Ficlet: Grounded, K/L
He’s finally found her. This is the first place he should have looked, of course, but he didn’t think she had that kind of range yet on her crutches. Then again, Kara always had the ability to achieve above every expectation. Invincible, unstoppable. Even got back to the fleet, after they had given up on finding her. He winces at that thought.
She hasn’t noticed him yet, so he can take a few moments to just look at her, drinking her in. She’s standing next to her viper, running her palm along the scars it’s collected lately. She seems subdued, almost wistful. Then she turns around and sees him, almost like she’s sensed he was there.
”Hey”, she says silently.
”I’ve been looking for you”, he says as he approaches. ”Cottle’s going to blow a gasket unless you turn up for physio ASAP.”
She looks uncomfortable for a brief moment, then turns on Starbuck and tells him what Cottle can do as far as she’s concerned, in no uncertain terms, before turning back towards her viper. He smiles at that but it fades quickly when he catches the tremor in her leg. She must be in pain. And exhausted, after walking this far.
”You OK?”
She’s still for a moment, then turns towards him again, just watching him. ”Yeah, guess so”, she says after a while. ”Just wanted to make sure Chief is taking good care of my ride here.”
They stand quietly for another while. Then he bumps her shoulder and tells her to get her ass to Cottle straight away. Just before she leaves, he grabs her elbow.
”Don’t worry”, he says. ”We’ll get you back up there.”