A/N: Once again I want to thank everyone for their reviews. I am so thrilled that so many of you are enjoying this story. I hope you enjoy this next chapter and if things go well I may even be able to get another chapter out by the end of the week-end. After that there may be a bit of delay as we are going to settlement on our new house and then we have to move. So please leave a review if you enjoy this latest chapter.
Chapter 10: Something Wicked This Way Come
The main mess hall on Galactica was mostly deserted when the crew from the shuttles came rolling in with the large metal containers. The staff in the kitchen came to a screeching halt as Lee and Kara walked in, both grinning broadly.
"Attention on deck!" Was called out and everyone snapped to.
"No everyone, please at ease," Lee said walking into the middle of the room. "For all of you who don't know her; I want to introduce you to Captain Kara Thrace of the UAG," he says trying to motion her over.
Kara shakes her head at him and begins opening the metal containers. She pulls out several boxes of donuts and starts handing them out to a group of ensigns washing trays. They all drop what they were doing and look at her in disbelief.
"Are these what they look and smell like?" An ensign asks her.
"They sure are," she replied smiling at him. He couldn't help smiling back at her. Lee shook his head realizing that the man just lost his heart to the blond bombshell tempting him with a sweet treat. The woman was a dangerous temptation to every male on board, himself included.
"Alright everyone, the Captain has decided to cut right to the chase. In these containers are all the makings for a great breakfast. Everything needs to be unpacked and heated up," Lee started until Kara interrupted him again.
"But before you guys get started cooking for everyone else, grab something for yourselves. The Major and I will get started unpacking while you each have something to eat," Kara said winking at Lee. All the kitchen staff let out a large cheer and began to tear into the boxes that held the donuts. Lee shook his head smiling; he needed to warn his father that Kara was going to have the crew willing to commit mutiny if she continued to charm them.
"Do you have any idea what to do with all this stuff while the professionals are eating?" Lee asked her.
"Come one Lee, all we have to do is get this stuff unpacked. Recruit the marines and those four pilots who are hovering hoping for something to eat. The sooner we get started the sooner everyone can eat." She says to him. He wants to reach out and touch her but knows that it wouldn't go unnoticed. So he gives in and starts helping her unload boxes onto counters, grabbing a donut from a passing box and shoves it into his mouth. He sighs as a burst of vanilla fills his senses.
&&&&
Word spreads through Galactica like wildfire that something other than green mush is going to be served for breakfast. Lee has to call in a squad of marines to keep everyone out until the staff has food hot and ready to serve. When all is done he gets the nod from a Captain that his staff is ready to go. As he heads back towards the kitchen, Lee lets the marines know that they can let everyone in.
"Are you ready to take this stuff to the Admiral and the President?" He asks Kara coming into the kitchens. She is still wearing her flight suit and a burst of lust shoots straight to his groin. He groans and reminds himself that he needs to get her out of that suit before he shocks his crew and takes her right on a counter or against a bulkhead in a corridor.
"I can hear you thinking all the way over here Adama," she says out loud. He is pleased to note that her voice is husky and has a slight tremor. Good, he is not the only one feeling it.
"Well Captain the sooner we make this personal delivery, the sooner we can eat in private," he whispers into her ear.
"Let's go then," she replies. He notes that she has two carts filled with enough food to feed a small army. He also notes that she is holding a large black thermos with a depiction of Earth on it and the words, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
"You have one wicked sense of humor," he says nodding to the thermos.
"Yes I do. I also don't ever want to forget the things people are willing to do to each other. If we are unwilling to remember our past, we will inevitably make the same mistakes in our future. That is something I can't accept," she says to him solemnly.
"You're an extremely faceted woman Kara Thrace," he replies. Lee motions over to the marines to follow them as they push the carts out of the back exit from the kitchens.
&&&&
"Where can we agree to meet that wouldn't make the other side feel like they were walking into enemy territory?" Commodore Dimitri Anders asked the small group clustered around the conference table in the War Room.
"I am willing to go to them," Cassandra replied on a heavy sigh. "We need to get Kara back here as soon as possible.
"Are you afraid of what they might tell her?" Athos, Commodore of the Sagittarius asked. Cassandra looked at her one time XO and smiled. He never danced around when there was something he wanted to know. He would come straight out shooting for a kill shot every time. He was also part of the reason her marriage fell apart.
