Title: Homecoming Author: Betty Rating: NC-17 Category: Slash Pairing: Do I have to tell? Disclaimer: I don't own them. Distribution: Please let me know where. Feedback: er.br@sympatico.ca Summary: Two lost warriors return home. Commander Adama sat alone in his quarters. No one bothered him, not today of all days. The entire crew knew that today was the day their Commander didn't want to be disturbed. It was his day of mourning. Twenty yahrens ago today, Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck went out on a routine patrol, and never returned. The viper pilots of the Galactica had searched, every one of them volunteering extra centars, as long as they could. No wreckage was found, no sign of a crash on any planets they checked, nothing. Adama had no idea what had happened to his son and the man he thought of as a son. It was a complete mystery. Colonel Boomer stood on the bridge, thinking about his two lost friends; like Adama, he, too, wondered what had happened. How could they have just disappeared without a trace? Deep in his heart he knew they were alive, somewhere out there. It gave him comfort that they were together, but, oh! he missed them so. Down on Earth, Troy and Dillon were busy helping Jamie settle the kids down. They had breakfast laid out on the picnic table, and planned on taking the kids hiking in the woods, if they could just get them to settle down and eat. Jamie noticed Troy didn't seem himself, and asked Dillon if he knew what was wrong. "Today's the day his father disappeared; he's always quiet on this day. Just give him time and he'll be OK." "Disappeared? What do you mean? What happened?" "No one knows, Jamie. They found nothing to prove they were killed or crashed, nothing; they were just gone." "They, who else?" "Oh, the other warrior was Lt. Starbuck; he was like an Uncle to Troy and his father's best friend." Jamie thought how lucky she was, growing up with two parents; she planned on phoning them as soon as she got home. ***** On the Galactica's bridge, Boomer's thoughts were interrupted by a crew member's excited shouts. "Colonel, Sir, some sort of a space abnormality just opened up, and two vipers have flown through it. Two old delta wing vipers, and they're heading straight for Earth." "Delta wings, no one has flown them for nearly fifteen yahrens. That's just not possible, check your scanner again," Boomer barked. The woman double-checked, same result. Two delta class vipers were heading for Earth and it looked like one was going to crash - right near the forest where Troy and Dillon had the kids. "I don't want to on this of all days, but I'll alert the Commander. Looks like we've just witnessed a very rare phenomenon, a time warp." Adama put down the photos of Apollo and Starbuck, and called for Boomer to enter. After hearing Boomer's report of the two vipers, he asked if they had done a check on the markings to see whose vipers they were. Boomer hung his head. "No, Sir, I'm sorry, I was so shocked that they were old deltas that I'm afraid I didn't think of it. I'm not sure we would have gotten a result anyway. They may not be in the computer anymore; it has been fifteen yahrens since that type has been flown." "Yes, well, I can understand the shock, lets contact Troy and Dillon, get them over there to check it out and find out who these two pilots are." ***** Jamie was the first to jump at the sound. Looking up she saw the two ships in the sky, saw that they were vipers, although there seemed to be something different about these two. She heard Troy yell, " One of them is going to crash!" "Do you think the Cylons have something to do with it?" Dillon asked. "Not sure, it could be age, those are old delta vipers, why Colonel Boomer would let anyone fly one of those is beyond me." "I didn't think there were any left, I thought they were all disassembled and used for parts." "No time to question that; we had better check it out before the Air Force gets here." Just then Troy's communicator went off. "Captain Troy, there are two vipers about to crash in your vicinity," they heard Commander Adama say. "Yes, sir, we saw them. Dillon and I are about to check it out now. Why are two pilots flying old delta vipers Sir?" There was silence on the other end for a few centons, then, "They came through a space abnormality, Let us know who are as soon as you make contact." The two warriors looked at each other and shrugged. They left the children with Jamie and went on their way. ***** He climbed out of his viper and looked over the wreckage of the other, looking for the cockpit he had seen eject just in time. There it was. Rushing over he called his wing mate's name. Heard