"He won't admit that it wasn't his fault," Lee fumed, "there were plenty of other people that order went through before he carried it out." Kestra rolled her eyes and sunk down onto the bed.

"He's not good at guilt, Lee. This can't be a surprise to you," Kestra commented. Lee continued to pace around the room.

"He's made plenty of decisions that cost lives, and those were decisions he made alone. Why is he being like this about an order he was given years ago?"

"He's never been faced with the consequences of those decisions. The people he let die didn't show up on his doorstep to remind him of all the mistakes he's made," Kestra explained with disinterest. Lee shot her an irritated look.

"Kestra, I know you and my father don't get along very well, but he's done more for this fleet than you will ever know," he scolded.

"I know what he's done for this fleet, Lee," Kestra argued, "and I'm not trying to discredit all his work, but even you have had problems with the way your father handles his decisions."

"Yes, but those were very specific circumstances," Lee argued, "I don't question the integrity behind his decisions, just how advisable they are in certain moments."

"Lee," Kestra sighed as she got off the bed, "I'm not saying your father is a terrible person. I'm saying he's made some decisions that I don't think he's prepared to deal with. You told me when we got married that your father wasn't going to be an issue. That means you can't get mad at me every time I have an opinion about the things he's done." Lee sighed and rested his hands above his head.

"I just… I don't need this right now. Right now I need to find a way to convince him that the fleet still needs him even though he's made mistakes in the past."

"Does the fleet need him?" Kestra asked. Lee glared at her, but her eyes held sincerity. "He's done a fine job of getting us this far, but if your father is the only thing holding this fleet together we have more serious problems than his lack of confidence. Maybe it's time somebody else stepped up and started making decisions."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Lee asked angrily.

"It means that your father has had the freedom to make a lot of decisions for a lot of people. I understand that in a time of war you need someone who is able to make those decisions, but this fleet is made up of a majority of civilian ships who don't always seem to have the information that is readily available to those of you aboard Galactica. I think the fleet has been pressured into going along with a lot of your father's decisions out of fear and desperation."

"You think my father is manipulating the fleet?"

"Maybe not intentionally, but yes," Kestra replied. Lee scoffed and paced away from her.

"And what about Roslin? She's had the same influences, but you'll support her because she's a civilian, right? Or maybe just because she's your friend?" he spat, turning back to face her.

"If you must know, I don't think Laura should be president anymore," Kestra admitted. This got Lee's attention, and his face relaxed as he listened to her. "I think that after Baltar there should have been another election, given the way things fell apart on New Caprica. I don't think Zarek can be trusted in office, because there is not enough political structure to keep him from taking extreme action. But Laura is holding onto an outdated political structure, and like your father, often relies on the desperation of the civilian fleet to do what she thinks is right. I don't believe she is pushing her own agenda, but I don't believe that one or even two people should be responsible for determining what is right for the whole fleet." Lee starred at Kestra for a while, and she starred back. Finally, he nodded. "You can't tell Laura any of this," Kestra clarified, "I may disagree with her, but like you said, I've never doubted her integrity and I'd never want her to think I thought she was a bad president. I think she's a great leader who has been saddled with this responsibility for too long. They both have." Lee nodded.

"Maybe you're right," he said, "but neither of them are going to give up without a fight. They've come too far to let somebody else finish it."

"I agree," Kestra said, "they both think they need to see it through, but I think they're too focused on their own vision of the end of this. It'll be worse for them if someone has to take power from them."

"You just said they'll never give it up," Lee said.

"Not unless it was presented to them by someone they trusted. Someone they both believed in. They need to believe the fleet will be in good hands without them. That's why they couldn't give control to Zarek," Kestra said.

"It's a nice thought, but you'll never find someone they both trust like that. My father hates politicians, and President Roslin doesn't trust the military."

"That's not true. They both trust you," Kestra said. Lee froze as he stared at her.

"I'm not a- a politician," he stuttered finally.

"No, and you're not a soldier either," she said firmly, stopping his attempt to interrupt, "you were a good soldier when there was no war, but you have too much passion to follow orders blindly. You have such a strong sense of what's right that you can't respect the chain of command, not when you know it's wrong. That doesn't make you a good soldier. It makes you a good leader. You don't have to be a politician, Lee. You just have to be you. Do what you know is right." Lee faltered again at her words. He glanced at the floor and spoke tentatively.

