A/N: Hi guys, I'm back again! I'm sorry for the long wait, I'm graduating this year, there's so much I have to do for school! But I'll try to update soon, I promise. Please review, I'll only put up that review if I get at least 5 reviews. That's not to much considering how many people read this story so far!

The brunette watched his father leave.

"Me, too… Me, too."

Those few hours Salick had spoken of turned into half a day and just when Apollo thought he couldn't take it any longer the Doc came in pronouncing him free of Mystica. Immediately he asked:

"How's Starbuck?"

Dr. Salick shook his head.

"I can't tell you. We think we got him stabilized for now, but he's not fine. Mystica almost paralyzed him by now. Why don't you go see him?"

"That's what I had in mind."

A short smile played on the Doc's face.

"Already figured that out…"

They said their good-byes, Apollo voicing his thanks for Salick's efforts. Then he paid a short visit to Starbuck, wanting to be reassured his friend was still alive.

The blonde's body temperature had dropped and risen at the same time. When Apollo took his hand in his, it was almost icy-cold, whereas his forehead and cheeks were burning.

"Hold on!"

The brunette whispered giving his friend a kiss on his forehead. Mystica be damned! To at least try to help he went to the library, the only place where books could be still found. That was where Adama found him centars later.

"'Apollo, it doesn't help him if you walk around dead on your feet. At least rest a little bit before you continue."

The Captain raised his head only shortly, but long enough for his father to see the weariness creeping through his body.

"I can't."

Adama's answer was a sigh, he'd expected nothing else.

"Just don't push your limits too hard, okay? I don't want you to get sick too."

Barely noticing his father's concern Apollo was once again engrossed in the book before him. He didn't stop until centars later, when his eyes were burning and he was nonetheless sure he'd read all about the sickness which was slowly killing his beloved. Salick had been right, there wasn't much information to be found. Documentations about the course of Mystica, some researches about the ways of infection and spreading, but that was it… Not even a hint of a cure… Just one thing gave him hope: It seemed as if it depended on the willpower of the infected person how long he still survived. And Starbuck's will was strong, his stubbornness well known to Apollo. He presumed they had one secton to find a cure. Now that this was done, he decided to visit his friend once more. Surprised to find Boxey there he embraced his son.

"I'm sorry I didn't have much time for you lately, Boxey."

"It's okay, Dad, Athena explained everything to me. I just hope Starbuck will be fine."

Apollo smiled, putting a hand around Boxey's shoulders. Even at this young age of 10 yahrens he was already so understanding, it was really amazing.

"Thanks, son."

They stayed like that for a centon, watching Starbuck lying there seemingly calm. Only his eyes gave away the fear and distress he felt.

"What will happen to him?"

Boxey wanted to know. With a sigh the adult decided to tell him everything. Trying to keep his voice even and scientific he answered:

"Mystica develops in 5 stages. During the first stage one is paralyzed and numb. Temperature rises and falls at the same time. It's not that tough considering the rest. Stage 2 is worse: It starts with a slight shiver, followed by goose bumps and heavy shivers. Nothing can be done to fight this coldness. Stage 3 will cost him all of his left-over strength: spasms will torture his body taking all his energy until unconsciousness and almost… death."

Apollo forced himself to speak chewed on it and had to clear his throat before he could continue.

"Stage 4 will give him a short break, during it he will once again be paralyzed, but otherwise he will feel no pain. But that's just to prepare him for enduring stage 5."

The Captain turned his head so that Boxey could not see the tears forming in his eyes. Up until now he had rarely cried. It wasn't that he'd been taught that crying was unmanly, just that normally he could deal with things differently. Normally he would talk to Starbuck and Starbuck would help him to cope.

"During stage 5 the spasms will start again, but this time even worse… That will kill him once Mystica has taken all of his strength."

He spoke the last sentence harshly, bitterly, almost spat it out as if he wanted to get rid of it and with that, the thought about it. Like any other child Boxey didn't know what to say. The special bond between his Dad and Starbuck was known to him, even if he wasn't yet capable of understanding it, so he could barely imagine Apollo's pain, despite the fact that he'd already lost his Mom. Starbuck was also precious to him, he was always fun to be around, to play with and he was one who'd always bend the rules a little bit to allow him to stay up longer or to teach him how to play pyramid. That was something Apollo wasn't quite fond of, but his love for these two made him overlook it.

Athena entered now, searching frantically for Boxey.

