Title: About Last Night Author: Skybyrd Archive: SURE!!!, just let me know the URL Warnings: Sucky title, but you know that already. Pairing: Adama/Boomer Feedback: skybyrd@skybyrd.com Summary: The sequel to An Informal Meeting and 'The Morning After. ******************** "You wanted to see me, Commander?" Boomer was uncomfortable with the summons. There should only be one reason that Adama wanted to see him, but Apollo had passed the message on. So if it was bad news, Boomer knew he was in deep felgercarb. If it was good news... well, Boomer was afraid to hope it would be good news. That would open a whole new set of problems. Adama wanted to set the younger man at ease, but he wasn't sure how. He'd never done this before. He'd been introduced to Ila when they were both very young, and they had always been together. They had been childhood friends, and that friendship had just somehow naturally morphed into something more. Adama could no longer remember who had made the first move, but knowing himself and his wife, it was probably Ila. He clasped his hands behind his back and frowned in confusion, as he tried to find the words to tell Boomer what he needed to say. Boomer saw Adama frown, and the fear rose up in him. Had Adama been awake, to hear Boomer's whispered confession this morning? That was most likely the cause of the frown. "Sir?" He asked again. Adama sighed and looked over at Boomer. How strong and competent he looked! As well as confused and scared. Adama couldn't let Boomer feel that way for a moment longer, so he decided to just be direct. "I was awake this morning when you left." He wanted to set Boomer at ease, and was surprised by the lieutenant's reaction. Boomer felt defeated. His shoulder's drooped, and he ducked his head in shame. "I'm sorry, sir. I..." Now it was Adama's turn to be confused. "What are you sorry about?" The tone in Adama's voice gave Boomer some hope. He raised his head shyly as he responded, "Well, sir, I'm sorry that you don't seem to agree with what I told you this morning..." **FRACK!** He'd messed it up! He sank down into the chair behind his desk in frustration. He raised his eyes, willing Boomer to see the truth in them. "Boomer, no, that's NOT what I meant! I do agree with them, very much! I had a wonderful time, and want it to happen again. But I've never had to... well... um.... start a ... um... relationship before." Adama blushed at this admission. Boomer grinned, and joined Adama. Kneeling down, he looked right into Adama's face. "It's ok, Adama. I just saw a frown on your face, and wondered what the reason was. I knew this was about last night, but I didn't know if it would be good or bad. And when I saw you frown...." Boomer trailed off, letting Adama put the pieces together. When Boomer explained, Adama couldn't help but chuckle. "And I was frowning because I didn't know how to start!" This set Boomer chuckling as well, and he laid a hand on Adama's arm. They both stopped laughing and stared into each other's eyes. Boomer was the first to break eye contact. "You know, Adama, once you see a person in a new way, it's hard to go back to the old perception." "Yes, Boomer. And I find I don't want to go back to seeing you as Apollo's friend Lieutenant Boomer. I'd like to see you as... maybe... Boomer, my companion." He raised his hand to Boomer's dark cheek. "But I can't promise you a mad, passionate affair. What I'd like is a something a bit more grounded." Adama wanted Boomer to understand what was offered here. Boomer suddenly stood, and walked around the desk to pace the length of Adama's quarters. **Do I tell him? I want to, but it could cause him to... not want me anymore.** He looked over at Adama, and saw the concern on his face. He knew in that moment that he couldn't be less than truthfully honest with this man, even if it cost him this man's regard. "Adama, I have something to tell you, something very important. Can you come sit with me, on the longseat, while I tell you?" Adama nodded, and rose to join him. "What is it, Boomer?" Boomer closed his eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath. "First of all my name isn't Boomer. I'm not the Warrior you think I am. I work for... er, um, **used** to work for the Colonial Intelligence Service. My real name is Ares." Adama's face reflected the shock he felt at this statement. "But... what? Why? HOW?" He felt as if his world had just turned upside down. Boomer... no, Ares understood Adama's reaction. "Let me explain the 'why' first, as I believe it's the easiest. Someone, and I know who, and I'll tell you later if you ask, noticed that