ck and Bojay were alike in so many ways. Why couldn't they get along? 
They had never come to blows or anything, but there was a constant state of rivalry 
between them. She couldn't understand it.
	Well, she thought further, maybe with Starbuck she could understand.
	A few yahrens ago she had played matchmaker between Bojay and Athena. They 
were both friends of hers, both available, both had a lot in common... the match seemed 
perfect. And while she did expect a slight backlash from Apollo, being the protective big 
brother and all, she certainly did not expect the angry reaction from Starbuck. He had 
been with Cassiopeia for a long time and they seemed perfectly happy. Sure, Starbuck 
still had feelings for Athena, but that was expected. They had grown up together and they 
had always been close.
	But when Athena started dating Bojay, Starbuck went through the hull! Sheba 
wondered if it was because Athena was dating again or if it was because she was dating 
Bojay.  Sheba recalled how she wonger an excuse for you
not to go to the party."
	He took her hands and gently pulled her up from her chair.
	"Besides," he instructed, "whatever you're working on can wait until
tomorrow."
	Athena realized that she had lost this fight. "Fine, it's obvious
that the two of you aren't going to let me get anything done. Perhaps
I'll work on it later tonight."
	"Something tells me you'll have more than enough to keep you occupied
for the rest of the cycle," Starbuck hinted with a sly grin. He
glanced over at Sheba, "Wouldn't you say Sheba?"
	"Oh yes," Sheba responded, as she rose from her chair, "I'm certain
of it."
	Sheba took in a deep breath as she followed Athena and Starbuck out
the door of the Tech-Lab. One thing was for sure, Starbuck wasn't
wasting any time.

"Bojay, how can you say that?! The military commanders had collected
all the data necessary for that attack. It was the squadron leaders
themselves who are to blame for its failure."
	"The squadron leaders had every right to questBridging the Gap
By Melissa Burnett

Chapter 1

	Sheba was doing her usual pre-flight check.  So far everything was normal, except 
for the absence of her wingmate. This was definitely out of character for Bojay. He was 
never late for a patrol. Usually she was the one who was a centon or two late, always 
hearing about it from her wingmate of many yahren.
	She sighed. She considered herself lucky. Many of her friends had had to endure 
the loss of their wingmates, some a few times over. She and Bojay had met at the 
Academy and become fast friends. He had respect for the woman who had established 
herself as an accomplished warrior in her own right while constantly living in the shadow 
of her father, the great Commander Cain.
	When they had both been assigned to the Pegasus, they had requested eachother 
as wingmates and had been fortunate to this day to still be a team. They had beaten the 
odds, not unlike Apollo and Starbuck. Which brought up an always troubling thought.  
Apollo, Starbuas quick to remind Starbuck that he had a good thing 
going with Cassiopeia and he was going to blow it as Cassie had noticed his renewed 
interest in Athena. That put him in his place for a little while, but she knew that he was 
secretly doing cartwheels when Bojay and Athena broke up.
	Apollo's rivalry with Bojay was another story. A mystery to her really. They were 
both so alike that it seemed that they should've become the best of friends. Apollo had 
once admitted to her, rather reluctantly, that he was a bit jealous of all the time she spent 
with Bojay as her wingmate. She told him that he was being ridiculous and attributed it to 
his old-fashioned values. She reminded him that if anyone was to be jealous, it was her. 
He spent more time with Starbuck than he did with her, and that was even when they 
weren't on patrol.
	"That's different," he had told her.
	He didn't understand how two people of the opposite sex could share the same 
bond he and Starbuck did and not have it result in iion Colonel Orestes'
aerial offensive strategy Apollo, it had as many holes as the
Anatolian Galaxy..."
	"...Challenging tactical command, mid-battle, was a blatant disregard
for orders and they were lucky that more pilots didn't get blown to
smithereens!"
	Starbuck, Athena and Sheba watched in amusement as Bojay and Apollo
debated the Battle of Alsatia and its impact on military strategy.
	"I don't believe them," Sheba groaned, "the Battle of Alsatia was
over 100 yahren ago! What are they trying to prove?"
	"That they can disagree about anything and everything," Athena
stated, having become bored with the rivalry between her brother and
former beau. "However, they do seem to be enjoying themselves."
	"Well that's what we're here for," Starbuck chimed in. "Ladies, can I
get you a refreshment?"
	"I was drinking Artesian Spirits earlier," Sheba said, "I guess I
should stick with that."
	"Artesian Spirits it is," Starbuck declared. "And for the brooding
brunette?"
	Athena glared at him. "Don'tck and Bojay were alike in so many ways. Why couldn't they get along? 
They had never come to blows or anything, but there was a constant state of rivalry 
between them. She couldn't understand it.
	Well, she thought further, maybe with Starbuck she could understand.
	A few yahrens ago she had played matchmaker between Bojay and Athena. They 
were both friends of hers, both available, both had a lot in common... the match seemed 
perfect. And while she did expect a slight backlash from Apollo, being the protective big 
brother and all, she certainly did not expect the angry reaction from Starbuck. He had 
been with Cassiopeia for a long time and they seemed perfectly happy. Sure, Starbuck 
still had feelings for Athena, but that was expected. They had grown up together and they 
had always been close.
	But when Athena started dating Bojay, Starbuck went through the hull! Sheba 
wondered if it was because Athena was dating again or if it was because she was dating 
Bojay.  Sheba recalled how she wntimacy.
	Well, she decided, most men can't handle relationships like that and she knew that 
she was fortunate to have found someone mature enough to be her wingmate and not 
have to deal with any unwanted emotions. Besides, she didn't owe Apollo any 
explanations anyway. He was her companion, Bojay was her wingmate, end of story.
	Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice across the launch bay. "Sheba, I am so 
sorry," Bojay said as he approached her, a look of shame on his face.
	"Don't worry about it Bo," she replied, her hand on his shoulder to reassure him 
that she wasn't upset. "Is everything okay?"
	"Yeah," he said, a slightly embarrassed smirk breaking across his face. "Believe it 
or not, I was watching Starbuck beat the pants off a couple of Leonids in Pyramid and I 
lost track of time."
	"Pyramid! At this centar?!" she exclaimed with annoyed surprise.
	Starting to do his own pre-flight check, Bojay replied, "Apparently it had been an 
all-nighter. I have to admit Sheba, it was a great ga start with me Captain, it's already been
a long day."
	Starbuck flashed her the smile that, although Athena hated to admit
it, could still brighten even her worst moods.
	"I really don't know what I have a taste for," she resolved.
"Surprise me."
	"One surprise...coming up!" 
	In more ways than one, Sheba thought as they watched him make his way
to the liquistation.
	As she glanced back over to Apollo and Bojay, still embroiled in
their discussion of strategy, she had to wonder what Starbuck's
"strategy" was for the evening. Perhaps she should bring up the
subject to Apollo and Bojay and let them debate that for a while.
	The idea made her laugh out loud.
	"Did I miss something?" Athena giggled in response.
	"Nothing important, just my warped sense of humor."
	"Please share it, I need a good laugh right now."
	With genuine concern, Sheba turned to face her friend.
	"Athena," Sheba began, "what's wrong? You've been really down lately.
Everytime I've seen you in the last few sectars, you've as quick to remind Starbuck that he had a good thing 
going with Cassiopeia and he was going to blow it as Cassie had noticed his renewed 
interest in Athena. That put him in his place for a little while, but she knew that he was 
secretly doing cartwheels when Bojay and Athena broke up.
	Apollo's rivalry with Bojay was another story. A mystery to her really. They were 
both so alike that it seemed that they should've become the best of friends. Apollo had 
once admitted to her, rather reluctantly, that he was a bit jealous of all the time she spent 
with Bojay as her wingmate. She told him that he was being ridiculous and attributed it to 
his old-fashioned values. She reminded him that if anyone was to be jealous, it was her. 
He spent more time with Starbuck than he did with her, and that was even when they 
weren't on patrol.
	"That's different," he had told her.
	He didn't understand how two people of the opposite sex could share the same 
bond he and Starbuck did and not have it result in ime."
	"For Starbuck's sake I hope it was the best game ever," Sheba said, shaking her 
head in disappointment. "He's got a woman who loves him, a beautiful daughter... I just 
don't understand why he wants to risk losing..."
	"Sheba," Bojay interrupted, " do yourself a favor. Don't try to figure out Starbuck. 
You'll only give yourself a headache."
	Sheba rolled her eyes and said, "I suppose you're right. I just hate to see Cassie get 
hurt."
	"She's a grown woman, fully capable of taking care of herself. I must say though," 
he said, looking up from his control panel, "it looks like Athena was the smart one in all 
of this."
	"What do you mean?" she asked. She didn't hear Bojay mention Athena's name 
often. Their break-up had not been a pleasant one. Although occasionally she wondered 
if he still had feelings for Athena.
	"When Starbuck asked her to be sealed to him, she said 'no'. It seems to me that, 
for as long as I've known Starbuck, he attracts women who want a commitment. And yet 
theseemed so....
preoccupied."
	"I don't know Sheba," Athena responded, shaking her head. "Maybe it's
all the down-time we've had recently. I feel as if I'm in some kind of
holding pattern, waiting for something to happen. We've been in such a
state of chaos for so long, I guess I just don't know what to do with
all the peace and quiet."
	"I know," Sheba agreed, "I've been kind of bored myself."
	Athena looked at Sheba with an inquisitive grin. "I would think you'd
be enjoying it. You and Apollo can finally spend some quality time
together."
	As they both glanced over as Apollo made yet another point about the
benefits of the Torian manouever versus the Icharun strategem, they
began to laugh.
	"Oh yeah Athena," Sheba joked, "real quality time together!"
	"Well," Athena acknowledged, "I guess we're all going to have to
adjust to our new situation."
	"Speaking of adjusting to new situations...," Sheba teased, as
Starbuck approached them, drinks in hand.
	Starbuck walked past them to the table ofntimacy.
	Well, she decided, most men can't handle relationships like that and she knew that 
she was fortunate to have found someone mature enough to be her wingmate and not 
have to deal with any unwanted emotions. Besides, she didn't owe Apollo any 
explanations anyway. He was her companion, Bojay was her wingmate, end of story.
	Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice across the launch bay. "Sheba, I am so 
sorry," Bojay said as he approached her, a look of shame on his face.
	"Don't worry about it Bo," she replied, her hand on his shoulder to reassure him 
that she wasn't upset. "Is everything okay?"
	"Yeah," he said, a slightly embarrassed smirk breaking across his face. "Believe it 
or not, I was watching Starbuck beat the pants off a couple of Leonids in Pyramid and I 
lost track of time."
	"Pyramid! At this centar?!" she exclaimed with annoyed surprise.
	Starting to do his own pre-flight check, Bojay replied, "Apparently it had been an 
all-nighter. I have to admit Sheba, it was a great ga one woman he proposed to dropped him flat."
	"I wouldn't say that she dropped him flat," Sheba offered. "His timing wasn't 
exactly great."
	"I don't know Sheba," Bojay remarked, "for most women that would've been the 
perfect time. Tragedy tends to bring people together."
	"I suppose you're right. It brought Starbuck and Cassie together."
	"My point exactly," he said, throwing his hands up in the air. "One centon he's 
asking Athena to be sealed, the next he's finding someone new. I hope Athena is relieved 
that she did not make that mistake."
	"I take it then that you never discussed it with her," Sheba asked, knowing that 
she was treading on dangerous ground.
	"Nope," he replied, obviously perturbed. "Starbuck was a subject we never 
discussed. My choice really. I knew that deep down she still cared for him and, to be 
honest, I think it’s what kept her from committing to me."
	"I understand that," she said, thinking of her own situation with Apollo and 
Serina.
	With that thought, she ch debate, motioning with his
head for them to follow him.
	"Okay you two," he demanded, setting down a series of shot glasses on
the table in front of them. "Enough of talking about the past. Let's
toast to the future!..."
	They all picked up a glass.
	Starbuck continued. "...One with no more sorrow, no more Cylons,
and...," looking at Bojay, "many novayahren to come!"
	"Here here!" came a cheer from the crowd of people around them as
they drank from their glasses.
	Athena couldn't help but notice that Starbuck had not yet drank from
his but, instead, was looking at her, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
	She smiled at him, curious, but wary.
	"...and to new beginnings," he said softly, yet loud enough for only
her to hear.
	As he finished his personal toast and drank from his glass, Athena
felt her heart skip a beat. What exactly did he mean by that?

	*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
	After Starbuck had decided to join in the increasingly
libation-influenced military discussion with Apollo ame."
	"For Starbuck's sake I hope it was the best game ever," Sheba said, shaking her 
head in disappointment. "He's got a woman who loves him, a beautiful daughter... I just 
don't understand why he wants to risk losing..."
	"Sheba," Bojay interrupted, " do yourself a favor. Don't try to figure out Starbuck. 
You'll only give yourself a headache."
	Sheba rolled her eyes and said, "I suppose you're right. I just hate to see Cassie get 
hurt."
	"She's a grown woman, fully capable of taking care of herself. I must say though," 
he said, looking up from his control panel, "it looks like Athena was the smart one in all 
of this."
	"What do you mean?" she asked. She didn't hear Bojay mention Athena's name 
often. Their break-up had not been a pleasant one. Although occasionally she wondered 
if he still had feelings for Athena.
	"When Starbuck asked her to be sealed to him, she said 'no'. It seems to me that, 
for as long as I've known Starbuck, he attracts women who want a commitment. And yet 
theanged the subject. "So, did you want to do anything 
special for your novayahren?", a wry smile beaming from her face.
	"That's a few days away Sheba. I haven't given it much thought."
	"Well, we'll have plenty of time to discuss it on patrol. We haven't seen Cylons in 
a few sectars, I'm going to be optimistic that we won't see any today either."
	With that they took off, both talking about party plans while their thoughts were 
elsewhere... Bojay, steaming that he had let Starbuck, a man with whom he clearly had 
issues, distract him from his duty... and Sheba, wondering if her friend Cassie needed 
someone to talk to.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

	"Starbuck, we need to talk."
	Certainly not the words one wants to hear first thing in the morning, but they were 
exactly the words Cassie used. And who was he kidding... he never liked hearing those 
words, no matter what time of day it was.
	He had asked if it could wait until later. After the long night in the O-Club and 
the intense gamnd Bojay, Athena
and Sheba decided to engage in more enlightening conversation with the
others who had joined the party. They figured that, as long as the
three men were getting along, they should support it and leave them be.
	As the night wore on, they found themselves discussing all matters of
life, love, and the future of both. Athena had masterfully avoided the
subject of Starbuck that Sheba would bring up every so often and Sheba
was practically bursting.  It seemed that Sheba knew something that
Athena didn't and yet, even though Athena was curious, she was
apprehensive about listening to someone else's interpretations of the
events. She had to admit that she was surprised that Starbuck hadn't
told her himself about the end of his relationship with Cassie. 
	"Stop it Athena!" she shouted in her head. "You don't want to get
mixed up in all this!"
	Sheba and Athena heard some cheering up ahead of them. They walked
towards a cluster of people who appeared to be watching something very
inte one woman he proposed to dropped him flat."
	"I wouldn't say that she dropped him flat," Sheba offered. "His timing wasn't 
exactly great."
	"I don't know Sheba," Bojay remarked, "for most women that would've been the 
perfect time. Tragedy tends to bring people together."
	"I suppose you're right. It brought Starbuck and Cassie together."
	"My point exactly," he said, throwing his hands up in the air. "One centon he's 
asking Athena to be sealed, the next he's finding someone new. I hope Athena is relieved 
that she did not make that mistake."
	"I take it then that you never discussed it with her," Sheba asked, knowing that 
she was treading on dangerous ground.
	"Nope," he replied, obviously perturbed. "Starbuck was a subject we never 
discussed. My choice really. I knew that deep down she still cared for him and, to be 
honest, I think it’s what kept her from committing to me."
	"I understand that," she said, thinking of her own situation with Apollo and 
Serina.
	With that thought, she che of Pyramid that he had just finished, he really needed some sleep before 
his mid-cycle patrol.  But she made it clear that she wanted to talk to him after she had 
taken Dalton to school and now he was sitting on the sofa in her quarters, awaiting 
whatever bombshell she was about to drop. 
	As he waited for her to return from the Education Center, Starbuck had 
flashbacks to one of the last BIG bombshells she had unloaded.
	About 8 yahren ago, Cassie had surprised Starbuck by greeting him in the landing 
bay after one of his patrols. She rarely came to the landing bay anymore... as a healer, she 
had started to equate vipers with certain injury and death.
	She embraced him and then uttered the magic words, "Starbuck, we need to talk," 
followed soon after by, "I'm pregnant."
	Starbuck recalled feeling as though all of the blood had just rushed out of his 
head. The first words out of his mouth had been, "Really, how?" Okay, not the most 
intelligent thing to say, but, then again, he really haresting. There were whispers of overlapping discussions about what
the participants would do next and the possible outcome.
	Their curiousity peaked, they approached the crowd and came upon a
familiar site... Starbuck engaged in yet another exciting round of
Pyramid.
	"Doesn't he ever get tired of playing that game?!" Sheba exclaimed,
exasperated.
	Athena laughed. "When you find something you're good at, you stick
with it."
	"Yeah, but everyday?" Sheba asked.
	"You've been researching viper modifications everyday," Athena
pointed out, turning towards her friend.
	"That's different Athena," Sheba defended. "I'm actually learning
something. You know, using a skill."
	"Have you ever tried playing Pyramid against Starbuck?" Athena
teased. "Now that requires skill!"
	"I'm serious Athena," Sheba responded, watching Starbuck prepare to
take down another opponent. "You'd think that after all these yahren
he'd have grown up a little."
	Athena turned, smiled, and looked adoringly at the man she had kanged the subject. "So, did you want to do anything 
special for your novayahren?", a wry smile beaming from her face.
	"That's a few days away Sheba. I haven't given it much thought."
	"Well, we'll have plenty of time to discuss it on patrol. We haven't seen Cylons in 
a few sectars, I'm going to be optimistic that we won't see any today either."
	With that they took off, both talking about party plans while their thoughts were 
elsewhere... Bojay, steaming that he had let Starbuck, a man with whom he clearly had 
issues, distract him from his duty... and Sheba, wondering if her friend Cassie needed 
someone to talk to.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

	"Starbuck, we need to talk."
	Certainly not the words one wants to hear first thing in the morning, but they were 
exactly the words Cassie used. And who was he kidding... he never liked hearing those 
words, no matter what time of day it was.
	He had asked if it could wait until later. After the long night in the O-Club and 
the intense gamdn't know what to say.
	He loved Cassie very much and had always thought she would make a great 
mother. She had come such a long way since the destruction of the Colonies. She had put 
her "socialator" past behind her and become a respected Med Tech and he was so proud 
of her for that.
	He just wasn't sure if he would be a good father.
	Even though he and Cassie had been together for two yahren, he still hadn't been 
ready to formally settle down. For a moment, only a centar before he had met Cassie, he 
had thought about getting sealed, but rejection had forced him to quickly revert his 
thoughts back to bachelorhood. 
	Nevertheless, one thing was for sure. He loved his daughter very much.
	He remembered holding her when she was born, a thousand emotions pouring 
through him at once. He had made a silent promise to her that he would always be there 
and would never allow any harm to come to her. Laughing to himself, he remembered 
making that same promise to another little girl once, but thatnown
her entire life.
	With a deep sigh, she replied, "He has grown up Sheba, he just hasn't
grown old."
	With a suddenly sad look, Athena turned back to Sheba.
	"Tell Apollo I'll talk to him later and please, again, wish Bojay a
blessed novayahren for me."
	Athena started towards the door, then stopped and turned.
	"And Sheba," she smiled and added with all sincerity, "thanks for
persuading me to come to the party."
	Sheba returned the smile. "It wouldn't have been a party without
you," she replied.
	As Sheba turned her attentions back to the Pyramid game, she thought
aloud, "Besides, I don't really think that I'm the one who persuaded
you."

*************************
	Athena walked down the corridor towards the Life Center. She wanted
to get back to the Com-center and continue working, but not without
first seeking relief for the headache that had crept up on her.
	"Maybe Arturian Ale wasn't such a good idea," she wondered aloud. She
walked into the Life Center and was surprised to see e of Pyramid that he had just finished, he really needed some sleep before 
his mid-cycle patrol.  But she made it clear that she wanted to talk to him after she had 
taken Dalton to school and now he was sitting on the sofa in her quarters, awaiting 
whatever bombshell she was about to drop. 
	As he waited for her to return from the Education Center, Starbuck had 
flashbacks to one of the last BIG bombshells she had unloaded.
	About 8 yahren ago, Cassie had surprised Starbuck by greeting him in the landing 
bay after one of his patrols. She rarely came to the landing bay anymore... as a healer, she 
had started to equate vipers with certain injury and death.
	She embraced him and then uttered the magic words, "Starbuck, we need to talk," 
followed soon after by, "I'm pregnant."
	Starbuck recalled feeling as though all of the blood had just rushed out of his 
head. The first words out of his mouth had been, "Really, how?" Okay, not the most 
intelligent thing to say, but, then again, he really ha was many yahrens ago.
	And while it would be obvious to assume that it was the previous all-nighter 
Cassie wanted to discuss, he had a feeling that it was the "little girl-not so much 
anymore" that she wanted to talk about.
	He recalled being brought to the home of Adama and Ila after being orphaned on 
Umbra. He felt so lost, his future completely uncertain. But Adama had been drawn to 
him. Perhaps it was some deeper sense that told him that Starbuck was destined to be a 
part of his family.
	Starbuck had hit it off with Apollo immediately. From the moment they met, they 
had taken off to the lake by the house to play, pretending they were viper pilots saving 
the universe.
	Starbuck laughed aloud. "Boy, if I had known then what I know now," he thought. 
	They had returned to the house to get something to drink when he first saw her. 
She was sitting in her mother's lap playing with some flowers she had picked.
	Starbuck was just a little boy but he remembered thinking that she was the mostlight glowing
from beneath the door of Cassiopeia's office. It wasn't often that
Cassie worked late, usually wanting to spend her evenings with Dalton
and Starbuck, if he made himself available.
	Athena realized that she had taken herself out of the loop as of
late, wanting to concentrate on more productive things rather than
everybody's personal lives. Yet she hated to hear about her friends
through the gossip mill. Perhaps she should offer her ear to Cassie
if, indeed, Cassie wanted it.
	"Hey Cass, what are you doing here this time of...," Athena began as
she opened the office door, immediately startled at what she had
stumbled upon. Her face turning crimson, she added slowly, "I am
really sorry. I should've knocked first."
	Unlocking lips with her companion, Cassie replied, "That's okay
Athena, I probably should've locked the door."
	Cassie was slightly annoyed, but surprisingly found herself feeling
giddy that they had been discovered. She felt like a teenager again.
	"Have you met Brogandn't know what to say.
	He loved Cassie very much and had always thought she would make a great 
mother. She had come such a long way since the destruction of the Colonies. She had put 
her "socialator" past behind her and become a respected Med Tech and he was so proud 
of her for that.
	He just wasn't sure if he would be a good father.
	Even though he and Cassie had been together for two yahren, he still hadn't been 
ready to formally settle down. For a moment, only a centar before he had met Cassie, he 
had thought about getting sealed, but rejection had forced him to quickly revert his 
thoughts back to bachelorhood. 
	Nevertheless, one thing was for sure. He loved his daughter very much.
	He remembered holding her when she was born, a thousand emotions pouring 
through him at once. He had made a silent promise to her that he would always be there 
and would never allow any harm to come to her. Laughing to himself, he remembered 
making that same promise to another little girl once, but that 
beautiful girl he had ever seen. He instinctively walked towards her but was brought to a 
screeching halt when she looked up at him. Her big, crystal-blue eyes stared at him in 
wonderment and he felt his knees buckle.
	"It's amazing," he thought now, "she could do that to me even back then."
	"Athena," Ila said, "this is Starbuck. He's going to live with us."
	"Hello," Athena said, now looking up at him with a smile, her eyes growing ever 
brighter.
	It was the sweetest voice he had ever heard. Any sadness that he had felt, any 
fear, any uncertainty had been washed away forever. He was home.
	He had gotten so wrapped up in those eyes, he hadn't realized that his new best 
friend had been yelling at him to come back down to the lake, clearly angry that Starbuck 
was spending time with his little sister.
	"Oh, the shades of things to come," Starbuck thought now.
	About half-way back down the hill, he stopped and turned. It was then that he 
offered his silent promise, the valiant young hero-?" she asked, realizing that the leocub was out
of the bag.
	Athena was completely dumbfounded. She really was out of the loop!
	"I don't think we've ever formally met. I have seen you on the
Agro-II though haven't I?" 
	He gallantly stepped forward, extending his hand, "Captain Brogan,
head of Nutrigenesis research on the magnificent Agro-II, at your
service."
	Athena took his hand, "A pleasure to meet you Brogan, I'm..."
	"Major Athena," Brogan finished for her, "Yes I know. It's hard not
to know of the commander's daughter."
	Smiling at Cassie, "I'm not sure if that's good or bad," Athena
replied.
	"All good I assure you," Brogan flashed a smile reminiscent of
someone else Athena knew.
	This one's a charmer, she thought.
	He was quite tall with sandy brown hair cut in a grown-out military
fashion. His eyes were a bright green, the color of the Marjeta Sea as
the sunlight bounces off the gentle waves in the morning. Beneath his
lab coat he was in casual dress. He wore dark pants and a
lo was many yahrens ago.
	And while it would be obvious to assume that it was the previous all-nighter 
Cassie wanted to discuss, he had a feeling that it was the "little girl-not so much 
anymore" that she wanted to talk about.
	He recalled being brought to the home of Adama and Ila after being orphaned on 
Umbra. He felt so lost, his future completely uncertain. But Adama had been drawn to 
him. Perhaps it was some deeper sense that told him that Starbuck was destined to be a 
part of his family.
	Starbuck had hit it off with Apollo immediately. From the moment they met, they 
had taken off to the lake by the house to play, pretending they were viper pilots saving 
the universe.
	Starbuck laughed aloud. "Boy, if I had known then what I know now," he thought. 
	They had returned to the house to get something to drink when he first saw her. 
She was sitting in her mother's lap playing with some flowers she had picked.
	Starbuck was just a little boy but he remembered thinking that she was the mostto-be to his princess, "As long as I live, 
you will never come to harm."
	Well, a lot had happened since then. They had all grown up, gone to the 
Academy, led separate lives. It wasn't until they had been reunited on the Galactica that 
he had experienced the full scale of his emotions.
	Sure he had made himself quite a reputation as a ladies' man throughout his 
Academy days and as well as on the Galactica. But when Athena was assigned to her 
father's ship, those old feelings had crept back up again. Crept? They had hit him like a 
Borellian cruiser! She had grown from his perfect little angel into the most beautiful 
woman he had ever seen.
	And he wasn't the only one that thought so. From the moment she stepped foot on 
the Galactica, she had attracted the attention of every viper pilot on the battlestar. A fact 
not lost on her older brother.
	"Starbuck," Apollo had confided to him, "I want you to help me look after 
Athena. She's still too young to be getting involved with any of these gose-fitting white shirt that slightly exposed a well-defined chest.
She also couldn't help but notice his ample hands. This man didn't
belong on a research vessel... he belonged on the Vid... EVERYDAY!
Every micron!  Just a constant still image would be enough, almost.
	Cassie raised an eyebrow. Was she noticing sparks between these two?
She'd already lost one man to Athena, she wasn't going to lose
another. She quickly erased the thought from her mind. 
	"So Athena, I assumed you would be at Bojay's party... what brings
you here?" 
	Realizing that she still held Brogan's hand, in greeting of course,
Athena casually broke the connection and turned towards Cassiopeia.
Her friend appeared nervous. Athena tried to hide her curiosity about
the handsome stranger, but really wanted to kick him out of the room
and get every juicy detail.
	"I made an appearance, but I have some work that I need to finish,"
Athena said, desperately trying to suppress the grin that kept finding
its way across her face.
 
beautiful girl he had ever seen. He instinctively walked towards her but was brought to a 
screeching halt when she looked up at him. Her big, crystal-blue eyes stared at him in 
wonderment and he felt his knees buckle.
	"It's amazing," he thought now, "she could do that to me even back then."
	"Athena," Ila said, "this is Starbuck. He's going to live with us."
	"Hello," Athena said, now looking up at him with a smile, her eyes growing ever 
brighter.
	It was the sweetest voice he had ever heard. Any sadness that he had felt, any 
fear, any uncertainty had been washed away forever. He was home.
	He had gotten so wrapped up in those eyes, he hadn't realized that his new best 
friend had been yelling at him to come back down to the lake, clearly angry that Starbuck 
was spending time with his little sister.
	"Oh, the shades of things to come," Starbuck thought now.
	About half-way back down the hill, he stopped and turned. It was then that he 
offered his silent promise, the valiant young hero-uys and I know 
that they're going to be hovering over her like daggits in season. Make sure she doesn't 
get into any trouble."
	"Sure, no problem," Starbuck responded. He was wondering if Apollo had meant 
that for him as well.
	He found out soon enough. While he had tried to fight his urges, he'd found that 
he just couldn't. His feelings were too strong. And, as it turned out, much to his surprise, 
she had felt the same about him.
	He couldn't believe it, "The most gorgeous woman on the ship and she's mine!" he 
thought.
	"I don't believe you!" screamed Apollo. "I asked you to look after her, not claim 
her for yourself!"
	"Apollo," Starbuck responded, "what was I supposed to do? Ignore the attraction 
between us?!"
	"You could have any woman on the ship," Apollo scolded, "you didn't have to 
pick my little sister!"
	"She's not little anymore Apollo," Starbuck stated the obvious. "Besides, it's like 
putting the finest bottle of Ambrosa in front of me and asking me not to take a drink!"
	Cassie, in turn, was trying to stifle giggles of her own. What a
couple of schoolgirls, she thought. She had to admit, she had longed
to share her affair with her girlfriends, yet hadn't dared since most
of them were friends with Starbuck. And here was one of his closest
friends discovering her secret! Athena didn't appear to be angry
though. If anything, she was bursting with girlish curiosity. Cassie
glanced over to Brogan who was watching the entire scene with amusement.
	"Perhaps I should leave you ladies alone for a..."
	"No!" Athena insisted with a little to much enthusiasm. "I really
just stopped by for some Prasek for my headache."
	Cassie walked over to a cabinet. "Just made an appearance huh?"
	"Well, you know how novayahrens are... one toast here, another
there..."
	Cassie took a bottle out of the cabinet and handed Athena a couple of
tablets.
	"Sounds like a good time to me," Brogan chimed in.
	Athena responded, all the time looking at Cassie, "Then hopefully
we'll see you at thto-be to his princess, "As long as I live, 
you will never come to harm."
	Well, a lot had happened since then. They had all grown up, gone to the 
Academy, led separate lives. It wasn't until they had been reunited on the Galactica that 
he had experienced the full scale of his emotions.
	Sure he had made himself quite a reputation as a ladies' man throughout his 
Academy days and as well as on the Galactica. But when Athena was assigned to her 
father's ship, those old feelings had crept back up again. Crept? They had hit him like a 
Borellian cruiser! She had grown from his perfect little angel into the most beautiful 
woman he had ever seen.
	And he wasn't the only one that thought so. From the moment she stepped foot on 
the Galactica, she had attracted the attention of every viper pilot on the battlestar. A fact 
not lost on her older brother.
	"Starbuck," Apollo had confided to him, "I want you to help me look after 
Athena. She's still too young to be getting involved with any of these g
	"Well I'm not going to be responsible for what my father is going to say when he 
hears that you two are an item," Apollo said as he stormed off.
	Starbuck hadn't exactly thought that far ahead.
	He knew that Apollo would calm down. They were best friends after all and they 
had always vowed to never let a woman come between them. Of course, he was sure that 
Apollo had never anticipated that Athena would be part of the equation but he would just 
have to get over it. Adama was another situation entirely. It was one thing to be involved 
with your best friend's little sister, but to be involved with the Commander's baby 
daughter, that was something else. But, as happy as he was, he decided that whatever 
trouble he was in for was well worth it.
	He thought so even now as he was sure that he was in trouble with Cassie for the 
time that he had been spending with Athena lately. Granted, it had been completely 
platonic and innocent. Just two old friends having dinner, having drinks, playing a game next one Brogan."
	She now turned to leave, "It was nice meeting you."
	"The pleasure was mine Athena. Don't work to hard," he replied, the
smile never leaving his face.
	Athena looked back at them. They made a handsome couple, she thought.
"Oh, I won't," she chuckled. "I'll a... talk to you later Cassie."
	Cassie knew that that was inevitable.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  

	As she left the Life Center, Athena realized that her heart was
beating double-time. She recalled telling Sheba earlier that life had
been a little boring lately. She laughed, "Well that's changed," she
thought to herself. Captain Brogan... a fine speciman. I wonder what
Starbuck thinks of...
	If he had known, he would've told her. Starbuck wasn't one to keep
secrets like that. It was hard to keep any secrets at all on the
Galactica. And, among the many rumors about Starbuck and Cassie that
she had heard, Brogan's name had never been mentioned.
	Athena stopped dead in her tracks.
	He doesn't know.
	To her knowledge, Starbuys and I know 
that they're going to be hovering over her like daggits in season. Make sure she doesn't 
get into any trouble."
	"Sure, no problem," Starbuck responded. He was wondering if Apollo had meant 
that for him as well.
	He found out soon enough. While he had tried to fight his urges, he'd found that 
he just couldn't. His feelings were too strong. And, as it turned out, much to his surprise, 
she had felt the same about him.
	He couldn't believe it, "The most gorgeous woman on the ship and she's mine!" he 
thought.
	"I don't believe you!" screamed Apollo. "I asked you to look after her, not claim 
her for yourself!"
	"Apollo," Starbuck responded, "what was I supposed to do? Ignore the attraction 
between us?!"
	"You could have any woman on the ship," Apollo scolded, "you didn't have to 
pick my little sister!"
	"She's not little anymore Apollo," Starbuck stated the obvious. "Besides, it's like 
putting the finest bottle of Ambrosa in front of me and asking me not to take a drink!"
e 
of Pyramid, watching the Triad tournaments... Okay, they had been spending a lot of time 
together but, with Cassie so involved with her work and with Dalton, Starbuck missed the 
company of someone that enjoyed the same things he did.
	He still spent a lot of time in Cassie's quarters. When she had gotten pregnant, 
they had had many a conversation about the future. Cassie had used the word "sealed" a 
few times but had eventually had let the subject drop, realizing that she was beating a 
dead equine. After Dalton was born, she subtlely suggested that he might want to at least 
share quarters with her and his new daughter. He had contemplated it a few times but, for 
some reason, couldn't bring himself to commit to even that.
	"What's wrong with me," he had argued with himself. "Here I have a beautiful, 
loving, caring woman who has given me an equally beautiful daughter and yet I can't give 
in just a little."
	This was nothing new though. He had always had trouble deciding between the 
twuck and Cassie had only broken up a few days
ago. From what she had just seen, it looked as though Cassie and
Brogan had been together longer that that!
	Suddenly Athena wasn't so giddy anymore. Cassie was her friend and
she was happy for her, but why would Cass keep this from Starbuck? She
must have a good reason for not telling him, but what?
	Athena continued walking down the deserted corridors leading to the
Tech-Lab. It was late. Starbuck had been pretty engrossed in his
Pyramid game, hopefully she wouldn't run into him anymore tonight. She
had kept secrets from him before, but nothing like this. She would
have to visit Cassie first thing in the morning.
	She entered the Tech-Lab and sat down at her usual console. Taking a
deep breath, she attempted to focus on the task at hand.
Unfortunately, her headache had just gotten worse.

