BSG Fic - Part Three -- "zero-dark-thirty"

[somedaybitch]

1137 words
rating: the letter after Q, for language
spoilers: Helo/Boomer.....post episode 13
disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica, NBC/Universal, not mine, blah blah blah
summary: zero-dark-thirty....the shadows between midnight and dawn

you can find Part One here.

and Part Two here.

x-posted to bsg_creative


___

"Would you excuse us, Starbuck?"

Helo had to give the captain points for trying to sound polite. The energy those two were expending to keep themselves in check in front of him could fuel a battlestar. He looked from one to the other, both nearly oblivious to his presence. Something about the look on Apollo's face, the way his jaw was clenched, bothered Helo. He didn't know the CAG, other than by reputation, but he knew trouble when he saw it and his current emotional state didn't bode well for a friendly chat. The tension could be the unresolved issues between Apollo and Starbuck, or it could be from whatever the captain was here to say. Either way, Helo wanted backup, even if that backup was Starbuck and it could very well land him in the brig. At least the sheets were clean.

"Starbuck stays," Helo said firmly. He added a belated, "Sir," after seeing the CAG twitch.

Helo watched Apollo's jaw work as the man moved to secure the hatch and wondered how he had any back teeth left. Apollo stayed at the hatch for a long moment, his back to them. Helo threw Starbuck a "what's going on?" look and all he got back was a shrug. Apollo took a deep breath and then turned to look at Helo.

"There hasn't been time for a debrief." Apollo paused.

Helo took advantage of the pause and interrupted. "How is the Commander, sir?"

"He's…still here," Apollo said hoarsely, then closed his eyes. Helo darted a look at Starbuck and saw her defensiveness fall away as her deep feelings for both the Old Man and his son took over. Apollo cleared his throat and looked at Helo with genuine concern. "How about you, Lieutenant?"

Helo couldn't help but respect him. "I'm doing okay, sir."

Apollo took in the boxing gloves and the condition of Helo's hands and smiled wryly. "I can see that."

Helo returned the smile briefly and then, feeling sorry for the man, decided to push the dance along. "What was it you wanted, Captain?"

Apollo shot a quick glance at Starbuck before he spoke. "I was outside earlier. I…heard."

"I'm fine, sir." Helo said stiffly.

"Look…Helo." Apollo stopped, walked deeper into the room and put himself between Helo and Starbuck. "I can't pretend to know how this feels for you, but I know it can't be easy. I just think, maybe it would be better if you gave yourself some space before you tried to talk to…her."

"Lee," Starbuck growled.

"Stay out of this, Kara," he warned over his shoulder. Apollo turned his attention back to Helo. "You've been through a lot and it's not going to get any easier."

Helo was starting to get a bad feeling about where this was going. "How's that, Captain?"

Starbuck crossed the room to stand beside Helo. "Not now, Lee. Don't do this now."

"And later's better?"

"Damn it, Lee, he just got home."

Apollo snapped, getting right in Starbuck's face. "And brought a frakking Cylon with him, Kara!"

Helo looked from one to the other. "I'm standing right here."

"She didn't shoot your father, Lee."

"You're not helping me, Starbuck," Helo warned.

Starbuck and Apollo shared a hard look. "She may as well have," Apollo said bitterly.

Helo stepped in front of Starbuck. "Whoa, hold it right there, Captain."

"They aren't the same person, Apollo," she argued, shouldering her way around Helo.

Apollo's whole body stiffened. "You're defending a Cylon now?"

Helo was done being ignored and the subject matter was more than he could handle. He stepped between them and shoved them roughly apart, not even caring that they were both his superior officers. "Will you two shut up!"

His yell shocked them out of their private battle. "I appreciate the concern, Captain, really, but with all due respect, that call's not yours."

Apollo stared at Starbuck for a long moment before turning to answer. "Actually, Lieutenant, yes it is."

It was Helo's turn to walk the edge. "Excuse me?"

"She's a threat to the fleet. That makes it my call."

Helo moved to stand toe to toe with Apollo. "If you hurt her…" He left the sentence unfinished but the look of barely contained fury on his face made the implied threat very clear.

Apollo's eyes hardened. "Step.back."

Helo heard Starbuck's sharp intake of breath, felt her hand on his arm in warning, but he was being pushed too far too fast. "That woman is carrying my child."

"That woman is a Cylon," Apollo hissed. "Forgetting that could get us all killed. Now, step.back."

Helo held Apollo's eyes for a long, tense moment before he backed off, two men, no rank. This discussion wasn't over and they both knew it, but now wasn't the time. Now was about him not getting arrested. There was too much of that going around.

"She saved my life, Apollo," Helo said wearily. "She could have turned me over to the Cylons at the spaceport but she didn't."

Apollo sighed. "You can't trust her, Helo. You know that."

Helo walked away, afraid to be too close to his CAG. "All I wanted was to get off that frakking planet but she made us go to the museum, said we had to take the Arrow of Apollo with us because it was the only clue to Earth." Reaching the punching bag, he stopped to look at Apollo, struggling to make the man understand. "Why the frak would she do that if she was still with them?"

"I won't risk what's left of the human race," Apollo replied quietly.

Helo felt himself losing what little control he had left. "And you think I will?"

He watched Apollo inhale deeply, fighting for his own calm before replying. "I think you're too close to see this clearly."

Helo bit back his reply, reminding himself that Apollo losing his father was still a very real possibility. He rubbed a hand across his face, suddenly feeling very old. He took a deep breath and thought a short prayer to the Gods for help. "What are you telling me, sir?"

Apollo glanced at Starbuck briefly. A look that Helo couldn't translate passed between them.

"I'm telling you to stay out of Sickbay, Helo."

Helo closed his eyes. "Is that an order, sir?"

At the sound of footsteps, Helo opened his eyes. Apollo was standing in front of him.

"Does it need to be, Lieutenant?"

Helo sighed. "No, sir."

"Get some sleep," Apollo said softly. "Both of you." He and Starbuck exchanged another look before he left, closing the hatch behind him.

Helo scrubbed his face with both hands before looking at Starbuck. "That was fun."

She smiled wryly. "So, drink?"

He laughed. "Gods, I've missed you."

"Who doesn't?" She threw him a cocky smile.

"Nice. You're buying."

____

Comments

[its-elle.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmm, Helo fic *thud* Helo and Apollo *double thud*

Just lost my train of thought there, sorry, hehe I think I wanted to praise you but forgot. Helo does that for me. Thanks. Great read *g*

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

anything for my favorite seamstress.