Five

As predicted, Lee behaved like a caged animal after a few days of confinement. He raged at anyone who attempted to visit and offer him companionship. In the first few days, he'd caught up on his paperwork but that was done. His father had brought him books to read, but they lay in a crumpled heap on the floor opposite his bed where he'd thrown them in frustration.

"Come on!" Kara stood in the doorway, not risking entrance. The last time she had, she'd needed to duck his boot.

"What do you want?" Lee's legs were on his bunk and he was doing pushups off the floor. He was working hard and already sweating.

"I'm here to spring you, Moron."

"Where to? The brig?" Lee hadn't felt the slightest bit guilty for throwing the boot at Kara, but he'd barely missed Colonel Tigh's balding head an hour ago.

"I would have thought your aim was better. He's got such a fat head. How did you miss?"

Shortly after the boot attack, Colonel Tigh, the Commander and Kara Thrace had met in a war session.

"He can't take much more of this. We're suffocating him." The Colonel had been at Adama's side for years. He'd waited in the lobby when Lee was born. No matter what the problems between father and son, he wasn't about to let his best friend's son be killed.

"We've got to do something." Adama didn't have an answer and this bothered him.

"We could use him as bait. He'd want that." Kara always gave Lee more credit then his father did. It was something that she did actually hold against the Commander.

"We're NOT using my son as bait."

The Colonel didn't like saying so, but added. "It might be the only way."

Adama removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He let a loud sigh escape. He knew they were right. There was no easy answer to this. "I want him watched at all times."

"But not too close." Kara furthered.

"Starbuck, he won't allow just anyone around." 'Not even me', the Commander thought for a moment.

"I can do it."

"That will be putting her at risk, too." Tigh was thinking of the overall good of the fleet. He didn't want to lose his two best pilots, although he was loathed to admit it to her.

"Make it happen. Maybe we can force their hand." Adama put his glasses back on. "Go spring him."

"Are we sharing the plan with him?" Tigh asked.

"He'll know." Adama glanced at Kara for confirmation and received it.

"No, we're gonna go work off this extra energy of yours."

"Go?" Lee felt the first inclination to smile he'd had in days.

"Get your running gear on."

"I'm being allowed out? In the general population?"

"Not if you don't get your ass in gear."

Lee grabbed his running shoes. They weren't really his. His had been left on the Atlantia. He hadn't planned to stay on Galactica. He'd been ordered to attend the decommissioning ceremony only. Almost everything he had now was someone else's. Even the office still bore the original CAG's name. Lee had very little of his former life, save his father and that was something he'd more often then not, rather forget.

The run felt good. He could feel his body relaxing, despite the ache in his side. Each pound of his feet on the decking brought him more peace. They ended the run at the gym. Kara did a few stretches and then hit a bench for some presses. Lee started to go to another machine, when Kara caught his attention. "Not so fast, Captain."

"What?" He sat on the bench across from her.

"Doc doesn't want you exerting yourself yet. You get to spot me."

"Spot you?" He did finally grin and Kara found herself returning the smile. "That wouldn't be exerting myself?"

"Like you'll need to grab the weight." As if to prove her point, she lay back and lifted the weights, pressing them up and down several times.

Several hours later, the Captain had worked off his anger, showered and checked his station at the CIC. He couldn't help but notice that although Starbuck wasn't glued to him, there always seemed to be someone hovering nearby. He wanted to be annoyed but knew that being locked in his quarters would be worse. Kara and Sharon arrived a short time later and the three met several other pilots for dinner. The mess was a flurry of activity. There was a great deal of laughter and activity. Lee drank in the contact. He also found his appetite had returned. He waited in line to collect his meal and appreciated the chaos for it seemed, the first time. Once settled at a table, the stories of past glories from all around made the time quickly fly. Kara brought out the pyramid deck and a boisterous game ensued.

Lee settled into his rack late that night. The whole day had been good for him. He was enjoying the rise in his spirits, but something nagged at him. There was a physical ache in his gut. It wasn't his ribs. He ignored it and rolled over onto his side. Someone was trying to kill him. No wonder he felt a sense of unease deep within him.

The following morning, Lee was just finishing dressing, when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

He expected Kara, but found his father in the doorway. "Morning, Son."

"Sir? Is there something you need? I was on my way to CIC."

Adama chose to ignore the fact that his son didn't consider it possible for him to visit socially. "Have you had breakfast?"

"No, Sir. I wasn't hungry."

"Well, I am. Join me?" Adama smiled, hoping to put his son at ease.

"You are my morning babysitter?" Lee's tone displayed annoyance.

"No. I'm your father. I thought I might get to enjoy a breakfast with my son." Adama was angry. How did his relationship with his son get this bad? Was it because they were too much alike? He preferred to think his son was the better parts of his parents. He had assumed his son would be in a good mood this morning. He wasn't expecting this.

Lee didn't feel remotely guilty. He was only just getting used to having his father be a presence in his life. He wasn't ready to start pretending they had some normal father-son relationship. "As I said, I'm not hungry, unless it's an order, Sir."

"Fine." There was anger in his voice. "I'll see you in CIC later." Adama left.

Lee felt the sweat trickle down his neck. He swiped at it with his palm. He found it ironic that though the air felt cold when his father left, he was sweating. Kara would be fraked off when she found out about what just happened. He supposed it wouldn't have hurt to have one meal with his old man, but he truly didn't feel up to it. He hadn't slept well and he was eager to lose himself in his work. Later, his father joined him in CIC and they began the daily debriefing.

"Captain?" Colonel Tigh had felt the drop in temperature as soon as both Adama's were in the room. Now Lee didn't even seem to be bothering to pay attention. "Would you rather be somewhere else?"

"Huh? Sorry, Sir. I was distracted. What were you saying?" Lee was feeling progressively worse as the morning passed. Was this guilt at how he had treated his father earlier?

Commander Adama opted to stay out of the conversation. He didn't want a repeat of this morning. Better to leave it to Tigh, although, his son's appearance was bothering him. He was pale and sweaty. He hoped he wasn't coming down with something. He might not have been there during his childhood, but he knew all the details. He treasured the letters Caroline had always sent filled with detail after detail of his growing sons. Adama couldn't forget that Lee getting sick was a serious problem. For all his strength and intelligence, his body had betrayed him. Lee was plagued by allergies to most medications that saved others in life.

"I asked, what pilot you will send for the Voyager compliment?"

"Um, Crashdown?"

"Crashdown has CAP in four hours."

"Um…" Lee's world was blurring. He couldn't think straight. Suddenly, he couldn't hear the words being spoken to him. He could barely make out Tigh's face. The pain, which had once been a dull ache in his gut, was spreading to every inch of his body. His nerves felt like they were on fire. He grabbed the table and tried to focus his eyes. He could see Tigh calling for something. He had no idea it was for Life Station. He turned his head and saw his father. He was confused. Was his father hurt? There was such pain in his eyes.

Lee collapsed on the floor and his world went dark. Around him the Colonel and Commander issued orders in an attempt to control their panic. "Where's LIFE STATION?" Adama collapsed to his knees and cradled his son's head in his lap. He could feel the spasms in his son's body as his head lulled back and forth. He could feel his son's agony.