Part 16
Beka was already wearing a frown as she entered med deck, having woken up roughly an hour before and now appeared trouble, as she got Trance's attention, but she waited for Trance's to finish what she was doing, before speaking.
"Trance, has Harper been given permission to start working again yet?" She asked.
Trance looked concerned. "No, and he should still be resting, he never follows my advice," Trance complain lightly, showing a slight frustration.
"No, you misunderstand," Beka spoke up quickly. "The strange thing is he hasn't even attempted to work since he left this place yesterday, so tell me, what's going on?"
Trance calmly looked back at Beka, but showed her confusion. "Maybe he has decided to take my advice finally?" she offered but could see that Beka was looking for more, and she didn't understand what. "Beka, the first shift of the day has only just started, and Harper is not on any schedules to work, so why the concern?"
Beka hesitated, but it was clear that something was troubling her, and Trance was still confused. "Harper doesn't normally stay away from his work, and I was just wondering if I should be jumping to conclusions," Beka offered now, as she glanced at Trance. "It's just that I've noticed that Dani has not been spending too much time in her quarters since yesterday," Beka offered. "And I've been trying to find her alone to have this little chat, but she seems to always be in Harper's company, and it's been hours since Harper spoke to her about this, and told us that she will speak to us," she continued.
Trance sighed and finally gave Beka her complete attention. "Harper has been spending some time with Dani," she admitted. "But I'm sure all that you have to do is ask, and Dani will speak to you, have you spoken to Harper about this?"
"No," Beka admitted. "But what happened to Harper's 'didn't want to know' stance?" Beka questioned with confusion.
"Beka, is this about Dani, or Harper?" Trance had to ask, sensing that Beka was unsure as well.
"I just want to talk to her about this mission, and Harper said that we'll be able to, but he failed to tell me that she'll only talk when he's not busy with her, and what the hell have they got to talk about that takes nearly all day?" Beka demanded, her frustration becoming clearer. "And I am trying patience, Trance, I was a lot angrier about this when I first woke up, and was told that Dani was resting due to turning in late, after spending the evening with Harper on some stupid tour of the ship," she quickly added.
"Beka, is there a reason why you are so agitated by this?" Trance asked. "I think you need to firstly calm down."
"I'm trying to be calm about this," Beka offered with a sigh. "I was even joking about this with Rhade last night, but to wake up and discover that she's now sleeping due to not returning to her quarters till late, having spent all her time with Harper yesterday," Beka seethed.
"Beka," Trance interrupted her. "Is this about Dani or Harper?"
Beka stopped and considered Trance's question after the second time of asking. "OK, it's about Harper, what the hell does he think he's doing?"
"He's helping you with your mission, Beka, that's all he's been doing all along," Trance stressed with conviction.
"Trance, I'm not stupid," Beka returned. "And I know that women and Harper do not make a good combination, and Dani is still my mission," Beka stated abruptly, and then paused for a moment, realising the severity of her voice. "Look, if I'm reading this right, and I may be wrong, it's just I've seen him get hurt so many times by women, and if he has a thing now for Dani, we can't encourage it," Beka stressed with concern.
"Beka," Trance attempted to speak but the blonde captain soon stopped her.
"No Trance, I can't think of any other reason why he's in her company this much, and he better not be using me as an excuse to talk to her," she stated strongly, then smiled briefly. "You know I've never understood Seamus's little fantasy's, and this one sure ranks up there with the oddest, usually he doesn't start off his obsessions by declaring he wants nothing to do with them," Beka tried to be amused, but she was still clearly concerned. "But I've dealt enough with the flip side of his fantasies, they all end the same," Beka recounted with a sorry frown.
"Beka I really think," Trance attempted again but to no avail, Beka was on a roll now.
"Look, just call me paranoid if you want, tell me I'm jumping to conclusions but I know Harper, one track mind a lot of the time," she explained with care. "So I don't think we should encourage this friendship that I can only imagine is developing, I just know that she's the sort of girl who is going to use him like all the others if he shows just an ounce of interest in her, and Harper is useless at hiding his feelings in these situations."
Trance decided this time not to respond immediately, and instead she simply busied herself for a moment before speaking, to make sure Beka was finished. "I don't think it's our place to tell Harper who he can be friends with," she stated calmly.
"Trance, we both know Harper, but we know next to nothing about Dani, and that's the reason why she's this mission, because we know nothing about her, so why doesn't this concern you?" Beka questioned. "You don't want to see Harper get hurt anymore than I do," she added.
"Because all they are doing is getting to know each other, becoming friends, and Harper has very few ties to his home world, he may have us around him, but who does he have if he just needs to remember home?" Trance responded with care. "And Beka, Harper did not lust after Dani, usually when he gets burned he's the one who walked willingly into the traps, blinded by the notion of love, but he's had his eyes fully open for this one since day one, Beka, so just trust him."
"Him I trust, to a point," Beka admitted. "It's her, she is not all that she appears, we've learnt that much already," Beka lightly argued.
"The two of them will be here soon, I asked them to stop by," Trance spoke up after a pause. "You'll have an opportunity to talk to Harper, whilst I see Dani."
