Chapter 4

Rumors travel faster than our FTL drives because Starbuck's arrest was already making the rounds in the ship. This of course was old-hat for Kara; I was pretty sure it probably didn't even bother her. Still, it was a bit unnerving to see. I was also pretty sure that despite her outward toughness and having been in the brig so many times, that it sucked for her. I don't know why I did it, but I found myself headed towards the brig. Somewhere in my warped mind, I guess I figured that I could somehow cheer Kara up. And if I did that, maybe she'd like me. I knew I was having a very junior high school mentality about her on a certain level but my heart overruled my logic centers in my brain.

When I got to the brig, I asked the guard if it was okay to see her. He nodded and made me sign the visitor's registry. With a smile, I went to sign it, not really paying attention to the other signatures on there. The door opened, causing me to look up from my writing. What I saw caused me to drop my pen.

Though I didn't know him personally, I knew his reputation. Hell, it was hard not to know who was walking out the door. Captain Leland Joseph Adama, callsign: Apollo and incidentally, the Commander's son filled up my vision. I stood up to attention and saluted.

"Captain Adama." I said cordially.

"Lieutenant, how are you?" he replied, returning my salute.

"Good sir, thanks." He nodded at my reply and walked out. When he left and the door closed behind him, my shoulders sagged. Everybody knew the story between Apollo and Starbuck. Kara had trained Apollo's brother, Zack when she was stationed at the academy as an instructor. She fell in love with Zack and while on a routine training flight, Zack was killed in action. As a result, the commander had unofficially adopted Kara as a surrogate daughter. This had caused a lot of consternation and accusations of favoritism though she did her damnedest to try to disprove them with her actions.

It was even rumored that her and Captain Adama were close, more than friends close. If that was the case and I was pretty sure that it was, how could I compete with that? I dropped the pen onto the book with a soft clatter with a sigh.

"Sir, aren't you going in?" the guard asked.

"No… no I'm good Sergeant, thanks." My heart heavy, I headed out the door.

Maybe seeing Apollo leaving Kara's cell was the best thing that could've happened to me. It hurt but it finally made me wise up about reality. I wasn't going to be with her no matter how badly I wanted it. Nothing I'd do, say or endure would change that inalienable fact. I wish I could say I felt better; I didn't feel worse but I felt….empty.