Only two days had passed since the papers had been signed, but Lee couldn't remember time ever dragging as much. The fact that he had only slept for six hours in that period was a large contributor to that feeling and he was only now getting to the stage that he thought he may finally be able to rest without his mind waking him each hour as it rifled through the recent events. He kept his eyes closed, trying to force his brain to remain as blank as possible, and he was focused on his goal with such concentration that he only just registered the tentative knock on the hatch. He rubbed at his eyes as he pulled himself out of bed, glancing at the clock on his way to the hatch then pulled at the handle. The light from the hallway insulted his tired eyes as it broke into the room and it took a moment until he was able to discern who had been knocking, the strong smell of whiskey assisting his deduction.
'What are you doing, Kara?' he questioned, leaning against the cold metal of the partially opened hatch, his brow wrinkled in a mixture of confusion and annoyance. 'It's the middle of the night.'
She scanned the hallway cautiously, taking a controlled breath before she spoke. 'I did it.'
'Did what?' he asked warily, taking a couple of steps backwards as she edged into the room. She glanced over her shoulder, taking her time to close the hatch as though the action was granting her more time before she had to continue her confession. As the clang of metal resonated through the room, she leant back against the cool steel, her gaze focused on her boots, and it was only then that Lee realised she hadn't looked at him since she had arrived. 'What did you do, Kara?' he prompted.
She hesitated, and for a moment he wondered whether she was having second thoughts about the visit, but then she took a determined breath. 'I divorced Sam.' Her eyes quickly flicked up, meeting his for the briefest moment before returning their attention back to the floor, as though ashamed of being part of a guilty confession.
Lee involuntarily took an extra step backwards, his exhausted mind having difficulty comprehending the significance of the statement as Kara remained unmoved from her position, and he knew she was waiting to see his reaction. He suddenly felt very exposed, standing less than two feet away from her wearing only his flimsy military boxers while her declaration hung in the air between them. He had been so angry two days ago, and had already questioned whether he had taken things too far, but he had consoled himself in the knowledge that scathing comments were like water off a duck's back when it came to Kara; he had assured himself that it was just another episode where one of them was compelled to vent their anger, and that within a couple of weeks, everything would be back to normal. He thought that it was just another indiscretion that would be filed in their history and never spoken of again, but now she stood before him in direct defiance of that belief. Since when had she ever considered any of his suggestions seriously? It was enough of a challenge getting her to comply with official orders, let alone take any notice of comments that questioned her strength of character.
He opened his mouth, as though on the verge of responding, but then closed it again before any words escaped; he wasn't quite sure he would be able to create an intelligible sentence anyway. The silence remained for a few more seconds before Kara's eyes slowly made the journey up his body until she was looking directly into his bewildered eyes. And even as she stepped closer, her gaze remained fixed on his; it was almost like she was testing his resolve; seeing at which point he would break away. There was the slightest glint of fear in her stare but she did not waver from her intent, her face leaning closer to his, and she didn't close her eyes until their lips tentatively met. As though well rehearsed in restraint, their bodies remained frozen in place, defied only by the subtlety of her lips moving against his. Lee couldn't help but stare at her eyelashes for those few seconds, blinking for the first time as the single point of contact was broken when she gently pulled back with her eyes still closed, as though savouring the moment for a little longer before suffering the consequences.
When she finally risked opening her eyes, Lee could see her nervousness; that she had put forth a challenge and was left vulnerable as she awaited his decision. And although his mind was confused and surprised and wary, he couldn't bear to look into those unsure eyes any longer, so he moved his right hand up until it moulded itself behind her neck, pulling her closer until his lips crushed against hers, expressing years of suppressed emotion in a single kiss. The feel of her hot body pressed against his was in stark contrast to the previous coolness of the controlled Galactica atmosphere and he wrapped his remaining arm around her waist, pulling her more tightly against him. It only took a few moments before Lee's confirmation registered in Kara's brain, and he then felt her fingers dart out as though permission had been granted to begin their exploration. Her touch moved up his forearms and along each bicep, his muscles flinching at the sensation of her fingertips tracing over them, and when she reached his shoulders, he felt the palms of her hands flatten against him before slowly making their way down his chest to rest on his abdomen as she used her mouth and fingers to physically map the contours of his body. He realised that her hands were softer than the last time he had experienced their ministrations against his skin, the small calluses that normally resided at the base of each finger resorbed through the lack of battle training and flying, and it was a jolt to his memory of how different things had been for her since her return. Her regular adrenalin quota was not exactly being met, and he was concerned that her isolation and deviation from her usual routine were impeding her judgement.
