Title: Sleeping His Way to the Top
Author: rita
E-mail:  mommacita1@juno.com
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Adama/SB, Tigh/SB (implied), Adama/Tigh, SB/just about everyone
he comes into contact with except Boomer and Appy, SB/Appy (eventually)
Archive: Yes, please, just tell me where.
Series: No.
Website: http://www.geocities.com/jennylmr/index.html (And thanks to
Jenlmr for hosting me)

Disclaimer: I don't own the boys nor do I make any profit from my
writing.  I just like to play with them and I mostly put my toys back as
good as new.

Notes: This is for Betty, who reminded me about it. And with much thanks
to my two beta readers, Val and Fingers.

Warnings (if needed): Dense Appy, conniving Adama and Tigh, a little cute
kid angst (but not much)

Summary: Ensign Starbuck has slept his way into the Academy, onto the
Galactica, and into Blue Squadron.  Can he sleep his way into a promotion
to lieutenant?


Prologue

Adama sat up in his bed and stretched.  The lithe body next to his
uttered a grunt of disapproval at the sudden inrush of cool air.  Adama
laughed and swatted the cute behind.  "Time to get up, Starbuck.  Ah, you
are good for me, though, I must admit."

The blond rolled over and grinned insouciantly.  "'Course I am,
Commander!  That's what I was made for."  He reached out towards the
space between the Commander's thighs.

Adama swatted his hands away.  "No, Starbuck.  I happen to know you're
due in the Ready Room in less than a centar."  As the blond rolled away
in a sulk, he swatted the perfect backside again and said, "On your way,
Ensign!"

Starbuck rose in one graceful motion and began dressing.  "That reminds
me," he said, "About my next promotion..."

Adama tightened his robe and frowned at the young man.  "No, Starbuck.  I
told you: sleeping with me got you onto the Galactica ..."

"And away from Commander Cain, for which I am forever in your debt,"
Starbuck interrupted.

Adama was not to be derailed.  "And sleeping with Colonel Tigh got you
the position in Blue Squadron..."

"Well, you told me it was the best one," Starbuck interjected
defensively, dropping to his knees and looking up hopefully.

"And so it is.  And the Colonel enjoys you as much as I do.  You give us
ideas to use when we're together," Adama admitted.  "Although we usually
have to modify them. We're neither as young nor as agile as you are."  He
fondly ruffled the blond head kneeling in front of him.  "However, we are
*not* giving out promotions for excellence outside a viper cockpit."

"I'm the best *inside* a viper cockpit, too," Starbuck said archly.  "In
every possible meaning of 'best'," he added.

"I know you are," Adama conceded.  He pushed Starbuck away before he
tried to prove his point.  "And your Academy records aren't all based on
your ... extracurricular talents either.  Sometimes I wonder why you
bother - in all likelihood you could have gotten a berth on the Galactica
by requesting it."

Starbuck shrugged and rose gracefully.  "I only bet on sure things," he
said as he dressed.  "This made my appointment to the Galactica a sure
thing.  And," he added, "I enjoy what I do - everything I do.  I always
have.  That it gets me what I want is the bonus."  He shrugged into his
flight jacket, and swiped at the Ensign tabs in disdain.  "So, Commander,
since you pointed me in the right direction to get into Blue Squadron,
could you give me a hint as to how to get promoted to lieutenant?"

Adama laughed.  The boy was incorrigible.  "I suppose so, Starbuck.  I
could tell you to get your promotion based on your capabilities as a
warrior and pilot - and we both know you could do that.  But I don't
suppose that's what you mean, is it?"  Starbuck grinned and shook his
head.  "I didn't think so.  Well, you know the way to win a man over,
Starbuck.  The man to win is your new squadron leader, Captain Apollo. 
He'll be making out the promotions list."

Starbuck gave Adama a casual salute as he headed for the door,  "Thanks,
Commander!  Any son of yours is welcome to my unique services.  I'll just
have to make sure he's aware of that."

Adama looked after him and chuckled.  "Good luck to you, Starbuck," he
said after the door had closed behind the Ensign.  "My son doesn't take
after me in the bedroom.  No, his ideas of propriety and duty are quite
different from mine."

Colonel Tigh stepped through the hidden connecting door from his quarters
just in time to hear Adama's statement.  "So, my Commander and love,
would you care to make a friendly wager on Starbuck's success with
'Captain By-the-Book', as his squad calls him - not so affectionately?"

