Apollo couldn't concentrate at all on his classes that day. He'd not gone back to bed, but the problem wasn't that he was tired- the problem was that they'd made him leave Starbuck. At least they'd let him spend some time with his friend, once they'd gotten him patched up. And Lords, what a mess he'd been! Stitches here, cracked ribs there, quite the nice break in his collarbone- the doctor had been outraged. True, the technology was available to heal the bones in mere microns, but the fact that it was necessary in the first place really upset him. There'd been even more fuss when Apollo told them that Starbuck had applied to the Academy and been accepted. They'd wanted to know why he wasn't a student, why he lived on the streets, why hadn't Adama sponsored him... Apollo felt a bit guilty, because even the Commandant of the Academy had gotten involved and was rather peeved with Adama for not trying harder. But then, so was Apollo.

Rescue came in the form of a message from the infirmary, requiring his presence immediately.

"Sorry," he said, with a fake smile, as he showed the note to his Basic Tactics instructor. The man merely grunted and waved him on.

Apollo ignored regulations and ran through the hallways until he reached the infirmary. He paused briefly to catch his breath, then went in.

"Ah, there you are, Cadet Apollo!" The medtech at the desk smiled when he entered the room. "Your father wanted you here."

Apollo's jaw dropped. "My father's here?"

"Yes, in with Starbuck." The tech indicated a closed door.

Apollo went to the door and knocked on it. "Come in," called a voice from inside. He opened it to find his father standing beside Starbuck's bed.

"Hello, Dad," Apollo said, trying to get a good look at his friend without being rude to his father. Adama smiled a little and stepped out of the way, allowing Apollo to see a much improved Starbuck.

"Son, it seems I owe you an apology."

"You do?" Apollo nearly lost his jaw in shock.

"Both of you, in fact, but I've already made my peace with Starbuck. I forgot about an important law, and I'm sorry. If I had remembered, then none of this would have happened."

Apollo was unused to seeing his father look humble and guilty. Usually that was his job... "What law?"

"The one that states that a child over the age of fourteen has reached the age of discretion, and is legally entitled to enter into contracts pertaining to their future with or without the consent of a legal guardian- contracts such as schooling or apprenticeship in a trade."

"You mean-" Apollo felt a wild bloom of hope within him.

"He means he sponsored me!" Starbuck broke in, face shining. "They let me into the Academy, and I don't have to go back out there and get the shit beat out of me again!"

"Watch your mouth, Starbuck," Adama said, then laughed. "And remember, I'm your commanding officer now, Cadet."

"Yes, sir!"

Apollo felt ready to explode. He hurled himself at his father and hugged him hard. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you!"

"You're welcome, son. I'm just sorry I didn't realize this sooner and spare Starbuck the pain."

"It's all right, sir. It all came right in the end." Starbuck couldn't seem to get the grin off his face.

Apollo transfered his attention from his father to his friend. "You are going to room with me, right?"

"Is that wise, Apollo?" The concerned parent in Adama surfaced, although there was a twinkle in his eyes. "I thought you disliked having a roommate because of the lack of privacy and how difficult it is to study."

"Aw, come on, Dad- it's different with a friend like Starbuck. And besides, you know he'll need help catching up, and we'll probably be in the same classes anyway-"

Apollo realized he was being teased when his father laughed at him. "Actually, son, the arrangements are already made. We're just waiting for the doctor to release Starbuck before we get him his uniforms and finalize his schedule. Am I right in assuming you'll be willing to do an orientation tour for him?"

"Of course!" Apollo sat on the bed next to Starbuck. "This is just so awesome! I am so glad you called me last night, although I wish you hadn't been hurt..."

"Yeah, so do I. But it worked out good, didn't it?" Starbuck lost his smile when he looked at Apollo up close. "Da- uh , darn, Apollo- looks like someone hit you, too. You need to get some sleep or something."

"Yeah, right!" Apollo grinned. "Like I could really sleep now. Very funny."

Just then the daytime doctor entered. "How are you feeling, Cadet?"

"Fine," both boys answered at the same time. They grinned at each other.

"I'll just look you over then, and we'll see about getting you out of here." Apollo got off the bed and let the doctor at Starbuck.

The doctor ran a scanner over Starbuck, making satisfied sounds. "Well, looks like you're as healed as modern medical science can make you. Now see that you keep yourself in one piece, Cadet."

"Can I go now?" Starbuck asked eagerly.

"Yes, I think so." The doctor smiled and turned to Adama. "Now if you'll just sign these papers for me..."

"All right!" Starbuck started to get up, then froze, sheet clutched around his waist. "Um... Apollo, could you find my pants for me?"