Eye of the Beholder: Chapter Four
Title: Eye of the Beholder: Chapter Four
Rating: T
Word Count: 1914
Pairing: Laura/Sam
Disclaimer: don't own them.
Summary: Laura and Sam are there for each other as they each suffer setbacks professionally.
A/N: Much thanks to lanalucy and laura_mayfair for the beta work.
A/N2: First Chapter
“Did you put me to bed last night?”
“Guilty,” he said into the phone.
“Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
I’m not. “Hey. You said you were tired. Full disclosure, right?”
“I wish I had made my bed, at least.”
He chuckled. “It did make it easier to cover you.”
“Maybe, but I have an image to maintain.”
“I’ll never tell.”
She laughed. “And you cleaned.”
“Just straightened. Wanted you to have a clean start today,” he said. “What are you doing today, anyway?”
“I’m officially between jobs. I should be working on my eight-point plan,” she said. “But I have a few months. No need to rush.”
“Why eight points?”
“Ten sounds like too much, and five’s not enough. So we start with eight - my team and I - I have to put together a team. Frak. As we accomplish things, I’ll add more to the list.” She groaned. “I’m reading up on my predecessor now. Not impressed.”
He fought the urge to laugh. This was a lazy day for Laura. “I should let you go, then.”
“Hmm. Actually, I could kill for some coffee. Can we meet?”
He confirmed he was available and ended the call.
///////////////////////////////////////
Laura adjusted well to her appointment as Secretary of Education. She had more power than she’d ever had, but she didn’t let it go to her head. To whom much is given, much is expected, and if her personal standards weren’t enough to keep her “honest,” the press’s scrutiny certainly was.
Her rare press conferences made her appreciate the Press Secretary. They also made her temporarily forget she was a liberal. While she understood the need to sell newspapers and boost ratings, she wished her “story” was about taking charge of education across the Colonies from the ground-up. Instead, it was a combination of speculation about how she was the real woman behind Richard Adar - Denise Adar’s shyness didn’t help the situation - and her relationship with Sam Anders.
She’d dignified neither with a response and continued on her path. Richard had simply chuckled and said, “Well, you did get me elected,” to which she’d demurred, even if that was true.
Sam had also been his typical even-tempered self. “I don’t know, Laura, I’m kind of enjoying reading about us,” he’d said with a wink. She’d smacked his arm, and they’d laughed together. Easy. Comfortable. And not at all like the torrid affair they had allegedly been carrying on.
Aside from her annoyance with the freedom of the press, she enjoyed her work, much more that she’d ever thought she would. Eliminating inefficiency and cronyism was deeply rewarding. She missed working with children - her staff didn’t count - but she could see the big picture, that children everywhere would benefit from her actions. At least that was her hope, and ultimately the only standard by which she assessed her finished tasks.
Then Seacade happened.
She sat at her home office, coffee by her side, and made a list. The phone rang. She answered. “What are you doing?” Sam asked.
Not how, what. “Well, I’m on leave, so not much.”
“I bet you’re making a list.”
She said nothing.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t your fault, you know.”
“Tell that to the press.” She sighed. “It happened under my watch. So…”
“You’re punishing yourself.”
“No. I’m--”
“--Taking an unpaid leave. What’s that?”
“It always annoyed me when political frak ups would take paid leaves. Like no matter what, they’d get their cubits - our cubits. I wasn’t willing to do that.”
“You’re not a frak up.”
“Maybe not, but I’m a politician involved in a scandal. I think the designation is apt,” she said. “What about you? Calling in the middle of the day. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I just...I kind of blew out my ankle--”
“--What!?”
“I’ll be fine. Trainer says to stay off it for a few days. We’ll go from there.”
“I’m coming over.”
“Aren’t you busy plotting worlds domination?”
“I can do that anywhere.”
/////////////////////////////////////
He lay on the couch, his right ankle wrapped in ice and elevated on a pillow. His face wore the determined expression of a man who was clearly fighting pain but didn’t want it to get the best of him. She shook her head. “What did you do to yourself?”
“Hey, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Part of being an athlete.”
