"You're welcome," Laura said as she shook Tom's hand. She was more than a little relieved to discover he planned to relinquish the presidency to her, but the news was bittersweet. She'd enjoyed being a teacher on New Caprica, without the politics and the weight of the world on her shoulders. However, her distrust of Tom Zarek's motives was greater than her desire for a peaceful life out of the public eye. She'd put so much of her life into the survival of the fleet, she didn't know where she belonged if it wasn't aboard Colonial One. Tom grinned, clearly pleased with the way things had worked out. Laura hoped that the vice presidency would pacify Tom's need for power and keep him from trying anything more drastic to get it in the future.
"Laura," Tory said as she barged into the office. Laura jumped slightly at the interruption and released Tom's hand. She turned to Tory with a frown, but when she saw the look on Tory's face it softened.
"What is it Tory?" she asked. Tory glanced at Tom and then back at Laura.
"It's a personal matter," Tory said awkwardly. Laura turned to Tom.
"Please excuse me. I'm so sorry," she said as she stood.
"It's no problem. I should get things going with the quorum anyway. Excuse me," he said as he nodded to the two of them and left. Laura turned to Tory as soon as Tom was gone, an expectant look on her face.
"I've been contacting captains throughout the fleet, and I've confirmed that Maya and Isis aren't aboard any ships in the fleet," Tory said quickly. Laura's chest constricted at the thought. She'd known when Tory had told her that they didn't make it to their ship that there was very little chance they had made it at all, but that couldn't stop her from hoping. The loss of Isis was of great concern to Laura, but since she'd been back aboard Colonial One she'd been immediately thrown back into the role of President and the fleet was now looking to her for guidance and reassurance. She'd barely even gotten to speak to Bill except to confirm the loss of the Pegasus and to plan the next jump. The last day and a half had been constant work and what Laura desperately needed now was sleep, not a reminder of her failure to get Isis off the planet.
"You interrupted my meeting with Zarek for this?" she chastised wearily. Tory shook her head.
"No," she said pointedly, "I didn't find Maya, but I did find Kestra. She's alive." All the breath left Laura's lungs, and she braced herself on the back of her chair. She stared at Tory, looking for any sign of doubt or deception but found none. Laura hadn't even dared to hope that Kestra had made it out. She was assigned the same ship as Maya and both women had failed to reach it. The fatigue that had moments ago threatened to overwhelm Laura was now nothing compared to her anxious desire to see Kestra.
"Where?" Laura asked.
"Galactica," Tory informed her. Laura let out a little laugh despite herself. Of course Kestra had ended up aboard Galactica. No doubt she'd found Lee, and contacting Laura about her survival was likely the furthest thing from her mind.
"I want a raptor prepped. I'm going over there," Laura said firmly, standing up to her full height again, "I need to talk with the Admiral about the Zarek situation anyway." Tory nodded.
"I thought you'd say that. I took the liberty of making a flight plan," she handed Laura a sheet of paper, "your raptor is prepped and ready to go." Laura smiled as she laid a hand on Tory's shoulder.
"Thank you, Tory," she said sincerely.
"My pleasure, Madam President," Tory said with a grin. Laura grinned back before exiting the office and heading for the hangar deck. She became increasingly nervous as she rode over to Galactica. She hadn't seen Bill since New Caprica. The brief conversation she'd had with him was all business and nothing like the words they'd shared on the planet. She wasn't the president then, and they'd both said things that, frankly, would have been said sooner if she hadn't been. Laura sighed as she thought about lying out under the stars with Bill, and how they'd never again have that opportunity. She was the president of the Twelve Colonies. She had a duty to her people, and she couldn't afford to be distracted. Or weak. She couldn't let Bill Adama become a weakness. The raptor landed, and the hatch opened, and there he was. Bill was standing on the hangar deck waiting for her. His face broke into a smile when he saw her and the resolve she'd built up on the way over melted. She returned the smile warmly as she allowed him to help her down off the raptor.
"It's good to see you Laura," he greeted her. Laura's smile widened.
"You too, Admiral," she said, "I need to speak with you about Tom Zarek, but I'd like to see Kestra first. I've been told she's here." She had to stay focused even under Bill Adama's inviting gaze and charming smile. Bill's face fell slightly, and Laura knew he'd expected a friendlier greeting. His disappointment was replaced with concern when he noticed her arm was in a sling.
