Author's Notes:

This is my first attempt at writing anything. I would appreciate any feedback you have. Please review. PRETTY PLEASE!

My first chapter was to get L/K to admit their feelings. Chapter 2 is designed to get rid of those pesky obstacles that people argue as to why they can't get together. It's great writing these characters. You can make them do what you want.

Chapter 2

Adama was pacing in the hangar bay.

The transmission from the returning rescue party had sounded so urgent. Requesting landing clearance and an emergency medical team for his badly injured son.

He hadn't waited in the CIC for more details, so that's all he knew.

In the agonizing minutes that past Adama could only think of what he hadn't taken the time for.

For the things he hadn't said.

And now, now he may never have the chance.

Finally the raider docked. Adama's eyes widened and he couldn't breathe. Lee's lifeless body was transferred to a gurney . The medics began to work immediately as they raced to sick bay.

Bill stood there. It's all he could do.

This should have been a time for rejoicing. The survivors from Caprica were being greeted by the ground crew and welcomed aboard their new home. Twenty-seven new souls.

But no one was rejoicing.

Kara stepped out of the raider, exhausted and worn. She saw Adama and just caved into his embrace. She was covered in blood.

Lee's blood.

Seeing Kara so drawn gave Adama a little strength He knew she needed him.

xxxxxxxxxx

The President had come aboard to greet the Caprica survivors. She had heard of Captain Apollo's condition and had joined Kara and Bill in the sick bay waiting for news from Doc Cottle.

Cottle addressed Lee's family. "He's pretty weak and lost a lot of blood. If you had returned a little later there's nothing we could have done for him. He's doing okay for now. We gave him two units of blood and his vital signs seem to have stabilized. He's not going to fly for a little while, but he should be okay."

Kara sighed with relief and more tears began to flow down her face.

Adama let himself relax a momentas heleaned back against the wall.

Laura smiled and put her hand on Bill's shoulder.

xxxxxxx

The newest members of the fleet were being assigned temporary living quarters for the next few days. There seemed to be relief that they wouldn't be taking shifts patrolling the woods for toasters. Not tonight. Tonight they would rest .

Except for Sam.

Since Captain Apollo's ordeal on Caprica he hadn't even spoken to Kara. She had left with the Commander to sick bay right after they landed.

He had dreamed of Kara returning for him. He had missed her more than he thought he would. They had a couple incredible days on Caprica before embarking on their journey to the Galactica. A floating home in space did not sound much like home to him. But Kara would be there and that made it seem real.

But now he wasn't so sure. He had told her twice that he loved her.

She hadn't responded.

He thought she was just being her smart-ass self, making him wait on purpose.

He wasn't so sure after seeing her with Lee Adama. He heard him tell her he loved her, and she responded to him in kind, without hesitation.

He couldn't rest in his new quarters without at least seeing her. He decided to go find her. He knew where she would be, he just needed to figure out how to get there. The battlestar was bigger than he had thought it would be.

xxxxxxxxx

Kara was at Lee's bedside. She wasn't going to leave until he woke up.

She slumped back in a chair she had positioned close to his bed. Close enough to hold his hand. She tilted her head back, closed her eyes. The steady, faint beep of the machines monitoring Lee's vital signs was soothing. Kara let herself rest for a moment.

A flood of memories kept rushing through her mind.

They had met briefly at the academy, but it wasn't until after they graduated that they became good friends. She was training new pilots and Lee was studying at war college. They were following different paths, but they were still stationed at the same base.

After she met Zak, her and Lee's paths crossed regularly. She always managed to get herself into some altercation with a superior. Lee would always give her crap for it, but being a favorite amongst the officers Lee usually managed to use his influence to get her out of trouble.

He may have given her a hard time for all the stunts she pulled, but he always ended with a slightly distressed "Don't worry, I've got your back."

There were actually times that she had to get his back too. Even uptight Lee Adama let loose on occasion.

But now, during war, I've got your back took on a new meaning. It no longer meant kids just covering for each other.

It could mean life or death.

They had been there for each other so many times. This wouldn't be the last time.

"There you are!" startled her out of her thoughts.

"Sam?" she responded a bit groggy.

" You know Kara you could use some rest. You look horrible."