Beka nodded her head, appreciating Trance's offer. "I wish this damn mission was over already," she admitted, and as she spoke she heard footsteps outside and turned to see Harper and Dani arrived.
Harper noticeably flinched on seeing Beka, as if sensing her mood and he guided Dani towards Trance, before acknowledging the blonde captain.
"Beka," Harper simply greeted.
"Can we talk?" Beka asked.
"Sure," Harper agreed and with Beka, they moved towards a side room for some privacy whilst Trance spoke with Dani.
"Is there something I should know?" Beka asked almost as soon as the door was closed.
"It's not what you think," Harper instantly spoke, seemingly prepared. "Well, maybe it is, but its not," he attempted to explain.
"Harper, are you and her," Beka hesitated and gestured with her hand towards Dani's location. "Are you seriously warming in anyway to that girl?"
"Yeah," Harper shrugged his shoulders as he responded. "Beka, it's not like any of the other times, I mean she approached me," he offered.
"All the more reason to listen to those alarm bells, Seamus, and stay the hell away from her," Beka had to be honest with her friend.
"Beka, she approached me but I made the first move," Harper further explained then began to pace the room. "I know, I know," Harper spoke quickly. "I even know why we're having this talk, hell, I am hearing those bells loud and clear but it's different," he admitted with passion. "I asked if we could take things slowly, and she agreed, Beka, I could explain my doubts to her, about her still being the mission and she understood my concerns, she has not pushed me, and I've not pushed her, I mean I haven't even attempted to, well you know," he shrugged, and then frowned as his confusions returned.
"Harper, as much as it pleases me to hear you've finally reached adulthood with relationships I still do not like this one little bit," Beka responded firmly. "You can not trust that girl, we know next to nothing about her."
"Well, I do know stuff about her," Harper objected. "And you will too, after her check up, you and Dani can go and talk, and she will give you all the help you need, ok?"
Beka stared at Harper. "Really?"
"Yeah," Harper confirmed with confidence.
Beka sighed and then looked at Harper closely. "Please tell me that she was still willing to do this regardless of what's starting between the two of you."
Harper now hesitated, he felt uncomfortable suddenly. "My accepting of her advances may have helped matters," he admitted awkwardly.
"Crap, Harper," Beka snapped, although her anger wasn't aimed at him. "Did she say that she would only talk if you, I don't even want to know," Beka dismissed, her anger now unfocused as she tried to compose her thoughts, she turned to the now silent Harper. "If she's forcing you to do anything, Harper, just stop this now, this mission is not worth this sort of risk, I'm not going to ask you to do this," Beka insisted.
"I'm in control," Harper attempted to explain.
"How can you be so sure?" Beka demanded with concern. "This girl belongs to Yussuf, remember him? He doesn't think twice about cutting down a man for simply wearing the wrong colours together," Beka reminded him with force. "I won't let you take this risk, not for me or this mission, don't, I will beg, Harper, please, don't do anything," Beka stressed with so much passion that Harper had to look at her with concern now. "Please tell me you haven't done anything yet, to assist with the mission," Beka asked.
"Not exactly, she just wants my help, to help her find freedom, Beka," Harper offered quietly.
"How exactly are you supposed to find her freedom, Seamus? When you belong to a huge ugly uber named Yussuf freedom is not possible," Beka stated.
"I thought we were working to rid this system of Yussuf, and his uber control," Harper countered, his voice reflecting his growing agitation towards Beka. "If we do, then Dani will be free."
Beka took a moment to calm down, and consider facts with a calmer mind. "Harper, if you are seriously falling for this girl and her feelings are returned then fantastic, no one I know deserves a break more than you," she said with fondness. "But why, Harper, why have you chosen the one girl who has a master who is currently blowing up and maiming half the system in search of her? Why does she have to be your new girlfriend?"
"Look," Harper now snapped with anger. "She's not my girlfriend, get that straight in your head, and she's going to talk to you and that's all you've wanted since the start so be freaking happy that I've made that possible!" Harper snapped and made to move back towards med deck.
"Harper," Beka made up the ground between them and using both hands she stopped him, turning him around to face her. "When I was with Bobby, you never stopped trying to convince me that I was with the wrong guy, and you were right," she stressed. "When Able Ladrone came back into my life, you again did what you had to do to make me see that things were not how they appeared," she explained. "So please, remember how you felt when I kept pushing you away during those times, because I thought you were talking crap."
"Able wasn't all that bad though, in the end, I mean you two could have made it work," Harper admitted.
Beka shook her head. "He kept things from me, and you know I don't like secrets, hell it's one of the reasons you found yourself on my crew, remember?" Beka corrected.
"Beka, any man that tries to win your heart I'm going to object to, even if Mr Perfect turns up, because I don't think there's a man alive good enough for you," Harper said with care.
Beka just stared at Harper, and a smile crept across her face. "That's an interesting footnote to remember," she now grinned, her hands still firmly placed on Harper's upper arms. "But I seriously believe that Dani is not the girl for you, and if you are just pursuing this because of the mission or because she made the advance for a change, then please think seriously about what you are doing."