She ran her fingers through his hair. “Need anything?”
“Just sit with me.”
She joined him, mindful not to knock into his bad ankle, and rested her head against his chest. He held her. “You okay?” he asked.
She snorted. “I think that’s my line.”
“I’m better now.”
She hmmed. “You know, one of the benefits of ‘working from home’ is nap-time.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, right. Laura Roslin taking a nap.”
“Watch me.” She snuggled closer to him. He rubbed her back in slow, even strokes. She mmed and closed her eyes.
“So what happened?” she asked.
“That didn’t last long,” he said. “I guess there is something you can’t do.”
“I’ll have you know there’s plenty of things I can’t do. And I can nap,” she said. “I just have a bit of an active mind of late.”
“It was nothing. Lost my footing during practice. Ten-point rolled into me and onto my ankle,” he said. “Hurt like a frakker when it happened, but now it’s not so bad.” He rubbed a particularly knotted spot between her shoulders. “So tense. Let Doctor Anders take care of you, Doctor Roslin.”
She laughed.
“My parents wanted me to be a doctor like my dad,” he said. “Oh, if they could see me now.”
“Where are they?”
“They died. I was in school. Our roof collapsed and crushed them.” She gasped. “That’s when I moved to Caprica with my aunt and uncle. They were old and never had children,” he said. “So they spoiled me. I think they felt bad about my parents and moving to a new colony and everything. I heard they have better building codes on Picon now.”
////////////////////////////////////
He’d broken the first rule of pyramid - he’d gotten distracted. Of course, he could blame whoever the genius had been who decided a vidscreen was a good idea on the wall of the auxiliary gym. They’d been practicing like any other day when he caught a glimpse of Laura.
As much as she preferred to remain out of the spotlight, he’d seen her on the news several times since she’d become Secretary of Education. But this time had been different. She’d worn a contrite expression he’d never seen before: Laura rarely apologized for anything. She’d always said it was easier to apologize than to ask for permission, but then she would smile and add it was best not to have to apologize.
He hadn’t been able to hear the broadcast, but he’d read the ticker: “Disgraced Secretary of Education apologizes for Seacade scandal.” Then Ten-Point had barrelled into him, and he’d gone down hard on his ankle.
He groaned.
“Okay?” Laura asked.
“Yeah. I guess it’s just time for more ice.”
“Coming right up.”
“Ever think of changing professions?”
She snorted. “Every day. But somehow I’m not sure I’d be good at this. Even if I did spend a lot of time taking care of my mother.”
She got off the couch. He missed her warmth instantly. She went to the kitchen, and he heard her filling up the bag with ice. Then she was back, wrapping it around his ankle with an Ace Bandage. “Do you need a drink or something?” she asked.
He shrugged. “You hungry? I’m kinda in the mood for Tauron.”
“The sweet or the savory?”
“Both.”
She laughed. “I’ll call. They’ll deliver here, right?”
He nodded. “Then I need your help with something.”
“Anything.”
////////////////////////////////////////
“How’s this feel?” she asked. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” She kneaded his ankle.
“No. It’s good.” He moaned. “Thanks.”
“You’re sure?” It was inflamed and angry looking.
“It’s keeping the circulation going,” he said. “Need that after hours of ice.”
She shook her head. “I think it’s only supposed to be twenty minutes at a time.”
He chuckled. “Good thing you’re here.”
“Hmm.” She focused on the puffy area surrounding the round bone -whatever it was called. Anatomy and Physiology hadn’t been her best class in school. Rote memorization wasn’t really her thing.
“I guess the pain’s not too bad,” she said, smiling to herself. She was enjoying this too.
“Huh?”
“Your friend is saying hello.” She flicked her eyes toward his crotch.
She could almost hear him processing that. Then, “Oh my Gods. I’m sorry, Laura.” He sat up, pulling his ankle out of her grip.
“It’s perfectly natural, I’m sure.” She knew enough about massages to understand that, and was thankful her feelings weren’t so obvious.
“It’s not that. I mean, it is that yeah, but it’s...it’s you.”
“I’m sorry?” Her eyes locked on his, her brow wrinkled in confusion.
