"What the hell?. Gaeta! What the hell is going on up there?" Tigh demanded into the radio he was wearing.
"Sir! We have a Draedus contact. It's a Cylon Raider." Gaeta paused for a few seconds. "The Cylon raider sir. Lt Starbuck's raider sir!" Gaeta shouted into his mic.
"Holy frak. She did it. She actually did it!" Tigh exclaimed.
Laura turned suddenly to Tigh Tigh's expression could only mean one thing. Starbuck had returned. ."She made it?" Laura half asked and half declared astonished.
"Yeah!" Laura almost jumped for joy.
Tigh had to smile at the very undignified, but very appropriate response.
"Gaeta, patch me through on an encrypted channel. I want an escort into the Starboard landing bay. Get me a guard detail down there with heavy armament."
Laura looked surprised but said nothing. She assumed he had his reasons.
"Galactica actual, this is Starbuck. I've brought the cat home sir." Tigh could almost hear her smile through the radio.
He wanted to do the same. She drove him insane, but he was very glad to hear her voice. Life just got a whole lot better with her return. Things might actually work now.
"Lt., it's Tigh .actual is unavailable. I'll have to do for now. Come into the Starboard landing bay."
"Roger that Galactica actual, on all counts. Sir is he..? " Starbuck stopped herself. She didn't want to discuss this in front of Sharon. She would find out soon enough. "Sir, we have company. I need a medical team and an armed escort. Sir, Lt Valeri is a toaster. I have her double here sir. Sir, she claims she's pregnant by Helo.. Helo confirms the story, sir."
Tigh's face looked shocked and pleased at the same time. Starbuck had given him a token of respect. Actual was the word for the Commander of the vessel. He never expected she would use it in reference to him.
"Roger that Starbuck. We'll meet you there. Galactica out."
Tigh turned and he was actually smiling. Something Laura couldn't ever remember seeing.
"Madam President. It appears someone heard your prayers. You'll have to tell me how you do that sometime."
:"Doctor I don't think you're going to sleep quite yet. Starbuck requests a medical team down in starboard landing bay. Doctor,. I need to speak with you alone. Madam President why don't you stay here."
"Madam President. I need to run a few tests on you. They can wait until later if you want."
"No, do them now if you have the people. It doesn't look like I'll be sleeping for a while yet."
"OK. I'll order the scans for you. You can grab a bed here if you want to rest."
Laura nodded and followed the doctor from his office. He motioned to a medical tech, and gave her orders for several scans.
Tigh waited and repeated what Starbuck had told him. If Laura had seen the doctor's face, she would have insisted on accompanying them to the landing bay.
Tigh, the medical team, and an armed marine escort met the raider in Starboard bay.
Starbuck crawled slowly from the raider. As she stood upright, she noticed neither the Commander nor Lee there. What the hell happened while she was gone? At the very least she expected Tigh to ream her for stealing the raider. He almost looked happy to see her. She couldn't have been gone that long.
"Sir? " she said slightly unsteady on her feet.
Tigh grabbed her as she swayed slightly. "Here. Sit down before you fall down." Tigh guided her to a medical gurney.
"Come out of the raider." he commanded.
Helo was next. The astonished deck crew broke out in smiles and cheers.
Tigh turned to Starbuck. "He's real?"
Starbuck nodded unable to say anything for a moment. Now that she was home, all she wanted to do was see Lee and the Commander and collapse.
"As far as I can tell. I would use the Cylon detector to be sure sir."
Finally Sharon crawled out of the ship. Several people lunged forward.
"Stop! Stay where you are!" Tigh thundered. "Marines shoot the first person who moves toward her without my permission."
He walked slowly to Sharon. Very softly he said "I understand you claim to be pregnant by a human."
She nodded, but said nothing.
:"I'm going to take you to the medical wing in detention. If you so much as breath funny, I will have them put more holes in you than you can count. Do you understand me?"
Sharon nodded. "I won't give you any problem."
Tigh nodded.
Frak , that was the second time he believed a Cylon .This was getting stranger by the minute.
Tigh nodded and gave orders for the Marines to escort Sharon and Helo to Life Station.
Tigh followed along side Starbuck's gurney as they moved.
"Holding on Lt.?" He asked.
He actually sounded concerned.
"Yes, sir. I think my ribs are busted. I got the crap beat out of me by another Cylon. I'll fill you in. Sir, what happened to Commander Adama?"
"Our Lt Valeri shot him point blank."
Starbuck hissed and tried to sit up on the gurney.
"Sit back Starbuck. He's out of surgery, and he's going to be OK."
Starbuck reclined and closed her eyes in relief. "Thank you sir."
"For what Lt.?"
"Not throwing my ass straight in the brig for one."
Tigh actually chuckled.
"I have something else in mind for both you and Captain Adama. Lt. I assure you by the time both of you are done you'll be longing for the brig and an easy court martial. I need both of you. You're both too damn good to lose, so I just have to be creative."
"Lee, sir? Is he OK?"
"He is badly shaken. He watched his father shot in front of him in CIC. This after he placed a gun to my head commiting mutiny."
"What the hell? Lee and mutiny, that's not possible sir. Me sure, but Lee sir?"
Tigh enjoyed this. It was rare he had the upper hand with Starbuck. He was going to enjoy it.
"Don't worry Lt. He's in Life Station with his father. I'm not as heartless as you think. Now, rest and Lee can tell you himself. I don't think you'll believe me anyway."
