Chapter Fifteen

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you your Vice President Mr Gauis Baltar!" Laura Roslin exclaimed exuberantly. The crowd in the ballroom erupted in applause as Gauis came out and soaked up the adulation.

"Told you," Jessica said, leaning close to Kara's ear as they both chimed in with half hearted applause. "We are so frakked."

She supposed it was better to have Baltar a step away from the presidency than Tom Zarek but Jessica couldn't help feeling that they'd just set the fuse to something that was gonna blow up in their faces somewhere down the line. Baltar may have unwittingly betrayed the human race the first time around but Jessica couldn't help fearing that the Cylon influence was still somehow cloaked around Dr Freakweasel. She just couldn't work out how. Was there a Cylon connection on board the Galactica? Jessica was certain that after Boomer, there were no more Cylons on board the ship. So what was this Cylon influence and where the frak was it coming from? Was Baltar communicating through some secret wire channel to a Cylon on one of the other ships? That seemed the most obvious answer, but instinct told her it wasn't the right one. She'd brought this up to President Roslin, who told her that this was all the more reason to keep Baltar next to her. As the president, Laura would constantly breathing down Baltar's neck. Put that way, Jessica figured the best place to have Baltar was next to the president. Still, it was a small consolation.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I could use a drink. Maybe if we get hammered enough, Baltar as the V.P will start to make sense," Kara insisted pulling Jessica with her towards the bar.

"I don't think there's enough ambrosia in the world for that," Jessica said but followed along.

Lee spotted Kara first. She was dressed in a soft blue dress that made her look rather beautiful, to Lee's amazement. Who knew there really was a girl under that tough as nails exterior that was his insubordinate little Lieutenant Starbuck? If this was what Zak had seen when he looked at Kara, Lee understood now why his younger brother hadn't had a chance. Lee wished his brother could see her now. He swallowed a pang of regret that hitched in his throat when his eyes shifted to the woman next to his friend.

He recognized Jessica immediately though he shouldn't have because she had never looked like this on the Galactica. She was dressed in a sparkly green gown that looked almost molded to her with a slit up the side that stopped almost at her hip and when she turned he could see the daringly low neckline that gave him enough cleavage to make his mouth literally water. As were the men around her, Lee noticed with a scowl. She was perched up on the bar, her long legs crossed as she laughed and shook her head at something one of the men was saying. He admitted that these two were without a doubt the most beautiful women in the room but couldn't Kara go off somewhere and take the men with her? Jessica leaned in close to…who was that? Chuckles? And nodded at him with a grin. Yes, to what? Lee would like to know. He was torn between enjoying these few moments to watch her unnoticed and going over there and beating the laughter right out of Chuckles and every other guy swarming around her. He grit his teeth and just gave himself a few more seconds to watch her. Her black hair was curled and fell in a mass of soft waves around her bare shoulders. She wore a silver bangle around one upper arm that Lee thought he recognized as Kara's and there was a necklace around her throat that Lee didn't think he'd ever seen before. It had a charm of some kind but from this far away he couldn't make it out. Well, he'd just have to get closer then, he decided.

Jessica felt him before she saw him. The faint weightless quality that had become an unsettling companion under her skin as of late sharpened into gorgeous tactile sensation when she realized Lee had arrived. She looked towards the door and there he was, still a stickler for routine in his uniform dress grey's but devastatingly handsome nonetheless. She couldn't breathe for a moment as she watched him moving towards her, his eyes intent and…possessive, she realized with a throbbing surge of excitement.

"Hey, Apollo. Your gown in the shop?" Kara joked from the lap of Hot Dog. She took another puff from the lieutenant's cigar and then placed it back in his mouth.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Nice to see you too, Lieutenant. I hope you don't plan on getting too drunk tonight, you have flight duty tomorrow."

"Yeah, so nice of you to pencil me in," Kara replied.

"So, looks like you were right about Baltar," Lee said turning back to Jessica.

"Why is it I hardly ever seem to be right about anything good?" She asked, screwing up her nose.

"Well, Hot Dog and I are gonna go out on floor. Apollo, I suggest you don't talk the girl to death and let her have some fun, okay?"

"Hot Dog, step on her feet for me, will you?" Lee called out as the two of them made their way towards the crowded floor.

He turned back to Jessica, who was still being monopolized by too many men for his liking. "Gentlemen, I think there are a few other ladies you could work your considerable charms on, right?"

He's jealous, Jessica thought with a gleeful tightening in her belly.

"Jessica was about to tell my fortune," Chuckles protested.

"I can do that right now, Chuckles. It doesn't look good," Lee warned and Jessica had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the glare he was giving the poor man.

Oh it felt so good to have Lee be this possessive ass with her! Her feminist self should be insulted but any show of Lee's real feelings were too flattering for her to be offended. She wanted him just like this, claiming her even if it wasn't with words. It took all her willpower not to throw her arms around him and kiss him silly.

Jessica sensed that one of the deckhands, Derby, was about to ask her to dance so she quickly jumped ahead before he could. "Captain, shall we?" She motioned towards the dance floor.

Lee gave a little start of surprise and for a second, his cheeks flushed uncomfortably but he nodded and gave her his arm.

"I was…well. I was gonna get around to…uh…" Lee stammered as he drew her close to him.

"I know," Jessica admitted with a small smile. She took a deep breath and wrapped an arm around his broad shoulders, trying not to shiver at the feel of his fingers on her back. "Derby was gonna beat you to it though."

"Oh," he replied.

She focused on the three buttons on the sash that ran down his uniform. "So the pins make this formalwear, hmm?"

"Yeah well, like Kara said, my gown was in the shop." He joked, slightly embarrassed.

She ran her hand down the sash, revelling in the hard feel of his chest. "I think you look very handsome,"

"Well…" he shrugged, uncomfortable with the compliment. Then he noticed the charm dangling from the thin gold chain against her chest.

"Who's the 'T' stand for?" Lee asked, lifting the small charm with his finger, his body tightening as he touched satin soft skin.

"Oh it's not a 't' it's a cross. It was my mother's. It's supposed to be for good luck or for protection or something," she replied softly.

"A cross? I don't think I've ever heard of one as a good luck charm."

"It was a part of her faith," Jessica explained.

Lee nodded in understanding and Jessica was silent, running her hands along the fabric of his uniform.

"I don't think I could handle you in civvies," she admitted in a low whisper.

He gave her a small smile, "I think I'm the one that's supposed to be making you blush."

"Well, give it your best shot, Captain," she grinned up at him teasingly.

He thought for a moment but then shook his head. "I'm afraid I'm not very good at it. All that comes to mind is how incredibly beautiful you look right now."

Jessica's heart tightened in her chest and her face warmed pleasurably. "That certainly works."

"And I know there's something I should be saying about the color of the dress and your eyes and all that but I'm afraid I can't really think when you're looking up at me like that,"

"Like what?" She asked, a little breathless. His face was so close. She could feel his warm ambrosia scented breath on her face.

"Like you're glad Derby didn't ask you first," he replied hoarsely.

"Very glad. I only want to be right where I am. You're the only one I wanted to dance with." She didn't bother to lower her eyes, which she knew were too full of the truth.