*******************

The next few sectars were pleasant ones.  The tribunal
faded in our memories, and we had hoped the fleet
would move on to other issues, that maybe the IFB
would soon forgot about Starbuck and his
unconventional relationships, as several other men and
women in the fleet had begun to establish their own
alliances.  I guess it's human nature for people to
begin to bond together in crisis, to form their own
circle of friends and family.  Life does go on despite
any adversity.  But the IFB just wouldn't let it go.

They had of course caught on tape in blazing color
Sire Uri making threats to get us for the travesty of
justice that had been dispensed upon him.  We didn't
let our guards down, none of us.  We discovered
quickly what a tight group of friends Starbuck had.
Sheba and Athena became a constant presence around our
place, which was fine with me.  I liked Sheba's sense
of humor.  Apollo and Boomer went to work right away
trying to track down every lead on the mysterious
supplier.  What they discovered was that the flow of
illegal goods did not even slow with the confiscation
of Uri's storehouse.  There was more to all this than
any of us suspected, and we remained wary.  But so
far, Uri's threats had proven to have no bite.  In
time the security guards at our door and in our
corridor proved to be an annoyance.  The IFB seemed
more of a threat with their constant harassment.

You wouldn't believe the hey day they had with
Starbuck and Apollo losing the championship triad
game.  Of course they held the game a mere three days
after the bashing they had both received at the hands
of that landram named Silva.  Neither of them should
have been up and walking let alone trying to play
triad.  The IFB was unmerciless.  They actually had
the gall to insinuate that Starbuck was too tired from
satisfying the "insatiable women" he in which he was
involved.  And Apollo they claimed was getting too old
and soft since he was now being groomed for Command on
the Galactica and politics of the fleet.

It was a hard game to watch.  Apollo limped from one
side of the court to the other.  Starbuck dodged any
contact with any player, not a good move in an all
contact sport.  He might as well have just sat on the
floor while the others played, not that you could call
Apollo's limps and lame throws as playing.  Boomer and
Jolly were kind at least.  They actually slowed the
game down.  I swear at one point they even threw
Apollo the ball to give him a shot.  It was a more
than fair game.  But the IFB had a field day with it
anyway.  They used it as proof that Starbuck was
losing his edge due to his unconventional lifestyle,
and Apollo had fallen sway to the luxuries of being
the Commander's son.

We tried not to worry about the IFB and Sire Uri's
threats, and everything people said about us.  Instead
we went about setting up home in our new quarters.
Aliana dove into her duties as an instructor, and I
began my career as a pilot.  I was even flying a few
patrols as Starbuck's wingmate.  Oh, not every time,
but enough to prove that we were a good team.  When we
stopped playing around with our fancy toys that is.

It's hard to say that Starbuck actually moved in to
the quarters, but he certainly spent most of his free
time there.  On most nights he would still sneak back
to the bunkroom.  Some nights I think it was because
he didn't feel comfortable in that big room even when
he had Aliana for company.  Some nights I think he was
just being polite.

Starbuck and I had kept our distance since finding out
Aliana was pregnant.  It's not that we didn't spend
time together, in fact we probably spent more time
together since we were now in the same squadron.  But
things were awkward between us.  We had both retreated
to the safe distance of friends.

Aliana noticed it right away and was constantly trying
to give us time together, or talking to each of us
about it.  I never did find out exactly what it was
for Starbuck that made him hesitant.  I know for me
that it was the constant stares and comments in
public.  The IFB had thrust us into the limelight,
only it wasn't a very flattering light.  The tribunal
had only increased the already ugly way people saw us
and our relationship.  We were the first to give this
new Survival Plan a try.  As I had learned before,
being first can be difficult.  I just wasn't up to the
scrutiny.  Oh publicly I could handle it.  I'd put on
my Pyramid face for the crowd, but I couldn't seem to
let go of the shield in private.

But Starbuck and I played the game for Aliana's sake.
There was no way I was going to let her go through
this alone.  Heck, there had even been rumors that the
baby was really Sire Uri's.  I'm not sure who said it
first, but I know who said it last.  One of the
security guards was sporting a very ugly black eye the
next day, and Starbuck mumbled something about having
his pay docked and having to do double duty for a
secton.  No one ever commented again, at least not to
us that there was any doubt that Starbuck was the
father of Aliana's baby.  The pilots were decent
though. They barely said a thing.  Of course I think
Starbuck's assessment of the situation was right, they
were too busy trying to get in on the action to waste
their time looking down on us.  So eventually even the
come ons and comments towards me stopped.  I'm not
sure how many guys Starbuck had to beat up for that
one.  He never told me.  I didn't ask.  We kept our
distance, laughing and joking as friends, acting
friendlier around Aliana, but she knew.  She tried
though, and I guess for that reason alone I couldn't
completely back out.  I played along for her sake.

She'd send us out on a date, and we would dutifully
go, usually heading over to the Rising Star to play
cards or to one of the other little clubs and
chanceries that were opening up on the other ships.
We'd come in late, I think on purpose to avoid having
to see Aliana and explain how our evening went.  We
still had fun together.  Even as a friendly date
Starbuck was a lot of fun.  We'd flirt and tease with
each other, but it would only go so far before one of
us would back away.

One night Aliana even booked us a private suite on the
Rising Star.  But we ended up giving the room away to
Boomer and his new girlfriend Lexia after swearing
both of them to secrecy.  At one point I even think
Starbuck tried to set me up with Boomer.

On one of our dates ordered by Aliana, Starbuck had
invited Boomer along.  Then Starbuck suddenly
remembered a report he forgot to file and had to go
back to the Galactica.  Boomer and I smelled the set
up right away.  It was Boomer's idea to look like we
had gone along with it.  He bet me a large pile of
cubits that Starbuck would be jealous in the end.  I
took that bet thinking there was no way that Starbuck
would purposely set us up, then act jealous
afterwards.  I was pretty convinced that what feelings
Starbuck had for me at that point were purely
platonic.

I'm still paying Boomer off.  Happily I suppose.  It
was nice to know Starbuck still cared, because sure
enough, he was lurking around the landing bay when the
Rising Star Shuttle came in.  He did not look pleased
as Boomer and I exited the shuttle arm in arm.  Boomer
walked me back to our quarters, with Starbuck tagging
along.  I thought Boomer was going to really push it
and move in for a good night kiss, but much to our
chagrin, and the loss of my bet, Starbuck intervened
just at that moment.  Starbuck literally put his hand
between Boomer and I and said something about me
needing to get sleep before a patrol.  Then Starbuck
escorted Boomer back to the bunkroom before coming
back to our quarters.  Starbuck slept on the couch
that night, doing guard duty or something.

Boomer is still giving me a hard time about it.  Maybe
he knows something I don't because in the last few
sectars that was the only indication I had that
Starbuck still had feelings for me.  I was okay with
that, because I wasn't sure just how this was all
going to work.  Aliana and Starbuck looked so happy
together.

Aliana's pregnancy progressed with no problems and we
all were excited for the baby to arrive.  We settled
into our family, as odd as it was.

I took every mission possible, even taking back to
back patrols.  Starbuck kept telling me to slow down,
but I think it was mostly because at times he was my
wing mate, which meant that when I volunteered, by
default he volunteered to.


Maybe everything would have stayed that way.  Maybe
Aliana and Starbuck would have eventually gotten
sealed, and I might have moved on to another guy.
Maybe everything would have ended in the traditional
happily ever after.  But that's not how it turned out.


***************


Maybe everything would have stayed that way.  Maybe
Aliana and Starbuck would have eventually gotten
sealed, and I might have moved on to another guy.
Maybe everything would have ended in the traditional
happily ever after.  But that's not how it turned out.

Instead what happened is I volunteered Starbuck and I
for another patrol.  A deep recon this time, one of my
first ones that far in front of the fleet.  Things had
been quiet for several sectars and for once it truly
seemed we had shaken free of the Cylons.  We had run
across the occasional small outpost, but half the time
the outpost would be empty and dead.  The other half,
they were poorly manned and easily defeated.  Patrols
were becoming routine.  The Commander took the
opportunity to begin exploring the star systems we
passed through for available resources.  The forge
ship was constructing another ship, one almost as big
as the Rising Star, with agro capabilities too.
Everyone was breathing a sigh of relief.

I guess it was in that spirit of exploration and the
feeling of calm that made me jump at the opportunity
to snag one of the long range recon patrols.  They had
literally tripled the distance they were searching,
and I guess I thought it would be fun to be that far
from home, off and on my own.

Starbuck decided after his first sleep cycle on the
patrol that I had a really twisted sense of what was
fun.  I didn't realize how cranky he gets when he has
to do a recon longer than the average 12 centaurs.
And this one was going to last 36 centaurs.  He let me
know that I was in for it.  Oh sure, he started off
joking, but at some point, his joking got a really
nasty edge to it.

We found a way to pass the time discussing cards and
some of the clubs we had frequented.  Most of the
planets in our patrol vector were gas giants without
much to offer us in useable resources, unless we
suddenly had a huge need for sulphuric acid and liquid
nitrogen.  I snapped a few pictures for my scrap book
while Starbuck made fun of me.

It was on my second sleep cycle that we ran into
trouble.  I was woken up not only by my attack scanner
going berserk, but also by Starbuck yelling in my ear.

"Reyana!  We have company!"

His words chilled my blood and I was instantly awake.

"I see four incoming!  Oh Frak!"  It wasn't the first
time I had gone up against Cylons.  Okay, it was only
my second time.  But it was also my first time with
just me and my wingmate.  There's something to be said
about facing the Cylons when you have your whole
squadron protecting your back.  I began to panic as I
initiated evasive maneuvers.

"I'll take `em high, you take `em low.  Stay cool,
these raiders look old."  Starbuck said, as calmly as
if he were discussing a pyramid hand.  "Look at that
one there, I think it's even damaged."

As the Raiders began to circle us, I could barely make
out that one of the raiders was trailing a cloud of
sparks. Starbuck was right, it was already damaged.

