Chapter Nine

Lee climbed into the passenger seat of his mother's car and yawned.

Caroline looked over with amusement as she started the car. "Tired already? It's only ten o'clock."

He stifled another yawn. "I didn't get much sleep last night."

For all the good it had done him. He had finally phoned his father after Kara had left, only to get a bored port official.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. The Galactica left dock an hour ago."

Too late. All those hours sitting in the kitchen, debating about whether to call, and he'd left it too late.

Perhaps it was a sign. He didn't know what the hell he would have said to his father anyway.

Caroline pulled up at the garden centre, and for the next hour Lee trailed dutifully around after her, pulling a flatbed and hefting trees and shrubs onto it when required. He tried to keep his mind off his dad by thinking about Kara instead.

He hoped she was all right. She'd looked tired and pale at breakfast, although she talked and joked just as much as usual. Zak hadn't seemed to notice anything wrong, so maybe she was okay.

He hoped he hadn't made too much of a mess of things last night. He just hadn't known what to say when she'd talked about her mother. It was obviously deeply upsetting for her, and he just didn't know her well enough to know what to say or do to help. He'd done his best, but it obviously hadn't been good enough, judging by the way she'd suddenly pulled back and all but bolted out of the kitchen.

He wondered if she would talk to Zak about it today, let him help her. He hoped so, but somehow he doubted it. He got the impression that that her sudden confession last night had been uncharacteristic. Kara Thrace seemed to be the kind of person who liked to deal with her problems alone.

Much like himself, in fact. Perhaps that was why he liked her so much. It felt odd, to think that he had known her for barely a week. It seemed much longer than that.

Almost as odd was the realisation that he was going to miss her. He'd enjoyed her company, enjoyed competing with her and teasing her. He wished he'd had a friend like her when he was at the Academy.

Caroline finally finished her tour of the garden centre, and they set off home. Lee unloaded all her purchases without complaint, but when she started talking about lights that needed fixing and tiles that needed replacing, he rebelled.

"I'll get Zak to help you with that."

He'd done his bit at the garden centre. He would be flying back to Aerilon tomorrow, and he wasn't going to spend the whole of his last day of freedom doing chores.

He found Zak and Kara in the garden, playing pyramid. Mum had never moved the two wooden posts he and Zak had always used as makeshift goals. Lee was pleased to see Kara was grinning widely and her eyes were shining, all trace of distress gone. She must be feeling better.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said cheerfully, "but Mum needs your presence, Zak."

Zak stopped tussling for the ball and looked at Lee suspiciously. "What for?"

"Something about a broken tile – and a light that needs fixing-"

Zak pulled a face. "Can't you-?"

"No, I can't," said Lee firmly. "I've just done my duty at the garden centre. It's your turn."

Zak groaned, but he headed off without further argument.

"It won't take that long," Lee called after him. "She can't have had too many things go wrong since I was here three months ago."

He turned back to Kara, who was tossing the pyramid ball from one hand to the other and keeping her eyes fixed on it. He realised suddenly she was probably embarrassed about the previous night.

Well, he wasn't going to bring it up unless she did.

"Who was winning?" he asked, keeping his voice as casual as possible.

"I think I was." She looked up and smiled tentatively. "Though Zak seemed to dispute that."

He smiled carefully back. "But then Zak always cheats."

"He does." Her smile strengthened. "Why is that?"

"Only way he could beat me," said Lee, and smirked. He had a feeling that nothing would push Kara out of her self-consciousness like a challenge.

He was right; she grinned and tossed the ball at him. "You want a game?"

Lee caught it smoothly. "If you insist."

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He didn't expect to win. She had been going to play pyramid professionally, after all. Still, that didn't mean he had to let her have it all her own way. After she had scored ten points in as many minutes and he hadn't even got near the goal, he simply tripped her up, stole the ball, and knocked it against the post before she'd struggled back to her feet.

"Lee Adama!" She was bristling with indignation. "That was cheating!"

He grinned unrepentantly. "Who do you think Zak learned to cheat from?"

She stared at him, her eyes suddenly predatory. "Well, if you want to forget the rules-"

Lee had a feeling he was going to regret this. But at least she seemed to be her normal aggressive self again.

With no holds barred, the game rapidly deteriorated into a brawl, as they each tried every dirty trick they knew to grab the ball off the other. Unfortunately for Lee, Kara knew far more dirty tricks than he did, and he soon had the bruises to prove it.

He finally managed get to get the ball away from her by elbowing her in the ribs. He headed for the post, leaving her swearing breathlessly behind him.

"You frakking bastard! That bloody hurt."

No worse than what you've done to me, Lee thought. His knee was still aching from where she had kicked him a few minutes before.

"Too late, Kara," he taunted as he reached the post. "You can't stop me now."

A yell of outrage came from behind him. He turned, grinning, ready to knock the ball against the post, and the grin dropped off his face.

Kara was charging towards him at full speed, eyes narrowed.

"What the hell-" was all he had time to get out before she ploughed into him, knocking him flat on the ground.

Lee reeled from the double impact of the ground beneath him and Kara falling heavily on top of him. Black spots danced before his eyes and he gasped for breath as all the air rushed out of his lungs.

When everything came back into focus the first thing he was aware of was Kara laughing.

He looked up to see her face hovering over his own, hazel eyes dancing wickedly.

"No points for you, Lee."

He glared at her. "You," he said sternly, "are utterly insane."

She laughed even harder. "Whatever, Lee. You still didn't score."

Her eyes met his, and Lee found his frown slipping away despite his best attempts to hold on to it.

"Go on, Lee. Laugh. You know you want to."

"I don't," he said tightly, trying to keep his mouth in a straight line.

"Yes, you do." She leaned closer, eyes staring into his. A strand of her hair slipped from behind her ear and started tickling his cheek.

"No, I don't," he said, staring up at her laughing face, at those bright hazel eyes. Suddenly he was finding it difficult to breathe again.

"Yes, you do." She leaned even closer. Their noses were almost touching now. Lee was abruptly aware of how closely she was pressed against him.

"Kara." His eyes locked with hers. The laughter had died out of them, and she was looking at him with an expression he couldn't interpret. She bit her lip. "Kara, I-"

"Kara!"

Zak's voice shattered the air around them. Lee jerked his eyes away from Kara's, blinking.

"Kara, I hope you haven't killed him," Zak called, laughing as he walked towards them. "Mum won't be pleased."

Kara rolled off Lee, and took Zak's offered hand to pull herself to her feet. "Don't worry. I just winded him, that's all."

Lee nodded as he slowly sat up, using the excuse not to speak. His brain was reeling. What the hell had just happened? For a moment there he had thought – he wasn't sure what he had thought.

Glancing down, he was all too aware of what his body had thought. He hurriedly drew his legs towards him, resting his chin on his knees.

Kara shot him a quick glance. "I need a coffee after all that exercise," she said casually. "Come on, Zak, let's put the kettle on. You want a coffee, Lee?"

Lee looked up at her. Her voice was casual, but her eyes looked as shaken as he felt.

"I do, thanks. I'll be there in a minute."

Kara nodded and firmly towed Zak towards the house.

Lee sat utterly still for a moment, as his breathing settled and his body calmed.

It's a natural reaction, that's all, he told himself. After all, she was right on top of me. I couldn't help but react – she's an attractive woman. It's only natural.

Nothing more than that.

Still, he didn't think Zak would appreciate him having natural reactions to his girlfriend. He'd better keep a prudent distance from Kara in future. No more wrestling on the lawn.

Perhaps it was just as well they were all going home tomorrow.