Bright, Shiny Futures – Chapter Twenty-Two

Before Kara had even taken two steps on to the deck she was engulfed in the biggest bear hug she'd ever received. It was warm, comfortable and the feeling it gave her brought tears to her eyes. It said 'home' like nothing else.

"Kara," Helo greeted her. "It's good to see you again."

She pulled back to look up into his face. "It's good to be seen." She laid a hand upon his arm. "I've missed you Karl."

"Of course you have. Who wouldn't miss me?"

Kara laughed as tears filled her eyes. "Haven't changed at all, have you Agathon?"

"Not in the slightest," Sharon, by his side, answered. "He's still the same lovable pain in the ass he was when you disappeared."

Kara smiled over at Sharon. The two women embraced, slightly less warmly.

"I'm happy to see you Starbuck."

"It's good to see you too Sharon."

Lee smiled, feelings tears prick his eyes and an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. He'd lived primarily on Colonial One for most of the last five years but though he'd visited Galactica often it just hadn't seemed like home without Kara. He had a feeling now of being in the right place at the right time with all circumstances going his way, and to be honest, he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. Follow your heart, a small voice in his head whispered. It'll show you where to go.

He glanced over at Michael, feeling a pang of sympathy for the man, completely out of his element. He cleared his throat to get Kara's attention. She looked at him and caught the subliminal nod towards Michael.

"Michael, this is Karl and Sharon Agathon - old friends of mine. Guys, this is my … husband, Michael Smith." She paused a beat before the last three words. It was barely perceptible but Lee caught it. They all shook hands then Kara introduced the children.

The Vice President, accompanied by full military escort, took his opportunity to get their attention and remind them of why they were there.

"I'm uh … going to need to borrow a uniform," Kara said tentatively. "My flightsuit didn't survive the trip well and my tanks have long since worn through."

"I'm sure we can find something …" Adama began.

"It's okay." Lee reached out a hand and touched Kara's shoulder. "I've got something for you. Come with me."

Kara smiled quickly at him, feeling the rising flush on the back of her neck. She turned to look at Michael, apologetically. "I guess I'd better get dressed then. Enjoy the show."

Zach smiled, eyes shining like stars. Michael gave her a half smile but she couldn't help but see the sadness behind his eyes. Guilt began to eat at her, and it too was a familiar feeling, one she associated deeply with this place.

They headed towards the senior officer's bunkroom, escorted by two soldiers. Lee stopped them at a storage locker and opened the hatch, pulling out a trunk and dragging it into the corridor. Kara wanted to ask what was inside but she had the distinct feeling that Lee wanted to keep quiet till they were alone.

He dropped it just outside the bunkroom and turned the handle, opening the room for the soldiers to scope it out before they entered.

"Could we have some privacy while we change?" Lee asked politely.

One of the soldiers entered the room, checked it thoroughly and nodded as he came out. "Make it quick," he said brusquely, positioning himself and the other just outside the hatch.

Kara took one end of the trunk and helped Lee lift it into the room and onto the table. Lee carefully shut the hatch while Kara silently opened the wooden box. She lifted out a well-worn flightsuit – it smelled so much like Lee that her body broke out in shivers at the memories it evoked.

"I believe this is yours," she said huskily, laying it on the table. She pulled a pair of tanks and green cargo pants next and put them neatly on top.

Underneath was another set of tanks and a flightsuit. They bore no recognizable scent but the small cigar-burn hole on the left sleeve was unmistakable. "You kept my other flightsuit?" she said softly, eyes wide with wonder. She held it out in front of her. "Here, with all of your things?"

He reached out and touched the slick fabric with sensitive fingers, as if touching her skin itself. "I figured they deserved to retire together," he whispered. "Apollo and Starbuck always belonged together."

She stepped forward, only the uniform keeping them from touching one another. "Did you … fly again after I … " She broke off.

Lee licked his lips. "Only once. Once was enough to tell me I couldn't do it without you." They drifted towards one another, mouths both slightly open.

The sudden clanging on the hatch as one of the soldiers knocked startled them. Lee walked over, breaking the spell, and opened it a fraction. "Just another minute," he said and shut it firmly again. 'We'd best get ready' was on the tip of his tongue as he turned around, but Kara already had her shirt and pants off and was pulling on her cargos.