"Boxey! You should know better than to just wander off without telling me!"

"I'm sorry, Athena… I just forgot."

"Okay, just don't do it again. Now, it's time to see the Commander, he asked for you. Go, see him, I'll catch up."

The boy complied and as soon as he was gone her eyes met her brother's, trying to figure out how he was doing.

"How are you holding up, Apollo?"

"As good as I can, I guess."

He responded with a sad look at Starbuck.

"He's gonna make it. His luck won't turn him down now, not after all he survived. It's not his time to die yet."

Athena tried to soothe him.

"I really hope so… I don't know what to do if he doesn't make it…"

But what if Starbuck's luck would turn its back on him now? What if his luck was used up now? What if it would be all over soon? Apollo clutched his hands and forced himself to calm down. Star would make it. He had to.

"Hey, he will… He will fight it for you, I know that."

It was true what she said. Having been with Starbuck herself once she could tell he really loved Apollo. The blonde had never looked at her like he looked at the green-eyed brunette.

The viper pilot didn't answer and with his body language he made it clear he wanted to be left alone. Athena complied with this unspoken request, following Boxey to see the Commander. Apollo didn't turn to watch her depart, barely heard the door closing behind her. With a sigh he asked:

"Oh, Star, what can I do? How can I help you? Is there anything I can do for you? Oh, I've never felt this helpless before…"

But of course he got no answer, nonetheless he continued to talk to him.

"You need to fight, do you hear me? This sickness, Mystica, progresses all the more the less you fight it. You can buy us time to save your life. Just do it, fight for us, please."

Starbuck was a fighter, had always been, Apollo knew that, yet it barely comforted him. Knowing that there was absolutely nothing he could do to help the man he loved drove him crazy. Starbuck suffered so much right now and all he could do was to stand idly there… He felt useless and that tormented him even more. It was just another thing to be able to do something, that at least help to prevent him from too much pondering…

He took Starbuck's hand in his trying to get at least some warmth into it. The need to kiss his wingman was almost overwhelming and Apollo had to force himself to refrain. For a centon he'd caressed the blonde's hand now, almost jumping from joy when he felt it getting slightly warmer. But this could also be the change into stage 2 the brunette remembered himself violently. He just wouldn't be able to bear it if his positive thoughts were proved wrong…

Adama entered now unnoticed by Apollo who almost freaked when a hand was laid on his shoulder. The Commander stepped closer, next to Apollo so that his son's head came to rest on his side.

"Apollo, I found a few medical books in my quarters and thought you'd want to take a look at them."

"Sure. Right now!"

Somehow, even though his mind told him the chances to find something were small at best his heart told him differently. It beat wildly when he opened the first book and… there he found something!!!

"The only way of healing is through a beloved person, through that both can be healed."

That might be ambiguous, but at least something to start with. But what did it mean? How could he heal him? Just physical contact? Blood? Maybe infect himself, then what, though? Apollo hurried to show Dr. Salick what he'd found and to agree on what to do now.

They decided to continue in small steps: first they would try the physical contact, then the blood, but Salick refused already now to infect Apollo. They didn't argue about it, there was no need to yet and the Captain hoped it wouldn't be necessary. They moved Starbuck to a more private room, because Apollo didn't want their relationship to come out like this. The Lieutenant's shivers had increased, they were by now so violent and uncontrollable that they barely could move him into the other bed. Once Salick had left them alone, Apollo stripped getting into bed. He scooped his lover up in his arms, holding him tight against his chest. It wasn't easy because of the shivers, the Captain had to use all of his strength to hold him more or less still. Only after a while they decreased, so that they were almost gone. Apollo was overwhelmed by sleep, his grip around Starbuck remained strong though.

The Captain was woken up when his friend moved. "No, not the shivers again, please!" He thought with his eyes still closed. When he opened them he was pleasantly surprised though: Starbuck seemed to be fully conscious and awake, up to some teasing again.

"I knew you missed me, but that much? My charm's better than I thought…"

Apollo just grinned, happy to see that the paleness had disappeared from Starbuck's face and to hear his voice again. Snuggling closer he had to resist the urge to kiss him to show him how relieved he was. The Lieutenant seemed absolutely fine again, no sign of Mystica whatsoever.

"Hang it all!"

Apollo didn't want to held back, he didn't care anymore, he just kissed the blonde for all he was worth, unaware of Mystica still flowing threw Starbuck's veins…

A/N: How did you like that? Please review!