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

Bridging the Gap,Chapter 3

	Cassie was pacing frantically, trying to figure out what to do.  She
had made herself come off as so selfl
	"Well I'm not going to be responsible for what my father is going to say when he 
hears that you two are an item," Apollo said as he stormed off.
	Starbuck hadn't exactly thought that far ahead.
	He knew that Apollo would calm down. They were best friends after all and they 
had always vowed to never let a woman come between them. Of course, he was sure that 
Apollo had never anticipated that Athena would be part of the equation but he would just 
have to get over it. Adama was another situation entirely. It was one thing to be involved 
with your best friend's little sister, but to be involved with the Commander's baby 
daughter, that was something else. But, as happy as he was, he decided that whatever 
trouble he was in for was well worth it.
	He thought so even now as he was sure that he was in trouble with Cassie for the 
time that he had been spending with Athena lately. Granted, it had been completely 
platonic and innocent. Just two old friends having dinner, having drinks, playing a gamo women that he loved, and who loved him in return.
	While Starbuck considered both women to be beautiful, they were both quite 
different.
	Physically, Cassie was very characteristic of a Gemon. She was fair-haired, fair-
skinned and petite in frame. Her figure was demure, often hidden by the Med-Tech robes 
that draped her.
	Athena, on the other hand, had inherited her mother's Caprican beauty. She had 
dark hair, blue eyes, and was taller than most women he knew. She'd always been athletic 
and had a fantastic figure, accentuated by the uniforms she wore. Starbuck loved seeing 
women in uniform, especially if they filled it out the way Athena did. This thought 
brought a smile to his face just as Cassie entered her quarters.
	She stopped, put her hands on her hips and smiled back at him. "Amusing 
yourself in my absence?" she inquired.
	"Trying to," he replied, not looking forward to the conversation at hand. "What 
took you so long?"
	"Dalton wanted to show me some of her drawings that wereess to Starbuck and her friends
she realized.
  
	'Oh I let him go because he loves Athena,' she opined to herself
dramatically.  The truth was, both of them had fallen out of love. 
And she had fallen in love with Brogan.  Getting "caught" by Athena
had opened her eyes.

	She had kept her affair secret.  She told herself she was confused
about where it would lead, but in truth she was exhilarated by
furtiveness and in the process she had kept Brogan in the dark and
lied to her friends, lied to Starbuck and hurt Brogan.  She admitted
that now.  

	"Don't say it... I know!" Cassiopeia sighed, anticipating Brogan's
disappointment.

	"I'm not going to say 'I told you so' but, you do realize that it
might be harder to tell him now," Brogan said gently. "I really wish
that you had told him the other day.  I wish you had told him sectons
ago."

	"I realize that now.  I allowed myself to get so caught up in
everything, in you," she looked at him, tears in her blue eyes.  "I
was living a fantae 
of Pyramid, watching the Triad tournaments... Okay, they had been spending a lot of time 
together but, with Cassie so involved with her work and with Dalton, Starbuck missed the 
company of someone that enjoyed the same things he did.
	He still spent a lot of time in Cassie's quarters. When she had gotten pregnant, 
they had had many a conversation about the future. Cassie had used the word "sealed" a 
few times but had eventually had let the subject drop, realizing that she was beating a 
dead equine. After Dalton was born, she subtlely suggested that he might want to at least 
share quarters with her and his new daughter. He had contemplated it a few times but, for 
some reason, couldn't bring himself to commit to even that.
	"What's wrong with me," he had argued with himself. "Here I have a beautiful, 
loving, caring woman who has given me an equally beautiful daughter and yet I can't give 
in just a little."
	This was nothing new though. He had always had trouble deciding between the 
tw up on the wall in the 
classroom. She's very proud of them you know. You should go by and see them 
sometime," she said. She'd hoped that her last statement hadn't implied that he didn't 
spend enough time with their daughter. As far as she was concerned, Starbuck had been a 
very good father. Probably more so than he had expected he'd be.
	Beaming with pride, Starbuck replied, "I'll go by a see them later. She's quite the 
little talent that one."
	Cassiopeia took a deep breath. "Well, thank you for waiting," she started. "I know 
you must be tired but I want to talk about something important."
	"And what would that be?" he said buoyantly, attempting to keep things light.
	"Us," she replied, in a tone that told Starbuck that his attempt had failed.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

	The rumors had already begun. It never took long on the Galactica, as big a ship 
as she was.
	Even before she and Bojay had landed, Rigel and let it slip that Starbuck and 
Cassie had broken up. Tigh had quicklsy and I've hurt you.  I'm sorry.  I'm not ashamed
of you, please don't ever think that."

	Brogan sighed, moved by the pain in this woman's eyes.  "Just tell me
one thing.  One thing I haven't dared to ask, to really ask," Brogan
paused and pulled Cassie towards him.  "Are you still in love with
him? Is that why you didn't want to tell him about us?  Was all this,
me, to punish him and try to get him back?"

	 "Brogan, no!" Cassie insisted, running over and throwing her arms
around him. "I'm in love with you! Please don't ever doubt that!"  She
now looked him directly in the eye. "I really have messed things up
huh?" she asked, chuckling slightly.

	"No," Brogan whispered as he pulled her body flush with his.  "No,"
he whispered, his lips hovering over hers before he moved the final
distance and kissed her. He had fallen in love with her over the
course of the past few sectons and had grown impatient at having to
wait for her to break off her relationship with Starbuck.  But she was
his noo women that he loved, and who loved him in return.
	While Starbuck considered both women to be beautiful, they were both quite 
different.
	Physically, Cassie was very characteristic of a Gemon. She was fair-haired, fair-
skinned and petite in frame. Her figure was demure, often hidden by the Med-Tech robes 
that draped her.
	Athena, on the other hand, had inherited her mother's Caprican beauty. She had 
dark hair, blue eyes, and was taller than most women he knew. She'd always been athletic 
and had a fantastic figure, accentuated by the uniforms she wore. Starbuck loved seeing 
women in uniform, especially if they filled it out the way Athena did. This thought 
brought a smile to his face just as Cassie entered her quarters.
	She stopped, put her hands on her hips and smiled back at him. "Amusing 
yourself in my absence?" she inquired.
	"Trying to," he replied, not looking forward to the conversation at hand. "What 
took you so long?"
	"Dalton wanted to show me some of her drawings that werey reminded  Rigel that discussing such matters 
over the com-link was inappropriate, but Sheba's head was already swimming with 
assorted scenarios.
	Had they really broken up or simply had an argument?
	Was Cassie finally fed up with Starbuck's hedonistic lifestyle?
	Had Starbuck decided that being with Cassie and Dalton was just too close to a 
commitment for comfort?
	Sheba realized that it was pointless to speculate.
	Once she and Bojay had landed, Sheba made a b-line for the Life Center. As she 
knocked on the door and was asked to enter Cassie's office, Sheba had expected to find 
her friend depressed and broken. Cassie and Starbuck had been together for ten yahren, a 
long time by Starbuck standards, and Cassie had confided to Sheba that lately she had 
questioned his love for her. He had never asked her to be sealed, even after the birth of 
their daughter. Sheba had wondered about that herself, but had hoped that one day he 
would grow up and want to settle down.
	This only caused confw.  'His woman,' he thought as his kiss turned hungry.

	The kiss lasted for a few centons more before Brogan broke it off
with a moan.  "I'm sorry if I pressured you, it's just that," Brogan
stopped and took a deep breath.  "I love you.  I wanted for us to be
together without having to sneak around."

	"I know, I wanted that too.  I was just too afraid to change my life
so much.  I was overwhelmed." Cassie smiled at him tenderly and took
his hand and began to lead him to the couch.  She sat them down and
looked at him sincerely.  "There is one more thing I need to clarify,
before we can go further.  When we met, I was hurt and angry.  Bitter
even.  I know that I haven't always painted the prettiest picture of
my relationship with Starbuck," she began, "but I can't help but feel
incredibly ashamed that I was unfaithful to him."

	"You said that he wasn't always faithful to you?" Brogan questioned.

	Cassie looked down at the floor, hoping she hadn't dug herself into a
bigger hole. "That's w up on the wall in the 
classroom. She's very proud of them you know. You should go by and see them 
sometime," she said. She'd hoped that her last statement hadn't implied that he didn't 
spend enough time with their daughter. As far as she was concerned, Starbuck had been a 
very good father. Probably more so than he had expected he'd be.
	Beaming with pride, Starbuck replied, "I'll go by a see them later. She's quite the 
little talent that one."
	Cassiopeia took a deep breath. "Well, thank you for waiting," she started. "I know 
you must be tired but I want to talk about something important."
	"And what would that be?" he said buoyantly, attempting to keep things light.
	"Us," she replied, in a tone that told Starbuck that his attempt had failed.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

	The rumors had already begun. It never took long on the Galactica, as big a ship 
as she was.
	Even before she and Bojay had landed, Rigel and let it slip that Starbuck and 
Cassie had broken up. Tigh had quicklusion as Sheba entered the office and was surprised to find 
Cassie in extremely high spirits.
	"Hey Sheba!" Cassie greeted her, looking up from her desk. "I'm glad you're here. 
I was just getting ready to go over to the commissary. Want to join me?"
	Sheba looked puzzled. "Sure, actually I came to see if you wanted to talk."
	The perma-smile expression on Cassie's face turned to one of concern. "What's 
wrong Sheba? Has something happened with you and Apollo?"
	Sheba just looked at Cassie with a blank and confused stare. "No... I figured you 
might need to talk."
	"Oh, I see," Cassie said, laughing. "I forgot how quickly news travels around 
here."
	"So, it is true then?" Sheba asked, now even more mystified by her friend's 
cheerfulness.
	"That depends on what you've heard," Cassie responded, knowing that gossip 
always distorted the truth. "If it's that Starbuck and I broke up, then yes, it's true."
	Sheba, dumbfounded by Cassie's casual demeanour, retorted "Pardon my saying 
Cass, but youhat I need to clarify.  I'm afraid that I gave
you the wrong impression when I told you that. When Starbuck and I
first began seeing each other, I knew that he still had a wandering
eye. We hadn't made a commitment to one another and he always told me
when he went out with someone else, well with Athena.  You know all
that.  I do think that since Dalton was born Starbuck has been
faithful to me. Maybe not _emotionally_, mentally, but physically he
has.  My...my unfaithfulness shames me.  _You_ don't shame me, my
actions shame me. 
  
	 "Can I make a suggestion?" Brogan said, raising an eyebrow. Cassie
nodded with an expressionless face.  "Tell him tomorrow morning.  The
sooner the better.  Before he hears it from someone else."

	"Oh Lords!" Cassie exclaimed, wondering if it was already too late.
"Athena might be with him right now, if he's gone after her as he
should.  She might mention she's seen us together," Cassie had
scrambled off the couch and was headed towards the door when she
stopy reminded  Rigel that discussing such matters 
over the com-link was inappropriate, but Sheba's head was already swimming with 
assorted scenarios.
	Had they really broken up or simply had an argument?
	Was Cassie finally fed up with Starbuck's hedonistic lifestyle?
	Had Starbuck decided that being with Cassie and Dalton was just too close to a 
commitment for comfort?
	Sheba realized that it was pointless to speculate.
	Once she and Bojay had landed, Sheba made a b-line for the Life Center. As she 
knocked on the door and was asked to enter Cassie's office, Sheba had expected to find 
her friend depressed and broken. Cassie and Starbuck had been together for ten yahren, a 
long time by Starbuck standards, and Cassie had confided to Sheba that lately she had 
questioned his love for her. He had never asked her to be sealed, even after the birth of 
their daughter. Sheba had wondered about that herself, but had hoped that one day he 
would grow up and want to settle down.
	This only caused conf don't seem too upset by it."
	"Sheba," Cassie stated directly, "I've spent the last few yahren being upset, but I've 
come to realize that I have myself to blame and well as Starbuck."
	Cassiopeia motioned for Sheba to sit in the chair directly opposite of her own.
	"I know that I've changed Sheba," Cassie explained. "Before the destruction of the 
Colonies, I had a very different life, a different lifestyle. I may have even continued being 
a socialator if I hadn't met Starbuck. He inspired me to do something different, something 
more rewarding, something that would give me a sense of accomplishment. Becoming a 
Med-Tech was the best thing I've ever done and, while it isn't always easy, I truly feel that 
I make a contribution now."
	"And yet," she continued, "I did a horrible thing in return. I had completely turned 
my life around and, in doing so, I expected Starbuck to do the same." To Sheba, it almost 
appeared that Cassie was hanging her head in shame. "I fell in love with him because he ped, the guilt caused by her sudden realization contorting her face.

	"Cass? What is it," Brogan asked as he rushed to her side.

	"I may have ruined everything," she whispered.

	Brogan gave her a puzzled look. "I don't understand."

	"This is a small ship, Brogan," she explained. "Word travels so fast
around here and yet, Athena hadn't known about you and I until she
walked in on us."

	Brogan shook his head, still perplexed.

	"Athena's not stupid," Cassie clarified, rising from the couch. "It
wouldn't take her long to figure out that, if she hadn't heard about
us, then Starbuck probably hadn't either. I may have put her in a
horrible position.  If she still loves Starbuck, as I think she does,
she is going to be torn between her loyalty to me and her loyalty to
him.  If she doesn't tell him it could ruin their chances for
happiness." Cassie took off her med-coat and threw it on the couch. "I
have to find Starbuck tonight and tell him about us."

	She turned to Brogan and laid her husion as Sheba entered the office and was surprised to find 
Cassie in extremely high spirits.
	"Hey Sheba!" Cassie greeted her, looking up from her desk. "I'm glad you're here. 
I was just getting ready to go over to the commissary. Want to join me?"
	Sheba looked puzzled. "Sure, actually I came to see if you wanted to talk."
	The perma-smile expression on Cassie's face turned to one of concern. "What's 
wrong Sheba? Has something happened with you and Apollo?"
	Sheba just looked at Cassie with a blank and confused stare. "No... I figured you 
might need to talk."
	"Oh, I see," Cassie said, laughing. "I forgot how quickly news travels around 
here."
	"So, it is true then?" Sheba asked, now even more mystified by her friend's 
cheerfulness.
	"That depends on what you've heard," Cassie responded, knowing that gossip 
always distorted the truth. "If it's that Starbuck and I broke up, then yes, it's true."
	Sheba, dumbfounded by Cassie's casual demeanour, retorted "Pardon my saying 
Cass, but you
was so optimistic, so carefree... and I tried to change that. I had no right to do that."
	"Wait a minute Cassie," Sheba interjected, "who broke up with whom?"
	Cassie smiled once again. "It was a mutual decision Sheba," she replied. "We 
both realized that we had both grown together and yet had grown apart. He still enjoys 
the spontaneity of his life, the irregular schedule of a viper pilot and the risks involved, 
the all-night Pyramid parties..." Cassiopeia knew that she could go on for centons but was 
pretty sure that she had made her point. "I'm a mother now," she continued, "I want 
stability in my life and, no offense Sheba, I want a man with a normal job! Someone who 
works the same cycle as I do and who wants to come home at the end of the day and 
spend time with me.
	"And I want a man who wants to be sealed and have a family," Cassie concluded. 
"I love Starbuck very much, but he's obviously not that man."
	"And you're okay with this?" Sheba asked, a bit more comfortable, yet still ands on his chest. "Brogan, I'm
sorry that I let this get out of hand. I know that you wanted to be
introduced to everybody and become a part of our family. I know that
they'll like you. Especially Starbuck... if he'll even speak to us,
that is," Cassie sighed.

	Brogan smiled and kissed her forehead. "From everything you've told
me," he assured, "I'm sure he'll be understanding."

	Cassie laughed. "I hope you're right about that! I love you," she
whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

	"I love you too," he whispered in return. "I have to get back to the
Agro II. Call me in my quarters and let me know how it went."

	Cassie nodded, walked out of her office and then out of the Life
Center. 

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

	'Where would he be... where would he be...' a voice inside her had
asked over and over. 'Cass, how could you have been so stupid?! You
knew that this would eventually get out. How long did you think you
could keep it a secret anyway? And Brogan... how don't seem too upset by it."
	"Sheba," Cassie stated directly, "I've spent the last few yahren being upset, but I've 
come to realize that I have myself to blame and well as Starbuck."
	Cassiopeia motioned for Sheba to sit in the chair directly opposite of her own.
	"I know that I've changed Sheba," Cassie explained. "Before the destruction of the 
Colonies, I had a very different life, a different lifestyle. I may have even continued being 
a socialator if I hadn't met Starbuck. He inspired me to do something different, something 
more rewarding, something that would give me a sense of accomplishment. Becoming a 
Med-Tech was the best thing I've ever done and, while it isn't always easy, I truly feel that 
I make a contribution now."
	"And yet," she continued, "I did a horrible thing in return. I had completely turned 
my life around and, in doing so, I expected Starbuck to do the same." To Sheba, it almost 
appeared that Cassie was hanging her head in shame. "I fell in love with him because he 
somewhat speechless.
	"I am," Cassie assured her, albeit a little exhausted over the days events. "Let's go 
eat."
	The two women rose from their chairs and began their trek to the commissary.
	There was one detail Sheba was still curious about. "What about Dalton?"
	"I'm not kicking Starbuck out my life Sheba," Cassie explained. "He is Dalton's 
father and I have no plans to replace him as such."
	Sheba knew that she was treading on thin ice with her next question, but Cassie 
was one of her best friends and Sheba was hoping that she was not putting up a facade to 
hide her true feelings. "Even if he falls in love with someone else?"
	"Sheba," Cassiopeia responded flatly, "he is in love with someone else."
	Sheba decided to play ignorant. "Who?" she asked, trying to look surprised.
	"Oh please Sheba,"Cassiopeia replied, noticeably annoyed, "our circle of friends 
is too small for you to pretend you haven't noticed."
	Sheba knew exactly what and who Cassie was talking about and felt a little g could you do this to
him?! He thought you were using him.'
She continued to scold herself and then remembered Bojay's party.
 
	'Well, Starbuck's not with Athena... he's not with me... he must be
at the O-Club. Hmmm, it's late though. I wonder if the party is still
going on?' After the last thought she let out a mild chuckle. 'What am
I thinking... he's no doubt playing Pyramid.'

	Cassie rounded the corner to see a couple of pilots helping each
other out the door of the Officer's Club. They were leaning on each
other, singing unintelligibly. Cassie couldn't figure out quite what
it was they were singing about, but she had recognized the words
"Cylon" and "daggit". As she stood at the door of the club and watched
the two pilots swerve their way down the corridor, she wondered what
state she would find Starbuck in.

	"If he's anywhere near as drunk as those two I won't be able to talk
to him tonight," she thought with dread.

	She entered the O-Club and found it to be a lot calmer than she
was so optimistic, so carefree... and I tried to change that. I had no right to do that."
	"Wait a minute Cassie," Sheba interjected, "who broke up with whom?"
	Cassie smiled once again. "It was a mutual decision Sheba," she replied. "We 
both realized that we had both grown together and yet had grown apart. He still enjoys 
the spontaneity of his life, the irregular schedule of a viper pilot and the risks involved, 
the all-night Pyramid parties..." Cassiopeia knew that she could go on for centons but was 
pretty sure that she had made her point. "I'm a mother now," she continued, "I want 
stability in my life and, no offense Sheba, I want a man with a normal job! Someone who 
works the same cycle as I do and who wants to come home at the end of the day and 
spend time with me.
	"And I want a man who wants to be sealed and have a family," Cassie concluded. 
"I love Starbuck very much, but he's obviously not that man."
	"And you're okay with this?" Sheba asked, a bit more comfortable, yet still uilty 
now that she had tried to feign otherwise.
	"Cassie... I don't know if he's in love with her..."
	"I do," Cassiopeia interrupted. "No offense Sheba, but I know Starbuck a little 
better that you do and I can tell when he's in love. He was in love with me for a few 
yahrens and I know that look in his eye."
	They entered the commissary and decided to sit at a table away from the main 
area. As they started to eat their rations, Cassiopeia could tell that Sheba was restless.  
She knew that Sheba and Athena were good friends and she didn't want Sheba to feel that 
she had to choose sides.
	"Sheba, I like Athena," Cassie assured, "I like her a lot. I'm not surprised that 
Starbuck is still in love with her. They have a long history, much deeper that anything he 
and I ever had."
	Sheba continued to analyse Cassie's facial expressions, still wondering how could 
she talk about this so casually.
	Cassie, sensing Sheba's discomfort, wanted to give her friend some more insight 
as to why and h had
expected. Apollo and Bojay were sitting at a table, a bunch of empty
glasses in front of them. She approached them, happy that she could
still wish Bojay a blessed novayahren before the cycle was over.

	Apollo noticed her first. "Hey Cassie! Where have you been all
night?!" He rose from his chair, almost knocking it over, and moved
forward to give her a big hug.

	Cassie was a bit overwhelmed but couldn't help but laugh. She
couldn't remember the last time she had seen Apollo intoxicated. He
wasn't overly drunk, but he was definitely very happy!

	"I got caught up in paperwork," she explained, "you know how it can
pile up while your not looking." She knew that as squadron leaders
they could relate to such responsibilities and she wouldn't have to
come up with a better excuse.

	"Well sit down and have a drink with us!" Bojay said with enthusiasm.

	"I wish I could but," she trailed off, kerning her neck around to see
if she could spot Starbuck, "I only stopped by for a moment. Have

somewhat speechless.
	"I am," Cassie assured her, albeit a little exhausted over the days events. "Let's go 
eat."
	The two women rose from their chairs and began their trek to the commissary.
	There was one detail Sheba was still curious about. "What about Dalton?"
	"I'm not kicking Starbuck out my life Sheba," Cassie explained. "He is Dalton's 
father and I have no plans to replace him as such."
	Sheba knew that she was treading on thin ice with her next question, but Cassie 
was one of her best friends and Sheba was hoping that she was not putting up a facade to 
hide her true feelings. "Even if he falls in love with someone else?"
	"Sheba," Cassiopeia responded flatly, "he is in love with someone else."
	Sheba decided to play ignorant. "Who?" she asked, trying to look surprised.
	"Oh please Sheba,"Cassiopeia replied, noticeably annoyed, "our circle of friends 
is too small for you to pretend you haven't noticed."
	Sheba knew exactly what and who Cassie was talking about and felt a little gow she had found peace with her decision. "Have you ever heard the term 
'carus spiritus'?"
	"I don't think so," Sheba replied, wondering if they were changing the subject.
	"It's a word from an ancient Gemon text," Cassie explained. "It means 'soulmate'. I 
believe that Starbuck and Athena are just that...soulmates. Most people spend their entire 
lives looking for that one person and most never find them. Starbuck and Athena were 
brought together as children. It would be a tragedy for them not to be together now."
	Sheba laughed, albeit cautiously. She could tell that Cassie believed in every 
word she said and she did not want to hurt her feelings.
	"What make you think their relationship is that deep?" Sheba asked.
	"Starbuck told me of when he first saw her, first spoke to her..." Cassie was now 
fighting back tears. "Sheba, he spoke of her with such passion and affection... I had never 
seen him like that before. It was then that I remembered my mother telling me of when 
she met my father
either of you seen Starbuck?"

	'Why are they always looking for Starbuck?' Bojay thought in a moment
of self-pity.

	"Let me ask you this Cassie," Apollo responded, raising an eyebrow,
"If you were Starbuck right now, where would you be?"

	Cassie laughed at how well they both new him. "Playing Pyramid in the
back room," she replied.

	"Give that lady the Golden Cluster!" Bojay declared.

	Cassie realized that she hadn't yet acknowledged Bojay's novayahren.
She'd grown to like Bojay a lot over the past few yahren and felt that
he didn't always get the credit he deserved.

	"Come here you old star pirate!" she insisted with a smile,
stretching her arms open. "Happy Novayahren!"

	"Who you calling old?" Bojay sprang from his chair to receive a warm
embrace from Cassie. It had been a while since he was in the arms of a
beautiful woman and he was going to accept any and all offers of hugs
this particular cycle. Of course, he hadn't received the one hug he
really wanted...

	"Ahem...do uilty 
now that she had tried to feign otherwise.
	"Cassie... I don't know if he's in love with her..."
	"I do," Cassiopeia interrupted. "No offense Sheba, but I know Starbuck a little 
better that you do and I can tell when he's in love. He was in love with me for a few 
yahrens and I know that look in his eye."
	They entered the commissary and decided to sit at a table away from the main 
area. As they started to eat their rations, Cassiopeia could tell that Sheba was restless.  
She knew that Sheba and Athena were good friends and she didn't want Sheba to feel that 
she had to choose sides.
	"Sheba, I like Athena," Cassie assured, "I like her a lot. I'm not surprised that 
Starbuck is still in love with her. They have a long history, much deeper that anything he 
and I ever had."
	Sheba continued to analyse Cassie's facial expressions, still wondering how could 
she talk about this so casually.
	Cassie, sensing Sheba's discomfort, wanted to give her friend some more insight 
as to why and h. She used the term 'carus spiritus'.  I knew that I had to let Starbuck go. 
I couldn't stand in the way of that kind of love."
	Sheba reached across the table and grabbed Cassie's hand. "I'm sorry Sheba, let's 
not talk about this any..."
	"No Sheba," Cassie insisted, "I'm not upset over Starbuck. I'm happy for him. As I 
said, most people never find the person they were meant to be with. He and Athena are 
incredibly lucky."
	Cassie realized that she hadn't completely convinced Sheba. "It's hard to explain 
Sheba, but have you ever heard a love song so passionate that it overwhelmed you with 
emotion?"
	Sheba had to admit that, as a warrior, she often stifled her emotions. But she now 
confided in her friend, "Not a song so much... but I remember, one night, listening to 
Adama tell a story about his wife, Ila. He talked about how beautiful she was and how 
much she had made him laugh. He loved her so much. I hadn't realized it but I had tears 
in my eyes as he spoke of her."
	"Then you do uI need to break this up?" Starbuck inquired as he
approached them.

	"That's not your job anymore Captain," Cassie replied jokingly and
yet, not so much.

	"Ho ho, that's gotta hurt!" Apollo and Bojay chimed in unison,
high-fiving across the table.

	Starbuck gritted his teeth and smiled. He'd been tagged. "You two are
cut-off!" he called to them as he continued to stride, albeit a little
drunkenly, towards Cassie.

	"_Major_ Apollo," Bojay turned to Apollo, "I do believe that Captain
Starbuck just gave us an order."
"Yes, _Major_ Bojay," Apollo replied smugly, "I believe he did."

	Starbuck glared at Apollo. His best friend actually ganging up on
him, in concert with Bojay no less! 'I don't care how drunk he is,' he
thought and decided to ignore their drunken antics.

	"So, what brings you here so late?" he asked Cassie. "You're usually
fast asleep by now. Is Dalton all right?" he asked worriedly.

	"She's fine, she's at Medina's quarters having a sleepover," Cassie
reassured him.  "ow she had found peace with her decision. "Have you ever heard the term 
'carus spiritus'?"
	"I don't think so," Sheba replied, wondering if they were changing the subject.
	"It's a word from an ancient Gemon text," Cassie explained. "It means 'soulmate'. I 
believe that Starbuck and Athena are just that...soulmates. Most people spend their entire 
lives looking for that one person and most never find them. Starbuck and Athena were 
brought together as children. It would be a tragedy for them not to be together now."
	Sheba laughed, albeit cautiously. She could tell that Cassie believed in every 
word she said and she did not want to hurt her feelings.
	"What make you think their relationship is that deep?" Sheba asked.
	"Starbuck told me of when he first saw her, first spoke to her..." Cassie was now 
fighting back tears. "Sheba, he spoke of her with such passion and affection... I had never 
seen him like that before. It was then that I remembered my mother telling me of when 
she met my fathernderstand," Cassie said gently. "I just about fell apart when 
Starbuck told me of their childhood together. He thought I was upset over his feelings for 
her, but I had to explain to him that I was overwhelmed by the intensity of his emotions, 
emotions that I had not seen in him before. I actually told him that he had been foolish 
for giving up on her so quickly after she had turned down his proposal to be sealed. I 
scolded him for his insensitivity towards her during what was undoubtedly the most 
devastating day of her life."
	"Wow," Sheba mumbled, knowing full well that she would not have had the 
strength to have the same conversation with Apollo if he were in love with someone else.
	"I know," Cassie admitted, "I was pretty surprised that the words were coming out 
of my mouth too. But I'll tell you Sheba, I felt like an incredible burden had been lifted 
from me. I know the gossip mill is probably painting an unflattering picture of the whole 
thing, but I know that Starbuck wants nothinThere's something I need to talk to you about, if
you're sober enough?"

	Starbuck squirmed a bit. He'd gotten so caught up in the card game,
he realized that he hadn't made anytime to spend with Athena this
evening. 'Old habits die hard,' he forgave himself. But now he was
feeling tired and he was hoping to find Athena before he turned in.

	"Can it wait 'til tomorrow Cass? I'm really tired and..."

	"No Starbuck it can't wait!" she persisted, now placing a firm grasp
on his arm.

	The look in her eyes told Starbuck she was not taking "no" for an
answer. 'Please don't tell me she's changed her mind about us,' he
thought. 'That could really complicate things.'

	"Cass... I really don't know how attentive I'll be and I'm sure that
whatever it is can wait...," he made one last effort.

	A hint of tears could be seen now. "Starbuck, please?" she begged.

