First Meetings by Jana Meyer June 4, 1998 Ila smothered a laugh when she saw her husband throw the lighter down in frustration. "Adama," she said when she was finally able to talk, "just use the gas lighter." "No," Adama said, "I promised you an old fashion fire in this old fashion fireplace--and that's what you're getting." "You're making a mess," she pointed out. "I'll clean it up," he promised. "Look, for the past secton, all I have been able to think of is you and an evening in front of this fireplace--and a way to get the kids out of the house for the evening." "Well, I took care of that." "Yes, you did." Ila's mother was taking a secton long trip off planet--and somehow, Ila had convinced her to take the children with her. So they had his whole furlon to be together--alone--something that hadn't happened since before Apollo's birth. "Now, I'm going to take care of the fire." "You picked a good night for it," Ila said, glancing out the window. It was a cold night for Caprica--probably one of the coldest they would have all yahren--and the rain that was falling seemed to have some ice mixed in with it. "There we go," Adama said happily as the fireplace glowed. He turned to Ila, wrapping his arms around her. "Come here you." "I've missed you," she said as she kissed him . . . ***** The Caprican sun was streaming through the window when Ila woke up. She stretched and turned over to find Adama smiling at her. "Good morning," he said. "Good morning," she replied, kissing him lightly on the lips. "You hungry?" "A little," he admitted. "I'll go fix us some breakfast. What do you want?" He caught her hand as she started to get up. "Stay here," he said, "There's no child here who has to eat right now." "Oh, yes there is," she said, grinning at him. "Me, I'm starving." He laughed and let go of her hand. He watched her as she found here robe and put it on. "I'll help you," he offered as he started to get up. "Oh, no you don't. You're not getting the opportunity to make as big a mess in my kitchen as you did in the den. You're going to go clean the fireplace up." "Yes, ma'am," he said saluting her. She laughed and shook her head as she left the room. Adama got up and began dressing. He was pulling his boots on when he heard her scream his name. As he ran out of the room and down the stairs, he heard the door to the back patio open. "What's wrong?" he asked as he rushed outside--surprised how cold it was--bitterly cold for Caprica. "By the Lords--" he breathed as he moved over to where Ila was kneeling. Huddled in the corner of the patio was a young boy. "I think he's been here most of the night," Ila said as Adama picked the child up and carried him into the house. "He's lucky he didn't die out there after the storm we had last night," Adama commented as he laid the child down on the couch. Ila knelt beside the couch. "Go get some blankets, we've got to get him warm," she said. "Right," he got up and moved towards the hall, then stopped. "Ila? Where--" She didn't let him finish. "Hall closet, upstairs, second shelf." Adama was back in a centon and they tucked the blankets around the boy. "I'm going to call Mryhe," Ila said, moving to the vidscreen. Mryhe, Ila's sister, was a doctor and lived a couple of houses down the road. Adama got a good look at the child for the first time. He was Apollo's age-maybe half a yahren or so younger, his hair a light blonde. His features were definitely Caprican. He was way too thin for his height and age. His left eye was bruised, an ugly dark purple that Adama could tell was fairly recent while there was a lighter colored bruise on his left jaw that was older. "Mryhe's on here way," Ila said. "She said to keep him warm until she gets here. The roads are a little icy, so it might take her longer than usual." "We should probably get him into some dry clothes, "Adama suggested. "I'll go get some of Apollo's clothes--they'll be too big for him, but they're better than nothing." Adama turned back to the boy as he heard Ila run up the stairs to Apollo's room. He was surprised to see his eyes open--looking at him somberly. The boy flinched as Adama moved. "It's okay," Adama said soothingly. "I'm not going to hurt you. My name's Adama. Can you tell me yours?' "No. If I do, you'll send me back," his voice was hoarse. "I'm not going back." The boy started to sit up. Adama restrained him, gently he thought, and was surprised when the boy gasped in pain. "Don't please." The terror in the child's voice was evident. "Don't what?" Adama started to ask when Ila came back into the room. She smiled at the boy. "Well, blue eyes," she said, "you're awake. How about we get you into some dry clothes." The boy shook his head "No, I've got to go, please, he'll find me if I stay here." Ila knelt beside the couch. "Who'll find you? The person who did this?" she asked gently, her hand almost touching his cheek the way she did with her sons, but then drawing back as he moved away from her. "I'm going to let anybody hurt you." His eyes filled with tears as he looked at her, she could tell he was trying to decided whether or not she was telling the truth. "Promise?" he asked. "Yes, it's a promise," she assured him. "And the Lords help anyone who tries," Adama said. "What's your name?" Ila asked. For a micron, Adam was sure he was going to refuse to tell her. "Starbuck," he finally said. ***** Myrhe got there about