“It’s you. You make me feel this way.”
Oh. “I didn’t...I wasn’t aware...since when?” She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. She wished she had pockets on her pants.
“Before we met.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”
He sighed. “When Sandy and I first started hanging out, helping each other with classes, Sandy’s screensaver was you, your family. It was...I don’t know. Fate or something - I could only see you, every time she got her phone out. I think Sandy knew too,” he said. “She kept telling me about you. What you like, your nightmare dates, your job, how you helped her prep for her tests.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
She reached for his hand. “Hey. It’s not...It’s just new. To me, I guess.” Sandy had been his friend. She must have always known he was in love with Laura from afar. And….
Before Sandra and Cheryl had left the party with dad, Sandra had pulled Laura aside. “I found the perfect guy for you.” She’d smiled. “I’ve been grooming him for awhile. You know, since it’s not easy to live with Laura Roslin.”
Laura had giggled. “I’m very easy to live with. As long as everything goes my way.”
Sandy’d rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’ll be in touch.”
“Why go to the trouble for me? Why not just groom him for yourself?”
Sandy’d shrugged. “Maybe it’s old fashioned, but I’d like to see both of my sisters happy and in love before it’s my turn.”
Laura had pulled her into a hug and had kissed her forehead. “Love you, kid. Be good tonight. We’ll talk about this ‘perfect guy’ later.”
“Oh my Gods! You’re the one.”
“What one?”
“The perfect guy for me.” At his confused look she added, “The day before the accident, Sandy told me she’d found someone, the ‘perfect guy’ for me, said she’d been grooming him for a while.” She squeezed his hand. “Must have meant you.”
He grinned. “Not sure about ‘perfect’.”
She smiled. “I am. Not perfect. Just perfect for me.”
He leaned forward. “I’m going to kiss you, okay?”
She giggled. “I’d say it was overdue.”
He pecked her lips and released. She snapped her eyes to his. “Just kidding,” he said. He sat back and crooked his finger. “C’mere.”
This time she took the lead, leaning into him, and she didn’t stop at a peck.
Final Chapter
Rating: T
Word Count: 1914
Pairing: Laura/Sam
Disclaimer: don't own them.
Summary: Laura and Sam are there for each other as they each suffer setbacks professionally.
A/N: Much thanks to lanalucy and laura_mayfair for the beta work.
A/N2: First Chapter
“Did you put me to bed last night?”
“Guilty,” he said into the phone.
“Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
I’m not. “Hey. You said you were tired. Full disclosure, right?”
“I wish I had made my bed, at least.”
He chuckled. “It did make it easier to cover you.”
“Maybe, but I have an image to maintain.”
“I’ll never tell.”
She laughed. “And you cleaned.”
“Just straightened. Wanted you to have a clean start today,” he said. “What are you doing today, anyway?”
“I’m officially between jobs. I should be working on my eight-point plan,” she said. “But I have a few months. No need to rush.”
“Why eight points?”
“Ten sounds like too much, and five’s not enough. So we start with eight - my team and I - I have to put together a team. Frak. As we accomplish things, I’ll add more to the list.” She groaned. “I’m reading up on my predecessor now. Not impressed.”
He fought the urge to laugh. This was a lazy day for Laura. “I should let you go, then.”
“Hmm. Actually, I could kill for some coffee. Can we meet?”
He confirmed he was available and ended the call.
///////////////////////////////////////
Laura adjusted well to her appointment as Secretary of Education. She had more power than she’d ever had, but she didn’t let it go to her head. To whom much is given, much is expected, and if her personal standards weren’t enough to keep her “honest,” the press’s scrutiny certainly was.
Her rare press conferences made her appreciate the Press Secretary. They also made her temporarily forget she was a liberal. While she understood the need to sell newspapers and boost ratings, she wished her “story” was about taking charge of education across the Colonies from the ground-up. Instead, it was a combination of speculation about how she was the real woman behind Richard Adar - Denise Adar’s shyness didn’t help the situation - and her relationship with Sam Anders.
