SERIES: Lee Adama Steps Up – Part 1 of 4

Title: Colonial Day

Pairing: Lee/Kara

Rating: M (NC-17)

Disclaimer: I don't own it, really. I know, it's hard to believe that a poor grad student with no Hollywood connections wouldn't own this amazing franchise, but alas, that is the sad truth.

Summary: Takes place during/after the episode "Colonial Day" Season 1

A/N: So, here's the deal. I've been thinking about some pivotal moments in Lee and Kara's relationship lately and I got this idea: What if, at any of those moments, Lee had stepped up to the plate?

What if he hadn't abandoned her during the dance? What if he'd gone after her after the bunkroom scene in "Scar?" What if he'd confronted her after learning of her marriage to Anders on New Caprica? What if he'd turned down the post on the Quorum and traveled with her on the Demetrius?

As a result, I decided to write each of these little scenarios. And this is the first one. It takes place during and after the "Colonial Day" episode in Season 1. It's two parts.

I suspect that the others, save the one on New Caprica, will be one to two parts as well. The New Caprica "Lee Steps Up" is already shaping up to be a multi-chapter, heavy AU fic, so strap yourselves in for that one kiddies!

I really hope you like these fics and my little "what if" imaginings. So much of the angst in their relationship could have been avoided if Lee had just put on his big boy pants and taken a stand. But, that's Lee and that's Lee and Kara and we love them regardless.

Please read and respond, as comments are food to the fic writer and I've been very hungry lately. I'm not sure when I'll get to the others, although the "Scar" one has pretty much written itself, but I haven't committed it to computer yet, so it'll take a bit. I'll hope you'll stay with them.

Yours in Lee/Kara Shipp-iness,

TamSibling

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Lee had been certain this would never happen. He had never thought he'd have Kara this close, her hand in his, his hand on her waist, her cheek resting against his as they swayed lazily to the music being piped through the lounge's speakers.

He had just never thought—no, never allowed himself to hope—that he and Kara might one day get to this place. The place where recriminations and snark and insults took a backseat to enjoying one another's company.

To say he'd been surprised to see her dressed up to the nines, make-up and hair and a dress that highlighted every curve she owned, offering him the very tangible image of his own Aphrodite, would be an understatement. So, of course, he'd said something stupid about her knees, which had not been the body part that grabbed most of his attention. But she'd smiled and winked and given a little shimmy of her hips and then Lee had pulled her onto the dance floor and there they had stayed for the last six songs. And if Lee had anything to say about it, they'd stay for the rest of the night.

The music changed, switching from one slow song to another and Lee breathed a silent sigh of relief. He really didn't want a reason to pull away from Kara; to lose the feel of her soft skin against his, or the way her body fit perfectly along his. Instead, he pulled their joined hands into his chest and pulled her just a tad closer.

Kara sighed and he felt her breath brush past the shell of his ear. He fought the shudder that raced through him, wondering how far this night might go. Wondering if he should take her appearance and her willingness to dance with him as anything more than just Kara getting dolled up for the party.

It seemed they had been dancing around this for the past few weeks. In truth, they had been dancing around it long before. There had always been something between him and Kara, even when she was with Zak. Neither of them had ever acted on it, ever admitted to it, but Lee felt it every time his gaze met hers, every time they shared a laugh, every time he gave her a quick peck on the cheek or a hug. Their connection was more than just physical attraction, more than just two people sharing similar interests—their connection was lodged somewhere deep in Lee's soul and he knew that to be without Kara, to truly lose her, he'd lose a large piece of himself.

But could he take the risk? Could they? Their friendship was strong, stronger now than ever, but if they crossed that last line, if they allowed their unspoken attraction to give way to something real, would they survive it? Lee figured there was a fifty-fifty chance that he and Kara would either be absolutely perfect or destroy each other in a brilliant explosion.

He liked those odds.

She sighed softly again and Lee concentrated more on staying in the moment. With hand splayed against her lower back, he guided her around the dance floor assuredly.

"What do ya think, Captain? We gonna get in trouble for breaking regs?" she murmured, a teasing lilt to her voice that brought a smile to Lee's lips.

"Nah, I'm just dancing with my best pilot." He brushed his lips against her temple and then brought them to rest right at her ear. "One of the perks of the job."

