"Hey."

Apollo didn't look up as he felt Starbuck sit beside him on the bench. "Hey yourself."

"What's wrong, Apollo?"

"Nothing." He felt Starbuck's arm slide around him, but still didn't move at all from his hunched over position. His hand against his eyes blocked out the rest of the world, preserving the momentary illusion of solitude and safety.

"Felgercarb." Starbuck shifted closer. "You've been acting really weird lately, and today I find you hiding out in the agroship. Not that there's anything wrong with the agroship, in fact I don't mind a bit of fresh air and a change of scenery myself. But you didn't even bother to tell anyone where you were going."

"I'm off duty, does it matter?" Apollo considered shrugging off Starbuck's arm and moving away, but gave up the idea as too much effort. He knew well Starbuck's persistence.

"It matters to me. Look, Apollo- I know there's something bothering you, and I want to help. Will you let me?"

Apollo removed his hand from his eyes long enough to focus on his best friend's face. The earnest, pleading expression Starbuck wore was familiar from long acquaintance. He smiled slightly, then looked away again. "I have no doubt you want to help, Starbuck, but I don't think you can. I'm not even sure what's wrong."

"Now that's very unlike you." Starbuck squeezed his shoulders. "C'mon, Apollo- this is me you're talking to, remember? I know you better than anyone, and I know that you always have a handle on the situation. So tell me what it is."

Apollo fought off another irrational urge to explode. Instead, he turned his head and rested it on Starbuck's shoulder. "Shit's really getting to me," he muttered. Starbuck rubbed the back of his neck.

"Which shit? Would that be the Sheba shit, or the work shit, or just the general shit?"

Apollo chuckled. "Just the general shit, I think- all of it, rolled into one. I think I'm going to explode. Ever have an emotional overload before?"

"Frequently." Starbuck's fingers ruffled his hair, and Apollo sighed. That felt so good... "Usually involving you, Cassie, or Athena."

"Me?" Apollo sat up, but didn't resist when Starbuck pulled him close again. "I haven't given you any trouble in yahrens!" He felt a wide grin stretching the muscles of his face, a welcome sensation after so much tension.

"Maybe that's the trouble, Apollo- maybe we just haven't gone off alone together and just had a good time in far too long."

"I thought we agreed that-"

"That it was too much of a hassle to try and hide things on the Battlestar. Yes, I remember. But that doesn't mean we didn't have a damn good time together."

"That we did." Apollo slipped an arm around Starbuck's waist. "Maybe you're right- I damn sure would rather be with you than the bitch."

"Always knew you had good taste." Starbuck kissed the top of his head. "Tell you what- how about you clear us for a couple days of leave?"

"Why? There's nowhere to go."

"Ah, now that's where you're wrong, old friend." He could hear the smile in Starbuck's voice. "Right after you disappeared, the advance scouts reported that we've found an inhabited planet. Initial reports indicate it's a resort world."

Apollo raised his head and looked at Starbuck with hope. "Resort world?"

"Yeah- kind of like Carillon, without the Cylons. And this one's legal, so it isn't hidden on a dead world. What say we go check this place out? Just you and me for a couple days, no bitches or crabby-ass pilots, or any of this damn felgercarb that's been getting you down."

Apollo felt a faint urge to decline based on his duty, but it was buried under a rush of desperate desire to get away from the fleet. "Really? You think we could pull it off?"

"I think we could get away for a couple days, yes." Starbuck smiled and stood up. "Come on, let's go."

"Now?" Apollo hesitated, caught by surprise.

"Yes, now. Come on!"

"Well... okay!" Apollo felt some of the stress drain from his tense shoulders with just the promise of a break. "We'll have to stop by the duty office so I can enter our leave. You sure you want to risk this?"

"Risk? What risk? I don't give a shit what people say anymore. What I do give a shit about is you. If you don't get rid of some of this stress of yours soon, you're going to kill someone."

"You noticed?" Apollo grimaced and rose.

"I noticed. You may think you've been dealing with your problems well, but the rest of the pilots are walking on eggshells these days."

Starbuck led the way back to the shuttle. Apollo followed in a state of nervous anticipation. Life really had been getting to him too much lately.

They flew to the Galactica long enough to register their leave time, then Starbuck took the helm of the shuttle and headed for the new world, known as Ophidia.


The room was decadent beyond belief to eyes accustomed to the austere decor of the Galactica. It was dominated by a vast canopied bed, hung with heavy burgundy velvet drapes. The walls were covered in elegant hangings, thick carpets made the floor a delight to walk on, and a heavy opulent scent permeated the air. Apollo looked around in wonder and took his flight jacket off, flinging it casually across a chair. Behind him, he heard Starbuck's indrawn breath of surprise when he turned from locking the door. "I'm feeling better already," he said with a smile.

Starbuck peeled out of his jacket as well. "Now how can that be?" he asked, in that sultry you're-about-to-get-laid voice Apollo remembered so well. "I haven't done anything yet." He wrapped his arms around Apollo and kissed him gently.

Apollo slid his hands up Starbuck's back and leaned into the kiss. It felt good to be back in Starbuck's arms again. He felt a warmth unfolding in the pit of his stomach, spreading slowly throughout his body. This felt good, it felt right... "Starbuck," he murmured. "Are you sure we should be doing this?"

"Of course, Pol." He slipped a hand up under Apollo's shirt. "Why do you say that? It's not like we had a bad break up and hate each other, or anything."

"I know- that's the problem." Apollo smiled and traced the lines of Starbuck's face. "I think if we go through with this, I might not be able to let you go again, deal or no deal."

Starbuck's eyes grew serious and his hands paused in their re-exploration of once-familiar territory. "Did you ever think that maybe that's how it should have been, all along?"

"Just the two of us together? Yes, I've thought that all the time." Apollo stole another intoxicating kiss.

"Then quit worrying and let's try out that gorgeous bed back there."

Apollo threw back his head and laughed, spinning Starbuck around in an excess of exuberance. They tumbled together, laughing, into the welcoming embrace of the vast bed. Starbuck landed on top and pinned Apollo's arms to the bed with a maniacal laugh.

"I've got you now, my pretty!" he cackled in an overdone imitation of an evil being from a children's tale. Apollo struggled in mock fear.

"Oh no! I'm caught! Whatever is going to happen to me now?" He couldn't keep the smile from his face, ruining the effect of his terrified struggles against Starbuck's hold.

"I've got you now! And I'm going to ravage your body, and make every bit of you mine-" Starbuck's voice dropped to an intense whisper. "-and I'm never going to let you go." Then he kissed Apollo with urgent need.

"I'm okay with that-" Apollo gasped, before speech became impossible.


Later, much later, Apollo woke to the familiar and comforting feel of Starbuck sprawled on top of him. He stroked the blond hair, which shone in the moonlight spilling through the curtains neither man had thought to close. "I love you, my Starbuck," he whispered. "And I hope you meant what you said, because I think letting you go this time would just about kill me. Before it was hard, yeah, but necessary. Now- damn. It may be necessary, but I don't think I could do it..."

Starbuck smiled in his sleep and snuggled closer. "Love you, Pol," he murmured. Apollo sighed happily and convinced himself that this time everything would work out just fine. No damn social conventions were going to get in the way of two people in love, not this time!

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