Lee stepped off the raptor onto the deck of Galactica. He quickly made his way to the Admiral's quarters. His father was clearly surprised and disappointed to see him making a courier run. Lee had missed Galactica. He'd missed his father, and his pilots, and others he could not openly express his concern for. However, all these concerns took a backseat to the pressing issue of the planned assassination of Admiral Cain. He had to hear it from his father. He wanted to hear his father tell him that he had ordered the execution of his superior officer because of a disagreement. He wouldn't believe it otherwise. What was even more astounding was when the Commander informed him that he ordered Cain's death on the advice of the president. There was a time when Lee had put his career on the line agreeing with the president, and now she was planning assassinations with his father. It was unbelievable.

"Is this all I have to sign?" Bill asked, abruptly ending Lee's questions about the soundness of his plan.

"Yes, sir," Lee answered. He turned to leave quickly but was stopped by the Commander.

"Lieutenant," Bill said, "there's something else I want to discuss with you." Lee nodded and walked back toward his father's desk. He knew what the Commander was going to ask and braced himself for another fight. "How did you know she was in danger?" Lee sighed.

"I already told you-"

"And I expect a proper answer," Bill interrupted, "that's an order, Lieutenant." Lee raised an eyebrow. He wouldn't betray Kestra, not even for his father. He was the only person on Galactica, in the whole fleet, she could trust. He knew the Commander would mistrust Kestra's abilities, and if the Admiral found out about it she would kill or torture her. He had grown to care about Kestra too much to see her hurt.

"I can't, Commander," Lee asked. Bill eyebrows shot up.

"I am your superior officer," Bill bit out, "are you asking for a court marshal, Lieutenant?" Lee shook his head. He knew he was pushing his luck, but it was the only option he had left. He had to find out what his father knew.

"No, because you're also my father, and this is a personal matter not a military one."

"It involves a military prisoner," Bill reminded him.

"One that you put in danger by insisting she remain in the brig, again, on the advice of your president," Lee challenged.

"Don't you bring her into this," Bill warned.

"We already proved Kestra is not a cylon, so why do you continue to treat her as hostile. If she hadn't been in the brig, Cain's men would have had no reason to go near her," Lee argued as he raised his voice. Bill was shocked into silence by Lee's emotional response. "What did they do to her?" Lee asked, nearly pleading. At his son's distress, Bill finally softened a bit.

"They beat her pretty good, but there was no lasting damage. We got there in time. I think the worst of it was a pretty bad concussion," Bill replied to appease his son. Lee perked up at his father's reply.

"You stopped them?" he realized, "Why you?" Bill froze at his son's question. Lee was finally gaining his footing in the conversation. If his father had been the one to stop the attack, he must have found out before the other ship personnel, otherwise he would have ordered someone else to do it. Unless he was strolling past the brig at the moment of the attack, he must have found out through means outside the ship's communications.

"Because I had the rank to stop Thorne," Bill covered his hesitation. Lee narrowed his eyes.

"Who told you she was being attacked?" Lee asked.

"Why is that important?" Bill quickly asked. Lee stepped closer to his father's desk.

"Because if you had gotten that information through ship channels you would have sent a marine team to the brig, but you went yourself. What happened, Dad?" Lee asked. His voice had taken on that pleading tone again which caused Bill to fidget in his seat.

"How did you know?" Bill asked in a low voice. Lee's eyes widened.

"She spoke to you," he breathed. Bill's eyes mirrored his sons, but his mouth remained in an angry frown.

"That's how you knew," Bill said in a dangerous voice, "what is she?" Now Lee understood. His father had heard a voice in his head, and found Kestra being attacked. Now he probably thought he was going crazy and sought confirmation that he hadn't imagined it. Lee also realized that if Bill was asking him about it that meant Kestra had refused to tell him about it. Lee knew he couldn't tell his father any more without speaking to Kestra first.

"Where is she?" Lee asked firmly. Bill was taken aback by his change in topic and demeanor.

"Sickbay," he replied. Lee nodded and turned to leave, "Lee!" Bill stood suddenly as he shouted after his son. Lee turned back calmly. "What is she? What do you know?" Bill glared at his son, but Lee remained calm.

"Commander, I need to return to my post. And I would suggest not telling the crew that you've been hearing voices. You can't afford to lose their confidence at the moment." With that, Lee left his father stunned to silence in his quarters while he quickly made his way to sickbay. When he entered, he saw Sharon surrounded by marines in the first bed. He slowly walked through until he found Doc Cottle standing beside a bed toward the back of the sickbay. Lee sped up his pace as he approached the bed. Kestra's bright smile caused Cottle to turn around.

"Ah, Captain Adama," Cottle barked, "about time you showed up."

"It's Lieutenant now," Lee corrected.

"Sure it is," Cottle replied as he walked away from the bed. Once he was gone, Lee focused on Kestra. She had a black eye, her nose was still bandaged. Lee frowned at her injuries. She smiled.

"It looks worse than it is," she claimed. Lee shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I wasn't there." Kestra looked into her lap.

"From what I understand, you couldn't help it. You were reassigned," she said, but quickly added, "though I was pretty upset when I thought you were just ignoring me."

"I would never," he said, "I tried to get back as soon as I heard you. The best I could do was that call." Kestra looked back up.

"I can't believe you heard me from that far away," she marveled. His brow furrowed.

