Title: Close Quarters 25/25

Author: Monti

Date: September 15, 2007

Rating: M

Word Count: 3783

Category: L/K AU

Warnings: None

Spoilers: None

Disclaimers: Don't own these people. Just borrowing them for a little while. I promise to put them back when I'm finished.

Author's note: As always…a huge shout out to my beta chicks: ezaspi and Pandora576…I'd be lost without them.

Summary: A continuation from the events occurring in Follow Me. Kara and Lee have settled into their new quarters and face the challenge of living with someone on a day-to-day basis in close quarters. The shiny newness of being an actual couple gives way to the fact that two very different people are trying to share a space, build a life, and not make each other insane in the process. Our saga continues…

PART 25

Kara came off a late flight rotation pondering the event set for the next day. Two weeks had flown and the 'dance' between Hot Dog and Beehive had ballooned into a ship-wide affair. Once word got out, the old man decided to let everyone blow off some steam in the hopes of keeping things tight and boosting morale. Rumors were flying, everyone was a little on edge, and this was one way of dispelling tension within their own ranks.

As for herself, Kara was looking forward to some downtime. She wasn't back on rotation for a couple of days since the nuggets were scheduled for Raptor training. Certifying pilots for the larger planes wasn't her favorite thing…and she'd managed to avoid it with the first class since they'd needed Viper pilots as a priority. But she couldn't get around it this time…her group was qualifying in both areas with only the best filling the open slots for Vipers.

If everything went according to plan, Galactica would have their brand new batch of rookies in a little over a month. Her accelerated teaching method should shave off a nice chunk of time, giving Lee enough crew to form just over a full squadron. That meant they'd have some people in reserve.

And hopefully it would ease some of the burden he had right now. Kara was worried about him…he was sleeping even less than usual while he worked with Karl and herself…when her schedule allowed…to make heads or tails of all the intel gathered on the civilian unrest. The non-stop effort hadn't produced the results Lee was hoping for…he wanted the name of the person in control and urging the conflict.

At least he was going to put it aside for a day…by officiating at the dance…along with Helo and Tigh. If she had her way, Lee wouldn't look at anything resembling a flight schedule or report for at least twenty-four hours.

Grinning at the thought she let herself into quarters and had to bite back a laugh. Lee and Karl were sprawled at opposite ends of the couch, stacks of files between them…fast asleep. The flight board was propped up against a chair and from the looks of it they'd made a little more progress.

Shaking her head while letting out a sigh, Kara nudged Karl's boot with her own. "Hey, Sleepyhead…wake up." When she didn't get a response, she reached forward and shook him gently awake.

Looking at her with bleary eyes, Helo scrubbed his hand over his face. "Kara, hey." He glanced around trying to get his bearings. "What's going on?" Sitting up his hand went to his neck to rub at a kink.

Smiling a little, Kara kept her voice barely above a whisper. "Come on…looks like you need sleep as much as Lee does." She gave him a hand up and walked him to the hatch. "Go get some rack time…you don't want to be late for…" Glancing at the clock…it read after midnight. "Well…later."

Still a little groggy, Helo thought rack time sounded damn good. "Yeah…right." He turned, almost stumbling over the threshold, but managing to clear it. "Sorry for passing out in your quarters." Giving in to a huge yawn, he started down the corridor. "See you ringside."

Kara nodded before closing the hatch and turning back to Lee. She thought about leaving him on the couch, but decided he'd wake up stiff and uncomfortable if she did.

Sitting beside him, she smoothed the hair back from his forehead. Even asleep, he looked tired…with shadows under his eyes. Working ahead on the flight rosters had helped, but he still had to maintain a full schedule. Throw in a considered a lack of progress dealing with the trouble brewing out in the fleet and top it off with a sit down meeting with Tom Zarek and Lee only managed to catch a few hours of rest here and there.

Stroking her fingers down his cheek, Kara wondered how much longer he could maintain the pace. Hell, she wondered how any of them could.

Leaning forward she said his name softly. "Lee." His head jerked, but he didn't wake up. "Lee." Her hand nudged his shoulder.

Lee was deep in the ether of the first decent amount of sleep he'd had in days. He was back on Caprica…high up in the hills where his grandfather had a cabin tucked away on the fringes of the city. Starting in high school, he'd go up there to unwind…usually after final exams…but sometimes when life felt like it was closing in on him.

It was his very own slice of paradise.

The rustic cabin sat next to a nice sized lake fed by a pristine waterfall from mountain run-off. It never mattered how bone weary he was when he got there…he always left feeling like a new person. Even if he only got to spend one night…there was something about the quiet…the solitude…the stillness of the night sky that seeped into him and calmed the chaos of whatever was going on at the time.

