A DIFFERENT BEGINNING-CHAPTER-38

THIS IS AN A.U. STORY WITH BITS OF CANON IN IT.
KARA AND LEE MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE DAY THEIR WORLDS WERE DESTROYED.

KARA AND LEE ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT SINCE THEY HAVE JUST MET AND DO NOT HAVE ANY BAGGAGE.

AS ALWAYS ALL MISTAKES ARE MINE.

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SORRY MY UPDATE IS LATE, MY STORY IS TRYING TO CHANGE AND AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT I HAVE DECIDED THAT AFTER THE CYLONS ARE SEPARATED INTO TWO FACTIONS I MAY ALSO SHOW FACTIONS BETWEEN THE HUMANS...LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, PLEASE.

CHAPTER-38

Lee stopped by the CIC to let his dad know that he was taking a raptor for a few hours. " I need to check on Willow, she has no way of finding out how Mark is or even what's happened and I haven't seen Kara at all since the hostages took over the bar " Lee paused " Why didn't you tell me about it?"

" Kara asked me not to and I honestly didn't have time to fill you in about the situation " Adama checked the roster " You have Cap in three hours make sure your back by then and tell them both the old man says hi "

Lee nodded and headed to the hangar bay angry that Kara would want it kept from him, he saw the chief " I need a raptor for an hour or two and before you ask the commander knows all about it "

The chief grunted and yelled across the bay for Cally to join them " The Captain needs a raptor for a couple of hours, pick one that has already been serviced and has enough fuel in it "

They both watched as the chief left the hangar " What is wrong with the chief, Cally?"

Cally shrugged " It could be because of Boomer, or Racetrack having him knocked out, or it could be that none of us seem to know what is going on anymore and it has made us all a bit jumpy and I imagine the chief feels left out of the loop "

Cally rattled on as she checked the raptor out " She is ready, sir "

Apollo nodded " Thanks for telling me Cally and I will make sure the chief has more information "

Cally nodded " Thank you, sir " she walked off to work on another bird

Lee sat down and buckled up before firing the raptor up " Galactica, Apollo I need a departure lane "

A voice Lee didn't recognize responded " Lane two is clear Apollo "

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Lee wondered where Kara was, he had expected her to be in life station, Lee landed and locked the raptor up so no one would take it before heading to the restaurant. When he entered he saw Adam waiting on a couple, so he sat at the table that overlooked the garden area to wait on him.

It wasn't long before Adam joined him " I didn't think you would be here so soon?"

Adam shrugged " I came as soon as Kara called and told me what happened, how is Mark? "

Lee thought of Racetrack sitting by his bed " He is going to be fine, but Doc wants to keep him in life station for at least a week to make sure "

Adam got up and brought back two beers and passed one to Lee " Kara is planning on staying on the Aurora until she can fly, so you or your dad need to find a reason for her to return to the Galactica "

Lee had watched him closely as he said that " You don't want her on the Aurora since you can't be there anymore with her "

Adam nodded " That is one reason, the other is that the two of you need to fix what happened between you, if you won't do it for yourselves at least do it for humanity "

Lee took a drink of his beer " Kara said she didn't know if she could get past what she saw, but she did say she still loved me, she just has a hard time looking at me and it scares me knowing that she might never get past what happened, and then I find out she didn't want me to know what happened last night "

Adam had heard enough, he might not know much about Kara, but he knew Lee and it was time for them to see each other, so he got up " Come with me Lee, right now "

Lee followed Adam although he had no idea what Adam wanted. Lee reached and grabbed his arm to stop him " I want to know where we are going and what is going on with you, before I take another step "

Adam sighed " Kara is here in Mark's room, she stayed the night and from what I can tell, her and Willow are not getting along at all "

Lee was confused " Why would they be into it?"

Adam went back to walking " I think it is about you and Mark, Willow doesn't like the way Kara is acting lately "

Lee stopped " Wait a minute, are you planning on sending me into the room with both of them in there?"

Adam nodded " Yep " then he opened Mark's door and shoved Lee in, then pulled it shut behind him.

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Willow went back to Mark's room one more time hoping to change Kara's mind, this time she knocked and after hearing " It's open " she went in.

Kara glanced at her as she came out of the bathroom " Did you forget to tell me something Willow?"

Willow walked around wringing her hands together " I can't get Aurora to come into my projection, and it might be because you and Lee are having problems "

Kara sighed as she sat on the end of the bed " Willow I highly doubt mine and Lee's problems will affect my destiny "

Willow stopped " It might " she paused to gather her thoughts " Kara if it had been you that was drugged and set up instead of Lee, what do you think he would have done?"

