Word Count: in progress
Date: 9/20/05
Series: S1
Rating: M
Category: Relationship
Pairing/Focus: Lee/Kara
Warnings: Adult situations
Summary: Lee and Kara still have to talk about what happened
between her and Dr Baltar and why was Lee so upset? But it seems that more
problems are getting in their way can they get past this and get their
friendship back on track or could there be more between them and will they have
the courage to find out.
Spoilers/Disclaimers:
Chapter 1
Lt Kara Thrace let her mind wander as she walked it was running through all the things she wanted to do the first thing was to sleep and to be somewhere safe. Second she didn't want to run into Mr. 'Vice President' or Captain Lee Adama the reasons were connected but apart from that it was nothing alike. For the good Doctor she didn't want to be reminded of the huge mistake she made when she slept with him and as for Lee, well she missed him like crazy but after their last face to face confrontation she just wasn't looking forward to it but the main reason was that she wasn't sure that at this precise moment if she could hide her feelings from him. When did he become more than just a friend? She had fantasies about him before but she was guessing a lot of people had he was charming, good looking, very masculine and a born leader and no one can help what their minds come up with when they are asleep.
Kara breathed deeply pushing the arousal she felt to the back of her mind, just thinking about him turned her on this was getting ridiculous she was going to have to calm down before she saw him again. As she turned the corner she froze her heart skipped a beat, it was lee and as she stared at him, his blue eyes seemed to draw her in and then the next thing she knew she was wrapped in his strong arms and as Kara started to sink into that embrace he pulled back she bit back a sigh of disappointment, it had been over far to quickly and as that thought flittered through her mind his lips were suddenly on hers, it wasn't a passionate kiss but her reality seemed to tip on it's axis.
When he pulled back from her she stared into his eyes and they looked as confused as she felt. What the frak was going on? Her mind screamed Lee's attitude was confusing her and Kara hated to feel like this.
They just stood there staring at each other just for a moment longer afraid that if they even blinked that the other person would just vanish.
"Hey." He said with a smile but that one word said everything to her.
"Hey." She replied hoping that she managed to convey how much she missed him.
"Lt Thrace?" Said a feminine voice.
Kara turned around and saw Laura Roslin.
"Madam President." Kara said and handed over the tube that she had slung over her shoulder.
"Thank you Lt Thrace." President Roslin said as she turned and walked to her aid.
"Kara." Lee said softly.
"Captain Apollo." The president called out and stood their waiting for him.
Lee looked torn just for a moment there was something that he wanted to say to Kara but he did have a duty. He shrugged his shoulders and joined the President and they walked away.
Kara let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She had desperately wanted to reach up and wrap her arms around his neck and pull him down for another kiss a proper one, one that would show him how she felt about him.
"I have to stay away from him." She muttered to herself if she wasn't careful and the next time they were alone she wasn't sure that she would be able to keep her hands to herself and not jump him.
*****
Kara had managed to escape meeting anyone else and she was almost at the hatch to the quarters where she could get to her bunk and hide under the covers and just sleep for a bit, she had debriefed the Commander and had been to see the doctor who had poked and prodded her.
As she reached out to open the door a male voice spoke. "Lt Thrace." It said.
Kara turned and faced Dr Gaius Baltar, the Vice President. "Mr. Vice President." She answered coolly.
"I was just checking to make sure that you were ok." Gaius said smiling.
"She doesn't want you, why do you keep doing this? When you were inside of her she was thinking of him, when she came she called his name not yours. " Said the blonde Cylon who had her head resting on his shoulder as she ran her hands up and down his body.
Gaius forced himself to stay looking at the young woman in front of him. He could feel Six's nails through the clothes he wore but his mind was all on Kara there was something about her and what he really wanted was to make her forget about Captain Adama so the next time she knew it was him and it was his name she screamed he couldn't wait to her Gaius come out of the sensual mouth.
"I came to apologise." He said smoothly knowing that he had to get into her good books. He could feel Six pull away from him and he knew even without looking that they Cylon was not happy with this turn of events. "I'm sorry for embarrassing you at the game, it was wrong of me."
Kara stared at him in disbelief and Gaius stared back and then another voice spoke.
"I hope I’m not interrupting anything." It said coolly
Kara mentally groaned as she turned and gazed into the ice-cold blue eyes of Lee.
"Nope, nothing at all I was just going to get some sleep alone when the Vice President stopped to apologise which I have accepted and now I'm going to sleep." Kara said as she turned away she hadn't wanted to deal with them separately and here they were both staring at her.
"Lt Thrace there was something else that I wanted to ask you." Gaius stopped her before she got through the hatch.
Kara turned back to him. "Yes what is it?"
"I wanted to ask if you would like to go out sometime." He asked softly.
Six, Kara and Lee all turned to stare at him.
"YOU WHAT!" She shouted in his ear and it took all his effort to jump and then turn to glare at her.
Kara couldn't believe he had just asked that here in front of Lee of all people, breathing deeply she turned to look at her friend his face was completely closed of she hated when he did that the only tell tell sign was the clenching of his jaw that he was not happy about this situation. Sighing Kara turned back round to look at the doctor.
"I'm sorry I don't think that would be a good idea, last time was a mistake." She told him.
"I know you think that and I know I wasn't the person that you wanted to be with." Gaius' eyes went to Lee and then back to her. "But I wanted to show you that we could have a good time and be good together."
"I'm sorry but the answer is no." Kara needed to escape Lee must have noticed when Gaius looked at him and she just hoped that he didn't put it together. "If you'll excuse me." With that the door was open and she was inside.
Dr Baltar stood there, Six was next to him smirking her hands on his body again.
"See Gaius she doesn't want you, she wants him." Six nodded on the direction of Lee.
"She'll be mine." He whispered to the closed door.
Six shook her head and her eyes flashed with anger. Lee turned and looked at Dr Baltar when he heard what he had said and frowned. Dr Baltar then looked at Lee with an appraising eye.
"Captain Adama?" Gaius said.
"Yes Mr. Vice President." Lee answered warily hoping that this conversation wasn't going where he thought it was.
"You and Lt Thrace." Gaius started.
Yep it was going exactly where he thought it was. "You can stop right there, what you do in your personal life is just that personal." Lee walked away but he stopped and turned back. "Don't hurt her out of some desperate need to help your ego I won't let you."
*****
Kara curled up in her bunk, she was alone it seemed that all the other pilots were either on duty or out which was fine with her. It didn't take long for her to drift off into a deep sleep her body and mind knowing that there were people around here who would protect her, they would keep her safe and one of those people entered her dream, his short hair, stunning blue eyes and a sexy smirk.
He smiled at her as he walked towards her; a towel was slung low on his hips, very low. Her eyes took in every little detail the water dropping from his hair and running down his chest, Kara wanted to catch those tiny droplets with her tongue, she wanted to taste him.
*****
Lee had finally calmed down and made it back to the quarters he couldn't understand why he was so upset about this he knew that he didn't want his friend to get hurt but there had to be more but he just couldn't figure it out. He needed to talk to Kara to make sure that she was ok.
He opened the door and saw her lying on her bed asleep, he walked over and stared down at her, he bent over and brushed the hair from her face. She mumbled and moaned, he could see that she was having an 'enjoyable' dream he wondered who was it in with her was it Zak? Was it Baltar? His heart hurt at those thoughts.
Lee smiled and decided to let her sleep he gave her a gentle kiss on the mouth and then Kara breathlessly moaned his named and kissed him hard and passionately. Lee had no defence against this their mouths opened and their tongues dueled just like they always were, equals one not giving up, them both fighting against each other. He lowered his body until he lay atop her of his hands slid around to the nape of her neck and the other skimmed her side, his thumb brushing against the side of her breast.
Kara's hands had not been still one hand was tangled in his hair the other and slid down and was cupping his butt, she moved her legs so he slid in between them and somehow she managed to free her legs from the blanket and wrapped them around his waist.
The hand that was skimmed her side cupped her breast fondling it and the playing with the nipple until it hardened under his touch.
She groaned and arched up pressing her core against his aching shaft and then they both moaned in unison.
That sound snapped Lee out of it and he realised what he was doing he was taking advantage of his friend. As he opened his eyes Kara's fluttered open as well.
Chapter 2
Lee jumped off her quickly as if he had been scorched managing to hit his head as he did so.
"Uhh sorry, I just came to see if you were ok." Lee stumbled over his words this wasn't a place he expected to find himself.
Kara sat there her fingertips rubbing across her lips; his taste was still there unconsciously she licked her lips.
Lee stopped talking when he realised she wasn't listening to him, she did that a lot but usually she at least pretended to. But as he watched the pink tip of her tongue emerge from that mouth that just a minute ago he had been enthusiastically kissing and his gaze followed as it ran along her lips making them glisten, he groaned loudly as his mind conjured up other images that she could do with her mouth.
