Taking a deep breath, Abby pulled back her shoulders before walking through the door of the clinic on Cloud 9.
Several medics stood in groups, grins and laughter between them. Abby recognized a few from various medical runs during the first attack. Since then, she spent nearly all her time aboard either Galactica or Colonial One, making her the odd one out.
"You must be Abby Wilson." Setting her bag down, she turned, taking the outstretched hand of the man before her. "Ben Myles. I hear you're our supervisor for the summit." She nodded. "I'm a little surprised Galactica sent a nurse."
He said the last word with just the slightest hint of disdain, forcing Abby to hide her smirk.
Two days ago, she said close to the same to Cottle. The Doc explained the only thing he hated more than politics were the entitled jackasses aboard luxury liners, leaving her with duty during the Quorum.
Meeting his assessing gaze, she shrugged her shoulder, "Commander Adama's decision. If there's a problem, you can take it up with him."
Walking around him, Abby called the rest of the group to attention, debriefing everyone on their responsibilities over the next few days.
Ending the meeting, she breathed a sigh of relief, finished with at least step one of this tour of duty. Several of the medics stepped forward, introducing themselves and asking for further clarification.
Her colleagues chatter quickly dissipated to murmurs. Turning, Abby followed their wide-eyed stares to find Lee walking through the clinic.
Stopping in front of her, he nodded tersely, "Wilson, can I have a minute?"
She followed him to a corner of the clinic, asking quietly, "Everything ok?"
Turning his back to the clinic, he placed his hands on his hips. He grinned, looking decidedly younger, "Good. The President will be arriving later today. Kara and I are on schedule with security."
She ducked her head at the mention of her aunt. The news of Zarek's attendance at the delegation only increased her nerves for Laura.
"I'm gonna keep her safe, Ab."
Letting out a breath, she nodded, smiling at him. "Why so happy?"
Lee gestured behind him, "Sunshine and grass? It'd be a great day for a run."
She tilted her head, "When this is all over, it's a date."
Smiling widely, he winked at her before leaving the sick bay.
Turning, she found Ben blatantly smirking at her. Raising an eyebrow at him, he replied smugly, "Commander Adama's decision makes a little more sense now. Must be perk of dating the boss' son."
She scoffed, "I wouldn't know. There aren't many perks aboard Galactica."
Turning away, she began unpacking her supplies from her medical kit. Ben followed, leaning against the wall facing her.
"Rumor has it, a few weeks back the Adamas used up most of our fuel searching for some girl they just couldn't let go of." He shrugged, stepping forward, "I assumed it was the Captain's girl, but you're not a pilot." Her jaw clenched tightly as she raised her head, leveling her gaze at him. "I guess that's one of the privileges of being the Commander's son, you don't have to choose between your girlfriends."
Abby shook her head, biting her tongue on her vulgar reply. Walking out of the clinic, she leaned against a nearby wall, letting out a long breath. She could barely believe she preferred the gray, metal walls of Galactica over the simulated blue skies and sunlight Cloud 9 offered.
Shouts from below caught her attention. She stepped forward, resting her hands on the railing to look out on the bright courtyard. She watched Lee and Kara wrestle with a water hose, laughing and tackling each other.
Abby stepped back, her chest tightening. Ben knew nothing about her or Lee. She just needed to get off this ship before he convinced her otherwise.
Abby smoothed the ointment over Kara's knuckles. "You guys are ridiculous."
"Hey! I didn't start it this time."
"Rat!"
Kara laughed outright, before meeting Abby's eyes and smoothing out her expression.
Finished treating both pilots for the minor injuries they sustained during a bar brawl, Abby stood, asking, "You want me to look at the prisoner?"
Lee shook his head, replying darkly, "No."
Abby watched Kara's lip twitch in a knowing smile.
"In that case, good luck."
Meeting her at the door, Lee ducked his head, whispering, "This is good news. We caught a break. Zarek won't get near her."
Rolling to her toes, she pecked his cheek, "Maybe watch out for yourself while you're at it."
Walking back to the clinic, Abby attempted to ignore the knots in her stomach. Lee was right: catching the gunman was a good thing. She just couldn't get the image of a hired gun targeting her aunt out of her head.
"Boy sweetheart get hurt?"
"Not now, Ben."
He held up his hands, "Touchy."
Fed up with his stares and ribbing, she asked belligerently, "Can I help you with something?"
He smiled, crossing his arms across his chest confidently, "Word is you're also Roslin's niece."
It wasn't one of the seventy-eight colonial secrets Roslin and Adama kept between them, but they both advised her to stay as discreet as possible about her connection to the new President.
Taking a step forward, she narrowed her eyes, "Ben, are you capable of doing your job without all the added bullshit? Because if not, we have a problem."
He scoffed, "Gonna call your boy in here to rip me like that other guy?"
