Notes: Thank you to all of those who have been reading my story. If there are any new readers, welcome. All those who have been reading, welcome back after a few day hiatus. For those who have been so generous with your reviews and feedback, thank you. Here is the next chapter. I will try to post as many chapters as possible between now and Christmas, but it will be sporadic because of the holidays. Please be patient if there are more gaps in posts.

Chapter Five:

One month later, Lee Adama was changing into his flight suit for morning maneuvers on board the Columbia. It was the normal routine of the hustle and bustle of pilots getting ready for climbing into their Vipers and shooting off into the darkness of space. Lee lived for these times, and loved the life and career he had chosen.

The warning claxon for an announcement came over the loud speakers. "Pass the word for Lt. Adama, please report to starboard communications."

"Meet you all on the flight deck," said Lee, as he responded to his summons.

When he reached the starboard communications room, a petty officer handed him a phone. "Lieutenant, you have a call from Picon, a Lt. Kara Thrace of the Picon Fleet Flight School."

The name made Lee's heart jump, as the memories of that wonderful night and disappointing morning rushed into his mind. As Lee's mind lingered on the memories, the Petty Officer became impatient.

"Sir," she said. "I can't tie up this channel too long."

"Of course," said Lee. "Thank you."

He put the phone to his ear, and spoke in the receiver with as much confidence as he could muster. "Hello."

"Hi, Lee," said Kara on the other end of the line. She sounded concerned about something. "I'm sorry to call you away from duty, but I've got something to tell you. Its about Zak."

"Is he okay?" asked Lee, a sudden tone of concern entering into his voice.

"He's fine," said Kara. "Physically. But…Lee, I wanted to tell you myself. I had to flunk him out of the basic flight program."

Lee didn't know what to say at first, and a nervous silence hung over the line. When he didn't respond, Kara became concerned that he was upset.

"Lee, I'm sorry but…he messed up too many of his quals," she said. "He didn't totally lack skill, but…Lee, if I had cleared him for Vipers, he probably would have had a major crack up. He just couldn't handle the intricacies the job entails. I know you must be upset, but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't pass him."

"No, Kara, I'm…shocked," said Lee. "He made it sound like he was doing well when I talked with him, and gave no hint of the trouble he was having when I was there a month ago. Of course, you didn't either."

"I didn't feel it was right to talk to his brother about it behind his back," said Kara.

"You're right," said Lee. "It wouldn't have been right. Look, Kara…you did the right thing. If you say he wasn't fit, then…he wasn't fit."

"He took it bad, Lee," said Kara. "He kept talking about how disappointed your father would be, and that you might look down on him for it."

"I'd never look down on him for that," said Lee. "My father wouldn't either…I don't think. I mean…well, never mind. Look, Kara, I have to go. Thanks for telling me, huh."

"You bet," said Kara. "Least I could do. Look, um…Lee. I know we kind of ended on an off note…you and I. But…look, don't be a stranger. If you ever pass here again, and I'm still here…look me up."

Lee smiled. "Maybe there was more to that night after all," he thought. "I will," he said.

Part 2, Chapter 5:

A month later, Kara and Shane were sitting at the Officer's Club having an evening drink. They were training another class of nuggets in basic flight, and were talking about the abilities of their various students.

"I'm telling you," said Shane. "Mitchell has the potential to be the best nugget of this class. He's got the talent and the attitude to boot. He reminds me a lot of you."

"Oh really," said Kara. "Does he have perky breasts and a nice but, too?"

"You know what I mean, Miss Full of Yourself," said Shane.

"Well," said Kara. "He's gonna have to be good to beat out Deanna Miller. She is so good I'd say…"

Kara stopped talking when she saw Shane staring at the Officer's Club door. "Um, hello, Shane 'Artemis' Vansen," said Kara. "Are you copying me here?"

"Kara," said Shane, with a smirk on her face. "Eyes to the door."

Kara turned and saw what Shane was staring at. Lee Adama, standing in the doorway, looking right at her. The expression on his face was unreadable to Kara, and she was sure that her's was equally puzzling to him. They just stared at each other for a few moments, before Lee slowly walked over to her at the bar.

"So, your boyfriend is back in town," said Shane.

"Shut up!" Kara whispered to Shane, as Lee walked up.

"Kara, Shane," said Lee. "How's it…going?"

"Fine," said Shane. "Good to see you again." She waited for Kara to say something, but the latter remained silent. "So," Shane continued. "What brings you here?"

"I've been selected for the Colonial War College," said Lee. "I start classes there in a week. Its only 15 minutes from here by transport."

"Congratulations," said Kara, finally joining the conversation. "That's quite an honor, especially for someone so young."

"Yeah," said Lee. "I guess so."

"You'll come out of it a Captain," said Shane. "And on your way to being a CAG."

"After field training under a serving CAG, yes," said Lee.

"Well, Lee," said Shane. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have to get up early in the morning, so I'll be going."

"Yeah, me too," said Kara, starting to get up.

"No, you don't," said Shane. She leaned in and whispered to Kara. "Don't blow this guy off. Recognize a good thing when you see it."

