19 Years Earlier - Galactica

Kara fidgeted on the medical bed. She kept glancing around the room, looking at everything except her own reflection in front of her. She knew she was acting like caged wild animal, but she couldn't help it. Not that she wasn't slightly feral sometimes; it's just this time there was more to it than that. She was a Viper pilot in med bay, waiting for Doctor Cottle to get back. She wanted to pray, but she wasn't sure if she knew who she should be praying to.

Because the problem was, she wanted this as much as she knew it wouldn't work, couldn't work out.

She was Starbuck. She was a crack-shot Viper pilot. Tough as nails, nothing was ever gonna stop her. Career frak-up destined to go out in a blaze of glory. She wasn't made for this kind of thing.

Was she?

Kara threw herself back on the bed, going into a boneless sprawl. What the frak was happening? It was one night. One Night.

One night of bliss.

And then the universe when to hell... again. Going back to Caprica, escaping form the Cylons, coming back to find the fleet around Kobol, escaping from the Cylons, finding the tomb, escaping from the Cylons. The Pegasus showing up, and as a change of pace, running towards the Cylons. And then the icing on her cake. The frakked up altercation on Cloud Nine.

Of course, it was that last incident that landed her here. Trying to diffuse the hostage situation, she had accidentally shot Lee. During the aftermath, one of the terrorist shot her, nailing her upper shoulder. She knew from the nurse that Lee was okay. But he refused to talk to her.

And out of everything in the last year, that had to be the hardest blow she had been dealt.

"Well, Starbuck…" Doc Cottle brushed aside the curtain and came into her little cubicle. "My least favourite patient. Shall we discuss your current record of damages?" He grinned evilly at her wince. "You nailed Captain Adama in the left shoulder which by the way, means you two will now have matching scars. Apollo is going to make a full recovery. He's been removed from active duty for a few weeks, but he will be fine, and he will fly again. Same goes for you."

Doc Cottle sat down on a chair and regarded her for a minute. The young woman was 24, and she had seen more tragedy than most people gave her credit for. He harrumphed. "Here's the pickle, kid. You know, don't you?"

Kara snorted. "Had a hunch."

"Well you are pregnant." He rubbed his forehead. "Four months along."

Kara gulped. "Is…it…?" She stopped, unable to put into words the fearful thoughts that were rattling around in her mind.

"She is fine." Doc Cottle hid his reaction to her facial expressions.

Kara looked at him, a mixture of wonder and fear on her face. "She?"

A snort of laughter nearly came out of the grumpy doctor. "Yes, Lieutenant. She. You are currently carrying a baby girl. Healthy and growing quite well, contrary to you." He frowned at her. "You are malnourished, exhausted, not mentioned bullet-holed…" He stopped his tirade, noticing that, Kara was sitting on the bed, looking very small and lost.

He sighed. "But that can all be fixed." He patted her knee. "Here's your other piece of good news. I don't have to ground you for three more months."

"Huh?" Kara hadn't been focusing on his words very closely.

"You were born on Scorpia, weren't you?" Doc Cottle flipped through her chart.

Kara looked at him quizzically. "Yeah. I was born in Barba City. I lived there until I was 12."

"Well Scorpion natives have a higher tolerance for G's pulled in a cockpit. The planet has a higher gravity rating then the rest of the Colonies. It's fostered an ability to function in higher vertigo levels. Most female pilots from Scorpia even carry babies to term in the cockpit."

Kara looked like she had just won a prize. "So how long in a Viper?"

"Another 2 months at least. You are taller so you won't fill out as fast. As long as you aren't queasy, mind you. Wouldn't want you vomiting in the cockpit. After that raptors only."

Doc Cottle paused and looked at her. "I don't have to tell you what a hazard this is."

Kara shook her head. She sat for a second, absorbing the news. A thought occurred to her. "Do you know how I got pregnant?"

Doc Cottle snorted. "You don't? I should think they covered Birds & Bees in the Academy."

Kara glared at him. "Time frame!" She clenched her fist, hoping against hope.

"Best guess?" Doc Cottle gave her a knowing glance. "Someone enjoyed themselves Colonial Night."