His groan woke Kara from her daydream and she finally focused on the man standing there with his face flushed with arousal, her eyes roamed over his body she wanted to touch him and strip him naked but her eyes widened slightly as she stared at the bulge in his trousers. So he was affected as much as she was and evil smirk appeared on her face.
Lee looked down and quickly took of his jacket and placing it strategically.
"I have to go" and with that he rushed out the door.
"Maybe it's just sexual tension." She mumbled to herself. "We've know each other for a long time and we do flirt maybe it's got to a stage where we just need to do it, get it out of our systems. That's all it is hormones." She stood and paced around the room. "Well he is going to avoid me know, he's going to be uncomfortable and I don't think it would work if I just jumped him, maybe as a last resort." Kara kept muttering to herself mentally telling herself over and over again that is was only physical not emotional once they got rid of the tension they would be back to how the use to be and then she smiled. "Only one thing to do I am going to have to seduce him until he can't bare it anymore."
Kara felt more relaxed now that she had a plan all she had to do was put it into action and of course there was no time like the present. The hatch door was opened and in walked Dr Baltar Kara groaned he just never gave up.
"Mr Vice President what can I do for you?" She asked.
"I was wondering if you have changed your mind about going out with me?" He asked her.
"No I haven't changed my mind I'm sorry now if you'll excuse me I do have things to do." She told him briskly and walked out of the quarters before he could say anything else. She quickly checked to see what Lee was doing at the moment and he was on paperwork duty in his office, which meant he was alone, and the office door could be locked. Perfect.
*****
Lee stared down at the piece's of paper that littered his desk he just couldn't concentrate all he could see was Kara arching beneath him and moaning, the way her tongue slid against his, her taste in his mouth, the way she looked at him with more than friendly interest. He slammed his fist on the table, she didn't want him like that, and she couldn't.
Kara opened the door quietly and watched the emotions play across Lee's face and then the anger as he tried to split his desk in two.
"You need a way to get rid of that." She paused for a moment and then smirked sexily at him. "Tension."
Even though she didn't act feminine it didn't mean she didn't know how too. Kara walked towards him adding a little more sway in her hips than she normally would. Once she had reached the desk she sat on it sliding along so his balled up fist touched her thigh. Kara raised one foot and placed it on the chair in between his legs and leant forward.
"You seem a little tense Lee, anything I can help you with?" She said huskily and Kara new subtlety was just not her strong point.
Lee's face shot up and stared at her. What the hell was going on here? His mind screamed at him. Lee had no idea what was going on with Kara first they argued, then he kissed her, then he kissed her again while she was asleep and he could sometimes be a little slow when woman were coming on to him because he had always been career orientated but this is what she seemed to be doing but why?
Kara slid her foot forward until it touched his groin and Lee suddenly shot from the chair and he coughed.
"Is there anything I can help you with Lt Thrace." He said in his best CAG voice.
She walked over to him and stood right in front of him, any closer she would have been in the uniform with him but Kara didn't want that she was trying to get him out of said uniform.
"Oh I can think of a few things that you could definitely do for me." She slid a finger down his chest and then turned and left him alone.
"What the frak is going on?" He muttered she was definitely coming on to him but why now, maybe she had hurt her head, some kind of trauma.
Lee knew that she was attractive and has had sexual dreams about her but he was a healthy male and that was normal but ever since her sleeping with Baltar the lines were getting confusing and now the way she was acting was not helping things he just needed some time to think.
*****
Lee opened walked into the shower clutching his towel tightly, he looked around to make sure no one was in there, to make sure Kara wasn't in there. It had been a week now and she was everywhere, everytime she walked past him she would brush her hand against him, when she talked it was always be whispering in his ear. Everywhere he turned Kara was in his personal space she was driving him insane, but it wasn't just that when he went to sleep all he dreams were about Kara, holding her, touching her, being inside of her. He didn't know how much more he could take of this.
So he managed to schedule himself so he could have a shower to himself and some self-gratification. He turned the shower on and let it beat on his body, he braced one hand on the wall and bent his hand and felt the water cascade over him. His eyes closed and an image of Kara appeared in his mind, her hands touching him, roaming over his body, gripping his aching shaft. Lee moved his hand pretending it was hers as it ran down his chest, across his stomach and finally to it's goal.
Kara had pretended so sleep when Lee had checked in on her to make sure that she wasn't going to follow him, she had noticed that he had started to avoid her and also Kara knew that Lee had been staring at her with hungry eyes that devoured her, now it was time for the finally assault. So carefully she had followed and when he walked into the showers Kara had to grin she couldn't have planned this better herself.
So the pilot gave the CAG a few minutes to get naked and into the shower, then she slowly stripped of and snuck in. Kara gazed at the body the one she had been dreaming about for quite a while, she watched him brace himself against the wall and the she watched one had slowly, sexily and sensually slide down his body to his erection. Walking forward quietly until she stood behind him.
"Can I give you hand?" Kara asked.
Lee spun around nearly loosing his balance, Kara took that opportunity to slam him against the wall and attack his mouth. Lee managed to grip hold of her shoulders and push her away and he just stared at her.
Chapter 3
Lee held her shoulders in a bruising grip. Deep in his mind he knew that there was going to be a mark and that thought thrilled him. That underneath all of her clothes was something left by him and no one else would know. It brought out the alpha male in him, an alpha and his mate. His eyes wandered hungrily over her naked flesh and they became so dark with desire that they looked like the night sky.
Kara stared at him. It would so easy to get lost in those eyes and never want to leave, to get sucked in like a black hole but to be happy about it. It was thrilling being looked at like that by Captain Lee Adama. Most females who had ever met him wanted to get into his flight suit. Most of them had tried and failed, but not her.
Lee tried to hold himself in check. He knew he shouldn't do this to Kara or himself, no matter how much he wanted her. Kara was his friend, his brother's fiancée. He didn't want to be a replacement. But it was so difficult being near her, fueling his desire, not diminishing it. He wanted her more every moment, more every time. More of her as a friend, more of her touches, even in innocence. He missed her every minute she wasn't around. Even before, he had sought her out, but now he reached for her, like his lungs reached for air. He constantly wanted to touch her, hold her. Despite how it scared him, Lee wanted to be everything he could to her.
Lee wanted her just to want him, the man, not just something to get rid of sexual desires. The water cascaded around them, and everything else had seemed to have stopped. All he could hear were the sounds of panting breaths and the patter of the droplets as two pairs of eyes just stared at each other. Everything written in them but neither of them seeing it, too stuck in their own needs to see the writing on the wall.
Kara watched Lee fighting himself; she could see his jaw clenching as he tried to regain control. It wasn't often that he did actually lose it, but this time she wanted him to lose control. Kara wanted him to feel like she did, that he needed to be inside her more than anything else, that they could stop breathing and that would be fine but they couldn't stop this, not now. Suddenly another thought snuck into her mind, despite trying to deny it, it told her that this might never be enough. She would never get enough of this man. Lee Adama was her match more than his brother, more than any man she had ever known. They were complete opposites but they complimented each other. That is why they were good friends, the best she ever had. But that was no longer enough and she needed more, she craved more. It wasn't to go away.
Lee couldn't move. If he did he wasn't going to be responsible for his actions. He had to keep it together for just a little bit longer. If he just had a few more moments, he could walk away and this would never happened. His chest ached at that thought of never again seeing Kara look like this, look at him like this, but he had to back off. She was too important to him. Just when he thought he was getting himself back together, Kara touched his hand softly. It was meant to be comfort, to tell him that it was ok. This is what she wanted. That one touch was the last straw. He spun her around so quickly that it made her dizzy; her back was slammed against the wet tiled walls.
He pushed his body against hers and whispered against her lips. And Kara realized that Captain Lee Adama the leader was gone. Now in front of her was the man, the one who wanted her, the one she wanted. A shiver went down her body in excitement.
"What do you want Kara?" He asked his voice deep it seemed to stroke her very soul.
"You. Now" She said simply. There were no other words all Kara wanted was him to be inside of her.
That was when the dam was released. When he finally let loose all those feelings he kept locked away, it was like a tidal wave. Lee attacked her mouth with passion, with lust, with need, and with desire. All the small touches through out their lives, ever since they had know each other it had built to this point. It just had been too much. He saw, felt and heard her everywhere. She covered him like a silk cloth; her whole essence ran into his every pore until they were so entwined he thought they could never separate.
Kara moaned into his mouth. This is what she wanted, what she needed. No meek submissive she attacked him right back. This wasn't the time for slow or gentle. They had been building this up for so long that it was going to be hard and fast.
Lee kissed her deeply his mouth exploring hers; tasting and exploring. It was like ambrosia of which he couldn't get enough. His hands skimmed down her arms and then went to her waist. One hand caressed across her stomach his fingers barely touching her skin sending electricity through her entire body. Then his hand made it's way further down, finally making its way between her legs. She parted her legs to give him better access and he slid a finger into her. She was wet with arousal. Then he slid in a second finger, while his thumb kept flicking her clit. She wanted him now and that was what she was going to get. Later he could go slow and torture her sensually until she begged for him to take her again and again.
