Chapter 11

"Action stations, Action stations, set condition one," blared over the com. Lee had been waiting for her, nearly pacing the walk around the deck she would land on. At the page, he headed to CIC in almost a dead run.

"What's the situation?" he demanded of his father who was busy starring at dradis.

"12 raiders just jumped in the middle of our fleet." He answered not looking up from the screen in front of him.

"How many birds do we have out there?" Lee questioned.

"We have our four that are flying CAP, the Pegasus' four, and the alert fighters from both ships are headed that way."

"Galactica, the odds are now in our favor." Kara's voice came loud, clear, and confident over the com.

"Make that seven raiders," the admiral replied.

"Galactica, I have a problem." Her voice came again.

"Go ahead Starbuck." Dee said into her headset.

"I think a piece of debris or something hit my fuel line, I am loosing it fast," she said her normally steady voice sounding somewhat shaky.

"Put me through," the admiral ordered Dee.

"Starbuck use what fuel you have and get back on base."

"Sir, I ..I don't believe I will even come close.. Frak, there is one headed straight for me."

Lee grabbed the phone from his father's hands "Starbuck don't fire. I repeat don't fire, if you do the leaking fuel with explode."

"Lee, don't you think I know that? If I am going down, I am taking this mother frakker with me," she said in a tone that scared the life out of him. She was going to kill the raider and herself.

"Kara," he screamed trying to get through to her. "Think about what you are doing! You will come back to this ship alive!"

There was no response, nothing just quiet. Everyone in the room was starring at stricken Major.

"Whooo Hooo" they heard screamed loudly over the channel. "I believe that is twice now I've saved your butt Starbuck." They heard Kat's boastful voice cheer.

"Quit celebrating and kill the rest of the frakkers would you Kat." Kara screeched at her wingman.

"Send out a rescue raptor now." Lee ordered.

"We can't send out a raptor until the raiders are destroyed," answered the XO.

"With that many raiders there is probably a basestar close behind. We are not leaving her again." Lee said with the same look he had given the XO when he had put a gun to the man's head.

"Admiral?" Tigh questioned.

"He's right, send a raptor with a viper escort. She is closer to Pegasus have them tow her there. How many of the fleet has not yet jumped?"

"Only ten left, sir." Dee replied. "Dradis shows all raiders are destroyed, sir."

"Good, now get our girl home, and let's get the hell out of here."

'She almost died. She almost got herself killed.' He thought waiting impatiently for Kara to arrive back on board the Pegasus. 'What would have happened if she would have died.'

The more he thought about it he could not even count the brushins with death that Kara had over the past few months. He had never thought about her recklessness in this way before. What would have happened to Leah had she died?

That's when he remembered Leah was still with Eve. It was getting late and he wanted to see the little girl, his little girl again. While he was waiting he would spend some time with his daughter.

Eve tried to convince him to let her stay the night, but he would not hear of it. He explained how he was sure Kara would want to see her. Leah was still awake, and excited to see him again. For some reason he felt almost nervous around her, like he was meeting her for the first time.

"Come here Leah," he called to the little girl who sat playing in the floor. She didn't have to be asked twice, she came at a run and was rewarded by a quick toss into the air from her new favorite friend.

It was strange to Lee how Pya had acted scared around him, and Leah loved him. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and she squealed loudly. Maybe it wasn't strange at all, maybe this is how little girls are supposed to act with their fathers.

He and Leah were waiting on the deck when Kara stepped down from the Raptor. Leah was tired, but still awake and as anxious as Lee to see her mother.

"Wow, I didn't expect a welcoming committee." Kara said with her usual grin.

Lee managed a tight smile. "We weren't sure if you would be back for us to welcome." He said referring to her near death experience.

"Thanks for picking her up for me Lee." Kara replied taking her daughter and hugging her tightly. "I… wasn't sure I would be back either." She said showing signs for the first time of actually being concerned about her experience.

"I am exhausted Lee, do you think the Admiral will want a meeting now, or can I catch some wrack time?" Kara asked.

"He will speak with you in the morning Kara, but you do have a meeting." Lee replied.

"With whom?"

"Me."

"Oh, well can we meet in my room."

"Wherever."

"Good, because Leah is up way past her bedtime."

She laid Leah down on her bed, and then went to sit on the couch next to Lee, finding this scene all too familiar.

"Kara what would have happened to Leah if you would have died?" Lee questioned his voice surprisingly calm.

"What do you mean?" Kara asked suddenly concerned about where Lee was headed with this.

"Who would have taken care of her?"

"I have a will Lee, your father has a sealed copy to be opened on my death," she answered bluntly.

"So you plan on dying?"

"I mean if I die."

"So what would happen to her?" he asked again.

"Custody would go to her father, if he wanted her, if not it would revert back to Eve and Mark." Kara replied.

"I thought you didn't know who her father was?" He said sharply.

"Cut the crap Lee, I know who her father is, and now I think you do too." She said in a low voice.

"She's mine isn't she?"

"You don't know for sure?"

"Frak, Kara, how could I? I didn't give birth to her like you did." He said his self control starting to leave.

"No Lee, you didn't, in fact you weren't even around!" Kara said loudly. "But you were sure there for her making. Or are you still trying to pretend that never happened," she said jumping to her feet above him.

"God's Kara, how could you not tell me!" He said standing up meeting her toe to toe.

"I had my reasons!"

"They had better be pretty frakkin good! Come on Kara, I am waiting!"

