Chapter Two
Jessica hadn't been seen all morning. She had switched shifts with Dee and Lee imagined she was still pretty hungover.
After lunch, Lee asked Kara for her patent hangover cure. Tomato juice, raw eggs a shot of ambrosia and a shot of coffee. Disgusting as hell, but effective. He sent the lieutenant to administer it, imagining Jessica would take one look at the hideous concoction and throw it at Lee's head if he went himself. Pressing his ear to the hatch to Jessica's room. He heard cursing, loud banging, more cursing and then nothing. He almost went in, thinking one of them had killed the other when Kara came out holding an empty glass and a smug grin. And torn tanks.
"Brawn beats beauty. Every time." She smiled up at him triumphantly and then limped away.
He wasn't able to check on her until it was almost dinner. He decided some simple warm soup would be easier for Jess at this point and less disgusting to wear if she threw it at him.
He knocked softly.
"Go away, you Judas." She groaned.
"What's a Judas?" Lee asked, ignoring her and entering the room.
"Something my mom used to say. Judas was a traitor. Got a guy nailed to a tree. Which is what I shall do to you, Captain Asshat if you don't leave me alone."
"You're welcome to try if you can lift the hammer." Lee smiled smugly.
"Was there something in particular you wanted?" Jessica asked turning to face him and narrowing her eyes.
"Just wanted to see how you were feeling. And bring you this." He showed her the bowl.
She looked at the soup curiously when he lifted the lid and handed her a spoon.
"I guess I could eat. Gods, my head was hurting like a bitch. I've gotten drunk before but, shit!"
"Looks like Kara's cure worked huh?" Lee pointed out.
"Let's pretend that's not true." Jessica grimaced. "You know, hmm...this is kinda good, you could use that tomato juice crap as torture for Cylon prisoners." She gave a dramatic shudder.
"Well, I'll leave you to it."
"Lee, how's Cally?" She asked, wanting to keep him in the room a bit longer.
"My dad's gonna let her out tomorrow." Lee informed her. The young mechanic had shot and killed the Cylon Boomer a month ago and was placed in the brig for thirty days. More as a formality really than any real punishment. Toaster bitch deserved to die after what she'd done to his father.
"A lot of people must be pretty messed up about Boomer. The chief for one." Jessica said.
"Yeah well, I imagine it's a hell of a head scratcher to find out you were frakking a machine." Lee said bitterly, not liking the sad look in Jessica's eyes.
"He loved her. A lot of people did." Jessica offered diplomatically.
"And she used that love. Exploited it. Probably laughed about it with all her toaster buddies. Look how stupid and pathetic those humans are--"
"Lee, come on. She didn't know she was a Cylon."
"What? So that makes everything all right? Why are you defending her?"
"I'm just saying, the Gods say for something to be a sin, you have to consciously know it's wrong, right? You know and you do it anyway."
"Jess, the dictates of the Gods don't apply to machines. They're a human belief. You can't rationalize what a bunch of software and metal did using religion." Lee insisted, amazed that Jess would even try to compare the two.
"I guess you're right if you look at it that way." Jessica shrugged uneasily.
"Damned right, I'm right. I mean, look what they did to you, for frak's sake!" He snapped.
"I haven't forgotten." She said softly, making Lee's stomach clench with a guilty twist. "I'm actually too tired to have this argument with you so let's just forget it okay? Thanks for the soup."
"So you think you'll be on the com tonight?" He asked wearily. Of all things he and Jessica argued about, he never thought the Cylons would be one of them.
"Miss me?" She asked a small spark returning to her eyes as she looked up at him.
"Nah, I just have to know whether to practice my 'I think your jokes are funny' laugh." Lee cracked.
"Right." Jessica replied with blatant skepticism.
"Well, I've got de-brief in a few minutes so--"
"I wish you guys would find a different term for that. It sounds so dirty and I've already been caught twice laughing out loud in front of President Rosilin every time she says it." Jessica said shaking her head and laughing.
