DISCLAIMER: The character's and the universe of the Battlestar Galactica do not belong to me.

NOTE: I believe I borrowed the title of this chapter from the title of some fic from this site, but I can't remember the author. Please, don't sue ;).

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HYBRID by -yannik-

Chapter Eight - BREAK IT TO HIM GENTLY

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Couple of days passed and the opportunity to talk to Lee face to face somehow didn't appear. There were always people around, and Kara needed the two of them to be alone, and she needed to be sure there would be no interruptions. Plus she needed to be sure Dualla wouldn't appear out of nowhere, what was a skill she mastered lately.

That's why Starbuck eventually came up with the weirdest idea.

"Maybe we could have a dinner together someday?" she asked Apollo after the morning briefing.

"A dinner?"

"Yeah. A private dinner at the Commander's quarters" she tried to make it sound light and un-obligatory. "I have a few things that I desperatelly need to talk to you about, and there never seems to be time, people come and go, and they always want something from you. I need us to have a moment of peace and quiet."

"Alright" he replied not hiding his surprise, and absently eyed and signed a piece of paper given to him by some Petty Officer. "Would tomorrow be fine with you? Today I should finally catch up with a few requests form Fleet Captains" he hesitated. "Actually tomorrow... To be honest I have pretty tight schedule for the next few days – as usual in fact – I must ask Dee where we could squeeze in a private dinner."

"Dee?" Kara gasped. That thing seemed to be able to appear even in a non-corporal forms.

"She keeps the schedule" Lee smiled apologetically, and exchanged a few words with someone from the navigation. Then he turned back to Kara. "You'll bring Sam of course?"

"Uh... actually..." she stammered. "I thought there could be just... you and me." It didn't sound quite the way she wanted. It sounded all wrong in fact. And he got the wrong idea of course.

"Is everything alright, Kara?" his forehead wrinkled in concern. "Between you and Sam – everything works?"

"Yes" she breathed out. How ironic that was! Her marriage with Samuel was incredibly perfect, and his... whatever it was – with Dualla was a disaster. And she was about to tell him the worst of truths. What she needed this dinner for, was to have an opportunity to gently break his heart. And he was concerned about her happiness!

Frak!

"Yes, Lee, everything is fine with me and Sam" she replied quietly, not looking at him. But then she lifted her gaze, and that was a mistake. "It's more... It is..." she started stammering again, and this was enough for Apollo to take her by the arm, and lead her to the mission planning room – empty at the moment.

"What is wrong?" he asked. He knew her better than anyone, and he knew – of course – that she was hiding something.

"Lee, I'd rather..."

"Have a moment of peace, I know" he cut in quietly. "But we don't have that luxury, and it looks like it's important. So just say it. Now."

She looked him in the eye, and tried not to see the silent support there. He was trying to be supportive for her, for frak's sake! This was worse than she thought it would be. How was she supposed to tell him that the woman he thougt he loved was a cylon? The worst enemy. Who was using him, and his position to the advantage of her ugly race. "Dee..." she started, and the words 'is a cylon' choke in her throat. He had to go back to CIC, he needed to have a clear head, not be hurting and confused.

Some oficer entered the room with a few sheets of paper in hand, and the Commander dismissed him with a quick "Not now!" and turned back to Kara looking at her intently. "Dee what?" he urged, and waited for her to answer. When she said nothing, he suddenly swallowed hard and rubbed his face. He exhaled deeply before asking softly. "She talked to you, didn't she?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry." He turned away from her, and kept his gaze fixed on the far wall of the room. "I'm sorry Kara, but I... I trust her. During this past year she'd been the only one, who'd stayed by me through everything. I shared everything with her, my personal secrets, Fleet's secterts. Everything. I know I shouldn't have shared your secrets too, but..." He finally looked up, and she saw the opportunity to warn him without really telling the truth.

"You shouldn't trust her with anything."

"Kara..."

