Title: Broken 10/10

Author: GEM

Feedback: Please send it good or bad written: 9/14/06

Rated: M

Word count: 1,376

Story Timeline: Season 2

Category: Drama/Angst

Focus: Lee

Summary: "I didn't want to come back alive".

Spoiler: Sacrifice, Captain's Hand

Lee arrived back on the Galactica only hours after the Pegasus returned to the fleet. Dee couldn't wipe the smile off of her face as he stepped off the Raptor. Lee was home and he was safe. She was complete.

"Major Adama, welcome back."

Lee smiled at her as he joined her on the deck. "It feels good to be back Petty Officer, thank you."

They walked out of the hanger bay and down the corridor. They walked as close to one another as they could, but not so close that it looked inappropriate. Dee could fell the heat radiating from his body and she could smell the soap his used. It had a strangely calming effect on her. They both needed this moment to collect their thoughts. Dee could tell that Lee was having a difficult time controlling his emotions. She was having the same problem. She was relieved he was home and alive. She would never let him go again.

" Sir, the Admiral would like meet with you later this evening and is looking forward to your report."

"Well, then we have some time. What are you doing right now?"

"I just got off." Dee smiled seductively. That smile always drove him crazy and she knew it.

---

Their lovemaking had been slow. Lee made sure to pay attention to every detail and Dee did the same. While it was slow it had an urgency all of its own. They hadn't seen each other in what felt like ages and they weren't about to waste the little time they had.

Afterwards they basked in the afterglow talking about recent events and they fell asleep in each others arms. Lee woke up first. He was careful not to wake her as he unwrapped himself from her arms. He slipped out of bed and wrote his report. When he was finished he noticed that Dee was still asleep so he climbed back into bed and drew her close to his body. It felt good to be back in her arms, he'd missed her so much and he planned on showing her just how much over and over again.

"Hey." She rolled over to face him.

"Hey, yourself" He smiled back at her. "Sleep well?"

"Better than I have in weeks."

Lee brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "That's good to hear."

"When do you have to leave?"

"I have to get ready soon." Lee drew her closer. "Would you be interested in a shower?"

"Lee Adama, if we do that you'll never be on time. You need to go get ready right now, mister."

"Yes, ma'am." Lee kissed her and gave a mock salute before getting up and heading for the shower.

---

Lee sat across from his father as he finished reading the report.

"This is very complimentary. Starbuck's report wasn't so nice."

"Well, we each see things differently sir."

"Yes, sometimes we do. What do you think was Garner's greatest flaw?"

Lee looked into his father's eyes. He had seen this look before it was the one that said I value your opinion. I trust you.

"He was good at handling machines but machines are a lot different than people. Command is all about people."

Lee watched as his father stood up and walked around to him. He was holding a box and upon seeing it. Lee's stomach dropped. 'Oh, Dee…' His father opened the box to reveal two Commander insignia—his no doubt and they were now being passed to his son.

"Remember that as you take Command of the Beast." The elder Adama held out his hand and the box to Lee.

Lee felt as if he stopped breathing. "Yes, sir."

---

Lee wandered aimless after leaving his father's quarters. They had discussed his greatest fears about taking Command and they had discussed Dee and her reaction to his early disappearance. His father promised that he would look after her and told him not to worry about regulations that there would be ways to see each other. When Lee was a boy he always took what his father said with a grain of salt because he would constantly disappoint him but he knew now that his father wouldn't let him down- there would always be a way.

He returned to the bunkroom and began packing as he packed his mind was running a mile a minute about how he was going to tell Dee he wasn't planning on leaving her. He had to tell her that he still loved her but he was going to go the Pegasus.

---

Dee was in the rec room playing cards with the usual crowd. She knew Lee would be a while with the Admiral so she was enjoying her evening. "This is too rich for me. I'm out." Dee proclaimed throwing her cards face down on the table and picking up her drink.

"Chicken."

"Shut up, Hotdog. Let's see you beat Starbuck's red high."

The table erupted in laugher. "She's got you there." Helo chimed in.

"Hey, it's Racetrack." Kat said as she watched the pilot walk up to the table."

"Come on Race pull up a chair."

"Guys, you'll never guess what I just heard." Hotdog got up to get her a chair.

"What?"

"The old man just promoted Apollo to Commander and assigned him to the Pegasus."

Dee's face paled and the room began to move in slow motion. When she finally found her voice. She stood up. "I have to go."

" Hey Dee, why so soon?"

Dee didn't respond to Starbuck question. She just ran out of the room.

"What did I say?" Racetrack asked as the group watched Dee's exit.

---

She was so mad but she wasn't sure at whom. Was it Lee, or the old man, or herself. She'd been foolish to think that she could have him to herself. She always knew that promotion and Command was a possibility but she hadn't thought it would happen so soon.

She'd given Lee her heart, every fiber of her being. She loved him and she thought he loved her. She wasn't thinking too clearly as she burst into the bunkroom. "When exactly were you going to TELL ME!"

Lee snapped around to see her in the doorway. "Close the door, Dualla." Lee's voice was calm almost a whisper.

Dee stepped inside and slammed the door Lee wasn't expecting this and jumped. 'Not exactly how I had envisioned this.'

"I have to find out at the card game. My boyfriend can't tell me he got promoted and transferred on his own!" Dee felt the anger grow inside her as Lee moved closer to her. She lifted her hand to slap him but he caught her hand first.

"Dee, calm down. I know you're upset. I know you feel betrayed but you're not. Just calm down and let's talk about this."

He always knew how to deflate her arguments. "Why didn't you just tell me?" Dee asked falling against his chest. Lee held her close while she shed the tears she had been holding in.

"I was going to tell you. I was coming to find you." He whispered in her ear while rubbing small soothing circles on her back. He pushed her up and tilted her chin so he could look in her eyes. "Dee, I'm leaving the Galactica not you. I would never dream of leaving you. You're the one that gave me a reason to live. You showed me what living was supposed to be like. You fixed a broken man.

"I promised myself that I would never let you go once you came back to me."

Lee drew her into an embrace again. "I'm not going far. We will see each other I promise. I love you. I'm not letting you go. You're good for me."

"You know we were both broken and confused when we started this Lee. I don't know about you but I'm not like that anymore. I love you and I need you." Dee kissed him lovingly.

Lee looked deep into her brown eyes. "I'm not in pieces anymore I am finally whole and it's all because of you. I love you too and don't you ever forget it."