"You knew, didn't you?" Sammie asked as she and Isa walked slowly down the hall.

"Knew what?" Isa asked, having no idea what Sam was talking about.

"What happened to Lauren." She replied simply.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Isa said stopping in her tracks.

"Kay?"

"I didn't see it."

"Well, that's probably understandable. I mean it didn't happen to you."

"But that's the thing. When my ship got attacked......"

"You were attacked?"

"Yeah, but anyway, when I was attacked, I dint' see it either. I think I've lost my touch."

"Oh, well. Better off without it, I say." Sammiejo said as they began walking again.

"Do you think Lauren will be okay?" Isa asked concerned.

"I don't know." Sam responded, unfeelingly.

"I hope so." Isa said.

"You want her to live?" Sam asked, unbelievingly.

"I wouldn't with death on even my worst enemy. Okay, maybe my worst enemy, but Kristen really does deserve it." Isa explained.

On Med-Deck:

Trance had called for Chelsey's aid in medical when she heard of the situation. They were not completely prepared for the circumstances, well, not completely prepared. Trance's eyes widened and Chelsey gasped when they caught sight of the condition Lauren was actually in. The medics placed Lauren on the medical bed that had been prepared for her.

"We'll handle it from here. You can go." Trance commanded. The medics left and immediately Trance and Chelsey got to work Trying to save Lauren's life.

Back in Lauren's Quarters:

"Harper?" Melissa said walking into the room.

"Yeah?" He asked from where he sat on Lauren's bed.

"What are you doing?"

"Thinking."

"About what?" She asked sitting next to him.

"How my life has gone to hell in a hand basket in just a few minutes."

"Is this about Lauren?"

"Yeah. I've lost so many people that I care about and......I can't loose her to."

"You won't loose her."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've know Lauren almost all her life and believe me, she won't die. She loves us all too much to leave us. Besides, I think Chelsey would physically beat life back into her if she died." Melissa explained with a small laugh.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Harper replied with a smile. "Melly, did you need something?"

"Oh yeah, I'm supposed to get some cloths for you that might fit Cade, cause, uh, yeah, icky!" Melissa explained.

"Yeah they're in my quarters on my bed. You want me to get them for you?"

"If you would be so kind."

"Yeah, come on." He said, pulling her up with him.

The Next Day:

"So, how are you feeling?" Chelsey asked Lauren when she finally woke up the next day.

"Like a train wreck." Lauren snorted, sitting up with a wince and looking around medical.

"Oh, right. Harper told me to get him when you woke up. Do you want me to?" Chelsey walked over to the COM, expecting a yes.

"No." Lauren said flatly, lying back down in distress.

"Why not? He was really worried about you, and......"

"Like hell he was! If it was Isa in here, instead of me, he'd have been waiting by her bedside, holding her fuckin' hand! No, this time it's just me! In fact, he's probably off with her right now!" Lauren screamed, throwing her pillow as hard as she could across the room.

"Actually, after he, Sammie, Isa, and Tyr made sure you got out from under that pile of rubble that used to be your ceiling, he went off alone. According to Rommie, he's currently yelling hysterically in his quarters, not letting anyone in. Isa tried to take his hand and comfort him, but he pushed her away saying she'd done enough. So, now she's as pissed off as you are." Chelsey said hotly, picking up the pillow and putting it back on the bed.

"Really?" Lauren said quietly, fingering the corner of her sheet.

"Yes, and the only reason he's not down here right now is because he needed just a little time to sort things out, and I still don't think he's done that. He loves you, but he loves Isa, too. It's probably the hardest decision the man's ever made in his life." Chelsey sighed, sitting on the end of the bed.

"It shouldn't be a hard decision for him though!" He should choose me! I'm the one for him!" Lauren yelled, hurt and angry

"Maybe not in Harper's eyes." Chelsey whispered, staring at the floor.

"You're siding with that bitch, aren't you? You think she's better than me?" Lauren snapped, kicking upwards so Chelsey went crashing to the floor.

"I never said......" Chelsey stammered, trying to stand.

"Get out!" Lauren cried, tears in her eyes.

"Lauren, I......" Chelsey tried desperately.

"Get OUT!!" Lauren threw the pillow at her, causing her to hastily exit.

"Are you alright?" Isa asked, stopping Chelsey just down the hall from Medical.

"Me? Yeah, I think so. If you're thinking about talking to Lauren, thought, this might not be a great time."

"Yeah, well, I don't think this can wait." Isa said, though she looked a little worried.

"I wish you better luck than I had." Chelsey said blandly, continuing down the hall.

