Title: At The World's End Part 3
Author: Athena13
Copyright (c) 1998-99
Rating: See individual chapters

Disclaimer: This is a fiction story based on the series Battlestar 
Galactica and its characters created and owned by Glen A. Larson.  This 
story is not being sold for profit and no infringement of any copyright 
rights are intended.  All unrecognized characters and plot lines are 
mine and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely 
coincidental.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHAPTER 6 - Second Thoughts
Rated PG-13

Bojay was the first out of his viper and ran to the side of the woman 
lying prone and unconscious on the ground.  He dropped down to his 
knees and put his  hand on her face.  "Athena," he said quietly, as if 
he was merely waking her from a nap.  "Athena," he said a little louder 
as if realizing the incongruity of his earlier tone.

"Does she have a pulse?" Boomer asked from behind him as Starbuck and 
Apollo knelt down on her other side. Boomer brushed Bojay's useless 
hands away and began to feel for a pulse. "She's has a pulse and she's 
breathing," Boomer confirmed.

"Are there any injuries, blood?" Sheba asked as she knelt down behind 
Apollo, her hand on his back to steady herself and provide him some  
comfort.

"Doesn't look like anything serious, that I can see. I can't tell if 
there are any internal injuries, but we have to move her regardless, we 
don't have any choice," Boomer explained looking up at Apollo, their 
leader, for guidance.

"She'll come with me," Apollo decided as he gently ran his hand over 
his sister's.  

"Let's see if she'll wake up first," Bojay broke into their 
conversation. 

"Athena," he gently picked up her hand.  "Athena, we're here, can you 
wake up for us? It's Bojay, and Boomer and your brother Apollo, and 
Sheba and Starbuck.  Come on darlin' wake up, we're gonna take you 
home," he caressed her face and moved closer as Boomer moved to let him 
get closer.

As he stroked her cheek Athena's eyes began to blink. "That's it 
Athena, you can do it," Bojay continued to urge. 

Athena began to moan.  

"Wake up, come on," Bojay continued to stroke her cheek.

"Zac," Athena called out weakly as she tried to open her eyes.  

"No, it's Bojay," the warrior began to answer.  

Apollo waved at him to stop. "Brat, it's Apollo, can you wake up for 
me?"

"Zac!" Athena called out again, opening her eyes and looking around 
fearfully, oblivious to the pain the movements caused. "Where did Zac 
go?"

"Athena, do you know who I am?" Apollo asked.

"Apollo, where's Zac?  Did you see him? He was just here?" Athena 
began to sit up.

Apollo waved Bojay and the rest of the warriors away. "Honey, Zac 
isn't here. You've been unconscious, you must have had a dream. He's 
not here, but the rest of your family is. We have to get you back to 
the Galactica. Can you tell me where you hurt?" Apollo continued in a 
soothing tone.

"He was here Apollo, it was real. We were in this white place. It was 
all light and they could speak into my mind, even Zac. He said I had to 
choose, but I didn't want to lose him again. He wouldn't tell me how to 
save Bojay or about the baby," Athena began to cry.

Apollo gathered his sister in his arms. He glanced over his shoulder at 
Starbuck who was still standing nearby a strange expression on his 
face. They exchanged a meaningful look before turning to Sheba. She 
shrugged, just as uncertain as they were whether it had really happened 
or whether Athena had incorporated their stories, such as they were, 
into her delirium.

