Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica and its characters are the property of Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, Sci-fi Network and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.

He steps into sickbay and he can feel the heaviness in the room weigh down on him. He never liked going into this part of the ship, but now it is different because there is someone here that he loves. He can't let go of her, no matter how much he drinks. He can't stand to let her go, but he also can't stand to leave her alone. This is why when he walks into sickbay he doesn't hesitate to go straight to her.

As Bill is walking into Laura's area, Cottle gruffly strolls out of his office with a cigarette in hand and notices Bill shutting the curtain behind him. Cottle goes to all of his nurses and quietly tells them to give Bill and Laura privacy. He then walks around to check on his patients.

Bill walks to Laura's bedside and sits down in his usual chair. He looks at her and notices that her sleeping form is so much more peaceful and relaxed. She looks as if her pain has just disappeared. He tenderly takes her hand in between his and kisses it, making sure that he doesn't wake her. He leans his head down on the bed and cries for the love of his life.

Laura wakes when she feels wetness creep up on her hand. She audibly swallows and tries to clear her throat because she feels as if someone is there. Something heavy is weighing down on her hand and the bed feels as if it is a bit dipped toward the edge. She struggles to open her eyes, but when she does, she is greeted by the sight of Bill sleeping on her hand. At that moment, a nurse walks in but then realizes whose space she accidentally entered. 'Oh, shit,' the nurse thinks. Luckily, the Admiral is sleeping so she is not interrupting anything. She quickly tells Laura how long the Admiral has been here and then leaves as if Laura is about to toss her out the airlock.

Laura calls out Bill's name in her hoarse voice, but he doesn't answer. She uses the hand that is not being used as a pillow and starts to gently caress the side of Bill's rough face.

Bill immediately wakens to the soft touch that can only be Laura and he lifts his head up to see her smiling faintly at him. She softly chuckles and when Bill raises his eyebrow and gives her an inquisitive look, she weakly says while trying to breathe normally, "You were sleeping on my hand and now you have a line from the tube on your face."

Bill lets go of her hand with only one of his hands and rubs his face. "Yeah, I guess I do," he says groggily, "How long have I been out?"

"A nurse accidentally came in a few minutes ago and told me that you have been here for about three hours. And then she apologized and quickly ran out," she pauses and asks, trying to keep her voice as steady as she can, but she ultimately fails because she is dying, "You've been here for three hours, Bill?"

"I guess so," Bill says, and rubs his face again, "When I started falling asleep I probably should have gone back to our quarters, but I just couldn't leave you. Plus, I need to talk to you."

"Oh?" Laura asks, encouraging him to go on.

"Lee came to our quarters earlier and we had an interesting conversation," Bill pauses as if to gather courage and then he says, "Do you really think that I hate you?"

Laura looks down at her lap and says, "No. Yes. I don't know because you are always drinking and that tells me that you just want to forget everything about your life, including me."

"Laura, I don't hate you and I would never want to forget about you. I'm sorry that I made you think that and I'm sorry that I haven't been here for you lately when you have needed me the most. But, I promise that I'll be here now."

Bill raises their joined hands to his lips and gives them a kiss. Laura looks at their hands and gives Bill a curious look. 'She must have noticed that I took my ring off,' Bill thinks.

"Your ring? It's gone?" Laura asks.

Bill takes a deep breath and says, "Yes, it is. I took it off."

"Why?"

"Because I felt that it was time. My mistakes in my last marriage brought me to this and I don't regret it anymore. I love a different woman now. I love the right woman now. You are who I was meant to be with from the very beginning."

Tears well up in Laura's eyes and she tries to hold them in, but it doesn't work. As the tears fall, Bill uses his fingertips to wipe the tears off of her cheeks.

"I love you, Laura. I'm sorry it took so long to say it, but I love you. And you do make me happy."

"I love you too, Bill," Laura says in a croaky voice.

Bill gets up from the chair and lies down on the bed beside Laura. He puts his arm around Laura and turns his head. His lips touch the corner of hers in a light kiss, but then Laura turns her head slightly more toward him and their lips come together in a tender, meaningful kiss.

"I've waited so long for this, Bill."

"Me too, Laura. But we have each other now. And I'm never letting you go."

"Thank you."

Bill tightens his arms around Laura and they lay there together for what seems like eternity.

This is the final chapter so I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews are love and appreciated.