"Starbuck to Galactica. I'm in trouble!" He wasn't overly worried yet. After all, he couldn't be far from the Battlestar.

When he received no reply to his distress signal, he frowned. "Starbuck to Galactica. Do you read me?"

Nothing.

Then, things started getting worse. The young lieutenant felt a sudden increase of his viper's speed. He had to be almost at the limit. But no matter what he did, he couldn't slow down his ship. The viper was shaking as if it was about to burst into a thousand pieces.

"Guys, I really am in trouble!" He called it out this time, but again, he received no reply. "Frack!"

Starbuck's fighter shot through space at immeasurable speed. With no way of finding out what kind of speed he was going or where to, Starbuck found himself scared, for the first time. Really scared. He wouldn't have wanted to bet on the odds of surviving this one.

Space began to distort. The more distant stars turned into streaks of light and space itself seemed to form a funnel right in front of the Viper.

Starbuck braced for impact, even if he couldn't make out anything he could possibly bump into. Better safe than sorry, even if it would make little difference.

The funnel began to twirl around its own axis. Taking a deep breath, as if he was about to dive under water, Starbuck and his viper were sucked into the funnel, speeding up even further, until the young lieutenant passed out from the sheer velocity.

When Starbuck regained consciousness, he was heading towards something. A planet. In fact, he had already entered the atmosphere and even slowed down. Thankfully. Now it was up to him to land as softly as he could in his out-of-control fighter.

Land came closer and closer. Starbuck briefly thought how he really was still too fast to set down. But he had no choice. It was trying to land in one piece or excavating a massive hole in the landscape beneath.

There. He was slowing down. The surface came closer and closer and Starbuck had just enough time to note the similarity of this planet to those of his own torn up galaxy. Then he crashed and all he could hear was the sound of his helmet cracking as he smashed into the view screen in front of him.

Face and Murdock were sitting comfortably on the porch of Face's beach house, sipping ice-cold drinks, when they saw a large, pointed object slam into the sand further down the beach.

"Face, did you see that?" Murdock jumped to his feet and started running.

Face was right behind him, but not quite able to catch up. "Sure did. I don't think anyone could have survived in there!"

Murdock sped up, hoping that his friend was wrong, but he knew it didn't look good for the pilot of that... plane, if that's what it was. Nothing like anything he'd ever flown.

When they got to the wreckage, they couldn't believe their eyes. Someone was crawling out from underneath. Face stretched out a hand but the pilot had his back turned to him and didn't see it.

"Wait, we're gonna help you," Murdock said, and the stranger moaned in reply. As soon as he had emerged far enough from the twisted metal, Face and Murdock grabbed hold of his arms and pulled, gently but with enough force to get him out from underneath the contorted shape.

"Thanks, guys." A voice, a little too familiar to believe.

Murdock looked at Face and they momentarily stopped pulling.

"Hey, are you going to get me all the way out or not? It's not too comfortable under here," the stranger complained.

"Yeah, sure." Murdock replied, ignoring the voice he knew so well. He was certain it would be less confusing that way.

Finally, the pilot was free of the wreckage, and Face and Murdock put him down gently, for the first time able to see his face.

"Oh Christ!" Face couldn't help but exclaim, and instantly, the stranger who sure didn't look like one, met his astonished gaze.

"Who are you?" Lt. Starbuck stared at Face, trying to get up, but something was wrong. He couldn't stand on his right foot.

"You may have broken something. Be careful," Murdock said helpfully. Then he just stood and stared, just like Face, at the man who had fallen from the sky. How was this possible?

Starbuck cleared his throat. "On second thought, never mind the who right now. Where am I? And why do you speak the same language as I do?"

Face chortled. "Great."

Murdock's eyes widened in excitement. "You're on Earth. And we speak English, as do you."

Face amiably shoved his friend in the ribs. "Earth?" He pointed to the man on the ground. "Murdock, I think he knew that much."

"No, actually, I didn't. Wait... EARTH?" Starbuck's eyes almost popped out.

Face shook his head and turned as if to walk away. "I don't believe this."

Murdock was fascinated. "Wait, let me help you up." He took Starbuck's arm and pulled him to his feet.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry." Murdock quickly wrapped one arm around the other's waist, taking the weight off his foot. "I think you may have sprained something. It's a miracle you're even alive."

Starbuck nodded. "Yes, well..." Then he looked at Face. "You know, you don't really look like me. You're much older!"

"Excuse me?" Face jumped forward, ready for a fight, but Murdock quickly interfered.

"Hey, don't!" He shook his head disapprovingly. "Considering how alike you two look, you should really get along." Then he began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Face and Starbuck said almost simultaneously, acknowledging it with a shrug, equally simultaneous.

"You are. One would think you'd be excited about meeting your own doubles, and all you want to do is jump each other!"

"That's not true!" Face exclaimed, far too emphatically.

Murdock and Starbuck gave him a questioning look, and he blushed deeply.

"I mean, it's very... strange. And a little confusing. And as for you..." Face poked Starbuck in the chest, "At most, I'm a few years older than you."

"Okay, whatever you say," Starbuck grinned, stretching out a hand towards Face.

Murdock smiled. "Go on, Face, take it. Make peace."

"Oh all right!" Face took the outstretched hand and held it. It felt mighty strange to be shaking his own hand. Not that it was.

Starbuck moaned, becoming aware of the shooting pain in his right ankle.

"We should get you to the house so we can sit you down," Murdock said, worry in his voice.

Face looked at him, wondering why he sounded so concerned. After all, he didn't even know the guy.

Starbuck meanwhile hobbled along, supported by Murdock's arm around his middle. Face thought about it for a moment before getting on his other side to support him too.

"Thank you so much," Starbuck said with a touch of sarcasm, turning towards Face.

A jolt shot through Face at the look in the stranger's bizarrely familiar blue eyes. His heart was racing and he wondered whether it really was such a good idea to put his arm around this guy.

'I can't be this vain,' he thought to himself. But the attraction he felt was indisputable. To Starbuck, he merely said, "Just making sure my friend doesn't put out his back dragging you along." Why was he being so hostile? Face couldn't believe the way he was acting. But the situation kind of justified it. Didn't it?

Back at the porch, Face let go of the stranger, eagerly breaking the close contact which had left him short of breath and far too hot for an early fall afternoon.

Murdock gently placed Starbuck down on a deck-chair and sat down opposite him. "Want a drink?" he offered politely.

Starbuck shook his head. The movement settled his golden strands of hair enticingly over half of his forehead.