"You're hurt," he said with his brows furrowed, "did that happen during the escape?" Laura glanced down at her arm, and suddenly became self conscious about her experience down on New Caprica.
"Uh, no," she said nervously, "it happened… before." Bill's brows knit together further.
"You're alright though?" he asked. Laura smiled at his concern.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said, laying a gentle hand on his arm, "will you take me to see Kestra please?"
"Of course," he said suddenly, replacing his concern with an affected calm, "I'll take you to sickbay." Laura's eyes widened. Tory hadn't mentioned anything about sickbay. In her eagerness to see Kestra, Laura hadn't thought to ask any questions beyond where she was. Laura followed Bill's lead out of the hangar while her mind raced with possible explanations for Kestra's presence in sickbay.
"Admiral," she said tentatively while they walked, "may I ask… what happened to Kestra?" Bill heard the fear in Laura's voice.
"Shot in the leg," he said quickly, hoping to alleviate that fear, "should heal up in no time." Laura nodded as relief flooded her face. Bill smiled as he returned his gaze to the hallway in front of him. They reached the crowded sickbay, and Bill led Laura expertly through the crowd to a bed in the back of the room. Kestra was sleeping peacefully. Laura turned quickly to Bill.
"I don't want to wake her, but I'd like to sit with her a while. Is there a time we might be able to discuss some things later?" she asked softly.
"I'll be ready in two hours. I can come back and get you," he said.
"Thank you," Laura said, lightly touching his hand. Bill glanced down at her hand, nodded, and left quickly. Laura sighed as she watched him leave. Then she turned to the bed and sat in the chair beside it. She assumed Lee had been occupying this chair often since Kestra had been here. She watched Kestra's chest rise and fall and found that her breath caught in her throat. It was jarring to see signs of life when she'd already resigned herself to the fact that Kestra was dead. When Tory had told her that Maya and Kestra had not made it to their ship she'd felt empty. It was like losing Billy all over again. Tory had been overly apologetic about the loss of Maya and Isis, but to Laura's surprise, she found she couldn't find the strength to care much in that moment. Of course their deaths were a tragedy and may have doomed the human race. No one could truly know what the loss of Isis would mean for the future, good or bad. But Laura could only think of Kestra. She'd worked so hard to make her home, and it had finally felt like she had a future within the fleet. Her friends had moved past their shock at her alien origins, and she and Lee had finally found happiness together. Not to mention the great personal loss Laura felt. Kestra was the only person in the fleet Laura felt truly knew her, and more than that, cared about her as a human being and not as the president of the colonies. Laura couldn't help but feel that the gods were punishing her. She'd lost everyone she'd ever loved: her mother, father, sisters, Billy, and now Kestra. Even people like Adar who she had cared for, if not loved, were now all gone. Even on the eve of their salvation, Laura had begun to lose her faith in the gods and their intentions. Was she just a paw to be used in the search for earth, prevented from having a life or happiness of her own? Laura's thoughts were brought back into the present by a soft moan from the bed beside her. Her eyes snapped into focus as Kestra shifted on the bed, and Laura reached out to lay a hand on her shoulder. Kestra opened her eyes at Laura's touch. She smiled when she saw Laura sitting beside her.
"Laura," she said happily as she sat herself up in bed. Laura's eyes had filled with tears as she spoke, and now Laura flung her arms around Kestra. Kestra returned the embrace with confusion. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked as she lightly stroked Laura's hair. Laura smiled at the gesture and pulled back to look at her face. Kestra smiled, and Laura realized that she truly didn't know why Laura was upset. She didn't know that she was the only member of her party to make it off New Caprica.
"Maya didn't make it off New Caprica," she replied. Kestra's face fell.
"And Isis?" she asked. Laura shook her head. "No," Kestra said as her hand came up to cover her mouth, "and you thought… I was-" Laura nodded in confirmation. Kestra put her arms around Laura again. "I'm so sorry, Laura." Laura laughed a little at this.
"I'm not the one who got shot," she said, dismissing her apology, "how are you feeling?" Kestra glanced at her leg and then back at Laura.
"It's fine. I'm lucky they didn't hit anything important," she said. Laura nodded.
