Spoilers: Home (Part Two)

Nothing But You (Part Three)

Tom Zarek rolled-up his sleeping mat, dawn was breaking and they needed to recommence their journey. He approached Roslin's tent and put his head through the entrance flap. Roslin was curled up to Lee, they lay snugly in each others arms; limbs entwined, lost in sleep. Tom smirked at the sight, then leaned forward to shake Laura awake and found himself staring down the barrel of Apollo's gun.

"Touch her and I'll blow you away," Lee warned.

Instinctively, Zarek held up his hands and backed away from Laura. "Good morning to you too," Tom said sardonically.

Apollo sat up and Laura stirred.

"We've got to get going," Zarek informed Lee.

"We'll be right out," Apollo said and lowered his gun.

Tom nodded and then exited their tent.

Lee turned to a sleepy Roslin and she drew away from him, she looked awkward about having nestled up to him during the night, but it had become habit after spending a week in the cold storage room together.

"Are you ready?" he asks gently.

"As I'll ever be," she replied, steeling herself for what she had to do.

They packed-up camp as the morning sky filled with colour. Laura stared at the hazes, mesmerised and felt a calmness overtake her - a surety that they were close to the tomb; the hope within her renewed.

They continued their expedition across Kobol's fierce terrain; even though the weather was against them. Every inch of Laura's body was cold and wet from the continuous downpour, the wind cut across her face, sharp and cruel, but she kept on. Her spirit would not give in and when her body started to fail her, started to slow with weariness, Apollo was beside her.

He touched her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she replied labouredly.

Lee took hold of her arm and she allowed him; their hands joined and their fingers entwined, he bore most of her weight as they made their way up the muddy walls of the ravine. Every time Laura felt herself weaken, Apollo squeezed her hand and her energy returned, and they fought on.

Hours passed and the weather worsened.

While Lee was helping others, Zarek moved beside Roslin. "I'm gonna contact the Astral Queen," he yelled over the noise of the rain. "See if they can pick us up till the weather clears."

Suddenly, Lee stampeded his way between them, he glared at Zarek and shouted. "You're not in charge here, Tom. All com traffic goes through me. Try to remember that," and he took the President's arm and pushed onwards. Laura followed his lead because there was no one she trusted more.

When there was a break in the rain, the motley troop stopped and set-up camp. After building their shelter, Laura sat and Lee set about making a camp fire. She watched him with awe; where he got his vigour, she'd never know. Laura unpacked their food supplies, she shared out their day's rations and when he was done with the fire, Lee sat beside her. They ate ravenously and when they were both finished, they lay down, side-by-side, resting their worn out bodies.

Roslin stared at the ceiling of the canopy. She shivered as a draft crept across her body; her hair was still wet and she felt goose bumps rise on her skin.

Lee felt her shiver and sat up, putting a bolster across the gap causing the draft.

"Thanks," Laura said appreciatively.

Apollo lay down again.

"I never liked camping," she stated. "And this expedition has done little to change my opinion!"

Lee grinned and looked at her. "You're not a "Roughing it" type of gal, huh?"

"Give me a five-star hotel over tents, bugs, constant drafts and the rain any day!" Laura mocked, she turned to face him and smiled radiantly, her eyes shone and Lee was tempted to press himself closely to her, to whisper in her ear all the things he wished to say, all the longings she stirred within him. But he dared not.

Lee's eyes darkened and Roslin felt his mood shift. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Apollo couldn't explain this; his constant craving for her. Instead, Lee sat up, he knew better than to lie to her; Roslin always saw through him, so he decided to avoid the topic altogether. "I'd better go and relieve Kara – she's on lookout," he said.

Laura used her elbows to prop herself up. "You need to rest, Captain," she stated.

He was about to stand, when Laura reached out and grasped his arm. This unbalanced Lee, who turned too quickly in her direction; his face was an inch from hers and he lost himself in her eyes. All he wanted to do was to pull her to him and to cover her in kisses, instead he released himself from her grip. "I can't stay here with you, like this… I just can't," he whispered.

Laura felt her body flush with heat and her heart quicken. "Captain Apollo - " she began.

Lee closed his eyes. "Please," he said breathlessly. "Please don't call me that, not unless…" he opened his eyes and she saw his desire; unmasked and unmistakable.

Laura's voice caught in her throat as she mumbled. "Turn your mind to other things."

Lee laughed humourlessly. "I've tried Madame President - I can be in my viper, I can be shooting Cylon's, drinking with friends, locked in a cold storage room, hiking up a frakking ravine in ungodly conditions - but nothing takes the place of you in my thoughts. When I'm with you, everything makes sense, it all fits… Laura, you're all I think of. Push me away as much as you like but that's not going to change how I feel," Lee stated passionately.

Laura smiled tenderly at him as sensations so mixed up and vast overtook her. "I don't want to push you away. You've become a part of me… to deny you is to deny myself," she whispered as she reached out her hand and caressed his cheek. "But it's not as simple as what you and I want," her fingertips traced the shape of his mouth, she was leaning too close to him and suddenly, Laura felt the delicious heat of his lips on hers, felt her back pressing against the ground and the warmth of his body on top of hers, pressed so tightly, she thought they could never be separated again.

