Lee awoke suddenly. He felt cold and wet and a bit scared as he struggled to get his bearings. He was in his quarters, the room was filled with light, and Kara stood over him with an empty tankard.

"Lee....Lee..."

Finally, the strange fuzziness seemed to be replaced with total awareness He was laying in a wet bed. Lee realized that the not all the water that clung to him was sweat. Kara had dumped a cup of what he was hoping was only cold water on him.

"What the frak did you ...?"

"Lee... I couldn't wake you. You scared the sh...."

"Geesh, Kara, just couple of hours ago you practically pushed me into bed. Now you wake me up with cold water!!! Have you lost your mind?"

"Forty-nine..."

"Forty-nine what?!"

"Forty-nine hours, Lee. You have been a sleep for forty-nine hours. You should have reported to Dr. Salik eight minutes ago."

"Oh, jeeshhhhhhhhhhhhh," he growled as he swung his feet out of his bed. He was soaked from head to toe; everything, including his sheets, clung to his body. "So why the water? Couldn't you wake me the normal way, like everyone else does? Knock on the door, shake my shoulder or scream in my ears..." He stepped into the lavatory, leaving a trail of wet linen in his wake.

"I tried, damn it! I tried everything!" she continued to yell across the room, slamming the empty tankard against the desk. "I have never been so scared in my life! You were not responding to anything I did. If the water didn't work, I swear I would have called Life Station."

"That is exactly what you should have done in the first place, Lieutenant."

Both Kara and Lee froze in place. Kara slowly turned around to find not only the Commander glaring at her, but Doctor Salik and three medics, as well. "Oh frak."

Lee wandered out with nothing more than a towel around his waist. He held his tee shirt balled in his fist and his arms crossed his chest as he leaned against the bathroom doorframe. You could feel the tension go up in the room as if the Commander had been leading a Cylon raiding party. There was no doubt by his actions that Lee considered the temporary truce they had managed the last couple of days at an end.

"You are dismissed, Starbuck," the Commander said calmly.

Kara stared at Apollo, then at Adama and then back at Apollo, who nodded his head towards the door.

"Sure, why not," she mumbled to no one in particular. "Ya know, I think now would be a great time for a drink. Hell, I have the cup."

They waited until Starbuck exited the office before anyone even moved. As soon as the door slid shut, one of the medics rolled in a cart carrying a medical bag, the other, a machine that really had no purpose in his room as far as Lee could tell.

"Eight minutes late for a med eval is not good enough reason to turn my quarters into the officers' lounge, Commander," he hissed sarcastically. "You think I could get dressed and we can resume this at Life Station, where it is supposed to be?"

"Sit down, Lee," Adama barked. "They are already here. There is no reason to waste any more of their time. That's an order!"

Lee flung his shirt across the room and dropped himself into the large chair that sat in the corner of the room. The three medics all turned to the doctor looking like frightened cats awaiting permission to bolt out the front door; they were either newbies or they had encountered an angry Adama before; two of them were more than they got paid to face.

The doctor took a small handheld computer from one of his medics, who began processing information into a med comp. He walked over to the Captain and waved it around the young man's head and chest.

"Captain," the doctor began, "The Colonel informed us of your episode in his office. How long have you been experiencing trouble sleeping?"

"Oh, I don't know... about the same time...OUR WORLD WAS BLOWN TO HELL!" Lee screamed, pushing himself out of the chair.

"Lee, control yourself."

Lee glared at his father and the three medics who huddled in the doorway of the outer office, not sure at this time if even that was safely out of range. He rolled his eyes at the sight then turned back to the doctor, who stood where he had left him by the empty chair. "I am sorry for my outburst, Doctor, forgive me. I, like most of the officers, have not had much time for sleep since the attack."

"No, Captain." Salik smiled, obviously used to officers and their tantrums. "You are right, it really was not a very smart question." The doctor walked over to the doorway to hand the medic the equipment and dismissed the medics, who quickly shot through the outer door.

