***

Trance stood silently in the doorway, watching Harper. She was so tuned to his body language she could tell how upset he was. She knew what he’d heard: Beka had told her... He was so still; Harper never stood still: he was always on the move, always joking and laughing. Not now though: now he stood, his arms wrapped tightly around his slender frame, staring out of the window to the world below.

Earth. The world where Humans, and technically Neitzscheans, had evolved. Being here had reduced the spirits of the crew. None more so than Harper. His memories of this world still gave him nightmares she knew. She wanted to run to him, to hold him and tell him everything was alright. But everything wasn’t alright. I want to be there for him but how can I when I’m denying what I feel. What did she feel? Most of the time she wasn’t sure. But now as she stood there she knew: I love him. It was that simple, a solid unchanging fact. She loved him, now, forever, until the day one of them died.

She walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder and tried not to notice when he flinched. He made no move to turn towards her: just stayed staring out of the window. "They’re all gone," he said. His voice was rough with unshed tears.

"I know" she said, "Beka told me." He nodded silently. "I’m here for you Harper, you know that don’t you?" Another silent nod. "I’ll be in the garden if you want to talk". It hurt her leave him but it hurt almost as much to feel the pain radiating from his body.

Tending her plants didn’t soothe the turmoil in her. Her hands worked but her mind was on the observation deck with Him. She sighed and sat down amongst the flowers. In her pocket was a small scrap of cloth, Harper had caught his shirt on one of the spiny plants a few days ago and left this behind. It was worn and colourful; rather like Harper himself. And torn, don’t forget torn.

She heard a noise and quickly stuffed the scrap away. Harper stood in the doorway, his head was bowed and he was clenching his fists. Trace walked over and put her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. "All of them. Every member of my family, Trance." Sobs shook his body and she held him tighter.

Yes she loved him and she’d be there to help. Someday she would tell him, but not today. He needed to mend a little first.

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