Bright, Shiny Futures – Chapter Twenty-Three

Bright, Shiny Futures – Chapter Twenty-Three

It was one of the most amazing experiences of her life. Perhaps the most, save for the births of her children. That too had been wonderful and incredible but in an entirely different way. It was like something she hadn't even realized she'd been missing had suddenly surfaced and it had turned out to be the most precious thing she could ever have imagined.

She wanted to shout it out – to tell everyone how she felt but there were no words to express it. Anything she might say would fall hopelessly short of the mark. No one could possibly understand.

Except Lee.

He was surprisingly silent. She knew, impossibly, that he too was lost for words. Flying had been the one thing they'd always shared as one soul, despite everything else that had gone on between them. Emotionally, they'd traded off being close and distant, but no matter how far apart they'd grown, flying had always brought them back together again. Hanging up their wings had caused the largest chasm between them yet … more so even than their physical separation. Let it be what it is Kara, her mind urged. Let it heal you both and bring you back together the way it's always done. It's destiny – you can't keep fighting it.

But her heart had to fight. Being with Lee meant doing one of two things – walking away from her family or fighting to take them with her. Everyone would get hurt no matter what she did. Live in the moment Kara. At least savour it now while you can. Worry about the future later. She decided to listen and tried to push her quandary to the back of her mind. This might well be the only time the two of them would get to fly together and she wasn't going to waste it.

She spun through the air, twisting and turning, doing barrel rolls, figure eights and other maneuvers all-but forgotten as joyful laughter bubbled out. Lee followed her lead, letting go and allowing his playful side to take over.

"Gods Apollo, this is so much fun. I never realized how much I've missed it."

"Me too," Lee sighed. "Me too."

She pulled alongside him and they coasted together effortlessly, eyes locked on one another's.

"To old times?" he said wistfully.

"Old times." She smiled sadly.

Before she could catch her breath he was gone, streaking off into the distance and leaving both her and the fighter jets behind.

"Wait up flyboy!" Kara called out, pushing her ship up to full speed in an instant. The pressure nearly crushed her chest and she reveled in the feeling.

"Catch me if you can," he said merrily, obviously enjoying teasing her.

"No fair. You're supposed to be chasing me."

"I've been chasing you all my life Kara. Haven't managed to catch you yet. I thought it was time we changed the rules."

She caught the undertone loud and clear and wondered if anyone else did. Michael likely had – as much as she wanted him to be oblivious he wasn't stupid or unobservant.

"I'm not sure I like this game," she said carefully.

"You scared Starbuck?" he taunted, flying close then pulling away teasingly.

"Bite your tongue!"

"You bite it for me … if you can catch me."

Kara closed her eyes and drew in a sharp breath. Her body hummed with desire, every nerve ending taut like a finely tuned piano wire. Flying always turned her on – though she wasn't the only one. Many a frat reg had been broken after combat missions when pilots had an overabundance of adrenaline and no other way to work it off.

It was magnified a hundred-fold when she flew with Lee. Always had been, particularly when he teased her like this. She was going to have to find somewhere private to get off when they were done.

"Apollo, Starbuck, pull back," Adama ordered suddenly, breaking into her thoughts and causing her to flush as though he'd physically interrupted something. "Bring your birds home."

"Galactica, Starbuck. Is there something wrong?"

"The fighter pilot escort can't keep up with you and they're getting a little edgy."

Lee pulled back to match her speed and they looked at one another, trying hard not to laugh. Adama's words had sounded stern but underneath they could both detect the note of pride and humour. He was enjoying besting the Earth people.

"Aye aye Galactica. Apollo and Starbuck returning home."

"When you get close enough to show off, I want you to demonstrate the basic combat maneuvers. Starbuck – you still remember the sequence you used to teach the nuggets?"

"How could I forget sir?" she laughed.

"At your leisure then."

"Shall I pretend you're a nugget Apollo?"

"Over my dead body! I can fly circles around you."

"Says you."

"Yeah, says me. And I'm your superior officer, I should know."

The airwaves were silent a moment as Lee realized the slip and flushed.

"Not anymore," Kara said quietly. "We've both been away from it so long I'm pretty sure we both suck equally."

Lee laughed, thankful she'd saved the moment. "Well let's try to show them we still have what it takes. After you Starbuck."

Everything was strangely silent as they moved through sequence after sequence, flawlessly ending up where they needed to be without checking with the other. When the Raptor joined them it was as if they'd planned every move down to the letter. They hadn't – Adama had sent Helo and Athena in blind, hoping to show the Vice President that his pilots were able to roll with the punches as they came.

They flew in formation, demonstrating the Raptor's capabilities, showing the Vice President that using different ships in one attack was more effective than just Vipers.

After a good half hour Adama recalled them.

