"You mean you're going to hire someone?" an incredulous Andy exclaimed to her cousin.  "We'll never have the money to pay anybody, even someone horrible."
 
"Rev managed to settle most of our debts by talking and threatening his way out of them, and I settled the rest, so we'll have just enough money to hire an engineer," Beka explained, wincing at Andy's expression of disbelief.

 "Yeah, someone cheap, dishonest, and skilless," Andy replied, then sighed mournfully at her older cousin's stubbornness and stupidity.  "You know, Rebecca, I can fix the Maru perfectly fine on my own."

 "I know, Cassandra, but our last little adventure completely blew the engines.  We're either gonna need a miracle to fix them or an expert," Beka said, slightly annoyed at her younger cousin.  For all of their eight-year age difference, seventeen-year-old Andy still believed she knew more than her twenty-five-year-old cousin.  Trying to make the girl see reason, Beka tried a different approach.  "Besides, you can't keep doing everything.  You'll kill yourself."

 "I suppose you know best."  The tone of Andy's voice clearly stated the opposite.  "You want me to start interviewing people?"

 Beka smiled in triumph.  "Well, you'd know better than I would what qualities we need in an engineer.  Just don't let'm know in advance how low a salary we'll be offering," Beka added, knowing her cousin's tendency towards complete honesty, a trait she was convinced would eventually get them both killed.

 "Sure," Andy sighed, defeated.  "I'll start tomorrow, okay?  I'm tired."

 "Whatever you want.  Just find someone by the time Rev gets back," Beka reminded her.  After that they had to run, and run fast.  Beka didn't know what Rev had done to settle the debts, but she knew it hadn't been pretty-or completely legal.

 "Yeah, yeah, I know, Rebecca," Andy shouted back over her shoulder as she disappeared into her room.  Her voice faded away as she muttered, "My goodness, I'm going to have to write Rafe again."

 Beka shook her head as she, too, prepared for sleep.  She talked to herself as she changed, a habit that was occurring more often of late.  "Why do I keep that kid around anyway?  Annoying little stowaway.  Oh, yeah.  Because she's my cousin.  Because I don't even want to imagine what Uncle Joe will do to her if she lives with him.  Because I don't want Rafe to corrupt her.  Still, she's annoying.  But in a useful sort of way.  Beka, you're a real mess, you know."  She collapsed on her bed and fell asleep.

 Andy sighed as she wandered through the station searching for likely candidates.  She hated to be in a situation like this.  Rafe had tried to teach her how to fend off unwanted attentions, but had quickly given it up as hopeless.

 "Don't touch me!" she said in a tone only slightly under a shriek as a huge drunk tried to fondle her.  That wasn't the way to do it.  In fact, as Rafe had told her constantly, obviously to no avail, that was more like an invitation.

 "What's wrong, sweetheart, scared of a good time?" the drunk slurred, slipping a hand up the back of her shirt.

 Tears filled the girl's eyes unbidden as she tried to fight him off, but she lack both the strength and the technique.  "Where are you when I need you, Rafe?" she whispered.

 "Oh, ya don't need Rafe, baby, ya got me!" the man whispered back, his breath hot and smelly in her ear, grasping her tightly as she tried one last time to escape.

 "Somebody, help, please," Andy pleaded tearfully.  Rafe had always been there to rescue her before things got out of hand, but he wasn't here now.  Beka was fast asleep on the Maru, and Rev was who-knows-where.  As the man moved his hand downward and leaned in towards her face, the tears slipped silently down her face and she meekly submitted to his touch.  She began to cry in earnest as his lips found hers and his saliva, tasting mildly of alcohol, mingled with hers.  She went limp in the man's arms as he pulled them into a forgotten corner and began to undress.

 In the same moment as he started to undress her, she found herself on the floor, and huddled instinctively into a ball.  She felt arms pick her up, not muscular, but strong enough to carry her slight figure.  She struggled to get away from him.

 "Don't worry, babe, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm just going to take you back home with me until..."

 She didn't hear the rest of his sentence as oblivion finally claimed her.

 "Hello-o, beautiful.  You gonna wake up anytime soon?"  Why had he rescued the girl anyway?  Sure, she was pretty.  Okay, beyond pretty.  Way beyond.  As is gorgeous golden-red hair twisted back into an intricate braid framing an almost pixie-like face with flawless pale skin.  "I need you to be awake so I can see your eyes."

 Andy's emerald-streaked sapphire-blue eyes blinked open.  A man's face slowly swam into view.  Spiky hair, a thin face, and brown eyes focused into a vision of the cutest guy Andy had ever seen.  Without knowing how, she knew that this was the guy who had saved her, and for some reason, she felt completely at ease.

