ton had lifted off of his chest at once.

"Can I see her?" he asked.

"In just a few minutes" Cottle said, lighting up a cigarette and exhaling. "She lost a lot of blood, Bill. It's a good thing you woke up when you did."

Bill rubbed his face with both of his hands.

"We had to do a D & E," Cottle explained."She was further along than I suspected. She was surprised too. Fortunately we were able to stop the bleeding and there isn't any need for a hysterectomy or further surgery," he explained through puffs of smoke. Bill said nothing in response. "I am sorry, Bill, about all of this. Neither of you should have to deal with this, any of it." Cottle added sympathetically.

Bill nodded.

"She's going to need some time to recover. You see to it that she takes it. I know it's campaign time but this isn't the same as if things had gone as planned. She's going to need rest and well… some time to deal with everything." Cottle took a long drag of his cigarette. "I've briefed my staff on what they should say to anyone who asks and that's, nothing. If the

the president's team needs assistance coming up with a viable explanation well…I'm here."

The doctor turned his head to see Ishay leaving the curtain.

"You can see her now, Bill. She'll still be pretty groggy. We gave her something for the pain, but I'm sure she wants you with her," he finished, putting a consoling hand on the Admirals shoulder before leaving him.

Bill quickly made his way to the curtain parting it and stepping in. When he saw her resting there in the bed a sharp pain gripped his throat. He couldn't swallow it down. His eyes watered. He was so relieved that she was alive but it was all over now and he hadn't realized how hard it was going to be to face her. He walked toward the bed and took her hand in his.

At least she didn't have to do it, he thought. If anything, she was spared that. He sobbed quietly for a moment out of both relief and grief.

"No more tears, Admiral," he was surprised to hear her say in almost a whisper.

He kissed her hand and she smiled softly at him with her eyes slowly opening and closing.

"You're okay, Laura," he assured her. "Cottle said you're going to recover just fine," he said, rubbing her cold hand between his.

She nodded at him sleepily.

"Laura," he started with new tears in his eyes. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you always. And I want you to know that I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this all happened," he said through hitching breaths.

Laura opened her eyes as much as she could manage and looked at Bill shaking her head.

"Don't be sorry, Bill…I'm not," she told him.

"You aren't?" he posed in confusion.

Laura shook her head again.

"No…" she began, her voice raspy and hoarse. "I mean, I'm sorry for the way things had to be…" she stopped for a moment to consider her words,"But…I think…I think I got to see her," she told him with a peaceful look on her face.

"What do you mean? " He asked.

He didn't understand.

Laura sighed.

"I had been having this dream since I found out. Over and over the same dream," she told him. "In the dream we were back on Caprica, you and I. We were sleeping together in a bedroom, our bedroom I guess."

Bill furrowed his brow at the description of the too familiar setting. Heat went to his face but he stayed silent, letting her go on.

"In the room there was a little cradle," she smiled remembering. "I felt so safe and happy there with you in the moment. But then…then the baby would always start to cry and cry and you would get so mad at me because I never had the courage to go get her. I didn't have the courage to even look at her," she told him as a tear slipped from her eye. "I didn't want to see her because I knew she could never really be mine. I was too angry and too afraid."

"You should rest Laura," Bill told her, worried that she was upsetting herself and slightly unnerved over the similarities of their dreamstates.

"But this time, Bill…" she went on almost as if she hadn't heard him, "...this time I was able to go to her in the dream. I saw her. I saw her, I held her and she was the most precious sight I had ever seen…and she was mine. If only for a second, if only in a dream, she was mine…yours and mine."

Bill smiled sadly at her and he brushed a few tears from her face with his finger and she continued.

"You made that so last night, Bill. You made me feel that it was alright to want and love the idea of her…and for that…I'll always consider her a gift from you," Laura said smiling and thinking of her treasured dream.

It was enough for her. It was more than she'd ever imagined she'd come out of it all with.

Bill stroked her forehead with his trembling hand.

"I wish I could have seen her too," he told her, trying to hold back the well of tears that had been threatening.

"You can, I think," Laura said thoughtfully. "I think, Bill… that she was always just meant to be born into our hearts. You helped me find her there. You can find her too."

She smiled as she started to fall back to sleep.

"I'll be here when you wake up," Bill was able to choke out.

Laura nodded and went on to dream just a little bit longer.

-End