"I mean it Lee" she said with emphasis. "It's not about me. She didn't get to me on a personal level, at least not enough to really hurt me. But she's a gossiper. She's talking about all the stuff you tell her left and right."

"What?" Lee furrowed his brow.

And Kara continued. "In the mess hall, in the rec room. I'm sorry to say it, but she just can't keep her mouth shut." Suddenly it appeared so easy. All the reasons were there, she just had to recite them. "And maybe it didn't matter before, when we were stranded back on New Caprica, but now... Now the situation is different – there may be agents just waiting to hear some clasified info. She might sell it without even knowing." Kara stopped, anticipating his reaction. This was good. He had to believe that, he had to see the reason here.

But he was hesitant. "Listen..." he started, unsure. "I don't know what you're saying. And I don't know why, but I know Anastasia. And I don't believe in anything you're trying to imply. What do you want Kara?"

Frak! How could he be so stupid? How did that robot manage to get him so blinded? She got him wrapped aroud her finger, and now she was probably the most powerfull person in that Fleet! She probably fooled the Old Man too, he always had a soft spot for Dualla.

Kara didn't realize up till this point, just how much danger this little woman was.

"Is that this important thing you wanted to tell me?" Apollo asked, bemused.

"Partially" Kara breathed out. What was she supposed to do now? Tell him the whole truth? After that? He wouldn't believe her for sure, she just screwed up her chance. "I didn't want you to get hurt" she started sounding desperate, and knowing that. "I wanted to be more gentle about this, and say it in a more quiet manner. Make you believe me, because it is important. Because I am not lying."

"But you are." Of course she was. Of course he knew it. "I don't know for what reason, but you are lying now, Kara. I know Dee, but – remember – I know you well enough too. And I don't like what you're doing right now" he made a pause. And then he added in an all-business tone. "And that would be all, Major." The Commander turned around and strode back out of the mission room to the CIC.

Kara sighed. She was downright losing against the cylon. Dualla had a whole year of a solitary confinement up on a battlestar, to give him complete brainwash. But Apollo wasn't stupid! There had to be some way. And Kara knew of course what way that was – honesty. She should have said the truth the very moment she found out! After that right moment passed, it was just getting harder, and now it seemed nearly impossible.

As she got back to CIC, thinking what a screw up she was... she heard her voice.

"Ah, there you are, sir!" Dee chirped, snuggling around Lee. "I was looking for you, what was so..." as she started asking, her eyes fell on Kara Thrace, coming out of the room.

When their gazes met, Kara could swear there was a bolt of electricity firing from each of them. Dualla got scared.

Yes, this was it! The cylon would make a mistake.

Passing them, Kara gently squeezed Lee's arm, and whispered – loud enoug for Dee to hear it – "I'm really sorry, Lee." And once with her back to the Commander, she gave the cylon her most victirious Starbuck grinn.

"What did she tell you?" she heard Dee ask, when the door to CIC hissed open.

"Was there something she should have told me?" she heard Lee's surprised voice, just before the door hissed close.

Yes, the cylon would make a mistake. If only Apollo got his cue. But then – he always did. Apollo and Starbuck were working perfectly together when it came to battle. They were able to comunicate without words.

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In the evening Sam surprised her. Or rather it was Lee who was the author of this surprise.

"We are invited to the Commander's quarter for a dinner tomorrow."

"Wow" was all Kara could muster. She didn't really expect Lee to go for it after their discussion, but maybe Dee made that mistake in fact, and arose his suspicions?

"So. Did you tell him?" Sam inquired.

"I will."

"You were supposed to..."

"Samuel! Don't rush me. I told you I'd do it my way, and on my terms. But the good news is – he doesn't trust her anymore." She was so hoping that was true.

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During the dinner nothing really seemed to justify Kara's hopes. Lee was very cozy with his little cylon, and Dualla appeared relaxed. All the while Starbuck was getting more and more tense. And Lee's subtle queries and comments weren't helping.

