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Chapter Six - Enemies now joined as one

It had been a couple of hours since Adama had left Saul's and Laura's bedsides. Hours filled dealing with ever more demands on why they weren't already heading for Earth, it wasn't just the press now but Captains from some of the other ships as well.

He was thankful for small mercy though, Gaius frakking Baltar had again gone missing. His incessant verbal attacks on the powers that be, as he called them, had dried up and gone silent. It was news of Earth, that kept him off the front page so that at least was good

Bill stood alone on the observation deck staring out at the dark space in front of him, all it seemed to achieve was the reinforcement of his own isolation and loneliness. He kept telling himself he was watching for ships. If he were honest, he was beginning to get a little concerned by the non-appearance of Helo's raptor. He wondered if he should have sent out a fighter cover with them, he really had no idea of what was out there now had he just sent two of his best officers out to die because he had made a rash decision, so wrapped up in worry and wallowing in the unfairness of it all?

Whether that was true or not the order had been given and now time was ticking, he needed answers, he couldn't keep the fleet at a stop for much longer with out reason.

Results didn't seem to be happening for Adama at the moment though on any front, nobody had managed to track down his wayward son, or if they had he was not answering. Bill had to admit to a certain disappointment. He was well aware that he and Lee were not on the best of terms but he had barely seen or heard from him in a long time. Bill had gone out of his way, to try and bring his son back into the fold. Laura hadn't been keen, which was understandable but Bill had learnt his lessons and wasn't prepared to allow his son to disappear from his life again. Each time though he had been rebuffed and his son had declined his gestures of reconciliation and the offer of his job back.

The Admiral had felt that the quickly spreading news of Earth would have at least had him curious enough to come out of the woodwork but it seemed all his son's old resentments about him had returned and with Helo gone as well, Adama felt more alone than ever.

As he looked out, his eyes turned to the mass of cylon ships now inhabiting the same space as them, should he send out a team to check out the inside of some of those ships, they, well he had taken it for granted that they were suffering the same affects as his own merry cylon band but he had no proof. He wondered what Laura would say? And 'when' he wondered had she become such an integral part of military decisions as well?

He took one last look at the cylon ships and headed off towards the very woman who held his thoughts.

As he entered Cottle's territory he noticed a marked decrease in activity compared to his last couple of visits, he could only guess that there was little to be done with the coma patients.

He headed straight for Laura's area and pulled back the curtain. He was relieved to see two very groggy looking eyes turn slowly in his direction, even in this state they were a very welcome sight, he smiled and walked over to the bed.

"Hi, how do you feel?" he said gently. fingers running gently down the side of her face.

"Tired," she said as her head turned into his touch.

Bill nodded his head, as she managed a small smile.

"Is it the cancer back?" she questioned vaguely.

Bill's face dropped a little but he took hold of her hand and reminded her softly, "no Laura, do you remember, your blood is affected?"

He watched as she smiled and nodded and her eyes became a little more alert, "What about Tom, have you found him?"

Adama frowned, was she not retaining any information? He opened his mouth to repeat to Laura that Zarek was the missing cylon when she said, "He could be laying anywhere in that coma and it wouldn't be noticed for sometime, we need to find him."

He smiled down at her, relieved he was wrong, before frowning slightly again. He needed to pull himself together, here she was sick as this and still doing the thinking for the both of them, he hadn't even given Zarek a second thought. Damn he needed to start doing his job.

He should get his thoughts together, he needed options, he prided himself on his military planning and here he was allowing his emotions to cloud those judgements. That wasn't acceptable.

The Admiral leaned down to the President and stated, "Laura, I need to go," her warm hand wrapped round his, prompted him to say, "will you be alright, can I get you anything?"

She stroked the hand she still held with her thumb and shook her head.

As she gazed at her partner, Laura felt a pang of worry at how exhausted he looked. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the strain on his face and the dark shadows under his eyes. She feared for him. They worked as a team these days. Whether they agreed or not on certain matters, they at least had someone to bounce ideas off. Now he was practically alone, she was far from able to make decisions. Colonel Tigh was out too, and although she wasn't entirely sure whether his influence was a good one or not, he did at least provide a different point of view. Not that she was worried that Bill wouldn't make the right decisions; they rarely disagreed on the big issues, sometime the methods of getting there but not the outcome. She knew Bill though and what he needed, was someone beside him in case things went horribly wrong because this time with so much at stake he wouldn't survive that guilt complex that he so openly wore on his sleeve at times.

She wondered where his son was. She had expected him to show his face with all this going on, Lee Adama was not on her elite list anymore but Bill could do with his support. Captain Apollo had been such a bright burning star for her in those early days but that man was long gone, perhaps she should have been more cautious when he so easily turned away from his father back in the days of Kobol. Kara was easy, give her a challenge, big her up and point her in the right direction and she was gone with little thought of the consequences. Bill had always understood that about her behaviour, he had once told Laura it was that impulsive demeanour which made her such a good pilot, she didn't think it out, she felt it. Lee was different though, his every move was carefully choreographed, she should know, it had been turned against her at Baltar's trial. No, she couldn't easily forgive him, but he should be here to stand with his father, that's what families did.

She was just opening her mouth to say she loved him when the curtain was pulled back forcefully.

"Do you mind telling me what is going on around here?" the voice thundered.

Adama and Roslin both stared with amazement at the intruder before turning to each other in wonder and then again back to the figure still holding onto the curtain.

"Tom," Laura said at the same time that Adama said, "Frak."

Ignoring the Admiral, Tom Zarek turned to the President, "Laura, what are you doing here and why are half the command staff of Galactica seemingly patients here too?"

"Mr Vice President," Bill stated formerly, regaining some wit about him after the shock, his mind was already whirling round at the thought that Zarek was not in fact the last cylon and the equally worrying thought of who actually was, "If you would accompany me I can explain everything."

Zarek shook his head, "Madam President, you and I need..."

"ZAREK," Bill raised his voice sharply until he had his attention, "the President is in no condition at the moment to discuss this with you," in a calmer voice he continued, "as I said if you will come with me I will explain everything."

Still Zarek turned to Laura, and she said in a much frailer voice than he remembered ever hearing before, "Please Tom, go with him."

A curt nod was the only sign of Zarek's agreement before he stepped away.

Laura squeezed Bill hand to gain his attention, and as he leaned down she quietly pleaded, "Tell him everything Bill, you're going to need his help with this," as Adama's lips turned down, she said seriously, "give him a chance Bill, for my sake if nothing else."

She waited until he nodded, reluctantly, before letting go of his hand and allowing him to leave.