Lee scowled when Kara came near him. She was full of annoying enthusiasm due to her triumph at Pyramid the night before. Lee hadn't played shamefully, but he hadn't managed to defeat the current champ either. She had another six hours of rest. He was up for patrol. Although they generally enjoyed patrolling together, as CAG, Lee needed to fly with all his pilots. He was flying with Crashdown today.
They crossed the hanger and loaded in. The patrol was uneventful; thank the lords. Karaarrived early for her CAP. She chatted with Boomer and Tyrol while Lee landed. The specialists went about stabilizing his viper and he bounced down the stairs. As much as he loved flying, Kara knew he was always happy to get out and stretch his legs. He thanked Crashdown and then made for the far end of the bay, seeing someone with whom he needed to speak.
"I got shifts to rearrange. Have a good patrol." Boomer left as Kara waited for the final checks on her viper. The specialists seemed to have found a problem and things were not to Starbuck's satisfaction. She paced and cursed behind the technicians inspiring them with fear.
Chief Tyrol had been summoned and only he dared deliver the bad news. "She ain't going up."
"FRAK that! Why wasn't this discovered earlier?" She briefly wondered if the terrorists were now after her.
No one liked dealing with a livid Starbuck. "Sir, we'll get it fixed as soon as possible, but we have to change out the fuel regulator."
Captain Adama could see Starbuck's displeasure from clear across the flight deck. He thanked the specialist he'd been talking to and moved in Chief Tyrol's direction. He knew his Master Chief might need rescue.
Kara Thrace was shouting in her best form. She watched the Chief looked around for help and it encouraged her more. She followed his eyes. She saw Lee coming her way. She revved up for more battle. She knew the CAG would do his best to calm her down. She glanced back and forth between Lee's approach and the forlorn Chief. As she was glancing back to Lee, she noticed a slight motion above him. Scanning up, she saw the materials crane wobbling dangerously on its track. The system was used to transport heavy materials from one end to the other. With all the commotion, no one else would notice it.
She pushed the Chief aside and ran full out toward Lee. The Captain stopped, stunned by her approach. She was screaming something at him, but he couldn't make out her words with the commotion. He watched her eyes glance up and he followed their path as she neared. He tried to pull his body out of the way, just as the full force of Kara Thrace rammed into his abdomen. As her impact propelled them both out of the way, the crane unit came crashing down on the spot Lee had once occupied. Lee and Kara rolled over each other until they both slammed into the bulkhead. Both were gasping to try and regain their breaths. People swarmed them from all around.
Kara pushed back on her legs, still seated, resting against the bulkhead. "Are you alright?"
Lee said nothing. He nodded his head, but couldn't take his eyes off the broken machine. He finally croaked out. "Thanks." Even the tough as nails Captain was shaken.
She glared at him. "Still think it's just a freak accident?"
Lee raised an eyebrow. "Two freak accidents?" He tried to smile.
"Frak, Lee! You've done it again!" Kara Thrace reached up and brushed at the cut on his forehead.
"What?" He had no idea what she meant.
She pulled her fingers away, revealing the blood from his forehead.
"Frak!" He started to stand, but the minute he moved his body cried out and his hand immediately encircled his waist. "Frak, Starbuck, did you have to hit me so hard?"
She stood and stretched. His pain didn't escape her, but she decided to allow him some male pride. She held out her hand to help him up rather then summon life station. He took it and got to his feet. "I suppose you think the crane would have hurt less?"
"Maybe…"
Lee was cut off by the arrival of the Commander and Colonel. "What happened?" Colonel Tigh could see like everyone else, that the crane had fallen. He wasn't asking for that answer.
Tyrol appeared at his side. "I don't know yet, Sir. I've got crews getting at the tracks."
Commander Adama stared at his son. He'd said nothing until now. "Lieutenant Thrace are you alright?"
"Yes, Sir. Nothing like a good roll on the deck and the Captain offered to hit the wall for me." She couldn't bring herself to reveal her true fears. She never had and never would. Everything was a joke.
Noting that his son was standing, he didn't call for a gurney. The Captain's pride had taken enough of a beating lately. "See the Captain to Life Station."
Kara grabbed his arm and started to pull him, but Lee stood steady. "With all due respect, Sir. I'm fine and I'd like to stay until we figure out what happened."
Adama silently wondered if Lee would have fought the order had Tigh given it. "Captain, you're dripping on my deck. Report to Life Station."
"Sir!" Lee didn't care that he was openly challenging an order. Kara was secretly enjoying this rebellious side of the Captain.
"Captain, I am not accustomed to my orders being ignored or challenged." Adama had no more patience for his stubborn son, who had again nearly been killed.
Kara broke the tension. She pulled harder on his arm and reached in to tap his side. It was enough to send a wave of pain through her friend. "Even I don't argue with a command like that."
The doctor was applying the last binding strip to Lee's forehead when Commander Adama arrived. He caught the end of the conversation. "I'm a bit tired of your company here, Captain. I won't use stitches. This will seal the wound and there will be no need for you to return to get the stitches out."
"Thanks." There wasn't a lot of energy behind the Captain's reply.
"Obviously you won't be flight ready for a week or so."
"What?" Suddenly, there was energy in Lee's voice.
"You heard me. Lieutenant Thrace might not have broken any of those ribs, but she cracked a few pretty good."
"So, wrap them and let me get back to duty. You said yourself, I don't have a concussion."
"No. And you know we don't wrap ribs. The last thing you need is pneumonia."
Adama made his presence known. "Do you want him to stay here?"
The doctor turned and smiled at the Commander. "Nope. He can rest in his own quarters."
Lee gritted his teeth. "I don't need to rest."
No one was listening to him. As if to annoy him more, they spoke as if he wasn't there. "He's down for 48 hours and then only light duty. Should be a fine time for him to catch up on paperwork."
"I'll cover his next patrol." Kara offered.
"You can re-do the flight assignments as well." Adama added.
"HELLO! I'm right here!" Lee's eyes flashed wide with annoyance. "What happened on the deck?" Deep down, Lee felt his father was here because he knew something.
"Someone loosened the bolts." Adama wasn't going to play games with his son.
"Loosened? How?" Kara asked.
"Could they have come loose on their own?" Lee added.
"No." Adama didn't need to say more. Everyone in the room knew what it meant.
The doctor fidgeted, changing his mind. "Perhaps, the Captain should remain here?" The offer was quietly made. Lee knew it was made more in deference to his father. His response was to jump off the bed and pick up his jacket. He debated putting it on, but decided he didn't want to risk showing any discomfort at this moment. He began to walk out. His father's voice stopped him.
"You're confined to quarters until further notice."
He didn't turn back. He couldn't. He continued forward. One look from the Commander and Kara followed.
"Is he alright?" The doctor was facing a worried father now, not a tough a Commander.
"Yeah. He's sore, but he's fine."
Adama nodded and left. His body innately knew the path to the CIC. He was too caught up in his thoughts to pay attention to the route himself. Someone was trying to kill his son and so far there wasn't a shred of evidence to go on. How could he let his son live his life normally, if at any time or any place someone would try and kill him? Lee might tolerate a few days confined to quarters, but not much longer. Besides, they needed him. He cursed the Cylons. He hadn't taken the time to feel utter hatred and revulsion for the enemy. There hadn't yet been time, but for him now, it had truly become personal. He was having a hard time thinking as the Commander of the fleet.