Kara frowned " He would have been as hurt as me I guess, except he would have confronted me instead of running away like I did "

Kara's face turned serious " Willow I don't know how to explain the pain I felt when I saw Lee about to have sex with another woman, to a cylon who doesn't feel things like humans do " Kara added in a lower voice " Right now I would give anything to not feel anything, I know I love Lee, but until the moment I saw him with another woman I didn't how much I loved him, then I felt my heart break and I don't want to ever fill that way again, it's frakking painful "

Willow sat on the edge of the bed next to Kara " You are right when you say I don't understand pain like you do, but that is because I don't love a man like you do " Willow paused " Aurora did let me feel what loving someone would feel like, that is how I know I love you, Athena, Boomer, Helo, Eloshi and Lee like I do, because to me you are all my family now, even your dad and Mark "

Kara suddenly thought she might know why Willow has been so upset " You are afraid your family is going to fall apart because of what is happening between Lee and I, aren't you? "

Willow bobbed her head as usual just slower this time, and tears fell from her eyes for the first time " Kara I know you need to get past this, but you need to turn toward Lee to do it, not turn away from him, don't let Dee win "

Kara suddenly remembered the wish she had asked for had just came through " Thank you Willow " Willow looked at her confused " I wished for someone to just tell me what to do so I could just do it "

Willow jumped up hoping " Kara are you saying you are going back to the Galactica and Lee?"

Kara stood up and faced her with a smirk " I guess I am Willow "

Kara had barely finished speaking before Willow had closed the distance between them and hugged her " I am sorry about the prostitute comment Kara I was angry "

Kara had yet to hug Willow she was just standing there with her arms hanging by her side, but then Willow apologized and Kara figured she should hug her a little, but the truth was that Kara needed a hug badly, so she hugged Willow. " I know you didn't mean it Willow "

They both turned to look when the door opened and shut quickly to see Lee standing there like he was lost, both forgetting they were still holding onto each other.

Willow surprised both Kara and Lee when she let go of Kara and ran to Lee and threw her arms around him hugging him like she had Kara.

Lee looked at Kara with a 'what's going on look ' over Willow's shoulder.

Kara smiled " Just go with it Lee "

Lee winked at Kara then hugged Willow before stepping back " What's up with all the hugging Willow?" Lee knew Kara would not have initiated any hugging

Willow turned her head to look at Kara silently asking permission Kara nodded, so she turned back to Lee " Kara is going home today "

Lee looked at Kara " Your dad just shoved me through the door because he said you and Willow were not getting along, what changed?"

Kara walked over to them " Willow, I need to talk to Lee alone " she saw Willow was hesitate about leaving " I promise everything will be okay and I will see you before I leave, okay?"

Willow looked at both of them " Okay " then she turned to leave the room.

Lee stopped her " Wait, I wanted to let you know that Mark is going to be okay, the doctor wants him to stay in life station for a week until he is sure there is no infection and Racetrack and Roslin were with him when I left and dad said to tell you both the old man said hi "

" Thanks for telling me Lee " Willow smiled and looked at Kara " The old man is on the list also "

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Now that Willow had left, Kara and Lee stood there both wondering what to say.

Kara broke the silence " I am glad Mark is going to be okay, I didn't have much of a plan except making it up as I went along" she paused "Although I did use the opportunity to make sure Mark took care of the president, I just hate that he got hurt in the process "

Lee chuckled forgetting he was upset with her for keeping it from him " I think that might have worked out too well, Roslin has been by his bedside since he came out of surgery and I think Racetrack may be on the verge of kicking her out "

Kara grinned " Mark is going to kill me, but on the bright side she might very well make him her vice president, which is just what we need to happen in order to handle Roslin if she doesn't change her mind "

Lee moved to sit on the end of the bed " Kara why have you and Willow been having problems?"

Kara turned away from him for a minute trying to find the right words before turning back to answer " It's not just one thing Lee, it is a lot of different things, but mostly it was about how I was treating you "

Lee nodded " I understood Kara after I thought about how I would have felt if I saw you like you saw me, I wish I could forget it even if I only remember bits and pieces of what happened to me, so it's understandably that you are having a hard time with it "

Kara sat beside him on the bed " Thanks for understanding Lee, but I have decided not to let Dee win " she picked her feet up and turned toward Lee with her arms wrapped around her knees " It hurt when I saw you with that woman and although the image will forever be in the back of my mind I am not willing to lose you over it, I love you Lee and I can't picture my life without you in it "

Lee frowned " Kara why did you ask dad not to let me know that you were in a hostage situation?"

