It was dark.

But not a frightening dark. No, this was a comforting, cozy type of dark, warm and welcoming. Starbuck drifted into it peacefully. Part of him could still hear Apollo calling out to him, pleading with him to stay, but it was too late for that. He could let go now, knowing that Apollo loved him- it made him feel so free, so happy. He drifted beyond the pain, beyond the horrific effort to talk. He couldn't feel the fire in his rib, or the extreme shortness of breath, or the rock in his throat, or the pressure in his head- all he could feel was warm contentment. Apollo loved him. He didn't hurt anymore.

He was happy.

A strange feeling roused him- a feeling like someone staring at him. Why is someone staring at me? Aren't I dead?

He catalogued the sensations beginning to reach his confused mind- felt like he was back in his body, and that his body was rather sore. He made a supreme effort and cracked an eye open. Light made him wince, which woke pain, which confirmed the fact that he was in his body again. He opened both eyes, to find Apollo staring at him.

"Starbuck!" Apollo's green eyes lit from within. Starbuck smiled, or tried to- his face felt stiff. Apollo looked awful, all covered in bruises and scrapes. But he was smiling, and there, and alive.

"Apollo," he croaked, throat unbelievably sore after the abuse it had received. "Told you I would stay..."

Well, not strictly true- he hadn't tried to stay. But Apollo didn't need to know that. Right now, Starbuck was convinced that Apollo knew too much already.

"Thought I'd lost you for a while there." Apollo was nearly as hoarse as he was. "After finally finding you..."

"Um. Yeah." Starbuck coughed and turned away. He was in the Life Center- in one of the semi-private rooms, he thought. He couldn't be too bad off- there were no monitors hooked up to him anywhere, so his pain must all stem from relatively minor injuries.

"You okay?" Apollo was instantly concerned.

"Yeah. Just- tired, okay?"

"I suppose. You going to move in with me?"

"What?" Starbuck's eyes popped back open and he turned to face Apollo again, this time ignoring the pain enough to prop himself up on one elbow and really look at his old friend.

"You heard me." Apollo still had a hint of a smile around his mouth, but his eyes were serious.

"Pol- I can't-"

"Can't what?" A flash of hurt crossed the battered features.

"You don't mean that, you don't want me to-" Starbuck collapsed back against the bed. His arm couldn't support his weight anymore.

"Starbuck." Apollo sighed. With a struggle and much muffled cursing, Apollo worked his way into an upright position. He eyed the distance between the two beds dubiously, then stood and took the two steps seperating them, to sit on Starbuck's bed. He leaned over the lieutenant, supporting himself with a hand by the pillow and looking directly into the wide, frightened blue eyes. "I meant what I said- just now, and before."

"But- you can't, what about your father?" Seen at close range, Apollo's bruises looked even more painful. They were almost completely overshadowed, though, by the fire blazing in his eyes. Starbuck was transfixed, unable to look away.

"My father will just have to deal with it. And, before you say it, I already had a talk with Boxey. He was overjoyed."

"What?" Starbuck blinked. He noticed Apollo's arm quivering, saw the strain on his face as he tried to remain upright.

"You've been out- frack!" Apollo's arm gave out, and he collapsed on top of Starbuck, who tensed. Apollo sighed. "Ah, well- I wanted to be here anyway." He pulled his legs up onto the bed, shoving Starbuck gently to the side. "You were out for a long time," he continued, making himself comfortable on top of Starbuck, who forgot to breathe.

"I- I was? And you did?" Starbuck knew he wasn't making much sense, but the feeling of Apollo on top of him was very distracting. Tentatively, he raised a hand and began stroking Apollo's hair.

Apollo sighed, eyes closing for a moment in pleasure. "That feels good. And Boxey was very happy when I told him you were going to come live with us."

"You said that, hmm?" Starbuck smiled, a half-smile that didn't hurt his face. He wasn't too sure what to do now- after all, he'd only told Apollo the truth before because he'd been ninety nine percent sure he wouldn't get out of that rockfall alive. Leave it to the old Starbuck luck to win out against unbelievable odds... "Why, Pol?"

Apollo shifted a bit closer somehow. "I thought we went through all that before. I love you. I need you. And I know you feel the same. Why should we bother to hide it?"

"Because of what people will say." Starbuck was feeling his own resistance crumble, worn down by a sense of wonder. This was Apollo here, his Apollo, laying across his chest and not objecting to having his hair played with... Starbuck convinced his other arm to move, wrapped it around Apollo. His Apollo, who loved him.

"Damn people. I've tried to let public opinion influence me before- look what it got me. Serina. Sheba. Boxey- I don't mind having him around, though. But be damned if I'm going to give up on you just because people still cling to antiquated views about men living together and having a sexual relationship."

Starbuck's heart leapt. Yes, he really had just heard that. "Apollo- did you just say antiquated?" he teased, to cover up the jolt that had given him. "You're probably the only man I know who can use words like that in a sentence without getting laughed at."

"Says you. I have a feeling you'd be laughing if your throat wasn't so damn sore." Apollo raised a hand to Starbuck's face, with a tender smile. "You still haven't answered me, or given me a good reason why you shouldn't move in with me."

Starbuck twisted his head to get a better look at Apollo. Those green eyes, only inches away from his own, offered a promise of love and acceptance. "Reason, huh? No reason- except I'm kinda scared, Pol. I honestly didn't think I was going to come out of that mine alive."

Apollo's eyes closed, and he tightened his hold on Starbuck. "Don't say things like that, Bucko. You're alive, I'm alive, I think we've agreed that we love each other- so quit giving me so much felgercarb and move in with me."

A light, giddy feeling swept over Starbuck, and he laughed. "Well, when you put it that way... sure."

Apollo sat up again. Starbuck dropped his hands away, instantly paranoid that he'd made a mistake. But no, Apollo was smiling broadly at him, bending closer...

"Then we'll seal it with a kiss," he whispered, microns before their lips met.

A brief moment of eternity later, Apollo pulled away with a sigh. Starbuck felt a grin spreading itself across his face, and scratches be damned. Apollo laid back down, making himself comfortable in Starbuck's arms.

"I've waited a long time to do that," he said. "And now- I want to be here with you. If Salik tries to make me go back to that other bed, then screw him."

"I'd rather not, thanks, Pol." Starbuck smiled and threaded his fingers back through Apollo's hair. This really was happening. This really was real.

"Good..." Apollo's voice was sleepy, content. Starbuck felt him relaxing into sleep.

I guess I'll just have to get used to this, Pol, he thought, rather fuzzily. Still can't believe you want me...

And then there was no more thought.

A few centons later, Dr. Salik opened the door on his normal rounds. He saw the two warriors sprawled together across the single bed and smiled. Everything was all right here.