	Realizing that he was not going to win, Starbuck finally gave in.
"All right, if it's that important."
Starbuck and Cassie turned and b. She used the term 'carus spiritus'.  I knew that I had to let Starbuck go. 
I couldn't stand in the way of that kind of love."
	Sheba reached across the table and grabbed Cassie's hand. "I'm sorry Sheba, let's 
not talk about this any..."
	"No Sheba," Cassie insisted, "I'm not upset over Starbuck. I'm happy for him. As I 
said, most people never find the person they were meant to be with. He and Athena are 
incredibly lucky."
	Cassie realized that she hadn't completely convinced Sheba. "It's hard to explain 
Sheba, but have you ever heard a love song so passionate that it overwhelmed you with 
emotion?"
	Sheba had to admit that, as a warrior, she often stifled her emotions. But she now 
confided in her friend, "Not a song so much... but I remember, one night, listening to 
Adama tell a story about his wife, Ila. He talked about how beautiful she was and how 
much she had made him laugh. He loved her so much. I hadn't realized it but I had tears 
in my eyes as he spoke of her."
	"Then you do ug but the best for me and I want nothing but 
the best for him."
	Cassie now resumed a smile and cheerful disposition. "And what's best for him is 
Athena."
	"Although," she pointed out, anticipating a challenge for her ex, "after Starbuck's 
callousness all those yahren ago, who's to say if Athena is willing to involve herself with 
him again. After all, she's grown a lot as well."
	"That's true," Sheba agreed, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
	And with that, they decided to change the subject and discuss plans for Bojay's 
novayahren.   Now that Starbuck was no longer her companion, Cassiopeia didn't want to 
spend her entire day talking about him. He was Athena's headache now.
	Still, Sheba couldn't help but feel that there was something Cassie wasn't telling 
her. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Chapter 2

Apollo and Starbuck entered the O-Club and found exactly what they had
expected. Every pilot in the fleet was either already drunk or on
their way.
	Starbuck laughed as he sade their tipsy friends "goodnight"
and proceeded out of the O-Club.

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

	The pair walked silently towards Cassie's quarters.
Her mind was busy thinking about how she was going to start this
conversation.

	Starbuck's was full of confusion.

	What could be so important that she had to discuss it in the middle
of the night? Her timing, once again, was perfect. He'd already had a
long day and, with all the Amberise he'd drank at the party, he was
ready for some sleep. She was adamant that they talk now so... might
as well get it over with. He had to admit, though, her tension had
made him curious.  He hoped again that she hadn't changed her mind
about them.
As they entered her quarters, he asked, "this isn't about Dalton is
it? She is okay right?"

	"She's fine," Cassie reassured him again. "This isn't about her."

	Starbuck felt a little relieved. Up until now, they had been able to
handle any curve that Dalton had thrown at them. He just couldn't wait
until she got oldenderstand," Cassie said gently. "I just about fell apart when 
Starbuck told me of their childhood together. He thought I was upset over his feelings for 
her, but I had to explain to him that I was overwhelmed by the intensity of his emotions, 
emotions that I had not seen in him before. I actually told him that he had been foolish 
for giving up on her so quickly after she had turned down his proposal to be sealed. I 
scolded him for his insensitivity towards her during what was undoubtedly the most 
devastating day of her life."
	"Wow," Sheba mumbled, knowing full well that she would not have had the 
strength to have the same conversation with Apollo if he were in love with someone else.
	"I know," Cassie admitted, "I was pretty surprised that the words were coming out 
of my mouth too. But I'll tell you Sheba, I felt like an incredible burden had been lifted 
from me. I know the gossip mill is probably painting an unflattering picture of the whole 
thing, but I know that Starbuck wants nothinaw his friend Boomer engaged in a
grog-guzzling contest with a fellow warrior resulting in both of them
getting more on their flight jackets than in their mouths.
	He looked over to Apollo who was definitely not sharing in the
amusement.
	"C'mon Apollo," Starbuck offered, "lighten up.  When's the last time
everybody really cut loose?"
	"I just hope that the Cylons don't pick this moment to reemerge. Look
at everybody Starbuck! I don't think there is one sober pilot in this
whole room," Apollo said, somewhat disgusted.
	"That's right," Starbuck responded with his famous smile, "and we
have a lot of catching up to do."
	Apollo stared at his friend. "I see you're taking your new freedom
rather well," he observed, referring to Starbuck's recent break-up
with Cassiopeia.
	"Let's just say that it had been coming for a long time and that it
was a mutual decision," Starbuck replied diplomatically, trying to
hide the fact that he truly was relieved to be free of his previous
association. "There's no r and he and Cassie would have REAL problems to deal
with.

	"No Starbuck," Cassie continued, taking a deep breath. "This is about
you, me and... someone else."

	Starbuck gave her a puzzled look. "Didn't we have this conversation
already?"

	Cassie shook her head. "This isn't about Athena either."

	"Okay... so what is this about?" he inquired slowly, his interest
piqued.

	Cassie hadn't been able to look at him since they had entered the
room. " I don't know quite how to say this...," she began tentatively.

	"So just say it!" he said abruptly, quickly becoming impatient.

	She rustled up the strength to look at him. How angry was he going to
be?

	"I met someone," she uttered, her voice breaking slightly.

	Starbuck raised an eyebrow.

	"He's really nice Starbuck," she spoke faster, "You'd like him a lot."

	"Uh huh," Starbuck responded, now even more confused. Is this what
was so important? They'd broken up. Why was she feeling guilty about
meeting someone new? And why was heg but the best for me and I want nothing but 
the best for him."
	Cassie now resumed a smile and cheerful disposition. "And what's best for him is 
Athena."
	"Although," she pointed out, anticipating a challenge for her ex, "after Starbuck's 
callousness all those yahren ago, who's to say if Athena is willing to involve herself with 
him again. After all, she's grown a lot as well."
	"That's true," Sheba agreed, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
	And with that, they decided to change the subject and discuss plans for Bojay's 
novayahren.   Now that Starbuck was no longer her companion, Cassiopeia didn't want to 
spend her entire day talking about him. He was Athena's headache now.
	Still, Sheba couldn't help but feel that there was something Cassie wasn't telling 
her. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Chapter 2

Apollo and Starbuck entered the O-Club and found exactly what they had
expected. Every pilot in the fleet was either already drunk or on
their way.
	Starbuck laughed as he s feeling just a bit annoyed?

	"Look," he continued, running his hand through his hair, "I'm very
happy that you found someone, and quite quickly I might add, but
couldn't this wait until tomorrow? Don't get me wrong, I want to hear
all about this... it's just that I'm really tired and..."

	"That's just it Starbuck," she interrupted. 'Breathe, Cassie,
breathe,' she prompted herself.  "I didn't just meet him," she finally
admitted.

	Now she had Starbuck's full attention. She walked toward the portal
and looked out at the fleet. She could see the Agro-II and tried to
harness the strength she knew Brogan was sending her.

	"You and I talked the other day about how our relationship had been
over for some time now," she noted. "About six sectars ago, I had gone
to the Agro-II with Dr. Wilker to help him with his subfloran research."

	Her heart began beating faster, partly due to her anxiety over what
Starbuck must be thinking and partly due to the memory of when she
first met Brogan.

	"Whard feelings between us and we are probably
better off as friends."
	"It sure took you a long time to figure that out," Apollo remarked,
wondering why his friend wasn't a bit more despondent about the end of
his ten yahren relationship with the mother of his child.
	"Apollo, don't get me wrong, I still care for Cassie a great deal. I
love her and I always will," Starbuck explained. "But she wants
something from me that I just can't give to her.  She knew what she
was getting into when we met and, over the last couple of yahren, that
hasn't been enough for her.  She wants me to be something I'm not and
I admit that I'm not willing to change that much.
	"I'll always be there for Dalton," Starbuck continued, "but I
realized that I needed to give Cassie the freedom to find someone that
would make her happy and I'm glad that I have grown enough as a person
to be able to do that."
	"Oh yes Starbuck," Apollo laughed, "forgive me for not commending you
on your maturity."
	"Thank you," Starbuck chideaw his friend Boomer engaged in a
grog-guzzling contest with a fellow warrior resulting in both of them
getting more on their flight jackets than in their mouths.
	He looked over to Apollo who was definitely not sharing in the
amusement.
	"C'mon Apollo," Starbuck offered, "lighten up.  When's the last time
everybody really cut loose?"
	"I just hope that the Cylons don't pick this moment to reemerge. Look
at everybody Starbuck! I don't think there is one sober pilot in this
whole room," Apollo said, somewhat disgusted.
	"That's right," Starbuck responded with his famous smile, "and we
have a lot of catching up to do."
	Apollo stared at his friend. "I see you're taking your new freedom
rather well," he observed, referring to Starbuck's recent break-up
with Cassiopeia.
	"Let's just say that it had been coming for a long time and that it
was a mutual decision," Starbuck replied diplomatically, trying to
hide the fact that he truly was relieved to be free of his previous
association. "There's no d, placing a fumarello in his mouth,
"you're forgiven.  Now let's go join the party."
	Apollo followed Starbuck to the liquistation and realized that his
friend was right. The Cylons hadn't shown their ugly faces in sectons
and he should really learn to relax.  Of course Starbuck hadn't been
the only one recently to point that out to him. Sheba had tried to get
him involved in some other activities lately to fill up the free time
that, until recently, had been filled with double-patrols and
defensive drills.
	He then felt a hand on his back and he turned to see Sheba's face
smiling back at him.
	"It's about time you two showed up," she remarked. "I was afraid I
was going to have to send a recon patrol out for you."
	"Sorry," Apollo said, grinning, "but Starbuck had to fill me in on
the latest chapter in the saga that is his love life."
	"Yes, I'm sure it's very colorful," Sheba mused, staring at Starbuck.
	Of course, she had only heard Cassie's version of what had occurred.
She was certain thhard feelings between us and we are probably
better off as friends."
	"It sure took you a long time to figure that out," Apollo remarked,
wondering why his friend wasn't a bit more despondent about the end of
his ten yahren relationship with the mother of his child.
	"Apollo, don't get me wrong, I still care for Cassie a great deal. I
love her and I always will," Starbuck explained. "But she wants
something from me that I just can't give to her.  She knew what she
was getting into when we met and, over the last couple of yahren, that
hasn't been enough for her.  She wants me to be something I'm not and
I admit that I'm not willing to change that much.
	"I'll always be there for Dalton," Starbuck continued, "but I
realized that I needed to give Cassie the freedom to find someone that
would make her happy and I'm glad that I have grown enough as a person
to be able to do that."
	"Oh yes Starbuck," Apollo laughed, "forgive me for not commending you
on your maturity."
	"Thank you," Starbuck chidee met there.. it was innocent at first... I had never meant for
anything to happen." Her words started to break and tears began to
well in her eyes. She turned to find Starbuck staring at her,
expressionless.
 
	'I don't believe this,' he mused. 'We had this intense discussion the
other day, I poured my heart out to her about how guilty I felt and
how she deserved someone better and how it would be no time at all
'til someone else came along... and the whole time I was being played
for an idiot! And I suppose I'm the last to know. I must be the
biggest fool in the entire fleet!'  Starbuck thought angrily.

	Cassie felt helpless as she stood and waited for Starbuck's reaction
to her admission. She tensed up as it looked like he was about to
speak, but then he stopped and continued looking down at the floor.

	'But wait a centon... certainly if Apollo had known he would've told
me,' Starbuck continued to ponder the depth of the deceit and his
feelings about it. 'Even Boomer for that matter. Anat Starbuck's version would be slightly different
but wasn't sure that she wanted to bring it up just then. This was
Bojay's novayahren and she didn't want all of  the attention to be
focused on Starbuck, although most of the conversations taking place
at the party were about the latest "uncoupling". The gossip factory
was grinding out it's usual felgercarb.
	Instead of fueling it, she decided to ignore it. She knew the truth,
Cassie's truth anyway, and she was satisfied with that.
	She wanted to concentrate on Bojay. The last thing she wanted was for
him to feel upstaged on his novayahren. Starbuck had begun a
conversation with Lieutenant Royce about the already infamous Pyramid
game of the previous cycle. Sheba found it to be the perfect
opportunity to steal Apollo away from the new bachelor. She and Apollo
rarely spent any leisure time together, outside of their quarters, and
she wanted to take advantage of the party.
	They walked over to the table that Bojay and some friends were
sitting ad, placing a fumarello in his mouth,
"you're forgiven.  Now let's go join the party."
	Apollo followed Starbuck to the liquistation and realized that his
friend was right. The Cylons hadn't shown their ugly faces in sectons
and he should really learn to relax.  Of course Starbuck hadn't been
the only one recently to point that out to him. Sheba had tried to get
him involved in some other activities lately to fill up the free time
that, until recently, had been filled with double-patrols and
defensive drills.
	He then felt a hand on his back and he turned to see Sheba's face
smiling back at him.
	"It's about time you two showed up," she remarked. "I was afraid I
was going to have to send a recon patrol out for you."
	"Sorry," Apollo said, grinning, "but Starbuck had to fill me in on
the latest chapter in the saga that is his love life."
	"Yes, I'm sure it's very colorful," Sheba mused, staring at Starbuck.
	Of course, she had only heard Cassie's version of what had occurred.
She was certain thd Sheba... well,
perhaps she wouldn't tell me. Even though Sheba is my friend too, she
and Cass are a lot closer. But what about Athena? She and Cass have
become fairly good friends. Has Athena known about this all along?
Nah, she would've told me... wouldn't she? Well gee Starbuck, why
would she? You've barely said two words to her the past few days!
Damn, if Cass had only told me about this sectons ago... Athena and I
would probably be together by now!'

	He closed his eyes as the irony of the situation smacked him upside
the head.

	'So it's come full circle huh? I'm getting a taste of my own
medicine. All those yahrens of playing both sides of the court have
finally come back to bite me in the astrum,' he chuckled to himself
quietly, his face turned away from Cassie's.

	Cassie felt paralyzed by the silence. She knew that they had waited
too long to end their relationship but it was no excuse for her
infidelity. 'I should've done this a long time ago. He has every right
to hate me.'

t. She really wanted Apollo and Bojay to become friends and
thought that perhaps a jovial atmosphere was the perfect starting point.
	Bojay looked up as they approached the table. Normally, he would have
made an excuse to slip away from the impending obligatory
conversation, but he had had a few tankards of Ambrosa and was feeling
a bit bolder than usual. He rose from the table and stretched out his
hand to Apollo. 
	"Glad you could make it!", Bojay exclaimed, casting a glance at
Sheba, knowing that he had scored points by making the first move.
	Caught off guard, but not to be outdone, Apollo took Bojay's hand,
then pulled him closer to grab his shoulder with his other hand.
"Wouldn't have missed it Bojay!"
	This was a gesture Sheba had only seen Apollo offer to his closest
friends and she smiled as the two shook hands. She knew that they had
probably done this for her sake, but she was hopeful that this
behavior would continue until it actually became sincere.
	She and Apollo sat down at theat Starbuck's version would be slightly different
but wasn't sure that she wanted to bring it up just then. This was
Bojay's novayahren and she didn't want all of  the attention to be
focused on Starbuck, although most of the conversations taking place
at the party were about the latest "uncoupling". The gossip factory
was grinding out it's usual felgercarb.
	Instead of fueling it, she decided to ignore it. She knew the truth,
Cassie's truth anyway, and she was satisfied with that.
	She wanted to concentrate on Bojay. The last thing she wanted was for
him to feel upstaged on his novayahren. Starbuck had begun a
conversation with Lieutenant Royce about the already infamous Pyramid
game of the previous cycle. Sheba found it to be the perfect
opportunity to steal Apollo away from the new bachelor. She and Apollo
rarely spent any leisure time together, outside of their quarters, and
she wanted to take advantage of the party.
	They walked over to the table that Bojay and some friends were
sitting a
	Then, Starbuck burst out laughing.

	Cassie was thrown into shock. This was hardly the reaction she had
expected.

	"You think this is funny?" she asked, very perplexed. "I'm admitting
that I was unfaithful and you think it's funny?"

	Through his laughter, he responded, "Are you kidding? This is
priceless!"

	Cassie's demeanor now changed from one of sorrow and guilt to utter
annoyance. She folded her arms across her chest, raised and eyebrow,
and inquired, "Exactly how so?"

	He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry
Cass but, all these yahren, I've been the one with the philandering
reputation..." the chuckles kept invading, "and yet... YOU'RE the one
who cheats on ME!"

	"I'm not proud of this Starbuck!" she declared.

	He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. She sighed,
unfolded her arms, and returned the embrace.

	"I guess I should be happy that you're laughing and not breaking
things," she conceded.

	He slightly pulled back to look a table. Starbuck joined them a few
centons later. They talked about various subjects and eventually, as
always, the conversation turned to stories of previous victories won
against the Cylons. Of course, they all had their favorites. The
Triumph at Kinsey, the Battle of Molecay, even the Victory at Gamoray
albeit bittersweet.
	Since they hadn't seen any Cylons for sectars, there weren't many
recent triumphs to discuss. The last big battle had been on the planet
Qamra. They had run into a Cylon outpost there, one that had been left
by one of the base stars destroyed at Gamoray. As Bojay and Apollo
began disputing the sequence of events of that particular conflict,
Sheba remembered how it had been one of Athena's last missions with
Silver Spar Squadron.
	When Athena had been reassigned to active patrol duty, Sheba had been
surprised that Athena had rejected an offer to fly with Blue Squadron
in order to fly with Silver Spar. Not as surprised as Apollo and
Starbuck though. Who wouldn't want to flt her. "If it makes you feel better,
I am hurt and uh... rather ticked off," he confessed. "You let me sit
here and ramble on the other day about my guilt for being in love with
someone else when the whole time you were seeing another man."

	"I know," Cassie hung her head, "and I feel terrible about that but
uh... if I remember correctly," she raised her head again, " I was
hardly able to get a word in." Starbuck had basically monopolized the
conversation with the tale of his heavy heart. 

	"You were so busy telling me about the love of _your_ life, I didn't
think you would care that I had found a new love of my own," she
remarked, slightly irritated. "I still feel that I need to apologize
though."

	His laughter having subsided, Starbuck swallowed some of his injured
pride. " I have to take some of the blame for it Cass," he admitted.
"As you said, we both acknowledged that our relationship had been over
for a long time. I know that I haven't been very attentive over the
last yahren so, t. She really wanted Apollo and Bojay to become friends and
thought that perhaps a jovial atmosphere was the perfect starting point.
	Bojay looked up as they approached the table. Normally, he would have
made an excuse to slip away from the impending obligatory
conversation, but he had had a few tankards of Ambrosa and was feeling
a bit bolder than usual. He rose from the table and stretched out his
hand to Apollo. 
	"Glad you could make it!", Bojay exclaimed, casting a glance at
Sheba, knowing that he had scored points by making the first move.
	Caught off guard, but not to be outdone, Apollo took Bojay's hand,
then pulled him closer to grab his shoulder with his other hand.
"Wouldn't have missed it Bojay!"
	This was a gesture Sheba had only seen Apollo offer to his closest
friends and she smiled as the two shook hands. She knew that they had
probably done this for her sake, but she was hopeful that this
behavior would continue until it actually became sincere.
	She and Apollo sat down at they with the Blue? Sheba still
felt some pride knowing that someone had had the guts to let a little
air out of the somewhat inflated egos of the fleet's premier squadron.
After all, she thought, Silver Spar was just as good, if not, in some
cases...
	"Where is Athena?" Sheba suddently thought, looking around to see if
she had missed her coming in. Sheba knew that Athena and Bojay had
regained some civility in their relationship and had expected Athena
to attend his party.
	She couldn't see much from where she was sitting, so she decided to
excuse herself from the table to take a look around the club. She
walked around, stopping occasionally to speak to friends. She
inevitably found herself back at the liquistation where she ran into
Starbuck.
	"Bored with the conversation already?" she asked, referring to the
previous tales of triumph.
	"I just wish we had some new stories to tell," he replied, taking the
fumarello out of his mouth. "Don't get me wrong," he added, "I hope to
never see a Cylonif anything, I probably drove you into this guy's arms."

	While trying to resolve this issue, Starbuck's mind couldn't help but
wander to the woman that Cassie had just called "the love of his
life". He had wanted to find her and talk to her about the events of
the past days. As he glanced at his chronometer, he realized that it
was probably too late. 'Way to go bucko, you blew it again.'  He
sighed to himself.

	"Cass, I'm glad that you were finally honest with me. Granted, I wish
that you had told me about this sectons ago but uh... don't worry
about it. I'm happy for you... really! It's nice to know that someone
is getting some...," he paused and flashed her a suggestive smile,
"...happiness."

	Cassie slapped his chest. "You're horrible!" she cried, trying to
stifle a grin, without much success.

	"Hey, at least one of us is getting somewhere," he mumbled.

	"What do you mean?" she asked.

	He shook his head and replied, "Nothin', I'm just tired. Look, I
really do need to get some  table. Starbuck joined them a few
centons later. They talked about various subjects and eventually, as
always, the conversation turned to stories of previous victories won
against the Cylons. Of course, they all had their favorites. The
Triumph at Kinsey, the Battle of Molecay, even the Victory at Gamoray
albeit bittersweet.
	Since they hadn't seen any Cylons for sectars, there weren't many
recent triumphs to discuss. The last big battle had been on the planet
Qamra. They had run into a Cylon outpost there, one that had been left
by one of the base stars destroyed at Gamoray. As Bojay and Apollo
began disputing the sequence of events of that particular conflict,
Sheba remembered how it had been one of Athena's last missions with
Silver Spar Squadron.
	When Athena had been reassigned to active patrol duty, Sheba had been
surprised that Athena had rejected an offer to fly with Blue Squadron
in order to fly with Silver Spar. Not as surprised as Apollo and
Starbuck though. Who wouldn't want to fl again. I have to admit though, things have been a
little too quiet around here for me lately."
	"I know what you mean," she agreed, her eyes still scanning the room.
	Starbuck leaned forward towards her. "She's not here," he
volunteered. "I've already looked."
	"Yes," she said, bluntly, "I'm sure you have."
	"Now what is that supposed to mean?" he asked, a bit defensive.
"Look, I don't know what you've heard but..."
	"Cassie told me the whole story Starbuck," Sheba interrupted, placing
a hand on his shoulder. "I know that you both decided that it was for
the best and that you're still friends. I'm just giving you a hard
time."
	She smiled and reassured him that she had not passed judgements on
anyone and was glad that all involved were comfortable with the
situation.
	"I want her to be happy Sheba," he conceded. "She deserves that and I
know I can't do the job anymore." Nor did he want the job anymore.
	"Well, you deserve to be happy too," Sheba replied, alluding to the
conversation she'd hy with the Blue? Sheba still
felt some pride knowing that someone had had the guts to let a little
air out of the somewhat inflated egos of the fleet's premier squadron.
After all, she thought, Silver Spar was just as good, if not, in some
cases...
	"Where is Athena?" Sheba suddently thought, looking around to see if
she had missed her coming in. Sheba knew that Athena and Bojay had
regained some civility in their relationship and had expected Athena
to attend his party.
	She couldn't see much from where she was sitting, so she decided to
excuse herself from the table to take a look around the club. She
walked around, stopping occasionally to speak to friends. She
inevitably found herself back at the liquistation where she ran into
Starbuck.
	"Bored with the conversation already?" she asked, referring to the
previous tales of triumph.
	"I just wish we had some new stories to tell," he replied, taking the
fumarello out of his mouth. "Don't get me wrong," he added, "I hope to
never see a Cylonsleep. Apollo will kick my astrum if I take
an unscheduled mid-flight nap again."

	Starbuck leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

	She looked up at him and smiled. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

	As he walked towards the door, he replied, "Couldn't avoid me if you
tried."

	As he left, Cassie felt a huge wave of relief wash over her. She
couldn't believe she had gotten herself so worked up, felt so
guilty... and he laughed!

	'I shouldn't be surprised,' she thought. 'He did admit an incredible
amount of guilt the other day and, quite honestly, I enjoyed watching
him squirm some. He is right in a way, I probably wouldn't have given
Brogan a second look if things had been working between us. Then
again, who's to say that I wouldn't have fallen in love with Brogan
anyway?'

	With that last thought, she walked over to the com-unit to call
Brogan. He was no doubt still awake and wondering what his future with
her would hold. She didn't want to make him wait any longer.

*********ad with Cassie a few cycles earlier.
	"I'm definitely planning on it," Starbuck nodded with a smile,
confirming Sheba's suspicions that he was on the prowl. "So, why don't
we leave for a bit and go look for her together?"
	"If you don't mind, I'd rather go alone. She and I have a few things
to discuss."
	"Like what?" he grumbled, wondering if Sheba was about to stick her
nose where it wasn't welcome.
	Sheba just smiled confidently. "Girl stuff, can't discuss it. Tell
Apollo where I've gone and hopefully I'll... excuse me... we'll be
back soon."
	Before he could object, Sheba turned and walked out the door of the
O-Club. Starbuck let out a deep sigh and, putting the fumarello back
into his mouth, wondered if he was letting things get out of hand.
	It had been a few days since he and Cassie had split up and he hadn't
bothered to talk to Athena about any of it. In his head, and heart, he
was making plans for their future and yet, he hadn't given her an
opportunity to tell him how SHE felt.
	He  again. I have to admit though, things have been a
little too quiet around here for me lately."
	"I know what you mean," she agreed, her eyes still scanning the room.
	Starbuck leaned forward towards her. "She's not here," he
volunteered. "I've already looked."
	"Yes," she said, bluntly, "I'm sure you have."
	"Now what is that supposed to mean?" he asked, a bit defensive.
"Look, I don't know what you've heard but..."
	"Cassie told me the whole story Starbuck," Sheba interrupted, placing
a hand on his shoulder. "I know that you both decided that it was for
the best and that you're still friends. I'm just giving you a hard
time."
	She smiled and reassured him that she had not passed judgements on
anyone and was glad that all involved were comfortable with the
situation.
	"I want her to be happy Sheba," he conceded. "She deserves that and I
know I can't do the job anymore." Nor did he want the job anymore.
	"Well, you deserve to be happy too," Sheba replied, alluding to the
conversation she'd h************

	Starbuck stepped outside of Cassie's quarters and walked towards the
turbolift, smiling to the other medical personnel that he passed along
the hallway. They were used to seeing the Captain's face on the
medical deck and had accepted him as just another common face amongst
the doctors, med-techs and other medical research staff. Most of the
inhabitants of the Galactica's medical community never got farther
than the Life Center and their own quarters, making life pretty
dull... at least in Starbuck's eyes.

	While he found their work fascinating, he knew that he couldn't spend
his entire day in one place. Granted, he spent most of his day in the
cockpit of a viper, but once back on the Galactica, he had a choice of
different places to go, different things to do. Why people would
choose to spend their free time doing medical research was beyond him. 

	During the first yahrens of their relationship, Cassie had dragged
him all over the fleet for entertainment. They went to concerhad a feeling that she still cared for him, but maybe it was just
wishful thinking on his part. He wanted desperately to tell her that
he still loved her, but figured that he should wait until the gossip
about he and Cassie had become yesterday's news.
	But perhaps he had waited too long. There was no telling what she had
heard by now. He didn't want Athena to think that he was coming to her
for consolation. He had messed things up too many times before. This
time, he was going to do it right. He just hoped that she wouldn't
laugh in his face.
	
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

	Cassie stood in front of the portal in her office. She had never felt
so alive.
	And yet, she felt a bit guilty.
	She had, only a few days ago, broken up with the man that had been
her world for ten yahren.
	But instead of sorrow, she felt relief. She still loved him for the
joy he had brought to her life, especially Dalton, and was determined
that they remain close friends. And while she couldn't help but feel
somad with Cassie a few cycles earlier.
	"I'm definitely planning on it," Starbuck nodded with a smile,
confirming Sheba's suspicions that he was on the prowl. "So, why don't
we leave for a bit and go look for her together?"
	"If you don't mind, I'd rather go alone. She and I have a few things
to discuss."
	"Like what?" he grumbled, wondering if Sheba was about to stick her
nose where it wasn't welcome.
	Sheba just smiled confidently. "Girl stuff, can't discuss it. Tell
Apollo where I've gone and hopefully I'll... excuse me... we'll be
back soon."
	Before he could object, Sheba turned and walked out the door of the
O-Club. Starbuck let out a deep sigh and, putting the fumarello back
into his mouth, wondered if he was letting things get out of hand.
	It had been a few days since he and Cassie had split up and he hadn't
bothered to talk to Athena about any of it. In his head, and heart, he
was making plans for their future and yet, he hadn't given her an
opportunity to tell him how SHE felt.
	He ts, triad
tournaments, romantic evenings on the Rising Star, starlight strolls
on the Agro ship...the Agro ship. Starbuck chuckled to himself as his
mind spun with snippets from the conversation of a few centons ago. He
still wasn't quite sure how he felt about the whole thing.

	The turbolift door opened and he looked down a familiar corridor,
although not the one he had expected. He had subconsciously selected
the officers deck when he had entered and was now just as naturally
walking down its halls. As he walked past the doors of some his
friends, he pondered why he hadn't chosen to accept his own quarters
here. He had certainly received a few raised eyebrows as he turned
down the perk on more than one occasion. Especially when he had
refused to move in with Cassie. But he had his reasons.

	Even without blood family of his own, he had grown up with family
around him. He remembered the nights spent talking and laughing with
Apollo and Zac, Ila  eventually coming in and gently ordering themewhat remorseful that they hadn't made it work for Dalton's sake,
she couldn't deny the exhilaration she felt now.
	She tingled from head to toe!
	She had experience this feeling before... Cain, Starbuck... but not
at this intensity. She felt renewed and, as she looked out the fleet,
saw a new and exciting future ahead of her. She smiled with excitement
as she felt a pair of hands reach around her waist, strong arms
drawing her near.
	"I was just thinking about you," she sighed, laying her head back on
his shoulder.
	"Mmmmm," moaned a familiar voice as he nuzzled her neck, "and what
kind of thoughts were they?"
	"The best kind," she giggled. She turned around, caressed his face
with her hands and proceeded to lose herself in a deep kiss.
	
*******************
	Athena sat in front of the console, feeling very frustrated. She had
been working with this data for sectons now and couldn't get the
program to work. She admitted that it had become her obsession. Almost
to the point that she had barhad a feeling that she still cared for him, but maybe it was just
wishful thinking on his part. He wanted desperately to tell her that
he still loved her, but figured that he should wait until the gossip
about he and Cassie had become yesterday's news.
	But perhaps he had waited too long. There was no telling what she had
heard by now. He didn't want Athena to think that he was coming to her
for consolation. He had messed things up too many times before. This
time, he was going to do it right. He just hoped that she wouldn't
laugh in his face.
	
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

	Cassie stood in front of the portal in her office. She had never felt
so alive.
	And yet, she felt a bit guilty.
	She had, only a few days ago, broken up with the man that had been
her world for ten yahren.
	But instead of sorrow, she felt relief. She still loved him for the
joy he had brought to her life, especially Dalton, and was determined
that they remain close friends. And while she couldn't help but feel
som to
go to sleep. Many yahrens later it was Apollo ordering the rest of the
squadron to "shut up and go to sleep!" Starbuck valued the camaraderie
that he shared with the other pilots, a bond made stronger with the
late cycle chats they would have as they all drifted off to sleep.
 
	The other reason was the door that now stood before him. He had known
in the back of his mind that he couldn't have resisted the lure of
visiting this door had he lived so close, and he had not even meant to
come here tonight. He had meant to go straight to the barracks and get
some much needed sleep. But here he was nonetheless. It was very late
and the corridor was void of activity.  He was certain that Apollo
must be passed out in his own quarters by now. Starbuck laughed to
himself. 'After all Apollo had to drink tonight, _he'll_ probably be
the one needing the extra sleep period on patrol in the morning,' he
smiled to himself.