"Is that the worst they call him?" Adama asked.

"No, not at all.  The warriors aren't going soft, don't worry.  But about
that wager?"

"Hmm," Adama said considering.  "And which side would you take?"

"Oh, I think if anyone can unbend Apollo, Starbuck will do it."

"I don't doubt it.  But I think if anyone can make Starbuck see there's
more to life than sex and flying, Apollo can.  And that just might give
the young Ensign pause."

"So.  Shall we wager on which of Starbuck's talents gets him promoted?"

"Fair enough," Adama said.  "I'll bet on his skill as a Warrior and
pilot."

"And I'll take his skill in bed.  Which I suspect I'll be missing if you
win the wager."

"So will I, old friend, but it will be worth it.  Starbuck deserves
better than he allows himself."

"Better than *us*?" Tigh joked.

"Well," Adama said loosening the robe he had put on not five centons
before, "I don't know.  Shall we find out?"

***

Part 1 - A secton later ...

"Just a micron," Apollo called out at the sound of the door chime.  "Who
in Hades can that be?" he grumbled as he dusted himself off and stood up
from the crate of books he'd been unpacking.  It had taken a sectar for
the crate to catch up with him as the Galactica flitted around the
Colonies on training maneuvers.  Now someone was interrupting him as he
finally had some down time to organize them.  "This better be important,"
he growled as he pressed the door release.  Anything else he was going to
say was lost as he his breath caught in his throat and his eyes opened
wide.

Posed against the doorframe at an angle that made Apollo wonder how it
didn't fall in when the door opened, was a vision from his most erotic
dreams.  A vision with blond hair and blue eyes, dressed, if you could
call it that, in an eye-matching blue tunic of some fabric that made
Apollo's hands itch to reach out and stroke it.  That was all the vision
was dressed in, except for a smile.  "May I come in, Captain?" the vision
asked.

"I'm off-duty, Ensign," Apollo forced his mouth to say instead of the
"Yes, by all means" that threatened to emerge.  "Is this something that
can't be handled by the Duty Officer?"

Starbuck was looking Apollo up and down.  He'd barely glanced at the
Commander's son and his new CO in the sectar he'd been on board.  But now
that he did ... 'This could be fun', he thought.  'Someone my own age
and, mmm, beautiful just to look at - that dark curly hair and those
green eyes ...' Where in Hades had *that* come from?  Sex was fun for its
own sake.  *And* for whatever the agreed upon price was, like a
promotion.  He was thinking like one of his own marks.  Luckily, his body
had gone on smoothly without his brain being connected.  "Oh, I don't
think so, Sir," Starbuck heard himself say with a shake of his
just-barely-regulation-length blond waves.

"And it can't wait until we're both on duty?" Apollo continued,
consciously keeping his hands behind his back, where they wouldn't reach
for either the tunic or the lock of hair that had fallen out of place at
the headshake.

"Ah, no, Sir, I don't think you'd want this ... particular conversation
to take place when we're on duty."  He grinned mischievously.  "Now, I'm
not saying we couldn't do this in the duty office, you understand, but
probably not when we're on duty and not with the Duty Officer there," he
expanded, then paused to ponder.  "Of course, that would depend on who
the Duty Officer was and what your preferences are, Sir.  I aim to
please."

Apollo was too stunned to say anything.  He opened and closed his mouth
several times without a sound coming out.  His hands opened and closed in
time with his mouth.

Starbuck remained in the doorway.  A couple of female personnel strolled
by and one of them pinched his bottom through the tunic as they passed. 
"Ah, ah, ah, ladies.  Don't touch the merchandise," he chastised.  They
giggled as they eyed him admiringly, then noticed the Captain glaring at
them over Starbuck's shoulder and hurried on.

"Get in here," Apollo snarled, finally letting his hands have their way
and jerking Starbuck into the room.  "I can tell I don't want to have
this 'particular conversation' out in the hall either."  As the door
closed, Apollo realized he was petting the tunic and, therefore, the
blond and forcibly pulled his hands away.  "Who put you up to this?" he
demanded, not letting the man any further into the room.

"No one puts me up to anything," Starbuck returned with some heat.  "I've
never been forced and I've never been told what to do - except sometimes
on duty.  I have my pride, you know."

