Title: At The World's End Part 3
Author: Athena13 (athena13@mitiori.com)
Copyright © 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 7 - Catalysts
Rated PG-13

"I know I've said this before, but cheer up Apollo!" Boomer sat down 
across from his friend in the lounge of the Blue Squadron barracks. 
Boomer eased back into his seat and spread his legs out in front of 
him. He crossed his arms and studied his friend and superior's 
melancholy expression. It was one Boomer was well familiar with.

Apollo shook his head and continued to gaze unseeingly into the 
distance.

"She's going to be fine," Boomer reminded his friend that his sister 
had been rescued and was rapidly recovering in the Life Center.

Apollo let out a heavy sigh and turned to face his friend. "I know, and 
I am grateful, I just...just...," Apollo let out another sigh and 
didn't bother finishing his thought. 

Boomer knew what he meant though. Apollo was tired of worrying about 
the people he loved being killed. He was just plain tired of loving so 
much. It was something everyone in the Fleet went through. Something 
the colonists had probably been experiencing for a thousand yahren.

Boomer looked at his friend in sympathy, but inside there was also a 
tinge of anger. He had seen how Apollo had been treating Sheba since 
they had found Athena. While Boomer wasn't surprised, he was 
disappointed. Apollo took everything too personally in his estimation. 
Not that he didn't admire the guy for his depth of caring or sympathize 
with him over the loss of Serina, he just thought Apollo let it all 
affect the way he lived his life way too much these days. Or didn't 
live, if you wanted to be accurate. 

Unfortunately, there wasn't a thing Boomer could say or do to get his 
friend back on track. It was a lesson he had learned early in their 
friendship many yahrens ago. He would just have to sit back and watch 
this thing with Sheba unfold, again.

"Apollo," Boomer decided to waste his breath one last time after all. 
"Don't let this get between you and Sheba. You have to grab hold of 
life, not avoid it."

Apollo shook his head. They were words he had heard many times since 
Serina's death, and not just from Boomer. And he was trying, he really 
was, but he couldn't allow himself to be with anyone right now. Not 
even Sheba. Especially not Sheba. And he couldn't tell anyone why.

"I know Boomer, I really do. It's just not that simple," Apollo said 
evasively.

"I know, I know," Boomer said understandingly.

"I'm going to try and put this behind me," Apollo stood up and looked 
at his friend gratefully. "I really am," he said again as he left the 
barracks.

Boomer leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He wasn't sure he 
wanted to know what his friend was going to do now. 

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

Sheba was fuming. She was supposed to be sleeping, but instead she was 
fuming. The more she thought about Apollo's behavior the madder she 
got. Since they had gotten back from finding Athena he had barely said 
two words to her. Or been able to look her in the eye.

Sheba turned over in bed again trying to get her body relaxed enough to 
get some much-needed sleep. The situation with Apollo, however, was 
making it impossible. She had bared her soul to the man, almost, and he 
had made tentative steps to bridge the artificial gap between them. 
Now, not much more than a day later he the walls were back up and more 
solid than ever. Sheba had seen it happen time and again since she had 
come to the Galactica. Apollo would reach out with his emotions, then 
something would happen to scare him and he would scurry back behind his 
safety zone.

For the life of her, Sheba could hardly understand what she saw in the 
man! Her Father would certainly not countenance such cowardly behavior. 
For that matter, neither would Sheba, normally. She was lying to 
herself. She knew what she saw in Apollo. Part of what riveted her 
interest to him, she admitted, was the challenge. He was a deeply 
loving and tender man. And his cowardice didn't extend to the rest of 
his life. In fact, he was as reckless and unpredictable as his friend 
Starbuck. If Sheba could just break down the walls he had built up 
since he lost his wife, she knew that the rewards would be more than 
she imagined. If that passion and loyalty were once and for all turned 
on her... 

Sheba shivered as she imagined she felt the heat of his gaze on her. 
The heat that had been missing for the past few cycles.

A heat she fully intended to get back, one way or another. 

With that vow in mind, Sheba closed her eyes and willed herself to 
sleep.