"Just in time eh Apollo?" Kara said. "I was just about to give the bingo fuel signal."

"Yeah." I don't ever want to go back. I just want to fly off into the sunset with you and make our own bright, shiny future together. Even to his own ears his voice sounded distant, dreamy. What must they all be thinking? Who the frak cares Lee? They all know you're still in love with her, why try to hide it? The little voice in his head took it further. Why not make a play for her? You always sit back and watch as someone else takes the place that should be rightfully yours – maybe it's time you fought for her.

He let his mind wander on autopilot. It was true, he'd always played the gentleman and stepped back, waiting for her to make the first move. Except that night on New Caprica. She was a strong woman who knew her own mind and he'd always figured if she wanted him she'd come. Maybe that wasn't the way she worked. Maybe she'd always been waiting for him to come to her and not back down, even when she pushed. Remember New Caprica? You made the move and she turned and ran. He hated it when his subconscious played devil's advocate. He'd replayed that night over and over and had finally come to the realization that it wasn't because 'them' was something she hadn't wanted – she'd been afraid, that's why she'd run.

The thing was, she wasn't that woman anymore and he wasn't that man. Her death had erased the 'number of times it hasn't worked out' scorecard and the subsequent years of separation had changed them both. Maybe it was time to try again. To push for it and not let her run away without a fight.

What about her family? My family, he thought firmly. Zach is my son and Sara should be my daughter. I've wanted that bright shiny future with her for so long I can hardly remember the time that came before it.

But though he was sorely tempted to follow that advice, his conscience weighed on him like a black cloud. He'd always been a man who had to do the right thing, even if it meant denying himself what he wanted most.

"Frak," he swore softly.

"Lee?"

He turned to find her right beside him, face anxious.

He smiled, trying to reassure her. "Just sorry it's over. It's been fun."

Kara nodded and turned away, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

It wasn't flying.

XXXXX

"That was absolutely phenomenal Admiral."

Adama literally glowed with pride. "Thank you sir. I had hoped you would be impressed."

"I am. Your technology is perhaps not quite as advanced as our own but your Vipers are like nothing we've ever had before. And the pilots … my Lord, if all your pilots fly like that I'm certainly thankful you're on our side." The Vice President chuckled.

"Our side?" Roslin said meaningfully. "Who else's side would we be on? Are there aliens living on planets close by?"

The Vice President laughed. "Aliens. You're funny. No, I meant it's a good thing you didn't land in another country like Iraq or North Korea."

"You don't … get along well with them?" Adama asked hesitantly.

"You could say that. The situation in North Korea is dicey at best, and we're at war with Iraq."

"At war?" Roslin blinked incredulously. "You mean you're not a planet-state?"

"By that you mean … "

Roslin and Adama shared a look. "Where we come from there were no countries. Each planet was a unified whole with one central government. The regions had disagreements on occasion but they were quickly resolved."

"I wish Earth could be that way," the Vice President said regretfully. "But no one can agree on who's to be in charge."

"Democracy isn't planet-wide I'm guessing." Adama's eyebrow made the familiar journey up his forehead.

The other man shook his head. "I'm afraid not. That's why I say it's a good thing you landed here. We're a force for good in the world."

I'm sure none of the others would consider themselves 'bad'. Goodness is a matter of perspective. Bill Adama didn't share his thoughts aloud though he knew Laura Roslin was certainly sharing them.

"Well I'm certainly glad we ended up here as well," Adama said. "Democracy and unity are things we value highly as well and will do whatever we can to help you achieve them on a worldwide scale."

"Thank you sir." The Vice President offered his hand. Adama shook it vigorously. "I suspect that together we will make the world a better place."

XXXXX

Kara breathed a huge sigh of relief as they landed. There wasn't a single soul on the deck but themselves, Helo and Sharon. The four of them did an exceptionally brief post-flight check and stowed the two Vipers back in their corner of honour.

"Boy am I glad I wasn't flying my own ship when I disappeared." She stroked it lovingly. "It's nice having her here now."

"What happened to your ship anyway?" Sharon asked curiously.

Kara shrugged, still at a loss for an explanation even after all these years. "I don't know. The last thing I remember was flying into the storm and then I must have blacked out. When I woke up I was lying on the ground and my Viper was nowhere in sight. I never found it, though I did search," she added, forestalling the question she saw in Helo's eyes. "I had as many questions as you do back then, but when no answers ever came I gave up and just let it be what it was."

"Which is what?"

Kara shrugged again. "I've no idea."

"A miracle?" Sharon suggested.

"Or maybe the opposite of a miracle," Helo said softly, shrewdly interpreting Kara's sad look.

"Maybe a bit of both," she said quietly. "I sure as hell didn't want to be here at first. I know that sounds strange since it's so beautiful here and my life back there … " She trailed off. "Well, it was a frakked-up mess at best." She laughed self-consciously. "After enough time passed I was able to see a little more objectively and realized maybe this was the Gods' way of giving me a second chance to make a real life for myself."

