Finally finished editing this chapter... phew!


"So… what were you doing out there this late?"

"I could ask you the same question" she grinned at the Old Man, while they both shared a knowing look. Sitting on his comfortable couch at that hour for a social call was a special occasion. The Commander had seen Kara by her viper, only minutes before Lee came looking. She had that yearning look Bill recognized all too well, and decided to invite her in for a chat.

Bill chuckled, he took a seat next to her and set two glasses of whiskey Kara liked so much on the table.

"I know you're still on medication, but I also know it doesn't mean a thing to you" he slid the glass over to her side. He had carefully measured the amount to a sum that shouldn't do any damage to her. Kara beamed and gladly took the glass into her hand.

"You sure know me, Boss" she added a smile.

"How are you doing?"

"Ah… you know… Good, I guess. Trying to adjust being a handicap… again" she remembered her time when she was on crutches.

"You'll be back in top shape in no time. Now… I heard something about a certain Captain"

Kara's heart almost stopped when the Commander mentioned it. Oh gods.

"C-Bucs Captain is fine" she tried to hide her nervousness, and hoped that he wasn't talking about the CAG. Bill let out a light laugh and took a sip out of his glass.

"I heard you left him. I hope this is not going to affect him being under your Command"

How did he know? Oh wait… of course he knows!

"If he makes pilot that is. But I won't let it interfere" she assured him.

"It's not you I'm worried about, it's him"

"He'll be fine, if now, I'll remind him who's in charge" she took a sip from his glass.

Bill leaned back, pressing his back to the couch, at least she had relaxed a bit more.

"So, was it the nightmare again?" he asked carefully. The sudden sullenness in her face confirmed that he had guessed right.

While Kara didn't talk to Karl or Lee about it, she had, in confidence, talked to the Commander about her experience at the farm. Perhaps it was the father figure in him that she needed, the confirmation that she'd be safe and protected under his wings. Bill would take a walk before turning in most nights, usually just to have a feel of his ship. But on one particular night he found her below the wing of her viper, staring at the underside of it. When she didn't respond to his call, he approached her, thinking she had hurt herself and no one was around to help, but he realized the horror in her eyes when he laid eyes on her. It was something he could never explain to anyone if asked. Horrified, he took her in, and it took a couple more weeks before she finally started talking about it.

"It was slightly longer this time" she said, her thumb made circles on the clear glass, while her eyes fixated on the amber liquid in it.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She took a deep breath before she looked up at the fatherly eyes of his, and shook her head,

"I'm okay this time, I think. I just haven't had it for awhile, and I've grown used to it. I think I made Apollo and Helo worried though"

"I'd imagine they would"

They talked a little longer about life in general on Galactica, just something to take Kara's mind off things. Bill too, enjoyed talking about daily life, it wasn't something he got to do very often.

Upon leaving, he gave her a hug, a gesture Kara appreciated very much.

Maybe it isn't so bad… Bill thought as he closed the hatch after Kara left. He saw the spark of life in Kara's eyes every time Lee was in the topic of their conversation. The attraction between them was so great that he could almost feel the electricity flowing through them, even when they were apart. Still, a part of him couldn't let go of Zak. He shook his head before turning out the light, and stopped himself thinking too much about the situation.

I'm too old for this.


Kara was proud of herself for being on top of the mundane desk job tasks. By day twelve she was used to it, and by some miracle her paperwork was actually a few steps ahead from Lee. She was off the pain killers, and she was doing well.

Perhaps not seeing much of Lee for almost two weeks had helped her compose herself a little better. He was still pulling double CAPs and taking the nuggets out for training, the only time she saw him was during reports time and sometimes just before she turned in. How he pulled it off, she never knew, but she noticed the change in him. He was somehow lighter, he was more patience, and more playful, which made his brief visits to the CAG's office for her reports more pleasant.

"I need…"

"Schedule" Kara handed a stack of paper to Lee before he finished her sentence.

"Yeah…" he flickered through the pages, "Wow! The whole week's worth?"

"Have you done the…"

"Nuggets training reports" she handed a brown folder. Lee took it from her hand, speechless. When she handed another one in, he frowned, confused, to be more accurate.

"This week's pilot training programs for you to approve" she told him.

He raised an eyebrow and added the folder to the pile in his hand.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done to Starbuck?" his confused look still intact. He barely recognized his workstation anymore.

"You hate paperwork" he told her.

"Still do. That's why I do it as fast as I could"

"I could get used to this" he grinned.

"Yeah, you're dreaming" she snorted. Her paperwork may be a few steps ahead, but she could only maintain it for a short period of time. Well, it was mainly because she was bored out of her mind, and there was nothing to do but paperwork and nuggets theory class.

"I'm done for the day" she told him as she rose from her seat.

"Oh, yes… of course. Thank you" Lee was still baffled by it. He watched as she turned and walked towards the hatch. He missed her, and wanted to talk to her, he had been waiting since the day he found out about Sam and Kara's breakup, but being a decent man, Lee waited, and kept his distance, giving her the time and space she needed to be by herself. He took a deep breath before he plunged to his next move.

"Kara…"

She didn't say anything, but she stopped to face him with a questioning look.

"Would… would you go to dinner? With me?"

She gave him an uncertain look and took a step closer towards him.

"What are you talking about? I'll see you in the mess hall anyway" she gave a nervous smile.

He ran his fingers through his hair, and down to the back of his neck. This is harder than I remembered.

'No… I mean out of here… dinner out, off Galactica"

She frowned this time,

"I don't think it's a good idea, Lee. I'm sure Dee would be a good company" she bit back the bitterness. She had heard bits of rumors, which she assumed had something to do with the pilots' curious gazes, that she had caused a rough patch in Lee and Dee's relationship. She didn't know to what extent, as no one told her anything when it came to the topic, and Karl was in the dark about the matter.

This time it was Lee who frowned, confused by her answer.

"Huh? I thought you knew… well, seems like the entire ship know about it"

"About what?"

"Dee and I are over. It has been for about two weeks now"

Kara's heart skipped a beat. So that's the fight Kat was talking about, she remembered parts of the conversation she heard. I'm an idiot! How did I miss it? She soon connected the dots and realized why the pilots were curious.

"I'm sorry, Lee. I heard bits about it, but I didn't know the full story. No one told me anything. Are you okay?" maybe it was the reason behind Lee overworking himself, she thought.

"I'm fine. It ended before it even started. Are you? I overheard the other night that you left Sam"

Kara nodded, she knew Karl wouldn't say anything, so Sam must have been talking about it to his friends. There was a moment of silence between them before Lee moved closer to her.

"I'm fine. It was a long time coming" she answered.

"Come to dinner with me?" he repeated the question.

Kara's mind worked overtime to calculate the right answer to that question as his blue eyes pierced into hers. He was asking her out… on a date… A date!

"Only because you asked nicely" she slapped on Starbuck's trademark grin and walked out before he could see her face turned red. Lee couldn't help but smiled, which stayed for the rest of the day.

Maybe there is a chance after all, their mind said.

Only because you asked nicely? What the frak, Starbuck? She mentally slapped herself.

With some luck they'd survive the date without killing each other…


To be continued


Okay, I'm a sucker for chivalry, courting and the lot, I'm trying not to show too much here, but I just couldn't resist the temptation of Lee asking Kara out on a date.

Anyway, it's coming to that busy time of the year, and I have several projects going at work at the moment. So my next update/s may take longer than usual. Sorry about that. Will post again as soon as possible :)