Face grew uncomfortable. It couldn't be a good sign that he found his double this appealing. Clearly, it was unnatural. When he turned to look at Murdock, he found his friend staring at Starbuck, just as mesmerized.

Gulping, Face said, "So anyway, who are you?"

The stranger looked at him, bright blue eyes piercing into a pair just the same. "Lt. Starbuck, assigned to the Battlestar Galactica."

"Ha!" Face jumped up. He motioned to walk away but turned around and asked snappily, "Starbuck?" Adding under his breath, he said, "How cute!" Unfortunately, that last bit didn't come out the way he had intended. Instead, it sounded like he meant it.

Starbuck looked at him in surprise, as did Murdock.

Face blushed and turned away, hoping someone else would go ahead and make a fool of himself for a change. He'd done enough of that for one day. But no such luck.

"Thank you," Starbuck said instead, flashing an unbearably charming smile.

"You're welcome." Face didn't think he could possibly save anything by trying to explain what he'd actually meant. And then... Starbuck was a suitably cute name. 'I have to get away from this guy,' he thought.

"Just getting myself something to drink." Face had stormed off inside before either of the other two men could say another word.

Starbuck's eyes followed him for a moment, before he turned towards Murdock and asked, "So, what's your name?"

"H.M. Murdock. And I agree, Starbuck is a cute name."

They had a good laugh and Face, who was standing behind the slightly open kitchen window just knew it had to be at his expense.

After an unbearably long ten minutes, Face decided he really had to go back outside. Watching Murdock and Starbuck laugh and joke out there like that did nothing for his mood. How could this guy just fall from the sky and land right between Murdock and himself. Talk about precision flying!

Chagrined, Face stepped back out onto the porch, only to find the very lively conversation stop in its tracks. "Don't mind me," he said grumpily and settled into a deck-chair away from the other two men.

"We were just talking about you, Faceman." Murdock smiled happily.

"No kidding," Face replied, a little too sarcastically. He instantly regretted letting out his anger on his closest friend. "Sorry, Murdock, but that was obvious."

Starbuck leaned forward and smiled at Face, "Your friend was telling me that you're quite a gambler and pull some interesting stunts. Impressive."

Face was a little pacified. "Really?"

"Yes," Starbuck said. When Face lowered his eyes, he added, "Face, huh?"

"So?"

Starbuck smiled. "I was just thinking... that's quite cute, too."

A couple of hours later, they had shifted to the lounge. It had started to get dark and Murdock had suggested they should do something about Starbuck's ankle. Thankfully, H.M. knew what he was doing and he quickly bandaged the sprained joint.

Without even realizing it, Face had gotten settled on the sole armchair when he realized that Murdock and Starbuck were going to sit on the couch. He couldn't help feeling like a fifth wheel. Maybe he should just go to bed...

"Where's Starbuck gonna sleep, Face?" Murdock asked with concern.

Face briefly considered suggesting the beach, but thought better of it. "The guest-room upstairs, next to the Jacuzzi room."

"What's a Jacuzzi?" Starbuck inquired curiously.

'Don't you dare go in there with Murdock!' Face thought angrily.

"You'd love it, Starbuck. It's something you gotta experience." Murdock looked pleadingly at Face. "How about it, Face? Why don't we introduce our visitor to the Jacuzzi?"

'Because he could make ice-cubes melt in the freezer, and I really don't need boiling water in my Jacuzzi,' Face thought sourly. Aloud he said, "Sure, why not? But I think I'll go to bed. You two go ahead." He got up and went to the kitchen, pretending to be busy with the dishwasher.

After having wasted about five minutes putting glasses into the dishwasher, taking them out again and putting them back, he turned. Starbuck was standing right in front of him.

"Need any help with that?" he asked, smiling.

"Uh... no, thanks." Face felt the heat rushing into his cheeks. He thought it best to leave the room as quickly as possible, but Starbuck blocked his way by leaning an arm against the kitchen cupboard, right next to his head.

"It would be very... hospitable of you to join us in that Jacuzzi," Starbuck purred.

Face felt his knees giving in. "Well, you see Jacuzzis are something best enjoyed in private." Still, he couldn't get out of the room.

"Just the three of us sounds private enough to me," Starbuck said, determined to get a positive reply out of Face.

Face looked at him. Their features were basically the same, yet there was a youthful, fresh quality to Starbuck's face. Face had never been self-conscious about his looks, knowing full well he had absolutely no reason to be. But now, seeing Starbuck, he felt like the younger man's ugly relative. Well, his older brother maybe.

Starbuck tried to focus on Face. But the other man once again tried his best not to have to hold direct eye contact with him. What a shame. He loved his eyes. He loved everything about Face, other than his attitude towards him, but he would get to the bottom of that eventually. Looking at Face, he couldn't help thinking that this was the way he himself would look a few years on. And it wasn't at all an unattractive prospect.

Aware that they'd been silently sizing each other up, Face cleared his throat. "I really am very tired. Murdock knows how to work the Jacuzzi. You two have a good time." When he saw something like disappointment in Starbuck's bright blue eyes, he said quietly, "Good night." Then he left the kitchen to go upstairs, waving a quick good night to Murdock who was sitting on the couch watching TV.

Face lay in bed, tossing and turning wildly. The laughter coming from the Jacuzzi was keeping him awake, not so much because of its volume but because of its implications. Murdock had come in briefly to ask whether Face could lend Starbuck a pair of swimming trunks. As much as he'd doubted they'd be used, he had grudgingly handed Murdock a pair and said good night, desperate to get away from his friend's questioning eyes.

Now, he could hear them laughing and joking. Knowing he really shouldn't, Face got up and wrapped himself in a bathrobe. Then he quietly opened the door which led from his bedroom onto the tiny balcony that afforded him a clear view of the Jacuzzi room overhanging the side of the cliff.

He stood there and shivered, hiding in the shadows of the night, unseen by the two men in the lit room with the steamed up bay window.

Starbuck sank lower into the water, leaning his head back over the edge of the tub. "This is amazing. I've got to work out how to build one of these. I could make a fortune selling Jacuzzi time on the Galactica." He laughed.

Murdock smiled. "You don't have anything like this on that spaceship of yours?"

"Oh no. Luxury isn't exactly something we have in abundance. Your friend Face seems to know how to live, though."

"You really like him, Starbuck," Murdock stated. The other man nodded. "I don't know why he's so cold to you. He's not usually like that. In fact, he's the warmest person I've ever known."

Starbuck smiled. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

Murdock nodded. "Does it show?"

"You talk about him every moment he's not around. And whenever he isn't looking, you gaze at him like a lovesick dagget."

