Chapter two - Soon there will be four, glorious in awaking,

The first sign that there was a problem came in CIC directly in front of his eyes. One minute the Admiral was ordering the fleet forward the next his XO and long time friend, Saul Tigh was spark out on the floor. Adama had rushed round to his fallen comrade to find him unconscious with no obvious sign of the cause. He had ordered medics up and sat with his friend making him as comfortable as possible on the cold floor. Doctor Cottle had come himself at word of the problem. He had demanded answers to what had happened and looking around Bill was aware that his crew had no better understanding than himself. The shrug of shoulders as Cottle looked up had him cursing under his breath, as the Admiral explained what little he knew. The colonel was whisked away quickly to life stations and Adama was finally free to let the President know of the situation regarding the fleet and the much fabled planet Earth. The Admiral picked up the phone and called the President directly, he was somewhat surprised when the voice at the other end was not Laura Roslin. It wasn't even the President's aide Tory Foster who often barked down the phone rather severely at him, making the Admiral wince slightly. The Admiral had learnt early on with her that it never paid to irritate the President's right hand woman so to speak; she could make it very difficult to get to the President otherwise.

"Can I speak to the President please?" Adama asked politely, not even sure to whom he was speaking.

"That's not possible at the moment Admiral," the voice on the other end said rather vaguely. Well at least they know who I am, he thought.

"When will she be available then?" Adama said frustrated.

"I'm not sure, Admiral," the voice faltered making Bill's ears prick up.

""Where is she?" He asked in concern.

"She is lying down Admiral; she's suffering from an acute headache."

"Do you need me to send someone over to see her?"

"She says not, Admiral, I'll keep you informed Sir."

"OK, do that please," Adama gently replaced the phone and sighed. It was unlike Laura to take herself off to her bed during the day; in fact it was more than unlike her. He remembered before the trial had started and Laura had come to his quarters to discuss Baltar, she had quite literally been out on her feet, so much so that she had swayed from side to side as she stood denying his words that she should rest. He had eventually got her to lie down on his rack not without the concession that she lay there fully clothed. He had found it rather amusing that she insist upon it bearing in mind the number of times they had both lain naked upon it. Never once had she complained when she was struggling to stay alive as her body was ravaged by the first round of cancer and now he was lucky if she would pull a face when asked how she was after a treatment for this bout of the evil disease.

Adama was on the verge of picking up the phone again when he was informed him that his presence was need in life stations. He looked across at the Lieutenant hoping for more information but she just pulled a half smile at him nervous or encouraging he couldn't tell.

He looked down at his phone before turning and walking briskly out. He needed to find out about Tigh as well and that visually looked more concerning than a headache.

Adama moved swiftly though the huge ships corridors until he heard a call for him and picked up the nearest phone.

The Cylons had found them. They had jumped in quickly after the Admiral had left CIC. Adama had told the duty officer that he would be straight there and to prepare their fighters, but the officer had informed him that the Cylons had stopped dead in space. They were not moving, no fighters were being launched by them and they appeared to be drifting in space. The Admiral had asked them to alert him to any changes and he made a quick decision to continue down to life stations, something wasn't right and he wanted to find out what.

He didn't notice as he was joined by worried looking Helo and further back a quickly rushing Cally. Their destination the same life stations, and as the Admiral entered the white washed room he was hit by the fact he wasn't just visiting his old friend, he was visiting a number of his most precious and valuable crew members. Tigh, Tyrol, Anders, and TORY no wonder she hadn't picked up the phone on Colonel One, when had she been brought in he wondered? Beside those four the reason for Helo's appearance was laying in a bed to the far right and besides Sharon her child Hera. Also next to Tyrol, Adama now noticed was his son and the last patient was the Cylon prisoner. And so it was, only a brief time later that Laura was wheeled in too.

He shut his eyes briefly, hoping that when he opened them again none of this chaos would be happening, but as they opened again nothing had changed. He swallowed as he looked down at Laura, he had told her that everything would be alright, he had promised to look after her. Now he found himself helpless to protect her. He thought back to that very conversation only days ago.

He had entered his cabin, to the tell tale signs that Laura was present, the markers of her occupation where scattered all around the dimly lit quarters, shoes neatly paired together by the hatch, her jacket hung across the back of his desk chair, piles of folders scattered across his sofa, he imagined they were placed carefully in some sort of order and not just flung but he couldn't really tell. The finishing touch was that unique smell of loveliness that accompanied Laura.

The lady herself came wandering out of the bathroom area, eyes downcast, and glasses just about managing to hold on as they perched halfway down her nose. More secure was the pencil she had tucked behind her ear, he smiled at the sight, she was truly adorable.

Laura was reading a report of some sort as she walked bare foot across his floor, she appeared to be totally unaware of the Admiral watching her, and as he continued his silent vigil, once again he felt that rather constant pull to pinch himself. Every time he saw her looking so relax walking around THEIR cabin he swore his heart missed a beat.