	Starbuck placed both of his hands on the door, then leaned in to rest
his foreheely slept the last few days, spending
much of her rest cycle in the Tech-Lab. She had thought about asking
one of the engineers to look at the figures, but had been afraid that
they wouldn't take her seriously. They often gave her puzzled looks
when they would see her in their section.
	They probably thought, "Oh look, it's the Commander's daughter trying
to make herself useful."
	Then again, it was probably her own insecurity thinking that.
	She didn't know why she still felt this way. She had proved herself
invaluable on the bridge and, when needed, she could pilot a viper
with the best of them.
	And now, she was working on a program that, once installed into the
central computer, would greatly enhance their defense against the
Cylons, or any other enemy they might encounter on their way to Earth.
She hadn't shared her theories with anyone, just in case she couldn't
make them work. Her friends, her family... they had all proven
themselves indispensable and she couldn't help but feel as if shewhat remorseful that they hadn't made it work for Dalton's sake,
she couldn't deny the exhilaration she felt now.
	She tingled from head to toe!
	She had experience this feeling before... Cain, Starbuck... but not
at this intensity. She felt renewed and, as she looked out the fleet,
saw a new and exciting future ahead of her. She smiled with excitement
as she felt a pair of hands reach around her waist, strong arms
drawing her near.
	"I was just thinking about you," she sighed, laying her head back on
his shoulder.
	"Mmmmm," moaned a familiar voice as he nuzzled her neck, "and what
kind of thoughts were they?"
	"The best kind," she giggled. She turned around, caressed his face
with her hands and proceeded to lose herself in a deep kiss.
	
*******************
	Athena sat in front of the console, feeling very frustrated. She had
been working with this data for sectons now and couldn't get the
program to work. She admitted that it had become her obsession. Almost
to the point that she had barad on it as well. As tired as he was, he would gladly
sacrifice sleep to be able to talk to Athena now and tell her how he
felt.  He fought the urge to sound the chime that would wake her,
assuming that she was indeed asleep. He hadn't known when she had left
Bojay's party while he was, as usual, too wrapped up in a Pyramid game
to concentrate on what even he admitted were the more important
things. But he had kicked himself enough over his faults for one night.

	He loved to stay out late, he loved to smoke fumarellos, and he loved
playing Pyramid. Hell, he spent most of his life risking it all to
protect the Galactica and her fleet...he felt he was entitled to a
little fun. Over the past few yahrens, Cassie had begun to make him
feel guilty for not sacrificing more of his free time to spend with
her engaging in more quiet activities. He couldn't blame her. Her life
had changed and she had changed with it. But his life hadn't changed.
Yes, he now had a daughter. But that hadn't changed the coue were
always two steps behind them. Apollo's shadow was especially long.
	She had kept a lot of things to herself lately.  She had to admit
that she had felt useless these last few yahrens. They hadn't seen
much of the Cylons, thank the Lords. But for many on the battlestar,
it left them with a lot of free time on their hands.
	For the pilots especially. There were still the routine patrols and
occasionally a recon mission to find fuel. Some of the people of the
fleet had even chosen to colonize on a few of the planets they had
encountered. Not everyone shared her father's visions of Earth and
were tired of life in space. And, at times, she was too.
	Since the lull of Cylon activity, she had chosen to return to the
bridge full-time. Occasionally she went on a routine patrol, but not
as often as she used to. In a way, she was glad. She had proven that
she was an accomplished pilot and she was satisfied with that.
	Now she wanted something more.
	She had thrown herself into research of militaryely slept the last few days, spending
much of her rest cycle in the Tech-Lab. She had thought about asking
one of the engineers to look at the figures, but had been afraid that
they wouldn't take her seriously. They often gave her puzzled looks
when they would see her in their section.
	They probably thought, "Oh look, it's the Commander's daughter trying
to make herself useful."
	Then again, it was probably her own insecurity thinking that.
	She didn't know why she still felt this way. She had proved herself
invaluable on the bridge and, when needed, she could pilot a viper
with the best of them.
	And now, she was working on a program that, once installed into the
central computer, would greatly enhance their defense against the
Cylons, or any other enemy they might encounter on their way to Earth.
She hadn't shared her theories with anyone, just in case she couldn't
make them work. Her friends, her family... they had all proven
themselves indispensable and she couldn't help but feel as if shrse of his
life except that it made him cherish it all the more and appreciate
every moment that he was given. And for Starbuck, that meant living
life to the fullest with the person he loved.  Someone who could share
the same fun with him, not require his constant attendance, but
neither let him get away with too much.

	Contrary to what most of his friends thought, he was ready to settle
down. While he would always have fond memories of the pilots quarters,
he was ready to enjoy the benefits of private quarters on the officers
deck.  Private quarters that he would share with someone. 'Question
is... does she want to share quarters with me?'

	He closed his eyes and pondered the scary yet pleasant prospect. 'I
could just walk on in and say "Hey honey, I'm back!"... of course then
I'd have to dodge all the sharp objects that would be thrown at my
head,' he visualized with a chuckle. 
 
	Starbuck abruptly looked up and backed away from the door. 'Are you
crazy?!' he scolded himself. 'What ar strategic defense
systems and had attempted to implement a theory of her own. It had
taken a lot of her time, but time was something she had a lot of.
Until recently that it is.
	She was still teaching in the Education Center during early cycle and
it still proved, on many occasions, to be the highlight of her day.
She loved all of the children and knew that teaching them was truly
where she could make the greatest contribution to her people.
	She had especially enjoyed some of the latest additions to her class.
Boxey, or Troy as he preferred to be called now, had grown and moved
on to the more advanced class. She missed his bright smile everyday,
but had now grown quite fond of its replacement. She now looked
forward to seeing Dalton in her class, her giggles always brightening
the room. She looked so much like Cassie, yet was so much like
Starbuck.  She had told him that recently at the Triad Semi-Finals
they had attended.
	Remembering that made her think about how much time they had spent
e were
always two steps behind them. Apollo's shadow was especially long.
	She had kept a lot of things to herself lately.  She had to admit
that she had felt useless these last few yahrens. They hadn't seen
much of the Cylons, thank the Lords. But for many on the battlestar,
it left them with a lot of free time on their hands.
	For the pilots especially. There were still the routine patrols and
occasionally a recon mission to find fuel. Some of the people of the
fleet had even chosen to colonize on a few of the planets they had
encountered. Not everyone shared her father's visions of Earth and
were tired of life in space. And, at times, she was too.
	Since the lull of Cylon activity, she had chosen to return to the
bridge full-time. Occasionally she went on a routine patrol, but not
as often as she used to. In a way, she was glad. She had proven that
she was an accomplished pilot and she was satisfied with that.
	Now she wanted something more.
	She had thrown herself into research of militarye you doing here?! What right do
you have to be here?!'

	He turned and angrily started back towards the turbolift and the
pilots quarters that he knew he should've gone straight to in the
first place. He continued scolding himself as he walked along the
lower deck towards the barracks. 'You are just moving way too fast
bucko! You just broke up with Cass and you're automatically hovering
at Athena's quarters in the middle of rest cycle. She's not going to
take you seriously if it looks like you're on the rebound. Of course
she doesn't know my reasons for breaking up with Cass, but that
doesn't matter. Athena needs to know that my love for her is genuine
and that I'm ready to make the commitment to her that I should've made
yahrens ago.  I need to do more than just show up!'

	Starbuck entered the men's barracks and quietly made his way to the
turbowash to throw some water on his face and clean his teeth.
Afterwards he undressed and climbed into his bunk.  His body was
exhausted, but his mind
together lately. Over the last yahren, they had become quite close.
Their friendship had suffered as a result of the Destruction. Another
casualty of the war. She had missed him and was glad that they had
become good friends again. He even felt comfortable enough to ask
advice about Cassie at times. She tried to help as best she could, but
decided to try to stay out of their business. 
	One of the nice things about this much needed relief from Cylon
activity was that she had been able to rekindle old friendships and
even make some new ones. She and Cassie had actually had the
opportunity to get to know one another and had found that they really
liked eachother. Sure, Athena was still stung a bit over the whole
"Starbuck thing", but she had come to accept that he loved Cassie and,
now that they had become friends again, Athena could live with that.
	She had even found herself being civil to Bojay again. That surprised
her considering she felt she had every right to never speak to him
again. Whi strategic defense
systems and had attempted to implement a theory of her own. It had
taken a lot of her time, but time was something she had a lot of.
Until recently that it is.
	She was still teaching in the Education Center during early cycle and
it still proved, on many occasions, to be the highlight of her day.
She loved all of the children and knew that teaching them was truly
where she could make the greatest contribution to her people.
	She had especially enjoyed some of the latest additions to her class.
Boxey, or Troy as he preferred to be called now, had grown and moved
on to the more advanced class. She missed his bright smile everyday,
but had now grown quite fond of its replacement. She now looked
forward to seeing Dalton in her class, her giggles always brightening
the room. She looked so much like Cassie, yet was so much like
Starbuck.  She had told him that recently at the Triad Semi-Finals
they had attended.
	Remembering that made her think about how much time they had spent
 still whirring with thoughts of the task
ahead. Convincing Athena of his true feelings was not going to be
easy. His proposal on the night of the Destruction had been sincere.
The most sincere he had ever been his entire life.

	'Of course nobody would believe that since you were caught in a
launch tube with Cassie a few centars later,' Starbuck admitted
ruefully. He didn't regret the wonderful yahrens he had with Cassie,
and certainly not the birth of their daughter, he just wished it had
started differently and with not so many victims. Especially Athena.
He felt a knot in his stomach as he remembered the look on Athena's
face the next time he saw her after that incident. Granted, he was a
bit miffed that she had purposely burned him but the pain between his
legs didn't come close to the pain he saw in her eyes. He didn't know
what to say to her...so he didn't say anything. They never talked
about the incident. And after he had brushed her off on Carillon, they
barely talked at all. Not forle she had really enjoyed being with him, she found that she
could not accept his constant belittlement of Apollo and Starbuck. She
knew that it was nothing more than petty rivalry, but it had gotten
excessive. After many an argument, she decided she'd had enough. She
would miss being with him, but her loyalties lay with family. Lately,
they had found it easier to be around eachother. She knew that his
feelings towards Apollo and Starbuck hadn't changed, but as long as he
didn't bring it up, they got along fine.
	As a matter of fact, a novayahren celebration for Bojay was currently
in full swing and she knew she would catch hades if she didn't go. And
yet, she couldn't take her mind off of the schematics that now mocked
her on the flatscreen.
	"You know, sometimes you can be impossible to find," Sheba said,
entering the Tech-Lab.
	"Perhaps I didn't want to be found," Athena replied, eyes fixed on
her monitor.
	"Oh give me a break," Sheba retorted in a sarcastic tone. "And why
aren't you at Bo
together lately. Over the last yahren, they had become quite close.
Their friendship had suffered as a result of the Destruction. Another
casualty of the war. She had missed him and was glad that they had
become good friends again. He even felt comfortable enough to ask
advice about Cassie at times. She tried to help as best she could, but
decided to try to stay out of their business. 
	One of the nice things about this much needed relief from Cylon
activity was that she had been able to rekindle old friendships and
even make some new ones. She and Cassie had actually had the
opportunity to get to know one another and had found that they really
liked eachother. Sure, Athena was still stung a bit over the whole
"Starbuck thing", but she had come to accept that he loved Cassie and,
now that they had become friends again, Athena could live with that.
	She had even found herself being civil to Bojay again. That surprised
her considering she felt she had every right to never speak to him
again. Whi sectons.

	After a while, they began smiling at each other in passing and
eventually began casual conversation. But they never discussed Cassie
or the launch tube. Eventually, they started meeting occasionally in
the Officers Club for drinks and had even attempted a romantic dinner
or two to try and rekindle some of what they had lost, but never with
a clear conscience.
'But you blew that opportunity as well didn't you?' his conscience
lectured him now. 'One woman wasn't enough for you. You thought you
were just so smart playing them both. What an idiot! You know, you're
lucky Athena even talks to you now. She didn't deserve the way you
treated her and now you're going to try and get her back? Good luck!'

	His guilt, frustration and battling emotions having consumed what was
left of his energy, Starbuck turned over on his side and closed his
eyes hoping for sleep to come and relieve him of his loneliness. As he
clutched his pillow, he sent a silent message of "sweet dreams" to the
woman whjay's party? Everybody else is there."
	"Apparently not," Athena noted, slightly annoyed. "I was planning on
being there shortly. There were just a few things I needed to work on
first."
	Sheba moved toward the console and asked, "What exactly are you
working on?"
	Athena quickly changed the subject.
	"Why aren't you at the party Sheba?"
	"I was! I left to come look for you. Do you know it took me over a
1/2 centon to find you? Apollo is going to wonder what happened to me.
So c'mon," Sheba said, a mischievous grin on her face, "turn off that
thing and let's go to the party!"
	"Sheba," Athena replied, in a rather somber tone, "I don't know if I
should go to the party."
	"And why not? If Apollo can go, you can go," Sheba remarked, making a
reference to the rocky relationship between her wingmate and both of
Adama's children.
	"The only reason Apollo is there is because you're there," Athena
said bluntly, eyes never leaving the flatscreen.
	"That isn't necessarily true Athena. Bojay and Apollle she had really enjoyed being with him, she found that she
could not accept his constant belittlement of Apollo and Starbuck. She
knew that it was nothing more than petty rivalry, but it had gotten
excessive. After many an argument, she decided she'd had enough. She
would miss being with him, but her loyalties lay with family. Lately,
they had found it easier to be around eachother. She knew that his
feelings towards Apollo and Starbuck hadn't changed, but as long as he
didn't bring it up, they got along fine.
	As a matter of fact, a novayahren celebration for Bojay was currently
in full swing and she knew she would catch hades if she didn't go. And
yet, she couldn't take her mind off of the schematics that now mocked
her on the flatscreen.
	"You know, sometimes you can be impossible to find," Sheba said,
entering the Tech-Lab.
	"Perhaps I didn't want to be found," Athena replied, eyes fixed on
her monitor.
	"Oh give me a break," Sheba retorted in a sarcastic tone. "And why
aren't you at Boo's bed he hoped to be sharing soon. A bed that he didn't know
was empty at the moment.

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

	Athena stared at the monitor. "This is pointless," she mumbled. "I
can't concentrate at all."

	She had returned to the Tech Center after leaving Cassie's quarters
to continue analyzing the data she had been working with centars
before. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't keep her mind focused
on the task at hand. Instead, her thoughts wandered to the
developments over the past few days.

	'I can't believe they broke up?!' the shock of Starbuck and Cassie's
split catching up with her. 'I could've sworn that any centon I would
be attending a sealing ceremony... show's what I know. But how could I
have not seen this coming? Starbuck's my friend. We talk. Hell,
Cassie's my friend. She's never mentioned that they were having
problems.'

	Athena looked at the chronometer and realized that she had been at
the console all night again. She sighed. 'Girl, you really need a
life.' She shoo have been
getting along better these days. Besides," Sheba laughed, "far be it
from Apollo to miss a good party."
	"You're right about that," Athena returned with a laugh, "and, if
you've been gone for a while, you'd better get back. I really don't
think I'm very good company right now. I'd just put a damper on things."
	Sheba pulled up a chair and sat down. "Okay, spill it - what's going
on."
	"Nothing. I've just got a lot on my mind," Athena muttered, her
fingers working feverishly on the keyboard.
	"One of those things wouldn't be Starbuck would it?" Sheba asked,
knowing that it would get Athena to stop whatever she was doing. She
was right.
	Athena turned her chair around and shot Sheba a defensive look. "Now
why would you say that?" she snapped, assuming that her friend was
accusing her of something. She had heard that Starbuck and Cassiopeia
had broken up and she knew that rumors would place her right in the
middle of it all.
	Sheba was a bit surprised by Athena's reaction. 
	"Well,jay's party? Everybody else is there."
	"Apparently not," Athena noted, slightly annoyed. "I was planning on
being there shortly. There were just a few things I needed to work on
first."
	Sheba moved toward the console and asked, "What exactly are you
working on?"
	Athena quickly changed the subject.
	"Why aren't you at the party Sheba?"
	"I was! I left to come look for you. Do you know it took me over a
1/2 centon to find you? Apollo is going to wonder what happened to me.
So c'mon," Sheba said, a mischievous grin on her face, "turn off that
thing and let's go to the party!"
	"Sheba," Athena replied, in a rather somber tone, "I don't know if I
should go to the party."
	"And why not? If Apollo can go, you can go," Sheba remarked, making a
reference to the rocky relationship between her wingmate and both of
Adama's children.
	"The only reason Apollo is there is because you're there," Athena
said bluntly, eyes never leaving the flatscreen.
	"That isn't necessarily true Athena. Bojay and Apollok her head. 'No, you have a life... it's just not very
exciting right now. But considering the chaos of the past ten yahrens,
you should be happy about that.'

	Which brought her thoughts briefly back to the schematics on the
screen. This program she was designing would most certainly come in
handy if things ever did get exciting again, whether it be the Cylons
or a new race threatening their journey towards Earth.

	'If you can ever get the damn thing to work,' she reminded herself.
Almost on cue, a window popped up with the now familiar taunting
message, "Insufficient data to support this command".

	"Damn it!" Athena exclaimed as she slammed the keyboard with her
fist. She rested both elbows on the table and buried her head in her
hands, running her fingers through her long brown hair.

	'And what about this Brogan guy?! How long has that been going on?!'
Athena's thoughts once again turned towards more personal matters.  'I
thought that Starbuck and Cassie had only broken up a few days" she said, squirming a bit, "I can only assume that you've
heard."
	Turning back to her screen, Athena declared, "Of course I've heard.
As far as gossip is concerned, this fleet is quite small."
	Curious, Sheba asked, "So, what do you think?"
	Nonchalantly, Athena answered, "I didn't know that I was supposed to
think anything."
	"Oh, c'mon Athena I know you too well," Sheba urged, becoming
impatient with her friend.
	"What do you want me to say Sheba," Athena replied, taking a deep
breath. "Quite frankly, what goes on between Starbuck and Cassie is
none of my business. I suppose there was a time when I would have made
it by business, but that was a long time ago and I'm past that.
Starbuck and I have been able to re-establish the friendship we had
before we became involved and, as a matter of fact, our friendship is
actually better than it was and I value that greatly. Hell, even
Cassie and I have become friends. If either one of them had wanted to
talk to me about their problems, they would ago but
maybe it happened a few sectars ago and they've just been keeping it
quiet?' she wondered.

	'What am I thinking...on this ship?', the realities of close quarters
reminding her that privacy was a luxury.

	'You're never going to get anything done if you're brain is
elsewhere,' she conceded. 'Hopefully things will stay quiet for
yahrens to come and we won't need any more defense programs.'

	Knowing that she was being overly optimistic, she sighed and turned
off the computer. "Just one more day of peace please," she whispered
to the console as she exited the Tech Center and boarded the turbolift
to the officer's deck.

	She had been given her own quarters a few sectars ago and was still
adjusting to it. It was nice being closer to her father's and
brother's quarters and the privacy was certainly a benefit she did not
take for granted.

	Yet, it was time's like these when she missed the companionship of
her former bunkmate, Rigel. They had had many good times together.
They both o have been
getting along better these days. Besides," Sheba laughed, "far be it
from Apollo to miss a good party."
	"You're right about that," Athena returned with a laugh, "and, if
you've been gone for a while, you'd better get back. I really don't
think I'm very good company right now. I'd just put a damper on things."
	Sheba pulled up a chair and sat down. "Okay, spill it - what's going
on."
	"Nothing. I've just got a lot on my mind," Athena muttered, her
fingers working feverishly on the keyboard.
	"One of those things wouldn't be Starbuck would it?" Sheba asked,
knowing that it would get Athena to stop whatever she was doing. She
was right.
	Athena turned her chair around and shot Sheba a defensive look. "Now
why would you say that?" she snapped, assuming that her friend was
accusing her of something. She had heard that Starbuck and Cassiopeia
had broken up and she knew that rumors would place her right in the
middle of it all.
	Sheba was a bit surprised by Athena's reaction. 
	"Well, have."
	Athena was putting up a good front but Sheba wasn't buying any of it.
Especially after the conversation she'd had with Cassie a few days
ago.  Sure, Starnuck and Athena had become close friends again and
that was great, but apparently Starbuck had different ideas about
where it would lead. Sheba suspected Athena herself had some thoughts
in that direction as well, whether she had admitted it to herself or
not.
	"Besides," Athena continued, "they have a daughter to raise. Starbuck
loves Dalton more than anything and I can't believe that any
disagreement he and Cassie have had will keep them apart for long."
	"That's not the story Cassie's telling," Sheba teased.
	"Okay Sheba," Athena turned her chair around, exasperated. "Obviously
you want to tell me the story and you're not going to let me get
anything done until you do, so go ahead."
	Just then, Starbuck entered the room and said, "Whatever story she's
going to tell you can wait. Right now there's a party going on and
I've been senhad kept such irregular schedules that it wasn't unusual for
them to talk all through rest cycle, taking the opportunity to catch
up on each other's lives. Athena remembered how the conversations
would always end up on the subject of men. Neither one had had much
luck in that department over the past few yahrens.

	Then Rigel began dating Omega.

	Athena recalled teasing Rigel about the sweetheart's grin that had
become a permanent part of her face. Rigel would often return from a
romantic evening and burst forth every detail, often having to pause
to catch her breath.

	Athena entered her quarters and sighed. It had definitely been a
while since anyone in her circle of friends had taken the plunge. Over
the past few yahren, she thought for sure that Apollo and Sheba
would've been sealed. And Starbuck and Cassie for that matter. At one
point, she had thought that her relationship with Bojay had been
headed towards the altar. But it was the most expected pairings that
seemed to result in the" she said, squirming a bit, "I can only assume that you've
heard."
	Turning back to her screen, Athena declared, "Of course I've heard.
As far as gossip is concerned, this fleet is quite small."
	Curious, Sheba asked, "So, what do you think?"
	Nonchalantly, Athena answered, "I didn't know that I was supposed to
think anything."
	"Oh, c'mon Athena I know you too well," Sheba urged, becoming
impatient with her friend.
	"What do you want me to say Sheba," Athena replied, taking a deep
breath. "Quite frankly, what goes on between Starbuck and Cassie is
none of my business. I suppose there was a time when I would have made
it by business, but that was a long time ago and I'm past that.
Starbuck and I have been able to re-establish the friendship we had
before we became involved and, as a matter of fact, our friendship is
actually better than it was and I value that greatly. Hell, even
Cassie and I have become friends. If either one of them had wanted to
talk to me about their problems, they wouldt to bring you both to it."
	Sheba and Athena stared at eachother. How long had he been there? How
much had he overheard?
	"There's just one problem," Sheba said, breaking the silence, "Athena
doesn't feel like going... says she has  too much on her mind."
	"That could be dangerous," Starbuck chuckled.
	"Very funny," Athena said, sarcastically. "It just so happens that
I'm working on something important and I would really like to finish
it."
	"Well, let's take a look." Starbuck moved forward to take a closer
look, only to watch the flatscreen suddenly go black.
	"I'd rather you didn't," Athena said, as she quickly turned off the
monitor.
	"Okay...," Starbuck said, backing up. Was it his imagination or was
she being rather cold. Granted, he hadn't seen or spoken to her in a
couple of days and there was no telling what she had heard about him
and Cassie. Maybe she was upset that he hadn't told her first before
she had to hear it from the rumor mill?
	"In that case," he continued, "there's no l biggest disappointments. 

	Thank the Lords, she thought, for Rigel and Omega. Their happiness
and commitment to each other had given Athena new hope that love still
existed and could still be in her future.

	It had been a beautiful sealing ceremony. Rigel looked every inch the
beautiful bride and Omega was the happiest Athena had ever seen him.
It was a welcome event on the Galactica as it had been a while since
there had been reason for celebration. Omega and Rigel were
high-ranking bridge officers, having proved themselves vital through
some of the most harrowing battles, and they were well liked
throughout the fleet. And they were loyal to Adama, a quality very
important to Athena.

	She no sooner fell onto the couch, when she noticed the light on her
com-unit blinking, indicating that she had messages. It reminded her
that she hadn't been in her quarters since she had left for the
Education Center the previous morning. She desperately wanted a shower
and some sleep.

	"Okay, let's  have."
	Athena was putting up a good front but Sheba wasn't buying any of it.
Especially after the conversation she'd had with Cassie a few days
ago.  Sure, Starnuck and Athena had become close friends again and
that was great, but apparently Starbuck had different ideas about
where it would lead. Sheba suspected Athena herself had some thoughts
in that direction as well, whether she had admitted it to herself or
not.
	"Besides," Athena continued, "they have a daughter to raise. Starbuck
loves Dalton more than anything and I can't believe that any
disagreement he and Cassie have had will keep them apart for long."
	"That's not the story Cassie's telling," Sheba teased.
	"Okay Sheba," Athena turned her chair around, exasperated. "Obviously
you want to tell me the story and you're not going to let me get
anything done until you do, so go ahead."
	Just then, Starbuck entered the room and said, "Whatever story she's
going to tell you can wait. Right now there's a party going on and
I've been senonger an excuse for you
not to go to the party."
	He took her hands and gently pulled her up from her chair.
	"Besides," he instructed, "whatever you're working on can wait until
tomorrow."
	Athena realized that she had lost this fight. "Fine, it's obvious
that the two of you aren't going to let me get anything done. Perhaps
I'll work on it later tonight."
	"Something tells me you'll have more than enough to keep you occupied
for the rest of the cycle," Starbuck hinted with a sly grin. He
glanced over at Sheba, "Wouldn't you say Sheba?"
	"Oh yes," Sheba responded, as she rose from her chair, "I'm certain
of it."
	Sheba took in a deep breath as she followed Athena and Starbuck out
the door of the Tech-Lab. One thing was for sure, Starbuck wasn't
wasting any time.

"Bojay, how can you say that?! The military commanders had collected
all the data necessary for that attack. It was the squadron leaders
themselves who are to blame for its failure."
	"The squadron leaders had every right to questsee who called," Athena said aloud as she peeled herself
off the couch. One of the nice things about living alone was that you
can talk to yourself and not run the risk of being committed to the
psych-center by your bunkmate. She pushed the replay button and began
viewing her messages.

	The first message was from Starbuck.

	"Uh... hi! Just wondering if you were going to Bojay's party tonight?
Hope you are... I haven't seen you in a few days. Well, I've seen you
of course but uh... we haven't had a chance to talk much. Uh...
anyway... hope I see you sometime tonight. Bye."

	"Starbuck...," Athena responded aloud. "Well of course I'll be at the
party since you physically pulled me out of my chair and brought me
there. And I wish we had a chance to talk too but, as usual, you were
occupied. Oh well," she shrugged and continued to check her remaining
messages.

	The second message was from Cassie.

	"Hey Athena... um.... I really need to talk to you as soon as
possible. I'm pretty sure that to bring you both to it."
	Sheba and Athena stared at eachother. How long had he been there? How
much had he overheard?
	"There's just one problem," Sheba said, breaking the silence, "Athena
doesn't feel like going... says she has  too much on her mind."
	"That could be dangerous," Starbuck chuckled.
	"Very funny," Athena said, sarcastically. "It just so happens that
I'm working on something important and I would really like to finish
it."
	"Well, let's take a look." Starbuck moved forward to take a closer
look, only to watch the flatscreen suddenly go black.
	"I'd rather you didn't," Athena said, as she quickly turned off the
monitor.
	"Okay...," Starbuck said, backing up. Was it his imagination or was
she being rather cold. Granted, he hadn't seen or spoken to her in a
couple of days and there was no telling what she had heard about him
and Cassie. Maybe she was upset that he hadn't told her first before
she had to hear it from the rumor mill?
	"In that case," he continued, "there's no lion Colonel Orestes'
aerial offensive strategy Apollo, it had as many holes as the
Anatolian Galaxy..."
	"...Challenging tactical command, mid-battle, was a blatant disregard
for orders and they were lucky that more pilots didn't get blown to
smithereens!"
	Starbuck, Athena and Sheba watched in amusement as Bojay and Apollo
debated the Battle of Alsatia and its impact on military strategy.
	"I don't believe them," Sheba groaned, "the Battle of Alsatia was
over 100 yahren ago! What are they trying to prove?"
	"That they can disagree about anything and everything," Athena
stated, having become bored with the rivalry between her brother and
former beau. "However, they do seem to be enjoying themselves."
	"Well that's what we're here for," Starbuck chimed in. "Ladies, can I
get you a refreshment?"
	"I was drinking Artesian Spirits earlier," Sheba said, "I guess I
should stick with that."
	"Artesian Spirits it is," Starbuck declared. "And for the brooding
brunette?"
	Athena glared at him. "Don'tt you want to talk to me too after
tonight. He's pretty cute huh? Well, please come by and see me
sometime tomorrow, the sooner the better. Good night."

	"Yeah Cassie, I'll BET you need to talk to me as soon as possible."
In the corner of the monitor, Athena noticed the time of the message
having been recorded in the late hours of rest cycle. "Huh... looks
like I wasn't the only one who didn't get any sleep."

	The third message was from Lieutenant Commander Tigh asking her to be
on the bridge a centar early for her shift.

	Athena sighed. "Oh well, so much for a nice long nap. That's okay
though... I suppose I can catch up on my sleep after my shift."

	Last message.

	"Hey babe, sorry I missed ya but I guess you had fun at Bojay's
party. I'd have gone myself but I was on duty until late. You know how
it is. Lookin' forward to tonight though...catch ya later."

	"Reese!" she exclaimed, covering her face with her hands. "I totally
forgot that we have a date tonight!" She started to erasonger an excuse for you
not to go to the party."
	He took her hands and gently pulled her up from her chair.
	"Besides," he instructed, "whatever you're working on can wait until
tomorrow."
	Athena realized that she had lost this fight. "Fine, it's obvious
that the two of you aren't going to let me get anything done. Perhaps
I'll work on it later tonight."
	"Something tells me you'll have more than enough to keep you occupied
for the rest of the cycle," Starbuck hinted with a sly grin. He
glanced over at Sheba, "Wouldn't you say Sheba?"
	"Oh yes," Sheba responded, as she rose from her chair, "I'm certain
of it."
	Sheba took in a deep breath as she followed Athena and Starbuck out
the door of the Tech-Lab. One thing was for sure, Starbuck wasn't
wasting any time.

"Bojay, how can you say that?! The military commanders had collected
all the data necessary for that attack. It was the squadron leaders
themselves who are to blame for its failure."
	"The squadron leaders had every right to quest start with me Captain, it's already been
a long day."
	Starbuck flashed her the smile that, although Athena hated to admit
it, could still brighten even her worst moods.
	"I really don't know what I have a taste for," she resolved.
"Surprise me."
	"One surprise...coming up!" 
	In more ways than one, Sheba thought as they watched him make his way
to the liquistation.
	As she glanced back over to Apollo and Bojay, still embroiled in
their discussion of strategy, she had to wonder what Starbuck's
"strategy" was for the evening. Perhaps she should bring up the
subject to Apollo and Bojay and let them debate that for a while.
	The idea made her laugh out loud.
	"Did I miss something?" Athena giggled in response.
	"Nothing important, just my warped sense of humor."
	"Please share it, I need a good laugh right now."
	With genuine concern, Sheba turned to face her friend.
	"Athena," Sheba began, "what's wrong? You've been really down lately.
Everytime I've seen you in the last few sectars, you've e the previous
messages. "And what's this 'babe' stuff? We haven't even gone out on
our first date yet! Besides, I can't imagine what kind of date it will
be if I can't stop yawning through it. But hey... who needs sleep?!"

	Athena decided that a shower was more of a priority and, as she felt
her stomach growl, perhaps some food. One thing was for sure, some
java was definitely in order.

	She made her way towards the turbowash, hoping that the rushing spray
would clear her head as well as clean her skin. She sighed as the
water gently ran over her body, both relaxing and refreshing her.  So
much had happened in the past twenty-four centars, her mind was
swimming and she needed to organize her thoughts before going to the
bridge.

	She wondered how much longer it would take to complete the program
she was working on and whether to involve Boomer and Starbuck. How was
Boomer feeling this morning? Apollo and Bojay as well for that matter?
She had seen them all pound down a few at the party aion Colonel Orestes'
aerial offensive strategy Apollo, it had as many holes as the
Anatolian Galaxy..."
	"...Challenging tactical command, mid-battle, was a blatant disregard
for orders and they were lucky that more pilots didn't get blown to
smithereens!"
	Starbuck, Athena and Sheba watched in amusement as Bojay and Apollo
debated the Battle of Alsatia and its impact on military strategy.
	"I don't believe them," Sheba groaned, "the Battle of Alsatia was
over 100 yahren ago! What are they trying to prove?"
	"That they can disagree about anything and everything," Athena
stated, having become bored with the rivalry between her brother and
former beau. "However, they do seem to be enjoying themselves."
	"Well that's what we're here for," Starbuck chimed in. "Ladies, can I
get you a refreshment?"
	"I was drinking Artesian Spirits earlier," Sheba said, "I guess I
should stick with that."
	"Artesian Spirits it is," Starbuck declared. "And for the brooding
brunette?"
	Athena glared at him. "Don'tseemed so....
preoccupied."
	"I don't know Sheba," Athena responded, shaking her head. "Maybe it's
all the down-time we've had recently. I feel as if I'm in some kind of
holding pattern, waiting for something to happen. We've been in such a
state of chaos for so long, I guess I just don't know what to do with
all the peace and quiet."
	"I know," Sheba agreed, "I've been kind of bored myself."
	Athena looked at Sheba with an inquisitive grin. "I would think you'd
be enjoying it. You and Apollo can finally spend some quality time
together."
	As they both glanced over as Apollo made yet another point about the
benefits of the Torian manouever versus the Icharun strategem, they
began to laugh.
	"Oh yeah Athena," Sheba joked, "real quality time together!"
	"Well," Athena acknowledged, "I guess we're all going to have to
adjust to our new situation."
	"Speaking of adjusting to new situations...," Sheba teased, as
Starbuck approached them, drinks in hand.
	Starbuck walked past them to the table ofnd grinned at the
thought of her brother letting his hair down. A rare sight indeed. Did
he, hopefully, spend some of the evening alone with Sheba? And what
was Sheba getting at with all her innuendoes about Starbuck and
Cassie? Starbuck and Cassie.

