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Post by Amy81 on Apr 17, 2007 16:17:53 GMT -6
Bulk-up began to pace again. When he was out of Ally's view again, she spoke up.
"Hey you daggit's hindquarters, stay where I can see you?" she asked.
He came back into view and leaned against the wall, arms folded. "Can't get enough of me, that's so L-tude?" he asked in reply.
Abby just laughed. "I will be on my feet again" she reminded him. "Just remember that."
"I'm honored to be your inspiration" he said smugly, knowing not to question her determination in the face of the truth of her condition.
"Are you going to tell me what happened next or not?" Ally wondered aloud.
Bulk-up nodded. "After the purple cylons broke off pursuit, I ran into the second line of defense."
"What was that?" Ally asked.
"Tin cans" he replied. "I guess they didn't figure they'd see action or maybe they really do go down 100 to one shot. If they'd been the only centurions we wouldn't have lost a man."
"Come on Bulk-up" she said. "It's me, Ally. Remember?"
"Couldn't ever forget" he responded without thought. "And it's no felgercarb. I cut right through them. They just kept pouring through and I kept cutting them down. They'd stagger around, sparks flying, it was pretty dramatic, almost funny if it wasn't for what I figured was going on above me."
"Which was where you were needed most" Ally said.
Bulk-up nodded. "I know" he said softly. "I set some charges and got back to the upper levels as fast as I could. With all the pounding going on up there getting to the bay again was tricky, but I got there, didn't I?"
"I know you were on the transport" Ally confirmed.
Bulk-up stared at her. "I thought I-- we were going to lose you. I don't know what I'd have done if it had happened...."
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Post by Amy81 on Apr 21, 2007 11:25:20 GMT -6
Ally saw the change in Bulk-up's expression, and watched as he came closer, picking up both of her hands and holding them firmly. Ally looked at her hands, not feeling anything as he held them.
"What are you doing?" she asked in as calm a voice as possible, her heart beginning to race as he began to lean over her.
"Lords Ally" he said, "I really thought you weren't going to make it. The thought of losing you was too much..."
"Bulk-up..." Ally said, a nervous smile flashing briefly before her unease took hold firmly.
"The time I wasted, antagonizing you" he went on. "I should have told you how I felt. Ally, I love you. I have for a long time." He continued to lean closer, his breath warm on Ally's face, her cheeks beginning to flush. His lips were slightly parted, coming closer...
"Bulk-up" Ally said firmly, "no."
He stopped, but did not pull back. "Lords Ally, aren't you listening to me?"
"Listen to me" she replied. "Let go of me, please."
He looked into her eyes but said nothing.
Ally wiggled her head, the only thing that could satisfy her urge to squirm. "What?" she asked. "First you hit me, what's next? Go ahead, do what you want, I can't stop you. But once you walk out of here, I'll make sure you won't be back." She stared at him, and he stared back. "Go on" she said, "what do you want to do? Kiss me? What else? This must be a dream come true for you, isn't it?"
Her words stung, and Bulk-up straighted, set Ally's hands down, then sat heavily on the bed. "Forgive me" he said. "I can't think straight around you. Never have..."
Ally tried to relax, her heart beginning to stop racing. "Bulk-up... We've all been through a lot. Forget it, okay?" He didn't reply, and in the silence she remembered the other warrior still waiting in the hallway. "Send Grease in, would you?" she asked in a steady voice.
He looked over at her after a moment, nodding silently. He stood wearily, and began to walk toward the door.
"Bulk-up?" she asked, and he stopped, turning to look at her. "Thanks for saving my life" she said.
He nodded slowly. "Forget it, okay?" he said, then he quickly opened the door and walked out. Ally stared at the door as it slowly swung shut, a sigh escaping from her lips....
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Post by Amy81 on May 11, 2007 7:57:38 GMT -6
Grease came in a moment later, his smile at seeing Ally tempered with his knowledge of her condition. But she mustered up one of her radiant smiles, and Grease grinned fully in return.
