Chapter Five

Jessica had found nothing on her search through out most of the ship but she was glad for the slight change of scene. Though one end of the Galactica was pretty much the same as the other. One giant tin can with more twists and turns than a Caprica highway. She'd met Kara on the lieutenant's morning jog throughout one of Galactica's numerous pathways and promised to join her when her sentence was up.

"You should, Apollo joins me on runs most of the time and you two can talk about centerpieces." Kara winked at Jessica's scowl and ran off ahead of her.

Jessica's dreams had shaken her and to tell the truth, she was anxious to see Lee if only to re-assure herself that it had been just a dream and the man was still in possession of all his digits. Jessica shuddered and felt the heavy burden of guilt settle over her like a blanket. The more the hours passed without seeing him, the greater her anxiety became. "How's that for a brush off? Don't get any ideas, Captain. It'll cost ya a finger." Jessica mused out loud. The guard behind her stifled a snort. "Any chance you'd tell me where Captain Apollo is?" Jessica asked him.

"On patrol." The guard replied. A deceptively lanky set man with brown eyes and a bald head, Mark had a quick wit and easy smile when the time called for it. Escorting a prisoner on her assignment, was unfortunately not one of those times and so their communication was reduced to monosyllabic answers for the most part. They passed a pilot heading off to her shift, Cat. Jessica smiled at the sudden nervous giddiness of the guard behind her.

"Aw." Jessica said turning around to look at the straight faced guard whose eyes widened slightly at her. "You should definitely go for it. She thinks you're dreamy." Jessica informed him and was rewarded with a pleased grin. Colonel Tigh coming down the hall quickly erased the grin and Mark was back to his stoic self in a heartbeat.

"Colonel." Jessica greeted trying for her most civil, plastic smile. He did not return the facial expression.

"Ms Talbot." He all but grunted passing her.

"Too bad it was the water tanks that got blown out." She said, staring after him. Jessica shook her head and followed Mark's directions into the hanger bay. She stopped suddenly, the guard coming up against her at Jessica's sudden halt. "Something..." She said then she spotted the little tow headed boy that Commander Adama had called Boxey. He was following a dark haired man in an orange and yellow jumpsuit.

"What is it?" The guard asked her.

The man looked behind him and took the clipboard Boxey had been holding and his eyes met hers. Jessica physically started with the impact of his eyes on her. "I... He..." The man's gaze narrowed slightly in question. Then Lee pulling off his helmet and climbing out of his viper diverted her attention. Jessica jotted down Galen Tyrol's name and put a question mark beside it. They'd already tested Chief Tyrol and cleared him but Jessica now wondered if they hadn't missed something. She'd been certain he wasn't a Cylon and the tests had proved it. Why then did she feel they had overlooked something?

"Can I go talk to Captain Apollo?" Jessica asked, anxious to be assured that her unease was unfounded. Mark nodded and followed her over to Lee. "I need to talk to you." Jessica told him risking a quick glance down at his hands. "Thank the lords. They're all there." She sighed. She knew she was being foolish. It had been simply a nightmare, illogical as it was. But she felt better seeing all ten strong fingers there.

"What?" Lee asked following her gaze down to his fingers.

"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Jessica asked, lowering her voice.

Reluctant to be alone with her, Lee was about to beg off with some excuse but the look on her face must have stopped him. She'd found something, he thought.

"I'm not sure. I think so." Jessica replied to the unspoken words.

"Mark, you can take off for a few minutes. I'll call you to take her back." Lee informed the young officer. Mark nodded and after he saluted went to find, Cat, Jessica guessed.

"Okay, come on." Lee said leading her through an open hatch to the room where the equipment and spare parts were kept.

"It's about Tyrol." Jessica informed him.

Lee shook his head. "What about Tyrol? You're not gonna try and tell me Chief Tyrol is a Cylon for frak sakes, are you?"

"No. It's not that."

"Good cause I thought you'd tested him already." Lee pointed out.

"We did. But I can't help feeling something's off there, Lee. He's hiding something." Jessica said.

Lee groaned and ran a hand through his hair. Again, that name, Boomer. Jessica's stomach tightened.

"Okay, sit down." Lee pointed to a crate behind her. Jessica sat and then waiting across from him, followed the path of his thoughts and her mouth dropped open and she should have felt relieved, but didn't. Lee cut off her gasp.

"Shush!" He insisted. "Now believe me, if there could be a worse person than you to find this out it would be my dad. So please, keep your mouth shut?"

"He's sleeping with her?"

"Yes." Lee said slowly, reluctantly. "She's a lieutenant so it's a military no-no."

"Well that's just stupid." Jessica remarked.

