Title: Cutting Room Floor: Warrior's Send Off Author: The Twin Goddess (athena13@geocities.com) Rating: NC-17 Summary: Missing scene from "Hand of God" - pre-mission 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. ~~~~~~~ Athena watched as the teary-eyed pair of Sheba and Cassiopeia walked off the launch bay. While she could understand how the women felt, she just didn't think it was much of a way to send warriors off on a dangerous mission. Sheba's actions were particularly surprising given that she was a warrior herself and had grown up with Cain for a father. Athena's own heart was pounding and her soul filled with worry about the task that Apollo and Starbuck were about to undertake. And for the fate of their portion of mankind, assuming there was a thirteenth tribe out there. But showing Apollo and Starbuck anything but confidence and strength seemed illogical and selfish to Athena. No matter how hard it was. Athena glanced over and saw Starbuck standing where Cassi had left him. He was pacing and looking upset. Definitely not in the frame of mind to sneak aboard a Cylon baseship. Athena sighed to herself. She was getting tired of cleaning up Cassi's messes. Starbuck was a great man, he deserved better. First, she wanted to see her brother. Athena climbed into the Raider. As she walked towards the front where her brother sat memorizing the controls, she couldn't suppress a shudder. Standing inside one of Their death machines was sort of unnerving. Another good reason to prop up Apollo and Starbuck's confidence. "Hey big brother," Athena smiled as she sat down next to him, ostensibly in what would be Starbuck's seat. Apollo looked at her warily. She couldn't blame him for that. "I just came to wish you good luck," she stopped her brother's hand with her own. "Not, that you ever need it." Apollo gave a sigh of relief. "I thought I was in for another lecture. Thanks," Apollo turned his hand and squeezed hers. Athena didn't bother to touch upon his other comment. "Well," Athena ducked her head. "Maybe I do have an out of character request?" Apollo's eyebrows raised. "How about a hug?" Athena looked at him and smiled. "Not very warrior- like, but very sibling-like." The siblings stood up and embraced. "Take care of Father," Apollo whispered in her hair. "Until you get back," Athena agreed. "Ahem," Starbuck entered the Raider and interrupted the touching scene of the siblings hugging. "Can anyone join or is this a private party?" Apollo rolled his eyes and looked at his sister. With a nod he turned to his wingmate. "Take a look at the controls for a bit and then meet me at the barracks." At Starbuck's agreement Apollo left them alone. Athena sat back down in "Starbuck's seat" and waited for him to make himself comfortable. She glanced at him through her hair. He looked just as leery as Apollo had before. "I'm not here to lecture or yell at you," she told him as she flipped her hair behind her shoulders and looked at him with her deep blue eyes. "I just came to wish you two good luck." "So what was with the hug?" Starbuck asked, crossing his arms. Athena shrugged and looked away. "So I hugged my brother before he left on a difficult mission." "I notice you didn't say 'impossible mission' as everyone but your father tells us," Starbuck smiled. "So," he leaned over and placed his lips near Athena's ear. "I'm almost like a brother, do I get a hug too?" Athena turned to look at Starbuck, who hadn't moved back. Her hair had fallen back over her features and brushed against his face as she turned. "Like a brother?" she asked in a teasing voice. Starbuck reached up and pushed her hair behind her ear. "Well, not _exactly_ like a brother." Starbuck glanced over and noticed that Apollo had closed the hatch when he left to give the friends some privacy. Athena reached up and removed Starbuck's hand which was still cupping her ear. "I thought you would just want a warrior's send off, not a sibling send off," Athena shrugged as she dropped his hand. Starbuck, with a bit of effort, let his hand fall on her thigh. He spread his fingers over her thigh. "You're in my seat." "Starbuck, what are you doing?" Athena asked in an angry voice. Starbuck removed his hand and sat back. He ran a hand down his face. "Damn it Athena, I don't know. I'm sorry," he took a deep breath. Athena suddenly felt guilty. She had momentarily forgotten, as he touched her, that he was about to leave on a dangerous mission and had just been subjected to counter-productive displays of emotion. He had to be agitated. "No," Athena stood up and kneeled next to where Starbuck was sitting. "I'm sorry." Starbuck looked down at Athena and shrugged. "Guess this mission is getting to me more than I thought it would." "Yeah well, I haven't been a big help there. You were blowing off steam and I bit your head off. I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean anything by it," Athena looked down. Starbuck placed a hand under Athena's chin and lifted her face to look at him. He studied her for a few microns before leaning down to kiss her. The kiss lasted for centons as each lost themselves in the passion aroused by the feel of the other's lips and tongue. Starbuck put