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Sleep when you're dead

by Jen

 
“Apollo looks as though he could do with a good secton’s sleep,” Cassie comments, watching Apollo making his way somewhat wearily to the bar.

“And you’re surprised?” Athena’s tone betrays her amazement at the thought.

Cassie shrugs. “Maybe not.”

“Maybe? You’re telling me there weren’t nights when all you wanted to say was ‘Starbuck, please can’t we just get half a centar’s sleep tonight. There’s always tomorrow night.” 

“Or morning. Or afternoon.”

“Or tea-time, or suppertime.”

“Or shower time.”

“Or after Triad, but before he’s showered.”

They sigh in unison, before their eyes meet and they start to laugh. “Anyway, all I’m saying is that Apollo looks like he could do with a break.”

“Did you ever want a break?”

If there’s a slight edge in Athena’s voice, Cassie chooses to ignore it, as she shrugs in answer. She knows it can’t be easy having your ex so publicly involved with your brother. Even if it turns out he wasn’t precisely her ex but more a shared resource. Cassie was pleased that there had been one unforeseen consequence from the whole mess when that came out, which is that she and Athena have become good friends. 

“So I’m betting the squadron have something to say about their CO being turned into something of a fracked-out zombie.”

Athena shakes her head, dark hair gleaming as it catches the light from the lamps that have been placed strategically through the bar in a rather optimistic attempt to create the impression of an intimate establishment.

“Boomer says they all, or most of them anyway, think it’s because Tigh rides Apollo so hard.”

Cassie chokes, and after an instant’s incomprehension, Athena flushes. 

“Not like that!” she protests.

“Just as well,” Cassie remarks. “It’s a much prettier mental image when it’s Starbuck riding Apollo hard.”

“Cassiopeia!   There are certain things I never, ever want to hear or think about my brother, and that one is top of the list, thank you very much.”

Cassie just grins as she plays with the stick that’s impaling obscenely-expensive pieces of fruit across the top of her cocktail glass. She really doesn’t need any help in visualising such a pretty, pretty picture herself, but it’s always fun to rattle Athena’s cage.

“So you think Starbuck’s keeping him up till all hours, then?”

“It’s what he does best,” Athena says. 

“Mmmmn.” Cassie’s lips have closed around the cherry on her stick and she sucks it into her mouth where her teeth fasten on it with a decided bite. 

“You think Starbuck still does that thing with his tongue?” she asks, when she’s swallowed the fruit.

“You mean that thing where…” Athena needs another drink or so inside her before she’ll go into more details verbally, but her cheeks pinken and her eyes sparkle. “It never failed”, she says. “Every fracking time.”

“And he knew it,” Cassie says. “Still, with talent like that, you have to forgive him.”

“Oh yeah, that was talent.” Athena’s voice is dream-like in quality.

“When he does that thing –“

“Oh, and then he –“

“Lords, yes. And just when you think -“

“Oh yes.” 

They sit there, smiling nostalgically into their respective drinks, until Boomer pulls a chair up to their table and sits down.

“Have you seen Apollo?” he asks. “Poor guy looks completely exhausted.”

“Poor boy,” Athena says.

“I feel for him,” says Cassie.

And because Boomer has a strong survival instinct he chooses not to query the rather odd tones in their voices. 

End