Title: Captive, Chapter 10

Pairing: Lee/Kara

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Lee, Kara and Aurora are free from Leoben, but they still have to make it back to Galactica … and decide where exactly to go from here.

Disclaimer: Now, Ron won't even take my calls. *sigh*

A/N: Well, like most of us I'd guess we're in a bit of shock from "Sometimes a Great Notion." I'm pretty sure it's good shock though … I'll let you know when the numbness wears off.

Here's the next chapter, I know I said no updates before next week, but I'm a sucker for comments and since all of you asked so nicely … well, here.

~TamSibling~

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There were piles of rubble and blood-stained debris scattered along the ground. Lee and Kara carefully stepped around it, trying to ignore the number of bodies they saw. Fortunately, it was their only real obstacle as most of the ground fighting had stopped by the time they made it out of the building.

Cresting a ridge, a handful of Raptors came into view, and Lee breathed a sigh of relief. He would only truly relax though once he, Kara and their child were back on Galactica. Back home.

Kara stumbled over a few rocks and Lee caught her arm, keeping her upright. She gave him a weary smile and he could see the pure exhaustion in her eyes. His arm moved around her waist easily and he pulled her close. "Almost there," he whispered and she nodded.

He glanced down to the small baby in her arms and noted that the child was asleep. He thanked the Gods for that little miracle.

They reached the Raptor and Lee ushered them on board. He eased Kara into a seat and hovered, wanting to stay close; truthfully, unwilling to let them out of his sight ever again. As Kara settled the baby against her, she glanced to Lee with a smile. "Go," she ordered softly. "I know you've got things to do."

Glancing to the open entrance, he saw more refugees pouring over the hill and knew he had to see to them.

"Go, Lee."

His eyes guiltily drifted back to Kara and the smile she gave him nearly broke his heart.

"We'll be fine," she assured him.

He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze and then hurried off, stopping to make sure Helo was watching over them before he drifted too far.

It took hours to get everyone organized, to be sure no one had been left behind, that any salvageable materials had been loaded. By the time Lee made it back to Kara and the baby, he was dead on his feet and wanted nothing more than to sleep for days. But the desire to be close to Kara forced his eyes open. He gave Helo the all-clear for take-off and then settled himself into the empty seat beside Kara's now sleeping form. In contrast, the baby was awake, but quiet, as if knowing her mother needed rest.

As they ascended through the atmosphere, the baby gave a small whimper and Lee took a moment to really look at her. A daughter, Gods, his daughter. Was that even possible? Her tiny hands punched into the air and Lee reached for one, stroking his finger over her small fist. Automatically her fingers uncurled and grabbed onto his. Lee's heart lodged itself in his throat. She was perfect. And fascinating. Lee was so fascinated he didn't even notice Kara's eyes flutter open.

"I think you made a friend."

Kara's warm, sleep-laden voice was like a balm to Lee's ears. Glancing up, unashamed of the tears in his eyes, he breathed, "She's beautiful, Kara."

Kara's cheeks flushed slightly, but she accepted the compliment. "Well, her dad's pretty beautiful, too," she told him, eyes sparkling. Leaning toward him, she shifted the baby slightly to give him a better view and said quietly, "Lee, I want you to meet your daughter, Aurora."

Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn; it was perfect. She'd already become the brightest spot in Lee's universe.

"Kara, I—" He stared at Kara, watching her eyes fill with tears and then stared back at his daughter—his daughter.

"She's amazing," he breathed finally, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her soft baby skin. "I can't believe you did this," he admitted, looking up at her, his heart thudding painfully as he saw pure vulnerability on her features.

"We did this," she reminded him, adjusting Aurora's weight against her chest. The baby cooed softly, making Lee's heart swell. He'd never be parted from them again. He made that promise now.

"Kara, I'm so sorry." He reached for her, his arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss into her hair. As she leaned into him, he kept murmuring, "I'm so sorry. I never should have left you."

Kara shook her head, tilting her face up to his. "Don't, Lee, okay? Leoben wanted me. Your presence wouldn't have made a difference."

