BY YOUR COMMAND - Static ARCHIVE

Apollo smiled to himself and checked over the supplies. Perfect. He had everything he needed except for one thing.

He went over to the wall com and entered the code to the bachelor officer's quarters.

"Michael's here."

"This is Captain Apollo. Could you please page Lieutenant Starbuck to the com."

"Right away, Sir."

A few moments later.

"Starbuck here."

"Starbuck, we have a situation. Meet me in the astrodome right away."

Apollo ended the com.

'The astrodome?' Starbuck puzzled, then thought, 'Oh, Sagan! I bet he's found something that could lead us to Earth!'

He hurriedly grabbed his flight jacket and rushed to the astrodome. Upon arriving he asked his wingmate excitedly, "What is it?! What did you find?!"

It was only a micron later that he realized that Apollo was casually reclined on a blanket with a banquet of food spread out before him.

"What the...?"

"I told you. We have a situation here."

Not knowing what to think Starbuck responded stupidly, "Huh?"

Green eyes twinkled at him. "Sit down. Let me tell you what's going on."

Unable to think of a reply, the blond simply moved over to the area that his wingmate gestured to and sat down.

"So here we have it."

"Have what?" the Lieutenant answered, still looking confused.

"Us."

"Us?"

"Yes. I believe it's time we had a little talk."

"Talk?"

"You know, it's really cute how you keep imitating everything I say but perhaps you should just let me speak for awhile."

"You speak?"

"Yes. That's still cute by the way, but stop it."

"Stop it?"

"Yes."

"Yes?" "You're still doing it," Apollo grinned.

"It? I just did it again, didn't I?"

"You did."

"Apollo, what's going on? Why did you call me up here? And what is all of this?"

"Something that I think is long overdue."

"Overdue?"

"You're doing it again."

"Sorry. I just," Starbuck stammered, "I just...what is this?"

"We've been dancing around each other for so long I thought it was time we got it together."

"Huh?"

"You know, you bring the wine," Apollo paused, gazed at him meaningfully, "I'll bring the weather."

"What?"

"Okay, I brought the wine *and* the weather."

"Weather?"

Apollo chuckled, "You are just too cute."

"Cute?"

This time it was one of those full blown laughs. "Yep. Cute. Look up. What do you see?"

"Stars?"

"It's the closest thing I could come to weather."

"Weather?"

"Yes. And what you see here is the closest thing I could come to wine. The food is just a little extra treat."

"Treat?"

"You're doing it again."

"Sorry, but what is going on?"

"This," Apollo leaned forward and brushed his fingertips gently down the much dreamed about face.

Starbuck didn't know quite how to react so he just followed his natural instinct and leaned in to the pleasurable sensation.

"You like?

"Mmmm hmmm."

Apollo couldn't help but smile. He studied the face that had been haunting his dreams for so long. He savored the feel of the skin beneath him, wanting to feel it forever, wanting to taste it with his lips, his tongue.

So he did.

Starbuck let out a moan that came from deep inside of him and leaned into the gentle loving touch further.

'I'd hoped and dreamed of this but I never imagined how exactly how perfect this would really feel.' He became bolder, his fingers now seeking below the beloved face. They reached down, glided along that glorious neck, lingering on the life pulse that he found throbbing there. This more than anything spurred him on.

He had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about him. Now tonight he had vowed to himself that he would savor every moment. Good-bye to his reservations. Goodbye to worrying about what other people would think. Good-bye to everything but this one moment.

He leaned forward slowly, savoring the moment, melting into those lovely blue eyes. Then, softly, he gently caressed the other's lips with his own.

Those lips responded in a way that left him quivering with desire. Lips melting into lips, gently parting, tongue's seeking each other, caressing, dueling. Apollo felt as if he could die at this very moment and know that he had already found heaven.

Starbuck shifted so that he could move closer, even though by now they were already pressed tightly against each other. The dark-haired warrior gathered enough of his senses together to lean forwards, thus pushing the Lieutenant backwards so that he ended up straddling the now wantonly sprawled blond.

No words were spoken, only an unspoken agreement that passed between them. Apollo leisurely stripped his beautiful companion, drinking him in with his eyes. Slowly he stripped himself, reveling in the fire in his partner's eyes as each piece of his clothing was discarded casually onto the floor.

Once naked, he indulged himself for a moment, gazing as if star-struck at his soon-to-be lover. Then he began to explore that heavenly body with his lips, his fingers, himself.

Groin pressing against groin, heart beating against heart, cheek meeting cheek, and then lips meeting lips. Moving in a primal rhythm older than time, they savored each other's minds, bodies, and souls. After what felt like an eternity and a micron at the same time they wordlessly cried out their release. Their climax was the completion of what had been and the beginning of what was to be.

Again, wordlessly, they drifted off in dreams together to places far away.

The End