"Is that not normal?" he asked. She shook her head. He stared into her eyes for a moment before speaking up again. "Did you call my father?" She nodded slowly.

"I couldn't think of anyone else," she said.

"He thinks he's going crazy," Lee told her. She looked up in surprise.

"You didn't tell him?" she asked.

"I think he figured it out when I miraculously called from the Pegasus before he told anyone," Lee said, "but I told him that if he didn't want people to think he was crazy he should keep it to himself." Kestra watched Lee in wonder.

"Thank you… for standing up for me like that," she said shyly. Lee put his hand on her cheek.

"I'd never betray your trust," he said earnestly, "you've had enough suspicion and hostility from my people." Kestra's eyes filled with tears that Lee gently wiped away with his thumb. She opened her mouth to speak, but a sob interrupted whatever thought she may have had. Instead, she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Lee stiffened at the sudden movement but softened and returned her embrace quickly.

"Thank you," she whispered into his shoulder. Lee held her tightly as she cried. He saw that Cottle had rushed over and was now standing on the other side of the bed. Cottle's expression quickly changed from one of reproach to one of sympathy. Lee offered the doctor an apologetic smile which he waved off, but he did not leave the area. When Kestra had calmed down and sat quietly in Lee's arms, Cottle finally spoke up.

"You should be lying down," he ordered gruffly, "and you're also supposed to be avoiding fast or jarring movements." He crossed his arms at the pair. Kestra released Lee and nodded to the doctor.

"I'm sorry, Doctor," she said sincerely with tears still in her eyes. Cottle looked apologetic as soon as she responded.

"You don't need to be sorry to me," he said but then gruffly added, "you're only hurting yourself if you ignore me."

"Maybe not, but I do need to thank you," she said, "both of you." She looked between Cottle and Lee. "I've appreciated your kindness more than you will ever know." The tears had returned to her eyes. Cottle tried to brush off her thanks, and Lee too was shaking his head. "Please don't," she said quickly, "try to brush it off or tell me it's nothing, because it's not nothing. You could have reacted the same way as Starbuck or the president, but you didn't. You chose to treat me with decency and humanity, and from what I've seen aboard this ship, that is hard to come by. So just accept my thanks and go back to your grumbling," she said. Cottle smiled at her blunt speech.

"Yes ma'am," he said as he returned to his other patients. Kestra returned her focus to Lee. He stared at her, she smiled under his gaze.

"You are an extraordinary person, Kestra," Lee said. Kestra's smile widened.

"I could say the same about you, Lieutenant Adama," she replied. His smile fell.

"I have to get back to Pegasus," he said glumly. Kestra tensed. Lee put a hand on her shoulder to try to sooth her. "You'll have Doc Cottle here, and my father won't say anything. Don't worry. I won't tell him anything," Lee said.

"That's not what I'm worried about," Kestra admitted. Lee cocked his head. "I'm worried what he'll do to get an answer. The president was already suspicious, and now your father is too." Lee's brow furrowed.

"I forgot about Roslin," Lee mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Kestra asked. Lee met her eyes.

"My father has been taking Roslin's advice recently. If he were to tell anybody about what he heard I think it would be her," he said. Kestra recoiled.

"If he tells her it will confirm the suspicions she already has, and her suspicions will confirm that your father isn't crazy," she said as she put the information together, "please don't leave me alone with them." It pained Lee to see her so scared especially after what she had been through in the past few days. He put a hand to her cheek. As he caressed her cheek he had an idea.

"I think I know a way to keep an eye on you," he said, "do you trust me?" He met her watery eyes with his, full of determination.

"Yes," she breathed out softly. Lee smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry," he said as he turned and left sickbay.

Lee found Dee in the CIC. She was at the communication station, and Lee quietly went over and interrupted her.

"Dee, I need to talk to you," he insisted.

"Lieutenant," she emphasized, "I am busy."

"Dee, please," Lee said. Dee looked into his eyes and sighed. She motioned for another officer to take her place and followed Lee out into the corridor.

"What is it?" she asked abruptly. Lee took a deep breath.

"Dee, I need a favor, but I need to know that this will stay between you and me. I need to know I can trust you, Dee," he said earnestly. Dee frowned at the urgency in his voice.

"Of course you can trust me, Lee," she said.

"I have to go back to the Pegasus, but I need you to keep an eye on Kestra, the prisoner my father's been holding in the brig," he said, keeping eye contact with her the whole time.

"Do you think she's going to do something?" Dee asked, confused.

"No, I think my father might try to do something to her," Lee said, "listen, Dee, I need you to make sure she's safe. I can't go back to Pegasus unless I know there's someone else here to make sure he doesn't hurt her."

"Why would the Commander hurt her?" Dee asked incredulously.

"I can't explain everything. Dee, please," he begged, "can I trust you?" She stared into his eyes. She could see the desperation behind what he was asking. He obviously cared very deeply for the prisoner and was genuinely frightened of what his father might do to her. It stung Dee a little to see how much he cared for the prisoner, but she'd never been able to deny him anything.

"I'll do my best," she said hesitantly.

"Dee," Lee countered in a low voice.

"Alright," she quickly amended, "I'll be sure to check on her, and make sure no harm comes to her."

"Thank you, Dee," Lee said with relief as he kissed her cheek, "thank you." He grasped her hand tightly then turned and retreated back down the corridor. Dee sighed wistfully and turned back toward the CIC, to her duty.