Lee walked over and began to undress as well, both of them instinctively turning their backs to one another as they'd always done. Kara turned once, stealing a quick peek at his naked back. A sharp spike of desire shot through her, making her feel weak in the knees. Your husband and children are here Kara. You can't be allowing yourself to think these thoughts! But try as she might not to think about Lee, he was always there at the forefront of her heart and soul. She couldn't not think about him. Not anymore.

He reached deep into the trunk and pulled out two helmets. "Here," he said softly, handing one to her.

"Thanks," she replied just as quietly, even the perfunctory words between them feeling charged with an intimacy she found hard to resist. Their eyes met.

"Don't lose me this time Apollo," she whispered, trying to make it light but failing.

A sob escaped Lee's throat involuntarily. "Not a chance."

They walked to the hangar bay in silence, two hearts beating furiously in time to the beat of four pairs of footsteps.

XXXXX

"We're going to have to improvise here people," Adama began once Lee and Kara had arrived at the hangar bay. "Athena, get the Raptor prepped and ready to go. Helo, I'll need you to do the Viper launches manually since we're short a deck crew."

"Aye sir," Sharon said, already striding purposefully to her ship.

"Understood sir," Helo said, eyes shining with anticipation. It had been a long time since he'd been in the thick of the action down on deck. Being an XO had it's perks but he'd missed the thrills of actually being there. Listening from CIC just wasn't the same.

"You remember what to do?" Adama's eyes twinkled and a smile pulled the corners of his mouth up.

Helo broke into a wide grin. "It hasn't been that long sir."

"Good. Apollo, Starbuck – you'll have to bring your birds to the launch tubes yourselves."

Kara stared at him, a strange look on her face. "Sir," she began slowly. "There are already Vipers ready to go." She pointed at the two ships closest to the launch tubes.

"Your birds are over there." Adama gestured towards a nearly-empty corner of the bay where two gleaming Vipers sat, side by side. "They ought to come out of retirement along with you."

Lee's face worked as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "You mean you retired my ship when I quit flying?" His chin quivered. "I assumed you'd put her into rotation with the others … "

His father's eyes bored into his soul. "Apollo and Starbuck retired after legendary careers in the service. I felt their ships deserved the same honour."

Lee swallowed hard and blinked back the tears. He and his father had taken a long while to put their differences about his quitting the military behind them, but even still, never once had the Old Man shown approval for Lee's actions. Much less pride in his son's accomplishments. It had been something they'd never talked about. It nearly brought Lee to his knees.

Kara must have sensed Lee's imminent break down because she put a hand on his arm. "Let's go flyboy," she said gently. "Those Vipers aren't going to move themselves."

He looked at her and nodded and they began to walk, not looking back.

"Tell your people we'll be ready in fifteen minutes," Adama said brusquely to the Vice President, still in full 'commander' mode and not even realizing he was giving orders to people who weren't under his command. "I'm going to reroute communications to the observation lounge. Come,' he said to Michael and the children. "I promise you this will be spectacular."

XXXXX

Halfway to the end of the bay Lee stopped and wiped his eyes. Kara stopped as well, standing close as she studied his face. "Your father never forgave you for leaving, did he?" she said softly.

Lee shook his head, not trusting his voice. She took his hand, twining their fingers together.

"He has now," she whispered, squeezing affectionately. Their eyes met and held for a long while. "We'd best get moving before he comes and yells at us," she said, letting go reluctantly and heading over to grab the equipment they'd need to tow the ships across the deck.

They worked in silence, each helping the other, doing what was necessary with no exchange of words.

Lee's heart felt full but surprisingly light. He was about to fly again! With Kara! Even after all this time apart they still worked together as a perfect team. And to add to that – he finally had his father's forgiveness and better yet, approval, for leaving the military and going his own way.

Ten minutes later the Vipers were loaded in the tubes, ready to go, and both he and Kara were settling themselves into their cockpits, pulling on their helmets and doing pre-flight checks.

Paralyzing fear hit him suddenly. What if he lost Kara? What if she flew away and disappeared from his life again? The pain in his chest felt like a physical blow.

"Starbuck," he said solemnly, looking across at her. She looked up and met his eyes. "I've got your back," he promised.

A world of emotion swirled in her eyes – he could see it even through both helmets and Viper canopies.

"I know," she said softly.

"I mean it Kara. If you fly off into something unknown again … I'm going with you."

