Starbuck stood in the empty pilots' briefing room and looked at the roster on the podium. Four more names were crossed off her list--- a sign that four more pilots were hanging up their uniforms and heading down to New Caprica.

Damn, she thought. How can the old man keep accepting these resignations?

She looked at the remaining names and tried to figure out who she could place on that morning's CAP run. The few pilots left on the list had just come off a 12-hour shift, which meant rack time was mandatory.

"Well, looks like I'm the only one," she said to no one in particular.

A familiar voice across the room made her jump. "That's funny. I was just saying that same thing about you."

Starbuck looked up. Apollo was standing before her in his full flight uniform.

"Lee. You scared the crap out of me." Her heartbeat quickened when she saw him smile at her.

He walked up to the podium and stood right next to her. "Sorry. You were saying...?"

Starbuck was finding it hard to concentrate on the roster with Lee standing so close to her. Man, he smells good. She cleared her throat. "I lost another four pilots today. Soon we're not going to be able to even get a CAP in the air."

Lee leaned in closer to her and took a look at the roster over her shoulder. "Looks like you need a wingman." She could feel his breath on her neck as he said softly, "I'd love to fly with you."

Starbuck closed her eyes. She didn't want to turn to look at him, because she knew it would place her mouth just a couple of inches from his. "What makes you think I need a wingman, Commander?"

"Starbuck..." He placed his hand on the small of her back. His touch made her shiver slightly. "Why haven't you returned my calls? It's been three days."

She really needed to get away from him to have this conversation, but found she couldn't move.

"I've been really busy, and I know the life of a commander is pretty hectic---"

"Yeah," Lee gave a small laugh as he moved away. "Trust me. Life as a commander--- post-Cylons--- not so hectic."

Now that he was no longer so close to her, Starbuck found herself taking a breath for what seemed like the first time since he'd entered the room. She wasn't sure how to have this conversation. The reason she hadn't talked to Lee in three days is because she was trying to get up enough courage to tell him that she couldn't be with him.

It sounded ridiculous--- even to her--- but she just couldn't stand the thought of being with Lee when she knew she would eventually drive him away. The inevitable breakup would be too painful for her to bear.

While she cared for Sam, she knew that she could survive a breakup with him... if and when she managed to frak up that relationship.

Also, she wanted Lee to be happy. And as much as she couldn't stand seeing him with Dee--- she knew Dee loved him and would make him happy.

It was almost as though Lee was reading her mind. He looked directly at her and said, "I broke up with Dee."

Starbuck's heart stopped for just a moment. "Gods, Lee. I didn't ask you to do that."

"No. No, you didn't. But you didn't have to. I don't love her." He slowly walked back over to her. "I love you."

Now she was really confused. Up until a minute ago, she was sure that going through with marriage to Sam was the best thing for everyone involved. Now that Lee told her he had given up Dee for her... she wasn't so sure anymore.

Lee was dangerously close to her once again, looking down at her as she tried to process what he'd just said.

"You'd better say something soon Kara. Because I really need to kiss you right now."

Against her better judgment, Kara turned to him and placed her hands on both sides of his face. She brought his mouth down to hers. He placed his arms inside of her open flight jacket and pulled her closer to him. He moved his mouth from her lips and started kissing her neck, her ear, her closed eyes, and then moved back to her open mouth. They spent the next minute or so exploring each other, before Kara pushed him away.

"I can't do this---" she said breathlessly. "I'm sorry, Lee."

Lee threw his hands up in frustration and shouted, "For gods' sake, Kara... I can't handle much more of this! What do I have to do to prove to you that I love you? Tell me... because I will do it!"

She'd seen Lee get angry before, but never with quite as much passion. It excited and scared her at the same time.

All of a sudden, she was able to picture the future quite clearly... and she knew exactly what she had to do.

She walked up to Lee and slowly extended her hand.

"Fly with me?"

Lee seemed to soften a bit. He gave her a small smile before putting his hand in hers. "Always."

The next several minutes were a blur. Starbuck vaguely recalled doing her final flight check before climbing into her Viper. As she was about to put on her helmet, she looked over at Lee, who kept glancing in her direction as he performed his own flight check. Their eyes locked for a second, and Starbuck mouthed the words, "Everything's going to be OK." He smiled at her. Her heart melted.

Starbuck and Apollo flew side by side for several minutes without saying a word. Apollo broke the silence.

"Have you talked to Sam?"

Starbuck's voice sounded very calm as she replied, "I called him right before I went on duty. He's meeting me later today."

"Good." Apollo sounded slightly relieved. Several seconds went by before he asked the next question.

"Have you decided what you're going to tell him?"

Starbuck sounded a bit wistful. "I wasn't sure until about thirty minutes ago."

What does that mean? thought Apollo. Should I even ask?

He decided he was better off not knowing. As long as Kara took care of the situation, he didn't need to know how she was going to do it.

"Kara... I know this is really difficult for you."

A slight smile crossed Kara's lips. "You have no idea," she responded softly.

"But I think I do. I mean, I'm not sure I was as close to Dee as you are to Sam--- but I do realize that this is one of the most difficult things you've ever had to do. I know you don't want to hurt him."

"I never want to hurt anybody," Starbuck said with a definite twinge of sadness in her voice. And yet, I always seem to.

Apollo wasn't sure what to say. He did feel bad for Sam, but he was also incredibly overjoyed. How could he not be? He felt like his life was just about to start. Once Kara became a part of it, he was never going to let her go.

He sensed that she didn't want to talk anymore, so they spent the rest of the run in silence.

Back in Galactica's hangar bay, Apollo walked over to Starbuck's Viper as she climbed out of it. He extended a hand for her as she jumped off the ladder, and continued to hold it even after she was on the ground.

Apollo noticed a couple members of the ground crew staring at the two of them. He wanted to tell them to mind their own business. Since he and Starbuck were stationed on different ships, a relationship between them was not against regulations. He looked down at Starbuck. She didn't seem to notice any of the activity around her. She seemed distracted.

"Starbuck," he said softly. No response.

"Starbuck." This time a little louder. She seemed to snap out of it, and turned to look at him.

Still holding her hand, Apollo looked into her eyes. He was concerned.

"You okay?"

Starbuck managed a small smile. "Sure."

He looked at her like he didn't quite believe her, but he sensed there was nothing else he could do. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it gently.

"I've got to get back to Pegasus. See you later?"

Starbuck smiled and nodded. She watched as Apollo turned and walked back to his Viper. Right before climbing the ladder, he seemed to think twice and turned around once more.

"You sure you're okay?" he called to her.

"Go back to your cushy life, Commander," she teased.

He smiled as he turned away from her and climbed into the cockpit. Starbuck continued to watch as they loaded his Viper in the launching bay.

"Good-bye," she whispered as he took off.