 "Hiya!" the man chirped, handing her a glass of what looked like water.  "Drink this, it'll make ya feel better.  You probably have a hell of a headache right now."

 "Mmph," Andy replied, taking the glass and drinking slowly.  After she finished half, she gave it back; she had stolen a quick glance around the room and didn't want to take from him what he probably didn't really have.

 "Hey, you should finish all of it!" he protested. trying to force it back into her hands.  She pushed it back, saying she was fine.

 "Thank you for rescuing me," she said shyly, changing the subject.  "I, um...that guy..."

 "No problem.  I'm Seamus Zelazny Harper, super-genius!"  The girl laughed.  He loved that laugh, although he wondered why he had introduced himself in that was to a beautiful woman.  He tried to save face by kissing her hand and saying, "But you, my dear, may call me Harper."

 She laughed again, and Harper smiled.  "My name's Cassandra Valentine, your basic jack-of-all-trades, but you can call me Andy."  She looked around his
one-room hovel and saw some parts and tools that excited her.  Caution was flung to the wind as she bounced on the bed and wondered, "Are you an engineer?"

 "Why, yes, my dear lady."  Harper had no clue how they had gotten on this subject.  "Why do you ask?"

 "How good are you?"  Andy was so excited she forgot her manners.  Here was a guy who had not only saved her and looked cute, but who looked like he would accept anything they paid him.  If only he was good.

 "How good am I?  Sweetheart, you insult me.  Why, are you looking for an engineer?  Full-time?"  Harper was beginning to catch the girl's enthusiasm.  He didn't know what he had expected, if anything, when he'd saved the girl from the ugly drunk, but he would take a steady, paying job as a reward.

 "Yes, we are!  We can't pay you very well, not at first, but we have nice rooms and food, and I have some good tools you can use," Andy exclaimed, forgetting her cousin's admonition.

 "Hey, Andy, I'm all for it.  Anything is better than what I've got now."  A huge grin lit up Andy's face as well as the entire room.

 "Great!  Get your stuff and follow me."  She waited patiently as Harper gathered his meager belongings into a ratty-looking bag, then followed her out the door.

 "So, who's we?" he asked as they began walking to his new home.

 "Well, there's me, my cousin Rebecca..."

 "I tell you to find an engineer, and this is what you come up with?"

 Andy winced as an enraged Rebecca yelled at her.  "Rebecca, he's right here!"

 "You're a no-good, useless stowaway!"

 "Rebecca, at least give him a chance!"  At Andy's pleading look, Beka softened.  She had never been able to stay angry at her cousin for very long.

 "Alright," she sighed, turning to Harper.  "Mr. Harper, you have the job-if you meet our standards.  You'll be expected to keep the engines up and running.  You can have the room down the hall.  Breakfast is at seven, you have to find lunch on your own unless you beg Andy, and dinner's at six-thirty.  We can't pay you very much at the moment, so you'll have to accept that.  Do you understand?"

 "Yes, boss," the boy responded promptly, unfazed.  Beka could grow to like the kid.

 "You can call me Beka," she offered.  "Now get to work.  The engine room is to your right."

 Beka waited until the boy had disappeared before she turned to Andy, who had sat down.  "Where did you find him, anyway?  Are you okay, kiddo?"

 Andy had begun to look pale.  The events of the past few hours finally caught up to her, and she started to cry.

 "Sweetie, what happened?" Beka asked as she wrapped her arms around her cousin.

 "Some-some drunk guy-he-he grabbed me-and-and he tried-he tried to-" Andy couldn't finish; she was sobbing too hard.

 Beka felt awful.  "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry, I should have gone with you!"  She had forgotten how ill equipped Andy was to handle situations like that.

 The girl cried for awhile, than whispered, "But Harper saved me."

 "And that's why you hired him?"

 "Partly," she said, still crying softly.  "But it seemed right."  After a little while, she asked, "Are you mad?"

 Beka sighed.  "No, Andy, of course not.  We'll see what happens, and if it doesn't work out, we'll both go and find another engineer."

 Andy stared into space as she replied, "Somehow, I know Harper will be staying for a long time."

 And although the ship was warm, and she was warm from holding Andy, Beka shivered.

 "Okay now, my little engines, you better be good now," Harper said as he closed up the access hatch.  He felt eyes on his back, and looked up to see Andy Valentine looking curiously down at him.

 "How are the engines?" she asked, hopping down with practiced ease.