Starbuck lined up one of the Cylons in his sights and
swooped down upon it firing.  I came up at the same
time, and our combined firepower took it out in a
blinding flash.

"One down, three to go."  Starbuck coolly said.

"Starbuck, they're going for a pinwheel!"

I swear he laughed, as the three lined up on his tail,
the damaged raider moving slower and maneuvering in
jerks instead of a fluid motion.

"Okay, I'll play their game.  You line them up and
take them out."

I felt my palms sweat and I almost lost the stick as I
zoomed in on my targets.  I shot off a volley of lazer
fire and one more was gone.  But the other two broke
off their formation.

"Good shot.  Two down.  You go for the lame one, I've
got the other."

It should have been a simple mop up at that point.
Except that one lame raider suddenly became well.
Very well.  I almost had it in my sights once, twice,
a third time and it still got away at the last moment.
 Starbuck was having problems of his own.

"I can't get this guy lined up."  Starbuck stated.

"Well the lame one just became well!"  I yelled back.

It crossed my sights again, and I took my shot even
though it wasn't perfect.  My lazers grazed the wing
trailing sparks, and the raider went into a downward
spin.  I watched in horror as it careened towards
Starbuck's viper.

"STARBUCK!!!"  I screamed as I watched the raider
explode literally on top of him.  Sparks and debris
were everywhere and I couldn't tell if Starbuck had
survived the explosion.  I squinted into the fiery
haze that seemed to take forever to clear.  In my
panic I began to pray.

**************

"Oh Lords Starbuck, please be there!"  I prayed.

I guess my training must have kicked in at some point
because as I waited for the debris and smoke to clear
I sent off a short scrambled message to the Galactica
letting them know we had ran into trouble.  I checked
my scanner and saw that the other raider had broken
off and was on a heading away from the fleet.

After what felt like a yahren the smoke finally faded.
I was so happy to see that Starbuck was still there I
shouted with joy.

"Starbuck, you scared me!"

"Can.   ead.  com.  no... power."

"Say again Starbuck?  You're breaking up."  I realized
that Starbuck did not come through the encounter
unscathed.

"Reading..get..response    main..shot...can you.."

"Okay, it sounds like your communications are out
because I'm not reading you.  Frak!  How can I tell if
you can read me?  Okay,I got it.  I'm coming in close,
just stay put."

I said another prayer that he could hear me and that's
why he stayed put, not that he was totally dead in
space and that's why he didn't move.  I flew my viper
as close beside Starbuck as I could so that I could
get a visual on him.  I gasped as I saw that his
canopy was splattered with something that I could only
assume was blood.

"Okay Starbuck, if you can read me, give me a sign.

Starbuck waved to me.

"Okay, I can see your hand. Well thank the Lords, I
wasn't sure how we were going to work this out if you
couldn't hear me.  Let's try this, one hand up for no,
two hands up for yes?  Are you injured"

I saw one hand go up.

"Starbuck, this whole communication thing will go
better if you don't lie to me.  I can see blood.  One
hand for bad, two for not so bad."

Two hands went up.

"Okay, so you'll live."

Two hands went up.

"No communications, right?"  Two hands went up.

"Do you have weapons?"

One hand.

"That's a no on weapons.  How are you on fuel?  I see
fluid streaming behind you, could be weapons coolant,
but."

Two hands went up.

"Okay, you're good on fuel right?"

Two hands stayed up.

"We have fuel.  Okay, maneuvering?"

Two hands, then he dropped one.

"Is that a `sort of'?"

Two hands went up.

"Okay, we'll work on that one in a minute.  We're
going to have to put you down somewhere."

"..thrust..no braking..turbo.."

"Okay, I caught part of that.  Something about no
braking?"

Two hands went up.

"Oh Frak.  That is going to suck on a landing!"

I quickly punched up my scanner.

"Oh man, you are the luckiest man I know!  There's a
planet to our right, breathable atmosphere, and mostly
water.  We're going to put you down in water, that
should help with the braking."

Starbuck flashed one hand up repeatedly.

"Oh come on, you can't tell me you don't know how to
swim."

He kept flashing hand signals at me, but I ignored
him.  "Look, you don't have much of a choice.  I don't
think you can limp back, and I don't want to risk it
with no weapons.  You've got sparks flying everywhere,
and that leak looks suspicious.  We're putting you
down in water."

I read off the coordinates to Starbuck.  I started to
pull away from him and head for the planet, but didn't
get too far before I noticed he wasn't headed in the
right direction.

"Uh Starbuck, it's this way."

"...no...no..manu.no...ver..no.ing"

"No, this can't be happening.  Roger that, no
maneuvering.  FRAK!!!"  I swore.  Essentially Starbuck
was stuck with one heading, one that led to nowhere.

I pulled up beside him so that I could have a visual.
I sat there for a few centons pondering our bleak
situation.

"Can..read me?"

"Hey, I got part of that!  Give me some advice oh wise
flight instructor, because I am out of ideas!"

"Push me..ush me..push.."

"You have got to be kidding!  I could do more damage
to your viper!"

Starbuck motioned with a thumbs up sign.

"You are crazy, you know that!"

"Go back..here..back leave..go..me here."

"Sorry Starbuck, I'm not reading you, especially if
you're saying what I think you are FRAKING saying!"  I
swore at him.

"Go .go...back go back."

"I am not leaving you here!  We are too far from the
Galactica and have just been attacked, there is no way
I'm leaving you here!"  I rapped my hand on the canopy
trying to think.  "Okay, okay, here's the plan.
You're right, I'm going to just nose my viper over
towards yours and give you a little push."

"Go back now..back...go...now.."

"Starbuck, if you don't shut up, I'm not going to make
this push as soft as it should be!"

I got some really interesting hand gestures for that
one.  But he finally calmed down.  He gave me a thumbs
up sign.

"Okay, on three."  I eased my viper into position to
where I was staring down the nose of my viper to the
side of his just past his canopy.  "One, two, three."
I gave my viper a little thrust.

It had the desired effect, only it wasn't enough.  I
had to perform the little push two more times to
finally get Starbuck on the right heading.  But it
worked and I breathed a huge sigh of relief.  One
problem solved, only about 98 more to go.  The biggest
one being how we were going to get Starbuck to land
without maneuvering.  Giving him a little push in
space was one thing, forcing him down was another.

I had time to think about it in the silence of our
flight to the planet.  It was going to take us at
least a centaur to get there and for the first time
since the destruction I had the feeling of complete
aloneness.  Starbuck and I were known for our verbal
sparring while flying.  Even when he was in sleep
cycle I could hear an occaisional sigh or deep breath.
 I was not used to the complete silence I was
experiencing now.  I didn't like the feeling.

Apparently Starbuck didn't like the silence either.
He had taken the time to rewire his communications on
the short trip to the planet.  Suddenly as we
approached the planet, Starbuck's voice came through.
There was a whole lot of static though.

"Can you read me?"

"YEAH!!  Yes, I can, I was getting lonely over here!"

"I don't know how long this is going to work, so talk
fast.  Here's the plan.  Water landings suck.  We need
to find someplace near land, but deep enough so I
don't hit bottom on the way down.  You shoot ahead and
scout out a spot."

"Okay, Yes sir."  I answered.

"I'll be honest, I'm not sure how well I can swim."

"Aren't you from Caprica?  Caprican's love to swim.
Didn't you have lessons as a kid?"  I said puzzled.

"Yeah I did, that's not it."  Starbuck didn't say
anything more.

I took a guess at the situation.  "How bad are you
injured?"

"My leg is busted up."  He said, not elaborating.

"How bad?"  I asked, dreading the answer.

"Bad enough where swimming isn't going to be fun."
Starbuck answered.

I swore to myself.  This little journey away from home
was not turning out to be as much fun as I thought it
would be.

"Okay, I don't know if this will work, but maybe if
you pop your canopy right before you hit the water.
Keep your hand on the release of your harness, lose
your restraints quickly enough and the impact and rush
of water will probably actually suck you up to the
surface."  I suggested.

"Yeah, that could work.  Being crushed on impact can't
be worse than being stuck in a sinking Viper."

It was a grim thought, but he was right.  Either way
wasn't going to be good.

"I'll be there to pull you out of the water.  I'm an
excellent swimmer."  I reassured him.

"Thanks, that's good to know."  Starbuck said, but he
didn't sound very confident in our plan.

"Okay, let me go scout out a spot.  Maybe we'll get
lucky and it will be a tropical paradise with calm
seas."

"Yeah, maybe.  You know, you should have just gone
back."  Starbuck said.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that Starbuck.  You're breaking
up again."  I could hear a loud audible sigh over the
com.

"I can't leave you Starbuck, I love you too much for
that."

Before he could reply, I headed off to scout out a
safe landing.  As luck would have it, the planet had
long sandy beaches, rimmed by rocky cliffs covered in
deciduous forests.  The seas were deep, dropping off
rapidly from the beach.  It didn't look tropical, but
at least the seas appeared to be calm.  The planet
also appeared to be uninhabited, as I could not spot
anything remotely resembling buildings or structures
of any kind.  Just rocks and trees, and whole lot of
water.

I found a spot where the sea was free of rocks and I
could see a sandy bottom.  I noticed that the beach
also had a creek or some sort of water flowing down
near where the cliffs started.  It was a good sign
since we'd probably be stuck on this planet for a few
days.  It would take that long, maybe even a secton
before the Galactica caught up to our position.

"Good news Starbuck, I found the perfect spot."  I
transmitted him the coordinates.  Then the alarm went
off on my scanner.  We had been followed by the one
Cylon we had missed.
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****************

After three sectars, I wasn't beginning to show, exactly,
but nothing fit.
I couldn't stand having anything tight around my waist, so
for now, I chose
to wear the not exactly stylish look of an unbelted uniform
tunic hanging
over pants that were a size too big.  I was comfortable, and
that was all
that mattered to me.  And anyone who made anything close to
a wise crack,
whether or not it was intended to just be funny, received an
acid glare and
the full benefit of fluctuating hormones.  My sense of humor
as quite
limited, since any and all food seemed to make me queasy,
yet I got
light-headed if I didn't eat.

