Friends old and new, part 2: Deal with it
Harper sat dazed in medical as Trance ran the tests Dylan had ordered. Mary sat down next to him, "Sorry to drop the bombshell on you like this Seamus, but you're a hard man to track down." Harper nodded, "We've been around a lot the past year, it got kind of hectic for a time." His voice sounded distant.
Trance finished the last scan, "It's confirmed: he's Harper's son." Mary smiled, "I could have told you that. In fact, I think I did." Dylan smiled sheepishly, "Well, we've had a few people try to con us in the past, and we're a bit weary." Mary laughed, "Relax, I know we're your coming from: you want to protect Seamus. I can understand that. I didn't come looking for anything from him: we had some cargo to deliver here, and when you popped out of slipstream, I decided it was as good a time as any to tell Seamus he was a dad."
Harper was still shocked: he looked up, his eyes vacant, "This is like, huge. I mean, me, a father!" Tyr shook his head from the doorway, "Your not the only one who has trouble excepting the concept that your DNA has been able to reproduce." Mary shoot him a glance, "Any time you want a re-match pal, just say the word: I'd be more than happy to give you another lesson in politeness."
Orion stepped between the two of them, "Knock it off the pair of you: we may be in medical, but that's no excuse to knock each other senseless." Rommie nodded, "I agree. Tyr, why don't you go back to command and relieve Beka? Trance; help Harper back to his quarters. I've arranged some guest quarters for Mary and Orion, if that's ok by you Dylan?" Dylan nodded, "Good idea: I think Harper needs some time to think about this."
Rommie walked with Orion while Mary carried Travis, "So, this must have come as a shock to you." Orion shrugged, "I've seen a lot over the last five hundred-odd years. I think Mary was more surprised then anyone: she'd always planed to have kids, but not until she was older." Mary was taken aback, "Do you to mind not talking about me like I wasn't here!" Orion put an arm around the young woman's shoulder, "I'm sorry Mary, it's just the way us AI's talk. Live as long as we do, and you'll end up the same."
Harper sat on his bunk, thinking. Mary was back, and not only that: she had had his baby! He had never been so shocked or confused in his entire life. He loved Mary; he had since they first met, and had hoped that they would get back together and get married or something. But for her to suddenly turn up with his kid? That was beyond his wildest dreams!
He got up and walked along to the room Andromeda had assigned Mary and Travis. He knocked, and Mary opened, "Oh, Seamus, I wasn't expecting you so soon. Come in." Harper sat down on a chair and looked at Travis's sleeping form, "We have a lot we need to talk about."
TBC