Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Fifteen
A/N: This will be the last chapter for a little while. I've been posting 2 chapters a week to catch up with where I'm at on LJ but this is the last I've got written and it might be a little while before chapter 16 is ready. I've been a little busy saying goodbye to my gall bladder this week! Hopefully chapter 16 will be up early next week. Thanks for your patience!
Lee's heart pounded furiously, as much from the excitement and nerves at getting to talk to his son as from seeing Kara again. His cheeks still flamed at the memory of what he'd done to her the morning before. Yet another in the long list of ways he'd completely screwed up with Kara Thrace. It was so long he could probably write a novel. Fortunately she really had changed or it could have driven another wedge between them, one that might have taken years to heal. Years of his son's life that he would have missed.
And he'd missed enough of them already.
He pulled into the driveway, thankful that his life had taken the turns it had. At the time he'd often failed to understand that what he was giving up was necessary in order to take him in the direction he needed to go to make his life better. Now he just had to work out how to make sure he stayed here, close to his son. Close to Kara ...
Michael greeted him at the door. "Welcome. Come in." At Lee's rather pointed look around the room he hastened to explain. "Kara and Zach are in his room. He is, understandably, both excited and nervous at the prospect of meeting you."
"As am I," Lee smiled. "I haven't had nerves like this in years," he confessed.
"I can imagine. It's a rather unique circumstance," Michael said sympathetically. He was about to offer Lee a drink when Kara appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Hey Lee," she said, smiling nervously.
"Hey." Lee cleared his throat self-consciously.
"He's ready for you to come up." Lee smiled. Of course he feels more comfortable in his own room. It's his retreat. His heart seemed to accelerate with each step closer to his son.
"He's a little bit shy," Kara said softly as he reached the top of the stairs. "But he's really looking forward to meeting you."
Lee stopped at the door of his son's room. His parents had made him clean up and tidy everything - the room was spotless. It brought a smile to Lee's face at the memory of the times his parents had made him and Zak clean up for visitors.
"Hi Zach."
"Hi."
Lee's heart went out to the boy. He was nervous as could be but putting on a brave face.
"Mind if I come sit down?" he asked, motioning to a spot beside Zach on the bed.
Zach shook his head.
"I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes to talk, okay?" Kara said. "I'll just be in the other room if you need me."
Lee watched as his son flashed Kara a smile, blue eyes warm with love.
"So has your mom told you about me?" he asked, by way of an opening. It never hurt to know as much as possible before opening your mouth and sticking your foot in.
Zach nodded. "You're Lee Adama, Viper pilot and war hero. And your my other dad."
Lee blushed at Kara's praise. "Well I used to be a Viper pilot but I don't know about the hero thing."
"Mom always says you did lots of brave things and saved people's lives." Zach finally lifted his head to meet Lee's face, identical blue eyes meeting for the first time.
"Well then your mom is a hero too because she did those things as well. And did them better than me."
A small smile pulled at Zach's mouth. "Really?"
Lee leaned in a little closer. "Really. Your mom was one heck of a pilot who did much more than her share to save lives. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for anyone."
The little boy's mouth pulled up in a proud smile. "I love my mom," he said softly.
Lee smiled. "So do I. She's awfully special."
Zach regarded him with a curious stare that made Lee feels as though someone many years older was looking into his soul. It's almost like having dad stare at me, he thought, shivering slightly.
"Mom says you're my real dad, my biolo ... bioli ..." He struggled with the word.
"Biological," Lee filled in.
"Yeah." Zach frowned. "I don't really get it. What does it mean? I already have a dad."
"Yes you do. And I'm sure you love him very much."
The boy nodded his dark head.
"What it means is that I was your dad first but because I couldn't be here with you, you got a new dad."
"Oh. That's what biolo- gical means?"
Lee blushed slightly. "Well there's a little more to it than that but that's something for your mom to explain another time when you're older."
Zach nodded again. "Why couldn't you be here with me and mom?"
"Did your mom ever explain it to you?" Lee asked, berating himself internally for not thinking to ask Kara how much she'd told him.
