See part one for the disclaimer and my notes. In case you don't, mind there may be spoilers.
Fourth and last part for that one-plot short story, I wrote it within a few hours and edited and posted within 24 hours, otherwise I would have started overthinking and would never have posted it.
I'm working on a more complex story. There'll still be loads of Roslin x Adama in it. See you people xoxo 💋
Bill felt awfully guilty for Laura crying so in his quarters on that day, he knew that somehow he was responsible for what had happened. He felt guilty for letting her down and leaving her alone for two consecutive rounds of her chemo. Was it why she was so upset? Laura wasn't a woman to count on anyone, she kept her cards close to her chest and her feelings under wraps. But they had grown closer. Maybe he had underestimated how much it actually meant to her. To be fair, the first time he had fucked up, he knew she would be onboard and had missed their reading connection, because she had told him, a bit indirectly, that it was how she felt about him reading to her, through her nausea, and her loneliness. Maybe she needed it like he did and she was scared to say it aloud. However, the second time, she had given no notice of her visit, not to him, only to the fewest staff members in charge of the transit between ships. He felt wounded. She didn't want him there, not these days at least. Then why did she come to his quarters afterward? She had looked surprised to find him there, she expected to be alone. Because it wasn't the first time, he thought, she had come before like this after her treatment and he wasn't there. He bit his lip. She came for shelter and safety and found no one. But she did come to him for shelter. He was filled with a sense of pride. She felt safe with him. Or at least she used to. And he needed to fix this mess, to let her know she was safe with him, that he wasn't going anywhere, that she could count on him.
Bad news came along the way. They had lost many and it wouldn't be the last. A stupid accident. Was it? He was bitter but he held himself up at the funeral of this nineteen-year-old boy with no more future joining those long gone with stardust. He was relieved Laura stood right by his side, and proud to have her so, even though he couldn't act on it. He swallowed his saliva and his tears back as the emotional music was playing.
She stood there, right in front of him, warm and alive, a tentative smile on her beautiful face, God, she was so exquisitely gorgeous, charming, and so lovable, but he couldn't do this here and now, during a funeral, so he excused himself before he would turn things into a more tense disaster. He didn't feel proud of it and even less happy with it. He went back to his quarters angry, mostly with himself, and poured himself a double whisky, sat on the living room side of his office and grumbled mainly in his head while sipping his whisky too fast. He was pouring himself another double whisky when Lee came in, visibly pissed off.
"You didn't talk to her", his son took no prisoners ever.
"I didn't know you cared so much about my private life", he laughed starting feeling the effect of the liquor burning his stomach.
"Yes, I care about you, dad", Lee said seriously which made the Admiral look up, he had his attention, "but it's not just about you, you two, you jeopardize the entire fleet, she's devastated and you're obviously miserable, she's definitely not at her best and you've been distracted, to put it politely". Bill listened attentively and seemed to be thinking, knitting his eyebrows, "she tried, you know, dad, earlier, to get through to you, to connect with you, and you acted like a total jerk".
No prisoners. He smiled a little.
"I don't care what you two decide to do next, dad, just fix this, before something bad happens."
He stayed alone with his drink, more thoughtful than angry this time.
He tried to call her several times the next day but couldn't get through. Loud and clear. Laura.
They had several Cylon attacks and had to jump after fighting for two days. Everybody was rattled and the crew needed to rest. They all did.
It was only a week later Laura announced she would visit, at the last minute, not that it bothered him. He missed her. He welcomed her professionally yet friendly. She was somewhat reserved but she always was, even if just a little. She smiled shyly.
"I'm sorry I'm announcing myself so late, Admiral", she spoke like the president she was.
"It's no trouble at all, Madame president".
"I need to talk to you", she said straight to the point.
"I'm all ears", familiar but he smiled at her the appropriate way the Admiral would the president.
"In private", she looked up at the small deck and he understood she wanted them to climb up to the deck. And they did as she wanted.