"And Lee?" she asked. Kestra smiled instinctively at the mention of Lee.
"He's barely left my side since I got here. I convinced him to go get a meal and take a shower. I think he's at the gym now," she said with a smirk, "he kinda let himself go over the past year." Laura laughed quietly.
"But he's alright?" she asked curiously. Kestra nodded.
"Yes," she said, "we haven't talked much about what's happened in the last year, but we're both alive and that'll have to do for now." Laura nodded.
"Thank the gods for that," she said, grasping Kestra's hand, "I was beginning to think I was cursed." Kestra raised a brow. "It's nothing." Kestra sat up straighter.
"It's not nothing. What's upsetting you?" she asked.
"Kestra, you were shot. You need to rest, and you don't need to be troubled with my worries."
"Laura," Kestra said, waiting until Laura looked her in the eye before she continued, "I want to know because you're my friend, and if something's upsetting you I want to help."
"I don't think you can," Laura said.
"Well would it help to get it off your chest anyway?"
"I," Laura started hesitantly, "I can't complain when everyone in this fleet has lost loved ones to the cylons."
"Yes, you can. Everybody's in pain, but that doesn't change the fact that you are too," Kestra said, "is it about your family… or Billy?"
"All of them," Laura replied, "and you. It feels like every time I allow myself to get close to someone, the gods take them away from me." Kestra's queezed her hand.
"I'm still here, Laura," she said reassuringly, "and if you truly believe that humans can make decisions outside to gods' will like you said, then Billy's death wasn't intended to punish you. Billy died protecting his people. He made that choice." Laura shook her head.
"I don't think I can take much more of this," she said, "I can't… I can't get close to people. It hurts too much." Kestra shook her head with a smile.
"Yes you can," she said, "caring about people is why you're doing this. If you didn't care so much about all the people in this fleet, you wouldn't be fighting tooth and nail to find them a safe home. And it's too late for you to stop caring. You already care about me, about Adama, even Lee and Starbuck. You know these people, and like it or not you care about them too. It's what makes you human. You just have to learn to let the people you love support you. It's impossible for you to do this alone. Let us help." Laura looked at the ceiling to keep her tears from falling.
"I must sound very childish," she said. Kestra smiled and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"I sounded the same way a few days ago, and you didn't tell me I was childish," Kestra said. She grabbed Laura's hands. "You comforted me. It's alright to mourn the dead, Laura. It's a crime that you're not given more time to do so, but you also have to worry about the survival of those of us still here. It's not childish. It's human." Laura nodded as she squeezed Kestra's hands in return.
"I'm so glad you're okay," she said through her tears, "I need you." Kestra smiled and hugged her friend.
"I plan on sticking around for a while," she assured her, "I'm really glad you're okay too." They both pulled back and smiled at each other.
"Gods it's been a while since I cried this much," Laura said, brushing the tears from her eyes. Kestra laughed.
"Let's hope you don't have to for a while," Kestra said. They were interrupted by someone pulling back the curtain around the bed.
"Alright Kestra," Doc Cottle said before he saw Laura with her, "President Roslin, I was wondering when I was gonna see you in here. How's the arm holding up?" Laura glanced down at her arm in it's sling.
"It's fine. I barely notice it," she said. Cottle grunted.
"What a load of bull," he grumbled, then turned to Kestra, "I'm letting you out of here." Kestra beamed at him excitedly. "Hey, that doesn't mean I want you walking about the ship. You need rest, but I need the bed space."
"I'll be good I promise," Kestra said, "I'll be grateful just for the change of scenery. Not that the company hasn't been lovely." Cottle rolled his eyes as he handed her crutches to walk with.
"Use these for the next week, and then come back and we'll see if you can walk on your own," he said. Kestra nodded as she pulled herself up off the bed. Laura reached out to help her, but Cottle stepped in front of her. "Oh no you don't," he said, reaching out to help Kestra up, "I don't need you hurting yourself helping her. We've got enough wounded around here, we don't need return patients." Both women laughed.
"Well, thank you very much Doctor," Kestra said, "as always, your work is incomparable."
"I'd like you to become a little less acquainted with my work in the future if you could," Cottle said sternly.
"Will do," Kestra said as she saluted him.
"Go on. Get out of here," Cottle said as he waved her away. Kestra and Laura giggled as they exited.
