Yippee, the next chapter. Thanks for all your reviews. So many of you wanted me to continue that I couldn't resist. Hope you like!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all belongs to Ron Moore and Sci-fi ect. But if I did own, muwhahahaha, think of the Adama and Roslin scenes…
Admiral William Adama sighed deeply as he melted into the soft folds of the leather couch in his quarters. He bent down and stretched out his hand until he gripped the tops of his black boots. In a few short minutes he would have to leave the quite safety and comfort of his quarters. He lifted his head to see the clock on top of his desk. He knew the clock faced the other direction but he still looked out of habit. It was early still. He knew by the way the air smelled. There was something different about the air inside his ship in the early morning. It smelled sharper, cleaner, more forgiving than it did in the evening.
Still, it was far too early to face the day that lay before him. Not only was Adama required at a press conference, one of least favorite pastimes, he would also have to come face to face with her again.
Adama hated to admit the fact that even after two weeks he was still reeling from the last conversation he had with President Laura Roslin. As he forced his left foot into the black boot his thoughts trailed back to their conversation. She was having an affair with Adar. The words still didn't seem real to him. His shoulders slumped as if the thought had heavy physical weight. After two weeks he had tried to force the words to make sense. After all, why not? She was Secretary of Education. He was President. She said she was lonely…
But still, an affair with Richard Adar. Adar. The name meant nothing to him before. Now the mere thought of it almost caused him to growl in the back of his throat. He refused to give in to the feeling. Richard Adar. What kind of a name was that? It didn't sound good. Laura and Richard…. Bill jerked on the lace of his boot a little harder than he meant to. Laura and Richard sounded even worse.
Laura and Bill, ah, now, that was more like it, he thought as he methodically began tying. Laura and Bill were two names that fit together. And Laura Adama? Bill chuckled to himself with the thought. Laura Adama had a certain ring to it.
An involuntary shutter ran down Adama's back. What? Was he in Junior High again, playing silly name games with the girl he secretly had a crush on? No. No, no, no, no, no. He would stop this nonsense. He would get back to what this was really about. Saving humanity, fighting the cylons, reconciling with his son, anything was better than Laura Roslin.
Somehow, even with that rationalization, he still felt betrayed. Somehow, even after two weeks, the knowledge gained in that meaningful glance was no longer enough.
Just as he finished lacing up his boot, he heard a knock at the door.
"Admiral, the President will be here in ten minutes," Captain Thrace informed him as she poked her head around the thick hatch door.
"I'm ready," he told her as he stood up and reached for the documents on his desk.
He hadn't seen Roslin since the conversation aboard Colonial One. Adama didn't know what Roslin said to D'anna Biers, but for the moment the story of his "attack" had not been leaked to the fleet. For that he was grateful.
"I still don't think this is a good idea," Starbuck told him as he fell into a steady walk beside her.
"The President insisted," Adama replied.
Starbuck sent him a brief sidelong glance and stiffened her stride. Sometimes, it seemed as though she could read his thoughts.
"You don't think it's a good idea either," Kara said, with a cocky superiority in her voice. She kept her gaze straight forward.
"Ever since Commander Garner's death, the engineers of both Galactica and Pegasus have demanded more attention. The President feels that a publicized visit to the underbelly of Galactica will smooth over any hard feelings," Adama explained.
Adama averted his eyes away from Starbuck as they rounded the corner of the corridor. He was ashamed to admit that everything he said was nearly word for word what Roslin had told him over the wireless. On this issue he was with Kara but it was better for the often times rebellious Viper pilot not to know it. Adama had a feeling with the upcoming election Roslin would be more apt to making dangerous visits to the public to secure her lead over Baltar. Adama refused to let his doubts about security sway the election against her.
"It's a security nightmare," Kara said, as if reading his thoughts again, "The corridors of the engine room aren't big enough for the press, the President, and a full security detail."
"That's why I assigned you to the President," Adama replied.
"Stupid woman," Kara muttered under her breath as they came to the causeway that led to the engine room. Two marines with heavy weapons followed them through.
Adama was certain his ears were not meant to hear Kara's comment so he pretended like he didn't. Kara was one of the few officers he would let get away with a statement like that and in this case, he had to agree.
