5 times it seemed familiar and 1 time it didn't
Originally posted for the 5 + 1 challenge at no_takebacks
1.Kara'd been drunk, and Zak? Zak had been totally blitzed. Which held memories much too much like the first time the three of them were together. Memories that Lee really didn't want to dwell upon. The walk back from the destroyed bar with Zak's arms slung over their shoulders had started out okay, but then they'd turned down the wrong alley. When they'd turned around the MPs had been right there. Lee'd managed not to end up in the drunk tank, but the mere fact that he'd been at the bar had gotten him thrown in a cell. All he could do before they were released into his custody in the morning was shake his head, and wonder where the 200 cubits he needed to get back to the War College campus would come from.
2.Lee entered the Training Command CO's office and handed him the dispatch from the Commander of the War College. He'd been planning a weekend liberty with his brother and perhaps Kara. He hoped to limit the time of his interactions with her to when his brother was with them, and not drunk to oblivion. The frown on his face as he'd entered the office led the CO to give him a quizzical look. He told Lee that Zak was gone on a no notice over-water navigation hop, and wouldn't be back for several days. Lee's next thought was out of his mouth before he could stop. When he asked where Lt Thrace was the voice of the man in front of him had turned cold as ice. Once again she was in the brig. This time the pool tables at the base Rec Center had ended up in the swimming pool. Why was it that her opponents always thought that Kara had cheated? At least he didn't have to worry about Zak being there this time when he arrived. Or did he?
3. The ball rested against Lee's arm as his friend took a picture of the victorious couple hugging each other. Lee'd made up on the losing pair with said photographer. The game had been fiercely competitive with Kara and Zak only winning, by one point, at the last minute. Once it was over though they'd hit the bar and drank their fill in easy companionship. Lee and his friend had eventually headed back to their temporary quarters, while Zak and Kara had chosen to remain at the bar. Lee wasn't at all surprised when he got the call in the middle of the night. Zak and Kara had gone skinny dipping in the fountain in front of Municipal Hall. Lee groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. Kara and Zak would wait until the morning for Lee to take another dose of the familiarity pill.
4. It was a bright sunny day and at sunrise Lee was sitting on a bluff overlooking the most difficult trail in the wilderness ski park. Once again Zak wasn't with them. Lee was nervous, but some of the other instructors were along. He'd hoped for no complications this time. Later that evening, as he nursed a broken arm, he'd wondered if he would ever get a break when he was with her. He almost couldn't laugh as he realized his pun. She'd pulled another of her stunts by skiing out of the permitted area, and causing a dangerous avalanche. Somehow she was the only one of the group that hadn't been hurt. At least no one had died, but the others had been unaimous in laying the blame. Lee couldn't find himself objecting to their explanation of what had happened. He told himself maybe he wouldn't bail her out this time. He couldn't bring himself to leave her there though.
5. It seriously didn't surprise him when he got another call from Zak. Lee'd only just gotten back from War College; hadn't even had time to check into quarters. He'd planned to see them later that evening when Zak returned from a training mission. It wasn't the brig this time. Instead it was the city lock-up. She'd taken a dare and had gotten herself arrested, by parachuting from the roof of the city's tallest building. This time, as he stared at her through the bars, Lee began to wonder if he needed to pursue a degree in Bailing Kara Thrace Out of Jail.
1. Lee knocked on the door but there was no answer. Opening the door he lifted the bottle in his hand and took a swig before proceeding down the stairs. Kara, who was sitting on the couch, lifted her bottle to her lips and drank, doing it over and over again, and totally ignoring Lee. He stood watching her and continuing to lift his bottle too. There was something different this time. This time it wasn't familiar; this time Zak wasn't there or away on a mission. Zak would never be there again.
Two years later
Maybe, Lee thought, enough time had gone by since Zak's death, that he and Kara could be friends again. He approached the bars of the Galactica cell where she was doing push-ups. There was a smirk on his face as he said out loud, for the first time, the now familiar words he'd always keep quiet before. He sighed when it didn't work out any better than keeping them to himself.
