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So Long and Goodbye
By Eugena
Rated: T
Post "Maelstrom"
Second story in the Realizing series
Tigh looked on, shocked. His one eye threatened to water. For all the times in the past he had hated Kara, then for all the times he had grown warm to her on New Caprica, he realized he had no one left. He lost his wife, but after that he looked after Kara, who reminded him of himself. He tried to look after her, especially after what he discovered about Leoben.
Now he would have to look out after the Old Man and Apollo. She would have wanted him to. Though he had no children, since New Caprica, Kara had been the awkward niece. Now he must look after her would-be father-in-law and husband.
It had been so clear to so many. For years, he knew nothing could stop Starbuck and Apollo. Until the cylons changed things and gave them a rose-colored life as a broken Kara and Lee.
Tigh remained in CIC as Adama trudged out of CIC toward the hangar. Helo followed.
Dee hung her head low, knowing that, in many ways, she would never see her husband again.
Gaeta looked on. A strange weight fell upon him, grief as he had never imagined it. Something in his head clicked.
oOo
An eerie silence fell upon the hanger deck as Apollo landed. Not even his landing gear appeared to make much sound. The silence in everyone's heads was deafening.
On any day, a pilot may die. But this was no pilot. This was a legend. Starbuck, the other half of Apollo.
Now Apollo landed in the hanger alone.
The Chief helped him out of the viper. He said nothing.
Lee caught his father's eye. He saluted him. Lee raised his hand, but could not finish the salute.
He fell upon his knees and wept.
Adama bent down to him. He joined in his son's tears.
The others in the hangar began to step away from them, giving them their room.
Helo looked on. Athena stood in the distance.
You have a destiny, Kara. They can put you with someone you like. Athena remembered saying those words to her after she escaped The Farm.
The man she loved stood in front of them, but then again, the man she loved was dead. He died with her.
oOo
Caprica Six fell into an uneasy sleep. She dreamt she was back on the Cylon Baseship. She walked down the corridors, but none of the other Six models would look at her. The Brother Cavils hissed their disapproval.
Finally rounding a corner, she found the Boomer Eight speaking in hushed tones to a Simon.
She heard weeping that tore her soul.
She pushed past Boomer and Simon and saw Leoben kneeling on the floor. He sobbed into a woman's blond hair. Caprica could not make out the woman's features from her burnt flesh.
Caprica reached forward to touch Leoben's shoulder. His pain flowed into her, and she could hear his voice: "This is love."