	Athena quickly ran her fingers through her hair in hopes of washing
that thought from her mind. The last thing she needed was to get
caught up in that situation. She still hadn't seen Starbuck since she
had visited Cassie the previous cycle and met her current beau. For
some reason, Starbuck had chosen not to talk to Athena about the
recent break-up and she hoped that she wouldn't run into him before he
found out. She didn't want to be the one to tell him but knew that she
couldn't keep such a secret from him either. Even if Cassie was her
friend, Athena's friendship with Starbuck ran a lot deeper.
	
Athena growled to herself and said aloud, "Stop thinking about this!"

	She picked us a towel and began to rub her head vigorously, both to
help  start with me Captain, it's already been
a long day."
	Starbuck flashed her the smile that, although Athena hated to admit
it, could still brighten even her worst moods.
	"I really don't know what I have a taste for," she resolved.
"Surprise me."
	"One surprise...coming up!" 
	In more ways than one, Sheba thought as they watched him make his way
to the liquistation.
	As she glanced back over to Apollo and Bojay, still embroiled in
their discussion of strategy, she had to wonder what Starbuck's
"strategy" was for the evening. Perhaps she should bring up the
subject to Apollo and Bojay and let them debate that for a while.
	The idea made her laugh out loud.
	"Did I miss something?" Athena giggled in response.
	"Nothing important, just my warped sense of humor."
	"Please share it, I need a good laugh right now."
	With genuine concern, Sheba turned to face her friend.
	"Athena," Sheba began, "what's wrong? You've been really down lately.
Everytime I've seen you in the last few sectars, you've  debate, motioning with his
head for them to follow him.
	"Okay you two," he demanded, setting down a series of shot glasses on
the table in front of them. "Enough of talking about the past. Let's
toast to the future!..."
	They all picked up a glass.
	Starbuck continued. "...One with no more sorrow, no more Cylons,
and...," looking at Bojay, "many novayahren to come!"
	"Here here!" came a cheer from the crowd of people around them as
they drank from their glasses.
	Athena couldn't help but notice that Starbuck had not yet drank from
his but, instead, was looking at her, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
	She smiled at him, curious, but wary.
	"...and to new beginnings," he said softly, yet loud enough for only
her to hear.
	As he finished his personal toast and drank from his glass, Athena
felt her heart skip a beat. What exactly did he mean by that?

	*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
	After Starbuck had decided to join in the increasingly
libation-influenced military discussion with Apollo adry her long hair and again to employ another method of ridding
her mind of thoughts she knew were a detriment to her. She needed to
keep her mind clear and ready for whatever Tigh had planned for her
today.

	It was not unusual for her to be called to the bridge early these
days, nor for her to leave long after her scheduled shift was over.
Since being promoted to Major a few sectars ago, Lieutenant Commander
Tigh had unofficially made her his assistant and was taking advantage
of the current lull in Cylon activity. Adama had approved the idea of
taking some personal time off from the bridge and allowing Tigh to
command with Athena by his side. Adama knew that Tigh was heavily
favored for the Presidency of the Council and that he was grooming
Athena to take his place once the seat was vacant.

	For Athena's part, she didn't mind the long centars. She had been
more excited about the last promotion than any other before. To have
Tigh personally take her under his wing was an honor in itself. Sseemed so....
preoccupied."
	"I don't know Sheba," Athena responded, shaking her head. "Maybe it's
all the down-time we've had recently. I feel as if I'm in some kind of
holding pattern, waiting for something to happen. We've been in such a
state of chaos for so long, I guess I just don't know what to do with
all the peace and quiet."
	"I know," Sheba agreed, "I've been kind of bored myself."
	Athena looked at Sheba with an inquisitive grin. "I would think you'd
be enjoying it. You and Apollo can finally spend some quality time
together."
	As they both glanced over as Apollo made yet another point about the
benefits of the Torian manouever versus the Icharun strategem, they
began to laugh.
	"Oh yeah Athena," Sheba joked, "real quality time together!"
	"Well," Athena acknowledged, "I guess we're all going to have to
adjust to our new situation."
	"Speaking of adjusting to new situations...," Sheba teased, as
Starbuck approached them, drinks in hand.
	Starbuck walked past them to the table ofnd Bojay, Athena
and Sheba decided to engage in more enlightening conversation with the
others who had joined the party. They figured that, as long as the
three men were getting along, they should support it and leave them be.
	As the night wore on, they found themselves discussing all matters of
life, love, and the future of both. Athena had masterfully avoided the
subject of Starbuck that Sheba would bring up every so often and Sheba
was practically bursting.  It seemed that Sheba knew something that
Athena didn't and yet, even though Athena was curious, she was
apprehensive about listening to someone else's interpretations of the
events. She had to admit that she was surprised that Starbuck hadn't
told her himself about the end of his relationship with Cassie. 
	"Stop it Athena!" she shouted in her head. "You don't want to get
mixed up in all this!"
	Sheba and Athena heard some cheering up ahead of them. They walked
towards a cluster of people who appeared to be watching something very
intehe
enjoyed the days where she would spend the first cycle as teacher and
the last as student. And while she had been a bridge officer for over
twelve yahrens, it never ceased to amaze her all the new things she
learned from Tigh everyday.

	Athena giggled somewhat in embarrassment as she admitted to herself
the other reason why her promotion was so sweet. For once in her life,
she was the same rank as Apollo. Of course she knew that Apollo was
due for a promotion at any time, as was Starbuck and Boomer, but she
was going to relish this moment of being an equal in rank, no matter
how short-lived it was.

	After drying her hair and putting on a fresh blue uniform, Athena
left her quarters and made her way towards the turbolift and the
commissary. A good hot cup of java would finish what the turbowash
started and hopefully get her in gear for what was promising to be
another long day.

	The corridors were bustling as usual for this time of morning and
Athena greeted the faces that passed. The debate, motioning with his
head for them to follow him.
	"Okay you two," he demanded, setting down a series of shot glasses on
the table in front of them. "Enough of talking about the past. Let's
toast to the future!..."
	They all picked up a glass.
	Starbuck continued. "...One with no more sorrow, no more Cylons,
and...," looking at Bojay, "many novayahren to come!"
	"Here here!" came a cheer from the crowd of people around them as
they drank from their glasses.
	Athena couldn't help but notice that Starbuck had not yet drank from
his but, instead, was looking at her, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
	She smiled at him, curious, but wary.
	"...and to new beginnings," he said softly, yet loud enough for only
her to hear.
	As he finished his personal toast and drank from his glass, Athena
felt her heart skip a beat. What exactly did he mean by that?

	*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
	After Starbuck had decided to join in the increasingly
libation-influenced military discussion with Apollo aresting. There were whispers of overlapping discussions about what
the participants would do next and the possible outcome.
	Their curiousity peaked, they approached the crowd and came upon a
familiar site... Starbuck engaged in yet another exciting round of
Pyramid.
	"Doesn't he ever get tired of playing that game?!" Sheba exclaimed,
exasperated.
	Athena laughed. "When you find something you're good at, you stick
with it."
	"Yeah, but everyday?" Sheba asked.
	"You've been researching viper modifications everyday," Athena
pointed out, turning towards her friend.
	"That's different Athena," Sheba defended. "I'm actually learning
something. You know, using a skill."
	"Have you ever tried playing Pyramid against Starbuck?" Athena
teased. "Now that requires skill!"
	"I'm serious Athena," Sheba responded, watching Starbuck prepare to
take down another opponent. "You'd think that after all these yahren
he'd have grown up a little."
	Athena turned, smiled, and looked adoringly at the man she had ky had all become so much a
part of her now that she felt a great loss whenever one of them was
suddenly taken away. She entered the commissary and approached the
liquistation where a another familiar face greeted her with a warm
smile.

"I just knew that my morning would brighten up," the blond captain
charmingly uttered.

	"I must admit this _is_ a pleasant surprise," Athena responded,
returning the smile. "I can't recall the last time I saw you in here
this early." Being a regular morning customer, the station server on
cue delivered a steaming chocojava in front of her and her eyes
brightened in gratitude.

	"Apollo wanted to go over some viper modifications he's been
experimenting with before we went on patrol," Starbuck explained. "But
something tells me that I woke up early for nothing."

	"Well I know that I left before the party was over, but I wouldn't be
surprised if he takes an extended nap on patrol today," she smirked,
acknowledging her brother's overindulgence.

	"I'm actund Bojay, Athena
and Sheba decided to engage in more enlightening conversation with the
others who had joined the party. They figured that, as long as the
three men were getting along, they should support it and leave them be.
	As the night wore on, they found themselves discussing all matters of
life, love, and the future of both. Athena had masterfully avoided the
subject of Starbuck that Sheba would bring up every so often and Sheba
was practically bursting.  It seemed that Sheba knew something that
Athena didn't and yet, even though Athena was curious, she was
apprehensive about listening to someone else's interpretations of the
events. She had to admit that she was surprised that Starbuck hadn't
told her himself about the end of his relationship with Cassie. 
	"Stop it Athena!" she shouted in her head. "You don't want to get
mixed up in all this!"
	Sheba and Athena heard some cheering up ahead of them. They walked
towards a cluster of people who appeared to be watching something very
intenown
her entire life.
	With a deep sigh, she replied, "He has grown up Sheba, he just hasn't
grown old."
	With a suddenly sad look, Athena turned back to Sheba.
	"Tell Apollo I'll talk to him later and please, again, wish Bojay a
blessed novayahren for me."
	Athena started towards the door, then stopped and turned.
	"And Sheba," she smiled and added with all sincerity, "thanks for
persuading me to come to the party."
	Sheba returned the smile. "It wouldn't have been a party without
you," she replied.
	As Sheba turned her attentions back to the Pyramid game, she thought
aloud, "Besides, I don't really think that I'm the one who persuaded
you."

*************************
	Athena walked down the corridor towards the Life Center. She wanted
to get back to the Com-center and continue working, but not without
first seeking relief for the headache that had crept up on her.
	"Maybe Arturian Ale wasn't such a good idea," she wondered aloud. She
walked into the Life Center and was surprised to see ally looking forward to this," Starbuck declared, an subtle
evil twinkle in his eye. "The boot's on the other foot this time and
revenge can be sweet."

	Athena shook her head but couldn't help her smile widening at the
thought of Starbuck exacting some harmless punishment on his best
friend.

	"Did I tell you what happened while we were practicing Triad the
other day?" he chuckled, ready to divulge the humorous details of
Apollo trying to practice after eating a large quantity of favas.

	"Actually no," she replied bluntly. "You haven't spoken to me much in
the past few days."

	The story would wait. Starbuck realized that he needed to explain his
recent behavior. He still had no idea what she had heard around the
ship, but he knew that she hated being part of the gossip and had
hoped that avoiding her in the aftermath of the break-up would deter
some of the talk.

	"I've.... been rather busy the past few days," he acknowledged,
albeit cryptically.

	"Yes, I've heard," she admitted knresting. There were whispers of overlapping discussions about what
the participants would do next and the possible outcome.
	Their curiousity peaked, they approached the crowd and came upon a
familiar site... Starbuck engaged in yet another exciting round of
Pyramid.
	"Doesn't he ever get tired of playing that game?!" Sheba exclaimed,
exasperated.
	Athena laughed. "When you find something you're good at, you stick
with it."
	"Yeah, but everyday?" Sheba asked.
	"You've been researching viper modifications everyday," Athena
pointed out, turning towards her friend.
	"That's different Athena," Sheba defended. "I'm actually learning
something. You know, using a skill."
	"Have you ever tried playing Pyramid against Starbuck?" Athena
teased. "Now that requires skill!"
	"I'm serious Athena," Sheba responded, watching Starbuck prepare to
take down another opponent. "You'd think that after all these yahren
he'd have grown up a little."
	Athena turned, smiled, and looked adoringly at the man she had klight glowing
from beneath the door of Cassiopeia's office. It wasn't often that
Cassie worked late, usually wanting to spend her evenings with Dalton
and Starbuck, if he made himself available.
	Athena realized that she had taken herself out of the loop as of
late, wanting to concentrate on more productive things rather than
everybody's personal lives. Yet she hated to hear about her friends
through the gossip mill. Perhaps she should offer her ear to Cassie
if, indeed, Cassie wanted it.
	"Hey Cass, what are you doing here this time of...," Athena began as
she opened the office door, immediately startled at what she had
stumbled upon. Her face turning crimson, she added slowly, "I am
really sorry. I should've knocked first."
	Unlocking lips with her companion, Cassie replied, "That's okay
Athena, I probably should've locked the door."
	Cassie was slightly annoyed, but surprisingly found herself feeling
giddy that they had been discovered. She felt like a teenager again.
	"Have you met Brogannown
her entire life.
	With a deep sigh, she replied, "He has grown up Sheba, he just hasn't
grown old."
	With a suddenly sad look, Athena turned back to Sheba.
	"Tell Apollo I'll talk to him later and please, again, wish Bojay a
blessed novayahren for me."
	Athena started towards the door, then stopped and turned.
	"And Sheba," she smiled and added with all sincerity, "thanks for
persuading me to come to the party."
	Sheba returned the smile. "It wouldn't have been a party without
you," she replied.
	As Sheba turned her attentions back to the Pyramid game, she thought
aloud, "Besides, I don't really think that I'm the one who persuaded
you."

*************************
	Athena walked down the corridor towards the Life Center. She wanted
to get back to the Com-center and continue working, but not without
first seeking relief for the headache that had crept up on her.
	"Maybe Arturian Ale wasn't such a good idea," she wondered aloud. She
walked into the Life Center and was surprised to see owingly.

	"Look uh... I'm sorry you had to hear it from around..." he began
apologetically.

	Athena threw up her hand and insisted, "Starbuck, you don't owe me
any explanation. What goes on in your personal life is your business."

	"Oh don't even," he returned with a sarcastic grin.  She was putting
up a good front but, as one of his best friends, he knew that she had
to be at least a little curious. "I think we know each other well
enough to cut the felgercarb."

	Athena's face flushed a bit as conceded, "Yeah well, I had to see if
you really _wanted_ to tell me or if you were just feeling _obligated_
to tell me."

	"Of course I want to tell you!" he exclaimed. 'You have no idea how
much I want to tell you!' he thought.
Athena smiled at his enthusiasm. She had to admit that she had missed
his company the past few days. But again she realized that she was
clouding her mind and she needed to get to the bridge.

	"I have to go," she uttered, a reluctance in her voice. "I'm due on
the ?" she asked, realizing that the leocub was out
of the bag.
	Athena was completely dumbfounded. She really was out of the loop!
	"I don't think we've ever formally met. I have seen you on the
Agro-II though haven't I?" 
	He gallantly stepped forward, extending his hand, "Captain Brogan,
head of Nutrigenesis research on the magnificent Agro-II, at your
service."
	Athena took his hand, "A pleasure to meet you Brogan, I'm..."
	"Major Athena," Brogan finished for her, "Yes I know. It's hard not
to know of the commander's daughter."
	Smiling at Cassie, "I'm not sure if that's good or bad," Athena
replied.
	"All good I assure you," Brogan flashed a smile reminiscent of
someone else Athena knew.
	This one's a charmer, she thought.
	He was quite tall with sandy brown hair cut in a grown-out military
fashion. His eyes were a bright green, the color of the Marjeta Sea as
the sunlight bounces off the gentle waves in the morning. Beneath his
lab coat he was in casual dress. He wore dark pants and a
lolight glowing
from beneath the door of Cassiopeia's office. It wasn't often that
Cassie worked late, usually wanting to spend her evenings with Dalton
and Starbuck, if he made himself available.
	Athena realized that she had taken herself out of the loop as of
late, wanting to concentrate on more productive things rather than
everybody's personal lives. Yet she hated to hear about her friends
through the gossip mill. Perhaps she should offer her ear to Cassie
if, indeed, Cassie wanted it.
	"Hey Cass, what are you doing here this time of...," Athena began as
she opened the office door, immediately startled at what she had
stumbled upon. Her face turning crimson, she added slowly, "I am
really sorry. I should've knocked first."
	Unlocking lips with her companion, Cassie replied, "That's okay
Athena, I probably should've locked the door."
	Cassie was slightly annoyed, but surprisingly found herself feeling
giddy that they had been discovered. She felt like a teenager again.
	"Have you met Broganbridge shortly and I can't be late."

	Disappointment in his eyes, Starbuck asked, "So can we talk later?"

	"Later?" she replied, taking one more sip of her java.

	"Well I  uh.. thought that maybe... we could get together for a drink
later," he shyly suggested.

	"I'd love to Starbuck but I have plans for tonight," she replied
regretfully. "Maybe tomorrow?"

	"Uh... sure," he responded with surprise. "You got a hot date?" he
teased while his insides were churning.

	She smirked. "I don't know if I would call it 'hot'," she conceded.
"Just dinner with Reese."

	Starbuck's eyes widened and his face went pale. "You are kidding,
right?"

	Athena had seen this look before. Starbuck had never hidden his
feelings about some of the men she had dated in the past, so Athena
wasn't surprised to see the dumbfounded expression on his face now.
However, she was not in the mood to get into the usual discussion
about her personal choices. Especially since she considered her date
with Reese to be vose-fitting white shirt that slightly exposed a well-defined chest.
She also couldn't help but notice his ample hands. This man didn't
belong on a research vessel... he belonged on the Vid... EVERYDAY!
Every micron!  Just a constant still image would be enough, almost.
	Cassie raised an eyebrow. Was she noticing sparks between these two?
She'd already lost one man to Athena, she wasn't going to lose
another. She quickly erased the thought from her mind. 
	"So Athena, I assumed you would be at Bojay's party... what brings
you here?" 
	Realizing that she still held Brogan's hand, in greeting of course,
Athena casually broke the connection and turned towards Cassiopeia.
Her friend appeared nervous. Athena tried to hide her curiosity about
the handsome stranger, but really wanted to kick him out of the room
and get every juicy detail.
	"I made an appearance, but I have some work that I need to finish,"
Athena said, desperately trying to suppress the grin that kept finding
its way across her face.
?" she asked, realizing that the leocub was out
of the bag.
	Athena was completely dumbfounded. She really was out of the loop!
	"I don't think we've ever formally met. I have seen you on the
Agro-II though haven't I?" 
	He gallantly stepped forward, extending his hand, "Captain Brogan,
head of Nutrigenesis research on the magnificent Agro-II, at your
service."
	Athena took his hand, "A pleasure to meet you Brogan, I'm..."
	"Major Athena," Brogan finished for her, "Yes I know. It's hard not
to know of the commander's daughter."
	Smiling at Cassie, "I'm not sure if that's good or bad," Athena
replied.
	"All good I assure you," Brogan flashed a smile reminiscent of
someone else Athena knew.
	This one's a charmer, she thought.
	He was quite tall with sandy brown hair cut in a grown-out military
fashion. His eyes were a bright green, the color of the Marjeta Sea as
the sunlight bounces off the gentle waves in the morning. Beneath his
lab coat he was in casual dress. He wore dark pants and a
loery casual.

	"Starbuck," she sighed and turned back to her java, "don't start.
It's really not a big deal."

	"I should hope not!" he growled in what Athena felt was a rather
condescending tone.

	'When is he going to learn?' she wondered.

	"You know," she turned back to face him, a perturbed expression on
her face, "I am really tired of having to defend myself to you and
Apollo over the choices that I make in my life."

	"Look, I know that I have given you a hard time in the past
but...this is different and you know it." He knew that he was out of
line but couldn't bear to see her going out with a snitrad like Reese.
"Next to Mushie mold, Reese is the lowest form of life in the fleet.
Why would you waste your time going out with him?"

	"I don't consider a nice dinner and casual conversation wasting my
time," she replied firmly.


	Starbuck was becoming exasperated that he wasn't getting his point
across. "You could have any guy in the fleet, why did you pick him?!" 

	Realizing 
	Cassie, in turn, was trying to stifle giggles of her own. What a
couple of schoolgirls, she thought. She had to admit, she had longed
to share her affair with her girlfriends, yet hadn't dared since most
of them were friends with Starbuck. And here was one of his closest
friends discovering her secret! Athena didn't appear to be angry
though. If anything, she was bursting with girlish curiosity. Cassie
glanced over to Brogan who was watching the entire scene with amusement.
	"Perhaps I should leave you ladies alone for a..."
	"No!" Athena insisted with a little to much enthusiasm. "I really
just stopped by for some Prasek for my headache."
	Cassie walked over to a cabinet. "Just made an appearance huh?"
	"Well, you know how novayahrens are... one toast here, another
there..."
	Cassie took a bottle out of the cabinet and handed Athena a couple of
tablets.
	"Sounds like a good time to me," Brogan chimed in.
	Athena responded, all the time looking at Cassie, "Then hopefully
we'll see you at those-fitting white shirt that slightly exposed a well-defined chest.
She also couldn't help but notice his ample hands. This man didn't
belong on a research vessel... he belonged on the Vid... EVERYDAY!
Every micron!  Just a constant still image would be enough, almost.
	Cassie raised an eyebrow. Was she noticing sparks between these two?
She'd already lost one man to Athena, she wasn't going to lose
another. She quickly erased the thought from her mind. 
	"So Athena, I assumed you would be at Bojay's party... what brings
you here?" 
	Realizing that she still held Brogan's hand, in greeting of course,
Athena casually broke the connection and turned towards Cassiopeia.
Her friend appeared nervous. Athena tried to hide her curiosity about
the handsome stranger, but really wanted to kick him out of the room
and get every juicy detail.
	"I made an appearance, but I have some work that I need to finish,"
Athena said, desperately trying to suppress the grin that kept finding
its way across her face.
the stupidity of the conversation and how frustrated
Starbuck was getting, Athena decided to have some fun.

	"Because he was next in line," she replied with as much seriousness
as she could muster. "All these men were clamoring outside my quarters
begging for dates and it was getting a little crowded so I devised a
little numbering system. I believe Reese was number 27. I should get
through the end of the list by Yule unless I start doubling up and
then perhaps by Samhain...," she struggled to suppress a grin.

	The perturbed look on Starbuck's face was just too much and Athena
couldn't hold in her laughter anymore.

	"This isn't funny Athena," he turned and rested his arms on the bar
and stared into his cup of java. 'She doesn't realize what she's
getting into,' he thought.

	Sensing he was genuinely upset, Athena composed herself and placed a
hand on his shoulder.

	"This isn't _anything_ Starbuck," she insisted. "So I'm going out to
dinner with the guy... so what? Warriors and Securite next one Brogan."
	She now turned to leave, "It was nice meeting you."
	"The pleasure was mine Athena. Don't work to hard," he replied, the
smile never leaving his face.
	Athena looked back at them. They made a handsome couple, she thought.
"Oh, I won't," she chuckled. "I'll a... talk to you later Cassie."
	Cassie knew that that was inevitable.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  

	As she left the Life Center, Athena realized that her heart was
beating double-time. She recalled telling Sheba earlier that life had
been a little boring lately. She laughed, "Well that's changed," she
thought to herself. Captain Brogan... a fine speciman. I wonder what
Starbuck thinks of...
	If he had known, he would've told her. Starbuck wasn't one to keep
secrets like that. It was hard to keep any secrets at all on the
Galactica. And, among the many rumors about Starbuck and Cassie that
she had heard, Brogan's name had never been mentioned.
	Athena stopped dead in her tracks.
	He doesn't know.
	To her knowledge, Starb
	Cassie, in turn, was trying to stifle giggles of her own. What a
couple of schoolgirls, she thought. She had to admit, she had longed
to share her affair with her girlfriends, yet hadn't dared since most
of them were friends with Starbuck. And here was one of his closest
friends discovering her secret! Athena didn't appear to be angry
though. If anything, she was bursting with girlish curiosity. Cassie
glanced over to Brogan who was watching the entire scene with amusement.
	"Perhaps I should leave you ladies alone for a..."
	"No!" Athena insisted with a little to much enthusiasm. "I really
just stopped by for some Prasek for my headache."
	Cassie walked over to a cabinet. "Just made an appearance huh?"
	"Well, you know how novayahrens are... one toast here, another
there..."
	Cassie took a bottle out of the cabinet and handed Athena a couple of
tablets.
	"Sounds like a good time to me," Brogan chimed in.
	Athena responded, all the time looking at Cassie, "Then hopefully
we'll see you at thy have been at
each others' throats since the beginning and that's never going to
change. I have never personally had any run-ins with Reese. We started
talking in the Officer's Club last secton after the Triad tournament
and he asked me to dinner. I said yes. Not a big deal."

	Still staring into his java, Starbuck asked, "Have you ever thought
about _why_ he might have asked you out?"

	Athena suddenly felt a knot in her stomach. "What do you mean 'why'?"

	"If I remember correctly, Apollo and I won that game. I heard that
Reese lost a sizeable bet on the other team and was pretty ticked off
about it," Starbuck explained.

	"What are you implying Starbuck?" she growled.

	"If he wanted to get back at us... what better way than to ask you
out," he responded flatly.

Athena glared at the man she had always considered her friend above
all else. She couldn't believe that he was saying this, even thinking
this!

	"You know, not everything is about you Starbuck," she hissed.
"Perhaps it nuck and Cassie had only broken up a few days
ago. From what she had just seen, it looked as though Cassie and
Brogan had been together longer that that!
	Suddenly Athena wasn't so giddy anymore. Cassie was her friend and
she was happy for her, but why would Cass keep this from Starbuck? She
must have a good reason for not telling him, but what?
	Athena continued walking down the deserted corridors leading to the
Tech-Lab. It was late. Starbuck had been pretty engrossed in his
Pyramid game, hopefully she wouldn't run into him anymore tonight. She
had kept secrets from him before, but nothing like this. She would
have to visit Cassie first thing in the morning.
	She entered the Tech-Lab and sat down at her usual console. Taking a
deep breath, she attempted to focus on the task at hand.
Unfortunately, her headache had just gotten worse.

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

Bridging the Gap,Chapter 3

	Cassie was pacing frantically, trying to figure out what to do.  She
had made herself come off as so selfle next one Brogan."
	She now turned to leave, "It was nice meeting you."
	"The pleasure was mine Athena. Don't work to hard," he replied, the
smile never leaving his face.
	Athena looked back at them. They made a handsome couple, she thought.
"Oh, I won't," she chuckled. "I'll a... talk to you later Cassie."
	Cassie knew that that was inevitable.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  

	As she left the Life Center, Athena realized that her heart was
beating double-time. She recalled telling Sheba earlier that life had
been a little boring lately. She laughed, "Well that's changed," she
thought to herself. Captain Brogan... a fine speciman. I wonder what
Starbuck thinks of...
	If he had known, he would've told her. Starbuck wasn't one to keep
secrets like that. It was hard to keep any secrets at all on the
Galactica. And, among the many rumors about Starbuck and Cassie that
she had heard, Brogan's name had never been mentioned.
	Athena stopped dead in her tracks.
	He doesn't know.
	To her knowledge, Starbever occurred to you that someone might actually ask me
out because they like me and not because they think it can get them in
good with the other pilots or get them a promotion or something."

	Realizing his lack of tact he grasped her arm, desperation on his
face. "Athena, that's not what I meant... I...," 

"I know exactly what you meant!" she interrupted, tears attempting to
surface. Athena decided she had better leave quickly before her
emotions overwhelmed her. She turned and swiftly headed towards the
door, not bothering to respond as Starbuck called after her.

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

Chapter 4

	Athena left the commissary and hurried towards the
turbolift. If she knew Starbuck, he would come after
her and try to continue the conversation and that was
the last thing she wanted right now. As far as she was
concerned, there was nothing he could say that would
sufficiently explain his demeaning of her.

	'I can't believe that, after all these yahrens, he
still treats me this waess to Starbuck and her friends
she realized.
  
	'Oh I let him go because he loves Athena,' she opined to herself
dramatically.  The truth was, both of them had fallen out of love. 
And she had fallen in love with Brogan.  Getting "caught" by Athena
had opened her eyes.

	She had kept her affair secret.  She told herself she was confused
about where it would lead, but in truth she was exhilarated by
furtiveness and in the process she had kept Brogan in the dark and
lied to her friends, lied to Starbuck and hurt Brogan.  She admitted
that now.  

	"Don't say it... I know!" Cassiopeia sighed, anticipating Brogan's
disappointment.

	"I'm not going to say 'I told you so' but, you do realize that it
might be harder to tell him now," Brogan said gently. "I really wish
that you had told him the other day.  I wish you had told him sectons
ago."

	"I realize that now.  I allowed myself to get so caught up in
everything, in you," she looked at him, tears in her blue eyes.  "I
was living a fantauck and Cassie had only broken up a few days
ago. From what she had just seen, it looked as though Cassie and
Brogan had been together longer that that!
	Suddenly Athena wasn't so giddy anymore. Cassie was her friend and
she was happy for her, but why would Cass keep this from Starbuck? She
must have a good reason for not telling him, but what?
	Athena continued walking down the deserted corridors leading to the
Tech-Lab. It was late. Starbuck had been pretty engrossed in his
Pyramid game, hopefully she wouldn't run into him anymore tonight. She
had kept secrets from him before, but nothing like this. She would
have to visit Cassie first thing in the morning.
	She entered the Tech-Lab and sat down at her usual console. Taking a
deep breath, she attempted to focus on the task at hand.
Unfortunately, her headache had just gotten worse.

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

Bridging the Gap,Chapter 3

	Cassie was pacing frantically, trying to figure out what to do.  She
had made herself come off as so selfly,' her thoughts groaned. 'But
who am I kidding? Am I really surprised?' she
reluctantly admitted, yet still wondering why her eyes
were tearing up. Taking into account how tired she
was, she excused her emotions and stepped onto the
lift.

	She kept her composure until the lift doors closed,
then allowed her posture to sink slightly as she
leaned against the wall and buried her face in her
hands.

	'I guess now that he doesn't have Cassie anymore,
he's needing to be involved with something, or
someone, to keep himself occupied. I'll just have to
stay out of his way 'til he adjusts,' she decided.

	She stepped off the turbolift to what was normally a
bustling corridor leading to the bridge. But with the
current lull in enemy activity, an unusual silence
presided over the heart of the battlestar. She paused
just in front of the door to the bridge. Taking a deep
breath, she strengthened her composure and concluded,
'Tigh called me here early for a reason. I'm not going
to allow Starbuck,sy and I've hurt you.  I'm sorry.  I'm not ashamed
of you, please don't ever think that."

	Brogan sighed, moved by the pain in this woman's eyes.  "Just tell me
one thing.  One thing I haven't dared to ask, to really ask," Brogan
paused and pulled Cassie towards him.  "Are you still in love with
him? Is that why you didn't want to tell him about us?  Was all this,
me, to punish him and try to get him back?"

	 "Brogan, no!" Cassie insisted, running over and throwing her arms
around him. "I'm in love with you! Please don't ever doubt that!"  She
now looked him directly in the eye. "I really have messed things up
huh?" she asked, chuckling slightly.

	"No," Brogan whispered as he pulled her body flush with his.  "No,"
he whispered, his lips hovering over hers before he moved the final
distance and kissed her. He had fallen in love with her over the
course of the past few sectons and had grown impatient at having to
wait for her to break off her relationship with Starbuck.  But she was
his noess to Starbuck and her friends
she realized.
  
	'Oh I let him go because he loves Athena,' she opined to herself
dramatically.  The truth was, both of them had fallen out of love. 
And she had fallen in love with Brogan.  Getting "caught" by Athena
had opened her eyes.

