Kestra entered the tent late in the morning. Laura was there reading a book with a contented smile on her face.
"How was your evening?" she asked suggestively. Kestra kept her face as impassive as she could.
"Uneventful," she said dully. Laura's brow furrowed.
"Then where were you all night?" she asked, "I assumed you were with-"
"I wasn't," Kestra interrupted. Laura's frown deepened. Before she could inquire further, Lee burst through the tent door. He looked like he was on a mission, but his expression softened when he saw Kestra still wearing the same outfit as the day before and with her hair askew.
"Are you ready?" he asked, "our raptor is heading back to Pegasus any minute."
"No," Kestra said coolly, "I've decided I'm going to stay here. If that's okay with you Laura?" She turned abruptly to the older woman. Laura could tell she was intruding on a personal quarrel.
"Of course, but I think I'll leave the two of you to talk this out," Laura said. She received a grateful nod from Lee and no change in expression from Kestra. Laura left the two of them alone in her tent. Lee's head snapped back to Kestra.
"Look," Lee said, "I know you were angry yesterday, but we can talk about this. Please just come back to the Pegasus, and we can work this out. I won't make you spend time with anyone you don't want to see." Kestra raised an eyebrow.
"How generous of you. I feel so relieved to have your permission not to spend time with your friends," she said sarcastically. Lee's eyes narrowed.
"Kestra, I didn't mean it like that and you know it," he said. His eyes softened again and he walked toward her. "I want to do whatever will make you happy. That's all I want to do from now on." He ran his palm across her cheek and through her hair. She held her eye contact with him and remained silent. "Kestra, I want you to marry me," he said softly. Her eyes widened first in shock, but her reaction was interrupted by the kiss Lee placed on her lips. Kestra immediately pushed him away, her eyes filled with unbridled fury. Lee looked thoroughly confused, but she spoke before he could get a chance to.
"How dare you," she seethed. Lee jumped back, startled by her tone. He opened his mouth to speak, but she was already out the door. She blew through the streets followed by a very confused and concerned Lee Adama. She stopped when she found what she was looking for. Kara Thrace was sitting in the middle of a sizable group of people. Attached to her hip was Sam Anders with a dopey grin stretched across his face. As Kestra drew nearer she could see the glint of a ring on his finger. It was matched by a similar glint on Kara's hand. When Kestra saw this she rounded on Lee. His gaze was briefly distracted by the couple before he focused on the woman before him. Even though she wasn't an empath, she could feel the guilt rolling off of him.
"Whatever will make me happy, huh Lee?" she asked with a cold smile, "and this interest in my happiness has nothing to do with the ring on Starbuck's finger," Lee was stunned into silence. Kestra nodded. "There are a lot of things I love about you Lee, but your obsession with Starbuck is something I will never understand," she said matter of factly. Lee grabbed her arm as she tried to walk away again.
"What the frak are you talking about? Kara has nothing to do with this? I just asked you to marry me," he said angrily, having recovered his wits.
"You tell me, Lee. What does Kara have to do with this?" she asked.
"Quit playing games, and just tell me what you're mad about," he said in a raised voice.
"You may be okay with being someone's sloppy seconds, but I'm not. It's pathetic that you're willing to waste your life pining after your dead brother's fiancé," she said sharply. Without a second's pause, Lee slapped her. Kestra did not flinch. Even as her cheek turned a scorching red, she stood firmly in front of Lee. Tears welled up in her eyes and fell sporadically down her cheeks. She didn't speak or move. Just stared at Lee. His eyes were filled with regret as soon as he had hit her. Unfortunately for Lee, their argument had drawn the attention of many of the people around them. Kara and Sam were watching in shock. Kara ducked her head guiltily. Lee looked around nervously.
"Kestra I," he said hesitantly, "I didn't mean to..." Kestra's jaw was clenched tightly shut. She couldn't stop the tears, but she would not break down in front of him. Not after what he'd done. She breathed as deeply as she could until she felt confident that opening her mouth wouldn't betray her emotions. "Let's… let's find somewhere we can talk… privately," Lee begged as his eyes darted around them.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Lee," she said in a clipped tone, "go back to your ship, Commander." She turned and walked away. Lee grabbed for her hand to stop her, but the second she felt his skin brush hers, she whirled around in his face. "Try it again and lose your hand," she spat in his face. She immediately continued her retreat, leaving Lee standing in the open with all eyes on him.
Laura was waiting outside the tent when Kestra returned and saw the red mark across her cheek.
"What happened?" she asked. Kestra strode past her and straight into the tent. Laura followed. Kestra's turned around when she had entered the tent and faced Laura. Her tears had not stopped, and they were joined by a strangled sob as Kestra's knees gave out. She fell onto the bed as shaky, silent sobs wracked her body. Laura rushed across the tent and sat beside her. Kestra leaned her head on Laura's shoulder as she cried. Laura held Kestra stiffly as she tried to offer some comfort though she didn't know quite what for.