"Where are we headed?" Laura asked.
"I was going to go check on my wounded warrior in the gym," Kestra said with a smirk, "would you like to come with me?"
"I don't have to meet with the Admiral for a while. Sure," Laura replied.
"Oh, a meeting with the Admiral? What's that about?" Kestra asked mischievously as they headed up the corridor slowly.
"Nothing as interesting as you're expecting," Laura said. She paused and sighed before continuing. "Tom Zarek is stepping down to make me president again." Kestra stopped walking to look at Laura.
"He's what?" she asked in disbelief. Laura continued walking and Kestra followed as quickly as she could.
"He plans to appoint me vice president and then step down," Laura explained.
"Is that what you want?" Kestra asked.
"It has to be. It's what's best for the fleet," Laura said.
"That doesn't mean it's what you want," Kestra said earnestly, "this can't be Zarek's idea."
"No," Laura replied, "at least not entirely. Bill made it clear that Zarek wouldn't have the support of the military if he stayed in office. He knows the president needs Adama's support."
"And you have it?" Kestra asked. Laura's silence and Kestra's own knowledge of the pair was plenty of confirmation. Laura smiled softly, but Kestra was not pleased by this turn of events. "Bill Adama is forcing you back into the presidency, because he doesn't like Tom Zarek?"
"Bill isn't forcing me into anything. Letting Tom Zarek retain the presidency could be as disastrous as Balatar's presidency. It's my duty to get this fleet safely to Earth," Laura said. Kestra gently put her arm out in front of Laura to stop her from escaping down the hall.
"Laura," she said looking into her eyes seriously, "do you want the presidency?" Laura looked at her with her brows furrowed. After a moment she let out a breath.
"I don't know," she said seriously. Kestra nodded. "But it doesn't matter what I want, because the fleet needs me. I will carry out my duty as president until I am no longer able to do so."
"Laura, you don't have to throw your life away for the fleet," she said angrily, "you've done enough." Laura shook her head softly.
"Not until I get us to Earth," she said. Kestra rolled her eyes as she stumbled around on her crutches in irritation. Laura tried to help steady her, but Kestra batted away her hand.
"So what's your plan? To spend your whole life in service of an ungrateful people until you die?" she asked, her voice echoing in the corridor, "that's what's going to happen, Laura. Either you search for Earth until you die, or you find it and get coerced into helping set up a new society. Do you really think it'll stop when you find Earth? You deserve to live your life Laura." Laura smiled which only served to infuriate Kestra further. However, before she could launch into a new rant, Laura turned and walked away down the hallway. Kestra hobbled furiously behind her until she caught up. When she finally fell into step with the older woman, she saw Laura still had a peaceful smile on her face. She sighed, knowing that her arguments would never convince Laura to abandon the fleet in their hour of need, even if that hour turned out to be years. "This fleet doesn't know how lucky they are to have you," she said in a resigned voice. Laura chuckled.
"I don't know about all that," she said humbly.
"Now you're just being intentionally oblivious. If Baltar had led them from Caprica they would have died years ago," Kestra said, "do you think Adar could have done it?" Laura furrowed her brow.
"I never thought about it," Laura said, "I think he could have… if he listened to the right people."
"Like you?" Kestra asked. Laura laughed.
"I suppose," she said, "or Bill. It takes a lot for a man in Adar's position to listen to anyone, especially another man in power." She raised a brow.
"You did it. And I guess Adama did too," Kestra said, "he listened to you after all." Laura laughed.
"Bill is a unique man," she said fondly. Kestra smiled knowingly. They turned the corner and came to the door of the gym. Laura turned the handle and opened the door as Kestra hobbled in. Lee was lifting weights across the room.
"Looks like someone finally lit a fire under your ass," Kestra said snidely from the doorway. Lee dropped his weights and looked up at her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked breathlessly.
"Making sure the admiral's son gets back in shape," she said with a smirk. Lee smirked back.
"You know what I mean."
"Cottle let me out."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there," he said with a frown.
"Don't worry about it. Gave me an excuse to get walking again," she said as she waved him off, "besides, I had help." She gestured behind her, and Laura stepped the rest of the way into the room behind her.
"Madam President," Lee said as his eyes widened.