Lee pulled her closer, his eyes drifting back to Aurora as she yawned and closed her eyes. Gods, she really was perfect. "You don't know that. I could have stopped him." He knew it, knew he never would have let any harm come to either of them if he had been there.

Kara pulled back from him this time, a few tears evident on the ends of her lashes. Lee missed her warmth immediately. He wanted to kiss her, kiss her tears away, kiss away the pain and the fear of the past months, but he knew it wasn't the time. And the determination on her face told him she had something to say.

"Lee. He would have killed you." Her voice was even, steady, but hard and he knew she was serious. "He would have and I wouldn't—"

She stopped, unable to finish and Lee watched her swallow several times, breathe deep and then stare at Aurora. As a soft smile curved her lips, she cleared her throat and said without hesitation, "I wouldn't have survived that. Maybe this is how things were meant to be."

He couldn't accept that, not now, maybe not ever. "Kara, knowing where you were, what you—"

She pressed her fingers over his mouth and shook her head sharply. "Don't. We're together now and we have Rory." Upon hearing her name, the baby cooed again and Kara let out a soft laugh. "We have to stay focused on her."

Lee swallowed down his immediate reaction, which was to keep assuring Kara that everything would be okay, reminding her that they were together now and it would be all right. He desperately wanted to pretend the last four months hadn't happened. That Kara hadn't been kidnapped, that she hadn't given birth alone. He wanted—

Kara shuddered beside him and Lee immediately silenced his internal tirade, turning to her with concern on his face. "What is it, Kara? Are you okay?"

She took a few deep breaths, letting them out slowly and then spoke in a controlled tone. "Yeah, just a little … little headache."

Lee glanced to the fierce bruise along her temple and gently glided his fingers over it. When just that slight touch had Kara crying out with pain, he knew it was bad. As if echoing her mother's distress, Aurora gave a small cry as well.

"Soon as we get back, we'll see the doc, okay?"

She nodded slightly. He kissed her gently, unable to help himself despite the close quarters and the witnesses. Her lips were wet with tears, but she pressed into him, sighing softly into his mouth and Lee gave another prayer of thanks that they were together again.

"You're going to be okay, Kara. There's nothing to worry about," he murmured, brushing her hair back from her face. "You're safe."

She nodded, seemingly content. Resting all her weight against him, Lee watched her eyes fall shut once more from exhaustion. As the Raptor continued its flight, Lee kept an arm around her shoulders and cupped his other hand over Rory's head, her baby fine hair tickling his palm.

"I love you," he murmured to them both and then finally allowed his own eyes to close.

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The jolt of the Raptor docking brought Lee back to consciousness. Blinking sleep from his eyes and willing his body to move, he glanced to Kara and Aurora, both still fast asleep.

He heard Helo proceed with docking and felt the ship begin to cycle down. As the hatch opened and a few survivors clambered out, Lee turned to Kara and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Kara, we're home."

She didn't move and Lee suppressed a soft chuckle. Years of living on a battlestar meant she could sleep through just about anything.

He nuzzled his nose against her cheek and whispered, "Kara." Lips at her ear, he added, "Rise and shine."

She didn't acknowledge him, didn't even stir and now Lee was worried.

"Apollo?"

He glanced up to find Helo's concerned face staring back at him and noted that the rest of the ship was empty.

"Everything okay?" the taller man asked.

Lee sat forward and shook his head, reaching for Aurora. "I can't wake, Kara," he told him. As he shifted Aurora into his arms, she came awake with a small cry. Lee wanted to hold her close, but he needed to see to Kara. With a quick brush of his lips to her forehead, he handed the baby to Helo. "Take her."

Turning back to Kara, Lee knelt before her, shaking her shoulders and trying to rouse her. "Kara, come on. Wake up."

The panic that blossomed in his chest as she remained unresponsive almost crippled him. "Kara?"

Nothing. Turning to the open hatch, he saw a med team milling about the other survivors and yelled, "Get Cottle. Now!"

Reaching for her hand, Lee squeezed it tight, somehow shutting out his daughter's pained cries as he focused all of his attention on Kara. Gods, her skin was freezing and she was beyond pale. "Don't do this, Kara, come on. Stay with me."

"Move, Major."