Starbuck looked at the sobbing woman for another few microns before 
standing up and walking away. Sheba glanced up and watched him leave.

~~~~~~~~~
Galactica Life Center

"We didn't find anything else on that planet. Once we broke through the 
atmosphere there wasn't anymore distortion and it was gone when we 
left, even from space. From all outward signs this appears to be the 
perfect place to leave Baltar," Apollo told his father again.

"And the cause of the crash?" Adama asked as he watched his daughter 
sleep. "Can she be trusted to return to pilot duty?"

Apollo sighed and looked away. He knew what his father wanted to hear, 
but he couldn't lie. "Yes Father, the crash wasn't her fault. Boomer 
brought back pieces of her viper. There are definite signs of burnt 
circuitry in her flight systems and scanners. Starbuck and the rest of 
us witnessed those distortions. I think somehow she got caught in 
whatever it was. If the Fleet had gotten caught, well we really don't 
know what would have happened. It all seems to be gone now."

"So you believe her story about Zac and the lights?" Adama asked his 
son.

"How can I not believe her?" Apollo asked. "Is it so far-fetched that 
one of those beings would disguise himself as someone familiar to her, 
or she would perceive him as such? Even Dr. Salik admits that he's not 
sure how Athena survived her injuries. We don't know who those beings 
are, but I have to believe in them," Apollo said quietly.

Adama nodded gravely. There were stories in the Book about people 
leaving their world through death and becoming Lords of Kobol. Maybe 
there was a connection between them and the light beings. 

'Maybe they rid the planet of the distortions, why not someone as good 
as his son? They've helped us before, we need  to search our memory 
banks to see if any of those signals Athena mentioned were picked up on 
long range scans,' Adama speculated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Athena opened her eyes and discovered herself to be in a single room in 
the Life Center. She gave a sigh of relief. Regardless of the pain in 
her head and residual pain in her arm, leg, and frankly the rest of her 
body, she was happy to wake up somewhere familiar. Assuming it was the 
right yahren.

In a panic she sat up, heedless of the lancing pain in her skull. 

"Whoa," Adama put a hand on her shoulder and pressed her back down onto 
the pillows.

"You can see me?" Athena asked.

"I'll get Doctor Salik in a micron," Adama said gently. "You gave us 
all quite a scare young lady," he said tenderly as he stroked her hair.

"Tell me about it," Athena mumbled. She opened her eyes and found her 
brother was also in the room. He wouldn't look at her.

"I'll go get the Doctor," Apollo said and walked out.

Athena gripped her father's hand, grounding herself, and wondered where 
her wingmate was. And what was bothering her brother.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I've finished my exam. You can see her now," Dr. Salik informed the 
officers.

"How is she?" Apollo asked.

"She's going to be fine. Like I said before, there's evidence of 
extensive injuries that have already mostly healed. They're still 
healing at a miraculous rate," the doctor shook his head, once again 
he was stumped by the healing of Adama's children. "She's going to be 
fine. Just a few days here and she can get back to duty if she 
continues making this speed of progress."

"Thank you Doctor," Adama was grateful to his old friend.

Apollo and Adama walked into to the private room where Athena was still 
awake and waiting for them. 

Apollo breathed a sigh of relief that she appeared calmer than the last 
time he had seen her. "Hey Brat," he stroked her forehead. He grinned 
when she rolled her eyes.

Adama chuckled as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "How is 
my little girl?" he asked.

"Brat? Little girl? Did I just hit my head falling off the swings again 
and dream I was an adult?" she smiled at her family.

"In my heart yes," Adama nodded. "I just came to see how your latest 
exam went," he grabbed her hand. "I need to get back to the bridge and 
you need your rest. I'll be back and we can have a meal together 
