Starbuck looked at his very serious wingmate. "What is it, Apollo?" he
asked with concern.  "Why did you want to see me?" 

"I have to tell you something," Apollo answered. He sounded quite
reluctant. Every word he spoke seemed to put a strain on him. 

"It sounds serious."

"It is. I've been putting off telling you for some time, but I finally
decided that I couldn't wait any longer or it could damage our
friendship." 

"Apollo, nothing could make me stop being your friend," Starbuck reassured
him. "You know that, don't you?" 

"You might reconsider that after you hear what I have to tell you," was
the Captain's reply. 

Even though they were in Apollo's quarters, Starbuck took his friend's
hand and led him to a chair. "Sit down," he suggested. Apollo sat. "Now,
what is it that you have to tell me that could possibly damage our
friendship?" 

"I'm in love with you."

Starbuck was stunned. "You mean that?" he asked.

"Of course I mean it!" Apollo sounded almost angry. "Do you think I would
tell you if I didn't mean it?" 

"I'm just surprised. I wasn't expecting you to say something I've only
dreamed about for yahrens." 

"I know you're surprised," Apollo sighed. "I surprised myself. And of
course you weren't expecting your best friend - best male friend - to fall
in love with you. And if you never wanted to see me again.... Wait a
centon.  Did you say you dreamed about my saying this?"

Starbuck smiled. "Apollo, I've been in love with you for as long as I can
remember. Longer." 

If Apollo hadn't been sitting, he thought he would have collapsed from
relief. "Thank the Lords.  But Star, it isn't just that I love you. I
mean, I.... I desire you. I want you physically. I want to make love with
you." 

The smile on Starbuck's face grew even wider. "I want the same thing." 

The two men sat and stared at each other for a few moments. Finally Apollo
asked shyly, "Would you kiss me?" 

Starbuck didn't say anything. He stood and pulled Apollo out of his chair,
then took him into his arms and kissed him soundly. They continued to kiss
for several centons until they finally had to stop and catch their breath. 

"I love you, Starbuck."

"I love you, Apollo."

They kissed for a while longer, and eventually moved to the couch. They
started in a sitting position, but soon Apollo was reclining, with
Starbuck lying on top of him. Both men had erections straining at the
fabric of their uniform trousers. They began moving against each other,
rubbing their hard cocks together. 

"We have to stop," Starbuck suddenly gasped.

"Why?" Apollo groaned.

"Look at the time." His wingmate pointed to a chronometer. "We have a
patrol to do in less than half a centare." 

"So? That should give us enough time," Apollo said in a suggestive manner,
reaching for Starbuck's crotch. 

"No," the Lieutenant stated firmly. "It's our first time, and I want us to
do it properly. I don't want it to be something we rush through so that
we're not late for patrol." 

"You're right," Apollo sighed. "Our first time should be special. I hate
to wait until our patrol is over, but I guess we don't have a choice." 

"It *will* be special," Starbuck promised. "Now I had better go take a
shower. Alone," he added as he saw the way his wingmate was looking at
him. He headed toward the washroom. 

The mental picture of Starbuck in the shower just a metron away made
Apollo even more aroused. He reached for his cock, but decided to wait
until it was his turn in the shower. He didn't want to have to explain any
unusual stains on the furniture to Boxey. 

Thoughts of his son made Apollo realize that he'd better make plans for
after his patrol. The last thing he wanted was to have Boxey walk in on
him and Starbuck. A quick call to Athena took care of that, fortunately,
and he was free to plan his evening with Starbuck. 

Starbuck came out, fully dressed, and gave Apollo a quick kiss, then the
Captain headed to the shower. Apollo quickly took care of himself in the
shower, then cleaned up. When he had showered and dressed, he and Starbuck
headed to their vipers for patrol. 

As they were walking, Apollo said to Starbuck, "Don't look at me like
that." 

"Like what?"

"Like you're about to rip my clothes off any micron."

"That's only the way you think I'm looking at you," Starbuck replied. "I
can't help it if you have a dirty mind." 

"If I have a dirty mind, it comes from spending time with you."

"I'm completely innocent," Starbuck protested.