"To be honest, yes I'm worried. We don't know what information they have access to. We can't afford for Kara to become conflicted nor divided. Everyone has sacrificed to much for us to fail at this point," Cass replied looking directly at Athos.
"Alright we meet them wherever they're comfortable, but I think it should be just you and Helena who go," he replied returning her stare. The two of them had often clashed over who was really in charge. Cass outranked him in the military, but Athos had always been able to dominate their relationship when the military uniforms came off. "We should keep things small so that a more personal relationship can develop."
"I agree," Helena said. "I'm also sure they would not object if we had a couple of guards with us. We don't wish to give the impression that we are so desperate to meet them, that we'd forgo our personal safety."
"Have the communications officer contact them to set up a meeting with their delegation for some time tomorrow," Cass said to her. "Also request a private meeting with Starbuck..."
"Artemis," Athos contradicted her. "You need to accept this Cass. She is ARTEMIS," he said forcibly. Cassandra felt the anger surge through her and only the fact that they were not alone kept her from hitting him.
"Very well," she growled. "I would like a few private moments with my daughter before any discussions are entered into. I would like to bring Helo with us. Kara has always been willing to share her inner most fears with him. Let's see if we can arrange for him to be with her while we're meeting with them."
"That means you don't want her in the meeting," Dimtri said.
"No not until I have had a chance to tell her everything and I don't plan to do that until I absolutely have to," Cass replied.
"What about Sam?" Asked Dimitri. "You know he wants to see her."
"Dimitri, you know we can't encourage their relationship," Helena commented. "We only allowed it because it seemed to help pull Kara from the grief of losing Devon."
"I agree with Helena," Athos replied. "I say for the foreseeable future we keep them apart as events unfold."
"That is a game we need to be careful of," Cass interjected. "You all know that if Kara thinks we are doing anything to interfere with her life, she will rebel and charge in the opposite direction of what we want. Let's just take it slowly for now."
&&&&
It doesn't take the small entourage long before they're standing in front of Admiral Adama's quarters. The two marines stationed out front of the door move aside after informing the Admiral that the Major and his guest have arrived. Lee and Kara take the carts from the guards and push into the room with huge grins on both of their faces. It is hard for them to not fall out in laughter at the looks of shock on Bill and Laura's faces.
"Did we mention that it would also be a tasty surprise?" Kara asks the pair with a smirk on her face.
"Now I'm really intrigued as to what you promised the Major. I believe you said, "every morning for the rest of our lives," Roslin said addressing Kara.
"Breakfast madame President, I promised him I'd make him breakfast," Kara replied almost shyly.
"Well if this is your idea of a simple breakfast, I hope I can wrangle an invitation to join you every now and then," Bill said glancing at the young lady who seemed to have completely captured his son's attention.
"I would love for you to join us sir, just not every morning," she said with a mischievous spark in her green eyes. Major Lee Adama had the good grace to blush when thinking about waking up with Kara every morning.
"And this is for you," Kara said handing Bill the thermos that she had personally carried. "It is a gift from Cassandra Thrace to William Adama; with the fervent hope that you enjoy it as much as she does."
Bill looked almost taken aback as Kara handed him the thermos. Opening the top he was more than pleasantly delighted by the rich aroma of coffee. Grabbing a mug from one of the carts, he poured out a measure and sampled it. The sigh of pure delight that escaped him almost made Kara laugh. Her mother responded the same way after her first sip of Hawaiian Kona coffee every morning. Seemed to Kara that her mother may have found a kindred spirit in William Adama.
"Are the two of you joining us?" Roslin asked. She was not sure she liked the idea of the Fleet Admiral giving out gifts to the Admiral of the Colonial Fleet. She knew that Bill's loyalty couldn't be swayed, but it was still not an idea she wanted to entertain.
"No madame President. Kara still wishes a shower and to change out of her flight suit," Lee started to explain.
"Be honest Lee, you want me to change out of the flight suit," Kara said rolling her eyes at him.
"I just don't wish for any blood to be spilled; and the longer you stay in that suit the chances of someone getting hurt increases," he replied fixing her with a stern look.
"Well since you're so concerned with the welfare of everyone else, lead me to the showers, Oh Great Apollo."
"We'll join you later for dinner," Lee says, addressing the other couple as he pulls Kara from the room.
"Do you think they will make it to the showers," Roslin asks Bill as they both begin piling food onto their plates.
"Lee has private quarters with a private shower," Bill remarks with a smirk. "So I'm sure that they will at the very least get wet."