Lee's right hand tangled in her hair, while his left strayed down her body, exploring her curves, Laura slipped her arms around Apollo's neck and drew him closer, breathing in his scent, he moaned into her mouth as her hips rose and pressed firmly against his groin.

They don't hear the sound of footsteps approaching.

It wasn't until Helo called out from a distance. "Lee? You here?" that they stopped.

After receiving no reply, Helo headed in another direction.

When they were sure they were alone, Laura and Lee drew apart and sat up. Apollo was breathless with what they had almost done; this was madness; he could have endangered them both. What if it had been a cylon troop instead of Helo? What if it had been Zarek attempting to assassinate her? What if…

Laura leaned into him and rested her forehead against his shoulder; her skin was still tingling from his touch, her lips still ablaze from his kiss.

"It's probably best that we didn't…" Lee said. "Not here."

Laura nodded. "When we return to the fleet, then we'll figure out what this thing is between us."

He looked into her eyes and cupped her face, his thumbs stroked her cheeks and then he kissed her lips gently. "I know what it is," Lee said softly and trailed feather-light kisses down her neck; he felt her tremble, felt her fingers dig into his back. "I'll try to be patient, Laura," he murmured in her ear, then pulled away.

She felt bereft as soon as he put distance between them. Her eyes begged him to stay, but Lee stood and ran to catch-up with Helo, before the temptation to stay and make love to Laura became too great.

Laura watched him go and folded her arms across her chest to preserve the warmth of him; when he was gone from view, she closed her eyes and whispered his name as a prayer of thanks.

The arrival of Adama and his troop had been unexpected, and to Lee, a source of joy and relief. His father was alive and well, and it seemed, had forgiven him. But as Lee watched his father and Roslin from a distance, he felt uneasy about not being included. He was used to having private conferences with Laura, having her ask his opinion, valuing his perspective. Now his father was back in command and Lee was afraid of becoming redundant to the President.

Apollo packed-up the cooking utilities roughly.

"Hey – easy there flyboy!" Kara warned, wondering what was bugging him this time.

"Sorry," Lee mumbled.

Starbuck caught him looking in Roslin and Adama's direction. She rolled her eyes – figures it would have something to do with Roslin. That woman certainly had a way of making both the Adama men crazy!

"Having problems with your girlfriend, Romeo?" she teased.

Lee scowled at her. "She's not my girlfriend, so stop calling her that."

"Make me," Thrace challenged.

Lee's eyes narrowed. "Grow-up, Kara."

"You're the one who needs to grow-up, Lee. Every time anyone gets within an inch of Roslin – you're all over them!"

"That's not true!" Lee growled.

"Yes it is," Kara proclaimed. "Zarek tried to talk to her and you charged in, barking orders and monopolizing her. Helo offered her a sausage at lunch and you blew a gasket! Now you're sending death-ray glares toward the old man for talking to her in private… if you really love her, loosen the reins - you're acting like she belongs to you. She won't stand for this possessive-jealousy thing you've got going on when we get back to the fleet. So stop it, before she comes to her senses and kicks you out on your ass!"

Lee was about to argue when he realised that Kara was right; this was a precedent. He opened his mouth and looked at Starbuck, unsure what to say.

"Don't mention it," she said, clapped him on the back and headed off to join the others.

When they arrived back among the fleet, the Commander didn't argue when Lee insisted on escorting Roslin to Colonial One, Adama could see that there was something unresolved between the pair and experience had taught him not to come between them – they always found their way to each other anyhow.

Laura, Billy and Lee made the flight to Colonial One in relative silence, once they were aboard, Lee knew he had to return to Galactica but he couldn't bring himself to leave, couldn't bring himself to be parted from her.

Billy retired to his rack, leaving them alone. Laura entered her private room and Lee followed her.

Laura looked about her quarters. "It's strange," she told him. "But I actually missed this place - even the lumpy sofa and the broken lampshade!"

Lee smiled. "We've been gone for a long time."

She nodded. "I guess this really is home!"

Laura shrugged out of her jacket and placed it across a chair. She stretched her arms and arched her back to release the tension in her muscles, her long auburn hair shimmered with the movement and Lee is captivated; she's more beautiful than any view, than any wonder of the colonies.

"I love you," he whispered.

Laura's arms dropped to her side and she turned her gaze on him, her eyes large and beguiled. "We need to talk," she said solemnly. "Before this thing consumes us both."

Apollo shook his head. "It's beyond that now," he declared and took a step towards her. "I need you to say it," he implored.

Laura's pulse was erratic as she replied. "I love you," her voice was weak as she surrendered to the intensity of her desire for him.

"How much?" Lee asked, his eyes burning into hers.

Laura was startled. "What?"

He moved closer, almost inside her skin, filling all her senses. "How much do you love me, Laura?"

"When my time comes, I want to die in your arms," she murmured.

Lee's eyes filled with tears and when she reached for him, he kissed her hard. Her arms embraced him so tightly; all breath was gone from him. He covered her in kisses and they moved towards her bed, shedding the clothing that kept them separate from each other. Now he was finally free to show Laura all she meant to him.

The End