Word Count: 3,490
Date: 02/09/05
Series: One
Rating: M
Category: Relationships
Pairing/Focus: Lee, Laura
Warnings: adult situations
Summary: This is an answer to Karli’s “Caught Challenge”
on the LauraRoslinLeeAdama board, where 1) Someone, preferably Adama, must catch
Laura/Lee in the act, 2) Must include the phrase ,'I didn't know you were double
jointed!", 3) Whipped cream and 4) Someone saying, "I've never seen
that before.
Spoilers/Disclaimers: I don't own `em, I'm just using
them.
“Excuse me, Captain Adama,” Billy said tentatively. “Can I speak with you a minute?”
Lee turned to look at the President’s aide and nearly laughed at how completely out-of-place he looked standing in the hangar bay.
“Sure, Billy. What’s up?”
Shifting his omnipresent notebook from hand-to-hand, Billy cleared his throat. “Well, um, when I was assigned to Secretary Roslin for the trip to Galactica on –“ He paused. “Well, you know, on the day, I read her bio, you know, to know something about her before I met her.”
Lee nodded, not sure where this was going, but intrigued at the idea of reading Laura’s bio. Even though they talked quite a bit, there was still so much about her that he wanted to know but didn’t.
“With everything that’s been going on over the past several weeks, I hadn’t had a chance to think about it until looked at my calendar for today.”
“And?”
“It’s her birthday.”
Lee’s eyebrows rose. “Today is the President’s birthday?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. She hasn’t mentioned it at all.”
Apollo nodded. “She wouldn’t. She wouldn’t want anyone to make a fuss about it.”
“No,” the younger man agreed, then began again uneasily, “but maybe ... considering the circumstances ... we should do something for her.”
Lee looked at Billy with narrowed eyes and suddenly it dawned on him. “You know, don’t you, Billy?” he asked softly.
Billy’s eyes looked sad. “Yes, sir. I guessed that she might tell you ... I know that you’re close.”
Apollo nodded and looked away, his eyes unfocussed. Inwardly, he was still reeling. Cancer. He remembered the look in her eyes when she told him. Just for a moment, she’d let the tightly controlled guards down and he’d seen the raw, naked fear. And just as quickly, the walls had gone back up and she was charming him again with an adorable smile and the nickname that somehow sounded intimate to him coming from her lips.
He’d wanted to kiss her then, as she sat in her pretty blue robe talking about how she was probably going to die. Not to pity her or even to comfort her. But because she was beautiful and he was drawn to the wisdom in her eyes, the kindness in her soul and the courage in her heart.
“Captain?”
Billy’s voice pulled Lee from his thoughts. “Yes,” he said. “Yes. We should do something for her birthday. Leave the arrangements to me.”
**
Lee looked around him and had to laugh at how things had turned out. The mess was decorated with just about anything they could get their hands on: strips of colored paper, stray ornaments, even cans hanging from strings. There was a makeshift banner made out of notebook paper strung across the back half of the room that read “Happy B-Day Pres Laura.” Apollo smiled. Very obviously Starbuck’s doing.
His eyes sought her blonde head out in the gathering crowd of CIC staff and pilots who had come for the party. She was laughing with Socinus about something, Lee couldn’t really hear. Suddenly, she let out a loud squawk and exclaimed, “Hell, I didn’t know you were double-jointed!” Lee decided he didn’t want any part of that conversation.
Instead, his thoughts turned to the President. He hoped that she wouldn’t be put out about the party. He’d tried hard to keep it small, with only the command staff in attendance. But word has leaked and some of the pilots had asked to come. And then some of Tyrol’s staff and then the pilot of Colonial One (who Lee suspected was more than a little smitten with the President) ... it had gotten a little out of hand and had to be moved to the mess. But Lee couldn’t really be totally unhappy about how things had gone. Everyone had chipped in on the work to get things ready and somebody, amazingly, had come up with a can of whipped cream. They even had a couple of candles.
He only hoped she liked it.
**
“Billy,” Laura said plaintively. “Why did Commander Adama want me to meet him in the mess? I’ve got reports to go over.” She walked rapidly as was her custom and pushed her glasses up further on her nose.
“I’m not sure, Madame President,” Billy lied. “The commander just asked me to get you.”