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

Sleep was the last thing on Apollo's mind. Doctor Salik had confirmed  
that Athena's condition was remarkably similar to Apollo's after his 
run-in with Iblis. So while he was relieved his sister's recovery was 
assured, he couldn't help but wonder when Iblis was going to appear 
next. Apollo had no doubt that these events had something to do with 
that demon.

Apollo had stood up to the imposter an action which had inadvertently 
led to Iblis' defeat, but Apollo had always known that Iblis wouldn't 
just quietly disappear. However much they all might wish it. 

And now Apollo feared that Athena was in the creature's sights, as a 
way of getting back at him and Adama. Apollo could only hope that by 
cutting himself off from Sheba she might be spared Iblis' attention 
this time.

Apollo didn't want to get Boomer involved, but his worry about Iblis 
was a bigger part of his need to pull away from Sheba. He didn't want 
her close to him when Iblis returned. Iblis might go after her as he 
had before, but Apollo could hope that it wouldn't bother if Apollo 
made it seem as if he didn't care about her. At the very least he could 
keep his distance from her so as not to get her accidentally embroiled 
in whatever was going to happen.
 
'But what about other women?' the thought floated across his mind. 

Apollo's face twitched at the thought. He knew exactly where that 
thought came from. 

'Below the waist,' he admitted ruefully. Whatever else was going 
through his mind, the feel of that woman's long hair floating over his 
shoulder wouldn't leave his mind. Part of him wondered how he could 
feel this way about some stranger when he had such deep feelings for 
Sheba, but rather than be disgusted he was relieved. It was the very 
distraction he would need to turn his back on Sheba. 

The question was whether he should and could pursue this Porta. 
Regardless of whether or not she might be interested, and Apollo 
suspected she was, would he be unfairly endangering her life? Such 
actions, whether successful or not, would alienate Sheba enough for her 
to stay away from him and his plan would be assured success.

He felt a twinge in his chest. The decision was made, without his even 
realizing it. He hated the pain he was going to cause Sheba. But it was 
for her own good. Apollo didn't think Iblis would waste his time with a 
woman Apollo was merely casually involved with.

Now he just needed a good reason to go over to the science ship and 
invite her out to dinner.
 
"Major," a silken voice broke Apollo's concentration. The voice he was 
just contemplating hearing again.

"Doctor," Apollo turned around and waited for the willowy woman to 
catch up to him. "What are you still doing on board?"

"Major, I thought I told you to call me Porta? If I didn't before, I 
just did now," she rested her hand on his arm.

"Then call me Apollo, Porta," Apollo smiled back at her. "So what are 
you still doing on board?"

"Doctor Salik asked me to stay a bit longer and demonstrate some of my 
findings for him. Believe me, I wish I was back on the science ship and 
in my bed right now," Porta dropped her hand and rubbed the back of her 
neck. "Although a meal would be more welcome right now," she dropped 
her hand and rubbed her stomach.

Apollo's smile widened. This was too perfect. "I happened to be on my 
way to the Mess Hall," he improvised.

Porta's face screwed up in disgust. "Surely, there are better places to 
eat?" she inquired. "I've heard about the Mess Hall food."

"There's the Officer's Club," Apollo offered. "Would you care to join 
me?"

"Oh please, I'm so hungry right now I could eat _almost_ anything," 
Porta said in a husky tone.

Apollo's physical response to her tone was immediate, a fact that he 
hoped wasn't too obvious. Defensively, Apollo turned away and held out 
his elbow. "Let me lead the way Doctor," he offered gallantly.

Porta looked at him knowingly for a few microns before slipping her arm 
into his and following his lead down the corridor. Of course, she 
carefully let her breast rest against his arm as they walked.

Apollo bit back a groan at the erotic feel of her body against his and 
continued down the corridor silently.

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

Athena woke up suddenly and sat up in her bed. 

"Oh, that wasn't a good idea," she groaned as her body protested 
against the sudden motion. Carefully, she pulled her pillows up and 
leaned back against them. The way her heart was pounding, there was no 
way she was going to be getting back to sleep soon and the terror 
caused by her nightmare was still sending streams of adrenaline through 
her system.

