Word Count: 11,735
Date: 2004
Series:
Rating: T
Category: Relationships
Pairing/Focus: Kara / Zak / Lee
Warnings:
Summary:
Spoilers/Disclaimers: PreMini /
Kara closed the door behind her. She never thought she would be happy to see the dingy little apartment, but given the past several days... it was a very welcome sight. She had two days before she had to rendezvous with the Callahandra for the solo flights. She was glad that she had been able to extend her leave a few extra days; she really didn't want to run into Zak at the moment. She didn't look forward to telling him that he wasn't going to solo with his class...
She shook her head. She would deal with that when the time came. Right now, she had plans.... plans that involved dinner and the bottle of aged ambrosia she had tucked away. Looking around the tiny space, she realized that cooking wasn't really an option... She only stayed here when she was planet side, so there wasn't much more here than a bed, locker and some clothes. Since she had taken the assignment of Academy Flight Instructor, she hadn't needed much else. With a shrug, she decided that Lee would have to settle for takeout.
She hoped Carrie had gotten the note she had left on her apartment door. Damn that girl had been hard to track down, but she had found her apartment eventually. Now, she just hoped she would show up. Carrie definitely deserved the ambrosia.
Kara went over to the locker and took out the dog tags that she had left behind several days before. She slipped them on, then took out a pair of faded jeans and tossed them on the bed. she pulled a t-shirt out from the top of her locker, it was the same one she had placed her dog tags on when she had left... for a moment she contemplated putting it back in the locker, then tossed it onto the bed with the jeans. "Can't very well give someone a hard time about taking chances if I don't take a few myself..." she said to herself. She called up her favorite restaurant and arranged for dinner to be delivered in an hour, and headed off to the shower.
Carrie headed towards her apartment door and noticed a note form Kara. Something about ambrosia and dinner in an hour…
"Frak!" Carrie yelled a little too loudly, rushing into her apartment showering and changing, chilling out a little when it came time to dry her hair.
Today had been bad. The 'sorry I couldn't call babe, but I was too busy trying not to get killed' talk with her boyfriend had collapsed...so had their relationship. Oh well.
She hurried over to Kara's and knocked the door hoping she wasn't too late.
Apollo noticed Carrie from down the hall on his approach to Kara's apartment. "Carrie; how are you? These flowers are for you. The others are for Kara." Apollo pulled out 2 bunches of wrapped roses from under his trench coat. "This is just a small way of saying thank you for saving my hide. I would have liked to have chatted with you about the mission before you returned. I gather you were contacted and debriefed I know they're not too happy when missions go awry."
When Lee had suddenly whipped out flowers Carrie tried to hold back a smirk.
"Thanks but shouldn't we be getting them for you...'Captive'? You really should work on the whole 'getting caught by the enemy thing' y'know!
Apollo smiles "Good - One Carrie."
Just then the door swung there stood Kara half dressed, and obviously half frazzled.
Frak! If one more thing went wrong tonight she was going to punch someone! First there had been no frakkin hot water... a cold shower was not something she had been planning on, at least not until much later…
Then, when he had gone to put her jeans on, she had discovered they were ripped. She couldn’t quite remember how, since it had been ages since she wore them. They did, however, provide a suitable outlet for her frustration... Thank the Lords the weather was warm, since they were now considerably shorter. Of course, she had realized too late that they were the only jeans she had that were clean... It really wasn't her fault she hadn't had time to do laundry before she left... it had just slipped her mind.
She had just finished trimming the legs on the jeans so they didn't look like they had been torn off, when there was a knock at the door. "That had better be dinner" she muttered to herself... "It was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago..."
She was glad that the T-shirt was long enough to be decent, because when she opened the door, there stood Carrie and Lee. Lords, Lee was never going to let her live this down.
When Kara had opened the door the smirk forced its way out and Carrie shook her head.
"Started the party without us?"
"Hey guys... come on in. It's been one of those days..." she said as she walked back across the one room apartment, grabbed the cutoffs and slipped them on quickly... "Dinner should be here any minute."
She pulled two medium sized bottles from her coat pockets and held them up. "Dunno about you but I plan on getting frakked out of my head..."
Apollo and Carrie enter the apartment. Apollo having been here several times gestures to Carrie "Can I take your coat?"
Apollo places both coats in the closet, and sits himself down on the couch. "Golden rule eh, Kara...."he smirked, then turned to Carrie "What happens here stays here. No Rank tonight."
Kara grins at Lee. "Gotta love that golden rule..." With a wink, she walked over to the lock box beneath her bed. From inside, she pulls out a heavy crystal bottle filled with a dark golden liquid. "Been saving this since graduation...” She grinned at Lee, who at one time had an identical bottle. “Waiting for just the right moment… All things considered... I think we've earned it..."
She walked to the cupboard and took out three glass canning jars. "Careful with the glasses, they cost me a fortune..." she said with a playful smirk.
She opened the bottle and poured some into each glass handing one to Carrie, then walking over to the couch and handing one to Apollo as she sat down beside him.
She had just got comfortable when there was another knock at the door. "Dinner is here... I hope you like Gemonese…
"Sounds good to me..." Apollo puts his glass on the coffee table and goes to the kitchen. "I'll get the plates."
Kara went to answer the door and soon returned with a large bag, filled with boxes of food. She spread them out on the coffee table before plopping back down on the couch and grabbing her drink.
She took a long sip of the ambrosia before turning to Carrie and Apollo with a grin... "Well... dig in!" Kara grabbed the bottle of Ambrosia and topped up everyone's glass.
The three of them spent the next hour consuming small amounts of food mingled with large amounts of ambrosia. No one was really sure how much ambrosia they drank, as Kara never let the glasses get empty. They were all sitting around in a moment of silence when Lee finally spoke.
“You 2 looked pretty hot in coveralls. Left much to the ummm..."Lee paused for a moment "Did I just say that outside my head?"
"Hmm... so, are you saying I actually look better in baggy, dirty men's clothing?" Kara smirked... "Really not sure how to take that..." with that she elbowed Lee in the ribs playfully.
“You know Carrie I used to have a shirt just like the one she's wearing…" Lee started looking around. "Where'd I put my coat? I got cigars in there. You try one too Carrie… they’re Tauron's finest."
Kara nearly choked on the mouthful of ambrosia she had just taken. She could feel her cheeks redden slightly, but fought it as best she could. "Well... if you weren't so bad for losing shirts.... you might still have one just like this one..." Kara winked over at Lee who was digging around in the closet for the cigars.
"Speaking of losing shirts... anyone up for a game of Pyramid?" She said with a grin.
"You’re cruel Kara, I'm in...I probably shouldn't be saying that but who gives a frak" Apollo hands both Carrie and Kara a cigar. "What's the anti?"
Kara grinned at Lee, then seeking a nod from Carrie, stated "How about your clothes... since no matter what we start with you'll end up losing them anyway." Kara laughed and downed the rest of the Ambrosia in her glass.
"You know I've gotten better since the last time we played. I don't plan on losing twice."
