Since he'd gotten a look at the damage done to Jake and Nik, anger radiated off Starbuck like a solium leak just waiting for a spark. Once he got it through his head that her friends had done nothing more than wait for a shuttle ride back to the Galactica, he'd been mumbling curses to himself, yet didn't seem to realize he was doing it. Rene tried to ignore it, reminding herself his rage wasn't directed at her or her friends, but without a target, she couldn't help but worry where it might land. She kept her focus on Jake, but once they drugged him up and he passed out, there wasn't much for her to do but be there to watch over him. It was an effort to keep herself still, afraid that if she fidgeted, Starbuck might lash out at her. She just needed to remain invisible. "I'm a rock in a stream." She kept the mantra that Dixon had given her going in her mind. "I'm a rock in a stream and the emotions flow around me. They don't move me. I am a rock in a stream."

If the emotions were water, then Starbuck's were rapids about to plunge over a steep drop. Had there been space in the small private room, she had no doubt he would be pacing, but all he could do was sit and squeeze her hand tight. The only view before them was the bruising in vibrant colors on Jake's swollen face.

Starbuck's abrupt departure shouldn't have surprised her. In truth, his parting words that no one fraked with his brother were almost a relief. He would do something about this. He'd do more than just watch her back. His anger would cascade over someone who deserved it. His steps were purposeful as he headed across the Life Center, but they faltered as Cassie called out to him in concern.

"Starbuck? Don't go."

He grumbled something to his former girlfriend. Rene didn't catch the words, but noticed the way Cassie stiffened, her face flushing and her eyes hardening. His old lover took a step towards Starbuck, reaching out to stay his departure, but he was gone before the medtech could stop him. Cassie's hand hung there awkwardly as she watched the doors close, before she turned to Rene. Her steps were just as purposeful as Starbuck's.

"I know that look on his face. He's going to hurt someone and wind up in the brig again for murder if you don't stop him."

Rene leaned back, narrowing her eyes at the woman. She thought they had come to an agreement about Cassie's opinions where Starbuck was concerned a few cycles ago when Rene had come by the life center to extend the invitation to the sealing. She made sure to deliver it in person with a clear suggestion that Cassie should find a reason to decline.

"Might be for the best if you don't show, but he would be upset if I didn't invite you. So you're invited. But I think you and I would both like to avoid anything unpleasant."

"On that we can agree," Cassie had replied with sarcastic sweetness. "I do have plans that evening."

"Good. Enjoy," Rene said curtly, but as she turned away, Cassie issued a parting shot.

"I wish you the best, but when he moves on to another gal, I will offer only consolation and won't say 'I told you so.' He's not known for his fidelity."

Cassie was obviously not as close to Starbuck as she thought she had been if she didn't know that the one quality that could be counted on in the man was fidelity. The word might not be applied to who he flirted or fraked, but it was most definitely strong when it came to his friends and family. Rene couldn't figure out if the woman was being sincere or sarcastic, so she didn't give the comment a reply, just saluted in acknowledgment that they would not be friends, and that was fine with her.

But now Cassie was here offering advice again, unwanted and unneeded. She may have been Starbuck's girlfriend for three yahrens, but her rejection of his proposal just proved Cassie didn't know the man at all.

"Rene, he's going to hurt someone."

Rene nodded before looking to Jake as she said softly, "Good. Some people need to be hurt."

Cassie shook her head. "Last time he had that look he nearly wound up kicked out of the service and on the prison barge for murder."

Rene snorted. "Right. They won't kick him out. He's too good a pilot. You must think I'm stupid."

Cassie shook her head again looking down on her. "Rene, this isn't Dante's fleet. The laws are upheld here. You need to stop him." Cassie pointed to the door in command.

Crossing her arms in defiance, Rene leaned back indicating she wouldn't be following that order or any others Starbuck's ex-girlfriend might utter.