&&&&
"So you want me out of this suit flyboy?" Kara asked pushing Lee up against the closed hatch to his private quarters.
"Yes ma'am," he replies grabbing hold of her hips. He pulls her completely flushed against his body and let out a small groan when she nipped at his ear. He hopes the two guards stationed outside would not be able to hear what he and Kara were about to do to each other.
Kara ran her hands through his hair and tugged his head down so she could capture his mouth with her's. She bit down on his bottom lip and when he gasped, she thrust her tongue in to duel with his. Lee picked her up and walked slowly to his private bathroom. He sat her down on the small counter and stepped in between her open thighs.
"I still can't believe that we are not dreaming," she whispers into his ear. She lightly runs her tongue along the shell of his ear, nipping at the soft lobe. Her hands travel down his chest to the hem of his tanks and then slipped into the band of his cargos. She grabs his ass and brought him in closer to feel the rigid length of him against her core.
"Kara I want to take my time; I want to savor every moment," he says trying to slow things down between them.
"We can go slow later Apollo, I need you now," she replies looking into his baby blue eyes. Lee loses the fight to go slow after seeing the desire in her eyes. He turns to the shower and starts the water flowing. It would only take a moment for it to heat and then they would need to be quick. Hot water did not last long on Galactica.
Lee reaches around to pull the zipper to her flight suit down. The material covering her back parts under his fingers as he tugs the suit away from her skin. His hands brush down her sides and came to rest on her naked ass.
"Oh Gods you really don't have underwear on!" He gasps.
"Did you think I was joking?" She asks as she pulls the suit completely off.
"I was hoping," he replies pulling back into his arms.
"Apollo you have too many clothes on," she states while pulling his tanks off. She trails a line of kisses down his chest to his stomach. Her fingers made quick work of the buttons and zipper on his pants. Looking into his eyes, she eases his pants and boxers down his hips and legs. Lee kicks them off and dragged her back up his body.
He pulls her into the shower letting the warm water cascade over her body. Lee sucks the sensitive part of her neck and bit down gently leaving an impression of his teeth against her pale skin. Grabbing the soap, he lathers up his hands and began to massage her shoulders and neck. Kara allows her head to fall back as Lee's hand moves down to her breast cupping them and pinching her aroused nipples. She feels the heat pool in between her thighs and had to lock her knees to keep from sliding to the floor of the shower stall.
"Wrap your legs around me," Lee whispers as he lifts Kara up off the floor. She obeys him wrapping her legs around his hips as he thrust into her hard.
"Oh God Lee!" She gasps at his sudden invasion. She clenches around him tightly as he begins to pump into her. She wraps her arms around his neck and brings his mouth to hers for a long and penetrating kiss. Her tongue strokes in his mouth to the same rhythm of him pumping into her body.
"Open your eyes and look at me Artemis," Lee demands pulling his mouth from her's. She opens her eyes with difficulty. It took her a few moments to focus on his face and then a few more to look him in the eyes. "Who do you belong to Artemis?" He demands roughly.
"You!" she gasps as he pulls out of completely only to thrust back in.
"Who am I, Artemis?" He asks. He knows she close; he can feel the tremors that rack her body. But some unknown force was driving him to demand that she bind herself to him. "Answer me Artemis."
"Apollo...I belong to you APOLLO!" She screams as the orgasm hits her hard, leaving her shaking in his arms. Satisfied with her response Lee pumps into a few more times and cries out as he comes into her.
"You're going to be the death of me," she tells him as he tries to gain control of his ragged breathing.
"Just know that if you go I'm going with you," he says. Lee reaches around her and turns of the now tepid water. He grabs a towel, wrapping it around her as he carries her from the bathroom to his bed. He lays them down on his bed, drawing her into his embrace. He takes a few minutes to just enjoy the feel of having her in his arms knowing that she will be here when he wakes.
The phone above his bed gave a shrill ring pulling Lee from the brink of sleep. "Adama here," he barks into the phone. He was off duty and was looking forward to just spending time wrapped around Kara until they had to go to dinner.
"Alright I'll be right there," he says into the phone. DAMN!! There went his quiet morning and afternoon.
"Kara, I need to go and kill a couple of my pilots," he says extracting himself from around her.
"Been there, done that," she replies with a chuckle. She watches him walk over to a locker and pull out a uniform.