She snorted slightly with laughter and leaned back to meet his gaze, eyes sparkling. Lee's breath caught in his chest at her unbelievable beauty. "For you or for me?"

Lee tilted his head to the side as if considering and then answered with a grin, "How 'bout we call it a draw?"

Kara's smile deepened and she nodded. "Deal."

Just as Lee was about to pull her close once more, he heard the soft sound of someone clearing their throat. "Uh, excuse me?"

Lee suppressed the immediate groan he felt and turned to face the speaker, Kara doing the same.

Doctor Gaius Baltar, newly elected vice president, gave them both an oily grin, nodding in Kara's direction, before again addressing Lee. "I wonder Captain, if I might cut in?"

His hand immediately tightened its hold on Kara's. No, she's mine, you slimy, insane, sex-starved bastard, he wanted to scream. But years of military protocol and not a little common sense kept him from uttering those exact words.

"Well, it's up to Kara," Lee answered instead, turning to face her with a tight smile on his features. Say no, say no, say no, he chanted in his head hoping Kara might miraculously hear him.

Instead she looked from Lee to Baltar and back again and then gave the doctor the biggest and most fake smile Lee had ever seen. Baltar, however, not knowing Kara Thrace even one sixteenth as well as Lee, assumed she was truly happy to switch partners.

"Of course, Mr. Vice President," she said cheerfully, offering Lee's hand a quick squeeze before slipping out of his arms and stepping toward Baltar. Flashing her gaze back to Lee, he saw a hint of panic as she added, "I guess that would be the proper thing to do."

Lee nodded once, holding her gaze, trying to tell her silently that he'd be back. Kara seemed satisfied and allowed the doctor to take her hand. Lee watched closely as Baltar put his arm around Kara and had to choke back a laugh at the way she locked her arms to keep the good doctor from getting too close.

That's my girl, Lee thought and headed off the dance floor, stopping abruptly as he hit the edge. My girl? Really? When had he begun to think of Kara that way? Lee headed towards the bar, feeling a deep need for a stiff drink. He didn't know if he had the guts to act on these feelings that were apparently growing stronger by the second.

Tonight would be the perfect time, right? They weren't on duty, they weren't in any immediate danger, thank the Gods. This was supposed to be fun, a break from all the hell of the past few weeks, a reminder that life and home and tradition were still valued in the face of such unbelievable tragedy.

He ordered a shot of ambrosia and downed it quickly.

"Better take it easy there, son."

He startled slightly as his father leaned beside him on the bar, nursing his own drink. "I'd hate to have to throw the CAG into the brig for drunk and disorderly."

Lee was glad he'd already swallowed, because he was sure he would have choked on his drink, as his father would have far more reason to throw him in the brig for breaking the frat regs.

"I promise to not get carried away," he answered instead, turning to look over the room, his elbows leaning back on the bar. His father mirrored his posture and they stood that way in silence for a few minutes.

Of course, Lee's eyes immediately found Kara. He could see the slight tension in her shoulders as she danced with Baltar. He smirked. He hadn't felt any tension in her body when she'd been dancing with him.

He stiffened for a moment as the doctor leaned toward her, whispering something in her ear that Lee knew had to be inappropriate. But with a small laugh, Kara leaned back from him, reaffirming her personal space. Lee turned back to the bar and ordered another, downing it just as fast as the first before gazing back at the party.

"She looks beautiful tonight." His father's gravelly voice wasn't difficult to hear despite the din that surrounded them.

Like a magnet, Lee's eyes were back on Kara, watching the way her dress flowed over her body, tracing the lines of blue chiffon tied at her wrists and up her back. He had a brief flash of standing before, undoing those ribbons, dropping kisses onto her exposed skin. The thought colored his cheeks and he straightened, trying to distract himself for that train of thought.

"Yes, she does," he answered, eyes still on Kara and the vice president, who was still trying to dance too close.

Lee stared at them for a few more seconds and then felt the intense gaze of his father. Glancing quickly to his side, he noticed the commander was indeed studying him. It made him decidedly uncomfortable.

"What's going on between the two of you, son?" Bill leaned closer and Lee slanted his eyes away, having no idea how to answer the question.

