Chapter 48

Winter Dance

During the fourth year of Cylon occupation, Cavil forced the Quorum of Twelve to add an amendment to the Articles of Colonization that granted citizenship to all Cylons thus insuring their equality with humans in the eyes of the law. There was an inside joke that made the rounds in government circles claiming that President Adar had signed the amendment with disappearing ink.

-Bartell, History of the Second Cylon War

.

The dress was forest green velvet and a gift from Laura. On the note Kara's father gave her along with the dress, Laura had penned, Every girl should have a special dress for her first dance. Apparently Laura didn't count the wedding and reception as Kara's first dance.

A portrait of Laura in a beautiful white dress had once hung in the room that had been redecorated to serve as Braedon's nursery. Laura wanted to put the portrait away. Kara's father had wanted to move it to their bedroom. He loved the painting of eighteen-year-old Laura with her wavy, shoulder-length hair and her serious smile.

Kara thought the smile looked more sad than serious. She had finally found the courage to ask Laura about it. Laura's answer had been no surprise. Bill Adama had been on a battlestar fighting Cylons when the portrait was painted. What Kara had seen in Laura's eyes, and what the artist had caught, was her love for Bill, her pain at their separation and her fear for his safety.

Laura and John had reached a compromise. The portrait now hung in the foyer. He got to see it every day when he came home and opened the door. She knew her father was aware of Laura's long-ago relationship with Bill. One day Kara thought she might gather the courage to ask her father why he wanted to come in every day and see a portrait of Laura that was painted when she was in love with another man. It didn't make sense to her.

Standing by his car in the parking lot, her father teased her as he handed her the dress. "This makes three, baby. You're on your way to a whole closet full."

Kara decided she could deal with owning three dresses.

"Tell Laura I said thanks. She actually left Braedon long enough to go shopping?"

"She and Fiona were gone for a couple of hours last Saturday morning."

"She left him alone with you?"

Her father gave her the dad look. "I got plenty of experience changing diapers when you were a baby."

"I guess I'll see you and Laura Saturday night. You can't ask me to dance, though. Some people already think you give me grades. That would just make it worse."

Her father hugged her. "You'll show them when you get to Flight School. They'll see how good you really are. You can't fake it in a real Viper."

Kara took the dress back to the dorm and hung it in her closet. Sharon was out jogging as she was every afternoon.

In the month since Captain Reider's death, Sharon had alternately been upbeat and then depressed and absent-minded. John and Lee had both talked to Kara about not pushing Sharon or asking her any questions. Kara could tell that both of them were fearful of arousing Sharon's suspicions.

For the first two weeks many of the other cadets had talked incessantly about the murder until it became evident that no leads were forthcoming.

True to his professional ethics, Lee had not once discussed any of his team's findings with her. What she had heard had been in the form of gossip and speculation, some of it true, some not. From Cadet Pike she heard that Reider was having sex with a cadet (true)…and that the cadet was going to be expelled (false). From a cadet in her PE class, she heard that the cadet, all five foot two of her, was a suspect in the murder (false). Kara's father told her that Colonel Winters had said that based on the forensic recreation of the murder, that the perpetrator was at least five foot nine. Sharon was almost five nine.

From another girl on her hall Kara heard that the cadet's father was being questioned. Kara later found out that the man was in a wheel chair and had been since the bombing of Caprica City. After that, Kara ignored the rumor mill. She was fairly certain that Sharon had found a way to kill Reider, just like in a previous life she had found a way to cause the dome on Troy to crack and collapse.

Destroying the mining colony on Troy was definitely something a Cylon would do. Kara could understand that as a Cylon mission, but Reider's murder was personal. Did that mean Sharon was evolving, becoming more human? Killing for revenge or from a vigilante sense of justice wasn't something a machine would do.

Kara sat down at her desk and opened her history book, but found she couldn't remember what she was reading. She finally gave up and lay down on her bed and thought about Lee.

She was almost asleep when Sharon came into the room, her cheeks flushed from exertion and the cold. There was a box under her arm that she threw on her bunk.

"What's that?" Kara asked sleepily and yawned.

"My dress for the dance Saturday night. It came in the post today. I wasn't sure it was going to make it. Open it for me, will you? I've got to go grab a shower. I've got fifteen minutes until we have to be in line for dinner."

Kara found a pair of scissors and cut the wrapping tape at the ends of the box. Inside was a surprise. The dress had a ruffled neckline and hem. It was dark purple and frilly. It was not the style of dress that Kara would have pictured for Sharon.

She took it out of the box and shook out the folds. It was very frilly.

Sharon came into the room wrapped in a towel and stopped as Kara held up the dress. "That's not the dress I ordered. I can't believe they sent me the wrong frakking dress."

"Which dress did you order?" Kara asked.

Sharon stood for a moment looking confused before she turned to her closet to get her uniform. "It didn't look like that. I'll have to find it on-line again."

"The dance is in two days. You won't have time to exchange it."

"Whatever," Sharon said. Kara sensed a shift in her mood again.

"It's a nice dress, Sharon. Karl will like it."

