Divided Loyalties - chapter 3
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"Raptor five three five, Commander Adama aboard. Requesting permission to land."
Adama looked at his watch. Frak! He's early!
Dee looked at him helplessly, making 'what should I say?' gestures at him.
"Permission granted," he said evenly, trying to keep his calm. Trust Lee to screw up the best laid plans! Laid ... hmmm ... laid ... And suddenly he had an idea. He gave Dee the sign to end the communication and walked over to talk with her privately.
"When does your shift end?" he asked quietly.
"1700hrs," she whispered back.
"Change of plans. It ends now. Go meet Lee and keep him occupied till the party."
Dee raised an eyebrow, a disbelieving look on her face. "Sir?"
"I know about the two of you - it's not exactly a secret. Find some way to keep him entertained for a couple of hours till the party starts. I don't want the surprise spoiled!"
"Yes sir," she said, smiling already. Never thought I'd see the day when Lee's father was ordering me to take him to bed! And she hurried out as another took her place at the comm.
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As Lee stepped off the raptor, the first person he saw was Dee, her green eyes glowing with happiness.
"Hey stranger," she said softly as he walked over to her.
"I didn't expect to see you here ," he said, smiling. He stopped short before he got too close and touched her involuntarily though. Somehow he had the feeling that a Commander shouldn't be indulging in personal displays of affection in public. He'd already found it uncomfortable before, while he was still on Galactica, but he'd noticed that attitudes towards him were changing the longer he was in command. He'd become separate from the rest of the crew - save his father and Tigh. Now his social status extended only to the highest echelons and he felt he had to act 'proper' around everyone else.
"The Admiral told me you were on your way, and I thought maybe we could spend a little time together before your meeting."
Lee blinked. My father suggested that? Okay, now I know something's amiss! But he collected himself and smiled. "I'd like that," he said, and they fell into step together as they exited the hangar bay.
"You wouldn't happen to have any idea what this meeting's about, now would you?" he asked quietly.
"Now how would I know that?" she smiled. "I'm just a petty officer - they don't share those kind of secrets with me."
And Lee remembered, too late, that Dee didn't have an ear into the President's world anymore. He flushed as he thought of Billy. He'd liked Billy - who hadn't? - and had felt intensely guilty when things with Dee were getting started, as though he'd only won be default since Billy was no longer around to be the competition. He hoped Dee wasn't thinking the same thing.
"My quarters should be empty now; usually everyone's on duty at this time."
"Let's hope so."
And they were fortunate. So Dee took off her boots and tied them to the hatch, the signal to others not to disturb those inside. They closed the hatch behind them and locked it, and within seconds were pawing at each other's clothing.
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Kara paced. The party was only an hour away and the butterflies in her stomach were going crazy. She walked around the room again, for about the fiftieth time, trying to make sure that nothing had been forgotten.
"Sit down Starbuck, you'll wear holes in the deck plating already," Helo teased, pushing her into the nearest chair.
"I know, I know, I just want everything to be perfect."
"It will. Now stop worrying already."
"I can't!"
"Yes you can. Go find something else to do, like take apart your Viper's engine. That ought to keep you busy for a while."
Kara punched him, none too lightly. "You're a riot Karl. A real riot."
"Yeah, I'm known for that." He wrestled playfully with her for a few minutes then propelled her to the door. "Now go - you're beginning to annoy me," he joked.
"Frak you," she said, smiling at him.
"You wish." He answered with the standard - a game they'd been playing ever since she'd come aboard Galactica and they'd become fast friends. Kara strolled the corridor grinning. Helo always had a way of lifting her spirits. She'd been no end glad to find him alive on Caprica. She decided to take his advice and headed for the hangar bay - spending time with her ship always had a positive effect on her.
"Take apart the engine - yeah right - that's a four hour job! What a jerk," she said to herself as she walked, thinking affectionately of him.
She passed by the NCO's bunkroom, saw the boots hanging there and smirked, wondering who the lucky people who were getting some were. She was almost all the way to the flight deck when she remembered that she'd forgotten to tell Helo where the birthday cake she'd made was hidden.
"Frak," she murmured, turning around and heading back the way she'd come.
As she approached the boot-clad door, it swung open and Lee walked out, closely following by Dee. Both were still hastily fastening buttons and straightening clothing, and a deep flush coloured Lee's cheeks. He stopped suddenly when he saw Kara and flushed a deeper red in embarrassment.
Kara stared him down, almost willing him to say something, but he remained silent. "Excuse me, Commander," she said, trying to pass by without touching him.
"You need an excuse? What have you done now?" Lee said sarcastically. Dee snickered.
Kara's stare turned to one of hostility and she shoved past him, giving him a hard elbow in the ribs. A nasty retort was running through her head, but she kept her mouth firmly clamped shut so as not to let it out. No need to get her ass thrown in the brig - again.
"I don't know how you stand her being so rude to you," Dee said as Kara stalked away.
"At least I don't have to anymore," Lee answered. But sometimes I wish ...
Kara stiffened. Bitch! Can't she even wait until I'm out of earshot to criticize me? Her eyes burned hotly with tears. She rushed back to the bunkroom and sat alone for a few minutes, trying to compose herself. Then she had to go talk to Helo - the party was due to start soon.
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"Here, you might need this," Kara said, handing Helo the cake.
"Shit! I'd forgotten about a cake. How the heck did you remember it?" He placed it on the centre table - Lee's table, along with a carving knife.
"Maybe I'm not as scatterbrained as everyone around here thinks I am," she retorted, forcing a smile.
"Not scatterbrained," he said, pulling her into a quick hug. "Just a few marbles short ..."
She elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ouch!"
"Try insulting me again. It'll hurt more next time." She marched off to the door in mock anger.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I've got a couple more things to do."
"Hurry back - it starts in fifteen."
"Yeah, I know." And she did. Only too well. Time to find somewhere else to be before people started showing up and pulling her into the party with them. That was the last place she wanted to be.
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"Come on, just a quick stop. I left something there earlier and I need to get it." It was a flimsy excuse and Dee knew it, but she had to think of something to get Lee to the pilots rec.
"I'm going to be late for my meeting. And you know what kind of trouble that will land me in," Lee said, a small smile on his face.
"What, they're not exactly going to throw you in the brig, now are they?"
He shrugged. "No, I guess not. Let's be quick though, okay? I don't want to keep them waiting."
"Fine with me." They walked briskly down the corridors, Lee checking his watch anxiously. Dee took his arm as they rounded the corner.
Lee fumbled for words. "Dee, I don't think it's really appropriate for us to be ..." But at that moment they walked into the rec room and whatever else Lee said was drowned out by a huge 'Surprise!' yelled as dozens of people stood up and began clapping.
Lee stood, mouth hanging open, shaking his head wordlessly. Adama walked up and clapped his son on the shoulder. "Happy birthday Lee," he said, and pulled him into a huge hug. Lee hugged back, tears beginning to form in his eyes. It had been a long time since someone had done something this special for him. And he loved it even more that it was his father.
"Come on, let's party already!" Someone shouted, brandishing a bottle of ambrosia high in the air. It was greeted with much cheering.
"Let's party indeed," Lee agreed, picking up a glass and clinking it against his father's. "I have a feeling this is going to be one of the best birthdays I've ever had!"
TBC