"No you're not," Apollo answered. "But that's all right. I love you just
the way you are." 

The patrol began uneventfully, but didn't stay that way. A couple of
centares in to the patrol, Apollo's scanners detected Cylons. He quickly
radioed a warning to the Galactica, and Blue squadron was scrambled. 

Soon the warriors were in the fight of their lives. More and more Cylons
kept coming, seemingly from out of nowhere. They seemed to be finally
getting on top of their enemy when Apollo saw a Cylon ship coming up on
Starbuck's tail. He called out a warning, but it was too late, and
Starbuck was hit. His viper spiralled out of control and vanished from
sight. Apollo frantically tried to contact his wingmate but got no
response.

The scanners indicated that Starbuck had crashed on a nearby planet.
Apollo wanted to go after him, but he and the others had to keep the
Cylons from reaching the battlestar. All he could do was ask the Galactica
to send a medical shuttle when it was safe to do so. 

He didn't even know if Starbuck was still alive.

Eventually, the Cylons were taken care of and Apollo was able to return to
the battlestar. The medical shuttle was returning at the same time. Apollo
hurried to the shuttle bay and saw his wingmate being carried from the
shuttle on a stretcher. He was relieved to see Starbuck's face - if it
wasn't covered, that meant that Starbuck was alive. He was at his lover's
side in a micron and insisted on accompanying him to the Life Centre. Even
though Starbuck was unconscious, Apollo talked to him and held his hand.
He only left his side when the doctor took him into surgery. 

Apollo waited helplessly outside the Life Centre. He talked to the viper
pilots who had escorted the shuttle to pick up Starbuck. They told him
that the viper must have caught fire when it crashed, and that it appeared
that Starbuck was badly injured, both from the crash and the fire. 

"It's amazing that he's still alive," one of them said.

Apollo dismissed them, telling them to submit a written report to him the
next day. 

At some point, Cassiopeia came out of the Life Centre looking upset.
Apollo realized that he didn't know if Starbuck had broken up with her
before declaring his love for him. 

"Men!" Cassie muttered.

"Cassiopeia, what's wrong? Is it Starbuck?" Apollo asked worriedly. 

"Well, it sort of is. He's out of surgery and I asked Dr. Salik about his
prognosis. The doctor told me that he should recover but that after he
does, I shouldn't expect.... um.... intimacy. Is that all you men think
about?" 

"Well, Starbuck is your lover." Apollo tried to be diplomatic.

Cassie shook her head. "We haven't been together for a long time. We're
friends. I think he found someone else, but I don't know who. I haven't
seen him with anyone. But even if he was, sex wouldn't be the first thing
on my mind right now." 

"It's me," Apollo said softly.

"What?"

"Starbuck's new love. It's me. I'm the one."

"How long?" Cassie wanted to know.

Apollo checked the time. "A few centares."

"Oh, Apollo. I'm sorry."

"He's alive. That's what's important. Do you know when I can see him?"

Cassiopeia kissed him on the cheek. "I'll go find out."

Apollo spent most of the next few sectons at Starbuck's bedside. His lover
remained unconscious for several days. He gradually began to wake up for
short periods of time, and Apollo made certain that Starbuck could see him
there if he opened his eyes. He talked softly to the other man the entire
time, telling how much he was loved. He didn't know if Starbuck heard him. 

Finally, after two sectons, Starbuck's eyes opened and stayed open for
more than a couple of microns. "Apollo," was the first thing he said. 

"Welcome back, Bucko."

"How long have I been here?"

"Two sectons."

Starbuck frowned. "Guess I missed it then."

"Missed what?"

"Our first time together."

"You haven't missed anything, love. Our first time can wait."

But Starbuck was asleep again.

Salik approached Apollo later that day. "Captain Apollo, may I speak to
you alone for a centon?" 

Curious, Apollo followed the doctor. "What is it?" he asked. "Is it about
Starbuck?" 

"Cassiopeia told me that you and the Lieutenant are intimate. Is that
right?" 

"We're not lovers, if that's what you mean. Not yet. When he gets
better..." 