"Maybe I did order it. I talked to Maggie in chemistry today. She asked Zak to take her to the dance and he accepted."

Kara had not seen Zak since the night of her birthday party, since the night he had lied to her about his relationship with Maggie. Her father had told her that Mrs. Nagala had asked Bill to the dance. All three Adamas would be under the same roof for the first time since the day of the funeral.

"I didn't know he and Maggs were still dating," Kara said to Sharon.

"They saw each other a couple of times over mid-term break."

"She deserves somebody better than Zak."

"I think she's just using him."

"Using him? For what?"

"What do you think?"

"You think Maggie is using Zak for sex?"

Sharon shook her head. "Not sex. I think Maggie still has a thing for Karl, so I think she's using Zak to make Karl jealous. She wants to get dressed up and go to the dance so Karl can see her. She asked Zak because he's good-looking. She thinks it will make Karl jealous."

"She didn't have to ask Zak to get a date for the dance. Cadet Saunders asked her. He's every bit as good-looking as Zak."

"Flat Top?" Sharon snorted. "No way. Zak is cuter."

"I don't think so. Besides, it takes more than looks. And I don't think Maggie still has a thing for Karl. I know for sure he doesn't still have a thing for her."

"We need to get in line," Sharon said.

That night Kara went downstairs and looked at the signup log for the three available phones. There was one five-minute slot at 21:05. She put her name down. When Lee answered his phone, she said, "I've only got five minutes, but I wanted you to know that Maggie asked Zak to the dance and he accepted. He'll be there Saturday night. My dad said your father is coming, too with Mrs. Nagala."

"She asked him. I'd better tell Zak. I'd better tell Dad, too."

"I just wanted you to know."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. Looking forward to Saturday night."

"So am I."

"Laura sent me a new dress."

"Another one?"

"It's dark green."

"My favorite color on you."

"I'll see you Saturday. I've got to finish some math homework."

"Go study. I love you, Kara."

She glanced at the desk. The lieutenant on duty was a friend of Shelley Sydell's. Kara lowered her voice. "I love you, too."

...

"I hate it," Sharon said. "It looks like a party dress for a six-year-old."

"No, it doesn't."

"Your dress is a knockout."

Kara wished she had a full-length mirror instead of the small one on the inside of her closet door. The green velvet dress had a scooped neck, cap sleeves and v-shaped back. Her cleavage was hinted rather than shown. Of course if Lee looked down while they were dancing… Kara smiled and wondered if Laura had thought the same thing when she bought it.

"Come on. Let's go. Otherwise the guys will think we're up here primping."

"We sure don't want that," Sharon said.

They went down to the dorm lobby. Lee and Karl stood near one of the walls talking. Kara saw them both turn and look in her direction. She answered the expression on Lee's face with a slight eye roll. She knew he was trying to reconcile the woman in the green velvet dress with the uniform-clad cadet who had greeted him for the last four months in the lobby on Saturday nights.

Kara glanced at the front desk. Lieutenant Sydell was nowhere to be seen. Another lieutenant was on duty tonight. She wondered if that meant Sydell had a date for the dance or was chaperoning as Lee had mentioned.

Kara looked back at Lee. He hadn't taken his eyes off her. He helped her put on her coat as Karl helped Sharon with hers. Together the four of them walked to the Admin Building and the banquet room that had been cleared for the dance. White glitter-covered snowflakes hung from the ceiling. Two small lights rotated making the snowflakes look like they were moving.

As they walked into the ballroom, Kara asked, "Did it look this nice when you and Shelley were here together?"

"I don't remember what it looked like," Lee answered. "Let's go speak to your dad and Laura."

Hand in hand they walked over to the side of the room where the faculty chaperones stood.

"Let me see the dress," Laura said. "Turn around." As Kara turned, Laura said. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you. So do you. Is that a new dress?"

Laura glanced at her father. "I've had this one for a while. I wore it to the President's birthday party last February."

Her dad and Laura smiled at each other. The President's birthday party must have special meaning for them.

"Who's keeping Braedon tonight?" Kara asked.

"My former secretary, Adele. She raised three children so I trust her. Tory volunteered, but I don't think Tory has any experience with little ones. She's an only child."

John winked at Kara. "Our first real date since Braedon was born and we get to spend it chaperoning cadets."

Lee said, "I'm sure no one would notice if you slipped away early. It's not like you're the only faculty members here."

Out of the corner of her eye Kara saw Maggie and Zak walk in. Maggie looked beautiful in a strapless red dress. Zak had on a nice suit. They made a very nice looking couple. "Wow," Kara said.

Lee's gaze followed Kara's. The week before his brother had been in Zeno's with a petite blond, one of the Buccaneers' cheerleaders. He suddenly felt sorry for Maggie.

"We should go speak to them," he said to Kara.

John said. "We'll talk to you kids later."

He took Laura's hand and they walked toward a group of faculty members that included Colonel Winters and Colonel Burgher and his wife. Lee took Kara's hand and together they walked over to Maggie and Zak.