Tilting her head, Abby smiled, "No. I'm going to call the captain of your ship and let him know that his medic is a joke. That he's more interested in idle gossip than medicine. And then, I'm going to have you reassigned, so that you're biggest concern of the day will be whether that bathroom floor is clean enough for your next supervisor." Stepping forward, she ducked her head, asking quietly, "Am I making myself clear, medic?"
"Hey! Lee's looking everywhere for you!"
Abby motioned to the bartender, asking for a double, then pounded it back and asked for two more.
"Wow. Never seen this side of you before, Nurse—"
She slid one of her shots over to the Starbuck, shouting over the music, "I'm not competing with you. I know it's less interesting, but I like you, Kara. If you want him, I'm not going to fight you."
She shook her head, her gaze dropping to her drink, "Abby, we—"
"—I get it. You and Lee have a lot of history. You're always going to be connected. And you should be. You need each other. But don't make me that girl, Kara. I don't want to be the stand in till you both get your shit together."
"You're not, Abby. Lee is crazy about you."
She swallowed, dropping her gaze to the empty glass in her hand, "All week, this asshole medic hassled me over some entitled lifestyle he thought I led." She raised her head, meeting Kara's concerned gaze, "And all I could think was: the guy I'm falling for leads the most insane group of pilots I've ever seen and my aunt—"
"—is President as the world ends."
Abby nodded, giving her a forced smile.
Kara licked her lips, leaning forward and speaking hesitantly, "Lee and I—Lee and I are complicated." She let out a shaky laugh, pressing her fingers into the bar counter. "Sometimes, he reminds me so much of Zak, it's hard to breathe."
Motioning to the bartender, Abby ordered two more. Silently, they pulled back the shots simultaneously.
Kara turned towards her, "You don't need my blessing, Abby, but you have it."
"Hey! There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere."
Abby turned towards Lee, while Kara turned back to the bar.
She smiled tightly, "Here I am."
His eyes darted towards Kara before returning to her, asking hesitantly, "Everything ok?"
Kara turned, a too-bright smile painted on her face, "Perfect! I think I'm going to go…dance…"
Abby watched the blonde walk away, the tension from the week slowly unraveling.
Lee stepped forward, wrapping his hands around her waist, asking again, "Everything ok?"
Letting out the breath she'd been holding, Abby lifted her head, resting her hands on his arms. "Yea. Everything's gonna be ok."
Leaning closer, he asked against her lips, "Dance with me?"
She squinted at him speculatively, "Yea?"
He lifted his head, nodding seriously, "Oh, yea. I got moves, you won't believe."
She let out a laugh, letting Lee lead her by the hand out to the dance floor.
He pulled her close as she slid her arms around his neck. He ducked his head, his cheek grazing hers as they swayed slowly to the music.
The song changed over the stereo and he whispered, "Would you look at that?"
Abby lifted her head, following his gaze to find Laura dancing with the Commander. She let out a shaky breath at the sight of her aunt smiling and carefree.
His mouth near her ear, Lee whispered, "You want to get out of here?"
She closed her eyes, holding tight to his arms, before meeting his earnest stare and nodding gratefully.
With a wide smile, he led her towards the exit, her hand firmly in his. Catching Laura's eyes, she winked at her niece.
He led her down darkened paths, till he stopped short at a metal fence. Punching in a code, he opened the gate, letting her step through. Flowers and greenery surrounded a clear, blue pool.
She shook her head, muttering, "The rich get everything good."
Stepping in front of her, he began unbuttoning his jacket, "Well, the rich and those of us who are well-connected."
Abby smiled, tilting her head, "You saying I have it good dating the Commander's son?"
He shrugged, pulling his arms from his jacket, "There's the occasional perk. So what do you say, Wilson?"
Grinning, Abby unzipped the back of her dress, letting it fall around her feet. Stepping out of her shoes, she walked past him, jumping into the cool water.
Surfacing, she called out, "Take your time, Captain."
Lee smirked, bending to shuck his pants, "Just enjoying the view."
Abby laughed, screaming as he jumped in beside her, splashing her and capturing her in his strong arms.
Gliding through the water, her heart skittered as she felt the side of the pool hit her back. Lee stared at her with a smile, droplets of water falling down his face. Her cheeks ached from her own matching grin.
Sliding her hands over his shoulders, she spoke softly, "In case, I haven't said it, thank you. For all of this and for keeping Laura safe."
Lee trailed his hands down her back, lifting her legs to wrap around his waist. Cocking his head to the side, he whispered, "You know, if you were really appreciative, you'd show me."
Abby laughed, deep and delighted as he leaned in, kissing her neck. "Show you? I guess I could bake for you. I make a mean chocolate cake."
Raising his head, he squinted teasingly, "I am in the mood for something sweet, but that's not quite what I had in mind."
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him in, kissing him deeply. If this was her brand new world, it was time to enjoy it.