With seven well-armed men against him, Jayne and Zoe, there wasn't much Mal could do about what he was faced with. His shoulders tensed beneath his jacket and the urge to shoot the captain facing him was making his trigger finger itchy. The woman sauntered closer; her very walk told him that she hadn't been broken. She stood proud and tall and even the bruises visible on her couldn't hide her dignity. She was a loose cannon, but something in the other captain's arsenal had kept her under lock and key; something had made her a commodity and something more had made her accept that position.
She gave a tiredly seductive smile and the ceiling light highlighted the yellow-purple bruise on her jawline. Every nerve in his body was screaming for him to save her. She radiated confidence, but her body language spoke of harshness and jaded silence.
"Take her for the night—exchange for the coin I don't got; she's worth it. Call things even?"
Mal glared at the other captain behind a practiced smile, "Even."
Captain Yan smiled before turning his eyes onto the woman, "And we'll have a chat about being shiny for guests in the morning."
Mal saw a flinch come over the woman's features. It was barely there, nothing more than a glinting of anxiety, but it was there nonetheless. She was breathtaking, even with the obvious injuries. Her green eyes were bright but wizened. They'd seen too much for her age. Her brown hair was wavy and fell to just at the collarbone. She was ivory-skinned and almond-eyed with a round and open face.
"Feel free to avail yourself of our hospitality," Yan continued.
Mal nodded and gave one quick look to Zoe; she didn't say or do anything and only walked the opposite way with a confused Jayne in tow. The woman stayed at his side to lead him deeper into Yan's ship and didn't say a word. The bruises he could see spoke of unkind hands. The ones he couldn't see he knew were there by the limp in her step and the way she flinched to climb up stairs. Her bunk was at the front end of the ship, away from what he supposed were the crew quarters. Her room was spacious but Spartan. One trunk was in the corner and there was nothing besides that and a nightstand. The bed was clean and perfectly made. Although Mal had the sneaking and terrible gut feeling that she was never in it.
She shut the door behind them and gave that same tired smile that made his heart break in two to see. She kissed him, melted against him, and it was too amazing at first for him to remember that this wasn't what he'd wanted. He unlocked his lips and backpedaled and found the bed at the back of his knees, nearly forcing him to sit.
"No, this ain't the way this works."
She stared at him, "If I don't show you a good time… Just make this easier on both of us and let me do my job," she pulled off the loose flannel shirt that revealed an armored tank top and toned, but bruised, arms.
"I won't be taking advantage of you. Not a bit. And I don't plan on letting you get beat for it, either."
She scoffed, "Really."
"Really. You have a name?"
She eyed him, arms crossed over her chest, "Adalyn."
"Last name?"
"Why do you care?"
" 'Cause ain't no woman in the world deserves to be beat for not trading her flesh. And you don't seem the type to be here of your own free will. So I don't plan on leaving you here of mine."
"I'm not worth the risk, Captain. I'm a lost cause."
"That don't bother me."
"Yan won't let me go. It's not worth a firefight over. So let me do my job and when you leave in the morning you can save me a beating by saying I did it well."
He looked at her. Such grim determination not to cause more trouble for anyone. Lost cause or no, no soul deserved a life like this. Couldn't much be called one, either. Mal hated himself for thinking, just for a second, that he should let her do what she'd been told to.
"You don't talk like us. Reckon you're from the core."
"I was."
"How'd you wind up out here?"
"Captain. Don't. It's not worth it. I'm long past saving."
He sat on the bed and was grateful that she stayed standing, "How long?"
"Ten years. Or two months, depending on how you look at it."
He didn't know what to make of that so he only nodded.
She stared at him, "You're a terrorist?"
"What? No."
"Browncoat?"
"That obvious?"
"You're carrying a service pistol from the war. I doubt it was Alliance issued."
"Is that why you don't want my help? I'm a Browncoat? Fought against your shiny core world?"
"Being from a core world doesn't make me Allied. My brothers were Browncoats. My whole family was, actually. So, no. That's not why."
"Then why?"
"You're too good a man to be mixed up in all of this. I don't need a death on my conscience. And that's what would happen if you tried to help me. So, again, just let me do my job. Please."
"Don't think I could live with myself if I did."
Her eyes were haunted, "Could you live with yourself if you didn't?"
The bruises on her made him wince and think of what would happen if Yan ever found out. If there were ever a rock and a hard place, it was here and now and he hated to think of the nagging conscience he would have either way.
"I can get you out of here. My ship's still docked and we have the room for another body. Won't be any trouble at all. But you know this ship better. If we're gonna sneak you out, it'll be because you know how to get out."
"I can't risk it."
He sighed. Arguing wasn't what he wanted to do and he could tell it wouldn't make a difference with her. She was too lost and resigned to fight. If this would work, he'd have to convince her some other way.
"Do you have salve?"
Her brow furrowed but she nodded. She reached into the little nightstand and pulled out a small jar of the medicinal rubbing lotion. It was fruity smelling. Mixing with her muskiness, it was intoxicating. She handed it over and he opened it.
"Sit down."
She hesitated. He sighed, "I'm not gonna knife you. Sit down."
She sat down facing him and he dabbed a little of the lotion onto her jawline bruise. She winced and pulled away with questioning eyes. He ignored it and gently rubbed the lotion against battered skin. She stayed stiff and vigilant but allowed him to move on to the next wound. It was a bite mark on her shoulder and it looked fresh and new. The broken skin had only just clotted and he hated to think of the pain she'd been through. When he pulled the strap of her tank top off her shoulder to reach a large bruise under it, she relaxed ever so slightly.