Although reluctant to disentangle their bodies, he pulled his head back slightly until he felt the cool air pass between their faces. The slightest taste of whiskey lingered on his mouth and he gave her a sincere stare. 'Are you drunk?'
Kara's breaths came in shallow gasps which masked the tone of her voice to the point that Lee couldn't tell if her words were laced with uncertainty or sarcasm. 'Don't tell me you are going to back out now.'
He looked down for a second as though debating his next move, and by the time he looked at her again, she was anxiously biting at her bottom lip. He gave her a short, reassuring kiss before he began to step backwards, half stumbling with her until they reached the bed and he laid himself down on his back, his fingers sliding under the armholes of her tanks as he pulled her down with him. Kara followed his lead as he shuffled further up the bed, climbing across the sheets until her knees were straddled either side of his hips before succumbing more fully to his insistent pull, and she ducked her head down to kiss him, her short strands of blonde hair tumbling until they framed her face. Lee extricated his fingers from beneath her top, running his hands down the coarse cotton until he could distinguish the folds of fabric that crumpled at her waist. He curled his fingers under the shirt and pulled on the material, deliberately letting his thumbnails graze over her sensitive skin, leaving a trail of goose-bumps behind them. He felt her tongue run across his bottom lip and he was distracted for a moment, leaving her shirt bunched below her breasts as his hands changed their course to cup her face so he could concentrate on the feel of his tongue dancing against hers, and he almost followed her lips upwards when they reluctantly broke from his as she hastily straightened to pull the tanks over her head.
Lee sat up, his mouth back on hers before the garment had even fallen to the floor, his fingers roaming freely over her pale skin. And when his hands trailed below her belly button, he was acutely aware that she was still wearing a lot more clothing than he was and surmised that he wasn't exactly in the easiest position to alter that fact. He shifted his hold to her lower back, slowly dragging his index finger along her spine and skipping over the back of her black bra before halting the movement to splay his fingers between her shoulder blades. He could feel the patch under his little finger - almost annoyed at its intrusion - blocking him from contacting more of her skin with his increasing desire. He turned with her, half pushing and half supporting her as they rolled until he was above her, his elbows digging into the mattress beside her chest. He allowed some of his weight to fall against her, wary in case he met any resistance on her part, but for once she seemed willing to let him take control. He heard the tiny clink of metal as his dog tag knocked against hers when he bent down to claim her mouth once more, and as his hand made its way to the rim of her cargo pants, he was sure that he could feel the slightest smile emerge on her lips.
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Lee was stirred from his sleep as he felt the mattress moving beside him and by the time his brain kicked into consciousness, Kara was already dressed and tying the laces on one of her boots. Her back was facing him and he could see the movement of the muscles in her shoulder as her fingers worked on looping the knot. Unsure of what to say, he decided to patiently wait and see if she planned to leave quietly or give him the courtesy of informing him of her departure. And then she stilled, her elbows resting on her knees as her head hung limply and he longed to know what was running through that chaotic mind of hers. He could see her ribs expand as she took a deep breath and then she cautiously stood, pausing half way at the soft creaking sound when her weight lifted from the mattress. She turned slowly and when her eyes were met by his, there was an immediate defensiveness in her reaction.
'Lee, you know I can't stay.' He maintained his stare, keeping his features blank; he understood what she meant, but it was still a bitter truth to accept. There were regulations and reputations and people other than themselves to think of. There was always something. He sat up and started to swing his legs over the edge of the bed, wanting to touch her once more before she left, even if to confirm her presence was reality.
'Don't.' He stopped moving at her statement. It wasn't harsh, but there was a definite firmness to it. He searched her expression for any clue to what was going through her mind; did she regret her actions or was she just being practical? Was there fear or guilt residing behind those dark eyes? Lee was convinced that half the time she wasn't sure herself of what she was feeling, so how was anyone else ever supposed to understand her?
She sighed as she took a step backwards. 'I have to go.' Then she turned and continued towards the hatch, only briefly checking the hallway before exiting.