She knew her face was devoid of colour as the sanitation tech tried to morph into the walls of the turbo lift without success. She licked her dry lips as she stared at the warrior facing her. Her had come to her assistance when she had been attacked by Kaden and Borka, and she had repaid him by simply disappearing. If he only knew . . .

Lieutenant Starbuck had every reason to start yelling at her in fury, but instead he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the lift contemplating her, as though he was almost bored. She did detect a slight narrowing of his eyes though, which suggested otherwise.

Kaden and Borka had been released from lack of evidence. She was aware they were in the offices of the IFB telling their version of the story which would have the fleet convinced that they were the victims of the lieutenant's rage, as he and his lover were interrupted by the men during their tryst. It couldn't be further from the truth, but without her statement, people would probably believe it, especially considering the media hype Starbuck had been subject to so far. As much as people loved a hero, watching one fall from his pedestal was even more entertaining to the masses.

All of this raced through Oriana's mind as she waited to see what the lieutenant would say and do. She didn't know how much he was aware of, and it was best to sit back and let him make the first move.

"You know," Starbuck began, his manner outwardly calm. He approached her like a skittish young equine. "Usually when someone helps you out, it's considered polite to stick around and thank them."

Oriana bit her lip. He was holding back and studying her, just as she was him. A stranger sizing her up, knowing she wasn't an adversary, but not quite knowing where she fit in. "Sorry, " she muttered hesitantly.

"It's not too late. You can still file charges against those two. Not only would it get me off the hook—they've decided to charge me with assault, you know—but they wouldn't be able to bother you or any other woman on the Galactica again."

She dropped her eyes from his intense gaze and instead looked at his boots. He didn't understand. She couldn't reveal herself to those two goons. Everything would unravel if she did. She wished she could explain herself, but instead she just shook her head. "I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

It wasn't an accusation, just a question. He shifted slightly as the lift came to a stop. The doors opened and he turned and grinned at the waiting cadets. "Sorry gang, we're full up. Next lift." He ignored their startled aspects and punched the control, the doors closing again.

Just as surprisingly, he deftly opened the control panel and began fiddling with the innards. Oriana tried to peak over his shoulder, but his shoulders impeded her view.

"What are you doing?" she asked with what she felt was a tense voice.

"Just making sure we don't get interrupted again." He told her and then chewed his lip as he punched in a series of numbers. "There," he muttered, satisfied.

"Uh . . . " She sucked in a deep breath. His easy demeanor had mislead her. He did mean business.

"I won't hurt you." He turned towards her suddenly, but still kept a safe distance. "I'm not threatening you here. I just want to talk to you. What's your name?"

"Oriana."

"What are you afraid of, Oriana?"

She smiled fleetingly, wondering if she had imagined the affect he put on the words, or if the handsome lieutenant just made every woman feel like a fairy princess when he softly spoke her name. She would have to delve deeper into that later.

"It's not that," she admitted.

"What then?"

"I can't . . . "

She heard him sigh and wondered what the next approach would be. From all that she had learned of him, he was a force to be reckoned with. Borka and Kaden had certainly found that out. But she knew that his talents were not limited to a physical capacity, he was also an intelligent man. He just tried his best to hide it behind his own particular style of braggadocio.

He ran his fingers through his hair and paused at the back of his neck, rubbing it briefly. "Lady, I get the feeling you're standing there with a full pyramid trying to make me think you've got nothing at all." A smile softened his words, but he studied her closely for her reaction.

Oh, he was good.

"I'll tell you what, I'll make a statement to Security, but I won't press charges. That should get you off the hook, and it'll keep those two off my tra . . . back."

He nodded briefly and walked towards her, placing a hand on the wall behind her and leaning in close. "Okay. That will do for now. But I know you're up to something, and I'll figure it out sooner or later, Oriana."

"I am on your side." She reassured him.

"I'd like to believe that. I can use all the allies I can get." He replied, an edge of bitterness in his voice. He returned to the control console, punching in another series of numbers and then closing the panel and selecting a level. "All the same, I think I'll come with you."

"Where?" she asked, although she knew the answer. She was just hoping for a little more time to arrange her thoughts and get her story straight.

"Security."