"Not quite," she replied with a half smile. Lee ducked his head abashedly.
"Well… Laura," he amended, "it's great to see you again." Laura smiled.
"It's good to see you too… Captain Apollo," she replied. Lee smiled at the name. "Though I guess it's Commander now."
"Actually, it'll be Major now that the Pegasus is gone," he corrected her.
"I'm sorry about your ship," she said. Lee shook his head.
"I'm just glad we were able to get you guys off the planet safely. I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said.
"Well, we're very grateful you did," Laura said. Lee smiled and nodded gratefully.
"I was just finishing up here," he said to the pair, "where are you two headed?"
"Laura has a meeting with your father, but I don't have anywhere to be. I was hoping you could tell me where I'm supposed to live now that I'm out of sickbay," Kestra replied.
"Ah yes," he said, "well, the current setup is that you'll be living with me in our quarters here on Galactica," he said, "assuming that is acceptable to you." He raised an eyebrow.
"As long as I don't have to live in the shantytown down by the hangar deck," Kestra said, "I guess I can suffer through living with you." Lee snorted and pulled her close.
"Oh, I'll make you suffer," he said as he pulled her in for a kiss. Kestra smiled into the kiss and deepened it. Laura cleared her throat beside them, and they quickly pulled away from each other. Kestra blushed fiercely which only caused Lee to smile more.
"Sorry," Kestra said to Laura. Laura laughed.
"Don't be," she said, "while we're on the subject though, are you two still getting married?" Kestra and Lee looked at each other.
"That's the plan as far as I know," Lee said, raising a questioning eyebrow at Kestra. She smiled back at him tenderly.
"Yes, that's the plan," she said, giving him a quick peck on the lips. Lee smiled and wrapped an arm around her.
"When are you planning on having this wedding?" Laura asked, drawing their attention away from each other again.
"I was thinking we'd wait for things to settle down a bit here first," Lee said. Kestra suddenly laughed. "What?"
"I just realized," she said, "I don't know how you conduct wedding ceremonies in the colonies." Lee shrugged.
"We get a priest, we share some vows, they say man and wife," he said, then looked at her skeptically, "how do you do it?" She covered her mouth to stifle more laughter.
"That sounds very similar to Earth ceremonies," she said as she collected herself.
"Then why are you laughing?" Lee asked, still suspicious.
"Because a betazoid ceremony is very different," she said.
"How so?"
"Um," she covered her mouth again and looked at Lee, "in a betazoid ceremony the bride and groom… and all the guests attend the ceremony in the nude." Lee's eyes went wide and he audibly gasped. Kestra dissolved into a fit of giggles at his shock. "I don't think the Admiral would approve."
"I don't think anyone would," Lee said, still shocked.
"Well everyone does on Betazed," Kestra argued, "it's a tradition meant to honor the act of love that marriage represents." Lee smiled.
"I can't argue with that, but I will argue that we all appear clothed at our wedding."
"Alright," Kestra said with a laugh, "I think I can live with that."
"I should be getting back to sickbay. Your father said he would meet me there," Laura said.
"We'll walk you there," Kestra said.
"Are you sure you should be walking that far?" Lee asked.
"I walked here didn't I?"
"Yes, but I think that's enough. You don't want to overdo it your first day out," he replied.
"Just let me walk Laura to meet your father, and then I'll rest," she said. Lee looked at her skeptically. "I promise." He sighed.
"Alright," he said. The three of them walked back to sickbay. They were still discussing the wedding when they ran into Bill.
"Dad, we were just on our way to find you," Lee said.
"Good, I need to speak to both of you," he said to Laura and Lee. He turned back down the corridor and led the way back toward his quarters. Laura followed after him, but Kestra grabbed Lee's arm to hold him back.
"I'll get someone to tell me where your quarters are," she said. Lee frowned.
"I'll take you. I'm sure this won't be long," he said.
"And I'm sure your father doesn't want me there," she said, glancing over his shoulder. He glanced back too.
"He won't care if you're there," Lee insisted. Kestra shook her head.