Finally he asked a question, that made her realize the true reason he arranged this dinner.

"So, Sam" he started lightly. "The two of you really settled for a bright, shinny future together, didn't you?" there was a sincere friendliness in this question, and Sam smiled at Lee and then at his wife.

But Kara knew better than that. Lee mastered all façades – from calm and collected to overly happy. But he cut his steak with a little too much force, she saw it. His friendliness was just one more façade, while the truth was he simply wanted to make sure Kara was safe and happy with her pyramid-player husband.

Samuel replied with his infinite openness. "Sure we did." He smiled broadly, and looked at Kara sideways. "You know, call me crazy, given the circumstances we're in – constantly running away and all, but I have this image in my head – two unruly blonde boys, that I would teach to play pyramid. That would be something." He stretched his hand and gently squeezed Kara's palm over the table. Smiling happily all the time.

Kara froze. Boys? Two?

"You're planning to have kids?" Lee asked incredulously, saying out loud the words that were stuck in her throat.

"Sure" Sam replied confidently.

"Wow, that's new" Dee commented under her breath, not even looking up at Kara.

That sent a bolt up Starbuck's spine, and made her head explode with anger. "Are you jealous?" she hissed.

"Me?" Dualla looked up, startled.

"Well, you somehow didn't manage to get pregnant…" Kara started rising from her chair involuntary, when she felt Lee's hand on her arm.

"Both of you. Stop, please." He gazed from one woman to the other, expecting them to calm down.

"You started!" Kara stared at him, frightened that if he said one more word, she'd smack him. She gritted her teeth.

"Sit down" he said very quietly. "Please."

It worked. She sat.

When she cast a quick glance at her husband, she realized Sam was looking at her with surprise.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"I believe Kara will explain in more private…" Lee started, but Kara stopped him.

"Suddenly you're so discrete?" she accused. "You weren't before!"

"I admitted I was wrong…"

"Right."

They fell silent. This dinner was turning into a disaster. One more disaster. Kara wanted to just get up and get out of there. And that would probably be the best thing to do, but her mouth chose otherwise.

"I never wanted to have children" she started explaining, she needed to prove them all, that she trusted her husband. "I was… well… There was a bit more about my childhood, than I told you, Sam. All about running away from home, and arguing with my mother, and basically being brought up by the neighbors was true. But there was a bit more to it. A bit more." Sam was silent. They all listened in silence, and she didn't want to endure that. She hated herself for starting this, she hated Lee for forcing her to start this. "I don't want children, because they might end up like I did, if I was their mother. So there won't be any children. Frankly, I shouldn't be let anywhere near any child at all. Frankly, Sam, that was the main reason I was so freaked up, by what Leoben was…"

"Kara, maybe…" That was when Lee finally interrupted.

Kara gave him a disbelieving look. "Hey, it's not like there is anyone who doesn't know." Did he think she wouldn't tell Sam? Oh, wait, she told him, she hadn't told Sam. But, well, that had changed.

Samuel however tried to comprehend all she said. This was really new to him. "You mean you were afraid that some child would get hurt…" he asked hesitantly.

"Because of my actions" Kara finished for him. "Yes."

"It's good it's not a child" he sighed and Kara nodded.

"It's not?" Lee asked, surprised.

"Well, at least one hybrid is an adult" Kara explained, and when she looked up at him, she understood the implications of that statement.

He gazed at her, plain shock in his eyes. "How do you know?" he asked, already anticipating the answer. But not to full extent…

Kara's eyes moved from his to Dualla's. The woman was also looking at her questioningly, continuing her act of a good frakker, and XO and nothing more. How did Kara know, indeed?

"Because I spoke to a cylon" she replied, still staring straight into the said machine's eyes.

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t.b.c.

NOTE: It's really a pleasure to get a review. If you're writing too, you know how nice it is, right? So make me smile, and tell me if you like this story. Please.