Ahh yes snippets are my life.sorry

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Beka finally got Harper settled in one of the bunks. "What I remember the most about that time was what a crazy woman you were." laughed Harper.

"I was crazy! Man you should of heard your self!"

Harper closed his eyes against the swirling room. "I remember the beginning but not the rest.why don't you tell me?

"I'm not surprised .you were really sick. it didn't start off like much at all. You need to stay awake though. Tell me what you remember."

Harper groaned forcing his eyes open. "Okay."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Trance really you can't keep me in here for the rest of my life!"

"Four days is not the rest of your life."

"It will be if I die from boredom."

"Harper you're sick and the engine room is to close to the plants. Beka said you were restricted to your quarters."

Harper threw his arms in disgust. "I'm fine!"

"I just took your temperature it's a hundred and two! You are not alright."

Harper sat on a near by bunk in disgust.

"Quit it." Ordered Trance.

"WHAT!?"

"Quit glaring at me."

He threw a pillow at her head.

She squealed and ran from the crew quarters but not before locking him in.

He ran over to the door and started to shake it. "Hey! No fair you brat!! BEKAAAAA!" He really wasn't feeling so hot. But, he wasn't about to let them know. Besides, if they let him work it would be better. Sitting around thinking about being sick didn't help. On earth it was a really bad thing to show that you were sick. It meant you were weak and then you were dead. He just found a new home he didn't want to be sick.

He swore loudly and started banging on the door.

Suddenly the door flew open. He let out a squawk as he scrambled to get out of the way. The door hit the wall with a loud thud that echoed through the ship.

Beka's eyes were blazing he had never seen her that mad before. "What seems to be you're problem!"

He scrambled backwards. What was she going to do? His throat went dry and he couldn't answer. He stood staring. His heart beat a mile a minute. "I'm trying to save your life!! Every minute counts and you ." her fury was stopping her momentum. "You. act like a child! Taking me away from getting the Maru through the nearest slip point. Minutes that could cost you your life!"

He stood shaking his back against the wall. It was then for the first time he noticed the bangs under her eyes. She looked as exhausted as he felt. "Why?" He finally managed.

Beka who had been just turning to leave stopped. "What do you mean why?"

"If I'm so sick why don't you just dump me? You could get some money for my tools and stuff. You bought me new shoes you could get a bit for those."

A weird look flitted over her face. "Harper." she wiped her hand across her face and sighed loudly. She didn't look angry anymore. " Please just rest okay. Listen to what Trance says. It's an order. I expect you to follow it."

The look on her face was not one he recognized. Compassion.

"I'll have Trance bring you some soup okay." He gave a small nod and she left the room.

He crawled up to his bunk. Why would she do that? Lose sleep over him? Feed him when he was sick? He just didn't understand these people at all. His mind tried to puzzle it out but it was too much and he was soon fast asleep.

After that the days became like dreams. He remembered only bits and pieces. Voices floated around his head like bees after pollen. He wasn't sure if they if they were real or not.

"Shay. honey? It's snowing look. Wake up and come see." His mother's voice called but he couldn't quite focus.

"Shay Shay!! I found a stick come play ball!"

"Declan?" He groaned

He felt a cold cloth on his head and another voice. "Shhh. Harper, don't listen to them. Stay with me. It's nice here." It was the purple girl.... He couldn't remember her name. He tried to move away from her touch but he was much too tired.

"I know them."

"I realize that but if you stay.good things will happen. They will wait. You can see them later. Stay with me."

Time was like the voices elusive and unsubstantial and the purple left his mind for a while.

He woke with a start. There were loud voices. Very very loud voices and banging. He shivered. Or was the whole bed moving.

"Beka your exhausted you need to rest."

"I can't and you know it. He's getting worse. The strut's come loose I need to fix it. You can here it banging we can't slipstream like that. We're running out of time."

"Then we won't slipstream. He's not going to get better if you kill yourself.then we are all dead."

"Don't worry I fixed the suit after Vex died it should be fine.the strut can't wait till we get to Sinti." "We need you Beka."

"Don't worry."

Through the fog he could finally make out two figures. They were silhouetted from the light in the hallway. He tried to shout but it barley came out a whisper. "Wait"

Both heads turned suddenly. In an instant they were at his side.

He tried again but nothing came out.

Beka brushed his hair off his forehead. "Hey kiddo. You awake? Don't try to talk your very sick."

"B-b-oss?"

"Shh, I'm here."

"Please, don't go."

"I have to. But I'll be right back then we'll take you to Sinti.they have great doctors there.you'll be fine."

"No.please.. last time on the planet .you didn't come back." He coughed lightly. "Everyone leaves.no one comes back. Not my folks, not my cousins." he coughed heavily then.

"Harper. Be calm." Trance ordered. "You're weak you haven't eaten in nearly three days."

"I came back from the planet. See? Here I am. I'm okay. Here's the deal. You stay awake.you do what Trances says and eat something. You stay awake and I'll come back."

Harper looked up towards her as he thought it over. "Promise?"

"Promise."

He truly wanted to believe that.

TBC