Chapter Nine:

Kara awakened from the nightmare with a start. It took her a few moments to remember where she was, and that the memories conjured up in her unconscious mind happened years ago. The nightmare was a typical one of the kind she had about once a month. Her mother, in one of her drunken rages, taking one of Kara's favorite toys and busting it into a million pieces. When Kara had begun crying, her mother grabbed her and smacked her in the face. She told Kara that if she continued to cry, she would give her a beating to make sure the tears were justified.

But that was the past, and this was the present. In the past, when Kara had these nightmares, she would wake up to an empty bed. This time was different, because she had Lee. As Kara felt over to his pillow in the dark, she was surprised to find nothing but the pillow there. She felt around further, and found Lee was not in bed. Kara then looked at the clock.

"1:00 in the morning," she said to herself groggily. "Not again."

Kara got up and grabbed a t-shirt to put on. She considered going to find him in nothing but her underwear, her bare chest being an incentive to get Lee to bed. But the chills she still felt from her dream caused Kara to cover up with the shirt.

She came out to the outer room of their apartment, and found Lee exactly where she expected to. He was sitting at the kitchen table with papers and charts spread in front of him. Lee was working on an assignment for one of his War College classes. The way Lee's mind worked, he would focus on a problem at the expense of almost all else, including sleep, until he solved it. Never mind the assignment wasn't due for another week. Lee would work on it feverishly until it was done, be that a week in advance or an hour.

Kara walked over to Lee. He looked up at her and smiled.

"You should be asleep," said Lee.

"That's my line," replied Kara, walking behind him and putting her hands on his shoulders. She began to massage his upper back and neck. Lee leaned back and moaned with relaxation and enjoyment under Kara's ministrations on his aching muscles.

"I had a nightmare," said Kara, resting her head on top of Lee's. "I reached for you and you were gone."

"I'm sorry," said Lee. "I wish I could have been there when you woke up, but I just haven't been able to get this assignment out of my mind."

"How do you expect your mind to work properly unless you sleep?" asked Kara.

"I can't sleep unless I solve this," said Lee. He pulled forward, away from Kara and back to his work.

Kara sat in the chair nearest to Lee, and looked at the table full of papers. "Maybe if you talked to me about the assignment," said Kara. "I might be able to help."

Lee sighed. "I have to plan a maneuver to defend this outpost against a cylon attack. It's a mock battle engagement, all on paper."

"How many enemy ships?" asked Kara, looking at the charts to be used for the battle plan.

"Forty," said Lee.

"How many do you have?" asked Kara.

"Fifteen," said Lee. "The test is designed to see how I would use inferior numbers and overcome the enemy's superiority."

Kara looked over the charts for several moments. "Lee, what kind of defenses does the outpost have?"

"Orbital defense platforms," said Lee. "Only two, operating below optimal capacity."

"Lee, why don't you leave the platforms in orbit unsupported by Vipers," said Kara. "Then take your fighter force and position it on the outer rim of the system. The cylons will more than likely jump into the system itself, around 10 to 20 millions kilometers away from the outpost planet. The platforms could engage them from the front, while the Vipers attack from the rear."

"That's risky, Kara," said Lee. "The platforms wouldn't last long under the enemy's fire."

"They wouldn't have to," said Kara. "If you have your Vipers come in at full thrusters, not breaking formation. They could sweep in and slice the enemy to pieces from the rear."

Lee smiled. "I get it now. The cylons would have to turn to engage the Vipers, which would take the heat off of the platforms, and would also lead them to have to fight a force on two fronts. Kara, that's brilliant." But Lee's smile turned to a frown. "But I can't use the plan."

"Why the frak not?" asked Kara. "I thought you said it was brilliant!"

"Its not my plan," said Lee. "Its yours. I would be taking credit for your idea."

"Lee, it's a mock battle plan," said Kara. "What do I care if you take credit, as long as you get it out of your head and get some rest?"

"It would be lying, Kara," said Lee. "I can't do it."

"Look, senior officers seek advice from others, don't they?"

