Chapter 2

Kara let the cool water from the shower dribble over her face, hoping that it would relieve some of the tiredness and tension she felt through what seemed like her whole body. This was the end of the eighth night since Lee had gone to New Kobol and she felt like she hadn't slept during any of them. It was the longest that they had been apart since they got married and the whole rhythm of her life just seemed out of synch without him there. It was also the first time that she had had to cope as essentially a single parent and it couldn't have come at a worse time: all her fears about her ability to be a good mother had come back to the fore without Lee's steadying and encouraging influence. She knew that what Lee was doing was important for the fleet, and that he was the best man for the job, but she couldn't help a feeling of resentment that she was stuck up here on Galactica having to cover for him as CAG and as a parent.

She could hear Alex crying over the sound of the running water of the shower. He had started teething a few weeks ago and he was as cranky as hell. She had been dealing with him all week, when she wasn't flying and filling in for the CAG, and she had just about had enough. Much as she loved him, and would do anything she could to relieve the pain he was in, she just needed a break right now. Fortunately Lee was due back on Galactica in an hour or so and it was definitely time for him to take a turn in caring for their son. She turned off the shower and quickly wrapped a towel around herself. She picked Alex up from his cot and retrieved the makeshift teething ring that he had managed to throw out during his fit of temper. She knew it wasn't his fault; she could still remember how grumpy she had been when her wisdom teeth had been coming through, and she had known what was happening, not to mention been able numb her mouth with alcohol, so she applied herself to calming him down with uncharacteristic patience. Her fussing and cuddling seemed to sooth him. She juggled him on to her hip as the phone went.

"Er, Captain Thrace?" The voice on the other end sounded tentative.

"Yes," barked out Kara. If she had any more interruptions this morning she would never make the morning pilot's briefing on time.

"Message from Major Adama, sir. He won't be able to make it back today and he'll call tomorrow with an update."

"What! No, he's not getting away with this. Specialist, get him on the line for me now!"

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." The specialist in question might have been quite new in her job, but even she knew that when Starbuck used that tone she meant it.

This was the last straw. Kara was so angry that she could hardly see straight. She put the baby down in his cot, even though he had the expression on his face that Lee called his "Kara face" because it made him look suspiciously like his mother and it usually signalled impending trouble. She was too damn angry to worry about him becoming fractious again and quickly dressed in the first clean clothes she could find. The phone went again and the specialist put her through to Lee.

"What the frak do you think you're playing at Lee? You haven't been home in over a week and I get a message about another delay passed to me by some ass-wipe in CIC!"

"Good morning to you too, darling," he said, his tone amused, which only served to fuel Kara's anger further.

"You think it's funny do you? Well I don't. I've just about had enough. We've hardly seen you since this assignment started. I'm trying to do your job and mine, as well as look after your child. Your son is being pushed from person to person just so I can keep up with my shifts." Alex had started to wail again in the back ground "Can you hear him? He's been like that all week and I've just about had all I can take. He's supposed to have two parents; we're supposed to work together at this. You told me that you were going to be there 100 per cent of the way when we had him. That doesn't mean that you can forget about us every time your job gets in the way. What about the lectures you've given me about family responsibilities changing things in your career?" She finally stopped for a breath.

"Look Kara, I know it's hard on you, but things are really busy down here right now. You know the situation we're in. I just can't get away." Lee had obviously picked up on her anger and tried for a soothing tone, but with the distance between them he misjudged just how worked up she was.

"No Lee, I'm sick of that excuse. Haven't you heard of the concept of delegation? There are plenty of other people who can take over for a day or two. I mean, what the frak is Kelly doing? He needs to step up to the plate and take some responsibility for once."

"Kara, please, you're not thinking about this rationally."

"Frak rational! I'm so frakking pissed with you at the moment that I couldn't even spell rational! It's quite simple Lee; there are no more excuses. Either you're in these quarters this evening when I get off shift or you can forget coming back here ever again." She didn't wait for any reply and slammed down the phone.

She took a deep, steadying breath. Had she just threatened him like that? Yes she had. Well the stupid frakker deserved it! She wasn't about to be frakked about by Lee Adama's dedication to duty the way his mother had been: she needed to nip this in the bud now or he would only get worse (see exhibit A, one Admiral Adama!). She counted to ten to try and calm herself and picked up her son again to try and repair the damage to his mood. She had to retrieve his teething ring from the floor yet again.

"Look buster, if you would just stop chucking this thing away you wouldn't need to get worked up about it," she admonished, making a silly face at him. "But I guess you're past being rational as well." She kissed his silky hair, feeling some of the anger in her system drain away.

"Lords, help you if you've got your father's Adama dedication to duty genes. Come to think of it, if you've got those combined with my Thrace screw up genes you're completely frakked. Really, we should never have been allowed to reproduce at all, should have been kept well out of the gene pool." Her son just regarded her with that slight smile that reminded her so much of Lee. "And don't tell your dad that I said those naughty words in front of you either." He continued making relatively happy baby noises for once, chewing on his ring as yet more drool dribbled down his chin. She cleaned him up before he could wipe the dribble all over her flight suit and then made her way to the ready room for the morning briefing. Thinking that Lee was going to be back she hadn't arranged a baby sitter for this morning. Plonking Alex on the unsuspecting Hotdog's lap she moved to the podium.

"Morning boys and girls. Sorry about the new recruit. He won't actually be flying with us this morning. Although, that might not be such a bad idea. I'm pretty sure that my ten month old son could probably put on a better display than some of the stuff I saw from you lot yesterday." She gave Crashdown a pointed look and he had the grace to blush, knowing his last landing had left a large divot in the deck. "This is your last warning people. The next person who is stupid enough to leave so much as a scratch on either their bird or the landing deck will find themselves on head-cleaning duty for a week. Do I make myself clear?"

There were a few laughs and a mumbled "yes sir". Kara hardened her expression.

"I said; do I make myself clear?"

"Sir, yes sir!" came the chorused reply.

"Better. I've been much too easy on you guys. Well no more Mrs nice Starbuck. I'm just here doing the CAG's job and you know that he would bust your asses for such sloppiness, and believe me, I can do a pretty effective impression of him when I want to. You know your assignments. There are no updates so get to it. Dismissed!"