Disclaimers-I don't own these characters, Ron Moore does

Chapter 3

In some part of her mind Kara realized that she was just standing there with her mouth hanging wide open and that she should be embarrassed, but she was comforted by the fact that the faces of both the X.O. and Jason the Marine mirrored her own. Lee was still smiling and looking into her eyes, obviously awaiting a response, but Kara's mouth was arid as the desert. Her mind was reeling with questions… 'Did he just ask me to marry him? Is he joking? Is he a cylon? Didn't I scream at him like a maniac a few hours ago?' For all the questions that she came up with, the only answer that seemed to fit them all was that Lee Adama had lost his frakking mind. Unfortunately, Tigh beat her to that summation and voiced his opinion with the group.

"Lee, have you gone completely insane?" Tigh burst out.

Lee looked at Tigh appraisingly, "You object sir?"

Tigh's face contorted with rage, but Lee continued "I don't see how your opinion matters in this affair one way or another Colonel. Ms. Thrace is no longer under my command. There are no regulations restricting an officer from marrying a civilian and as you pointed out," he paused to look at Kara "she has been discharged from the military."

Lee began to thread his fingers within hers, "I might point out that your objection is a bit premature Sir, since she hasn't even accepted my proposal" and he squeezed her hand softly. She looked at him as he continued, "Of course as my fiancé I would expect that you would provide emotional support during my father's recovery and visit with him while I'm on duty so that he's not alone."

Slowly the full-logic behind Lee's plan was beginning to penetrate the fog in Kara's mind and she beamed at him. For the first time in her life she was grateful for Lee's rigid in-the-box thinking.

"Well…will you marry me Kara?"

Kara's voice returned and she found that it could carry a joyful tone she'd long forgotten, "Nothing would make me happier." She wrapped her arms around Lee's neck and hugged him tightly, giving Tigh a playful wink over her shoulder.

"This is outrageous, you're only proposing to gain her access to visit the Commander and I won't allow it" Tigh fumed. "I will not sit by and watch you make a mockery out of the sanctity of marriage."

Kara choked on a laugh, "Are you kidding me? Your loving wife has banged half the colonial fleet and you're going to sit there and lecture us on commitment and the sacred vows of marriage? Oh ho, that is rich!" She was getting up into Tigh's face now, determined to press her point home, "At least Lee can be certain that I'll never cheat on him. Or was there another reason you were estranged from that floozy you call a..."

The back-handed slap that Tigh delivered was surprisingly quick and strong for a man his age. Kara lost her balance as her weight shifted to her bad leg to compensate for Tigh's blow. She would've fallen flat on her ass if Lee had not been there to catch her.

Jason, who'd been a passive spectator during this scene, instinctually restrained the XO before he could make a second run. But looking over at the pair of viper pilots, he wondered if he should have restrained Captain Adama instead. The CAG always appeared to be a good guy, if not a little uptight, but the look on his face right now was scarier than Starbuck when she was in full rage…and that's saying something. He was supporting Thrace in a gentle but steady hold, but his eyes were cold and his body taunt with the strain of keeping them both in check.

"Coronel Tigh, I think it wise if you left now, before I have you escorted out" Lee's voice was ragged and raw with emotion. "Major Cottle has the authority to remove you from Life Station and I think he'll agree with me, that attacking patients is adequate grounds for expulsion."

"That bitch was baiting me, attacking my personal life..." Tigh's voice was growing in intensity as he raved.

"Not unlike you did when you insinuated that my proposal was merely a means of accessing a visitation loophole?" Lee countered.

Kara's face was beginning to throb, but a small smile slipped onto her face when she realized what Lee had just said. Indirectly, he'd just admitted that there was a relationship between them; though the exact nature of that relationship was still a mystery to her and to him as well, she suspected. Kara finally found her voice, "It's alright Lee, I'm fine." As if to prove her point, she shook off Lee's hold and took a few steps toward the Commander's curtain. "Let's just go tell your dad the happy news."

Jason released the Coronel and returned to his post, doing his best to pretend that he didn't just witness the best bit of gossip Galatica had ever seen.

"This is not over Captain" Tigh warned, as Lee walked over to Kara's side, his hand unconsciously slipping to her lower back.

He turned to offer a quick salute and with a caustic tone he replied, "Duly noted, Sir."

Tigh stormed out of Life Station in the foulest mood of his life, his mind hell-bent on retribution. Lords he needed a drink.

Kara's throat tightened, the momentary joy of outmaneuvering Tigh lost, at the sight of Commander 'Husker' Adama laying pale against the crisp sheets of his hospital bed. Monitors hummed and beeped the melody of his struggle for life and it was atune Kara would never forget. She approached the bed and took his hand, only to realize that her own was shaking violently as sobs began to rack her body. 'I did this' she thought, 'I may have killed the only father I've ever known.' There was nothing Kara could do to make this right; apologies and tears were useless, and although her faith was broken, she prayed. She prayed for his recovery, for his forgiveness, and for the strength to change into a daughter he would be proud of.

Lee watched her quietly, allowing her a moment of reflection, but as soon as he saw the glistening of tears on her face, he was at her side. He placed one hand on her left hip and the other arm snaked around her right side, adding his hand on top of his father and Kara's. Lee pulled her back against him gently so that Kara's head rested just below his own and he nuzzled his mouth against her temple, whispering words of hope that echoed her own prayers. After fifteen minutes or so, he could feel her beginning to relax into his arms and chanced a peek at her face. Her eyes were shut, not in restraint of tears this time, but in a serene almost meditative pose.

