4 Ficlets, Kara/Lee
4 ficlets written for Pilots Clue over at no_takebacks . Prompts listed.
WHERE: Bunk room on Galactica
WHAT: Dog tags
WHEN: Season 2
Missing Metal, PG13
She came home light one dog tag. Lee noticed after Kobol and then never stopped noticing. She never took off her dog tags. No pilot did. They needed to be ready to die on a heartbeat's notice. The missing metal disk mocked him from afar. In the head, the shower. In the gym. Today it bellowed at him across the bunk room as she lay in her rack, in only her sweats and sports bra. One tag lying lonely against her creamy skin, screaming out her promise to another man. He tried to look away, didn't want to see. It's absence so pronounced that he hardly even noticed his own brother's ring on the chain anymore. His guilt traded for blind rage for a faceless stranger a million miles away. Her head turned lazily towards him, their eyes met. She quirked an eyebrow, silently wondering. His mouth opened desperate to ask before realizing that he probably couldn't stomach the answer. Instead, he just turned and walked away.
WHERE: Deserted pilot's ready room
WHAT: Podium
WHEN: Season 3 (During affair)
Fighting A Losing Battle, R
She stared him down unmercifully from her seat as he ran through his briefing about the Algae Planet. Her gaze daring and her mouth defiant. None of her hunger for him concealed. She wasn't hiding what they were doing. It wasn't her style. She didn't give a frak who knew that they were cheating. Hell, even Sam knew, though he'd yet to confront her.
But Lee was still pretending that he was some paragon of virtue. All guilt and averted eyes like he was fooling anyone. It only made her more brazen. She lifted a leg to rest on the edge of her chair, spreading herself in an obvious gesture. Her mouth playfully teasing the tip of her pen as he droned on and on about flight rotations and doughnut runs. His act was infuriating. She knew he saw every move she made and his feigned indifference was all for show, but she hated it all the same.
Gods, she huffed inwardly, he was so boring when he talked shop. She wanted this over. The quicker it was over the quicker she could get him alone. His face still bore the slight purple bruises she'd inflicted on him during the dance. The sight had her horny enough the frak him right there against the podium with the whole room watching. They all knew anyways. The bruises on him like a tattoo marking him as hers for the world to see. But those would fade, she remembered sadly, not like real ink. She hoped like hell that she'd have the chance to mark him up again soon. Keep him marked. Keep him hers.
After what seemed like hours, he dismissed them. She remained in her seat, glaring angrily.
"Problem, Starbuck?" His voice tight and clipped.
"You really going down to that stinking planet for God's knows how long?" She asked, lightly. "Leaving me here all by my lonesome?"
He thumbed through his paperwork as he tried to pull off nonchalant. "That's right. We have a job to do and we have to follow orders, even orders we don't like."
"And Dee just happens to be ordered down too, huh? Go figure." She could hear her jealousy, hated herself for it.
He lifted his eyes to hers. Finally, she thought feeling their connection again. He sighed.
"I think Dad thought he was doing me a favor, keeping my wife with me."
Sick of talking, she just nodded and turned away.
"I'll try to schedule some runs for you to come down, OK?" He added hesitantly, unsure of her reaction.
"Probably won't even notice I'm not there anyways." She baited rising from her chair to leave, trying desperately not to beg. "I guess this is goodbye for awhile then. Later, sir."
"Kara, please!" He broke as she reached the door. "I'll notice. I notice you every minute."
Her hand stilled on the hatch. She didn't know what her problem was. A minute ago she'd been ready to frak him where he stood and now all she wanted was to get away.
"You didn't seem to notice during that awful briefing." She pointed out quietly.
He stepped from behind the podium reaching out for her. "Believe me Kara, I noticed." He snorted, gesturing down at his tented pants.
"I noticed and I'm noticing now." His eyes dropped to her mouth as he reached her, his hands reaching to touch whatever he could reach. "Do you know how frakking crazy you drive me? I could barely get through that with you sitting there like that. All I wanted was to bend you over that podium like you were begging for."
She laughed in relief as his hands found purchase on her hips, molding them together. "Great minds . . ." She trailed off as his lips found hers before dropping to mold against her throat.
"Mmmm." She groaned trying to push away all thoughts of the complications that lay beyond the metal door he had her braced against.
"Now why don't we see about a more fitting goodbye."
"Yeah," he hummed pushing her roughly towards the podium as he took her earlobe between his teeth. "I have the perfect spot."
Her laughter echoed in the empty room.