That gruff voice could only belong to one person and Lee had never been happier to see him. Stepping aside quickly, he watched Cottle and his team work, wondering if his world was about to end again.

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"Lee?"

He turned, the voice unmistakable and felt the sting of tears once more—Gods, when had he become a crier?

His father's face betrayed more emotion. There was no mistaking the wetness on his cheeks as he moved forward in a rush, arms open to embrace his son, only stopping short when he caught sight of the small bundle cradled against Lee's chest.

With a sharp intake of breath, the Old Man murmured, "Who's this?"

Lee felt tightness in his throat and forced it back. Angling Aurora so his father could get a better look, he told him, "This is your granddaughter, dad. Aurora."

More tears wet the man's eyes. With the gentlest of touches, he smoothed one finger over the baby's blonde hair and met Lee's gaze with pride and love shining through his features. "She's beautiful, Lee."

Lee nodded, unable to say anything else as he witnessed the awe with which his father regarded his granddaughter.

"Do you …" He had to clear his throat a few times before he was able to get out, "Do you want to hold her?"

His father's eyes widened, just a hint of panic there before he nodded. "I'd be honored."

Aurora didn't stir once as she changed hands. She had been sleeping for almost an hour, only waking and fussing after Kara had emerged from surgery. Lee was starting to make careful note of just how connected his daughter and her mother were. When one was in distress, they both were—it was a bond he envied and found fascinating all at once. Shifting his attention, Lee watched the calm settle over his father as the baby's warm weight rested against him.

Lee knew the feeling. He felt an unbelievable level of protectiveness and peace and love whenever he held his daughter. It was transformative. And at times, completely unbelievable.

"How's Kara?" the Old Man asked, his voice low and soothing, a tone Lee had not heard for some time.

His eyes flicked to the curtain just a few feet away, his only current barrier to Kara. With a sigh, he admitted, "Resting. The doc relieved the pressure on her brain, but it's going to take her a while to bounce back. She was exhausted, dehydrated, malnourished too." He sighed again, forcing the image of that apartment and Leoben out of his mind. He had Kara back, that was all that mattered. "He said she should be all right. She just needs a lot of rest."

As he rocked the baby, Adama gave him a sympathetic look. "She'll be all right. Kara's a fighter."

"We don't even know what she's been through." What I put her through, he thought to himself, but refused to say aloud. It would just engender sympathy from his father and he didn't deserve that.

Lee would sooner cut off his arm than cause Kara any pain. But he couldn't dismiss his culpability in what had happened to her or their daughter. It was his fault. He'd left them alone and they'd been taken. He didn't want to imagine how they had suffered or what Leoben had done to Kara in that ivory tower where he'd locked her away.

Aurora's small whimper betrayed the louder more terrified one that sounded a second later.

"Lee!"

Kara's pained and panicked cry ripped through his chest like the deadliest bullet and he sprinted to her side in seconds, his father following with a now crying Aurora still in his arms.

Whipping aside the curtain around her bed, Lee took in the scene even as he kept moving, reaching Kara's side and squeezing her hand hard. Her eyes were open and wild, tears falling unabashedly down her still pale cheeks.

"Lee!"

"Kara. Kara, I'm right here." He smoothed his free hand through her hair, watching her frantic gaze settle on his face, causing some of her panic to dissipate. He offered her a smile trying to tamp down his own fear at her obvious distress. "You're okay, Kara. I'm here."

She clenched his hand in both of hers, visibly fighting for control. Swallowing several times, her eyes never leaving his, she murmured, "I thought it was a dream. I thought you weren't here."

Her voice was broken and hoarse and pulled at Lee's chest in ways he could never have imagined. "Nope, I'm right here, Kara." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, lips lingering there for a second as he felt some of the tension slip from her body. "I'm right here and you're safe."

He pulled back to meet her gaze once more and she stared at him intently. Slowly, cautiously she drew one hand from his and tentatively lifted it to his cheek, outlining his nose, his eyes, his mouth. Lee stood perfectly still letting her assure herself that he was indeed real.

