BSG - Betrayal of Trust - chapter 6

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She stalked past him angrily, hoping he wouldn't follow. He didn't. At least, not right away. A few minutes after she'd arrived back at the bunkroom, Lee came in, face downcast.

"Listen Kara, please don't be mad - I can explain ..."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "This ought to be good." She crossed her arms and stood facing him.

"It's just ... well it's been tough here and ... she just sort of showed she was interested and ... well, one thing led to another and ..."

Kara held up both hands to stop him. "I don't need you to tell me all the details - it may have been a while but I'm pretty sure I remember how sex works," she said dryly. "Who is she?"

"You don't know her. Part of beta squadron."

"She's a pilot? What's her name?"

"I ... um ... don't know." Lee felt as though he could just let himself out an airlock right about now. This was horribly embarrassing.

"You don't know?" Her voice raised in anger. "You lied to me - had me lie to Taylor in order to frak a woman whose name you don't even know? Even I'm not that bad."

"Come on Kara, give me a break," Lee protested, blushing furiously.

"Like you ' gave me a break' over Baltar?" she asked quietly.

"That was different," he began, but she interrupted.

"Sure, pull the double standard on me. It's okay if you do it, but I'm a slut when I do." Her voice had taken on a characteristically sarcastic tone.

"Okay, listen, I'm sorry about that. I had no right to ..."

"No, you didn't. But that's all water under the bridge now. I'm not mad at you for being with a woman - you're only human - we all are. I'm upset because you lied to me. I thought we were friends. Friends don't lie to each other," she added accusingly.

"We are friends. I just didn't want to tell you because ... well, I thought you'd get mad at me."

"Why?"

"Well, I mean .. seeing as how mad I was at you over Baltar ..."

"Oh. So you can give it but you can't take it. What makes you think I'd be jealous like you were?"

Lee's head sprung up from where it was hanging rather shamefully. "Jealous? Is that what you think?"

"What else could it be? Why else would you care who I'm frakking?"

Lee sighed. He had no response for that one. It was true. "Don't you feel ... anything for me? There are times I could swear ..."

"Lee," he tone held warning.

"No, you know what? Maybe it's time we did talk about some of this." His voice had become stronger, more forceful.

"No, I don't think so. We should leave well enough alone." She walked over to her locker and pulled out some papers. "Excuse me, I have an office to move into."

Lee watched her helplessly. Her actions spoke louder than her words. She was running because she didn't want to talk about it. And she didn't want to talk about it because it hit too close to home, and Kara didn't like talking about things that affected her deeply. It hit too close to home because it was probably true.

"One more thing Lee," she said as she stood beside the hatch, ready to leave. "Don't ever lie to me again or our friendship really is over. And don't you dare do something like this again. I'm your boss now, and don't think I won't have your ass for it." She stalked out.

Holy shit, I'd forgotten about the whole CAG issue - I guess it really must be true! Lee sat down heavily on his bunk. It still smelled of her. His nose wrinkled and he got up and crossed the room to sit on Kara's bunk. Well, she won't be needing it anymore. Lee had seen the CAG's office on Pegasus. Far more luxurious than the one on Galactica. Even had private sleeping quarters attached. In a way, he felt relieved that he wouldn't have to face an angry and argumentative Kara all the time, but in a way, he felt a profound sense of loss as well. No matter how much they fought, they were a team, and having her here, knowing she was close, gave him comfort. Now he truly was alone.

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Well, wasn't that fun, she thought as she sat down behind the large desk. This really was a palace compared to the CAG's office on Galactica. But then again, this ship was thirty five years younger, and it showed. Much of it was different from Galactica, and though she hated to admit it, much nicer.

She put away her folders and looked at the schedules and charts Taylor had left for her. It was time to get to work.

A half hour later though, Kara still had yet to get a word written down. Her mind was scattered, unfocused, and she just couldn't seem to concentrate. Her thoughts kept coming back to Lee and the confrontation they'd just had.