'Frack!' Apollo thought, realizing what Starbuck was going to offer. 
'How do I get out of this?  Damn my father and his loose discipline! 
Even Tigh can't keep his libido on a leash, no wonder my mother gave up
decayahrens ago.'  "I know the Commander of this Battlestar allows this
kind of conduct, but I don't have to participate," Apollo began.

"Of course you don't," Starbuck agreed.  "But I hope you'll at least
listen to my proposition."

"No.  I won't.  This isn't the way I run my squad.  Let's pretend this
was, say, the Pegasus.  Would you be doing this?"

Starbuck winced.  "On the Pegasus, Sir, I wouldn't be given the option. 
I'd be doing it, there's no question.  But it wouldn't be my choice with
whom.  That's why I chose the Galactica."

Apollo tried a different tack.  "Ensign, I've reviewed your records.  And
from Fleet scuttlebutt I know *how* you got where you are, but I truly
don't understand why you choose to get your postings by ..."

"Sucking and fracking my way?" Starbuck supplied.

"I was going to say 'using sex', but, fine, call a black Pyramid by its
name," Apollo said.

Starbuck grinned and spread his hands in a helpless gesture.  "I enjoy
sex.  I'm good at it - no, I'm *great* at it.  I can get you references."
He reached out to gently run his hand down Apollo's shirt.  "Or I could
simply demonstrate."

Apollo took a quick step back.  "If you applied yourself to your work
you'd get the same results," Apollo said firmly, pleased that his voice
didn't crack.  He was also glad he had loose exercise pants on.  The
gentle stroke had been like an electric shock straight to his groin.

"Maybe now, in fact probably now, that's true," Starbuck conceded.  "But
when I was in the orphanage it wasn't.  Now don't go feeling sorry for
me; that's not why I said it.  I've always liked sex - any time, any
place, any way.  I don't mind a little rough stuff either.  But back in
the orphanage it was the only way to get a few extras.  And maybe I was
wrong, but it was the only way I could figure to get a scholarship to the
Academy."

"But you still had to pass the entrance exams - didn't you?" Apollo
asked.  

"Yes, yes, I passed 'em.  If you reviewed my records you know that. 
Besides, you can't frack a computer.  At least I haven't figured out how
yet."  He grinned again.  "But to get the best sections, the best study
partners, all of that, either costs money or ... something else to
trade."  He spread his hands again, this time, displaying 'the
merchandise'.  "And I have something else to trade."  He raised his
eyebrows, moving that enticingly wayward lock of hair again.  "So, what
do you say, Captain?"

'How does he do that, with the hair?' Apollo wondered distractedly.  'It
can't be controllable, hair doesn't work that way.'  He brought himself
up short.  "I say, 'no', Ensign."

"Even with no strings?" Starbuck heard himself say.  'What the frack! 
I'm in this for a promotion - aren't I?'  He tried to remember the last
time he'd had a relationship just for the sake of it.  He couldn't.  He
turned those down, male or female, simply because he didn't see the point
to them.  Sex was for bartering, not for giving away.  It was fun,
everyone had a good time, but you had to come away with something in
return.

"What do you mean 'no strings'?" Apollo asked.

'I'm in for it now,' Starbuck thought.  He sighed internally, but didn't
let his mark see his unease.  "I mean, let's just see if we enjoy each
other.  No terms or conditions."

"Like ... friends?"

"Uh, I don't know.  Never had a real friend, as I understand the term. 
More like frack buddies."

"There must be a regulation against having sexual relations with an
officer in your direct chain of command," Apollo said.  It sounded weak
even to him.

"There isn't."  Starbuck reached forward again, lower this time, fondling
what he found between the Captain's legs.  "You know you want me," he
murmured silkily as the object of his attention hardened and lengthened.

That did it.  In one move, Apollo had Starbuck pinned on his back. 
Apollo's knees held Starbuck's thighs between them, his hands kept his
shoulders on the floor.  "I could have you up on charges for that,
Ensign," he snapped.

"Or you could just have me - any way you want me," Starbuck countered, a
little breathless, but undaunted.

"No strings," the Captain sneered.

"No strings," Starbuck agreed.

"No."

Frack!  Starbuck wondered whether Adama would bail him out and what it
would cost - probably a lifetime of serving both Executive Officers.  He
sagged in surrender.  'Well, it had to happen sometime, Bucko, you met
someone incorruptible.  Pity he's so gorgeous.'