Kara tore her mouth away from Lee and flung her head back, hitting the wall, while a moan escaped her mouth. Lee started kissing his way down her neck, his fingers never stopping their movement between her legs, hitting that sweet spot, making her body shudder. Kara still wanted more her body moving with him trying to get him to go faster. He kissed, licked and nibbled all the way down to her breasts and then took a nipple into his mouth. His tongue wrapped around it, he nipped at it and felt a shudder run through her body. Her hands gripped his hair holding him tightly against her. She couldn't get enough; it felt like she would never get enough of him. This was just feeding her addiction; it was an addiction that she never wanted to be rid of.
"Lee, I want you in me, now." She ordered after she came for the first time. She wanted to feel his erection inside of her.
Lee could take it, he couldn't wait. Pulling his fingers out from inside of her, he turned her around and pushed her against the wall. Her breasts were pushed up against the wet tiles. He parted her legs even more and brought her bottom towards him. He held his erection at the entrance where his fingers had just been. Lee then whispered into her ear.
"Be careful what you wish for, you might not be able to handle the full package." He said sexily, his voice running through her like the water droplets running down her skin.
Then with one thrust he was inside of her. It felt right, it felt complete. It felt as before this moment they had been missing something. But as soon as Lee started to move all thoughts vanished from their heads, all that was there was here and now. The feeling of him pulsing and pushing inside of her harder and faster Kara thought it wasn't enough, she needed more.
"Oh gods." Kara cried as Lee picked up the rhythm. Her hands tried to grip onto something, but there was nothing except the wall, wet and slippery. She slammed her palms flat against it as the noise echoed around the empty room. Then all that could be heard was the slapping of skin against each other, the soft breathy moans.
Lee gripped hold of her waist and plunged deeper. He wanted to be one with her. Lee wanted to make her come time and time again. He wanted to hold of his own release but he never imagined it would be this difficult. He couldn't stop. He pounded harder into her, moved faster and faster, his thrusts becoming erratic, he heard Kara scream his name and it wasn't long after that that her name was torn from his throat as her internal muscles clenched around him.
The both of them panting they slid to the ground still joined emotionally and physically tired, neither of them had felt anything like this.
When Kara finally managed to get her breath back she moved so he slid from her body, turning to him she stroked his cheek and looked deeply into his eyes.
"Lee?" She queried her voice sore from the screaming. Lee watched her for a moment and then opened his mouth to speak.
Chapter 4
"Don't Lee." Kara interrupted him, knowing what he was going to say next. "There is no reason to feel guilty. We both needed this. We've always pushed each other's button just because can. With everything that has happened, let's just chalk this up to needing to find a release." The water still spraying over the both of them was steaming coming off their hot skins, washing away the sweat of the physical activity, but not the memory.
Lee watched her for a moment. "So you're saying that it was just sexual frustration." He waited until he saw her nod in agreement. "So now we can move on and go back to friends again. Is that right?" Another nod. He wasn't sure he had understood. He had just been inside of her and now she wanted to go back to being just friends. Could he do that? Lee stared at Kara incredulously.
Kara suddenly looked at him wide-eyed. It hadn't occurred to her until that moment that sex might ruin their friendship. To be truthful, she hadn't really thought much beyond jumping and seducing him. Recently, she had a one-track mind regarding Lee, but that was now over. It had to be. Her heart was pounding in fear now, not lust. Her blood was screaming through her veins in terror, not desire.
"You think that we can't be friends now." Kara whispered, afraid of the answer, afraid he felt that after, this there was no way they could be friends again.
We may have our ups and downs, but we get through them," he paused, "eventually." As Lee's eyes took in her naked flesh, the hunger stirred within him again. It was a one-time thing he kept repeating over and over in his mind, hoping that his body would start to listen before he made this situation worse. She only wants this one time. Lee managed to rise slowly, turning to look down at her with unsteady legs and unsteady heart. He reached out a hand which Kara gripped firmly as he pulled her to her feet, electricity flowing through their fingers where they touched. Their bare flesh almost touching, Lee forced himself not to take that one step so they would be flush against each other again.
Kara looked from their joined hands to the man in front of her, his blue eyes seeming to burn into her very soul. She was drowning in them, and for a moment, Kara didn't want to be saved. Unconsciously she moved toward him, drawn
"Lee?" She whispered, her voice husky, her body reacting to him again. Kara could feel the heat rising from Lee's skin while her hands itched to reach out and run her fingers over that smooth muscle again. It seemed like it was never enough for her, and her need got stronger with each little touch.
Lee watched Kara's face flush again with arousal. He could feel his body hardening. He clenched his fists at his side to stop himself form taking hold of her shoulders and pulling her to him, attacking her mouth with his. More than anything, he wanted to lay her back down on the floor and explore every inch of her flesh. "Kara." His voice was deep and sensual.
"So friends right." Kara said suddenly, shaking herself from the sensual spell and moving to stand under one of the other showers. She desperately needed a little space. Lee seemed to crowd her even though he wasn't doing anything.
"Yeah, right. Friends." Lee stood under the other shower and began to wash, sneaking glances at her when she wasn't looking. Unconsciously memorising her, every little detail that he could. It obviously didn't mean that much to her if she could just turn it off like that, Lee thought bitterly, but she was right. This couldn't happen again.
Kara couldn't believe that she wanted to kiss him again, to touch him again so soon. The sex should have satisfied those feelings. "It's because of what just happened, it's fresh in my memory." She muttered to herself.
Lee turned to her. "Did you say something?" He asked absently, mind more concerned with getting out of the shower before he did something really stupid like slam her against the shower wall again.
"What? Uhh no." The female pilot shook her head, water droplets flying from the tendrils as she did so.
"Well ok, I'll see you later." With that, Lee hurried out of the shower room hoping he looked calm while deep inside he had to force his legs to move. The desire to stay there and take Kara into his arms was strong.
Once out and into the changing room, Lee breathed a sigh of relief. When he was near Kara, all his senses seemed to be over powered and it was starting to become suffocating. Closing his eyes, he rested his head on the cold metal locker but all he could see was Kara moaning his name, her head thrown back in ecstasy, her eyes closed as he pounded into her.
"Damn." Lee muttered. He had to stop this and concentrate. Lee dried himself off quickly, throwing on his clothes trying desperately not to think about the woman in the shower. How her body reacted to his simplest touch, how she screamed his name when she came. Unbidden, a purely male smile appeared on his face. Despite the emotional turmoil, at this moment, Lee felt as if he could do anything. If a fleet of Cylon ships came, 'bring em on', he would take them on all by himself.
Lee stalked to his office, his body language screaming, and "Look at me!" I'm a man, I can take on the universe!" He walked straight and proud through the door. The people who saw him stopped and stared. They hadn't seen this in him for a very long while, so it was good to have Captain Adama back, the CAG, and the leader.
*****
Kara slumped under the spray of the water, her hands rubbing the soap all over her body, her eyes closed. She had watched him as he walked out the door and the back view was just as good as the front one. Instead of him leaving her Kara's inner desires conjured another scenario. One where she could still feel his hands touching her, his voice whispering in her ear. His hard body pushing against her soft one. His blue eyes staring into hers, reading her every thought, every want, every need.
Lee had known instinctively known where to touch her to make her body sing for him. The way he slid inside of her made her feel whole, complete. Deep in her subconscious, Kara had known sex with Lee would be good. He never did anything half way. Normally his only problem was over thinking but in this case, it seemed he had let instinct take over. Kara was amazed at how good it was with Lee. She had always thought he'd be gentle, but was she happily mistaken. He had whispered exactly what he was going to do, how he was going to take her hard and fast. Kara's breath caught in her throat as her memories started to overwhelm her.
Kara was abruptly pulled out of her fantasy when she heard voices coming into the shower. Quickly, she turned off the water and headed toward her locker, thoughts still dwelling on Lee. As the voices continued in the background, the subject of conversation caught her attention.
"Did you see him just now?" Said one female voice in a whisper.
"Yeah, looks like the CAG is back, which I am so glad to see." Replied another.
Kara listened intently while lacing up her boots.
"Gods, I don't care what I would have to do to be able to explore what's underneath his clothes." Said the first voice in a dreamy tone.
"Get in line! There is a whole list of people who want to see that…and more! A lot of the women flirt but he doesn't seemed to be interested so far. It only makes them want him more!" The second voice giggled.
Kara quietly opened the hatch and headed down to the hangar bay. Which women wanted him? Who flirted? Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, Lee wasn't a toy and they couldn't have him. Kara stopped suddenly. She couldn't be jealous! No matter what had happened, no matter how she felt deep inside, Lee was her best friend and that was all. She had better remember that.