"You have gentle hands."
He tried to smile, "Now I know you ain't been touched right 'cause my hands are 'bout as calloused as they come."
He found grip marks on her upper arms and those, too, were gently mended. The lotion might not do much, but it would cool the pain he had no doubt she was feeling.
"Got a doc on board could fix you up right, get you back to new again."
"I don't do doctors."
"Still, feel better if he could look at you. Feel loads better knowing that after he fixed you, you wouldn't be beat again."
"If wishes were horses…" she said quietly.
"You wouldn't have to stay on with me. I could drop you somewhere safe. Here, turn 'round."
She did, putting her back to him. He lifted her tank a little and saw streaks of purple across her side. He gingerly touched one and she hissed in pain. He sighed again to see the utter destruction Yan had put her through. And he doubted it was just Yan. There were no women on his crew; likely each of the boys had done their fair share, too.
"Broken ribs," he said.
"Just a few," she hissed again when he rubbed a bit of lotion on them. The lotion he'd put on her other wounds had cooled the skin and he could see goosebumps on her arms. The ship was chilly and he doubted she had much in the way of warm clothes. The tank and cargo pants she was in were thin material. The tank showed her battered body and he would be sure to scout for better clothes from Kaylee or Zoe when he got her aboard.
"Will there be a guard out in the docking bay?"
"Zanib. He's vigilant. He won't be drunk."
"Which one's he?"
"Dark skin. Tall, too. Had the BP 245 across his chest."
The description of the gun rang home the image of the man he would probably be facing if he tried to sneak her out. He doubted he would come out on top if the man decided to throw a blow. He heard her pant again with pain and he lightened his touch on her ribs.
"Sorry."
"It's fine."
There was something about her innate strength and fear, resolution, that made him wish she'd never been forced into the life she was leading. He still felt the honorable need to protect her even though it was clear that she was able to protect herself mentally if not physically. For all the bruises and wounds, she was stronger than most.
He capped the salve and put it aside. She pulled down the corner of her tank and rolled her shoulder. He could hear it crack a bit in the joint. But she seemed relaxed. Her head hung for a moment.
"Thank you."
"Weren't nothing. Best way to thank me would be to let me get you outta here."
"If you wait until one, it'll be easier. Only Zanib will be on duty."
"One it is then. 'Til then, you get sleeping. I'll keep watch."
She turned to look at him, placing her hand high on his thigh and he saw some pure softness in her eyes, "There are better ways to thank a gentle man."
Zoe kept her eye on the console. If Mal was going to get the poor soul out, he would send a signal first. That signal might come in the form of gunshots close to the airlock, but it would be a signal. Seeing that woman even for the few minutes she did, she knew what was running through Mal's mind because it had been going through hers, too. Even with that woman's resolute survival mentality, Zoe wanted to spare her more bruises that she knew were from unloving actions. She hated to think what might happen if the captain got caught trying to get the woman out.
River came up beside her and sat in the copilot's seat. Zoe looked over at her and saw wistful eyes in that face. The girl curled up on the seat, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. Her black hair cascaded around the pale skin of her legs.
"Long lost soul."
"What?"
She laid her chin on the top of a knee, "Lost soul."
"That woman over there?"
"She doesn't know everything yet. Things are unraveling too fast for her to keep track of the stitch."
"You're gonna have to speak normally for this, River," Zoe sighed.
The girl sighed, "She thinks we're the knight in shining armor. Armor's dented. Rusted away. She won't be happy to see it."
"You saying we shouldn't take her on?"
"Saying we're not what she thinks."
Zoe looked back to the console, "No one ever is."
With that, she decided she'd better go and get the others ready in case they had to haul out of there in a hurry. She stopped at the top of the stairs to look at River. The girl smiled at her.
"I'll be here if he calls; make the getaway safe."
Zoe nodded, grateful for the girl's observance. She headed down towards the infirmary to find Simon categorizing his supplies.
"Might have a patient coming in before morning."
"The woman?"
"She's walking, but that doesn't mean she's not hurt. We get her on, you need to make sure she's healthy."
"Of course."
Zoe left it at that. She hoped the woman checked out okay. She hated to think of how bent on the warpath the captain might become if she'd been hurt in more than one wrong fashion.
Popping open the top of the trunk, Adalyn pulled aside some meager clothes aside to find a sniper rifle and handhelds. She quickly strapped a holster onto each thigh, tying them off above the knee. The sniper rifle she loaded onto her back. Mal smiled.
"You had these all along and never used them?"
"No point in killing everyone until you can get away from the bodies."
Her dim and realistic view made him shiver on the inside. His own service pistol stayed close to his hand and he sincerely hoped it wouldn't be used.
She stuffed some personal belongings in a tote messenger bag and it was bulging by the time she closed it. She closed the trunk and looked at it for a moment before turning away. With her leading the way, Mal followed. They made it down to the docking bay before a gruff hand landed on Mal's shoulder.
"Thinking on sneaking away?"
Mal didn't turn around and in all honesty didn't have time before Adalyn pulled her gun and aimed it squarely over his shoulder. The hand on his shoulder loosened up and Mal stepped closer to Adalyn.
"You shoot me, you'll never be able to run far enough," Zanib said with a thick smile.
Adalyn smiled, "Won't be a problem."
She pulled the trigger.
