Chapter Three

Lee hated meetings. If there were a way to get decisions made and issues discussed without actually having to sit down and talk them out, he'd be more than happy. At least when he'd had to attend meetings with his superiors before, on Atlantia or on military bases, there were always donuts and coffee which made the bureaucracy of it all a little more tolerable. Here...well, they had, in Jessica's words, 'mud' and no donuts. Lee hated meetings and he missed donuts. With a passion. The white little iced sugar donuts. He could finish off two boxes in one sitting. Easily.

As much as Lee liked President Roslin, he wished she would shut up so he could get out in his viper. He was feeling restless, antsy and only a few hours out in the sky could help him sort out his thoughts.

They were going over some upcoming preparations for the Colonial Day celebration, and the meeting before hand between all the heads of the colonies. Tom Zarek would be there as the elected representative for Saggitaron. Bastard. If anything, Tom Zarek seemed to have more of a following since taking Lee and the other Galactica crew hostage. The people saw him as a man of action; a man they could rally behind and who wouldn't let red tape stand in the way of changing the things they didn't like about the way the government was run. Zarek was a voice for those who wanted to bitch about the necessary rules and order Roslin knew must be imposed if they had a hope in hell of surviving.

Zarek was a man out for himself, leading others who were out for themselves.

Sometimes, Lee wished he'd let Kara shoot Zarek back on the Astral Queen.

Lee and Kara were being assigned to organize the security details for the meeting with the colony reps to take place on Cloud Nine next month. Frak.

Being the president's military advisor sucked lemons a lot of the time.

Laura then moved on to the matter of giving Cally an official pardon for shooting Boomer. The young mechanic had served her time and her record would be wiped clean.

After Laura wrapped up and left for her shuttle to Colonial One, Lee and his dad (finally back in command, thank the Gods) took a walk along the corridors to go over the military preparations for the Colonial Day meeting and discuss more pilot business.

"I give up! No more, I beg you!" Jessica's panting voice was heard as Kara jogged around the corner towards Lee and his father. Dragging her feet in a stumbling jog, Jessica appeared, flushed and sweaty. Black hair tied back in a thick ponytail and wisps of damp hair stuck to her cheek.

Now if Jessica had been at the meeting looking like this, Lee didn't think he would have minded it so much.

Kara laughed mockingly as she slowed down for Jessica to catch up. "Come on, lazy ass. One more lap around."

"Oh Gods, no! Lee, Commander. Please! Keep her away from me!" Jessica grabbed Lee's arm and hid behind him.

"What's going on?" William asked amused.

"We were just jogging and then she challenged me to a race around the Galactica. I said 'sure'--" Jessica began.

"Ohhh, your first mistake." Lee said laughing looking at Jess over his shoulder. She poked him in the back.

"Then I won--"

"Cause Kat and Dr Freakweasel got in my way!' Kara protested, no where near as run down as Jess.

"So I conceded the race to her. She's definitely faster than me. No biggie--"

"And there was you second mistake. Kara is insanely competitive. She won't accept a half ass victory."

"Uh, hello, Kettle, this is Pot, you're black." Kara insisted, punching Lee in the arm.

"I tried to get her to give it up but my Gods, woman!" Jessica shook her head at Kara who blew a raspberry at her. "So we went around again, she gets accidentally tripped by Chuckles who is currently hiding in his rack thinking Kara is gonna kill him-"

"Thanks." Kara tossed in, pleased with the information.

"So she demands we go again. That's it! I don't care, Kara. You win. End of story. You're just gonna have to deal. I'm not Miss Fighter Pilot-Tough-Girl like you, okay? You win at everything. I bow. See? Now I beg you, have mercy and leave me alone!" Jessica panted, pressing her head against Lee's back, making up for his boring ass morning. Then he felt a shudder go through her and when he turned around, she was white as a sheet.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked, lifting her chin.

"I...You left Doral behind...He's here." She said staring up at him, sending a chill down Lee's spine when her gaze turned back to the corridor.