	She had kept her affair secret.  She told herself she was confused
about where it would lead, but in truth she was exhilarated by
furtiveness and in the process she had kept Brogan in the dark and
lied to her friends, lied to Starbuck and hurt Brogan.  She admitted
that now.  

	"Don't say it... I know!" Cassiopeia sighed, anticipating Brogan's
disappointment.

	"I'm not going to say 'I told you so' but, you do realize that it
might be harder to tell him now," Brogan said gently. "I really wish
that you had told him the other day.  I wish you had told him sectons
ago."

	"I realize that now.  I allowed myself to get so caught up in
everything, in you," she looked at him, tears in her blue eyes.  "I
was living a fanta or anyone else, to distract me from
my work.'

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

	"Not the best way to start the day now is it?" a
sarcastic voice chimed.

	Starbuck looked back over his shoulder and glared at
the man behind the counter. "And it's not very polite
to eavesdrop on private conversations, is it Paxton?"
he retorted.

	"Couldn't help it," the server replied smugly, wiping
down some glasses. "Besides, you ruined my morning as
well."

	"Oh really," Starbuck folded his arms defensively.
"How so?"

	"Captain, er... excuse me, _Major_ Athena has been
coming in here every morning for as long as I can
remember," Paxton explained, continuing to clean his
glasses and avoid eye contact with Starbuck. "I always
have a Chocojava waiting for her and we start off the
day with some delightful conversation.

	"Until today that is," he finally looked up and shot
a glare at the blond warrior.

	Starbuck rolled his eyes and relaxed his arms to rest
on the counter. "Well I'm horribly sorry that I upsew.  'His woman,' he thought as his kiss turned hungry.

	The kiss lasted for a few centons more before Brogan broke it off
with a moan.  "I'm sorry if I pressured you, it's just that," Brogan
stopped and took a deep breath.  "I love you.  I wanted for us to be
together without having to sneak around."

	"I know, I wanted that too.  I was just too afraid to change my life
so much.  I was overwhelmed." Cassie smiled at him tenderly and took
his hand and began to lead him to the couch.  She sat them down and
looked at him sincerely.  "There is one more thing I need to clarify,
before we can go further.  When we met, I was hurt and angry.  Bitter
even.  I know that I haven't always painted the prettiest picture of
my relationship with Starbuck," she began, "but I can't help but feel
incredibly ashamed that I was unfaithful to him."

	"You said that he wasn't always faithful to you?" Brogan questioned.

	Cassie looked down at the floor, hoping she hadn't dug herself into a
bigger hole. "That's wsy and I've hurt you.  I'm sorry.  I'm not ashamed
of you, please don't ever think that."

	Brogan sighed, moved by the pain in this woman's eyes.  "Just tell me
one thing.  One thing I haven't dared to ask, to really ask," Brogan
paused and pulled Cassie towards him.  "Are you still in love with
him? Is that why you didn't want to tell him about us?  Was all this,
me, to punish him and try to get him back?"

	 "Brogan, no!" Cassie insisted, running over and throwing her arms
around him. "I'm in love with you! Please don't ever doubt that!"  She
now looked him directly in the eye. "I really have messed things up
huh?" she asked, chuckling slightly.

	"No," Brogan whispered as he pulled her body flush with his.  "No,"
he whispered, his lips hovering over hers before he moved the final
distance and kissed her. He had fallen in love with her over the
course of the past few sectons and had grown impatient at having to
wait for her to break off her relationship with Starbuck.  But she was
his not
your routine Paxton," he stated sarcastically, "but
I'm trying to keep her from making a huge mistake."

	"Captain Starbuck to the rescue again huh?" Paxton
mumbled, cleaning yet another glass.

	Starbuck rose from his crouched position, eyes
widened in anger. "Now what is that supposed to
mean?!" he demanded.

	"You really want to know?" Paxton calmly replied.

	"Yes I do," Starbuck answered firmly.

	Paxton put the glass down, dried his hands and walked
to where he could stand directly across from Starbuck.
He placed his hands on the counter and leaned forward,
a stern expression on his face.

	"I've been working here in this commissary, this same
shift, since before the Destruction. From my vantage
point, I see and hear just about everything that goes
on. I remember when Athena first came aboard the
Galactica. I remember when she started dating you. I
remember the day the Cylons attacked the Colonies, the
bright twinkle that had always been in her eyes was
extinguished that dayhat I need to clarify.  I'm afraid that I gave
you the wrong impression when I told you that. When Starbuck and I
first began seeing each other, I knew that he still had a wandering
eye. We hadn't made a commitment to one another and he always told me
when he went out with someone else, well with Athena.  You know all
that.  I do think that since Dalton was born Starbuck has been
faithful to me. Maybe not _emotionally_, mentally, but physically he
has.  My...my unfaithfulness shames me.  _You_ don't shame me, my
actions shame me. 
  
	 "Can I make a suggestion?" Brogan said, raising an eyebrow. Cassie
nodded with an expressionless face.  "Tell him tomorrow morning.  The
sooner the better.  Before he hears it from someone else."

	"Oh Lords!" Cassie exclaimed, wondering if it was already too late.
"Athena might be with him right now, if he's gone after her as he
should.  She might mention she's seen us together," Cassie had
scrambled off the couch and was headed towards the door when she
stopw.  'His woman,' he thought as his kiss turned hungry.

	The kiss lasted for a few centons more before Brogan broke it off
with a moan.  "I'm sorry if I pressured you, it's just that," Brogan
stopped and took a deep breath.  "I love you.  I wanted for us to be
together without having to sneak around."

	"I know, I wanted that too.  I was just too afraid to change my life
so much.  I was overwhelmed." Cassie smiled at him tenderly and took
his hand and began to lead him to the couch.  She sat them down and
looked at him sincerely.  "There is one more thing I need to clarify,
before we can go further.  When we met, I was hurt and angry.  Bitter
even.  I know that I haven't always painted the prettiest picture of
my relationship with Starbuck," she began, "but I can't help but feel
incredibly ashamed that I was unfaithful to him."

	"You said that he wasn't always faithful to you?" Brogan questioned.

	Cassie looked down at the floor, hoping she hadn't dug herself into a
bigger hole. "That's w when her mother and brother were
killed. I also remember hearing a story about a
certain lieutenant and soon-to-be-ex-socialator in a
launch tube," Paxton kept his intent gaze on Starbuck,
wanting him to feel the anger in his words.

	Starbuck, for his part, winced at the server's last
statement. No matter how many yahrens had passed, he
had never come to terms with the guilt he felt from
that incident. 

	"Needless to say," Paxton continued, "you haven't
been around much in the last ten yahrens and you might
want to ask yourself what right you have to involve
yourself in her life."

	Having said that, Paxton stood back and returned to
his duties, leaving Starbuck fairly dumbfounded. Who
in Hades was this guy to tell him what rights he had
concerning Athena?

	But how could he ignore the truth in the man's words.
He had made his decision many yahrens ago to deny his
love for Athena and had unexpectedly started a new
relationship with Cassiopeia, one that indeed had
proved happy and fped, the guilt caused by her sudden realization contorting her face.

	"Cass? What is it," Brogan asked as he rushed to her side.

	"I may have ruined everything," she whispered.

	Brogan gave her a puzzled look. "I don't understand."

	"This is a small ship, Brogan," she explained. "Word travels so fast
around here and yet, Athena hadn't known about you and I until she
walked in on us."

	Brogan shook his head, still perplexed.

	"Athena's not stupid," Cassie clarified, rising from the couch. "It
wouldn't take her long to figure out that, if she hadn't heard about
us, then Starbuck probably hadn't either. I may have put her in a
horrible position.  If she still loves Starbuck, as I think she does,
she is going to be torn between her loyalty to me and her loyalty to
him.  If she doesn't tell him it could ruin their chances for
happiness." Cassie took off her med-coat and threw it on the couch. "I
have to find Starbuck tonight and tell him about us."

	She turned to Brogan and laid her hhat I need to clarify.  I'm afraid that I gave
you the wrong impression when I told you that. When Starbuck and I
first began seeing each other, I knew that he still had a wandering
eye. We hadn't made a commitment to one another and he always told me
when he went out with someone else, well with Athena.  You know all
that.  I do think that since Dalton was born Starbuck has been
faithful to me. Maybe not _emotionally_, mentally, but physically he
has.  My...my unfaithfulness shames me.  _You_ don't shame me, my
actions shame me. 
  
	 "Can I make a suggestion?" Brogan said, raising an eyebrow. Cassie
nodded with an expressionless face.  "Tell him tomorrow morning.  The
sooner the better.  Before he hears it from someone else."

	"Oh Lords!" Cassie exclaimed, wondering if it was already too late.
"Athena might be with him right now, if he's gone after her as he
should.  She might mention she's seen us together," Cassie had
scrambled off the couch and was headed towards the door when she
stopruitful. But, in doing so, he _had_
given up all rights to Athena. Even though they had
forged a deep friendship again, he knew he wasn't in
any position to give unsolicited advice, make demands
or pass judgement on her.

	"Look," Paxton's low voice broke Starbuck's
self-deprecating thoughts. "I know you think I'm out
of line for saying all that but..."

	"No," Starbuck insisted with a wave of his hand. "I'm
the one who is out of line."

	Paxton stood silently as Starbuck placed a few cubits
on the counter and walked out of the commissary. He
knew that the warrior was regretting the way he had
spoken to Athena earlier and would have to wait most
of the day to apologize, if he got the chance at all.
Paxton had overheard Athena mention her plans with
Reese that evening and, with her hectic schedule, she
would have little time between her bridge shift and
her dinner date. Paxton couldn't help but flinch
himself at her choice of companion for the evening. 'I
must admit, I do have to agree wands on his chest. "Brogan, I'm
sorry that I let this get out of hand. I know that you wanted to be
introduced to everybody and become a part of our family. I know that
they'll like you. Especially Starbuck... if he'll even speak to us,
that is," Cassie sighed.

	Brogan smiled and kissed her forehead. "From everything you've told
me," he assured, "I'm sure he'll be understanding."

	Cassie laughed. "I hope you're right about that! I love you," she
whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

	"I love you too," he whispered in return. "I have to get back to the
Agro II. Call me in my quarters and let me know how it went."

	Cassie nodded, walked out of her office and then out of the Life
Center. 

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

	'Where would he be... where would he be...' a voice inside her had
asked over and over. 'Cass, how could you have been so stupid?! You
knew that this would eventually get out. How long did you think you
could keep it a secret anyway? And Brogan... howped, the guilt caused by her sudden realization contorting her face.

	"Cass? What is it," Brogan asked as he rushed to her side.

	"I may have ruined everything," she whispered.

	Brogan gave her a puzzled look. "I don't understand."

	"This is a small ship, Brogan," she explained. "Word travels so fast
around here and yet, Athena hadn't known about you and I until she
walked in on us."

	Brogan shook his head, still perplexed.

	"Athena's not stupid," Cassie clarified, rising from the couch. "It
wouldn't take her long to figure out that, if she hadn't heard about
us, then Starbuck probably hadn't either. I may have put her in a
horrible position.  If she still loves Starbuck, as I think she does,
she is going to be torn between her loyalty to me and her loyalty to
him.  If she doesn't tell him it could ruin their chances for
happiness." Cassie took off her med-coat and threw it on the couch. "I
have to find Starbuck tonight and tell him about us."

	She turned to Brogan and laid her hith Captain Starbuck
on that one.'

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

	"Eager to start the day?" Tigh greeted her in
surprise.

	"I'm sorry?" Athena replied, somewhat perplexed at
his question.

	"Well, I requested that you be here a centar early
but you're here well before that," he remarked.

	"Oh I uh... guess I got ready quicker than I
realized," she retorted, trying to hide the fact that
she had been up all night, again. It was most
certainly against protocol to forego sleep and Athena
knew she would be sent to her quarters if Tigh knew
her sleep quota had reached all of about five centars
over the past three days.

	"That's fine," Tigh nodded. "Let's go into the
briefing room, we have a few things to discuss."

	Athena stifled a yawn just as the Lt. Commander
turned towards the private room just off the bridge.
The yawn surprised her as she certainly wasn't bored.
She was intrigued as to what Tigh wanted to talk to
her about. But she remembered that she had only gotten
to drink about hal could you do this to
him?! He thought you were using him.'
She continued to scold herself and then remembered Bojay's party.
 
	'Well, Starbuck's not with Athena... he's not with me... he must be
at the O-Club. Hmmm, it's late though. I wonder if the party is still
going on?' After the last thought she let out a mild chuckle. 'What am
I thinking... he's no doubt playing Pyramid.'

	Cassie rounded the corner to see a couple of pilots helping each
other out the door of the Officer's Club. They were leaning on each
other, singing unintelligibly. Cassie couldn't figure out quite what
it was they were singing about, but she had recognized the words
"Cylon" and "daggit". As she stood at the door of the club and watched
the two pilots swerve their way down the corridor, she wondered what
state she would find Starbuck in.

	"If he's anywhere near as drunk as those two I won't be able to talk
to him tonight," she thought with dread.

	She entered the O-Club and found it to be a lot calmer than sheands on his chest. "Brogan, I'm
sorry that I let this get out of hand. I know that you wanted to be
introduced to everybody and become a part of our family. I know that
they'll like you. Especially Starbuck... if he'll even speak to us,
that is," Cassie sighed.

	Brogan smiled and kissed her forehead. "From everything you've told
me," he assured, "I'm sure he'll be understanding."

	Cassie laughed. "I hope you're right about that! I love you," she
whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

	"I love you too," he whispered in return. "I have to get back to the
Agro II. Call me in my quarters and let me know how it went."

	Cassie nodded, walked out of her office and then out of the Life
Center. 

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

	'Where would he be... where would he be...' a voice inside her had
asked over and over. 'Cass, how could you have been so stupid?! You
knew that this would eventually get out. How long did you think you
could keep it a secret anyway? And Brogan... howf of her much needed java and hoped
that it would sustain her for the next few centars at
least. She would be able to take a break later to get
some more and, hopefully, something to eat as well,
food being another necessity she had neglected of
late.

	'I really need to take furlon,' she acknowledged as
she followed Tigh into the briefing room and took the
chair next to his.

	"So," he began, a smirk peering through his normal
serious persona, "How have I been treating you?"

	Athena's head fell back as she started to laugh.
Sensing immediately that this would be a more casual
conversation, she inquired, "You're not asking me for
a formal evaluation, are you Lt. Commander?"

	"Obviously not," he replied, a wide smile finally
revealing itself. "But I know that I've been working
you very hard Athena and I want to know your thoughts
on your experiences the past few sectars. Do you feel
like you've learned a lot or nothing at all? Are you
satisfied with your work on the bridge or are you
 had
expected. Apollo and Bojay were sitting at a table, a bunch of empty
glasses in front of them. She approached them, happy that she could
still wish Bojay a blessed novayahren before the cycle was over.

	Apollo noticed her first. "Hey Cassie! Where have you been all
night?!" He rose from his chair, almost knocking it over, and moved
forward to give her a big hug.

	Cassie was a bit overwhelmed but couldn't help but laugh. She
couldn't remember the last time she had seen Apollo intoxicated. He
wasn't overly drunk, but he was definitely very happy!

	"I got caught up in paperwork," she explained, "you know how it can
pile up while your not looking." She knew that as squadron leaders
they could relate to such responsibilities and she wouldn't have to
come up with a better excuse.

	"Well sit down and have a drink with us!" Bojay said with enthusiasm.

	"I wish I could but," she trailed off, kerning her neck around to see
if she could spot Starbuck, "I only stopped by for a moment. Have
 could you do this to
him?! He thought you were using him.'
She continued to scold herself and then remembered Bojay's party.
 
	'Well, Starbuck's not with Athena... he's not with me... he must be
at the O-Club. Hmmm, it's late though. I wonder if the party is still
going on?' After the last thought she let out a mild chuckle. 'What am
I thinking... he's no doubt playing Pyramid.'

	Cassie rounded the corner to see a couple of pilots helping each
other out the door of the Officer's Club. They were leaning on each
other, singing unintelligibly. Cassie couldn't figure out quite what
it was they were singing about, but she had recognized the words
"Cylon" and "daggit". As she stood at the door of the club and watched
the two pilots swerve their way down the corridor, she wondered what
state she would find Starbuck in.

	"If he's anywhere near as drunk as those two I won't be able to talk
to him tonight," she thought with dread.

	She entered the O-Club and found it to be a lot calmer than she
still itching to get back in a viper?"

	Athena leaned back in her chair. "I won't lie to
you," she sighed. "There's warrior blood in my veins
and nothing will ever change that. But, after spending
time in both the cockpit and on the bridge, I feel
that I can contribute more here," she admitted,
gesturing to her surroundings. "Besides," she added,
"I am in the Reserve Squadron if my piloting skills
are needed."

	"Well you can't command a battlestar from the cockpit
of a viper," Tigh commented with a suggestive look.

	"That's a long time off, if ever," she stated humbly.

	"It's a lot closer than you think," he denoted
frankly. "I uh... am not trying to raise an unpleasant
topic here but, your father isn't getting any younger
Athena."

	Athena's expression turned solemn as she looked into
the eyes of the man that had been her father's best
friend for what seemed like an eternity. The bond they
shared was only rivaled by that of Apollo and
Starbuck, so Athena knew that it pained Tigh
either of you seen Starbuck?"

	'Why are they always looking for Starbuck?' Bojay thought in a moment
of self-pity.

	"Let me ask you this Cassie," Apollo responded, raising an eyebrow,
"If you were Starbuck right now, where would you be?"

	Cassie laughed at how well they both new him. "Playing Pyramid in the
back room," she replied.

	"Give that lady the Golden Cluster!" Bojay declared.

	Cassie realized that she hadn't yet acknowledged Bojay's novayahren.
She'd grown to like Bojay a lot over the past few yahren and felt that
he didn't always get the credit he deserved.

	"Come here you old star pirate!" she insisted with a smile,
stretching her arms open. "Happy Novayahren!"

	"Who you calling old?" Bojay sprang from his chair to receive a warm
embrace from Cassie. It had been a while since he was in the arms of a
beautiful woman and he was going to accept any and all offers of hugs
this particular cycle. Of course, he hadn't received the one hug he
really wanted...

	"Ahem...do  had
expected. Apollo and Bojay were sitting at a table, a bunch of empty
glasses in front of them. She approached them, happy that she could
still wish Bojay a blessed novayahren before the cycle was over.

	Apollo noticed her first. "Hey Cassie! Where have you been all
night?!" He rose from his chair, almost knocking it over, and moved
forward to give her a big hug.

	Cassie was a bit overwhelmed but couldn't help but laugh. She
couldn't remember the last time she had seen Apollo intoxicated. He
wasn't overly drunk, but he was definitely very happy!

	"I got caught up in paperwork," she explained, "you know how it can
pile up while your not looking." She knew that as squadron leaders
they could relate to such responsibilities and she wouldn't have to
come up with a better excuse.

	"Well sit down and have a drink with us!" Bojay said with enthusiasm.

	"I wish I could but," she trailed off, kerning her neck around to see
if she could spot Starbuck, "I only stopped by for a moment. Have
 to think
about the eventual demise of his dearest friend.

	"I know," she replied softly, wanting to reach out
and grab Tigh's hand. But she realized that her
fatigue might cause her emotions to overwhelm her as
they had attempted to earlier in the turbolift and she
held herself stiffly in her seat.

	"That's not to say I expect the old war daggit to
leave us anytime soon," Tigh interjected, not wanting
the conversation to be clouded with gloom or cause
Athena any unnecessary anxiety.

	Thankful that he hadn't called her in early to make
funeral arrangements, Athena smiled and said, "I
wouldn't be surprised if he outlived all of us Tigh."

	"I wouldn't either," responded in kind. "As a matter
of fact, he's ready to get rid of _me_."

	"What do you mean?" she chuckled, somewhat surprised
at his statement.

	"He has requested that I spend a little less time on
the the bridge as the Council elections draw near," he
explained, blushing slightly. "Adama believes that I
have already won I need to break this up?" Starbuck inquired as he
approached them.

	"That's not your job anymore Captain," Cassie replied jokingly and
yet, not so much.

	"Ho ho, that's gotta hurt!" Apollo and Bojay chimed in unison,
high-fiving across the table.

	Starbuck gritted his teeth and smiled. He'd been tagged. "You two are
cut-off!" he called to them as he continued to stride, albeit a little
drunkenly, towards Cassie.

	"_Major_ Apollo," Bojay turned to Apollo, "I do believe that Captain
Starbuck just gave us an order."
"Yes, _Major_ Bojay," Apollo replied smugly, "I believe he did."

	Starbuck glared at Apollo. His best friend actually ganging up on
him, in concert with Bojay no less! 'I don't care how drunk he is,' he
thought and decided to ignore their drunken antics.

	"So, what brings you here so late?" he asked Cassie. "You're usually
fast asleep by now. Is Dalton all right?" he asked worriedly.

	"She's fine, she's at Medina's quarters having a sleepover," Cassie
reassured him.  "
either of you seen Starbuck?"

	'Why are they always looking for Starbuck?' Bojay thought in a moment
of self-pity.

	"Let me ask you this Cassie," Apollo responded, raising an eyebrow,
"If you were Starbuck right now, where would you be?"

	Cassie laughed at how well they both new him. "Playing Pyramid in the
back room," she replied.

	"Give that lady the Golden Cluster!" Bojay declared.

	Cassie realized that she hadn't yet acknowledged Bojay's novayahren.
She'd grown to like Bojay a lot over the past few yahren and felt that
he didn't always get the credit he deserved.

	"Come here you old star pirate!" she insisted with a smile,
stretching her arms open. "Happy Novayahren!"

	"Who you calling old?" Bojay sprang from his chair to receive a warm
embrace from Cassie. It had been a while since he was in the arms of a
beautiful woman and he was going to accept any and all offers of hugs
this particular cycle. Of course, he hadn't received the one hug he
really wanted...

	"Ahem...do the President's seat before the
voting has even begun."

	"I have to agree with him there," Athena acknowledged
enthusiastically. "You're the natural and most obvious
choice."

	"Well I have to say that I appreciate everyone's
confidence in me," he professed. "I just hope that
they have as much patience if I am elected."

	"I'm afraid that _you_ are the one who is going to
need the patience Tigh," she teased, referring to the
stubborn and exasperating members who presently
comprised the Quorum.

	Tigh rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me," he groaned.

	"At any rate," he returned to the subject at hand,
"Adama thinks that the transition will go a lot
smoother if certain things are already in place, such
as his new second-in-command," he nodded suggestively,
alluding that she would indeed be his replacement.

	Athena turned away, her expression somber. It was a
reaction Tigh had not expected.

	"I would've thought you'd be happier to hear that,"
he commented, his eyes fixed with confusThere's something I need to talk to you about, if
you're sober enough?"

	Starbuck squirmed a bit. He'd gotten so caught up in the card game,
he realized that he hadn't made anytime to spend with Athena this
evening. 'Old habits die hard,' he forgave himself. But now he was
feeling tired and he was hoping to find Athena before he turned in.

	"Can it wait 'til tomorrow Cass? I'm really tired and..."

	"No Starbuck it can't wait!" she persisted, now placing a firm grasp
on his arm.

	The look in her eyes told Starbuck she was not taking "no" for an
answer. 'Please don't tell me she's changed her mind about us,' he
thought. 'That could really complicate things.'

	"Cass... I really don't know how attentive I'll be and I'm sure that
whatever it is can wait...," he made one last effort.

	A hint of tears could be seen now. "Starbuck, please?" she begged.

	Realizing that he was not going to win, Starbuck finally gave in.
"All right, if it's that important."
Starbuck and Cassie turned and bI need to break this up?" Starbuck inquired as he
approached them.

	"That's not your job anymore Captain," Cassie replied jokingly and
yet, not so much.

	"Ho ho, that's gotta hurt!" Apollo and Bojay chimed in unison,
high-fiving across the table.

	Starbuck gritted his teeth and smiled. He'd been tagged. "You two are
cut-off!" he called to them as he continued to stride, albeit a little
drunkenly, towards Cassie.

	"_Major_ Apollo," Bojay turned to Apollo, "I do believe that Captain
Starbuck just gave us an order."
"Yes, _Major_ Bojay," Apollo replied smugly, "I believe he did."

	Starbuck glared at Apollo. His best friend actually ganging up on
him, in concert with Bojay no less! 'I don't care how drunk he is,' he
thought and decided to ignore their drunken antics.

	"So, what brings you here so late?" he asked Cassie. "You're usually
fast asleep by now. Is Dalton all right?" he asked worriedly.

	"She's fine, she's at Medina's quarters having a sleepover," Cassie
reassured him.  "ion.

	Her head snapped back around as she realized she was
appearing ungrateful. "I am," she insisted vigorously.
"Really, I'm honored that you and the Commander would
even consider me for the post."

	"But," Tigh assumed one was imminent.

	"But," she confirmed. "What about Apollo? When Adama
does... leave us, Apollo will be expected to take
command of the Galactica," she conceded.

	Tigh saw the pain in Athena's eyes as she broached
the subject that had beleaguered her her entire life.
When she had first been assigned to the Galactica, she
had dreamed of joining her brothers in Blue Squadron
and spending her life in a viper blasting Cylons out
of the universe. But Adama, influenced by Apollo, had
assigned her to bridge duty. Not a shameful assignment
by any stretch, but she had always felt cheated out of
her destiny, especially after the Destruction. But
instead of pouting and complaining, Athena had made
the best of the situation and learned everything she
could, making her an invaade their tipsy friends "goodnight"
and proceeded out of the O-Club.

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

	The pair walked silently towards Cassie's quarters.
Her mind was busy thinking about how she was going to start this
conversation.

	Starbuck's was full of confusion.

	What could be so important that she had to discuss it in the middle
of the night? Her timing, once again, was perfect. He'd already had a
long day and, with all the Amberise he'd drank at the party, he was
ready for some sleep. She was adamant that they talk now so... might
as well get it over with. He had to admit, though, her tension had
made him curious.  He hoped again that she hadn't changed her mind
about them.
As they entered her quarters, he asked, "this isn't about Dalton is
it? She is okay right?"

	"She's fine," Cassie reassured him again. "This isn't about her."

	Starbuck felt a little relieved. Up until now, they had been able to
handle any curve that Dalton had thrown at them. He just couldn't wait
until she got oldeThere's something I need to talk to you about, if
you're sober enough?"

	Starbuck squirmed a bit. He'd gotten so caught up in the card game,
he realized that he hadn't made anytime to spend with Athena this
evening. 'Old habits die hard,' he forgave himself. But now he was
feeling tired and he was hoping to find Athena before he turned in.

	"Can it wait 'til tomorrow Cass? I'm really tired and..."

	"No Starbuck it can't wait!" she persisted, now placing a firm grasp
on his arm.

	The look in her eyes told Starbuck she was not taking "no" for an
answer. 'Please don't tell me she's changed her mind about us,' he
thought. 'That could really complicate things.'

	"Cass... I really don't know how attentive I'll be and I'm sure that
whatever it is can wait...," he made one last effort.

	A hint of tears could be seen now. "Starbuck, please?" she begged.

	Realizing that he was not going to win, Starbuck finally gave in.
"All right, if it's that important."
Starbuck and Cassie turned and bluable bridge officer and a
major asset to Tigh.

	Yet Tigh knew that her concerns for her future were
valid. Apollo was Strike Commander of all the
squadrons and had received more medals and honors than
anyone, except for Adama himself and the legendary
Commander Cain. He was Adama's first born son and, as
Athena had mentioned, most in the fleet would expect
him to take command after his father's death.

	Nevertheless, while Tigh had the utmost respect for
Apollo and his ability to lead the Colonial Warriors,
he felt that Athena was better equipped to command the
entire fleet, civilian and military alike. She knew
the inner workings of the Galactica, things that
Apollo had never taken an interest in or bothered to
learn, and she knew more of the Commander's daily
reponsibilities.

	"As I said before," Tigh asserted, "You can't command
a battlestar from the cockpit of a viper and that is
where Apollo's heart is, has been and will likely
continue to be for the rest of his life."

	"Butr and he and Cassie would have REAL problems to deal
with.

	"No Starbuck," Cassie continued, taking a deep breath. "This is about
you, me and... someone else."

	Starbuck gave her a puzzled look. "Didn't we have this conversation
already?"

	Cassie shook her head. "This isn't about Athena either."

	"Okay... so what is this about?" he inquired slowly, his interest
piqued.

	Cassie hadn't been able to look at him since they had entered the
room. " I don't know quite how to say this...," she began tentatively.

	"So just say it!" he said abruptly, quickly becoming impatient.

	She rustled up the strength to look at him. How angry was he going to
be?

	"I met someone," she uttered, her voice breaking slightly.

	Starbuck raised an eyebrow.

	"He's really nice Starbuck," she spoke faster, "You'd like him a lot."

	"Uh huh," Starbuck responded, now even more confused. Is this what
was so important? They'd broken up. Why was she feeling guilty about
meeting someone new? And why was heade their tipsy friends "goodnight"
and proceeded out of the O-Club.

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

	The pair walked silently towards Cassie's quarters.
Her mind was busy thinking about how she was going to start this
conversation.

	Starbuck's was full of confusion.

	What could be so important that she had to discuss it in the middle
of the night? Her timing, once again, was perfect. He'd already had a
long day and, with all the Amberise he'd drank at the party, he was
ready for some sleep. She was adamant that they talk now so... might
as well get it over with. He had to admit, though, her tension had
made him curious.  He hoped again that she hadn't changed her mind
about them.
As they entered her quarters, he asked, "this isn't about Dalton is
it? She is okay right?"

	"She's fine," Cassie reassured him again. "This isn't about her."

	Starbuck felt a little relieved. Up until now, they had been able to
handle any curve that Dalton had thrown at them. He just couldn't wait
until she got olde he's a hero Tigh, like Adama," she responded
proudly. "Our people have always looked to their
heroes for guidance and leadership. If it hadn't been
for Apollo, we might never have made it this far."

	Tigh let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm going to say
this even at the risk of sounding disrespectful," he
declared. "We have not survived based on the efforts
of one or two people. We are here because we _all_
worked together towards the goal of defeating our
enemies and finding a new home. There are those with a
higher profile like Adama, Apollo and Starbuck. And
certainly the pilots, who have been on the front lines
defending the fleet, are well deserved of their
accolades and our gratitude.

	"But I believe," Tigh's voice became louder and more
impassioned, "that there are lesser knowns like Rigel,
Captain Xerxes in Engineering, the scientists on the
Agro ships that grow our food, Kayla in the Education
Center," to which Athena nodded her approval, " and
countless others who have shared Ada feeling just a bit annoyed?

	"Look," he continued, running his hand through his hair, "I'm very
happy that you found someone, and quite quickly I might add, but
couldn't this wait until tomorrow? Don't get me wrong, I want to hear
all about this... it's just that I'm really tired and..."

	"That's just it Starbuck," she interrupted. 'Breathe, Cassie,
breathe,' she prompted herself.  "I didn't just meet him," she finally
admitted.

	Now she had Starbuck's full attention. She walked toward the portal
and looked out at the fleet. She could see the Agro-II and tried to
harness the strength she knew Brogan was sending her.

	"You and I talked the other day about how our relationship had been
over for some time now," she noted. "About six sectars ago, I had gone
to the Agro-II with Dr. Wilker to help him with his subfloran research."

	Her heart began beating faster, partly due to her anxiety over what
Starbuck must be thinking and partly due to the memory of when she
first met Brogan.

	"Wr and he and Cassie would have REAL problems to deal
with.

	"No Starbuck," Cassie continued, taking a deep breath. "This is about
you, me and... someone else."

	Starbuck gave her a puzzled look. "Didn't we have this conversation
already?"

	Cassie shook her head. "This isn't about Athena either."

	"Okay... so what is this about?" he inquired slowly, his interest
piqued.

	Cassie hadn't been able to look at him since they had entered the
room. " I don't know quite how to say this...," she began tentatively.

	"So just say it!" he said abruptly, quickly becoming impatient.

	She rustled up the strength to look at him. How angry was he going to
be?

	"I met someone," she uttered, her voice breaking slightly.

	Starbuck raised an eyebrow.

	"He's really nice Starbuck," she spoke faster, "You'd like him a lot."

	"Uh huh," Starbuck responded, now even more confused. Is this what
was so important? They'd broken up. Why was she feeling guilty about
meeting someone new? And why was hema's dream and
have made our lives far less difficult than they could
be."

	It had been a while since Athena had seen Tigh so
animated and her eyes widened as he continued.

