A Different Beginning

Title: A Different Beginning
Time-line: From the start
Pairing: Kara\Lee
Rating: T
Genre: Adventure & Romance
Disclaimer: Borrowed from RDM&BSG

A.N.--------Starting from the mini-series and it is AU

Chapter 1

Commander Adama was waiting on his son, Lee Adama to arrive for the decommissioning ceremony of the Galactica. He was hopeful that after the two years following his youngest sons death that his oldest and last child would forgive him. He knew that Lee blamed him for Zak's accident and he hoped that their time apart had helped Lee to see that he was not to blame.

Bill Adama thought back to the last time he had seen Zak. It had been early one morning that Zak had showed up at their house and told him that he had failed basic flight training on vipers and would be taking his test for raptors. At the time he thought it might have been a good idea, but hindsight proved that Zak was no more capable in raptors than he was in vipers, but he had told him how proud he was of him for trying out on raptors. What he now realized was that he should have asked him about his viper scores and then he would have known, but Zak seemed so happy that he had let it go. That is what Lee blamed him for.

Adama heard the announcement that Apollo was landing and let his mind drift once more. He had been out on maneuvers when he got the call that Zak had died while trying to land his raptor on a battlestar as part of his last series of tests. He not only died but so did the ECO in training with him. They said that Zak must have looked away for a second because he hit part of the side of the battlestar which caused his raptor to crash and explode upon impact. He knew that growing up Zak had a hard time keeping his mind on one thing at a time before trying to do something else. Lee was nothing like Zak, he was single-minded and had to always do everything to perfection before moving on to something else. His two sons were as different as night and day, which was how they were born one at night and the other during the day.

Adama stopped his musings when he heard a knock at his hatch. " Enter " he called and in came Kara " Starbuck " Thrace who seemed to be a combination of both his sons. During the last year having her on his ship had been a blessing and a curse, she was one of the best pilots he had ever known, but one of the worst at getting along with her superiors. She seemed to only listen to him but that was not to say she always listened, but give her an order and she would obey. In a short year she had become like a daughter to him and he hoped to introduce her to Lee while he was here.

Kara entered and stood at attention while waiting on Adama to put her at ease. She knew he was worried about seeing his son again and wondered if this meeting had anything to do with that. About three months ago he had told her most of what had happened concerning him and his two sons. She knew he blamed himself for his youngest sons death, but she couldn't understand the oldest son blaming him for it. She knew he blamed himself enough without the added pressure from '" Apollo ". Yes, she knew the name and that he was almost as good a pilot as she was and that the commander wanted her to meet him. She was not looking forward to meeting the man that has caused her commander so much grief, but for him she had agreed.

" At ease Starbuck " he finally told her not quite sure how long he had left her at attention.

" You wanted to see me boss? " she asked after standing down

Adama sat down " Have a seat Kara there is something I need to tell you. " After pulling out some papers and waiting for her to sit he spoke. "Kara as you know this ship is being decommissioned and I know you haven't decided on what you want to do next, but I have just received a wire from Commander Cain about you. " He paused waiting for her to speak and when she only nodded he continued. "She wants you to serve your last year for her aboard the Pegagus. "

Kara was at a loss for words for a second " Why would she want someone with my record sir?" and then she added " You know I don't follow just anybody's orders. "

Adama coughed before speaking, to keep from smiling, this was serious after all. " It's either this or the teaching position back at the academy and although I think you would make a great instructor it might do you some good to serve under another commander on a different ship. "

Kara decided a joke was in order " If I do this and get court marshaled can I call you? "

Adama nodded and smiled " You had better keep in touch and not just when you need something and if you decide on the Pegagus you will go with Apollo when he escorts the Secretary of Education back to Caprica."

Kara smiled " Does that mean my viper comes with me? "

" It does, besides what am I going to do with it." Adama told her

" Speaking of all that when do I get to meet the famous Apollo? " Kara asked smiling

Adama stood up and headed to the hatchway " He has just landed, so now if you want to walk with me. "

Kara stood also and fell in step next to him " I guess there is no time like the present " she muttered

Adama knew his son would go straight to the pilots briefing room so he headed there.

Lee was not at all happy about having to attend this ceremony and couldn't wait until he could leave and head to Caprica to visit his mom. He hadn't spoken to his dad in almost two years, but he kept up with him through his mother and knew that retiring the Galactica would be hard for his dad. Lee also knew that Zak's death wasn't his fathers fault, but he needed to blame someone so it seemed his father was the logical choice. His mom had also told him that his father was really close to a female viper pilot, which seemed odd to Lee, but why should he care. Zak had been the one who wanted to please their father, not him. Just the same Lee had to wonder who this pilot was that his father would like so much, she was probably a by the book pilot otherwise his father would not like her so much.

Lee thought back to the last time he had seen Zak, it was right before he started viper classes at the academy. He had been at home for the weekend when Zak had came in all excited about vipers. All through dinner Zak had went on and on about beating his scores in viper school, when their father had brought up the fact that some of Lee's scores had already been beat. When Zak asked by who their father had answered by simply saying "Starbuck. " To this day Lee still hadn't asked who " Starbuck " was. Lee looked down at his watch and wondered how much longer he could put off seeing his father. He was just about to leave the pilots briefing room when he heard his fathers voice followed by female laughter. Well it was now or never he thought, too bad it could be never, so he braced himself for the now.

Adama knew as well as Kara that he was taking the long way to the briefing room, but he was nervous about seeing Lee after so long. He also knew that he had Kara come along as a buffer. He looked beside himself at Kara and figured he had better warn her again about his son. "Starbuck when you first meet Lee just try to overlook some things that might be said, he really is a good man and one I can't take much credit for."

Kara looked at him " Sir if he is half the man you are things will be okay " she didn't know what else to say to put him at ease. She knew the commander could be a hard man but he was also a fair man.

" I wasn't around much when he was growing up, so I missed out on getting to know him, but he is a great viper pilot" he told her.

Kara thought about making a joke instead she said " I guess we will find out during the fly-over " Adama smiled and she laughed knowing he knew what she was thinking.

" Take it easy on him Starbuck he doesn't fly like you, hell I don't think anybody flies like you " Adama chuckled which led to Kara laughing. They had made it to the hatch of the briefing room.