"Dagget?" Murdock asked curiously.

Starbuck raised his hands, indicating a shape in mid-air. "A creature about this size. They're covered in fur and are kept as companions. Very reliable."

"Ah, a dog! I have one of those. Billy." Murdock decided, and Starbuck smiled.

"Whatever you say. Anyway, yes it shows." Starbuck moved next to Murdock and stroked a droplet of steam from his cheek. "You should tell him, you know."

Murdock shook his head emphatically. "No. Face could never feel the same. He really likes women."

Starbuck laughed. "So do I. Doesn't mean anything. Besides..." His hand moved around the back of Murdock's neck. "How could he resist you?"

Murdock looked at him wide-eyed. "Oh, but he does."

Starbuck shook his head, spraying water in all directions. "I don't think so. He and I are very much alike, even if he wouldn't admit it, and I certainly can't."

"Admit it?" Murdock asked, a little confused.

"No, silly, resist you." Starbuck pulled him close and pressed his lips to Murdock's in a passionate kiss. It didn't take long before the kiss was returned.

When their mouths parted, they smiled at each other.

Outside, Face pulled his bathrobe tighter around himself. As sad as the scene in front of him made him, he hated to admit it aroused him at the same time. He was having a hard time with all this. First he had to accept the fact that he was deeply attracted to himself, and now the sight of the only person he loved kissing someone who looked just like himself made him so damn hot. What was wrong with him?

As much as he tried, he couldn't make himself go back inside, instead staring transfixed at the two people in his Jacuzzi.

"You know, Starbuck, I don't think I've ever seen anyone as attractive as you. Besides Face, that is." Murdock traced the other man's features with the tip of his finger.

Starbuck merely smiled, taking Murdock's face in both hands and pressing his lips first on one eyelid, then the other. "You've got to tell him how you feel."

"Can't." Murdock moaned as Starbuck parted his legs with his knees, pushing gently against his erection through his boxers.

"Yes, you can. If I'm right, he loves you too."

Starbuck smiled when Murdock stared at him in disbelief.

"But how do you know?"

The visitor shrugged. "It's about the only reason I can imagine he's so hostile to me. He's jealous."

Murdock thought about it, but then he shook his head frantically. "No, I don't believe that."

"Try and you'll see." Starbuck smiled wistfully.

Face lay on his bed. Despite the early fall chill the open window brought in he wasn't underneath the duvet. Somehow, being cold and uncomfortable seemed to fit his mood a lot better. 'Ridiculous,' he thought, 'I'm behaving like a sulking child.'

He knew deep inside that if he didn't want to lose Murdock to Starbuck, he'd have to do something. Lose him? He smirked with dismay. How could he lose him when he didn't have him in the first place? And thanks to his inability to show his true feelings, Murdock was now turning to Starbuck.

Not that he could blame his friend. Face sighed. Starbuck was certainly something. Irritatingly charming and handsome as he was, he had a childlike quality that made him just that much more endearing. As if he needed it.

Those eyes - not on the sunniest day of summer did the Pacific ocean ever have kind of color. Then there was that smile - cheeky and enticing all at once. And as if all that wasn't more than enough for one single individual, he had to have a body like that. The warm beige and brown suede uniform, bizarre as it looked, only served to complement Starbuck's light tan and his bright eyes.

"And I'll be damned if I let him steal away Murdock, whether he looks like a god or not!" Face trembled with anger as much as with arousal, not even noticing he'd spoken aloud.

When he heard a knock on his door, he considered for a moment to pretend being asleep, but even before he came to the conclusion that it would be childish, the door opened and a very familiar silhouette appeared in the doorway, backlit by the subdued hallway light.

"Face, are you asleep?"

Face still lay flat on his back, the blanket covering only half of his body. There hadn't been enough time to get into a more convincing sleep position. "Yeah," he answered, trying to sound as tired as he could. What on Earth was Starbuck doing just walking in on him like that in the middle of the night?

"Sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to you." The door closed and despite the dark, Face was uncomfortably aware of Starbuck being in the room, moving closer to him. Face quickly pulled the duvet up to his chin. He didn't want to embarrass himself through his uncontrollable anatomy.

"May I sit down?" Starbuck asked politely.

Face nodded while shifting to sit upright. He stuffed a pillow behind his back and tried to focus on the other's eyes in the dark room, lit only by a pale slice of moonlight that shone in through a gap in the curtains. Starbuck had settled down on the edge of the mattress.

"What did you want to talk about?" Face got straight to the point. When Starbuck didn't immediately answer, he added in an uninviting tone, "I'm really tired. Can't it wait till tomorrow?" Now that Face's eyes had adjusted to the pale light, he was able to see Starbuck shake his head.

"Afraid not, Face. Look, I know I've intruded on you in a pretty unconventional manner, and I'm sorry if I've inconvenienced you." He waited for a reaction, but Face neither spoke nor moved. Starbuck continued, "I came to tell you that I'll be gone tomorrow. You've made it quite clear that you don't want me here, and I don't want to intrude. Just thought you'd want to know." He was about to stand and leave, when Face took his wrist.

"Wait!" Face had no idea what he wanted him to wait for. Wasn't this just what he'd wanted to hear? But whether it was his conscience or his deep and disturbing attraction to Starbuck that made him say what he was about to say, it just popped out.

"You can't go. And where would you go anyway?" Starbuck didn't reply, so Face continued, "We'll try and help you get your... um... ship back together. Until then, I want you to stay here."

"You sure?" Starbuck asked without hesitation, as if he'd expected Face to say something just like that.

After a short pause during which Face wondered whether he'd lost his mind, he said, "Yes, I'm sure."

"Thanks. And I'll keep out of your way." Starbuck smiled, unsure whether Face would see it.

"What do you mean?" Face went straight into defensive mode.

"You know exactly what I mean," Starbuck said, as if he was involved in some kind of conspiracy with Face.

"No, I don't." Face already regretted having offered him to stay. This guy had some cheek. "Go on, say what you have to say!" He was angry.

Starbuck leaned forward enough to allow Face to actually look into his eyes, setting the man's pulse racing uncontrollably in the process. Sensing his effect on Face, he smiled. "You really should make up your mind how you feel about me." He laughed.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Face exploded. "I'll tell you exactly how I feel about you. I... I... " Which version of his feelings should he share? Finally, making up his mind, he continued, "I really dislike you. You're so annoying with that friendly, playful act of yours. And then that story about your spaceship in another galaxy!"

Feeling himself getting carried away, Face continued, "The only reason I'm not throwing you out is that Murdock, for some bizarre, incomprehensible reason, seems to like you." He had moved forward as if that was somehow more threatening than to be leaning back against a pillow.