She’d dignified neither with a response and continued on her path. Richard had simply chuckled and said, “Well, you did get me elected,” to which she’d demurred, even if that was true.
Sam had also been his typical even-tempered self. “I don’t know, Laura, I’m kind of enjoying reading about us,” he’d said with a wink. She’d smacked his arm, and they’d laughed together. Easy. Comfortable. And not at all like the torrid affair they had allegedly been carrying on.
Aside from her annoyance with the freedom of the press, she enjoyed her work, much more that she’d ever thought she would. Eliminating inefficiency and cronyism was deeply rewarding. She missed working with children - her staff didn’t count - but she could see the big picture, that children everywhere would benefit from her actions. At least that was her hope, and ultimately the only standard by which she assessed her finished tasks.
Then Seacade happened.
She sat at her home office, coffee by her side, and made a list. The phone rang. She answered. “What are you doing?” Sam asked.
Not how, what. “Well, I’m on leave, so not much.”
“I bet you’re making a list.”
She said nothing.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t your fault, you know.”
“Tell that to the press.” She sighed. “It happened under my watch. So…”
“You’re punishing yourself.”
“No. I’m--”
“--Taking an unpaid leave. What’s that?”
“It always annoyed me when political frak ups would take paid leaves. Like no matter what, they’d get their cubits - our cubits. I wasn’t willing to do that.”
“You’re not a frak up.”
“Maybe not, but I’m a politician involved in a scandal. I think the designation is apt,” she said. “What about you? Calling in the middle of the day. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I just...I kind of blew out my ankle--”
“--What!?”
“I’ll be fine. Trainer says to stay off it for a few days. We’ll go from there.”
“I’m coming over.”
“Aren’t you busy plotting worlds domination?”
“I can do that anywhere.”
/////////////////////////////////////
He lay on the couch, his right ankle wrapped in ice and elevated on a pillow. His face wore the determined expression of a man who was clearly fighting pain but didn’t want it to get the best of him. She shook her head. “What did you do to yourself?”
“Hey, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Part of being an athlete.”
She ran her fingers through his hair. “Need anything?”
“Just sit with me.”
She joined him, mindful not to knock into his bad ankle, and rested her head against his chest. He held her. “You okay?” he asked.
She snorted. “I think that’s my line.”
“I’m better now.”
She hmmed. “You know, one of the benefits of ‘working from home’ is nap-time.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, right. Laura Roslin taking a nap.”
“Watch me.” She snuggled closer to him. He rubbed her back in slow, even strokes. She mmed and closed her eyes.
“So what happened?” she asked.
“That didn’t last long,” he said. “I guess there is something you can’t do.”
“I’ll have you know there’s plenty of things I can’t do. And I can nap,” she said. “I just have a bit of an active mind of late.”
“It was nothing. Lost my footing during practice. Ten-point rolled into me and onto my ankle,” he said. “Hurt like a frakker when it happened, but now it’s not so bad.” He rubbed a particularly knotted spot between her shoulders. “So tense. Let Doctor Anders take care of you, Doctor Roslin.”
She laughed.
“My parents wanted me to be a doctor like my dad,” he said. “Oh, if they could see me now.”
“Where are they?”
“They died. I was in school. Our roof collapsed and crushed them.” She gasped. “That’s when I moved to Caprica with my aunt and uncle. They were old and never had children,” he said. “So they spoiled me. I think they felt bad about my parents and moving to a new colony and everything. I heard they have better building codes on Picon now.”
////////////////////////////////////
He’d broken the first rule of pyramid - he’d gotten distracted. Of course, he could blame whoever the genius had been who decided a vidscreen was a good idea on the wall of the auxiliary gym. They’d been practicing like any other day when he caught a glimpse of Laura.
As much as she preferred to remain out of the spotlight, he’d seen her on the news several times since she’d become Secretary of Education. But this time had been different. She’d worn a contrite expression he’d never seen before: Laura rarely apologized for anything. She’d always said it was easier to apologize than to ask for permission, but then she would smile and add it was best not to have to apologize.