With a heavy sigh, her hand dropped back to her side and she closed her eyes for a long minute. When she reopened them, Lee could see a visible change. She was calmer, although some tension still lingered, around her eyes, her mouth, the rigidity of her body. He sat on the bed beside her hip, bringing their bodies into contact and holding her hand in both of his; at his touch some more of her tension faded.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired," she admitted with a sigh, her eyes never straying from his.

"You should get some more sleep then." His thumb made slow circles along the top of her hand and he watched her eyes flutter close and then open once more. In true Starbuck fashion, she was stubbornly fighting the call of sleep.

She shook her head. "No, I don't want to dream." The admission was quiet, even, but the fear it belied made Lee's heart clench.

As if once again sensing her mother's raised level of distress, Aurora's cry could be heard through the curtain. Kara tried to sit up, whispering her child's name, wanting to reach her, but with a small cry of pain, she fell back against the pillows.

Lee rose swiftly, his hand to her shoulder to keep her in bed. "Easy, Kara."

"Where is she?" The panic was back and Lee could hear the rising and insistent howl of the machines monitoring Kara's vital signs. "Who's watching her?"

"She's with my dad." Lee wished he could fully understand why she was so worried. He guessed it had to do with Leoben and the dollhouse he'd found them in, but there had to be more to it than that. "I'll go get her, okay?"

She nodded eagerly, giving his hand a small squeeze before releasing it.

Lee hurried out, almost colliding with his father who was hovering on the other side of the curtain, the fussy baby in his arms.

Reaching for his daughter, he said, "Kara wants to see her."

Aurora whimpered steadily as Lee held her again and the tension on his father's face increased. "How is she?"

With a frown, Lee shook his head once in answer and then reentered Kara's curtained area. Lee brought the baby to her immediately. Kara's arms were ready to receive her and the look of contentment that washed over her was undeniable.

"Oh, baby girl," she murmured, nuzzling her nose against Rory's fine hair and pressing kisses to her scalp. For her part, Aurora immediately quieted, wide blue eyes staring at Kara with awe and delight, while Kara's hazel eyes gazed back with tenderness and love.

And suddenly, Lee felt very foolish—very out of place. The bond Kara and Aurora had was one he could never hope to emulate and he worried he was unnecessary in their little family.

But how could he be? Aurora was his daughter and Kara had—well, Kara had almost sacrificed herself for him—it meant they were going to be together, didn't it? Together like a family?

"Lee."

Kara's voice brought his eyes to hers in a second. She reached out a hand, keeping Aurora steady, and asked, "You're going to stay, right?"

Hell yes, he was going to stay. Crossing to her side in two strides, Lee gripped her hand tight in his and sat beside them once more. Kara's soft smile almost undid him completely as she squeezed his hand before turning her attention back to the baby.

"How's she been?" Kara asked in a hushed voice.

"Fine. A little fussy, but only when you're upset."

Brow furrowed, Kara lifted her eyes back to his face. "What?"

Shrugging slightly, Lee used his free hand to gently rub a finger over Aurora's tiny, clenched fist. The little girl still had no interest in her father though; her eyes were firmly fixed on her mother. "I can't explain it, Kara, but every time you woke up or felt any pain, Aurora would start crying too. The doc checked her over, said she's perfectly healthy. I think she's just really in sync with your moods."

Kara seemed to accept that pretty readily, her eyes back on her daughter. "I guess that makes sense. She was pretty much my only companion for the last three months."

Lee's heart tightened once more, but he let the comment slide. Kara still looked exhausted and he guessed any discussion they might have relating to her captivity wasn't coming anytime soon. Besides he really didn't want to think about that right now. Right now, he just wanted to continue to be grateful that he had his family back.

A small whimper from Aurora put him on alert and his eyes flicked from the baby to Kara, looking for the problem.

But with ease, Kara simply placed Aurora against her shoulder and reached for the back of her gown. Struggling to reach the tie at the base of her neck, she sighed and looked to Lee. "Can you help me with this?"

Uncertain, he asked, "What is it? What's wrong?"

With a patient smile, she explained, "Our daughter's hungry. I was going to feed her." As Lee processed this, she added with a smirk, "Unless you want to give it a try."