"So you took it," Sharon said.

"Be a fool not to," Helo added, smiling at Kara. She smiled back but her heart wasn't in it.

Lee had been strangely silent throughout the whole exchange, seemingly absorbed in scanning the Raptor's outer hull. He looked up, as if on cue, and met her eyes. A frisson of desire so powerful it nearly dropped her to her knees right there on the deck, seized her.

"We should go get cleaned up. The others will be waiting," she said shortly, glancing quickly at Lee then turning and heading away.

"Good idea," Helo agreed, though he looked a little bewildered at her sudden abruptness. He and Lee both made as if to follow her.

"Karl." His wife's voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned back.

"Let's use the other showers."

"Why?"

"I think they need privacy," she said pointedly.

Realization dawned quickly and he flushed. "But … "

She put a finger over his lips. "It's not our business Karl. Besides, I think we could use some privacy too, don't you?"

If he could have flushed a darker shade of red, Karl Agathon would have. A smile lit up his face instead as he grabbed his wife's hand and stalked off in the opposite direction Lee and Kara had gone.

XXXXX

His back hit the wall hard – steel, not exactly a forgiving surface, but it was nothing compared to the implacable force holding him against it.

Kara Thrace.

"Kara," he began but her lips stopped him.

"No time for talking,' she said, quickly dropping back for a breath before attacking him again. Her hands ripped at his flightsuit. No, clawed would be a better word. She was like a desperate animal fighting her way out of a corner, except that was trying to fight her way in.

His hands lifted, as though to push her away. You should … His brain short-circuited and stopped there. He was sure 'you should stop before this gets out of control' was what his subconscious was going to say but it was like another part of his brain had thrown a roadblock in the way and sent him in a completely different direction.

He yanked her flightsuit's zipper down and hauled it over her shoulders roughly, not wasting a single second of the precious time they had together. Hands slipped under tanks to find flesh then stripped the offending fabric off to leave them naked but for underwear.

Lee slid his hands around her waist, caressing yet holding firmly – pressing her so close against him that she could barely breathe.

"Lee," she gasped. "Oh Lee … "

The words were as much a plea as a cry of despair. He recognized them for what they were, yet was somehow able to ignore the underlying message they were sending.

His hands caressed the backs of her arms, feeling both the goosebumps and her nipples rise against him. He clasped her hands in his then turned them around so she was pressed against the wall, arms raised straight above her head.

Their kisses were frantic with pent-up adrenaline, yet there was something about Lee's kiss that gave her shivers from the roots of her hair right down to her toes. His lips left hers to kiss all over her face – her cheek, across her forehead to the other cheek, then he buried his face in her hair and kissed the back of her ear.

I love you

It was as plain and clear as if he'd said it aloud. Had he? She wasn't sure. But she knew what was different. This wasn't about release, about flying together, teasing and needing that adrenaline rush to be sated. It was all about love. He loved her. And he was showing it with his lips as he began to kiss down her neck to the hollow of her throat. His hands explored gently, coaxing off her bra and panties so her could worship her skin without anything coming between them. They were sensitive, with long, slender fingers – something she'd noted before during the few times they'd caressed her with tenderness and love.

Her arms stayed put above her head, as though invisible hands were still holding them there. When his mouth finally found it's way below her belly button though, they slipped down and grabbed his head. His hair, thick and sweaty, tangled between her fingers. Her moans grew intense as his mouth kissed every bit of her.

The throbbing in her ears sounded like the pounding of footsteps out on the deck. "Hurry, we haven't much time," she whispered, encouraging him back to his feet.

Their mouths met again and he lifted her and slid inside.

Home.

It was home like nothing else. The sights and smells of Galactica, the rush from flying as hard and fast as she could and her body joining as one with Lee in a way it had never done with anyone else. She'd read about 'true love' in dime-store novels as a teen but had never believed it till the night she and Lee had finally confessed and shown their love for one another. It had moved him in a way that made him forget everything else. She'd tried to pretend it hadn't done the same for her, but the reality was it had. And it had scared her beyond belief to learn this man was her soul-mate.

As they moved together now, one life, one love, joining in union the way they were meant to be, her heart threw off it's long-held restraints.

"I love you," she breathed between kisses, feeling the pressure growing towards it's apex. "I love you Lee," she repeated, shutting her eyes and biting her lip.

He lifted a quick hand and caressed her cheek once then resumed thrusting. They hit the peak together, bodies pressed so closely that it felt as if they were one.

Kara panted as the waves of passion receded gradually. She cupped Lee's face and looked deep into his eyes.

"I love you Lee Adama, and I don't care who frakking knows."

TBC