"Sure," said Lee. "But this assignment specifically was a test of MY planning skills. If I tell my instructor that a fellow officer planned out the defense for me…"

"Lee," said Kara, with a sigh of frustration. "Sometimes you are too honest for your own good." She got up and went back towards the bedroom. "I'm going to bed. Use the plan, or don't, but I've got nuggets to face in the morning."

As Kara climbed back into bed, she pulled the covers over her and uttered a large grunt of frustration. "Frak, Lee," she thought. "How can you be so infuriatingly honest and so attractive for it at the same time?"

Several minutes later, Lee quietly walked into the room. He took of his shirt and gently climbed into bed. "You awake?" he whispered.

"No," she replied with a smirk. "This is the voice of my answering service. At the sound of the beep, leave a message."

Lee lay down on the bed next to her and pulled the covers over him. "Alright, smart ass," he said. "I decided to use your plan, but I will tell my instructor about you helping me with it. I'll take the consequences from there."

"Fine," said Kara, as she and Lee exchanged a brief but passionate kiss. "I'm just glad to see you come to bed."

"Kara," said Lee. "I was so wrapped up in my problem that I forgot to ask you about your nightmare. Are you alright?"

"I'm okay," said Kara. "Just another heartwarming memory of dear old mom."

Lee pulled her closer, and enveloped her in his arms. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you, baby. I've been so wrapped up in my class work lately that I haven't really had much quality time to spend with you. But that is about to change."

"In what way?"

"You know that Colonial Day is coming up next week," said Lee. "And that Admiral Nagala is throwing a huge military ball to celebrate the holiday. All officers on Picon are invited."

"A bunch of brass and their dates dancing to elevator music," said Kara. "Fun, fun, fun."

"Come on Kara," said Lee. "I could be a chance for us to show them our moves. The last time we danced we had a good time."

"We had a better time when we got here after we danced," joked Kara. Then, it dawned on her what Lee was suggesting. "Lee, are you asking me to go with you to the ball?"

"Yes, if you would agree to be my lady fair for the night," said Lee.

Kara lay back and stared at the ceiling, becoming quite nervous.

"What, Kara?" asked Lee, as he put his arms back around her.

"Lee, I am not a lady fair," said Kara. "Some might say I'm a woman, but not a lady at all."

"They would be wrong," said Lee.

"Lee, I don't even have a fancy dress," said Kara.

"We can find you one," said Lee. "They have these places called stores where you can go to buy dresses."

"We wouldn't find one that would fit me," said Kara.

"They come in all sizes, Kara."

"LEE!" said Kara, as she got up out of bed with a feeling of exasperation. "Don't you get it? I wouldn't fit the DRESS! I'm not the kind of girl you take to a dance like that. I'm not elegant. I don't have any class."

Lee got up from the bed and walked over to her. He put his arms around her. "Class and elegance aren't based on your ability to walk around in a fancy dress. You have all the class necessary where it counts. Besides, if it's the dress you are worried about…it's a military ball, Kara. You can go in dress uniform if you want, I just…I just want to go with you."

Kara was quiet for a few moments. She looked into Lee's eyes and saw them pleading with her. She closed hers own eyes, but the look of Lee's expression followed her into her own eyelids. Finally, Kara nodded her head. "Okay. I'll go with you. But don't expect me to be the bell of the ball, huh."

Lee kissed her on the cheek. "I just want you to be you, Kara. Always. Now, let's get to bed, shall we?"

When they were back under the covers, Kara snuggled over closer to Lee. "You know," she said, running her hand down the front of Lee's body. "I'm awake now. Even if we get back to sleep, we'll have to be up in a few hours."

Lee ran his own hand down Kara's lower back, cupping her buttocks. "What about those nuggets you have to face in the morning?"

"Make me happy, and maybe I won't be so crabby for them," said Kara, kissing Lee on the neck.

"I'll do my best," replied Lee, as he moved his lips to meet hers.

End of Chapter Nine. Chapter Ten coming soon. Feedback/reviews are always welcomed.