"Sort of, but I don't understand. Why wouldn't you come with mom when she came through the magic storm here? Didn't you love her then? I thought mommies and daddies were supposed to love each other."
Lee's heart cracked wide open. "I've always loved her Zach," he said hoarsely. "If I could have followed her into the storm I would have. Believe me, I tried. I tried everything I could but I lost her. She was gone and there was no way I could follow or get her back." His voice cracked and he stopped to swallow the lump in his throat. "If I'd known about you I wouldn't have ever stopped trying to find her and get her back."
"You didn't know?"
Lee gave a sad laugh. "You were just a tiny bump in your mom's tummy then. No one could tell you were there yet."
Zach's eyes lit up. "You mean like when Sara was in her tummy? She told us there was a baby there but I couldn't see anything. Until she got fat."
Lee laughed. "Exactly like that. Babies start off so small you can't even see them but they grow and grow and make mommy's tummies big and fat by the time they're ready to come out."
"Do you have a little sister too?"
"No. I had a little brother though."
"What's his name?"
"Zak."
His eyes lit up like stars. "Just like me!" he said excitedly.
Lee smiled. "Yeah, just like you. Your mom knew my brother so maybe that's why she picked that name for you."
Zach jumped off the bed suddenly and grabbed a model off the bookshelf. "I made this. Mom says it looks a little like the Vipers you guys used to fly."
Lee inspected it then handed it back. "It certainly does."
Zach's face grew serious. "Can you take me to see a real Viper?" he said wistfully. "I really want to see one."
Lee hesitated. His first response was to grab the boy and jump for joy - his son, their son wanted to become a pilot just like both of them had been! He felt certain his father would allow his grandson access to Galactica. But perhaps Kara and Michael wouldn't want him to be exposed to that life. He'd best suppress his enthusiasm till he found out for sure.
"I might be able to get you to our ship to take a tour," he said carefully, "but only if your mom says it's okay."
Zach's face was ecstatic. "I'll go ask. Mom!" he yelled as he ran out of the room.
Kara appeared quickly, concern darkening her face. "What is it sweetie?"
"Can Lee take me to see the Vipers? Please? Pretty please?"
Kara looked at the glow on her son's face, then over at Lee who looked vaguely apologetic.
"I think that could be arranged." Zach jumped up and down excitedly, hugging his mother repeatedly. "Provided" she added, "that we find a time that doesn't interfere with school, and provided I get to come along."
She smiled at her son, then met Lee's eyes again. They shone brighter than she'd ever seen them.
"I'll have to discuss it with my father and see if he can arrange permission for us," Lee said, excitement bubbling in his voice.
"I'd like that," she said softly. "I've missed the old girl."
"She's missed you too." Their eyes held long and hard and Kara knew he wasn't just referring to Galactica.
"I know."
Lee swallowed as though he had something else he wanted to say.
Zach looked back and forth between them, a concerned look replacing the one of joy. "Are you going to be my new dad?" he asked in a small, sad voice.
Lee dropped down to a squat, throat constricting. "Of course not honey," he said, forcing the words out. "I'm not going to take your family away from you." He lifted a hand involuntarily and touched the boy's hair. "I just wanted to meet you and get to know you."
Zach looked serious. "That's good 'cause I love my other dad and I didn't want to not see him anymore."
Kara knelt down and gathered him into her arms. "That's not going to happen sweetheart. Your family is here to stay - we're just adding one more member to it."
Lee's hand lifted to Kara's cheek as their eyes met. "Thank you," he mouthed soundlessly.
Zach broke away from his mother and pulled at Lee's sleeve. "You wanna see the rest of my collection?" he said.
Lee smiled, heart so full it almost hurt. "Yeah Zach. I'd love to."
XXXXX
"Sam, it's good to see you again." Adama pulled the large man into a hug, closing his eyes and smiling. It was good to have family back together again. Sam wasn't family by blood, but having been firstly Kara's husband and secondly one of Lee's closest friends, the man had been close enough to be accepted as a de facto son.
Sam hugged him back, tension colouring the true joy he felt at being free and with his 'family' again. "It's good to be seen," he said huskily, emotion clogging his throat.