But Apollo was still speaking.  "There'll be strings.  Two of them: 
First, you will serve me - but secretly - *completely* secretly.  No one
is to know.  To anyone else's eyes you'll have failed in your quest - 
we'll become friends, but that's all."  Starbuck nodded eagerly.  "This
means my father and Colonel Tigh think we're platonic friends, too."

"Yes, yes, no problem."

"Second, you'll earn your promotion honestly.  I won't associate with an
ensign for long and the deal's off if you don't make lieutenant by the
next review."  Again Starbuck nodded eagerly, too eagerly, Apollo
thought.  "Because I can't trust myself to do the review, now that we're
bosom buddies, I'll have someone else do it.  Lieutenant Boomer, I
think."

"Fine," Starbuck said cheerily.

Apollo narrowed his eyes in suspicion.  "You and Boomer?" he asked.

"No, no," Starbuck assured him.  "Boom-boom's as straight as an arrow.  I
thought you might be, too, but it was worth a try, seeing as your father
recommended it."

Apollo choked.  "My *father*.  Sagan!  That man will stoop to anything!"
He shook his head.  "He set you up, Starbuck.  But that's okay.  We'll
keep him guessing and that will drive him nuts."

"So," Starbuck said, "When do you want me to start?"

Apollo reached under Starbuck's tunic - the man was completely naked
under the brief garment, he realized - and began fondling him.  "Tell me
when you're about to cum," he instructed.

When Starbuck signaled, Apollo stopped abruptly.  Starbuck bit his lower
lip, but yahrens of practice gave him the control he needed.

"Good," Apollo said, rising and dusting off his knees.  "Now, you can
start by unpacking my books.  I'll direct you."  He sat down on the
couch, making himself comfortable, and gestured at the crate.  With a
stifled moan, Starbuck crept over to it.

***

"And you're sure they never, say, share a shower after a game or
practice?" Adama asked Boomer.  He and Colonel Tigh had seen Boomer
sitting at the bar in the OC and invited him to join them at a table.  

Boomer knew better than to refuse an invitation from the two Executive
Officers of the Battlestar, but he was puzzled at the strange
interrogation.  "No, sir.  The only time I've seen them together in the
showers is when the Captain pulled the Ensign out for using too much hot
water."  Tigh snorted and Boomer turned his attention to the Colonel. 
"Sir?" he asked.

"Lieutenant, you *do* know the Ensign's reputation, do you not?" the
Colonel asked.

"Oh, yes, Sir," Boomer affirmed.  "Everyone does.  No one really
understands - I mean with his looks anyone even *slightly* inclined that
way would be interested, even *I've* given him a second glance and I
don't lean that way at all - where was I?"

Adama and Tigh looked at each other and chuckled.  Starbuck had that
effect on people regardless of age, gender, or sexual preference - they'd
even seen priests lose track of whatever they were lecturing the Ensign
about when he looked at them with those big, innocent, blue eyes.

"It's all right, Lieutenant, we both understand," Adama said, putting a
paternal hand on the dark man's shoulder.  "I suspect most of the
Galactica's personnel and half the rest of the Fleet would understand."

"Yes, Sir.  Thank you, Sir." Boomer said.  "What I meant to say, though,
was that the Ensign doesn't seem to, umm, try to, umm, persuade the
Captain that way, like he does, umm, other officers."

"Really?" Adama drawled.  "How very interesting."

"Yes, sir," Boomer said, warming to his subject.  "In fact, I'd say he's
going out of his way to impress the Captain with his capabilities for the
position.  Even Triad.  He's been on-time to practices, follows the
Captain's lead.  It's not his normal way of playing with a partner - of
course, normally he'd have seduced his partner and tried out the opposing
team, too."

"Anything besides Triad make you think Ensign Starbuck's changed his
ways, Lieutenant?" Tigh asked in a tone of voice that suggested he was
just passing the time in idle conversation.

"Well, yeah.  He's been *dating* - I mean females exclusively, at least
for the past couple of sectons.  Sure, he seduces the women, but, no
offense to anyone, what are they going to get for him?"

"That does seem out of character," Adama allowed.

"Come to think of it, he started being exclusively heterosexual right
about the time he asked me to tutor him - two sectons ago.  He asked me
to tutor him for the senior officer's exam that's coming up."

"And are you?" Tigh asked.

"Yes, sir.  I figured, why not?  He was a little embarrassed," Boomer
chuckled.  "He didn't know what he could pay me with, since I'm not
interested in his, uh, usual currency.  But I told him if he was serious
I do it in exchange for him cutting me a little slack at Pyramid."

