Chapter 13

Disclaimer: I own nothing as usual.

Lee had never realized how good Kara was at giving the silent treatment. He wasn't sure why this surprised him; she was good at everything she did. Their dinner trays came and went, and still she had not said a word. She had moved from her place on the floor to the chair. She just sat there though, no longer the blank sad look. She just looked frakkin pissed. For some reason this quiet Kara scared the crap out of him.

Lee was pulled from his thought by the sound of footsteps approaching the cell. When he saw who it was he quickly rose to his feet.

"Dee," he said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." She said quietly, but he could see the spark of anger in her eyes.

"I don't think we are supposed to have visitors." Lee said dumbly.

"Well they let me in okay." She said glancing over to see Starbuck reclined in her chair, balancing it on two legs, eyes boring right into her.

"Your father has been caring around her daughter," she said with a nod in Kara's direction. "I overheard him telling the president it was his granddaughter. So my question is, is she yours Lee?"

"Yes."

"Why did you not tell me you had been involved with her? You said there was nothing between you." She said her voice growing louder with each word.

"Maybe because it was none of your damn business," came a low growl from the corner of the room.

They both turned and looked sharply in the direction of the voice, but neither said a word. Dee looked as if she had been slapped. Kara had never spoke sharply to her in the past; this was a side of Kara she had not seen.

"Don't frakkin talk about me like I am not here, and not expect me to say anything," she snapped, again breaking her unspoken vow of silence

Lee gave her a somewhat apologetic look before turning back to Dee. "Can we please talk about this later?"

She let out a small sigh. "I'm sorry Lee, I shouldn't have barged in like this, its just, well, I can't really say I was surprised, but I did want to talk to you. At least before this is all over the ship I wanted to hear it from you."

"I'm sorry Dee; I really would have told you first, I didn't plan on being here. We will talk later." He said softening his tone. Dee had been nothing but good to him, and she was the last person he wanted to hurt.

She reached through the bars and with a small squeeze of his hand, and an understanding smile she was gone.

He turned back to look at his cell mate. "Kara, can we talk now please?" He begged of her. She just turned her chin up and starred at the ceiling once more. Apparently she would talk to anyone but him.

"You know you are acting like a two year old? I think Leah is more adult acting sometimes then you." He said trying to elicit any kind of response from her. She gave him a small smirk, as if to say, very funny, but still remained silent.

Just when Lee thought he would go totally insane he again heard footsteps approaching their cell. This time they were heavier and were that of Colonel Tigh.

"Well, apparently the old man has had a change of heart. He doesn't want you two locked up here together tonight after all. I think he realized we didn't have replacements if you killed each other," he said laughing at his own joke.

The guard unlocked the cell and swung the door wide open. "I am to escort you both to his quarters."

When they arrived in the Admiral's quarters Leah flew straight into her mother's arms. Kara could tell by her puffy eyes that she had been crying.

"When she started getting tired she wanted you," explained a female voice. Kara looked up to see the President of the colonies.

"I guess I wasn't as good with kids as I thought," Adama supplied. "As soon as the fascination with the shiny buttons and flashing lights wore off she realized you had left. So I recruited a little bit of help."

"Would you both please have a seat." He said pointing to the open couch across from where he and the president sat.

Lee sat down first, Kara reluctantly followed suit, scooting as far to the opposite side of the couch as possible. The action did not go unnoticed by the other occupants in the room.

"I need to apologize to you both. I was wrong sending you to the brig. It is unfortunately my way of dealing with things that don't always make me happy." He said giving a brief glance to Roslin, for she too had been on the receiving end of the admiral's state of unhappiness.

"I need to actually thank both of you. Because this has probably been the happiest day I have had since the attack. She is an amazing little girl." He said looking over to Leah. He did not even try to hide the misting in his eyes.

"Lee, when I look at her, it brings back memories of a little blue eyed boy that had the same little smile, and the same stubborn little personality, even for one so little. Although I am quite sure the stubbornness comes from both sides." He said looking fondly at the woman he considered his daughter.

Kara couldn't help but sharing the sentimental feelings that the admiral seemed to be having.

"I also see your mother Lee. She would have loved her. She always wanted a girl."

Kara quietly pulled Leah closer to her and tired to wipe some of the forming tears in the little girl's hair. She gulped hard, but did not say anything. She stole a quick glance over at Lee and found him very emotional as well.

"There will be no more talk about the last two years. What happened, or what didn't happen. I have always said we are family, and now that is true more then ever. I want us to act like it."

"Lee, I may not have done so well in the past, but if I have learned anything over the past two year is, there is nothing more important then family."

"Kara, Lee and I will help you with her in any way we can. You two can stagger your shifts and continue sharing the work load like you have been. The President and I have been talking and we think it would be best for Leah if she has a regular sitter. When she is not with one of us, it will be the same sitter every time. I don't want you to have to shuffle her off to whatever willing crew members you can find."

