With her head in her hands, Abby stared at the paperwork lining her desk, the lines blurring together. Sighing, she leaned back, surprised to find Apollo standing expectantly in front of her.

"Captain."

Apollo nodded at her, rocking on his feet.

Realizing his intention, she shook her head, "Oh, gods, I'm sorry. Kara's next door, bed four."

His mouth dropped open, "I—"

"Do you need something, Captain?"

He tipped his head back in surprise, "Are you mad at me?"

Abby sighed heavily, grabbing a stack of papers on her desk, "No, Captain. I spent the morning dressing burnt flesh," she stood, walking out of the office and into the sick bay, Apollo close on her heels, "And we have a fraking witch hunt. And now I have a date with Starbuck to re-bandage her knee, so if you can excuse me?"

Kara glanced up from her bed, raising an eyebrow. "Don't let me keep you, Nurse. I'm sure the Captain's much more entertaining."

Setting her papers down, Abby slid on her gloves, "No worries. He was just leaving."

Glancing to her right, she watched Kara's eyes widen at Apollo, her lips pulled back with suppressed amusement. Her shoulders tense, Abby continued gathering her supplies, listening to Lee's heavy footsteps leave the infirmary.

"Wow, you have quite a cold shoulder, Nurse," Abby ignored Kara, unwrapping the bandages around her knee. "I gotta know. What did the great Lee Adama do to make a sweet thing like you this pissed off?"

Abby stopped her motions, sighing heavily and meeting Kara's stare. "Must you?"

Her eyes widened, a faint smile on her lips, "You really don't like talking about Lee."

"And yet, you keep asking. You didn't mention a head injury when you came in, Lieutenant."

Kara smirked before laughing out loud. Holding up her hands, she smiled gleefully, "Alright, I give."

Abby rolled her eyes, examining Kara's knee. "It looks good. Better than yesterday."

She sobered quickly, quieting as Abby re-bandaged her leg.

"You did really well this morning," Abby glanced up at Kara's soft tone. "With the explosion. That was a fraked situation and you dealt. We're lucky to have you on board."


Leaning back against her chair, Abby closed her eyes. A thud on her desk jolted her. A pair of worn running shoes sat on top of her papers.

She looked up, her brows raised, "What's this?

"Those are running shoes."

Abby grabbed a folder, standing, "I know what they are, Captain."

He quickly followed, "It's Lee. And you can't ignore me forever."

"I can try," she called back cheerfully.

He maneuvered around her, standing directly in front of her, blocking her path. She glared at him, her jaw tensing.

Lee pleaded, "C'mon, cut me a break, Abby. I don't even know what I did."

Shaking her head, she whispered, "I don't want to compete with your past, Lee."

She moved to her left, hoping to pass him, but he was quick, shifting and stopping her movements. "You're not! Abby, I swear, you're not."

She tilted her head, her lips set in a grim line.

"C'mon, just take a run with me." Lee raised his hands, "Just as friends."

She squinted at him, "Just as friends?"


They started a slow jog, moving between straggling personnel still walking the ship at the late hour.

Hitting an empty length of hallway, Abby increased her speed, relishing the feeling of the ground hitting the bottom of her soles.

The world narrowed to her breath and the space in front of her. She sprinted to the wall, before spinning sharply and running back the length they came.

Slowing, she placed her hands on her knees, greedily taking in lungfuls of air. Lee stood beside her, his chest heaving beneath his top, his hands on his hips.

"You're crazy."

Abby laughed, falling to the ground. Laying on her back, her hands on her stomach, she stared at the gray ceiling, feeling spent and wonderfully exhausted. Lee lay beside her, mimicking her position.

Rolling her head, she smiled, "Thank you. I needed that."

"You know, if you were really appreciative, you'd tell me what's going on."

Abby rolled her eyes, returning her gaze to the pipes lining the ceiling, "What happened to just friends?"

"Friends talk. They tell each other what's wrong."

"So, we're really friends?"

"Among other things."

Exasperated, she shook her head, sitting up. He quickly followed, calling, "Abby—"

She turned her head, not meeting his eyes, "I don't want to play games, Lee."

He sighed, his voice tinged with frustration, "I don't either."

Abruptly, she turned her whole body to face him, "What do you want from me, Lee?"

"You." She rolled her eyes, sighing, "I think the question is, what do you want, Abby?"

Staring at the ground, she gritted her teeth, "I don't want to be one of many."

He snorted, "You're kidding." Unamused, she raised her head, meeting his skeptical expression. "The great Abby Wilson is worried about being one of many? Never would have thought to see the day."

She sighed, moving to stand.

Lee grabbed her arm. "Ab, just stay put for one minute."

Once he dropped his hand, she carefully sat back down, not quite meeting his eyes.

"You're here because you volunteered to attend a decommissioning ceremony for a defunct battlestar. I didn't even want to be here that day. And now, you're pulling nursing duty on an active military ship with no combat experience. You've seen things I haven't even trained for and you do it with grace and a sunny disposition. Hell, half my men and women aren't handling this as well as you. And their families haven't suddenly become president while dying of cancer. I only want you, because there's only one of you."

Abby swallowed back tears. Sliding her hand into his, she whispered, "I think I needed to hear that."

He leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek, "You're also sexy as hell. Did I mention that?" She shook her head, smiling. "I didn't? Odd, that's usually my first thought when I see you."

She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. She felt his shoulders sag in relief, his arms sliding up her back.

Tilting her head, she whispered, "Thank you."