He hadn’t been able to hear the broadcast, but he’d read the ticker: “Disgraced Secretary of Education apologizes for Seacade scandal.” Then Ten-Point had barrelled into him, and he’d gone down hard on his ankle.
He groaned.
“Okay?” Laura asked.
“Yeah. I guess it’s just time for more ice.”
“Coming right up.”
“Ever think of changing professions?”
She snorted. “Every day. But somehow I’m not sure I’d be good at this. Even if I did spend a lot of time taking care of my mother.”
She got off the couch. He missed her warmth instantly. She went to the kitchen, and he heard her filling up the bag with ice. Then she was back, wrapping it around his ankle with an Ace Bandage. “Do you need a drink or something?” she asked.
He shrugged. “You hungry? I’m kinda in the mood for Tauron.”
“The sweet or the savory?”
“Both.”
She laughed. “I’ll call. They’ll deliver here, right?”
He nodded. “Then I need your help with something.”
“Anything.”
////////////////////////////////////////
“How’s this feel?” she asked. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” She kneaded his ankle.
“No. It’s good.” He moaned. “Thanks.”
“You’re sure?” It was inflamed and angry looking.
“It’s keeping the circulation going,” he said. “Need that after hours of ice.”
She shook her head. “I think it’s only supposed to be twenty minutes at a time.”
He chuckled. “Good thing you’re here.”
“Hmm.” She focused on the puffy area surrounding the round bone -whatever it was called. Anatomy and Physiology hadn’t been her best class in school. Rote memorization wasn’t really her thing.
“I guess the pain’s not too bad,” she said, smiling to herself. She was enjoying this too.
“Huh?”
“Your friend is saying hello.” She flicked her eyes toward his crotch.
She could almost hear him processing that. Then, “Oh my Gods. I’m sorry, Laura.” He sat up, pulling his ankle out of her grip.
“It’s perfectly natural, I’m sure.” She knew enough about massages to understand that, and was thankful her feelings weren’t so obvious.
“It’s not that. I mean, it is that yeah, but it’s...it’s you.”
“I’m sorry?” Her eyes locked on his, her brow wrinkled in confusion.
“It’s you. You make me feel this way.”
Oh. “I didn’t...I wasn’t aware...since when?” She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. She wished she had pockets on her pants.
“Before we met.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”
He sighed. “When Sandy and I first started hanging out, helping each other with classes, Sandy’s screensaver was you, your family. It was...I don’t know. Fate or something - I could only see you, every time she got her phone out. I think Sandy knew too,” he said. “She kept telling me about you. What you like, your nightmare dates, your job, how you helped her prep for her tests.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
She reached for his hand. “Hey. It’s not...It’s just new. To me, I guess.” Sandy had been his friend. She must have always known he was in love with Laura from afar. And….
Before Sandra and Cheryl had left the party with dad, Sandra had pulled Laura aside. “I found the perfect guy for you.” She’d smiled. “I’ve been grooming him for awhile. You know, since it’s not easy to live with Laura Roslin.”
Laura had giggled. “I’m very easy to live with. As long as everything goes my way.”
Sandy’d rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’ll be in touch.”
“Why go to the trouble for me? Why not just groom him for yourself?”
Sandy’d shrugged. “Maybe it’s old fashioned, but I’d like to see both of my sisters happy and in love before it’s my turn.”
Laura had pulled her into a hug and had kissed her forehead. “Love you, kid. Be good tonight. We’ll talk about this ‘perfect guy’ later.”
“Oh my Gods! You’re the one.”
“What one?”
“The perfect guy for me.” At his confused look she added, “The day before the accident, Sandy told me she’d found someone, the ‘perfect guy’ for me, said she’d been grooming him for a while.” She squeezed his hand. “Must have meant you.”
He grinned. “Not sure about ‘perfect’.”
She smiled. “I am. Not perfect. Just perfect for me.”
He leaned forward. “I’m going to kiss you, okay?”
She giggled. “I’d say it was overdue.”
He pecked her lips and released. She snapped her eyes to his. “Just kidding,” he said. He sat back and crooked his finger. “C’mere.”
This time she took the lead, leaning into him, and she didn’t stop at a peck.
Final Chapter