WHERE: Sickbay
WHEN: Season One or Two
WHAT: Keeping vigil
Keeping Vigil, PG13
His groggy eyes flutter open. At first all he sees is a fuzzy golden shape but he slowly focuses to see Kara smiling down at him.
"Hey..." Not quite sure where he is, he looks around.
She grins wider.
He has to force his brain to supply the words. They come out slow, uncertain. "Why are you grinning at me like a maniac?" Then seeing shining silver metal and curtains surrounding him, he ventures, "Am I in sickbay?"
Laughing lightly and patting his head she nods.
"That's right, Captain." Poking him in the chest, she accuses, "YOU passed out while we were jogging. According to Doc Cottle, you caught a nasty little virus."
His memory was sliding back into place, one piece at a time. He did remember not feeling well lately, but he'd shrugged it off as fatigue and being overworked.
Nodding, he looked back to her, "Right, sooooo why are you smiling then?"
"Why?! Look!" She stammers, gesturing between them. "Role reversal. I'm usually the one in that bed getting hen-pecked by you! Now I get to play nurse-maid. And believe me, you're gonna hate it as much as I did."
He groans, "As your CAG, I order you to go away. Go be useful somewhere else. I do not need a nurse."
"Sorry flyboy," Shaking her head in stubborn refusal, "I take my orders from the Old Man and he says I stay."
"Is it just me or are you giving me a worse headache than usual?" He asks, wincing as he tries to sit up.
She reaches to run her fingertips around the bandages on his forehead and sobers noticeably.
"That skull of your isn't as thick as we thought. You knocked it pretty good when you went down. Doc says no concussion, but they're gonna keep you for observation."
Reaching up to confirm the wound, his fingers meet hers. She holds onto them as they lower to his lap. He doesn't feel so bad after all he thinks as his eyes start to droop. "Can I...sleep?" He asks, mid-yawn.
Laughing affectionately, she pulls her chair nearer so she doesn't have to release his grasp. "Yeah, Doc says it's fine. I just gotta wake you every half hour. Check you're still breathing. Sneak peeks under your cute little gown while you're unconscious. That kind of stuff."
"Kay." His voice thick with slumber as his head drops back. "You're staying then?"
"I'll be here." She promises, laying her head against his shoulder. "Keeping vigil."
And though he was already asleep, his grip on her hand never loosens.
WHERE: Lee's quarters
WHEN: S4
WHAT: Aurora figurine
Bonus: "Thought I should give this back to you."
Pieces of You, PG13
They'd both stood by and watched their father board a ship. Watched him take off to be left behind. Empty promises of return. She'd turned to Lee, her eyes challenging him to act, to stop him, to do anything. He hadn't. He couldn't do anything. He was frozen. Cowed by his father's presence and his own fear of losing him again.
They stood shoulder to shoulder as he dropped down to the launch tubes below.
"C'mon." She nudged him, pulling him along by the arm when he didn't respond. "Let's go have a drink."
He followed numbly, guided by her through the halls, oblivious of their destination. She led him to his quarters. He sighed in relief, didn't think he could wear the mask required for anywhere else. He collapsed onto the couch, his head in his hands.
"Do you know how many times I've had to watch him fly away from me?"
"I know." She brought him a drink, sat gently beside him. "I'm sorry." Turning her body to lean into him, he lifted his arm around her so she could fit more snugly.
"I'm don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore." He confessed into her hair.
She sighed heavily. "Me neither."
Reaching into her pocket she produced the Aurora figurine he'd given her. "Bout time I gave this back to you. I gave it to him, you know? Before he gave it to you."
"No." He pushed it back towards her. "You keep it. It's already brought you back to me once. Don't wanna chance it."
"It's the only thing he ever gave you. You should have it." She argued.
He slipped it back into her pocket. "I like knowing you have it. A part of me and him. Holding us all together. Even when we're not."
They drank in silence. Each lost in thoughts of their absent father. Each glad to have someone to share their sadness with, without needing the words.
Eventually they drifted off, head to head, limbs entangled. When she awakened in the night and moved to depart, he stirred.
"Where you going?" He asked, rubbing his groggy eyes.
"You should know a CAG's work is never done." She smiled. "Besides, you gotta go be all presidential. I'll come by later if I get a chance, OK?"
He grinned, reached out to thumb the bulge in her pocket where the figurine lay. "See? She's working already."
"Ever think I keep choosing to come back to you on my own, Lee?" She whispered, leaning down to drop a light kiss on his warm jaw. Before he could answer, she was at the door. "Go back to bed. I know my way back."
His eyes lingered on the hatch she'd disappeared through. He let himself believe in her promise.