Huffing in impatience, Cassie looked to the door of the Life Center like she might go herself to stop him, but she held her position and looked back to Rene.

"Believe it or not, I am on your side. I care for Jake and whoever did this needs to be found and punished. But Starbuck in the brig for a fight or murder is not going to help the situation."

Rene snorted again. "Little do you know. Actually, it might resolve everything."

Cassie took a deep breath and tried again, in that motherly tone Rene had seen her use on Jake. "You haven't known him long enough. You've only seen him at his best. He has a temper that is wicked and unrestrained. He won't stop until…well, it might be Starbuck that winds hurt."

Rene kept her arms crossed, leaning father back to put her feet up on the side of Jake's biobed as a sign she wasn't going anywhere. "What, are you jealous? He wouldn't do the same for you? Too bad for you."

"Don't be ridiculous." Cassie crossed her own arms before considering Jake who looked young and vulnerable in his unconscious condition before looking back to Rene. "Do something, or I will."

Rene didn't hold back the wicked grin. "I did do something. I didn't stop him."

Cassie closed her eyes, nodded before opening them and turning away. She headed towards her desk, picking up a comm. Rene might have become concerned at that point, but Cassie wouldn't be able to do anything. His former girlfriend was right. No one could stop him when Starbuck got that look.

Rene looked back at Jake. The regenerator had done a decent job of healing the worst of the visible damage, the bruises beginning to fade to a light purple versus the brutal blue. It was the humiliation of losing the fight that was going to be the bigger problem for her friend. She debated waking him to let him know his new brother was going to fix this, but she decided it could wait until they needed to go bail Starbuck out of the brig. That was one of the first schematics the Rats had studied, the corridors above and below as well as the ventilation system that led to the cells. They'd be able to get him out if it came to that. She just hoped with Adama calling him son, there wouldn't be a need. She truly doubted they would ever drum him out of the service. They needed his abilities. He was irreplaceable in the cockpit and the family could manage even if he was busted down to an ensign.

She remained in her position, plotting out her own ways to resolve this situation. The frightening thought was the fact that moving to the Zakar would actually help the family if this got uglier than it already was. They could fill most of the billets with people they trusted, transfer off those they didn't. Apollo would do almost anything for Starbuck, and if he wouldn't, they could take the ship from him, although that was a long shot. Starbuck would follow Apollo anywhere, maybe even to his own tribunal for murder like he had before over some triad game and a guy winding up dead.

She had heard the story from Boomer, but she had a hard time believing that Starbuck had allowed himself to go to the brig on his own two feet. But then again, she'd seen first hand the loyalty he bestowed on the Commander. That would be the hard part, getting Starbuck to defy Adama. If the Commander ordered him to his death, Starbuck would salute and gladly go with the man's blessing because it was the honorable thing to do.

She uncrossed her arms, looking down at her stomach that was beginning to look like more than just extra weight. She rubbed her left hand over it, letting the stones of her star ring glint in the harsh light of the Life Center. She was pretty sure she had more pull now than the Commander on Starbuck's loyalty, but she'd save that trump card for last. She had some bit of conscience inside her and didn't want to have to use the kid against her new husband, at least not too often. It wasn't needed yet. She had enough dirt on Pallus to justify the man's death for any tribunal. If Starbuck played his cards right, he could just claim self defense. The earlier fight on the Rising Star might complicate things, but if she planted illicit goods in Pallus' quarters, that might balance the scales. She could get that accomplished before the day was done. She plotted out at least three good and untraceable deaths for Pallus and his cronies while she waited and watched Jake sleep.

It was only two centaurs before Starbuck was back, his face stern and unreadable. He took a seat beside her, reaching for her hand. His knuckles were bruised and swollen. She resisted the urge to ask him what happened. He'd tell her if it was important.

"How's he doing? You okay?" he asked not meeting her eyes. He didn't offer up any explanation of where he had gone and what he had done.

"I'm okay. He's been out since you left," she answered softly squeezing his hand twice. "You?"