I was able to maintain my professional exterior when
teaching my two
courses, computer basics  and viper mechanics, though, since
each lasted
only a centar.  The shuttle runs, however, were a bit
trickier, since the
g-forces from launching tended to make my stomach do flip
flops.  I still
flew three to four  runs, mostly for supplies from either
the electronic
ship or one of the agro ships, though, because I very seldom
actually got
sick.

 It did make me very touchy, however.  Reyana must have a
masochistic side,
because she could not help teasing me about how
temperamental I'd become -
and how between me and Starbuck, she couldn't decide who was
more volatile.
Probably me, since Starbuck usually managed to hang onto his
sense of humor
for a while before actually exploding.  Reyana pointed out,
before dodging
for cover from the flying hand towel, that my sense of humor
was practically
nonexistent.

But, otherwise, life was settling into a rather pleasant
routine.  Starbuck
may not have moved into the quad quarters, but I hadn't
expected him to.
Still, he spent much of his free time with us, staying part
of the night,
from time to time, with me, before heading back to the
billet.  It was so
warm and comforting to fall asleep in his arms.  Yet, a part
of our
arrangement just didn't seem right.  I got the feeling that
Reyana was
feeling left out.  I didn't know, exactly, what was going on
between her and
Starbuck, but I sensed her pulling back.  No, I thought, she
couldn't.  I
needed her, because I was fully aware of Starbuck's
transient nature.  And
while I could accept and even enjoy his impulsive, moment-to
moment
attitude, I counted on Rey, my only true family, to be
there.  And I wanted
her to be happy.  Starbuck still seemed to thrive on our
contrasting, yet
compatible personalities, but I sensed a barrier between the
two, an
awkwardness.  So I tried everything I could think of to get
them past
whatever it was that was going on between them. I even
enlisted Boomer's
help to set up an elaborate  ploy where he hinted that he'd
like to go out
with Reyana, since  Starbuck claimed that they were "just
friends now" and
got Starbuck to invite him along on a date. Boomer then
played on Reyana's
emotions by betting that Starbuck would be jealous, to show
her that this
"it'd be great if you went out with Boomer" attitude was
just a lie, even if
he didn't know it.  Boomer has a wonderfully wicked side, I
had learned.

When Reyana started flying patrols with Starbuck, on a
rotating basis where
she also flew with Apollo and another pilot, at least, I was
thrilled,
because it meant that they would have more time alone to
just talk.  I
thought maybe, during one of those long, boring probes, they
would finally
cut the felgercarb and realize that they still cared for
each other as more
than just friends.  And I knew they did.  Both of them.
Even though she
tried to hide it and vehemently denied it, I saw the hurt
look in Rey's eyes
when Starbuck and I spent part of the night together.  And I
remembered just
how jealous, according to Boomer, Starbuck had been when
Boomer had gone on
that date with Reyana.  So it was obvious to their friends,
if not to them,
that they still cared deeply for each other.

Thus, when Reyana told me that she and Starbuck would be
flying their first
deep recon together, being gone for 36 centars, I was happy,
happy that they
would have so much time together.  Alone.  Surely, they
couldn't pretend for
that long without one of them letting something slip.  I was
so intently
focused on getting them back together, romantically, that it
never occurred
to me just what it meant when they flew as wingmates, that
danger for one
meant equal danger for the other.  Or, in other words, my
entire family
would be at stake, again.

Athena was waiting for me after the cadets had filed out of
the classroom
and I was gathering up my materials.  I noticed her standing
just inside the
door when I looked up.   I didn't need to see the serious
look on her face
to know that something was wrong.  A feeling of dread welled
up, but I
pushed it back.  "There's bad news, isn't there?"  I asked,
keeping my voice
even.

"I'm afraid so," Athena said, approaching me.   I dropped my
things and met
her halfway.  "We received a short, scrambled distress
signal from Reyana's
viper about a centar ago.  All it said was that they'd
encountered Cylons."

"But are they okay?"  I asked, wanting desperately to know
more.

Athena put a hand on my shoulder.  "We don't know anything
else.  I'm sorry.
Just that they've run into Cylons.  But I knew you'd want to
know."

"Yeah, thanks . . ."  Cylons . . . Oh, Lords, I felt numb.

"Hey!"  Athena said, catching my eye and seeing that I was
fighting back the
tears.  "You've got to remember that this is Starbuck we're
talking about.
He and Rey would have no trouble taking out a squadron of
Cylons -"

"But if they were okay, wouldn't they *tell* us so?"

"Yes, but -"

"And it's been a centar?"  I felt myself starting to
hyperventilate.

"Yes, but -"

"That's more than enough time to either finish a battle, or,
or -"

Athena put both hands on my shoulders.  "Just hold on," she
said firmly.
"If they suspect that there are still Cylons in the area,
they might not
risk sending another transmission.  And they're too distant
for us to pick
any telemetry on them, one way or the other.  So there's
still every chance
that they're fine!"

I took a deep breath and held it.  "Yeah, yeah, maybe .  .
."

Athena took my elbow.  "Come with me," she said gently but
firmly and
started leading me out.  "We'll go check again."

I followed Athena to the bridge.  The only thought that kept
echoing through
my mind was that this couldn't be happening, this couldn't
be happening.
No, not now, and both of them.   Both of them.  Oh, God!
Not both Starbuck
and Reyana! Not again!  Not again!  They were my family now,
all I had! I
could accept losing one.  Or the other.  Eventually.  I knew
the risks.  I
knew the dangers of being a viper pilot.  But I had never
even considered
that when they flew together . . . they might die together.
My entire
family. Again.  I could not endure that again.

I felt numb as we reached the bridge and approached the
small group gathered
around the long range communications console.  Adama, Tigh,
Apollo, and
Boomer were in the middle of a discussion.  A rather heated
one, from the
angry look on Apollo's face and the frown on Boomer's.  That
stopped me
cold, because I suddenly knew exactly what they would be
debating.

"No," I said, my voice hoarse.  "You can't leave them!"

They all turned to look at me.  Adama looked stern but
steady.  Tigh looked
tense, and Boomer and Apollo looked angry and frustrated.

"No!"  I felt the panic about to burst out.  I didn't care
if I was on the
bridge and everyone was staring now.  I didn't care that I
was yelling at
the commander.  This was my family - and my sanity - they
were discussing.

"We wouldn't just leave them," Adama said quietly but
firmly.  "But sending
out any sort of rescue attempt at this point would be
premature."  He
glanced at his two agitated warriors.  "And too risky.
Besides, they're too
far out to send a shuttle.  Yet."  He held up a hand as
Apollo started to
protest again.  "We'll have to be patient on this, as hard
as that is."

"A second patrol, Father --"  Apollo said.

"And if they encountered a fully manned outpost?  We'd risk
the Cylons being
able to plot the location of the Fleet should they locate a
second patrol on
their scanners."

Apollo knew he was right.  He knew the procedures, too.  So
did I.  The
Fleet would alter course - just enough so that if the Cylons
had taken a
trajectory reading from Starbuck and Reyana's patrol, they
could not trace
them to our coordinates.  It meant that while we knew their
last known
heading and coordinates, they had no way of locating the
Fleet.  But we
would periodically transmit short, scrambled signals, in
case they had
activated their homing beacons.

Adama came over to where I was standing, immobile, too numb,
almost, to
breath.  He put his hand on my arm and gave me a gentle,
concerned look.
"We *will* do everything we can to locate them.  I promise.
But it's just
too soon."

"How long?"  I forced the words out.

"It'll be another eight centars before we'd be able to pick
up their
telemetry readings.  Until then, we just have to wait."

Eight centars.  Eight centars to prepare for the worst.  The
unimaginable.
The impossible.  I felt my knees go weak.  Athena and Adama
helped me to a
seat at the console.  All of them - the commander, Athena,
Apollo, Boomer,
even Colonel Tigh - gathered around, trying to give support.
Adama had a
hand on my shoulder.  I felt myself rocking slightly as I
stared at the
deck.  I was beyond tears, beyond screams.  Total shock.  I
sat, unblinking,
my hands cradling the slight bulge in my belly, and just
rocked.

*****************

"Oh Frak.  Alright, let's do this!"  I transmitted
Starbuck the coordinates as I eased my viper over
towards his.  I frantically shrugged out of my jacket
and tried undoing my boots.  I could reach at least
the top buckles.  I wanted to be ready to swim the
second I landed.

"Okay, on three, I'll cut my engines and you can put
the nose of your viper on my tail and start forcing me
down."  Starbuck said.  He didn't sound like his usual
cool and in control self.

Starbuck entered the atmosphere head on.  "One, two
three."  He cut his engines and I began forcing him
down.  It was not a fun feeling, knowing that the
slightest mistake could either leave Starbuck skipping
across the atmosphere of the planet, or plunging into
the ground like a knife through a gourd.  I saw one of
Starbuck's maneuvering jets fire, and it put him into
a gentle glide.  I silently thanked the Lords, the
fates, and whoever else might be listening.

"We're getting close Starbuck.  Get rid of your
jacket.  It will weigh you down."  I said.  I waited
until I could make out the actual waves on the sea,
"On three, pop your canopy.  One, two three."

Starbuck didn't pop his canopy right away, but instead
was a few microns slow.  His canopy popped just as his
Viper plunged into the water.

I pulled up and shot around to land faster than I
thought was possible.  I popped my canopy and leapt to
the ground.  It felt like it took me an eternity to
get my boots off.  I threw them god knows where and
headed for the surf at a dead run.  I could still see
the tail end of his viper, but it was sinking fast.  I
quickly scanned the waves for Starbuck, but could not
see him, so I plunged ahead towards his cockpit.