She couldn't remember what her dream was about, all she could see now 
was an image of Bojay standing above her in a darkened room, his face 
contorted in rage. While she knew that Bojay had a temper, it had never 
frightened her in real life as much as it did in her dream. Then again, 
it had never been directed at her either.

"That's why they call them dreams," she reminded herself, trying to 
joke down the terror that refused to dissipate.

"I was told you were sleeping," Starbuck's voice interrupted her 
thoughts.

"Starbuck!" she gasped, a hand automatically pressing above her heart. 
"You startled me."

"So it seems," he looked at her curiously as he sat down at her 
bedside. "Nightmare?" he asked.

"Yeah," Athena nodded.

"About what?" Starbuck leaned forward, placing his hand on the bed 
beside her.

Athena shrugged and looked away uncomfortably. "I can't remember," she 
said flatly.

"You never were a very good liar, bluffing a game of pyramid sure, but 
real life? No way," Starbuck sat back and crossed his arms.

"No really," Athena turned and looked at him. "I have an image stuck in 
my mind, but I can't remember the rest of the dream. I do admit it 
scared the frak out of me though," she forced a smile.

"Was it about the crash?" Starbuck asked quietly, guilt flashing across 
his face.

"No, it was...I don't know where it took place, but it wasn't about 
that," Athena shook her head, her face taught with concentration as she 
tried to remember, missing Starbuck's tone and expression completely.

Starbuck blew out a breath at her answer, feeling a bit relieved. 
"Well, what can I do to take your mind off your dream?" he said 
suggestively.

Athena looked at Starbuck, a smirk on her face. "Well...," she quipped 
back. "But seriously," she laughed as Starbuck rolled his eyes. "What 
are _you_ doing here at this centar?"

"Couldn't sleep myself. I wanted to see how my wingmate was doing. It 
was a bit crowded in here earlier," he clasped her hand and pulled it 
onto his knees. "So apart from some sleep disturbance, how are you?"

"The Doctor said I'll be fine. Right now I'm just sore and a bit 
freaked out about the whole thing," she admitted.

"I can understand that," Starbuck absently ran his thumb over her 
fingers. "Crash landings are scary. You were very lucky."

"Yeah, that wasn't too pleasant," she agreed. "I don't mean the crash 
itself, it's the events after it." She looked Starbuck in the eyes, her 
own blue eyes pleading with him to understand. "It's fading now, but I 
wasn't alone. I was lucky, I am lucky, because I am certain I shouldn't 
have survived."

Starbuck rubbed his forehead with his free hand. "I heard about that, 
some of it. Seems that you've been blessed like your brother."

"And you and Sheba," she reminded him. "How much do you remember?" 

"Not much to tell you the truth. I remember the light when we were 
bringing Apollo home and I remembered the coordinates, but now how I 
know them. Really all I remember is a lot of light," Starbuck told her. 

"You don't remember being taken anywhere or seeing anything?" she 
asked.

"To their ship, or whatever it was," Starbuck entwined his fingers in 
Athena's.

"I think I was there too, or somewhere like it. Did you go anywhere 
else?" she stared absently at their entwined hands.

"No, not that any of us remember," Starbuck tried to remember.

"Oh," Athena sighed. 

"Apollo said you saw Zac," Starbuck turned his attention back to 
Athena.

"Yeah, that I still remember," Athena said, her voice thickening as 
tears filled her throat. "I...I," Athena tried to say something, but 
her tears were becoming too much. She closed her eyes and tried to 
swallow them back. A few stray ones fell down her cheek. 

"I miss him too," Starbuck leaned forward and brushed her tears away 
with his free hand. 

Athena took a ragged breath and opened her eyes. Starbuck's face was 
centimeters from hers. Uncomfortable, she looked down and tugged her 
hand from his.

Suddenly realizing their position, Starbuck jerked back and grinned at 
her. "So where did Zac take you? To a club?" he lightened the 
atmosphere with a joke.

Athena laughed as the tension of the past few microns disappeared. "If 
only," she shook her head. "He showed me things, people. He told me I 
had choices to make."