"It's a deal."

"Apollo, Starbuck, this is Galactica actual. Are you there?" Adama interrupted.

"Apollo here."

"Starbuck here too. We read you loud and clear sir."

"Good. Now let's get this show on the road. Helo, are you ready?"

"Yes sir," Helo said crisply. "Launch tubes four and five are cleared to go on your mark."

There was a pause. "Helo, Galactica actual. Mark. Get our birds up there."

"Aye sir. Apollo, launching in five, four, three, two, one … mark."

Kara watched as Lee's Viper picked up speed and shot through the tunnel till he was out of sight. Her heart pounded with excitement. They were about to fly together!

"Starbuck, launching in five, four, three, two, one … mark."

She felt like shouting aloud as her body experienced long-forgotten sensations. The pull of the G-forces as her ship accelerated, the feel of the stick in her hand, knowing that within moments she would be out there on her own, free of the shackles of the planet … it all made her giddy with joy.

Lee was the first thing she saw as she shot out into the open blue sky. He'd turned around and was waiting – facing her. She flew up to him slowly, stopping just in time to leave them nose to nose. The memories overwhelmed her – how many times had they done this before?

Lee too must have been remembering them. A slow smile spread across his face. "Beyond insane Starbuck?" he said.

Her wide grin matched his own. "Nothing but, Apollo. Let's go!"

She reversed slightly and pulled away, turning to a new heading – streaking away quickly, as though inviting him to chase her.

He did.

XXXXX

Michael watched, fascinated, as they flew together, disappearing into the clouds off in his eye's horizon and then suddenly zooming back, looking for all the word as though they were going to crash. The Vice President, standing beside him, was keeping up an almost-constant stream of chatter, both to the fighter pilot escorts and to the President himself. In the beginning he listened, curious as to their reaction, but eventually it faded into the background as he found himself mesmerized by Lee and Kara's movements. He wasn't the only one.

He became aware of Zach beside him when the boy pulled at his sleeve. "It looks like Lee and mommy are playing tag," the little boy said, eyes twinkling with exuberance.

It looks more like a game of hard to get, he thought wryly. No wonder Adama says they're quite a team out there. They look as though they were born to be flying together.

"Sure does," he answered his son, forcing an enthusiastic smile.

"Starbuck, I've got your back."

"I know."

"I mean it Kara, if you fly off into something unknown again, I'm going with you."

"It's a deal."

Those few words had told him everything he needed to know. Lee still loved her and wasn't going to let her go. Period. Worse yet - Kara didn't want him to.

He sighed, positive his heart was shattering into a million pieces.

XXXXX

Adama watched with pride while his children did what they did best. They had an instinctive ability to read each other's minds out there – something very few pilots ever developed, let alone naturally had from the first moment they'd flown together. It was an absolute joy to watch them chasing, gliding, spinning – away from each other and coming back to formation as if two pieces of a puzzle fitting together perfectly. It's been way too damn long, his mind said. And it was true. Eight years since they'd been together at all, and even before that they'd seldom flown together. You're the one who promoted Lee to Commander, effectively ruining his life. He frowned. Had no choice. I needed someone I could trust there. But he knew deep inside that it was true. Removing Lee from Galactica and Kara had had disastrous consequences. Lee hadn't been the same man since. Sometimes in war time you've got to do what you've got to do. No matter how much it hurts.

He couldn't see his son's face but the absolute and utter joy in his actions was unmistakable. And it made his old father's heart proud.

"They look good out there, don't they?" Roslin said quietly, stepping up to stand beside him. "I can't remember the last time I saw them flying together."

"Live? I think it's been since the first days of our journey. For me anyway – I've always been in CIC and only saw them as blips on the dradis screen." He smiled down at her. "It does my old heart good to see them like this."

More importantly though, he knew that it was doing Lee's heart good. He'd tried to move on after Kara's death and though he'd succeeded to a point, a part of him had never healed. Adama knew Lee blamed himself for not bringing Kara back and because of it had never found closure in what had happened to her.

This was a first step.

TBC

A/N: Many thanks to all of you who've read the previous chapter and particularly to mariel3, gatelover, elliesmeow, chocoholicwitch (great name btw!) and xan-merrick for your lovely reviews. Thanks as always to JATNJ for your constant support and wonderful comments – and for posting this here for me. Hugs!