"Then if you're done..."

"No, I am far from done, but I will ask you a few more questions and be on my way."

"...And none of this could have waited until I got dressed because... "

"Captain, I have been your father's doctor for more years than I care to admit. I know the mindworks of an Adama. If I stepped out of here without all the information I needed on the grounds you would come by my offices, I would never see you until the time you are carried in injured or unconscious. Unlike most officers, it seems the Adamas have unusually strong shoulders that must, for some reason, maintain the weight of the whole damned fleet," the doctor ranted, exchanging glares with both Adama men. "Now, you just slept more than forty-eight hours straight and yet your body is still showing signs of exhaustion. Your scan showed that you are currently experiencing an elevated blood pressure, and more than likely, one hell of a headache. You have a remarkably low nutrients count and you are slightly dehydrated, which means you are not eating properly and you have not been consuming your water rations. That, of course, is partially because you have been comatose for the last two days but..." he continued, as he walked out to the outer offices and retrieved the plate of dried food that sat on Apollo's desk and showed it to his audience. "I am thinking that that is not entirely the case. So if you plan on ever getting back in a Viper, I will ask you the rest of these questions." Apollo remained quiet. The doctor again turned on the hand held computer and began his questioning.

Now correct me if I am wrong. You were injured during the attack on the President's shuttle?"

"No."

"Let me reword that...You were rendered unconscious while on the President's shuttle?"

"Yes."

"And then there was the unique landing in the last confrontation with the Cylons. Did you lose consciousness there?"

"No..."

'Understand Captain, I don't have any medical records on you. I cannot send for them so, I can only rely on you. I am starting from scratch. I need you to be totally honest with these questions."

"Doctor, I was flung backward into a landing bay, unconsciousness would have been a blessing. I was dizzy, nauseous and angry, but I assure you, I was awake the whole time."

"Do you suffer from headaches?"

"Don't you?"

"Lee!"

"Yes, I have headaches, and yes on a rare occasion they can be severe headaches,"he admitted. "I don't have them often. They have been checked out and to date there has been nothing other than stress to explain them. The first time I remember having one was in War College. That one I thought was going to kill me. I went to the infirmary, had it checked out. Nothing showed on the any of the scans. I was told that I needed to try getting some sleep instead of studying all night long. That was the worst that I can remember. Maybe the one just before my last flight came close, but I am betting the one I am getting now will pass them both."

"Seems bull-headedness is not the only trait in the Adama bloodline." Salik looked over to the older Adama and smiled. "Are you allergic to any meds that you know of?"

"Alcordazine, Medvin and a few antibiotics that I can't remember the names of," Lee admitted.

"Captain, you are in a very high profile position. It requires a lot of you, mentally and physically. Right now your own antibodies are working overtime to keep you healthy and it would not be a good thing for you to fall sick, considering that we are not sure what our med supplies are and your reaction to them might be. So I am going to prescribe that you get two more days of down time."

"NO WAY! I already have a skeleton crew working over time," the younger Adama objected. "I am not going to sit in my room while everyone else works. Forget it."

"Lee, be reasonable," that remark got the Commander incredulous looks from both his son and his doctor. "There is plenty that needs to be done onboard Galactica until you're cleared for duty."

"Why is this even a issue? I was tired - I slept - I am fine."

"No, you were over-exhausted- you passed out- for two days- you awoke only after someone threw cold water on you and your body is still working overtime to heal- you are not fine," Salik rebutted. "If you want to work, it will be done like so: no more than eight hours. Ground duties only. NO FLYING, unless it is by shuttle, and then you will have someone else pilot. You will eat at least three meals per day and drink all of your water rations. Then, after two days, you will come see me. If I see an improvement, I will reinstate you, but not one moment before."

Frustrated, Lee flopped back down in the chair and pressed his forehead into his hands, as if he squeezed hard enough he could make everything implode and all would be well with the world. "So, what you're telling me is that I have died and this is Hell."

