Author's note:

First of all, thank you for your patience in waiting for this installment. I try to be regular about posting, but family obligations got the best of me. and another story thrown in the mix didn't help. So far I've written the one snippet and outlined my next epic , so I'm ready to get this one finished and move on. Again, thanks for waiting so patiently. I hope it was worth it!

Chapter 4

Lee Adama once more found himself behind the controls of a transport shuttle, but at the very least he wasn't alone. It had taken him twenty minutes to talk her out of insisting to pilot the vessel, but he had finally managed to get Kara into the co-pilot seat as they set out for the Lenna Dell. Half the time he had been tempted to let her fly the damn shuttle, but it was a matter of male pride more than anything else.

Well, that and basic control issues. He had enough trouble being aboard the Galactica when someone else was running the show; he couldn't' tolerate it on a smaller vessel. He had learned that on Colonial One when he'd been so tempted to knock a perfectly good pilot out of his seat just to manage the situation himself. Sometimes, he thought he was far too much like his father for his own good. At the very least he knew his own faults, even if he wouldn't admit them aloud.

But he had wanted Kara along. First, for the company; she kept his mind busy. And secondly he wanted her help with the child he had been instructed to bring back. While the girl had been happy enough to crawl all over him when Billy had been there, he had no way of knowing if the familiarity would continue when he arrived without the younger man. Despite his father's suggestion, Billy had been up to his ears in the President's work, and he couldn't be spared for the moment. As the only other person aboard the Galactica with any experience with her, that had left Lee on his own. He assumed a feminine presence - however untraditional she might be - would smooth things over if little Katee got upset.

Getting permission to take her had been easy. One call to Doctor Hucker had assured not only the staff's cooperation, but the physician's relief. Apparently, President Roslin hadn't been the only one to think of Katee when threats had been presented against the weakest members of the fleet. The thought still made Lee sick. Survival was one thing, but survival at the expense of others was unforgivable.

So he and Kara were on their way to the hospital ship to pick up a little girl and deliver her safely to the Galactica. It was his second mission in as many days, and Lee was beyond grateful. He was almost enjoying himself.

"So, we go in, pick up the kid, and fly back? That's it?"

"That's it," he assured Kara. "Twenty minutes tops."

"And I'm here because."

"Because you were bored," he told her with a grin. "And who knows, you might be able to help me out with her."

"I don't know anything about kids," she countered. "But you're right; if I'm off the Galactica, it's a good thing. I was getting seriously claustrophobic."

Lee turned his head to watch as Kara looked out the front canopy with every evidence of true relief. He couldn't blame her. There was something about the open expanse of space, with or without visible stars in the distance, that was just plain comforting.

"So, what do we do with her when we get her there?" she asked him.

"At this point, she's going to Life Station," he said. "She's comfortable around doctors and techs, and it'll be a familiar environment. Besides, Cassie said she'd be happy to watch her for a few days."

"Cassie? She doesn't strike me as particularly motherly."

He shrugged one shoulder. "She doesn't need to be," Lee told her. "Just so long as she's good babysitter material."

Kara nodded, but didn't reply. He didn't press her. Kara had never felt comfortable around kids - not even when she was one - but it wasn't really her comfort that had prompted him to invite her. It was Katee's. Something told him the little girl wasn't going to be as thrilled with the solution to her safety as Roslin was. Lee wasn't entirely sure that he was comfortable with it either. Kids and a war ship didn't strike him as a good match, but he had to admit that they didn't have a great deal of choice. He'd been aboard the Kastyline, and it wasn't a friendly place. They did the best they could for the kids, but most of them were a long way from sweet and innocent. The youngest of the children had been taken into families aboard various ships, and who was left were essentially the more difficult children. They were troubled, lonely, and traumatized. And being children, they took out their feelings on anyone weaker than themselves. Katee was definitely that.

The flight was as short as yesterday's, but the landing procedure was decidedly more difficult. He requested clearance, waited, and requested again while holding steady just off the port bow of the spacecraft. Finally he was given clearance, but it was tense rather than friendly. It wasn't an atmosphere he particularly cared for, and he was even more grateful that they were taking Katee off the ship.