The water was cold, bone chilling mind numbing cold.
It made my limbs freeze up.  I put all of my energy
into swimming out to the cockpit.  The waves tossed me
around and I fought against the surf trying to force
me back on the beach.  I finally found where I thought
I should be above Starbuck's viper and bobbed in the
surf for a moment trying to find Starbuck.  He should
have been near the surface.  I dove under to search
for the cockpit, and found him fighting to get free of
his restraints.  I grabbed him, but he struggled
against my grip, yanking his arm away.  I had no
choice but to surface to get another breath.  I dove
down again and saw him still fighting.  I was smarter
this time and came at him from behind.  I grabbed his
tunic and yanked hard.  He broke free of the
restraints and I pulled him to the surface.  When his
face broke free of the water, he gulped in huge gasps
of air, breathing in water too.  His body was wracked
with spasms as he began to cough.

I took the opportunity to get a better hold on him,
but he was disoriented and tried to fight me.  I put
my arm around his neck and squeezed.  "Starbuck!  It's
me!"  I yelled into his ear.  He finally relaxed a
little, then he grabbed onto me for dear life.  I
started kicking for shore, my arm still around his
neck and pulling him along.  It wasn't the best
position for dragging him in, it slowed me down, but I
didn't want to take the chance of losing him in the
surf.  I wasn't sure how much the impact had shaken
him up, or even what his injuries were.  I tried not
to worry about that, and focused on reaching the
beach.

We were literally washed up on the sand by a large
wave, and I lay there on the shore trying to catch my
breath.  Starbuck finally let go of me and I rolled
onto my back just in time to watch the Cylon raider do
a fly over.

"Come on Starbuck, let's go!"  I yelled.  I got to my
feet and reached down to grab his arm.  He climbed to
his feet, but I noticed right away that he was
balancing on one leg.  He tried to take a step on the
other and collapsed into the sand, curling up in
agony.  I knew his injury was bad, but we didn't have
time to patch him up or assess the damage.

I grabbed Starbuck by the shoulder and started
dragging him for the rocks and the trees.  He finally
was able to get up slightly, and I placed my shoulder
under the arm of his bad side.  He was literally dead
weight on me, but at least I wasn't dislocating his
shoulder anymore in my frantic attempt to get us under
cover.

I tried to ignore his screams of pain as we stumbled
up the rocky cliff.  I could see the trees ahead of us
created a type of canopy.  I thought that maybe we
could lose the Cylons in the maze of roots and limbs.
If worse came to worse, I could find Starbuck a place
to hide and take on the Cylons.  They were slow on
land.  I should be able to do it.

"I can't go on.  Just leave me."  Starbuck said
through teeth gritted in pain as he stumbled again.

"We've already had this discussion, now move Warrior!"
 I shouted to him.  It got him to go at least a little
further before he tried to give up on me again."

"They're going to catch up to us anyway."  He said.
He moaned and reached for his leg.  "It's broken, I'm
not going to make it."

"We're almost there.  We can hide in the trees."  I
pointed ahead of us to the canopy, and a visible path
through the underbrush.

"I can't make it."  Starbuck complained again as I
shouldered his weight and marched determinedly towards
the trees.  Behind us I could hear the Raider coming
in for a landing.  That sound ended Starbuck's
complaints as he tried to scramble up the slope.

We reached the underbrush and disappeared under the
canopy of the trees.  It was amazing underneath, a
whole system of tunnels and passages.  I could barely
stand up because of the stunted growth of the trees,
but it was just as well as by now I was hunched over
from Starbuck's weight.  While he wasn't much help, he
at least had the sense to go limp and let me do the
work.  From the moans of pain I don't think he had
much choice.

I zig zagged through the passages, not bothering to
keep track of where I was going or where I had been.
I'd worry about being lost later.  As I rounded one
corner and had a choice of three different passages, I
finally had time to give Starbuck a good look.  His
face was covered with small burns and lacerations.  He
was pale and sweating from the pain.  His right arm
was also covered with small burns and cuts that were
bleeding freely.  His left pant leg was completely
stained in blood.  I didn't have time to look closely,
but I guessed since his pants weren't ripped that the
gash was an internal injury from his broken bone
breaking through the skin.  He was breathing heavily
and his eyes were closed.  He looked like he was
fighting to stay conscious.

"Alright, some place to hide.  I think you've reached
your limit."  I said, but got not response from
Starbuck.

I chose the farthest passage, one that headed towards
the cliff at the end of the beach and followed it
until it led to a dead end.  It was like a cave, and I
knew we were away from the ocean because I couldn't
hear the surf any longer.  I chose it as my last
stand.  I laid Starbuck down on the ground.  He
groaned as he settled, then tried to shake his head
and get back to his feet.

"Stay still Starbuck.  I think we lost them."  I drew
his lazer for him and put it in his hand.  I drew mine
and headed back down the passage just to make sure.

I heard a whine, a slow lazy whine, that I could only
assume must be the Cylons.

"Frak!"  I swore again.  "Stay here Starbuck.  I've
got something to take care of."  I started to head
down the tunnel.

Starbuck tried to struggle to his feet and fell,
screaming in pain.  I raced back to make sure he was
okay.

"You're not going without me."  He hissed at me
through gritted teeth.

"You're a liability to me right now.  Just stay put.
If I get into trouble, I'll head them this way and
then you can help, okay?"  I literally begged.  There
was no way I was going to be able to carry Starbuck
and take on Cylon Centurions.

"You've never done this before."  He gave me a
concerned look and attempted to get up again.

"So there's always a first.  Stay put or I'll shoot
your other leg."  That earned me an annoyed look, but
I also noticed that he wasn't fighting to get to his
feet.  At that moment, I was dead serious.  Starbuck
was in no condition to help me.

"Aim for the waist.  That's where they keep their
powerpack."  Starbuck said.

"Thanks instructor."  I said and then headed down the
tunnel.  I came round the corner with my weapon drawn.
 The tunnel was clear, and the pounding of my heart
almost drowned out the sound of the whine.  I willed
my heart still and listened, trying to find the Cylons
location.  They were close, and moving closer.  I
rounded another corner and could hear that they were
headed in my direction.  I could either sit and wait
for them to find me, or I could go to them.

I was still debating what to do when one of the
Centurions came crashing through the trees.  His rifle
was drawn, but not aimed at me and I nailed him with
my first shot.  He collapsed and I could hear another
Cylon coming from the same direction.  I retreated
around the corner for cover and waited.  I didn't have
long to wait.  Only this Centurion was ready for me
and got off a couple of shots before I finally felled
him.  It must have been my fourth or fifth try before
he went down.  The laser fire came close to me,
singeing the trees around me.

I had the morbid desire to go and check out the
Centurions.  I had never seen a Cylon up close before,
just raiders.  I was shocked at how big they were,
damn big!

I heard a sound behind me, and turned to investigate.
I didn't hear the whine, but through the pounding of
my heart and rushing of my blood, I couldn't really
hear anything.  I went around the corner behind me,
lazer drawn, and ran right into a drawn blaster.

"Don't shoot!  It's me!"  I said as I recognized
Starbuck.  It took a moment before he finally dropped
his weapon, his eyes glazed with pain.  He dropped
down to his knees.

"I told you to stay put!"  I said, holstering my
weapon and reaching to help him to his feet.

"How many did you get?"  He asked.

"Two.  I got two.  I don't know where the third one
is."  I answered.  My voice sounded hollow and from
far away.

"The last one will be with the raider.  We have to get
him or we can expect more."

"I'll get him.  Let's get you back to a nice safe
place."  I said trying to drag Starbuck back down the
tunnel.

"NO!"  He shouted and tried to pull away from me, only
to stumble to his knees again.  He screamed in pain.

"Easy.  Easy."  I said, waiting for his pain to
subside before I reached down and gently brought him
back to his feet.

"I see that you feel strongly about this."  I teased
him.  "Alright, you come with me as far as the beach,
but then you wait in the trees!"

"You'll have no cover on the beach."  He stated.

"And that's why you'll be hidden in the trees to cover
me."

Starbuck nodded his approval and his teeth began to
chatter.  I felt myself begin to shiver. The sun was
setting and I realized we had more problems than a
Cylon patrol.  It was only a matter of time before
Starbuck went into shock, or worse, hypothermia set
in.  We were both soaking wet from our freezing cold
swim.  I needed to get to my Viper and the emergency
kit.  We were not in a good situation at all.

"Okay Starbuck, I need some of that luck of yours."

He tried to grin at me, but it came out as a
chattering grimace.


**************

It was slow going getting back to the beach.  I took a
wrong turn more than once and had to back track.
Starbuck's breathing was too labored for my tastes,
and he was shivering uncontrollably.  He was leaning
more and more heavily upon me.  I kept suggesting that
I just leave him there and come back for him, but he
was insistent.

I hated to do it, but I knew we needed to hurry and
take out the Cylon before he called in reinforcements.
 I hated to do it, but I purposely stumbled, dragging
Starbuck down to the ground.  The pain was too much
for him, and he finally lost his hold on
consciousness.  I left him lying there on a trail
knowing there was no point in trying to conceal him.
If I didn't make it back, he was as good as dead
anyway.

I moved much quicker and finally found a tunnel that
led down to the beach.  It wound its way towards the
small stream, and I came on the beach a good distance
from my Viper.  Parked next to it was the Cylon
Raider.  I tried to stay towards the trees as I
creeped back towards the raider.  I assumed that the
Cylons, being machines and all, probably had great
eyesight and would be able to pick me out easily on
the open beach.

I finally had to leave the trees behind as the cliff
side climbed, and leave myself in the open.  I tried
to make myself as small a target as possible.  I was
able to cover half the distance to the raider with
still no sign of the Centurion, when he suddenly came
around the side of my Viper.  I dropped to the sand
firing.  I tried to aim.  I didn't want to hit my own
viper.  But my aim sucked at that distance.  It felt
like centons of hellfire raining down on me from the
Cylon's rifle before I finally was able to disable
him.

I lay there on the sand gulping in great huge breaths.
 I slowly got to my feet, trying to calm my heart and
not hyperventilate.  I staggered a few feet before I
retched.  I staggered away from the mess and sat down
on the sand with my head between my knees trying to
regain control.

"Come on!"  I said aloud to myself.  "Warriors don't
panic.  You're not out of danger yet."  A breeze came
up and the cold forced me to shiver violently for a
moment.  I shook it off and got up running for my
viper and the emergency kit.