 "Well, they were pretty shot when I first got at them.  The fuse was blown, and there were a bunch of little short-cuts-" he cut off when Andy blushed.  "You did those?"  At her nod, he continued.  "They were really good, but in the long run, they helped to destroy the engines.  Anyway, I downloaded some data from your database-hope you don't mind-and I fixed them up, good as new."

 "You have a neural implant?" Andy asked.  "Can I see?"  He showed it to her, and laughed at her amazement.  "Beka won't even let me ask what it is.  She's afraid I'll want to get one.  So I researched it for myself."

 "Trust me babe, your neck looks much prettier without it," he replied, smiling at her.  "So, tell me, where do you get that beautiful hair?"

 "From the Valentine side of the family.  Beka has red hair, too, but she...dyed it blonde.  I get the curls from my mother's side," Andy told him, grimacing.  "My hair is impossible.  That's why I braid it."

 "I'd love to see it down sometime," Harper suggested, winking.  He was confused when Andy frowned and turned away.

 "Harper," she started, "don't get me wrong.  I think you're really cute, and sweet from what I've seen, but-Rebecca is very protective."

 "Oh?"  Harper raised an eyebrow.

 "She doesn't like me getting involved with very many guys.  I think she's had...guy problems over the years, and doesn't want me getting hurt.  So, if you want to keep your job, hands off me," Andy finished sadly.

 "Oh," Harper said, then smiled hopefully.  "Can we still be friends?"

 Andy grinned back.  "I'd like that.  I really would."

 Andy was fixing a device for Beka and humming softly when she felt strong hands massaging her shoulders.  "Mmm, Harper, that feels good."

 "Does it?" he asked her.

 "Oh, yeah, don't stop."  She leaned back against him as he eased the tightness of her shoulders and neck.  It had become a nightly ritual.  Harper had been on the ship for over a year now.  Andy was now eighteen, soon to be nineteen, and Harper was twenty-one.  Although Beka had forbid a romantic relationship, the two had grown into a close friendship, especially after Andy had helped Harper get over his fear of Rev Bem, their Magog crewmember.  Now, Rev was as much an advisor to Harper as he had always been for Beka and Andy.

 Harper brought Andy back to the present as he whispered into her ear, "Do you want to go out with me tonight?"

 She pulled away abruptly.  "Are you asking me out on a date?!  Harper, you know what Beka will do!"

 "Yes, I do!" he replied, pulling her back against him.  "She'll yell at me and fire me, then you'll be so upset and she'll realize that she needs me too much and ask me back.  If she finds out."

 She pulled away again, and whirled to face him.  "What do you mean, if she finds out?" "As of right now, Beka Valentine should be tucked away in her bed, fast asleep."

 "Oh, Seamus, you didn't!"

 "Andy, she'll be fine!  I just slipped a few sleeping pills into her coffee.  Rev told me she'd be fine," he assured her.

 "You are a very foolish man.  Why did you do that?"

 He looked into her eyes.  "I do believe I've fallen in love with you, Cassandra Valentine."

 "Well, then, yes, I'll go out with you.  Just let me get dressed."

 Half an hour later, Andy walked into Harper's room where he was waiting impatiently.  He turned to face her and said one word.

 "Wow."

 Andy was wearing a tight halter top that was tied at the neck and bared her midriff, and a very small, tight black skirt.  Her hair was down for the first time that Harper had ever seen, and fell in waves of curls down her back.

 "Is that a good wow, or a bad wow, because I can go change-"  Harper cut her off.

 "No, that's a good wow.  That's a very good wow.  Andy, you look absolutely stunning.  I didn't even know you owned an outfit like that!"

 "Rafe gave it to me for Christmas last year," she explained.  "I never had the chance to wear it, before now."

 He offered her his arm.  "Shall we go?"

 She smiled that beautiful smile of hers and took it.  "Let's."

 They returned around two o'clock in the morning, both drunk on feelings.  Harper turned off all the lights, and put a disc in Beka's player.

 "Harper, what are you doing?"  He put a finger up to her lips.

 "Shh.  May I have this dance?"

 She accepted, taking his hand in classic waltz style as the song started playing.

 Andy moved so she was facing him and put her arms around his neck.  He put his around her waist and they swayed gently as the music continued.

 As the song faded away, Andy added one last line, "There will be an answer, let it be."  Harper kissed Andy and drew her into his room, where they found the answers to all their questions in each other.

 "Wow, Bek, you still look awful."
 
Beka stuck her tongue out at him from her position on Andy's bed.  She had, for once, caught a flu both Andy and Harper had, and it had hit her hard.  "I still feel awful."

