Word Count:
Date: 4/14/04
Series: Pre Mini-Series
Rating: T
Category: Relationships
Pairing: Roslin/Adar, Roslin/Grey
Warnings: none
Summary: not provided
Spoilers/Disclaimers: Nada! I don't own anyone (except Penny)!
A/N: Well, it's been a while! Big thanks to Heather for doing the beta thing for me, girl, you rock!
Adar’s hand grips her arm when the results are announced. She finds it endearing, that despite his self-governing nature, he reaches for her in that moment. He holds onto her so tightly that his finger marks remain on her skin for at least a half-hour after he wins Virgon in the sweeps.
The campaign theme song is blaring from a stereo and she does her little dance routine with Grey, everyone’s so happy. She’s been circulating the room all night; sipping wine, joining conversations and dancing but she really wants to be alone with him. But Adar is married, even if he and Moira are on skid row heading for divorce. All she can do is stand back and watch him crash, but she doesn’t want to be the rebound girl, doesn’t want him to be thinking of Moira as he kisses her.
They had put their university affair behind them when he got married, but then he showed-up at her door ten years later and convinced her that joining his mayoral campaign was her fate, not working as a schoolteacher. He had charmed her again, and she had fallen for it again.
They were friends, but as the years working together grew, the lingering looks began. The moments of tension when they’re alone and Laura isn’t sure when this change occurred, she only knows that it has, because lately, she’s noticed something in Adar’s eye when he looks at her, a gleam, a flicker that wasn’t there before. He’s amused by her, she knows but sometimes it feels like a symptom of something else, like his amusement is just a strand of what he really feels, of what is to come. But she doesn’t want to wait, doesn’t want to waste more years on what could be a false hope.
Grey races up to her and wraps his arms around her waist and lifts her clean off the ground. “We did it, Laura Jane Roslin!” he exclaims ecstatically. And she thinks Grey saves the special occasions to use her full name. She likes it.
Grey’s arms are still around her when Adar grins at her from across the room and she wonders how he holds Moira.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Adar mouths.
She nods, feeling the warmth of his words wash over her.
Later, she’s leaning against the wall by the bar and doubts if any one will notice if she sneaks out and has a cigarette. She’s trying to cut down, but she thinks breast cancer will get her before lung cancer. She sets down her drink and moves to the open door leading out in to the garden.
The night sky is lit with stars and she shivers as she lights a cigarette. From outside, the music sounds tinny and the collection of raised voices lingers in the air. She enjoys the moment, knowing that tomorrow is when the hard work really begins. Tomorrow they pick-up the campaign on Sagitara.
She moves towards a garden chair and sits, her knees touching, her ankles spread wide, she rests her elbows on her knees, leaning forward. The plastic of the chair is cold and goosebumps rise on her arms.
“Got a spare?”
She turns to see Grey hovering beside her. He grins a lop-sided cocky smirk.
“Sure,” she replies and holds out the packet.
He takes one with exaggerated slowness and she knows he’s attempting to seduce her again. He tried to kiss her at the Keaton benefit a week ago, but she pushed him away and has managed to avoid his advances since.
“Thanks,” he eyes her legs, which are sleek and shiny in the moonlight.
She can smell the alcohol on Grey as he crouches beside her and takes a puff of the cigarette. “So, you coming back to the hotel? We’re going to party all night!” he says.
She looks at him. “I think I’ll stick around for a while,” she replies, wondering why he doesn’t make a pass at Penny, who has the biggest crush on him and spends most of her days vying for his attention.
Grey nods, stands, takes one last drag, throws the cigarette to the ground and stomps it out. He turns and leaves, brushing past Adar.
Adar steps into the garden, sometimes when he sees Laura with other men, he wants to kiss her – just to make sure he’s not in any danger of losing her. Then he thinks he’s an ass. He should just let her be, but there’s something about her, something that keeps calling to him and he wishes he could let her go, let her have a life with someone who can make her happy.
But then he thinks of all the reasons he can’t, all the things he’ll never tell her. Like the way she giggles at the newspaper funnies when she thinks no one is watching; her laugh resonating like blood through his veins. The way her intentions are always good. That when a situation is impossible, she still tries. That she always goes down fighting. How, when they argue, her cheeks flush with irritation and he knows he gets to her, the way she gets to him. The way she makes him want her. The way she makes him want to be a better person. That he wishes he had married her and not Moira. That he has, and always will be, captivated by her.
Roslin lights another cigarette, then hears footsteps behind her. “Wally, I’m not gonna frak you, so just - ” She turns to see Adar. “Oh – sorry,” she says quickly.
“No… I’m sorry – I just… this was a bad idea,” he mutters, obviously uncomfortable.
He turns to leave.
“Don’t go,” she calls out.
He stops and turns to face her, his eyes are intense; he almost looks as if he hates her. “If you’re preoccupied with Wally…” he begins.
She laughs: he’s jealous, even if he has no right to be. “Wally is sweet… that’s all,” she corrects and draws herself to her full height.
She moves slowly towards Adar, his shoulders slouch at her approach.
He inhales deeply and she knows he’s thinking of the taste of her lips, the smell of her hair, the feel of her body pressed against his. She knows because she’s thinking of it too. He takes a step closer to her; his fingertips find her skin and trace the length of her bare arm.
“Adar,” she whispers, feeling his hand halt and she knows he will make love to her if she asks him to.
Penny appears in the doorway. “Sir! There’s a bunch of press outside, they want an interview and photo op with you and your wife!” she calls out, then retreats back inside.
Adar’s hand drops from Laura’s arm and he draws away from her awkwardly; and the moment is lost. He gives her a sad half-smile and disappears back into the house. Laura looks up at the stars; timing never was their forte.
~The End~