Once they were hard-docked, their hatch wasn't immediately released. That in itself was odd. He popped his side, and waited with veiled impatience for someone to let them aboard. Perhaps it was being the Commander's son, but he wasn't used to such a rude reception and it made him wonder just what had really happened on this ship.

Kara wasn't looking any more pleased at the situation than he was, but she remained quiet while they waited. When the hatch finally opened, they exited to the ramp and a reception of armed guards. Well, this was fun.

"I'm Captain Apollo," Lee said loud and clear. "I have clearance from Commander Adama to pick up a child that's being cared for here."

"I know that," the apparent leader of the security team replied, lowering his weapon and stepping forward to offer his hand. "We confirmed it before we opened the hatch. I spoke with the Commander myself."

"Good," Lee replied as he took the man's hand and shook it briefly. "So, is there a problem?"

"Several," the man replied with a weary sigh. "But we've sent someone to get the girl for you. I can't say I'm sorry to have one less person to try to protect. This place is getting to be a madhouse."

"Any leads?" Kara asked as she stepped forward and around Lee.

The security guard looked her over, and then back to Lee for confirmation. It grated on his nerves. She was in uniform, and she was an officer. There was no reason to ignore her.

"Well?" Lee prompted.

"None," the guard admitted. "But we've had two fires set near the area they keep their elderly patients in, and I'm getting sick of chasing shadows. It could be anyone," he said with a sigh. "But my bet is one of the technicians. This is happening in too many places for it to be someone without free access. I can't believe a doctor would do it, but that's a possibility too."

"How about patients?" Lee asked.

"Not likely. We have them pretty much under house arrest just to keep the movement down. The commander has three garrisons assigned to this ship, so there's almost as many of us as there are rooms to cover, and we're still not finding anything out. Somebody wants these folks dead, and they don't care what damage they have to do to get it. We've already lost one medication store to the fires."

Lee's brow furrowed in concern. "Do you need more men?"

"It wouldn't hurt. If the Commander can spare them."

"I'll see what I can do," Lee offered.

"Is that her?" Kara asked.

Lee followed her glance to the blond child whose face was tear streaked and frightened. She was being carried by one of the doctors, but she didn't really look hurt. "Hey, Katee," he said softly. "What's wrong?"

"I don't like the bad men," she said with a glare at the security officer Lee had just been speaking with. "Guns are bad."

Lee smiled at her. "You're right, they are bad," he agreed. "Sometimes. But sometimes they can keep us safe. That's what these guns are for. They're to keep you safe."

"But I wanted my dolly," she muttered as the doctor transferred her into Lee's arms. She clutched his neck tightly, her face buried in his neck.

"Things were getting a little tense on the ward," the doctor told them carefully. "I didn't think it was a good idea to wait around looking for a toy. I promised her I'd keep an eye out for it, and when I find it I'll send it over on a transport or something."

Lee nodded his understanding. "Did you hear, Katee? He promised to keep looking, and then send it to you. Okay."

She just shook her head, her face not leaving his neck, which was now wet. He was reminded of years before when Zak had lost something treasured and would get so upset that he couldn't have found it if he had tried. Most of those times he had given what comfort he could while Kara found whatever was lost. Somehow he didn't think sending Kara onto this ship was an option today. The tension was palpable around him, and he just wanted to get the three of them out of there.

"Does she have any clothes?" he asked.

The doctor shook his head. "We've been washing out what she has at night when she's sleeping in a shirt or something. There aren't many children's clothes available.

"We'll find something," Kara assured him. Then, looking Lee in the eye over the child's shoulder, "Let's go."

Lee nodded and turned to carry the girl through the hatch and back to the ship. She didn't seem inclined to get down, so he nodded for Kara to take the controls while he held the child on his lap. He hadn't expected this kind of a reception when he'd set out on this particular mission, and he certainly hadn't expected to be the one holding Katee during the flight. But she seemed to know him, and she had finally stopped crying, so he didn't press matters.

For her part, Kara was as efficient as always with startup procedures and requesting permission for takeoff. She had them gently disengaged from the hard dock without a jolt, and on their way back to the Galactica. She flew it as smoothly as he had when the President had been ill, but with considerably less effort. There were times Lee envied her skills at the helm.

