Whenever I Fall At Your Feet (Part 2)
Title: Whenever I Fall At Your Feet
Chapter 2
A/U Not my characters/not making money
Rated T
Thank you kastari for making this less of a shambles.
This one must be for Mary's birthday I guess. I'm sure she reads my stuff. *snort*
“You have a nine o’clock appointment with Senator Janssen and a budget meeting with Olivia Nichols at eleven o’clock. And Vance called. Requested a meeting this afternoon.”
“This afternoon? Requested or demanded?”
“Actually I think after your discussions last week, he’s requesting. Called himself. Seemed to be in a most hospitable mood.”
“I wonder if that should worry me. Okay, I’ll play. How about three o’clock this afternoon? But make sure it’s here. I want home ground advantage when I talk to him.”
“Okay. I’ll go and give him a call,” Billy said as he rose to leave her office.
“Billy?” she stopped him before he left. “Do you know what a Husker is? In relation to the military? The Colonial Fleet to be exact.”
Billy frowned. “No, ma’am. I’ve never heard that terminology. Would you like me to find out for you?”
“Oh, no, that’s okay. Thank you, Billy.”
Laura sipped at her coffee. ‘Husker’ had been written on the soldier’s t-shirt and the meaning of the word had been driving her insane ever since. Actually, if she was honest with herself, everything about the man had been driving her insane. She didn’t know him. Didn’t even know his name. Her first conversation with him had been a brief fiery argument. Her second a polite one regarding books. Yet she had spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about him.
She picked up the internal phone.
“Yes, Madam Secretary?” Billy asked politely in her ear.
“I’ve changed my mind. Can you please research what a Husker is?”
*
Bill held the minute piece of wood that would become his new model ship’s chock delicately between the claws of a pair of tweezers. He applied a dab of glue and carefully pressed it down into place before sitting back and studying the overall effect. With each new addition, however small, he reviewed his plans, making sure that he placed the parts in the correct positions. It was a painstakingly slow process but that was why he enjoyed it. He was under no pressure to complete the ship. Only the rare visitor to his Caprican apartment would take the time to admire the finished product. The ship was almost a three dimensional jigsaw that required complete concentration on his part, thus keeping his mind occupied. He didn’t have time to worry about any of his current personal issues.
He had just decided on which piece to insert next when his door bell interrupted his progress.
He wasn’t expecting anyone. That she was standing outside his door took him by surprise.
“Hello, Bill. Are you going to let me in?”
“Of course,” he said, politely moving aside and allowing her entry. “I’m just a bit surprised to see you, that’s all. I didn’t realise you knew I was on shore leave.”
“I spoke to Lee.”
He sighed, removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily. It had taken them nearly two years to be back on civil terms. Telling her he wasn’t in the mood for one of her sermons probably wouldn’t be conducive to keeping the peace.
“You wanna drink? Coffee?”
He wasn’t going to offer anything stronger. He could tolerate his ex-wife only if she wasn’t drinking.
He poured them both a mug. Carolanne accepted the coffee and sat down on the couch.
“How’s Marshall?” he enquired about her new husband.
“He’s fine but you know that’s not what I want to talk about. I want you to help Lee, Bill.”
“The Fleet paid for four years worth of College tuition for Lee. Lee now pays the Fleet back with four years service. It’s a simple arrangement.”
“It’s not that simple, Bill. Lee’s miserable. Every day is a struggle for him.”
“It’s his duty. He has to complete something in his life. He has to follow through and show some responsibility.”
“Bill, Lee doesn’t share your passion. You live for the Fleet. You always have. It’s one of the reasons why we divorced.”
“It’s not the only reason.”
“I know,” she sighed in acknowledgement. “We both made mistakes, I’m not denying that. And I don’t want to bring it all up again. That’s not why I’m here.”
“It’s time Lee stood up. Became a man.”
“There are different types of men, Bill. You’re one type. Lee’s another. And the simple truth is I don’t want to lose him. I’ve already lost one son.”
“The chances of Lee being involved in an accident like Zak are a billion to one.”
“Please Bill. I wasn’t…” she broke off and took a long sip of coffee. “I wasn’t always the best mother. After you left, things….I….,” she paused again. “Before I was diagnosed and put on medication I wasn’t always, um, calm.”
“I’m sure Lee understands now.”
“Maybe. But he certainly hasn’t forgiven me.”
“Hmph. Reminds me of your father.”
She laughed and he remembered why he had fallen in love with her all those years ago.
“Please, Bill. Between the two of us, we frakked up. I just want him to be happy.”
*
After a polite knock, Billy walked into Laura’s office and handed her a plain manila folder.
“The information you wanted, Madam Secretary,” he said. “If there’s nothing else, I think I’ll be leaving for the day.”
She glanced up at the clock and realised for the first time it was almost seven o’clock.
“Of course, Billy. What time’s my first appointment tomorrow?”
“Eleven o’clock, ma’am.”
“Why don’t you come in a bit later then? Ten or so,” she suggested.
With a nod and a smile, Billy left.
She opened the file and was surprised to see a photograph of the man from the library, dressed in a Colonial uniform with several medals adorning his chest, staring back at her. She removed the paper clip from the documents and began reading.