Kara smirked at Lee, with a wink to Carrie "We'll just have to see about that... This time there's two of us you have to beat..." Kara stopped for a moment to light her cigar. " And besides... either way I win"
Carrie smiled sipping on her drink. "Hope you guys are wearing a lot of layers cause you know I'm gonna whoop your tooshies..."
Putting the glass down, she lit the cigar and tilted her head. "If you wanna put your coats back on before we start, go ahead"
"Carrie… would you please do the honors?" Lee hands Carrie the cards. "First anti… my left shoe..."
"Left shoe?" Carrie asked incredulously "Come on Lee, at least make it your shirt! I mean it's been a long week and we need a laugh..." She smirked winking at Kara "But then again, who knows, you might surprise us..."
Kara grinned at Carrie as she poured another glass... "Don't worry, we'll get his shirt eventually..." Kara took another drink of the ambrosia, leaned over to Carrie and whispered "believe me... its well worth the wait..." Kara contemplated her bet for a moment... "I'll see your left shoe, and raise you a sock..."
Carrie gave Kara a look at the comment. "How would you know?" She replied quietly before nodding and saying.
"Okay, see your shoe and sock and raise you....another shoe..." She shuffled and dealt some cards.
Kara picked up her glass of ambrosia and looked over at Carrie. "Ask me again in a few more glasses..."
Carrie nodded. "Believe me I will..." she grinned and took another puff of her cigar "I will..."
“Hey” Carrie grumbled as Lee grabbed the t-shirt away from her.
“Down to your briefs and I still got my shirt on...” Lee smirked.
“Yea, but we're letting you win…” Kara laughed.
“Thanks...” Carrie smirks
“Want another glass anyone!? Oh nice underwear you look good in flowers Carrie” Lee chuckled.
“Funny! Really funny!” Carrie glared at Lee
“Hey who's deal is it…” Lee looked at the pile of cards on the table.
“ Kara's isn't it?”
“Yeah, it is... Lee, pour me another while I deal.” Kara grinned as she gathered up the cards and began to shuffle them.
“I swear I will beat you both!” Carrie grumbled.
“Well I got a shirt, boxers and my medallion left. Can I use my...Oh yeah medallion….” Lee grinned.
Kara smirked, thinking for a moment. “I think its time the shirt went into the pot...”
“Medalions don't count anyway!” Carrie added.
“Agreed...” Kara said with a wink to Carrie.
Carrie shook her head and poured another glass, wondering if Kara is drunk enough to explain what she meant earlier.
“Shirt it is but close your eyes…” Lee smirked.
“Where's the fun in that? Huh?” Carrie said with a grin.
“If you look at me I look at a very nice set…” Lee started to say.
“Nothing I haven't seen before... off with the shirt” Kara cut him off mid sentence.
“Seen before? Wanna explain yourself now Kara?” Carrie chuckled.
“Umm...” Kara downed another half of a glass and looked over at Lee
“Last time I got drunk with Kara... I think I lost this very shirt I now have...” He said, holding up the shirt Kara had been wearing earlier.
“It wasn't playing cards though…” Kara muttered quietly.
“That was long before she was engaged to Zak... Why the hell did you hook up with him anyways?” Lee gave Kara a questioning look.
“Oh right....” Carrie nodded knowing that this would be an awkward story...
“Well... it was a while ago... and things were looking pretty grim relationship wise, and he asked me out…” Kara said quietly, shooting a glance at Lee.
“But... you used to beat the crap out of him when we were growing up... Frankly considering what he did to us, he deserves another ass-kicking. Carrie, he's my brother, but frankly, what do you think?
“I think he's not cut out for this...but that’s just my opinion...” Carrie said, a little nervously.
“Carrie, you're Frakkin’ right… Now, you know, I love him, but he should be a poet, all he wants to do is be like me and Dad, and that’s not his calling…” Lee ranted.
“Maybe he'd be good at engineering or something... I mean he was good with the CAT...” Carrie said, half to herself.
“You should see his writing, its incredible…” Lee said.
Kara downed the rest of her glass of ambrosia and slammed it down on the table, drawing everyone’s attention back to the game at hand.
“Let me be brief... I've got a good set of cards, and I'll raise you my briefs...” Lee said confidently.
Carrie sighs, looking at her cards and hoping he’s bluffing. “Fine... I’m in”
“The naked truth of the matter is, I will debrief all of you” Kara giggled.
“Great puns guys...Hilarious really!” Carrie looked nervously at her cards. She poured another glass of ambrosia and drank it down quick
Kara leans over to Carrie and whispers quietly "Yes great puns indeed" She winks at Lee.
“You really are drunk aren't you?!” Carrie laughed “After this bottle no more, I swear...”
“Ok… I'm calling... FULL COLORS!” Kara lays her cards down on the table, laughing.
“FRAK!” Carrie throws her cards down and rolls her eyes.
“Frak! And I was looking forward to stealing Carries flower... um underwear…” Lee grinned.
Carrie laughed.
“Pay up Lee...” Kara leaned back against the couch.
“Can't wait for this!” Carrie smirked.
“Well Kara, at least you've still got your pants this time...” Lee taunted. He looked over at Carrie “That is a nice flower...”
Carrie looked for something to throw at Lee and eventually finds a cushion.Kara laughed as Lee threw the cushion back at Carrie. Kara grabs another cushion and throws it at Lee. “Pillow fight!”
To even the fight out Carrie throws one at Kara. “Open another bottle?” Carrie grinned.
Kara throws a pillow at Carrie, and then tackles Lee. “Definitely…”
Carrie opens another bottle of ambrosia and cautiously fills the glasses, trying not to get hit by anything...
“Ladies, the hard part about being male is its obvious and...... I need another drink” Lee slurred. Kara laughed at Lee’s predicament.
Carrie looked up and slurred “What the hell does that mean?... Oh...I geddit!” She giggled.
“You do?” Lee asked, raising an eyebrow “Must be nice... it sucks being single…”
Kara punched Lee in the arm “That’s your own fault...”
Carrie gave them a confused look “Well as of....some hours ago...I erm can't read my watch right now.....I am or was officially single....”
“You want to go out?” Lee asked hopefully.
“Yeah” Carrie smiled at him, starting to search for what clothing she hadn’t lost, slipping them back on.
“Carrie....That bra is mine... I won it fair and square…” Lee grinned, watching her
Kara goes into the kitchen and pours another glass of ambrosia in an attempt to avoid the conversation.
“I don't think it'll go with your outfit Lee...” Carrie smirks.
“Stop that. You'll make me blush.... I'll trade you for my pants,” Lee laughed.
Kara smirks, then turns to fill her glass once again.
“What do I do? Tie them around my chest?! Maybe Kara's got a spare for you to borrow....” Carrie winked at Lee.
“If I hand you your bra... you hand me my pants... ok?” Lee grins.
“Fine!” Carrie cautiously held out the pants to Lee
Kara stumbles back to the couch, clutching the bottle of ambrosia, and leaving the glass behind.
Lee tosses the bra to Carrie. "Ok, now let go of the pants..." Lee wrestles for the pants, toppling them both to the floor. Kara bursts out laughing hysterically at the two of them. Carrie lets go of the pants and scrambles to try and get back on the chair, missing a few times before managing to collapse onto it
“See, why couldn't we have done this instead of going of and getting caught by cylons?! Huh?!” Carrie giggled.
