Title: Half Life - 11/?
Author:
Elise/Ringred
Date: 4/6/2007
Rating: M or R for
violence
Category: AU, Angst, Drama, possibly with some humor
mixed in.
Warnings: Angst, Language, Violence
Spoilers:
Anything that's been aired in the US. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Pairing:
Most likely Lee/Kara, but not anytime soon. Lee/Dee are still
married. Sam/Jean are also married (or think they are). Helo/Athena
are still married. Hints of Roslin/Adama.
Word Count: Microsoft
Word says…2274
Disclaimers: Alas, I own nothing...but we all have
our dreams.
Summary: Starbuck died tragically over five years ago.
The Fleet mourned and moved on with their lives. What happens when
the lost daughter is returned to the Fleet? Will she ever find
herself again? Is there anywhere she belongs?
Note: Okay, this is definitely a lighter chapter. I hope you enjoy it because there are still plenty of dark times ahead. I would, as always, love to know what you think. Feedback makes my world go round. Please feel free to ask me questions or let me know if something doesn't make sense.
Here goes...
Chapter Eleven
Captain Karl 'Helo' Agathon scanned the busy hanger deck with his eyes. He frowned when he couldn't find his goal and glanced down at his watch to check the time. Thankfully when he looked up Helo spotted Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol rounding a nearby viper. He lifted a hand in greeting. "Hey Chief! Has Sharon landed yet?"
"Yes, sir," Chief nodded as he continued inspecting the viper, "she and Thor were the last ones in."
Crewman Specialist Cally Tyrol, the Chief's wife, rolled her eyes from a few feet away from her husband. She took pity on Helo. "She's still in her bird, sir. She's going over the last of the checklist with Thor."
Helo tossed her a charming smile. "Thanks, Cally, you're a pal. Sharon and I have an appointment and we can't be late."
Cally just rolled her eyes again. There was a time when hearing Helo call her pal would've been equivalent to driving a blunt screwdriver straight through Cally's heart. She'd had the biggest crush on him. Thankfully that time had passed. "That's what pals are for, sir. We help our pals locate the women they love."
Helo was distracted and the sarcasm went straight over his head. Chief, however, stopped his inspection and briefly turned to grin at his wife. Then he looked at Helo. "Are you and Athena going to visit the Captain?"
Helo nodded. "Yep. It's Sharon's first visit. Dr. West is supposed to observe from her office."
Cally's expression was rueful. "Is Dr. West sure that's a good idea?" She wanted to ask if there would be lots of marines nearby to save Helo and his Cylon wife when Starbuck tried to kill them.
"There's a certain risk involved," the group turned in the direction of the new voice as Lieutenant Sharon 'Athena' Agathon walked up to join them, "but I'm willing to take that risk." She leaned up to kiss her husband on the cheek as Helo wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in against his side. "Kara's my friend. She's one of my few true friends. I won't give that up." There was a challenge in her eyes as they rested on Cally.
Cally ignored the challenge and the woman. They may have worked together for years now but there was still bad blood between the cylon and the crew spec. There probably always would be. Instead, Cally focused her eyes back on Helo. "Send the Captain our love."
Helo nodded. "Will do." A smile curled his lips. "I'm sending so much love on my visits these days, I need to start making a list."
Athena smiled and rubbed her hand up and down her husband's back. "We need to hurry if I'm going to have time to change out of my flight suit before the visit."
"Sounds good," Helo said. He waved goodbye to Cally and Chief and turned toward the exit pulling Sharon along with him. "We might even have time to check in on Hera on the way there."
"Oh," Athena matched his pace, "that reminds me. Hera made Kara a picture in the childcare center yesterday. It's in our quarters. Don't let me forget it."
Helo paused. His eyebrows lifted in surprise as he looked at his wife. "She made Kara a picture? Hera's never met Kara, Sharon."
Athena grinned at him affectionately. "Hera grew up hearing amazing stories of the great Starbuck, Karl. Not to mention your daily visits with Kara since she's been back and how much we discuss those visits in front of our daughter. Hera can't wait to meet her Aunt Buck."
Helo's eyes were shadowed. "That might be quite a wait, Sharon. Kara's still in pretty bad shape."
Athena gave him a one-armed hug. She kissed the shoulder resting beside her cheek. "We've got time. Even Dr. West says Kara's making progress. We'll take our time and we'll find a way to get through to her. Failure is not an option."
Helo pulled his wife around to face him. He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead and hugged her close. "Thanks, baby, I needed that."
Athena nodded against his chest. "She's important to me too, Karl. This isn't some triad game that you fold because you got dealt a bad hand. We're not going to give up on her."
"Not a chance," Helo agreed, his voice rough with emotion. But then his eyes lit up and a smile curled his lips as something occurred to him. "You know what, baby? You just gave me a great idea. Let's go." He pulled Athena off down the hall.
- - - - - - - - - -
Apollo was sitting at the table in Kara's quarters and talking through the flight schedule with her as he filled it out when Helo's knock sounded from the hatch. Kara wanted to weep with relief. She didn't even know who most of the pilots were. Didn't he have an office?
Lee grinned at the expression on Kara's face. He'd break her sooner or later. She still stubbornly refused to meet his eyes, but she'd resorted to banging her fist against her head about twenty minutes ago. If she wanted to change the subject all she had to do was ask. Hell, he'd settle for having her eyes. But if she wanted to sit there and pretend she didn't know he was here then Lee didn't see any reason he couldn't fill out all his paperwork in here.