"Don't even joke about that, son."

"If that is all, I guess I will finish my shower, change my bedding and go back to bed. Good night, gentlemen."

"Actually, there is one more thing." Adama went out of Lee's office and returned with a man Apollo had never seen before, and yet seemed strangely familiar. He was a dark-haired man with dark eyes that seemed to burn, like molten lava. He was dressed in robes and wearing a circlet that seemed to be woven through the locks of curls that adorned his head. It reminded Lee of someone out of an old book.

It was then that reality hit. "...a priest? He's a frakking Gemmon Priest! What do you need a priest for... an exorcism?"

"I apologize for the attire sir, my name is Michael," the young priest said. Though in appearance he looked not much older than Apollo, he seemed so much more mature than anyone in the room. He extended his hand, which could have been a snake for all the Captain cared. He finally gave up and continued, "I was not on duty when the Commander requested my presence, immediately, 'to come as I was', as it were. I am a shuttle pilot, sir. I will also act as your secretary. I am also trained as a medic and have been know to play a mean game of pyramids." The officer smiled then, adding, "but if you should be in need of an exorcism or two, I do have the authority for that, as well."

"A babysitter." Lee flung his arms in the air.

Adama tried his best to sound more like a commander than a father. "He's a Colonial officer and I expect him to be treated as such. Michael is my shuttle pilot and has been a fine assistant. If you are still planning to work though the next two days, you will need help. There is none better in the fleet. We cannot afford the Commander of the Air Group to fall ill because of his damned pride."

The color in Lee's face went from sheet white to fire red in what seemed like seconds but his voice was nearly a whisper and slowly rose as he got out of the chair again. "... A babysitter? I know you haven't been around much, FATHER, but I have been out of diapers for quite some time. I am a big boy now." About this time Apollo's face was a red as the Pison moon. "I am a frakkin' military Captain! I earned it. I don't need a babysitter, I don't need a pilot or a secretary and I don't need more sleep. What I need is a little faith from my superiors and that can't be gotten though a priest. So, Michael, if you will excuse me, I am going to get my shower and then I am going to go find replacement pilots. I am sorry my father has disturbed your sleep for no reason. Please return to bed or wherever you came from. As for you, Doctor... I am not my father. I will be where I say, I will be on time, sooner if it gets my ass off your sick list. So if there is nothing else, please leave."

He waited as both Michael and the doctor turned to the Commander. With a nod of his head, both men stepped out of the room. Apollo then turned to his father. "As for you... If I knew for certain I was talking to my father and not my Commander, I would have swung first and asked questions later. Either way, I would like to think that you had enough faith in me to do my job. "

"Don't be absurd, Lee. I have faith in you above anyone else in this fleet. I know what you're capable of. If you were not the best man for the job, you would not have had it. You were not chosen for the position because of your relationship to me. Unfortunately, you had barely gotten your Captain's bars when this insanity broke out. You have not had time to be more than an elite pilot, yet alone a War Officer," Adama informed him. "I don't give a damn what they call it, War College does not teach you how to survive the realities of war. Death is not an every day occurrence. Unlike the simulations, you don't get a second chance to defeat the bad guy that just blew you out of the sky."

Adama turned to face Apollo, he found him listening closer than he had ever listened before. He didn't know if it was the father or the Commander that had his attention, but he wasn't giving up this one chance to say the things he didn't tell his youngest. "I love you and I trust you. But in less than a cycle of one month's time, I have seen more death and destruction than I have seen in all my life, in all my career, and this is not my first war. Damn, son you have had the world literally tossed on your shoulders. You are not a god. You are human. I will grant you, up to this point you have done well, but you cannot do it alone. I cannot do it alone."

