"Where you think you're going?" Avery was perched above the entrance to the mine shaft.

"Oh great," Starbuck mumbled. Apollo flashed him a look.

"Let me handle him. You seemed to upset him last night with whatever you said."

"Just gave him a reality check and recruitment speech. I thought I was quite eloquent. They were all listening."

Apollo raised an eyebrow at that. "Well that explains a bit. I've had several of his men try to approach me to be cut off by him."

Avery barked impatiently, "I asked you a question! Where do you think you're going?"

Apollo answered not intimidated by the man, "Our friend is dying of an infection. We are going for antibiotics. We will return as soon as we can."

"Hospitals got destroyed. You won't find anything."

"I know of a few places that will have medications. Caprica city was my home. The locations appear to be undisturbed from here. We could use your help."

"What? No, we don't," Starbuck added hastily, but Apollo waved a hand cutting him off.

Avery just scowled down at them from his perch above the entrance before he answered. "Don't you think you've helped enough? We were doing a good job of taking them down and not being found until you showed up. They have brought more forces, thanks to you."

"So kind of adds to my argument that we need to get out of here, don't you think?" Starbuck replied with Apollo warning him to shut up.

"I've got this, Starbuck, seriously. You just rub some people the wrong way, buddy." Apollo directed his attention back up to Avery. "We are sorry about that, but our intention had been to remove you from the situation, not to make it worse. We can still make good on that promise, but I need to deal with the immediate crisis first. I have a man down and about to expire on me. I can save him, and get all of us out of here a bit faster if you help."

Starbuck was frustrated with how long the guy seemed to take to think and was about to say so, when Apollo held up his hand again cutting off Starbuck before he could open his mouth.

Avery finally spoke, "I'll come along with you and help, in exchange for your help with something we need before we leave here. You help us, we'll agree to come with you."

"That sounds fair. We would be glad to be of service, but after we save our man. We can discuss it on our way. Time is critical or we may lose him." Apollo waited for Avery to think, which seemed to take way too long by Starbuck's reckoning.

"Alright, let me tell my men." Avery climbed down and went into the cavern.

"You sure about this, Colonel? You know you are just backing up my opinion that once you reach command you lose your mind and become stupid," Starbuck only half joked.

"I figured this was faster than getting him to agree to let us go. Let's start hiking. He can catch up to us. Seriously, what did you say to him last night? Didn't you think to talk to me first before you dealt with him?"

Apollo started heading up the ridge. Starbuck waved for Rene to go before him before he answered. "Didn't realize I needed your permission, Sir." Starbuck threw some of Rene's surliness into the "sir" earning him a very satisfying exasperated sigh from his friend. "Seriously? I'm not kidding, I told him the truth. We are on the run and we need as many people as we can get and that he could be more useful helping keep his own family safe in the fleet than dying here from radion poisoning. Why what did he say to you?"

"Not him per se, but the others have tried to talk with me when he's not around. Each one seemed to be trying to tell me they wanted to join the fleet. Whatever you said it worked, and Avery is not pleased."

"Well frack him," Rene added. "He's the one who said he wanted off the planet. This was not my brilliant idea. I mean, yeah, once we found there were people here we made contact, but I didn't bring up the idea of getting them to the fleet."

Apollo stopped hiking, turning a critical eye to Rene. "And why didn't you? Why did it not occur to you to bring this to the attention of Command? Why did it take you so long to include us?" He didn't wait for her answer. "What have we done to earn your distrust? From the moment you arrived in the fleet, you have treated us with disdain for no reason. Are you that damaged by Dante you can't recognize a friend when you see one? Were we that awful back when you were a kid?"

Rene looked away and Starbuck resisted the urge to place a comforting hand on her to help her face the sting of Apollo's words. This had been a long time coming and even by Starbuck's assessment Adama's family had been patient and accepting of Rene's issues with the fleet, command and her past. Even Athena hadn't really pushed the issue, even though she wanted to.