"Hot dress, Maggs," Kara said.

"Thanks. Back at you. Hey, Lee."

"Maggie.

Zak grinned. "Where do you get a drink around here?"

"You won't find any alcohol being served here tonight," Lee said.

"Who says?" Zak asked still grinning. He patted his suit jacket over the inside pocket. "All I need is something to mix it with."

"Lords of Kobol, Zak, you could get Maggie expelled."

"Chill, bro. I didn't say I was going to give her any of it."

Maggie looked uncomfortable. "I am not hearing any of this. I do not want to know anything about a flask."

Kara nudged Lee. Commander Adama and Mrs. Nagala had just walked in. Lee saw heads turn. His father was wearing his dress uniform. Mrs. Nagala's dark hair was down around her shoulders. Her dress was red and made similar to Maggie's. Fiona Nagala looked beautiful.

"Who's the hot babe with Dad?" Zak asked.

"Mrs. Nagala," Maggie said. "She's on the faculty."

"Damn, why wasn't she a teacher while I was here? I could have paid some serious attention in her class...maybe not to what she was teaching, but to her."

Kara glanced at Maggie. Her face was expressionless.

"Cool it, Zak" Lee said. "Mrs. Nagala is just a few years younger than Dad. I'll be glad to introduce you to her. You need to speak to Dad, too."

"Not yet. Maybe later," Zak patted his jacket again. "After I've had some refreshment."

The band began playing a slow song. "Come on, let's dance." Kara said to Lee. She'd had enough of Zak. After they were on the dance floor, she said, "Maggie deserves better than your brother."

"I'm not going to argue with you."

"I just hope she hasn't really fallen for him. That is a one-way ticket to a broken heart."

After the song ended, Kara and Lee walked over to his father and Mrs. Nagala.

"Have you come up with any more outside-of-the-box ideas?" The commander asked her. His tone was serious, but his eyes said he was teasing.

"I'm working on it, sir," Kara smiled.

"You do that. We need all the help we can get." Bill turned to Lee. "I see Zak is here."

Lee nodded.

"I'd like to at least speak to him. I haven't seen him since his mother's funeral."

"Let me talk to him first."

Without another word he and Fiona walked out onto the dance floor. Bill took her in his arms and they began to move to the music.

Kara wondered if before the evening was over, Bill would ask Laura to dance like he had done at the wedding reception.

"Your dad's a good dancer," she said to Lee.

"I'd never seen him dance with anyone before Laura and John's wedding. I didn't realize he knew how."

"Parents surprise us sometimes, don't they? I'd never seen my dad dance before then either."

Kara looked around for Sharon and Karl. She finally saw them on the far side of the room. Each had a cup of punch. Zak and Maggie had started dancing. Maggie was turning a few heads, too. She really did look good in her red dress. Zak was probably getting off big time thinking that other cadets were hot for his date.

Over Lee's shoulder she caught a glimpse of Shelley Sydell and a young, dark-haired man in an officer's dress gray uniform.

"Lieutenant Sydell has a boyfriend."

Lee glanced around. "I don't think he's a boyfriend."

"Why not?"

"He graduated from the Academy with me and Shelley. I never thought he was interested in girls. His name is Felix Gaeta. I thought he was serving on the Galactica as her tactical officer. He and Shelley are just friends."

Kara glanced over at Sharon and Karl again. They looked like they were arguing. "I don't like the look of that."

"What?"

"Sharon and Karl are having a fight. She's been in a bad mood for the last couple of days…ever since she got her dress and said it wasn't the one she ordered."

"You haven't said anything to her, have you?"

"No, Lee. I'm playing it cool just like you and dad told me to do."

As Kara watched, Sharon shoved her cup of punch into Karl's hand and made her way around the edge of the dance floor to the exit. She left without looking back.

"That's not good. I'd better go check on her."

"Be careful," Lee said. "Don't follow her outside. You need permission to leave before the dance is over."

"Gods, Lee. I know the rules. I'm just going to look in the bathroom."

Sharon was standing at one of the sinks looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"What's up?" Kara asked.

Sharon didn't answer, just shook her head.

"It's not the dress, is it? Because you look…"

"He was looking at Maggie. I think he wants to ask her to dance."

Kara thought of what Karl had told her earlier in the semester, that Sharon wasn't the jealous type. This was a big change.

"I doubt it. Karl and Maggie split up last winter. She was too jealous and possessive for one thing. Karl had always been faithful to her, but she didn't believe it."

Sharon rubbed her forehead. "Do I sound jealous and possessive? Is that what this feeling is? I'm jealous?"

"You don't need to worry about Karl. You're the one he's hot for."

The door opened and several female cadets walked in. Maggie was one of them.

"Stay away from Karl," Sharon said to Maggie.

"What are you talking about?" Maggie asked.

Sharon walked over to Maggie and pushed her shoulder slightly. "You and your red dress stay away from Karl. Now, get out of my way."

"What the frak is your problem," Maggie said. She looked at Kara. "What's her problem?"

Kara shrugged. "Come on, Sharon. Let's go."

