A/n- sorry this is so short I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday (along w/ a mysterious tooth growing in-between the roots of an adult tooth, bone graphs and many stitches, ouchie). Anyway I am switching off b/t advil and vicoden aright now. So forgive the randomness that might come out of this chapter. I just really wanted to go on from where I left off.
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If you don t mind, I'd like to do it wrong my own way.
Sound designer to director during a play
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I awoke in my bed the next morning, which is odd, because I don't remember ever going to bed. Then again my body was sore enough without spending the night in the pilots chair. I shuffled out of bed and into the refresher. It took me a little longer to get dressed but the stress of the last week was leaving me wiped. I normally crash after a haul but the personal headaches of the past week had left me drained before this haul began. Speaking of personal problems I wonder how Harper was doing. He looked like he was in some serious pain last night. Although despite that and his arm being in a cast and sling he somehow managed to read all the reports and come up with attack plans while holding on to the railing.
As I walked into the mess Rev and Trance sitting at the table greeted me. "Where's Harper?" I asked.
"Sleeping, or better be. He banged up his arm last night, no damage just more pain. And I am sure that cast hitting his already injured ribs didn't feel very good."
"So other than more pain his ok."
"For now." I mulled over the 'for now' in my brain as I went down the hallway to Harper's quarters. The door was open and the bed empty. So much for bed rest. I walked further down the hallway to engineering. There I was met by the sounds of hammering and welding. I stood watching him work, his left hand was in a cast held to his side with a makeshift sling. He was doing pretty good repair work with his right hand though. He was doing well. He flipped up his goggles with a flick of his head and turned to me. "Hey boss."
"Hey shorty, thought you were suppose to be in bed."
"Maru needed some repairs, and I needed to work on getting the new tools running. Plus getting the ship ready if we are attacked again."
"Harper that isn't your problem."
"Am I a member of this ship?"
"Of course."
"Then the safety of this ship is my problem."
"Alright, but take some breaks ok. I don't like seeing you in so much pain."
"I've lived through worst."
"Yeah but I still want you healthy and pain free. It's called caring for someone Harper."
He didn't respond as his face clouded over with unreadable thoughts. He shook his head down again and knocked his goggles back into place and began welding again, ending our conversation.
With a sigh I headed back to command and hopped into the chair that would take us back to the rat's safe route. I ran my hands up and down the chair debating what I would do. Harper would be ok. He was already working on repairs. Trance and Rev where ready for anything. This crew could handle this run. Was I ready to let them? With I sigh I turned on the coms. "You ready to head back out guys? Report."
"Harper here, I have most of the basic stuff looked at. It think the rest can wait till we're back in route." And give him a chance to rest before he started working again. It was hard to get Harper to stop working but a trip though slipstream worked most days.
"Rev here, I am ready."
"Trance here, ready."
With the last ready I put my hands into the controls. "All hands brace for slipstream." I waited a little longer then normal, I didn't need Harper flying into some random parts and injuring himself further. He was an impossible patient. I then open the portal and headed back to the route.
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With a sigh I pulled my hands out of the controls. We were back on the safe route that the supplier had told us to travel. I lend back in my chair, Dad always said if you are attacked once on a route it's only a matter of time before you are attacked again. Sharks go into frenzy when they smell blood. Well this girl wasn't going to have anymore of her crew blood spilled on this haul. If they wanted a fight I would give them one and win.
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My sanity went on vacation…five years ago. It never even sent me a post card. The nerve of it.
-queen of randomness
(I think this was in her author's note b4 a fic, I don't remember though were I found it and I don't have permission, but I never do for the quotes, so please don't sue)
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