Laura paces out in the hall outside her mother's hospital room, back and forth, back and forth. She had offered to drive her mother in for her doloxin treatment, but something was wrong . . . her mother had a seizure, and Laura was ushered out of the room. When is that damned doctor going to come out and talk to her?

At last, the door opens, and her mother's doctor emerges. Laura immediately steps towards him, arms crossed, unable to mask her worry. The doctor's expression gives her no clues as to her mother's condition.

"Well? How is she? Will she be all right?"

"The seizure has passed, and your mother is resting. She's fine for now but, Ms. Roslin . . . You and your family need to start preparing. We're getting closer to the end."

Laura nods, pressing her lips together and blinking hard to keep the stinging away. She knew this was coming. Terminal breast cancer is terminal, after all.

"How long, do you think?"

"Days, maybe a week. I'm very sorry, Ms. Roslin – Laura. I wish there was something more we could do."

"I understand." Laura bites her bottom lip as it begins to tremble, and a tear drips down her cheek. "I, um, i-is she awake now?"

The doctor nods. "Yes ma'am."

"Okay." Laura nods. "Okay. I just um, I need moment." Turning away from the doctor, she sucks in a shaky breath, squeezing her eyes shut tight and then wiping away the ensuing tears that fall.

"I'll sit with her," the doctor says softly, "Until you're ready." Laura nods, unable to express her gratitude in words without breaking down in tears. As the doctor leaves her, she bites her lip again, trying to concentrate on her breathing. She knew this was going to happen sooner rather than later, she saw her mother getting weaker and weaker, but somehow it still comes as a terrible stab to the heart to hear the doctor say it out loud. Days, maybe a week. The sting in her eyes intensifies and she chokes back a sob. No, no she can't do this - she needs to be strong. She needs a distraction, something to keep her feelings at a distance. Mr. Adama called, didn't he? She should see what he wanted, that might do her good. Laura takes out her phone and dials his number, not having to wait long for him to pick up.

"Laura? Are you all right?"

"Hello, Bill," she says, smiling slightly at his concern for her. She sits down in the chair outside her mother's room. "Yes, I'm fine. It's my mother actually, she . . . She's in the hospital. I'm sorry I had to hang up on you earlier she uh, gave us a little bit of a scare. She's all right now, though."

"Gods, I'm sorry. Are you sure you're all right? You sound like you're crying."

Laura lets a teary laugh escape her.

"Oh, I'm fine. What is it you were calling about, anyways?"

"Oh, uh. . . It's. . . Well I mean it can wait – it's not that – I mean surely it's not –"

"Mr. Adama, you're rambling." Laura's smile reaches her ears. Bill sighs over the phone.

"I was going to ask you to dinner, actually. But obviously now's not-"

"Like a date?"

"Yeah. A date."

"I'm afraid I'll be at the hospital until my father and sisters arrive tomorrow, but if the offer still stands, I'd love to take you up on it some other time."

"I – really?"

She smiles harder and laughs that teary laugh again at the sound of his surprise.

"Yes, it sounds like a lovely time."

"Did you say you're going to be alone at the hospital tonight?"

"Well, yes. I don't want to leave my mother alone, even if she'll likely be asleep for most of the night."

"I could stay with you."

"You . . . what?"

"If you want."

"Oh, no Bill, I couldn't-"

"It'd be my pleasure."

"But who would watch the boys?"

"I have someone. Which hospital?"

Laura sighs, exasperated but secretly pleased.

"I'm at Asclepius', off of North-"

"I know where it is. I'll see you soon."

And with that, he hangs up. Laura shakes her head, still smiling. Her smile fades as she prepares to go into her mother's room, but she's not on the brink of a break down anymore. And as an added bonus, she's feels a twinge of excitement at the prospect of Bill Adama coming to see her tonight. She lets out a long, heavy breath, mentally preparing herself for a conversation with her dying mother, and enters her room.