I kept my distance from the Centurion, circling around
the other side of my viper.  I climbed up to the
cockpit to be greeted by smashed dials and smoldering
gauges.  The Cylon had essentially destroyed my
cockpit.  I reached over and turned on the short-range
beacon, and the switch fell off in my hand.

"Great.  Just great."  I mumbled to myself.  So we
were on our own.  That was okay, I was prepared for
that.  I grabbed my jacket and put it on over my wet
shirt.  It did help me feel warmer.

I didn't have the usual emergency kit like my last
crash landing.  Since being assigned my own viper I
had been adding things to my kit.  Hey, you only need
to crash land once to realize that the standard
emergency kit just wasn't going to cut it.  Plus I was
small.  I could load that thing up and still not reach
the standard pilot weight limit.  It left me a little
less leg room, but I've got short legs so I don't
notice.

Of course I forgot that I might have to carry the
emergency kit for a long distance.  It was too heavy
for me, and I pulled out the critical stuff.  I ran
down the beach to the trailhead near the creek and
dropped the items in the sand, then ran back to get
the rest.  I wanted to get everything out of my viper
just in case we were paid a little visit by our Cylon
friends. I also took the time to get my boots on and
it helped me feel warmer getting my barefeet off the
cold wet sand.

On my last trip carrying supplies, I reached down and
took the rifle from the Cylon.  I knew he was
disabled, but I still kept my lazer aimed on him.  I
had to roll him over to get to the rifle and it took
all my muscles to get him off it.  Man those things
are big!

I left all but the most essential items hidden beneath
some driftwood on the beach and raced up the path to
find Starbuck.  I must not have been gone as long as I
thought I had, as he was where I left him and still
out.  I took advantage of his lack of consciousness to
roll him over and evaluate his injuries.

The cuts and burns on his face and arms looked
superficial.  A few on his arm were deep, but they had
stopped bleeding.  I pulled out an antiseptic and
wiped them off for good measure.  His upper body
appeared fine, but I gently patted down the pant leg
covered in blood to find the broken bone he'd been
complaining about.  The bleeding had stopped, and I
could feel that the bone on his left thigh was
definitely broken as his leg moved in two different
directions.  The bone was no longer protruding through
the skin, and the bleeding had slowed to a trickle.
When I pushed on the wound to try and put the bone
back into place, more blood seeped through, but not
enough to indicate an artery.

I knew Starbuck was starting to wake up as he groaned
when I pulled on his leg to straighten it out and
splint it.  I hesitated to give him a painkiller just
yet.  I needed him awake to move him once I tied the
make shift splint in place.  I had found two straight
sticks on the beach.  They weren't as thick and sturdy
as I wanted, but they would have to do.

I covered Starbuck with the blanket while I waited for
him to come around.  I almost left him to head down to
the beach for wood to start a fire.  It was getting
cold as the sun set and my adrenaline ebbed.  My
uniform was still sopping wet and the breeze was
picking up.  I was starting to worry about Starbuck
dying of shock or the cold, when his eyes finally
fluttered open.  He jerked awake, fumbling for his
lazer.

"Starbuck, it's okay.  I got `em.  It's okay."  I said
taking his shoulders.

His eyes cleared and he relaxed.  "You got `em?"  He
said, but his speech was slurred.  He shook his head
to clear it, and tried to rise.

"Give yourself a centon Starbuck."  I said gently
pushing him down.  "I got `em.  We're safe.  But we
need to get ourselves some place warm.  Why don't we
sit here until we're sure you're coherent, okay?"

"I'm okay."  He said, but his eyes were still clouded.

"Well I'm not.  You're heavy and I can't carry you any
farther.  You're getting fat.  Too many dinners on the
Rising Star."  I teased.

Starbuck chuckled.  "You got `em?  Looks like I owe
you another one."  Starbuck's eyes suddenly looked
clearer as he apprised our situation.

"Yeah, I did.  Hey, how come you guys never said
anything about how big they are!"

"Didn't want to scare you."  Starbuck replied.  He
reached up and brushed the hair from my eyes.  "Are
you okay?"  It was the first time in sectons that he
had touched me.

"Why is it you always worry about everyone but
yourself?"  I said, but I didn't stop him from
stroking my face.  I wasn't sure how to respond, but I
didn't want to put him off, not now.

"I'm a seasoned veteran, remember?  You're just a
rookie."  He said concerned.

"I did okay.  Besides, you're not grading me anymore."


"You would get an A."  He said, then shivered.

"Okay," I said.  "You ready to do a little more
traveling?"

"Not far I hope."  He said grimacing as he tried to
get to his knee to then get to his feet.

"Just far enough to get us some fresh water and get a
fire started without burning down this whole forest."

I shouldered Starbuck, blanket and all, and we took
our time.  He moved a lot easier now that I had his
leg set.  He complained less about the pain, but I
could tell he was going to really appreciate a
painkiller here soon.


****************

"Okay, this is far enough."  I said easing Starbuck
down in a small clearing near the stream.  The trees
still created a roof over our heads, but it opened up
over the stream and you could see the two moons
shining through.

Starbuck groaned as he settled up against a tree,
wrapping the blanket around himself.  Then he was
suddenly alert again.  "What's that noise?"  Starbuck
said reaching for his blaster.

"It's the surf.  We're closer to the beach."

"Oh yeah, I forgot how noisy it could be."

"Okay, you hang out here while I head down to the
beach and get some wood for a fire.  But here, this
should make the wait a little better."  I said
producing a small syringe from my pocket.

"You made it back to your viper?  How long was I out?"
 Starbuck still didn't sound all that coherent since
it was obvious from the blanket I had made it to my
viper.

"Long enough for me to set that leg, so don't worry
about it."  I said leaning down and giving Starbuck
the dose of painkiller.

"That does feel better." His eyes closed in relief as
it started to work  "So did you get a message off to
the Galactica?  You used a scrambled signal, right?"

"Uh yeah."  I lied.  I hadn't meant to deceive him, I
just thought he could handle the truth a little better
when he was warm and dry.

"We're at least four days in front of the fleet.
We're going to be here a while."  Starbuck said,
looking around at our current location.

"I've got it handled.  I learned from the last time,
remember?"

"Oh yeah.  It's going to get cold tonight too."
Starbuck said with dread.

"Well don't sound so upset."  I said testily
remembering how we had had to snuggle for warmth on
our last landing.

Starbuck flashed me a confused look.

"Don't worry, I'll get a fire going.  You can sleep
way over there, you won't have to come near me."  I
said.  Recognition dawned in his eyes.

"Oh frak, I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
Starbuck looked at me apologetically.

I sighed, "I know, sorry.  I'm just cold and tired.
I'll be right back.  Gotta get supplies."  I didn't
give him a chance to say anything more and headed back
down to the beach.  I brought up an armload of wood
and got a fire started.  Starbuck tried to apologize
again, but I just cut him off and told him I needed to
get more wood.

I headed down for three more armfuls.  Then I started
bringing up the rest of the supplies.  Somewhere about
my fourth trip Starbuck had dozed off.  I covered him
with another one of the blankets I had, tucking it
around him, and I added more wood to the fire.  He
looked so young when he was asleep.  All his defenses
were down and I suddenly wanted to be near him, to hug
him and tell him how I felt about him.  But I let him
sleep and I finished bringing up all the supplies we'd
need.

I constructed the shelter around him, not wanting to
move him if I didn't have to.  The sky had turned
cloudy and I smelled rain.  I had forgotten that
smell.  I knew that it would complicate things as far
as getting dry and warm, but it was a nice scent.

Starbuck stirred awake as I started heating water and
preparing some of the emergency rations.

"You did a great job on the shelter."  He said
startling me.

"Oh hey, you're awake.  Good, I was getting bored and
lonely."  I walked over and crouched down beside him.
"How's the pain?"

"Not bad."  He said.  "Wow, you've even got food
going."

"Yeah, I thought we could use some warm food.  Let me
help you get out of your wet shirt and see if I can
get it dry before the rain starts."

"That would be nice.  That water was cold."  I sat
down and helped him struggle out of the clinging
tunic.  My hand brushed his chest, and I quickly
pulled back.

"Why don't you do it."  I said.

He struggled out of the shirt.  As he handed it to me,
Starbuck grabbed my hand, and placed it on his chest.
He looked at me with that same intent look I
remembered so well from our nights on the Rising Star.
 I didn't move or speak.  Whatever defenses had gone
down, I didn't want to be responsible for them going
back up.

"I'm sorry I've been so distant."  He said.  "It's
just that."

He was quiet for a moment, searching for the right
words.

"I know."  I said, trying to save him from having to
explain it.  "I understand, you and Aliana look so
happy together."

"That's not it!"  He said almost angry.  "I mean, it
is, and it isn't.  You told Aliana you weren't sure
anymore.  I didn't want to push it."

"It's okay Starbuck, I know that you and Aliana are
happy.  I know you don't want me in the picture."

Starbuck's eyes went wide as if in shock.  "Is that
what you think?  Is that what you really think?"  His
eyes searched mine, and I dropped my head.

"Look, it's okay Starbuck.  I really do understand."

Starbuck's grip on my hand tightened.  He dropped his
shirt as he reached for my other hand.  "Look at me.
Look at me!"

I angrily brought my eyes up to meet his.  I knew how
he felt, but I didn't need to hear it.  I didn't need
the rejection.

"Do you have any idea how hard it has been seeing you
everyday, working with you side by side, and not being
able to reach out and touch you?" he said
passionately.

"What?"  I asked confused.  "You wanted to."  I
trailed off into silence.

"I thought you didn't want this.  So I backed off.  I
thought it was what you wanted."  His eyes were open
and sincere.  "I wanted you, but only if you wanted
me."  He released my hands.

I kept the one on his chest as I slowly brought the
other up to stroke his face.  "I'm sorry.  I just
wasn't sure.  This is all so different and." I said,
fumbling for words again.

"Tell me about it.  You're not the one about to be a
father."