Mal jumped out of his skin at the unexpected shot. Zanib's body fell to the ground and it was the hole in his forehead that obviously killed him. Adalyn watched dispassionately when the body crumpled. She holstered her gun and found Mal's stare on her.
"What?"
"Shooting wasn't in the plan."
"Well, not like he didn't deserve it."
She quickly brought both guns up and Mal wasn't far behind. They aimed at the oncoming crew. Yan was at the front and he looked once at Zanib's body before looking at the barrels trained on him. He smiled.
"Trying to take her?"
Mal readjusted his grip on the pistol, "Not trying. Doing. She's coming with me."
Yan eyed her, looked her over, "Fine. Have her. She's not worth the trouble anyway. Harold, get her trunk. Wouldn't want her to leave her precious things behind."
Mal stayed cautiously alert and optimistic. If Yan was going to just let them walk out, the girl was more likely not to shoot anyone with that clearly happy trigger finger of hers.
"She tell you why she's all the way out here?"
"Not my concern."
"Should be. You're taking on a killer. Some runaway. You and yours had better start locking your bunks at night. Might kill you."
The corner of his eye saw Adalyn readjust her grip on both pistols. But she wasn't shooting. She was waiting. She didn't know which pack of animals she would be fed to or if she would be allowed to survive. Mal straightened.
"Me and mine won't give her a reason to."
Yan smiled and gave a low, inhuman chuckle. Harold dumped the trunk he'd gone to fetch. The captain eyed her for a moment longer.
"Take her and get off my ship."
With the trunk at their feet, Mal quickly decided he'd rather let Adalyn carry it so he could keep his gun hand and the attached gun trained on the crew. She noticed his hesitation and quickly holstered both guns to lift the half-empty trunk off the deck. They backed away towards the airlock and only when he'd locked the door did he lower his aim. He hit the intercom.
"Get us out of here," he said calmly.
The ship rattled and disentangled itself from the Titan. He holstered his gun and looked to Adalyn. He gently took the trunk and she stared at him for a moment. Her blank face and disbelieving eyes made him eager to reach out and hold her. The interior cargo door opened and he saw Zoe and the others waiting for them. River, evidently on the bridge, was the only one not there. Adalyn held fast onto her messenger bag at her front and followed Mal silently when he led her past the group to the passenger bunks. He opened the biggest one, what used to be Simon's, and gently put her trunk down in the corner.
She stayed vigilant and stiff, like she'd been before. He tried to smile, "You get yourself settled in. We got food up in the galley. Give you a tour in the morning, if you'd like. But let the doc take a look at you. Make sure you're in working order."
"I don't need a doctor."
"Feel better if you were seen to proper."
She nodded slowly and walked over the threshold to the bunk. Looking around, she sat on the bed and turned those green eyes to him.
"Thank you."
"Shiny. I'll be upstairs if'n you need me."
He left her there and closed the door most the way to give her some privacy. The others were in the common, waiting for him. He quickly trod up the stairs and they followed. He poured himself tea in the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
"How is she?" Zoe asked.
"Rattled, I think. But steadier than most would be."
"They just let you walk off with her?" Jayne sat at the table noisily.
Mal didn't want to think about what Yan had said. It was likely just some ploy to keep him from taking her, but then to think of the exact term he'd used on her…the way she'd just shot Zanib…
"Did at that. Seems I'm all intimidating with guns."
Kaylee smiled, "Real heroic of you, Cap'n. What's her name?"
"Adalyn. Name's Adalyn. Let her settle in for the night. Might be she won't come out 'til morning. Doc, if you could check on her 'tween now and then, be appreciated. Gal's professed an unkeeness for medics, so tread soft."
"I'll take care of it, of course."
"Rest of you, get to bed. Got an appointment to keep tomorrow. Best be awake for it."
One by one, they shuffled off. Heading for their own bunks, Mal stayed behind to sit and drink his tea. Zoe stayed standing for a moment. She wanted to say something. He knew that little shift she did with her feet. But she must've thought better of it 'cause she left him there alone in the kitchen.
He didn't know what to think of Adalyn. She'd shot the man she'd shot, but he couldn't say he didn't agree with it. Most especially if there was some wound he hadn't seen that Zanib had caused. He hated to think he'd put his crew in danger, but the calm after the storm made him rethink what Yan had said as lies. His eyes caught sight of bare feet. His first thought was River, but it occurred to him that he was facing the engine room, not the bridge.
He raised his gaze to see Adalyn. Her armored tank top did little to hide her curves, and the thick cargo pants hung on gracious hips.
"Everyone go to sleep already?" she asked.
"Did. I could get 'em all back up here. Make introductions."
"No. That's okay. In the morning, I guess."
"Doc should be stopping by before long."
"Yes, I passed him on the stairs. Dark-haired boy, right?"
"That'd be him. He's good at his trade. He'll take care of you."
She nodded, the topic clearly not one she wanted to discuss. She crossed the room and stood near to him, looking down at him.
"I'm grateful, Captain. And what Yan said—"
"Don't matter none. Don't care about your past so long as you don't try to kill us all. You don't seem like the type, so I'm gonna discount his little insult. If and when there's trouble, then I'll need to know details. 'Til then, it's your life. All I care 'bout right now is that you're safe."
He expected to see some brightness on her face, but all he saw was the shadowed and resigned face he'd seen on Yan's ship.
