Roslin Residence, Unit 6, Mauvaise Chance Apartments, Monday Morning
Slipping her glasses from the bridge of her nose, Laura glanced at the nightstand. It was after nine in the morning, and she was still laying in bed. Granted, she had been awake since much earlier, opting to take the time to read over Tory's dispatches one last time, but she still felt lethargic and unmotivated. Sunlight crept in between the slats in the blinds; she was comfortable and safe, with nothing specific to do today; plans were already in motion a galaxy away that she could take no part in. Stretching, she sighed. She supposed she should at least find some breakfast.
As she swung her feet to the floor, slipping her toes into her slippers, however, the phone rang. She hoped it wasn't another random call. "Hello?" Laura winced as she realized how groggy her voice sounded.
It didn't help that Bill Adama was a little too observant for his own good. "Sleeping in this morning, Madam President?"
A lopsided grin broke across her features. "Oh, you know...Living on Earth, sleeping until noon, eating chocolates, and watching serials all day," she replied. "I thought I'd let everyone else do all the work."
Far away, Adama chuckled. "Yes, you've lived such an idle life since leaving here." Laura imagined his smile, one that matched her own. "Enjoying the calm before the storm?"
"Something like that. I woke up early this morning, but didn't want to crawl out of bed, so...I picked up Tory's letters and read through them one last time. I wanted to make sure we weren't missing anything." She gave a snort. "Well-informed is well-armed -- or something like that."
"You've been reading up on your strategy," the admiral replied. He sounded both impressed and pleased.
Laura shrugged. "I wanted to know more about what you were doing. I was supposed to be Commander-in-Chief, and I have to admit I didn't know as much as maybe I should have." She paused. "I think that was part of our problem, earlier. I didn't really understand."
"And you do now?"
"Well, I'm not an expert, and I'm certainly no Admiral Adama, but I think I understand a little more now."
A quiet moment passed. "If it's any consolation, I think I understand your point of view a little more now, too, Madam President."
Roslin felt her throat tighten. They had really come a very long way since those first, traumatic days. What the future held was anyone's guess at this point; it would be decided largely by whether or not they survived the assault on New Caprica. And, while she may have had her doubts about Adama then, she knew there was no one else -- save perhaps his son -- she would rather follow into the fight.
Sensing her mood, Adama cleared his throat. "The reason I called..."
"You didn't call just to flirt shamelessly with your former president?"
The admiral chuckled. "No, that's just a perk. I actually called to let you know I've arranged to take a day or two off. I thought it might be a good idea to go into this with a clear head, maybe remind myself where it is we're headed."
"Leaving the kids alone in the house? Is that wise?"
"I think they can manage," he answered, laughing. "Dee's stopping over, going to give Helo a hand."
Laura thought it a bit unusual that the Pegasus XO would be willing to leave her ship and assist the XO of Galactica. She didn't voice her concerns, however; whatever was happening between Lee and Dualla was their business, not hers. "Just couldn't wait to get back into the pilots' seat, hm?"
"Well, I am due for some recertification time..."
"All right. Just be careful. You can't lead the charge from sickbay...or worse, from the clinic here."
"Understood, Madam President. See you soon."
"See you soon."
The line went dead and the former president slowly placed the receiver back into the cradle. Her eyes then turned to take in the apartment around her. While it wasn't exactly a mess, it wasn't what she'd call pristine, either: A few dishes in the sink, some laundry that needed to be done. "Looks like you have some cleaning to do, young lady," she said, echoing her mother.
She smiled. "Right after a shower and breakfast."
As she swung her feet to the floor, slipping her toes into her slippers, however, the phone rang. She hoped it wasn't another random call. "Hello?" Laura winced as she realized how groggy her voice sounded.
It didn't help that Bill Adama was a little too observant for his own good. "Sleeping in this morning, Madam President?"
A lopsided grin broke across her features. "Oh, you know...Living on Earth, sleeping until noon, eating chocolates, and watching serials all day," she replied. "I thought I'd let everyone else do all the work."
Far away, Adama chuckled. "Yes, you've lived such an idle life since leaving here." Laura imagined his smile, one that matched her own. "Enjoying the calm before the storm?"
"Something like that. I woke up early this morning, but didn't want to crawl out of bed, so...I picked up Tory's letters and read through them one last time. I wanted to make sure we weren't missing anything." She gave a snort. "Well-informed is well-armed -- or something like that."
"You've been reading up on your strategy," the admiral replied. He sounded both impressed and pleased.
Laura shrugged. "I wanted to know more about what you were doing. I was supposed to be Commander-in-Chief, and I have to admit I didn't know as much as maybe I should have." She paused. "I think that was part of our problem, earlier. I didn't really understand."
"And you do now?"
"Well, I'm not an expert, and I'm certainly no Admiral Adama, but I think I understand a little more now."
A quiet moment passed. "If it's any consolation, I think I understand your point of view a little more now, too, Madam President."
Roslin felt her throat tighten. They had really come a very long way since those first, traumatic days. What the future held was anyone's guess at this point; it would be decided largely by whether or not they survived the assault on New Caprica. And, while she may have had her doubts about Adama then, she knew there was no one else -- save perhaps his son -- she would rather follow into the fight.
Sensing her mood, Adama cleared his throat. "The reason I called..."
"You didn't call just to flirt shamelessly with your former president?"
The admiral chuckled. "No, that's just a perk. I actually called to let you know I've arranged to take a day or two off. I thought it might be a good idea to go into this with a clear head, maybe remind myself where it is we're headed."
"Leaving the kids alone in the house? Is that wise?"
"I think they can manage," he answered, laughing. "Dee's stopping over, going to give Helo a hand."
Laura thought it a bit unusual that the Pegasus XO would be willing to leave her ship and assist the XO of Galactica. She didn't voice her concerns, however; whatever was happening between Lee and Dualla was their business, not hers. "Just couldn't wait to get back into the pilots' seat, hm?"
"Well, I am due for some recertification time..."
"All right. Just be careful. You can't lead the charge from sickbay...or worse, from the clinic here."
"Understood, Madam President. See you soon."
"See you soon."
The line went dead and the former president slowly placed the receiver back into the cradle. Her eyes then turned to take in the apartment around her. While it wasn't exactly a mess, it wasn't what she'd call pristine, either: A few dishes in the sink, some laundry that needed to be done. "Looks like you have some cleaning to do, young lady," she said, echoing her mother.
She smiled. "Right after a shower and breakfast."