"The boys are back. I left them with Crius. I'm going with the commander over to the Celestra later and I'll stop by the Rising Star on my way back and pick up our things. You stay here with Jake."

It wasn't an answer but it told her enough.

"You should know, Cassie called someone about you after you left."

"Why?" He asked the question, but didn't seem to care to know the answer. His eyes were glued to Jake's face avoiding her. His anger hadn't diminished. She could practically hear it bubbling like a pot about to boil over.

"She seemed to think you were going to kill someone. Did you?"

He didn't answer her at first and she had to squeeze his hand before letting go and asking the question in hand signs.

Starbuck shook his head no, but he didn't look pleased about his answer. It helped to explain why he was still seething with rage.

"Good. Leave the dirty work for the Sewer Rats. We know how to get it done and make it look like an accident."

Starbuck shook his head again and sighed heavily. "I'll take care of it. You just work on staying out of harm's way, understood?"

It was her turn to shake her head. "Not exactly what I am good at. You know that. I mean, how long did you think it was going to take before Dante's followers poisoned this fleet?"

That earned her a look, half indignation at her suggestion that Adama's warriors could be so easily corrupted, half concerned that she might be right.

"Over my dead body," he snarled.

Rene nodded. "Exactly. Someone's going to die. I'd rather it be them. I have nothing to lose. What can they do? I'll take so many of them down with me with what I know. What's the worse they can do to me? I like the brig."

Starbuck just huffed before rubbing at his eyes with one hand and squeezing the bridge of his nose. "Couldn't we at least have had that honeymoon before the felgercarb hit the fan?"

It sounded like an accusation and she couldn't help to defend herself. "I didn't start this."

He took in a deep breath rubbing at a temple before he spoke. "I know. But this isn't fun and games anymore."

Her own anger rose at his words. He hadn't been there, he didn't understand and she was mad she was going to have to explain it to him. "It never was Bucko. If it was just fraking, that would have been no problem. Lord knows I've fraked for lesser reasons than being saved from the Cylons. I'm just a slut you know, nothing I won't do for a cubit or two. But this was never about pilots just getting laid."

"Don't!" he growled casting her a harsh glare.

"Don't do what? Say the truth? You keep telling me not to lie," she growled back not really wanting to fight with him, not here with Cassie watching, but it might be time he knew what they had dealt with since it seemed to be starting up again.

"Don't talk about yourself like that. I don't see you that way and you're not a slut."

She shook her head. "Who's not? Me or the girl you want me to be? Did that pretty white dress with all the ruffles convince you too that I'm a sweet young thing? Wow, I'm a better actress than I give myself credit for. And be honest Bucko, that's not what you want, some chaste little girl. You seem to like all the things I've learned playing their fraking games while they had their fun. You like a good slut."

"Don't," he said again, but it lacked the venom of before. He ran his fingers through his hair before he looked to her, his eyes steely blue. "I know what you're doing here, pushing me away because you think it will keep me safe, but I'm not going anywhere. You don't want to admit it, but I know you better than you know yourself."

"What do you know?" she challenged, but her words lacked the anger she'd felt just a moment before. Now she was just tired. She didn't want to fight with him, not when she had so many others out there waiting to do battle.

"I know you let them win so they'd leave all the others alone. You took the hits because you could take it. You could have left or simply killed them all, but you aren't that heartless. You know they're not completely evil, that some part of them can be good, or at least helpful to saving the human race. Plus, you think you deserved what happened to you, some sort of punishment for whatever you did in your past. You don't like the pain. You just think it equals things out."

Her breath caught at his words, a sharp pain in her chest like he'd actually shot her in the heart. She looked to him in disbelief to find his eyes on her, performing his own deep scan of her reaction.

"See, I know you." The words should have been mocking and playful, but instead they sounded just as tired as she felt.

She nodded, tried to say that he'd won this round, but still couldn't find the breath to get the words out. She just nodded again as he squeezed her hand twice.