Laura frowned and rounded the corner with much annoyance. “Insufferable,” she muttered under her breath. She was really getting tired of that arrogant bastard Adama thinking he could summon her at his slightest whim. She had a government to run but most of the “running” she seemed to be doing lately was through the halls of Galactica because the great Adama had beckoned.
She reached the closed door to the mess and didn’t even wait for Billy to open it for her. Still muttering curses under her breath, she swung the door open and froze.
“Happy Birthday!!”
Stunned, the President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol stood in the doorway, her mouth agape.
The room was full of people, Galactica crew and some civilians, all clapping and smiling at her. Movement caught her eye and she saw Captain Apollo approaching her with a grin on his face.
“Happy birthday, Madame President,” he said charmingly. He looked slightly uncertain for a second, then leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “I hope you don’t mind,” he said when he leaned back, waving his hand around, indicating the party and the wacky “decorations” that made Laura smile.
“No,” she breathed, managing a smile as her stomach flipped at the fact that Lee had kissed her – even on the cheek – in front of the entire assembled group that included his father. “I’m – I’m speechless.” She allowed him to bring her fully into the room with a hand on her elbow. “Thank you, everyone.” She pulled her glasses off and smiled at them all. “How did you know?”
“Billy,” Apollo said, nodding at the young man behind the President.
She turned and mock-scowled at her assistant. He only grinned at her and following Apollo’s lead, bent down and kissed her cheek.
“Happy birthday, Madame President.”
“Thank you, Billy,” she said sincerely.
“Hey, happy birthday, ma’am,” Starbuck said and with her usual exuberance, she threw her arms around the older woman.
Laura laughed and returned the hug. And it went on like that for a few minutes, with various members of the crew and even her own pilot (blushing furiously) giving her hugs and kisses.
She heard a little grumble beside her and turned to see an uncomfortable-looking Commander Adama standing before her. She fought the urge to laugh. He seemed as out-of-sorts as she had ever seen him. In fact, she was surprised he was even there, to be honest. He didn’t really like her, she knew. He barely tolerated her presence and her authority. She supposed that his coming to wish her well was a step of sorts, so she decided to let him off the hook and put out her hand for him to shake so that he wouldn’t have to feel obligated to follow suit and kiss or hug her.
Except that Laura was forever misjudging Adama and she was shocked speechless for the second time in less than ten minutes when he did lean in and kiss her almost affectionately on the forehead.
“Happy birthday, Madame President,” Adama told her, clearly pleased that he had turned her perception of him on its ear once again.
Laura blinked at him. “Uh, thank you, Commander.” Shaking her head, she turned and looked back at the assembled group.
They were all still smiling at her and Laura was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by the display.
Sensing this, Apollo stepped forward and directed her attention to the table near the center of the room. Guiding her over, he grinned as she registered what was there.
“Whipped cream!” she laughed.
“No cake, sorry,” Apollo told her. “But we thought this would be the next best thing.”
Starbuck had lit the two candles and was trying to get them to stand upright in the bowl of whipped cream without burning her fingers. She finally got them to lean against the edge.
“Ok, Madame President,” she said. “Make your wish.”
Laura laughed again and closed her eyes. She was so touched by what they’d done for her. To celebrate her birthday in the middle of everything, that they even cared was incredibly humbling. She thought that she should wish that they’d all find somewhere safe to put down and live in peace. She thought that she should wish that none of this horror of the Cylons had ever happened. She thought she should wish them all happy, long lives and lots of children.
But what came to her, the sincerest wish of her heart, was for another birthday.
Fat tears seeped from under her closed lids and down her cheeks and remotely, she heard the sob that escaped her lips. Knowing that she was going to crumple and soon, and not wishing to do it so publicly, President Roslin turned and fled the room.
Concerned, Apollo ran after her.
“Wow,” Cally said blinking widely. “I’ve never seen that before.”
“Seen what?” Gaeta asked her, puzzled as was everyone by the President’s behavior.
“Someone cry at their own birthday party.” She thought for a minute. “It’s kind of sad, don’t you think?”
Gaeta didn’t reply.
Shaking badly, Laura nearly stumbled into the empty officer’s lounge. She leaned forward with her hands on a table and cried.This was how Apollo found her when he entered the room a moment later. He quietly closed the door behind him.