Kara shrugged " I needed for you to be safe and if you knew you would have came and I had to much too worry about Lee, I didn't want to worry about you too "

Lee reached for her hands intending to pull her into his lap, when Kara decided she wanted to be as close as possible, so she straddled his legs and wrapped hers around his back. She kissed him softly before laying her head in the crook of his neck and sighing with relief knowing now that she could let go of the past even if she couldn't forget it.

Lee was surprised at her tenderness and wondered what had happened since he last saw her, aside from what happened in the bar. Whatever was wrong between her and Willow, they must have straightened it out. For the moment Lee decided to quit thinking and just enjoy this moment before the next crisis happened and held her tighter.

Kara finally pulled back to look at Lee " How long before you have to return to the Galactica?"

Lee glanced at his watch " I am on CAP in an hour and a half, why?"

Kara didn't answer, she kissed him instead as she began to run her hands across his back then one onto the back of his head holding him to her, so he wouldn't pull away. She moved her mouth to his ear and whispered " I need you now Lee "

That was all he needed to hear as he kissed her before standing up with her wrapped around him still and laid her onto the bed untangling her legs around him as he lowered himself over her deepening the kiss and then for the second time they made love while Lee whispered " I love you Kara " remembering he hadn't said it back as she had told him earlier that she loved him.

They lay there for several minutes after making love before Kara giggled " I can't believe we just did that in Mark's bed "

Lee chuckled " I don't think he would care, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want to know about it "

Kara turned to face him " Let's go home Lee "

Lee kissed her quickly then sat up " Hurry up and get dressed you still have to tell Willow good-bye "

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Natalie went to Caprica's room after talking to the eight. " Eight said she would help by trying to figure out what Cavil was up to "

It was time for Caprica to fill Natalie in on the rest of her plan since she now had a filter " Natalie I need to try something and with us both having a filter now is the time to test it "

Natalie sat down " Okay Caprica, what is it?"

Caprica sat beside her " Boomer already knows and now that Cavil's raiders have found the area the fleet is in, I am going to try and blow this base star from within "

Natalie eyes got wide " What if Cavil figures out who did it?"

Caprica sighed " With the filters we have he will not be able to know who did it and my hopes are that he suspects somebody else, which will cause our people to start turning on each other "

Natalie stood up and paced " Caprica all of us don't believe in what Cavil is doing, so wouldn't it be unfair to them?"

Caprica chuckled " We will all download, so Cavil will not be able to prove who caused it "

Natalie nodded " Okay, but why are you doing it?"

Caprica now stood up " In case we ever have to protect the fleet we need to make sure we can do this, this time will only be for practice "

Natalie finally agreed " Have you thought anymore about helping me with Leobon?"

Caprica shrugged " I'm sorry I haven't had time " she paused thinking and an idea came to her " We need to find a way to make sure that Cavil thinks Leobon is to blame for the base star exploding, that way we can keep our cover and get rid of Leobon for you "

Natalie nodded in agreement " Why haven't you asked me why I want Leobon boxed?"

Caprica looked at her " As long as it has nothing to do with Kara or Willow I don't care, plus there are a lot of cylons that want Leobon gone "

Natalie chuckled " That's true, when are you going to blow up this base star?"

Caprica gave it some thought " Tonight unless he goes after the fleet before it happens, then we do it immediately "

Natalie had once last thing to say " We need to be each others alibi " she started to leave when Caprica spoke again " Let me know if eight comes up with something we don't know "

Natalie nodded and left the room.

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Boomer was on watch in the CIC when she felt and heard Caprica " Are sure that is wise Caprica?" she asked without having to speak aloud.

After a thirty second delay Caprica spoke " Yes, Cavil is planning something, but keeping us all in the dark" Caprica paused "Cavil knows the area where the fleet is located, I will try to explode the base star before it reaches the fleet, but in case I can't manage it by then, I will destroy it the second we reach the fleet "

Boomer knew Caprica would do what she said " I will let the commander know right away, thanks Caprica and I hope we will see other again "

Caprica needed to ask her advice " There is an eight on our base star who wants to join us in what we are doing, but she has no idea what it is, Natalie trusts her, but I am not sure I do " Caprica sighed " What should we do Boomer?'

Boomer looked around hoping for inspiration " Test her, that's what I would do " she paused " I will also ask Athena she knew our models better than I do "

Boomer cut the connection and found Colonel Tigh watching her " I need to speak to the commander Colonel, it's important "

Tigh didn't know very much about the two cylons, but the commander had told him he could trust her " As long as there is no upcoming threat I will call and have him meet you in the situation room "

Boomer saluted " Thank you Colonel, and we are safe for the moment " " then she went to the situation room, later she would have to track Athena down.