Apollo only waited a micron before he turned back to hiking up the ridge. Truth be told they didn't really have time for this, but then again Starbuck thought, they did have a seven metron hike ahead of them, plenty of time to talk while they walked. He let the silence hang between them for a few steps before he prompted Rene.

"He deserves an answer, and not just because he outranks you. The family would have been shoved in storage closets if it weren't for Apollo and Adama, you know that right?"

"Yeah, I know that," she snapped. "I don't have a good answer, okay? I don't know why. No, it wasn't that awful, I just…" She took at least twenty more steps, pushing the brush aside viciously, almost purposely letting it snap back at Starbuck. He just chuckled at the childishness of it. Apollo had hit a nerve.

He prompted her again. "Just?"

"People aren't nice to me unless they want something from me."

Maybe she would have said more, but Avery had caught up to them grumbling that they should have waited for him, but Apollo reminded him that time was critical. They crested the ridge and Apollo picked up the pace on the downhill side, almost running down the trail that was little more than a mountain capron path. Starbuck waited until they were climbing another ridge before he said softly to Rene, "I'm nice to you and I don't want anything from you."

Rene snorted in mock derision before she shot back, trying to temper her words as playful, "Oh is that so? You wanted something from me because you sure didn't say no when I offered it."

"Well, I'm not stupid. I'm not going to turn down such a wonderful offer. Don't think I didn't appreciate it, but that's not why I was nice to you. I guess I kind of liked you. I mean, I did ask you to seal with me, so if that's wanting something from you, I guess you're right."

She sighed. "I can't explain it Starbuck, I'm trying to figure it out myself. Might be why I see doctors even though I didn't want to. I mean, I did bring up getting them off planet, but I didn't know how. I thought the Commander would say no. He's told me no a lot where it concerns what I can do. Even you won't give me the coordinates for Earth. And…" She cut him off as she was right, he was going to try to explain for probably the hundredth time why he just couldn't tell her. It was getting to be an old argument between them, one that hadn't erupted yet into shouting, but he didn't doubt that if they made it back to the fleet the shouting would be happening. He wasn't sure he had a good reason anymore, at least not one that made sense while hiking the hills above the city that he had thought they had left far behind them and he would never see again. If she had the ability right now to get them off Caprica and to the paradise of Earth, he'd give her the coordinates with no hesitation. But it was a moot point at the moment.

She looked back at him almost sheepishly, "And, I wasn't exactly coming here for the right reasons. I knew that. I'm not stupid."

"Not sure we want to debate that point right now. You know my opinion on the matter. We get caught with all the black market goods you're hoarding in our quarters, we're going to be lucky if we get to have conjugal visits on the prison barge." He didn't miss Apollo flashing him a disapproving frown.

"So you do get why I couldn't tell the Commander. Even Boomer wasn't sure if they wanted off planet at first. That's why it took so long to arrange it and they didn't trust us. I got that. I still do. I just didn't think they'd take us hostage." She pitched her voice louder and as she directed her comment to Avery.

"I thought you were bringing me Colonial Warriors, not criminals." Avery shot back.

"It's a thin line, only we have Council approval to do what would generally be considered illegal or immoral for everyone else," Starbuck rebutted.

Apollo put an end to the conversation. "Boomer's life depends on us. Keep moving." He picked up the pace as the city came into view again as they crested the ridge.

Avery asked where they were headed and Apollo filled him on the details, finally asking what he wanted them to help with once they returned. Avery who had been quiet most of the hike said he would tell them that evening, that the matter could wait. "It's waited this long, but if you can get more help, that would be better."

Starbuck shook his head. The guy just wasn't bright. If they could get help, they wouldn't be taking this lovely hike again. They'd be getting Boomer off to a Life Center. He could use one himself as the headache was beginning to become a real inconvenience, and each swallow was a knife blade slicing down his throat. His nose was beginning to run, leading to a lot of sniffling and spitting out mucus.

