The Ties That Bind

oooooooooooooooo

"You know, this would be so much easier if we were on the same ship," Dee murmured, breath tickling Lee's chest. He was still breathing heavily and there was a sheen of sweat on his skin in the aftermath of their lovemaking.

"True, true." He ran his fingers softly down her back, tracing the ridges of her spine and smiling as she shivered with pleasure. "You're a woman of wisdom, you know that?"

She lifted her head and smiled at him flirtatiously. "You didn't know that already? You really are a little slow on the uptake Commander."

"Insulting your superior officers? Really Dee, I never expected that from you. Starbuck, yes, but you ..."

She stiffened at the mention of Kara's name, as she always did. No need to worry about her anymore, she thought. She's gone - history - married and living on that miserable rock now. Lee is all mine - finally.

"Only when I know they're not going to call me on it," she smiled, but it lacked warmth now. She got up off him and began to dress.

Lee followed her lead, somewhat unwillingly, but after pulling on his underwear, he sat back down on the edge of the bunk.

"Come on - our time's almost up," she said, throwing his uniform perfectly into his lap.

"I know," he sighed, standing up to finish dressing.

As Dee grabbed the door she turned back towards him. "I was serious you know. This would be easier if we were on the same ship."

"Yes, but we're not," Lee objected.

"You're a Commander remember? You could do something about that," she hinted. "I'll see you next time okay?" Then she left and pulled the door shut behind her.

Lee sat back down with a sigh. She was right, but he felt uncomfortable asking his father to transfer her to Pegasus. True, many personnel changes were occurring now that people were settling on the planet, but so many of his father's trusted officers were leaving that he felt bad for trying to take one more away. And how exactly would he explain wanting her particularly? Lee knew there were rumours about the two of them floating around the ship - didn't know if his father had heard them yet - but he was enough of a professional officer to know that transferring someone for personal reasons was out of the question.

So what was he to do?

He wished he had someone to talk it over with, but the only person he ever talked to about personal things was Dee herself. Once upon a time I would have confided in Kara, he thought. But Kara was gone - moved to the planet with him - the man she claimed to be in love with. Deserter, he thought angrily. I can't believe she left us for him! Okay, so he's an attractive guy, probably good in bed, but she was a part of us, a part of our crew, our family - how could she just turn her back on us like that? But he had to push back the anger he felt every time he thought of her, every time he looked into his father's eyes and saw the pain there. Kara's betrayal had hurt him far more than it had hurt Lee, which was damn near impossible given how hurt Lee had been. Still am, he had to admit to himself. Even though she'd been gone a couple of months, the pain of her apparent lack of caring for him and his father still rankled.

As he strode into CIC several minutes later, his father walked over to meet him.

"Can I have a word Lee?" he asked quietly, inclining his head slightly towards the door.

"Of course," Lee answered promptly.

They walked out together and were comfortably silent for a few minutes as they strode through Galactica's quiet corridors.

"I have another crew member I'd like to transfer to Pegasus," Adama began.

"Okay, who is it?"

"Petty Officer Dualla."

"What?" Lee stopped dead, but his heart kept going - pounding faster and faster. Had she said something? Had she asked for the transfer?

Apparently not, he guessed, as his father continued. "It's proving to be tough juggling crew members now, and I was planning to send Helo to be your CAG, but he's requested to stay here."

Lee nodded - he knew the situation only too well.

"i don't need him as CAG here, but he has too much experience to settle for anything less. So I've decided to promote him to XO and Chief Communications Officer. Your XO is a pretty damn good pilot from what I've read in Starbuck's reports, so I'd like him to become Pegasus' CAG, and Dee can replace him. If you agree of course."

Lee had been watching his father narrowly and at the mention of Kara's name he saw the familiar shadow cast itself over his face. He felt another stab of pain at the thought of his father's suffering, but pushed it aside to concentrate on the matter at hand.

"Um, I don't know what to say," Lee offered, rather taken aback with his father's proposal.

"Do you think she can handle it?" Adama asked bluntly.

"I'm sure she can - she's a qualified officer. I trust your judgment." Lee conjured up a mental picture of her standing at the comm in full uniform, so as not to blush when he thought of her in more ... personal circumstances.

"Good. I'll give her some time to collect her things then, after I inform her of the transfer, and she'll be aboard your ship by 0800hrs tomorrow."

"Yes sir," Lee said, nodding, heart still pounding furiously.

Adama glanced at his watch. "Your shuttle is due to leave soon, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I was just stopping by to say goodbye before I left."

"Take care Lee." Adama pulled him into a sudden hug. "I'm proud of you son," he whispered, squeezing tightly.

For a moment Lee stood shocked, then he hugged back. "Thanks dad," he whispered, and they broke contact.

"Now get going. I wouldn't want you to miss your ride back."

"No sir," Lee smiled, saluting him and heading off towards the flight deck.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Lee paced his office, wondering if the butterflies in his stomach would ever cease tormenting him. Dualla was due to arrive on the next shuttle, and he was still conflicted about whether or not he really wanted her here. It wasn't that he didn't care about her, he really did, but he also felt it was highly inappropriate for a Commander to be involved in a personal relationship with his XO. He and Kara had already been too close during their time as CAG and deputy CAG, and it had caused some serious friction in their working relationship. And they hadn't even been sleeping together. No, she was busy sleeping with everyone else but me, he reminded himself, still feeling bitter about it. Of course, nearly everything that reminded him of Kara caused him anger or hurt. Glad she's out of my life! At least I can be happy now without her frakking it up on me!

But that didn't solve the problem of what to do with Dee. There was no doubt she was going to want to up the ante in their relationship once they were able to see each other daily again. She'd been hinting as much for weeks already.

He headed to the hangar bay to meet her ship, as any good Commander would do upon welcoming his new XO on board, still debating what to do.

"Permission to come aboard sir?" she asked, a trace of a cheeky smirk visible on her face.

"Permission granted." Lee smiled noncomittally.

"Perhaps we should head to your office and you can brief me as to my new duties sir," she offered with a smile.

Lee sighed - already she was taking over!

TBC