"The kids at school were sharing this old legend they heard about two stars that spent their whole lives moving within inches of each other, constantly scorching one another over and over again," Kara's chuckle traveled to the Admiral's ears on the other end of the line before she continued, "and for some reason, it reminded me of Lee."
The conversation was simple. It was normal.
The two of them had always used this time to simply connect. She missed the sky, and he missed his hotheaded pilot who always seemed to be the brightest star under his watch.
They had never breached the one unspoken topic lying between them until Kara had a funny story to tell about her art class that day.
"The kids at school were sharing this old legend they heard about two stars that spent their whole lives moving within inches of each other, constantly scorching one another over and over again," Kara's chuckle traveled to the Admiral's ears on the other end of the line before she continued, "and for some reason, it reminded me of Lee."
The line was silent for the first time ever during these conversations, and Kara knew she had said something wrong. "Sir?"
"He…"
Kara gripped the handset in the grounded Raptor and listened closely as the Old Man fought for the right words. He had never stumbled like this before.
It only took Adama a few seconds to get his bearings back, but still the words coming from his side of the line surprised Kara. "There was a joke circulating the Fleet those first few months we were on the run. I think Zarek started it. He really enjoyed infusing the mythology of the gods onto our daily lives. Whomever it was, they seemed to like the legend of the twin children of Zeus, Artemis and Apollo."
"I've heard that one," Kara confirmed. "I always thought it was ridiculous."
"I didn't." Adama took a deep breath. "You two were always two halves of the same coin, different but the same. You were very similar to Zak, Kara, but you've always known that. Lee's told me stories about watching the two of you when Zak was still alive. You were both living in the moment, taking what you can while you can. You were headstrong and stubborn and so full of life that it kills me ton know how it ended."
"It kills me, too," Kara whispered. Zak was a topic they didn't breach much these days, but she couldn't say that meant the guilt was any less.
"Zak and Lee were best friends because of their differences. It didn't surprise me that you slid right into that void when the Cylons first attacked."
"He filled a void for me, too," Kara agreed.
"And yet you two did everything you could to deny it." Adama smiled as the line filled with dead air. He figured that comment would scare her into silence. He had always pretended he didn't see what was going on between her and Lee, but it was time he ended the ruse. "You have spent years dancing around each others. Trust me, I would know seeing as how I was the one both of you came to to pick up the pieces."
"I'm sorry if I was a burden, sir."
"Don't, Kara. I didn't mind listening to both of you say the same things to my face while knowing you would never say it to each other. It was my burden to bear in order to keep you two from burning bridges completely."
"So I guess I was right to find my thoughts drifting to Lee," Kara muttered.
"You two don't have to avoid each other forever. Take it from an old man who sees and hears both sides of the story. He misses you, Kara."
The laugh that came from the other end of the line made William Adama's heart ache. "I'm sorry, sir, but Lee has made it clear no matter what we once were, he does not miss one second of having me in his life. He's free now."
"Whatever he's said to you must have been out of anger or frustration."
"I'll keep that in mind. Now I'm going to have to get off the line, Old Man. There's a line of former pilots who want to talk to their friends up in the sky."
She was lying, and they both knew it. "Hasn't Lee been angry at you before, Kara? The anger always fades."
"That was before."
"Before what?"
"Before I got married," Kara whispered. "I'm sorry, sir. I really have to go."
"All right. Same time next week?"
"Yeah. I'll bring more stories from the children."
"I look forward to it."
Kara heard the line click off and set down the transmitter. The Old Man had never been wrong before, but she had a feeling that even he could have an off day. Things were changed, and nothing she could do would put them back to right.
Then again, Laura had mentioned something to her about a new supply of paints for her classes before she left the school that day, and if Kara remembered correctly, the last place in the Fleet to have fresh paints was the Pegasus.
Maybe the Old Man's streak of being right was still in tact.
Kara sighed and stood up from the chair. She paused in the fresh chill of the New Caprican air, and her eyes drifted up. She could just make out the shape of the two battlestars from here.
"Apollo and Artemis, huh?" she muttered, shaking her head and starting her way back to her tent.