She slid smoothly onto his lap before he had much chance to realize she was doing it. Her lips were sweet against his own and he hated himself for giving in, even if it only was for a moment. Eyes closed, hands on her shoulders, her warm skin under his calloused hands…He pulled away and tried to ignore his reacting body.
"I am grateful, Captain. And…I'm yours. Hurt me, have me, share me…anything you want."
He shivered on the inside. What had those bastards done to her to make her give up one torment only to willingly accept another? Her deft fingers were unbuttoning his shirt and just the warm brush of them on his skin made his breath catch. He caught her hands and held them at bay, regaining his control behind closed eyes. He exhaled deep and found her desperate gaze.
"You don't have to do this. The deal was I keep you safe. No strings attached. Dong ma?"
There was a quick flash of embarrassment over her features followed by relief. It was hidden well and, if he hadn't been looking for it, he wouldn't have seen it. She stared at him for a moment before she leaned in again. With one soft, tender kiss on the cheek, she pulled back slowly.
"Thank you."
He nodded hastily, the warmth of her body still overtop his and making his honor harder to obey. He let go of her hands and she slid off his lap as smoothly as she'd slid on and gave a little smile, one honest little grateful smile, before walking back to the stairs in the rear corridor.
Simon saw movement in the top of his vision and looked up to see Adalyn walking down the stairs to the bunk she'd been given. He stepped out of the infirmary. She was definitely hiding more wounds than the ones he could see. Her gait spoke of hip trouble, her wince on the stairs that he'd seen told him her legs might be hurt. And just the bruises on her arms and jaw made him wonder how long she'd been on the other ship as a useful diversion. The bite mark on her shoulder had him worried, too. It looked infected.
"Adalyn."
She turned around to look at him and stayed near her door, "Hi."
"It's Simon. My name's Simon. If you want to come in here, I can take a look at your wounds."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "I don't do doctors. Or medlabs, for that matter."
He nodded, "I can come to your bunk, if you'd prefer."
"If I have to."
"I promise I'll keep it quick."
She didn't seem to care that he'd tried to lighten the situation. She only turned her back on him and walked into her room, leaving the sliding door open. He quickly gathered the portable supplies he could and loaded them into his bag. It would've been easier to do the exam in the infirmary, but he doubted she would be in there any time soon of her own free will. Although the door was open, he gave a gentle knock before going in. She was sitting on the bed.
He shut the door behind him and pulled out the chair under the small desk. He laid open his bag and reached for the injector.
"A blood sample. For the computer. It'll let me see if you have any infections."
She nodded. He drew the vial of blood easily and she didn't wince when he pulled the needle out. She held the little square of gauze to the prickpoint without being told. With his gloves on, he gently found her wounds. All in all, four broken ribs, a fractured upper arm, bruises almost everywhere, what looked to be a healing entry wound from a bullet over her hip, and some bruised bones in her legs. He silently healed each the best he could. The entry wound wasn't infected, but he doubted the bullet had been taken out.
"Do you know if the bullet was removed?" he asked.
"No. I was out."
"If you want me to do a scan—"
"No, thank you."
He nodded, pulling off his gloves, "The bite on your shoulder needs to be kept clean. I have antibiotics for it. I'd like you to take them for the next few days. The weave should keep it from scarring. The ribs will be sore for a while longer, but they don't need to be set."
"I set them myself a few days ago."
He paused and tried to keep the surprise from his voice, "You set them?"
"I couldn't breathe right otherwise."
"I have pain medication, if you want it. If they start hurting, I'd like to know. I know our food out here isn't great, but if you could eat more than usual for a week, it'd be good for you."
She nodded, "Thanks."
He stood, "If you need anything, let me know. Or if you just want to talk."
"I'll be fine, thanks. Are there showers?"
"Behind the infirmary."
She only nodded.
He gathered up his supplies and shoved them into the bag. He left, stopping at the doorway once before thinking better of trying to say anything else. Her soft-spoken thanks made him nod and he left her there. Whatever her unkeeness for doctors, he hadn't realized it had been this bad. He doubted the captain had either otherwise he wouldn't have sent him after her. He sat in his infirmary. He wanted to run the blood through the computer. A full mapping would take the better part of the night; best start it so it would be done in the morning.
The water was lukewarm and even that was being gracious. She didn't really care though. It was clean. It was refreshing at such a low temperature. She put her arm against the stall and pillowed her forehead onto it, letting the water run down her batter and bruised body. Against her will, her eyes clouded over and stung with anguish.
She cried openly, sobbed painfully, and she loved every minute of it. She cried because her body was hers again. Cried because now, after tests and mutilating nights, she could consider herself free. Her sore and tired body could recover and her soul could be returned. She was free, finally.
And she didn't even know the name of the man who'd freed her.
Mal was surprised to see he wasn't the first one in the kitchen. Little Kaylee had strung out pots and pans, pulling out anything and everything to cook breakfast—which was mostly just protein mush. Although he was sure most of it would be inedible. Bless her for trying, though. He smiled and she beamed back at him.
"Xiao mei mei, you have a hankering for some food?"
"Thought maybe I could cook a big breakfast. Give Adalyn a good first morning."
"Did have a similar plan myself. Don't know what I'd do without you, lil' Kaylee."
She spooned out bowls of heated and spiced protein mush, "Run this ship into the ground, more'n like. And you wouldn't be nearly as happy."
He smiled back at her, "No, I wouldn't be. That man of yours up yet?"
"Gettin' dressed when I came up. Think he had to shave, still."
Mal's brow furrowed and he sidled up beside her to get some coffee, "Boy shaves?"