"Sweet of you to notice."

"I'm serious, you've been in here since we landed. You probably haven't eaten. Let's get something to eat and get you to bed."

"Sam, I'm not leaving. ……. Not until he wakes up."

"Kara, your devotion to…" he paused to control the anger he was feeling, "your friend is noble, but don't you think this is a little more than….."

"More than what?" she had to control her anger this time. "Sam this isn't the time or place to…."

"It's just from my vantage point this looks like more than friends."

Kara didn't respond. Partly because she was angry. Partly because she knew he was right.

It was quiet and tense for a few minutes. Then Sam broke the silence.

"Tell me Kara, why is it that you can't say you love me? Because you sure didn't hesitate telling him." His voice was getting shaky now.

She still refused to answer him.

He kept on. His anger building. "Damn it Kara! You at least owe me an answer! I came here because of you. I left home. I left Caprica…"

She had bitten her tongue as long as she could. She stood up and met his glare with her own. "Caprica? You left Caprica? We risked our lives to save you and your friends from certain death and now you want to play it like you left paradise!"

She sighed and added softly. "I really don't want to do this right now."

Her change in demeanor did nothing to calm his frustration.

"Too bad! I want to do this now! RIGHT NOW! Tell me Kara, I'm not walking out of here without an answer." He paused because the words were hard for him to say.

"Are you in love with him?"

She didn't like being pushed. It really pissed her off that he wouldn't back off. But she was done fighting.

"Damn it Kara! Yes or No! Just one word! You owe me at least that."

She dropped her eyes from his and finally answered him.

"Yes."

His voice shifted from anger to hurt. "That's what I thought."

"Oh, one last thing." he tossed the dog tag he had coveted at her feet, before he turned to leave.

She slumped back into the chair beside Lee as tears trailed down her face. She felt awful. Sam had every right to be angry. She hadn't meant to lead him on, she did feel something for him. But in the past few hours she had a revelation. Lee had her heart. She would have liked to explain things differently to Sam. But she didn't always respond at her best when she was being pushed.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an all too familiar voice "Are you all right?"

In her battle with Sam she hadn't noticed that Adama had been standing at the door.

Oh frak. How much of that had he heard?

xxxxxxxx

The steady beeps of the medical equipment had become more erratic. The change in noise stirred Kara from her sleep. She noticed Lee was restless now. His breathing more labored. He let out an occasional small groan.

Cottle had reassured Bill and Kara that it was a good sign. That Lee would probably be waking up soon.

For the next hour or so Lee tossed and turned with Kara and his father at his side. Between the incoherent murmuring he actually called out Kara's name, and more than once. As much as Kara enjoyed hearing her name on his lips, she couldn't help but feel a little awkward in front of Adama, especially not knowing how much of her confession to Sam he had heard.

Lee opened his eyes but he had trouble focusing. He was a bit disoriented but he heard Kara's voice.

"Well it's about time you bothered to wake up! Do you remember what happened?"

"Vaguely," he managed weakly.

Adama was relieved to finally see him come around. "Doc Cottle tells us your going to be fine after a couple days of rest."

Lee managed a faint smile, "Yeah, the acting CAG will have me up for CAP duty by tomorrow."

xxxxxxxxxxx

Kara hated CAG duties. Flying she loved. Managing people and administrative duties wasn't something she enjoyed.

She was the best pilot in the fleet, sitting behind a desk was just wasting her talents.

This was her second day as acting CAG and she was ready and willing to turn the reins back over to Lee. She had already managed to piss off a few pilots with scheduling and training assignments.

She was sorting through mounds of paperwork , useless paperwork as far as she was concerned.

The door to the office opened and startled her. "Why don't you frakking knock before you just barge in?"

"Didn't think I had to knock to enter my own office." Lee was grinning and obviously amused that she seemed to be frustrated juggling her duties.

"Lee! What are you doing up and about?"

"Just checking up on things. There have been a few complaints about the new CAG being a real prick so I thought I'd see what was going on."

She wanted to knock that smirk off his face. "Does this mean you're back to take care of all this mundane crap so us real pilots can get to work protecting the fleet? Pushing paperwork has always seemed more your speed than pushing a viper anyway."