"That's because you have a dirty mind." Lee reminded her getting to his feet.
"Lucky you." Jessica blurted then blushed and buried her face in her pillow.
"Go to sleep, you little nuisance." Lee tried to scowl.
"Oh and Lee? Thanks for tucking me in last night. Very gentlemanly of you." She winked at him.
It hit him straight in the groin and his cheeks flamed. He'd removed her clothes and tucked her under the blankets. And gentlemanly, upstanding Lee Adama had most definitely looked.
And Jessica knew it.
Lee woke up to the sounds of screaming. He no longer hesitated about going into Jessica's room and helping her. That's what friends did for each other. If he had less than friendly reactions when he held her against him until she calmed down, well, that was completely physical and couldn't be helped. Didn't mean anything beyond she turned him on, but Jessica already knew that. It always amazed him that nobody else seemed to hear her when to him, her screams were loud enough to wake the whole frakking ship but in the morning when he'd ask, they always said they never heard a thing.
She looked like she was choking on something. Lee tried to gently shake her awake. Not wanting to shock her, he kept the lights off and simply stroked her face.
"It's okay, Jess. Breathe. Just breathe. It's me. It's okay. You can wake up. Just wake up. Hear my voice, baby. Hear my voice. It's Lee."
That's how his mother would wake him up from a nightmare. Make him think he had the power to wake up anytime he wanted. It always worked. She'd gently pull him out. The sound of her voice soothing him and bringing him back to reality.
"You hear me, Jess? You can just open your eyes and I'll be right here." Her trembling grip on his bare forearms easing slightly.
Then he felt the brush of her eyelashes against his chest as her eyes opened.
"Lee?" Jessica asked, her voice shaky.
"Yeah. I'm here." She sagged against him in relief and it always brought a flaring warmth through his chest and made him hold her closer. "Bad one?"
"I dreamt I was drowning. That the whole fleet was drowning. Except you. You were up ahead, trying to guide us out of the water."
"Well, I'm relieved for myself there." He joked. She pinched his stomach. "Ow! It's okay Jess. Relax. As you can see, we're nowhere near an ocean. So no worries, okay?"
Her arms tightened around him but slowly, she stopped shaking. When he started to pull away, her grip tightened.
"Can you stay? 'Till I fall asleep again?" She asked. She always asked.
He always said yes.
And in the morning, no one had heard a thing.
A.N: The first half of this book will be AU while the second half will mirror Colonial Day.
Sweet A.K: I adore your feedback. (huggies) I thought we'd start off light and sweet before it all goes to hell in a hand basket. Funny teachers are the best aren't they? I always listened and paid more attention in class when the teacher made it fun and interesting. Keeping Lee in character takes multiple viewings and in depth studies…see how I suffer for my art? (winks) The ass grabbing, it was just right there, why not, right? (laughs)
Professor Simms: Thankie for your lovely feedback. Hope you like this chapter!
dark finder: Caprica Sharon will definitely be brought into this story, just a few books later though. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Raven: Thankie very much for your feedback. Hope you like this chapter too!
Knightlight86: Hope this wasn't too long a wait for ya! Thankie for your feedback.
Mae: (huggies) I've missed you girl! Keep an eye out for a 'Mae' in this book. (winks) Hope you like this chapter.
Babaksmiles: (tackles you) I've missed you too! I've been updating my other stories. Busy, busy, busy! I had to get some help with the title which my friend Monti lovingly provided for me. Touch definitely refers to some intimate action coming up later but also some other stuff too. Thank you so much for your very high praise about Jessica. She's one of my favorite original characters too, but I'm biased. (laughs) I'm glad you enjoyed my other stuff as well. Lee would definitely turn all jealous if another guy showed interest in Jess. Will be exploring that in a small way later in this book. And more thoroughly in a book down the line. I love long reviews! Unfortunately Lee was a perfect gentleman in this instance…well kinda. (laughs) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Lady Rheena: Thankie for the lovely feedback. I'm glad you enjoy my stuff! (laughs) Hope you like this chapter.