Chapter Eleven

"That was the most disgusting thing I've ever had to do." Jessica shuddered, her voice still hoarse from the ordeal she'd just put her throat through. She rubbed her, now free, wrist.

"Who's the one who had to dig in the latrine for the key?" Lee scowled at her. He was still washing his hands in the basin after five minutes.

Jessica blushed. "Okay, you win 'The Ick' award there." She conceded. She stood behind him, her arms wrapped around herself. If only there was some way she could go check the Astral Queen for Cylons without actually having to get off the Galactica. "What happens if we see Morgan?" She asked in a small voice.

Lee turned at her tone. Drying his hands he nodded towards the flight suit on his bed. "You''ll probably not even see Morgan. " He assured her. "Now let's get a few ground rules straight before we go."

"Of course. Can't forget ground rules." Jessica said rolling her eyes but her smile was a teasing one. Lee had given her the pills Salik had prescribed after she'd thrown up the key to the cuffs. Her nerves had settled into a dull ache of unease. Manageable.

"From the moment we get on the raptor to the moment we get back you will listen to everything I have to say and will obey with out question. Got it?" Lee warned.

"Sounds dirty." Jessica blurted with a giggle. At his grim look, though he did blush, Jessica cleared her throat. "Sorry, Captain."

"I want your word, Jess." Lee pressed. "No arguments. If I tell you to do something, you do it. Okay?"

"Aye, aye." Jessica responded with a salute. He looked at her skeptically. "Oh for heaven's sake, Lee. I promise I won't raise a peep in argument the whole time. You're in charge. Understood. I'll even swear it on your precious scrolls if ya want."

That seemed to placate him and he relaxed his stiffened stance. Jessica reached over and picked up the flight suit. Holding it close to her, she cleared her throat, pointedly.

"What?" Lee asked blankly. Then he startled in embarrassment. "Oh, right." He left her alone for the minute it took her to slip on the flight suit. The leather was rather warm and Jessica couldn't imagine spending hours in the thing.

"Now I just need me a plane." Jessica teased when Lee came back into the room. She held out her hands as if grasping imaginary controls. "Vroom Vroom" She exclaimed.

Lee raised his eyes to the ceiling but she could see that he was trying to hold back a smile. "Our vipers don't go 'vroom, vroom.' He informed her, holding open the door for her to walk through.

"Oh. Chugga, chugga then." Jessica offered.

Lee snorted, fighting a burst of laughter. "Unfortunately, some of them do sound like that."

Jessica felt his eyes on her as she began to walk towards the door.

Gods, she looks adorable in that suit!

Jessica paused and turned to him. Knowing that she'd heard his thought, Lee's eyes widened and he blushed furiously. She gave him a shy smile and raised her lips to his cheek.

"Thank you." She whispered, her heart skipping at the warmth in his eyes. "For making me talk about it."

"Oh." He cleared his throat and nodded.

She thought she remembered the way to the hangar deck but Lee grabbed her arm and led her in the opposite direction. "The scrolls are this way." He said, ignoring her gasp of indignation.

He sent her up into the raptor alone. No one followed her at first. Lee, along with the president's aide, Billy, who looked younger than his 28 years and wore interesting shirts, Dualla, who was in a serious relationship with the young aide and Cally who was one of the best young engineers on the ship, hung back while Jessica made her way up the stairs. She stepped on the first step and was besieged with flashes of the grey, gritty wind that whipped around her that last horrible day. Heard the screams of those behind her and ahead of on the climb to their death. Her heart seemed to still in her chest and for a second she couldn't move.

"Lee?" She called out, her eyes squeezed shut.

"I'm here." He said. "If you want me to help you in, just ask." The sound of his voice was like a warm, protective blanket around her. Jessica burrowed herself inside it and felt her heart squeeze with gratitude that he was there.

"I can do this..." She murmured taking the next step up...and the next. "I will do this." Her breathing was short and shallow.

Then she was inside. It was dark for the most part in the raptor. A warm fall of light through the windshield was the only illumination and made large sweeping shadows as people walked past the front of the vessel. The air was humid and heavy with the scent of warm metal. Jessica had to walk hunched over as she made her way to the cock pit. On the floor, next to the lead pilot's chair was a plastic straw and a few candy wrappers. A slightly sticky cup holder that still smelt of coffee. Signs of normal human lives. Jessica's breath released in an exhalation of relief. She was fine.

Lee made her sit beside him. Jessica wanted to deck him.

"If you're going to get over this. You have to face it. Come on. You'll be able to see everything and that should ease your nerves." He insisted pointing to the co-pilot's chair.

"Just when I think you might have some redeeming qualities..." Jessica grumbled settling into the large chair.

"Jess,.."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. You're being perfectly logical and right. I gotta say, it's a real flaw in your character, Captain." Jessica said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

She jumped in her seat when the raptor roared to life. She closed her eyes and prayed she was anywhere but about to be shot out of the conveyor tunnel, hurling out into space.

Lee motioned for Cally to come forward and while Jessica's eyes were still clenched tight, mouthed 'talk to her'.

"So is it true, you're psychic?" Cally asked kneeling next to Jessica's chair.

"Huh?" Jessica asked opening her eyes and looking down at the dark haired girl next to her. A 19 year old idealistic young thing who took pride in her job and had a secret crush on Chief Tyrol.

In the background, Lee relayed their position to the Galactica and gave and took information.

"You can, like, see the future and stuff right?" Cally pressed.

"Sometimes yeah. Though the system's kind of on the fritz right now." Jessica explained.

"No kidding? So you're like a gypsy right? One of those fat women with the funky coloured scarves on their heads who would charge at those fairs back home?" Cally asked.

"I've got a ways to go in the pounds department but otherwise, yeah." She replied with a small smile.

"Rumour has it, you're coming along to weed out Cylons." Billy asked from behind.

Jessica turned in her chair to face him.

Lee wanted to throw something at Billy Keikeya's head. The last thing he wanted was for Jess to be reminded of the Cylons now. And just when Cally was doing a good job of distracting her. "Tell me about that episode in CIC." Lee butt in hoping to swing her attention off the purpose of their flight.

"What now?" Jessica asked, embarrassed.

"Yeah, now. Tell me what that was all about."

"Wait, was this that time I heard about when she jumped on the console and started screaming at you?" Dualla asked crawling forward.

Jessica stared at Lee, she knew there was no way in hell he'd want to revisit that humiliating episode, but he wanted her to keep talking. To calm her. For the first time, Jessica began to wonder if maybe there was something to her prophecies involving her and Captain Lee Adama after all.

A.N: Thanks to everyone who's been reading so far and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Mae: I think, considering the vibe between the two of them that Jessica isn't quite sure that Lee wouldn't dig his hand 'some place unmentionable' to get the key. (laughs) I have no idea where I come up with this stuff. (laughs) Ask him. (points to Apollo muse)

Audrey: Jessica is definitely being a brat, but you can't really blame her! Sorry it's been so long. (giggles)

Sweet A.K: I think Lee is right, Jessica is gonna give him his first grey hair. (laughs) The boy needs some loosening up and she's just the gal to do it! I'm thrilled you're enjoying this so far. Hope you liked this chapter.

Stargirl: Have I redeemed myself? I hope you enjoyed this chapter now that your heart is all healed. (smiles)