Sitting in his favorite spot on an over-sized, sun warmed rock, Lee let the magic of the surroundings recharge his system. He was so godsdamned tired. Hearing his name, he turned toward the sound but it was either lost in the roar of the falls or he'd imagined it. He shrugged it off…no one ever followed him up here. And it sounded like Kara's voice…but that couldn't be…she'd never been anywhere near this place.

He heard it again…and suddenly…there was Kara…standing in front of him with the falls framing her like a picture. Shaking his head, he blinked, knowing he had to be dreaming but not quite able to pull himself out of it.

Probably because he didn't really want to…

Reaching out, he cupped Kara's face and drew her forward snagging her lips with his. It didn't register that she'd pulled him to stand until they were close to the falls, up against the rocks frantically trying to remove each other's clothing between kisses, nips, and gasping breaths. Shirts…pants…why weren't there any shoes…everything melted away until he was there, lifting Kara over his cock, filling her, unable to hold back his groan of satisfaction.

Sinking to the ground, his back braced against the rocks and his hands on her hips, he urged Kara to rapidly ride him. His lips burning along her skin as she rocked over him, each movement pulling him closer to the edge. Sliding his hands along her ribs, he brought them forward to cup her breasts, thumbs skimming over her nipples. Her wanton moan only kicked him closer to the brink as his lips sought hers, his tongue plundering her mouth.

With her fingers digging into his shoulders, Lee braced his hands on the ground, lifting his hips to meet hers. Kara tossed her head back, gasping at the deeper penetration and twisted her hips in response. A shudder ripped through him and he fought to hang on, the need for Kara to break with him warring with the desire to let go and seek his release.

Lips at her throat, Lee's teeth grazed over the sensitive skin, pushing Kara past the point of no return. They shattered together, riding the wave of pleasure…letting it flow over and around them…just as the falls crashed over the ridge to pool and ripple out into the lake.

Satiated and spent, Lee tried to remember the last time he felt so replete and relaxed. Leaning against the rocks, Kara tucked comfortably in his arms, he was happy, content and in no hurry to move. In fact, he couldn't think of another place he'd rather be at the moment. It had been too long since he'd felt that way.

Shifting slightly, Lee's hand drifted up to cup the back of Kara's head. His fingers massaged gently and when she tilted her chin up to smile at him, he couldn't resist a gentle kiss to cap off the moment. Settling back, he closed his eyes and let slumber claim him.

Lee awoke slowly…disoriented at first…wondering why he heard the hum of a battlestar instead of the distant sound of the falls outside. He would have sworn he was at the cabin. Coupled with the warm weight of a very naked Kara wrapped around him and the vivid pictures running through his mind, Lee was disappointed he wasn't there…in his favorite spot. Wait…naked Kara. Could the erotic images be real? Or had it been nothing more than a very stimulating dream?

Still groggy, he assumed the latter but couldn't quite line things up in his head. He'd been too damn tired lately to do much of anything except let the days blur together. Sorta made it difficult to keep everything straight.

Blinking his eyes open, he waited until they focused before trying to figure out the time of day.

"It's 0600." Kara smoothed her hand sensually over Lee's chest before making a fist and propping up her chin.

Lee's body twitched in response and he grinned up at the metal bulkhead before shifting his gaze to meet hers.

Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, he started a greeting. "He-ee-" Voice still raspy with sleep, he cleared his throat and tried again. "Hi." Her eyes were smiling at him and her lips curved to complete the picture.

And it was so close to something that flashed in his memory, he had to know…even if she'd probably want to kill him. "Uh…don't take this the wrong way…" Lords…he couldn't believe he was asking this… "but did we…uh…by any chance…" His voice trailed off…the more he thought about it…the more it sounded like a bad idea to admit he was clueless. "Gods…I'm sorry…never mind." Hauling her closer, he decided to drop the subject.

Kara had other ideas. She knew what he was seeking and to answer she angled her head forward to press a kiss against his chest. "Did we by any chance…" Her tongue followed, laving a wet trail along his skin until they were chin to chin. "Have mind blowing sex?" Throwing her leg over his hip, she moved until she was on top of him.

"Yes…we really did." Leaning down, her lips snagged his for a quick kiss. "And you'd only have to be sorry if it sucked." Flicking her tongue out, she licked his bottom lip. "And Lee…" This time she kissed him long and deep before coming up for air. "Trust me…it didn't." A thrill shot through her when his eyes darkened in response.

So…not just a dream. But frak…he completely missed the reality of it.

He aimed to fix that.