later," he squeezed her hand again and walked out.

"You mean they might let me have real food in here?" Athena asked her 
brother as she sat up.

"Should you be doing that?" Apollo asked worriedly.

"Yes," Athena answered confidently as she relaxed against her pillows. 
Truthfully, it didn't feel all that great, but lying prone wasn't 
conducive to talking to visitors. She also worried that it might remind 
Apollo too much of his last sight of Serina and when he first met 
Sheba. She had belatedly realized how difficult all this must be for 
him.

"I swear this wasn't my fault Apollo," Athena began.

Apollo put a hand up to stop her from continuing. "I know. Doctor 
Wilker is taking a look at the circuitry that Boomer brought back from 
your viper. His initial examination confirms that outside forces had a 
direct hand in your crash. So, you're not going to be sent back to the 
bridge, as much as I wish you would be," Apollo finished in a mumble.

Athena took her brother's hand. "Thank you for caring," she said 
gratefully.

Apollo's jaw dropped in surprise. 

"I realize now that you only smother me because you love me. I wanted 
you to know how much that means to me. I love you too Apollo," she 
pulled him into her embrace.

As his hands wrapped around her back and he buried his face in her hair 
she told him one more thing. "This doesn't mean I'm going to listen to 
you though."

Apollo chuckled and rubbed her back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Athena sighed and closed her eyes after her brother left the room. She 
still felt groggy and tired. The images of her experiences, which had 
been so vivid when she had first awakened, were starting to fade. 
Afraid of that very thing she had begged Doctor Salik to let her 
record her recollections. She pulled her palm computer out from under 
the blanket and fiddled it in her hands. 

Somehow, she couldn't think of the "memories" she did have as merely 
from dreams. 

She could still remember the desolation she had felt when she learned 
of Bojay's "death." She wished she knew when that was supposed to occur 
and how. 

And the message from that contraption on the planet. She had to find a 
way to discover what it was. Maybe the Galactica's long range scans 
picked it up and saved it? If her father could retrieve it maybe it 
could be decoded? Maybe it was another clue in their trek towards 
Earth?

Starbuck's baby. That part she could still remember clearly. The 
thought made her stomach turn over. Bojay had just died and she found 
herself in his arms. Somehow ending up pregnant. Athena knew how much 
Starbuck secretly desired children, almost as much as he feared his 
profession would make it impossible, for him. Starbuck never wanted to 
leave his child fatherless like he had been. Or motherless, Athena 
looked at her warrior hands, that's why she could never commit to him 
back then. Why staying on the bridge now was moot. Why Cassiopeia was 
indeed the perfect woman for him.

The woman that had Starbuck's child would change his life...the thought 
flitted across her mind.

"How are you?" 

Athena looked up at saw Cassiopeia entering her room. Something about 
the woman was making Athena uncomfortable and she slipped her computer 
back under the covers.

"You really shouldn't be sitting up," Cassi put her hands on her hips 
and smiled at her patient.

"I don't feel like sleeping and laying down is really boring," Athena 
gave her a slight smile, unable to meet her eyes.

"Well, I'm the Med Tech and I know what's best for you," Cassi handed 
her an electronic book. "I won't, however, force you. I trust you to 
come to see it my way when your back begins to hurt a bit more. Just 
promise once it does you'll lay back down and call me or someone to 
help you."

Athena's heart began to pound at the woman's words. Something seemed 
familiar, and ominous. She just agreed as she tried to search her mind 
for the cause of this sudden distrust of Cassi.

After a few centons she wasn't able to pinpoint its cause. Athena gave 
up and decided it must be nothing and turned on the book. She needed 
something to do. Cassi was right about that.