She turned slightly and sniffed. “Captain Apollo,” her voice trembled with raw emotion, “May I have a moment alone please?”
Lee shook his head. “I’m sorry but no,” he told her. She turned to look at him. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I’m not going to leave you to cry alone.”
“I don’t want your pity,” she said softly as she turned her back on him once more.
“And you won’t get it,” he told her. He walked up behind her and reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. “I guess the party was a bad idea,” he began. “Billy and I wanted to do something special for your birthday-“
“Because you both know that it’s going to be my last one,” she said hollowly. “See, there’s that pity, Captain.”
“Madame President –“
“I never should have told you,” she said, turning to look at him fully. “I didn’t do it to have you look at me like you are right now.”
Lee frowned. “What are you talking about? I don’t pity you –“
“Liar.”
“Would you let me finish a sentence?” Lee said in frustration.
“No,” she told him. “I won’t because we’re done here, Captain. Leave me alone.”
“No.”
She turned away from him again. “Please just go.”
“No.” He heard her sigh heavily at his defiance. “I don’t look at you with pity,” he told her honestly. Lee considered, then decided that maybe this was what she needed right now to ground her. Honesty, utter and complete. “Sometimes, I wish that was what I felt when I look at you.”
Laura froze, then turned slowly to look at him. Her eyes and cheeks were still wet with tears. “What?”
Lee came towards her slowly. “When I look at you, I feel happy,” he told her softly. “When I look at you, I feel proud. When I look at you, I feel my stomach flutter because you’re so damned beautiful.” He reached out and tucked her long dark hair behind her ear. “When I look at you, I want to hold you in my arms and never let go.” He caressed her cheek, staring into her surprised eyes. “When I look at you, I want to kiss you so bad it hurts.” He pulled her unresisting body to his and threaded his hand through her hair to cup the back of her head. He stared down at her quivering lips. “When I look at you,” Lee whispered, “I want to hear you scream my name.”
His mouth captured hers and for a second she didn’t respond. But then she came alive in his arms, her mouth opening and her tongue coming out to meet his. She held on to him tightly and Apollo wound his arm around her tiny waist, pulling her lower body against his. She gasped and broke the kiss.
“Not pity,” Laura murmured against his lips.
Lee dropped both hands to her backside and pressed her hips more firmly against his own. “Does it feel like it?”
Amazingly, she laughed. “No.” She gasped as he kissed her jaw and worked his way down her neck.
“I want you, Laura,” he murmured and pulled her thigh up over his. “I want to taste every inch of you.” She sighed, her head thrown back and his hand rode up her thigh, under her skirt, his face buried in her neck.
And that was how Adama and Starbuck found them when they opened the door.
**
Laura’s eyes flew open and she stiffened in Apollo’s arms. Lee froze as well.
“It’s my father, isn’t it?” he asked against her throat.
Noting Adama’s fury as he quietly closed the door behind him and Starbuck, she said, “Uh-yeah.”
“Frack,” Lee muttered and started to disengage himself from the President’s arms. First, he removed his hand from under her skirt and smoothed it down chastely as she lowered her leg. He looked up into her eyes, their noses nearly touching, before he stepped back. He wanted her to know that he didn’t regret kissing her.
He saw her swallow before she turned to face his father, dignified despite the fact that her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. Lee found that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“How long has this been going on?” Adama demanded.
The President cleared her throat. “I don’t believe we owe you an explanation for what is a private matter, Commander,” she said coolly.
“A private matter?!” Adama bellowed, making Starbuck jump beside him. “Fraternization –“
“Is not an issue,” the President told him flatly. “We’ve already discussed the need to remove those restrictions and you know it.”
“Is that why you were pushing so hard?” he demanded to know. “So that you’d be clear to hit the sheets with Lee? You’ve got some balls, lady, using my son to scratch your itch.”
“Now wait one damned minute!” Lee yelled angrily. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I made the first move on her. And since you’re so addicted to the rules, lower your voice and show some respect when you speak to her. She’s the President.”
His father’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t seem to be thinking of her as the President a minute ago when you had your hand up her damned skirt!”
Lee was ready to tear into his father, when Starbuck stepped up and moved between them. “Whoa, hey, guys. C’mon, let’s calm down here,” she said looking back and forth between the two.