"We are not going to fight each other, understood? We are not going to let the frustration and anger divide us. You're going to trust me to take care of this. This will not happen again."

He seemed so sincere as he said the words. She could tell by the change in his eyes from steely hard to a soft deep blue he honestly believed what he said. She wanted to believe too. The naive hope was hard to swallow, but it kept the caustic laughter contained in her chest like a stopper in a bottle.

"I will take care of this," he said again looking away to the door of the Life Center. Rene didn't get a chance to reply as Adama came into the center. He did not look pleased, a rare frown creasing his features as he strode purposefully to them.

"Lieutenant, care to tell me why Apollo says I should ground you and see that you remain contained until he reports to the Galactica?"

"No sir." The words were tossed out like a dare.

Rene nearly gasped. She'd never heard him be insolent to anyone in the fleet, least of all to his heroic Commander.

Adama did not seem surprised by Starbuck's surliness. "I see. And the call I received from the Life Center that you had left with the intent of causing someone harm is not related to Apollo's request?"

"No sir."

"Starbuck." Adama shook his head ruefully. "Under the circumstances, you are off the investigation. You will wait here for Apollo. Lieutenant Rene, you and I need to have a conversation."

She pulled herself up straight. He had never used that tone with her and klaxons began to blare down her spine. He did not wait for her reply.

"You will be detailing for me every abuse that has happened to you since being rescued from the Colonies. You will give names and details. Your only option is to whom you wish to give the information. It will either be me, Colonel Apollo, or Dr. Dixon. That is the only choice I will be giving you."

She blinked, feeling the terror grip her throat as tight as Agenor's meaty fist. She could feel his other hand twisting in her hair, the roots tingling as he pulled. A shiver crept down her arm, ending in a shake of the hand that Starbuck held.

"Sir," Starbuck said in warning, but Adama cast Starbuck a harsh look before speaking.

"This does not involve you, Lieutenant and you have no say in the matter."

Rene nearly yelped at the sudden crushing squeeze Starbuck gave her hand as he spat out, "She's my wife!"

The Commander answered sharply, "And she's my warrior. Her commitment to the Colonial Service supersedes your wishes."

She couldn't breathe. The shock that jolted her was nearly as painful as what those bubble headed Cylons had done to her. She looked from Starbuck to the Commander, not believing what she was witnessing. She knew Starbuck would come to her defense, but she couldn't have ever predicted that it might be to save her from Commander Adama. Starbuck looked ready to kill the man he worshipped.

The moment stretched out and her lungs screamed for air. She wheezed as she tried pull a breath in past the tension. Adama's gaze softened at the sound, but he spoke to Starbuck.

"We need to have our evidence before we can prosecute anyone. What she knows can help justify stronger charges and to stop further violence."

Starbuck let go of her hand and she felt like she was free falling from an airlock. Before she could ask him to not make her do this, to at least be there with her, Adama spoke again.

"You will be given whatever you need to assist you in your account, anything that might make this easier. I can guarantee complete confidence in the matter."

She drew a slow breath wondering what it would take, ambrosia, plant vapors or freighter full of narcotics. He wouldn't be offering any of those, so what did he mean? Her words wouldn't be secret, they would become public record and everyone would know she was the one who had ratted out everyone.

"I will give you one centaur to prepare. You will report to my office and you will…"

"Dixon." She blurted out the name.

"I suspected that would be your choice. He will be arriving shortly." Adama shifted his gaze to Starbuck. "I know you thought you were resolving matters with your actions, but you may have complicated the investigation. I understand your desire to protect your own, but Starbuck…" The Commander didn't finish the sentence, sighing deeply and shaking his head. "How is he doing?"

"Same sir," Starbuck answered. "Rene and I need to get cleaned up before facing all this. On your way to your shuttle, could you alert my family that we need a few of them to stand watch?"