the answering call. Opening the canopy, he saw his friend was injured, but not badly; looked like his leg was broken. Well, it could be worse. Helping his partner out, he quickly assessed how bad it was; no bones had broken the skin, so he quickly splinted the leg, and made the other man as comfortable as possible. Now to find out where they were, contact the Galactica, and get a rescue party here, while praying the Cylons didn't pick up the call. His partner wasn't sure what had happened, some sort of abnormality just seemed to grab them and pull them in. They could be on the other side of the galaxy, nowhere near the Galactica. No way home and only one viper in working order, and it was getting short on fuel; they were on their way back, just out of scanner range when it happened. They heard a noise in the forest. Quickly they ducked behind a log, the injured man maneuvering as best he could with his leg in a splint. Two men came out of the woods, both human, so this planet was populated by humans, that was a good sign. Must be safe to let them know we're here. Looking at the wreckage, the blond man seemed shocked, saying something about old delta vipers. So they knew about vipers, but why call them old? That didn't make any sense. Then the dark haired one saw the helmet, picked it up and looked inside where the identification was, each warrior having his name clearly visible on the inside. The man's eyes went wide, his face paled, as he yelled, "DAD, Dad, where are you?" ***** Troy spun around, studying the area closely. There they were, behind a fallen tree, two colonial warriors. Walking closer, all he could do was stare; it was him, really him. Apollo, his father, missing for twenty yahrens, now returned. And he hadn't changed a bit since that day he gave Troy a last hug before leaving on that fateful patrol. "Dad, Uncle Starbuck, it's really you!" Apollo didn't know what to think. Why was this man, who was obviously the same age as himself, calling him Dad? Smiling shyly, he said, "Ah, do I know you?" "What? Oh lords, I'm sorry. You don't understand this. I don't understand it either, but you two went missing twenty yahrens ago." "WHAT!" both Apollo and Starbuck yelled out at the same time. Then Apollo realized, "That space abnormality, it must have been some kind of tunnel in space that not only sent us half way across the galaxy, but also through time." "Is that possible?" Starbuck asked. Apollo answered, "Who knows what kind of mysteries are out there?" Looking up at Troy once more, he asked, "Are you really Boxey?" "Yes," Troy smiled. "But please, I don't go by that anymore. I use my real name now, Troy, remember?" "Yes. I remember your mother telling me." Dillon then spoke up for the first time. "Troy, we, ah, have to get rid of that viper before the Air Force gets here." "You're right, let's get you two down to camp - oh, your leg's in a splint - well we'll have to carry you down, then take care of that leg before we take you back to the Galactica." "Wait, you can fix a broken leg, here, without taking me to the Life Center?" Because they had been gone twenty yahrens, neither Apollo or Starbuck knew anything about any new technology the Galactica had. "Yes, we can; a lot has changed since the two of you went missing," Troy laughed. "Yeah, I guess it would." Dillon interrupted. "Troy, if you and Starbuck carry him down to the camp, I'll send this viper up and out of the atmosphere." "Wait; what are you going to do with my viper? No way, how am I supposed to return to the Galactica without my viper?" "Starbuck, settle down, they must have a good reason." Apollo tried to calm his buddy down, it didn't seem to work though. Troy tried to explain. "These people are not as advanced as we had hoped; we can't let them find our technology, although I have no idea how we can hide the wreckage from your viper. But we can get rid of Starbuck's viper." "Yeah, I can fly it out of here, wherever 'here' is. What planet did you say this was?" "Oh, this is Earth," Dillon answered without interest; Starbuck was starting to annoy him. ***** After they sent Starbuck's viper into space, with a promise to him that it would be drifting up there and that another viper would attach a tow line and return it to the Galactica, they all helped carry Apollo back to the camp. While Troy worked on Apollo's broken leg with a portable bone fuser, something Apollo wished he had in his first aid kit twenty yahrens ago, Starbuck helped Jamie, Dillon, and the kids pack up the camp. Starbuck was actually having fun with these kids. They all wanted to ask him questions and hear his stories first-hand. All they knew about him was what