ten microns later. She tried to get Adama and Ila to leave, but Ila held firm. "He needs me here," Ila said stubbornly. Mryhe sighed. "Okay, stay here then. Adama--" "I'll go make breakfast," he offered. Adama piddled around the kitchen for fifteen microns. He wasn't used to not being in charge of something. He was a major in the Colonial Service--and flight officer of the Galactica. He was not used to just sitting back and letting others take command. He decided to fix his children's favorite breakfast. Surely all children liked Libran griddle cakes. Myrhe came into the kitchen, shaking visibly. "What's wrong?" Adama asked. "What's wrong?" she repeated, her voice low and tinged with anger. "I'll tell you what's wrong. I've seen captured pilots returned from the Cylons with less bruises than that little one in there has. He's covered with bruises and welts--" "Welts? From what?" "A strap of some kind, maybe a belt. He won't say a word about how he got them--just says he fell. What kind of animal does that to a child?" "Myrhe, calm down." "I am calm," she snapped at her brother-in-law. "Whoever did this to him has him scared to death. He's afraid this person will be here any micron. I'm going to call child services. What are you fixing?" "Libran griddle cakes. That's all right, isn't it?" "Yeah, we need to get some nourishment into him. I'm afraid he's going to end up very ill on top of everything else from being outside in the cold last night." ***** Ila tucked the blankets back around Starbuck. "Are you any warmer?" she asked. "Yes, ma'am." "Such good manners," she said brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Are you hungry?" "A little," he admitted. "Good. I think Adama's making his famous griddle cakes--at least, that's what it sounds like from all the noise he's making. Of course, to tell you the truth, I'm not so sure he knows how to fix anything else. But what he can fix are wonderful, the children look forward to him coming home just so they can have them." "Where are your children?" "On Taurus, with my mother. Have you ever been there?" "I've never been off Caprica." "Well, this is my children's first trip off world. I have two boys and a girl. The oldest is about your age, I think. How old are you?" "Nine and a half." "Apollo's ten. I'll bet you're both in the same grade though, he just turned ten." "I haven't been in school for a while. Rinad won't--" he shut up quickly, his eyes big and frightened as if he were afraid he had said too much. "Who's Rinad? Your father?" Ila sighed softly when he didn't say anything. "Please, Starbuck, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, but I can't help you if you don't tell me everything." "He might make you--" "Nobody's going to make me do anything." "Rinad's my foster father," Starbuck said after a micron. "Foster father? Where are your parents?" "Died at Umbra, I guess. That's what I've always been told." "I'm sorry." Starbuck shrugged. "I don't even remember them, why should I care if they're gone?" Ila could hear the pain behind the brave words. "So this Rinad doesn't send you to school?" "Doesn't let me go. See, he's got five other foster kids besides me. Three of them too young to be in school. He wants me to take care of them." "Where's your foster mother?" He shrugged again. "We only see her when the agent comes by to check on us. She and Rinad split the credits then she leaves again." "How does he get out of having you in school? All children are supposed to go." Starbuck was quiet a micron then looked away from her. "He tells them we live too far away. He says he teaches us himself." "But they have to test you--once a yahren." "They don't care what happens to us. The agents are so busy they just come by to make sure we're still alive and that's all." "Have you ever been to school?" "The foster parents I had before Rinad sent me to school. But then they had a child of their own and didn't want me anymore." "How long have you been with Rinad?" "About three yahrens." "Can you read?" He nodded. "Caprican, mostly, but a little bit of Standard and Leon." Ila looked at him impressed. "" she asked him in Leon. "" he replied. Ila smiled at him. His pronunciation was a little off, but for someone who was teaching himself, it wasn't bad. "Why'd you pick Leon?" "Because of the Academy there. I'm going to be a Warrior when I grow up. I thought maybe I could get in there." "What's wrong with the Caprican Academy?" He dropped his eyes. "Aw, I could never get in there. You either have to have really good grades which I won't have or you have to know somebody to get in there." Ila sighed again, thinking about her sons. They were both assured to get into the Academy, so many generations of Adama's family had gone there, and with her own grandfather being a former president of Caprica there was no question of it. But she didn't think that it meant as much to them as it would to Starbuck. "If it's what you want, Starbuck, I'll make sure you go to the Caprican Academy." He looked up at her. His eyes told her that he had been lied to by adults all his life--promises made that had never been kept. He had seen a lot to be so young. "You want to tell me how you ended up on my patio?" she asked gently. He was still trying to decide if he could trust her, she could tell. Finally he nodded. "Yeah, I'll tell you." His foster father had come home two day