all three of your children were assigned to your ship. You were a very vocal doubter of the Great Peace. There was a concern, by a Council member, that maybe you had... other ideas, rather than submit to Peace." Adama nodded. He could understand that. His mind was recovering enough from the shock to start thinking about the implications. "Who was it?" he asked sharply. "Sire Uri." Ares answered promptly. This didn't surprise Adama a bit. If there would be one person... well, it didn't surprise him at all. "And are you a Warrior in truth?" "Yes. I went to the Acadamy. I was there under my true name, you can look up my record if you like. Once there, those that were involved with CIS noticed something about me, and had me assigned to them just after graduation. I had an additional 4 yahrens of schooling before my first assignment." Ares/Boomer looked relieved. It was finally out in the open. "What was that?" Adama was curious. This relationship, should it continue, had just taken on a whole new flavor. One that Adama thought he liked. "Helping bust up a drug ring on Saggitaria. I had a few more assignments like that before my first assignment as Lt. Boomer." Ares smiled fondly. "I suppose that 'Boomer' is now like my second self. I've lived as Boomer almost as long as I've lived as Ares." he stopped and swallowed, nervously. "So, um... what do you think?" Adama leaned back, and closed his eyes. He had to take a micron to gather his thoughts. "Before I answer that, may I ask a question?" Ares/Boomer nodded. "Did you have time to finish your investigation aboard the Galactica?" Adama's voice was toneless, afraid of the answer. "Yes, Adama, I did. I had concluded that like a good Commander, you surrounded yourself with officers you trusted, with officers whose abilities you knew. If you don't know and trust your own children, then who can you trust? I filed that report the day of the Destruction. After the Peace, I was going to be 'transferred' off the Galactica." The dark man shook his head at the irony of it all. Adama smiled. "Well then, Boomer, um, er, Ares, I don't think this influences my feelings at all." He paused and cocked his head. "I would still have taken the time to get to know the real Boomer, and this is the first step, isn't it?" He asked with a grin. Ares leaned in and gave Adama a quick, tender brush of his lips. "Thank you, Adama, I'm glad to hear you say that." Picking up the other man's hand, and holding it in his own, Adama absently stroked his thumb across Boomer's palm as he posed his next question. "So, what do you want to do? Do you want to 'come out' as it were, to the whole Galactica? Not your mission, but your real name, and such?" The feeling of having his hand held by Adama was comforting, allowing Ares to relax even further. "Part of me says 'No, you'll rock the boat.' I can live with being Boomer for the rest of my life. That's a part of being CIS. While they won't let you be 'yourself' with just a change in name, they do try to fit each agent with an alternate persona that's not too foreign. And I'll admit that part of me wants to just be Ares. To not have to be on guard constantly, and watch what I say. Being Boomer isn't difficult, but it isn't easy, either. " The older man shook his head. "No one should have to live their lives being someone they aren't. That's why I was so glad when Apollo and Starbuck finally found the courage not only to admit their feelings for each other, but to tell the Fleet, so they wouldn't have to hide." Adama reached up with his free hand and lay the palm against Ares' cheek. "Dear one (and yes, you are already dear to me), if you so choose, I will have a relationship with Ares. And do so happily and openly." Adama stared into the dark brown eyes that were so like his friend Boomer's, but were also different. Ares was struck dumb. He didn't know what to say. Such a show of support, and he couldn't find words to express his gratitude. Or his other feelings that went so far beyond gratitude. He turned his head to kiss Adama's palm, then leaned over and repeated the gesture on Adama's lips. Adama deepened the kiss, letting their mouths open, and inflame each other. This time there was no hesistation, no fumbling, no drunken giggles. Here were two men, showing their deep respect and caring for each other, sharing themselves. They retired to Adama's bedchamber, and began to explore each other's bodies in earnest. Tongues, lips, fingers were all involved as the men made slow easy love to each other. And when they finally finished, they lay together, arms entwined, and fell into a light, restful sleep.