Lee takes Carrie by the arm and helps her up. Holding her for a moment and looking into her eyes, he gently kisses her.
“Woah! Okay, too much ambrosia for you!” Carrie stammered, her cheeks reddening.
“I take it you didn't like that...” Lee said, looking a little dejected.
“No! I mean yeah...I don't know what I mean...Frak, I don't much of anything right now...!” Carrie stammered.
Kara giggled and grabbed a cushion, tossing it at Lee, her aim being very off, she knocked a picture of Zak off the wall.
“Wow, You hit him and he isn't even here...!” Carrie raised an eyebrow.
“Just wait... that’s not all I plan to do...” Kara grumbled, taking another drink from the bottle.
“Oh Frak...” Lee muttered. Kara in this kind of mood was not something Carrie needed to see.
“I think someone should warn him so he can skip planet before you get him...” Carrie said.
“We should go now… Carrie would you like to share a cab?” Lee asked, changing the subject
“Okay... I don't mind...”
Kara pouts. “Come on guys... its still early... Party is just starting…”
“Yeah, but we're really, really drunk!” Carrie pointed out.
“There's still some ambrosia left...” Kara holds up the bottle, there is about ¼ of it left... it was full when she went in the kitchen.
“Kara... its 4 in the morning...” Lee tried to reason.
“And your point is? I have to go back to the frakkin Callahandra in less than 48 frakkin hours... and right now that’s the last place I want to be…”
“Why? Apart from the major fact it's a drag...” Carrie asked.
“You also have to talk to Zak...” Lee said softly.
“Why the frak do you think I don't want to go back there?” Kara snapped at Lee. She handed the bottle of Ambrosia to Lee “Here… you two enjoy it…” Kara sighed.
Lee looks at Carrie “Where should we go to finish this?”
Carrie shrugged “Anywhere where there's black coffee...”
“I've got coffee at my place... and a cappuccino maker…” Lee said softly
“Well your place it is then.... Although I'm gonna pass on the cappuccino”
“Ok” Lee smiled “Can I get your coat for you?”
“Thanks” Carrie turned back to Kara for a moment. “Its been a great night Kara...I think...I can't really remember....”
“Yeah.. it has.. too bad it was so short...” Kara glared at Lee for a moment.
“Thank you so much Kara...” Lee smiled, ignoring the cold gaze Kara had given him.
“Anytime Lee...” Kara muttered, shaking her head “Are you coming to watch the solos?”
“I'll be there…” Lee gives Kara a long, tight hug.
“I'll try...have to drag myself out of bed, I plan on being there for a week” Carrie grinned.
“Who's bed...?” Lee grinned.
“Don't push your luck sunshine!” Carrie retorted.
Kara nearly falls over laughing at the look on Lee’s face
“Who said anything about luck?” Lee winked.
Carrie shakes her head, amused “How do you put up with him Kara?”
“Everybody has a skill...” Kara smirked as Lee left with Carrie, taking the near empty bottle of ambrosia with them.
“So, what do you take in your coffee?” Lee asked
“Sugar...lots of it!” Carrie said with a laugh. “So, have you and Kara been friends long?”
“We grew up together...” Lee hands Carrie a cup of coffee before grabbing one for himself.
“Thanks” Carrie said as she sipped the coffee, looking around the apartment. “Nice place”
“Thanks… I've had it a couple of years.” Lee paused for a moment. “Would you like a tour?”
“Yeah, that'd be great” Carrie smiled.
“Well this is the hallway.” Lee motioned as a white cat comes running down the hall towards them. “Hi Sasha! Carrie this is Sasha.”
“Hey Sasha!” Carrie bends down to stroke the cat. “She's cute!”
“Thanks I've had her since she was a kitten. She's actually Panther's daughter”
“But I thought Panther was a robot....thing....”
“She was actually the only one of the litter that survived. Truth be known I don't know how they made Panther, nor do I know how she came to be but we've tried and we can't log into her” Lee paused a moment. “Can I take your coat?”
“Sure, thanks” she said as she shrugged off her coat “So...how long have you been a pilot?”
“My father taught me to fly when I was 8 so more than half my life”
“You guys must be close” Carrie said quietly.
“Yes we are, my first memories are of riding with my dad in his truck. What brought you into this life?” Lee asked
“My dad was a cargo pilot, took me on flights with him. He taught me to fly too. My first memories are of flying to Caprica City from some other planet, I’m not sure where, and he let me take control...I nearly crashed!”
“I read your profile before we met your a natural”
“I wouldn't say that. Its all down to my dad”
“Here's the living room....I owe it to my Dad too”
“Wow, its neat! My place looks like a bomb hit it! You gotta come tidy my place up sometime” Carrie said with a wink.
“Is that an invitation?”
“Yeah, If your planning on bringing Ambrosia!”
“Frankly I like you, Okay I mean I hardly know you personally that is but I like what I see, and don't mean your figure.” Lee said with a soft smile.
“I like you too...” Carrie said nervously “So...erm...yeah...”
“This is the kitchen, just off the living room here... Do you want something to eat? I've got some leftover chocolate cheesecake I made... or would you like to continue the tour first?
“Sounds good… I'm not too sure if it's good for when you're getting a hangover but I’ll deal with that when it comes...! Tour after… More coffee!” She said with a grin.
“Here's a refill, I’ll grab the cheesecake…” He slipped into the kitchen and returned with the cheesecake “My mom taught all of us to cook, she taught Kara too.
“Thanks.” Carrie said, taking the plate. “That's sweet of her!”
A few moments later Carrie stretched and rubbed her eyes, wondering how long she can stay awake. Lee picks up the plates and coffee cups and places them in the dishwasher, he takes Carrie by the hand “Come with me...” He leads her down the hall to a door and opens it. “This is my room”
Carrie follows Lee, not really watching where their going but watching him... “It's nice”
“Since I've already seen you naked... would you like to join me in the Jacuzzi?” Lee asks nervously.
“Sure, but you might have to make sure I don't fall asleep and drown…”Carrie smiled.
“Would you prefer to lie down?
“I think... I think that'd be better...”
“You can have my bed...”
“Thanks... where are you going to sleep?” Carrie asked him with a smile.
“Where would you like me to sleep?” He asked softly
“You can stay here... with me”
“I’ll try and keep you warm” he said softly as he delicately unbuttoned her blouse.
Carrie nodded, shrugging off the blouse as Lee raised his arms to allow Carrie to remove his shirt. She pulled his shirt off and asked quietly “Sure you wanna do this? I mean... I saw how you were with Kara...”
Kara closed the door and walked back into the apartment. Frak... she had let him slip through her fingers once again... and yet she couldn't really be angry about it. Carrie was an alright girl. She had come so close to telling him just how she felt... but all the ambrosia in the world just couldn't drag it out. Maybe if she had told him that she was going to break up with Zak after the solos... no... it wouldn't have mattered... Lee saw her as a friend… nothing more. Of that she was certain.
