Apollo sighed as he put on his dress uniform. He had another date with Sheba. Oh, he liked Sheba well enough. She was a good warrior, and not bad as an evening's company. But she wasn't someone he would want to spend his life with. Unfortunately, he suspected that this was what Sheba had in mind - Apollo as future husband. In fact, sometimes he worried that she was just a little bit obsessed with the idea. She tried to boss him around all the time, reminding him of his position as Captain as well as the fact that he was the Commander's son. He supposed she must have had some sort of privileges as Cain's daughter on the Pegasus, and she assumed he had the same, not realizing he preferred to be just a member of the crew, with no special treatment. Just a few days ago she'd dropped into his office while he was writing reports. She'd read them over his shoulder and immediately began correcting his spelling. He'd tried to explain to her that they were just his personal logs, not meant for anyone else to see, but she'd insisted on correcting them anyway. He pushed those thoughts away as he continued arranging his uniform. Since his wife, Serina, had died, he hadn't really considered getting married again. At least, he hadn't considered getting married to a woman. Truth be told, the person he wanted to marry wasn't interested. Sure, Starbuck was his best friend, his wingman, his Triad partner. But Starbuck was also a ladies' man. He had seemed to be making a genuine effort to be faithful to Cassiopia, until the sudden reappearance of Commander Cain and the Battlestar Pegasus. Cain had been Cassiopia's lover before the Destruction and the assumed loss of the Pegasus, and it had been quite apparent to Starbuck that she still cared for him. Enough thinking of Starbuck. He had a date to get to. Sheba paced around the shuttle bay waiting for Apollo to take her to the Rising Star. Sometimes she doubted Apollo's devotion to her. She'd done her best to wrap the Captain around her finger, but the way she'd seen him look at his wingman made her suspicious. Obviously she still had some work to do. Apollo arrived, dressed in a slightly wrinkled dress uniform. The absence of a woman in his life was obvious. Unfortunately, Sheba thought to herself, she wasn't really the domestic type. She'd been raised as a warrior. She did want to settle down and be Apollo's wife, so somehow she'd have to figure out how to do 'wifely' things. "You're late," she told the Captain. "Sorry," he apologized. "We've missed the shuttle to the Rising Star. Now we'll have to wait for the next one." Apollo shrugged. "It won't be too long a wait, will it?" "The length of the wait doesn't matter. Our reservations were for 1900 and it's already 19:15." "I'm sure they won't give our table to anyone else," Apollo said, trying to placate her. He didn't like it when Sheba was angry at him. She had a razor-sharp tongue. "Stand up straight," Sheba ordered. "You're Strike Captain, third in command of the Galactica and the Commander's son. You're supposed to set a good example." Meekly, Apollo did as he was told. Just then the shuttle arrived, distracting Sheba's attention from her criticism. As the couple boarded, Starbuck came hurrying along and boarded as well. "Hey, Bucko," Apollo greeted him cheerfully. "Going stag tonight?" "Nah, I'm meeting Cassie over on the Rising Star," the Lieutenant told him. "Uh, hi, Sheba." Sheba ignored him. She didn't like Starbuck. She never had, ever since he'd tried to hit on her when they'd first met. Of course, it didn't help that Apollo was so desperately in love with him that he practically wore his heart on his sleeve. She didn't know how Starbuck missed it, but she was glad that he did. When the shuttle had docked on the Rising Star, Starbuck jumped up impatiently. Sheba stood and stepped in front of him. "Ladies first," she told him as she flounced past. "I didn't see any ladies," the blond man told his friend. "Starbuck!" Apollo exclaimed, but his wingman was already on his way to meet Cassiopia. As Starbuck sat down for dinner with Cassiopia, the blonde woman looked in the direction of his gaze. "Still no luck?" she asked sympathetically as she noticed Apollo and Sheba. "I'll never have any 'luck'," her date replied. "Look at him. He's with Sheba every chance he gets. Why would he want me?" "Because you're a good man? A fine warrior? A loyal friend?" "Whether I'm good or not isn't the point," Starbuck told her. "I'm still a man. And a man isn't what Apollo wants." Cassie sighed. She knew that Starbuck loved Apollo. She had hoped that the Captain would recognize his wingman's feelings and reciprocate, but so far, though she had seen signs that he felt the same as Starbuck, he hadn't made any moves. She was quite certain Starbuck would never make the first move - Apollo was his superior, after all. Apollo and Sheba were in the middle of their dinner when a waiter approached them, informing Apollo that there was a message for him. Apollo took the message and frowned. "What is it?" Sheba asked, disgusted that someone had dared interrupt their meal. "There's been an escape from the prison barge. My father and Colonel Tigh want all of the warriors back at the Galactica. They're going to assign a couple of warriors to each of the civilian ships for protection. I'd better tell Starbuck." "Why tell Starbuck? He's with his blonde bimbo. Leave him." Sheba had never been fond of Cassiopia, seeing her as a rival for her father's affection. "He's a warrior," was Apollo's reply as he left their table and went to Starbuck's. "Not Baltar again," was the first thing Starbuck said when he'd been given the news. "No, not Baltar. Worse, if you can believe it." "What could be worse than Baltar?" asked Cassiopia, frightened. "Ten of the most violent