I laughed.  "Well no, that's genetically impossible.
But I think I know what you mean, well, sort of."

He reached out to brush the hair from my eyes, and
cupped my chin.  "I just needed time.  But I always
wanted you."

"I guess I did too."  I whispered.

Starbuck slowly pulled me to him for a kiss.  My heart
soared.  I didn't realize until that moment how much I
had missed being with Starbuck this way, without the
defenses and walls.

We broke off the kiss as the rain began to fall.

"The food!"  I said, getting up to rescue our meal
from the rain.  I brought the pan over to Starbuck,
then took his shirt and hung it up under the shelter,
but near the fire.  I unrolled more of the shelter to
extend farther over the fire.

"We'll have to deal with some smoke, but it will keep
the fire from going out."

"Sounds good."  Starbuck said between mouthfuls of
food.

I threw more wood on the fire, and did other small
housekeeping chores around our campsite as I thought
about what he had said.  It surprised me that it
changed everything for me, knowing that he still
wanted me.  Knowing that he had felt the same as I
had.  Things were different once Aliana became
pregnant, but we had let our own insecurities push
each other away.

I brought more of the supplies under the tent and
rummaged around for my med kit.

"Hey, save me some of that!"  I said, sitting down by
Starbuck again.

"This stuff isn't bad when it's heated up."

"Let me know when you're done.  I have something I
want to try."

"Uh, what's that?"  Starbuck said puzzled.

"Ta da!"  I said, producing from my med kit an
emergency bone knitter.

"Is that what I think it is?  How did you get that?
That's supposed to be reserved for a med tech on
dangerous missions."

"I stole it from the Life Center during my physical.
I thought it might come in handy."  I said, flashing
him a victory smile.

"You stole it?  Are you crazy?"  Starbuck actually
sounded appalled.

"So what are you going to do, put me on report?"  I
said pulling the bone knitter out of his reach.

"Under the circumstances, I'd have to say no.  Do you
know how to work that thing."

"Nope, so shut up and be still while I figure this
out."

I did eventually figure it out, and while we don't
think it completely healed Starbuck, he said it did
reduce the pain considerably.  We thought we'd wait
until morning to see if he could stand.  Until then, I
pulled over another blanket.  Starbuck put his arm
around my shoulders.

"Is this okay?"  He asked.

I took up his offer and rested my head on his chest.

"Mmmm, you're warm.  Your shirt's almost dry too."  He
said nuzzling my hair..

I didn't say anything.  I didn't want to break the
spell.  We snuggled together and I fell asleep
listening to the rain.

*******
I awoke the next morning, as Starbuck tried to ease
himself out from under me.  I opened my eyes to soft
light and an overcast sky.

"Are you okay?"  I asked.

"Shhhh..stay asleep.  I was just going to see how my
leg is doing and add more wood to the fire."

"Let me do it."  I started to rise.

"No, shhhh"  Starbuck stroked my hair.  "You're all
nice and warm.  You're so soft when you're asleep.
You rest.  I'll be back I promise."

I was too sleepy to argue with him, and dozed back off
to the sounds of Starbuck putting on his shirt and
stirring the fire.

I awoke about a centaur later as Starbuck crawled back
under the covers.

"Where have you been?"  I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Just scouting our location.  I checked on your viper
on the beach.  So when were you going to tell me?"  He
didn't sound mad.

"Oh that.  That centurion sure did a number on it.  Do
you think it could launch?"  I asked already knowing
the answer, but hoping maybe Starbuck could perform
one of his famous `Starbuck Luck' miracles.

"I doubt it.  Besides, our friend on the beach
punctured one of the fuel cells.  Probably not enough
fuel for a decent launch.  So we're on our own for a
while, or at least until we show up missing."
Starbuck put his arm around me and offered me his
chest again.  I snuggled in, not wanting to leave the
warmth of the covers.

"I did get a message off before we headed for this
planet.  It's the only breathable atmosphere in the
whole sector.  They should find us."  I said to
reassure him.

"That's good to know.  You must have had a good
instructor to remember to do that."  Starbuck stroked
my hair and snuggled closer.

"One of the best.  How's the leg?"

"Still hurts to put my full weight on it, but I can
get around with out passing out.  I'd say that's an
improvement."

"So aren't you glad I stole it?"

"Just keep me warm and I won't report you."

We stayed under the covers listening to the surf.  I
didn't want to wake up.  I knew this had to be a
dream.  I figured I'd been shot by the Cylon and was
lying injured on the beach.  This was all just a
fevered delusion.

I heard water hissing as it hit the fire.

"My waters boiling."  Starbuck said, but didn't move.

"I should get that."  I said, but I didn't move.

Starbuck gave me a squeeze.  "We won't have water if
we don't get up."

We disentangled ourselves and Starbuck limped over to
the fire.

I looked around our campsite and saw that Starbuck had
put his boots near the fire to dry.  I pulled at my
tunic, which had dried stiff against my body.

"I don't suppose that creek is any warmer than that
ocean?  I could use a turbo."  I said.

"That's what the boiling water is for.  Best I could
do."  He said flashing me a grin

"That was sweet!"  I got up from under our covers
brushing dirt and needles from my clothes.

"Well, actually it's a bribe.  But we can talk about
that after breakfast.  Look what I found!"  Starbuck
produced the med kit container, now full of some type
of berry.

"Uh, I wouldn't eat those if I were you."

"I saw some little ground animals eating them.  They
didn't keel over, so I guessed we'd be fine.  Besides,
I've already eaten more than a handful."  Starbuck
took a step, swooned and flopped to the ground.

"STARBUCK!!" I leapt to his side.

He started laughing.

"Oh you!  That's not funny!"  I punched him in the
shoulder.

He laughed harder.

"Just for that, I'm using all the hot water!"  I took
the pan and headed for the stream.  Starbuck was
sitting near the fire munching on berries with a smile
on his face.

"Alright, you've had your fun.  What's this about a
bribe?"  I said, taking a seat beside him and reaching
for a berry.

"Well, I can see the tail section of my viper in the
waves.  I thought, since you're such a great swimmer,
I'd have you swim out and see if you can get the
communications panel out.  I figured, your
communications worked, at least before your controls
were destroyed.  My panels were fine, just the insides
were fried.  We put my controls with your insides, it
should work.  So how about a swim?"

"Starbuck, that water is cold!"  I protested.

"I'll keep the fire going."

I didn't answer, remembering the shock of that
freezing cold water.

"You can leave your clothes on the shore.  They'll be
warm and dry waiting for you."  He added.

"Uh huh."  I said giving Starbuck a less than amused
look.

"Look, it's a big sector.  We're lost and sectors in
front of the Galactica.  I just want to up the odds
that we're found."  He said sincerely.

"What, tired of my planet already?"  I said jokingly,
but somewhere inside me I wasn't joking.  It was the
closest we had been since Aliana had been pulled from
the pilots program.  I wasn't ready to walk away and
back to the awkward situations aboard the Galactica.

Starbuck caught the edge to my voice, and answered
frankly.  "I have a lot of reasons for getting back.
We have a family now."

At first I felt pushed aside again, but then his words
sunk in.  We, we had a family.

"Okay."  I said reluctantly.  "But there's no
guarantee that it will even work.  Your communications
were down and your viper has been soaking in salt
water overnight."  I shuddered as I remembered from my
mechanics training the kind of damage a little salt
water could do to an instrument panel.

"We can't know unless we try."  Starbuck said, handing
me the rest of the berries.

"We?  We?  Um, I think that would be ME paddling
around in that icy water!

"I'll warm you up afterwards."  Starbuck said
seductively with a smile on his face.  "And you have a
bottle of ambrosia in that emergency kit of yours.
That and the kitchen sink.  You don't exactly travel
light do you?"

"I thought they said you knew women?  Geez!  You don't
know anything.  It's not like you had to carry any of
it!  I do believe I did all the work getting it up
here, including carrying you."  I teased him.

"Hey, you pack it, you carry it.  I believe that's
written in the Warrior's manual somewhere.  In fact,
as your instructor, I'm pretty certain it is."

"How does that cover my carrying you?"

"Oh I'm all yours.  Somewhere in all this I stopped
being my own person and became yours.and Aliana's."
He added.

I smiled at him because I knew it was true.  We both
had had him in a way these last few sectars.  She
seemed to have him at home, and I had him on duty.

I sighed.  "Okay, I don't suppose it's going to get
any warmer out here?"  I said shivering a little.

"The clouds look like they might clear in a little
while, but from the greenery on this planet, I'd say
it stays pretty moist."

"Okay, let's wait till later then.  I want it to be as
warm as it can be before I go into that water."


*************

We spent most of the day down on the beach.  Starbuck
gathered up some firewood while I went to work pulling
off my communications control panel and seeing if it
could be repaired so I didn't have to take a swim.  It
was totally trashed.  I was pretty sure my short range
beacon was transmitting though.  Starbuck and I agreed
that that wasn't good enough considering how far out
in front of the fleet we were.  It looked like I would
still be making that plunge.

The Cylon lying on the beach had me edgy, and I walked
around most of the time with my lazer drawn.  Starbuck
had even gone into the raider to see if we could
scavenge anything from it, or perhaps use its
communications.  I wanted nothing to do with it.  It
definitely gave me the creeps.  Starbuck even
suggested trying to fly it home, like he and Apollo
had done when they took out that basestar.  I told him
he could go alone, I wasn't touching the thing.  He
did have to concede that the Raider had a different
design than the one that he and Apollo flew and he
wasn't sure if he could launch the thing from a
planet.  But he kept pestering me to give it a try.  I
told him I'd rather swim in the cold water than mess
with that Raider.  Hey, I barely learned how to fly
vipers, I wasn't in the mood to try something that
might really get me shot down.

I ended up carrying most of the wood up to the fire
since Starbuck started to complain that his leg was
not completely healed.  I did notice he was limping
worse than earlier in the day, but he wouldn't give in
to a painkiller either.  He limped, rarely putting any
pressure on his left leg unless he had to.  I don't
know how he made it down to the beach and back by
himself while I was sleeping, as he still needed my
help on the slope.