"The only reason?" Starbuck inquired, as if he hadn't heard any of the rest of Face's speech.

Face just gasped. He couldn't remember ever losing his temper like this. It just wasn't something he did. He couldn't even seriously accuse Starbuck of anything. He'd been polite and friendly to him, if a little facetious, but that seemed to be his way. Face didn't fail to realize that it was he himself who had the problem.

Starbuck's face was inches from his own when the younger man repeated the question, whispering this time. "The only reason?"

Face felt warm breath on the tip of his nose and remembered how cold he was. He shivered, as much from the chill in the room as from the physical proximity of the man sitting on his bed. "Yes," he said weakly. His voice sounded strangely distant. It was time Starbuck left the room. "I really need to go back to sleep," he said.

"I don't think that's what you really need." Starbuck's voice softened, which made it all the more appealing.

Face swallowed. He wished he was able to either throw out the stranger or at least move away from him, but he felt frozen in place. He was honest enough to himself to admit it wasn't the cold that froze him like that. "Please go," he said instead, and to his relief, Starbuck rose to his feet. Taking a deep breath, Face settled back against the pillow and began to reclaim his sanity, slowly but surely.

"I came for something else too, Face," Starbuck said, and the man in the bed looked up, a little reassured by the distance between them.

"What?" Face asked, not as snappily now.

To his shock, Starbuck quickly sat down again, even closer now, and with one hand on Face's cheek, he leaned forward to press a kiss on his lips.

A whirlwind of conflicting emotions rushed through Face's body. His own biology demanded that he pull Starbuck into his bed and ravish him right there and then, and at the same time, he wanted to send him back to that galaxy of his so he would leave both him and Murdock alone. But before his psyche had made up its mind about what to do, the kiss was over, and all that remained was a tingling in Face's lips and various other parts of his anatomy which were way ahead of the situation. "I hate you!" he hissed, but Starbuck just chuckled.

"What, for a simple goodnight kiss? You don't hate me anymore than I hate you." He moved back briefly only to come closer again and add, "By the way, you taste wonderful!"

Face considered punching his lights out, but a certain in-built vanity wouldn't allow him to bruise that face. Instead he settled for, "Get the hell out of my room!"

Starbuck stood, laughing, and walked to the door. Before he opened it, he turned and called out, "Sweet dreams, Handsome!"

Face growled and picked up a slipper from beside his bed, lifting it as if to throw it at Starbuck. When he heard light laughter and the door closing, he dropped the shoe again. Why did Starbuck turn him into an oversexed, bad-tempered teenager? He sighed and lay down on his side, prepared for a long wait before sleep would finally claim him.

When Face went downstairs the next morning, he heard the laughter from the kitchen already. Obviously, Starbuck rose early. Just like Murdock. So long as they hadn't risen at the same time.

Face ran a hand through his hair and quickly glanced into the hallway mirror. The white T-shirt and Jeans shorts he was wearing brought out his tan nicely, but somehow, his own mirror image failed to fill him with his usual confidence.

He entered the kitchen in such a bad mood that he completely missed Murdock's admiring gaze.

Starbuck stood by the kitchen table, one hand on Murdock's shoulder. Face was fuming. And then he realized the stranger was wearing a pair of his jeans and a T-shirt that also looked very familiar.

Murdock realized where his friend's eyes went and quickly explained, "I sneaked into your room earlier this morning, Facey. Starbuck needed somethin' else to wear, and I didn't wanna wake you up. Made sense to get him some of your clothes. You don't mind, do you?"

"Uh..." Face stammered. It was all perfectly reasonable, of course. "No, I don't mind." Then he remembered his manners. "Good morning."

Murdock beamed from ear to ear. "Morning, Face. Would you like me to make you some breakfast?"

"You don't have to, H.M." Face headed to the coffee-machine and retrieved himself a cup.

"I'd like to." Murdock busily got started on Face's breakfast, while Starbuck looked on with a smile.

He watched the two of them scrounging around in the kitchen, carefully avoiding each other as they put together dishes and cutlery. And since he was merely watching, he also didn't fail to notice the stolen glances they exchanged. Neither of them had any idea how the other one felt. And they were too scared to admit to it anyway. He had to do something.

"You know, Face," Starbuck started, "Murdock introduced me to Hash Browns. Nothing like it on the Galactica."

Face turned slowly. "Introduced you?" he asked incredulously. "You mean you've never had Hash Browns before? Come on."

"No, I haven't." Starbuck grinned. "I'm going to need the recipe. I'll make a fortune of those things."

"On the Galactica, right?" Face asked sarcastically.

"Yes." Starbuck sat down on a kitchen chair, crossing his legs and settling in.

"When will you just come out and tell us where you're really from? I mean, all that spaceship mumbo jumbo. Please!" Face laughed, but Starbuck didn't join in.

"If you don't believe me, how do you explain my viper?" Starbuck inquired.

"Your what?" Face blushed furiously.

"My vip... oh, my ship, of course." Starbuck smiled facetiously.

"Of course." Face pulled himself together. "I can't, but that doesn't mean there isn't an explanation. I just don't know it." He wasn't willing to believe that this guy came from several galaxies away either. But he decided to let it rest for now.

"Thanks, Murdock," he said amiably when his friend passed him a plate of Hash Browns and two eggs, sunny side up.

Murdock sat down and watched Face eat. He loved to cook him breakfast. There was something so homely about it.

Starbuck watched Murdock watching Face and shook his head. Why were they making things so hard for themselves?

Later that day, B.A. and Hannibal came around to take a look at Starbuck's ship.

They were both polite and helpful, but B.A. couldn't help but wonder about the whole thing. To Hannibal, he remarked, "All we needed 'round here, man. Another crazy foo'!"

Hannibal chuckled. "Well, he's friendly, he's harmless, and Murdock seems to be nuts about him, so let's just indulge him, okay?"

"Whatever you say, Colonel. Don't think Murdock needs nothin' else to be nuts about though."

Scratching his forehead, Hannibal watched Face, Murdock and Starbuck and the very revealing body language between them. "Maybe not, but this just might be the incentive Face needs."

B.A. growled in response, which was as good as agreeing with Hannibal.

Starbuck was certain that no one but Murdock believed him about his origins. Not that he could blame them. He probably wouldn't believe anyone arriving on the Galactica from Earth either.

"We can fix that thing," B.A. said with determination.

Hannibal nodded, inserting a cigar between his lips. "Absolutely. We'll get you off this planet in no time." He grinned broadly, fairly certain that Starbuck was just some kook with a homemade spaceship. He probably lived in Venice Beach.