It was as they began to make the descent of the final ridge when Rene stumbled, falling to the ground as her knees buckled. She caught herself on her hands and knees as she began coughing so hard that it turned into retching. Starbuck kneeled beside her, wondering what he should be doing to help. Her eyes went wide as the retching turned into dry heaving and it was obvious she wasn't able to draw in a breath.

He rubbed her back, about all he could do until the retching stopped. He briefly wondered if she passed out would the heaving cease and maybe she'd be able to catch a breath. It appeared to be what was going to be the likely outcome when she finally was able to get the heaving under control and pulled in air that then led to hard wracking coughs. Jake had been right, she was warm and it wasn't due to the obscured sun in the sky. The day was chilly verging on cold and they hadn't been running fast enough to really chase the chill away.

He waited until she finally got the coughing fit under control and was there on her hands and knees sucking in air, before he asked, "This isn't just the baby, is it?" He was certainly displaying symptoms of his own that he had caught something after their swim, but she was much worse.

Her voice was rough as she answered, "It's not what you think. You got your wish."

"My wish? To have you take a swim in water that's toxic? Not exactly the dream honeymoon I had planned, darling."

"No," she started to get to her feet as he helped her up and handed her a water bottle. She drank and he was able to finally get that hand to her forehead. She wasn't burning up exactly, but she was definitely warmer than she should be. She sighed and spoke softly, "I'm stim free, as of yesterday afternoon."

It was not what he was expecting to hear. "Dammit Rene! I thought we solved this a while ago."

"Yeah, about that," she took another drink, spitting it out to clear her mouth. She held his gaze, bracing herself for the lecture.

He shook his head cursing softly under his breath. She knew the arguments. She knew how much it could hurt the baby and how angry he would be. He didn't need to say it, but he did, "It's not good for MY baby, you know that. And the last thing we need to deal with is you detoxing on us here. Pretty fracking stupid."

"I know. So here's hoping we find something in that clinic, and we can talk about getting me clean later." She finished off the water bottle still holding his gaze, waiting on his answer he supposed.

A guy didn't need to be a med tech to know you don't start coughing up a lung when you're withdrawing from stims. Obviously, she had at least two things going on here between the withdrawal symptoms and the sickness they'd picked up in the lake, add to that her pregnancy with any symptoms that they thought she was past, and she now had a perfect trio. Yeah, just perfect. "When we get back, pretty lady, I might put you in the brig myself." She nodded at his words not disagreeing. Her eyes weren't just fever bright. They were wide and she was still breathing hard. He decided to humor her. "Wow, you are in need. How many a day were you taking?" She hesitated, looking away to the city below.

"We don't have time for lies. We need to get back and save Boomer, so just give it to me straight."

She held up five fingers before turning away, mumbling that she was fine and she could keep going. Starbuck cursed. He supposed that was cutting back for her, only three above the daily dose recommended.

"Maybe you two should stay here," Apollo offered, but Starbuck shook his head no.

"She needs what we're going for too. But if I find anything resembling a space worthy vehicle, we are out of here."

They made good time getting out of the hills. The Cylon presence seemed to have gone back to being limited to the industrial area, but Starbuck took note that there were more raiders in the sky, dipping down like predatory birds from the clouds on occasion. Avery suggested they pull up the hoods on the sweaters to block their thermal signature and blend in to the landscape. Starbuck had often debated with his fellow pilots if it was possible to use a blaster to bring down a raider, just where you had to hit one. They had all decided if you were a good enough shot, it might be possible. Starbuck was afraid he might have to find out the answer to that debate today.

As they reached the outskirts of the city and found themselves in residential neighborhoods Starbuck told Rene to stay behind him, and he took point. All those yahrens of sneaking out and hiding from authority figures had not been wasted time. It had been preparation for evading the enemy, be it a foster parent, an academy sentry, or a Cylon centurion. He wove between the homes, using the trees, shrubs and abandoned hovermobiles for cover as Apollo pointed out directions. They found themselves in a small business district, the buildings only showing signs of neglect and some slight damage from the fires that had broken out the night of their destruction that had raged with no one to extinguish them. The clinic sign was still prominent, although the name was deceptive, Visio Eclipse. He got the pun, obscure the vision of aging and he briefly wondered if Siress Belloby had used their services. The woman certainly didn't look the hundred yahrens that she was.

