Betrayal of Trust - chapter 7

This is (obviously) going AU now as we're halfway through the rest of the season and Cain, well ... is no longer with us, and things are not quite the way I've written them. Hopefully you'll continue to enjoy it anyway even though much of the story will be different than canon.

ooooooooooooooooo

The days marched on - in misery for Lee. He and Kara had continued to treat each with cold indifference, and it was killing him, one long, slow day after another. He rarely saw her now that she lived in the CAG's quarters, and even when they did run into one another during their off-duty hours, she was politely aloof and refused to join the others in the pilots rec. Lee had taken to frequenting that spot often, as he felt the need for some human company. He'd spent more than a few nights with Eagle since then as well, but now that he didn't have to hide it, it didn't affect his work. She'd made it pretty clear that all she wanted was a frak-buddy - and that was fine with Lee. All he wanted was a few minutes escape from this hellhole that had become his life. Every time he slept with her, he detested himself a little bit more, but it, along with a fair amount of ambrosia, was able to make him forget his troubles from time to time.

The rumour mill was active, as it always was on a starship, and Kara had to know what was going on. Oh well, she said she didn't care about my being with another woman, he told himself. But deep down inside, he wasn't sure if he believed her. Instinctively he knew inside that there was more to their relationship, even if she was unwilling to admit it. Her problem, he thought, as he accepted Albatross' invitation to her bed.

Afterwards he lay in his own bunk, thinking about how much easier it was becoming to go for a quick frak with some woman he couldn't care less about. Just close his eyes and go on autopilot - no thoughts of Kara, of how morally wrong it was - just a few moments of physical pleasure with no regrets. What is happening to me? To us? When did Kara and I switch places? But he had no answers, and to be honest, he was beginning to not care. Living in a mindless void where one couldn't feel pain was where he was headed, and he welcomed it.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Kara was not having fun. It seemed the old cliche of 'it's lonely at the top' wasn't too far wrong. Since becoming CAG, people treated her differently. Like she wasn't one of them. Not like you've really tried to fit in around here though, have you? But the line between command and subordinate was very firmly drawn on this ship, unlike Galactica where Lee had always been welcome to hang with the pilots on his off time.

Of course, as she became more and more unwelcome, Lee became more and more one of them. She knew he was spending his free time with them, and though no one would talk directly to her about anything other than work, she'd overheard the rumours. She knew Lee was spending his nights with other women. Well, hadn't she been the one to tell him that was okay? Too late for regrets now Thrace, she told herself. Too late to wish things were different. Lee couldn't be hers, so she had to let go and allow him to move on.

She lay in her bunk, trying to think of some way to get her mind off Lee. She tried hard to think of the last time she was happy. Caprica. Anders. Samuel T. Anders. Things had gone downhill from there, gaining momentum since they'd been transferred to Pegasus. Her time with Anders had been spontaneous, happy and uncomplicated - all the things it never was with Lee. If only ... well, why not? Maybe Cain would be more receptive to the idea of returning to Caprica.

Kara had known when she'd made the promise to return, that it was going to be damn near impossible to keep. Anders had known too - the look on his face had been one of loss, not hope. Nonetheless, she'd tried, but Adama and Roslin had shot that idea down post-haste. She'd felt regret and sorrow at losing him, but like everything else painful in her life, she'd tried to put it behind her and move on. Maybe it was time to revisit that part of her life - assuming he was still alive.

She rolled over and closed her eyes. Tomorrow she'd have a little talk with the Admiral.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Tigh asked skeptically.

Adama fixed him with a familiar, sidelong look. "I'm sure it's not, but that isn't going to stop me. I haven't seen Lee or Kara in a month. I need to talk to them - in person - and find out exactly what's going on on that ship."

"Cain isn't exactly ... forthcoming, now is she?" Tigh said, taking a swig from his glass.

"No," Adama said shortly. There was so much more he would have liked to say, but given that Cain was his superior officer, it wouldn't do to be badmouthing her. Not that he didn't trust Saul, but his tongue did tend to be a little loose when he took to drinking. "Schedule a raptor launch in an hour. I'll let the Admiral know I'm coming. Ship's yours while I'm gone."

Tigh nodded. "Yes sir."

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I wholeheartedly agree with you Captain - those people on Caprica deserve to be rescued. In fact, I'm of half a mind to take this ship back there and kick those toasters off our planet myself."

Kara's heart surged, hearing Cain's words. But she had to keep things in perspective. "They do have the planet guarded Admiral. The only reason I was able to get by the basestar was because I was in a cylon ship."

"Which you no longer have," Cain mused.

"No sir. But it wasn't big enough to bring all the survivors anyway. We'd need something considerably bigger."

"I'm sure Pegasus would suffice," Cain said condescendingly.

"Yes sir," Kara answered, colouring slightly at the Admiral's inference.

At that moment, the loudspeaker in Cain's office erupted with noise. "Admiral, you've got an urgent call waiting for you."

Cain picked up the headset, an irked look on her face. "Yes," she said shortly. Silence. "Of course Commander. I'll see you soon then."

She looked over at Kara, who had an inquiring look on her face. "It seems Commander Adama is paying us a surprise visit."

Adama was coming here! Kara nearly bubbled over. She'd missed him terribly since being transferred. Lee! She had to find a way to let Lee know. She knew he'd want to see his father, despite all the difficulties they'd had getting along.

"We'll discuss this again later after I've had a chance to think. In the meanwhile," Cain leaned forward earnestly, "keep this to yourself. It's just between us. Understood?"

"Yes sir," Kara said crisply.

"Dismissed."

As Kara left the Admiral's office, she racked her brain, trying to remember where she'd scheduled Lee to be without having to go back to her office to look it up. Suddenly it came to her - he was on the flight deck doing Viper repair and maintenance.

The Pegasus maintenance crew had been offended when she started making the pilots do their own mechanical work, but she was firmly of the opinion that every pilot should know how to repair their own ship. After all, one seldom crashed on a moon or planet with a full maintenance crew in tow. She herself had put that to the test several times and only survived because she'd had the ability to improvise. Lee had shared that opinion and so had had his pilots on Galactica do the same. These pilots however, had fought tooth and nail against it, but she'd held firm, and though they still bitched about it, took it as part of their normal routine.

There he was, half-hidden under his Viper, sweaty and greasy.

"Apollo, can I have a word?" She figured it was best to be formal or the others would get suspicious.

"Of course Captain." He slid out and joined her.

"Come on," she said, and began walking. It wasn't till they'd turned several corners and were out of earshot of the others that she told him the news. "Lee, your father is coming."

"Here? Why?"

"I don't know. But he'll be here within the hour."

"How do you know?" he asked curiously.

"I was meeting with Cain when the call came through that he was on his way over."

"Probably just wants to talk with her," Lee said, a trace of bitterness in his voice.

"Get showered. We'll find a way to get him alone."

"How?"

"Leave it to me. I'm good at coming up with crazy-ass plans, remember?" She smirked.

Lee smiled too. "Okay, I'll trust you," and he headed off to the washroom. For the first time in days his heart felt light. Kara was acting almost like the last month hadn't happened, and he was going to see his father. Things were looking up.

TBC