Chapter 3

A week later, Felix waited at the lounge for Anastasia to show up. Before she had, however, Gaeta received another visitor.

"So, I hear you and Dualla are becoming quite the item."

Felix turned around and realized it was Chief Tyrol who had spoken. "No. We're just friends- that's all."

Chief laughed boisterously as he took a seat next to Gaeta and replied, "Yeah, okay. Whatever you say, Felix. You forget that I tried to keep a relationship on the down low at one point too- as if that worked out."

"Hate to beak it to you, Chief, but I'm not holding out on anything. Anastasia's already with Lee."

"Like that's stopped anybody. You know, Lee has actually been feeling quite threatened by you."

"Yeah… I doubt that," Felix retorted.

Galen became a little confused at that statement, and inquired, "Why?"

"Let's face it: when it comes to the rich, handsome Lee Adama, women would rather go for him than me."

"That's not true," Tyrol insisted. "I'm telling you straight forward that I've overheard Lee talk about you to some of his other buddies at poker night, and he even admitted that he feels as though…oh… how'd he put it? Oh, yes… that Anastasia appears to be 'indifferent' and 'distracted' when she talks to him. Not to mention, Lee is well aware you and Dualla have been spending a lot of time together lately. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put two and two together. So, what'd you do that made Anastasia fall head over heels for you?"

"Nothing," Gaeta fervently claimed. "I didn't do anything to her. Just… I comforted her a few days ago because she told me she hadn't been feeling like herself. Isn't that what friends are supposed to do?"

Galen smiled skeptically and responded, "Is that what they're calling it these days: 'comforting'? C'mon! I may be a deck chief, but even I'm not that ignorant. So, what else? You can tell me, dude! Seriously! I'm not gonna talk about this with anyone else. I just need to know because Dee seems to have become exceptionally happy in a very short time frame. For gods' sakes, every time I pass her in the hallway she's smiling. Even you have to admit that's not like Dualla. So… I say again: what else happened between you two lovebirds?"

Felix really didn't know if he should spill his guts to Chief or not. To do so would be risky in that Galen, although he said he wouldn't, could tell Lee everything. Then Lee wouldn't be too happy with Anastasia. If that wouldn't be enough, Dualla wouldn't feel like she could trust Gaeta after that. Felix respected his friendship with Dee, and was going to try everything in his power to keep their camaraderie alive.

"Look. It's getting late," Felix asserted as he took one last swig of ambrosia. He then arranged his crutches in order to use them, and got down from the bar stool to leave. "I probably should catch some z's before tomorrow. Talk to you later, Chief."

"Oh, no, no no. You're not getting off that easy."

"Tomorrow is going to be a really busy day for me. So, I'll see you around, Galen."