She gently smacked him. He quickly stole a biscuit that she'd managed not to burn and avoided the stirring spoon that came after his thieving hand. He took to the table with coffee and biscuit in hand and sat there, finding quickly that the biscuit hadn't been burnt, but it hadn't been entirely cooked, either. He swallowed down the mushy and wet center with a larger sip of coffee.
Adalyn came up from the other side; her outfit was the same as the day before only with a different top. Mal smiled at her.
"Good morning, there."
She almost smiled, "Morning."
Kaylee beamed at her, like she did at everyone, "Hey! Made some breakfast for you."
"Adalyn, this here's my mechanic. Damn near cheeriest person you'll meet in the verse. Kaylee."
They shook hands before Kaylee handed over a bowl, "Pleased to meet you. Thanks."
"Oh, you won't be thanking me when you taste it. Ain't much but protein."
"Doc catch up with you last night?"
"He did, yes."
"Ain't he the greatest? All smart. Great bedside manner."
Mal held his coffee cup to his lips, "Only 'cause he's sleeping in yours."
Kaylee glared at him while he smiled at her. She threw a bit of uncooked dough at him and he batted it away.
Adalyn stayed quiet with bright eyes watching the exchange. She started to eat her bowl of mush and Mal felt a pang of pity to see that she wasn't making faces, only eating as fast as humanly possible. Either she'd been starved, or she was that far gone.
"Thought I heard breakfast," Zoe walked in, taking a pre-scooped bowl of mush.
"Zoe, he's teasin' me."
The look she gave him was almost serious, "Be civil."
"Plenty civil. See? Civilized as they come. Zoe, Adalyn; She's my first mate."
"Good to see you up an about. How you feeling?"
Adalyn shrugged, "As well as can be expected, I suppose."
Simon walked in about the time she shrugged and he pecked Kaylee on the cheek before stealing away a bowl of breakfast mush. Mal smiled to see him even doing that; considering how tight-wound he'd been, his little mechanic had near broke him of that bashfulness. He stayed standing at the counter, unable to keep a pleased face when he dug into the protein. He swallowed it down and reached for a biscuit. He used that to scoop up the next biteful.
"How are you feeling this morning?" he looked to Adalyn.
"Fine. Thank you."
If Mal hadn't known she didn't like doctors before, he would've gotten it in the ice from her voice. Simon only nodded and looked at her empty bowl.
"You should eat more…if you can."
She looked once to Mal, "I didn't want to ask…"
"Nonsense. Get yourself more proteiny goodness."
She stood and scooped out more. Kaylee smiled, "Ooh, someone likes my cooking."
Adalyn didn't say much, just started eating the moment she sat back at the table.
Mal leaned back in the chair, "You see your sister yet this morning?" he looked to Simon over the top of his mug.
"On the bridge when I looked."
"Here now."
He almost spilled his coffee for the gentle voice that whispered in his ear. He spun half around in his chair to see the little thing smiling and rocking back and forth on her feet.
"Be docking in four hours. No communication with Badger. He's staying quiet."
"Thank you for the update, lil' albatross."
She only smiled wider and helped herself to a bowl. Kaylee sat and River sat next to her. River dunked her biscuit into the mush and tried to catch the dripping bit with her tongue before tanking a bite out of it.
"River, Adalyn. She's my pilot."
Adalyn actually smiled at the girl's antics and Mal realized her smile was something like Kaylee's; it could light up rooms when it was genuine.
"You're young to be a pilot."
River shrugged, "I'm a genius. It's an issue."
"Only issue's that there ain't hardly any breakfast left," Jayne grumbled, moving over to the counter to find that all the bowls had been used up. He ended up just taking the pot and the stirring spoon to the table, eating with the utensil in his grip like a shovel.
"And this here's Jayne."
Jayne turned his eyes over to Adalyn and he gave a curt wave with the spoon in his hand, "So, you chose us over them? Must'a been bad over there if'n you chose us."
Mal glared at him. Adalyn only smiled thinly, "Well, I heard you all had breakfast…"
The bigger man swallowed down his bite and made a face at it, "Can't even be called that. We need food. Gettin' sick'n tired of mush."
Kaylee threw a biscuit at him, "Try that."
He dipped it in and Mal suspected that he'd gotten an undercooked one, too, by his face. He grabbed at the coffee Simon had poured himself and Simon only rolled his eyes before getting another mug. Mal smiled.
"Well, that looks to be about everybody. We could give you a tour, if you'd like."
"No. I'm okay. I don't want to get in your way."
"Not in the way. River, you feel up to handling that job?"
She smiled, "Blind leading the blind. I'll be done before we land."
"Sure then. Zoe, Jayne, when we do land, suit up. You're coming with to deliver the goods and the coin. As far as you, Adalyn, you can stay or go as you please."
She nodded and looked at her empty bowl for a moment before looking back at him, "I never did get your name."
He paused. He'd thought he'd mentioned it the night before, but evidently it hadn't come up, "Malcolm Reynolds."
She stared at him for a moment, "You were a sergeant in the war, right?"
He stopped his mug an inch from his lips, "You heard of me."
"I did."
"Well, I'm honored. How'd you hear about me?"
"My brothers. They served under you."
"Oh, really? What were the names?"
"Mark and Jo. Santayana."
Mal's almost happy face fell when he put the names to deaths. He shared a glance with Zoe and her face was about as dim as his. The two men had been under his command.