Lee, the three of them, joined by Tigh who had been making his way to them, took off running in the direction Jessica said Doral was.

Godsdammit! How the hell did Doral get on board? Lee wondered. Back before the Cylons attacked, Doral had been a tour guide on what was being turned into the Galactica Museum. On Baltar's suspicion, they had left Doral behind when it was discovered that the Cylon's had now taken human form. Lee had silently wondered if Doral had been innocent when they learned that Baltar had unwittingly betrayed the human race to the Cylons. Now, Lee had his answer. A small man with Doral's build turned around when Commander Adama called out Doral's name and the smile he gave them all sent another shudder down Lee's spine. Doral held a glass of what looked like water in his right hand and smiled at Jessica who stood next to Lee.

"He's gonna kill you." Doral told her, and threw the glass of water in her face. Jessica cried out and for a horrible moment Lee was afraid it had been acid. But her cry appeared to be one of surprise and not pain.

"Water." Jessica assured Lee when he quickly grabbed her and pulled her behind him. That's when he saw it.

Doral had over half a dozen sticks of dynamite strapped to his chest.

"Run!" William screamed as they sprinted back in the direction they came.

"Frak!" Kara screamed as a deafening explosion and searing heat blanketed them.

Lee jumped on top of Jessica and Kara in a thankfully open hatchway as debris rained down on them.

"You two okay?" Lee asked cradling Jessica's face in his hands.

"Yeah. Ow...I think so." Jessica said with a groan and Lee realized his sidearm was pressing into her breasts.

"Sorry. Kara, you okay? Dad?" Lee called out poking his head back out to the corridor. As Lee helped Jess and Kara, whose arm was bleeding, having badly scraped the hatchway, to their feet, his father and Tigh shuffled over to them, singed slightly, but otherwise unharmed.

They lost six men and five women in the explosion. Over twenty others were injured and the blown section of the passageway was gonna require some extensive work.

Dr Salik confirmed that it had been just water that Doral had thrown at Jessica but sponged off samples for testing just to be safe.

Her concern appeared to be well founded.

Later that night, Jessica was stumbling her way down the hall in her shorts and tanks as Lee was making his way back from a four hour shift. Her hair was plastered to her face and her skin was clammy when he rushed over to her.

"I donfeelgood." She said with a moan, gripping his forearms and looking up at him with unfocused green eyes. When Lee pressed his hand to her face, he sucked in his breath. Her skin was nearly scalding to the touch.

"Frak me," he whispered. "Let's get you to sick bay." He wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her upright.

"Nodgonnamake--" She warned, and then fainted in his arms.

A.N:

Professor Simms: Thankie muchly for your lovely feedback! Yay for no more exams. Been there, done that. I feel your pain. Lee is completely discombobulated by Jess. (laughs) She's just turning him completely upside down. I'm glad you like Jess. It's a great compliment to hear that I wrote her in a way that still fit's the BSG world. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Sweet A.K: Jess is only screaming in Lee's mind. Like, she's dreaming, and she's screaming in her dreams but not out loud and Lee is the only one who seems to be able to hear it. Kara so enjoys tormenting them all. (laughs) I agree, a lovely way to wake up, pressed up against that boy.

On a desk? (laughs) Sounds hot but uncomfortable, just might use that in here sometime. Hope you enjoy this chapter! (holds out hands for chocolate covered Lee)

Lady Rheena: Ah, bless poor TightAss Lee. Thankie for your feedback. Yep, definitely laying the groundwork for the intense connection between these two. Hope you like this chapter!

Mae: She won't be evil, promise. (smiles) Hope you enjoy this chapter!

dark finder: CapricaSharon will definitely have an important part to play in this saga and I'll bring her in in a later book. The other Cylons will be revealed at different times mixed in with certain storylines. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Babaksmiles: Thankie for your lovely feedback! Jessica wants Lee to be less of a gentleman, for sure! (laughs) Glad you enjoyed the little hints! Hope you enjoy this chapter!