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Starbuck sustained extensive
nerve and spinal cord damage when he crash-landed. I don't know if he'll
ever regain the ability to have intercourse.  Right now I don't know if
he'll even be able to walk normally."  He explained the extent of the
injuries to Apollo. 

The Captain frowned, but thanked the doctor. He needed time alone to
think. Starbuck not able to have intercourse? There were other ways of
making love. As long as Starbuck was alive, he wasn't going to worry about
that. He was concerned about Starbuck's being able to walk. If he was too
badly injured, he would no longer be able to be a warrior. Being a warrior
was Starbuck's life. 

He went back to talk to Salik. "Have you told Starbuck any of this yet?"
Apollo asked. 

"I was going to ask if you wanted to be with him when I told him."

"I'd like that."

When Starbuck woke again, Salik told him about his spinal cord injury. The
Lieutenant took the news stoically. When the doctor left, Starbuck turned
to Apollo. 

"Leave me," he said.

"No," Apollo answered. "You're upset. I'm not leaving you."

"I don't mean now. I mean leave me for good."

"Why?"

"You heard the doctor. I'm crippled. I'm no good to you. I can't even....
You know." 

Apollo grasped his lover's hand. "I don't care what you can and can't do
in bed. I love you. If you can't make love the way you're used to thinking
of making love, then we'll find other ways.  What's most important is that
you recover." 

"I may never recover."

"Felgercarb. You're a warrior. You can fight."

"I might not be able to be a warrior anymore."

"We'll deal with that if we have to. But for now, concentrate on getting
better. I'll be right here by your side the entire way." 

Apollo was true to his word. He refused to leave his wingmate, no matter
how many times Starbuck told him to. Eventually, the Lieutenant realized
that Apollo really had no intention of leaving. He began to let his guard
down and let Apollo in. 

Starbuck's recovery was long and arduous, but with Apollo by his side he
worked hard. He endured centares of physical and occupational therapy. He
was able to take a few steps with assistance, then a few more. Finally he
was able to walk from one side of the room to the other without holding on
to Apollo's arm. 

"You have a long way to go, Starbuck," the doctor told him, "but you are
making amazing progress." 

"I have a good coach," Starbuck answered. "Or maybe I should say
slave-driver." 

"May I borrow your slave-driver for a centon, Starbuck?" the doctor asked. 

"Sure thing," Starbuck answered, but he was intensely curious as to what
the doctor wanted to talk to Apollo about. 

"Apollo, have you and Lieutenant Starbuck discussed living arrangements?"
Salik wanted to know. 

"No, we hadn't gotten that far when the accident happened. Why?" 

"Starbuck's recovery has progressed to the point that he no longer has to
stay in the Life Centre, but the Bachelor Officers' Quarters aren't really
the best place for him. I know you have a son to take care of...." 

"I'll ask Starbuck if he wants to move in with me. I need to spend more
time with Boxey, and if I can spend time with both him and Starbuck, so
much the better. And Boxey will want to help care for Starbuck. He loves
him too." 

So Starbuck moved in with Apollo and Boxey, and Boxey became Starbuck's
self-appointed nurse. He helped Starbuck with anything he needed and
nagged him to do the exercises that were part of his physical therapy
regime. 

Starbuck had shown some reluctance to sleeping in Apollo's bed at first,
but there was nowhere else for him to sleep. Even if there had been,
Apollo wouldn't have heard of him sleeping anywhere else. 

"Do you know how long I've wanted to get you in my bed?" he asked.

"But you know I can't..." Starbuck threw a significant glance at his
lover's groin. 

"And I keep telling you that doesn't matter. I love you and I want to have
you next to me. I want to hold you." 

Starbuck smiled. "That I can manage."

For many nights the two lovers slept next to each other and did nothing
more than hold each other. But as Starbuck's recovery continued he grew
more adventurous. While there was no sign that he could have an erection,
he did indeed find that there were many ways to make love with the one
that he loved. 

Soon Starbuck was able to handle light duties. He couldn't fly a viper,
but he started teaching at the Academy. It wasn't the same as actually
being out there fighting the Cylons, but he enjoyed teaching. The cadets
were thrilled to have the legendary warrior as their instructor, and
Starbuck gained quite a following. Everyone knew of his accident, but that
didn't matter to the cadets. It only increased Starbuck's standing in
their estimation. 