"You're Hope?"
"I go by Adalyn. Hope's my first name."
"Well, it's definitely a small verse. Didn't think to ever be seeing their little sister. Definitely something coincidental."
The room was quiet beside his own voice. Adalyn smiled a little before going back to her bowl. She scraped out the remaining mush and then looked around the table.
"Thank you. For helping me."
"Not an issue," he answered a little quickly.
"Here, I can show you around the ship," River stood and waited.
Adalyn nodded and left her bowl there. River walked away with Adalyn in tow. Mal watched her go and found himself entirely ready to rethink chance and fate.
Simon walked up the bridge stairs slowly. His sister, being the charismatic person she was, was still giving Adalyn a tour of the ship. He doubted they would be at it for much longer but, then again, it had already been a half hour. He didn't know how much of the ship River could show off. Mal was sitting in the pilot's chair. The blood test had come back and Mal had asked to talk about the results. But still, every time he came up to the bridge, he felt out of place and adrift. Like it was still a forbidden zone. His bunk had changed, his romantic life had changed, his sister had gotten better, but he still felt ill at ease on the bridge.
"You wanted to talk about the blood test?" he asked.
Mal nodded, "Everything come back okay?"
"Besides from the trauma, she's fine. I ran the blood through PANEL - the Pathogen Antibody and Neurotoxin Exemplar List - and she's got antibodies for all the major illnesses. No diseases or sickness. She's been well taken care of. From the look of her wounds, I'd say she was being mistreated for less than three months. She's a little malnourished but she'll be fine once she can get back another ten or fifteen pounds."
"She give you any problems?"
"Well, her not liking doctors was an understatement. I'd say she hates doctors. And infirmaries. I did the checkup in her room."
"I appreciate it, Doc. Anything we should know?"
Simon exhaled smoothly, "I was able to do a partial physical. She was too uncomfortable to push for a full examination. Seeing her wounds, though, I doubt she was…handled…lightly on the Titan. There could be internal trauma, but the mental trauma is more pressing. Until I do a full examination, I won't know."
Mal nodded like he hadn't been listening or hadn't understood. Simon desperately hoped he wouldn't have to completely explain why he wanted to do the full exam. But the captain looked at him and paused.
"Any idea on how to help her?"
"I was thinking that perhaps Inara could talk to her. If we see her again."
"Inara?"
"Companions are trained to deal with issues like this. Better than I am, at any rate. She might be able to get Adalyn to talk about what happened."
"You think the girl needs it?"
"I don't think it would hurt."
He nodded, looking back at the readouts on the panels ahead of him, "I'll see what she'd be willing for."
"I'm glad to hear that. I think she's stable, but I'm not too sure how I'd feel about her going through an experience like that alone."
"I think she's stronger'n you're giving her credit for. Girl's already lost her family."
Simon's brow furrowed, "Her brothers are dead, then?"
"Parents, too, far as I heard. Not like she's got anyone left."
"It's good that we're helping her, then."
"I hope so."
Simon turned to see Zoe walk onto the bridge. Her face was set and stoic, not that he imagined it would be anything else. He shuffled on his feet for a moment, quickly aware that she was silently asking him to leave.
"I'm going to do some more tests on her blood. See if anything comes up."
Mal ignored him, still watching the screens on the panels. He gave a quick nod of acknowledgment to Zoe before leaving the two of them there. He didn't like to think what they were talking about mostly because if it could have been said in front of everyone, Zoe would have said it in front of everyone.
His infirmary wasn't as alone as he thought it'd be. River was sitting on the side cot, idly swinging her legs.
"River. What are you doing here?"
"She's all alone. The knight in shining armor is a turning out to be a fallen angel."
"You mean Adalyn?"
"Not Adalyn. Hope. She's all alone."
"I think she wants us to call her Adalyn."
"But that's not who she is. Not anymore. Changed her."
"Loss can do that to people."
She stared at him, simple and making him feel dumb, "Not loss that does it, Simon."
"Then what?"
She sighed, "You'll find out. You all will. But not yet. She's not ready to show us."
"Did she at least like the tour?" he hoped changing the subject would keep them on equal turf and he wouldn't feel so incompetent.
"She misses open land. It's been so long since she's seen it."
"Maybe when we land she could come with us. Kaylee and I are going to the market. She's welcome to join us. So are you."
"I can ask."
Simon wasn't entirely sure why having River, Adalyn and Kaylee around him made him feel uneasy. Mal had left a few moments back, and Simon had found himself feeling more like a harem-master than boyfriend-brother-who-knew-what-else. Kaylee was attached to his elbow and he loved that part. River was walking in front of him and at least he could keep an eye on her. And Adalyn seemed stuck in conversation with her, so that made things easier.
His sister quickly stopped and eyed a game stand. One of those shooting games where a good score got a plush animal.
"Ooh, look at the kitty!" she pointed to a large brown and white kitten plush, "Please can I have it?"
"You have to win it, mei mei" he said simply, "And you shooting doesn't go over well."
She pouted and he hated that look, "Besides, we'd probably need Zoe or the Captain for a score high enough."
"We could always go get Jayne. Sure he'd have some fun shooting even if it ain't for work," Kaylee smiled.
"I can try," Adalyn smiled, digging around in her deep pocket to find some spare bills. She walked over and River followed, Simon and Kaylee not far behind.
"You don't have to, really. We don't have room for it on the ship," Simon said mootly even as she handed over the bills to play her chance.
"At least she won't want a real one."
