Title: Uncertainties
Author: Settiai
Disclaimer: "Firefly" and other related characters are all properties of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and other related corporations. No infringement is intended. This story, such as it is, was written as a sign of respect and love for the characters, the show, and their creator. I claim no ownership of the aforementioned show and characters.
Rating: PG
Summary: In the beginning, when Shepherd Book and the Tam siblings first came on board Serenity, no one was certain what would happen.
Feedback: Comments and helpful criticisms are always appreciated.
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"We're still flying."
Mal couldn't blame the boy for being confused… hell, he was confused. Just a few hours earlier, he had been absolutely serious about dumping the Tam siblings, and now he was offering them a place to live.
There was no doubt about it… he'd lost his mind.
He had to admit, though, the doctor had impressed him. It was obvious that the younger man had never killed anyone before -- come to think of it, he'd probably never even fired a gun -- but Mal was certain that the doctor would have pulled the trigger if he hadn't done the deed for him.
That's what had made him rethink his plans.
Jayne had made a point earlier though. As long as the doctor and his sister were on Serenity, they would have to be even more careful than usual to avoid Alliance entanglements. All it would take was one wrong move, and he -- and his crew -- would lose their ship.
Lose their home.
Mal paused for a moment, the seriousness of the situation hitting him. Was letting the Tam siblings stay really the right thing to do? He knew that it was far from being his sanest decision, but that wasn't what he was asking himself.
For him, Zoe, Wash, Kaylee -- hell, even Jayne and Inara -- Serenity was home. She was everything they had, and he knew that there would be nothing for them without her. The Shepherd… well, that was an entirely different story. Mal wasn't exactly sure what that man's plans were… but that wasn't important.
He might have allowed the Tams to stay, but he just knew that they'd never consider Serenity their home. They'd never see her beauty the way his crew did, never embrace living inside her walls… but he had told the doctor that they were welcome to stay.
Even after thinking it over, Mal still didn't have an answer to his question. Why had he done such a fool thing?
Even if they were on his ship, they'd never be part of his crew.
"It's enough."