	"And again," he concluded, "I mean no disrespect to
Apollo and Starbuck, but I believe that Captain Boomer
deserves far more credit than he's received, if, for
no other reason, for simply putting up with those two
for so long."

	Athena couldn't contain her amusement any longer and
she burst out laughing. Tigh, realizing how humorous
his last statement was, began chuckling as well.

	"Athena," he calmed himself but kept his smile. "What
I'm trying to say is that _I_ appreciate your
performance and that, when the time comes, _I_ will
support your appointment to second-in-command."

	"Thank you Lt. Commander," she replied sincerely,
grateful to have him in her corner. "But the elections
aren't for another ten sectars and I have a lot to
learn before then," she admitted.

	"Well then, let's get back to work," he e met there.. it was innocent at first... I had never meant for
anything to happen." Her words started to break and tears began to
well in her eyes. She turned to find Starbuck staring at her,
expressionless.
 
	'I don't believe this,' he mused. 'We had this intense discussion the
other day, I poured my heart out to her about how guilty I felt and
how she deserved someone better and how it would be no time at all
'til someone else came along... and the whole time I was being played
for an idiot! And I suppose I'm the last to know. I must be the
biggest fool in the entire fleet!'  Starbuck thought angrily.

	Cassie felt helpless as she stood and waited for Starbuck's reaction
to her admission. She tensed up as it looked like he was about to
speak, but then he stopped and continued looking down at the floor.

	'But wait a centon... certainly if Apollo had known he would've told
me,' Starbuck continued to ponder the depth of the deceit and his
feelings about it. 'Even Boomer for that matter. An feeling just a bit annoyed?

	"Look," he continued, running his hand through his hair, "I'm very
happy that you found someone, and quite quickly I might add, but
couldn't this wait until tomorrow? Don't get me wrong, I want to hear
all about this... it's just that I'm really tired and..."

	"That's just it Starbuck," she interrupted. 'Breathe, Cassie,
breathe,' she prompted herself.  "I didn't just meet him," she finally
admitted.

	Now she had Starbuck's full attention. She walked toward the portal
and looked out at the fleet. She could see the Agro-II and tried to
harness the strength she knew Brogan was sending her.

	"You and I talked the other day about how our relationship had been
over for some time now," she noted. "About six sectars ago, I had gone
to the Agro-II with Dr. Wilker to help him with his subfloran research."

	Her heart began beating faster, partly due to her anxiety over what
Starbuck must be thinking and partly due to the memory of when she
first met Brogan.

	"Wrose and
gestured towards the door.

	Athena rose from her chair but quickly fell back
down, suddenly feeling very dizzy.

	"Oh," she groaned, closing her eyes and bringing her
hand to her head.

	Tigh leaned over and grabbed her shoulders to support
her. "Athena, are you okay?" his voice filled with
concern.

	"Yeah," she replied slowly. "I think I just got up
too fast. Your passionate speech made all the blood
rush to my head," she teased, not wanting to worry
him.

	"Hmmm," he considered responding. "But I would
imagine that you being here so early means you may
have skipped morning primaries?" he inquired, knowing
she had a tendency to ignore her own needs.

	"I uh... might have," she sheepishly admitted. "Guess
it must have been my overwhelming enthusiasm for the
job."

	"Sarcasm won't get you anywhere young lady," he
chided. "But since you did get here earlier than
expected, why don't you take half a centar and get
something to eat."

	"Lt. Commander, I'm fine," she insisd Sheba... well,
perhaps she wouldn't tell me. Even though Sheba is my friend too, she
and Cass are a lot closer. But what about Athena? She and Cass have
become fairly good friends. Has Athena known about this all along?
Nah, she would've told me... wouldn't she? Well gee Starbuck, why
would she? You've barely said two words to her the past few days!
Damn, if Cass had only told me about this sectons ago... Athena and I
would probably be together by now!'

	He closed his eyes as the irony of the situation smacked him upside
the head.

	'So it's come full circle huh? I'm getting a taste of my own
medicine. All those yahrens of playing both sides of the court have
finally come back to bite me in the astrum,' he chuckled to himself
quietly, his face turned away from Cassie's.

	Cassie felt paralyzed by the silence. She knew that they had waited
too long to end their relationship but it was no excuse for her
infidelity. 'I should've done this a long time ago. He has every right
to hate me.'

e met there.. it was innocent at first... I had never meant for
anything to happen." Her words started to break and tears began to
well in her eyes. She turned to find Starbuck staring at her,
expressionless.
 
	'I don't believe this,' he mused. 'We had this intense discussion the
other day, I poured my heart out to her about how guilty I felt and
how she deserved someone better and how it would be no time at all
'til someone else came along... and the whole time I was being played
for an idiot! And I suppose I'm the last to know. I must be the
biggest fool in the entire fleet!'  Starbuck thought angrily.

	Cassie felt helpless as she stood and waited for Starbuck's reaction
to her admission. She tensed up as it looked like he was about to
speak, but then he stopped and continued looking down at the floor.

	'But wait a centon... certainly if Apollo had known he would've told
me,' Starbuck continued to ponder the depth of the deceit and his
feelings about it. 'Even Boomer for that matter. Anted.

	"That's an order Major," he affirmed.

	"Yes sir," she winced, angry that she had shown
physical weakness after he had given her so much
praise.

	Rising slowly to ensure her head wouldn't start
spinning again, Athena left the briefing room and
exited the bridge. Heading towards the turbolift, she
decided to return to the commissary. Certainly
Starbuck would no longer be there and she could enjoy
both a bite to eat and some pleasant conversation with
Paxton.
She realized that food was the higher priority as she
stepped onto the lift and felt a wave of dizziness
wash over her again.

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

	'Smooth move Captain,' Starbuck berated himself as he
headed towards the launch bay. 'First you avoid her,
then you ignore her at Bojay's party, and now you
lecture and insult her. Keep it up Bucko, you'll be
sealed in no time!'

	Starbuck was so busy reprimanding his behavior that
he didn't even notice anyone he passed in the
hallways. Probably for the best as most 
	Then, Starbuck burst out laughing.

	Cassie was thrown into shock. This was hardly the reaction she had
expected.

	"You think this is funny?" she asked, very perplexed. "I'm admitting
that I was unfaithful and you think it's funny?"

	Through his laughter, he responded, "Are you kidding? This is
priceless!"

	Cassie's demeanor now changed from one of sorrow and guilt to utter
annoyance. She folded her arms across her chest, raised and eyebrow,
and inquired, "Exactly how so?"

	He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry
Cass but, all these yahren, I've been the one with the philandering
reputation..." the chuckles kept invading, "and yet... YOU'RE the one
who cheats on ME!"

	"I'm not proud of this Starbuck!" she declared.

	He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. She sighed,
unfolded her arms, and returned the embrace.

	"I guess I should be happy that you're laughing and not breaking
things," she conceded.

	He slightly pulled back to look ad Sheba... well,
perhaps she wouldn't tell me. Even though Sheba is my friend too, she
and Cass are a lot closer. But what about Athena? She and Cass have
become fairly good friends. Has Athena known about this all along?
Nah, she would've told me... wouldn't she? Well gee Starbuck, why
would she? You've barely said two words to her the past few days!
Damn, if Cass had only told me about this sectons ago... Athena and I
would probably be together by now!'

	He closed his eyes as the irony of the situation smacked him upside
the head.

	'So it's come full circle huh? I'm getting a taste of my own
medicine. All those yahrens of playing both sides of the court have
finally come back to bite me in the astrum,' he chuckled to himself
quietly, his face turned away from Cassie's.

	Cassie felt paralyzed by the silence. She knew that they had waited
too long to end their relationship but it was no excuse for her
infidelity. 'I should've done this a long time ago. He has every right
to hate me.'

were still
whispering about his break up with Cassie and there
was plenty of room for conjecture, especially given
his obvious mood swings these days. While he had tried
to stay in good spirits since the break up, hopeful
that he would convince Athena to give him another
chance, sometimes the frustration would get to him and
he could be seen glowering through the ship. It was
obvious from the solemn look on his face now that
things had taken an ugly turn. This only left room for
further speculation as to it's cause and more fuel for
the IFB gossip reports. His only saving grace was that
Athena's name hadn't yet been linked to the reports
about him and Cassie.

	Starbuck suddenly stopped in his tracks. 'Oh man, the
IFB is going to have a field day when they see Athena
and Reese together on a date,' he assumed. 'I should
have just kept my mouth shut.' Athena had always done
her best to keep a low profile but, thanks to him,
people in the commissary had probably overheard their
argument.

t her. "If it makes you feel better,
I am hurt and uh... rather ticked off," he confessed. "You let me sit
here and ramble on the other day about my guilt for being in love with
someone else when the whole time you were seeing another man."

	"I know," Cassie hung her head, "and I feel terrible about that but
uh... if I remember correctly," she raised her head again, " I was
hardly able to get a word in." Starbuck had basically monopolized the
conversation with the tale of his heavy heart. 

	"You were so busy telling me about the love of _your_ life, I didn't
think you would care that I had found a new love of my own," she
remarked, slightly irritated. "I still feel that I need to apologize
though."

	His laughter having subsided, Starbuck swallowed some of his injured
pride. " I have to take some of the blame for it Cass," he admitted.
"As you said, we both acknowledged that our relationship had been over
for a long time. I know that I haven't been very attentive over the
last yahren so, 
	Then, Starbuck burst out laughing.

	Cassie was thrown into shock. This was hardly the reaction she had
expected.

	"You think this is funny?" she asked, very perplexed. "I'm admitting
that I was unfaithful and you think it's funny?"

	Through his laughter, he responded, "Are you kidding? This is
priceless!"

	Cassie's demeanor now changed from one of sorrow and guilt to utter
annoyance. She folded her arms across her chest, raised and eyebrow,
and inquired, "Exactly how so?"

	He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry
Cass but, all these yahren, I've been the one with the philandering
reputation..." the chuckles kept invading, "and yet... YOU'RE the one
who cheats on ME!"

	"I'm not proud of this Starbuck!" she declared.

	He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. She sighed,
unfolded her arms, and returned the embrace.

	"I guess I should be happy that you're laughing and not breaking
things," she conceded.

	He slightly pulled back to look a	Taking a deep breath, Starbuck resumed his trek
towards the launch bay, hoping that he was wrong and
that, for once, the IFB would leave her alone. Upon
entering the bay, he was surprised to see Apollo
already there and checking over his viper.

	"Are you early or am I late?" Starbuck greeted his
best friend.

	"I'm early," Apollo responded, looking up and
smiling. "And I must say that I'm surprised you're
early as well."

	"You did ask me to be here early to go over
modifications, remember?" Starbuck asked. "Or perhaps
you don't remember. You were pretty... _happy_ last
night," he teased.

	Apollo rose from his crouched position. "You know,
everyone I've seen this morning is asking me how I'm
feeling," he said, slightly perturbed. "I don't know
why they all think I was drunk last night. I barely
had anything to drink at all."

	Starbuck smirked, raised an eyebrow and gave his
friend a protesting look.

	"I didn't!" insisted Apollo.

	"Okay, okay," Starbuck put up his hands in deif anything, I probably drove you into this guy's arms."

	While trying to resolve this issue, Starbuck's mind couldn't help but
wander to the woman that Cassie had just called "the love of his
life". He had wanted to find her and talk to her about the events of
the past days. As he glanced at his chronometer, he realized that it
was probably too late. 'Way to go bucko, you blew it again.'  He
sighed to himself.

	"Cass, I'm glad that you were finally honest with me. Granted, I wish
that you had told me about this sectons ago but uh... don't worry
about it. I'm happy for you... really! It's nice to know that someone
is getting some...," he paused and flashed her a suggestive smile,
"...happiness."

	Cassie slapped his chest. "You're horrible!" she cried, trying to
stifle a grin, without much success.

	"Hey, at least one of us is getting somewhere," he mumbled.

	"What do you mean?" she asked.

	He shook his head and replied, "Nothin', I'm just tired. Look, I
really do need to get some t her. "If it makes you feel better,
I am hurt and uh... rather ticked off," he confessed. "You let me sit
here and ramble on the other day about my guilt for being in love with
someone else when the whole time you were seeing another man."

	"I know," Cassie hung her head, "and I feel terrible about that but
uh... if I remember correctly," she raised her head again, " I was
hardly able to get a word in." Starbuck had basically monopolized the
conversation with the tale of his heavy heart. 

	"You were so busy telling me about the love of _your_ life, I didn't
think you would care that I had found a new love of my own," she
remarked, slightly irritated. "I still feel that I need to apologize
though."

	His laughter having subsided, Starbuck swallowed some of his injured
pride. " I have to take some of the blame for it Cass," he admitted.
"As you said, we both acknowledged that our relationship had been over
for a long time. I know that I haven't been very attentive over the
last yahren so, fense.
"I guess it's just that people aren't used to seeing
you cut loose, that's all. I, for one, was happy to
see it."

	"Yeah, you should be," Apollo pointed out. "_You're_
the one who's been hounding me to relax for the last
few sectars."

	"And did you have a good time last night?" Starbuck
asked, still slightly annoyed that he was the target
of Apollo and Bojay's gibes.

	"Actually, I did," Apollo remarked assuredly. "I
think that Bojay and I had the first pleasant
conversation we've ever had."

	"Gosh Apollo, that's just swell," Starbuck responded
with a sarcastic tone and smile to match. "Can we go
over this stuff now?" he asked, pointing to the viper.
"I'd like to get out on patrol."

	Apollo was slightly taken back by his friend's nasty
attitude. "Well aren't we a bit cranky this morning,"
he commented. "This wouldn't have anything to do with
whatever Cassie _needed_ to talk to you about, would
it?"

	Starbuck's eyes widened suddenly. He had completely
forgotten about hisleep. Apollo will kick my astrum if I take
an unscheduled mid-flight nap again."

	Starbuck leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

	She looked up at him and smiled. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

	As he walked towards the door, he replied, "Couldn't avoid me if you
tried."

	As he left, Cassie felt a huge wave of relief wash over her. She
couldn't believe she had gotten herself so worked up, felt so
guilty... and he laughed!

	'I shouldn't be surprised,' she thought. 'He did admit an incredible
amount of guilt the other day and, quite honestly, I enjoyed watching
him squirm some. He is right in a way, I probably wouldn't have given
Brogan a second look if things had been working between us. Then
again, who's to say that I wouldn't have fallen in love with Brogan
anyway?'

	With that last thought, she walked over to the com-unit to call
Brogan. He was no doubt still awake and wondering what his future with
her would hold. She didn't want to make him wait any longer.

*********if anything, I probably drove you into this guy's arms."

	While trying to resolve this issue, Starbuck's mind couldn't help but
wander to the woman that Cassie had just called "the love of his
life". He had wanted to find her and talk to her about the events of
the past days. As he glanced at his chronometer, he realized that it
was probably too late. 'Way to go bucko, you blew it again.'  He
sighed to himself.

	"Cass, I'm glad that you were finally honest with me. Granted, I wish
that you had told me about this sectons ago but uh... don't worry
about it. I'm happy for you... really! It's nice to know that someone
is getting some...," he paused and flashed her a suggestive smile,
"...happiness."

	Cassie slapped his chest. "You're horrible!" she cried, trying to
stifle a grin, without much success.

	"Hey, at least one of us is getting somewhere," he mumbled.

	"What do you mean?" she asked.

	He shook his head and replied, "Nothin', I'm just tired. Look, I
really do need to get some s conversation with Cassie the
previous night. 'What was the guy's name again? Brice?
Boden? Brogan! Brogan, that's it.' Starbuck sighed,
'Like I don't have enough on my mind already.'

	"To be honest, no," Starbuck answered. "At least it
didn't 'til you reminded me of it. Thanks," he
concluded sarcastically.

	"Any time I can cause you more pain Starbuck," Apollo
teased, realizing this was going to be a long patrol
if Starbuck's mood didn't improve. 
	
	"Yeah, I've gotten that impression lately," Starbuck
mumbled, moving towards his own viper.

	Apollo groaned. "Hey, if you're going to be like this
for the next eight centars, let me know now," he
requested, clearly exasperated. "I'll go straight into
sleep mode after we launch."

	Starbuck turned and placed his hands on his hips.
"Look Apollo, I'm sorry," he shrugged. "The past few
days have been, well... a little crazy. Cassie dropped
a little bomb on me last night and this morning didn't
go very well either."

	"You stayed with h************

	Starbuck stepped outside of Cassie's quarters and walked towards the
turbolift, smiling to the other medical personnel that he passed along
the hallway. They were used to seeing the Captain's face on the
medical deck and had accepted him as just another common face amongst
the doctors, med-techs and other medical research staff. Most of the
inhabitants of the Galactica's medical community never got farther
than the Life Center and their own quarters, making life pretty
dull... at least in Starbuck's eyes.

	While he found their work fascinating, he knew that he couldn't spend
his entire day in one place. Granted, he spent most of his day in the
cockpit of a viper, but once back on the Galactica, he had a choice of
different places to go, different things to do. Why people would
choose to spend their free time doing medical research was beyond him. 

	During the first yahrens of their relationship, Cassie had dragged
him all over the fleet for entertainment. They went to concersleep. Apollo will kick my astrum if I take
an unscheduled mid-flight nap again."

	Starbuck leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

	She looked up at him and smiled. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

	As he walked towards the door, he replied, "Couldn't avoid me if you
tried."

	As he left, Cassie felt a huge wave of relief wash over her. She
couldn't believe she had gotten herself so worked up, felt so
guilty... and he laughed!

	'I shouldn't be surprised,' she thought. 'He did admit an incredible
amount of guilt the other day and, quite honestly, I enjoyed watching
him squirm some. He is right in a way, I probably wouldn't have given
Brogan a second look if things had been working between us. Then
again, who's to say that I wouldn't have fallen in love with Brogan
anyway?'

	With that last thought, she walked over to the com-unit to call
Brogan. He was no doubt still awake and wondering what his future with
her would hold. She didn't want to make him wait any longer.

*********er last night?" Apollo eyed him in
surprise.

	"No, that's not what I meant," Starbuck shook his
head. "Can we get going and talk about this out
there?" he urged. 

	Apollo noticed a despair in Starbuck's eyes that he
didn't often see. "Sure," he nodded. "Let's go now. I
can tell you about the modifications while we're in
the air."

	Once they launched and settled into patrol formation,
a hush fell over the normally talkative duo. The
conversation with Cassie was replaying itself in
Starbuck's mind, including the speculation as to who
was privy to this information before he had heard it
himself. The concept that Apollo had known about
Brogan for the past few sectons was unacceptable to
Starbuck and he didn't know how he would handle it if,
indeed, his best friend had been keeping this secret
from him.

	Apollo finally broke the silence that had grown
unusually uncomfortable. 

	"So what's up buddy?" he tentatively inquired.

	Starbuck hesitated at first, then bluntly asked,
"Wherets, triad
tournaments, romantic evenings on the Rising Star, starlight strolls
on the Agro ship...the Agro ship. Starbuck chuckled to himself as his
mind spun with snippets from the conversation of a few centons ago. He
still wasn't quite sure how he felt about the whole thing.

	The turbolift door opened and he looked down a familiar corridor,
although not the one he had expected. He had subconsciously selected
the officers deck when he had entered and was now just as naturally
walking down its halls. As he walked past the doors of some his
friends, he pondered why he hadn't chosen to accept his own quarters
here. He had certainly received a few raised eyebrows as he turned
down the perk on more than one occasion. Especially when he had
refused to move in with Cassie. But he had his reasons.

	Even without blood family of his own, he had grown up with family
around him. He remembered the nights spent talking and laughing with
Apollo and Zac, Ila  eventually coming in and gently ordering them************

	Starbuck stepped outside of Cassie's quarters and walked towards the
turbolift, smiling to the other medical personnel that he passed along
the hallway. They were used to seeing the Captain's face on the
medical deck and had accepted him as just another common face amongst
the doctors, med-techs and other medical research staff. Most of the
inhabitants of the Galactica's medical community never got farther
than the Life Center and their own quarters, making life pretty
dull... at least in Starbuck's eyes.

	While he found their work fascinating, he knew that he couldn't spend
his entire day in one place. Granted, he spent most of his day in the
cockpit of a viper, but once back on the Galactica, he had a choice of
different places to go, different things to do. Why people would
choose to spend their free time doing medical research was beyond him. 

	During the first yahrens of their relationship, Cassie had dragged
him all over the fleet for entertainment. They went to concer do your loyalties lie, Apollo?"

	"Excuse me?!" Apollo answered in shock.

	"If you knew somebody was doing something that would
hurt me, or make me look like a fool, you'd tell me
right?" Starbuck realized that he already knew the
answer, but his insecurity needed to hear the words
outright.

	In all the yahrens he'd known him, Apollo had never
heard Starbuck question their friendship like this. 
Except maybe when Apollo had voiced doubts about
Chameleon and his claims of familial lineage,
believing then that Starbuck was being taken advantage
of.  While Starbuck was angry at the time, he was
later appreciative that Apollo had had his best
interests at heart. Apollo had always looked out for
his best friend. Why would Starbuck be thinking
otherwise?
	
	"Of course I would, Starbuck," Apollo replied
deliberately. "What's this all about?"

	Starbuck took a deep breath before answering. He
hadn't yet discussed with Apollo the details of his
break up with Cassiopeia and hadn't planned o to
go to sleep. Many yahrens later it was Apollo ordering the rest of the
squadron to "shut up and go to sleep!" Starbuck valued the camaraderie
that he shared with the other pilots, a bond made stronger with the
late cycle chats they would have as they all drifted off to sleep.
 
	The other reason was the door that now stood before him. He had known
in the back of his mind that he couldn't have resisted the lure of
visiting this door had he lived so close, and he had not even meant to
come here tonight. He had meant to go straight to the barracks and get
some much needed sleep. But here he was nonetheless. It was very late
and the corridor was void of activity.  He was certain that Apollo
must be passed out in his own quarters by now. Starbuck laughed to
himself. 'After all Apollo had to drink tonight, _he'll_ probably be
the one needing the extra sleep period on patrol in the morning,' he
smiled to himself.

	Starbuck placed both of his hands on the door, then leaned in to rest
his forehets, triad
tournaments, romantic evenings on the Rising Star, starlight strolls
on the Agro ship...the Agro ship. Starbuck chuckled to himself as his
mind spun with snippets from the conversation of a few centons ago. He
still wasn't quite sure how he felt about the whole thing.

	The turbolift door opened and he looked down a familiar corridor,
although not the one he had expected. He had subconsciously selected
the officers deck when he had entered and was now just as naturally
walking down its halls. As he walked past the doors of some his
friends, he pondered why he hadn't chosen to accept his own quarters
here. He had certainly received a few raised eyebrows as he turned
down the perk on more than one occasion. Especially when he had
refused to move in with Cassie. But he had his reasons.

	Even without blood family of his own, he had grown up with family
around him. He remembered the nights spent talking and laughing with
Apollo and Zac, Ila  eventually coming in and gently ordering themn doing
so for a while. He wasn't sure how Apollo would take
the news that he was still in love with Athena and was
planning on pursuing her once again. Apollo's
condemnation of their initial romance was one of the
obstacles Starbuck had found almost impossible to
overcome. No matter how often Apollo had promised to
stay out of it, there had been a persistent strain on
their friendship while the relationship existed. A
strain that seemed to disappear once Starbuck had
begun seeing Cassie.

	Starbuck still wasn't sure that he wanted to divulge
the underlying reasons for ending the relationship
with Cassie, but he was certain that, when he did tell
Apollo, he wasn't going to allow any disparaging
remarks to deter him from seeing Athena or rekindling
their romance.

	"I'll make this short and sweet," Starbuck began.
"Apparently, Cassie has been seeing someone else for
the past few sectars and decided to tell me about it
last night."

	"You're kidding me, right?" Apollo asked flatly.

	"ad on it as well. As tired as he was, he would gladly
sacrifice sleep to be able to talk to Athena now and tell her how he
felt.  He fought the urge to sound the chime that would wake her,
assuming that she was indeed asleep. He hadn't known when she had left
Bojay's party while he was, as usual, too wrapped up in a Pyramid game
to concentrate on what even he admitted were the more important
things. But he had kicked himself enough over his faults for one night.

	He loved to stay out late, he loved to smoke fumarellos, and he loved
playing Pyramid. Hell, he spent most of his life risking it all to
protect the Galactica and her fleet...he felt he was entitled to a
little fun. Over the past few yahrens, Cassie had begun to make him
feel guilty for not sacrificing more of his free time to spend with
her engaging in more quiet activities. He couldn't blame her. Her life
had changed and she had changed with it. But his life hadn't changed.
Yes, he now had a daughter. But that hadn't changed the cou to
go to sleep. Many yahrens later it was Apollo ordering the rest of the
squadron to "shut up and go to sleep!" Starbuck valued the camaraderie
that he shared with the other pilots, a bond made stronger with the
late cycle chats they would have as they all drifted off to sleep.
 
	The other reason was the door that now stood before him. He had known
in the back of his mind that he couldn't have resisted the lure of
visiting this door had he lived so close, and he had not even meant to
come here tonight. He had meant to go straight to the barracks and get
some much needed sleep. But here he was nonetheless. It was very late
and the corridor was void of activity.  He was certain that Apollo
must be passed out in his own quarters by now. Starbuck laughed to
himself. 'After all Apollo had to drink tonight, _he'll_ probably be
the one needing the extra sleep period on patrol in the morning,' he
smiled to himself.

	Starbuck placed both of his hands on the door, then leaned in to rest
his foreheDoes this sound like something I would joke about?"
Starbuck replied with clear irritability.

	"Ease up buddy, I'm on your side," Apollo tried to
calm his friend. Unfortunately, this was not the first
time he had seen Starbuck in this state. The last time
had been when the Pegasus had reappeared and Cassie
had gone running to Cain. At the time, Starbuck had no
even ground to stand on since he had made no formal
commitments to her, was still dating other women, and
she had been honest with him that she still had
feelings for the legendary commander. 

	The circumstances were clearly different this time.
"What do you mean she's been seeing someone? You mean
romantically?" Apollo treaded lightly.

	Starbuck calmed a bit. Perhaps she _had_ kept this a
secret from everyone. "So you didn't know about this?"
he asked.

	"Of course I didn't know about this!" Apollo
exclaimed. "What makes you think I would and not tell
you?!"

	"Because you're her friend as well," Starbuck sighed,
now sorry rse of his
life except that it made him cherish it all the more and appreciate
every moment that he was given. And for Starbuck, that meant living
life to the fullest with the person he loved.  Someone who could share
the same fun with him, not require his constant attendance, but
neither let him get away with too much.

	Contrary to what most of his friends thought, he was ready to settle
down. While he would always have fond memories of the pilots quarters,
he was ready to enjoy the benefits of private quarters on the officers
deck.  Private quarters that he would share with someone. 'Question
is... does she want to share quarters with me?'

	He closed his eyes and pondered the scary yet pleasant prospect. 'I
could just walk on in and say "Hey honey, I'm back!"... of course then
I'd have to dodge all the sharp objects that would be thrown at my
head,' he visualized with a chuckle. 
 
	Starbuck abruptly looked up and backed away from the door. 'Are you
crazy?!' he scolded himself. 'What arad on it as well. As tired as he was, he would gladly
sacrifice sleep to be able to talk to Athena now and tell her how he
felt.  He fought the urge to sound the chime that would wake her,
assuming that she was indeed asleep. He hadn't known when she had left
Bojay's party while he was, as usual, too wrapped up in a Pyramid game
to concentrate on what even he admitted were the more important
things. But he had kicked himself enough over his faults for one night.

	He loved to stay out late, he loved to smoke fumarellos, and he loved
playing Pyramid. Hell, he spent most of his life risking it all to
protect the Galactica and her fleet...he felt he was entitled to a
little fun. Over the past few yahrens, Cassie had begun to make him
feel guilty for not sacrificing more of his free time to spend with
her engaging in more quiet activities. He couldn't blame her. Her life
had changed and she had changed with it. But his life hadn't changed.
Yes, he now had a daughter. But that hadn't changed the couthat he had questioned his friend's loyalty.
"And because she's Sheba's best friend and you're with
Sheba and...," he trailed off, feeling he had
sufficiently made his point that their circle of
friends was small.
 
	Apollo was now wondering if Sheba had known about
this all along. She loved Starbuck like a brother and
would never want to see him get hurt. But she had
developed a strong friendship with Cassie since the
disappearance of Cain. He quickly shook his head,
clearing away any thoughts of deception. He didn't
even want to consider it.

	"No Starbuck, I didn't know about this," he assured.
"And, as I'm sure you're wondering, I doubt Sheba knew
anything about this either. She might be Cassie's
friend, but she's also yours and I'm sure that she
would've tried to convince Cassie to tell you a long
time ago if she had known."

	The words rang true in Starbuck's ear and he felt a
sense of relief wash over him. He hated having doubted
Apollo for a micron. "You're right, Apollo" he agre you doing here?! What right do
you have to be here?!'

	He turned and angrily started back towards the turbolift and the
pilots quarters that he knew he should've gone straight to in the
first place. He continued scolding himself as he walked along the
lower deck towards the barracks. 'You are just moving way too fast
bucko! You just broke up with Cass and you're automatically hovering
at Athena's quarters in the middle of rest cycle. She's not going to
take you seriously if it looks like you're on the rebound. Of course
she doesn't know my reasons for breaking up with Cass, but that
doesn't matter. Athena needs to know that my love for her is genuine
and that I'm ready to make the commitment to her that I should've made
yahrens ago.  I need to do more than just show up!'

	Starbuck entered the men's barracks and quietly made his way to the
turbowash to throw some water on his face and clean his teeth.
Afterwards he undressed and climbed into his bunk.  His body was
exhausted, but his mindrse of his
life except that it made him cherish it all the more and appreciate
every moment that he was given. And for Starbuck, that meant living
life to the fullest with the person he loved.  Someone who could share
the same fun with him, not require his constant attendance, but
neither let him get away with too much.

	Contrary to what most of his friends thought, he was ready to settle
down. While he would always have fond memories of the pilots quarters,
he was ready to enjoy the benefits of private quarters on the officers
deck.  Private quarters that he would share with someone. 'Question
is... does she want to share quarters with me?'

	He closed his eyes and pondered the scary yet pleasant prospect. 'I
could just walk on in and say "Hey honey, I'm back!"... of course then
I'd have to dodge all the sharp objects that would be thrown at my
head,' he visualized with a chuckle. 
 
	Starbuck abruptly looked up and backed away from the door. 'Are you
crazy?!' he scolded himself. 'What areed.
"I'm sorry that I even..."

	"Don't worry about it," Apollo interrupted, not
wanting Starbuck to dwell on it any longer. "I'll just
kick your astrum later."

	Starbuck smiled, appreciating Apollo's efforts to
cheer him up.

	"So did you want to still talk about Cassie or...?"
Apollo asked cautiously.

	Starbuck let out an aggravated sigh. "I don't really
know too much else to tell you," he explained. "She
says that she met this guy while doing research with
Wilker. He's some scientist on one of the agro ships."

	Starbuck remembered that Apollo occasionally made
trips to the agro ships on behalf of Adama to check on
food supply. "Maybe you've met him before," Starbuck
surmised. "His name is Brogan."

	"Brogan?" Apollo swirled the name in his mind for a
few microns, then shook his head. "No, can't say as I
recall meeting anyone by that name. Then again, I
usually only deal with Wilker when it comes to the
scientists. Did you meet him last night?"

	"No," Starbuck replied. "Cas still whirring with thoughts of the task
ahead. Convincing Athena of his true feelings was not going to be
easy. His proposal on the night of the Destruction had been sincere.
The most sincere he had ever been his entire life.

	'Of course nobody would believe that since you were caught in a
launch tube with Cassie a few centars later,' Starbuck admitted
ruefully. He didn't regret the wonderful yahrens he had with Cassie,
and certainly not the birth of their daughter, he just wished it had
started differently and with not so many victims. Especially Athena.
He felt a knot in his stomach as he remembered the look on Athena's
face the next time he saw her after that incident. Granted, he was a
bit miffed that she had purposely burned him but the pain between his
legs didn't come close to the pain he saw in her eyes. He didn't know
what to say to her...so he didn't say anything. They never talked
about the incident. And after he had brushed her off on Carillon, they
barely talked at all. Not fore you doing here?! What right do
you have to be here?!'