Ignoring Kara, Sharon said to Maggie, "My problem is you."

Maggie pushed her back. "Get out of my way, Valerii."

"Oh, frak," Kara said. "Knock it off, you two. This is a dance. We're not in the gym."

Several of the other cadets who had been in the bathroom hurried out. Several others remained. They probably wanted to see what was going to happen next.

Sharon pushed Maggie again, harder this time, and Maggie swung. Sharon easily blocked her punch.

Maggie grunted and began rubbing her hand. Kara thought of the time she had hit Natasi.

"You want to try again?" Sharon asked.

Knowing it wasn't a wise move, Kara stepped between the two women. "Are you two crazy? Knock it off!"

At that moment, the door to the restroom opened and Shelley walked in. They all froze. Either Sydell quickly accessed the situation or someone had told her what was about to happen.

"Move away from each other," Sydell barked.

The three of them slowly moved apart.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, sir," Kara said.

"Cadet Valerii? Cadet Edmondson?"

"Nothing, sir," they said in unison.

"Just fooling around, sir," Maggie said. "Playing, that's all."

"Is that right, Cadet Thrace?"

"Yes, sir."

Kara looked past Sydell's shoulder and fixed her gaze on a chipped tile in the restroom wall. She was sure if she looked Shelley in the eye, Shelley would know she was lying.

Shelley looked at the two cadets who had stayed to observe and who were suddenly very busy primping in front of the mirrors. "Are they telling me the truth?"

"We weren't paying attention, sir" one of them said.

"Leave us," Sydell said. "All of you. Out. Except you, Cadet Thrace. You stay."

Kara stood motionless, her eyes still on the wall. She could tell that Sharon hesitated. "Go," she said. "Tell Lee I'll be out in a few minutes." She finally shifted her eyes to Shelley's. "Otherwise he's going to come looking for me."

Before Sharon left, she said to Kara, "Two minutes. Then I'm coming back with your father."

As soon as the door closed, Shelley said, "Wherever you go, trouble always follows, doesn't it, Cadet Thrace?"

"It depends on what you call trouble…sir"

"What's the problem with your friends?"

"No problem."

"You think because your father teaches here and you date a commander's son that you're untouchable."

Kara felt her anger start to rise. "No, sir!"

"You think you can lie to me and get away with it? Somebody was ready to trade punches. What was the fight about? Who's got the problem? Who started it?" Kara remained silent. "Well, Cadet Thrace?"

"What's your problem, sir? Is it my father or is it Lee? Have you got a problem with me because of Lee?"

"Watch it! You are way out of line. You don't want to go there."

"We don't have to go there. We're already there, aren't we, sir?"

The door opened and Laura walked in. "Am I interrupting something?" she asked sweetly.

"No, ma'am," Shelley said.

"Are we through, then, sir?" Kara asked.

"We're through, Cadet Thrace. For now."

Kara walked out with Laura. "Thanks. It was about to get ugly. I might have been going home with you and my dad tonight. She was trying to push me into doing or saying something. She almost succeeded."

"Sharon came and got me."

"Shelley used to have a thing with Lee. She doesn't like me too much."

"I gathered that."

Her father and Lee were in the hallway.

"Look who I found," Laura said.

"I'm okay," Kara said to them. She realized her right hand was still clenched in a fist. Carefully she relaxed it. Her father looked questioningly at her.

"What's going on, Kara?"

"Later, Dad. Now is not the time to talk about it." They walked back into the ballroom.

"Do I need to talk to Shelley?" Lee asked.

"No, I can handle my own problems," Kara said. She realized that her mouth was dry. "Let's get some punch." She turned. "Thanks again, Laura."

Zak and Maggie stood near the refreshment table. As soon as they had cups of punch, Maggie walked over. "What the hell is wrong with Sharon? She's acting like a nut case."

"She's been studying too hard."

"No future in that," Zak said.

"You should know," Kara retorted quickly.

"Whoa. That was uncalled for."

Kara snarked. "What's the matter? You don't like it when somebody tells the truth?"

"That's enough," Lee said. "Both of you. This is a dance. We're supposed to be having fun, for frak's sake."

Zak said, "Well, while I'm getting a lecture on the truth, maybe I should go speak to Dad. Make his night and mine, too."

"I'll go with you," Lee said. "Will you be all right?" He asked Kara.

"Never better," she answered.

As soon as Lee and Zak walked away, Maggie said, "I know Zak dates other girls. So don't feel sorry for me."

Kara shrugged. "It's your life."

"That's right. It's my life. All I really care about is being a Raptor pilot. All I really want to do is kill Cylons. Jared chose his path. I chose mine."

"It's not always that black and white, Maggs."

"Yes, it is."

"So the only good Cylon is a dead Cylon?"

"You'd better believe it."

Kara sighed. There was no point in arguing with that kind of thinking.

...

Lee stopped Zak as they made their way around the edge of the dance floor. "Have you finished the flask yet?"

"Almost."

"What are you going to say to Dad?"

"Hello."

"That's all?"