Commander William Adama, she read. Enlisted in the Colonial Fleet during the First Cylon War as a raptor and viper pilot. Call sign - Husker. Received a Commendation for his first mission before taking a leave of absence from the Fleet. Reinstated fifteen years later to the status of Major, he rose through the ranks to become Commanding Officer of the battlestar Valkyrie prior to his current position as Commanding Officer on the battlestar Galactica.
She placed the dossier on her desk and removed her glasses. Husker was his call sign. Adama - a Tauron name. That explained his dark colouring and proud bearing.
Her soldier was a real war hero. Shooting down Cylons the same time as she was learning to walk and talk.
*
“Okay,” he said after returning to the couch after making several phone calls, “Admiral Linden has agreed to let Lee bug out after three more months of service.”
“I know you don’t agree this is a good idea. I only hope one day Lee will thank you for it.”
“Hmph,” he grunted.
“When are you due back on Galactica?”
“I’ve got three more weeks. Then I ship out for six months.”
“What are you doing on Friday?”
“Friday? Nothing why?” he asked cautiously. Ever since their truce, she had been trying to set him up with a variety of her wealthy acquaintances. Never her true friends, he noted with some chagrin, just random women she’d met at one charity event or other.
“Marshall is away on Picon for business and I need a date on Friday and I was wondering if you’d be it?”
“You’re asking me on a date?”
She gave him an impatient look. “It’s not that type of date, Bill. I need someone to escort me. The President and members of the Cabinet are going to be there and I don’t feel comfortable going alone, that’s all.”
“It’s one of Judith’s events, isn’t it?” It disconcerted him how easily he could see through her after all these years. Judith Marcom was Carolanne’s supposed best friend. They both came from similar privileged backgrounds but had, over the years, slipped into the habit of constantly trying to outdo each other in just about every aspect of their lives.
“It’s a charity event, Bill. Black tie. You still own a tuxedo?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” He wondered what type of life she thought he led that he would still possess a tuxedo.
“Oh, well. I suppose you could wear your uniform.”
“That would be the correct protocol.”
“Fine. I’ll pick you up on Friday evening at 1900 hours then,” she said, continuing with the habit of speaking in military time after all these years, before she left.
He sat staring at the empty coffee cups and swore softly to himself. Not only had Carolanne talked him into helping Lee, she’d also wrangled him into escorting her to some sure-to-be boring charity function.
*
Laura stood looking at herself in the mirror for what seemed like the hundredth time. Could she really go to the Charity Ball in this outfit?
She’d spent the last six years blending in at these events -- always quietly standing in the corner with an unassuming manner, transmitting the message that the President would never look twice at the mousy little wallflower who worked with him on the Education portfolio.
The First Lady never suspected.
Contemplating changing her outfit for the evening, the door bell rang. Her escort for the evening had arrived.
Second thoughts dogged her. Maybe inviting him had been a foolish idea. She hoped he wouldn’t read too much into the invitation. She certainly wasn’t on planning on inviting him into her bed. Her wounded pride had gotten the better of good sense when she decided to ask him to join her tonight. Between her appearance and the beefcake beauty that would be hanging on her arm, she was certainly going to metaphorically slap Richard Adar in the face tonight.
*
Bill politely handed Carolanne a glass of non-alcoholic punch and glanced around the room. There seemed little expense spared for the ‘charity’ event.
“There’s the First Lady,” Carolanne said, pointing out the tall blonde woman at the other end of the room.
“Mmm,” Bill answered, completely disinterested.
“There’s the Secretary of Commerce, Charles O’Grady and his wife, June. You remember her, don’t you? She was June Smithers. Went out with Mark Graham for a while.”
“Yeah.” He had no idea who Mark Graham was, let alone June Smithers-O’Grady, but he thought it easier to keep this admission to himself. Carolanne had always failed to notice that he had spent more of his time at these types of gatherings chatting to the bartender than mingling with her many influential friends.
“I don’t think Neil Jones is coming.”
That was at least one name he did recognise - the Secretary of Defense.
“Lucky for him,” he murmured. “You wouldn’t want to be embarrassed when your ex-husband confronted him about his budget cuts.”
Carolanne laughed. “Well, well, well. There’s one cabinet member certain to get some attention tonight.”
He followed her gaze - a woman in a black dress, seemingly conservative at first glance, until she turned around. The woman’s hair hung straight down her back teasingly covering some of the large expanse of white skin being exposed.
“I don’t think she could be wearing underwear in that thing,” Carolanne sniped. “I do like the rose thing though. Very clever.”
An appliqué row of red roses adorned the bodice of the dress, drawing his - and most likely every other male in the room’s - eyes to the faint trace of cleavage that swelled over the top of the dress. Seemingly staking his claim, a young man stood beside the woman, his arm possessively looped around her waist. Bill watched as the man leaned down to whisper something in her ear. She tilted her head and smiled up at him. Bill started in recognition. It was the woman from the library.
“There were a few rumours floating around about her and Adar a while back but it would seem she’s attempting to put them to rest with that young Lothario on her arm.”
“She’s in Adar’s cabinet?” he asked.
“Yes. Laura Roslin. The Secretary of Education.”
“Education?” he repeated. He had been giving advice regarding literature to the Secretary of Education.
Bill couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Link to part 3