prisoners overpowered their guards. They killed three of them," Apollo informed her. "Then they took over a shuttle, but they haven't launched it yet. They seem to be arguing over where exactly they should go. Hopefully that will give us enough time to plan a response." Meanwhile, Sheba had realized, reluctantly, that she had to go back to the Galactica with both Apollo *and* Starbuck. Starbuck gave Cassiopia a friendly peck on the cheek and told her to finish her dinner, leaving her some money to pay for it. The three warriors were on their way to the shuttle bay when they were stopped by a group of armed men. Obviously, the prison escapees had decided where they were going next. The three of them were herded back to the dining room where the rest of the prisoners had taken the diners hostage. Sheba, already pissed off that her dinner with Apollo had been ruined, approached the apparent leader of the group. "Exactly *what* do you hope to accomplish by taking us hostage?" she demanded. She was answered with a backhand across the face. "Shut up and sit down, bitch," the man replied. Apollo moved to confront the man who had struck Sheba, but Starbuck held him back. "I suggest you stay put unless you want to be his next target," his friend told him. "Look, she isn't hurt." Indeed, Sheba had already risen and was back in the prisoner's face. "Do you know who I am?" she demanded. "I'm Lieutenant Sheba, daughter of Commander Cain of the Battlestar Pegasus. I'm sure you know who Cain is." The bored man grabbed her arm and flung her against a wall. "I told you to sit down," he reminded her. This time Sheba stayed put. Cassiopia rose from her seat. One of the hostage-takers glared at her. "I'm a med tech," she said firmly. "Let me help her." The man looked toward the one who had been chosen as their leader. "Fine," the leader muttered and Cassiopia went to tend to Sheba's injuries. Apollo carefully approached the leader. He held his hands up in a gesture of submission. "Can I ask what it is that you want?" "We have some demands," the man told Apollo. "My name is Apollo. What can I call you?" "Simon will do. Say, are you *Captain* Apollo?" "Yes. Why?" Apollo asked suspiciously. Simon grinned wickedly. "Aren't we lucky! We got the Commander's son here. Well, you are going to be our spokesman, my lad. You're going to contact the Galactica and give them our demands." "And what *are* your demands?" "Weapons. Supplies to set up on a new world. And vipers - you can't fight off Cylons in a shuttlecraft," Simon told him. "You're joking," Apollo said in disbelief. "You really think the fleet can spare ten vipers?" "Eight, actually. We're keeping the shuttle to carry our supplies." "Maybe one or two vipers? The rest of you can travel in the shuttle with the vipers to protect it from the Cylons," Apollo suggested. "More vipers, more protection," was the answer he received. Reluctantly, Apollo went to the communications panel and contacted the Galactica. He relayed Simon's demands and waited while his father discussed them with Colonel Tigh. He hoped the Council of Twelve wouldn't insist on getting involved. He received his answer soon enough: there was no way the fleet could spare as many as eight vipers, even if they were willing to give in to the prisoners' demands. Apollo thanked his father and went to talk to Simon. "They won't give you the vipers," he said. He didn't bother mentioning that they wouldn't give him anything else he'd asked for, either. "Well then, I guess we'll just have to show them we're serious," Simon replied. He turned to one of his subordinates. "Let's kill one of the hostages." "Which one?" the other prisoner asked. Simon thought for a few moments. The annoying bimbo who'd been in his face earlier? No, he might want to have some fun with her later. The med tech? No, they might need her. Not Captain Apollo - he was their most valuable hostage. He looked over the remaining people in the dining room and settled on Starbuck. "Him." Apollo immediately jumped up. "No," he said calmly. "You can't take him. Take me instead." Starbuck, shocked, tried to argue with his friend. "It's okay, Starbuck. I won't let them hurt you." "Sorry, Captain, but you're too valuable to us," Simon told him. "If you so much as touch Starbuck, I won't cooperate with you. Then you'll have to kill me anyway." The hostage-taker sighed. He had a feeling that no matter who he chose, Apollo would fight with him. For now, he needed the Captain as leverage. Later, he'd take great delight in killing him. "All right. I won't hurt your friend - as long as you cooperate with us." "Not him or anyone else," Apollo added, belatedly realizing that 1) he'd probably given away his feelings for Starbuck, and 2) he owed the other hostages his protection as well, given that he was the highest-ranking warrior present. When he returned to his seat, Starbuck approached him in fury. "Apollo, are you insane? What was that about, offering your life for mine?" Apollo tried to think of a plausible denial, but realized that all of them could very well die here before Simon and the others were through. It was time for the truth. "Starbuck, I have to tell you something." "All right," said Starbuck, sitting and facing him. "We could die here, all of us. Before that happens, I need to tell you the truth. I'm in love with you." Tears were slipping from his eyes and he wiped them in frustration. To his astonishment, however, Starbuck had tears in his eyes too. "Apollo - I love you, too. I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember. I never thought you felt the same, so I tried to find a woman to make me happy. None of them ever did, though. Not as happy as you made me just by being my friend." Apollo could hardly believe what he was hearing. It was what he