Simon considered that. It was strange that she'd hit the fact head on. He could remember when they were both younger and River wanted a kitten. Their mother had gotten her a stuffed toy instead and it had been enough. But the sight of Adalyn shouldering a tethered rifle put his thought aside.
Simon looked to the scoreboard. She'd need at least ten hits to get that toy. The targets moved and some in the back were no bigger than a finger. He doubted it would even be easier for the others to get the ten score with only ten rounds.
The distinct ping of Adalyn hitting a target made him watch closer. One by one, she knocked down a target with every single round. She hadn't missed one. The gamekeeper stared at her for a moment until she put the rifle down, waiting expectantly.
"I get a big one, right?"
He nodded.
"Kitty!" River squealed.
Adalyn smiled, "I guess I'll take the cat on the left."
The man silently handed over the prize and River snatched it up. Adalyn watched with a smile for a moment, checking the cat over for god-only-knew what.
"Wow. Impressive. Didn't know you could shoot like that," Kaylee smiled.
"My brothers taught me. You decide on a name?"
River nodded, "Hope cat. Hope kitty."
Adalyn's face fell a bit and she looked away from her to something else, "I've got to run. I still need to send a wave out to some people. I'll meet you at the ship."
"Okay. Well, thank—"
Simon cut himself off to see Adalyn already walking away. He wasn't sure if he'd been ignored because he was a doctor, or because of another reason he couldn't quite think of.
"You think she's okay?" Kaylee asked.
"I don't know. That was sudden."
"Kitty has a name. Not a name that should have been said."
She'd seen them across the way and now she was sure it meant bad tidings. Walking into a trap was the best way to get them out of the picture. And if they were here, Yan was, too. Three men here, another three someplace else if he had the whole crew out and about. Not like she couldn't handle them, or that she was terribly afraid of them, but thinking that they were after not only her but the rest of Serenity's crew as well made her shiver.
Alley. Best place to draw them out.
Cue or not, they came out swinging from behind boxes and crates, trying to disable her. The biggest, Luke, was easily seven feet and she hated the fact that he could knock her out and down with a single hit.
She ducked, cart wheeling backwards to avoid his heavy-handed blow. There was enough space for her to stand straight before they all three faced her. She smiled at them about the same time they smiled at her.
"What's funny? Think you'll get away again?"
She chuckled, hands on her hips, "You boys just don't get it, do you?"
They pulled out guns of considerable size, aiming them at her. She smiled wider. Now. Now was so much easier because she wasn't playing helpless anymore.
They screamed.
Being gagged, he couldn't say much when the cargo bay door opened. The footsteps were hurried and they suddenly slowed. He didn't know who'd come in but he hoped it was someone with a gun who could kill the bastards keeping him down.
"Captain Reynolds?"
It was Adalyn. Yan smiled and stood. Mal heard a gun whine to life. With the three other men holding him, he couldn't do much except wait.
"I was thinking it was you," Yan said, "And seeing you here means my boys aren't coming back."
"Straight-cut self-defense. They attacked me. Where's the Captain?"
"Oh, he's around. But you don't need to be worrying about him. You're coming back with me and mine."
"No. I'm not."
There was a whistle. Mal was hustled to his feet and held tight, pushed out into view. He saw Adalyn. Her eyes cringed to see him so beat up. She had a cut across her forehead and some blood dripped down the side of her face. Her gun was trained on Yan, but her eyes were on him.
"Now, this is simple. You come with us, or we kill him," Yan smiled.
"I'm not going back," she said; Mal wasn't sure if she was apologizing to him or denying Yan.
He didn't care when Yan pulled the trigger and a round hit him in the calf of his left leg. He bit down on the gag and took the weight off the wounded leg. Yan's gun whined to life again and Mal opened his eyes from the pain to see the barrel of it facing his forehead.
"Your choice," he said, smiling to Adalyn.
She dropped her gun. Yan pulled his back and walked over to her. Her face was grimly determined. With the gun at her feet and Yan in front of her, she turned her eyes down to the deck. Mal tried to yank his arms free from behind his back; he didn't want Adalyn to go back to that ship and least of all because he was being used as blackmail.
"Did you really think we would let you go? Did you think these people would help you?"
Adalyn didn't say anything. Yan ran his gunhand around to her cheek. She pulled her face away and Yan smiled, laughing. The men holding Mal back laughed, too.
He backhanded her. She twisted, but didn't go down. Her lip busted. She slowly faced him again and threw a punch of her own. Yan caught it, hitting her with the gun. This time, she went down.
Mal watched her hit the deck. Her body went limp and her head lolled with blood slowly leaking from open wounds. Mal pulled against the men holding him. Yan towered over her and looked to him.
"Maybe you should've listened, Mal. A killer's not worth it."
Yan fell flat on his back. Adalyn's leg had taken out his ankles. She grabbed the gun that was at her side and aimed from the floor. She shot three times and each man keeping Mal back landed dead on the deck behind him. Adalyn got her feet under her and pushed herself over to him. With the gun still in her hand, she reached into her boot and pulled out a knife. She reached behind him and cut the tie holding his wrists together. She cut the gag, too.
"You okay?"
He nodded, "Be fine."
"Where are the others?"
"Still out having fun."
"Do you know where the doctor went?"
"Likely he's at the—"
He cut himself off to push them both behind the crate he'd been kept behind. A gunshot ricocheted off the corner of it. Adalyn quickly checked her gun and stayed crouched.