1.Kara'd been drunk, and Zak? Zak had been totally blitzed. Which held memories much too much like the first time the three of them were together. Memories that Lee really didn't want to dwell upon. The walk back from the destroyed bar with Zak's arms slung over their shoulders had started out okay, but then they'd turned down the wrong alley. When they'd turned around the MPs had been right there. Lee'd managed not to end up in the drunk tank, but the mere fact that he'd been at the bar had gotten him thrown in a cell. All he could do before they were released into his custody in the morning was shake his head, and wonder where the 200 cubits he needed to get back to the War College campus would come from.
2.Lee entered the Training Command CO's office and handed him the dispatch from the Commander of the War College. He'd been planning a weekend liberty with his brother and perhaps Kara. He hoped to limit the time of his interactions with her to when his brother was with them, and not drunk to oblivion. The frown on his face as he'd entered the office led the CO to give him a quizzical look. He told Lee that Zak was gone on a no notice over-water navigation hop, and wouldn't be back for several days. Lee's next thought was out of his mouth before he could stop. When he asked where Lt Thrace was the voice of the man in front of him had turned cold as ice. Once again she was in the brig. This time the pool tables at the base Rec Center had ended up in the swimming pool. Why was it that her opponents always thought that Kara had cheated? At least he didn't have to worry about Zak being there this time when he arrived. Or did he?
3. The ball rested against Lee's arm as his friend took a picture of the victorious couple hugging each other. Lee'd made up on the losing pair with said photographer. The game had been fiercely competitive with Kara and Zak only winning, by one point, at the last minute. Once it was over though they'd hit the bar and drank their fill in easy companionship. Lee and his friend had eventually headed back to their temporary quarters, while Zak and Kara had chosen to remain at the bar. Lee wasn't at all surprised when he got the call in the middle of the night. Zak and Kara had gone skinny dipping in the fountain in front of Municipal Hall. Lee groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. Kara and Zak would wait until the morning for Lee to take another dose of the familiarity pill.
4. It was a bright sunny day and at sunrise Lee was sitting on a bluff overlooking the most difficult trail in the wilderness ski park. Once again Zak wasn't with them. Lee was nervous, but some of the other instructors were along. He'd hoped for no complications this time. Later that evening, as he nursed a broken arm, he'd wondered if he would ever get a break when he was with her. He almost couldn't laugh as he realized his pun. She'd pulled another of her stunts by skiing out of the permitted area, and causing a dangerous avalanche. Somehow she was the only one of the group that hadn't been hurt. At least no one had died, but the others had been unaimous in laying the blame. Lee couldn't find himself objecting to their explanation of what had happened. He told himself maybe he wouldn't bail her out this time. He couldn't bring himself to leave her there though.
5. It seriously didn't surprise him when he got another call from Zak. Lee'd only just gotten back from War College; hadn't even had time to check into quarters. He'd planned to see them later that evening when Zak returned from a training mission. It wasn't the brig this time. Instead it was the city lock-up. She'd taken a dare and had gotten herself arrested, by parachuting from the roof of the city's tallest building. This time, as he stared at her through the bars, Lee began to wonder if he needed to pursue a degree in Bailing Kara Thrace Out of Jail.
1. Lee knocked on the door but there was no answer. Opening the door he lifted the bottle in his hand and took a swig before proceeding down the stairs. Kara, who was sitting on the couch, lifted her bottle to her lips and drank, doing it over and over again, and totally ignoring Lee. He stood watching her and continuing to lift his bottle too. There was something different this time. This time it wasn't familiar; this time Zak wasn't there or away on a mission. Zak would never be there again.
Two years later
Maybe, Lee thought, enough time had gone by since Zak's death, that he and Kara could be friends again. He approached the bars of the Galactica cell where she was doing push-ups. There was a smirk on his face as he said out loud, for the first time, the now familiar words he'd always keep quiet before. He sighed when it didn't work out any better than keeping them to himself.