"Thank you," Starbuck said politely. He liked them both, and they actually seemed to know what they were doing.

"It'll take a couple of days to get all the materials together." Hannibal was cautious. There were some strange parts needed, and the ship was in a hundred pieces.

Face moaned quietly, but Murdock poked him in the side. "We don't mind, Colonel, do we, Face?" When Face shook his head like a mechanical puppet, Murdock continued, "Starbuck is lovely company. We're happy to have him a while longer." He threw one arm around Starbuck's shoulders as if to prove the sincerity of his statement.

Did he have to be that enthusiastic? Face wasn't happy at all, but he couldn't say anything. After all, Starbuck appeared to have nowhere else to go.

Face and Starbuck exchanged a meaningful glance. They were both very aware that it wouldn't be easy for the next couple of days. Starbuck smiled tentatively and Face kind of returned his smile. Things would be okay. They were adults, after all.

"I'm gonna go and do some grocery shopping, Faceman," Murdock offered later that afternoon.

"I can do that, H.M. You stay here with Starbuck." Face was about to hurry upstairs to get his wallet, but Murdock grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen.

"No, Face. You two have a few things to work out. I'll be out for a while and you get better acquainted, you hear? We'll have a great time together for the next few days, but you two will have to make peace."

Face was going to protest, but Murdock just shook his head. "Please, Face?"

He never could resist Murdock begging. Face nodded and muttered agreement.

"Great, I'll see you later." And with that, the Captain departed through the back door and headed down the beach towards the mall.

Face was left alone with Starbuck. When he went into the lounge, Starbuck was sitting on the couch, flipping through some magazines. He looked at them as if he'd never seen anything like them.

"Starbuck..." Face started.

Starbuck looked up and smiled. "Murdock went out?"

"Yeah." Face settled down in one of the armchairs, wondering how Starbuck knew. "Look, we need to talk. I promised Murdock we'd sort out our problems, and I don't want to disappoint him."

Starbuck threw the magazines on the coffee table and leaned back. "I know you don't. Anyway, there's no reason for us to not get along, right?"

Face was silent. In theory, Starbuck was right, but then again... "I don't know why, but I find you really infuriating." There. It was out.

Starbuck didn't seem offended at all. "I know why, but that's between you and Murdock." Before Face could intercept, he continued, "Face, I won't be here for much longer, and I really don't want to cause you any problems. You don't need to worry about me and Murdock, but I know you do."

Face was too stunned to reply.

"All you have to do is tell me to go and I will. I'll find something for the next few days until your friends can help me put my ship back together. You just need to say so." Starbuck waited for a reaction.

Face knew this wasn't at all what Murdock wanted. His friend liked Starbuck a lot, and he would hate to disappoint him. On the other hand, Face was terrified that he'd like him too much. More than him, in fact.

When Face continued to simply stare at him silently, Starbuck stood with a sigh. "I'll leave. This won't work." He began to walk towards the verandah doors. "Please tell Murdock I'll be back in a couple of days, and that it was my idea to leave. Tell him..." He considered possible explanations. "Tell him I decided to look around for a bit. It's all pretty new and unfamiliar to me, after all."

Face jumped up. "Wait!"

Starbuck turned and found Face crossing the room. "Yes?" he asked softly, no anger or regret showing in his voice.

"Don't go, please." Face felt ashamed enough to now seriously hope Starbuck would stay.

They sized each over up.

Finally, Starbuck asked, "Are you just asking me to stay for Murdock?"

Face blushed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you want me to stay, too? Just a little?" Starbuck took another step closer and Face felt heat rushing to his cheeks.

"Um... I... I'm not sure." He might as well be honest. He was about to turn back when he felt Starbuck's fingers closing around his wrist.

"Face." With incredible care, Starbuck pulled him into his arms and kissed him. He held him tight, just enough to ensure he wouldn't get away.

Face was too surprised and shocked to fight. The unexpected 'attack' was too much. He sank into Starbuck's arms and returned the kiss.

They became more urgent in their exploration. Their hands began to roam over each other's sun-warmed skin, gold shimmering hair, firm muscles.

"You want me, don't you?" Starbuck finally asked, quite unnecessarily.

Face replied with a groan instead of words. Oh yes, he wanted Starbuck. He had wanted him the moment he'd first laid eyes on him.

"Tell me you want me. I want to hear you say it, Face."

Face gulped. "I want you. But..." He was silenced with another kiss which actually made him believe that Starbuck couldn't be off this Earth. "What's your name?" he asked hoarsely when reality kicked back in for a moment.

Starbuck smiled. His hands were making their way underneath Face's T-shirt, gliding along his lean flanks and over his thumping chest. "You know my name."

"The real one." Face smiled crookedly.

"I only have the one, I'm sorry." Starbuck pulled the shirt up and over his head, messing up Face's hair in the process, not that either of them cared.

"You do, huh?" Face asked suspiciously. He was going to argue the point, but Starbuck's hands around his back as they pulled him forward against that deliciously warm body silenced his protests. "Who cares!" He gave in, sighing deeply when his bare torso touched the material of his own shirt on Starbuck's skin.

Starbuck chuckled. He lowered his mouth to Face's neck and gently nibbled at his skin, sending shivers all over his body. When he was quite certain Face was putty in his hands, he took him by the wrist and began to pull him towards the sofa.

"No." Face protested half-heartedly. "What if Murdock comes back?"

"He only just left, Face." Starbuck insistently kept tugging.

Suddenly very uncomfortable with the whole thing, Face stopped dead in his tracks. "I can't do this. I mean, Murdock..."

A tender hand was lifted to his face, cupping his chin. "Trust me, he'd be okay with it."

Face gaped. "How do you know?" When Starbuck merely smiled mysteriously, he blushed. "Oh."

"He really does want us to get on."

Face frowned. "I'm not sure the sofa is what we're supposed to get on, though."

"I can see why he adores you like he does." Starbuck enjoyed the effect his words had.

"What?" Face stared at him, wide-eyed. Murdock... adored him? "You're crazy. Murdock is sane, but you clearly are not."

Starbuck smiled. "There you go again. You really can't go without trying to claw my eyes out, can you?"

Face sighed. "No. I mean... yes. Oh, you really are infuriating!"

"And you're lovely when you're angry. Do you know that your eyes get even bluer? Keep it up, Face, and I'll take you right here on the floor."

Starbuck words didn't fail to have the desired effect on Face, who was torn between running as fast as he could and throwing himself at him. He compromised on slowly moving backwards through the lounge.

