Lee let his words hang in the air before one of the few people he cared about in the world. He had just given Kara free reign to walk all over him. Not only that, but he had lied to her when he said he would just be there for her if she needed him. No way could he stand by and let her stay the way she was, drowning herself in whatever happened on Caprica. Lee knew he would end up pushing her until she opened up.

But now was not the time to make her talk. "Anyway, whenever you want to talk, just let me know."

Lee rose, feeling as if his words had both made their point and completely failed to connect. He was a few steps closer to the exit when her voice called him back.

"What was that middle part again?"

Lee's heart jumped a little at the tone of her voice. It might not be the same as before she had left, but suddenly there was a small hint of the old Kara. That, in addition to the fact he had no fraking clue what she was talking about, made him feel like things were returning to normal. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

Kara's face scrunched up as she asked, "Did you say you love me?"

Lee froze up at her words, and his memory started racing. Had he really just said… oh frak. "Well, um--"

"Lee Adama loves me."

She made it sound like a second-grade crush. "No, all I meant was--"

"No, seriously, very sweet. You love me."

Her eyes were shining with glee. Lee figured that was the only reason all he could manage was a nervous laugh. Kara must have picked up on his discomfort because she went on the defensive. "No, you love me. You can't take it back. There's no take-backs."

Now it definitely sounded like a schoolboy crush, Lee decided. It was time for him to stop this before it ended in hair-pulling or something equally juvenile. "You're dreaming it, Kara." he said, turning to make his way out of the equipment locker.

Kara's voice called out to him in a sing-songy tone. "You love me."

"You're dreaming it," he called over his shoulder. He knew she could hear the smile in his voice.

"You love me."

"Dreamer," he yelled.

Lee was about to turn the corner and leave when he heard her let out a deep breath. Something that hadn't occurred to him before. That was what made him turn around and walk back into the room. He saw Kara was still standing on the bench, pyramid ball clutched in her hands. She looked at him in confusion, and he knew he was changing their normal routine by coming back for more teasing.

Too bad she didn't know she was about to have the tables turned on her.

"Why do you care so much?" he asked, tilting his head as he tried to read her reaction.

Kara's face went pale. "What do you mean?"

"You seem so determined not to let me take back the fact that I told you I loved you. Why is it so important?"

She hopped down off the bench and shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Lee."

Lee fought the urge to smack her. He hated when she held up this double standard for him. He had to be open and honest with her, but gods forbid he asked the same in return. The odd thing was he knew exactly what was holding her back. "Kara, I'm not going to take back what I said even if you explain why it matters so much to you."

"It doesn't matter," Kara said, shaking her head. She started that infuriating bouncing once more.

"Come on," Lee prodded.

Kara caught the ball in her hand, and Lee could feel the shift come over her. They were done with the nice portion of the conversation. Now it was time to move on to the part where they said hurtful things they could never take back. "Maybe it's because you've been such a hard ass since you came on board Galactica. Every day, it's a constant reminder that you were never supposed to be a part of this. You've had this holier-than-thou mentality when it comes to flying and pretty much everything else our job entails. I've been scolded time and again by you for not doing my job right, for caring too much about things that would only stand in my way, but then I'm only a pilot to you, aren't I, Lee? That's why I find what you said so surprising. To know that you actually care for me as something other than just another asset you have to your advantage is a milestone, sir."

Lee stared at her a moment, letting the sudden hatred he felt flow through him, before shaking his head. "That's not it, Kara, and you know it." He turned on heel and left her with the knowledge that he could see right through her bullshit. The rhythmic pounding of the pyramid ball against the wall started up almost immediately. He could hear the violence in her throws as her emotions revealed themselves in the only way they knew how.

It was at times like this that he wondered if loving Kara Thrace was a complete waste of time.