"Why don't you remain and I will escort Rene back to your quarters."

Starbuck asked her with a look if that would be acceptable. She was hoping he would offer up another insolent reply, but he seemed have lost the ability to stand up to his hero. She knew why. He wanted to know too what she had gone through with Dante's fleet. He would also like an accounting with a list of names he could target with his righteous indignation. She looked away, cursing softly.

"This needs to end Rene," he said reaching for her and squeezing her hand hard.

This was not his fault so she tried to keep her voice flat and emotionless as she answered. "Just because I tell you all about it, that doesn't make it any better. For me, this never ends."

He considered her for a moment, began to speak, then stopped. He began again, softly, easing up his grip on her hand as he spoke. "No, I suppose it doesn't. But if you tell us, it might not start for someone else."

Just like that, he had changed sides. His fidelity was to his Commander rather than to her. She looked away, her gaze by chance landing upon the medtech whose eyes were upon her. The words "I told you so" echoed in her head.

She was on her feet as if by instinct, shaking off Starbuck's grip on her hand.

"Rene?" His voice sounded distant to her, crackling across a commline after she had left him far behind.

She didn't look back as she headed for the door to the life center, Adama calling out to her to slow down. "You better catch up old man," she thought to herself, "because I am out of here." Starbuck was right, she could just leave, go anywhere. She ran down her mental list of the supplies they would need. It would be nice to have a large ship of their own for the journey, but that wasn't really necessary, just vipers and she could take them to any number of worlds just in the Dilmun sector alone. She didn't have much time to plan though, just a centaur. It would be enough. Once she got Crius on it, they could be gone before anyone could stop them.

She rounded the corner of the corridor for her quarters and halted in shock. There were two guards outside the door. She did a quick about face and headed towards the Council chambers to find the hallway to the family's temporary quarters guarded by two more well armed men.

Adama read her mind as he replied, "It's for your protection. I am taking your accusations seriously."

She balled up her fists. She was pretty sure Adama wouldn't put her in the brig for hitting him, but he would if she stunned a few of the fleet security guards. She spun back to go to her quarters. She could find another way out if necessary, but Adama blocked her way.

"Lieutenant, you are not under arrest. I am here to help you. Your safety and well being matters to me greatly."

"Felgercarb!" She spat the words as Adama reached out for her. She ducked the hand taking a step back while still aware of the armed guards at her back.

"Rene?" His voice was soft and calm. It was hard for her to hear it above the klaxons raging in her body. "Rene, I am on your side. All I am asking from you is information, for you to tell us what happened. Once that is done, you are free to go where ever you wish."

The caustic laughter burst forth from her like vomit. She couldn't think of anything to say to the man except curses. She didn't hold them in, spewing them as they burned her throat. "Frak this, mother fraker. You don't have any fraking clue of the mong pile of felgercarb this is, you fraking son of sagan!"

They had no effect on the man as he gave her a smile much like the being in white John would, sympathetic and patronizing. She wanted to scream at him, but like a splash of ice water in the face, she knew it was pointless and childish.

"Think," she said aloud. "Fear is the mind killer. Think. Breathe."

Adama moved aside, pointing back towards her quarters. "I will stay with you until Dixon arrives."

She took in a deep breath, letting it silence the alarms inside her before she took the steps to her quarters. She ignored the guards as she keyed the door, gestured for the Commander to enter. Once in the chambers she pointed to a chair.

"Starbuck would be angry if I didn't offer you a drink. The kitchen is that way. I'm taking a turbo." She didn't wait for a reply before grabbing a uniform and escaping to the safety of the turbo wash. She turned on the water before crumpling to the floor cursing. She only lay there for a centon or two.

"It's just talking," she heard a voice reasoning with her that sounded an awful lot like Dixon. "It's just talking. They can't hurt you anymore. It doesn't hurt to talk."

She got up, stripped off the uniform and stepped into the turbo. It was just talking, she could do this, and when done, she was gone.