She walked over to the picture that lay on the floor. She slowly picked it up; her mind reeling. Frak… what was she thinking... she was stuck... "Face it, Kara... no one else would want you..." she muttered, echoing the words she had heard so many times over the past few years. He was right... no one else would want her. She had to marry him... there was no other option. No one else she had ever met had thought of her as anything but one of the guys. Well, at least she would have a respected name in the end, if nothing else...
Kara dropped the picture back on the floor, a dull ache settling in deep in her heart. Without a second thought, she walked into the kitchen and began to rummage through the cupboard. "It has to be here... somewhere..." she muttered. It took a little longer, but she eventually found what she was looking for. She pulled a small jar out of the cupboard, and took what looked like a small yellow candy from within. "Two weeks… that’s long enough..." She said, sounding quite proud of herself, and then popped it in her mouth. She quickly placed the jar back into the cupboard.
It was so frakkin hot in the apartment that she decided to go sit out on the balcony for a while. She was thankful that she lived high up, and didn't need to get dressed before stepping outside. She sat down on the bench and leaned back against the wall. She was quite thankful when they rain started to fall, and the warm, numb feeling began to take over. Within moments, she had fallen asleep...
The blinding light of the mid day sun finally roused Kara from her sleep. She fought to open her eyes, but the sunlight felt like daggers striking at her eyes. She quickly brought her arm up to shield her eyes, resulting in a tearing pain through her skin. FRAK! just what she needed... a sunburn on top of the mother of all hangovers... FRAK... if only she had thought to put a shirt on last night. As she stood up t slip back insilde she quickly came to the realization that the sunburn ran down the entire left side of her body. Man that was going to hurt under a flight suit tomorrow...
When she stepped inside, she looked at the clock... it was after 3 in the afternoon. The place looked like a thermonuclear device had been detonated in the center. It would have to wait though. Right now, she needed to get rid of this hangover and have a good soak in the tub. One of the few things of being planet side she actually missed in space.
First things first though, she went over to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of ale to kill her hangover with. The first half of a bottle went down easy, and then her stomach started to flip flop. She tossed the bottle in the sink and went to run a bath.
A few minutes later, she went back out into the main room, looking for lotion to apply to the burn. Her first thought went to the med kit that was in the closet by the door. As she rounded the corner to the closet, she was confronted with a very strange site...
There, tacked to the door with a steak knife was the underwear she had won off of Lee last night... written on then in black marker were three words. "WHO IS HE"
Oh FRAK... Zak had been here... could this day get any worse? She pulled the knife from the door and tossed the briefs to the ground. She could hear the sound of water spilling over in the bathroom...
Oh frak, frak, FRAK! She bolted into the bathroom to shut off the water and begin to clean up the mess she made of the apartment. The mess she was making with her life would have to wait until later...
By the time Kara cleaned up the spill, the bath she had drawn was ice cold... Frak, just another thing to add to what was shaping up to the worst day on record. Nothing had gone right, not since she walked back in the door of this frakkin apartment yesterday afternoon.
No hot water... late dinner... She had planned to tell Lee how she felt about him and the truth about his brother... but instead, he had left with someone else. What was worse, he had left with someone she actually liked and respected, so she didn't even have the satisfaction of being able to hate her... add to that a sunburn, a hangover.... Frak who was she kidding, she had royally screwed things up once again...
For the first time in as long as she could remember, she could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. Frak, just what she needed, to go and get all emotional over the mess she had made. Damn, this wasn't like her... she never cried... especially not over things like this... she always managed to just roll with the punches.
She stood and ran out to the kitchen, going immediately to the cupboard where the jar was. She quickly grabbed another yellow candy and popped it in her mouth. Still fighting back tears she went over to the couch and lay down, burying her face in her arms. She had to pull herself together... she didn't know when Zak would be back... but she knew he would... He couldn't see her like this...
She was relieved when she started to feel warm, the pain from her sunburn was fading fast... and nothing else really seemed to matter that much. With a smile, she closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.
Lee woke up around 10:00 am for the first while he walked around thinking about the moment that he and Carrie shared last night. For a woman 8 years his junior she was extremely sharp that was probably one of the qualities the he most liked about her. Lee ran the bath and sat in it for about an hour. Maybe she was right. He never denied to Carrie that he did love Kara, but that time events and present circumstances have led him to realize that their relationship will never happen. Maybe it could have happened last night, but how could he this was his kid brother she was engaged to and as much as Zak pissed him off he was the ladies man and he was his brother. How could he betray him for the woman he has always loved. He always wondered if the reason why Zak went for Kara was because Zak wanted something that he didn't have. What further complicated things for him was wondering if Zak really did love her. Besides it doesn't help when the woman you want to be with is constantly being called your sister by your mother....
Lee got out of the bath threw on his house coat and made his way to the kitchen. Cooking always helped him get rid of stress.
Lee open the door to his bedroom there in the bed sound asleep was Carrie. Lee put the dinner tray on the end table, sat at the end of the bed and leaned over and kissed Carrie on the forehead. "Good afternoon sunshine. I trust you slept well. I made you lunch and when you’re finished I would be happy to draw you a bath..."
It had taken Carrie ages to get to sleep. She had just...She had … with an... What the Frak what she thinking?! Lee was an Adama! All through flight school it was etched into your brain that Adama's were special, that you'd be lucky to even meet one...
She'd met one alright... Then again, what was he thinking? It was quite obvious that he loved Kara, so shouldn't he have been with her last night....
As soon as she heard Lee's voice and felt the sunlight coming through the windows, she realized that this WAS all real. Hell.
"What are you so cheery about?" She mumbled eventually, sitting up slightly and staring at the food. "I'll try and eat it but I give no guarantees" She did NOT plan on puking all day long "As for the bath, I can do it...I think"
Great…a hangover. The one thing that makes life seem oh-so-much-worse!
"All my life my father taught me to read the people not there words. He said in truth words hide the truth. I see you're bothered by last night aren't you?" Lee handed her a glass of orange juice and some vitamins. "This will kill you hangover in about an hour, there vitamins."
"Next to my cat your the only woman that has shared my bed since I moved here."
Carrie quickly swallowed the vitamins and sighed trying to think of any answer to his question. "I'm not bothered. It...It was a great night. I'm...just not sure we should have...been together..." She smiled slightly and asked "So, first woman in here huh? I'm honored..." Peeling herself from between the sheets, she grabbed a shirt of the floor and put it on, running the bath. "So...do you think you should have done it Lee?"
"I should have done it....! Correct me if I'm wrong but you invited me into the bed. I do hope the feelings were mutual. I wasn't kidding when I said I liked you; however the Ambrosia certainly helped that along allot faster than I expected." Lee paused for a moment trying to compose his thoughts. "I'm feeling that you care for Kara and your concerned is that you’re the third wheel or second choice. Know; that no matter what relationship that I have with any woman, Kara will always be a part of my life. She has made her choices and I have to accept them. I will not spend my life morning what might have been. I hope I'm saying this in a gentle way. I have to admit I don't have the verbosity of Zak."