Grasping Kara's waist, Lee lifted her hips enough to settle her back a little. His cock finding her wet and slippery, he held her gaze as his pelvis dipped so he could slide slowly inside her. Enveloped in her warm heat, he rose up, elbows supporting his weight, to mesh his lips with hers. Easing back down, tongue dueling hers, Lee thought he'd be content to finish out the rest of his days locked in this position with Kara.

Knowing that wasn't possible…he couldn't think of a better way to spend the hour before they had to gear up for the dance.

Kara stood in the middle of the action, surveying the crowded flight deck turned makeshift 'dance' floor. Surrounding her, three rings were running simultaneously while Hot Dog and Beehive helped her get participants taped up and loosened up for upcoming rounds. To her satisfaction, the two men were getting along…there was even good-natured banter flying back and forth between them. And good lords…backslapping, too.

Considering their match ended up being a draw, Kara was mildly surprised they weren't still playing the one up game. Being able to pound each other into bloody, battered pulps probably hadn't hurt.

It was beyond her how either man could even stand much less assist her…Hot Dog's eyes were puffy, swollen and would end up turning every shade of the rainbow before he healed completely…and Beehive was sporting several stitches from smacking the side of his face against a ring post as he recoiled from Brendan's final jab.

The things people bonded over never ceased to amaze her.

The bout Tigh was officiating ended with an abrupt knockout giving Kara an opportunity to check who was up next…they were getting close to the final rounds. "You two got this covered?" Beechman gave her a thumbs-up so she started weaving her way through the spectators to reach Gaeta and Kat.

They were in charge of tracking tags and taking bets and from the looks of it having more fun than they'd had in ages. Kat's laughter rang out as she changed the odds of the match coming up while crewmembers all but tossed cubits and bills at Felix. The commander had made the right call…they all needed this event.

Snagging the clipboard, she flashed a smile at Gaeta as she scanned the list of sparring partners. Only four names remained on the top sheet so she flipped it up to read the next page but she instead of reading the names of fighters she was looking at a betting pool. Two pages were stuck together and as she was sliding her finger between the sheets to separate them the title of the pool caught her eye.

Apollo/Starbuck: Wedded Bliss or Funeral Pyre/Airlocked Casket…pick the date

Bringing the clipboard closer to her face, she looked at it again. Yep…she'd read it correctly. No wonder Kat had been twitchy when she'd asked about the pool not so long ago.

Well, frak.

FRAK!

From the looks of it…the entire crew was frakking betting on whether she and Lee would make it official or kill each other. What was with everyone and their all-consuming desire to turn her life with Lee into a spectator sport?

Gods, it pissed her off to no end.

Her first instinct was to grab Kat by the collar and plant her face into the table. But she tamped down the urge and let common sense prevail.

The whole point of today's event wasn't completely lost on her…even if she was mad enough to take on an entire squadron of Raiders and come out on top.

Drawing in a deep breath, she held it while darting a quick glance at Kat…still otherwise occupied. Forcing her posture to relax, Kara exhaled slowly while making a few quick decisions.

First…she had to talk to Lee. If nothing else, he'd keep her from maiming someone.

Second…Kat needed to sweat a little bit.

That part was going to be easy. Kara tucked the clipboard under her arm and made her way behind the table. Stopping beside Louanne, she leaned in with a bright smile on her face. "Hey Kat…I can't read the name of the last match…" Kara watched closely for Kat's reaction as she lifted up the top page and was rewarded when the other woman sucked in a quick breath, startled fear leaping into her eyes before she quickly tugged the clipboard from Kara.

Kat smoothed the sheets down then planted her thumb at the bottom to keep them anchored. "Last round is Rickshaw and Hacker." Her voice was a little reedy as she tried to be nonchalant about the grabbing and she wouldn't look directly at Kara.

Hastily shoving the board under the box loaded with dog tags, Kat finally looked up. "Um…need anything else, Starbuck?" Her hands moved to do a rapid reorganization of the already organized table.

Kara didn't answer right away, staring at Kat with measured calculation. She let the moment draw out awkwardly then flashed a quick, but dangerous smile before shaking her head negative. Turning to walk away, Kara looked back over her shoulder, holding Kat's gaze until a group of crewmen walked between them.

Let Katraine chew on that for a while.

Hot Dog and Beehive had things handled so she made her way over to the bout Lee was officiating. Watching him referee cooled her temper a little…enough that she almost decided to scrap talking about the pool. Kara wasn't completely sure how Lee would react…as if he didn't have enough to deal with already. And right now, he was relaxed and having fun…the look on his face said it all.

Too late she realized the bout was over and Lee was heading out of the ring. Just as well, she wouldn't like it if he kept this from her if he'd found out before she did. Keeping her face passive, Kara waited until Lee made his way out of the ring before she flagged him down, signaling she needed to see him.

