Battlestar Galactica, Brig: 17:00

Billy walked into the brig, shaking his head at Tigh's refusal and worrying about what condition he would find the president in. He hated to return empty handed but he also couldn't bear to leave her alone for long.

His worst fears were realized immediately when he spotted the older woman lying on the floor of her cell, clutching both sides of her head. She was emitting a familiar low moan of pain and her chest was beaded with sweat.

He raced to the bars. "Madam President?" When she showed no indication of hearing him, he whirled around to face the guard. "What the hell happened? How long has she been like this?"

The guard had the decency to look guilty. "The XO's wife came down here about an hour ago. She," he said nodding in the president's direction, "didn't really know where she was or who was talking to her. Said something about wringing in her ears. She got it together for a minute after Ms. Tigh left but then she lay down on the ground and started doing that."

Oh Gods. Ellen Tigh. She had the biggest mouth in the fleet and, Billy knew, was no fan of the president. If she'd seen her like this, it was going to be all over the rumor mill soon and he had no doubt Colonel Tigh would delight in informing the fleet that the leader had lost her mind.

He turned back to the small form on the floor, still moaning softly and rocking herself back and forth. He hit the bars with both hands in frustration.

"Let me in there."

"Sir, you know I can't do that."

Billy felt tears of frustration well up in his eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you people? Can't you see how sick she is? We can't just leave her like this!"

"Colonel Tigh's orders, sir." The guard shrugged, trying not to look at the frail woman on the floor.

Billy thought he could see the guard's resolve weakening. Venner was still calling her Madam President. He'd also seen the look of agony on the older man's face when Captain Apollo had burst into the brig with news that his father had been shot in the command center. He tried a different tact.

"Look, Commander Adama wouldn't do this. No matter how angry at her he was, the Old Man wouldn't let her suffer like this. Please. I'm begging you. Just open the door and let me help her to the bed." Billy's voice was throaty with the tears he was struggling to keep at bay.

Venner sighed. He knew the young aide was probably right about the Old Man, who'd always had more of a heart than his grouchy, drunken XO. Still, orders were orders. He just shook his head sadly and went back to his paperwork.

"Gods!" Billy practically shouted, turning away from the man and back to President Roslin. He crouched on the floor as close to the bars as he could and tried to position himself in her eyeline.

"Madam President." Her eyes remained unfocused, although she'd thankfully stopped moaning. He hoped that meant the pain had subsided or, a more frightening prospect, that she was at least so out of it that she couldn't feel it anymore.

"Laura. Laura, can you hear me? It's Billy." She didn't look at him but let out a slight gasp. He took it as an encouraging sign.

"Laura, listen to me. You're going to be alright. I couldn't get your medicine but I'm not going to stop trying. Please don't give up. We're going to get you out of here."

She startled him by suddenly meeting his gaze. Stunned out of the fevered fog, she couldn't quite make out Billy's words but she could hear the pleading in his voice. She hated that she was frightening him.

She steeled her resolve and forced her body up by distributing her weight onto her hands. A wave of dizziness co-mingled with another searing shot of pain in her head and she cried out involuntarily.

"Oh, Gods." Billy shot another look up at the guard from his place on the floor. "She needs help. Please, for all that's holy, let me help her." When he got no response, he turned back to the cell, surprised to see that President Roslin had managed to pull herself onto her knees. She tentatively crawled toward the bed but the effort robbed her of all her strength and she was forced to settle for falling back against the wall in a sitting position, breathing heavily. She looked over at Billy and shot him a weak smile.

He tried to smile back. "Ok, good. Good, Laura." He weighed his options. He looked over at the guard, eyeing his side arm, and wondered what his chances were against the soldier. He didn't imagine they were good. He'd likely be shot and then the president would be completely alone, with no one to help her out of this mess.

Laura Roslin followed his gaze and instinctively knew what he was thinking. A vision of the loyal boy lying on the ground, bleeding to death, shot through her and it was so vivid she knew it was real. "NO!"

He turned back at the noise and realized the president was now crying, her breath coming in ragged bursts. Her eyes were unfocused once again but their connection had grown strong since the day the world ended and he knew she'd read his thoughts. She wouldn't want any more bloodshed in her name.

It was Venner's turn to eye the younger man with suspicion, unsure what had just transpired between him and his boss. Billy was torn between keeping his position on the floor and leaving once again to try to find the chamalla. Realizing that was the only chance she had, he made up his mind.

"Madam President, focus on my voice. I'm going to go try again. I will be back as soon as I can. Hang in there for me, ok?" She was lost in her visions once again, muttering something about that damn prophecy, and gave no indication that she'd heard him.

He stood and fixed Venner with a glare. He had to put his faith in the assumption that while the soldier wouldn't help the president, he wouldn't let her die either. He addressed the armed man. "I'm going to go and try to get her some help. Please, if she starts having trouble breathing, get a doctor."

Venner looked up in alarm. He had no idea why she'd have trouble breathing but the prospect of it sent a cold chill up his spine. Suddenly, he didn't want Billy to leave him alone with her. He nodded as his hands went to the beads that were never far from his side. "Lords of Kobol, hear my prayer…"