Time passed. Starbuck's recovery progressed. His stamina increased and he
was no longer exhausted by simple tasks. He walked with only a trace of a
limp, unless he overdid things. He moved somewhat more slowly than he had
before the crash, but for someone who the doctors had feared would never
walk again, this was miraculous. Before he or Apollo knew it, a yahren had
gone by. 

"Do you know what today is, Pol?" Starbuck asked him that morning.

"It's a yahren to the day that you had your accident," Apollo answered. 

Starbuck took him in his arms. "I prefer to think of it as a yahren to the
day you told me you loved me for the first time. The day I told you that
our first time together would be special." 

"Our first time *was* special, Star," Apollo told him. Even though they
hadn't been able to have intercourse, they had made love for the first
time a few days after Starbuck had moved in.  Apollo could have penetrated
Starbuck, and he knew Starbuck would have allowed it, but Apollo feared
that it would only have reminded his lover of his limitations. They stuck
to using only their hands and mouths. Yes, their physical relationship was
perhaps more limited than they would have liked, but they were still
happy. They were together. They were lovers. They had more than either of
them would have hoped for after Starbuck's accident. 

"Every time is special," Starbuck told him, kissing him softly. He had
plans for this night, but didn't want to jinx them yet by telling Apollo.
The Captain could see them for himself - later. 

When Apollo returned to their quarters that night, he found them dark, lit
only by candles. There was a bottle of ambrosa on the table in a bucket of
ice, and two glasses. Boxey and Muffit were nowhere to be seen. 

"Happy anniversary, my love," Starbuck greeted him, stepping out from
their bedroom wearing only a light robe. He poured the ambrosa and they
drank. 

"I have news,"Starbuck told his lover.

"What news?" Apollo asked.

"Dr. Salik cleared me for a return to active duty today."

Apollo felt a lump in his throat. Had it really been a yahren since
Starbuck had almost died? The day was a distant memory in some ways, and
horribly clear in others. Seeing Starbuck's viper vanish still haunted his
nightmares, but there was very little physical evidence of Starbuck's
injuries remaining. He knew, though, that the first time saw Starbuck in a
viper again the memories would come rushing back. "That's wonderful, love.
You realize that I'll never be able to let you out of my sight once we get
out there." 

"I count on it," Starbuck replied. He took Apollo's glass and put it on
the table, then took Apollo's hand in his. "I have another surprise for
you." He led Apollo to the bedroom. 

They undressed and Starbuck took some lubricant from a cabinet by the bed.
"I told you that our first time would be special. Tonight is our first
time."

"Do you mean...?" 

Starbuck moved Apollo's hand to his crotch so that it rested on his
erection. "I mean that tonight I am going to make love to you the way I
intended to that day a yahren ago."  He turned Apollo on to his stomach
and began to prepare him. 

He carefully inserted a lubricated finger into Apollo, spreading the
lubricant as he did so. When Apollo seemed used to the one finger, he
inserted another and added more lube. Finally, a third finger was inserted
and he stretched the hole as much as he could without hurting his lover. 

He leaned forward and kissed the back of Apollo's neck. "Are you ready for
me, love?"

Apollo had tears in his eyes. "Love, tears?" Starbuck asked in concern.
"What are they for?" 

Apollo turned over and kissed him. "Tears of joy, my love. Tears of joy.
And yes, I'm ready." He lay back down and spread his legs. 

Starbuck entered the man that he loved. He thrust slowly at first, letting
Apollo get used to him.  This was what they had both been waiting for, and
he wanted it to last as long as possible. When he found Apollo's prostate,
the other man cried out in ecstasy. Starbuck couldn't contain himself and
moved faster, fondling Apollo's cock as he did so. Soon, too soon, they
had both reached completion. 

"I love you, Starbuck." Apollo sighed.

"I love you, too, Apollo. Have I ever thanked you for taking care of me
this past yahren?" 

"There's nothing to thank me for," Apollo answered. "Everything I did was
out of love for you." 

The two happy and exhausted warriors fell asleep in each other's arms. 

END