He wasn't a war hero, but he also wasn't a crazy crank either, and as soon as he figured out the rules, he could play this stupid assignments system just as well as his dad. Better.

-----------------------------

He started outlining his plan to Kara, because he had to say something or he was going to start crying. Also, she had a head for strategy, she could help him in this. And she could, perhaps, pull him out when he got in over his head. Everyone said that she wasn't reliable, but as she sat there and listened to him, planned with him, Lee decided that he was going to trust her.

He had to. He'd never wanted to be a pilot, and he had no idea how to even start to live in a world of off-color jokes and viper jocks. But he needed to not only survive it but be good at it. The plan depended upon getting people on his side. And Kara, well, Kara was at home in that world. Not many people took the time to get past her fast and loose façade, but most people liked her, and those that weren't were jealous of her. She knew how to work a crowd, and that was something that Lee had never been good at. She knew how to work a viper, and, gods, Lee had almost forgotten that part what with all the planning, but that was something he was going to need to learn too.

He told her everything he was thinking, because he didn't have the wherewithal to censor things right now, and because if she was going to help him, then she needed all the information he had. Thankfully, she didn't look too offended at being used for her viper jock whiles. Maybe that was because he'd actually used the phrase "viper jock wiles" which had made her snort inelegantly and inform him that even former history majors should know that the word "wiles" was reserved for women in corsets and men who thought codpieces were the height of fashion.

There was a rather awkward pause after that, both because of the word "codpiece" and because everything had happened so fast, and Lee couldn't think of his dreams as former yet. Kara had a way of stating facts as bluntly and tactlessly as possible. On another day, it might have made him angry, but he was too drained for anger right now. Worse, if he reached for it, he was pretty sure that it would well up in him again. And he didn't have anything left to destroy.

"Lee," Kara said, sounding a bit tentative. "Maybe it's time to get some sleep."

He felt panic welling up instead of anger, and had to viciously remind himself that he was going to have to be alone sometime. That he could use Kara as a way through pilot training, but he couldn't very well use her as a shield against facing reality. Especially since, as she'd proven scant minutes before, she herself was liable to shove reality in his face.

He was so busy berating himself that he almost didn't catch the fact that instead of heading for the door, Kara was heading for the bathroom. When she popped out again a few minutes later, face freshly washed and toothpaste foam around her mouth, he froze. Too many things had happened today, and he couldn't think straight, and was that his toothbrush in her hand?

"Kara?"

"Your toothpaste tastes really good. I've never seen this brand before."

"Kara, what are you doing?"

"Gods Lee, I know you're picky, but it's just a toothbrush. I promise it'll wash right off."

Kara was probably used to using other people's toothbrushes. Kara probably spent the night with other people on a regular enough basis not to be fussed about things like that. Lee, however, did not, and he was still trying to process what was happening. He was staring at his toothbrush because it was the only familiar thing in a suddenly unrecognizable world.

"If you want me to leave, I'll leave," Kara said, trying for unaffected and not quite getting there. "And you know, your virtue is still safe with me. I'm just… I thought maybe this should be part of the whole comfort thing."

He continued to stare at the toothbrush until she disappeared with it back into the bathroom. When she came out again, her face was blank and she was heading for the door. He still couldn't quite speak, but he didn't want her to leave, so he scrambled for the door and got in front of it just as she was about to reach the doorknob.

Her hand landed on his hip instead, and she gave him a quizzical look. He put his own hand on top of hers and gripped tight. "Don't go."

She said nothing, she gave him a small simle, flipped off the lights, and led him back to the bed again. And this time she laid down beside him. They weren't touching, and it was too dark to see much, but he could hear steady breathing, and feel the bed shift when she moved. If he turned his head he could smell her, a strange but not unpleasant combination of flight suit leather and outdoors. He fell asleep far more easily than he thought he'd be able to.