ago drunk. Rinad had flown into a rage when he walked in and saw two of the children fighting. Rinad had hit him. Starbuck had tried to stay away from him the rest of the evening, but after the five younger ones had gone to bed, Rinad had started beating him again. "After he went to bed, I snuck out of the house." "Where were you heading?" "Anywhere away from Rinad." "So, you've spent the last two nights outside? In this cold?" Adam walked in carrying a tray. "Okay, I didn't know which topping you would like--so I'll have to go back to the kitchen, but this is something to get started on." He then named a few toppings. "And that's all we have here, unfortunately. Which will it be?" "I don't know, I've never had any of them." Adama looked at Ila. "Why don't we try the mixed berry then?" he said. "I'll make some up." Ila took the tray from Adama and set it on the table. She handed Starbuck a glass of fruit juice. "Here, drink this, all of it. When did you eat last?" "Yesterday morning." From the kitchen, they heard glass shattering and Adama swearing. Ila noticed Starbuck jump and flinch at the sound. "It's okay, he just dropped something," she said. She sat down on the couch beside him and hugged him. She felt him go stiff in her arms, then finally start to relax and hug her back. "It's okay," she said again as she held him, rocking him and stroking his hair, "it's okay. I'm not going to let anybody hurt you like that again." "Is he asleep?" Mryhe asked when Adama and Ila walked into the kitchen. "Yes, he ate as much as he could. I think he's developing a fever though," Ila said. "I'll give him some medicine before I go. Maybe we can catch it before it gets bad. I talked to child services." "What did they say?" "Well," Mryhe started, "they said a Rinad reported him as a runaway two days ago. They wanted to return him--" "No," Ila protested. "He's not going back there." "Take it easy. That's what I told them. And when I got finished cataloging his wounds. They agreed. They're going out there to take a look at the other five. They said Starbuck could stay here if you agreed to temporary guardianship." "We will," Ila said firmly. "Ila--" "There's no discussion in this, Adama." "Ila, we already have three children." "And what's one more? Adama, you didn't hear what he told me. He's got bruises on him that no child should have. I have two boys, I know what kind of injuries they get--you don't get the kind he has by playing. Besides, you're barely ever here anyway." Before Adama could say anything, Mryhe stepped in. "Ila, they said temporary guardianship. They're not going to let you keep him." "Why not?" "Besides the fact that Adama's gone most of the time, as you just pointed out, you already have three children. They're going to say that's too many." "You mean child services would rather have him in a home--no, that's not a home, in a house where someone beats him. Never mind the fact that this Rinad had six foster children." "Child services was under the impression that there was also a foster mother. Now, if you convinced Adama to leave the service, they might let you, but I would still doubt it." "Look, nothing's going to happen for a couple of days. He can stay here until they finish investigating this," Adama said. "Maybe by then, we can find somewhere for him." ***** Later that evening, Adama shut off the vidscreen as Ila walked into the kitchen. "How is he?" he asked. Ila shrugged. "I can't get him convinced Rinad's not on his way over here." "You want me to try?" "No. I think he's a little scared of you. It's not you, Adama, he probably sees you like Rinad. He's not had too many people in his life be nice to him." "That bad?" She nodded, her eyes pained. "How can anyone hit a child like that, Adama? I've been talking to him all day--he's very bright and he's got a great sense of humor--when he lets it show. But he's never been able to be a child. I just hope this Rinad's not broken his spirit." "On a better note, I just talked to Gawr." Gawr was an old friend of Adama's, they had served together on the Galactica until Gawr had been injured severely in a Cylon attack. He had received a discharge and was living on Caprica. "About?" Ila prompted. "Gawr said if you can get their paperwork pushed through, they'll take him. Seems he and Doreen have been trying to get a foster child for a couple of yahrens now." Tears filled Ila's eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to get their paperwork pushed through. I'll even remind people who my grandfather was if it makes a difference. Adama, that would be wonderful. They've wanted a child for so long. I know they wouldn't hurt him like this." "And it would make you feel better too, being able to see him?" "Yes, it would. I've promised him a lot today, Adama. I just want to make sure I follow through on them." ***** "Adama?" Ila yelled. Adama sat straight up in the bed. He was used to being woken by an alarm klaxon, not his wife. For a micron, he didn't know where he was. "Adama, he's gone," Ila said running into the bedroom. "What? Ila, it's the middle of the night, how could he be gone?" "I don't know," Ila replied as she was getting dressed. "I went to check on him and he's not there." "Have you checked the rest of the house--" "Yes, I checked the rest of the house. He's not here. Adama, we have to find him. It's colder tonight than it was last