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As Lee flew him and Kara back to the fleet he asked " How much longer before you are cleared to fly?"

Kara looked sideways at Lee " Two more days, but Cottle wants me in the gym to work on my muscles and I have to squeeze a ball that he gave me as often as possible to strengthen my hands "

Lee grinned " When I get off CAP I can help work out your leg muscles somewhere private "

Kara smirked " That sounds better than the gym " Kara paused as Lee made his approach to the Galactica " Do you know what Roslin has been up to?"

Lee frowned " No, but I warned her, I told her I didn't think Aurora would like it very much "

Kara looked out the window as Lee brought the raptor in " I have a feeling that Eloshi is going to have to tell everyone the Aurora's chosen one is in the fleet "

They exited the raptor, Lee pulled her to a stop " I have to get ready for CAP, what are you going to do?" he was worried she would go to the brig.

Kara shrugged " Not real sure "

Lee grinned " I have some flight rosters to fill out and it would help me if you could do them, since you know the pilots better than I do, please "

Kara rolled her eyes " Fine Apollo I will do them, but then you will owe me one " she said with a glint in her eyes.

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Commander Adama was on his way to the situation room when he saw Elshoi and Roslin who were arguing, so he stopped.

Eloshi spoke first " Commander Adama Madame President is threatening to go public and say the military has lied about Earth and refuses to stop following Pythia "

Roslin stood straight " It was not a threat, but the truth. If you can't show solid evidence about Aurora we have no choice but to go with Pythia "

Adama sighed " Both of you come with me I have a meeting with Boomer that I am late for, perhaps we will find out more "

Boomer stood up fast when she saw them enter the room and saluted Adama.

Before sitting down he looked at Boomer " At ease Lt. "

After everyone sat down Adama let her know it was alright to speak " I got a message from Caprica she made a filter for her Natalie which allows them to control which thought and memories download "

After Boomer stayed silent Adama said " What else Boomer?"

Boomer sighed " Caprica said one of the scouts jumped back with information about which area the fleet was in " Boomer paused letting that sink in "The base star that comes after us will be the one Caprica is on and she said if she could not destroy the base star before finding us then she would make sure it was destroyed before it could harm the fleet "

Adama was glad, but he had to ask " Cavil is going to suspect one of them, so how can Caprica be sure she won't be found out?"

Boomer smiled " Cavil is already tired of listening to Leobon rattle on and on about Starbuck, so it would not take much for him to believe Leobon is behind this "

Roslin joined in " I thought you all voted on most everything, so with Leobon gone that would put Cavil with the majority of votes, right?"

Boomer nodded " It would give him Doral, Dianna, Simon and himself against the eights and the sixes, but Caprica thinks she can get Simon to join us" again she paused " Cavil cannot know about this or he won't box Leobon "

Adama sighed " Which means you need one more besides Simon to have the majority, any ideas ?"

Eloshi answered " I think Kara and Lee need to be involved in this, maybe they will be able to come up with a solution "

Boomer jumped in before Roslin could speak " Sir, I think Starbuck can bring Dianna around, she is a very religious cylon and if Aurora would allow Dianna to see her I know she would help us "

Roslin shouted " I can't believe this, you want a goddess to show herself to a cylon when no human has ever seen her, besides there is no proof that Aurora exists "

Adama looked at her worried " Madame President everything that is said in this meeting will remain here, you can not tell anyone and you are wrong Eloshi has spoken to Aurora "

Adama turned back to Boomer " What if Starbuck can't convince her?"

Boomer shrugged " Then we try for Simon to tie the votes and will probably go to war with each other "

Eloshi answered " Actually only Willow can ask Aurora "

Roslin jumped in " Who is Willow?"

Eloshi answered quickly " She is an oracle "

Adama nodded " You're right Eloshi, so I want you to go to Willow and find out if she can do it, meanwhile I am putting the fleet on alert "

Roslin was pissed " I still want proof that Aurora is actually real or I will be forced to go ahead with my plan "

Eloshi sighed " I need to talk to Kara and call a religious meeting of all the religions and tell them Aurora's chosen one is in the fleet if Kara and Aurora agree "

Adama stood " This meeting is over until we get answers as what to do and Madame President I strongly suggest you wait before starting something " Adama paused thinking of what Kara and Lee had said " Roslin I suggest you take the time to consider naming a vice-president, this meeting is adjourned "

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When Roslin left the meeting she went to see Mark in life station.