"For once, I agree with you, which is why I haven't said anything. We've got less than 50,000 people left in the whole world. We need more..." Lee trailed off and Jessica bit back a smile at his now pink cheeks.

"Fraternizing?" Jessica offered. The corner of his mouth lifted in a near grin.

"Right. But Jess, I'm not kidding here. You cannot let my dad know about this." Jessica sat back, unsure if she'd be able to manage.

"You're right." She nodded biting her thumbnail. "I am the worst person who could have found out about this."

"How are your sessions with Elosha coming?" Lee asked leaning forward. Jessica groaned and dropped her head.

"We were working on this very thing. She'd try testing me by showing me something but trying to get me to say something else instead of what I was seeing. It wasn't working. She keeps telling me I need to give it time but I really don't think I can do it."

"You'll do it." Lee assured her. "I've seen you come back from the dead. Therapy should be a cinch."

Jessica bit her lip, warmed by his words. "Thanks for saying so." Jessica swallowed nervously and focused on his hands. They were still slightly discolored from the injuries he'd suffered defending her from Gary Morgan, who'd tried to attack her. "I owe you an apology. For what happened in CIC." She felt every nerve in Lee's body tense uncomfortably. " I'm sorry for embarrassing you. It was the stress of the whole situation and I should have taken into account that you were under more stress than anybody."

Lee nodded stiffly."Forget about it." He wanted to ask. But wouldn't. "And forget about Tyrol, please." He said rising.

"Lee, wait." Jessica reached for his hands to stop him moving from to the hatch. Lee stopped, froze at the feel of her fingers wrapped around his. Looking up at him, Jessica felt her throat close with some frightening but exhilarating emotion. Jessica smiled in irony and broke her gaze away "Seems that your eyes are the only things that can steal my power of speech." She joked. The man blushed too easily and she didn't question the impulse that made her want to keep making it happen. Jessica concentrated on his hands. The strong beautiful bones and could see the blood racing through the network of veins and muscle. And she would shatter it. It wasn't clear to her but somehow; it'd be her fault that he'd lose this finger, right here. Jessica shivered as she lifted the pinky with her thumb. "Promise me something, Captain." Jessica whispered. She could feel his breath on the crown of her head. So close, and if she were to lift her head, his mouth would be right there. Her fingers tightened around his with her struggle for the will power that would keep her head down. "Promise you won't marry me. Promise me you won't let me love you."

Lee blinked, caught off guard and she felt a sharp pang of disappointment. Hers? His? Did it matter?

"What?" The word came out thick and choked. Lee cleared his throat and spoke again. "What?"

"If we're able to change things, I'd like us to be friends. Maybe?" Jessica dared to look up and his mouth was so pink that she felt her head leaning up, closer to it. Nearly there and then forced her self to pull back when he inclined his head down to meet hers. "Then we don't have to be afraid if you promise." Jessica explained.

"No." Lee said and pulled his hands back. Jessica stepped back, away from the warmth of his body and felt instantly colder.

"Nothing's gonna happen between us because I don't love you And you don't love me. Not because we're making choices about things that neither one of us has thought about." Lee insisted, the cold mask back in place.

"I have." Jessica admitted.

"Why do you have to tell me that?" Lee asked in exasperation. He leaned his head against the hatch. "Are you trying to drive me crazy?" Jessica was transported for an instant to a future night when he will whisper those very words to her when he's nuzzling her neck and sliding over her body. Jessica closed her eyes and forced herself back here. To the present.

"I can't help it. You know that." Jessica reminded him, curtly, feeling her eyes burning. "I can't pretend I don't feel what I feel or think what I think. I'm not like you, Lee."

"I can't be your friend because I don't trust you. Not because I think you're a Cylon, I don't. And I don't think you're working for them either. I don't trust you because you're in my head and I don't want you there and you can't help that. So no. We can't be friends and you have no idea how much that frakking sucks for me." Then he gave a bitter snort. "What am I saying? You're the only one who knows exactly how much that sucks." And then she was alone in the equipment room.

Sweet A.K: Anytime you're able to give feedback I'm thrilled so I won't be picky about the when. (laughs) And Jessica does have a rough time of it. Especially since she's trying to deny she feels anything at all for Lee, can't, and then he knows it too. Yep, Lee and Jessica are gonna be one of those passionately in love couples. A very powerful kind of love which will end up saving their lives more than once in the coming chapters. and books. And Oi, Vey, what I'm gonna do to that poor man. The pinky will seem like I gave him a hangnail! (laughs) And oooh yummy chocolate covered Apollo. Thankie! Off to update For Better Or Worse now!

Mae: Sure, (laughs) I keep a little Apollo muse here by feet in front of my desk, so you can keep me in your pocket. (giggles) Hope you enjoy this chapter.