they had learned in history class; now that they had the chance to meet him, they were all in awe of the returning hero. "Dillon, are these two really the same Apollo and Starbuck you were telling me about this morning?" "Yes they are, Jamie, and don't ask me to explain what happened, I don't understand it myself." "Well, I think it's great; at least now Troy knows what happened to his father." Looking over at Starbuck, Dillon mumbled, "Yeah, it's real great." Apollo and Troy joined the group, Apollo's leg healed so well he didn't even limp. "Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" Starbuck asked Apollo, his concern showing in his eyes. "I don't know, Starbuck. It's just, how do I talk to my son who is now the same age as I am? I don't know how to feel about all this; I've missed seeing him grow up. I don't even know him anymore." Apollo seemed to be on the verge of tears. "Well, from what I see, Apollo, he's a lot like you. Look it's going to be OK; we still have each other." Starbuck caressed Apollo's cheek, trying to comfort him. "Yes, if I'm going to be stranded in the future, or anywhere else, you're the only one I want to be stranded with." Starbuck pulled Apollo into a tight hug, getting one back in return. They leaned in for a kiss, but that was interrupted by giggles from the twelve children watching them. On the other side of the camp, a similar scene was being played out. "Troy, you OK?" Dillon asked, the same concern that had been in Starbuck's eyes seen now in Dillon's. "Why wouldn't I be? We now know what happened to my father and Starbuck, although I don't think anyone will ever be able to explain how it could have happened, not really. I'm glad he's back, but now what? How do I talk to him, what do I say? I don't think I can call him Dad, not anymore, we're both about the same age now." "Well then, I guess you call him Apollo and he calls you Troy, unless he wants to call you Boxey." "Uggg, no thank you; besides, I already explained that to him." "Well, I'm sure it will all work itself out, but if you need to talk, remember, I'm always here; I have a good ear on me, among other things." "Uh oh, wonder how he'll react when he finds out about the two of us?" "I don't think you have to worry about that, Troy; from the looks of them, I would say your father and Starbuck are an item." "What? No way; I would have known." Troy looked over at his father and Starbuck, hugging. "You were only eight, Troy, I don't think your father would have discussed it with you." "Uh, no, I guess not. Well, um, did you contact the Galactica?" "I thought you did that; you are the Captain, remember"? "Hmm, wonder which captain outranks the other?" Dillon started laughing at that, laughing so hard he fell over, flat onto his back. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the Lieutenant laying on the ground, holding his stomach, and laughing. Starbuck and Apollo looked at each other and shrugged, and Starbuck suggested, "Maybe it's something in the air." Jamie spoke then. "Hey, if you two are done fooling around, the car is packed and it's time to go, but I think you're going to have to take these two with you on those weird bikes of yours; the kids take up the rest of the room in the station wagon." "Yes, OK, ah, Dillon you take Starbuck and I'll um take...." "Apollo, you're too old to call me Dad, and I'm too young to be your father." "Maybe he could be your baby brother, I have a baby brother; he can be a pain in the butt sometimes, but I love him anyway," a little dark haired girl chirped up. Bending down so he could look her in the eyes, the way he had done when Boxey/Troy was her age, he said, "You know, that's a very good idea, it's the perfect solution to my and Box.....I mean Troy's problem, thank you." Standing up he looked at Troy. "Brother." Troy took his hand. "Brother." "Well, that's all settled, time to go," Jamie said. The kids were loaded and Jamie took off, now came the problem. Starbuck wanted to drive. "You can't drive this, you don't know how," Dillon yelled at him. "Don't you tell me I can't do anything, you little upstart!" "UPSTART!! I happen to be a lieutenant." "OH YEAH, well, I was a lieutenant when you were still in diapers, boy." "BOY! DIAPERS! I was in Troy's class when you two disappeared, I was not in diapers, and I am not a boy." "OK you two, cut it out," both Captains ordered at the same time. Taking a deep breath, Troy said, "Dillon, just let him drive the Turbo bike." "But....." "Just let him drive it." "Fine, but don't blame me when he crashes it." Troy still hadn't contacted the Galactica, and now Commander Adama was getting pretty antsy. ***** To Be Continued