had wanted, what he had dreamed about, for so long. He wanted to embrace Starbuck, but decided against it - this was not the time or the place for a public display of affection. Starbuck seemed to sense what he was feeling. He felt his friend's hand slip into his and squeeze gently. The two men smiled at each other. Apollo vowed that somehow, he was going to get them out of this - he wasn't going to give up having a life with Starbuck just because some escaped prisoners were holding them captive. Meanwhile, Sheba had recovered from her recent impact with the wall and was challenging Simon again. "You know, Commander Adama will never give you what you want. Not even if you threaten Apollo," she informed the fugitive. "And how do you know that, little girl?" Sheba shrugged. "My father would have done the same. Adama has to care for the safety of the fleet, and the fleet needs vipers. So he's not about to give up a half dozen of them just because you ask him to." Simon forbore from pointing out that he'd asked for eight vipers, not six. "Sit down, doll, before I lose my temper again." "I'm not your doll." "You could be if you wanted to," Simon replied. Sheba then did something that has been regarded by a few as being very brave, but by most as being very stupid. She took a swing at Simon. Simon responded by cracking her over the head with the butt of his laser rifle. The female warrior fell to the floor, unconscious. Cassiopia immediately ran to her, and Simon told her, "Get this stupid girl out of my sight before I go against my word and kill her." Cassie did as she was told. Fortunately for Sheba, her head injury wasn't too severe. It bled a lot, as head wounds do, and the warrior would have a nice lump to show for it, but that was all. Cassie wasn't sure if she should be happy about this or not - it meant that Sheba wouldn't have any permanent damage, but she'd likely be up and causing more trouble again soon. Simon, meanwhile, had an idea. He called to Apollo. "Come here, Captain." Apollo squeezed Starbuck's hand one more time before complying, reluctantly, with Simon. "What is it?" he asked with a sigh. The prisoner looked at Starbuck before turning to Apollo. "You are going to cooperate with us," Simon began. "I'm already cooperating with you." "You are going to cooperate with us, and the first thing you are going to do is tell your father that if he doesn't give in to our demands, I am going to start executing prisoners, starting with Lieutenant Starbuck. Actually, I think I'll prove that I'm serious by executing Starbuck first." "I already told you that if you did anything to your hostages, I wouldn't cooperate with you," Apollo reminded Simon. Simon just looked bored. "Tell Adama what I said." "No!" exclaimed the Captain. Simon called to one of the men with him. "Talus, bring Lieutenant Starbuck over here." He then turned to Apollo. "Captain Apollo, do you want to watch?" he asked with an insane grin. "No!" Apollo cried again, while two more of the hostage-takers held on to him. Talus brought Starbuck and presented him to Simon. "Here he is, Simon. What do you want us to do with him?" "You're not going to do anything. I'm going to shoot him, and make Apollo watch." Apollo struggled vainly against his captors. "Please," he said, "kill me instead. Tell my father that you'll do it. Tell him that unless he gives you the vipers, you'll kill me. Maybe then he'll cooperate." Simon gestured toward Sheba. "She already told me it wouldn't be any use," he answered. "She said that your father has the entire fleet to think of - he wouldn't sacrifice its safety for just one crew member, even if it's his own son." "So then I'm of no use to you - you can kill me instead of Starbuck." "Apollo, stop it!" Starbuck ordered. "I will not let you die for me. I love you," he added. "How sweet," said Simon dryly. "Your friend loves you, Apollo. Isn't that nice? Something to remember after he's gone." Summoning strength he didn't know he had, Apollo tore himself away from the two men who were holding him. Like a man possesed, he started punching and kicking anyone who got in his way. Stunned, Starbuck didn't realize right away that his captors had released him in order to deal with Apollo. When he did, he jumped right in beside his lover to help. Sheba, though barely conscious, couldn't resist a good fight and forced Cassiopia to let her join in. She wasn't much help, though. It wasn't long before she was lying on the floor, unconscious once again. But Cassie wasn't helpless, and neither were the other civilians on the Rising Star. Soon all the able bodied men and women had shaken off their captors and joined in the fray. It wasn't long before all the escaped prisoners had been overpowered. Starbuck and Apollo were able to find the weapons that had been taken from them, and they held Simon and his followers at gunpoint. As soon as the escapees had been returned to the prison barge, and the warriors had been debriefed, Apollo took Starbuck back to his quarters. When they were safely inside with the door locked behind them and Boxey at Athena's, Apollo just took Starbuck into his arms and held him for a long time. "I thought I was going to lose you," he whispered. "But you didn't. You saved me, Apollo. You saved all of us." "You're the only one who mattered. Don't tell anyone I said this, but I didn't care what happened to any of the others - I just couldn't let you die." "I understand," Starbuck told him. "And I love you." He kissed Apollo, realizing it was the first time since they had declared their love for each other that they had actually kissed. "I love you," Apollo told his lover when he had his breath back. "Will you stay with me tonight? Not just tonight, but always?" "I wouldn't be anywhere else," Starbuck promised him. END