Thanks again to reveiwers

Chapter 2

"I cant Harper, just leave me alone. I can't talk about it. Not yet."

This had been going on for two weeks. Two weeks since I had seen that small smile. She had woken up the next day and by now her physical injuries were completely gone. But she kept insisting she was fine, insisting she didn't need help, a shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic ear. Then she would appear on Command or in the Mess Hall having obviously just been crying with red eyes and tousled hair.

She was so much quieter too, and didn't have the same presence that she used to hold about her, sometimes she would laugh but the sparkle it produced in her eye was quickly doused again once she remembered what had happened. That flinch also still remained, if any of us came near her without her realising we were coming or being able to see us she would start away before remembering that we weren't to be feared.

All of us could see the strain it was taking on her and knew that for her to heal she had to let it out and tell someone what had happened down there, why she was there in the first place even. It was meant to be a simple few weeks of shore leave on Camperli Drift but in the end I had found her on the other side of the galaxy on that hellhole of a planet.

Andromeda had already told me basically what she had been through, beatings, whippings… rape. I could barely think about it but I would listen to her talk about it forever if it would bring the old Beka back.

"You have to Boss, please. Why don't you just tell me what happened first, after you left the Andromeda?"

"No, I don't want to, it's none of your business anyway."

"Look, just tell me what happened when you reached Camperli, we know you got there because that's where the Maru was. Come on what harm can it do?"

6 weeks ago…

She gently landed the ship in its designated docking booth and stepped out into the artificial sunlight. Stretching after being cramped in the pilot's chair for hours she walked slowly across the hangar and into the main part of the drift. She was looking forward to a couple of weeks just relaxing on her own here where the prices weren't too high but it was clean and safe, or at least as clean and safe as places got nowadays.

Strolling past the booths lining the street she paused to look at some of the items for sale thinking about what presents she could get for the rest of the crew she picked up the occasional trinket before replacing it on the stall and carrying on not going anywhere in particular just enjoying the drift.

Eventually she reached a cafe that she'd visited once before and remembered did some pretty decent food. Halfway through eating she glanced up and thought she saw… somebody just a flicker of recognition but then it was gone and she dismissed it as a trick of the mind or another hauler who she'd met once or twice.

That night she awoke suddenly and immediately grabbed her gun but couldn't hear anything, couldn't see anything either. Then it came again, the softest of sounds like a small footfall or perhaps a muffled breath. Sliding out of bed she walked towards the door but before she could reach it, it swung open and a bright light shone into her face, she blinked and could see behind the door…

"No I, Harper just go away, go away please."

I nodded at her and turned to leave, pressuring her now wouldn't do me any good and at least she had made a start. I smiled one more time before walking out the door.