"How is the tutoring going?" Adama asked.

Boomer shook his head.  "You know, except for a couple of regs he didn't
know - and they're obscure ones - and the fine points of hand-off of
command at the bridge level, he didn't need any tutoring.  And he could
have read up on those himself.  I asked him why he wanted me to tutor him
and he said he only bets on sure things."  Boomer shook his head again. 
"Funny guy.  I think he's really insecure down deep."

Tigh snorted again, but Adama looked thoughtful.  "Under those
circumstances, I think I'd better proctor the exams myself."

"I don't think so, Colonel," Adama said sharply, then seemed to remember
Boomer's presence.  "Thank you for the pleasant conversation,
Lieutenant," he said smoothly.

Boomer recognized the dismissal for what it was.  "The pleasure was mine,
Sirs," he said, rising and saluting.  "If you'll excuse me, I have to
prepare a report."

"Of course, of course," Adama said graciously, waving him off.  Once
Boomer was out of earshot, he turned to Tigh.  "No way are you proctoring
that test, Tigh.  You have as much a stake in it as I do."

"Oh, very well.  But Apollo's excused himself due to his 'friendship with
some of the candidates' and obviously we can't ask Lieutenant Boomer,
since he's tutoring Starbuck."

"We have to find someone above reproach.  Someone who would bend over
backwards to *prevent* Starbuck from making Lieutenant."

"We could ask Sire Uri?"

Adama raised an eyebrow in query.

"Rumor has it Uri requested Starbuck's presence during the Ensign's last
furlong and Starbuck politely declined."

"Well, well, well.  And Uri is a sponsor of the Academy.  Not the one who
sponsored Starbuck in, interestingly enough.  That was Siress Belloby. 
Hmm.  We will be in orbit around Caprica when the exams are held; we
could honor Sire Uri by asking him to proctor."

"That would also ensure the proctor doesn't give out any exam responses,"
Tigh pointed out.  "Uri wouldn't know a command regulation if it hit him
in the face."

"Now, now, Colonel.  Let's not disparage the civilian nobility.  We need
their support to get the military budget approved or the Cylons will
overrun us within the yahren."

***

"Well, I did it - fair and square - and boringly," Starbuck proclaimed as
soon as Apollo answered the door.

"Congratulations, Lieutenant," Apollo said smiling.  "Would you do me the
honor of celebrating your promotion with me - with a little ambrosa?"  He
stepped back and Starbuck moved into the room.  Apollo went to the small
bar and poured two glasses from the bottle he had chilling. 

"Is that all the reward I get?" Starbuck grumbled as he accepted the
glass.

"Is the promotion all you've gotten out of our ... relationship?" Apollo
asked, hiding his disappointment.

Starbuck started to blurt out, "Yes," but caught himself. 
Uncharacteristically, he was silent for a few microns, sipping the
ambrosa.  "No," he said finally.  "But I'm not sure what I have gotten." 
He turned confused blue eyes on his Captain.  "I don't understand."

"What don't you understand?"

"You said you wanted me to serve you.  And that first night, I figured
you were punishing me for coming on to you.  But since then, you hardly
ever invite me over - or invite me in if I come over - and then all we do
is *talk*.  Now, if you were totally ramrod straight - like Boomer - I'd
say, okay.  But that first night, with all due respect, Captain, I'll
give you bi, but you ain't straight."  Starbuck's voice had gotten louder
and higher-pitched as he spoke.  Now he practically squeaked.  "Have I
lost my touch?"

Apollo chuckled.  "No, I doubt that you *could* lose your touch.  And,
yes, I am bisexual.  So are you, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah.  But it's been said I'll hump anyone or anything, and I
think it just might be true.  I'll try just about anything once."

Apollo smiled and waited.  He had learned that Starbuck eventually
returned to the subject, even if it was something he planned to evade. 
The trick was not to go along with his evasions.

"Anyway," Starbuck said after a silence that he found uncomfortable, "You
haven't had me *serve* you at all!  I mean, I've helped you set up in
here, do laundry, clean - Hades, I've even gone grocery shopping with you
- but nothing, you know, sexual."

"I don't recall saying the condition was that you'd serve me *sexually*,"
Apollo said slowly.  "I've been using you as a manservant."  He paused to
let that sink in.  "Not very nice of me, I admit, but you agreed to it. 
And it gave us a chance to get to know one another."