"Kara," said Shane, loud enough for Lee to hear. "Remember, you don't have classes tomorrow. You stay and talk to Lee. Good night to both of you."

"Good night, Shane," said Lee.

Kara simply scowled at Shane for a few moments, before turning back to the bar and her drink. Lee sat next to her and ordered a drink for himself. They sat there in silence for several minutes, just nursing their drinks and looking for the words. Finally, Lee started talking.

"I figured I'd find you here," said Lee. "I'm surprised you're not playing cards, though."

"Everyone's hitting their rack early tonight," said Kara. "Not enough good players around to scare up a good game."

"I see," said Lee.

"How's Zack doing?" asked Kara. "I've been worried about him."

"He's fine," said Lee. "He enlisted as a deck hand. He's in fleet mechanics school."

"He was good at the mechanics of the birds," said Kara. "He should do okay."

"I think he did it more to try and please my father," said Lee. "Even though Dad told him he was okay with him flunking out of flight school. I just hope he finds a path in life that will be a good one for him."

"He will," said Kara. "He's a survivor, Lee. I should know. He came back and told me he wasn't bitter with me. It was good of him to do that. He even tried to ask me out."

"And?" he asked hesitantly.

"I turned him down," said Kara. "I…I couldn't do that."

"Because of what happened between us," said Lee.

"Yeah, I guess," said Kara.

"So, speaking of," said Lee.

Kara smirked. "I was wondering how you were going to bring it into the conversation."

"Well, you kind of did," said Lee.

"I was talking about your brother," said Kara. "You're the one that made that little side trip to our previous encounter."

"Well, regardless how the conversation go there," said Lee. "We're there. And I want to talk about it."

"Lee, I…"

"No, let me talk first. I'm going to say what I want to say, then you can shoot me down if you want to. Kara, I was startled by your whole attitude that morning. That night….that was probably the best night of my life. I felt something very strong for you when we were together. It felt so…right, between us."

"Lee…"

"Shut up and let me finish!" said Lee, sternly.

Kara turned to look at him with a look of defiance. "What if I don't want to be ordered to listen to you!"

"I'm not trying to order you to do anything, Kara!" said Lee. "But I would like a chance to finish what I was saying!"

"Lee, we're too different," said Kara. "What happened between us shouldn't have happened! You and I are like fire and water."

"I disagree," said Lee. "That night, when we were together, you and I were like a burning flame. A single burning flame."

"So you are basing our compatibility on a night of great sex!" said Kara. "Lee, how do you know there wasn't more to it than that!"

"I know!" said Lee.

"You know SHIT!" said Kara. "You know NOTHING about me! Who I am! What I am! Trust me, Lee. I may seem like a fun girl you like sweating the sheets up with, but I am not the kind of girl you would take home to Mommy and Daddy!"

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" asked Lee. "I think you want to give us a chance, too. Otherwise you wouldn't have told me to look you up when we talked on the phone a month ago."

Kara shook her head, threw some money on the bar to pay for her drinks, and walked out of the bar. Lee sat there for a moment, thinking about what to do. "Frak!" said Lee, slamming the money for his drinks on the bar, and then running out the door after Kara.

"KARA!" he yelled to her, as she walked away down the street.

She didn't stop. He finally grabbed her arm, and swung her around. Kara answered him with a swift punch to his jaw.

"Leave me alone!" said Kara.

"You hit me!" said Lee, rubbing his jaw. "Frak, woman, why did you hit me?"

"Because you are being a pain in the ASS!" said Kara.

"Wait, I know why," said Lee. "You are hoping you will drive me away with that punch, don't you? DON'T YOU! Well, I'm not going Kara. I am looking at a woman that has somehow, some way, worked her way into my soul in a very short time. I'm not letting you go without a fight!"

"There is nothing to fight for, Lee!" said Kara. "You and I had a great night, but that is all it can be!"

"Why?" said Lee. "Tell me about what it is you think I won't like about you. Get it out in the open. Don't run from it, or you might regret it for the rest of your life! And my experience with you tells me you are not to kind of person to run from a challenge."

Kara stared at him for a few moments, not knowing what to do. He mind was telling her to get rid of Lee Adama before her heart gets broken. Her heart is screaming at her to take the risk.

"Most…most men…wouldn't bother," said Kara. "Especially after what just happened."

"I'm not most men," said Lee. "I see something in you that…is drawing me to you. I may get burned, I know that. But I'm willing to risk it. Are you?"

Kara ran her hands through her hair, and turned away from Lee. She let out a sigh, and then spoke without turning towards him.

"Can you take a trip with me tomorrow?" asked Kara

"Where to?"

"Caprica. I'll tell you everything. I've got leave saved up, so I'll take it tomorrow. Shane will cover my classes for me, she owes me."

"Where are we going on Caprica?" asked Lee.

"Lee, you are asking a lot of me," said Kara, turning back towards him. "Now I'm asking you to not to ask any more questions. Just take the trip with me."

"Fine," said Lee. "Tomorrow it is."

End of Chapter Five. Chapter Six coming soon. Feedback/reviews are always welcomed and appreciated.