As the Raptor went through the slight 'bump' on impact that was the sign of an incompetent pilot, Kara could not help but to draw closer to Lee. She was under no illusions about the future; Lee had Dee, and she was only second best. The door opened and she pulled back to exit. Kara was struck by how much the Pegasus's flight deck had changed. When she had first been there, everyone had been quiet as mice with the cat watching. Now, the whole place was as loud as if all the squadrons had returned after a fire fight with the Cylons. There was no showy parade awaiting the Commander, but the last person Kara ever wanted to see was standing at the bottom of the ramp.

"Welcome aboard, Mrs. Anders," said Dee as she held her hand out to shake. Kara had to force herself to return it, as she blanched at the direct referral to the last year.

"I'm afraid it's Captain Thrace now... Lieutenant," said Kara. "Just couldn't stay away from my plane." Plastered on her best fake smile as she saw Kara's loving glance directed towards one of Pegasus's Mark VII's.

"Well then, Captain." Kara couldn't help but to be impressed at the quickness she snapped to salute. Of course, it wasn't for her, but for Lee.

"Dee?" He seemed rather surprised that she existed, not to mention that she was on the flight deck. "What are you doing here?" he returned the salute in time for Dee to launch herself into his arms.

"I came to see you." And she dipped his head in for a kiss. Kara was disgusted. She knew that she would only ever be his hidden secret, but at least he could not show off 'the love of his life' in front of her. As she headed out the hatch, Lee looked up to her back.

Kara's walk quickened into a jog, and the jog became a run. She came to an abrupt stop in front of the hatch marked "Senior Officers Quarters". She entered the room and made a direct turn to the left. She remembered the first time she had been on the Pegasus; the other Pilots had made them have the worst bunks, right next to the wall. Lee had taken top and she had taken bottom. Kara climbed up into his old bunk. She didn't know which unfortunate had the worst bunk in the room, but she hoped they wouldn't mind her taking a quick nap. She sniffed the pillow and imagined that it still smelled like Lee.

Lee had stepped off the plane with a huge smile plastered on his face. Kara knew he loved her, and everything was perfect. That was, until he saw Dee. The smile melted away into a frown. He shifted his eyes from the light to the darkness, and heard himself ask, "What are you doing here?" Dee murmured something, and then she was kissing him. He pushed her away, but all he could see was Kara's back.

"Dee, I have to break this off."

"What? You don't know what you're saying," said Dee. She knew that she was a great actress, and played to her advantages. Lee wouldn't leave her if he thought she needed him.

"I can't be with someone I don't love. I can't live a lie, you deserve better than that." Dee knew she was lost when he said that. If he though he was doing it for her then she couldn't say no.

"I see. Well then, I guess I should go move my stuff out." Dee played the part of accepting ex-girlfriend perfectly—she had the prefect plan to make him rue the day he crossed her.

By the time Lee had untangled himself from Dee, Kara was long gone. Any other man would have no idea where she was, but Lee had known her for ages. He was on his way to the Senior Officers Quarters when Kat came up to him.

"Do you have a moment, Sir?" Lee looked over his shoulder, but he knew that business came before pleasure. At least, Kara always said that doing business first left more time for pleasure.

"Yeah, Kat, what is it?"

"I need those papers." Lee sighed and rubbed his temples—he had completely forgot that his CAG needed the paperwork on the remaining Tylium reserves… But he could have sworn that he still had time to work out the details. Oh well, good thing he had finished filling out those papers before the rescue attempt.

"Yeah, they're in my office. I can go get them, but could you have Kara paged to meet me there?"

"Yes Sir." Lee left her standing in the middle of the hallway with a wicked smile on her face; he was playing right into Dee's hands.

When he got to his office door, Lee knocked. Dee should have moved all her stuff out, but she could still be packing.

"Come in!"

The call came through the door, and Lee started to talk as he entered. "I just need to grab-." His mouth stopped moving at the sight off Dee dressed in only a silk negligee. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him in close.

"I know that you didn't mean all that stuff on the flight deck. It's OK, you don't have to explain. That woman has always had a way of messing with your head." Dee's voice came out in a husky whisper that hit too close to home. She pulled him close for a kiss, and this time he was too weak to stop her. She had guided his hand to her thigh when the door suddenly opened.

"I hope you had a good reason for waking me up." The 'up' came out a little too high as Kara saw everything.

"Kara, this is not what it looks like." Lee tried to worm his way out of Dee's embrace but he tripped and had to grab the chair.

"It's OK Lee, you don't have to explain."

"I don't?" Lee said warily. It was never a good sign if Kara was being understanding.

"No, I get it. You just called me here to tell me that you didn't mean anything you said in the Raptor. Everything'll be fine, Lee and Dee can be together forever. I can just get a transfer to the Galactica." Lee tried to call after her but she was already out the door.

He turned back to Dee. "Get the frak out." He pointed to the door, but Dee went back into the room. "I said-"

"I need to get my things." Her voice was the low voice of someone who was just defeated. Even without Kara, he didn't want her.

"Just leave now. I can get someone to grab them later." She nodded and left the room.

A/N- see, that was pretty good! 10 min, right? Well, maybe not, I had to go read Nytel's amazing new story! I hope you like the new angsty way i'm going, i had to do something to get my leval of angst because my show is leaving me! Don't forget to REVIEW!

michelle