But Starbuck followed him, smiling that blindingly handsome smile and swaying his narrow hips teasingly.

Grasping for anything in reach, Face kept moving, bumping into assorted pieces of furniture and altogether forgetting why he was actually retreating. His body knew exactly what it wanted, and it wanted Starbuck. Badly. In the back of his mind, Face simply knew it couldn't have escaped his guest, and he dared a careful glimpse which informed him that Starbuck was in a rather similar predicament. "Oh dear," he muttered, frowning.

"You don't really want to get away from me, do you, Face?" Starbuck asked, stalking his prey with the slow calculation of a master hunter.

"I do. Yup, definitely." Face nodded hard. He reached behind himself where he knew the door to the kitchen had to be. After some fumbling, he got hold of the knob and quickly pushed it down. He slipped through the doorway and into the kitchen, briefly turning his back on Starbuck.

That was all it took for the hunter to catch up with his quarry. Face was spun around and found himself trapped against Starbuck on one side and the kitchen table on the other.

"Time to stop running, Face." Starbuck finally demanded, and like a puppet on a string, Face complied.

He allowed his captor to spin him around and bend him over the tabletop. When he felt Starbuck's hardness against his buttocks, he groaned wantonly. It just was too much to fight.

Starbuck held him in place with one arm around his waist while he rid himself of his belt and threw it to the floor.

Face was vaguely aware of the sound of clothing rustling and closures being snapped open, and then he felt the hand which had been on his stomach move lower, and fingers fumbled on the button of his shorts.

"Oh Jesus, we can't do this!" he protested, half-heartedly.

Starbuck snapped open the button on Face's jeans shorts and pulled down the zip hastily, before he impatiently tugged the shorts down over his hips. "You don't have to do anything, Face. But I have to have you and you know you want me to."

Face inhaled harshly when he was grabbed hard and pulled back against Starbuck's groin. His hands slammed down on the table for support when his bare ass was met by a rigid cock demanding entry. He was about to protest the potentially painful invasion when Starbuck moved back. Immediately, disappointment took the place of outrage.

"Something slippery, Face. Where?"

Concentrating as hard as was possible under the circumstances, Face looked around the kitchen. "Oil," he said, gesturing across the table to a bottle of olive oil.

Starbuck reached over his shoulder, pressing against him in the process.

After the brief loss of contact before, Face felt him with that much more intensely. He groaned, pushing back.

"Face! What are you doing?" Starbuck moaned, briefly stopping mid-reach.

Barely coherrent, Face gasped, "Admitting that I want you. Fuck me, Starlight Starbright whatever-your-name is! Now!"

Chuckling nervously, Starbuck finally got hold of the bottle and holding Face pressed against the table with his pelvis, he emptied some of it into his hand and went to work.

"Oh holy mother!" Face gasped, his fingers curled tight around the edge of the table when Starbuck inserted first one, then two, then three oil-coated fingers into him. Deep.

With one hand on Face's ass, Starbuck began to rhythmically push and retract, push and retract, until the sounds of his oil sleek fingers sliding from Face were becoming more than he could bear. Getting more oil and coating both his hands with it, he reached around and grabbed Face's cock hard.

Biting his lips to prevent the held-back scream to escape, Face allowed Starbuck to push his legs further apart and to position himself at his entrance while he started stroking him.

It only took one smooth push for Starbuck to enter him to the hilt, causing Face to slam hard on his elbows.

"Ow!" he protested, but the pleasure centres of his brain immediately cancelled out any information regarding pain. "Ow yes!" he exclaimed instead, pushing back against the very welcome intrusion.

Starbuck rammed into him in sync with his smooth strokes. "You feel so good," he moaned, varying the touch of his fingers on Face's slick organ to glide over the flared tip and then trace the underside all the way up to the base, where he let go and grabbed his balls instead.

Arching against the touch of that bizarrely familiar hand, Face groaned deeply. "I can't believe I'm doing this. It's... it's..." Words failed him.

"Wonderful? Incredible? The best sex you've ever had?" Starbuck offered up a multitude of options.

"Yes, all of them." Face moaned. "And it's weird."

"Think of it as masturbating," Starbuck suggested helpfully, causing them both a giggling fit.

Face found that even the absurdity of the situation did nothing to decrease his arousal. It even seemed to help. Convinced that he was perverted beyond belief, Face kept pushing back. When he felt the heat inside him becoming liquid and spreading, Face came all over Starbuck's hand with a growl that didn't sound quite human. He collapsed on the table, pressing his palms flat against the wood for support.

Starbuck stayed inside him for a moment, catching his breath, before he pulled out, allowing oil and semen to seep hotly down the inside of Face's thighs.

"What the hell was that?" Face muttered, slowly returning to planet Earth.

Starbuck made a funny sound. "That was you and me making up, Faceman. We're just like brothers now."

Laughing, they began to gather up assorted bits of strewn clothing from atop, underneath and next to the table.

"You realize of course that was just sex. Didn't mean a thing," Face pointed out with a grin.

"Oh, of course. Purely physical. Between you and me, at least." Starbuck played along, smoothing a few sweat-damp strands of blond hair from Face's forehead.

Face looked at him curiously.

"Come on, isn't it obvious?" Starbuck said, pulling Face into his arms.

With his head resting against Starbuck's shoulder, Face asked, "Do you really think he feels that way about me?"

"You need to open those lovely eyes of yours once in a while." He kissed the frown off Face's forehead. "And stop frowning or you'll start looking old."

"Be careful, I can take you on any day." Face smiled. But quite sincerely, he said, "I love him, you know."

"I'm not the one to tell that to."

Face sighed. "I'm scared."

"Of Murdock?" Starbuck was surprised.

"No, silly. I'm scared of myself. What if I disappoint him? What if I hurt him in some way and he really goes crazy? What if..."

"What if you shut up and stopped being so insecure? The man is insanely in love with you. The only way you could possibly hurt and disappoint him is by letting him go on and on worshipping you without ever knowing you've got it just as bad. As for the rest, there are some things you can't ever be sure of. You'll just have to try as hard as you can." Starbuck lifted Face's chin with one finger. "Because if you hurt him, I'll be right back in a centon."

Face grinned. "In a what? Oh never mind. But it's not much of a threat, you know."

"Glad to hear it. Let's get showered and dressed and back to our unruffled, glamorous selves."

Face smiled, pulling up his zipper. "Starbuck?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

Starbuck stopped in his tracks. "You should be thankful I'm such an idiot. If I had any sense, I'd kidnap H.M. and take him with me."