I lingered in front of the fire for as long as I
could, sitting so close it was almost too warm.  I was
not looking forward to taking a plunge in that cold
water.  But Starbuck was right, it was worth a shot to
try.  The Galactica could easily bypass us, or take a
completely different heading based on information from
other patrols, or the bad omen of our disappearance.

I sat in front of the fire until the clasps on my
jacket were too hot to touch and I think I melted my
boots, but I wanted to be as warm as possible before
shocking my system with that cold water again.

"All right, let's go."  I finally said.

When we got to the beach I decided that it might be
better for me to swim with some of my clothes on, for
the insulation against the water.  Starbuck suggested
I leave my tunic on, then I could have his dry one
when I was done.  I agreed.  I figured if I had to be
cold, he should be too!

I was right, the water was a shock.  There was no
easing into, so I plunged in head first.  It was a
longer swim out to his viper than I remembered from
the day before.  It took me more than a dozen dives to
retrieve the instrument panel, and in fact, I dropped
it, but it had landed on the seat of his viper.  Once
I had unscrewed it, I wasn't careful with the wires,
yanking with all my might to pull it free.  He must
have had some juice in his batteries as it sparked
even in the water.  It wasn't an easy swim back.  I
was shivering uncontrollably, and couldn't really use
my hands to swim since I needed to hang on to the
control panel.  Plus I think the tide was going out.
No matter how hard I kicked I just didn't seem to get
any closer to shore.  I finally had to resort to
riding the tops of the waves in and tumbling around in
the surf.

When I finally reached the shore I was miserable.  I
collapsed on the sand exhausted and Starbuck gingerly
took the control panel from me and placed it in my
viper.

"Come on, I promised to warm you up."  Starbuck said.
He offered me a hand up and handed me my dry pants.
He helped me to get out of my wet tunic.  Then he
stripped off his and helped me into it.  Finally he
helped me into my jacket, which was still warm from
the fire.  We walked up the slope together, helping
each other to stay on our feet.

The fire was still burning when we got back to the
campsite.  Starbuck took some more of the wood and
piled it on, increasing the flames and the warmth.  I
crawled under the blankets still shivering.  Starbuck
got out the bottle of ambrosia and some rations and
brought them to our bed under the shelter.

Starbuck opened the bottle and handed it to me.
"Here, this should warm you up a little."

I could barely get a drink because of my chattering
teeth.  Starbuck crawled under the blanket and put his
arms around me.  I pulled in closer, leaning into the
warmth of his chest.  I finally was able to stop my
teeth from chattering, but I was still shivering.  I
tried to burrow myself into Starbuck, for warmth.  He
pulled me up into his lap wrapping his arms completely
around me, then covering both of us with one of the
blankets.

We sat that way for a while until I finally stopped
shivering.  But still we did not move.  I gazed into
the fire and reveled in the feel of Starbuck's chest,
the smoothness of his skin, the feel of his muscular
arms around me.  I felt safe and protected.  I felt
warm inside and out.

I could still feel that we both had walls up.  We had
been hesitant with each other most of the day, neither
of us ready yet to reach out to the other.  The more I
thought about what Starbuck had said, about how he
thought I was the one who had wanted out of the
relationship, the more I realized he was right.  I had
at one point literally said I couldn't handle it.  I
knew now that it had been a momentary reaction to the
stress of the media surrounding Sire Uri's trial.  But
I had also never recanted that statement.

"Starbuck?"  I said breaking our silence.

"Mmm?"  Starbuck answered.

"I always wanted you.  I'm sorry if I said it wrong,
or acted like I didn't want you.  It was the whole IFB
publicity thing I didn't want."

"I know.  I know you backed off because of Aliana too.
 You're a good friend."  Starbuck said reaching to
stroke my hair.

"So are you.  You've been a good friend to me lately."

"Oh I don't know about that.  I had ulterior motives.
Some nights, well, some nights it was so hard to stay
away from you."  Starbuck said with longing in his
voice.

We were silent for a moment and I remembered all those
nights playing cards, all the patrols when he insisted
on joining me, the meals we would take together, or
how some evenings we just sat on the couch watching
vids or playing vid games.  I realized now that
Starbuck had been biding his time, hoping that I would
change my mind.

"You don't have to stay away anymore."  I said,
looking up at him.

His eyes blazed suddenly, like a fire rekindling.
Without hesitation he leaned down to kiss me.  It
started slow and sensuous as our lips met, but it soon
turned fevered and frantic.  Our mouths opened and we
tasted each other.  I felt that I was sinking into
him, becoming a part of him.

My hands sought the back of his neck, running my
fingers through the nape off his hair that I knew sent
shivers down his spine.  He broke off the kiss, His
breath was ragged and heavy.  "Stop."  He whispered.
"We can't do this."  He said, not pushing me away, but
instead pulling me tight, so tight I that I was
nestled against him.  I let Starbuck catch his breath,
as I gave him small soft kisses on the chest.  I could
feel his heart pounding under my lips, and heard my
own blood rushing in my ears.

"We can't do this."  He said huskily.

"Yes we can."  I said trailing my hand down his chest.

Starbuck sighed heavily, then pulled me in close, too
close to move.  My ear was over his heart and I heard
the pounding as he said, "I want you,.  Lords I want
you.  But, we can't.  I've already have one child on
the way."

The reality of Starbuck's words hit me.  While he was
happy about the baby on the way, it had been a
surprise.  It would be a little much for there to be
two.  I also knew for myself that I wasn't ready to be
a parent.  Starbuck had come to the unfortunate
reality that sex, even the first time, produces
children.

"There are things we can do to prevent it."  I
whispered.

"Not much though, not with Adama's new plan.  I know,
I've looked into it."

His words struck me.  He wouldn't have asked for
Aliana's sake.  She was already pregnant.  He had
asked for my sake.

"So we'll be careful."  I said, slowly pulling my hand
from under his, massaging his chest.  Starbuck nodded
and kissed me again, deeply, almost inhaling me.


******************

When I awoke, I was curled up on Starbuck's chest.
The sky was dark and it startled me as I didn't think
I had fallen asleep for very long.

"It's okay."  Starbuck said and I realized he was wide
awake.

"How long have I been asleep?"  I tried to snuggle
closer because I was cold.  Our fire had burned down
to coals.

"Only about a centaur.  Days are short here."

"So what time is it."  I asked, not really meaning the
actual Galactica time.

"Well, officially we are about ten centaurs overdue."
Starbuck answered knowing exactly what I meant.

"Frak."  I muttered.  "Aliana is going to be worried."

Starbuck sighed a heavy sigh.  "Yeah, she is."  We
flashed each other a look, knowing exactly what the
other was thinking.  Aliana worried is not a good
thing.  "I don't want her worried for too long."
Starbuck said.  "First light we start working on
communications."

"Agreed.  Is there any more rations left?"  I said
suddenly starving.

Starbuck reached over for his pants and tunic.  "Yeah
there is.  We need more wood for the fire."  He eased
out from under me and got dressed.  I found my clothes
and started to put them on.

"You stay here.  I'll get the wood."  Starbuck said,
pulling on his boots.

"You can barely make it up that slope without help.
Plus we are going to need to go further down the beach
to find wood."  I gave him a flirty smile as I said,
"Besides, now that I've got you back, I don't want to
be away from you for even a micron."

Starbuck just shook his head.  He got up and stirred
the fire, throwing on the last couple of logs that we
had.  He reached down for his gunbelt and strapped it
on.  I quickly ate the rations Starbuck handed me and
got dressed.  The fire was dwindling down and it was
getting cold.

We headed down to the beach and went searching for
firewood.  This time we had to venture farther down,
having picked the beach clean at this end of wood.  It
gave me the creeps having to walk past the Raider, and
I probably would have drawn my lazer if I didn't think
Starbuck would make fun of me for doing it.  The wind
blew on the beach in cold sharp blasts.

We didn't linger long, the cold driving us back to our
warm camp.  I let Starbuck help me stack wood at the
base of the slope, but I wouldn't let him carry any up
the slope.  He was still limping, but he insisted on
carrying it from the top of the slope to our camp.
When I made it up with the last load, Starbuck had
stoked the fire and straightened up our camp.  It was
actually kind of cute the amount of care he took to
keeping our simple campsite in order.

We sat down by the fire to warm back up.  We hadn't
said much down on the beach.  But there was something
that was tugging at my mind.

"Starbuck?"

"Yeah?"  He asked from inside our shelter where he was
straightening blankets.

"Can I ask you something?"

He came out and sat down beside me.  "Sounds serious."

"No, I just can't figure something out.  If you said
you felt the way you did all this time, you know."

"That I wanted to be with you.  Yes, I very much
wanted you."

"Okay, um, then why did you set me up with Boomer?"

"What?  I didn't set you up with Boomer, that was his
idea!"

I shook my head.  "No, he said it was your idea, he
bet me on it!  I still owe him cubits!"

"That boray!  He told me that to be sure that you
didn't have any feelings for me, that he should make a
play for you.  He bet me that you would kiss him good
night!  He claims I owe him!"  Starbuck swore, and
then shook his head.  "You know, Boomer has such a
twisted sense of humor."

"Yeah, yeah he does.  I thought you were trying to get
rid of me!"  I said in mock exasperation.

"Well I wasn't!"

"Yeah, I know that now.  Boomer bet me that you still
cared, that you'd be in the landing bay waiting for
us."

"And you bet against me?  I'm hurt."  Starbuck said.
I couldn't tell if he was joking or not.

"I wasn't sure.  But believe me, it's one bet I was
happy to lose."  I said, cocking my head at him
flashing a smile.

"Well now that you brought it up, I have to ask.
Would you have kissed him?"  Starbuck honestly sounded
jealous and hurt.

"Only to get a rise out of you.  You're the only one I
want to kiss."  I leaned over to kiss him but Starbuck
backed away.

"Oh no, you don't get off that easily.  You bet
against me!  I can't believe you would do that!  You
know the safe bet is always with me, not against me."
Starbuck said, but I could tell by his smile that he
was joking this time.