"Beka, all I have done is think, and very seriously about this," Harper said quietly. "Hell I even got advice from Dylan, and I never apparently casually talk to Dylan," he shrugged, still a little confused by Dylan's earlier accusation. "But take a moment to seriously think about this, and take everything into consideration, Beka, I've only been technically seeing her for about sixteen hours tops, not even a day yet, so don't stress about it, at least not until a few more hours have passed, or maybe even days," he now smiled with mocking tones.
Beka smirked. "Ok, maybe I'm jumping the gun but I know you Harper, king of one night stands, you work on full speed to our normal, so usually it just takes a glance for you to claim undying love to a stranger."
"I am seriously going to have to work more on my image," Harper sighed, remembering Rommie saying something very similar the night before. "Look, I appreciate your concern, makes me all warm and fuzzy but Beka, Dani is not like the others, I promise that I am fully aware of what's going on here, I know the risks."
"You spoke to Dylan about this?" Beka checked back a little. "Why does that make me more concerned?" she wondered.
Harper rolled his eyes in reaction to Beka, but continued what he was saying. "This is different, Beka, but I can't explain, it's just that Dani is different," Harper said with care. "But if she turns out to be another bitch queen from hell, then so be it, this time I'm ready for her, so bring it on," Harper declared. "But I'm not going to just turn down any woman because I've had a streak of bad luck lately, and sorry Beka, just as you seem to ignore my concerns until that point I can declare 'told you so', I'm going to give you a taste of your own medicine in this case," he partly grinned.
"Point taken and maybe I don't know Dani well enough to judge her as a suitable partner for you," Beka conceded with amusement. "But doesn't mean I'll back off, I'll be watching her, and you," she stressed. "There's no way I'm going to let her hurt you."
"You won't be watching all of the time I hope, you might get arrested," Harper mocked. "And a reputation," he added.
Beka lightly hit Harper around the arm. "I mean, ewww Harper," Beka couldn't even justify his comment with a return, and she hit him again.
"Beka to be honest, I doubt it'll get very far anyway," Harper conceded. "Call me strange but going out with a girl who has someone like Yussuf on her tail, like you said, well it sure kills off any of those gooey romantic feelings," he smirked.
"So you're playing her along for the mission?" Beka questioned.
Harper shrugged, with a secret smile. "Maybe, at least so she talks to you and stops using me as a communication device," he offered but he saw Beka's reaction and quickly continued. "Don't worry, soon as she's spoken to you I'll back off totally, and how she reacts will be a sign as to how genuine she actually is, right?"
"Well I can't pretend to be happy about you doing this, but then again, why am I surprised, Harper?" Beka grinned trying to be happy for the help he was giving her, and she put her arm around his shoulders to walk him back to med deck. "Just promise me that as soon as I've had the chat with her, that you don't take any stupid risks for the sake of this mission, or whatever, regardless of anything, ok?" she requested in hush tones, as they approached Trance and Dani. "I still don't like or trust her, and I don't want to have to pick up any pieces of you because of her."
"I promise," Harper simply responded, before moving away from Beka's hold to go to Dani's side.
"Seamus," Dani greeted happily, as she jumped off the cot and waved an injector towards him. "Look, happy juice, wanna share?" she teased, continuing to wave the formula of drugs Trance had made up for her at Harper.
"Got plenty of my own, thanks," Harper dismissed, with a grin.
"That's just for you, Dani," Trance warned lightly. "With Harper's immune system that little formula would probably keep him smiling and dancing on the ceilings for a week if he caught just a whiff of it," she added with a smile, keeping the light atmosphere.
"Hell, bring it on then," Harper joked and playfully made to grab the injector but Dani moved it away quickly.
"Hey, it's my happy juice, get your own," Dani responded in kind.
"If Harper would just come over here to the cot he can have his own happy juice," Trance stated, and reluctantly Harper wandered over knowing it was his turn to be prodded and poked.
"Dani," Beka spoke up.
"Can we talk?" Dani pre-empted the end of Beka's question, and saw Beka nod her head. "Sure, I have some things I want to tell you, and I'm sure there are plenty of questions that you have, Shay has convinced me to trust you."
"Good," Beka smiled towards Harper, but it was more strained than warm, and Harper knew, as he glanced at Beka, that she was not buying Dani's co-operation in the same way he had.
"Dani, if you want, I could come along as soon as I'm done here," Harper offered, sensing Beka was not going to give her an easy time.
"Ok," Dani simply agreed. "But don't make Trance rush on my account, be a good patient," she grinned, with mocking tones.
"I need to do a couple of things before I can check you, Harper, if you don't mind waiting?" Trance requested.
Harper shrugged, and seeing the look Beka threw him already told him that she wanted to speak to Dani alone so he made himself comfortable on the cot. "I can wait," he agreed.
"Come on, Dani, we'll use the meeting room," Beka smiled towards Harper, and guided Dani, as they both left the deck, leaving Harper to simply watch as Trance went about her duties.
TBC