Lee's presence and words soothed away her fears and feelings of depression, replacing them with hope and determination. Kara inhaled deeply, determined to take in every detail of this surreal moment and commit it to memory. Gods Lee smelled incredible, even that stringent hospital smell couldn't overpower his unique scent and it was driving her mad. Her grip on the commander's hand released and she was just floating in Lee's embrace. She bit her lip and broke their silence asking him the question whose answer she dreaded most, "Why?" Kara turned in his arms and raised her wide green eyes to that sea of blue, "Why did you do this for me? I thought after…" the caress of Lee's index finger on her lips derailed her inquiry and elicited a traitorous shiver.

Lee suppressed a grin, "Well if being wrong is your talent, then being an asshole is mine." Her face crinkled in confusion and it was so endearing Lee acted on the one impulse he'd been denying his entire life. He kissed her…sweetly, softly, and chastely. Her lips were soft, full and tentative. He broke the kiss after only a few moments, but he was breathless with the desire to taste her again.

Kara's heart was pounding in her chest. It was as though she'd run a mile in those few moments when Lee kissed her and it took a full minute before she could speak. "So you don't hate me?"

Lee sighed, "I never hated you Kara. I was angry after Colonial night, no doubt. I was jealous and bitter, but that was my own fault for ever being stupid enough to let you go." His voice grew quite and shy, "You looked incredible and I didn't even manage to give you a proper compliment."

"Spouting false flattery and acting smooth are not your strong points" she teased.

"False flattery was unnecessary because you were breath-taking, period." he stroked her cheek, "Kara, you are beautiful. Every day, without fail, outside and within, and you deserve to hear it more often. And you will." The smile on his face radiated warmth and honesty and she couldn't help but believe him. "I'm taking it as my personal challenge as your fiancé, to make you understand that you deserve to be loved for the incredible woman you are, Kara Thrace."

"I thought, maybe, your proposal was just part of the show for Tigh. You know, part of your brilliant master plan to sneak me in to see the Old Man." Kara's suddenly felt vulnerable with all her hopes and fears laid bare.

"Well, I couldn't come up with a better way to tell you I was sorry" Lee quipped.

Kara barked out a laugh "And here I thought you were going to tell me you loved me."

"I do" Lee admitted with total sincerity.

Kara nearly choked on tears of joy, "So we love each other and I get to visit with your dad?" She gave a coy smile, "That's it? Those are your only reasons?"

"There are definitely some other perks to this arrangement" he said drawing her body flush against his own and searing her mouth with another kiss.

The second kiss was demanding, hungry, desperate, and it was hard to tell who was moaning louder at the intimate play of tongues, teeth and lips, but this was a contest with no losers.

With a sigh of ascent and promise, Kara withdrew from their kiss. "Hmm…so I'm really your fiancé?" she drawled with a lazy smile.

It was a smile Lee knew all too well and one he knew never to trust, but he couldn't help himself. "If you'll have me?" he asked.

Kara raked her graze over Lee in appraisal, as if contemplating turning him down. But a wicked grin graced her lips and she wiggled her eyebrows, "Oh I'll have you alright." She leaned her mouth close to his ear, her fingernails dragging lightly at the base of his neck causing him to shiver, "In fact, how about now?" she purred.

In all his life, Lee Adama never wanted Kara as badly as he did in this precise moment. It was only the beep of his father's heart monitor that reigned in his lust. "Not here" he said motioning to his father's bedside and he was pleased to see Kara flush crimson.

Kara had been so consumed by her desire that she'd forgotten their current surroundings. The abrupt entrance of Major Cottle brought reality crashing back down. She stepped out of Lee's arms, as if this would convince the good doctor that he hadn't interrupted anything.

The doctor looked at the two pilots with amusement, "I've got to change your father's bandages," he told Lee. "It'll be a good hour before the two of you can visit again. Starbuck, since you're obviously feeling better," he cleared his throat to mask a chuckle, "you can go back and rest in quarters. I trust the Captain will take good care of you."

Kara took the arm Lee offered her and scowled at the Major as she passed by him. She hated that feeling of embarrassment, like the one she'd just endured, but the prospect of having Lee to herself in his private quarters for the next hour, lifted her spirits immensely.

For his part Lee was trying to keep from laughing. They loved each other and he didn't give a damn who knew, but Kara was a private person when it came to her feelings and he would respect her wishes. Eventually word would leak out the rest of the ship, probably, from Jason, but right now the only thing he cared about was getting back to his quarters to be with Kara.

As the pair reached the exit to main Life Station, they heard the Major call out to them, "Apollo, Starbuck. Hold on a minute."

"Is everything alright, sir? Is my father…"

"He's fine son. I just wanted to give you my congratulations before you left." His smile was genuine and he extended his hand first to Lee, who shook it with relief, then tentatively to Kara.

She rolled her eyes with a "Thanks, doc."

"Oh, and just one more thing." He reached into his pocket and handed a small bag to Lee, before turning to Kara, "I don't want to see your ass in Life Station as a patient anytime soon so do me a favor, huh?" he motioned to the bag.

"Take my meds" she flicked the bag, "and get lots of rest like a good little girl?"

He smiled at her sarcastic tone and shrugged in reply, before turning and walking back towards main Life Station.

Lee opened the small bag and they both looked inside.

Kara frowned and Lee couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter. The sound of Lee's deep, throaty laugh was intoxicating and sexy as all hell. Kara's mouth spread into a seductive grin, and suddenly she was very appreciative of Major Cottles' little 'engagement gift.' A whole bag full of condoms.

A/N: Had to add a bit of humor for the end. Review if you like, review if you hate, but give the blue button some love.