"How about the fact you had just told me you didn't want a baby, you didn't want to be a father. Let's start with that. Maybe because your last baby died because you didn't want to be a father! If you would have had anything to do with it Leah probably wouldn't be here either!" She screeched.

She was rewarded for her explanation with a loud smack to her face. "That's not how it happened Kara and you know it, and for you to even insinuate that I would rather her be dead, that is low even for you." He said his voice coming out in a tight whisper.

She sank down to the couch, her hand pressed against her reddened cheek, tears stinging her eyes. He was right. She had no call to say what she just did to him. He didn't deserve him. She felt like he was attacking her, so she decided to attack him back.

He turned his back to her, facing the opposite wall. They both just stood there neither saying a word. He reached his arm out to the wall holding onto it for support. Just hours earlier he thought his life would end if she didn't come back to him. He had wanted to remain calm, work this out with her, and instead he had just hit her. It was something he had swore he would never do again, at least not outside the boxing ring.

"Lee, I am so sorry." He heard after several minutes. He could tell by the sound of her voice she was crying. He just couldn't turn his head to look at her, he felt tears prick his eyes as well. He heard her stand, she was walking toward her, but still he didn't turn.

She knew he was angry at her. Frak, he had every right to be, she was angry at him also, but not as much as she was sad. She went to him, she put her arms around his waist. She could feel him tense under her. No words were going to make this go away. She just wanted him tell her it would be okay, they would work it out. "Lee, please look at me," she said softly.

Finally he turned painfully slow and did as she requested, looked at her. She saw the tears, the pain in his face as well, she just wanted the hurt to go away. "I shouldn't have struck you." He said in a choked voice, brushing a tear away with his finger.

In response she wrapped her arms around his waist laying her head on his shoulder. "I deserved it," he heard her whisper.

He gently pushed her back so he could see her again. "Kara…" he began.

"Don't" she said putting a finger to his lips

He started to speak again, but this time he was silenced with her lips on his, kissing him again, just like she had weeks previously. This time he joined her and kissed her back just as hard. His lips almost bruising upon hers, but she didn't pull away. He was lost again in a world that only involved her, and her mouth, but then when he felt her hands under his tanks, her cool skin touching his, he was snapped back to the reality of the situation.

Just as quick as it had started he ended it, pushing her firmly away. She looked up at him he desire written all over her face, and suddenly it disgusted him. He remembered why he was here in her room in the first place.

"Is this how you solve all the problems in your life Kara?" He asked cruelly. "If you can't fix it, frak it?"

"I can't believe you just said that." She said the look of desire going quickly to a look of hurt.

"This conversation isn't finished Kara. Get some sleep, you have an early morning briefing. And from now on when I am off duty Leah will be with me." Then he turned without another word, and was gone.

Kara wanted to run after him, to yell, to scream something as hurtful as what he had just said to her, but then again maybe they were even. So instead she went to her room, pulled her daughter close and cried herself to sleep.

Somehow Kara made it through her debriefing speech, about the events of last nights run in with the cylons, with minimal ease. Not even bothering to look at Lee. When she was finished he came and joined her at the front of the room full of pilots.

"You may have a seat Captain," he said tersely not even bothering to look at her.

"First I want to congratulate you all on a job well done. Destroying twelve raiders and not loosing a Viper is a huge victory." They all responded with a loud cheer.

"However, after the events of last night, I have decided some things have to change."

"Captain Thrace, will no longer be flying in any combat situations. It has occurred to me that her expertise is needed now in areas other than the cockpit. She will remain the CAG and flight instructor. Kat you will now be lead pilot on all missions."

There was a rumble of whispers through the crowd. Kara couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew Lee was furious at her, but this, this was beyond acceptable. If he had wanted to hit her where it would hurt the worst he had found it. Kara lived and breathed flying, fighting, it was like a piece of her. Yeah any other person in the world would have been happy, no blessed to be given an order like this, but to Kara it was like a curse, and Lee knew it.

She did not respond, she did not say a word. She just waited, waited until the last person left the room.

The XO of Galactica and the Admiral were making there way toward the pilots ready room. The Admiral wanted to congratulate them himself on a job well done. They were surprised to see the pilots already leaving the room in haste, the briefing must have ended early. They could hear the angry voices coming from the room 10 feet before they were near the door.

"Just what the frak are you trying to prove Apollo!" They heard the all too familiar voice demand.

Tigh held out a hand to the admiral silently having him stop before they interrupted the argument. Neither had to strain very hard to hear what was going on.

"I am not trying to prove anything. You are no longer needed in the cockpit Kara. There should be more important priorities in your life now." Lee replied.

"Don't make me try to feel guilty! She is my priority, but that doesn't mean I should give up my job, my passion. If I was supposed to die, I would be dead already, for there have been plenty of chances."

"Kara I don't have to explain anything to you."

"I know what this is Lee. It's payback for me not telling you she's your daughter. You are trying to get even!"

Bill looked over at his friend. The same shocked expression mirrored on his face. He would not stay behind the door any longer. He silently walked into the room and starred at the two people he cared about most in life, looking like they were about to rip the other one apart.

"Which one of you are going to explain that last statement to me?" He spoke in a loud clear voice, free of emotion, and full of authority.

AN: Tuesday morning as promised! I know I am not good on all the technical stuff. So if I screwed anything up, or called something by the wrong name in CIC or whatever let me know. The conversation between them all is far from over. Sorry if you are sick of the drama. It will all be over soon enough. Thanks for reading.