"We could have done that without my dusting your furniture every
Sixthday," Starbuck grumbled.

"Yes, we could have," Apollo agreed.  "But we wouldn't have, would we? 
We wouldn't have had anything to do with one another if you didn't want
something, right?"

"Well, you'd still be my CO," Starbuck protested.

"I meant off-duty."

"Oh."  Starbuck thought about it.  "No, I guess not.  I don't do that."

"So I gathered.  And I wanted to see if you were worth having as a
friend, without sex clouding my judgment."  Starbuck rolled his eyes. 
"You really meant it when you said you'd never had a friend, didn't you?"

Starbuck reddened and mumbled something unintelligible.

Apollo didn't ask him to repeat himself.  "I don't think you've even had,
what did you call them?  Frack buddies, that's it.  You've never even had
a frack buddy, have you?"

"I don't see how that's your business, Captain," Starbuck said hotly. 
"But obviously you've looked into my, my background carefully, so you
know the answer.  I *have* been romancing the ladies, though," he said
defensively.

"Yes, *all* the ladies.  My sister tells me they find you very
satisfactory.  How did it happen you didn't try her?"

Starbuck found something very interesting on the wall beyond Apollo's
shoulder.  "Um, I thought you'd kill me.  And if you didn't, I figured
the Commander would space me.  Or have me transferred like he did Bojay,
if he was in a *good* mood."

"I'd only kill you if you hurt her," Apollo said.  "My father?  Yeah,
he'd probably transfer you somewhere unpleasant.  He doesn't space
people."

"Well that's good to know," Starbuck said with a grin.  Silence fell
again.  And again Starbuck broke it.  "But why don't *you* want me?  I
mean, you *are* responsible for my promotion, even if you made me earn it
the hard way."

"From what Boomer tells me, it wasn't all that hard for you to use the
normal route."

Starbuck shrugged.  "I can apply myself when I have to."

"To answer your question, I wanted to get to know you.  And I do find you
... attractive.  Very attractive."  Apollo looked directly into
Starbuck's eyes.  "But I don't *do* 'frack buddies'.  I've had lovers of
both sexes - serially, that is.  But the operative word is 'love'." 
Silently Apollo added, 'And it's time for me to look for someone to Seal
with and start a family.  If I let myself fall in love with you, that
will never happen.'

"Oh."  Starbuck put down the glass, only half empty.  "Well, I guess that
explains it then."  He stood.  "I'll go now."

"Starbuck."  Starbuck stopped halfway to the door, but didn't turn
around.  "I would like to have you - as a friend."

Starbuck finally swung around.  "I ... I don't know if I can ... I mean
I've never ..."  He gulped and stared wide-eyed at Apollo.  "I don't know
*how* to be a friend!" he blurted out.

"Maybe you can learn," Apollo said, rising and walking up to him.  "You
seem to be a quick study.  Maybe I can teach you."

***

Part 2: Five yahrens later ...

"Thanks, Bucko, you're a real friend!" Boomer said. 

Starbuck started to demur, then caught himself.  "Yeah," he said
thoughtfully.  "Yeah, I am."  He grinned and shook his head.  "You can
thank Apollo for that, Boom-boom."

Boomer looked at Starbuck for a long micron.  "I think I almost know what
you're talking about, Bucko.  But, hey!  When you fall in love, I'll swap
patrols with you."

"Fair enough, Boomer!  Now get out of here before Dietra gets tired of
waiting in the shuttle bay."  He smiled and tipped back in his chair as
Boomer exited at a run.  He reached for a fumarello, then checked the
chrono.  He was due at Apollo's quarters in five centons to stay with
Boxey while Apollo took Sheba to the Rising Star.  'Maybe they should
double with Boomer and Dietra,' he thought idly as he closed the humidor
and checked his appearance in the mirror before heading out. 

He arrived to the sound of a child sobbing and Apollo's voice making
soothing sounds - he couldn't make out the words through the door and
over the crying.  He pressed the door signal then keyed in the code
without waiting for a response.

"Yes, I am going to Seal with Sheba," Apollo was saying in what sounded
like an apologetic tone.  "But that doesn't mean you won't still be my
son."

Starbuck standing in the doorway winced at the words and nearly turned
around, but Boxey spotted him.