Lee could tell something was off with Kara…her face was blank and that didn't mesh with the excitement pouring off her in waves earlier. He stepped in close, his face a question mark of concern…but he said nothing…sensing Kara wanted to take the lead.

Realizing she couldn't have picked a worse place to spill the details, Kara nodded a quick greeting. "You got a minute?" She had to practically shout to be heard over the noise of the crowd still watching the other two rounds.

Lee put his arm around her waist and leaned in so he didn't have to yell. "Yeah. What's up?" When Kara looked around before answering, his gut clenched up in a knot.

He had a feeling he wasn't going to like what he was going to hear.

She fought her temper again but she lifted her chin, putting her lips directly beside Lee's ear and with her voice pitched low she explained her discovery. His nostrils flared and his jaw clenched, but other than that, Lee's reaction didn't show…although Kara could almost hear him counting silently to ten before he jerked his head toward a quieter area of the hangar deck. She responded by grabbing his hand so they could fight their way through the sea of bodies to get there.

A number of things ran through Lee's mind as he walked with Kara his brain burning through the idea that yet again, they were at the center of a betting pool.

His gut reaction was to put everyone on notice that how he and Kara lived their life was off limits to wagers, bets, and anything else he could think of involving prizes being exchanged over the predictions.

But in all honesty…what the hell else did they have to gamble on? There weren't any more sporting events to bet on or entertainment venues to hold an audience in their thrall. Aside from what they had going on today, the odd triad game didn't offer much in the way of diversions from the hell they lived with every day.

He didn't appreciate being a main attraction but he was beginning to understand why mundane things…like whether or not he and Kara ever got married…held lots of interest for people. If he learned anything from sifting through all those reports it was how bleak life really was…for everyone. Finding some kind of outlet to combat that was one more thing to add to the never-ending list…but it would have to wait 'til later.

Right now…well, he and Kara could let the pool distract them and make them angry…or they could find a creative way to deal with the whole thing. A wild thought popped into his head, but Lee held it back, watching as Kara began to pace around the small area. He decided to see if humor would settle her down a bit.

Leaning against the bulkhead, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and adopted a serious, considering expression. "You planning my demise?" It wasn't what she was expecting and it broke through the tense look on her face, not to mention stopping her in her tracks.

Was she planning his demise? Of all the things Kara thought he'd say…that wasn't it. Her laugh ended in a snort. "Um...No." Oh…she'd needed that moment of levity to put the stupid pool into perspective. "You thinking about mine?" Leave it to Lee to completely wipe out her building head of anger.

Lee winked at her, reaching out to grab her hips. "Not today." He looked up confirming they were alone before leaning forward to kiss her with surprising sweetness.

Smiling against his lips as Lee tugged her closer, she stepped into his embrace. "Good to know." Resting her forehead on his shoulder, she wrapped her arms around him then tilted her head back to meet his gaze. "So…what are we gonna do about this?" Too many people were involved to quietly take everyone out.

Several ideas came to mind…including his previous wild thought. Just because he kinda understood the 'whys' of the crew's fascination with their life…it didn't mean they had to play along.

Meeting Kara's gaze again, he answered with what he considered their best option. "Same thing we did last time…" He dropped a kiss on her nose then said quietly against her ear. "Beat them at their own game." They had alternatives and they had the advantage of knowing about the pool. He didn't doubt they'd come up with something suitably impressive.

Kara's forehead crinkled up as she tried to wrap her head around the concept of beating them at their own game. The last time involved she and Lee continuing to meet on the sly until they'd finally been caught. This pool was marriage and body bags.

How the hell did you win at that?

A little clarity would be nice. "Lee…I don't see how—" Her words ended abruptly as the sound of running footsteps crashed toward them.

Felix barreled around the corner and virtually slid to a halt beside them. "Major. Captain. Sorry to intrude." He paused to catch his breath. "Gotta get to CIC…a bomb just exploded on one of the civilian ships…and it's bad…bad." He had to stop to drag air in again.

Kara questioned him. "Cylons?" Couldn't be…the alert would have sounded.

Gaeta shook his head. "No enemy contact…but an unconfirmed number of civilians injured and dead." He didn't wait for them to ask more questions. "Report to Commander Adama." Taking off at a run, he hit the steps that would lead him to CIC.

Lee immediately followed, but he looked back at Kara…he didn't have to tell her their topic of discussion was temporarily on hold.

Kara nodded reluctantly and lagged a little behind…the repercussions of the explosions hitting her hard.

It had finally happened…

…What they'd all feared…

The breaking point had been reached.

And Kara had a sick feeling that things were going to get much, much worse.

FIN