"What do you think?" Kara asked softly as she turned her head to look at him.

He felt more than a little uncomfortable with the girl wrapped around him, but he tried not to let her know that. "I think it's worse than they're letting on," he admitted. "And maybe that this was a better idea than we had thought."

Kara nodded her agreement. Lee's attention was divided between her and the child who had just raised her head to look around. "Katee, this is my friend Kara. She's flying the ship."

Katee looked as though she was in awe. "I thought only misters could fly," she said almost reverently.

"Nope," he told her. "She's better at it than I am."

Kara gave him a wink, but didn't comment on that. "Hi Katee," she said softly. "Do you see that big ship out there?"

Katee looked forward through the viewport at the Galactica. They were approaching quickly, but Kara kept the flight smooth. The child nodded silently.

"That's where you're going to live for a while," Lee told her. "One of my friends, Miss Cassie, will be taking care of you. Is that okay?"

Her arms tightened around him and Lee did his best to relax as Kara set them up to land on the Galactica. The landing was as smooth as her takeoff had been, regardless of her unfamiliarity with the ship itself. Some things in life simply weren't fair. Lee was a damn fine pilot, but it was a hard-earned skill. Kara was just a natural.

Their reception here was far more to his liking than on the Lenna Dell. Still, he wouldn't really be comfortable until he could deliver his charge to the Life Station and check with his father regarding what the hell was going on. This was more than just a simple threat. The guards had shown him that this was more than a passing danger. Their medical supplies were being threatened, which could potentially cause more lives than even the poisoning, fires, and aggression. It told him that whoever their enemy was, their thinking wasn't rational and that was even more dangerous.

Thankfully, Katee seemed to like her new babysitter. Cassie had been friendly and open in a way that Kara was not, so the child had gone to her willingly. It didn't bother Lee, but it did bother Kara. She grumbled about how easily the girl had been transferred from Lee's arms into the med tech's, when Katee hadn't looked at her or spoken to her since they had left the transport.

"She doesn't like me," Kara complained.

"She doesn't know you," he corrected.

"And she knows you?

He shrugged one shoulder. They were walking down the main corridor of the Galactica, headed for CIC where Lee hoped he would get some answers. "Kara, I've seen her before, and under better circumstances. She was too nervous to really like anyone."

"Except Cassie," Kara said with more than a little sarcasm.

He had to smile. "Do you want to watch her?" he asked her.

"No," she admitted. "I don't know anything about kids, really. I just don't want her to hate me."

"She doesn't hate you," he told her with a grin. "Why is this bugging you so much? You don't even like kids."

"I don't not like them," she argued.

"Cassie's a nice person," he told her simply. "She's used to being around people who are sick or scared, so she's a natural with kids. Just be glad we have someone to do it. The President isn't in any shape to, and I don't want to."

Kara shrugged a shoulder but didn't reply. He hadn't known her pride was quite that sensitive, but he supposed he could understand. Kara was a long way from traditional in a lot of ways, but it was hard to get past the stereotypes of childhood. She might be the best fighter pilot he'd ever seen, and the most creative and tenacious officer he'd ever known, but somewhere underneath all that she was still a woman.

It took three salutes and one short conversation to get them into CIC. That wasn't an unusual occurrence. Security though the Galactica was always a little higher than anywhere else, and command was by necessity well protected. But even knowing the necessity, Lee was more than a little frustrated by the time he reached his father.

"Was the mission a success?" his Commander asked as soon as he was within speaking distance.

"Yes, Sir," he replied. "But I have some concerns about the situation. I'd like to talk to you about the security on the Lenna Dell."

"I'm off duty in an hour," Adama said quietly. "I'll meet you in my office then."

"But, Sir."

The look his father turned towards him cut off any other questions. He might not always believe as his father did, but at the very least he could read his father's moods. At the moment, there was pure fury in his father's eyes, and it wasn't directed at him. Something was wrong, and seriously so. Unfortunately, he would have to wait an hour to find out what it was.

"Yes, Sir," he finally said.