 "Will you please hurry up and get better, Rebecca?  I really would like my bed back," Andy complained.  Beka hadn't felt like moving, and since none of them could carry her, on Andy's bed she stayed.

 "Aw, lay off it, Andy.  You've got the big bed," Beka replied.

 "I don't want the big bed," Andy said peevishly, but Beka caught the upset look in her eyes.

 "Alright, kiddo, I'll move back tonight," Beka promised, realizing that the almost twenty-three-year old had a hard time with ghosts.

 "Would that be before or after you go to that party our new employer is holding in your honor?" Harper asked, winking at Andy.  They hadn't been able to spend any time together recently; first Andy had gotten sick, then Harper, and then they had both been busy caring for Beka.  Tonight would be their last chance before Andy left for two weeks to visit and help out her cousin.

 "Oh, shit!" Beka cursed, and Andy looked mildly shocked.  "Listen, you two are going to have to go instead of me."

 "Aw, but Beka!" Harper whined, turning and winking at Andy.

 "We were going to work on the engines-try to get a head-start because I'm going to be gone for awhile," Andy added, catching on quickly.

 "Don't complain.  You guys go together, give the guy my apologies, and have a good time.  Just don't get home to late-and no fooling around!" Beka warned.  "Now go get ready, or you're going to be late."

 "Oh, alright.  But I want a week's vacation for this!" Harper said.

 "Done!  Now, go have fun!"

 Andy whispered to Harper as she was helping him to get ready, "Shay, you are so bad."

 "That was fun!" Harper exclaimed.  "The food was great, the cocktails were excellent, and I'm coming home with a beautiful lady on my arm."

 The beautiful lady, wearing a sparkling green dress that set off her eyes and pale complexion, smacked him upside the head.  "Shay, I do believe you've had too much to drink."

 "Hey, you downed quite a number yourself, Andy babe," Harper retorted, drawing her in for a kiss.

 She responded passionately, having learned quite a bit over the four and a half years she and Harper had been together.  They had helped each other immensely, Harper bringing Andy out of her shell and Andy calming Harper down.  And, of course, having quite a few drinks helped.

 "Ooh, do it again!" Andy begged breathlessly as he ended the kiss, but stumbled before he could.

 "Mmm, looks like someone needs to go to bed," Harper said, touching her lightly on the nose.

 "Give me an oxidant and I'll be ready," Andy replied, giggling helplessly as Harper swept her off her feet and carried her into the Maru.  He didn't put her down as he kissed her again.

 And nearly dropped her as he spied a dark figure in the doorway to Andy's room.

 "What the hell, Shay?" Andy complained.  "Help me up."

 "Um, Andy, turn around."

 She did, and the sight that greeted her eyes was enough to sober her completely.  "Hello, Rebecca."

 Despite the fact that she had spent the past week in bed, despite the fact that she was not quite healthy yet, despite the fact that she still had a low-grade fever, Rebecca Valentine stood tall and exploded at her cousin and her engineer.

 "What the hell are you two doing?"

 "Listen, boss, we can explain," Harper started.

 "You are way past explaining, mister.  You are fired.  Pack your stuff and leave immediately.  I want you off this ship in under one hour, or I will force you to leave myself and you will not like my methods.  Now go!"

 Harper scuttled off to his quarters, knowing that he couldn't do anything to save Andy.

 Beka watched him impassionately, then turned to her cousin.  "As for you, I cannot believe what you've done!  I've given you a home for almost ten years, and this is how you repay me?  You-"

 Here, Andy broke in.  "I what?  I fell in love!"

 "You fell in love with a backwards mudfoot from Earth who hits on every girl he meets!  Who survived on the streets of Earth by being mean and nasty!"

 "Who saved my soul and sanity once and would do so again in a heartbeat!  Who loves me more than life itself!  Tell me, Rebecca, have you seen him flirt with many girls in the past five years?"
 
"He'll betray you, Andy.  He'll hurt you and leave you first chance he gets!  You should never have gotten involved with him in the first place.  I should have seen it and stopped it!"

 "Not all men are like our fathers, Rebecca.  And it is up to me to choose who I love, who I want to spend the rest of my life with.  I'm a big girl, Rebecca.  I don't need your misguided attempts to protect me!  If you want to apologize and to loosen up, leave me a message.  I'll contact you."  With that, Andy stalked out of the Eureka Maru, only allowing the tears to fall after she exited.

 Within, Beka collapsed into Rev's waiting arms.

Please review.  Pretty please!