"Uncle Starbuck," the boy wailed.  "Uncle Starbuck, Sheba says I gotta go
to the Orphan Barge when she and Dad Seal."  He threw himself at
Starbuck, who caught him almost absently.

Starbuck raised an eyebrow at Apollo over Boxey's shoulder as he stroked
the boy's back and rocked him gently.

Apollo approached and joined Starbuck in calming Boxey with soothing
strokes to his arms.  "I'm sure you misunderstood Sheba.  I bet Sheba
meant she'd like you to visit the orphans with her ... or something like
that.  Don't you think so, Starbuck?"

Starbuck shifted the boy to one side in his arms and looked directly at
Apollo.  "I don't know, Apollo," he said evenly.  "Why don't you ask her
when you see her tonight?"

"Good idea!" Apollo exclaimed, gripping his friend's shoulder in thanks. 
"What do you think, Boxey?"

Boxey raised a tear-streaked face from Starbuck's shoulder.  "I guess so,
if Uncle Starbuck says.  He's always right."

'And he doesn't say what he doesn't believe,' Apollo thought.  'What he
*didn't* say was he thought that Boxey had misunderstood Sheba.  But
surely he did, didn't he?' 

***

"You're home early," Starbuck commented looking up from a technical
manual as Apollo strode in.

'A technical manual?' Apollo thought, distracted by the blond lieutenant,
lounging comfortably on the sofa.  'He does that for *me*,' Apollo
realized.  'And he looks so ... at home sitting there like that.  Like he
*belongs* here.'  His thoughts were scattered, but all revolved around
Starbuck, and how he belonged with Apollo.  Finally they coalesced. 
'This is why no one's ever been *the* one; why I've always settled for
not-quite-right."

"Galactica to Apollo.  Come in Apollo," Starbuck said, putting down the
manual and getting up.  He took the dazed-looking man by the hand and led
him to the couch, pushing him down onto it.  "I'll make some kaf; you
look like you could use it."

"Thanks, Starbuck," was all Apollo could manage.

"Wanna tell Uncle Starbuck about it?" the blond asked when he returned
with the kaf.

"Boxey was right."

"Ah."

"You don't seem surprised."

Starbuck shrugged, not wanting to add salt to an open wound.  "Sheba's
high-maintenance.  Sharing you probably was never an option in her mind."

"You should have told me."

"Not what I'm here for, old buddy.  If I'd told you, you would have cut
me off - then I wouldn't be here now."  Starbuck took a sip of the kaf. 
"Look, I wouldn't have let Boxey go to the Orphan Barge.  I would've
found a way to keep him myself."  'Where did *that* come from?' Starbuck
wondered, but he knew it was true.

Apollo recognized the truth, too.  "I told Sheba that she was the one who
wouldn't be around anymore, not Boxey."

"You always do the right thing, Apollo," Starbuck said approvingly. 
"When you figure out what it is."

"Do I?" Apollo wondered.  "I didn't do the right thing with you."

"What do you mean?" Starbuck asked warily.

"Who are you seeing these days, Bucko?" Apollo asked.  Starbuck shrugged
noncommittally.  "Not Cassiopeia.  She's with Rigel.  Not Athena or I'd
know - although you'd probably have killed each other before I got the
chance.  No rumors.  And you're always available,"

"That's what friendship's about, isn't it?" Starbuck said softly. 
"That's what you taught me."

"Friendship goes only so far," Apollo said, sipping his own kaf. 
Breaking up with Sheba hadn't hurt and he'd wondered if it was because he
was just numb, in shock.  Now he realized it hadn't hurt because he
didn't love her.

"Then what do you call it?" Starbuck asked.

"Love?" Apollo asked.

"I don't do 'love', remember?" Starbuck said with surprising bitterness. 
"You made it clear I didn't rate love five yahrens ago.  So I settled for
friendship."

"I was wrong," Apollo said simply.

"So now you want me to be your frack buddy?" Starbuck asked.  He set his
cup down so hard kaf splashed out of it.  "When I offered, when it was
natural for me - a little unusual but something I at least understood -
you said no."  He rose and started pacing.  "You taught me what
friendship is.  You're not my only friend, but you were my first and
you're my best friend, my closest friend.  The one I'd do anything for. 
The one I'd die for."

"I know."