Lee laughed. It felt good to be bantering with her again.

Lee stumbled a bit as he turned. He was a little weaker than he cared to admit. Kara instinctively moved toward him and helped brace him.

They were both suddenly aware of how close they were.

Inches from each other's face.

Both wanting to move closer.

Both wanting more.

Lee noticed Kara's dog tags around her neck. Both of them. He reached out and held her tags in his hand. Concerned he asked her. "What happened?"

She wanted to tell him the truth, but couldn't. "You know me. I get bored quick. Just a passing fling"

He wasn't aware that he was smiling at her.

"Nice to know you find my relationship failures so amusing."

She was trying to hide her real feelings behind her smart-ass exterior. But he saw through it.

"I'm sorry Kara, I know you and Sam were…." He stopped himself from going further.

Their eyes were focused on each other for a few tense moments.

Lee reached out and gently caressed her face with the back of his hand.

Kara closed her eyes trying to fight the urge to kiss him.

He leaned into her and brushed his lips against hers. He started slow and soft.

Kara responded to his touch. Each kiss was becoming harder, deeper and more passionate.

With his lips still touching hers he whispered. "Kara, this is such a bad idea."

"So your saying you don't want to do this?"

Between their kisses he responded. "I didn't say that, I just said it was a bad idea.'

"Why? Because you're my tight-ass CAG?'

"And you're my insubordinate lead pilot."

He put his arm tightly around her waist and drew her closer as their passion began to take on a new fervor.

"Oh Kara. It's just, ohh…," she was making it hard for him to concentrate. "We're just, uh, so different"

"Yeah. You're slow and methodical, and tend to over analyze everything."

"You're hotheaded and careless."

Her back arched in pleasure as he started to move his lips across her neck.

"Oh Lee." she moaned breathlessly.

His office wasn't much, but it was private. Neither remembered how they got there but they were on the sofa. Her body draped over his.

His hands were enjoying her beautiful body as she whispered "I love you in his ear."

She was surprised at his reaction. He pulled away.

"What was that? Did you say you love me? Kara Thrace loves me?" He couldn't resist. "No, seriously, very sweet. You love me."

"Shut up smart-ass." She might have been aggravated with him, but it was pretty frakking funny, him turning her own words back on her.

Then his blue eyes became serious as he held her face in his hands. He gazed at her, mesmerized by the one woman he could never get out of his mind.

He searched for the words he wanted to say.

"Kara,…….I have loved you as for long as I can remember."

He took her breath away.

In that moment she realized how important she was to him. Had always been to him. It made her want him more.

It was her turn to insight a moan of "Kara" from him as she began to move her warm mouth across his shoulders.

A loud pounding on the door interrupted their interlude.

"Lt. Thrace I need to see you ASAP," screamed Tigh before he threw open the door.

They had managed to scramble apart and land on their feet before Tigh barged his way through.

Lee had his back turned to the Colonel as he tried to compose himself.

Kara was standing toe to toe with Tigh.

"What the hell is this Starbuck? You have Castanza scheduled to fly the CAP and flying a training mission with your nuggets at the same time. Now you're going to have to take his shift on the CAP. Report your incompetent ass for flight duty right frakking now. You're already late."

"Yes sir, Colonel sir" she spit out in her best sarcastic tone.

"Captain, when are you reporting back to duty?"

"Officially, tomorrow. Cottle has cleared me for administrative duties."

"Good. Maybe you can clean up her mess," Tigh bitched as he stormed out.

"Gods I hate that guy," Kara fumed. "Not only is he a drunk, he managed to interrupt a pretty sweet moment."

Lee added, "Well at least he knocked before he barged in."

Kara smiled at the thought of Tigh's reaction if he had caught them. She delighted in anything that got under the Colonel's skin.

Lee smiled and kissed her softly. "I've waited for you this long, I can wait four more hours until your off duty. Besides looks like I need to spend a couple hours cleaning up after my replacement."

"Shut up Lee," she responded as she hurried off.

Part of Lee was relieved. There was one more reason the two of them were a bad idea. He hadn't mentioned it to her. He tried to push it out of his mind, but it was still weighing on him.

