Pairing: K/L
Summary: AU pre mini-serie. A major change in the relationship of Kara and Lee before the attaque could mean a lot for the fate of the human race.
Disclaimer: I do not own battlestar galactica nor any of its characters.
Chapter 1
"Sir, Lieutenant Thrace just arrived. She is requesting permission to visit the commander, sir."
Commander William Adama listened with great interest to the last information his petty officer had related. This was not totally unexpected, after all Kara Thrace had served under his command for a few months; however they had not parted in the best of terms. Her eagerness to see him was thus a little surprising and the meeting promised to be rather tensed.
"Tell her that she is to report to my quarters after the pilots briefing."
"Yes Sir." He was about to dismissed the petty officer when he remembered to ask him one last thing.
"Do you known when my son is due to arrive?"
"No sir, but I can asked."
"I want to be informed as soon as his viper is in approach. That'll be all petty officer, dismissed." If this order had confused the petty officer it did not show. He was well trained and refrained from asking any explication to his superior. But the fact that he and his eldest son did not get along was no secret among the crew of the Galactica and he was sure that this last order would give the gossips plenty to talk about in the next few days. He smiled to himself; at least they would have something other than the decommissioning ceremony on their mind.
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Kara was playing triade and smoking a cigar. Gods she had missed this. She was allowed to be for a few hours the fearless Starbuck once more. Starbuck, one of the best pilots of the fleet who did not fear saying to a superior ass hole that he was indeed an ass hole to his face and be damn with the consequences. Starbuck who had no responsibilities, no one depending on her. She had thought that she had long since finished mourning for her old life, but the bout of nostalgia that was at the moment assaying her seemed to prove otherwise. Giving herself a shake she focused all her attention back to the present.
"So Starbuck did you miss us?" Helo asked her with a cheeky grin.
"Nah! Not really, who would missed bunking in a room full of jack ass?" she replied smirking.
"And how do you enjoy your new post Lieutenant?" Colonel Tight asked. They had never been able to get along. He was a drunkard whom she could not respect and he saw her as a hot headed pilot who never obeyed her superiors. During her brief stay aboard Galactica they had come to blow several times. She knew he was goading her into giving him an excuse to send her into hack. But she had changed, had learned to control herself, beside today was too important for her to ruin it because she wanted to hit a superior ass hole.
"I like it sir, thank you for asking. It gives me time do things I never could as a pilot."
"I am sure it does." He grumbled. She saw boomer surprised look at her lack of reaction.
"Snap your jaw shut boomer and lay down your cards. Let's see if I can still rob you of a few cubits." She finished her cigar sending the smoke in Tight's face before gathering her winning. Helo reached out to take a look at her cards and made a disgusted face. "How do you do that?"
"That's my secret. You never know, you might discover it one day, don't loose hope." He pulled out the lollipop in his mouth and stuck his tongue out. "
"Oh, that's very mature of you Helo." She laughed. "Now if you'll excuse me children, I have a briefing to attend to."
On her way to the pilots briefing room she felt her heart race and her palm becoming clammy. She had not flown a viper since about a year and a half but that was not the reason of her nervousness. Lee was. He was due to arrive for the briefing. They had not seen each other in three months and if she was lucky he had managed to arrive early and she would enjoy some private time with her husband. God she had missed him. She couldn't wait for his comition to come to an end so they could finally live together as a family.
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Lee knocked on the hatch of his father's quarters. He had arrived a few minutes ago a little early and had been looking forward to a little private time with Kara before they were both separated by their respective duty. But as soon as he had stepped on the hangar deck the chief had informed him of his father's wishes to see him. He had no idea what it was about, they barely could stand being in the same room since the fiasco with Kara a year and a half ago. They hadn't even talk since that time and Lee was only present today because he had been ordered to and because it would give him an occasion to see his family sooner than planned.
"Commander?" No one was there; just great he had missed the opportunity to be reunited with Kara for this. He felt the usual rage at his father thoughtlessness start in the pit of his stomach. He looked around the place; everything was neat and clean, the epitome of a high ranking officer quarter. On the desk he saw several pictures, family picture of a time long lost when to the world they all appeared perfectly happy. After a moment he felt his father gaze on his back. Turning around he stared back.
"You've asked to see me commander?"
"Hello Lee. How are you?" Lee felt his temper rose.
"Is that why I am here? So that you can ask me how am I doing? You must be kidding me? You had a year and a half to ask me that." He almost yelled. The Commander did not react.
"We have to start somewhere, don't you think? I missed you." He said softly.
"Well you're the one who've caused the rift between us. You could have done otherwise. But I am used to your ways, what I can't forgive is the way you treated Kara. She did not deserve it. So maybe you've missed me but as you've taught me one has to assume the consequences of his acts." He did not let his father reply before asking "Will that be all because I have a briefing and I would like to see my wife and daughter before it." He saw his father hesitation but he must have made quite an impression because he was allowed to leave with no further argument.
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TBC