*****
Days quickly turned into a week, and Lee had been more aware of Kara then ever before. They outwardly acted as if nothing had changed, but it had. At least for him. He could sense exactly when she walked into a room no matter how many other people were there. Lee caught himself going out of his way to search her out. What the hell was going on? He had to force himself to remember that they were just friends. The cravings for more were supposed to have been satisfied. Instead, the feeling were still there, maybe even stronger He wanted to touch her as often as he could, just a brush against her arm, moving hair from her face, a pat on the shoulder, anything just to feel her under his fingertips. It wasn't the same desperate sexual hunger, although the gods knew that was still there. Now it was so much more, and he didn't understand it.
Lee felt that now familiar tingling up his spine again and knew that Kara had just arrived. He turned and saw her saying something to the chief, smiling at something he had just said. Lee stopped breathing. She was breathtaking literally. Then the woman of his dreams turned toward him, caught his eyes, and smiled at him. Then it hit him. Frak. He had fallen in love with her. What the hell was he going to do now? Kara didn't want him like that. She had made that abundantly clear. Was he going to be able to keep this from her? Lee instinctively realized he had no choice. If he wanted her in his life and if friendship was the only way to have her, then he had to hide his realization. He smiled sadly at her; he could see the confusion on her face. He needed to get out of here. He needed to be able to breath.
Chapter 5
Kara frowned as she watched Lee stalk away. There was something wrong, he looked lost and alone. Her instincts told her to find out what was wrong, but her shift had just started and he wasn't going anywhere. She would just have to wait until she got back from her patrol. "Frak." She muttered to herself.
Despite the tension between them, they continued to work well together. Kara smiled to herself at the thought of his sparkling blue eyes, his smirk that could infuriate her to a point where she didn't know whether to kiss him or hit him. In her dreams, the kissing definitely won out. Lately though, her dreams had been unbelievably vivid. It usually started with them having an argument in the hangar bay by her viper. She had done something typically dangerous and he was reaming her out. At this point, she would be so angry with him that she would just grab him by his uniform and pull him to her where she would proceed to kiss the living daylights out of him. A long slow kiss in front of everyone and anyone. Kara was staking her claim on the CAG.
Kara knew where last part of the dream came from. Lee seemed oblivious to it, but he was the only one that was. He never noticed that when he walked around, whether in his uniform, fatigues, flight suit, or just a towel that he drew more than casual attention. Kara knew people had always stared at him. After all, there were a lot of nice things about him, but she had never noticed how the other women were looking at him. It seemed as if with each corner she turned, there was a woman staring at Lee, with varying degrees of desire on their faces. It was enough to make her want to scream, to hit something.
"Lt Thrace." A voice broke into her daydream; it was a voice that she had hoped to never hear again.
"Dr Baltar" She attempted to sound polite, but she could not control the rolling of her eyes. The man never seemed to give up.
"I was wondering if you had anymore thoughts on us." He asked silkily.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "There is no US, Doctor," her voice becoming cooler by the second.
"Well there could be." He smirked at her inching closer.
Six stood, staring back and forth between him and the other woman, mystified, trying to figure out what kept him going back for more.
"I've never seen you like this before Gaius, it's a little disappointing." The blonde stated as she continued to look the female pilot up and down. "I know I said she was fascination but she isn't THAT fascinating." The Cylon replied, coldly getting annoyed with his infatuation.
Gaius ignored her and concentrated on the woman that wasn't just in his mind.
Kara took a deep breath. "Dr Baltar, I am very flattered but I don't think that it would work between us." She told him politely, hoping that this time he would understand. She didn't want to have to tell the Vice-President of the fracking Colonies that there was no hope in hell of him ever toughing her again.
"It's Captain Adama, isn't it?" Gaius asked angrily.
"This has nothing to do with Lee." Kara told him truthfully. The problem was in fact the squirmy little weasel himself.
"Well, he is a very attractive man." Six said as her mind wandered to the Captain.
Gaius turned and glared at Six. He didn't need to hear that from her. He didn't want to know how attractive women found that damn man. Lee Adama could not beat him, no one beat him.
Kara watched him in confusion as he glared at an empty space. Dr Baltar seemed to get stranger and stranger each day that she saw him.
"So, does the good Captain know about the feelings you have for him?" Gaius inquired.
"My friendship with Captain Adama is none of your business. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a patrol to fly." With that, Kara turned on her heels and walked away without waiting for an answer.
"Give up on her, Gaius." Six whispered into his ear seductively.
"Never, she will want me and she will scream my name. Kara Thrace will be mine." He said determinedly. Gaius didn't quite understand his fascination with the Lieutenant himself, but there was something about her that called to him. He was obsessed with showing her how good he could be, how good they could be together.
*****
Lee stood facing his father, listening to what the Commander had to say trying to keep his face impassive.
"Are you up for this, Captain?" Commander Adama asked, deep down hoping that he would say no, but accepting what would most likely going to happen. Lee was his father's son. The Commander in him knew that the answer yes, the father in him was just afraid that he was going to lose his oldest son now. Those two roles constantly battled within him.
"Of course, sir. I'll leave straight away." Lee saluted and turned to the door. His immediate thought was that maybe this assignment would give him a chance to breath. Maybe he could think about what to do with Kara, maybe he could come up with something to fix the mess in which he had found himself.
"Come back, son." His father said just as Lee was heading out the door.
Lee turned and smiled at his father.
"Dad, if anything should happen to me tell Kara that..." He stuttered and then stopped. Tell her what, that he loved her? How fair would it be if something had happened to him? She would have lost two people that loved her. "Never mind," He finished abruptly, hurrying through the hatch.
Commander Adama sat there and looked at the hatch his son just walked through. Something had changed between Lee and Kara, who he thought of as a daughter. On board the Galactica, before all hell broke loose, he managed to get to know the tempestuous young woman. He was amazed that she and Zak had fallen in love. Kara was such a strong personality and a strong willed woman, Zak was more like his mother, more easy-going, more amenable. Thinking back on it, he wasn't sure if things would have worked Zak and Kara. Now Lee was a better match. You could see it when they stood toe to toe; they were more than evenly matched. Maybe, after all of this time, the two of them would examine their feelings for each other.
Commander Adama laughed. The two of them admitting their feelings for each other, if in fact they actually had them, was laughable. He was pretty sure Lee knew how he felt, but the Commander wasn't sure about Kara's feelings. Regardless, they were both very stubborn, and nothing between them would ever be easy.
*****
Kara returned to the hangar bay and climbed out her viper. Being on patrol had given her the chance to clear her mind a little. Now she had to find Lee.
"Chief, have you seen the Captain?" She asked Tyrol.
"He left a while ago on a raptor." Tyrol told her.
Kara frowned. According to the last schedule she had seen, Lee was supposed to be doing paperwork. Lee always tried to stay on schedule.
"Thanks Chief." Maybe the President had wanted to see him. The Commander would know. With that thought, she headed to the CIC to find out what was going on.
"Starbuck how was patrol." Commander Adama asked as soon as she walked in.
"Clear, no sign of trouble. Sir, where is Captain Adama? I needed to speak to him and I thought he was doing paperwork." Kara asked abruptly.
"Follow me." Adama said. Without waiting for a response, he walked toward his quarters. He knew that Kara would be following him.
Once they had returned to his office, he could see her eyes widen with fear as he indicated for her to sit down. Kara's throat tightened. Something was wrong when the Commander didn't immediately begin to talk. Had something happened to Lee?
"Starbuck, Lee is on a mission, a recon," William Adama told her. Kara could hear the worry in his voice as he paused for a moment. "We've lost contact. He hasn't reported in two hours."
Kara blinked back the tears that had suddenly filled her eyes; she wasn't going to cry, not here, not now.
"Uhh, ok I think I'd better..." Kara stuttered...
"He will be back, Starbuck." Adama said he tried to fill his voice full of certainty even though deep inside he was filled with fear.
"How do you know that, sir?" Kara asked. She couldn't lose Lee, not now, not ever. He was her best friend, he was…frak. Her train of thought stopped suddenly when faced with exactly what he was to her.
The phone in the Commander's office suddenly chirped. "Yes?" The Commander asked into the phone. "Sorry to interrupt sir but we have a Colonial ship that managed to escape from Caprica. It claims it is full of refugees and is asking to dock along side Galactica," Lieutenant Gaeta's voice came through the phone.
"I'll be right there. Send a detachment of marines down to the hanger bay immediately." Commander Adama ordered. He then turned to Kara. "Starbuck head down to the hanger bay. There is a Colonial ship docking, claiming they are from Caprica, with refugees. I expect a detailed report." He hoped that this would keep her mind occupied until they had more, hopefully good news about his son.
Kara nodded and ran to the hanger bay, her mind occupied on the situation with Lee. Her heart was heavy and filled with terror that she might never see him again.
"Kara?" Said an all too familiar voice.
So wrapped up in her own thoughts she never even noticed the people she walked past. Stopping suddenly, she stared into the eyes of Samuel T. Anders.
Chapter 6
Battlestar Galactica
"Sam." Kara blinked at him, suddenly feeling as if she were in a dream, and he wasn't actually here.