Zak.

xxxxxxxxxx

A couple hours had passed since Kara left. He was having a hard time concentrating on paperwork as he was replaying their wonderful encounter in his mind.

His office door opened slightly.

He was going to have to remember to lock the door from now on.

"You have a few minutes?"

"Dad, sure come in. I've actually been meaning to come see you."

Adama was taken aback a little at how pale and weak Lee still looked. " I finished my shift in CIC and thought I would check on you."

"I've been cleared for desk duty. I thought I would get an early start before a couple of my pilots wring Kara's neck."

Lee knew what he wanted to say to his father would be hard, but he didn't want to put it off anymore. He pushed his paperwork aside.

He had trouble getting the words together.

"Something on your mind son?"

Lee took a deep breath. "Actually I've wanted to say something for awhile now. I just haven't managed to find the words. But I know I can't put it off anymore.'

"Go on."

Lee dropped his head. He couldn't meet his father's eyes. He felt a lot of shame in what he was about to admit. He was silent for a few minutes.

"It's, umm, It's just that I owe you an apology."

Surprised Adama asked, "For what?"

"For blaming you. For putting the blame on you for Zak's death. I was wrong Dad. And I wasted two years we can't get back. It's just that…… I missed him so much, I still do, and I guess it was easier to be angry with you than deal with his death. I can't make up for the time we lost. But you need to know…. I'm sorry."

Lee felt like a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders as he struggled to regain control of his emotions.

"I know. It's okay, Lee. I'm your father, and I love you. If being angry with me helped you deal with Zak's death, then I'm all right with it."

There was a long pause of silence between these two men before Adama added, "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"No."

"Nothing?"

"Ummm, no sir?"

"Hmm. I guess I'll just come out and ask you then. What's going on between you and Kara?"

Lee was taken aback by his forwardness.

If he had asked him a few hours ago he could have said nothing, that they were just friends. But that had all changed. He was busted. He and his father did not see eye to eye on many things, but Lee never lied to him. He always managed to get in enough trouble with just the truth.

"Lee, it's been obvious to everyone these past couple of days that….that there is more going on between you two than CAG and pilot. And it definitely seems like you're more than just friends."

Lee searched for the words to say but remained speechless.

"Do you love her?"

He hadn't lied before, so why start now.

After more silence and a deep sigh Lee admitted to his father, "Yes."

"Does she love you?"

"I guess you would need to address that with her, sir."

"Lee, all I want to know is if this is serious. I've been looking at things differently since our worlds were destroyed. Since I nearly died. Facing your own mortality makes you reevaluate what's important in life. I just wanted to say that if amongst this hell our lives have become you can find a little happiness, a little hope, you should cherish it."

Lee was dumbfounded. "I'm confused here. Are you, the Commander, encouraging a relationship between your CAG and a pilot under his command?"

Adama fidgeted a little as it was his turn to find the words that were hard to say.

"I've made my mistakes with you too, son. I wasn't always the father I had hoped I would be. But I'm your father first, your commander second. If she makes you happy then that's important to me."

"I….I'm not sure your XO would see it that way."

"My XO doesn't much care for either one of you anyway. Besides I still outrank him."

"And Lee remember, sometimes you gotta lose control, follow your instincts."

Lee laughed at that. "Seems like the last time I followed my instincts I logged time in the brig."

"And do you regret that decision? The decision to follow your instincts?"

"No. I believed it was the right decision at the time. I still do."

"That's what I thought. I'm coming to realize that you are committed to what you believe in. Just don't regret not following your instincts with Kara."

Lee was stunned at the direction the conversation had taken.

He was quiet for several minutes before he admitted one more thing.

"Dad, there's one thing holding me back with her. I can't completely get passed it. I've tried but it keeps eating away at me."

"Zak?"

"Yeah" Lee whispered as he dropped his head.

Adama got up to leave. But before he left he turned to his son, "Lee, it's been over two years since his accident. Zak loved Kara and he loved you. Don't you think he would want you to be happy? I love Kara like a daughter but she makes horrible choices with men."

His father added one more thing.

"Do you think Zak would want Kara to keep being used by the men she gets involved with, or do you think he would want her to be with someone who cares about her and loves her? Someone that will look out for her. You think about that for awhile."

TO BE CONTINUED...