"Don't you think I know I played a part in what happened? I'm young not stupid!"
Carrie sighed and sat back down on the bed "Look, You might as well admit that you love Kara. I'm not gonna tell anyone, everyone's probably gathered already.... well... except Zak. He's smart but slow on the uptake..." She grinned and added as she headed back to the bathroom. She turned back to Lee for a moment. "And yeah, that was gentle. Like hitting someone in the face with a saucepan....!"
Lee sat on the edge of the bed having just felt like he had been hit by… yes a cast iron frying pan. Truth be known she was right; there was a reason that Lee hadn't been with anyone in the last 2 years; come to think of it, it had been over 3 years now. The last woman he was with was Kara and they both agreed that that was a big mistake even though he didn't honestly feel that way. Would he ever be happy, could he ever find love with anyone else? He didn't know all he new was he lost the woman he truly loved right after he told Zak he was going to ask her out the next time he saw her. That was over 3 years ago. He ask Zak to let her know, the when he came home from his tour on the Atlantia he would commit. Instead he arrived to find Kara with Zak. Carrie was wonderful yes, yes she was any good man would be blessed by the Lords of Kobol, and she was wild in bed too. "Lord's what do I say? What do I do?" Lee leaned back on his be staring at the ceiling.......
Carrie heard Lee' s rhetorical question from the bathroom, where she sat with bath bubbles right up to her ears, trying not to move too quickly incase she passed out or worse from her hangover... Deciding the question would be better if it wasn't rhetorical, Carrie leant back to look through the crack in the door.
"I'm guessing the first thing to do would be to get your frakking ass over to her place and talk... Cause this isn't gonna get any better after they get married y'know?!" She shook her head, gently, and dipped under the water...
"Carrie it seems a lot more complicated than that, but I, what have I got to lose?" Lee when to his closet and changed out of his track suit in to something more appropriate. "Carrie make yourself at home, I'll see you when I get back."
Kara woke feeling somewhat better… at least her head wasn't hurting as much. She sat up slowly, not wanting to jinx things just yet. She looked around at the disaster that was her apartment. "Frak, this is going to take me all evening and most of the night to clean up..." she muttered to herself. She had to be on the Callahandra at 0700 tomorrow for the flight tests.
She sat for a few minutes longer, before getting up and slowly beginning the process of cleaning up.
Zak's hands refused to stay still. They had jittered across his classroom desktop for most of the morning session while fat old Captain Creyton had droned on about wind sheer and sub-orbital storm tracking and hands-on landings when your auto-lander is shot to hell by lightning—nothing a deep-space Viper pilot needed to know.
And that afternoon in the simulator his hands were off the controls at least as much as they were on. He'd come close to crashing his make-believe plane twice.
It was Kara's fault, of course. Kara and whomever the frakkin' hell she'd been sleeping with last night. If they'd still been there this morning when Zak had dropped in to check on her, he wasn't quite sure what would have happened. Zak thought he'd controlled himself rather well.
From her apartment Zak had gone to class because that's what he was supposed to do today and because tomorrow was his test flight. And if there was anything as important to him as Kara, it was becoming a Viper pilot.
After the last class of the day and after Captain Creyton had chewed Zak out for his sloppy technique, his lack of attention and a spot of toothpaste on his uniform jacket, (Frakkin' bastard, Zak thought, I swear the man has it in for me just because I'm an Adama.) he returned to Kara's apartment. They had to have this out and clear the air. More importantly he needed to find out who Kara was sleeping with, so he could kill him.
Kara's door was locked. He knocked. She opened it. She had dark circles under her eyes, but her chin stuck out like it always did when she was determined.
"Alright," Zak said. "Who's the bastard?"
It was already past sunset and Kara was still trying to clean up her apartment... mind you the splitting headache and frequent prayers to the porcelain gods weren’t' helping the matter. Just another hour or so and she would be done...
All she wanted to do was sleep, especially since she had to be back on the Callahandra first thing in the morning... Thank the Lords of Kobol Zak hadn't come back. That was one argument she really could do without considering the way she was feeling...
As if the fates heard her thoughts, she heard a knock at the door. She was almost afraid to answer it... but she did, coming face to face with Zak... and judging from the look in his eyes he hadn't calmed much since he had been here earlier...
“Who's the bastard, Kara?” He asked again.
Kara glared at Zak for a moment. “What the frak are you talking about?”
Zak took a step inside and closed the door behind him with a slam. “You know what I'm talking about… The bastard that you slept with last night.”
“I didn't sleep with anyone last night”
Zak looks at the post where he mounted the unidentified shorts last night. They're gone. “Right… I'm supposed to believe that? Why should I believe you?”
“Zak... what the frak has gotten into you?”
“I'll tell you what's gotten into me…You treat me like some 3-year old child.”
“Maybe you should stop acting like one!” Kara shot back.
Zak clenched his fists and glared at Kara. Kara locked eyes with Zak, glaring back.
“You didn't call me when you got home. I had to come by to find out if you're here… and I'm probably frakkin' lucky I didn't find you in bed with him.”
“You're right I didn't call... I was hoping to save the effort of having to knock some frakkin sense into you… You damn near got us all killed...”
Zak had about enough of being treated like a 3 year old. He stepped closer. “You want to try it?”
Kara pushes Zak away. “Get out of my face Zak…” Kara turned and walked into the living room. Zak grabbed her by the arm.
“Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you!”
“Let me go...” Kara glared at Zak.
Zak immediately droped Kara's arm. “I'm sorry, Kara… Just, please don't talk down to me. And tell me about the shorts….”
Kara sighed, leaning back against the wall, eyes closed for a moment. Zak watched her closely. She doesn't really look like she's feeling too good. He stepped over to the cupboard and checked the bottle of pills she keeps there. “Been hitting it a little heavy, haven't you?”
Kara smirked “No… not really” Zak held up the bottle and Kara glared at him. “Why do you care anyway…. We had a party.”
Zak's eyes were hurt. “You know I care about you, Kara mia.” He tried to take Kara's hand. “You're going to be my wife.”
Kara glared at Zak “And yet you don’t trust me... how sweet…”
Zak closed his eyes and tried to sound reasonable when he said “I would just like to know how you have a pair of man's shorts in your apartment that do not belong to me.”
“Playing cars... that’s how…” Kara smirked.
“Cards... with who?
“Yeah, you know Pyramid? My favorite game … with Lee and Carrie…”
Zak was too stunned to speak for a moment. “Lee?” Zak 's whole perspective on the situation had changed.
“Yes Lee... he's my friend, remember? We had a party to celebrate getting back here with our frakkin asses in one piece” Kara glared at Zak who had sat down at the little table. His head came up at Kara's harsh words. “No thanks to you.”
“I did my frakkin' best to help and you just tried to put me in some corner like a school boy.”
“How the frakkin hell did you help? I had to haul your ass out of there or let you be blown up.”
“Lee is my frakkin' brother, Kara! And you wanted me to stand by and just wait while he was in trouble.”
“Do you have any frakkin idea what we were up against?”
“No, I'll bet you didn't either, did you?”