his right arm behind Athena's back and pulled her closer. Athena put her arms around his shoulders for balance. The kiss continued as Starbuck's hand slipped down Athena's back until he was palming her ass. Then he pulled away from the kiss. The pair were breathing heavily as their eyes searched the other's. "Don't ever say I don't mean anything by it when I tease you and touch you Athena," Starbuck told her as his left hand reached up and began to caress the side of her breast. Athena moaned and closed her eyes. Starbuck stared at her face, watching her reactions, as he moved his hand and began to pinch her nipple. As Athena's lips parted tears came to Starbuck's eyes and he let go. Athena opened her eyes at the loss of contact, but before she could ask him what was going on, he reached down with both of his hands and prodded her hips forward until she caught on. Getting up on her feet she squeezed in front of Starbuck and straddled his lap. She looked down at him, her hair curtaining her face and hiding her blush. "Hey," Starbuck whispered. "What?" Athena whispered back. He reached a hand up and cupped her cheek. "You're special to me Athena. Very, very special." He let out a breath and leaned his forehead on her chin. Athena's hand reached around and pulled his head against her chest and she stroked his hair, providing him with a feeling of safety he so desperately needed. They sat silently in this relatively innocent position for centons. Starbuck opened his eyes and spied Athena's breast. With a grin his hand reached up behind her back and unzipped her uniform. He knew from past experience he'd better not try and suck on her through her uniform right before bridge duty. He pulled back and peeled the uniform off her shoulders to reveal her naked torso. He felt his heart begin to pound and his breath catch in his throat at the sight. It was not, by far, the first time he had seen her breasts, but it never ceased to move him. He felt Athena's hair tickle his cheeks as she watched him looking at her. He looked up and caught her gaze. "You are so beautiful," he murmured as his left hand reached up and began to caress her breast for a few microns before he took the nipple into his mouth and began to suck and nibble. Athena threw her head back and gave a throaty moan and pressed herself more firmly onto his erection. At her pressure he moved his mouth and began to worship her other breast. The pressure in his pants was becoming unbearable and in the back of his mind he knew he didn't have a lot of time. He kept her nipple in his mouth as he placed his hands under her knees and stood up. Athena obligingly wrapped her legs around him and he carried her to the back of the raider and gently lay her down on the floor. He quickly removed the rest of her uniform until she lay before him in all her naked glory. He reached his hand out and caressed her silky curls, spreading her wetness and dipping his fingers inside her and watching her writhe, just for him. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He knew that look. Before she could sit up and begin to undress him he took care of it himself. He knew that he should only remove his pants in the interests of time, but he wanted to feel her naked skin all over him. If he was going to die on that baseship, it was going to be as a satiated man leaving behind a satiated woman. He lay his naked chest over hers, poising his erection before her opening. He closed his eyes and shivered as he felt her hand close around him and begin to caress him. He wasn't even inside her and he could feel himself close to the edge. And even closer when her hips lifted and she began to caress him with her own juices lubricating him. He shuddered, suddenly unable to control himself, and he plunged inside her. Her groan of pleasure communicated her forgiveness for his precipitous action. "Lords Athena, I've missed you," he moaned as he felt her tightness gripping him and pulling him deeper with every stroke. He felt his testicles begin to clench as he felt her muscles begin to contract around him. As he had planned he could feel her naked skin caressing him everywhere, increasing the sensation and his breathing speed. He felt her hands on his ass urging him deeper even as her legs circled his hips. "Oh Athena," he moaned and sucked on her ear lobe. "Starbuck, Starbuck," he felt her begin to contract uncontrollably around him, pulling him to his own orgasm. He began to pound into her harder and faster as they both found their release. With a final thrust he cried out her name and arched his back and his hips continued small thrusts against her. Then he collapsed on top of her as they brought their breathing and heartbeats back to normal. "Starbuck," Athena called to him. He rose up enough to look her in the face and smiled. "Good luck," she smiled wickedly at him. Starbuck leaned on an elbow and reached up and brushed her hair off her sweaty forehead. "Is this a warrior send off?" "Maybe it'll be a warrior's welcome if you make it back?" she winked. "See, that's the kind of motivation I need before a mission," he leaned down and kissed her. END http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/6439