~~~~~~~~~

Starbuck hovered outside the door to Athena's room. 

'She's your wingmate, everyone is going to wonder why you haven't 
visited her,' he reminded himself for the hundredth time. Boomer had 
already asked him why he hadn't gone to see her. His excuse was that he 
was busy writing his version of events surrounding their encounter with 
the Cylons and her disappearance for Tigh. 

It sounded lame even to his ears. 

Since when did administrative responsibilities come first  with him? 
Sheesh. No wonder Boomer had told him he wasn't being honest and asked 
him what was wrong.

Instead of answering, Starbuck had churlishly told Boomer he would go 
visit her and stormed out of the barracks. Where, he had to admit to 
himself, he had been hiding. From Apollo. From Adama. From Tigh. From 
Bojay. And mostly from Athena. 

She had told him that she had strange readings and that they shouldn't 
separate. Did he listen? Noooo, Starbuck had to show her who was the 
experienced warrior. The one with the instincts that never failed. The 
best warrior in the fleet.

His arrogance had almost cost Athena her life. She had been assigned to 
him as a wingmate so that she could benefit from his experience and 
because his superiors believed he had enough skill to cover for her 
lapses. His best friend had told him he trusted him to watch out for 
her.

'Boy were they wrong!' Starbuck felt sick.

"Hey Starbuck, you planning on going in or guarding her door?" Cassi 
slipped her hands around his waist and pressed herself against his 
back.

He felt a smile cross over his face as her hands slid down his hips to his 
thighs. 

Maybe this is what he needed to get his mind off this whole situation?

"I'm not sure," Starbuck drawled as he put his hands over Cassi's and 
slid them to where he wanted them. "Why don't you tell me what my 
options are and then I'll decide."

Cassi began to stroke him with both her hands as she pulled him into a 
nearby storage room. As the door slid shut she leaned back against it 
and continued to stroke him in the dark. She pressed her lips to his 
ear and began to nibble. 

"Well," she said between nips, "I can give you a little taste of what I have 
planned tonight? I've missed you."

She pressed herself into his embrace and proceeded to kiss him senseless.

"I think that I choose that one. No need to hear any more options!" 
Starbuck's head fell back.

Cassi pushed him against the wall. 

"Well," she slipped her tongue over his lips and brought his hand to 
her breast. "I have another option for you...,"

"Mmmm," Starbuck moaned. "What?"

"Let me give you that sample," Cassi murmured against his lips before 
sinking down to her knees.

Starbuck closed his eyes and thrust his hips forward. 

Cassi smiled and continued with her pleasurable sampling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You're supposed to be sleeping," Bojay scolded as he entered the room. 
"I wouldn't have left if I knew you were going to cheat."

"I think I slept enough on that planet," Athena said tiredly.

"Doesn't sound like it to me," Bojay took the book out of her hands and 
put it down on the other side of her as he sat down. "Lay down, I'll 
tell you a bedtime story."

"Okay," Athena yawned. "I think this is backwards."

Bojay laughed as he remembered Athena's visits to him after he was 
injured on Gomoray. 

"Fair's fair," he told and began to tell her a story as she fell 
asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starbuck still stood against the door breathing hard as he tried to 
close his pants. He opened his eyes and found Cassi looking at him 
smugly. He finally got his pants closed and pulled her into his 
embrace.

"Feel better now?" she asked him.

Starbuck wasn't sure if his mood was any better, but a few centons of 
oblivion wasn't unwelcome. And his body sure didn't mind. "Sure, what 
do you think?" he asked with forced playfulness.

Cassi didn't seem to notice. She pulled out of his arms and smiled at 
him. "I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget who your wingmate 
was and who your lover is," she smiled at him. "I have to get back to 
work, you go finish your visit and maybe we can have dinner tonight?"

"Sure," Starbuck nodded. "I'll see you later," he opened the door and 
headed back to Athena's room.

When he got in the doorway he saw that Bojay had slipped in while he 
had been, er, otherwise occupied. He stood in the doorway and listened 
as Bojay told her a story to put her to sleep. He couldn't help the 
sentimental smile that crossed his lips. Apollo used to put Athena and 
Zac to bed in much the same way when they were little. 

From the looks of her, it still worked.

He watched for another centon before turning away and leaving.

Bojay didn't pause in his story as he turned to look at the now empty 
doorway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Apollo!" Sheba ran down the corridor trying to get his attention.

Apollo stopped at her call and turned around and waited for her to 
catch up.

"Apollo," she said breathlessly. "I've been looking for you," she 
continued walking beside him. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine? Why?" he asked.

Sheba glanced around to see if anyone was in earshot. "You were worried 
about Athena, I saw your face on that planet. I thought maybe you 
wanted to talk about it."

"Nothing to talk about," Apollo continued his strong stride down the 
corridor. "We found her and she's going to be fine."