“I had a good idea of that to expect… In case you haven't noticed... I've been doing this for a while”
“Oh, here we go. Mighty Viper Pilot Kara… all bow down to kiss her ass.”
“Shut the FRAK up Zak!” Zak was on his feet again. Moving across to where Kara was standing. “Quit acting like a spoiled little brat! You're going to have to learn to quit whining and toughen up if you want to stand any chance in the military” Kara continued.
“Quit acting like the south side of a north bound horse! I swear… if you weren’t my fiancée...”
Kara glared at Zak, visibly shaking. The urge to plant a fist in his mouth was thrown off by a knock at the door.
Lee arrived outside Kara's apartment with a million things running through his head. He had to compose himself, what he was off his rocker, what if Kara really loved Zak, what if Zak really loved Kara, If he was wrong about his feelings. He realized now that he had to take a risk he had to be honest with his feelings.
Lee entered the building ran the flight of stairs, skipping the wait for the elevator. He got to the top of the stairs, opened the door to the hallway and walked through. He was ready. He knew what to say, for the first time in his life he didn't care what anyone else thought.
He got to Kara's door. Knocked, the door swung open to a very angry looking Zak.
Zak sneered at Kara “Don't you think you should open that... sweetheart?”
“You're closer...” Kara turned and walked out to the balcony.
Zak graciously bowed. “Of course... darling.” He said, his voice dripping of sarcasm. He walked to the door as a second knock sounded. Zak opened the door to see Lee standing there. “Well, speak of a horse's ass, and here is one!”
“Did I come at a bad time”
Kara turned around and stepped back inside the apartment.
Zak stepped back slightly. “No... Brother… Do come in and join the fray. We were just about to kill each other…”
“Zak your just pissed cause I decked you, you are always trying to measure up… when.....what kill each other oh frak, great timing…”
Zak without further ado and no warning neatly punched his brother on the nose. Lee fell back against the wall. Touching his face he realized that his nose had been broken, blood poring down his face he looked up. "I guess you think I deserved eh...Kiddo?"
Kara hears Lee's voice and comes around the corner “Frak, Zak, what the hell are you doing?”
Zak smirks. “Enjoying myself.” Zak shook his hand. That hurt.
“Okay you happy you got me back for hitting you on the Raptor...We're square now okay…”
“What the frak did you do that for?” Kara asked.
“You certainly did deserve that. And no, we're not square…”
Kara glares at Zak, then turns back into the living room, grabbing the small jar off the table and tucking it into her pocket
“Hey what the hell's that supposed to mean?” Lee asked his brother.
“It means that you'd better stay away from my fiancé, brother, if you know what's good for you…”
“What the frakkin hell are you talking about Zak?” Kara shot him a wicked glare.
“You better not be saying what I think your saying and where the frak did that come from...”
Zak glances at Kara. Does she really think he hasn't noticed? “I've watched you two…”
“You're frakkin nuts Zak… Why the hell are you so jealous of everyone?”
“What about us, you got the girl, besides you knew how I felt about her from the start…”
“You think so?” Zak said turning to Kara “I don't think so… because you're worth having, Kara. Any man with eyes in his head can see that…”
Kara looked at Lee, a look of confusion crossing her face
“Can see what?” Lee asks, deciding on the safer route.
“How beautiful she is. And smart. And funny…”
Kara looks back at Zak, eyes narrowing slightly. “Now, there's a change... its not what you usually tell me…”
“It's what I feel…” Zak replied. Kara just smirked at him.
“Right so what does that have to do with us…” Lee asked.
“Damn it, Kara. I love you. I've asked you to marry me…” Zak continued.
“So why the frak don't you trust me?”
“And why the frak don't you trust your brother…” Lee added
Zak looks at her for a long moment. “Do you really blame me, Kara? Do you really?” Kara turned and went back out on the balcony, leaving the two brothers inside.
“Zak… Kara loved you enough to risk her life for you, doesn't that count?” Lee ponders what he just said.
“Of course it does…”
“Then what the frak is you damage?”
“I don't understand…? Zak gave his brother a confused look.
“What's your problem, You know how I felt about her from the beginning, she chose you not me I respect that, can't you?”
“I need to get out of this babyhood stage, Lee. I need to get my wings. I can't be this little kid anymore.”
“Then don't do it by competing with me, grow up be yourself, you not a soldier. Dad and Mom would be proud of you no matter what you do”
“I think she's regretting her choice, brother…”
“Explain”
“…and I want to be on equal footing… so I can keep her.”
“You'd be on the Square with all of us if you'd just be yourself”
Zak blew up. He had absolutely had it. “I AM MYSELF!” He took another swing at his brother.
Lee turned, grabbing Zak’s arm and spinning him to the floor..."That will hurt for about a week, you’re lucky I didn't break it”
Kara steps back inside, looking much calmer. She walks over and sits down on the couch.
“I'll let you up if you promise to quit being an ass…” Lee growls. Zak was still pretty mad, so he just stayed still.
“Would you two please just stop...” Kara sad softly, Zak turned to look at her.
Zak turns his head to look at her.
“Zak, you piss me off, why can't just quit trying to beat me… Sorry, Kara, sorry Zak, I'm leaving I should have known this was a big mistake.” Lee said, letting go of Zak’s arm and heading for the door. Zak glared at his brother.
Kara sighed “I hate when you two fight...”
Lee noticed the torn underwear lying on the floor behind the door. “WHAT the HELL Happened to my underwear? Oh great.....Zak, nothing happened.....oh FRAK”
Zak sits up rubbing his wrists. He snarls at his brother. “Don't let me keep you from your busy life ... brother”
“You don't think we.....Okay granted I was pretty drunk but I didn't do that” Lee turns back to Zak.
Zak catches on to what they're talking about. “Oh right, I'm supposed to believe that?”
Kara smirks, knowing full well what happened last night.
“Kara.....do you mind if I make some coffee?” Lee asked
“Your big brother got lucky with a cadet…” Kara blurted out. “Go ahead... I could use some...” she said to Lee.
“Zak ...You know Carrie Diarta from your senior class…”
“Carrie? Short? Cute?” Zak had calmed considerably once Kara let the cat out of the bag. “She was on the shuttle that rescued you.”
Kara starts to giggle uncontrollably
“Very cute I might add, yes her you noticed”
Zak smiles and bounces his eyebrows suggestively. “Who could miss her?”
“Well we connected…” Lee smiled.
“Now that’s an understatement...” Kara giggled.
“Aha... and there were sparks?” Zak asked.
“I'd appreciate if you kept it quiet, until after grad please” Lee was looking a little uncomfortable. Kara cracked up laughing.
“Poor Lee... ever bound by protocol…” she chuckled.
Zak smiled. “Anything for a brother…”
Kara gets up and goes to grab a cup of coffee
“And anything for you...you know that” Lee says.
“How's that coffee coming, sweetheart?” Zak asks
“its ready...”
Zak sat in the chair and started working his arm, checking for tenderness. “Not too bad….”
Kara sat on the couch, holding a cup, not drinking any, just staring at it. Lee whisper to Kara. “What the hell did I miss?”
Kara smirks at Lee “A lot of fireworks.”