"I think I'll tell him I approve of his taste in women."

"Zak…"

"Just screwing with you, Lee. I would like a better look at the famous Mrs. Nagala. She's hot. I guess Dad's frakking her."

"That's none of my business. None of yours, either."

"After mom cut him off, I'm sure he started getting it somewhere else. He…"

"Zak, stop," Lee finally felt his temper begin to rise. "That is way too much information. The entire world does not revolve around frakking."

Zak snorted. "Says the guy who's frakking one of the hottest girls on the planet."

"We're not going to talk about my relationship with Kara. That's none of your business, either."

"She doesn't like me, does she?"

"She did until you lied to her about Maggie. You should have just kept your mouth shut."

"When? When did I lie to her about Maggie?"

"At Kara's birthday party. You told her you and Maggie didn't have a relationship."

"Did I? Frak, I was drunk, Lee. I didn't lie to her on purpose."

"That's one of your problems, Zak. You were trying to impress her. You're always trying to impress girls, telling them what you think they want to hear whether it's the truth or not."

"On second thought, maybe going to talk to Dad right now is not such a good idea. I don't think I can handle it. Besides, you sound like you're taking over his job. I don't need both of you telling me what my problems are."

Zak turned and walked away, avoiding the dancing couples as he made his way across the dance floor and back to Maggie. Zak took Maggie's hand and led her away from Kara.

Kara started walking in Lee's direction. When they met, he said, "This evening has gone to hell, hasn't it?"

"Between Sharon and Maggie and Zak...and your friend who was just doing her job instead of being a total bitch."

Lee ignored her last remark. "What happened to Karl and Sharon?"

"I don't know," Kara said. "Aren't they here?"

"I haven't seen them since Sharon came to get Laura. You want to tell me what happened in the bathroom?"

"Sharon and Maggie almost got into it. Sharon started it. I think she's losing it. I don't know what to do."

"There's nothing you can do. Stay out of it."

"I think she killed Captain Reider."

"How? How did she get out of your dorm? All of the dorm doors are fire doors. They're all alarmed except the front door and that's alarmed at night. Major Parker had technicians check all the doors in every dorm. None of them had been tampered with. I just don't see how she could have done it. And how did she get Reider to the jogging trail close to midnight, snap his neck, and then get back in without being seen? Your room is on the second floor. Even Cylons can't sprout wings."

"Her window was open a few inches that night. Our room faces the woods and the jogging trail."

"You think she threw a rope out the window, shimmied down, killed Reider and climbed back up all without being seen or waking you?"

"I don't know, Lee. I still think she did it."

"You know we can't pursue Sharon without involving you. I'm not willing to do that. I won't risk it."

"So she just goes free?"

"Unless we can find some real evidence that points the finger at her."

"Don't forget about the dome on Troy. She probably did that, too."

"Technically that couldn't have been her since whoever destroyed that dome died there."

"What difference does it make if it was her or a copy? They're the same."

"You know this opens up a brand new legal issue. The person…Cylon…whoever was responsible for causing the disaster on Troy…if it was sabotage…obviously died there. If…and that's a huge if…that could ever be proved, how could you legally put a copy of the guilty party on trial?"

"You're asking the wrong person. I'm no lawyer."

"My grandfather would have loved to tackle something like this."

"Your grandfather would have defended a Cylon?"

"Probably. I'm not sure what would have fascinated him more, the Cylon part or blazing new trails in the law."

"I didn't think Cylons had any rights."

"Legally they don't. Not under Caprica's current judicial system. They're considered machines. Of course I hear Cavil's trying to change that. He wants the Cylons declared citizens. I wouldn't be surprised any day now to hear that had happened."

"So then you could put a Cylon on trial?"

"If that happens we could. We couldn't right now."

"So what would you do with Sharon if she can't be put on trial?"

Lee shrugged. "What do you think, Kara?"

"Execute her? Are you saying if you knew Sharon had done it, you'd just execute her?"

"Not me, personally. But that's what would happen to her if we knew she was a Cylon and she'd committed a murder."

"Do you think that's right?"

"It's the law."

"That's not what I asked you, Lee. Do you think it would be right to just kill one of them without a trial or anything?"

"They killed billions of us."

"We've killed a lot of us, too. All through history we've killed each other."

"Cylons are just machines who are programmed to kill humans. Don't you understand that? The operative word is machines."

Kara thought of Leoben, at least the copy of him that she knew. "So now I guess you're going to tell me that killing one of them is just like unplugging a toaster. That's what Jared tried to tell me. We'll I can tell you it's not like that. I know what it feels like," she said, the emotion rising in her voice. "I know what it feels like to…pull that trigger. I killed two of them. Or don't you remember?"

"And they downloaded and two others took their places. How many copies of them do you think there are? Huh? How many?"

"I don't know. Lots probably."

"Just because you met one sleeper Cylon who hasn't killed yet doesn't mean he can't and won't."

"I don't believe it. Not him."

"You're too naïve, Kara. And we're going nowhere with this discussion. We're supposed to be having fun this evening."