Luckily Racetrack was not there, so she sat down. " How are you feeling today Mark?"

Mark was sitting up " Better now that I can sit up, how are you?"

Roslin sighed " Mark I need a favor from you "

Mark smiled " I'll help you anyway I can Madame President "

Roslin grinned " You can call me Laura in private, anyway I need a vice-president and I would like for it to be you "

Mark frowned " I don't know that much about politics Laura, I'm not sure I would be much help "

Roslin chuckled " Maybe not, but you know people and deal with them daily in your restaurant, anyway I have to run it by the counsel before it can be formal, I just want you to think about it, I need someone like you Mark "

Mark shook her hand as she stood up to leave " If I do this I still want to be involved in my restaurant Laura and keep my room there "

Roslin nodded " That's fair besides Gauis still ran his lab and stayed on the Galactica, I just need someone to watch my back and back my plans for the fleet "

Mark nodded knowing Kara wanted him there to help her and Aurora therefore helping the people of the fleet.

Before she turned to leave " I will get back to you tomorrow, I plan to call an emergency meeting with the counsel right away "

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After Kara changed into her uniform she went to Lee's office to work on the flight rosters. She only managed a couple of pages before her hand started hurting, so she stopped and grabbed the ball Cottle gave her.

Kara had her feet on the desk and was leaning back squeezing the ball when someone knocked, without stopping she yelled " Come in "

Kara stopped when she saw it was Eloshi " Hey, I didn't know you were on the Galactica, have a seat "

Eloshi sat down " I just came from a meeting and Roslin is threatening to expose that the commander doesn't know where earth is and that we should follow Pythia "

Kara laughed " Sounds like something she would do, so is she?"

Eloshi sighed " The commander told her to hold off and wants me to talk to Willow about asking Aurora to talk to Dianna "

Kara put her feet down " Why does he want her to do that?"

Eloshi stood up so she could pace as she talked " Caprica and Natalie are going to blow up the base star they are on either before it finds us and if not then when it finds us. There is an eight who knows they are up to something and wants to join them, Caprica hasn't decided yet. As to Dianna in order to over rule or at least tie with Cavil they need Dianna " Eloshi paused " They want to set Leobon up as the one who blows the base star hoping he gets boxed because Cavil is sick of listening to his obsession about you, so it should be fairly easy to do "

Kara smirked " Wow, so all this hinges on Aurora talking to Dianna and Caprica trusting an eight and what happens if it doesn't work?"

Eloshi stopped " Then Caprica will try and get Simon to side with them and more than likely a war will break out between the two factions "

Starbuck grinned " What can I do to help?"

Eloshi grinned this time as she held out out two books " Read these, one is about Aurora and the other one you are probably familiar with, it talks about all the gods "

Kara frowned " Great, I already have to squeeze this stupid ball and now I have to read, this officially sucks, sorry "

Eloshi laughed " You will have plenty to do soon, and I have to go see Willow, I'll let you know what happens "

After Eloshi left Kara put the books away and grabbed her ball before leaving Lee's office.

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Kara was sitting in the mess hall eating when Boomer sat down across from her " You finally made it back to the Galactica, I see "

She was glad to see Boomer " How is it going with the Chief?"

Boomer shrugged " After his outburst he pretends I'm not around unless I order him to do something "

Kara frowned " How come you get to order him, I can't?"

Boomer smiled " I think Commander Adama has pretty much told everyone including the Colonel to do what I say and he will explain it later "

Kara's frown deepened " That's not fair "

Boomer changed the subject " I just left a meeting and "

Kara stopped her " I know all about it Eloshi filled me in, but I think Caprica needs to be told if Aurora decides to speak to Deanna before it happens "

Boomer nodded " I'll let her know it is a possibility, I am worried about Roslin "

Kara looked up " I'll talk to Mark and see if she has asked him yet, who is the eight trying to get close to Caprica?"

Boomer looked at Kara " I think she is the one that was with Leobon when he had you and Caprica's not sure she can trust her "

Kara thought back over that time " Tell Caprica I think she can, at least my gut feels like she can "

Boomer nodded " I will tell her, how are you and Lee doing, he loves you Kara "

Kara smiled " We are going to be okay, although I would feel better if we could give Dee to Cavil "

Boomer was curious " Have you been to the brig or is that your next stop?"

Kara shrugged " I'm not going simply because that is what she wants and I'm not going to play games with another psycho, Leobon was one to many "

Boomer got up " I will see you later I need to check on Athena "

Kara stopped her " Tell her I said hi and tell Helo to come by the CAG'S office "

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