He's getting a little too close for comfort, she thought, asking me if I feel anything for him. If only he knew ... But she knew very well that Lee Adama was off limits to her. Granted, he was right, she did have feelings for him. But it could never be between them. Zack would always be there, reminding her that she didn't deserve the privilege of having someone like Lee Adama as her own, after what she'd done to him. She would never be able to get close to Lee without feeling Zack's disapproving presence. She felt incredibly lucky already that Lee, and the old man, had forgiven her complicity in Zack's death, and forgiven her for lying to them both for so long. The friendship she and Lee had developed during the time since the attack was deep and strong (or so she'd thought), and there was no way she was willing to risk it for something that was doomed before it even began.

So she'd treated Lee like a friend, nothing more. She'd tried to quell her increasing feelings for him, and when that had proven impossible, had vowed to hide them. He could never know the truth - just how screwed up she really was - falling in love with her dead fiancee's brother. That one really takes the cake Thrace, she told herself. It doesn't get more warped than that.

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Lee was walking down towards the flight deck when he chanced to run into Taylor. The other man gave him a murderous look - dark eyes black with rage. Lee could tell something was wrong, and he had a pretty good idea what it was, but he had no desire to get into it with him. "Captain," he said brusquely, nodding as he passed by. He felt an arm grab him roughly and suddenly he was pinned to the bulkhead. Taylor was shaking with rage.

"Your friend Thrace had better watch her back," he said thickly.

"Are you threatening her?" Lee said slowly, eyes narrowing and muscles tensing for a fight.

"She took my job away from me," Taylor growled. "I've been demoted," he announced, as if that were the worst possible thing that could have happened to him.

"Yeah, I know how you feel," Lee returned, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "How does it feel to know you're not the Admiral's favourite anymore?"

Taylor just glared at him, face going purple.

"Maybe now you know how I feel Mr. High-and-Mighty former CAG," Lee said angrily. "Enjoy the feeling. But if you do anything to hurt Lieutenant, I mean Captain Thrace, you won't live to regret it, I can promise you that." Lee's eyes were like twin balls of steel.

"I thought she was supposed to be tough - that's what her record says. Who knew she had a bodyguard to protect her all this time."

"She doesn't need a bodyguard. If you try to hurt her you'll find that out, trust me. But I refuse to stand around and watch the people I care about get hurt."

"Aw, how sweet." Taylor's turn for sarcasm. "You love her. That'll break Eagle's heart." Lee flushed to the roots of his hair. So, the rumours were spreading already.

"Think what you want about me, but if you or anyone else tries to hurt Starbuck, you'll have me to deal with. Now if you'll excuse me," he said icily, extricating himself from Taylor's grasp, "I have to get to work."

Taylor stared after him, the murderous look still on his face. But there was the hint of a smirk as well - perhaps there was a chance he could take them both out.

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"Okay everyone - order!" Starbuck shouted over the din. As everyone took their seats and quieted down, she shifted some paper. This wasn't going to be easy. "Today, things change. I'm reassigning you to new groups."

"What?"

"Where's Stinger?"

"Changing groups - what the hell?"

Kara held up a hand for silence. She knew there's be mayhem when everyone found out Taylor was out. Especially when they found out who their new CAG was.

"Taylor's out, I'm in. You're taking orders from me now," she said tersely. "Firestorm, Jaguar, Wolf, Albatross and Thunder - you're red group. Thor, Tiger, Lionsmane, Vulture and Pirahna - you're blue group. Eagle, Apollo, Hawk, Jackal and Tornado - you're amber group. Red and blue groups, Viper and Raptor maintenance. Get your ships in tiptop shape for your next shift. Amber group, you're out with me now. Hangar bay, twenty minutes. Be ready."

"Taylor would never ..."

"I'm not Taylor, in case you hadn't noticed Hawk," Kara said sarcastically.

"I ... I'm sorry Starbuck."

"That's Captain to you," she snapped.

"Yes sir, Captain Thrace," Hawk paled as she spoke.

Kara nodded. "Alright then, everyone to their assignments."

Lee lingered a moment so he was last out of the room. I wonder if she recognized Eagle, he thought, or if it's just a coincidence. As he approached Kara, he saw a knowing look in her eye. She'd done it on purpose.

"Thanks," he hissed angrily.

She put on an innocent face. "Are you going to have a problem flying with her? 'Cause if you are, perhaps you should think twice before you start frakking pilots."

Lee glared at her. "No Captain, no problem at all," he said in a flat, unemotional tone.

"Good. After you, Apollo." Kara held the door open for him. "Let's fly."

TBC