"The went to hell early on, didn't it? There's Karl…by himself. He's heading for the refreshment table. We should go find out what happened."

When Kara and Lee got to him a minute later, Kara could tell Karl was upset.

"Sharon got permission to leave. She said she was sick. I walked her back to the dorm. What the hell is wrong with her?"

Kara took the cup of punch from Karl's hand and took a sip. "She thinks you wanted to dance with Maggs."

"That's crazy. Okay, I looked at Maggie. She looks good tonight. Lee probably looked at her, too. Hell, most of the guys in here tonight looked at her. It doesn't mean I want to drag her into the bushes. Been there and done that already. It didn't work out. Will you talk to Sharon for me?"

Lee looked at Karl. "Kara's already gotten into trouble trying to keep Sharon and Maggie apart. You need to handle your problems with Sharon and leave Kara out of it."

"Karl's my friend. All he's asking me to do is talk to her."

"No, Lee's right," Karl said. "I need to take care of this myself. I'm going back to the dorm and see if she'll come down and talk to me. If she won't, I'm going back to my dorm. Dances suck when you're alone."

After he left, Kara said, "Don't come down on Karl again, okay. He's my friend. I probably wouldn't have survived without him."

"Yeah, you would have, Kara. You would have called the cops at the airport the night Zarek hijacked your dad's ship just like John told you to do, and you would have been waiting when he got back there five days later. You would have survived. You would have survived even without Karl."

Kara realized that Lee was right. If she'd been alone that night she'd have called the police like her father had told her to do.

"Let Karl fight his own battles," Lee went on. "You don't want to be too involved in this. How do you think he's going to feel when he finds out she's a Cylon and you've known all along? Do you think he's going to let that one go? Do you think he'll chalk it up to you trying to protect him?"

"You think I should tell him what we suspect?"

"Is he in love with her?"

"I think so."

"That's your decision, Kara. You're his friend."

"I don't want to think about this now. Too much has happened. Dance with me. Just put your arms around me and dance with me."

Lee did as she asked, and Kara tried to forget the way things seemed to be spinning out of control with Sharon and Karl. She tried to ignore the fact that her life was becoming infinitely more complicated than she had ever dreamed it could be.

…

Before the evening was over, Commander Adama made his way to Zak and spoke to him. Bill did not take Mrs. Nagala with him. Zak introduced Maggie who left them after a minute to dance with Dwight Saunders whose date, Diana Seelix was dancing with Dwight's roommate Noel Allison.

Lee wanted to join his father and Zak, but Kara stopped him. She reminded him of his advice to her and Karl. Zak and his father needed to work out their problems without Lee trying to run interference. Zak and his father ended their brief talk without raised voices, so Kara considered it a victory. A big victory would have been a hug, but she didn't know if if the commander was the kind of man who hugged his sons. At least with Zak and his father it was a beginning.

Kara also noticed as she looked around that her father and Laura had already left. She was sure that Laura was anxious to get back to Braedon. Her father probably was, too. Or maybe they just wanted a few minutes alone together. Kara imagined them making out in the car in the faculty parking lot the way she had walked in and found them kissing one night during the summer. Kara smiled.

"What?" Lee asked.

"Nothing. Your dad and Zak did okay. Zak didn't walk away. They talked. That's a first step. And they did it without any help. It is now midnight. The dance is officially over. Are you ready to walk me back to the dorm?"

They got their coats and walked slowly, their arms linked, their hands stuffed into their pockets.

"I can't wait for spring," Kara said. "I'm already sick of winter."

"Aren't you forgetting winter break? I'm looking forward to that."

"I can't wait to kiss you knowing we're not going to have to stop."

At her dorm they stood at the bottom of the steps. "Two weeks," Lee whispered before he kissed her, their lips and noses cold in the frigid air.

Kara took a deep breath when the kiss ended. "Winter break has got to be better than the dance was tonight."

"A lot better," Lee said. "At least Karl and Sharon are going to the beach near Delphi again. You won't have to deal with their problems for a whole week."

"Won't that be nice?" Kara said before she kissed him again.

"I can tell you what will be nicer but it would just get me more hot and bothered than I already am right now."

"I'm counting the days."

…

"Karl, Karl, slow down," Kara said. "I can't understand you." She sat up in bed, pulling the sheet against her chest.

"What?" Lee asked groggily. "Is it time to take you back to John and Laura's already?"

Kara shook her head and motioned for Lee to be quiet. "Where are you?"

"I'm here," Lee said, "right beside you." He hadn't opened his eyes.

"Not you," Kara hissed. "I'm talking to Karl. What? No, go ahead."

Lee opened his eyes. "I didn't hear your phone ring."

"I have it on vibrate," she whispered.

"Where the hell did you have it?"

Kara pointed to the bedside table. "Sure, Karl, I'm at Lee's apartment. We'll be waiting."

She ended the call and put her phone back on the nightstand. The sheet dropped.

"Ummm," Lee said and pulled her back down beside him. His mouth found her nipple and he heard the sharp intake of her breath. "What did Karl want?"