Sam couldn't help smiling at her. He'd thought that he would never see her again, he was very glad to be wrong. There was something within her that shone so brightly that he couldn't help but be drawn in. It was as if he were a moth to her flame, dancing close enough to be burned. Some things were worth the risk, and she was one of them. His smile soon dimmed when Kara didn't immediately smile back. He could see in her eyes that he wasn't what she was thinking about.
"Lt Thrace, I'm ready to start." Dr Baltar called from the exam area he had set up in a corner of the hangar. Gaius eyed the newcomer whom the pilot seemed to already know.
Kara shook her head, trying to concentrate, her head swimming with thoughts of Lee, the sudden appearance of Sam, her instinctive cringe at the sound of Baltar's voice. Nevertheless, the Commander had given her an order and she had a job to do. Sighing quietly to herself, she sat down next to Gaius, and as he started testing Sam, she started to ask the refugees what had happened on Caprica and how they managed to get away. All the while, her mind never left Lee. She prayed over and over again that he was going to be ok. Please let him be ok her mind screamed.
*****
Crash Site, Planet Unknown
The raptor sat silently under the cover of some trees as one young woman sat alone and afraid. She huddled close to the bruised, battered and bloody body of Captain Lee Adama. The main thing was that he was still breathing unlike the other 3 members of their team. As Cally huddled next to Lee, she wrapped her hands around her knees, rocking backwards and forwards, crying softly.
"Captain Adama, sir? Please wake up?" She repeated over and over again.
*****
Battlestar Galactica
The refugees had all finally been tested, including the babies. There wasn't a Cylon among them. Kara began collecting the information together to head up to the CIC and talk to the Commander. She had to be out there looking for him. When she had been missing, Lee had been out there searching for her. Kara was going insane here she needed something to do.
"Kara?" Sam walked over to her; his concern for her was obvious in every action he made, in each word he said. Frack! In the confusion, Kara had forgotten all about Sam's sudden appearance on the Galactica.
Dr. Baltar watched with interest, his eyes narrowing, incredulous that here was another man who was getting in his way. Gaius smirked. It didn't matter; he would deal with him just like he would deal with Captain Adama if he had to.
"I'm sorry, I just can't talk now." Kara was starting to feel claustrophobic, she needed to breath, the fear and terror at the idea of losing Lee was about to overwhelm her and break free, but she couldn't let that happen here in front of all these people. She knew she was being rude, that Sam had no way of knowing or understanding her behavior, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered right now except Lee. Kara had done as the Commander had asked and there was no real reason for her to still be here, no reason for her not to be looking for Lee. She avoided looking into Sam's eyes and quickly stalked out of the hangar bay.
Samuel T. Anders stood there frozen to the spot wondering what the frack had happened as he watched Kara Thrace rush off. This wasn't the greeting he had been expecting.
Dr. Baltar watched the exchange very closely. He quickly deduced that something had happened between this man and Lt. Thrace on Caprica.
"She's probably worrying about Captain Adama." Gaius told the young man as he stood next to him.
"Excuse me?" Sam said as he turned and looked at the doctor. "What's that got to do with me?"
Gaius smiled and indicated the empty hatch.
"Lt Thrace and Captain Adama are very." He paused for a moment as if he were struggling to find the right word. "Close."
Sam stared at the doctor for a little while longer, and then his gaze had shifted to where Kara once stood.
"Who is Captain Adama?" Samuel asked.
"Captain Lee Adama, good 'friends' with Lt Thrace, CAG, the Commander's son. advisor to The President and currently missing." Gaius said slyly.
"Obviously an overachiever." Samuel muttered bitterly, a bit startled at the jealousy raging inside of him at the doctor's words.
"Well, even when they are not working, they seemed to spend all of their time together." Gaius enjoyed watching the different emotions run across the other man's face. He watched in amusement as he could see the newcomer placing all the pieces of the puzzle in his head and finally solving it. Six moved forward, her blonde hair brushing against his cheek as she whispered into his ear.
"Trying to make him jealous, Gaius? Do you think he's going to do something stupid, and she's going to tell him to go to hell? Do you think then she would jump into your bed again?"
Six laughed and Gaius ignored her. A plan was starting to form in his mind. He had two possibilities; one if Captain Adama returned and one if he didn't. He was covering all his bases.
*****
Crash Site, Planet Unknown
Specialist Cally sat there, her tears had finally dried up and she just sat there, staring at the unconscious man. A small smile, despite the situation she found herself in, appeared on her face as she thought about Lee Adama. She remembered the first time she saw him climb out of his cockpit, his handsome face, dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. He had literally taken her breath away. She'd always kept an eye out to see whenever he came into the hangar bay, just a glimpse of him made her day.
Cally laughed out loud when she remembered how angry she got with Starbuck when the two of them would argue, but they both seemed to thrive on it. Of course, it was Starbuck who came up with that plan that succeeded because of him, which had led to The Hug. She always thought of it as The Hug. After that mission, when he had climbed out his viper, she had given him a drink and he had hugged her, keeping one of his arms around her shoulder for a little while longer. When she thought about it, she could still feel the heat through her overalls. Then there was the time he had saved her from being killed; he had shot the man who had hurt her. He had fought like a true hero. It didn't matter that he had no idea about her feelings for him, that he never had eyes for anyone but Starbuck. .
A groan broke her out of her reverie. She stared down at him, hoping she wasn't hearing things, but then he groaned again.
"What the frak happened?" He mumbled, his eyes still closed.
Cally moved closer to his side, her eyes red and puffy from crying but full of relief and hope. Maybe now there would be a way to get them off this planet.
"We were attacked by the Cylons sir, and we crashed." She said softly.
"Cally." Lee looked at her and then glanced around. He saw the three dead crewmen. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. More good men dead. His eyes then landed on the crashed raptor. "Can you fix that?" He asked Cally. When she didn't answer, he turned to look at her. She was just staring down at him. "Specialist." He said a little louder.
Cally snapped out of it and realised she had been caught staring at him. "I'm sorry sir, I'm just so glad to see you awake."
Lee smiled, realizing that she had been sitting here all by herself. "It's ok, Cally. Can you fix it?" He asked, indicating the ship.
Cally turned towards the raptor. "I'll do my best sir."
Lee nodded and gave her smile of encouragement. If she couldn't fix it, he would have to come up with something else.
*****
Battlestar Galactica
Kara lay on her bunk staring at the picture she held in her hand. It was of her, Zak and Lee. He had stood slightly away from them. He had to be ok; a solitary tear fell from her eye. She felt so alone, since the attack, she and Lee had spent so much time together that she couldn't imagine him not being across the card table or arguing with her about how stupid or insane she had been. How could she go on without him? She traced the image of his face gently, almost reverently with her fingertip.
"Please be alive, Lee." Kara prayed. "Lords of Kobol, hear my prayer." She started in a whisper.
"Kara, are you ok?" Sam asked as he waked through the open hatch of the pilot's quarters. He had asked a crewman where he might find her, leading him here. He just needed to find out know who the real Kara Thrace was, the sharp, vibrant woman he had met on Caprica or the cold, abrupt officer he met on the Galactica.
"I'm fine" She muttered her eyes, never straying from the picture. She just couldn't seem to react to anything other than Lee's absence.
Sam watched her carefully, knowing she wasn't ok. He just knew he wanted to hold her, help her, but he couldn't if he didn't know all the reasons.
"Kara, look," he started to say.
"There's nothing wrong with me!" She yelled at him.
"It's Captain Adama isn't it? What is he to you?" Sam asked.
"He's my best friend, that's all." She whispered, her heart silently screaming out in agony as soon as those words were uttered. She ignored the little voice inside of her telling her that Lee had never been JUST her best friend.
"I hope he's ok." Sam said quietly as he walked out. He knew that they couldn't talk while she had no idea what was happening to her friend, but he was a patient man, he could wait.
*****
Crash site, Plant Unknown
Cally had been working under the ship for hours and finally she walked over to Lee, smiling and wiping her grubby hands on her even grubbier uniform.
"It's the best I can do, sir. " The petite brunette told him.
"Will it fly?" He waited for her to nod. "Then it'll do." Lee slowly made his way to his feet, gripping the dog tags of the dead men tightly in his hands; he nearly dropped them as pain shot through his body. Cally rushed to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist to give him some support. She couldn't help but notice the taut muscles beneath his clothes. She bit back a sigh as he placed one strong arm over her shoulder to help balance him. Specialist Cally just couldn't suppress her blush.
*****
Battlestar Galactica
Kara ran through the corridors of the Galactica, a big smile on her face. He was alive and he was home. As she reached the hangar bay she stopped trying to compose herself. Deep down she couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it until she saw him with her own eyes. She came to a sudden stop as her gaze fixed on him. Lee was there. All of the sudden, she couldn't breathe. Her knees gave way from under her.