"Go Lee, you don't want to keep him waiting. I'll see you later," she said, kissing him on the cheek. Lee hesitated, but Kestra just turned and started walking the opposite way down the corridor. She let out a sigh when she rounded the corner and was sure that he'd decided not to follow her. She didn't feel comfortable telling Lee how uncomfortable she felt around his father. It didn't help that Laura thought the world of Adama as well. Kestra could tell he didn't like or trust her, and she was frightened to be in the same room as him. Whether or not Lee had noticed, Kestra was painfully aware of the fact that Adama had spoken solely to Lee and Laura while ignoring her. It was better for all of them if she stayed away. There was no need to make the Admiral unhappy and no need to make Lee and Laura choose sides, at least not yet. Kestra wandered down away from the crew quarters where she had told Lee she would be going. Instead, she made her way across the ship to the hangar deck. She didn't know where else to find a friendly face, and she really needed one. Luckily, the first person she saw there was just that.
"Kestra!" Cally exclaimed when she saw her enter, "how are you? Galen told me about your leg. I'm sorry we haven't been able to come see you. It's been so busy down here."
"Don't worry about it. You have plenty to worry about without bothering yourselves with me," Kestra said dismissively, "I would like to thank Galen if he's around, for saving my life."
"I think he's working on a raptor right now, but he'll be around," Cally said.
"Thanks. How's Nick doing?" Kestra asked.
"Oh, he's great," Cally said, beaming, "Diana is watching him now."
"Hey, if you ever need someone to watch him, I don't think I'll be doing much now that there's no school, I'd be happy to help if you need it," Kestra said.
"Would you? That would be wonderful," Cally said, "I have to keep finding people when they're off duty, and it's so hard to find people who are willing to watch him. Galen has us all working practically nonstop." Kestra noticed the irritation in Cally's tone.
"Doesn't he try to give you time off to be with Nick?" she asked. Cally rolled her eyes.
"Not yet," she said, "he has us both scheduled all week. Would you be able to watch Nicky tomorrow? I know it's short notice, but I haven't been able to find anyone off duty yet."
"Absolutely. Whatever I can do to help," Kestra said with a smile.
"Thank you, you're a lifesaver," Cally said, giving her a hug. Kestra wobbled on her crutches. "Oh, I'm sorry," Cally said quickly as she helped to stabilize her.
"It's fine. I'm still getting used to getting around on these," Kestra said.
"Kestra, hey," Galen said as he approached the pair. He was wiping grease off his hands with a rag, though there was still some smeared across his face.
"Galen, hi," she greeted him.
"What are you doing down here? I thought you'd still be in sickbay," he said.
"Cottle just released me today. I wanted to thank you again for saving my life. I don't think I was very coherent when it happened," she said.
"I'm just glad to see you're doing better," he said with a smile.
"I am, thank you," she said.
"Kestra's gonna watch Nicky for us tomorrow, and maybe the rest of the week if I can talk her into it," Cally said rather pointedly. Galen just looked to Kestra.
"Are you sure you're up for that? I mean, don't you need rest?" he asked.
"I've been resting for three days straight. I could use the company," Kestra said with a smile.
"I could do with less. We've got a whole city of refugees on the other end of the hangar," Galen complained.
"I heard about that. Is the Admiral planning on relocating them to other ships?" Kestra asked.
"I don't think anyone has room. Looks like we're stuck with them for now," Galen said.
"The price you pay for saving them," Kestra said with a smile, "everybody on this ship would be dead if it wasn't for you."
"Thanks, but I didn't do that much. It was the Admiral and the Colonel who really put it all together."
"The Colonel would never have been able to pull it all off without you, and Sam, and the rest of the resistance. Speaking of which, did everybody make it out okay? I saw Sam and Cally mentioned that Diana's onboard, but I still haven't seen or heard from Jammer," Kestra said. Galen's face paled a bit, and Cally's brows furrowed.
"You know it's funny," she said, "Jammer was here yesterday, but he didn't show up for his shift today." Kestra grew concerned.
"He's probably just taking some time to readjust," Galen said dismissively, "it's been a rough couple days for everybody. I need to get back to work. Cally." He nodded his head toward the deck as he walked away.
"Duty calls," Cally said dully, "I'm so glad you came though. I'll see you later."
"Actually, Cally, I had a question," Kestra said as Cally turned to leave.
"Yeah?"
"Do you know where Lee's quarters are? He's in a meeting with his father and I don't really know where I'm supposed to be going," she asked.