Murdock found to his great relief that Face and Starbuck had worked out their problems during his absence. In fact, they were acting like the best of friends, and he wondered if Starbuck's plan had maybe worked out. It brought a smile to his face.

"I'm so happy you two are gettin' along now!" He quickly hugged Face while they were preparing dinner.

Starbuck had discreetly stayed in the lounge, both to give them privacy and to play around with that amazing remote-controlled screen device.

Face smiled, a little disappointed when Murdock let go of him again. "I was being real silly, Murdock. I never meant to upset you. Starbuck is a great guy." In more ways than one, he thought gratefully.

"He is, ain't he?" Murdock enthused. "He's a lot like you! And not just the way he looks."

So much sincere admiration made Face feel all warm inside. And he didn't mind anymore that Starbuck was included in the compliment.

"Thanks, Murdock." Then he did something he didn't usually do, not like Murdock did all the time just casually and naturally. He hugged his friend close, not letting go immediately the way Murdock had done before.

Aware of the little gasp from H.M. when he began to stroke his hands over his shoulder blades, he smiled to himself. It was about time he gave back some of the affection his friend was never afraid of showing him.

"Face?" Murdock muttered. It sounded like a question, but he was simply unsure how to react. When he held Face, he always tried hard to make it as brief as possible so he wouldn't make his friend uncomfortable. He had never expected Face to make this kind of move. Was it a move at all?

Face stood back a step, but his hands remained firmly on Murdock's shoulders. "Yes, H.M.?"

Murdock didn't know what to say. He couldn't very well ask Face whether he knew he'd just hugged him. That much was obvious. But why?

"I just felt like holding you." Face answered the unasked question.

Murdock's eyes nearly popped out. "You did?"

Smiling, Face decided it was now or never. "I do quite often. Do you mind?"

"No! Not at all, Face." Murdock's heart was pounding so hard it reverberated in his ears. He didn't know what to do with his hands, either, so he used them for support on the table top behind himself. He had a feeling he might need it. Hesitantly, he said, "I do too, you know."

Face surprised him again. "Maybe we should just do it, then." Warming up all over when he saw the hopeful glint in Murdock's warm, brown eyes, Face smiled. "I think I'd like to hold you again right now."

"Oh Face!" Murdock finally clicked. His backside hit the wooden table behind him because he decided to use his hands more wisely. He threw them around Face's waist and pulled him close.

"There's something else I feel like doing a lot." Face grinned against Murdock's shoulder. It felt so incredibly good to be held like this. And with his last words, he could actually feel his friend's heart hammering a little harder.

"So do I, Face." And without waiting to make sure they were talking about the same thing, Murdock turned his head sideways until his lips found his friend's.

Murdock's kiss was like a warm blanket, a piece of apple pie and a roasting fire all at once. Feeling his knees weaken, Face opened his lips to him, allowing a probing tongue to singe him completely.

"God, Face!" Murdock finally gasped, not letting go off him, just taking a breath. "You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that for."

Face smiled, trying to contain the insane impulse to let out a relieved and triumphant, 'Yippee!' Instead, he said softly, "I'm sorry I was never brave enough to try."

Murdock stroked over his hair, his other hand continuing to hold Face close. "It's not like I was. Oh, Face. I'm so madly in love with you."

"Maybe I should check into the V.A. with you. I'm certifiably crazy about you." Growing serious for a moment, Face asked, "Would you have me? I mean, would you want me to be around you... all the time?"

"You need to ask?" Murdock replied with another kiss to sweep Face off his feet and right into heaven. When he was satisfied that he'd convinced his friend, he released his lips and smiled warmly. "If you'll have me, Face, there's no one I'd rather drive crazy."

"Consider yourself hired for the job." Face kissed the tip of Murdock's nose. "We should go and feed our guest. But I'm going to insist on you starting with the craziness later on tonight." He winked at him suggestively, hoping that the invitation sent the same kind of tingle through Murdock's body that it sent through his own.

Murdock leant forward and whispered into his friend's ear, "Tonight, I'm gonna take you to paradise and back, Face. And you'll be begging me to do it all over again."

Face staggered against him. If Murdock's kisses were anything to go by, he'd be a puddle of mush on the floor by the time the night was over.

Dinner was very relaxed. At least for Starbuck, who was in a sybarite's heaven. And heaven consisted of barbecued chicken drumsticks, Caesar Salad and mashed potatoes. If he stayed here long enough, he'd never be able to face Galactica food again.

"This is unbelievable. You two are Masterchefs!" he managed between forks loaded with food.

Murdock smiled happily before looking sideways at Face, who sported a funny little grin of his own.

When their eyes met, their smiles faded instantly, only to be replaced by simmering gazes and a silently mouthed, 'Later,' from Murdock.

Face gulped. Of all the wonderful things he always knew Murdock had to offer, this sultry, teasing quality was something he had never dared to contemplate. Why not? He didn't know. Murdock was so easy in his shows of affection that it made perfect sense he would be equally open about his desires. Face felt warm all over. He smiled at his friend, giving him his best flirty look.

Murdock's eyes lingered on him for a little longer while he quickly stuffed some more potato into his mouth. He had to try hard not to forget about eating and drag Face away from the dinner table with him.

Starbuck was entirely aware of what was going on. He realized that if he'd excuse himself to go to bed right after dinner, he probably wouldn't be missed. 'I would be lucky if they heard me at all,' he mused. It didn't worry him, in fact he was rather happy for them. Who'd have thought? Starbuck, forever on the receiving end of Cupid's arrows... And here he was, doing some target practice of his own. He smiled, deciding to let his hosts roast a little longer.

"Anything good on TV later on?" he asked, amused when two sets of wide eyes looked at him as if he was insane. "Just kidding," he murmured, continuing to eat with gusto.

Face cleared his throat. "You know, if you'd like to use the Jacuzzi again, just go ahead. Anytime."

Jokingly, Starbuck asked both of them, "Wanna join me?"

Murdock jumped in, "Maybe tomorrow. Face and I have a little talking to do later on, but you go right ahead, Starbuck." He smiled warmly.

'Just for that smile alone I should take him with me,' Starbuck mused, just a little melancholic about having to leave again soon. He'd miss Face and Murdock so much. In a way, they were almost like himself split in two. Deciding that there was no way a Colonial warrior would let himself get depressed, he said with a big grin, "Sure, Murdock. You go ahead." To Face he said, "Mind if I borrow your swimming trunks again?"

"No, of course not." Face smiled. "But you don't need to worry, it'll just be you after all."

"Thanks." Starbuck winked at him, turning him a shade of crimson in the process.

