Chapter 78 Excuses

He found her just stepping out of their cabin.

Lee met his wife's accusing glare with what he hoped was an appropriately contrite expression. The lines of her brow smoothed and the thinned lips relaxed as she gave a headshake.

"You're late. And I know why, so don't bother trying to come up with some other excuse, Lee."

"Why would I? Two of my pilots are in sickbay and we've had an attempt on the President's life," he said, hoping to keep their conversation limited to his duties.

"And you're telling me this has nothing to do with one of those pilots being Starbuck?" Dee gave a snort of disbelief.

Lee felt his ears redden slightly and wished, not for the first time, that he wasn't so prone to blushing. It had been his downfall many a times in the past, and Dee certainly knew how to read his responses. The return of her frown confirmed it now. With a sigh, he spun open their hatch and waved her to proceed him inside.

Once he'd closed them in, Dee wasted no time in turning on accusing gaze on him again.

"It's always Starbuck with you."

"Look, she's my responsibility. And besides, I don't know why you're letting this bother you," he said, trying to push on the offensive.

"Don't even try to make this my issue," she bit out. Dee put her hands on her hips. "Every since we've been back on Galactica, it seems all I hear from you is Starbuck this, or Kara that. First you're ranting on about her reckless attitude. Then it's about her boozing and hangovers."

Lee flinched as the memory of his berating Kara after the shower incident came to mind. His attention jerked back to Dee as she gave a harsh laugh.

"And see! Right there, Lee," she sharply said. "Who were you thinking of, huh? We can't even talk without you mooning off into thoughts about her."

"Now, that's not frakking fair!" he protested. "You're the one that brought Kara up. Of course it makes me think of her."

"But, Lee, it's all the time," her voice dropped as she let her arms fall to her sides. "You don't see it, do you? Don't realize how she pulls you in, and you go every time."

Now he was starting to get angry. "Kara's done nothing of the sort."

"She doesn't have to do anything. Just being around is enough," her tone turned bitter, and she swung away.

Lee ran his hands through his hair, unsure what response to make to such a nebulous statement. Problem was, she was right. When Kara was on New Caprica with Sam, he'd been able to keep from dwelling on her, at least after the first couple of weeks. But, being back on the same ship together, and especially since learning of what she'd suffered, both on the planet and in her past, Lee had found his thoughts and feels thrown back into a whirlpool of confusion.

He sighed and moved to stand behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her petite frame. She stiffened first within his embrace, then he felt her relax and settle back against him.

"I'm sorry," he murmured into her ear. "Kara and I… There's just so much history between us. It's not like I can just make that all that disappear."

Dee turned within his arms, her doe-like eyes searching his. Then, with a tentative smile, "I know that, Lee. And I'm not asking you to. But, if you love me, you've got to keep some distance between you two. We have to be the priority. Not Kara Thrace."

Struggling to keep his expression from betraying him, "I know. And I'll do it."

Even as he said the words, a small voice in his head mocked him. Lee shoved the taunting thoughts aside, ignoring that they sounded just like a certain pilot.