	He turned and angrily started back towards the turbolift and the
pilots quarters that he knew he should've gone straight to in the
first place. He continued scolding himself as he walked along the
lower deck towards the barracks. 'You are just moving way too fast
bucko! You just broke up with Cass and you're automatically hovering
at Athena's quarters in the middle of rest cycle. She's not going to
take you seriously if it looks like you're on the rebound. Of course
she doesn't know my reasons for breaking up with Cass, but that
doesn't matter. Athena needs to know that my love for her is genuine
and that I'm ready to make the commitment to her that I should've made
yahrens ago.  I need to do more than just show up!'

	Starbuck entered the men's barracks and quietly made his way to the
turbowash to throw some water on his face and clean his teeth.
Afterwards he undressed and climbed into his bunk.  His body was
exhausted, but his mindsie only told me about
him last night."

	"I'm not sure if I should ask this but," Apollo
started, not wanting to pry but unable to deny his
curiosity, "why did she tell you about this last
night? Why not the other day when you decided to end
your relationship?"

	Starbuck opened his mouth to answer, then realized
that he really didn't _have_ an answer. "Ya know, I'm
not sure, to be honest. She was pretty nonchalant the
other day. I wonder if she had planned to keep it a
secret a while longer, maybe waiting 'til we had been
split up for while to introduce him."

	"That would make sense," Apollo theorized. "Nobody
would have known she had been having an affair. But
what troubles me is that she seemed pretty desperate
to tell you last night," he noted, remembering
Cassie's insistence on talking to Starbuck.

	Starbuck's mind was suddenly clouded with confusion.
Apollo was right. Cassie had all but demanded that
they speak the previous night. He remembered that he
had voiced regret that  sectons.

	After a while, they began smiling at each other in passing and
eventually began casual conversation. But they never discussed Cassie
or the launch tube. Eventually, they started meeting occasionally in
the Officers Club for drinks and had even attempted a romantic dinner
or two to try and rekindle some of what they had lost, but never with
a clear conscience.
'But you blew that opportunity as well didn't you?' his conscience
lectured him now. 'One woman wasn't enough for you. You thought you
were just so smart playing them both. What an idiot! You know, you're
lucky Athena even talks to you now. She didn't deserve the way you
treated her and now you're going to try and get her back? Good luck!'

	His guilt, frustration and battling emotions having consumed what was
left of his energy, Starbuck turned over on his side and closed his
eyes hoping for sleep to come and relieve him of his loneliness. As he
clutched his pillow, he sent a silent message of "sweet dreams" to the
woman wh still whirring with thoughts of the task
ahead. Convincing Athena of his true feelings was not going to be
easy. His proposal on the night of the Destruction had been sincere.
The most sincere he had ever been his entire life.

	'Of course nobody would believe that since you were caught in a
launch tube with Cassie a few centars later,' Starbuck admitted
ruefully. He didn't regret the wonderful yahrens he had with Cassie,
and certainly not the birth of their daughter, he just wished it had
started differently and with not so many victims. Especially Athena.
He felt a knot in his stomach as he remembered the look on Athena's
face the next time he saw her after that incident. Granted, he was a
bit miffed that she had purposely burned him but the pain between his
legs didn't come close to the pain he saw in her eyes. He didn't know
what to say to her...so he didn't say anything. They never talked
about the incident. And after he had brushed her off on Carillon, they
barely talked at all. Not forshe hadn't told him sooner and
she had claimed that she had been afraid of his
reaction. But that didn't explain why she had suddenly
decided to tell him now. Why she had been "desperate"
to tell him.

	It suddenly dawned on him that maybe she _hadn't_ 
planned to tell him right away, continuing to hide it
until some time had passed and she could make it look
like she and Brogan had just met.

	"Hmm, I give her credit for being able to hide it for
so long," Starbuck mused. "But I wonder if maybe
someone _had_ found out and she was afraid they were
going to tell me."

	"That would explain her behavior last night," Apollo
observed.

	"Yes, it would," Starbuck agreed, slightly perturbed.
He wondered how quickly the IFB would get a hold of
this one. Perhaps Athena would be spared this time if
the IFB gossip daggits found this little tidbit far
more interesting.

	"Ah well," Starbuck shrugged. "Nothing I can do about
it now. I'm glad she's found someone to make her
happy."

	Apollo smio's bed he hoped to be sharing soon. A bed that he didn't know
was empty at the moment.

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

	Athena stared at the monitor. "This is pointless," she mumbled. "I
can't concentrate at all."

	She had returned to the Tech Center after leaving Cassie's quarters
to continue analyzing the data she had been working with centars
before. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't keep her mind focused
on the task at hand. Instead, her thoughts wandered to the
developments over the past few days.

	'I can't believe they broke up?!' the shock of Starbuck and Cassie's
split catching up with her. 'I could've sworn that any centon I would
be attending a sealing ceremony... show's what I know. But how could I
have not seen this coming? Starbuck's my friend. We talk. Hell,
Cassie's my friend. She's never mentioned that they were having
problems.'

	Athena looked at the chronometer and realized that she had been at
the console all night again. She sighed. 'Girl, you really need a
life.' She sho sectons.

	After a while, they began smiling at each other in passing and
eventually began casual conversation. But they never discussed Cassie
or the launch tube. Eventually, they started meeting occasionally in
the Officers Club for drinks and had even attempted a romantic dinner
or two to try and rekindle some of what they had lost, but never with
a clear conscience.
'But you blew that opportunity as well didn't you?' his conscience
lectured him now. 'One woman wasn't enough for you. You thought you
were just so smart playing them both. What an idiot! You know, you're
lucky Athena even talks to you now. She didn't deserve the way you
treated her and now you're going to try and get her back? Good luck!'

	His guilt, frustration and battling emotions having consumed what was
left of his energy, Starbuck turned over on his side and closed his
eyes hoping for sleep to come and relieve him of his loneliness. As he
clutched his pillow, he sent a silent message of "sweet dreams" to the
woman whled and laughed to himself. It never ceased
to amaze him how resilient his friend was. But there
was still one question he had to ask.

	"What about Dalton?" he said softly.

	Starbuck raised his eyebrow. "What _about_ Dalton?"

	"Well, if this thing with Brogan is serious..."
Apollo implied.

	"Cassie and I are still friends, Apollo," Starbuck
assured. "I'm very comfortable with my relationship
with Dalton and I know Cassie has no plans to replace
me as her father."

	Apollo nodded. He wasn't going to push anymore on
that particular subject as it appeared that Starbuck's
mood was a bit better and he didn't want to rile him
up again with speculation on how Cassie's new love was
going to play in Dalton's life.

	Apollo hesitated slightly in asking his next
question. "So, should I ask what happened this
morning?"

	"This morning?" Starbuck jolted. Had Apollo heard
about the heated discussion with Athena in the
commissary?

	"You said that you had had a bad morning," Apollo
remindeok her head. 'No, you have a life... it's just not very
exciting right now. But considering the chaos of the past ten yahrens,
you should be happy about that.'

	Which brought her thoughts briefly back to the schematics on the
screen. This program she was designing would most certainly come in
handy if things ever did get exciting again, whether it be the Cylons
or a new race threatening their journey towards Earth.

	'If you can ever get the damn thing to work,' she reminded herself.
Almost on cue, a window popped up with the now familiar taunting
message, "Insufficient data to support this command".

	"Damn it!" Athena exclaimed as she slammed the keyboard with her
fist. She rested both elbows on the table and buried her head in her
hands, running her fingers through her long brown hair.

	'And what about this Brogan guy?! How long has that been going on?!'
Athena's thoughts once again turned towards more personal matters.  'I
thought that Starbuck and Cassie had only broken up a few dayso's bed he hoped to be sharing soon. A bed that he didn't know
was empty at the moment.

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

	Athena stared at the monitor. "This is pointless," she mumbled. "I
can't concentrate at all."

	She had returned to the Tech Center after leaving Cassie's quarters
to continue analyzing the data she had been working with centars
before. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't keep her mind focused
on the task at hand. Instead, her thoughts wandered to the
developments over the past few days.

	'I can't believe they broke up?!' the shock of Starbuck and Cassie's
split catching up with her. 'I could've sworn that any centon I would
be attending a sealing ceremony... show's what I know. But how could I
have not seen this coming? Starbuck's my friend. We talk. Hell,
Cassie's my friend. She's never mentioned that they were having
problems.'

	Athena looked at the chronometer and realized that she had been at
the console all night again. She sighed. 'Girl, you really need a
life.' She shod.

	Starbuck wanted to punch his fist through the
console. He had started off the conversation being
upset about Athena, then had been forced to remember
his talk with Cassie, and now was being thrown back to
his guilt and anger for what he had said to Athena.
This was all driving him crazy. 'There's just way too
much going on in my life right now,' he thought
angrily.

	He had already decided not tell Apollo about his
feelings for Athena but he wasn't sure whether he
should tell him about her dinner date with Reese.
Apollo disliked the security officer more than
Starbuck and Starbuck was pretty sure what Apollo's
reaction would be. But with the previous conversation
touching on loyalty, Starbuck realized he had no
choice.

	'Besides, if Athena's other choice was Reese, Apollo
had to find Starbuck a more favorable alternative,'
Starbuck thought with some amusement.

	"Well," it was Starbuck's turn to tread lightly.. "I
heard something this morning."

	"And that would be?"

	"Atheok her head. 'No, you have a life... it's just not very
exciting right now. But considering the chaos of the past ten yahrens,
you should be happy about that.'

	Which brought her thoughts briefly back to the schematics on the
screen. This program she was designing would most certainly come in
handy if things ever did get exciting again, whether it be the Cylons
or a new race threatening their journey towards Earth.

	'If you can ever get the damn thing to work,' she reminded herself.
Almost on cue, a window popped up with the now familiar taunting
message, "Insufficient data to support this command".

	"Damn it!" Athena exclaimed as she slammed the keyboard with her
fist. She rested both elbows on the table and buried her head in her
hands, running her fingers through her long brown hair.

	'And what about this Brogan guy?! How long has that been going on?!'
Athena's thoughts once again turned towards more personal matters.  'I
thought that Starbuck and Cassie had only broken up a few days ago but
maybe it happened a few sectars ago and they've just been keeping it
quiet?' she wondered.

	'What am I thinking...on this ship?', the realities of close quarters
reminding her that privacy was a luxury.

	'You're never going to get anything done if you're brain is
elsewhere,' she conceded. 'Hopefully things will stay quiet for
yahrens to come and we won't need any more defense programs.'

	Knowing that she was being overly optimistic, she sighed and turned
off the computer. "Just one more day of peace please," she whispered
to the console as she exited the Tech Center and boarded the turbolift
to the officer's deck.

	She had been given her own quarters a few sectars ago and was still
adjusting to it. It was nice being closer to her father's and
brother's quarters and the privacy was certainly a benefit she did not
take for granted.

	Yet, it was time's like these when she missed the companionship of
her former bunkmate, Rigel. They had had many good times together.
They both na sort of has a date with someone tonight,"
Starbuck alluded.

	Apollo rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure what had
annoyed him more, the fact that Starbuck was still
finding ways to involve himself with Athena or the
fact that she was still a topic for gossip.

	"Spit it out Starbuck," Apollo ordered.

	Noting his friend's tone, Starbuck quickly explained,
"Look, I wouldn't say anything except that I don't see
anything good coming out of this." He took a deep
breath and continued. "She has a date with Reese
tonight."

	A deafening silence followed.

	After a few microns, Starbuck broke in. "Apollo, you
still there?"

	"I'm hoping you're going to tell me that this is a
joke," replied a low, angry voice.

	"I wish it were," Starbuck cringed. "Believe me, I
tried to talk her out of it."

	"Athena told you about this herself?!" Apollo was
shocked that she would volunteer this information to
Starbuck, knowing that Reese was not a favorite of his
or Apollo's. 

	"Yeah, I ran into her i ago but
maybe it happened a few sectars ago and they've just been keeping it
quiet?' she wondered.

	'What am I thinking...on this ship?', the realities of close quarters
reminding her that privacy was a luxury.

	'You're never going to get anything done if you're brain is
elsewhere,' she conceded. 'Hopefully things will stay quiet for
yahrens to come and we won't need any more defense programs.'

	Knowing that she was being overly optimistic, she sighed and turned
off the computer. "Just one more day of peace please," she whispered
to the console as she exited the Tech Center and boarded the turbolift
to the officer's deck.

	She had been given her own quarters a few sectars ago and was still
adjusting to it. It was nice being closer to her father's and
brother's quarters and the privacy was certainly a benefit she did not
take for granted.

	Yet, it was time's like these when she missed the companionship of
her former bunkmate, Rigel. They had had many good times together.
They both had kept such irregular schedules that it wasn't unusual for
them to talk all through rest cycle, taking the opportunity to catch
up on each other's lives. Athena remembered how the conversations
would always end up on the subject of men. Neither one had had much
luck in that department over the past few yahrens.

	Then Rigel began dating Omega.

	Athena recalled teasing Rigel about the sweetheart's grin that had
become a permanent part of her face. Rigel would often return from a
romantic evening and burst forth every detail, often having to pause
to catch her breath.

	Athena entered her quarters and sighed. It had definitely been a
while since anyone in her circle of friends had taken the plunge. Over
the past few yahren, she thought for sure that Apollo and Sheba
would've been sealed. And Starbuck and Cassie for that matter. At one
point, she had thought that her relationship with Bojay had been
headed towards the altar. But it was the most expected pairings that
seemed to result in then the commissary," Starbuck
said, replaying parts of the conversation in his mind.
He was slowly regretting saying anything to Apollo. "I
don't know, Apollo," he interjected. "Athena said that
it wasn't a big deal. I might have jumped to
conclusions and made it more than it is."

	"I just can't believe that she would accept the offer
to spend any time with him socially," Apollo affirmed.
"He's never shown any interest in her before. I wonder
what he's hoping to gain from this."

	Starbuck's stomach lurched as he thought about the
possible answers to that question. While he knew that
these were only assumptions, Starbuck had known Reese
long enough to know that he was up to no good. 

	"I uh... sort of told her that he probably has some
underlying motives in asking her out," Starbuck
admitted sheepishly.

	Apollo couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll bet that went
over well," he expressed sarcastically
.
	"Let's just say she's not very happy with me right
now," Starbuck responded, the knotshad kept such irregular schedules that it wasn't unusual for
them to talk all through rest cycle, taking the opportunity to catch
up on each other's lives. Athena remembered how the conversations
would always end up on the subject of men. Neither one had had much
luck in that department over the past few yahrens.

	Then Rigel began dating Omega.

	Athena recalled teasing Rigel about the sweetheart's grin that had
become a permanent part of her face. Rigel would often return from a
romantic evening and burst forth every detail, often having to pause
to catch her breath.

	Athena entered her quarters and sighed. It had definitely been a
while since anyone in her circle of friends had taken the plunge. Over
the past few yahren, she thought for sure that Apollo and Sheba
would've been sealed. And Starbuck and Cassie for that matter. At one
point, she had thought that her relationship with Bojay had been
headed towards the altar. But it was the most expected pairings that
seemed to result in the biggest disappointments. 

	Thank the Lords, she thought, for Rigel and Omega. Their happiness
and commitment to each other had given Athena new hope that love still
existed and could still be in her future.

	It had been a beautiful sealing ceremony. Rigel looked every inch the
beautiful bride and Omega was the happiest Athena had ever seen him.
It was a welcome event on the Galactica as it had been a while since
there had been reason for celebration. Omega and Rigel were
high-ranking bridge officers, having proved themselves vital through
some of the most harrowing battles, and they were well liked
throughout the fleet. And they were loyal to Adama, a quality very
important to Athena.

	She no sooner fell onto the couch, when she noticed the light on her
com-unit blinking, indicating that she had messages. It reminded her
that she hadn't been in her quarters since she had left for the
Education Center the previous morning. She desperately wanted a shower
and some sleep.

	"Okay, let's  in his gut
tightening.

	"No doubt," Apollo acknowledged. "But she's going to
be no more happy with me once I have a little talk
with her."

	"Apollo, I really don't think that's a good idea,"
Starbuck winced. "She basically made the point to me
that she's a big girl now and can take care of
herself. She doesn't need us telling her what to do."
His reasons for detering Apollo were twofold. Not only
had he admitted that he had no right to interfere in
her life, but she would be even more ticked off at him
for telling Apollo and unleashing the overbearing big
brother on her.

	Apollo knew that Starbuck's point was valid, but he
couldn't help but still feel vigilance when it came to
his baby sister. Since her relationship with Starbuck,
Apollo had made himself a promise to stay out of her
personal life. Even when she had started dating Bojay,
an often times bitter rival, Apollo had kept his
opinions to himself. He wasn't surprised when that
liaison ended, but he never chastised her about biggest disappointments. 

	Thank the Lords, she thought, for Rigel and Omega. Their happiness
and commitment to each other had given Athena new hope that love still
existed and could still be in her future.

	It had been a beautiful sealing ceremony. Rigel looked every inch the
beautiful bride and Omega was the happiest Athena had ever seen him.
It was a welcome event on the Galactica as it had been a while since
there had been reason for celebration. Omega and Rigel were
high-ranking bridge officers, having proved themselves vital through
some of the most harrowing battles, and they were well liked
throughout the fleet. And they were loyal to Adama, a quality very
important to Athena.

	She no sooner fell onto the couch, when she noticed the light on her
com-unit blinking, indicating that she had messages. It reminded her
that she hadn't been in her quarters since she had left for the
Education Center the previous morning. She desperately wanted a shower
and some sleep.

	"Okay, let's see who called," Athena said aloud as she peeled herself
off the couch. One of the nice things about living alone was that you
can talk to yourself and not run the risk of being committed to the
psych-center by your bunkmate. She pushed the replay button and began
viewing her messages.

	The first message was from Starbuck.

	"Uh... hi! Just wondering if you were going to Bojay's party tonight?
Hope you are... I haven't seen you in a few days. Well, I've seen you
of course but uh... we haven't had a chance to talk much. Uh...
anyway... hope I see you sometime tonight. Bye."

	"Starbuck...," Athena responded aloud. "Well of course I'll be at the
party since you physically pulled me out of my chair and brought me
there. And I wish we had a chance to talk too but, as usual, you were
occupied. Oh well," she shrugged and continued to check her remaining
messages.

	The second message was from Cassie.

	"Hey Athena... um.... I really need to talk to you as soon as
possible. I'm pretty sure tha it.
And while he deemed this to be another poor choice on
her part, he had to consider the source by which he
was hearing about it. Apollo had to admit that it had
crossed his mind once or twice that Starbuck might
have some ideas of his own regarding Athena. While he
hadn't discussed Starbuck's break up with Cassie at
length, he had gotten the vibe that somehow Athena was
involved, if only indirectly. 

	"I suppose you're right," Apollo sighed. "She would
only see it as my berating her."

	Apollo thought further and a wry smile broke across
his face. "I could, however, mention something in
passing to Reese."

	Starbuck's eyes widened. "Like what?"

	"I don't know, just something subtle," Apollo
plotted. "Something that would get a definite reaction
if indeed his intentions are less than honorable.

	"Then I'll deck him," Apollo concluded.

	"And what kind of reading material would you like me
to bring you while you're in the brig," Starbuck
laughed.

	Apollo returned the chucklesee who called," Athena said aloud as she peeled herself
off the couch. One of the nice things about living alone was that you
can talk to yourself and not run the risk of being committed to the
psych-center by your bunkmate. She pushed the replay button and began
viewing her messages.

	The first message was from Starbuck.

	"Uh... hi! Just wondering if you were going to Bojay's party tonight?
Hope you are... I haven't seen you in a few days. Well, I've seen you
of course but uh... we haven't had a chance to talk much. Uh...
anyway... hope I see you sometime tonight. Bye."

	"Starbuck...," Athena responded aloud. "Well of course I'll be at the
party since you physically pulled me out of my chair and brought me
there. And I wish we had a chance to talk too but, as usual, you were
occupied. Oh well," she shrugged and continued to check her remaining
messages.

	The second message was from Cassie.

	"Hey Athena... um.... I really need to talk to you as soon as
possible. I'm pretty sure that you want to talk to me too after
tonight. He's pretty cute huh? Well, please come by and see me
sometime tomorrow, the sooner the better. Good night."

	"Yeah Cassie, I'll BET you need to talk to me as soon as possible."
In the corner of the monitor, Athena noticed the time of the message
having been recorded in the late hours of rest cycle. "Huh... looks
like I wasn't the only one who didn't get any sleep."

	The third message was from Lieutenant Commander Tigh asking her to be
on the bridge a centar early for her shift.

	Athena sighed. "Oh well, so much for a nice long nap. That's okay
though... I suppose I can catch up on my sleep after my shift."

	Last message.

	"Hey babe, sorry I missed ya but I guess you had fun at Bojay's
party. I'd have gone myself but I was on duty until late. You know how
it is. Lookin' forward to tonight though...catch ya later."

	"Reese!" she exclaimed, covering her face with her hands. "I totally
forgot that we have a date tonight!" She started to eras, more at himself than the
situation. He shook his head and sighed. The more
things change, the more they stay the same.

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

	Upon reentering the commissary, Athena caught a wily
eyed Paxton teasing her from behind the bar. Jokingly,
she tiptoed over to the counter and cautiously looked
to both sides of her. 

	"Is it safe to come back?" she whispered playfully.

	Paxton immediately rewarded her with a new chocojava.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear the
conversation earlier," he blushed. "And while I hate
to admit it, Starbuck did mean well."

	"He always does," Athena acknowledged, taking a big
drink of the hot beverage. "He just hasn't yet learned
the art of tact."

	"Very true," he agreed. "But I think he knows that
now."

	Athena put down her mug and eyed Paxton thoughtfully.
"Oh?"

	Paxton squirmed uncomfortably. "Again, I apologize. I
kind of said something to him when you left."

	Athena couldn't help but smile. "What did you say?"

	Rt you want to talk to me too after
tonight. He's pretty cute huh? Well, please come by and see me
sometime tomorrow, the sooner the better. Good night."

	"Yeah Cassie, I'll BET you need to talk to me as soon as possible."
In the corner of the monitor, Athena noticed the time of the message
having been recorded in the late hours of rest cycle. "Huh... looks
like I wasn't the only one who didn't get any sleep."

	The third message was from Lieutenant Commander Tigh asking her to be
on the bridge a centar early for her shift.

	Athena sighed. "Oh well, so much for a nice long nap. That's okay
though... I suppose I can catch up on my sleep after my shift."

	Last message.

	"Hey babe, sorry I missed ya but I guess you had fun at Bojay's
party. I'd have gone myself but I was on duty until late. You know how
it is. Lookin' forward to tonight though...catch ya later."

	"Reese!" she exclaimed, covering her face with her hands. "I totally
forgot that we have a date tonight!" She started to erase the previous
messages. "And what's this 'babe' stuff? We haven't even gone out on
our first date yet! Besides, I can't imagine what kind of date it will
be if I can't stop yawning through it. But hey... who needs sleep?!"

	Athena decided that a shower was more of a priority and, as she felt
her stomach growl, perhaps some food. One thing was for sure, some
java was definitely in order.

	She made her way towards the turbowash, hoping that the rushing spray
would clear her head as well as clean her skin. She sighed as the
water gently ran over her body, both relaxing and refreshing her.  So
much had happened in the past twenty-four centars, her mind was
swimming and she needed to organize her thoughts before going to the
bridge.

	She wondered how much longer it would take to complete the program
she was working on and whether to involve Boomer and Starbuck. How was
Boomer feeling this morning? Apollo and Bojay as well for that matter?
She had seen them all pound down a few at the party aealizing that she wasn't angry with him, Paxton's
tension eased a bit. "It wasn't anything much," he
explained. "I basically told him that he didn't have
any right to interfere in your life or pass any
judgements on you."

	"Paxton, I could kiss you," her smile widened.

	A bashful grin played it's way over Paxton's face and
his face blushed further. "I really didn't tell him
anything that he didn't know already."

	"Maybe so," Athena replied. "But it's been a long
time since anyone has defended me like that and I
appreciate it a lot. Thank you."

	"My pleasure," he offered. 'If I were only a few
yahrens younger,' he thought.

	"Besides, I should have never gotten upset or run out
of here in the first place," she scolded herself. "I
wasted a perfectly good chocojava."

	"Plenty more where that came from," Paxton exclaimed
as he began filling another order for one of the
servers.

	"Thank Kobol, I'll certainly be needing it," she
mumbled.

	"Did you not get enough sleep last nighte the previous
messages. "And what's this 'babe' stuff? We haven't even gone out on
our first date yet! Besides, I can't imagine what kind of date it will
be if I can't stop yawning through it. But hey... who needs sleep?!"

	Athena decided that a shower was more of a priority and, as she felt
her stomach growl, perhaps some food. One thing was for sure, some
java was definitely in order.

	She made her way towards the turbowash, hoping that the rushing spray
would clear her head as well as clean her skin. She sighed as the
water gently ran over her body, both relaxing and refreshing her.  So
much had happened in the past twenty-four centars, her mind was
swimming and she needed to organize her thoughts before going to the
bridge.

	She wondered how much longer it would take to complete the program
she was working on and whether to involve Boomer and Starbuck. How was
Boomer feeling this morning? Apollo and Bojay as well for that matter?
She had seen them all pound down a few at the party and grinned at the
thought of her brother letting his hair down. A rare sight indeed. Did
he, hopefully, spend some of the evening alone with Sheba? And what
was Sheba getting at with all her innuendoes about Starbuck and
Cassie? Starbuck and Cassie.

	Athena quickly ran her fingers through her hair in hopes of washing
that thought from her mind. The last thing she needed was to get
caught up in that situation. She still hadn't seen Starbuck since she
had visited Cassie the previous cycle and met her current beau. For
some reason, Starbuck had chosen not to talk to Athena about the
recent break-up and she hoped that she wouldn't run into him before he
found out. She didn't want to be the one to tell him but knew that she
couldn't keep such a secret from him either. Even if Cassie was her
friend, Athena's friendship with Starbuck ran a lot deeper.
	
Athena growled to herself and said aloud, "Stop thinking about this!"

	She picked us a towel and began to rub her head vigorously, both to
help ?" he asked.

	If there hadn't been so many other ears about, Athena
might have admitted that she hadn't gotten _any_
sleep. But she didn't want that kind of news getting
back to Tigh and she had already promised herself that
she would catch up on her sleep over the next couple
of days.

	"I've just got something I'm working on and it's
driving me crazy," she confided.

	"Oh?" Paxton finished the order and came back over to
her, resting his arms on the counter in front of her.
"Anything I can help with?"

	"Not unless you know anything about the inner
workings of computer defense systems," she retorted.

	"Now that you mention it..." he responded flatly.

	Athena's eyes widened and she nearly choked on her
java. "Are you kidding me?"

	"Most people don't know this," he said softly and
moved forward. "I used to work at The Citadel on
Caprica. I worked in it's defense research section for
over fifteen yahrens."

	Clearly stunned, Athena asked, "Why did you leave?"
 
	"From what yond grinned at the
thought of her brother letting his hair down. A rare sight indeed. Did
he, hopefully, spend some of the evening alone with Sheba? And what
was Sheba getting at with all her innuendoes about Starbuck and
Cassie? Starbuck and Cassie.

	Athena quickly ran her fingers through her hair in hopes of washing
that thought from her mind. The last thing she needed was to get
caught up in that situation. She still hadn't seen Starbuck since she
had visited Cassie the previous cycle and met her current beau. For
some reason, Starbuck had chosen not to talk to Athena about the
recent break-up and she hoped that she wouldn't run into him before he
found out. She didn't want to be the one to tell him but knew that she
couldn't keep such a secret from him either. Even if Cassie was her
friend, Athena's friendship with Starbuck ran a lot deeper.
	
Athena growled to herself and said aloud, "Stop thinking about this!"

	She picked us a towel and began to rub her head vigorously, both to
help dry her long hair and again to employ another method of ridding
her mind of thoughts she knew were a detriment to her. She needed to
keep her mind clear and ready for whatever Tigh had planned for her
today.

	It was not unusual for her to be called to the bridge early these
days, nor for her to leave long after her scheduled shift was over.
Since being promoted to Major a few sectars ago, Lieutenant Commander
Tigh had unofficially made her his assistant and was taking advantage
of the current lull in Cylon activity. Adama had approved the idea of
taking some personal time off from the bridge and allowing Tigh to
command with Athena by his side. Adama knew that Tigh was heavily
favored for the Presidency of the Council and that he was grooming
Athena to take his place once the seat was vacant.

	For Athena's part, she didn't mind the long centars. She had been
more excited about the last promotion than any other before. To have
Tigh personally take her under his wing was an honor in itself. Su're telling me, I think you know the
answer to that already," he smiled and returned to his
comfortable stance. "Lots of frustration, very little
sleep."

	"Definitely," she concurred.

	"But while I've been much happier in _this_ line of
work," he gestured to his current surroundings, "I
would be happy to help you if I can."

	"I would greatly appreciate it Paxton," Athena
replied. Now she leaned forward and, in a soft voice,
added, "I haven't shared this idea I've been working
on with anybody. I was kind of afraid that it would
get taken out my hands and given to one of the
engineers."

	"My lips are sealed," Paxton promised. 

	Having employed his trust, Athena began explaining
her ideas for the new defense program and the problems
she was encountering with it. Having little time to
discuss it in detail, they made plans to meet later
and he would help her to work out the kinks.
Unfortunately, Athena has gotten so excited at the
prospect of finally finishing the project, she had
dry her long hair and again to employ another method of ridding
her mind of thoughts she knew were a detriment to her. She needed to
keep her mind clear and ready for whatever Tigh had planned for her
today.

	It was not unusual for her to be called to the bridge early these
days, nor for her to leave long after her scheduled shift was over.
Since being promoted to Major a few sectars ago, Lieutenant Commander
Tigh had unofficially made her his assistant and was taking advantage
of the current lull in Cylon activity. Adama had approved the idea of
taking some personal time off from the bridge and allowing Tigh to
command with Athena by his side. Adama knew that Tigh was heavily
favored for the Presidency of the Council and that he was grooming
Athena to take his place once the seat was vacant.

	For Athena's part, she didn't mind the long centars. She had been
more excited about the last promotion than any other before. To have
Tigh personally take her under his wing was an honor in itself. She
enjoyed the days where she would spend the first cycle as teacher and
the last as student. And while she had been a bridge officer for over
twelve yahrens, it never ceased to amaze her all the new things she
learned from Tigh everyday.

	Athena giggled somewhat in embarrassment as she admitted to herself
the other reason why her promotion was so sweet. For once in her life,
she was the same rank as Apollo. Of course she knew that Apollo was
due for a promotion at any time, as was Starbuck and Boomer, but she
was going to relish this moment of being an equal in rank, no matter
how short-lived it was.

	After drying her hair and putting on a fresh blue uniform, Athena
left her quarters and made her way towards the turbolift and the
commissary. A good hot cup of java would finish what the turbowash
started and hopefully get her in gear for what was promising to be
another long day.

	The corridors were bustling as usual for this time of morning and
Athena greeted the faces that passed. Theforgotten the reason Tigh has sent her back to the
commissary in the first place and she had neglected to
get anything to eat.he
enjoyed the days where she would spend the first cycle as teacher and
the last as student. And while she had been a bridge officer for over
twelve yahrens, it never ceased to amaze her all the new things she
learned from Tigh everyday.

	Athena giggled somewhat in embarrassment as she admitted to herself
the other reason why her promotion was so sweet. For once in her life,
she was the same rank as Apollo. Of course she knew that Apollo was
due for a promotion at any time, as was Starbuck and Boomer, but she
was going to relish this moment of being an equal in rank, no matter
how short-lived it was.

	After drying her hair and putting on a fresh blue uniform, Athena
left her quarters and made her way towards the turbolift and the
commissary. A good hot cup of java would finish what the turbowash
started and hopefully get her in gear for what was promising to be
another long day.

	The corridors were bustling as usual for this time of morning and
Athena greeted the faces that passed. They had all become so much a
part of her now that she felt a great loss whenever one of them was
suddenly taken away. She entered the commissary and approached the
liquistation where a another familiar face greeted her with a warm
smile.

"I just knew that my morning would brighten up," the blond captain
charmingly uttered.

	"I must admit this _is_ a pleasant surprise," Athena responded,
returning the smile. "I can't recall the last time I saw you in here
this early." Being a regular morning customer, the station server on
cue delivered a steaming chocojava in front of her and her eyes
brightened in gratitude.

	"Apollo wanted to go over some viper modifications he's been
experimenting with before we went on patrol," Starbuck explained. "But
something tells me that I woke up early for nothing."

	"Well I know that I left before the party was over, but I wouldn't be
surprised if he takes an extended nap on patrol today," she smirked,
acknowledging her brother's overindulgence.

	"I'm actu