The doors were locked and they had to blast their way in. Starbuck took that as a good sign they would be able to find what they were looking for. Once in the building both he and Apollo were a little stunned by how well preserved the interior seemed to be. It was like stepping back in time to days of normalcy, a doctor's waiting room with the reading material neatly arranged, the artificial flowers and trees adding to the décor. Rene didn't seem as affected by the eerie ambience as she headed directly for the back rooms of the clinic. She began flinging open doors to storage rooms, not taking long to find what she was looking for.

"In here," she yelled, her voice breaking the spell as they flinched. Starbuck followed her voice to find her in a type of lab. She had pulled out several pill bottles, reading off the names and talking to herself. "Holy frack why didn't I think of this. We could make a fortune off the painkillers alone. Man, they have the good stuff."

Starbuck unslung the pack from his back opening it up to scoop the pill bottles into it. "Or…I know crazy thought here, instead we could take it back to the Life Center on the Galactica and it could be used to help people."

"Might mitigate those charges for black market dealings you're going to be facing," Apollo added coming into the room. Starbuck chuckled at the "I told you so" hand sign Rene flashed at him. Apollo opened another cabinet and found the hypos loading two up right away before waving Starbuck over.

Starbuck gazed at vial after vial of antibiotics. He pulled a few down reading the labels. "You weren't kidding. They've got it all. Thank the Lords, they have the Vancon we need for Boomer too." Starbuck winced as Apollo pressed the hypo to his neck while he emptied the shelf of Vancon. "You could warn a guy you know."

"More fun this way. Rene, you're next, and myself and Max for good measure." He walked over and paused Rene in her rummaging to apply the hypo before going over and loading one up for himself and for Max.

Rene was mumbling to herself and had begun yanking more cupboards open, then slamming them closed, when she abruptly turned to head off to check other parts of the clinic.

"Where are you going?" Starbuck found himself talking to her retreating back.

"We found what we need, so what's going on, buddy?" Apollo asked.

"Just a personal problem. I'll deal with it. Let's head back. We have what we need and so far, no Cylons." He poked his head out in the hallway of the clinic to see Rene enter another room, then quickly come out cursing. "Rene, get over here. You're not going to find what you're looking for here."

She paused in the corridor, looking around for a moment before sagging her shoulders in defeat. "No, you're right, but there was a drug store just down the street. They should have something." She started to head back down the hallway to where it opened back up to the waiting room and the entrance of the clinic. Starbuck sprinted to catch up with her.

"And most likely already ransacked. Come on, we need to head back." He turned the corner of the corridor and caught up to her as she looked back at him.

"It won't take long, it was just up the street and…" She turned the corner to the waiting room of the clinic and froze, her only movement to raise her hand to the closed fist of the handsign of "hold position."

Through the glass of the waiting room window, he saw the sun had come out and shining brightly, glinting off something silver. Framed in the window standing on the sidewalk was a centurion. It stood facing down the street, head turned away for now from the clinic facing down the street. Starbuck bit back a curse and held his breath. He turned his head slowly. looking to Max and Avery, hiding behind the reception desk. Max was waving for the two of them to get down. It was too late for that. Starbuck reached out, gently tugging at the back of Rene's jacket, before backing down the corridor slowly, very very slowly, barely moving, barely breathing. The centurion didn't move and he promised the lords anything they wanted if the bucket head would just move down the street on its merry way. One slow step at a time, they almost made it to the juncture of the hallway when the centurion turned its head, the eye sweeping the window, lighting up the room in spray of red. He pulled Rene around the corner, the two of them tumbling to the ground backwards, both struggling to get up and run. They'd reached their feet when Max and Avery came flying at them, followed by the sound of a Cylon pulse rifle and breaking glass.

"Apollo, RUN!"