Two years ago she just disappeared from his life before they could become something more than colleagues. This time he didn't want to make the same mistake and let her go. Bill stopped in the middle of the hallway and looked around. She wasn't there or in the ball room so he headed to the exit.

When he pushed the door, he was welcomed by chilly wind and cloudy night sky. He looked around and saw the dark shape that was slowly running down the street. In the same moment he heard the car's horn. Turning around he saw the taxi. He looked at the taxi driver and get into to car. He told him to follow the auburn woman. When they reached to her, she was slowly walking down the street with hands wrapped around herself. William opened the car's window and called her.

"Laura." She didn't respond, still walking. "Laura!" This time she turned around and after several second she saw him in the taxi. William opened the door smiling. "Come on. I'll give you a lift. You don't have to walk." He saw her hesitation. "Come on Laura. You will be perfectly safe with me."

She smiled shyly and directed to him. The taxi driver stopped the car so she could get into. Laura sat down next to William in the backseat closing the door. The taxi pulled away down the street after Adama told him where to go. The whole way to her house, she was quietly looking outside the window pretending she was interested in what she saw. Bill watched her surreptitiously. Her auburn hair were falling to shoulders and covering her eyes. Her hands wrapped safely around her waist with her left palm protective on her abdomen. The eye exploration of her body broke her husky and quiet sniff. Bill looking at her face and immediately took a tissue from his pocket then he handed it to her. She turned around to face him and thanks for his help, then he saw she was crying. She took the tissue and wiped her tears away. When she finished she handed him a tissue, but he only shocked his head.

"No, keep it. You'll need it more than me." He told her with small smile on his lips.

"Thank you." She answered and put a handmade tissue with embroidered initials to her small handbag. "You shouldn't have stopped him, you expose yourself. He will be watching you, I know him. He won't hesitate to destroy you."

"I don't care and frankly if I wouldn't stop him, gods only know what he would do to you, Laura." He answered placing his fingers on her shoulder. She didn't pull away.

"He wouldn't hurt me, Commander. We're working together."

"Yeah right. I saw him, Laura. I saw him. He was about to rape you. If I wasn't there…" When she turned her head from him, she saw that the taxi stopped at her drive. She pulled money from her purse, but Bill was faster and paid for them himself. She opened the door gasping and get off the car. "He wouldn't hurt me. I know it. He never did."

"Wait." Adama also get off the car and walked to her. "Are you telling me it wasn't the first time?" She looked down. "I'll take it as a yes!"

"It's not…" he raised his finger when she tried to explain.

"I don't care if he is a President or someone else. He doesn't have right to touch you or…"

"Or what? Or what Commander? I'm not your property!" she hissed.

"No, you're not. But he doesn't have rights to do that!"

"Oh please is not like I can tell him to stop!" She headed to her house's door. Adama follow.

"You can. It's your choice."

"He's the President."

"Yeah, so what? It's only a job. He doesn't possess you or anybody else. You're free to say no, but the question is: do you want to?" Laura raised her eyebrow giving him an angry look.

"This conversation leads us to nowhere. And why are you still here? Don't you have something better to do, Mister Superman?"

"I have to make sure you'll be all right." He took a deep breath grabbing her arm. This time she pulled away from him making the step back. Laura staggered. Commander grasped her before she met with the ground. "Are you ok?" He said checking if she's all right. She gave him an icy look mixed with hostility and relieve, then she frowned pulling away from him like he would be a Cylon.

"I'm fine, just leave me alone. I don't need your or anybody else help. I can manage myself!" She snapped out with anger and venom in her voice looking at him in not very pleasant way.

If look could kill, Commander Adama would be already a dead man. Laura wasn't the most pleasant person in that particular moment so he simply gave up. He gave up the battle but not a war for her heart. Maybe tomorrow she would be nicer. He thought and turned around.

"If you need my help, just call me. Good night Laura." He looked down and made his way to the taxi, which was still waiting at her drive. Adama didn't turn around, but he heard the door close behind her. He smiled sadly and get into the taxi, directing the driver to his apartment.

Laura saw him turning back to her and she gasped with relieve. She didn't need his help. She was grown woman for lords' sakes. She could take care of herself, besides Richard would never hurt her. Not in public place, nor when they were all alone. He loved her and now she was a mother of his child. She gently grabbed her second wrist which had a red mark from Richard. Laura rubbed the wrist, and then took keys out of handbag. She put key into the keyhole and turned it, opening the door. She didn't bother to look back at the taxi. She could hear the engine humming, so he still was there. Roslin walked into her house and close the door. Then she put the handbag on the coffee table in her living room and kicked off her shoes. She headed to the bathroom stripping from the black cocktail dress. Laura stopped in front of the mirror in her underwear. She looked at herself and slowly slid her hands above her abdomen. I have to make sure, before I tell him. I'll call the doctor tomorrow. She said to herself undressing. When she was naked she went into the shower. The hot water's drops started falling against her skin.

TBC