Murdock was quick to offer doing the dishes, and both Face and Starbuck offered to help. All in all, everyone was in a bit of a hurry, to say the least.

Finally, when everything was cleared away, Starbuck threw the teatowel over the back of a kitchen chair and said, "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'll be soaking upstairs."

"Sure, Starbuck. Night." Murdock kissed him on the cheek quickly.

"Night." Starbuck pretended to kiss Face as well, but in fact he whispered in his ear, "Good luck!"

Face smiled gratefully and watched as his alter ego left to go upstairs. He was still watching Starbuck when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he found Murdock giving him a longing gaze which made him shiver with delight.

"C'mon with me, Baby."

Face followed Murdock to his room, being pulled along by a firm hand. In a way, he was glad his friend was taking the initiative. He was as nervous as a virgin on her wedding night. Amazing, considering the day he'd had.

When Murdock had closed the door behind them, he turned to look at Face, giving him that gaze which always made his skin crawl. He had looked at him like that in the past, but Face had never been quite sure it meant anything. Now he knew. It meant the world.

Approaching him slowly, Murdock smiled, stretching out one hand towards him.

Face took it and allowed Murdock to pull him close. His head sank on his shoulder and he held him, letting the reality of actually being close to him sink in, feeling his slim yet strong frame support him. "Murdock," he began.

"Shh." Leaning his head sideways, Murdock kissed him, wrapping his arms around his waist and holding him tight. They kissed softly for a moment before his lips opened Face's and their tongues playfully began moving against each other.

When Murdock finally cupped the back of Face's head and looked at him, he found those familiar blue eyes wide and amazed. "You know your whole soul is in your eyes, Face, don't you?"

Face smiled. "That's very poetic."

"And very true." Murdock brushed Face's cheek with the knuckle of his index finger.

The gesture was so tender, it almost brought tears to his friend's eyes. "What have we been waiting for all this time?" he whispered.

Murdock kissed him softly. "I've just been waiting for you, Face. Always."

Face threw his arms around Murdock's neck and kissed him wildly. Somehow, it had slipped his mind what his earlier concern had been. Now there was only Murdock and his tenderness and his infinite devotion. "I don't deserve you," he finally said.

Murdock closed his eyes and shook his head slowly, negating Face's statement. His fingers brushed down the sides of his friend's neck and wandered slowly to his shoulders. He watched him closely, taking in every reaction to his touch - the slight shiver, the widening of his eyes, the trembling in his voice when he finally spoke again.

"Make love to me, H.M. Please." Face took Murdock's hands in his and led him to the bed. Murdock's bed. He climbed on and stretched his arms out to receive his friend.

"There's nothing I'd rather do, Baby." Murdock moved into his embrace and rolled on top of him, trapping him effectively. He rubbed himself against him, kissing his lips, his cheeks, his neck, and finally moved down over his T-shirt without bothering to remove it.

Face lay with his eyes closed. Every touch of Murdock's gentle hands felt like fire through the thin cotton top. And with every breath, he inhaled his minty bubblegum scent mixed with male pheromones.

Murdock had worked his way down Face's body, moving clothing out of the way wherever he wanted to kiss his smooth, tanned skin. When he gently took him from his restraining briefs and kissed that particularly sensitive part of him too, Face sighed deeply.

Lapping at him lasciviously, sliding his fingers gently up and down the steadily moistening shaft, Murdock didn't miss a single reaction from Face. The soft gasps when the tip of his tongue touched his heated skin, the moan when he took him all the way into his mouth, the intake of breath when his fingers closed tighter around him.

Face tried to fight it, wanted to make it last, but Murdock's tenderness coupled with his technique unraveled him soon enough. "I can't last much longer," he warned breathlessly.

Murdock looked up at him. "Let go, Baby. I'm here to catch you."

The softly spoken encouragement wrung the carefully held back orgasm from Face with more force than he had expected. He clung onto Murdock's shoulders, pulling him up as soon as he calmed down. "Murdock..." He was at a loss for words, which was in itself unusual enough. But he couldn't even look at his friend without his eyes watering up.

"S'okay, Facey. I understand." Murdock kissed him.

Face reached down between them, gently stroking over Murdock's arousal which was insistently poking against his thigh. He waited for his friend to look into his eyes before reaching inside his pants and cupping him firmly.

When Murdock's entire body stiffened, he began stroking him, gently to begin with, until he was certain that Murdock needed and wanted more. He found his own arousal returning slowly with every counter movement from Murdock and when he stroked him harder and faster, he rubbed against his thigh at the same time, desperate to try and come again. With him.

Murdock's mouth closed over his, only barely leaving Face able to move his hand at all, let alone breathe or think.

Needing to taste his lover, Face suddenly tore the clothing down over Murdock's hips and moved down his body, ignoring his own persistent need. His lips closed around Murdock and he sucked him hard and fast until he felt the first spasms. Then he worked even harder, swallowing every drop and trying to get even more. He was truly insatiable, his eagerness overwhelming Murdock more than his method.

"God, I love you, Face!" Murdock called out, twitching underneath him, his fingers entwined with his lover's soft hair.

"I love you too." Face moved back up into Murdock's welcoming arms, kissed his cheek, and fell into a blissful sleep almost immediately.

Murdock kissed the top of his head and allowed sleep to claim him slowly as well.

When Hannibal and B.A. returned the following day with what they presumed to be suitable replacement parts for Starbuck's plane, they found Murdock, Face and Starbuck sitting on the verandah of Face's beach house in a little circle, laughing and joking like the best of friends. They didn't miss that there was a lot of touching going on between all three of them.

B.A. barely suppressed a rare grin, and Hannibal considered it occasion enough to light a cigar. "That Starbuck is some magician." He flicked away the match. "I love it when a plan comes together."

"Look at 'em crazy foo's." B.A. said, shaking his head.

They went to join them, informing them of the spare part situation. Starbuck looked rather sad on realizing that his time was up. For that matter, so did both Face and Murdock.

"We were kinda hoping it would take you a little longer, Colonel." Murdock pouted.

"Sorry, H.M." Hannibal had an idea. "We really just got the basics together, you know. Might be a good idea if we checked a few more sources. See if we can't find something closer to what Starbuck's ship is made of."

Everyone's face lit up instantly and before Starbuck could intercept, Face said, "Well, we shouldn't let him leave in a ship that's not 100%."

"No, that would be irresponsible." Murdock smiled like a Cheshire Cat.

Starbuck merely smiled and said, "Got another one of those cigars to spare?"

Hannibal reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled one out. "Welcome to the Team, Starbuck."