Colonial One, two days earlier, moments after Admiral Adama's promotion ceremony
Billy struggled to hide his smile as he helped President Roslin from her office to her private quarters. He'd just witnessed the most powerful man in the world kiss the most powerful woman in the world on the lips. And she'd giggled. Actually giggled.
She noticed his blatant grin as he helped her toward the couch and decided she had to use what little remaining strength she had to have one more conversation with the devoted young man who'd helped make the most delightful moment in months come to pass.
As Billy settled her into a comfortable position, he looked up expectantly, waiting for the order of dismissal that usually came at the end of this daily ritual. She patted the seat next to her and, after a frown and a pause, he sat down gingerly to avoid jostling her.
"Billy, I want to thank you for getting those wings for Admiral Adama. I can rest easier now knowing that he's in full, official command of the entire fleet."
Billy tried to stop the conflicting emotions, both the pain that the mention of her impending death always brought screaming to the surface and, paradoxically, the hilarity of her politically correct description of what had just taken place with the Admiral in the outer office, from registering on his face. Before he could verbalize a middle ground, she took his hand and looked him in the eye.
"I also want to thank you for your service to me since the invasion. You started a job with a lowly education secretary and ended up the right hand man to the president of the human race who starts rebellions and has visions and is dying to boot." She followed the last statement with a short, harsh laugh. When he didn't respond, she continued.
"You've been my best friend, Billy. You kept my secret when I needed it to kept, you came to my rescue in the brig, and you've helped me start dying with grace. One of my biggest regrets is that I won't be here to watch you become the man you're going to become. You'll be sitting in that chair out there in no time at all, Billy, I'm sure." She fought back tears as his eyes began to well up.
"Madam President, that's…," she cut him off as before he could get any further.
"Billy, let me finish. I'm dying. Soon. I can feel the life leaving me. I need you to help me with one more thing. Probably the most important thing I'll ever ask you to do for me. Do you think you can do that for me, Billy?"
He gulped back a sob, glanced down at her hand holding his to give him a moment to collect himself, and looked back into her eyes. He responded resolutely. "Anything, Madam President. I'll do anything for you."
"This isn't going to be easy, Billy, and I'm so sorry to do this to you." The weight of what she was about to ask this young man settled in her chest and she shifted slightly to lay her head against the back of the couch without letting go of his hand. She couldn't bear to look at him as she continued.
"Billy, I don't want to spend my last days in Life Station. I want to wait as long as possible before they strap me up to the machines. It's so undignified, Billy. It's cold and sterile and…," she shuddered at the thought. "I don't want everyone on the ship to come by to stare at me like a wounded animal in a zoo." She opened her eyes to judge his reaction. He looked stricken, but was listening carefully.
"It's not going to be easy to watch me die. I know that. It's easier for me, I think, than for everyone else. But Billy, no matter how much pain I'm in, no matter how hard it gets to watch, I need you to promise me that you will wait until the very end before you call Dr. Cottle. Can you promise me that, Billy? I need you to promise me."
The young aide couldn't hold in his sobs any longer. His chest heaved loudly as he struggled to wipe away the tears streaming down his face. He looked at her and saw the sad, resigned smile on her face, which caused the sobs to come harder. She released his hand and pulled him close to her chest for a warm hug. He tensed, scared of causing her pain, but relaxed into her arms as she pulled him tighter.
She kept him there, tears staining her jacket, until his sobs subsided and his breathing became more regular. She eased him away from her and cupped his face in her small hand. "Are you alright, Billy?"
He saw the pleading in her eyes and abruptly pulled away from her touch, looking at anything else in the room in order to avoid meeting her gaze. He didn't know if he would be strong enough to watch her suffer without running for help.
"How will I know it's time, Madam President?"
She considered him evenly. His serious response meant that he was seriously considering her request. For the hundredth time, she thanked the gods for granting her this particular boy to accompany her on this, her final journey.
"If I can say no, no matter what else I'm saying, it's not time." It was a pitiful response and she knew it.
She tried again, suddenly committed to easing his burden at the possible expense of adding to her own and that of the other man who held her heart. "If I can't speak, Billy, call for Admiral Adama. He'll know what to do."
Billy's lifted his eyes to meet her questioning gaze and he verbally assented to the most devastating order he'd ever received in his life. "I promise, Madam President, that I will wait until the very end before getting you to Life Station."
Her body almost sagged in relief and the events of the day, from the battle with the Resurrection ship and the promotion ceremony with Adama to the conversation she'd just had, landed heavily on her small frame.
"Thank you, Billy," she sighed. "Thank you." She lay back in a sitting position and once again closed her eyes.
He nodded and took his cue to go, standing above his boss and taking his nightly survey of her pallor and the rhythm of her breathing. Before taking his leave, he bent to slip off her heels and put two firms hands on her shoulders to carefully guide her into a position more conducive to sleep. From the edges of slumber she whispered, again, "thank you, Billy."