Sheba let out a silent breath. The Apollo she was familiar with was 
back. She had thought it was too good to be true yesterday. Sometimes 
she hated being right and there didn't seem to be anything left to say 
to him. 

"Well, if you change your mind you know where I am Major," she told him 
and turned around and walked back the way she came.

Apollo's jaw tightened as she walked away but he resisted the urge to 
turn around and call her back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Porta sat outside Doctor Salik's office swinging her leg impatiently. 
She had already been waiting for ten centons and was going to leave in 
one more. She hated to be kept waiting. It was so boring.

She bent to gather her computer when she heard someone enter the room. 
'Finally!' she thought to herself and looked up. She did not see who 
she expected.

Instead it was an incredibly good-looking warrior, Captain, Major, she 
corrected herself, Apollo. The son of their Commander. He was even 
better looking in person than on those IFB reports. 

Although she wouldn't mind seeing him in a triad uniform up close.  

'Those eyelashes,' she sighed to herself.

"Excuse me, do you know where the Doctor is?" Apollo asked the unknown 
woman sitting to his right.

"I've been waiting for him myself. He should be here any centon," Porta 
answered him. "Why don't you have a seat and wait with me? I'm Doctor 
Porta, biologist, of the Science Ship," she held out her hand. All 
thoughts of leaving were long gone. 

"Major Apollo," the warrior took her hand in his firm grip and shook 
it. "Nice to meet you, but I don't really have time to sit," he shook 
his head. 

Porta stood then and looked up at him. "Please, I was so bored. He 
really should be here any micron," she smiled at him. 

She knew she was looking her best, she always made sure of that when 
she was going to be around warriors. Her golden hair streamed down her 
back in thick waves, with just a fringe framing her jewel-green eyes. 

Apollo seemed stunned, Porta noticed. Just as she had hoped. 

She placed her hand on his arm. "You seem so tense, why don't you just 
relax a few centons. I'll even let you speak to the Doctor first," she 
moved her hand gently down his arm. She was pleased to see his pupils 
dilate and she unobtrusively led him to a seat.

"I hope you're not ill," Porta leaned towards him, letting her hair 
fall over one shoulder and swing into the sitting warrior. 

"No," Apollo shook his head. "My sister was injured, I just wanted to 
get some details as to her injury and the healing process."

"Oh," Porta's eyes widened as she gasped. "It's not serious is it? You 
mean Athena, don't you? I hadn't heard. I've been locked in my 
laboratory for the past day," Porta put her hand on the Major's 
shoulder and sat down next to him. She slowly crossed her legs toward 
him.

"It's serious, but she should be all right. I just want to get some 
more details," Apollo reassured her.

"Thank goodness!" Porta removed her hand and sat back. The next move 
had to be his. Although she did keep her bare legs near his.

"So why are you here to see the Doctor? Professional visit I take it," 
Apollo grinned at her.

"Yes, I am doing some research that the Doctor should be interested in. 
I won't bore you with the details," Porta told him.

Apollo nodded and looked away. 

Porta's mouth tightened in frustration. Her usual routine wasn't 
working. Despite his initial attraction, he didn't seem interested.
She moved her legs away and straightened her posture. Affecting an 
attitude of aloofness, she opened her computer and began to review her 
data. 

Apollo stood up abruptly and began to pace. Porta bit her tongue and 
refrained from commenting, keeping her eyes firmly glued to her 
viewscreen.

After a few centons she dropped a data disk and bent over to pick it 
up, before she could reach it Apollo was kneeling down in front of her 
and lifting it up. With a deliberate air of unawareness she let her 
hair fall over her shoulder and sweep across the man's shoulder. 

"Thank you Major," Porta took the disk, careful not to brush against 
his fingers. She didn't wait for his response, but swept her hair back 
over her shoulder and turned back to her work.

From the corner of her eye she could see him watching her as he 
continued to pace. 

Porta allowed a slight smile to cross her lips.

END CHAPTER 6