Zak gulps down some coffee. “I can hardly wait for tomorrow. My flight test, Lee! Think of it!”
“Are you sure you ready?” Lee asks, the concern creeping into his voice.
”Damn sure!”
Kara sets the cup down on the table, untouched, as Zak drinks some more of his coffee.
“You'll do fine... just try stay focused...” She says quietly.
“Zak I got a bad feeling about this…” Lee said.
Kara got up and walked towards the balcony, looking pale. “I need some air guys... back in a minute…”
Zak had been cooling down. But Lee seemed determined to rekindle the fire. His head came back up. He glared. “Oh yeah ... brother? I'll be just fine.”
“Your Marks are not exactly up to grade”
“I'll get my wings and we'll fly together. My grades are just fine. I'm passing.” Zak could feel himself getting defensive.
“By the Skin of your teeth”
“Maybe not as four square as you, but I'm passing.” Zak cocks his head. “Lay off, Lee.”
“Why don't you look at ops or intel instead…”
Zak 's eyes narrow. “I... am... going... to... be... a... Viper... pilot... if... it... kills... me. Do you get that, brother?”
“Yes I do, that's what I'm afraid of. I've seen your performance in the sims. The only reason you passing is because of Dad”
Kara came back in and sat back on the couch. She picked up her coffee and stared at it for a few moments, swallowing hard.
“Dad has done nothing to help me! I wish to frak he had. The instructors are forever rubbing my nose in it because of the frakkin' Adama name.”
“Bull, whether it's dad or someone trying to please dad, your lucky it peace time”
Zak looks at Kara. “Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?”
“I'm fine...” she said in a whisper
Zak heaved a tired sigh. “You know, I think morning is going to come awfully early.”
“Zak as your brother, you still are 4:6 on landing,” Lee pointed out.
Kara set the cup down and bolted for the bathroom.
Zak glances at Lee. He knew that Lee didn't have any control over his test flight. He then looked after Kara with concern “I think I'd better go check on her. Excuse me…”
“Think about what I said you'd be good at ops” Lee said as he got up and moved towards the door.
Zak ignored Lee. He got up and followed Kara to the bathroom. “Kara, sweetheart? Can I help? What's the matter?”
Lee grabbed his coat, “See you Kara. Zak” he said as he headed out the door, not waiting for a reply.
“I... I'm ok... just a hangover...” Kara said in a shaky voice.
“Look, darling. Things will be fine after tomorrow… I'll have my wings.” Zak took Kara in his arms. Kara sighed, leaning against him. “You and me, Kara. We'll be the best Viper team in space.”
Kara smiles, her eyes somewhat distant. Zak brushes her hair back from her forehead and kisses it. Kara says softly "When I can fly again..."
Zak frowns. He wasn't sure he heard that right. Kara bites her lip, hoping Zak didn't hear her..
“Fly again? What's going on? Hello?”
Kara sighs. Frak! How the hell did he manage to get her to say things she didn't want to “It's nothing... well... not nothing, but nothing to worry about...”
“Sounds like something to me.”
“Just forget I said anything”
“Come on, Kara. You're back on the pills. Something is going on. Tell me.”
“I've only had a couple...” Kara said, Zak was giving her that damned look… “ok… 3…”
Zak sighed. “Kara ... darling.” He pulled her close “Don't worry.” Kara shivers at the tenderness in his voice. “Can I ... can I stay the night?” He asks hesitantly.
“of course. Zak... you don't have to ask… After all... We're going to be married in less than a month...
”Considering the day, I thought it would be better to ask.” Zak’s eyes narrow. He's still unsure of himself.
Kara stares off into the distance for a moment. "I don't... I don't know how to handle not flying... its all I know..." Zak decides he'll have to wait until after his test flight tomorrow to find out what's going on.
“We'll be fine, darling. Things will be fine…”
Lee enters his apartment. Rather disenchanted "Carrie are you there?" Sasha runs towards him. He hangs his coat on the rack and picks her up. "Hello girl how are?" stroking her under the chin.
Hearing Lee's voice, Carrie headed out from the bedroom where she'd been dressing and smiled. "Hey how'd it go-” Noticing the bruise already forming she frowned and headed for the kitchen, returning a moment later with an ice-pack which she slowly put on his face. "I'm guessing it didn't go well...?"
Lee lay back on the couch with Carrie beside them. "Well Zak has told me to stay the hell away from Kara, under what might best be described as death. Other than that they broke up, I got a shiner, and they got back together whilst I was there. In fact I think I accidentally helped with that!!!!" Lee put his hand on Carrie's. "I meant what I said. I will forever be content to accept that Kara and I will always be friends." Except for the time being via Email......"
Carrie sighed, pulling her hand away from Lee's and standing up to pace the room. Who the hell was he trying to kid?!
"Lee, you know as well as I do that even if you try to be friends with Kara the feelings will still be there. I - like a lot of girls - don't want to be second best...I'm sorry..."
She got her coat of the rack and slipped it on, finding her shoes and putting those on to.
"I've gotta go. Got a final theory test in Caprica in a few hours..."
She leant down and kissed his forehead. "Call me if you need me..." She headed for the door.
It was 05:00 when Kara's alarm went off. Zak was still asleep beside her, and for a brief moment all felt right with the world. Then she remembered, the test flights... she had been going to pull Zak out of the flight tests, but she couldn't not after everything that happened last night...
He was right... she had to let him find his own path... she couldn’t protect him. But then again, he should never have passed basic...
She got up quietly, resetting her alarm for 0700. Zak didn't have to meet the shuttle to the Callahandra until 0930. There was no point in waking him yet.
She quickly showered and slipped into her uniform. She jotted a quick note to Zak before leaving to meet her shuttle.
Zak
Good luck on your solo flight. We'll go out for dinner
to celebrate... I have something I need to tell you.
Don't worry, its all good. I’ll be watching you from
Flight Control.
Love Kara
With that she slipped quietly out of the apartment.
Kara was bored to tears with the pre-flight briefing. Captain Lancaster was long winded to say the least, he could put even the most hardened insomniac to sleep given any amount of time.
At least the medicals had gone over without a hitch. As usual, she had passed that with flying colors, despite the night of drowning the world in Ambrosia only two days ago. Why the frak did she let the damn medical get to her so much each year? Ok, so she did dabble in a few things she probably shouldn't but never when she had a flight or a class coming up... She knew she wasn't the only one... Zak must think she's crazy; she was such a mess last night. Although, if she learned one thing, Ambrosia and metheroin didn't sit well together... unless you didn't mind puking for a day after...
Kara fought to get her attention back on the briefing... and realized she didn't miss anything, other than the first part of a lengthy tale of Lancaster's days back in the war.
She was so glad when they were dismissed. The shuttles with the pilots would be docking in a few minutes, and she had to get down to flight control. She was working LSO this test run.
On her way to flight control, she caught a glimpse of the landing shuttles. She could see Zak among his classmates. She had to admit, he did look good in a flight suit... She just hoped he was ready for this. Sure, she had passed him for basic flight, in atmospheric conditions... but that had been iffy at best.