Sam grasped Kara under her arms as she suddenly collapsed. He had seen her running toward the hangar bay and followed hoping to have a word with her. "Kara, are you all right?" He asked as he hoisted her against his chest.
Lee was lifted onto a stretcher, his face scrunched up with the pain as he was moved. As he lay there, he immediately sought her out, his heart pounding with the need to see her, the one he couldn't do without. He had done some serious thinking down on the planet, and he was going to tell Kara how he felt. The risk in their lives meant that they could die tomorrow. He wouldn't allow another minute to go by without admitting his feelings for her.
He looked up and saw Kara hugging a man; it was someone he didn't know.
Dr Baltar slinked towards him and whispered in his ear.
"That's Samuel T. Anders, the pyramid player. It seems that he and Lt Thrace became very close on Caprica."
At that point, Lee's heart shattered into a million pieces.
Chapter 7
Kara watched frozen and for some unknown reason afraid that there was something really wrong as Lee was wheeled off. Cally was sticking at his side and his hand gripping hers. Kara's eyes narrowed what had happened on that planet? She thought to herself. The blonde viper pilot was about to follow when a strong hand landed on her shoulder.
Kara turned, her eyes flashing in anger as she glared at the person who dared to stop her. She found herself looking into the face of Sam, who just stared back feeling a little lost and realizing that he didn't really know her but desperately wanting to.
"Kara, I thought you'd be happy to see me. I don't understand what is going on here. I though that we." He whispered.
"I'm sorry, Sam but I've got to. We can talk later." Kara nodded in the direction that Lee had gone.
"I know you need to see to Captain Adama." Sam said resignedly. He really wanted the two of them to talk about whatever it was, but he wasn't as confident about Kara now as he had been. When he first arrived, he had no doubt that he and Kara could pick up where they had left off on Caprica, but with her behavior now, he wasn't so sure.
"We'll talk later, I promise" She said over her shoulder as she rushed out of the door.
"Captain Adama again." Gaius whispered into Sam's ear, making him jump.
"Look Doctor, if you have something to say then say it, otherwise stop playing these games." Sam was tired and fraked off.
"Well I know Kara perhaps as well as you do. Maybe even a little better, we were rather intimate. But I am guessing she was better at hiding her feelings for Captain Adama from you then she was from me." Gaius said, looking away like he was bored. "I told her I couldn't be second best and that she had to find someone else to be a substitute."
"What?" Sam said looking at the Doctor in amazement.
"Do you think she actually thinks it's you when you make love? No, there is only one-man Lt. Thrace thinks of when making love and she has just gone chasing after him. Maybe, she pretended with Zac as well." Gaius muttered thoughtfully.
Six watched with interest. "You are playing a dangerous game, Gaius. You are playing with their emotions and it could backfire on you."
"Who's Zac?" Sam asked, desperate to find out more about Kara.
"Kara's fiancée and Lee's younger brother. The late Zac Adama. Do you suppose that Lee didn't love her and just to be close to him, Lt. Thrace chose his brother to make him jealous?" Gaius knew that this simple little man was playing right into his hands.
Sam had no idea what to think, what to do. He felt truly lost and wasn't sure how to fight, let alone win this battle. He was going to have to meet this Captain Adama to figure out why Kara was chasing him.
*****
Cally sat on the chair next to Lee's bed. He had been in so much pain on the way back to Galactica, and it had taken a lot longer than they thought so Lee and Cally had started to talk. It turned out that he knew about her crush and he claimed he was honored to have someone as amazing as her to have feelings for him. She had started off mortified, but he never made her feel stupid. He had treated her feelings with respect. She had told him everything and because of her honesty, he had done the same thing about how he felt about Kara, how he always had felt about her.
She recalled seeing Lt. Thrace hugging a man in the hangar bay, and realizing how this would have made Lee feel, her heart went out to him. Cally was many things but stupid wasn't one of them. Yes she did like Captain Adama, but if they could become friends, she would be happy with that. She just wanted him to be happy.
There was a noise at the door, and the brunette looked into the eyes of Lt. Thrace. Cally leaned down and gave Lee a kiss on the cheek, even though she knew he had no idea who it was as he had so many drugs pumping into him.
Kara waited for Cally to leave and slowly walked to his bedside. His leg was in a brace and he had cuts and bruises all over his face and arms. She stared at his handsome face. His blue eyes were closed and Kara would bet that they had pumped him full of pain meds.
Kara reached out and brushed his hair softly, content to just stare at Lee.
"Oh Lee, what is happening to us?" She whispered as she stroked his hair.
Lee seemed to lean into her touch. "Love you, Kara." He mumbled groggily.
Kara sat in the chair that Cally had left, her body frozen.
"As a friend. He meant as a friend." She mumbled.
*****
Sam walked through the corridors and headed to the Life Station. He opened the door and saw Kara asleep in the chair next to Captain Adama. Sam had an overwhelming urge to talk to Captain Adama as soon as he woke up. He was more confused than ever, was it friendship between the two of them or was it more?
*****
Lee slowly opened his eyes and looked around. Asleep in the chair was Kara, looking like an angel. It was probably the only time she looked peaceful and vulnerable, when her mouth was closed and she wasn't awake.
The door opened and Kara woke with a jerk. She turned and smiled at Lee. He smiled back until he remembered that she had been in the arms of another man when he had returned, once again he had lost her.
Dr Cottle and Commander Adama walked in, neither of them were smiling, the air thick with tension. There was obviously something wrong.
"Captain Adama, Lt Thrace, I would like to introduce you to someone." The Doctor said.
A nurse walked into the room carrying a bundle of cloth. As soon as the blanket was uncovered, Lee and Kara both stared in confusion at what was held within it.
"Captain, Lt., this is your baby girl." Dr Cottle told them.
Chapter 8
Lee was sure that it was the drugs making him hear things; they couldn't have said what he thought they did.
"What the frak are you talking about?" Kara yelled at them.
"Ok, they did just say what I thought they said," Lee mumbled to himself.
Lee just wished they would leave him alone and let him sleep. He really couldn't deal with this now.
"Well, when the refugees arrived, we had the babies tested for illness and checked their DNA to see if there were any family members. This child DNA matched you, Lt Thrace and Captain Adama." The doctor told them.
Kara shook her head; she truly had no idea what to say. She glanced over at Lee who wasn't in any real shape to take this in right now.
William Adama looked over at his son, emotions swirling. He was happy to see him alive, confused to find out he had a grandchild, but concerned about Lee's current condition. Lee looked exhausted. Maybe they should have waited for a better time.
"Doctor, this will have to wait. Lee needs rest right now." Turning toward Kara and Lee, Commander Adama said, "We'll let you know when we find more information out, ok?" He laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "Take it easy Lee, I'll be back to see you soon."
Lee nodded and mumbled something under his breath, his eyes feeling heavy and starting to close as the drugs began to influence him.
Kara waited for the Commander, the Doctor and the nurse to leave before she turned back to Lee.
"Lee, we need to talk about this." She started to say but was interrupted.
"No, I don't need to talk about anything. Shouldn't you be with your new boyfriend anyway?" He said not even trying to keep the bitterness from his voice.
"My what?" Kara asked, her face furrowed in confusion.
"Anders. Dr Baltar enjoyed telling me how close the two of you were on Caprica. Look, Kara, please just leave me alone. I'm really not up to this." Lee sighed. He was exhausted, and he didn't want to say or do something that he would regret.
"Lee," Kara paused, trying to phrase what she wanted to say correctly. "About Sam..."
"Kara, I said NO! Now get the hell out of here, leave me the frak alone!" Lee yelled, his head reverberating with pain. His face scrunched up and a hand went to his head, rubbing it.
Kara reached out to touch him, wanting to ease his pain, but he pulled back from her touch. Kara's face paled, he had never pulled away from her before. Something was seriously wrong, and she was afraid that it may never be put right.
She stood and headed towards the door when his words came back to haunt her. He'd said he loved her. He had been asleep, but for some unknown reason, she had to know how he meant it. Lee had said it twice to her now, and the first time she had made a joke of it just like she always did.
"Lee, you said you loved me. How did you mean it?" Kara whispered.
"It doesn't matter not anymore." He replied so softly she could barely hear him.
"It does to me, Lee." She pushed him.
"Tough Kara, it's not important, not anymore. Now I'm tired so leave me alone." Lee closed his eyes and he could feel sleep coming.
*****
Kara wandered through the corridors of Galactica, but her mind remained with Lee. He said he loved her twice but she was afraid to take him at face value. Why did it make her feel so warm inside? Why did it put a smile on her face, make her walk feel lighter, even with everything falling apart around her? And why did it make her feel like she could do anything?
Then it hit her like a thunderbolt; she loved him, head over heels totally in love with him.
