Title- Aftermath

Work In Progress

Author- PTBvisiongrrl

Part- 6/?

Date- 11-3-06

Rating – R

Pairings/Characters- Lee/Kara

Word Count-

Category- Short Story

Genre- Angst

Archiving- The Fallout Shelter, Apollo/Starbuck Fan Fic, All others please ask!

Warnings- Not really- just language…

Spoilers- Season 1 through the rumors of Season 3- its completely AU after that…

Disclaimers- Unfortunately, I don't own any of these characters, and make absolutely no profit from taking them out to play…

Summary- How do Kara and Lee reconnect after both losing spouses in the Battle for New Caprica? Can they?

I admit it, I am a review/comment whore. Please feel free to comment, even if it is to criticize.

I apologize to all those who actually read this story- Real Life had just intruded terribly on my fictional world these days. I do plan on finishing my fics- but you'll just have to bear with my irregular updates….at least until things settle down again.

Chapter Five

Kara made her way slowly through the steel corridors that had been more her home than anywhere else she had ever dwelled. The walls, gray and worn, nicked and scratched and, in places, scorched, were reassuring. She was still reacquainting herself with the Bucket, and each tiny observance that things hadn't irrevocably changed during her absence was a tiny step back to herself.

The walk to the admiral's quarters was brief, ever at her unhurried pace. When she reached the hatch, it was partially opened and she smelled a waft of thick, rich smoke. Kara paused, tapping three swift times with a deep breath.

"Whadda ya hear, Starbuck?" echoed through the opening.

A smile spread widely across her face. "Nothing but the rain, sir," she intoned as she stepped through and over the threshold, to be engulfed in Adama's firm, smoky embrace. It was the first real human contact she had had since returning from the planet, and it broke down a barrier she hadn't realized she had built.

"Grab you gun and bring in the cat," Adama whispered, his arms tightening.

Kara choked back a sob. "Boom, boom, boom-" she whispered back, feeling a hint of dampness grow against her hair near the Admiral's location. The unexpected emotion pouring out of him reduced her to shuddering tears for the second time today.

"Let it out, Kara. It's okay." Bill held her and gently rocked her back and forth like a baby. "You've been through so much-" he cut himself off as his voice thickened. Clearing his throat, he brushed a kiss against her temple. "I'm glad you're home."

"So am I," Kara agreed, extraditing herself from Bill's embrace after sheltering in it for a few more minutes and getting herself under control. Bill let her go, keeping his hands on her shoulders and staring into her eyes. She could not meet his; the guilt of leaving him as she had, the need to hide the damage that frakking planet had done to her soul, overwhelmed her for a moment. She didn't trust herself not to break down again.

Adama forced her to meet his eyes, pulling her chin and head up to his level gently. "You don't need to talk about it, Kara. I read the reports; I understand what happened to you. When you're ready, I'm here." A longer moment of silence, and Bill changed the mood quickly, turning to lead Kara over to the leather sofa and ambrosia still out from Lee's visit. He poured a few fingers worth and handed one glass to Kara, keeping the other for himself as he settled down, and indicated that she should take a cigar from the open humidor. He then motioned for her to sit, which she did, sinking into the deep cushions and sipping her drink.

"How are you doing with settling back in?" Bill asked in a rather bland tone.

"Aside from my quick return to hack," Kara shot him a crooked grin, puffing away to start her stogie, "so far, so good."

Bill took a long puff. "Have you caught up with the other pilots? Gotten the latest gossip?"

Kara laughed, blowing out smoke. "You know everything that goes on on this ship, I know, but do you really care who's thinking of frakking whom?"

Coloring a little, Bill chuckled. "No. But I like to know the state of my troops."

"I'm good, sir. As well as can be expected." Kara concentrated on her glass, studying the quality of the green liquor.

"'As well as can be expected' isn't good, Kara." Bill looked at her closely. "But I hope that getting to fly again tomorrow will get you a little closer to 'good.'"

The wistful look on Kara's face told him that he was right. Sometimes it was difficult to read Starbuck, but time had made it easier for him. She might not be his daughter by birth, but she had made her way into his heart, and he wished for her to be happy again. He had missed her laughter and humor in the long dark months of hiding from the Cylons and plotting the rescue of the colonists.

The rest of the evening was spent eating a mildly flavorful meal, the usual mush supplemented with some real vegetables, a fact that Kara was more than impressed with. Conversation grew easier as time passed, and Kara found the evening flew by. The time spent tonight had done almost as much for her morale as she felt flying tomorrow would do. The only sour note for the evening was as she got ready to leave, and Bill brought up the topic of Lee.

"I don't want to know the details, Starbuck," Bill slipped back into commander mode with the use of her call-sign. "But whatever happened between you and Lee before you moved to the planet- it needs to be resolved. You are going to be working together very closely again, and I don't think the rest of the crew can take the tension if you two aren't getting along."

She had frozen for moment, not sure how to respond. It wasn't an order yet- just a request- but she had the distinctly uneasy impression that it would become one if she didn't take care of it on her own. "I'll try, sir," was the only response she could think to give. Adama obviously didn't know the cause of their rift, but had guessed something of the depth of it. Hopefully, he also realized that she couldn't mend this fence on her own.

"That's all I can ask, now isn't it?" Bill smiled warmly at her as he walked her to his door, catching her in another fierce embrace. "I'm glad you made it back, Kara."

"So am I, sir," was all that Kara could muster for a reply, crushed against the Admiral's uniform jacket for a long moment before being released and allowed to leave. She felt the Admiral's eyes on her down the long corridor until she turned out of sight, and the memory of her welcome back warmed her as her way through the space-chilled corridors to the officers' bunkroom.