It was at this point in his ruminations that Laura spoke, without lifting her eyes from the paper in front of her she said unwaveringly, "enjoying the view Admiral?"

He was never sure how she did that, he smiled to himself perhaps he had a unique smell too!

"I'd pay for it," he said.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth they hung in the air between them waiting for the laughter, it was a reminder of months back when he had made another risqué remark, without meaning to.

'You're welcome in one of my beds anytime.'

Laura had enjoyed it at the time and had they not had a room full of people the teasing probably would have continued. As he looked at her now, she wore that same half smile and raised eyebrows, as she looked over the rim of her glasses, she quipped back, "you couldn't afford me, Admiral."

He loved this more than just about anything in their new found relationship, the easy, relax atmosphere they had gained around each other, well in here anyway!

He continued the quick banter with, "probably not, the wages of an Admiral aren't quite what I was led to believe, before taking the job."

"Ah, but think of the perks", she grinned.

He looked Laura up and down and smirked, "yes I have to admit they more than make up for the empty pay check."

"Really," she smiled, shutting the folder and walking over to him.

"Oh yes, and if I'd know about the perks, I would have claimed them earlier!" He kissed the tip of her nose, and Laura inwardly groaned, they had been together long enough for her to know what that signalled, Bill had something on his mind or they needed to have a discussion of some sort.

Sure enough Bill pulled back and walked away towards his drinks area. Laura sighed disappointedly before going over to the sofa and scooping up all her folders into one pile and sitting down.

Adama walked over with two glasses, held one out to a grateful Laura and sat down on the sofa next to her.

Laura scooted closer to him and was glad when his arm came up and wrapped around her shoulder.

"What's on your mind then Admiral?" she asked.

Bill looked at her for a moment before simply saying, "Earth."

She raised her eyes but said nothing, so Adama continued, "we've found it," he smiled as he watched her reaction. First, the glasses came off, then she sat up a little straighter on the sofa looking at him with disbelief, her voice when she spoke held a slight quiver, "Earth?"

He nodded, smiling with his own delight.

"My Gods, I don't know what to say," she looked round the room as if that held the answer, "Earth, with been running for so long," Her eyes came back to him and she smiled, tears in her eyes, "Earth."

He laughed and pulled her into a embrace. She held on tightly trying to process the information.

She pulled back and asked him, "Tell me about it."

"Well the fleet hasn't jumped into the right area yet, and the raptor I sent ahead has not actually come across Earth as such, but the stars confirm it's the right sector."

"I have dreamed about this day," she said in wonder.

"We are nearly there Laura."

"Do you think…the prophecy…I wasn't supposed to see…?" Each small statement was reinforced by the look of distress on her face.

"Laura," he took hold of her hand to reassure her and turned his body so he was sitting as close to her as he could, "You know I don't believe in all that but," he said watching Laura and carrying on before Laura had a chance to interrupt, smoothing over her now ruffled feathers, "but I know you do, and I have a theory." He smiled and asked, "Do you want to hear it?" He waited until she nodded before continuing, "the dying leader will lead us to Earth, that's how your prophecy went wasn't it, along those lines?" She rolled her eyes as he simplified whole passages down to eight words but nodded nevertheless.

"I don't think you're the dying leader," he said, placing his fingers gently on her lips to stop the outburst waiting to come out, "just listen to me, then you can let rip, OK?"

Once again she was reduced to nodding her head, "I think it's Thrace," He watched as Laura frowned, "She has led us to Earth hasn't she? It's her directions that have got us here, I guess we will never know what happened to her - but to us she was dead. She was dead, Laura, the dying leader." He was almost excited by his words, Laura couldn't fault him for trying, but she did have one question, and he seemed to be waiting for her to say something, now that she was allowed!

"There is a problem with that theory," she didn't enjoy the look of disappointment that passed across his face, "The prophecy also said that the leader would never see Earth, Kara says she has seen it already."

"Thrace has seen it," he continued as a frown crossed Laura face. "Thrace is not Kara."

"What do you mean?"

"The Kara that I knew is gone Laura, this…woman she's not the same - the spark that was Kara is missing - my Kara is dead and I don't think she will be returning to us. Think about it, can you honestly say, since she has come back, have you actually seen any trace of the fighting force that was once Starbuck?"

Laura simply stared, not really able to process the information that Bill was saying, could it be true? Did she dare hope that she and Bill had a future together?

"I will keep you safe my Love," he said once again pulling her close, "I promise you."

His eyes filled with tears that he wouldn't allow to fall, he had promised her and now that promise was in tatters.

Like I say I would really like your thought on this, so please review.

Thanks to Stiletto-freek for the nudge that made this chapter better.