"It'll be up in the alligator head. I'm not sure which room exactly, but I'm sure someone in the CIC will know," Cally said. Kestra looked nervously over her shoulder.
"I don't think I'm brave enough to go wandering into the CIC alone. The Admiral already doesn't like me," Kestra said.
"What? That can't be true. Aren't you marrying his son?" Cally asked.
"I don't think that matters to him. I'm still a stranger and therefore the enemy," Kestra said.
"Give him a chance. Admiral Adama is a good man. I'm sure he'll warm up to you once he gets a chance to know you," she said. Kestra shrugged.
"We'll see. I'll let you get back to work. Thank you for your help," she replied.
"Of course. It was good to see you," Cally said. She began to walk away.
"Oh, Cally," Kestra said, gaining her attention once more, "if Jammer turns up, will you let me know?"
"Yeah," Cally said before returning to work. Kestra hobbled out of the hangar and down the corridor toward the fore section of the ship. She passed the pilot's rec room and heard raucous laughter coming from inside. She peeked in and got a glance at the pilot's. Most of them were gathered at a few central tables. It looked as though there was some card game that had drawn the interest of most of the pilots. Kestra's gaze was drawn away from the group by a figure sitting against the wall. Starbuck tipped back a bottle of booze and shot a glare at the other pilots. None of them seemed to notice her clear displeasure at their game. Kestra felt pit for Kara. She remembered the look on her face when the young woman on the hangar deck had taken the little girl from her. Kestra wondered what had happened to Kara on New Caprica. She was certain that Kara wouldn't speak about it to anyone. She was a soldier, and as such, she bottled up her feelings and tried to muscle through her pain. She assumed this was a trait she picked up from the Admiral. She knew that's where Lee got it from. If Kara didn't hate her so much, Kestra would have been tempted to try to speak to her herself. As it was, she merely sighed and left to find someone else who could help her find her way. As it happened, she ran into Lee in the corridor.
"I've been looking everywhere for you. I thought you were going to rest?" he admonished.
"I was going to, but I wanted to stop and see Galen and Cally first," she said, "but I was just on my way to find your quarters."
"Our quarters," he corrected as he put an arm around her, "come on, this way." He walked her down a short hallway to a door. "This is it."
"See, I was close," she said as he opened the door. Lee rolled his eyes as he led her in.
"Alright, time for you to rest," he said, "leading her to the bed." Kestra looked around the room. It was a sparse room with only a bed, a desk, a couple chairs, and a set of lockers in the corner.
"Cozy," she commented as she sank down onto the bed. She let out a sigh as she finally got off her feet. She hadn't noticed how sore her legs were until she sat down.
"I told you not to overdo it," Lee said as he ran a hand through her hair and over her cheek.
"I've been in bed for two days. I think I've earned a walk around the ship," she said stubbornly.
"Well now it's time to rest," he said, gently lifting her legs up onto the bed. "Is that good?" he asked as he helped prop up the pillow behind her. She nodded and grabbed his hand.
"You rest too," she said as she pulled on his hand. Lee laughed.
"I'm not the one that got shot," he said.
"Well I won't rest if you don't stay, so you have to," she said. He gave an affected sigh of irritation.
"If I have to," he said as he crawled into bed beside her. Kestra snuggled up to him as he put his arm around her.
"What did your father want?" she asked as she traced patterns across his chest.
"He's making me CAG again, and I have to help rebuild our ranks after the New Caprica situation and get our pilots flight ready. And there's been some missing crew members that we're trying to find," he said. Kestra sat up.
"Missing crew members?" she asked, "I was just on the hangar deck, and Cally said Jammer didn't show up this morning. He hasn't been seen since yesterday." Lee nodded.
"Him and twelve others," he said. Kestra gasped softly.
"Do you think something's happened to them?" she asked worriedly.
"I don't know. We know they made it back to the fleet, but they just vanished. I can't explain it," he said. Kestra laid back down, but her face remained scrunched with worry.
"I hope Jammer's alright. He's been a good friend," she said, "he was one of the first people to really talk to me down on New Caprica." Lee pulled her closer.
"We'll figure it out. Don't worry about it. You just worry about getting some rest," he said, kissing the top of her head. Kestra nodded and closed her eyes, but she did not stop worrying about Jammer.