"Oh, damn, don't do that. We've got to get dressed. Karl's on his way over here. He was calling from the spaceport."

Lee lay back on the pillow. The frustration was clear in his voice. "We've got three nights left of winter break including tonight. Can I ask why you invited Karl to come over?"

"He's back from the beach early. Something's wrong."

Lee rubbed both hands over his face. "What?"

"I don't know. That's why he's coming over. We'd better get dressed."

"You think they broke up?"

"He sounded way more upset than that."

Karl arrived thirty minutes later. Lee opened the door. He had never seen Karl looking so distraught.

"Thanks. I appreciate this. Man, I know…this is…I…"

Kara walked over to Karl. Her eyes searched his. "What?"

"Sharon's dead," Karl managed to choke out.

Kara wasn't even aware that she had moved, but her arms were around Karl. "Oh, gods, no!"

Lee shut the door and went straight to the kitchen. When he came back he had a bottle of ambrosia and three glasses.

Kara helped Karl to the couch and sat down beside him. Lee poured a glass nearly full and handed it to Karl.

Karl took it. "Thanks."

Kara let him drink half the glass before she asked him. "What happened?"

"She drowned," Karl said, the anguish clear in his voice. "At the beach. She was there…and then…she was gone."

"You were together? You saw her drown?"

"No. I was on the beach along with about a thousand other people. She went for a swim. I saw her walk out into the surf. The guy beside us had a wireless. He was listening to a pyramid game. The Dominos and the Angels. It couldn't have been five, maybe ten minutes until the end of the game. When I started looking for her, she was gone…vanished."

"You didn't see her…her body?" Kara asked.

"I saw her walk into the surf up to her knees. I thought she was just cooling off. I lay back on the beach towel and listened to the rest of the game. When I sat up again, she was gone. I ran up and down the beach looking. I asked everybody. "

"Did you talk to the lifeguard?" Lee asked. "Did the Coast Patrol search for her?"

"There was no lifeguard where we were. I ran down the beach. I found…there was one further down the beach…he started asking me questions…did I see her get in trouble…did I see her go under…stuff like that. He called the local shore patrol and the police. They wanted to know if she could have gone back to the room…we went…her things were still there on the beach…on her towel…her sandals…that wrap thing she wore over her bathing suit…her sunglasses and hat…all still there. We went back to the room. She wasn't there. I went back to the beach. I stayed until dark."

"Oh, gods, Karl. I'm so sorry."

"But they didn't find her?" Lee asked.

"No. The policeman said the current was strong further out. He said if she swam out too far and got caught in it…she might never be…" Karl couldn't finish the sentence and turned up the glass of ambrosia. He drained it and picked up the bottle that Lee had put on the table beside the couch.

"When did it happen?" Lee asked.

"Four days ago."

"Are they still searching?"

"No. They called it off late yesterday. I didn't know what else to do. I got a flight back this afternoon."

"Why didn't you call me?" Kara asked.

"Because I kept hoping," Karl said. "I just knew she was…going to be found and she would be all right. She's a good swimmer. She's strong." He put his head back against the couch and closed his eyes.

Kara looked at Lee. Suicide or accident? It didn't matter. If they were right…if Sharon was a Cylon, it wouldn't matter. She would be back.

"Did you and Sharon…how were things going with you two?" Kara asked gently.

"Not good…we…You're trying to say she did this on purpose? You think she killed herself?"

"I'm not saying anything, Karl. I just asked a question."

"Why? Did she say something to you?"

"She's…I don't know how to say this."

"Say what? Look at me, Kara! Gods damn it! Look at me! What are you not telling me?" Karl said roughly.

"Hey, Karl…" Lee started.

Kara held up her hand and shook her head and stopped Lee. She made her decision. She looked Karl straight in the eyes, her best friend since she was eight and he was nine, and her heart broke for him. Tears filled her eyes.

"She'll be back. Even if she drowned, she'll be back. She's a Cylon."

For one brief and terrible instant she thought he believed her. And then the denial filled his eyes. He got up and walked to the kitchen doorway before he turned. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

Lee said, "She's telling you the truth."

"No frakking way!" Karl said. "There's just no frakking way!"

Kara didn't know what else to say. She just held his gaze and forced herself not to look away. The moments of silence slipped by, louder than any ticking clock.

"Prove it," Karl finally said.

"I can't. You're going to have to trust me on this one. You've been like a brother to me over half my life. I would never tell you something like this unless I believed it."

Karl then asked the terrible question that Kara had hoped he wouldn't.

"How long have you thought she was a Cylon?"

"I told you I still don't know how to prove it."

"How long?" She heard the anger in his voice as he asked the question a second time.

"Since last summer."

"What made you think…something must have made you think…?"

"My dad's old girlfriend was pretty sure she had seen her out at the Cylon lab, the one we blew up last winter…"

"You're saying Sharon was trying to have a hybrid baby?"

"Not your Sharon. Another copy of her. But Lissa wasn't absolutely certain it was her."

"And you let me…you knew I was…me and Sharon…that we were…and you never said a word?" The anger was stronger. "You never said a gods damned word?"