Adama laughed as he let go. "A stint in the brig isn't enough to quell your humour I see."
Sam's eyes twinkled. "It seems Kara and I have a fair bit in common that way."
Adama's face sobered. "You do know she's alive, yes?"
Sam nodded. "I saw her at the prison. Couldn't believe my eyes at first."
"It's astonishing. But wonderful news." Adama cleared his throat. "How's Tory?"
Sam shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know. I never saw her there. She hasn't been released yet?"
"I haven't seen her," Roslin, silent up till now, piped up. "Hopefully she'll be arriving soon. They anticipate being done the testing within a week or two."
Sam nodded. "Good. In the meanwhile, I'd like to ask a favour."
"Ask away."
"Is it possible ... do you know where ... " He felt the back of his neck grow warm, heat pulsing along with his heartbeat. "Is there any way I could see Kara?"
"She's got a family here Sam," Roslin said gently, feeling that breaking the news now was better than leaving him with false hope.
Sam nodded. "I kind of figured she would have. It's been eight years after all. I've moved on, it only makes sense that she would have too." He swallowed, eyes darting from one to the other. "I'm not going to make trouble. I just want to see her. We never really got to say goodbye," he added softly.
Adama's eyes began to sting in sympathy. "Of course. I'll give you her number and you can call her. It's probably best to ask about visiting before you just show up, just in case she never told her family about you."
"I understand." Sam nodded, gratitude shining clearly in his eyes. "Thank you."
Adama passed him a slip of paper and Sam took it, heading back to his room for some much-needed privacy.
"Do you really think that's a good idea Bill?" Roslin asked, voice soft though the door had long shut behind Sam. "She's got enough on her plate with Lee back in her life."
Adama nodded. "No, I don't think it's a good idea. But I think it's necessary. Kara's ghost has haunted Samuel just as it has the rest of us who loved her. He deserves a chance to put that ghost to rest so he can move on with his life."
Roslin smiled as she linked arms with him. "You're such a wise old man."
His face wrinkled in mock anger. "Who are you calling old?"
XXXXXX
Sam stood, back against the door, staring at himself in the mirror. He was, quite honestly, disgusted with the man staring back at him. He'd planned on telling Adama about his Cylon-ness. Honesty was always best - what he hadn't understood about that before the holocaust had been a lesson his marriage to Kara had taught him. Lies, secrets, deception ... it might seem great at the time but it always came back to bite you in the rear later. Coward, he said bitterly to the man facing him. How are you going to be able to tell your wife the truth when you can't even tell your superior officer? But he knew his inner self was only seeing half the picture. Adama might have been his superior officer during his stint as a pilot, but the man had been particularly good him, though he'd been no more deserving than anyone else, and through his close friendship with Lee in recent years he'd come to consider the Adamas almost family. He couldn't bear to disappoint his family by being less than what they expected - that was too much like being a teenager again.
"Frak, frakkity frak," he swore to himself as he showered, scrubbing his skin fiercely as if to remove the dirtiness he felt with copious amounts of soap and water.
Just as he was cinching the towel around his waist and grabbing the complimentary razor to shave there was a knock at the door. Tyrol pushed nervously through when Sam opened it, pacing the room from end to end.
"They told me Cally and Nicky are on the next transport," he said in answer to Sam's questioning look. He lifted his eyes to meet the other man's. "What am I going to do?"
"Relax Galen."
"I can't!"
Sam took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he counted to ten. Tyrol was right, he couldn't relax. The man was a bundle of nervous energy. Cally was sure to know something was wrong the moment she laid eyes on him.
"Sit down. Have a drink." Sam poured him a glass of water. "Hang on a minute while I get dressed and we'll talk."
Tyrol sat in the chair, legs tapping wildly, as his heart threatened to pound right out of his chest. Sam returned a moment later and sat in the chair opposite him.
"Okay, here's what we're going to do. Take a deep breath and count to ten ... "
XXXXX
Tory's eyes narrowed as she stood, knocking the chair to the ground behind her.
"No way." She shook her head. "Now way. You are not telling me I'm a Cylon." The shaking grew more vigorous. "I am not a frakking Cylon! I'm human!"
TBC