"Frak" She muttered when it came to her. Dr Baltar and Sam Anders. No wonder he didn't want to speak to her, to even look at her. She had been rubbing his feelings in his face. Suddenly, Kara stopped in the middle of the corridor. Several crewmen looked at her as they walked around the motionless female. What if she was jumping to conclusions? What if he only loved her like a friend. Or what if she told him she loved him but he wouldn't believe that, or worse think he was third choice, which wasn't true. Kara was willing to admit that Lee was always the first in her mind.
Kara then realised she had always been in love with him, even before Zak. He had been the only one that stood toe to toe with her, and it frightened her, so she hid those feelings so deep and for so long that she managed to persuade herself she only loved him like a brother, a friend and a future brother-in-law.
How was she going to get herself out of this mess? Well, first things first, Kara told herself. She had to talk to Sam. Kara couldn't let him carry on thinking that there was a chance between them. Then she had to fix the Dr. Baltar situation for good. Of course she couldn't forget about the child. Her smile grew so wide and so big it was blinding. She and Lee had a child, a baby girl. This was just too surreal for Kara to completely process.
*****
Sam lay in his temporary quarters, staring up at the ceiling. He was alone and his thoughts were on Kara. He was confused about everything and had no idea what was going to happen.
A knock on his hatch door broke him out of his thoughts. Sighing, he stood, walked over and opened it. Standing there was the woman who had completely occupied his thoughts.
"Kara, come in." Sam said moving out of the way with a smile on his face. Finally, he could get her to listen to him
"Uhhh, we need to talk." She said sadly.
Sam's smile faded. No conversation that started with those words ever went well. "You're in love with Captain Adama aren't you?" Sam wasn't sure where that came from, but he instinctively knew Kara had come to tell him that.
"He doesn't know, hell I've only just realised myself. A little slow on the uptake." Kara looked around the room as she spoke, avoiding his face, his eyes. She didn't want to see the hurt in them but she had to do this before it went any further.
"So, what are you going to do?" Sam asked, his voice angry. He couldn't help the sudden rush of anger. It was all Captain Adama's fault! If not for him, Sam knew he and Kara would be together.
"I don't know. Given how angry he is with me right now, I'm not sure he'll even listen to me much less believe I love him." Kara did look at Sam for a moment. "I just came to say that I'm sorry. I know that this may not mean much, but I didn't intend for this to happen. I guess I just hadn't accepted my feeling for Lee when we met back on Caprica. Please believe me when I say I never wanted to hurt you.."
"If you don't think he'll ever accept you, why even try? We can be together. I know that you could learn to love me." He brushed her hair of her face and bent forward to kiss her, desperate to keep this woman close to him.
Kara pulled back. "I'm not going to hurt him like that, not again. No matter if he wants to be with me or not."
"It's always about HIM!" Sam yelled at her, his frustrations getting the better of him. He could only stand by helplessly as he watched Kara turn and walk away from him.
*****
Lee lay asleep in the hospital bed as the door slowly opened. Samuel T. Anders quietly crept to the side of the bed and stared down at the man who was ruining his life.
Chapter 9
Samuel T.Anders stood looking over the sleeping Lee Adama, his face full of anger and hatred to this man, this man who he had never met, who he would always be compared to by Kara and always come up wanting. Sam would never be the Captain, no matter what he did, he would always be second but if he got rid of Captain Lee Adama then Kara Thrace would be his and there would be no one to stand in his way.
He had been so excited when they managed to escape, hope had blossomed deep within in him. But arriving here things had changed, Kara, well she seemed different at well. Sam had heard all the stories about Kara and Lee. The CAG and the top pilot. Where one was mentioned the other seemed to be attached, he heard talk how they argued one second and where laughing the next, how when she hit him he had hit her back and Sam had heard when they met up again after she left Caprica, they hugged and he kissed her.
Sam was jealous, the two of them have a long history; they had all these memories that no one can break into. They have their own jokes and from what he heard they could just look at each other and have whole conversations. That is what he wanted with Kara it wasn't fair that this man got their first. He had to wipe Lee Adama from her memory and replace it with him.
*****
Cally knew that she should be asleep but being back after what her and Captain Adama had been through, everytime she closed her eyes she saw the dead men, she could smell burning flesh and the fear that she was going to die their alone. Cally still remembered the relief she felt when she heard him speak and the slowly and it see seemed to her painfully opening of his eyes. Those crystal blue eyes that seemed to stare into your very soul.
Cally laughed at herself but she wasn't the only one who thought that to. It was amazing that Captain Lee Adama was totally oblivious how attractive he was, he didn't understand that women and some men stopped as he walked by or that sometimes when a woman was brave enough they would go up and flirt with him but he was always pleasant but never caught onto the fact what they were trying to do? How could a man who shaves himself and stares in the mirror not realise the effect he has on people, even more so now.
He had changed so much from when her first arrived on Galactica before the war, he wasn't a personable guy, and he had a huge chip on his shoulder. Then he became the CAG but he didn't really lead, Cally thought that maybe he hated the responsibility but now he truly is a leader. Lee Adama is a strong man from deep within. He is someone you can trust, but will also stand up for what he believes in no matter the cost and will risk his own life. Whoever Lee ended up with was going to be one very lucky woman. Cally knew it wasn't going to be here, she wasn't strong enough personality wise, he would overwhelm her, not that she would mind but he would eventually.
Cally laughed again and a few crew people that walked passed her stared. There was one woman who would be perfect and she knew that Lee was in love with her, now all Cally had to do was find out how Kara felt and if it was the same, well maybe a little matchmaking, they deserved to be happy if they got a chance to be.
The petite brunette yawned and she could feel herself becoming tired, hopefully she will sleep without any nightmares, but first she was just going to check on Captain Adama. Cally just kept having these urges just to check on him to make sure that he is safe and here. She sometimes wakes up afraid that she left him behind so she checks to just to make sure.
*****
Kara Thrace tossed and turned on her bunk, her mind running over the fact that she was in love with Lee, her dead fiancée's brother. Frak could it get any worse? What the hell was she supposed to do? But not only that she has the Vice frakking President panting after her. God what a mistake that was, sleeping with him and when she had called out Lee's name but did that put him off noooooo he wanted her more than ever.
Then there was Sam, deep down she never thought she'd see him again and she had felt so alone after that argument she had with Lee and needed someone and he was there but no it seems as if he wants a relationship with her but there is no one for her but Lee and he hates her at the moment.
"Boy have I really fraked up this time." She muttered to herself.
Kara had to see Lee and she had to see him now. Sighing she climbed out of her rack, changed to go and see her friend, her best friend, the man she was in love with.
*****
Lee's mind slowly began to wake up, but the hairs on his neck were standing up, something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what it was. His mind was still groggy from the drugs. His eyes finally forced themselves open and standing there was a man, it was the same man that he had seen hugging Kara. This was so the last thing he needed right now.
"What?" Lee started to say his throat dry.
"It's your fault, if you weren't around she would love me." Sam said his eyes filled with fury.
"Kara?" Lee was wondering if he was dreaming, he was sure that this man was talking about Kara.
"Yes Kara, if you weren't around she would love me. She loves you and I can't allow that." Sam said screaming.
Lee's mind had stopped at Kara loved him, did she truly or was he delusional but it gave him hope, the embers in his heart started to blaze, he knew that he could be shot down but at that moment in time he no longer cared.
Captain Lee Adama looked up just as Samuel T.Anders raised the gun at him and at that point Lee saw his life run through his mind and he waited, everything seemed to have frozen in time
*****
Cally smiled as her hand gripped the hatch handle as she pushed the door open. She would be glad to see Lee again, Captain Adama her mind corrected. This was just to make sure he was safe so she could go back to sleep knowing that when she awoke he would still be there.
*****
Kara walked down the long endless corridors of the Galactica, well that is what it seems like. But she froze in her tracks as a weapon discharge echoed through the hallways.
Chapter 10
Cally screamed in terror as the gun went off and Anders shot Lee in the stomach! Even though Lee had –tried- to move, there just wasn’t enough time; with his injured leg, the grogginess from the pills and becoming tangled in the web of wires and tubes, he just wasn’t fast enough.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEE!!!” The small brunette’s face paled, her heart seemed to jump into her throat and tears flooded from her eyes as she saw the man who had saved her collapsed on the bed, bleeding to death while she stood there helpless and afraid. He should have been safe here; she’d just come here to check that he was ok. This was not happening…
When Sam turned the gun toward her, his eyes were wild and empty of humanity; she couldn’t see anyone inside the darkness there to appeal to. He had –one- thing on his mind; to end the life of Lee Adama, that was all he wanted to do, and nothing would prevent him. As the weapon rose to aim directly at her; Cally knew if he fired, she would not survive.
When the door flung open and Kara burst into the deadly tableau, it took her only a blink to realise what had happened. Horrified tears stung her eyes and a killing fury rose from deep within her as she saw Lee’s blood; the vivid stain growing larger as it ran from the open wound. In the fraction of a second before she would have lunged to kill the madman with her bare hands; she saw Lee staring at her, the sad realization growing in those beautiful blue orbs and she couldn’t move.