"Stay here and get some sleep. I'll be back as soon as I can. Might take awhile because I am seriously going to kill them, so I will probably be in hack for a little while," he says as he leans down to kiss her.
"Try to restrain yourself flyboy. I'd hate to have to come down to the brig for a good night story," she replies pulling him back for another kiss.
"I'll try," he promises. Lee dims the lights on his way out. He takes a moment to look at her curled in his bed and knows that he has fallen completely under her spell. He closes the door gently and walks down the hall.
&&&&
"Kara, it's time for you to wake up," a voice penetrates the fog surrounding her, pulling her from a deep peaceful sleep. She sits up and realizes that she is sitting on the couch in the beach house. She is flooded with a sense of anguish as she realizes that she has been dreaming the whole time. Tears begin to fall down her cheeks and racking sobs shake her body.
"You weren't dreaming before Kara, but you're dreaming now," the voice says again.
She looks up and sees a man sitting at the other end of the couch watching her. He is not Lee; actually he is no one she has ever seen before. Her mind only briefly panics at the fact that she is dreaming of some one other Lee Adama at the beach house. He is of a similar size as Lee, but he has spiky sandy blond hair and penetrating blue eyes. His almost detached demeanor makes her feel as if he analyzing her every reaction.
"Who are you?" Kara asks. She is surprised that her voice is even, not betraying the uneasiness that is coursing through her. "And how is it that I am dreaming about you here?'
"Leoben Conoy is what you can call me. And you are dreaming about me because we have finally found you," he replies. His face betrays no emotion, almost the perfect poker face.
"We?" She asks.
"Kara..."
"Don't call me that. You have not earned the right to use my name," she growls at him.
"Actually your name is Karissa; Greek for love or grace. Your mother's idea, why I'm not sure," he says to her. "But I have no desire to upset you; so what would you like for me to call you. Starbuck or Artemis?"
"Starbuck is fine." She replies getting a handle on her temper. She is not sure why hearing him call her Kara has upset. "So you still have not explained the WE part of your story."
"Starbuck have you ever heard that there are three sides to every story?" He asks. She nods and waves for him to continue. "Well you have heard their side, now it is time for you to hear our side."
"Oh my God, you're a cylon," she gasps jumping up from the sofa.
"Yes Starbuck I am," he replies calmly. "I have no desire to hurt you, despite what Lee Adama may have said. All I want is the same opportunity you gave him; to hear our side of the story."
"Why should I be willing to hear what you have to say?" She asks him. Kara remains standing, feeling as if it gives her some small advantage.
"Because you know that not having all the answers can lead people to the wrong conclusions. And from there things can degenerate to the point of no return. You're not willing to stake the future of your people on only half truths and assumptions," he replies.
She knows he is right and she also realizes that he is playing on her sense of fairness. "What exactly do you have to say, and don't be so sure that I'm willing to just believe you out right."
"Starbuck you are too important to us. Your part in God's grand design demands that we treat you with the respect you deserve. But make no mistake, some are willing to achieve the end results by any means necessary."
"What the hell do you mean by that?" She demands, feeling the icy fingers of fear creep along her spine.
Leoben stands up and approaches her slowly. From what Lee had told her of these cylons, she had expected monsters, not beings that looked just like everyone else. It was hard for her to see them as the destroyers of a whole civilization of humanity out of a need for revenge. But then she had to remember that a handful of people had destroyed her whole way of life.
"You have to let go of Lee Adama. He will ultimately destroy you and that is not something we can allow. We will use whatever means necessary to remove him from the picture. It is up to you how that will be done. You can walk away from him and we'll do nothing or you can force us to take more drastic measures."
"I won't just walk away because you advise me to," she replies looking at him stunned by what he is implying.
"Well then Starbuck, it seems we have come to an impasse. The natural response to which is we can do things the easy way...or the hard way." He answers her. He looks smug in the knowledge that he would get to harm Lee Adama in some way. Something dangerous and primal rises up in Kara coloring her vision in bright red hues.
"Leoben Conoy," Kara bellows in a voice that is just barely human. "I NEVER DO THINGS THE EASY WAY!" She roars as she advances on him and lays him flat with a devastating right hook to the jaw.
&&&&
Kara lunges up out of bed swinging wildly and screaming incoherently. Lee grabs her arms and pins them to her sides, whispering calming words into her ears. After several moments she begins to calm and realizes that she is in Lee's quarters. She looks at him with tear stained eyes.
"Who is Leoben?" She asks.
TBC