"The one who made me able to change.  I'm not Starbuck the sex toy
anymore.  I'm still a lieutenant and I'll die a lieutenant before I'll
have sex in exchange for a promotion again.  Hades!  I don't even have
sex with people I don't care about anymore.  So I don't have sex with
anyone."  He stopped and glared at Apollo.  "And now you want me to be
your frack buddy."

"No."

"No?" Starbuck echoed.

"No," Apollo repeated.  "What you've described, what I've been too blind
to see, is love.  I thought we could be friends, I didn't want to love
you - didn't want to teach you the difference between love and sex -
because I thought I needed to Seal and raise a family.  I'm not my
father; I knew I couldn't do that and have you on the side, even if it
was all right with you.  But I couldn't help loving you, wanting to make
love with you.  And somewhere along the line, you figured it out, too." 
His mouth quirked in a grin.  "I always said you were a quick study."

"Love?" Starbuck asked.  Apollo nodded.  "Is that why all my dreams are
about you?  Why I can't picture living without you around?"  Apollo
nodded again.  "So."  Starbuck took a deep breath.  "What are you going
to do about it?"

"It's not up to me, Starbuck," Apollo said quietly.

"Sure it is, Captain," Starbuck replied.  "I've been at your disposal
since that first night I showed up at your door ready to be your sex
toy."

"I don't want a sex toy any more than I want a frack buddy."

"You want us to remain platonic?" Starbuck asked, bewildered.

Apollo stood up and pulled Starbuck against him.  He rubbed himself up
and down Starbuck's body.  "Does that feel platonic to you?"

"It feels like five yahrens' worth of waiting," Starbuck replied,
panting.

"Then let's not wait any longer."  Apollo pulled the compliant blond into
the bedroom, and quickly stripped both of them.  "I haven't been with a
man in five yahrens, so this may be a little ... awkward."

Starbuck looked at him.  "I haven't been with *anyone* in five sectars. 
If you don't stop talking I'm gonna be done before you begin."

"Oh, I think I can take care of that right now," Apollo said as he knelt
in front of the man who had loved him without knowing what love was. 
Then his mouth was too full to say anything.

Starbuck exploded almost immediately, sobbing as his knees buckled. 

Apollo released the spent cock and jumped up to catch Starbuck and lay
him on the bed.  He held him and soothed him until Starbuck gained
control of himself again.

"Never did that before.  Must be out of practice," Starbuck mumbled. 
"Cum inside me?" he begged, realizing he was completely exhausted and
couldn't provide anything more active for his new ... lover?  It was
still an alien concept, but it felt like the right word.

"Are you sure?  You haven't been with a man ...." Apollo began.

"As long as you, or maybe a little less," Starbuck finished for him. 
"But I was *always* on the receiving end until then.  I'm guessing my
astrum will remember what to do."

"Don't talk about yourself that way," Apollo scolded, kissing him to
soften the words.  "I'll frack you often enough - and you, me.  But not
tonight.  We need to have time to prepare each other.  Tonight, I'll
frack your mouth, okay?"

Starbuck nodded and opened his mouth.  Apollo fracked Starbuck's mouth
with his tongue, then withdrew and straddled the blond head, careful to
give him breathing room.  Then he plunged into the hot, wet opening and
began pumping.

Starbuck narrowed his lips and shaped his tongue to conform to Apollo's
cock.  He sucked, licked, and bit lightly.  When he felt Apollo pulse in
his mouth, he deep-throated him, taking him over the edge in one swift
suck.

Apollo nearly collapsed on Starbuck's head, but managed to roll to one
side as the blond gulped and gasped.  Apollo was still panting when he
felt himself being licked clean by a gentle tongue.  He moaned his
pleasure and changed position to return the favor.  When he was done, he
reversed himself again and held his best friend close, determined to
never let him go.

Starbuck felt the warm arms tighten around him.  He smiled.  The son was
very much like the father, very much indeed.  But the son played for
keeps, and that was just fine with him.

***

In the Command Suite, Colonel Tigh closed down a hidden receiver and
turned to Commander Adama.  "Well, old friend, I believe I won that bet."

"Not at all, Colonel," the Commander demurred. "It took my stubborn son
five yahrens, but I believe he won the wager for me."

Tigh crawled onto the bed and under the covers next to Adama.  "Well,
shall we call it a tie, then?"

"I think we could do that," Adama concurred.  "Now what do you think they
were doing when they both made that sound like a daggit lapping up
water?"

"I don't know.  Shall we experiment and see if we can reproduce it?"