Word Count: 1,074
Date: 2004
Series: PreMini
Rating: M
Category: Character
Pairing/Focus: Laura
Warnings:
Summary: She loved him, but she didn’t really need him.
Spoilers/Disclaimers:
“I just don’t understand what a handsome man like President Adar sees in her! She’s so frumpy and prim. I’ll bet if she even gives him any, it’s once a month and missionary only,” a woman’s voice said nastily.
“Well I’ve heard that their relationship is completely one-sided. She’s madly in love with him and he feels sorry for her, so he spends time with her,” a second woman replied, her tone cool.
Roslin, who had decided to make a quick detour to the break room in her suite of offices, froze, just outside the door upon hearing the comments of the two women. Heat rose in her face and her stomach dropped. Is there anyone in either of our offices that doesn’t know about us?
She wanted to storm into the room and snatch both women bald for the hateful gossip they were exchanging, for spreading rumors about things they couldn’t begin to understand. She wanted to scream at them that the person they saw was only a fraction of who she really was. But rather than make a scene and give them more grist for the gossip mill, she silently walked away, buying a soda instead.
Locking herself in her office, she sank into her swivel chair, dropping her head back to stare at the ceiling. She didn’t understand why the gossip bothered her; she was not ashamed of her relationship with Adar, quite the contrary, but the oftentimes hurtful words that always seemed to make their way back to her.
She opened a desk drawer and pulled out her personal wireless phone, dialing a number she had memorized years before. She waited impatiently, drumming her fingers on the desktop, staring at the photograph of the two of them at the Colonial Gala Ball the previous year. At the sound of his voice, she relaxed visibly and a smile curved her lips. She slouched, resting low on her spine, propping her feet up on her desk.
“Hello there,” she said huskily.
“Hi yourself. Is everything OK?”
Laura closed her eyes at the concern in his tone; she rarely called him this way during the day. “I’m fine, I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“What are they saying this time?”
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“How do you read me like a book?”
“Laur, we’ve been together for ten years. You have no mystery left,” he chuckled.
“Wow, you’re such a charmer.”
“Don’t try to change the subject. What’s the word this time? I certainly it’s more creative than the last few stories have been.”
“Actually, this is a little more hateful than usual. I got, “What’s a hot guy like Adar doing with a prissy spinster like her? If he gets any, it’s once a month and missionary only.” Oh, and I can’t forget, “Their relationship is completely one-sided; she’s madly in love with him and he pities her, so he spends time with her,” said of course, in that snotty, self-important tone that makes me wanna slap the taste out of their mouths.”
“You’re taking this so well.”
“I walked away.”
“Frak ‘em, Laura. If they knew the real you, they’d cower at your strength, your intelligence, your kindness and your passion. And I’m not just talking about passion between the sheets.”
“Very funny.”
“I’m not kidding.”
“You’d better behave yourself, buddy. Otherwise, tonight won’t go according to plan,” she warned with mock severity.
“Uh huh. If I recall, it wasn’t me pushing you against the door and-”
Roslin interrupted, “Hey! You promised not to bring that up any more. Besides, what must your cronies be thinking after hearing your end of the conversation?”
“Actually, I’m alone. I’ve had five whole minutes to myself. And counting!”
“Ooh, lucky you! This must be some kind of record!” she chuckled.
“It is,” he paused, growing serious again, “So, are you going to tell me why you really called me or do I have to guess?”
“Can’t I just need to hear the sound of your voice?”
“You’ve never needed anyone to prop you up, Laur, it’s not in your nature. You’re the strongest, most self-reliant person I’ve ever known. After I first met you, it was the second thing I noticed about you.”
“Not always,” she murmured. She asked curiously, “What was the first thing you noticed?”
“How beautiful you were and still are. Your eyes, your smile, they still bring me to my knees.”
“You’re just saying that so you can get some tonight.”
“Honey, I don’t have to try and charm you. You’re the one who can’t wait until we get inside the house,” he laughed.
“Hey, I wasn’t kidding!”
“Uh huh, I’ll take my chances.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“I’ll meet you at your place tonight.”
“What time are you able to get away?”
“I’m ditching my security detail at six sharp.” He spoke matter-of-factly, as if they were discussing the weather and not his potentially dangerous and childish stunt of ditching the security that stood between him and disaster.
“You really are terrible.”
It bothered her that he went to such lengths to protect her privacy. He didn’t want their affair made public; not because it could destroy them both, but because he didn’t want her to feel pressured or embarrassed. He was aware of her fear of commitment and intimacy, given her past, it was understandable.
“I do these things because you make me.”
“Bull shit.”
“Well, it sounds better than ‘you make me feel like a sixteen year old kid who’s got his first taste of love,’ doesn’t it?” “Actually, I like that one better. It makes me look less guilty,” she laughed, “So I’ll see you around six. I’ll order in.”
“Just be sure it’s reheatable.”
“Of course. Just to be on the safe side.”
“I love you, Laur.”
“Love you too.”
As she disconnected, a smile on her face, she realized for the first time, that although she loved him, she didn’t really need him; she didn’t need him to define who she was, or to bring her happiness. She had done those things on her own. His love was just an added bonus.
The End