The thought something might go wrong nearly made him physically sick. An assassination attempt wouldn't be a great surprise and with sleeper cylon agents hiding anywhere Adama was more on edge than press conferences usually made him. Roslin cared about the fleet more than her own life. She was willing to risk her life to smooth over an issue Adama would have ignored. The white board in her office proved that she truly did love every member of the fleet on some level. What she couldn't see was that many in the fleet needed her to stay alive for the mere hope she gave them. They loved her. He loved…
"No," he said out loud. When he looked up Kara's eyes were wide and from her pursed lips she appeared to be startled. Not as startled as Adama was. He had practically yelled.
"What?" she asked, as they neared the designated meeting place twenty floors below deck.
"Nothing," Adama muttered. He could tell from her continued stare that Starbuck wanted to press him for answers. For the first time in his life Adama was glad to see the eager vulture's nest of reporters.
Near the other end of the long skinny corridor he glimpsed Roslin quickly whisper something in the direction of Tory. The young assistance nodded and the two woman approached Adama and Starbuck. The marines with the guns flanked each side of the podium Roslin would address the press from.
"Good morning Captain," Roslin said, smiling, "Admiral."
There was only one thing going through his mind. No, no, no, no, no.
"Madame President," Adama replied.
"I'm glad you could make it," Roslin said. As if Adama would have trusted anyone else but himself or Starbuck or his son with the safety of the woman he…
No, no, no, no, no!
Troy made an obvious gesture toward her watch and cleared her throat.
"Alright, show time," Roslin said, with a wink at Kara. The President was rewarded with a broad smile from Adama's once daughter-to-be.
Adama and Kara moved behind the podium to the left of Roslin. As she began addressing the press and a few engineers who were hand picked by Adama to attend, her voice barely carried over the rumbling of Galactica's engines. Still, she pressed on taking her time to commend the engineers for their hard work, explaining how Adama depended on them for his life and the life of the crew everyday, and manipulating questions from the press about Garner's death to fit into her nicely laid out political agenda.
"You've gotta admit she's good. I never saw Adar frak the press and please them at the same time," Kara joked under her breath.
That's because he was busy frakking someone else, Adama nearly snapped back. Fury suddenly rose in him. He didn't care if it seemed strange. He had to leave the tight corridor. He had to get away from her, from Kara, from the press, from everything.
He slipped away in the direction of the open hatch to the next corridor all the while aware that may eyes, including Kara's, followed him with curiosity. Roslin paused briefly in her address but recovered quickly. Once he stepped through the open hatch into the next section he felt like he could breathe again. He could still hear Roslin's voice answering questions from the reporters. This was no good. He had to get over this. It was becoming a problem, and interfering with his ability to run his own ship.
Adama rested a hand against the side of the wall and hung his head in shame. Maybe if he just said out loud…and that is when he saw it. His eyes picked up the black round object carefully hidden behind the enclosed electrical box. Adama knew exactly what it was. It didn't take long for his military training to kick in.
Calmly he stepped back inside the room. Kara immediately picked up the fact something was wrong. Sometimes her ability to read his thoughts was a good thing. Adama approached Tory as he saw Kara gently tap Roslin on the shoulder.
"Tory, I want you to be very calm about this," Adama said in a low rumble, "There is an armed explosive in the next section. I want you to get all of the people out of here once we have the President safely away."
Tory's jaw dropped the slightest bit and Adama was amazed to see her professional facade lapse for a brief second. It was regained immediately and with a visible gulp Tory nodded calmly.
Kara must have told Roslin to wrap it up. The press, lead by D'anna Bier's, politely applauded as Roslin stepped away from the podium. With one swift movement both he and Kara grabbed Roslin by one elbow and nearly lifted her off the ground as they escaped in the direction opposite the bomb.
"What are you doing," Roslin demanded in a voice all too condescending toward two people who were in the process of saving her life.
Adama heard frantic alarmed gasps from the crowd as they hurried through corridors back up through Galactica's underbelly. Tory's authoritative voice echoing faintly from behind them rose above the crowd.
"Everyone please remain calm…" was the last thing Adama heard before the explosion.