"I don't know what you mean, dad. Kara and I are—"

"Friends, yes, I know. So you've told me often enough." Adama's eyes drifted back to the dance floor and Lee followed his gaze finding Kara once again front and center in his attention. "But I think there's more to it than that. And I'm wondering why you can't admit it?"

Mouth agape, Lee turned to his father. He blinked once, twice and then finally found his voice. "Why? There are a million reasons why Kara and I can't be together," he stated, lowering his voice as he realized someone might overhear. "If there was something between us, it would be the worst idea ever to act on it. Surely as my commander you agree with that?"

His father nodded solemnly, edging closer to him and placing a hand to his arm. "As your commander, I do." Lee felt his heart sink to his feet. He'd known that would be his answer, but it still disheartened him to know he could never act on his feelings for Kara.

"But as your father," Adama continued, giving Lee's arm a slight squeeze. "I honestly can't think of anything I'd like more than to see my two children happy."

The sound of Kara's laugh reached them and both men were drawn to the sound, finding her radiant and dazzling in the middle of the floor. "And something tells me that you can make her happy, son."

Gods, Lee wanted that to be true. "Dad, there's just—"

"I'm fully aware of the obstacles, Lee." His father's voice drifted away and Lee caught sight of his gaze that was now firmly resting on their president, standing amidst a circle of advisors. "I know it's difficult, I know there's a history there, but son."

His father turned back to him and Lee saw genuine concern shining in his eyes. "But I'd hate to think you missed out on something because you were afraid." Lee swallowed hard, suddenly finding the decking at his feet very interesting. His father clapped a hand to his shoulder and bent close to add, "Sometimes, you gotta let your instincts take over."

He gave the shoulder a rough squeeze before pulling away, heading over to where the president was still sequestered with a group of officials. Lee watched him go, once he was certain the red color in his cheeks had faded somewhat.

Could it be that easy? Act on instinct? It was not Lee's normal way of being. His father knew that, Starbuck knew that—hell, most of the fleet knew that. By-the-book Apollo who never broke a rule, never flouted regulations, never did anything that could even be construed as out of line.

Except when it came to Kara. His eyes guilty drifted back to her like a moth to the flame. The music had picked up and he was glad to see she and doctor were no longer holding hands, but moving to the faster beat separately.

When she had disappeared on that red planet, what else could explain Lee's actions but instinct? He had known she was alive, he had known it in his gut and it was that knowledge, that sense that had told him not to give up. There was no other explanation for it, but instinct.

This was ridiculous. Lee straightened his shoulders, ready to go and bail Starbuck out, ready to once again take Kara in his arms and maybe more. As he took his first determined step toward her Racetrack and Boomer intercepted him.

"Sir, we were wondering if you might settle a bet for us?"

Their cheeks were flushed a bit pink, no doubt from one too many drinks, but they both smiled warmly at him. Lee smiled back, noting that half of the squadron was standing not too far off, apparently eager to know his answer as well.

"Sure, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"

With a big grin, Racetrack linked her arm through his while Boomer took the other and they steered him toward his pilots. "Well, it's really a two-fold question, sir."

Lee spared one last longing look toward Kara hoping this wouldn't take long.

---- ----

Okay, really. Enough was enough. Where the frak was Lee?

Kara did understand etiquette and protocol. She rarely abided either, but she comprehended the concepts and how important both were to military life. However, being groped for three of the last four songs by the Colonies' newest vice president wasn't in any rulebook she had ever read.

The music had turned slow once more and with a lascivious grin, Baltar had reached for her again, pulling her tight to his body—his very aroused body. Kara did her best to feign vague interest, but she hadn't gotten dressed up for this crazy mother frakker. She'd gotten dressed up for … well, she didn't really want to admit it, but his name started with an "L" and ended with "ee."

Glancing over the doctor's shoulder, Kara scanned the ballroom for her wayward escort. She had glimpsed him at least two songs ago, sequestered by the squad, being paid an awful lot of attention by Boomer and Racetrack. She had watched Maggie's hand slide into the crook of his arm. Kara had been embarrassed to feel her body tensing, her heart starting to race with a familiar and unsettling feeling of jealousy, before Lee surreptitiously extricated himself.

Now, he was nowhere to be seen and Kara was more determined then ever to kill him. He thought the water hose was bad? He had no idea.