There was no one to hear his reply. He wasn't a religious man, but it felt like a prayer. "I hope so."
WHERE: Bunk room on Galactica
WHAT: Dog tags
WHEN: Season 2
Missing Metal, PG13
She came home light one dog tag. Lee noticed after Kobol and then never stopped noticing. She never took off her dog tags. No pilot did. They needed to be ready to die on a heartbeat's notice. The missing metal disk mocked him from afar. In the head, the shower. In the gym. Today it bellowed at him across the bunk room as she lay in her rack, in only her sweats and sports bra. One tag lying lonely against her creamy skin, screaming out her promise to another man. He tried to look away, didn't want to see. It's absence so pronounced that he hardly even noticed his own brother's ring on the chain anymore. His guilt traded for blind rage for a faceless stranger a million miles away. Her head turned lazily towards him, their eyes met. She quirked an eyebrow, silently wondering. His mouth opened desperate to ask before realizing that he probably couldn't stomach the answer. Instead, he just turned and walked away.
WHERE: Deserted pilot's ready room
WHAT: Podium
WHEN: Season 3 (During affair)
Fighting A Losing Battle, R
She stared him down unmercifully from her seat as he ran through his briefing about the Algae Planet. Her gaze daring and her mouth defiant. None of her hunger for him concealed. She wasn't hiding what they were doing. It wasn't her style. She didn't give a frak who knew that they were cheating. Hell, even Sam knew, though he'd yet to confront her.
But Lee was still pretending that he was some paragon of virtue. All guilt and averted eyes like he was fooling anyone. It only made her more brazen. She lifted a leg to rest on the edge of her chair, spreading herself in an obvious gesture. Her mouth playfully teasing the tip of her pen as he droned on and on about flight rotations and doughnut runs. His act was infuriating. She knew he saw every move she made and his feigned indifference was all for show, but she hated it all the same.
Gods, she huffed inwardly, he was so boring when he talked shop. She wanted this over. The quicker it was over the quicker she could get him alone. His face still bore the slight purple bruises she'd inflicted on him during the dance. The sight had her horny enough the frak him right there against the podium with the whole room watching. They all knew anyways. The bruises on him like a tattoo marking him as hers for the world to see. But those would fade, she remembered sadly, not like real ink. She hoped like hell that she'd have the chance to mark him up again soon. Keep him marked. Keep him hers.
After what seemed like hours, he dismissed them. She remained in her seat, glaring angrily.
"Problem, Starbuck?" His voice tight and clipped.
"You really going down to that stinking planet for God's knows how long?" She asked, lightly. "Leaving me here all by my lonesome?"
He thumbed through his paperwork as he tried to pull off nonchalant. "That's right. We have a job to do and we have to follow orders, even orders we don't like."
"And Dee just happens to be ordered down too, huh? Go figure." She could hear her jealousy, hated herself for it.
He lifted his eyes to hers. Finally, she thought feeling their connection again. He sighed.
"I think Dad thought he was doing me a favor, keeping my wife with me."
Sick of talking, she just nodded and turned away.
"I'll try to schedule some runs for you to come down, OK?" He added hesitantly, unsure of her reaction.
"Probably won't even notice I'm not there anyways." She baited rising from her chair to leave, trying desperately not to beg. "I guess this is goodbye for awhile then. Later, sir."
"Kara, please!" He broke as she reached the door. "I'll notice. I notice you every minute."
Her hand stilled on the hatch. She didn't know what her problem was. A minute ago she'd been ready to frak him where he stood and now all she wanted was to get away.
"You didn't seem to notice during that awful briefing." She pointed out quietly.
He stepped from behind the podium reaching out for her. "Believe me Kara, I noticed." He snorted, gesturing down at his tented pants.
"I noticed and I'm noticing now." His eyes dropped to her mouth as he reached her, his hands reaching to touch whatever he could reach. "Do you know how frakking crazy you drive me? I could barely get through that with you sitting there like that. All I wanted was to bend you over that podium like you were begging for."
She laughed in relief as his hands found purchase on her hips, molding them together. "Great minds . . ." She trailed off as his lips found hers before dropping to mold against her throat.
"Mmmm." She groaned trying to push away all thoughts of the complications that lay beyond the metal door he had her braced against.
"Now why don't we see about a more fitting goodbye."
"Yeah," he hummed pushing her roughly towards the podium as he took her earlobe between his teeth. "I have the perfect spot."
Her laughter echoed in the empty room.
WHERE: Sickbay
WHEN: Season One or Two
WHAT: Keeping vigil
Keeping Vigil, PG13
His groggy eyes flutter open. At first all he sees is a fuzzy golden shape but he slowly focuses to see Kara smiling down at him.
