Title: Left Turn at Albuquerque
Author: Harper's aka Weird_Peace
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Sequel to And You Thought Larvae Were Bad and Effervescent Essence. I highly suggest you read the previous fictions.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, but I love 'em anyways.
Spoilers: All around.

----------------

"Dammit!" Harper growled and hurled the tool across the room. The corner of the pad actually gained a brand new dent as it hit the opposite wall with a satisfying bang. Harper glared down at the consul. Nothing, nothing, and more nothing.

"I'm not going to lose him!" he screamed for nothing but for the sake of screaming. Harper took a few deep breaths to try and calm himself and then started again.

If a nova bomb were to go off on the Andromeda, Harper would bet every throne he had that Dylan, Tyr, and Trance would survive it. Dylan because the captain had enough luck to create five stars and a chocolate milk shake. Tyr out of sheer freakin' will. And Trance, as long as she was in her quarters, simply because of the fortifications. Oh sure, it looked like your normal quarters, but Harper found out soon enough that the room was like Trance herself. Appearances hardly meant anything.

Harper didn't know where to start looking for Owen. The only thing he knew about Trance's family was that she had a brother Harper would like to see skewered over a pit of Magog. So his best try for the moment was trying to hack into Trance's files and past her security so he could pay a visit to her quarters later on when he was sure she wasn't there. Unfortunately breaking in was going to take awhile, and time was not something Harper had much of.

Yes, yes, yes! he thought as the virtual wall crumbled under his fingertips. Harper hit a few buttons; in his mind's eye Owen was already safely snuggled in his arms. Then the baby vanished as Vedran lettering flashing 'Intruder' knocked the engineer back five steps and threw up a few more traps to spite him.

Harper stared at the screen for what seemed like hours. The chime sounded, but he ignored it the first three times.

"Harper?"

"Go away," he mumbled softly, but loud enough so that Beka could understand him.

"Don't make me hotwire this door," she threatened. Harper glared at Beka through the solid metal. "And don't give me that look either," she said knowingly.

"You can't break Andromeda's locks," he said.

"You're the one that taught me." Harper may not be a cunning linguist, but he knew all the "good" Vedran words. Beka would probably yell at him later, but right now Harper was beyond caring. He allowed a soft growl to escape before pounding the key to open the door.

Beka raised an eyebrow as Harper continued to look busy by shuffling some things around and searching a few files. He knew she knew, he knew she knew he knew, and he knew she knew he knew she knew. Why didn't she take the hints that he didn't want to talk?

"I know you don't want to talk about it," Beka said, making Harper wonder if she had picked up something from Trance.

"So leave," he told her, even angrier she had made him think about Trance.

"I will," she said softly. "I just wanted you to know that we're all here for you if you need us."

Beka didn't need to tell him that, but Harper had to admit it felt better hearing it said out loud. He sighed and stopped his work because Beka didn't deserve to be treated like crap when it was Trance's doing all along. He actually took the time to look up at Beka. Sorta. Harper's eyes kept darting back and forth between Beka's face and other objects scattered around him. He knew that if their eyes met, she would be able to see everything, and Harper wouldn't be able to hold any of it from her.

"I know. Thank you, I appreciate it very much," he said sincerely. Beka stayed around, hoping for more. Harper wanted her to leave, so he forced his tone to become harsher. "But I have a lot of work to do, and I want to do it alone."

"Seamus..." Beka grabbed Harper's chin, forcing his head up. His eyes danced across her face and into the area around her. "Seamus look at me."

Harper had known that voice for five years, and the will to obey it was too strong to fight. Blue gazed into blue, and Harper could only wish Trance's defenses would crumble as easy as his were at that moment. Beka's eyes were warm, full of concern and sorrow. They invited her friend to place his burden on her.

"She didn't even bother to ask me," he whispered. "She just gave him away. I gave her everything...and she always turned me away..."

"I'm sure there were reasons..." Beka began.

"To hell with the reasons!" Harper pulled out of her grasp. "I want my son back!"

"I didn't say I agreed with what Trance said or did," Beka stated firmly. "Right now I have some many regrets I can hardly think straight. I regret ever yelling at you about Coco. For not seeing this coming. Not being able to comfort you like you need to be right now." She leaned back against Harper's mattress, smoothing the sheets with her fingertips. "Sometimes I wish I had never accepted Dylan's offer. Things might've been easier."

"Don't go sayin' that, Beka," Harper said with a half sigh. "You and I both know Rommie and Dylan are the best thing that ever happened to us..."

"Besides Owen," she finished for him. Harper looked up at the ceiling, and as he studied the panels Beka studied him. When he had first come onboard the Maru, Seamus Zelazny Harper could've easily been mistaken for a young teenage punk who would knock you out from behind with something large and metal simply for your shoes. He was a mangy mutt; a wilted rose whose thorns where still as sharp as a new razor.

Over the course of six years, Beka had watched as he grew up. No, that was wrong. Harper had grown up long before they had ever met. She had just helped him chip away parts of the protective emotional shell he hid behind, bringing out some of the more lovable (along with a few more annoying) characteristics of her engineer. His real smile, some modesty, a touch of courage even. One wouldn't think it, but besides engineering and girls, Harper had a rather low self-esteem problem. Beka had made sure he felt accepted among her crewmates.

Harper was more like Trance that he knew. Overall, he was near impossible to peg down. Just when you thought all Harper did was quip and leer, he surprised you with a loyal action, an intellectual comment, or even a friendly gesture. His likes and dislikes changed as easily as the color of her hair. Harper could easily turn a killing choke into a lovable hug. He was an old man hidden behind the facade of a child in the body of a young adult.

"I'm getting him back," Harper said at last, the normally mirth-filled gaze one of absolute seriousness. Beka took this all in and nodded.

"What do you need me to do?"