"Let me make it up to you."  I said smiling
seductively.  I got up and held out my hand to help
him up.

"Yeah, we should get some sleep.  We have a busy day
ahead of us tomorrow."  He got up and I led him back
under our shelter to our makeshift bed.

"You can sleep after I've made it up to you."  I
helped him to lie down and curled up beside him,
leaning over to offer him a kiss.  This time he didn't
back away.

**************************
We both slept, but we awoke just at sunrise.  We both
got ready for the day and ate our meager breakfast in
silence, savoring what was the last of our rations.
If I couldn't repair the communications and get a
message out, finding firewood would not be our biggest
concern.  Food would be.  I mentally made a note to
myself that in my next emergency kit I should probably
add some netting material or fishing supplies.  I even
asked Starbuck how big those ground rodents he saw
were.  He knew what I was thinking and replied simply
that they weren't big enough to waste our time on.

We headed down to the beach as soon as the sun was up.
 Starbuck suggested I see what I could scavenge from
the Raider for our repairs, but I delegated that task
to him.  That's why he gets paid the big Lieutenant
wages, right?  Besides, I wanted nothing to do it.
Two days of being around the dead Cylon and his craft
still hadn't made me feel any easier about them.

I climbed up in my viper and started on the repairs.
Starbuck's panel hadn't received as much corrosion as
I thought it would have.  I got my panel off with no
problems and was pleased to see that the internals
were just fine.  I made short work of replacing my
panel with his.  I secured it to my viper and flipped
the switch.  Starbuck came running as fast as he could
when he heard my shout of joy.

"I got it to work!"  I yelled down at him.

"Great!  Can you get a secure channel?"

"I'm not sure at this point.  I'm not picking up
anything either.  Let me give this a try."  I said to
him, then began transmitting.

"Lost children to mother, lost children to mother.do
you read?"  There was no response.  I flashed Starbuck
a concerned look.

"We're a ways out."  He reminded me.  "Sometimes it
takes a while.  Keep trying, I've got an idea for
lunch."  He ignored my puzzled look and walked off
towards the cliff and where it met the sea.

I kept trying for what must have been over a centaur
before I finally received a reply.  It came through
crystal clear."

"Lost children, this is mother.  You are late, repeat,
you are late.  Suggest you head home."

I shouted for joy again, and yelled for Starbuck, but
he was too far down the beach and too close to surf to
hear me.

"Mother, this is lost children.   Reading you, but
can't get home.  Repeat, can't get home.  Went to a
party and crashed the vehicle."

"Lost children this is Mother, how was the party?"

I knew what the Galactica was trying to ask, were the
Cylons still a threat.  I didn't know the answer, and
I wasn't risking that they might decide to leave us
here rather than risk the fleet.  Call me selfish, but
I was ready to go home.

"Mother party was great.  No one went home.  Repeat,
no one went home."

"Lost children, we're coming to get you.  Mother out."

"Thanks mom.  Let sis know we're okay.  Lost Children
out."

I hopped out of my viper and hit the beach running
towards Starbuck.  I must have scared him because he
dropped what he had in his hands and went to pull his
lazer.

"Starbuck, it's okay, I got the Galactica!"

"Great!  See, I told you it was worth the swim!  When
are they coming?"  He said, putting back his lazer and
picking up the black shells he had dropped.

"They didn't say.  They didn't say much, I wasn't sure
if I got a secure channel.  But they know we're okay.


"You told them enough so Aliana wouldn't worry?"

"Yes I did."  I said, knowing exactly what he meant.
Aliana was probably driving the whole Galactica nuts
worrying about us.  "What are those?"  I asked helping
Starbuck pick up the shells he dropped.

Starbuck took his knife, slipped it between one of the
black shells and pried it open.  Inside was a type of
mullosk.  "Lunch!"  He said.


**************

We went to camp and boiled up the shells that Starbuck
had found.  They were actually quite good.  The sun
was shining so we packed up some of our camp to be
ready when the shuttle arrived, and headed down to
explore the beach.  If it weren't for Starbuck's limp
to remind us of how we had wound up on this planet, it
might have been an enjoyable vacation.  I hunted
through the surf for different shells and rocks that I
thought were pretty.  We sat on the beach and watched
the waves.  We even dug in the sand and amused
ourselves by building sand castles.  We stayed on the
beach holding hands and watching the sun sink into the
sea.  We lingered until the last of the sun's rays had
faded.

Then the cold wind picked up, a soft breeze at first,
but increasing in intensity.

"Looks like another cold night.  They probably won't
get here until morning."  Starbuck finally said.

`We're going to need more wood.  Our fire is probably
out."   I replied, getting up to go gather wood.

We had to go further this time to find wood that was
small enough for us to carry.  We wandered about a
quarter mile down the beach, gathering wood and
placing it in one central pile.  We knew we'd have to
make several trips, and even though Starbuck said he
could manage it, I knew he couldn't carry any of it up
the slope.  I was definitely getting a work out on
this patrol.  My arms and shoulders already ached from
when I had to carry Starbuck as we escaped from the
Cylons.  Sleeping on the ground wasn't helping any
either.  We decided to carry the wood in stages,
carrying most of the wood back and forth from down the
beach, to near my viper.  Then from there we could
carry it up the slope.

We did about four loads to the viper, when I noticed
that Starbuck was limping worse than before, and I
decided this should be our last load.  We were headed
up the beach towards my Viper and the Raider, when I
noticed something different in the dark, an outline
that wasn't there before.  It was moving.

"Starbuck, what is that?"

The object turned, and we saw the red eye sweep across
us.

"Frak, RUN!!"  Starbuck said, dropping the wood,
drawing his lazer and firing.

I dropped my armload, and added my own lazer fire to
the fight.  Something fired at us from up on the
cliffs, and another from closer to my viper.

Starbuck and I both dropped down to the sand.  We were
in the open and vulnerable.  Starbuck scrambled closer
to me.

"I thought I told you to run!"  He yelled at me over
the rifle fire.

"Where am I going to go?"  I said, firing up at the
spot on the cliff where I thought I had scene the
lazer fire come from.

"Good point.  On three, we sweep the beach with fire,
you start from the left, I'll start from the right.
One, two, three."  We both started firing, and saw
sparks fly and the sounds of something big hitting the
beach.

"Got one."  Starbuck said coolly.

"How many more to go?"  I asked, not really expecting
an answer.  Suddenly lazer fire was lancing the sand
right in front of my face.  I instinctively backed
away, crawling down the beach with Starbuck firing
wildly in the direction of the lazer fire.

Lazer fire hit the beach behind me, coming from the
cliff side.  I fired up into the trees, and the lazer
fire stopped, but I didn't see the distinctive sparks
that indicated a hit.

"We're trapped!"  I yelled to Starbuck over the roar
of his blaster.  Lazer fire began to rain down again
from the cliff side.

"FRAK!!!"  Starbuck yelled, firing wildly at the
cliff, then turning to fire down the beach again.

I sweeped the cliff side with my blaster, setting off
many small fires, but it didn't slow the rain of lazer
fire on the beach around us.  I was starting to panic.
 We weren't going to come out of this one.  Starbuck
and I were nailed down, and firing blind.

***************

I sweeped the cliff side with my blaster, setting off
many small fires, but it didn't slow the rain of lazer
fire on the beach around us.  I was starting to panic.
 We weren't going to come out of this one.  Starbuck
and I were nailed down, and firing blind.

That's when I heard a sound that chilled my blood.
Starbuck heard it too as he slowed his firing to
listen.  It was the sound of Cylon engine, of a flying
craft about to make a strafing run.  We saw the dark
sliver coming at us from the black sky.  We saw the
lazers firing.

"Run for the rocks!"  Starbuck said, grabbing me and
heading for the cliffside as fast as he could go.

Just as the Cylon Raider was about to strafe the
beach, it exploded and debris rained down around us.
A viper tore through the smoke.  Starbuck and I
flattened ourselves on the beach.

"Thank the Lords!"  Starbuck yelled.  "Great timing!"
Starbuck pulled me with him as he crawled towards the
cliff side.  We were still under fire from the
Centurion, or Centurions up in the trees.  It was hard
to tell if it was one or two in the dark.  The Viper
swung back around, and began a strafing run on the
cliff.  Starbuck and I huddled together, hands over
our ears to block out the deafening explosions.
Amongst the sounds of viper lazers and debris flying
we heard another sound, one very familiar and welcome
to our ears.  Starbuck looked at me, hope shining in
his eyes, then he pointed towards the beach. We
watched as a shuttle came down on the beach just past
my viper.

"Let's make a run for it!"  He shouted above the
chaos, but I was already ahead of him.  I looked back
to see that Starbuck had stumbled, and I slowed just
long enough to help him up.  Lazer fire was still
falling around us from the Cylon's on the cliff.  We
both ran till our lungs ached.  We flew through the
shuttle hatch in a heap.  The door closed, and the
shuttle took off the moment we were through.

"Man are we glad to see you!"  Starbuck yelled.

"Having fun?"  Sheba shouted from the cockpit.

"Loads of fun."  Starbuck answered back still lying on
the shuttle deck with me.

I was trying to catch my breath, trying to keep my
heart from pounding it's way out of my rib cage, when
Starbuck looked at me and asked, "You okay?"  I only
managed to nod back.  I was afraid to speak for fear
I'd lose my lunch on the floor.  Starbuck patted me on
the thigh.

"You're okay."

A hand was suddenly in front of my face, offering to
help me up.  I followed it up to the see Aliana
looking down on me, a smile of relief on her face.

"What are you doing here?"  I said

"I couldn't let you two have all the fun."  She said
helping me up.

She gave Starbuck a very concerned look when she saw
how carefully he got to his feet.  "Are you okay?"
She asked.

"Yeah, I'm better now."  He said giving her a hug,
then pulling me into the hug too.  We stood like that
for a while.  I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the
moment instead of worrying about tomorrow.  Tomorrow
could take care of itself.  I wanted my family now.