"Hey..." Not quite sure where he is, he looks around.
She grins wider.
He has to force his brain to supply the words. They come out slow, uncertain. "Why are you grinning at me like a maniac?" Then seeing shining silver metal and curtains surrounding him, he ventures, "Am I in sickbay?"
Laughing lightly and patting his head she nods.
"That's right, Captain." Poking him in the chest, she accuses, "YOU passed out while we were jogging. According to Doc Cottle, you caught a nasty little virus."
His memory was sliding back into place, one piece at a time. He did remember not feeling well lately, but he'd shrugged it off as fatigue and being overworked.
Nodding, he looked back to her, "Right, sooooo why are you smiling then?"
"Why?! Look!" She stammers, gesturing between them. "Role reversal. I'm usually the one in that bed getting hen-pecked by you! Now I get to play nurse-maid. And believe me, you're gonna hate it as much as I did."
He groans, "As your CAG, I order you to go away. Go be useful somewhere else. I do not need a nurse."
"Sorry flyboy," Shaking her head in stubborn refusal, "I take my orders from the Old Man and he says I stay."
"Is it just me or are you giving me a worse headache than usual?" He asks, wincing as he tries to sit up.
She reaches to run her fingertips around the bandages on his forehead and sobers noticeably.
"That skull of your isn't as thick as we thought. You knocked it pretty good when you went down. Doc says no concussion, but they're gonna keep you for observation."
Reaching up to confirm the wound, his fingers meet hers. She holds onto them as they lower to his lap. He doesn't feel so bad after all he thinks as his eyes start to droop. "Can I...sleep?" He asks, mid-yawn.
Laughing affectionately, she pulls her chair nearer so she doesn't have to release his grasp. "Yeah, Doc says it's fine. I just gotta wake you every half hour. Check you're still breathing. Sneak peeks under your cute little gown while you're unconscious. That kind of stuff."
"Kay." His voice thick with slumber as his head drops back. "You're staying then?"
"I'll be here." She promises, laying her head against his shoulder. "Keeping vigil."
And though he was already asleep, his grip on her hand never loosens.
WHERE: Lee's quarters
WHEN: S4
WHAT: Aurora figurine
Bonus: "Thought I should give this back to you."
Pieces of You, PG13
They'd both stood by and watched their father board a ship. Watched him take off to be left behind. Empty promises of return. She'd turned to Lee, her eyes challenging him to act, to stop him, to do anything. He hadn't. He couldn't do anything. He was frozen. Cowed by his father's presence and his own fear of losing him again.
They stood shoulder to shoulder as he dropped down to the launch tubes below.
"C'mon." She nudged him, pulling him along by the arm when he didn't respond. "Let's go have a drink."
He followed numbly, guided by her through the halls, oblivious of their destination. She led him to his quarters. He sighed in relief, didn't think he could wear the mask required for anywhere else. He collapsed onto the couch, his head in his hands.
"Do you know how many times I've had to watch him fly away from me?"
"I know." She brought him a drink, sat gently beside him. "I'm sorry." Turning her body to lean into him, he lifted his arm around her so she could fit more snugly.
"I'm don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore." He confessed into her hair.
She sighed heavily. "Me neither."
Reaching into her pocket she produced the Aurora figurine he'd given her. "Bout time I gave this back to you. I gave it to him, you know? Before he gave it to you."
"No." He pushed it back towards her. "You keep it. It's already brought you back to me once. Don't wanna chance it."
"It's the only thing he ever gave you. You should have it." She argued.
He slipped it back into her pocket. "I like knowing you have it. A part of me and him. Holding us all together. Even when we're not."
They drank in silence. Each lost in thoughts of their absent father. Each glad to have someone to share their sadness with, without needing the words.
Eventually they drifted off, head to head, limbs entangled. When she awakened in the night and moved to depart, he stirred.
"Where you going?" He asked, rubbing his groggy eyes.
"You should know a CAG's work is never done." She smiled. "Besides, you gotta go be all presidential. I'll come by later if I get a chance, OK?"
He grinned, reached out to thumb the bulge in her pocket where the figurine lay. "See? She's working already."
"Ever think I keep choosing to come back to you on my own, Lee?" She whispered, leaning down to drop a light kiss on his warm jaw. Before he could answer, she was at the door. "Go back to bed. I know my way back."
His eyes lingered on the hatch she'd disappeared through. He let himself believe in her promise.
There was no one to hear his reply. He wasn't a religious man, but it felt like a prayer. "I hope so."