"Sir, I totally agree. I am not sure if I would trust my Viper to some of the nuggets Kara has lined up to watch her, much less a child."

Kara shot him a very indignant glance. "I have been doing the best I could Lee."

"That is why we want to help." Roslin added in. "I will start looking for a suitable sitter or nanny tomorrow."

"Madam President, not that I don't appreciate the help, but don't you think that the President of the Colonies has more important things to do with her time?" Kara asked pointedly.

"Kara, you should know by now I have plenty of people under me to help with my every whim." She said with a laugh.

"Oh Gods, please tell me you are not going to give this job to Baltar." She said with a sudden look of panic.

They all had a little chuckle over that one. "No Kara that is not my plan. Please though, let me help. I always have time to help out a friend." She said giving Bill a small smile.

Kara left the room and headed back toward their little home. She again had tears in her eyes. Adama had kissed Leah's sleeping head as she had left, and then placed one on her forehead as well. "Take care of yourself Kara, and if you need anything don't hesitate to ask." He had whispered.

"Kara wait up." She heard Lee's familiar call. It seemed sometimes that was all she ever did. Wait for Lee. "Can I walk you back?"

"Do what you want."

"Kara, please, I am trying." He said pleading silently with his eyes. "Let me carry her." She nodded and handed her over.

"Kara, I'm sorry for everything." He said when they arrived back to her room.

"I know Lee. Me too." She replied honestly.

"I want us to make this work. She deserves two parents." He added.

Kara's mind raced to thought of her own childhood, and what it had been like with her mom after her dad had left. Lee was right. Leah needed him, and so did she.

Over the next few weeks things went well with their little family. Roslin had found an amazing woman that was a mother to 5 children and she had 10 grandchildren. All had been killed in the attack. The woman had been vacationing alone on board one of the luxury ships. She had jumped at the chance to find a purpose in her days, and if that purpose was to take care of this child, what more could she ask for?

Lee and Kara worked great together. They did an exceptional job sharing the job of caring for Leah. They were like a well oiled machine when it came to running the air group. In fact they did everything great together, except be themselves, Kara and Lee.

Gone was the good natured bantering, or the colorful arguments. Neither would even dream about stepping into a boxing ring and beating the crap out of each other. They talked about work, about Leah, but nothing else. Lee even found himself wishing for a verbal dressing down from her, a silly nickname, a derogatory comment about his flying, anything, but this pleasant, boring atmosphere that surrounded them.

What he missed more then anything was her touch. He never realized he enjoyed it until it was gone. Kara had always been one for a big hug, or a simple squeeze of his hand. Frak, he would take a slap on the butt. Not to mention the two kisses she had given him lately. He had been too caught up in what was happening with Leah until now to even think about them, or why she had really kissed him.

He would begin to see glimpses of her, and then she would retreat back into that polite quiet shell of a person. This always happened with the arrival of a certain person, Dee. She would drop by at the most inopportune times, wanting to see how he was doing, or tell him she missed him, always when Kara was present. It was really starting to annoy him.

He decided it was time to have a talk with Dee.

He waited until she was off shift. He was outside of the CIC doors when she left. He couldn't help but feel guilty at her smile of joy upon seeing him.

"Dee we need to talk." He said quietly grabbing her hand and leading her to his quarters.

"Oh," she said simply, for there is not a woman anywhere who does not know what those words mean spoken in that way.

When they were behind closed doors he began the little speech he had prepared.

"Dee, things have drastically changed in my life the past few weeks." He began slowly, he paused, but she sat silent, waiting for him to continue.

"I have been thinking a lot about priorities lately, and I think being a father is number one. I care about you Dee, but I feel like I am not giving you all the attention you deserve."

"This is about her isn't it?" she butted in suddenly.

"Leah?"

"No it's about Kara," she said her eyes dancing.

"Dee, this has nothing to do with…"

"Oh cut the crap Lee. I have eyes you know. I convinced myself their was nothing between the two of you. If you would just show a spark of passion for me that you show when her name is mentioned maybe we could have made this work." She said her normal quiet voice growing loud and angry.

"Dee.." He said softly.

"No, Lee, I won't be your substitute anymore. I will find a man who will love me, and only me, one that values honesty in a relationship. This is over Lee," she said with a sad little sob. She turned quickly and left the room.

Lee just sat their amazed for a moment. He had planned on breaking it off with her, but it looks like she beat him to it. He was sad, Dee was a good person, and a good friend, but his heart was elsewhere. He left his office that night feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

AN: Hey guys. Sorry it took so long to update, and that it was short. I have been so busy. I hope it wasn't too mushy for you (maybe the older Adama was a little out of character, but it is not every day he meets his granddaughter), and that I did alright by Dee, poor girl, lol. I have one to two chapters left to write. I will finish ASAP. Thanks for all the reviews.