Chapter Twelve

Jessica stood behind Kara, appearing to provide moral support but in reality positioning herself in the best place to put their plan in motion. She didn't feel too bad about deliberately peeking into Mae's mind. She figured the Gods couldn't possibly condone Mae's outrageous prices so they'd look the other way at Jessica and Kara's trickery.

As people began to gather around, Kara started dealing cards and smiled at Jessica who grinned back as she mentally peeked at the cards being tossed Mae's way. She leaned her elbows on the back of Kara's chair. As the game got underway, Jessica poked her in the back based on whether Kara could beat Mae's hand or not. One poke meant 'yes', two meant 'no'. Both women had a very hard time not laughing and by the look on Mae's face, she was wondering if they weren't crazy.

When Kara threw down her final winning hand with a victorious, "Ha!" a cheer went up around them and Jessica finally gave in to the bubbling laughter inside of her.

"Fair enough, ladies," Mae said rising with an attempt at dignity. "The dresses are yours. I hope you understand when I say I hope to never see either one of you again." She narrowed her eyes at them and went to get their dresses.

"You!" Kara threw an arm around Jessica's shoulders and drawing her in close. "If I ever decide to give up flying, you and I are so going into business together!"

Jessica smiled as Kara pulled her towards the counter, warmed by the easy camaraderie between them.

"Holy crap! It's like we're literally outside!" Jessica exclaimed exuberantly as Gaeta helped her down off the raptor. She wished she could have flown in with Lee, who knew of her unease with flying and had managed to make her feel better the first time. As it was, she was slightly buzzed from the sedative Cottle had given her for the trip.

The interior of the Cloud Nine luxury liner was built to look like the outdoors of the world they had all known. Spread out on the grounds there was also a bar, hotel, a sectioned off area Gaeta said was going to be a small plaza and the conference center where the colony heads would meet. It was like a mini Caprica on a ship.

Jessica tried to blink the fuzziness from her vision and gripped Gaeta's arm when a wave of dizziness almost made her lose her footing. Behind them Kara's shuttle carrying her and Baltar landed, followed closely by Colonial One.

The ground beneath her feet felt disconcertingly uneven and Jessica was worried she wasn't gonna be able to walk on her own just yet. So she took a seat on the fake grass and tried to recover her equilibrium. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, laying her head down and taking deep breaths to center herself

"How are you feeling?" a soft, wonderfully familiar voice asked.

She lifted her head and rested her cheek on her forearms, smiling up at Lee as he crouched down in front of her. "Hey. Kinda high."

'Well, we have a few hours before the first meeting. Why don't you check in and take a nap?"

"Sounds good. You wanna help me up?" Jessica asked stretching her arms towards him.

He pulled her to her feet and slowly, the unsettled feeling cleared. He held her arms for a moment longer than was necessary and Jessica's heart warmed. She almost gave in to the urge to lean in close to him but there were too many people around and she didn't want to embarrass herself or Lee.

"You need help getting there?" Lee asked her, his breath warm against her forehead and smelling of coffee.

"Yes, yes I do," Jessica replied with a head to toe shiver she hoped nobody could see.

"Talbot, are you hammered?" Kara asked with a laugh as she walked over to them.

"It's this stupid sedative Cottle gave me. I'm gonna go sleep it off."

"Well, I'd offer to walk you over but I got to meet the old man and talk to him and Roslin about the meeting. Besides, you're with Lee. I don't think he even knows how to take advantage of a willing woman with her inhibitions down."

"My father is that way, Starbuck." Lee pointed towards the shuttle containing Adama.

Lee and Jessica walked slowly across the grass towards the rooms being held for those attending the conference. "It's so bizarre being outside but not being outside. It all looks so real." Jessica closed her eyes and raised her head towards the mock sky. "I swear I could almost get a tan."

Lee snorted. "Not quite. They're still working on it but it'll have to do for now I guess."

"Ah where's your optimism and imagination, Apollo? Never mind, look who I'm talking to."

When they got to the front desk, Jessica showed them her I.D card and the lady smiled and handed her the card key to her room.

"No offense, Lee, but this is way nicer than the Galactica." Jessica flopped on the bed and stared up at the pretty white blade whirring ceiling fan. She stretched on the soft mattress, feeling her limbs start to grow heavy. When she turned her head back to Lee, his eyes were locked on her and she could feel the desire radiating off him in waves.

She returned his gaze, meaningfully and he gave a start, breaking the spell. Jessica almost sighed in her disappointment but restrained herself. She did have her pride after all, though it did have a few holes in it where Lee Adama was concerned.

"Well, I'm gonna go check in to my room. It's …uh, right next door if you want-need me," he corrected quickly.

"Well, thanks for walking me over," Jessica said lamely, wanting to say so much more.

He nodded stiffly. She almost cursed this potent electricity between them because it made Lee so uncomfortable around her, which considering the intimate moments they'd shared so far was rather laughable.

He was still standing there, his hand on the hatch behind him but he made no move to leave. "I've been thinking, Elosha told me you guys figured out the numbers on your arm spelled out the name 'Gabe'."

Jessica's stomach tightened nervously. Gods, she'd been trying her damnedest to forget that name and all she had learned about him. She did not want to get into this discussion with Lee because he would ask her questions that she would have to answer.

"Um, can we table this discussion for later? I can barely keep my eyes open." That was the truth. She could feel the pull of sleep growing stronger.

"Oh, sure, sure," Lee nodded. "I just wanted to know if Elosha had told you about, well…how the name applied to me." He gave a short, sheepish shrug.

"She did," Jessica said with an amused grin. She didn't try and stifle her yawn, hoping he would get the point.

"I'll let you get some rest. I was just wondering what it could possibly mean."

"Nothing good. Trust me," Jessica admitted, making Lee's eyes widen in surprise.

"How do you know that?"

She yawned again and Lee held up his hand. "Don't worry about it. Rest up. We'll talk later."

Jessica squeezed her eyes shut and groaned into the pillow when Lee left her alone. For someone who was so ambivalent about these signs and prophecies connecting the two of them, Lee Adama certainly didn't make them easy to ignore.

"Do it!" The man said smugly, crossing his arms over his chest and gazing with undisguised hatred at Lee.

Lee stood, gun poised, finger on the trigger, but his aim was not on the man across from him. The barrel was pointed lower and trembled violently in his hand.

"Go ahead. Shoot him or we will take him with us."

Pain, fear, guilt was choking Lee, making it so hard to breathe. He had to do it. His gun hand was damp and shaking. He had to do it. Had to. Tears blurred his vision and agony like he didn't know was possible filled his heart and he choked back a sob.

With a prayer for forgiveness to the Gods and to his wife, Lee pulled the trigger.

Jessica woke up with a start her face bathed in what she thought was a cold sweat, until she felt the grief making her shake with its ferocity. She curled herself into a ball and without remembering why, continued to sob.