~ Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Fifty ~

Kara touched Lee's arm and led him away from the group. "What's up with your father? I could tell something was wrong when he came in here but he told me to ask you because he didn't want to talk about it."

Lee gulped. "Well, they don't know for certain yet," he whispered, face close to her ear, "but they think Laura's cancer has returned."

"Oh no!" Kara bit her lip. "That's awful!"

He reached out and took her hand in his. "Laura's seeing the doc now." He squeezed. "They're going to need all the support they can get if it's true."

"Of course." Kara blinked rapidly. "Let me know as soon as you find out, okay?" She met his eyes and hers stung even more as she saw how his glistened. Laura Roslin had only been legally related to them a short while, but in their hearts she'd been part of the family for years.

"Kara, Lee," Sharon interrupted.

Lee gave her hand one more quick squeeze then let go as they walked back to join the others.

"I've got it all down here, the coordinates, the things you've all said about the planets and constellations ... do you want me to take it to the Admiral and President Roslin?"

"No, I'll take it," Lee said quickly. "I need to see my father about something else anyway." He smiled to ease her curious expression. "No sense in you making an extra trip when I'm going anyway."

"Okay." she rolled up the sheets and handed them over. "Is there anything else you need me for? I've got a bit of time before my duty shift."

Kara shook her head. "No, thanks anyway. We appreciate you helping as much as you have already."

"Anything I can do." She laid her hands on Hera's shoulders. "We all want to find a home and if there's anything we can do to make that reality come quicker, we're more than willing to help. Right girls?"

Kiera and Hera nodded enthusiastically.

* * * * * * * * * *

Kara and the children accompanied Lee as he headed back to his father's quarters.

A pair of unfamiliar, civilian-clad backs came into view as they turned a corner.

"Mr Vice President," Kara said, recognizing him as he turned his head and his profile became recognizable. Both men turned. "And Captain Jackson."

"Ms Thrace, Mr Adama, it's good to see you." The Vice President smiled a genuinely welcoming smile.

Lee smiled. "You look a little lost. Is there anything we can do to help?"

The other man grinned sheepishly. "This ship is enormous. How do you find your way around?"

"You get used to it after a while," Kara answered. "You'll learn your way around pretty quickly, assuming you stay on board."

"Assuming we stay on board? Where else would we go?"

Kar awaved her arm. "There's a whole fleet out there. You don't have to stay on Galactica."

"I want to," Jackson said quickly. "In fact I was hoping I might be able to use my skills here, maybe learn how to pilot one of your ships."

Lee nodded. "I can't speak for the military as I'm not part of it anymore but I know they're always looking for new recruits, particularly those with flight experience. I'll mention it to the CAG."

"CAG? What's that?"

"Commander of the Air Group. Long time ago it was my job," Lee answered with a wistful smile.

"I did it for a time too, don't forget," Kara said, nudging him with an elbow. "Who is the CAG now anyway?"

"Hotdog."

"Hotdog?" The Vice President's eyebrow raised to comic heights. "What kind of a name is that?"

"It's a callsign," Kara said, smiling. "People often have the same given names so each pilot gets a callsign - like a nickname - when he or she begins to fly. It's your own unique name that identifies you when you're out there." She chuckled. "I can't believe Hotdog is in charge. I remember when he was a nugget."

"Nugget?"

"A new recruit. I trained him," Kara said proudly.

"How do you get your callsign? Do you name yourself?" Jackson asked.

"No, your instructor usually does. You can make suggestions though if something doesn't come to the instructor's mind readily ... "

"So you named him Hotdog? Why?"

Kara blushed. "It just seemed to fit his hotshot attitude. I guess it worked out though if he's the best of the best now."

"I think your Admiral believes the two of you are the best," the Vice President said with a smile.

Lee and Kara looked at one another. "We really haven't flown in a long time, save a couple of weeks ago," Lee said. It's not really our thing anymore."

"You know it's something you never forget how to do," Jackson said. "I couldn't handle not flying. Don't you ever miss it?"

Kara bit her lip and glanced at Lee quickly. "Sometimes," she said.

"Mommy, are you going to fly again?" Zach asked.

Kara looked down at her son guiltily. She'd completely forgotten the children were with them. "I don't know honey. We'll see."

He looked up at her with pleading eyes, then over at Lee.

"Not just yet okay?" she added, seeing the quick but intense glance Lee had given her before looking back down at Zach. "I need to get better first before I'd even be allowed to fly."

"Please?"

