BSG Betrayal of Trust - chapter 2
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The next week was hell for Kara. Taylor seemed to enjoy singling her out and yelled at her every opportunity he got, and the other pilots had taken his cue and begun picking on her incessantly as well. If she hadn't had Lee to vent to, she didn't know what she might have done.
Strangely enough, the others seemed to be taking well to him all of a sudden. The first few weeks they'd constantly made nasty comments about him 'not being daddy's little spoiled brat anymore' and now they seemed to be treating him with tolerance, if not respect. They'd even invited him to a triad game in the officers rec this evening, something even Lee himself seemed shocked at.
"Why don't you go? You don't have to stay here with me you know," Kara said, shaking her head at him.
Lee sighed and sank down on his bunk. "Can't you get it through your thick skull that I LIKE being with you?"
"Now I know you're crazy Apollo. There's money to be won, ambrosia to be had, probably even a wee bit of fun, though it's hard to imagine with that group, and you still prefer to sit in nearly empty quarters and read a book you've already read three times."
"How'd you know I've read it three times?"
"I do pay attention to details you know."
"You mean you watch me."
"If you wanna put it that way." She shrugged. Lee lay back with his book and began to read. Kara left him alone for a few minutes, then decided he needed tormenting. She'd had enough of it this week. Time to spread the fun around. "You know, if you're going to stay here, you have to entertain me."
"Who says?" Lee kept his eyes on his book.
"I think I just did."
"Yeah, and I outrank you. You can't give me orders." He turned his head and smiled at her.
"Nope, you don't. Not here - you're not the CAG anymore," she said smugly.
"No, but I'm still a Captain and you're only a Lieutenant. Now shut up and let me read. That's an order." He buried his nose in his book again, a smirk still on his face.
Kara steamed. What was the point of him staying here if he was going to ignore her? She had to get in his face - make him notice her.
"So, Lee, I got a kink in my neck doing those servo repairs on my Viper." She stripped off her sweater. "I think I need a massage to get rid of it." She pulled off one tank and the other bunched up just under her breasts, exposing her midriff.
"Yeah, whatever," he said, eyes never leaving his book. What a lunkhead! she thought, and walked across the room, sitting smack in the middle of his bed.
"Really, I need a massage. Pleeeeease?" She drew the last word out, whining like a little child. That ought to get his attention.
"Kara!" he said in an annoyed voice, smacking his book shut.
"What?" How can she sound so innocent when she knows exactly what she's doing to me? Lee thought.
"Are you going to let me read?"
She faced him. "No, if you're not at the game, then you're here to keep me company. You think I'm just going to let you sit there and read?"
"Fine. I'll go. You happy now?" Lee sighed loudly, climbing off his bunk and heading for the door. "You have fun here." And then he was gone.
Well that backfired, Kara thought. Oh well, at least he'll share the spoils with me - if there are any. And she picked up his book and lay down on her bunk, flipping to the first page.
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"Apollo, you decided to join us." Cougar pulled a chair over from the next table.
"Yeah, sorry I'm late - had things to do."
"Decided to leave your girlfriend alone for a few minutes?"
Lee turned to face the voice that had spoken. Wolf. That figured. "She's not my girlfriend," he said wearily.
"I find that hard to believe - you guys seem joined at the hip."
"We're just friends, okay? We've known each other a long time." He sighed. "Anyway, it's not like we have any other friends here," he said pointedly.
"That could change you know," Cougar said, dealing out the cards. "Who knows? Maybe you'll end up with better friends that her."
"Somehow I doubt that. Starbuck and I have been friends for years. I'd never doubt that she'd be there for me."
"Maybe," Cougar mused. "But she's awfully ... prickly, don't you think?"
Lee smiled. "That she is. But you get used to it."
They played a few rounds, the Pegasus pilots bickering and joking. Lee almost began to feel like he was back on Galactica. Until two female pilots came into the room. Suddenly the atmosphere became tense - as though the men didn't want them around.
"Apollo, have you met Hawk and Eagle? They're working opposite shifts from us mostly."
Lee looked up and met the two women's eyes respectively. They were both smiling at him - finally someone welcoming around here! - but once his eyes landed on Eagle's, he couldn't tear them away. She had emerald-green eyes - just like Kara. Gods, Lee felt a familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach. This is not good, he thought, not good at all.
And when the women sat down to join the group, he groaned inwardly. Eagle sat directly opposite him. The game continued, the two new players now dealt in.
"Are you beginning to feel at home here?" Eagle asked him with a smile.
Lee made a noncommittal grunt. "It looks the same, but ... it is taking a while to get used to."
"Don't hesitate to ask if you need help with anything. You're one of us now." She flashed him a friendly smile.
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Lee did well that evening despite his distraction. He'd had trouble keeping his mind on the game, and his eyes off Eagle. It wasn't that she was classically pretty, neither is Kara, the thought came unbidden, but her eyes were almost magnetic. They reminded him so much of Kara's, except they held none of the secrets hers did. He was astonished at her frank friendliness. He was so used to fighting Kara for every little personal thing - she never shared herself with anyone.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"Hey," she said as he walked into the bunkroom several hours after leaving it.
"Hey, what are you ... right, I see," he continued as she held up the book. "Good book isn't it?"
"Not bad actually. I'm surprised - I didn't think you had such good taste."
"Shut up Thrace or I won't share my winnings with you."
Kara memorized her page number and shut the book quickly. "Winnings?"
"Oh, nothing YOU'D be interested in ... just a chocolate bar." He whispered the last few words, holding it out in front of him.
"Lee, Lee!" She flew off the bed and stood in front of him. "My god! Chocolate!"
"Told you it wasn't anything you'd be interested in." And he quickly thrust it behind his back.
"I thought you were going to share!" she yelled.
"I will, but I think I might need some begging first." His eyes shone with laughter.
"You bastard."
"Actually, I think my parents were married - both when I was conceived and when I was born, so no, that doesn't apply." He smiled smugly at her.
"Lee, give me some chocolate."
"Lee, give me some chocolate ... what?" he echoed.
She rolled her eyes. "Lee, give me some chocolate, PLEASE?"
"Pretty please?"
"Pretty please."
"With you on top?"
"What? You are so juvenile!"
"Wonder where I learned THAT from?"
"Fine, I'll be on top if that's what you REALLY want," she added with a smile.
He pulled the chocolate bar out from behind his back, broke it in half and handed her one piece.
She put a little of it in her mouth, moaned and closer her eyes. Pure pleasure. "Lee, I think I love you."
Yeah, whatever ... he thought. If only ...
TBC