"Just give yourself up, girl. It's not worth getting him killed."
"You got a gun?" Adalyn whispered.
Mal shook his head. He looked at the fallen bodies to see his gun tucked into the waistband of one. Adalyn followed his gaze and took out another gun from the side of her thigh. She handed it over to him.
"Got any plans?
He cocked the gun, "Don't get shot again."
She smiled and popped up over the top of the crate to fire off a few rounds. She ducked back down and cursed. Mal raised his head just slightly to see Yan covered behind more crates. She looked around and her eyes fell on the middle catwalk.
"Can you cover me?"
He nodded.
She silently stood and dodged the bullets to grab onto the side of the middle catwalk. She used the edge to maneuver herself up onto the flat surface with a tucked roll. Mal fired off half his rounds to keep Yan pinned behind the crates. Adalyn was pulling her PSR off her back. Laying flat on the catwalk, she aimed and fired off a round. It got Yan to find new cover when the crate he was hiding behind gave her the shot. He ducked behind a higher set of crates.
Mal could see Yan's protruding arm around the corner of his cover. He fired off a few more rounds before the magazine clicked empty. Yan returned the fire to Adalyn. Mal heard her yelp and roll when a bullet hit her in the arm. She looked at him and he waved his gifted gun around in the hopes she would understand his lack of ammunition. She pulled the PSR strap from around her arm and back and he ran out. She dropped it to him and he shot. Yan shot at the same time and the PSR was hit from his hands. It clattered on the deck. Standing there, he saw Yan leave the cover of the crates to keep the gun squarely aimed at his chest.
Mal stayed there while Yan moved closer. Adalyn's blood from her arm wound was dripping through the grate of the catwalk while she stayed silent on her back.
"Such a waste," Yan shook his head.
Yan's trigger finger tightened and Mal braced himself to be shot again. There was no quick cover, no easy way out.
He heard the shot. Yan fell backwards. From the catwalk above, Adalyn had shot him. But the sound of the shot was off, like it was doubled. She just remained lying there on her side with her outstretched hand, statuesque.
"Adalyn?"
She was still. She relaxed a slight bit, rolled onto her back, before her gun dropped from her hand. He stared at her a moment longer, all too aware that she wouldn't drop her gun unless something was wrong.
"Adalyn?"
Blood poured from the catwalk to the deck plating. He charged, limping, up the stairs to reach her. Adalyn's face was blank and dewy and blood was rushing from her chest. She coughed and blood gurgled up from her throat. Her hands were limply trying to staunch the bloodflow, her jaw was set in determination and her eyes were floating in shock.
"Adalyn! Stay with me!"
He ripped away her tank to press his hands onto the wound under her breast. She didn't say anything, only looked at the ceiling with a quivering body and more blood rushing from mouth and wound equally fast. Mal kept his hands on the wound. He could see her eyes start to close on him. Even with the pressure on her gaping wound, the blood kept flowing. Her jaw clenched and her eyes focused on him for a moment. It was a fleeting moment, and her body convulsed again with more blood overflowing her lips. Her eyes closed.
"Adalyn!"
He looked up to see River running with Simon and Kaylee in tow. Simon dropped to his knees at her side, gently trying to get a response when he shook her face.
"We need to get her to the infirmary."
He and Mal lifted her while River and Kaylee stayed close behind. Mal limped as they carried her. They let her down on the medcot and Simon quickly tore away the rest of her shirt to show the bullet hole. She was still, unmoving and only the gurgling of blood in the back of her throat told Mal she was still alive.
A siren went off. Time had cost them. River looked up and Mal knew that look of panic and doubt. Adalyn was limp and white. River had her hand in hers, trying to squeeze life into it. Simon took out the paddles. Mal yanked the girl away. Adalyn's body surged up with the current. But there was nothing more. Simon did it again. This time, there was a heartbeat. Simon threw the paddles down, taking a syringe from his mouth and plunging it into her arm. He looked at her wound.
"She needs blood. She needs blood and some Torateptine."
"What blood type and who's got it?"
"AB positive. Look through the roster."
Mal pulled up the crew roster to see if anyone had what Adalyn needed. River reached into the draw and pulled out the snap-case full of medicine. She held it open for Simon. The doctor reached in, messed around, and pulled one out. He uncovered the syringe and stabbed it in next to the wound.
"Only River's got that."
Simon turned to look at him before looking at his sister, "There may be one packet in the chest before we hook my sister up."
Mal found it, handing it over to Simon. As Simon tried to hook it up to her, the siren blared again. He cursed under his breath, watching her die again. He reached for the paddles and pressed them against her chest. She surged upwards, the siren still blaring. He shocked her again, and a third time. But the siren was still blaring.
Mal watched as the doctor tried to bring her back. She looked so sweet and innocent, dead as she was. Her face was serene, not a worry etched on it. And she was dead. It was his fault that another one died.
The siren turned off as the heartbeat came back. Simon started to hook her up, letting the blood drain into her. He packed the wound tight, trying to keep her from bleeding out again.
"She gonna be okay?"
"You need to leave."
"Is she gonna be okay?"
Simon looked up furiously from his work, "You want me to save her? You get out!"
Mal glared at him for a moment before walking out of the infirmary. River stayed there. Kaylee came with him, pulling him along and away gently like only she could. River closed the doors quickly before moving back alongside her brother. While sweet Kaylee started tending to the wound in his leg, he watched through panes as Simon worked tirelessly on Adalyn.