TITLE: Too Late
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: None
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Andromeda, I wrote this for entertainment. No money exchanged hands.
A/N:I'm not sure if this story sticks together completely as I had to leave the computer several time and I think I could have switched tenses somewher. If you notice anything please tell me, or just leave feedback anyway .

They are behind us but I can't tell know how far, it is impossible to guess in these caverns all I can hear is heavy footsteps and rasping breath echoing from all around. I can see Rommie and Trance just ahead and I know Harper is right beside me making sure that I'm Ok just as I'm looking out for him. I wonder where Tyr and Dylan are I hope they got our message, that they bring reinforcements from the town in time because we are hopelessly lost in this labyrinth of caves and I don't know about the other two but me and Harper cant keep running forever. Our pursuers know these cave better than us, they're fitter and far more ruthless.

The pounding of their feet is getting near and my breath is coming in short gasps how far have we run now? Impossible to tell, I could ask Rommie but I don't have enough breath. Where are Tyr and Dylan, they have to come soon.

Suddenly the world explodes around me, a single shot rings out and the ever present form of Harper isn't beside me anymore. I turn around and see him face down on the ground but all my brain can take in is the blood. I sink to my knees wordlessly and don't seem to register the huge mercenaries coming towards me or a second later when the wall implodes and reinforcements finally arrive. All I can think is why aren't I crying? I feel as though no tears or screaming could ever express what I felt. Have I really grown so cold and built up so many walls that I can't cry now? Now Harper has gone.

Vaguely I saw Rommie and Trance trying to push their way closer to his inert form but I knew they were too late. Just like Tyr and Dylan were too late. Tyr was trying to drag me away saying we had to get back to the Maru. Didn't he understand it was too late for anything? Harper had gone.

Finally the tears came as I tried to fight Tyr off tried to fight my way back to where Harper was but he was relentlessly dragging me, he wouldn't let go. Slowly his voice penetrated my conscience

"Shhh it's Ok shhh."

As my eyes blinked open I realised I was on my bed on the andromeda shaking and covered in sweat with Tyr sitting their slowly stroking my hair. How did I get here, what is Ty doing here?

"I heard you shouting from out in the corridor" he said "I thought I should check on you."

Then it all came back to me and I felt myself begin to shake again

"Harpers gone"

I repeated over and over. Then I got angry. "

You were too late" I screamed "you should have got there earlier." By now I was beating my fists against his chest ineffectually.

"It's not too late; you had to be sedated so we couldn't tell you. He was almost dead when we got him back here but not quite. He's still critical but trance thinks he will make it."

"He's not gone?"

"No"

And then I felt my self relax. Harper was still here Tyr pulled me into a soft comforting hug and no more tears come but I know Harper will understand.