BY YOUR COMMAND - Static ARCHIVE

Being in white (approaching Starbuck): Why are you not joining with your ... mate?

Starbuck (startling and turning towards him/her/it): My mate? Oh, no, you misunderstood. Sheba and I hugged each other out of friendship, camaraderie. We're not romantically involved. (He turns back to watch Apollo and Sheba kiss, smiling wistfully.)

Being in white: I was not referring to the female.

Starbuck (turning again, a little afraid now): Huh? What? No, no, no. Apollo doesn't swing that way - I mean, he wouldn't - that is, we're just close friends. That's all. (More to himself than to the Being) That's all it can ever be.

Being in white (returning to the semi-circle surrounding Starbuck and speaking to the Being to the left): I do not understand. Is our communication faulty?

Second Being in white: Our communication is not at fault. The being called Starbuck fully understands your question. Indeed, he has answered it as completely as he dares without compromising himself. (First Being shakes his/her/its head, bewildered.) Remember, they *are* primitive still. (They return their gazes to Starbuck, who is composing his expression to greet Apollo.)

***

From Adama's personal journal:

I watched Starbuck's private dance again last night. Even with my mind focused on the directions to Earth they were conveying, it was obvious to me. Can no one else see his pain, his need? At first, I thought it merely the orphan's need to belong warring with his fear of rejection, but I see now it is so much more than that.

He stood close to Apollo, his hand, hidden from Apollo by the dress cloak, almost touching my son's shoulder. I could see the aborted reach. Sheba, on Apollo's other side and turned towards him, saw the gesture, too. A glance from her and Starbuck stepped back, ceding Apollo to her. I saw her lips quirk up in a victorious smile which she quickly hid as she stepped forward, openly putting her hand on Apollo's shoulder.

What I saw next made me smile with familiarity. Apollo somehow sensed Starbuck's retreat and, without turning away from Sheba, reached back for his friend, touching and holding the hem of Starbuck's cloak so he couldn't stray farther. How often I've reached for Tigh in just the same manner, knowing where to reach without looking. He's always there, in my shadow, ready to support me unflinchingly, following me with total trust, even when he doesn't know where I lead.

Last night Starbuck stood at Apollo's side yet apart, just as he stood at Sheba's bedside in Life Center, and Serina's before that. Ready to support Apollo, but out of the "family circle". At Serina's deathbed, he comforted Boxey when Apollo couldn't, stepping aside as soon as Apollo was able to care for the boy.

At Sheba's bedside, he stood between me and Apollo as I offered her a place in our family, but stepped back - excluding himself from the offer - when I turned towards him. There he remained, one hand on Apollo's shoulder, letting him know he was there, but separate, not intruding. He was gone when Apollo and I turned to leave, although we didn't see him go. He left, I think, when Apollo stepped out of his light grasp to take Sheba's hand.

Last night, when they returned to their seats, Apollo stepped back into Starbuck's personal space before dropping the edge of the cloak. Starbuck stood perfectly still as Apollo passed in front of him, only raising his hand to brush his fingertips across his Captain's back as he passed. Then he followed, in Apollo's shadow, ready to support him unflinchingly, following him with total trust, even when he doesn't know where he leads.