After she took her shower in the turbo wash, and changed into a clean uniform, Deitra sat and thought about that nightmare she had of losing her brother Omar. She looked at the two pictures she kept with her, particularly the one taken when they were children. She was five yahrens older than he was. In the picture, she was seven yahrens, and he was two, and she was holding him close in the picture. She always protected him being the older sister. The thought consumed her about the sacrifice her brother made to make it to the Galactica. If there were two Vipers, there would have been a better chance that her brother would have made it.
"Good morning, Deitra", greeted Brie.
Deitra looked up at Brie after being lost in her thoughts.
"Good morning, Brie", she replied.
Brie looked at the pictures Deitra had in her hand.
"Your family?", she asked.
"Me, and my little brother", replied Deitra. "He was a Viper pilot on the Atlantia. He didn't make it."
"I'm sorry", said Brie with sadness. "You looked like you were very close."
"Yes we were", Deitra said trying not to burst into tears.
Brie put her hand on Deitra's shoulder as reassurance.
"I can only speak for myself", began Brie. "Whenever you need someone to talk to, I'm here. We need to be there for each other, because we're all we have now."
"Thank you again", replied a more at ease Deitra. "I need to enquire about a few things, and see a new friend recovering at the life center. He's also a survivor."
"Ok, see you later", said Brie.
Centars later, at the life center, Dr. Salik tended Orion's leg.
"This healing solution", began Dr. Salik, "has given you major progress in healing your leg's burn damage. That's the reason you're not going to lose your leg. However, it will still be a couple of sectars before you will be able to climb into a Viper."
"I understand, Doc", replied Orion.
"Tomorrow", Dr. Salik said, "you will be fitted for a brace for your leg. Dr. Wilker designed it so that it will greatly reduce the pressure on any fracture one has. You will be able to get around with the use of a walking stick. However, I still recommend to limit your time on your leg until you start physical therapy."
Orion nodded as Dr. Salik turned to leave.
Outside the life center, Deitra an Athena were talking as they approached.
"So you put your name on the list for Viper training?", asked Athena.
"Yes, a couple of centars ago", replied Deitra. "I had been doing a lot of thinking since I came aboard the Galactica. We need all of the Viper pilots we can get."
Athena nodded, and said, "you're right. At the same time, are you sure it's not because of your brother not being here? Believe me, I understand. I was on the bridge when Zac's Viper was destroyed. It hurts like hell when you feel helpless losing a loved one. I thought I would visit Orion before going back to the bridge for this mission."
They enter the life station and once again greeted by Dr. Salik.
"Lieutenants, I know you're here to see Orion", he said. "I just finished with him. He should be out of here tomorrow."
Both Deitra and Athena were happy to hear the news.
Looking at Athena, Salik said, "though he really gave Starbuck the riot act earlier when he complained about a burn in the launching bay."
"Oh, ok", said Athena trying to avoid the subject.
Both women go to Orion's bedside.
"The angels have come back", he said with a grin.
"I'm glad you're doing better", said Athena. "We will talk later about what happened between you and Starbuck."
"Starbuck is one of the last people I want to talk about right now," said Orion.
Athena looked at him with worry.
"You have to put it behind you", she said. "Like I said, we will talk later about it. I have to get back to the bridge."
"Ok, 'Thena", said Orion.
As Athena left to go to the bridge, Deitra sat down at his bedside.
"So how did it go?", asked Orion.
"Well", began Deitra, "I put my name on the list for Viper training. All I can do is wait."
"Same for me", said Orion. "I may have to wait a couple of sectars before I'm able to get in a Viper again. I guess flying a Viper is in my blood, being the son of 'Horus, the Hellraiser'. I guess many see my father instead of me. That is the few that see me at all."
"Awww come on", said Deitra. "You probably had a line of lady admirers. You don't see that you're a very handsome man."
Orion gave Deitra a quick smile at her compliment.
"Well", Orion began. "I don't know about the line of lady admirers part. I haven't had much luck in that department. I'm not what you would call a smooth talker."
"Real women don't want someone who just sells them a load of feldercarb", responded Deitra. "They want someone who is genuinely interested in knowing them as a person. Someone who supports her dreams, and what she wants to accomplish. For instance, there was always a part of me that wanted to fly a Viper. I just needed that extra push to follow that dream. I wish it didn't take the loss of my brother, and our homes to go in that direction."
Deitra looked at Orion, and added, "most of all, just be the good man that you are. The man that I see here. If a woman doesn't see that man, that's her problem, not yours. A real woman sees the man that you are."
"I know one thing I see when I look at you", said Orion. "I definitely see a real woman. You know what you want to do, and will do what's needed to accomplish it. Most of all, you're a caring woman. You look in the heart of the person, not at the surface. You're there for the ones you care about. That's everything I would love to have in a woman."
Deitra smiled hearing those words. She just couldn't help but to take his hand. He in turn held her hand. She gives him a light kiss. It was like an unspoken promise. No matter what, they would be there for each other.
At the mess area, Deitra sat down to have something to eat. Wasn't a lot considering the food shortage, but it was the first halfway decent meal she had since she got to the Galactica. As she sat down to eat, Athena came to her.
"Hey, Dee", said Athena. "I see you're getting along well with Orion."
Deitra smiled and blushed.
"Ah. I see", said Athena smiling, observing Deitra's reaction. "Anyway, the last hurdle is over. We were able to clear the Nova of Magadon to get to Carrilon. My brother Apollo, as well as Starbuck, and Lieutenant Boomer cleared the mine field. As to what's next, we will find out."
"I saw Starbuck in the conference room when your father addressed us", said Deitra, "but I never actually met him. Boomer was an old friend of mine, though I didn't get a chance to talk with him since being here on the Galactica. So why did the doctor say that Orion went off on Starbuck?"
Athena sighed. "Orion and Starbuck used to be close, being that they both spent a lot of time with my family. He asked Starbuck to not to take advantage of a friend of his during a vulnerable time. Well, Starbuck being who he was and is did it anyway. Ri had been angry with Starbuck ever since."
Deitra nodded in understanding.
"Orion seems to be a good man", she said. "In talking to him, there's no guile in him. He encouraged me to sign up for Viper training. Anyone I deal with, he has to be someone that will support me in my dreams, and I can support him in his."
"Indeed", agreed Athena. "Speaking of which, I was thinking about getting back into Viper training. I put it on hold when both of my brothers became Viper pilots. After Zac's death, and what's happened to our people, I seriously was thinking about going back into Viper training."
"Then we can do this together, 'Thena", said Deitra.
"Good", replied Athena.
A centon later, and announcement comes on:
"ATTENTION ALL SHUTTLE PILOTS! REPORT TO THE SHUTTLE BAY IMMEDIATELY!"
Deitra gave Athena a hug saying, "I got to go. Tell Orion I will see him later."