Laura was turning her back to the door opening on the corridor, nobody could technically hear them from there but he could see how nervous she was anyway. She breathed fully to give herself the courage to speak her truth. She tilted her head which made him smile and almost giggle because they looked like two teenagers beating around the bush. Lee was right.
His smile faded when he saw him come in. He rose his gun at her. The asshole. In half trance, Bill shouted:
And intuitively so, like she had known what to do beforehand, she did. He shot.
She sat on the floor, breathing fast, eyes wide open gazing at Jayce Fuller aka "Pampers".
They could hear members from the crew running toward the small deck, Starbuck came in first by the corridor side and Mister Gaeta was the first to join them by the control panel room side.
"What the frak", said Starbuck.
"Oh my God", Laura exclaimed still visibly shook, "like in my dream".
Adama held out his hand to help her get back up to her feet. Lee showed up behind Kara.
"I knew he was up to no good", he exchanged a knowing look with his father.
Laura looked intently at Bill in the eyes for a long moment, "thank you". He nodded.
She wanted to tell him everything, but thought it would have to wait longer. If destiny let her.
Laura refused a more strict protection protocol. She deemed it unnecessary. She was already well protected, was she. She smiled.
He came to visit her. Unannounced.
"Rebel", she joked. He smiled, " Madame president". She grinned mischievously. They gazed at each other and after being somewhat reassured by what she saw on his face and in his eyes, she patted the couch beside her. He accepted the invitation and sat by her side. His near proximity made her stomach flutter.
"I wanted to see how you were doing".
"There are phones nowadays, Admiral", she teased.
He laughed, " it's what my son tells me", and then serious, "I wanted to see you with my own eyes, you can't do that on the phone".
It felt almost back to normal between them, she thought. Well, almost.
She tilted her head like she wasn't sure what he meant, but deep inside she knew he knew. "The dream", he added softly. She licked her lips. And then she started talking and he let her speak, not interrupting, welcoming her words without judgement.
"I had that reoccurring dream, it was so vivid, it felt so lively, so real, like the other dreams I have, my visions. It was like yesterday before you shot him", she made a pause, her eyes brimming with tears, " I didn't see the moment when he got in behind me or you shooting him, I just saw when you smiled at me but then your smile changed into that cruel mockery before turning into pure hate," tears rolled down her cheeks, "I didn't tell you at first because I thought it was insignificant", she said shrugging, "and then I had that dream almost every night and I couldn't think about anything else", she sobbed, " and I know how you feel about the dreams and visions I have", she insisted, " that you don't believe in them, that you think I'm crazy, I didn't want to bother you with that".
And take the risk to feel humiliated and rejected by you, were words she buried between them, but he knew.
"You're damn crazy, woman", he said grinning, and she laughed through her tears before waves of sobs took over her again. He welcomed them, too. "Laura", he said gently touching her arm and rubbing it fondly, "we may not have the same beliefs and I don't experience what you do, but I sure as frak have faith in you", she was listening carefully to his every word, "besides, you have some connection to earth I'm not sure how*, she opened her mouth, taken aback by his revelation, "me neither", she said trembling, "but you led us to Kobol and I have faith in you, Laura Roslin, like I do in no one else", her lips quivered, "and I would never mock you or your beliefs, you can literally tell me anything freely". He made a pause, but not from hesitation, "Laura, whatever you need that's within my power, you have it".
She was stunned. "Anything within your power?"
She didn't ask with her words. She moved her arms before herself, gingerly first, to elbow level, and then extended them entirely open, both wanting and giving. His breath caught in his throat. He took her in arms and held her tight, she squeezed him back just the same, and let herself cry, not alone this time, like she hadn't in long years.
Maybe it was what home felt like,
Lost in space, holding each other,
"what if I want a huge castle on top of a hill on earth, oh, and one thousand ponies, Admiral?"
"we'll sell the ship on etsy, it's as good as new".