Lee’s eyes were wide with shock as he looked down at his stomach and the blood flooding out to cover his hospital gown. Too much blood… Slowly he looked up, staring into the eyes of the woman he loved. Lee tried to open his mouth to speak; to tell her how much he loved her, that he loved his father, but no words came out… Helpless, regretful tears ran from his eyes; he just wanted them to –know- but he was slipping into unconsciousness, and he knew his life was flowing out of him with each drop of blood.
Kara confronted Sam menacingly, her narrowed eyes flashing with absolute hatred; her heart had stopped and the red of Lee’s blood was clouding her vision. She knew she needed to deal with Sam NOW to get help for Lee! Please let him be ok, I can’t do this alone. I can’t lose him, not now! Her mind was screaming in sheer panic.
She saw the gun raised at Cally and the fear on the young girl’s face. NO! They couldn’t lose any more people, there had already been too much death; family and loved ones ripped apart!
“Kara, we can be together now - Lee isn’t between us anymore…” incredibly, his voice was soft and full of love.
Kara couldn’t believe what she was hearing! This insane man –actually- believed that getting rid of Lee would bring them together…Dear Gods! She shook her head in denial, clenching her teeth as she raised her muscular arm… and punched him in the jaw full force! Sam’s head snapped back as he fell to the ground heavily. She ached to do SO much more; she wanted to wrap her strong hands around his neck and viciously –squeeze-, mercilessly watching the breath and the life leave him. But she restrained herself; her best friend, her LOVE needed her! This… TRASH could wait!
“Cally! Get the gun and keep it on him!” Kara snapped, rushing to Lee’s side and pressing her hand tightly over the wound as she screamed out, “MEDIC! Someone get a –frakking- doctor in here NOW! Man shot! MEDIC!”
Cally picked up the weapon and aimed it at the fallen man who was blearily, but carefully watching her. Even he could see in her determined and angry eyes that if he made the –slightest- move, she would pull the trigger on him completely without hesitation. He stayed perfectly still until the Marines came to take him.
*****
Kara paced up and down, nervously waiting for news. It looked like neither her nor Cally intended to go anywhere, so they both waited and waited in breathless, strained silence. It seemed as if it were an eternity.
Commander Adama hastened in; stopping short with his face blanching as he saw his son’s blood covering Kara’s hands and arms. Having sunk down at last into a seat; she sat there numbly, her face was deathly pale and her wounded eyes were wide with fear. William went quickly to her side and pulled her up into his arms, holding her tightly as they shared their mutual dread about what was to come.
For a brief moment, the Doctor looked out once to inform them that the bullet had hit the right part of Lee’s liver and they needed to cut it out and stop the internal bleeding. Apparently, he’d been somewhat lucky; it if had been a couple inches the other way, Lee would have needed his entire liver removed.
Kara found it hard to breathe through the stifling panic; her own blood was running like ice-cold water through her veins. She shivered, sitting there. The fear ate away at her insides; she had almost lost him so many times, but not like now, not when she hadn’t gotten the chance to tell him how much she ’d realized she loved him. He -couldn’t- leave her.
The nurse walked out and looked at them with very grave eyes. She spoke softly, “Captain Adama is in surgery, the shot to the stomach hit his liver and there is extensive internal bleeding. The doctor is doing everything he can.” She nodded kindly and turned away, leaving the devastated group in the waiting room to resume their nightmare vigil.
------
Unable to –stand- waiting anymore, feeling powerless to DO something, anything; Kara rose grimly from her seat. She was filled with violent, unreasoning rage and she needed to take out her vitriolic anger on something - actually, someone! SAM had done this! She pulled away from the lovingly restraining grip of Commander Adama, “I NEED to!” she insisted, and after looking deeply into her eyes, he let her go.
William Adama watched as the brave women he thought of as a daughter ran off, knowing very well where she was going. As a Commander, he should have stopped her, but as a Father…he needed the answers she would demand as well.
It was Sam’s fault, but Gods…that also meant it was HER fault too! She HAD to know what she did wrong to cause this attack on Lee. She couldn’t understand why the likeable man she’d met on Caprica would do this…but she NEEDED to know! Sprinting full-speed towards the brig; Kara felt sick, poisonous to those she loved…WHY? What had she done?
*****
Sam Anders lay on the bunk in the brig smiling peacefully. With no Lee Adama in the way, Kara would now belong to him again… He was so happy; he’d missed her so much, even in that short time! He couldn’t wait for Kara to be in his arms again. He would protect her and love her; she would be –his- love alone, always and forever…
The hatch was flung open with a loud clang, startling the sentry as Lieutenant Kara Thrace, nearly deranged with grief, stormed in like a bloody angel of vengeance. The Marine looked at her wild eyes and her clenched fists and his heart went out to her; everyone on this vessel knew damn well how close she and Captain Adama were. She was a tough nut, but a pilot of legendary talent and the young CAG had shaped up to be one Hell of a leader and an outstanding pilot in his own right. The freak in the cell had shot the CAG in cold blood, as he lay helpless in his hospital bed, incurring the infamous wrath of his Hell-bent protectress Starbuck. In spite of his duty, he had no intention of interfering with anything the enraged woman might choose to do; the guard had NO pity for the sick bastard.
“Why?” She screamed at him with a voice like broken glass, trying with every ounce of will to force the agonizing tears back, “What did Lee ever do to you, Sam? How COULD you do this to me?”
Sam slowly climbed from the bunk, staring at her uncomprehendingly as he neared the bars. “For us.” He told her, honestly confused at how she was acting.
Kara shook her head in vehement rejection, “There ISN’T an US!”
“But with Lee out of the way, now there CAN be...” Sam said, with earnest hopefulness.
Her mouth opened and closed as she gasped for breath, finally shouting, “There is NEVER going to be an US! I don’t love you!!!”
“But we were so good, Kara, I know you’ll learn to…” he was smiling self-assuredly, never doubting that one day she really WOULD love him.
“NO! I will NEVER love you! I HATE YOU WITH EVERYTHING IN ME!” she screamed. Breathing carefully, she lowered her voice to a tone of implacable determination, “ I LOVE Lee and that is NEVER going to change, whatever happens!” With her coldest, most contemptuous glare she dismissed his very existence, “You are –nothing- to me now…and you NEVER will be, you frakking bastard!”
The guard watched her warily as she stalked to the door, amazed that she hadn’t demanded the keys and gone in there to beat the man to death with her bare hands… He knew he would’ve handed them over too, he didn’t blame her. Kara paused at the hatch and then turned back to the prisoner, her eyes and voice as cold and empty as space itself. “If he dies, YOU won’t be far behind him.” she informed the still-bewildered prisoner; and with that, she walked out.
*****
William Adama paced uneasily, wishing he could believe this was just another nightmare, like the ones he’d suffered after losing Zak… When his remaining son wouldn’t speak to him, he’d had terrible dreams that Lee would die too, without them ever reconciling. Now, having lost one dearly loved son already, with a growing closeness between him and Lee, he discovered that it only made it harder to bear. This just couldn’t happen again; not now, please Gods, not now…. At a stifled sob, he looked over to see a young specialist he hadn’t even noticed sitting there. From what Kara had said, this must be the poor girl who had evidently witnessed the whole terrible thing and had held Lee’s attacker off at gunpoint until the Marines arrived, allowing the Medics to try to save his son. He was ashamed that he’d been so locked-up in his grief, that he hadn’t even considered how much the brave girl must have been suffering, traumatized from the violence and the fear.
She hadn’t asked for any notice, she just sat there, unmoving but for some trembling – like a sentry against death. He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a sad smile. She didn’t move or look up, rigid as a statue, so he knelt on the floor beside her chair and he took her in his arms like a child. As he began, in his low voice, to thank her for defending his precious son, she finally began to cry. He found himself grateful, as she came apart in his arms, that there were other people who cared for his son so much.
The door opened and Kara walked in timidly, looking to his face for any sign, good or bad, of a change. The saddened Commander could see the traumatic effect it was having on her as he shook his head to indicate the was no news; the young woman with the normally vibrant face and the mischievous grin was snuffed out like a candle…Her face was as full of fear as his was; they were both confronting the possibility of losing someone they loved above all others.
Suddenly an ominous flat, dull beep came from the operating room… Nurses and doctors scattered…grabbing implements and machines and tubing…the fast pace of purposeful activity that had been sustained for hours now, abruptly doubled in speed.
Pushing open the door, the Commander grabbed someone nearby by the hand and held on tightly.
“WHAT is going on?” he demanded with his intense glare. The young man he had captured looked terrified, “Tell me NOW!” The Commander said, his voice low and deadly.
“Your son, his heart has stopped, Sir.”
William Adama’s face froze, his heart seemed to stop beating and all that he could hear was that damnable flatline continuous beep, and the sobbing of the two women behind him…he let go of the med-tech and let the door fall closed. He turned to embrace them both together and his desperate tears joined theirs, as they held tight to each other.
TBC