Lee looked at Kara as she fidgeted in the back of the Raptor. As they took off, her fingers twitched, forcing a grin into his face. Spending over a year out of the air hadn't taken the urge to fly away from him, but it had taught him a little restraint. Lee spent the whole ride up looking at Kara, and she spent the whole time looking out the window. He was sure that seeing so many ships rise out from New Caprica would be a sight to see, but being so close to Kara after so long took his whole attention.

"What are you looking at?" Kara's voice made him jump. She hadn't stopped looking out the window, but the expression on her face had changed. Instead of sad, she seemed more thoughtful. The familiar creases between her eyebrows were returning.

"You." It was a simple answer, he knew, but it was true. For her, it was probably disconcerting, too. "I missed you." A tear trickled down Kara's face. "Please, look at me." Now, her head shook. "Kara, I'm sorry. I remember doing it, but even then I couldn't help but think, 'Gods, how can I be doing this to her?' Did you see the stain on the papers? I cried. I had to make sure I was all alone when I signed them because no one is allowed to see me cry. Except you." Kara still wasn't looking at him, but her gaze had moved to the floor. Lee scooted off the seat and knelt on the floor in front of her. He had the overwhelming desire to reach up and brush away the tears that were flowing down her face but Lee knew that before she could accept his friendship again, she had to understand why he did what he did to her. "I thought that was what you wanted; you had Anders, and that you two wanted to be together. I know how hard it is to love someone while you have to fly. I just wanted you to be happy"

Finally, her gaze drifted to him. "You grounded me, Lee. You ripped my wings so hard you made me bleed. How could that have made me happy!" She screamed the last word at him and it sounded harsh even to her ears.

"I'm sorry." All Lee could do was whisper. "I needed you by my side so badly. I can't trust anyone the way I trust you."

"Even Kat?" asked Kara warily.

"Even Kat."

"Even Dee?" This time it was so low that Lee barely heard it, but he still answered without hesitation.

"Even Dee." Kara finally looked at him. A tiny, thin smile fell through.

"When you promoted her over me, I thought you were telling me that you didn't love me anymore. Not even as a friend." Kara's hand moved across the air mind-numbingly slowly.

"I did it because I love you. As more than a friend." His hand captured her's before she could pull back. "I did it because I thought being with Anders could make you so much happier than being my CAG ever could."

"Why would you think that?" Her voice caught, and Lee gripped her hand even harder.

"Anders told me. He told me that he made you happy, but he could only do it if you were together, alone. Alone together... Without me or anyone else." An unsaid 'who could stand between the two of you' hovered in the air.

"He talked to you?" Despite it being a question, the words came out as a statement. "He asked you to promote her over me." Kara's eyes finally met his. "Why were you with Dee?"

"Because she wasn't you." Kara broke his gaze. Lee couldn't stand it, and his other hand came up and cupped her chin. "Because I couldn't be with you. The only reason I can bear to touch her is because she is so different from you you're incomparable. She can't hold a candle to you." More tears started pouring down Kara's cheeks, but Lee pulled her to him. His hand rubbed loose circles on her back as he whispered comforting words.

Unbeknown to her two passengers, the pilot was whispering into her radio. "Pegasus, CAG. We have a problem."

"I told you, Kat, we have to keep this low. If anyone hears-" said the Comms officer in frantic whisper.

"They won't. This is important. She's here, and they are apologizing." The last word was spat out. An uncomfortable silence reigned for a while.

"Thanks for the warning. I'll have to step up his game. See you on the flight deck." The scrambled transmission cut out with a ding of finality. Kat had to suppress a small giggle at the idea of Dee on the Flight Deck. In the long time she had known the other girl, Kat had never seen her venture to her boyfriend's place of work.

A/N- Holy frak I updated! I apologize for the lack of updates on anything, school has been really hard and i've been feeling very uninspired. Luckily my muse whats- his- name (see my profile) has returned to me! Chapter 4 is already written and betaed, so expect that in like 10 min.!

michelle