Lee ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "I'm sure the Admiral will let us go out for a spin once your mom is feeling better. I'll tell you what, after we deliver these maps I'll take you down to the hangar bay and show you the Vipers and Raptors up close and personal. How does that sound?"

Zach's eyes shone. He nodded wordlessly.

The Vice President touched Lee's arm. "I know you're busy now but I'd like to have a word with you if you can find a few minutes later."

Lee nodded. "For sure. It probably won't be until later this evening as I'm busy this morning and the quorum is meeting this afternoon to discuss our future." He caught the other man's confused look. "The quorum is our civilian government," he explained. "We have a President, Vice President and twelve delegates - one from each of our original colonies or at least someone to represent each colony, who run things. Unless there's a military emergency, then the Admiral is in charge."

The Vice President nodded. "Sounds fair to me."

"I'll see you later then. Probably after 20:00hrs. Sometimes these meetings tend to drag on ... "

The other man smiled sympathetically. "Sometimes I think that's the worst part of the job."

Lee nodded. "I couldn't agree more."

* * * * * * * * * * *

As earlier, the hatch opened immediately to Lee's knock, as if his father had been waiting for him to arrive. Adama's sad face coupled with Laura's red eyes told the story before they even had to speak a word.

Lee's face crumpled. "Oh Laura." He walked over and put his arms around her. They held each other tightly while Kara watched somewhat uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, looking over at Adama and seeing the sorrow in his eyes.

"So am I," he answered in a voice that was just as quiet. "But we'll make it through. We have to." He looked down at the children standing quietly by Kara's side and smiled.

"What's wrong?" Zach asked. "Why are you so sad?"

Adama dropped to his knees in front of the boy. "Grandma Laura is sick."

"Like my mommy?"

"No, not like that. It's hard to explain."

"Is she going to die?"

"We all die son. But hopefully she won't leave us for a long, long time."

"It won't be long," Sara cut in, surprising them all. "The dying leader has almost led us home. Then it is time for her to rest."

"What did you say?" Laura pulled away from Lee to look at the little girl. Chills were going up and down her spine. "About the dying leader?"

Sara shrugged, eyes wide and innocent. "I don't know."

Laura wanted to question her further but Kara shook her head all-but imperceptibly. "Sometimes she says things - lately it's almost like someone else talking through her and she's not aware of what she's said," she almost whispered.

Adama cleared his throat and pointed at the rolled up maps Lee had put on his desk. "So did you get anything useful from those?"

Kara sighed. "I'm not sure. We got something but I don't know how useful it will be."

"Show me."

He studied the maps intently as Kara explained. "Well, it's somewhere to start. I'll take these to Helo and we'll plot a course."

"Thank you," Kara said softly.

"For what?"

"Believing in me."

He cupped her face gently with a rough, calloused hand. "How could I not?"

"Dad, there's one other thing I wanted to ask you about."

"Shoot."

"Captain Jackson - the helicopter pilot - wants to train to be a pilot with us now. Is that something you'd consider?"

"I don't see why not. Talk to Hotdog and get him ready to join the nuggets."

Kara touched Lee's arm. "Why don't I talk to him? You've got a date planned." She nodded at Zach and smiled. "When I'm done I'll come find you guys in the bay."

"Sounds good. But don't be too long - I have to go on the 11:00 shuttle to Colonial One for the meeting."

Kara nodded then looked over at Laura. The two women locked eyes. Kara didn't know what to say but hoped she was able to convey her heartfelt emotion silently.

"Sara," Laura said, nodding at Kara then turning to the little girl. "Do you want to stay and visit with us while your mommy does a few things? We'd love to spend some time with you."

Sara nodded. "Bye mommy."

Kara knelt down and gave her daughter a hug, tears stinging her eyes. "I'll be back soon, okay sweetheart?"

Sara nodded again.

She stood and brushed Zach's hair off his forehead. "Be good hon," she said, "and I'll see you soon."

" 'Kay, bye mommy."

* * * * * * * * * *

"We meet again," Kara laughed as she turned a corner and nearly bumped into Jackson, alone now but still looking lost and confused.

He gave her a smile of relief. "Thank goodness! I was hoping to get a chance to look around where the pilots live and work but I think I've taken a wrong turn."

"Most definitely. I'll show you where to go. I'm not sure they'd appreciate you wandering around without an escort anyway since they don't know you."

They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes. "How long did you serve on Galactica before you came to Earth?" he asked eventually.

"I'm not sure 'came to' is the right phrase," she said wryly. "I had no choice. It just happened." She paused. "I was on Galactica for two years before our homeworlds were destroyed, about three years after that."

"That's a long time."