Now the real test was flying in space. She knew he hadn't spent as much time in the flight sims as he was supposed to... Lancaster still felt he was ready though, and she no longer had control of whether he passed or not. Her job was done in that respect. She couldn’t help feeling Lee was right... Zak wasn't meant to be a viper pilot... a raptor, maybe? It was too late now, she had given him the ok to train for the vipers, and now the solo was at hand.
"Lords of Kobol, watch over him..." She whispered to herself before entering the flight control room.
It only took Carrie a few hours to get back home, get changed, eat and head of to her theory test. She didn't need to revise, it was basic stuff. Basic stuff that could save your life, like:
What do you do if your auto-nav isn't working?
Why do you need the various safety equipment?
She got through the papers quickly, her mind more on Lee and Kara than the questions. What were they playing at? It was easy to see they'd be perfect for each other! Glancing up at the clock in the exam room she realized that if she left now, she could be at the Callahandra in time to see Kara...
The examiner had given her a strange look when she asked to be excused 15 minutes into the exam but had let her go anyway and one bus and a transport ship later Carrie stood in the landing bay of the Callahandra. Now to find Kara...
Kara stepped into the flight control center and began running through the systems checklist. Everything was a go. Upon radioing all systems go to the CIC, the back of the launch pod was opened and the first viper loaded for launch.
"Viper 5412, This is Starbuck, I have control."
"Roger Starbuck, standing by." Came the timid voice over the wireless.
Kara monitored the controls as the Viper fired up its thrusters.
“Viper 5412 clear forward, Navcon green, interval check”
She watched as the young pilot gave her a thumbs up on the check.
"Thrust positive. Mag Cat engaged" Kara pushed the button that sent the viper hurtling out into space. That’s one. She thought to herself, checking the list. Only eight more until Zak...
After 7hours in debriefing regarding the recent mission, millions of hypothesis were going through his head. Obviously the council was gravely concerned. Whatever the Cylons were planning The Colonies need to be prepared. Trying to put that aside. Apollo boarded his Raptor, bound for Callahandra. If he was lucky Captian Lancaster would be long winded and he would make it on time.
1 hour later Lee was approaching the Callahandra.
"Callahandra this Apollo request permission to land?"
"Apollo, this is Starbuck, request denied, the solo's have already begun."
"Starbuck request permission to login then?"
Starbuck: "Granted, switch to Channel a34delta."
Lee sat back in his Raptor, powered down his engines and sat back and watched the show. Not exactly where he planned on being, hopefully Carrie would understand that he hadn't stood her up.
Kara breathed a sigh of relieve as yet another solo flight was coming to a successful close.
"Mag locks engaged, All systems powering down. Congratulations on a successful flight" She spoke over the wireless.
She checked her clipboard. This was it, Zak's viper would be loaded into the launch tube any moment. She wished she could shake the nauseated feeling she had. It would all be over soon and she could relax. He would do fine... he had to.
She watched as the viper was loaded in and set about the pre-flight checks. "Viper 5738 this is Starbuck, I have control" ...
After trying - and failing - to find Kara before the solo's began, Carrie headed up to the observation deck, which was surprisingly full. She got a glass of ice-water and sat in a good seat watching.
On a small screen a list of names came up, telling the watchers who was flying and when. As soon as 'Zak Adama' came up on the screen everyone gasped.
Carrie only hoped Lee had gotten here in time to see everyone's reaction...
Kara watched as the viper was loaded in and set about the pre-flight checks. "Viper 5738 this is Starbuck, I have control" ...
"Roger that, Starbuck. I'm ready to rock and roll." Zak hoped that his voice sounded to Kara more confident than he felt inside. The hole of the launch gaped before him. She could still yank him if she chose and from the way she had been looking at him this morning, she just might do that. He had to show her that he was ready. He had to be calm, cool and collected.
She didn't yank him. They finished the preparatory exchange then suddenly his Viper was racing down a long tube toward infinity and the blackness of space.
As Zak left the launch tube he fired his rockets, visually scanned the immediate area for obstacles and checked his read outs. Everything was cool. Except his heart. It was racing like a greyhound at the dog track.
"Launch control, this is Viper 5738, everything is in the green. Moving to quadrant 96 by 120 and beginning test maneuvers."
Kara's acknowledge was brief and noncommittal.
The test maneuvers went well ... except for that bit when he rolled the Viper twice instead of flipping it over. Just a bit of over steering…. Nothing serious…. Zak was always over steering his land rover. He didn't know his own strength.
Then it was time to do the first simple auto landing and brush off. It went well. And the second manual landing went almost as well. He tipped the Viper a little and came down unevenly, but nothing broke. On the headphones Kara gave him the all clear for the next go round—the blind one where he had to steer by instruments and Kara's voice only.
Out in space Zak pushed the button that lowered the Viper's blast canopy. Blind to everything but his instrument panel, he spoke, "Viper 5738 ready for landing test three."
"Roger that Viper 5738, prepare for blind approach. Instruments only." Kara tensed. Just one more test to past... and it was the toughest one of all. She would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous, but she couldn’t let it show. Zak's last landing hadn't exactly been graceful, but it was successful.
She monitored the instrument panel as the viper made it final approach.
"Viper 5738, this is Starbuck, throttle back and pick it up. Coming in hot and nose to the ground." Come on Zak... you can do this... she thought to herself as she watched the controls to see if he made the necessary adjustments.
Up until now things had been rather boring. Lee had been to so many of these things over the years that they were rather routine. Okay granted it's an opportunity for Cadets to show off there stuff to friends and family, but it was still boring. Fortunately it did give Lee the opportunity to consider the councils recent offer. Covert Operations certainly wasn't flying but it was certainly different. Just then he overheard Starbuck's comment on the radio. Looking out he new well that Zak was in trouble "Pull Up PULL UP you stupid frakhead!!!"
Carrie watched the landings, slightly impressed that Zak had managed the first two. The third was the hardest, she knew from experience. She didn't know if he would do it. Probably switch to auto at the last minute.
She heard someone mumbled and quickly shook her thoughts, looking back out at the viper.
"What? Pull up. You're coming in too steep...." She thought to herself.
"Viper 5738, this is Starbuck do you copy?" Kara asked again, having received no answer, he had pulled up some, but not near enough, and was still coming too fast.
"Viper 5728, throttle down immediately, reverse thrusters and abort." Still silence... "Viper 5738, respond" She watched on the monitor as the viper pitched up slightly, going into that looked like a roll.
"Viper 5738 abort landing attempt." "Frak... ZAK! Pull up! NOW!"
Kara was frozen as she watched from the window overlooking the landing bay. She could see the viper coming in, he had pulled up some, she hoped it was enough... Frak... no he was tilting again...
Before her eyes, the wing of the viper clipped the edge of the landing pod, sending it spiraling into the landing bay wall in a ball of flames. The resulting explosion knocked her knees. "Zak..." she screamed, hoping he would answer... praying that what she had just seen wasn't real... but he never answered.
Deep down, she knew she had to get out of there... the smoke was already beginning to fill the room, and she could feel the heat of the flames. But she no longer cared... she just sat there and cried.