"Oh, Lieutenant." Baltar's sing-songy voice pulled her back to the unpleasant moment and she plastered yet another fake grin on her features. Her cheeks were starting to hurt from all this smiling. "Who are you looking for?"

"No one," she shrugged, listening as the music droned on. Gods, didn't this song ever end?

"Good, I'd hate to think I was boring you." Baltar smiled and then Kara felt the hand at the small of her back drift again.

Clenching her jaw, she reached behind her and gripped his hand tight, stopping their sway and holding his gaze. "Vice president or not," she intoned softly, squeezing his fingers even tighter. "This hand goes south one more time and I'll blow it off."

She released his hand, now resting well above her waist and offered the doctor another brilliant grin. "Yes, of course, Lieutenant. No offense intended."

She inclined her head in acceptance of the apology, but didn't say anything else. As the song finally faded, she decided that, propriety or no, she was ending this.

Stepping away from him as they clapped in appreciation of the music selection, Kara faked a limp. "I'm sorry, Mr. Vice President," she said, leaning down to rub her still bruised knee. "It seems this dancing has bothered my injury. I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit this one out."

"Oh, well, let me help you to a chair—"

As he reached out to place his slimy hands on her, Kara glared. "No. Thanks. I got it."

Then she turned and headed off the dance floor, keeping up the limp, which actually wasn't much of a fake. The truth was these heels and all the dancing had aggravated her knee and now that she was aware of it, it really hurt. Frak.

Taking a seat in the nearest chair that was out of Baltar's direct line of sight, she flagged down a waiter and ordered two shots of ambrosia. He brought them promptly and Kara gave him a flirty smile, wondering if he might do for a quick frak.

She upended both shots in quick succession and the waiter flitted off.

No. She didn't want a quick frak and she definitely didn't want it with some stranger. She wanted … Hell, what did she want? It wasn't as if it were a question Kara asked or answered very often. Her wants had long ago taken a backseat to her mother's rage and then her own ambition. As the years passed, her wants were again subjugated by grief and remorse and finally, by regret.

Kara Thrace hadn't allowed herself to want anything other than a good cigar and a stiff drink for quite a while.

And then Lee Adama showed up and frakked with her entire universe. It wasn't enough that she'd suffered the loss of the Colonies and almost the entirety of her squad in one day. It wasn't even enough that Tigh had taunted her into a fight and she'd been cooling her heels in hack when everything had gone down.

Nope, apparently none of that was enough for the Gods who decided that what Kara really needed was to have Lee come waltzing back into her life, looking gods damned sexy and ridiculously frakkable.

It's not like these feelings—or observations—were new. Kara and Lee had flirted a dangerous line since Zak had introduced them. For the year leading up to his accident, she and her fiance's brother had run together, flown together, studied together. And then, after the accident, they had almost … what? Grieved together?

But it hadn't been grief that compelled Kara to act so recklessly that night. The night of Zak's funeral when she'd barely been able to see through her tear-swollen eyes and her haze of grief; the night when Lee had shown up at her door, asking if she was okay, wanting to check on her and she had thrown herself into his arms, allowing her tears to come for the first time since she'd heard the news.

Allowing herself to kiss him as she'd wanted to do for months; allowing him to kiss her back. Almost allowing it to go farther.

She shook the memory away, fighting the soft pulse it caused between her legs. No one could get her going like Lee. The intensity of his gaze, the assuredness of his touch, the ridiculous beauty of his body—it was all too much for her and Kara had foolishly believed that over the past few weeks they might be building towards something more. Something not borne out of grief or guilt. Something they could actually, finally, have.

And yet, here she was, sitting at a party, looking amazing … and drinking alone.

She ordered another round of shots and downed them again, before rising slowly and heading for the door.

Frak Lee Adama and his frakking cowardice. She didn't need it.

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Lee had no idea how this had happened. He'd been steered away from Kara for over an hour and now as he hurried back into the ballroom from his latest distraction—a request from his father to speak with a lieutenant about a supply issue—he couldn't find her.

He spotted the vice president almost immediately, releasing a small sigh of relief when he saw the man was no longer holding Kara a little too close. He'd found some other female, who seemed much more open to his advances and Lee wished him Gods speed. Kara was his anyway.