night." "Well, he couldn't have gone far," Adama said as he got up and began dressing also. "I'll take one road, you take the other." ***** Centons later, Adama found him--at the spaceport. Adama was surprised that a child alone in the middle of the night hadn't attracted some attention. Starbuck was standing at one of the window watching the shuttles take off and land in the darkness. "Planning a trip, Starbuck?" Adama said as he walked up behind him. Adama didn't miss the way the boy jumped at the sound of his voice. "You're going to send me back, aren't you?" Starbuck asked, turning around. "No, not back to Rinad. That's something you don't have to worry about. Child Services took his license away. You'll never have to see him again." "Then where? I heard you two talking earlier. You don't want me." At that micron, for the first time, Adama realized that he did want to keep him, wanted to keep him safe. "Yes, we do. But we can't. But I've got two friends who do want you." Starbuck shook his head. "No, they'll just send me to an orphanage. You only get so many chances a foster homes, and now that I've run away--" "What?" Adama prompted when his voice faltered. "Now they'll never let me into any of the Academies." "Yes, they will. Ila will make sure they understand why you ran away," Adama assured him. "Besides, the Academy is a long time from now for you. Why don't we go back to the house?" "No. They've lied to me before. I'm not going back to Rinad." "I give you my work as a Warrior that you won't be going back to Rinad," Adama said solemnly. Starbuck looked up at him in surprise. "You're a Warrior?" Adama nodded. "I'm a pilot." Adama saw a smile slide across his face. "That's what I want to do," he said. "Well, come on," Adama said, extending his hand, "let's go see my viper." Starbuck looked at him uncertain for a micron, then took his hand and followed him. "You flew it down here?" "Faster than taking a shuttle, she's in here," Adama opened a door and they stepped into a hanger. "She's the new model, the R-54." "Well, I'm impressed. You've been doing your homework." "You're stationed on the Galactica." "How'd you know that? " "The Galactica's the only ship that has this model, she's the test ship." "Mmhmm--and that's classified information. How'd you get it?" Starbuck shrugged. "I read it somewhere. I read a lot when Rinad's not home." "I'll make a deal with you, Starbuck, you come home with me tonight, agree to meet my friends who want to meet you, and give them a chance, and I'll take you up in it--tomorrow when the weather's better." Adama could see the offer was tempting to him. Finally, Starbuck nodded. "Okay, you've got a deal." ***** Adama wondered where Ila was. He had called her from the spaceport and told her they were heading home. They had been back several centons and she wasn't here yet. Adama had wanted to put Starbuck to bed, but Starbuck insisted he wanted to see Ila to apologize to her for scaring her. Once they sat down on the couch, Adama realized what his true intentions were--to quiz Adama about flying and the viper. So, Adama started telling Starbuck his stories--the ones he had told to his sons as bedtime stories for yahrens. It wasn't long until Adama realized Starbuck had fallen asleep leaning against his arm. Moving carefully, Adama picked him up, surprised at how light he was and carried him up to Apollo's room. Starbuck woke up briefly as Adama laid him down. "No," he protested weakly, "I want to stay up." "No, you don't. You can't even keep your eyes open. Now, go back to sleep. And we'll go flying in the morning," Adama said soothingly. "Want to stay up," he said again as his eyes drifted close again. Adama watched him sleep for a few microns. Ila was right, how could anybody hurt a child? He found himself wishing they could keep him. He sighed and turned to the door, surprised to see Ila standing there. She looked at Starbuck for a micron then at Adama. "Where have you been?" he whispered as they walked out of the room, pulling the door halfway closed. "I snuck in the back. I heard you two talking and didn't want to disturb you. I wanted you to show him that not all men are like Rinad." "We're going flying in the morning." Ila rolled her eyes at the news. "Oh, no, you've converted another one," she joked. ***** Three sectars later . . . Ila picked the bowl up and walked to the foot of the stairs. "If all of you do not get down here right now," she threatened, "you're not going swimming today." She smiled as she walked towards the patio--hearing the sounds of many feet bounding down the stairs. It had been three sectons since that morning she had woken up and found Starbuck on the patio. She had not seen him once since he went to live with Gawr and Doreen. Child Services had asked her to wait awhile before trying to see him again--give him a chance to get used to his new home because they could see how attached he had become to her. Ila thought about him ever so often--wondering how he was. Several times, she had been tempted to call Doreen and invite them over. But she didn't want to force a friendship between him and her sons. Mom," Apollo, her oldest son, said as he walked out onto the patio, "can I ask a friend to go with us today?" "Sure who is it?" "He started at school about a secton ago. His name's Starbuck." Ila smiled. "Yes, Apollo, that would be fine, just fine." The End