Title: Mortal Limits

Author: MouseBebe

Rating: PG

Summary: When Beka comes close to hers, Tyr has plenty to say about it.

Spoilers: None.

Pairing: Beka/Tyr

Setting: Nothing in particular.

Disclaimer: Tribune owns all rights to Andromeda.

Archive: Do not archive without express permission.

Feedback: Constructive criticism welcome.

Author's Note: Not sure where this one came from; the first few lines just appeared in my head one day and demanded writing.

"It was foolish."

"You said that already."

"Perhaps because it bears repeating."

Beka rolled her eyes. She didn't know why Tyr had suddenly decided to carry on about it right now. "Tyr. I'm fine, the Maru's fine, Dylan's fine, we got what we needed, the universe is safe again. Relax."

"You are not fine." He looked pointedly at her leg, still braced and currently propped up on a cushion.

"I will be tomorrow." And she would be; already the pain had eased. She'd been able to hobble back from Med deck, after all. "Just need to rest and let the nanobots work."

"You could have lost your leg. You could have died. Do you understand that?" He paused to glower.

"No, it's not like you haven't explained it to me six times," she said, giving up on restraining her sarcasm. "Please, explain it to me a seventh."

"I will explain it as many times as it takes for you to not do it again!"

She sighed. "Aren't you supposed to be on Command?"

"You're supposed to be resting. What if you need something?"

"What else could I need?" She gestured expansively at the comfortable spot, stack of holonovels and other entertainment, supply of snacks and beverages, and the extra cushion. "And If I do need something, I can call someone, or ask Rommie, or maybe even get it myself. I'm supposed to move around every so often. You heard Trance say that, I know you did."

"As long as you don't overdo it." He glowered some more, as if he was going to manage to actually scare her into submission.

"Fine." She sighed again. "Just go, okay?"

"Trying to get rid of me?" And at last his tone lightened some.

"The nagging I am. You, well…" She grinned mischievously. "What have you done for me lately?"

"Besides ensure that you have as much as possible to hand?"

"Besides that."

He came close to her then, crouched down beside her seat. "Besides carry you to Med deck?" He'd sobered again. She didn't really remember that part, just seeing him there when she woke up and being shocked at the amount of her blood he wore."Or wait for Trance to tell me that this was the time she couldn't perform an impossible cure?"

"I—" Her voice stuck at the worry he still had in his voice, in the furrow of his brow. "I've gotten hurt before. You have, too. Remember the Kaldarans, last time?" She'd done her share of waiting for Trance. He nodded and took her hand in his, playing with her fingers. "Why this time? What's different now?"

"You nearly died."

"But I didn't. I'm here." She pushed back the braids that were sliding over his shoulder to hide his face. "And again, you have, too."

"I wasn't here to protect you. Dylan led you into that trap for yet another worthless planet and I didn't know about it." He all but spat the captain's name. Beka had still been unconscious for that dust-up, but had heard about it from Trance afterward.

"Like I didn't know about your field trip with the Drago-Katsov?" That, at least, he had the grace to look abashed about. "Look, this one was bad, but I will be fine. And next time I'm checking Dylan's intel myself before heading out. There's not much else to do about it."

"Next time," he repeated hollowly. "Next time I may just slit Dylan's throat myself and save our enemies the effort, rather than letting him put you in harm's way in the process."

She gave up. "Whether you do or don't, right now you're overdue for Command. Just try not to kill him before tomorrow so I can deal with him myself. Maybe I can at least guilt him into extra shore leave next week."

"Perhaps." He still didn't move from her side.

"Tyr." No response. "It's a few hours. Rommie will be checking on me. I'll be all right until you get back. Go. You can lecture me all you want later. Or, hell, save it for next week when I'll be at your mercy. You can tell me how irresponsible I was the whole time." Frankly, she hoped he didn't, the throbbing in her thigh being an effective lesson all by itself.

Again, he said nothing, but stayed where he was, looking up and studying her for a long moment. She kept her silence, wondering if he'd tell her what was on his mind, something he still did far too rarely. He rubbed his thumb over her ring while she did, the gesture oddly soothing, and only stopped when he finally spoke. "When are you going to give me a child?"

It took her a second to catch up. "What?"

"You asked for a year. It's been a year. When?"

"I don't- Um. Why now?"

He went back to playing with her fingers, and she thought he might not answer at all. Then: "If you had died, I would have had nothing of you, no son or daughter to carry on your legacy. I would have lost you, us, entirely. The thought of that… was not pleasing."

She raised her eyebrows. "Genetic immortality, huh?"

"Precisely." And he waited.

Her stomach twisted. "I thought we'd talk about that next week, when it's just you and me and no alarms going off."

"Another year?" His expression was carefully neutral, as if she didn't know how he felt about it.

"No, I… Next week?"

He studied her more, solemnly, his thumb resting on her ring again. "Next week."

"Deal." She watched, shivering at the touch, as he brushed his lips over her fingertips. "Now will you go before Rommie comes looking for you? I don't need her fussing, too."

"Yes. But you will let me know if you need me." It was very obviously not a question.

"I will." She turned her hand to grip his before releasing it. At last he stood and backed away.

Once the door slid closed behind him, Beka let out a deep breath, not quite a sigh. She shook her head in disbelief at the conversation and abruptly grinned. "Nietzscheans," she muttered, shaking her head again. "Literally thinking about reproduction all. The. Time." She snorted with laughter. "Thinking about babies when I might be dying. And I married him!"

Next week was going to be interesting.

The End