Kara jumped up eagerly from her bunk as the knock sounded again. Lee stifled a laugh as he moved to open the hatch. His smile only dimmed slightly when he found Helo and Athena on the other side. His gaze skimmed Athena. He hoped this visit wasn't a very bad idea. He nodded all the same. "Helo, Athena, I was just leaving." Lee's grin returned as he heard a loud huff of relief from behind him.
Helo smirked as Lee moved back and he noticed the pile of paperwork sitting on Kara's table. "Getting a little work done, Apollo?"
Lee turned to smile at Kara. She was glaring an inch or two over his shoulder. "Well, I do enjoy a little peace and quiet every once and a while. I'm always getting interrupted in my office. Kara's such a peaceful and accepting soul these days that I know I don't disturb her with my work."
Helo chuckled and shook his head. "Sure she is."
Lee moved to collect his paperwork from the table and Kara glared holes through the back of his head. Helo chuckled again. Lee spun around but Kara's eyes were now locked on her raptor pilot best friend. Lee's eyes narrowed. "I'll go and let you have your visit, Kara, but I'll be back tonight with dinner. Okay?"
Kara's gaze remained locked on Helo. She cocked her head to the side as if to ask the raptor pilot if he had spoken. Helo rolled his eyes.
An affectionate smile curved Lee's lips. "Yeah, I love you too, you stubborn pain in the ass. I'll see you later." He ignored Athena's gasp of surprise at his words and headed for the door.
Lee pulled the hatch closed behind him and Kara's eyes focused for the first time on Athena. She did not look pleased.
Helo cleared his throat and stepped between the two women. "Don't you even start, Buck. This is Athena. You know Athena. She isn't like the others. She's your friend and she's my wife. I love her and I expect my best friend to respect that."
Kara's posture relaxed slightly, but she crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her lip out in a pout. Unfortunately, Helo was right. She knew better than anyone that Athena was no typical model eight. Athena was the lost eight. She was wife, mother, officer, friend. But Kara didn't want to deal with that. She didn't want to deal with separating the good cylons from the bad cylons. Why were they pushing her?
"I brought you a present," Helo said by way of distraction. He lifted his hand and held it out to her. He was holding a sheet of paper.
Kara took the paper with a frown. She studied the childish drawing. She could feel the laughter and the love that went into its creation. Her eyes were confused as they returned to Helo.
He smiled proudly. "Hera drew it for you yesterday. She made Athena promise to give it to you. See? She's got your name across the top," he stepped forward and pointed to the childish scrawl that carefully spelled 'Buck' across the top of the paper. Then he pointed to the first semi-stick figure. "That's me," the next semi-stick figure, "that's Hera, " the last semi-stick figure, "that's Sharon," and the large rectangle shaped object, "and that's a raptor." He leaned in as if telling her a secret. "Because raptors are better."
Kara eyed him doubtfully and Helo laughed. "Okay, maybe she didn't say that last part, but CLEARLY she was thinking it."
Kara snorted and Athena chuckled from behind Helo. Helo took that as a good sign. He stepped out from between the two women, but kept a close eye on Kara.
Kara stared first at Helo, then Athena. She held the cylon's gaze silently for a long paused moment. Finally she nodded. Turning her back on both of her visitors, Kara walked over to her locker. She lifted the latch and pulled it open. Raising the picture in her hand, Kara carefully wedged the edges of the picture into the sides of the locker door until it stuck. She smiled as she smoothed the paper. Closing the locker door, Kara turned back to face the raptor pilots. Her brows lifted in an expression that clearly said 'what now?'.
Helo smirked. He motioned both Kara and Athena over to the table Lee had vacated earlier. Athena turned first and calmly walked over to take a seat. Helo held his breath and watched his best friend. He was by no means certain that Kara would play along.
After another long pause, Kara heaved an exasperated sigh and moved to take one of the three open chairs. She threw Helo a sarcastic smile.
Grinning, Helo moved to join them. He spun the chair closest to his wife around backward and took a seat. Reaching into his pocket, Helo pulled out a shiny sucker and popped it into his mouth. It was one of the last of his secret stash, but this was a special occasion. Helo propped his arms on the table and locked his eyes with Kara's. "Well, Buck, since you've been such a very good girl today, I decided to bring you another present."
Kara smirked, held up her pointer finger, and twirled it in a circle.
Athena laughed out loud at the sight. Kara turned to stare at the cylon, but Athena just smiled back widely. She didn't care if she looked like an idiot. This woman was still Kara Thrace. She was still Starbuck. Athena's heart felt lighter than it had in months.
Helo cleared his throat loudly to win back both their attention. He threw them each a chastising look. "As I was saying," he focused back on Kara and spoke slowly putting emphasis on each word, "I brought you…another…present."
Kara slowly cocked her head to the side and smirked. She once again held up her finger and gave it an exaggerated twirl.
Athena bit her lip to fight another laugh and Helo mock-glared at Kara. "I don't think you deserve it anymore, but…I'm going to be magnanimous." He reached up with his right hand and once again dug into his pocket. This time he pulled out a well-worn box of cards. A wide smile curved his lips as Kara's eyes lit up with a familiar hungry light. Jackpot. "That's right, Buck, Athena and I are going to play you in a friendly round of triad."
Athena looked from Kara's scarily eager expression to Karl's kilometer-wide smile and back again. She frowned and warned them both. "We are not betting." Less than a month before Athena had overheard Karl telling Hera a bedtime story about the time that Kara won every pair of his shoes. The stupid man had actually flown a whole CAP in his socks.
Kara stuck her lip out in a pout. Athena was unmoved. She lifted one stern brow. "You're not the one who has to live with his feet."
End of Chapter