Kara shrugged. "Had the holocaust not happened I probably would have been transferred to another ship. Three years was about a pilot's lifespan on any one posting. It was usually quite a bit less, to be honest."

"So how come you stayed so long?"

Kara's cheeks pinked. "The Admiral and I knew each other - were pretty close actually, so even though I should have moved, he always found a reason for me to stay."

"I see. Everyone here seems so close - like family," he observed. "It's nice."

Kara smiled ruefully. "It wasn't always this way. Even at the beginning of our exodus there were petty fights and jealousies that drove people apart, but after enough battles and losses I think people started to hang onto what was left because they had nothing else. Less than a third of the people who left the colonies are still alive today. I think we all consider each other family because we're all we have."

He nodded. "I think I understand."

Kara looked at him with a sad smile. "You'll come to understand it even better soon. You're part of us now."

His lips pressed together in a thin line as he nodded, blinking rapidly. "Thank you."

"You might want to save your thanks," Kara said, trying to lighten the mood. "Our 'family' is as dysfunctional as any. We have our weirdos - Hotdog is like your goofy cousin who always embarrasses you in front of other people but who, inside, you secretly like a lot. Helo is like everyone's perfect big brother. He's a great guy with seemingly no flaws so you can't resist playing jokes on him and trying to take him down a peg or two. Gaeta," she leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "is like the uncle you think is gay but you're not sure and you're afraid to come out and just ask."

Jackson was laughing hard by this time so Kara stopped to let him catch his breath.

"You really are a riot, you know that?"

"I've heard that rumour," she said slowly through a big grin, "but wait till you see me when times aren't so tough. If you find this amusing ... "

He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Please, I don't think I could handle any more."

Kara chuckled. "It's okay, we're here anyway. This is the pilot's rec area," she pointed through the open door to where maybe half a dozen pilots sat in uniform, playing cards. "The flight briefing room is the next one on the left." She swung open the door as she finished speaking and stopped dead three paces into the room.

"Starbuck!" Hotdog said gleefully, noticing her and interrupting himself mid-sentence.

The entire group of pilots stood - all twelve of them - and saluted. "Sir," they said in unison.

She laughed. "At ease. I'm not military anymore." She looked over at Jackson's face and was surprised at the look of awe on it. She followed his line of sight and a lump grew in her throat. On the side wall where Galactica's "license" hung, they'd hung a picture of her. Over it, the words "Starbuck. The best of the best."

"It's true," Hotdog said softly, obviously seeing the emotions written on her mobile face. "We all do our best but no one is as good as you."

She swallowed hard and blinked as she turned her head to face him. "Thank you."

He smiled. "You want to take over? I'm sure you could still teach basic flight with your eyes closed."

The nuggets' cheers of approval drowned out her response. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't. Not right now."

Hotdog lifted a hand to silence the protests. "Maybe another time then. We'd be happy to have a guest come show us how it's done."

"Maybe." Kara smiled. "What I really came for was to talk to you for a minute."

"Okay guys, take five." He turned back to her. "I'm all yours."

She introduced Jackson who then explained what he wanted. The two of them were deep in discussion in no time. She checked her watch and held a hand up to interrupt. "I'm sorry but I've got to run. Children to pick up."

"Yeah, I know how that is." Hotdog smiled.

"You have kids?"

"A two year old boy."

"Wow. Who'd have been crazy enough to marry you?" she teased, noticing the ring on his finger for the first time.

He swung a friendly punch at her. "Hey, I'm not that bad."

"Anymore." They grinned at one another. "Hotdog will take care of you and get you what you need," she added, turning to face Jackson, whose pleasure in their banter was evident in his wide smile.

He held out his hand. She took it and they shook. "Thank you Ms Thrace, or should I say 'Starbuck' ".

She smiled self-consciously. "It's been a long, long time since I've been called that. I'm not sure I want to take on all that goes with being Starbuck anymore."

He nodded in understanding.

She smiled at them both and took off at a jog. Lee's transport would be leaving in five minutes and she couldn't afford to be late.

* * * * * * * * * *

"I'll see you later?" Kara said hopefully biting her lip as a smile tried to break through.

"Count on it." Their eyes met and she felt a little shiver go down her spine. Lee lifted a hand impulsively and cupped her cheek for a moment before dropping it back down to ruffle Zach's hair. He smiled up at his father and Lee returned it, then strode purposefully across the bay to the waiting Raptor.

He climbed in and sat down on the lone available seat, only noticing his traveling companions once he'd settled himself.

Directly opposite him sat Kathryn.

~ TBC ~