"Well, we all have choices to make. About what in particular?" he 
asked.

"I have no idea," Athena laughed. "It was probably some crazy dream."

"I'd agree if it weren't for your miraculous recovery and my own 
experience," he reminded her.

"Well, you succeeded in taking my mind off my nightmare," Athena 
yawned.

"That is my cue to leave," Starbuck stood up. He bent down and placed a 
kiss on her cheek. "Night," he gave a wave and sped out the door.

"Like I'm five," she grumbled as she punched her pillows back in place. 
"He doesn't even kiss Boxey's cheek before bed!"

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

"How is she?" Cassi met Starbuck at the end of the corridor.

"She was awake, had a nightmare. She was going back to sleep when I 
left," Starbuck put his arm around her shoulder as they headed out of 
the Life Center.

"Do you think she needs something to sleep?" Cassi asked worriedly.

"No, she's fine," Starbuck assured the Med Tech.

"I hope Bojay doesn't keep her awake," Cassi played with Starbuck's 
fingers as they rested on her shoulder.

"Bojay? I didn't see him," Starbuck told her.

"Oh, he headed back to see Athena while you were in there. Maybe he 
waited for you to leave?" Cassi speculated, quashing a feeling of 
uneasiness.

"Perhaps," Starbuck agreed.

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

"Major," Porta sipped her cup of ambrosa. "That was wonderful."

"Sated?" Apollo eyed the woman sitting across from him.

"I'm not hungry for food anymore. I believe bed was next on the list. 
Then I will be truly sated," she winked at her dinner companion.

Apollo smiled at her and grabbed his own cup. What was he supposed to 
say to that? 'Gee, I'd like to join you in bed and ensure that you're 
sated! That would be real smooth Apollo,' his mind raced for something 
witty to say. The truth was he wasn't all that experienced in seducing 
women, it usually took a few dates for him to work up the nerve to kiss 
them. 

'Starbuck would know how to handle this,' Apollo fervently wished his 
friend was around to give him some fast advice. All through dinner she 
had been driving him mad. If it wasn't her sparkling blond hair, it was 
her full and firm breasts, which he had a wonderful view of across the 
table. Especially when she leaned forward. A few times during dinner 
her foot accidentally brushed against his ankle or leg, which for some 
reason set his blood boiling. 

Much of his guilt about Sheba had been muted during their meal as they 
shared intelligent, nonmilitary conversation. And now the unrelenting 
throbbing in his pants was urging him not to wait another few dates to 
pull her against his body and ravage her mouth. At the very least.

"I'm almost too tired to wait for a shuttle back," Porta was continuing 
to speak, oblivious to his distraction. "I'm going to have to arrange 
for one though since the regular shuttles aren't running towards the 
science ship during this late cycle. I'll probably fall asleep in the 
shuttle lounge anyway," she laughed.

"Well, you are more than welcome to stay on the Galactica tonight. 
You're not planning on going to work right now are you?" Apollo 
surreptitiously wiped a sweaty palm on his pants leg.

"No. I probably should, but I would likely blow the ship up," she 
admitted, her hair floating down over her left cheek.

"So, we'll find somewhere for you to stay here," Apollo motioned with 
the bottle of ambrosa, inquiring whether she wanted another glass, even 
as his eyes followed the trail of her hair from her cheek down to where 
it rested over her full breast.

"Sure, if I'm going to stay here, why not," she held her cup out. "So 
where could I stay?"
 
"Um," Apollo put the bottle down and pretended to think for a few 
microns. "You could stay with me," he suggested, tamping down the 
little voice in his head that reminded him that his sister's chambers 
were available. "You could have my bed and I could sleep in the living 
area. The couch is very comfortable. And my son is staying with his 
grandfather tonight."

"Oh," Porta shook her head. "I don't want to put you out."

"No, I insist. I kept you here so late, after all," he waved away her 
objections.

"Well, if you're sure," Porta absently smoothed the hair that Apollo 
had been staring at.

Apollo's tongue snuck out to wet his lips before he answered. "Oh, I 
insist," he told her. Iblis the furthest thing from his mind.

END
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