"I don't' think I'll need it." Isa said, maybe trying to reassure herself, as she entered medical. "Hi." She said looking at the rooms only occupant, who was laying on her back with her hands over her eyes.

"Hi." Lauren answered without looking up to see whom it was, even though she didn't recognize the voice.

"How are you feeling?" Isa asked walking closer to the bed.

"Like someone let Tyr have ten minutes alone with me." She said uncovering her eyes and looking coldly at Isa.

"We need to talk." Isa stated plainly.

"I figured. Why else would you be in here?" Lauren said sitting up and putting her legs over the edge of the bed, so that she was facing Isa.

"Even if we didn't need to talk, I probably would have been in here to see you anyway." Isa said with a small smile.

"Uh huh, sure, whatever." Lauren said with a mock smile, patting the spot next to her. When Isa hesitated, she said, "Don't worry I don't bite, and I promise not slug yah."

"Alright." Isa said hopping up next to her.

"Lemme guess. We have to talk about Harper." Lauren said looking up at the ceiling.

"Yeah." Isa said looking at the floor.

"Well?" Lauren said, urging Isa to begin.

"Why do I have to start?"

"Because you're the one that decided that we need to talk about him." Lauren explained making it seem as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.

"Alright. Um, well, first of all, why do you hate me so much?" Isa asked looking over at Lauren.

"Because Harper loves you more than he loves me, that's why." Lauren said shifting her gaze to the sheet on her bed.

"He does not love me more than you."

"Oh, yes he does."

"No he doesn't."

"Yes he does."

"No I don't." Harper said from where he was leaning against the doorframe.

"How long yah been standing there?" Lauren asked raising an eyebrow at him.

"Long enough." He said walking into the room. "Scoot." He said standing by the bed. The girls did as they were told and he sat between them, hands in his lap.

"How long is long enough?" Isa asked.

"Long enough to hear Lauren say that she thinks that I love you more than her."

"So, have you come to a decision yet?" Lauren asked.

"As a matter-of-fact, yes I have. But I want you both to know that no matter what I've decided, that I love you both and that this is the hardest decision that I have ever had to make in my life. I mean, this tops having to choose whether or not to shoot my cousins while they were infested with magog larvae."

"Seamus, we know that." Isa said taking his hand in hers.

"And we love you too." Lauren said hooking her arm in his and resting her throbbing head on his shoulder. "Where is Chelsey when I need her." She said putting her free hand on her forehead.

"Are you okay?" Harper asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Just a headache, I'm fine. You were saying." Lauren responded, holding his arm tighter in anticipation that he would choose Isa.

"Isa." Harper said solemnly. Lauren's eyes welled up with tears and she let go of Harper's arm. "I'm sorry." He finished. Isa smile for a few moments while Lauren stared in shock.

"It's okay." Isa said calmly. "You two are gonna be really happy together, I know it." She said giving him a heartfelt hug.

"I'm so sorry." He said.

"It's okay. Really." Isa said. She got off the bed and stood in front of Lauren. "You better take care of him or I'm gonna come after yah."

"I'll take care of him." Lauren said quietly, her eyes shut.

"Lauren, are you sure you're okay?" Harper asked extremely worried.

"No, actually, I'm not and I know what you're thinking. No, I don't think you made a mistake in your decision. It's just, my head is pounding, I can't open my eyes because the light would be like taking a hammer to my brain, and I know you're not, but your voices really sound like you're yelling at me." Lauren explained quietly as Harper took her in his arms and kissed her head.

"Do you want me to find Trance?" Isa asked in a whisper.

"Yes please." Lauren whispered back. Isa left and Harper began to gently play with Lauren's hair. "Harper?"

"Call me Seamus, sweetheart." He whispered.

"Seamus, could you turn the lights down so I can look at you?"

"Sure. Rommie, lights at 25% please." The lights were immediately dimmed. "There, you can open your eyes now." Lauren slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him before placing a soft kiss on his lips. "I forgot to ask you how you were feeling."

"At the moment? Like I really, really, really pissed off a warship." He smiled and kissed her again, rougher this time. She pulled away almost immediately.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked concerned.

"No, but I think I should lay back down. I am in a lot of pain." She said looking up at him with pain filled eyes.

"Oh God, here." He said getting off the bed and gently helping her lay back down.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." He softly kissed her while lovingly holding her hand.

"Ow! Too tight!" She said jerking away from him. He was confused for a moment before he realized that he had held her hand a little to tightly.

"Sorry." He said with a smile.