"You would trust me to do what is right… for humanity?" he asked. Kestra sighed and approached him gently.

"I trust that you will always strive to protect and serve humanity's best interests," she said, grabbing his hands, "I don't agree with every choice you make… everything you've done." She flinched slightly and released his hands. Then, she looked back up to meet his gaze. "But I've never doubted that more than anyone else on this ship, you want what is best for the survival of your people. I still believe this fleet stands a better chance at surviving and keeping their humanity with you in it." Lee tentatively reached for her hand.

"It never actually happened," he said softly, "I didn't really do anything to them." Kestra shook her head and walked away toward the bed.

"Please, Lee, I don't want to talk about this," she sighed. This is what she'd hoped to avoid. She agreed with most of Lee's decisions and morals, but she still couldn't reconcile his attempted genocide of the cylons. Lee followed her.

"I know why you were upset, and I understand. I don't want this to come between us," he said, "I want to put it behind us. Can't you just let it go?" Kestra looked back at him.

"No, I can't, because I know that if you were given the chance you'd do it again," she said, "wouldn't you?" Lee squirmed under her gaze.

"I don't know," he stammered. She shook her head.

"Don't lie to me, Lee," she said, "it only makes it worse. Please, just… I don't want to discuss it now." She turned and curled up on the bed facing away from Lee. He was silent as he watched her. Slowly, Lee approached Kestra and sat next to her.

"I'm sorry for yelling," he said. Kestra remained still.

"I know," she said, "we've both been… under a lot of pressure."

"Yeah," Lee replied, "but most of my frustration is with my father, the quorum, the pilots… and Starbuck. I shouldn't take it out on you." Kestra turned over and offered him a weak smile.

"I appreciate that," she said, "and I'm sorry too. I know you're in a very difficult position. You've had to make a lot of tough decisions." Lee smiled and leaned down to kiss her. She returned the kiss and pulled him down to lay on the bed with her. They were silent in each other's company for a while, just listening to the sound of each other's breathing. "Can I ask about Starbuck?" Kestra asked, interrupting the silence. Lee sighed heavily.

"I've already told you, she won't talk to me. There's nothing going on between us," he said on the verge of irritation. Kestra looked up with a furrowed brow.

"I'm not accusing you of anything, Lee. I'm just worried about her… and Sam," Kestra said. Lee cocked his head.

"I thought you and Sam were… well, not on the best of terms."

"That doesn't mean I don't still worry about him," Kestra said, turning away to face the wall again, "what happened to Kara is tearing him apart, and she won't talk to him either. Doesn't it bother you to see her so unhappy?"

"Maybe she deserves some unhappiness. She's brought a lot of it on herself," Lee muttered as he rolled over to look up at the ceiling.

"What happened to Kara on New Caprica was horrible. How can you even say that?" Kestra asked in shock.

"Because it's one thing to suffer through something like that, but Kara's determined to bring everyone down with her. I've tried talking to her Kestra. I really have, but she's determined to wallow in self pity, and blame everyone else for the things that happened to her. I don't care what happens to her at this point. I'm done trying to help," Lee said. Kestra rolled over and placed a hand on his chest.

"You wouldn't be so angry about it if you didn't care," she said. Lee sighed.

"Can't you just let me pretend for a minute," he complained, "it'd be easier for all of us if I didn't care." Kestra smiled softly.

"Maybe," she admitted, "but then I wouldn't be in love with you. I love you because of how much you care."

"Do you now?" Lee asked with a smirk. Kestra smirked back.

"Yes," she said, taking on a more serious tone, "and I know it's hard, but Kara needs you right now whether she admits it or not."

"Yeah, well, I don't think she'll ever admit she needs anybody," Lee complained, "why all this concern for Starbuck anyway?"

"No one should have to go through what she did, especially not alone," Kestra said, "I know what it's like to feel lost and afraid, and I know that shutting down and internalizing it will only make it worse for her. It's making it worse for Sam too. He really misses her."

"Yeah," Lee said as he pulled Kestra close, "me too."