Capture

Author: Nat

Ship: Mal/Inara

Set: After the movie

Rated: Sap (and of course fluff)

Author's Notes: below is cheese. It took over my brain and motor functions and I just can't be held responsible now can I?

"We clear?" Mal asked.

Zoe looked over River's shoulder to the comm.. and back to the Captain, "We're clear."

"Life support back up all over?"

River nodded, "Finally got it back on the main deck."

Mal breathed out in relief, "Good, tell everyone they can come up again. Where'd you put 'em all?" he asked Zoe.

Zoe smiled, "Mostly in the crew quarters, they were unaffected."

Mal nodded, then his eyes widened, "What about Inara? She was in her shuttle!"

Zoe's smile widened, "Oh, I put her in your room Sir."

"You put her in where?" his voice went high at the end making it difficult for Zoe to keep a straight face.

"Your room. It was safe. Had air. Is there a problem?"

He had made as if to tear off to his room but now stopped, "Uh, no, no problem of course."

"Wasn't anything in there you didn't want her to see by chance was there?"

"No, no, that's fine." His eyes were a bit wild and kept looking to the exit, "If you'll excuse me."

He almost waited until the got to the end of the hall before breaking into a run.

Zoe looked over at River, who was smiling and finally laughed out loud.

Mal clamored down his ladder to find Inara sitting at his desk, the picture of calm and ease. She had that damn unreadable smile on her face and he forced himself to plaster one on to match.

"Heard Zoe put you in my room, came to make sure you were alright."

Inara's smile widened, "I haven't rummaged through your things, don't worry."

He smiled back, "Didn't figure you would. I just---"

"Except for this Capture of me on your desk," she cut in, "That claims to have been viewed—" she pushed a button to confirm though she had already memorized the number, "—six hundred and forty-seven times."

His smile vanished instantly and he visibly blanched.

She stood and headed towards him, leaving the capture on his desk. Her smile was still in place but softened as she got close, "I missed you too." She assured him.

He shook his head, "Should have just goram waved you, but I didn't have the guts."

She shook her head back at his admission, "I should have too."

She stepped closer, "I wanted to come back, but I couldn't bring myself to ask."

He looked at her in surprise, "You wanted this life? Instead of all that pretty and….what you had back there?"

She leaned up and kissed his cheek, "It's good to be home." She answered and then turned to climb up the ladder.

But he turned her back, a broad smile on his face. She'd said 'home' and for that, he gently leaned in and kissed her, catching her offguard so that she clung to the rails for support. But when he pulled back she caught his face in her hands and kissed him again.

When he pulled away he smiled, his eyes still a bit lost, but filled with happiness, "Reckon I been wanting to do that for a while….."

She grinned a cheeky grin, "Six hundred and forty-seven times before maybe?"

He grinned back, "More'n that," he replied and kissed her again.