"Karl, we still can't prove it," Lee said.

Karl walked over to the couch. Kara stood. She was aware that Lee was on his feet, too, but this was between her and Karl. She thought of a day over four years ago when they had nearly fought over a rabbit. She thought of the anger and pain in Karl's eyes then.

"They killed my parents!" Karl said, his voice starting to break. "They killed my little sister! And you never said a gods damned word! I thought you were my friend."

She could say any number of things to him now. She could tell him she hadn't believed it was true at first…that she didn't think he would fall in love with Sharon…that she didn't believe it would last. But none of them would be enough to mend what she had damaged by her silence.

The tears in Kara's eyes spilled over. She almost wished Karl would hit her. It would be easier to take than the confused hurt and condemnation in his eyes. "You're my best friend. My brother. I love you." She reached for him.

He backed away. "No!" Tears spilled from his eyes, too. "No! Don't! You can't make it right by saying that."

Karl turned, picked up the suitcase he had dropped just inside the door, and walked out.

Kara started after him. Lee stopped her. "Let him go. You can't do anything for him right now. He needs time to come to terms with what he just heard."

"I can't let him leave like that."

"You've got to. He needs time to think."

Kara sat down on the couch. She thought of how Karl had always been there for her, of all they had been through together. She thought of how she had let him down.

Her face crumpled and she began to sob. Lee sat down beside her and put his arm around her. He knew there wasn't anything he could say that would make her feel better. He knew she needed time to come to terms with everything, too.

"I need to go," Kara finally said. "I know Dad doesn't wait up for me, but still…"

"It's okay. I'll take you," Lee said.

As he pulled out of the underground parking garage, Kara looked back up the street. "Stop! Stop!"

Lee slammed on the brakes. "What?"

Kara got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk. Karl was sitting on the front steps of Lee's apartment building.

"I don't want to go back to the apartment with Jared and Maggie. I'd been staying at Sharon's place. I don't want to go back there, either. I don't have anywhere to go."

"Come on. You can go home with me. Laura and my dad won't care if you sleep on the couch. Or I can sleep on the couch and you can have my bed."

"I don't know what to do."

Lee pulled up to the curb. "Come on," Kara said. They got into the car. "Karl's going home with me."

Lee drove them to the door. No one spoke during the six-mile trip.

"I'll call you tomorrow," Lee said to Kara.

"Are you upset about this?"

"He could have stayed with me."

"Karl and I need to talk."

"Whatever."

"You're not okay with it."

"It's late. I need to get back and get some sleep. I've got to work tomorrow."

Kara got out of the car. Only after Lee pulled away from the curb did she realize he hadn't kissed her.

Upstairs in the apartment she went to the cabinet where Laura and her father kept the liquor. She got a bottle of ambrosia and poured two drinks.

Karl sat on one end of the couch. "I'll go back to the Academy tomorrow."

"On a Friday? No way. Stay here through the weekend. We'll go back together on Sunday."

"I need to talk to Colonel Winters."

"We'll go back early on Sunday. My dad will go with us."

Kara tried to imagine going back to the dorm knowing that Sharon wouldn't be there. And then she realized that Sharon would be back. She didn't know how or when, but Sharon would be back. The thought creeped her out completely. Sharon…but not Sharon…a copy. Would she be an exact copy…would she be able to pick up where the first Sharon had left off in her classes? Would she know all the cadets…know the routine…the rules…the code? Is that how downloading worked? The next copy knew what all the previous copies had known?

Again she thought about the way Sharon had walked into the surf and disappeared. Had she really drowned? And if she had, was it an accident or had the emotional deterioration Kara had witnessed over the past two months pushed Sharon into killing herself?

Karl got up and poured another glass of ambrosia. "A cubit for your thoughts?"

Kara shook her head. "I'm mostly numb right now. I'm sorry, Karl. I'm really sorry."

He nodded and turned up the glass. "What if you're wrong about her?"

"I'll get you a pillow and a blanket. Then I'm going to bed."

Her father came out of the doorway of his and Laura's bedroom while she was getting a blanket out of the hall closet.

"I heard voices," he said. "Is something wrong?"

"Karl's spending the night on the couch. It's a long story. I'll tell you in the morning."

"Are you okay, baby?"

She shrugged. "Life's a bitch sometimes. A total bitch."

"You want to talk now? I'll listen."

"Later, Dad. I'm too tired."

…

Karl was gone when she got up in the morning. She found Laura and her father in the kitchen. John was holding Braedon while Laura fixed breakfast.

He pointed to a folded piece of paper on the table. "Karl left that for you."

"When?"

"About thirty minutes ago."

"Did you read it?"

"No, I didn't read it. He left it for you."

She picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it. The note was short and to the point.

Sharon's alive. I'm on my way to Myonia. I'll call you later.

"Where's Myonia?" Kara asked.

"It's a port city," her father answered. "About four hundred miles northeast of Delphi. Why?"

"That's a damned long way to swim," Kara answered. "Even for a Cylon."