His father nodded, and he turned to leave. He nearly slammed into Kara doing so. She gave him a wide-eyed stare of surprise as he came close to knocking her over and tripping himself in the process.

"What?"

"We'll come back," he told her briefly, not really knowing or caring if she had heard his father. He had another source to check before he let this drop, and it would take him less than an hour to do it. Then he'd know what the frak was going on.

"Lee?"

"Come on," he told her over his shoulder.

He didn't wait to see if she would follow, but instead took off towards the President's quarters. It didn't take him long to get there, despite security in the corridor that was higher than it had been in CIC, and when he did so Kara was right behind him as he'd subconsciously known she would be.

She was still there when we walked up to the President's door and pounded hard. It was answered by a med tech wearing the standard issue uniform. "I need to speak to the President," he told her firmly.

"Who is it?" Her voice was weak, but recognizable.

"Lee Adama," he called past the tech. "I just need a minute of your time."

"Come in," she replied.

Lee looked behind him to see Kara's confused expression. "Top security," he told her briefly. She nodded her understanding, and they walked into the President's office, leaving a disgruntled medical technician holding the door. Thankfully, the tech didn't hang around, but disappeared into the background taking care of some nameless task.

Besides, his attention was on another woman, and Lee was brought up short by what he saw. Laura Roslin was not the woman he had first met, nor even the moderately ill woman he had transported the day before. She looked old and drawn, her skin pasty and her limbs frail. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, but clearly should have been lying down in it. She looked an inch from death, and suddenly his worries, concerns, and impatience seemed rudely out of place.

"I'm sorry, Madame President," he said softly. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I'm sure you should be resting."

She lifted a frail hand and waved it briefly. "I'm fine," she assured him. Yeah. Right. "I assume you have news about Katee?"

"She's aboard," Lee assured her. "And she's fine. You were right about the Life Station. She slipped right in with them as though she belonged. I think she'll do fine with Cassie."

Lee heard Kara's sharply indrawn breath and put a hand behind him to clasp her arm and silence her. She knew him well enough to take the hint.

"That's wonderful," Roslin said softly, finally leaning back against the pillows yet leaving her feet on the floor rather than truly laying down. "One less thing to worry about."

"I suppose the situation there isn't good," he began, fishing for information but hoping that he wasn't imposing during her illness. She looked so frail.

"It's deteriorating, from what I can find out," she told him softly. "It's hard to know for sure. They're afraid that if I get bad news I'll fold up," she told him in a wry tone. "Billy has enough sense to know that I worry less when I know what's going on, so he keeps me up to date. The latest is that the aggression is spreading and now can be found on nine different vessels. What we aren't sure of is whether the groups are coordinated - although I can't figure out how they can be - or if they are coincidental. Coincidence isn't very damn likely."

Lee let out a breath. "So it's not just two places now?"

"No," she confirmed. "It's pervasive in almost ten percent of our ships, and we aren't sure how many deaths can be attributed to it. Some of our ill and injured were bound to die; it was a medical certainty. But not this many, and not under such questionable circumstances. I'm afraid we have a vigilante group of sorts, and it's targeting our weakest."

"I see," Lee said gently. "And you didn't have enough to worry about," he added with a slight grin. The news was so horrible that sarcasm was the only way he knew to manage it.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I get through the days," she told him. "For now anyway. So long as my faculties are intact, I intend to keep abreast of what's going on. When they aren't, your father will take over until either I'm well or someone else is elected. Either way, the government and this fleet will go on."

"Yes, Sir," he answered. He wouldn't baby her. She wouldn't appreciate it.

"Now, are you going to introduce me to the lady behind you?"

Lee grinned at that. "You've met her," he said with a smile. "This is Kara Thrace. Starbuck. She's the recipient of one of those clusters you handed out."

"Ah," the Roslin said softly. "I knew I recognized the face. Didn't place you without the dress uniform, though. It's good to see you again."

"You," Kara began, then had to clear her throat. "You, too."

"If you're here with Captain Apollo, I'll assume that you know better than to spread this information around the fleet."

"Yes, Sir," Kara said quickly.

Roslin nodded. "Now, let's talk about something important," she said with a smile. "When will you be able to bring Katee to see me?"