Adama stopped suddenly and looked away, out the portal, into the massive star field. "I will not do it alone. I thought I lost you once and my world shattered but I had to go on. I had to get our people to safety, but after I was sure they were safe I could have died and not given a damn about anyone or anything. I will not apologize for caring about you, son. There are a billion stars in the sky and yet I have only one light left in my heart. As a father, I should lock you away somewhere in the depths of this old ship, as far from harm's way as possible, but you are a warrior; such actions, even if they were possible, would still kill you, maybe slower, but you would still die none the less."

Adama turned again and faced his son, who stood quietly, seemingly lost for words. "I am both your father and your Commander. There is nothing you can do to change that. But you are no longer my little boy and there is nothing I can do to change the past, now. As your Commander, I can see that you are trained to be the best warrior you can be, and as your father, I can try and see that the world is not too heavy for you to bear. Both ideas would seem a waste of my time, because as a Commander I know you are already a fine officer and a well-trained warrior all this you have done by yourself. And as a father, I could not be prouder of the man you have become without me.

I know I failed miserably as a father, but I am still a damn good Commander, and currently, the only one you have. So, I will put it to you like this: One, one of the first things you should have learned in becoming an officer is how to delegate authority. Do so! Michael knows all the paperwork. You are currently under restriction that cannot even be lifted by me. Two, too many people create chaos; you are not allowed to pilot any vehicle. Michael is also a damn good shuttle pilot. Three, everything I or the doctor have said will go out the window the minute something big happens and like always, food will be the last thing on your mind. Michael is great as scheduling and he is very difficult to say no or lie to, so he will see that you get your meals and drink your rations. And four, I am still your commander, and it is an order. So if there is nothing else to discuss, I will be expecting the rest of your reports on my desk by tomorrow. If, after the two days you should decide Michael's assistance has been a help, it will be up to him as to whether he stays with you or comes back to me."

"And what are you going to do for an assistant slash pilot in the meantime?"

"Oh, I have my choice of a whole ragtag fleet of men and women. It shouldn't be too difficult to find someone to fit the bill" Adama paused a moment to see if anything he was saying was sinking in. "Give the man a chance, Apollo. Don't judge him by the robes and circlet. Treat him as any other officer, but more importantly, treat him as you would want to be treated, especially in a hostile environment."

"Now who sounds like a priest?"

Both men turned around to find Michael standing in the doorway. He no longer wore the robes, but a military uniform that bore two medals and a pilot's insignia, with the call sign TALON sewn to his jacket.

"Is the circlet part of the uniform, Ensign?"

"Aye, sir. It is more to the point, part of me."

"Michael is an empath. Without the circlet, he would eventually begin to feel everyone's emotions: pain, suffering, and dreams. That would eventually kill him." Adama acknowledged, "There was special compensation granted at the time he joined the service. Now, if we are done here, I think I will leave you two get better acquainted and I will go in search of someone else who can make a decent cup of coffee. Good luck, Michael."

Michael snapped a quick salute and with a nod of acknowledgement and Adama left the room, leaving both Lee and Michael staring at one another.

"So, now what?" Lee asked.

"Well, sir, you might finish your shower. I have already had the computer systems reinstated to your office and Lieutenant Thrace has given me her notes from the past couple of days. I can work on them. I have also taken the opportunity to send for your meal. It should be here by the time you get dressed. Now, if you will excuse me, sir. I will be in your office, should you need me for anything."

Apollo shook his head. Then suddenly plastered on a fake smile he announced. "Welcome to purgatory."

Michael tilted his head then smiled. With a smart salute he turned and exited the room, not even waiting for a reply.

"Alone again," the Captain growled. He wanted to do more. He felt let down by everyone including his own anger. "I have an assistant." He rolled his eyes at the thought. Finally giving in to the urge to scream, he let out with a howl that would have shattered the windows if he were not in a soundproof, shatterproof room of a spacecraft. He pulled the towel from his waist, tossed it across the room and walked into the bathroom to finish the shower he started what seemed like hours ago.