"Ally...." he said. "Is everything okay? Bulk-up walked past me looking like a daggit who'd had his plate of mushies taken away."
Ally sighed. "Just that the more things change, the more they stay the same.... Now come here and give me a hug."
Grease stepped forward bending down to embrace her. She leaned her head in toward his, the best she could do to hug back. Grease straightened up again after a moment. "It's good to see you" he said, not knowing what else to say.
Ally smiled again. "Good to see you too. And don't let this all fool you. I'll be back in a viper before you know it."
"...Or crawling around old ships looking for solium leaks?" Grease added, smiling.
"You know it" Ally laughed.
"What can I do for you?" Grease asked. "Can I get you something?"
Ally shook her head. "Just seeing you is enough. Grab a seat and stay a while, huh?"
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Post by Amy81 on May 22, 2007 15:36:00 GMT -6
Grease pulled up a chair and sat down. "So..." he said.
"So" Ally echoed, her smile fading. "Grease, I couldn't discuss this with Bulk-up but..."
"What can you discuss with Bulk-up?" Grease laughed.
Ally smiled. "Yeah." She wasn't sure how to ask. "Do you know how Brik is doing? I mean, I know he made it. Bulk-up said so. But... how's he doing?"
"The Gold Squadron guy?" Grease asked. "Not a clue. We weren't really around too long, Bulk-up and me. On the Callisto that is. We left pretty quick after Bulk-up figured you were here."
"He figured that?" Ally asked.
Grease nodded. "Yeah. He was determined to find you, no matter all the felgercarb in the way. Information lockdown and all that."
Ally thought about that for a moment. "How did he figure out I was here?" she asked.
"We heard something about you being moved. I guess even a thick head like Bulk-up could figure out where." He laughed again.
"And you came too...."
Grease nodded again. "Bronze has to stick together. That goes for Bulk-up, and you too. We got hit pretty hard for a bunch of skybus scrubbers. I still can't believe how hard..."
"I know" Ally said softly.
Grease reached over and gently stroked Ally's cheek. His eyes grew watery. "It's good to see you Ally."
Something about the tone of his voice, his gentle touch, cut through Ally's brave front. Tears came suddenly. "Grease" she said sadly, "I'm scared."
Grease didn't know what to say. He lightly smoothed back Ally's hair as she closed her eyes and cried...
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Post by Amy81 on Jun 9, 2007 18:41:57 GMT -6
Grease left Ally's room a short time later, rejoining Bulk-up and Ally's father. "She'd like to see you again, sir" Grease announced.
"And we'd better get to the launch bay" Bulk-up said. He looked at Grease, wondering what he and Ally had talked about, and if any of it was about him. Any time he was around Ally Bulk-up just made things worse, and today was no exception. But if Grease knew anything it wasn't obvious by looking at him.
"Well" Ally's dad said, "Thank you boys for coming. You had to go through a lot to get here, and don't think it wasn't appreciated, cause it is." He offered his hand, and shook with both warriors.
"We'll launch as soon as the jump is over" Bulk-up said. "We'll let everyone back on the Callisto know Ally's status."
Ally's father smiled. "Thank you. I'm sure I'll be sending a few messages as well, once coms are re-opened. Ally has some good friends. It's gratifying to know."
Bulk-up looked guilty, but both he and Grease nodded. Ally's father wished them a safe journey as the pair of warriors turned away.
Entering Ally's room, her dad could see she'd been crying, but her expression looked somehow pleasant. "Are you okay?" he asked her.
She nodded. "Yeah" she said simply. "Is the jump over yet?"
"A few microns from now, I think" her father answered.
"And you'll contact my unit then?" she asked.
He nodded. "Your two friends will let everyone know that you're... fine." He stumbled over the word 'fine', but could think of nothing better to say in it's place. If Ally noticed, she didn't reveal it.
"Send a personal message for me?" she asked. Her father nodded. "To Brik, of Gold Squadron. Tell him.... tell him hello and that I miss him... so much..." Her voice trailed off.
When she said nothing further, her father nodded again. "As soon as the coms are open."
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