He caught the tease in her expression and found himself smiling back. "Somehow I don't think I'm properly equipped." Reaching forward, he tugged on the tie, allowing the top of her gown to loosen. As Kara slowly shrugged one shoulder down, she glanced about the small space.

"Can you bring me that towel?" she asked, readjusting Aurora deftly.

Lee rose to grab it and when he turned back to her, his breath froze in his lungs. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen a more beautiful sight then Kara breastfeeding their daughter.

The baby's tiny mouth was suckling intently, one tiny fist lying against the curve of Kara's breast while her eyes fluttered open and shut. For her part, Kara was rocking slowly back and forth, humming softly under her breath, her eyes never straying from her daughter.

Possessed with an urgent need to be close to them now and forever, Lee came forward and pressed a long kiss to Kara's forehead.

She looked up, slightly startled, as he pulled away. Taking the towel he offered, she draped it over her opposite shoulder and asked, "What was that for?"

"Being here, being you, loving our daughter." The words came out in a rush. There were so many reasons he loved her, wanted her, needed her, he could barely count them, let alone name them.

Kara smiled softly, and tilted her face up to him. Recognizing the gesture for what it was, Lee pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, wishing it could go farther, wishing he could show her just how much she truly meant to him, but if Aurora wasn't a big enough deterrent, Kara's own health was.

"Of course I love her," she whispered, their lips just inches apart. "She's a part of you."

"I love you." He blurted the words out so fast they barely registered. Kara's eyes widened for a second and then softened, before he saw the tell-tale shine of tears. Glancing quickly back to Rory, the child had stopped feeding and so Kara readjusted her against her towel-covered shoulder and gently started rubbing her back.

He sat down then, as close as he could and met her eyes. "I do. You know that, right?"

Kara blinked once, a tear falling down her face, but he didn't think it was from sadness. He was pretty sure it wasn't, actually. "I know. I just …" She closed her eyes again, effectively shutting him out and Lee didn't know what to do. He had so many questions, so many things he needed to know and didn't want to know at the same time. All that mattered was that he found a way to help her. That she got well and she and Aurora and him be a family.

He hoped that once she was cleared to leave Life Station their life together would just fall back into place, but he wasn't naïve enough to really think it would happen.

Taking her hand once more, he squeezed gently and rested his free hand to her cheek. "Kara, come on," he implored, voice soft, but urgent. "Talk to me. Please."

Her eyes opened slowly and this time he did see pain radiating in those depths. "So much has happened," she whispered. "There's so much I …"

She didn't finish and Lee was fairly certain she wasn't going to. Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and Lee watched her visibly push down her emotions. It was a skill she had perfected over the years, one he was intimately familiar. He still didn't like it.

"Kara—"

"Not now, okay?" She opened her eyes to him again and gave him what was meant to be a reassuring smile. Instead, it looked like a plea for mercy. "It's too soon and I'm tired and Aurora—"

He shook his head and then kissed her gently. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to pry."

"I just need some time, okay?"

His heart thudded hard against his rib cage, but he nodded and then rose stiffly. He couldn't believe he was going to leave her here—be on the same ship with her and not be at her side.

Reaching for the baby, he asked, "Do you want me to take her?"

Her expression relaying her confusion, she asked, "Take her where? Where are you going?"

"I'm giving you some time." That's what she'd just said, right? He wasn't hearing things.

With a sigh of impatience, not anger, she shot him her best exasperated look—one she usually reserved for when he was being particularly dense. "I don't want you to go." She reached for his hand and he gave it to her. "Please don't."

A nuclear blast couldn't have propelled him from her now. Moving fast, he tucked himself in beside her, grateful when she scooted over so they both could recline on the bed. She turned slightly, wincing with a bit of discomfort, but soon was settled against him, Aurora resting on her chest.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked, worried that although sharing a bed with her felt spectacular to him, it might aggravate her already hurting body.

"Mmm," she murmured, resting her head against his shoulder, her hand lying gently on Aurora's stomach. The girl was already asleep. "You are the best pillow the fleet has to offer," she murmured, getting a chuckle from Lee.

Dropping a kiss into her hair, he smiled and said, "Sleep well, Kara."

"'Night, Lee."

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