The morning meeting regarding the conversion of Galactica to a museum went well and around lunch time everyone agreed that they had covered everything they needed.
Bill was surprised that, given their passion the night before, he and Laura had so easily managed to keep everything business-like and professional throughout.
Like most people who worked in the military for as long as he had, he'd woken early - at 0500. He'd carefully slipped out of her bed so as not to wake her, and returned to his own room for a shower.
While under the hot water, he'd wondered how she'd react when she woke up. He was upset with himself for not lasting longer and completely pleasing her. He'd not once, but twice, climaxed so fast that she had no chance of joining him. He'd found it impossible to leave her bed though, wanting to hold her and be with her for the night. He had no desire to treat her like some cheap hooker – frakking her and leaving her.
"If you're all packed, Madam Secretary," Admiral Lincoln said, interrupting his musings, "I'll escort you to the transport I've arranged to take you back to the Picon Transfer Station."
"Thank you, Admiral," she replied.
She stood and shook hands with Aaron Doral before turning to Bill. He rose from his chair, moved a step closer, and held out his hand politely.
She smiled and took it in hers. "Thank you too, Commander."
He stared at her mouth, remembering how he had kissed it over and over, barely an hour ago.
He wanted to kiss her again now.
He was exhilarated when she had asked him to kiss her. He had wanted to kiss her when she had helped him up from the floor and suggestively asked him which room he preferred. (Hell, if he was honest, he'd wanted to kiss her that day he saw her in the coffee shop of the library.) He'd held back last night, though. Somehow she exuded this emotional distance and he definitely hadn't wanted to scare her away. Kissing was such an intimate act.
And then, she'd invited him to do it...
She retrieved her bag and headed for the door, walking behind the Admiral.
She swivelled her head and gave him one last smile before leaving, making him insanely happy.
Once she was really gone, Bill sighed and sank back down into his chair.
He could try to convince himself he wasn't completely smitten by her, but he was.
He had been falling for her over the last few months. He found her wit, intelligence and grace completely intoxicating. He was fascinated by her looks. She was a beautiful woman. Now that they'd shared physical intimacy, he didn't see any way back.
He was completely and utterly in love.
The trick now was to make sure she didn't find out just yet. The last thing he wanted was for her to accuse him of smothering her. He needed to play it cool and not make an idiot of himself. He needed to continue to take things slowly – be content to be a small part of her life and eventually, hopefully, she might want him to become a larger part of it.
0.0.0
When Laura returned to Capirca, her work kept her completely occupied, leaving her with no time on her hands to reflect on what happened between her and Bill Adama. Issues that had been raised at the Quorum meeting needed to be investigated at least, if not resolved. Several interested parties wanted to meet with her personally to go over some finer points. Paperwork that had piled up during her absence needed attention. By the end of the week she felt like she'd been through the wringer and was in desperate need of a rest.
It was almost ten o'clock on Friday night when she finally entered her apartment and slumped into her couch, wondering how much longer she'd be willing to keep up the hectic pace. The constant going around in circles with budgets and media releases and meetings and such was slowly grinding down her enthusiasm for the one thing she should be concentrating on – students' education. She should be concerned with students' test results, not the results of polls.
She had promised Richard she would see things through to the very end, but she found herself doubting she could.
In approximately four months Richard would go into full campaign mode. If she was going to remain with him and be part of his team for another three years, she would need to make some decisions before then. It wasn't fair to him or the voters if she resigned after they were elected. If they were elected. There was always the possibility that she, and Richard, would lose.
She couldn't imagine the press would let her forget about the teachers' strike in the upcoming campaign. They and the opposition were sure to dredge up all the unsavoury footage of teachers walking the streets in the name of better pay and conditions.
Maybe Richard would be relieved to be rid of her before the election with all the bad publicity she could potentially generate.
She wished, for the first time in years, she had someone she could talk to. Sometimes she was truly exhausted, mentally and physically, shouldering her burdens by herself.
She glanced up at the photographs on her mantle piece and wondered how different her life would be if she still had her parents to turn to; her sisters to distract her.
She stared across at her telephone. It taunted her – wanting her to call the one person she knew would listen without prejudice. The last time she had brought up the subject of being disinterested with her career, he had not made any comment. Yet she knew, instinctively, that he would be a sympathetic ear if she wanted to pour out her concerns to him.
She rose from the couch. Her hand hovered over the phone for a full minute before she snatched it back and shoved it into her pocket. She strode to the bathroom to take a shower. What was she thinking? She was an independent woman who didn't need a man, no matter how appealing he might seem. She could make the decision on her own surely.
Years ago she made a vow to never let herself get too close to or rely on anyone ever again. She couldn't let one night of incredible sex shatter her resolve. Bill Adama was a lovely man. He was surprisingly intelligent, had a dry sense of humour that appealed to her, was loyal and patriotic, strong and generous and, she couldn't forget, sexy as all hell. However, leaning on him, depending on him... She couldn't allow herself to do it. She wasn't ready for the fall if he let her down. She wasn't ready for the crash if anything, Gods forbid, happened to him like…
She ripped off her clothes and turned on the taps of the shower. It was better this way. Bill Adama was a man she'd met through work. She'd frakked him. They'd both enjoyed it. She certainly wouldn't object if it happened again, but she couldn't let him become any more involved in her life than he already was.