Everyone was silent for a long moment. Lee was staring at his father furiously. Adama, for his part, was leveling equal ire at everyone in the room, but especially Roslin.
“Whatever is between you, end it,” the commander told her.
“And now who has the balls?” Laura said icily. “This is a personal matter and you have no say in it, period.”
He took a step towards her, pointing finger in her face. “I have a say when it involves my son –“
“Your grown son,” she interrupted. “Lee’s an adult, why don’t you start treating him like one?”
“You don’t know anything about –“
“I know that he’s a man, Commander. Something you’ve seemed to have forgotten.”
Adama stared at Roslin, hating her with everything in him. He wanted to hit her in that moment and every line in his body telegraphed it. Both Lee and Starbuck moved to restrain him, knowing that if it went that far, Adama would find himself up on treason charges and facing possible execution.
“Do it,” the President said coldly, her eyes flashing. “Do it so that I can give Tigh a promotion.”
The commander stared at her for a long moment then shrugged off the pilots’ hands and took three steps away from the President.
“I’m not stupid,” he groused. “But take a long look at what you’re sleeping with, Lee.”
Apollo sighed heavily. “Dad, I’m not sleeping with her.”
Adama’s head popped up in shock. “But –“
Lee exchanged a pained look with Laura then said, “What I mean is that it hasn’t gotten that far ... yet. I hadn’t touched her until five minutes before you walked in the door.”
The commander looked relieved. “So you’re not ...”
“No. But not for lack of wanting,” Lee added, his eyes drifting back to Laura. “And I want her, more than I thought I could.”
“But it hasn’t gotten so far out of hand that you can’t back out of this, Lee,” his father told him, ignoring his words. “Just stay away from her from now on.”
When Lee would have objected to this thought, Laura’s voice stopped him.
“He’s right, Lee,” she said quietly. She crossed both arms in front of her defensively. “We can just chalk this up to ... tea and sympathy and leave it at that.”
He stared at her, not believing his ears. “Is that what you want?” he asked, his voice conveying his hurt.
Her eyes dropped, unable to look at him. “It doesn’t matter what I want,” she whispered. “Or what I wish for.”
“It matters to me.” Lee told her and not caring what his father’s reaction would be, he pulled her to him and kissed the frown from her mouth. “I know what I want, Laura,” he told her. “If he doesn’t like, then frack him.” He turned to look back at his father and added, “I’ve chosen my side.”
Adama regarded his son coldly, then left the room without a word further.
Lee turned to Starbuck. “So are you going to start now, too?”
She shook her head, hands up. “Nope. Not me,” she said. “I don’t care who you sleep with.” Her eyes turned mischievous. “Although, I am a little surprised you scored as high as the President.”
Lee laughed. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Starbuck said, then her look turned serious. “You are going to have to talk to him, though, Lee. Once he cools down and adjusts to the idea of it.”
Apollo sighed and pulled Laura fully into his arms, needing to feel close to her. He buried his face in her hair.
“Ooo-kay,” Starbuck said with a grin. “Um, you guys do remember there’s still a birthday party?”
Pulling back as much as Lee would let her, Laura managed an embarrassed smile. “Uh, of course, Lieutenant. Um, can you tell everyone I’ll be back in a few minutes?”
“Sure thing, Madame President.” Starbuck opened the door and turned to leave. Before she did, though, she poked her head back into the room. “You know, there’s a little more whipped cream left ... in case you two need it ... later.” Before either of them could say a word, she was gone with a giggle.
Laura leaned in and kissed Lee softly on the lips. “Are you ok?”
He sighed and smiled at her. “Yeah, I am. Starbuck’s right. He’ll get over it.” He frowned at her. “Stay away from him for a while, though. I thought he was going to-‘”
“Captain Apollo?” she interrupted.
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to talk about your father anymore,” she murmured, her lips finding his again.
He let her kiss him thoroughly again, her tongue doing things that made him shake with need. He pulled back with a gasp. “Your party.”
She looked disappointed. “Yeah, I know.”
They stepped away from each other, using the distance to cool things down. After a few minutes, they left the lounge and headed back down the corridor.
“Madame President?”
“Yes, Captain Apollo?”
“Are you having a nice birthday?”
She gave him a smile that made him want to take her right there in the corridor.
“One of the best, Captain Apollo. One of the best.”
*
The End.
*
HeHe’