Lee shook his head, even as his eyes scanned the room. He needed to stop thinking that way. Kara was no one's; she had made that abundantly clear on quite a few occasions and he wasn't stupid enough to believe that just because he wanted to frak her, he was going to change her. She was Kara, Starbuck and Lee knew there was no changing her. Her spirit was immovable.

Damn it. Where was she?

Lee circled the outer rim of the room, glancing to the tables. A waiter passed, and he stopped him. He gave a quick description of Kara and the guy instantly knew who he meant.

"Yeah, she ordered some shots and then headed out." He pointed toward one of the back doors to the hall. "Out that way, 'bout five minutes ago."

"Thanks." Lee was already five feet away and fought the urge to run to the exit. As he all but stumbled into the hall, he halted, seeing Kara leaning against the wall not far from the door, shoes in one hand while her other rubbed her knee.

She glanced up sharply at his less than graceful entrance. "Apollo. You scared me."

Gods, she was beautiful. Even pissed at him, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. "Sorry." He approached her and then halted noting the distant look on her face. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She shrugged and waved the high heels in his face. "But these are not so good for a busted knee. Keep that mind."

"I will." He smiled and then took another step toward her, ready to wrap his arm around her waist and offer to help her back to a shuttle, when her next question stopped him.

"Where the frak did you go?"

She sounded so vulnerable, in that moment, it caught Lee off guard. Trying to from an answer, he thought for a second and then glanced to her, breath catching in his throat as she lifted those hazel eyes to him; eyes full of doubt and longing and a hint of pain, as well as a touch of anger.

He couldn't think and he couldn't speak, so he did the only thing he had left in his power. He approached her, closing the distance between them in three steps, cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her.

It wasn't the most gentle of kisses, but it wasn't harsh either, it was just there. His lips controlled hers, pressing against her, drinking in the taste and smell of this woman who haunted his sleeping and waking dreams. She gasped and he took the opportunity to run his tongue along her bottom lip before delving into the warm heat of her mouth. She stiffened for a second and then sighed against him, her hands coming to rest against his chest as she deepened the kiss.

Lee hadn't known perfection until this moment, he was sure of it. Kissing her was beyond anything he had ever imagined and he pulled her close, one hand at the small of the back, the other weaved into her soft hair, cradling the back of her head. He distantly heard the clatter of her shoes hitting the deck as she wound her arms around his neck and pulled their bodies flush.

He gasped and pulled away, unable to breath or think of anything beyond the feel of Kara's soft body against his. He already felt his arousal growing stiff and he knew she could feel it too. With a wicked grin, she shimmied her hips closer, rubbing him just so and Lee gasped once more before crashing his lips over hers. Two could play that game.

His hand on her back drifted slowly, purposefully down her backside, over the soft, tight curve of her ass and toward the top of her leg. With the barest of movements, he pressed her against the wall and lifted her hip slightly. She got the message and soon had her leg hooked up around his waist, bringing their groins into even more intimate contact and causing Lee to lose even more reason.

She would more than likely be the death of him—and he didn't give a frak.

Her lips broke away first this time, traveling swiftly along his jaw and nipping all the way. Lee's body shuddered as her teeth and tongue found the pulse point in his neck and sucked boldly. That was going to leave a mark.

"K … Kara," he panted, unable to believe how close he was to release despite the fact they were fully clothed.

"Mmm." Her lips made a delicious humming sound against his skin.

With more will power than Lee had ever guessed he possessed, he grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned back slightly, meeting her heavy, desire-filled eyes with his own. "We are not going to frak in this hallway."

Kara grinned, that same sexy smile she had fixed him with when he'd first seen her at the bar and then coyly looked up and down the deserted corridor. "Ain't nobody here, but us pilots," she breathed, her hands working into the hair at the base of his scalp and causing another delicious shiver to roll through him. "Seems as good a place as any."

Think, Lee. Think. He was thinking all right, just not with his brain.

Taking one more deep breath, he stepped back from her fully, more than aware of his own discomfort as his pants had all but tented before him. He glanced back to her and saw the most delectable pout on her face.

Which led to another five minutes of breathless kissing, before he managed to pant, "There is a much better place."

Leaning down, he grabbed her shoes and then offered her his arm, which she took with a wide smile that made his stomach flutter. "Come on," he told her, placing a kiss into her hair and then moving as fast as her knee would allow.

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