0.0.0
"The latest forecasted Budget Report from the Treasury Department for the next fiscal year," Billy said, passing Laura a file.
She opened the folder and flipped through the pages, concentrating on the red marks that Billy had already made in the margins, denoting changes from the previous draft her office had received.
"You're kidding," she fumed. "They cut the funding for the Community Schools Program again!"
"Yes, Ma'am. Tauron, Sagittaron and Aerolon have been taken off the list."
"What? The three Colonies that need the most help?"
"They've kept the Gemenon funding in place. That project will still move forward."
"Oh, how convenient. The one Colony where the President is polling badly."
She threw the folder on her desk, rose from her chair and paced around her office. It was the one thing she had been determined to get done, and now, some nameless, faceless bean counters decided it wouldn't be a possibility.
"Maybe they'll add the other three Colonies back in during the next budget," Billy said.
"When pigs fly. I can't believe this. After all that additional research we added to our proposal. We pitched this scheme as being the most important thing education-wise this Government could ever do and they've swept a red line through it as if it was a stationery cut-back!"
"It was a worthwhile idea."
"Worthwhile! It's the only frakkin' worthwhile thing I've done in the last two years! The only frakkin' thing I was going to be proud of!"
Billy cleared his throat and she glanced at his slightly flushed features.
"Sorry, Billy."
"That's fine, Madam Secretary. Do you want me to call your car around?"
She frowned at him. "I have an appointment?"
"Yes, ma'am. With Doctor Patten. Your yearly physical. You're due at the medical centre at eleven. Did you forget?"
"Yes, I did. Okay. Call the car then. Thanks."
The truth was Billy had reminded her about the doctor's appointment only yesterday and she'd deliberately blocked it from her thoughts this morning.
She hated doctors; hated their waiting rooms; hated their surgeries; hated hospitals. If she never had to visit another doctor for the rest of her life, she'd be happy. Everything about them reminded her of her mother's struggle with cancer.
During her first year as Secretary of Education, she'd even taken the step of protesting about the necessity of a yearly physical. Unfortunately, no one else had joined her in her lone crusade. Apparently, if the President himself was obliged to have an examination, so was she.
Laura pulled on her jacket and stuffed the new Budget Report in her briefcase so that she could read over it again in the doctor's waiting room. Then again, she thought, maybe that wasn't a good idea. Her blood pressure would be through the roof.
She couldn't remember the last time she had got so angry at work. She rarely swore and never at the office. She tried to think if she ever had before - maybe during the strike? No, she hadn't even then.
She had been so passionate about the Community Schools Program. She and her staff had spent countless hours on its proposal in an effort to ensure that it was accepted. The advantages of improving education in these disadvantaged areas on the poorer Colonies were immeasurable.
She'd interviewed quite a few of the elders of these Colonies during her research into the project. She owed it to these people, she thought as she headed for the elevator, to get the Treasury Department to reverse their decision.
0.0.0
Bill Adama stood at attention on the hangar deck, waiting for the passengers of the Raptor to disembark.
He hated to admit it, but he was a bundle of nerves. He hadn't been in contact with Laura since their meeting a month ago. He had resisted his urge to call her a number of times. He'd stuck with his 'playing it cool' routine that he'd convinced himself was a good idea, offering her a little time and space. He wasn't sure how much more time and space he'd give her though, once they were alone in his quarters.
"Commander Adama, nice to see you."
He didn't return the sentiment and merely offered a small polite smile.
"Are we meeting in the Ward Room, sir?"
He nodded and Aaron Doral, the man who tested his diplomatic skills, moved across the hangar deck.
"The Secretary of Education?" Bill asked.
"Oh, she never sent you a message?" Doral turned back and replied. "That's odd. She can't attend this month's meeting. It's so inconvenient. I don't know how they expect me to do my job and that of a cabinet member's as well. Apparently, she's too busy. I'm not sure what could be making her so busy that she couldn't spare forty-eight hours."
"Too busy?"
"Yes. Her Aide, what's that young lad's name, Billy? He told me to tell you she had a previous engagement."
"I see."
Bill swung on his heel and headed to the Ward Room.
He had always known that convincing the Secretary of Education to love and trust him completely was going to be difficult. However, somewhere during the time she'd left the military base on Picon and now, Laura Roslin had decided not to give them any chance at all.
0.0.0
The doctor picked up the chart at the end of her bed and flicked through the nurses' notes.
"When can I go home?" Laura asked.
"Mmm. Your drip came out this morning. Have you passed urine today?"
"Yes."
He lifted and checked her dressings.
"You seem to be healing nicely," he said before studying the chart again.
"You haven't eaten very much. How about having a sandwich for lunch and something a bit heavier for dinner and we'll see how you are in the morning."
"That will mean another night here."
"This is the most expensive private hospital in Caprica City, Madam Secretary, I'm sure you'll be comfortable." The doctor replaced the chart and walked out.
She hated doctors; hated hospitals. She glanced over at the time. Aaron Doral would be on Galactica by now. Bill would know she wasn't able to visit because she was in hospital. The telephone sat just within her reach. Surely the Commander would call her soon.