The Hourglass,
by WickedSong.
Disclaimer/Note: I do not own anything that you recognise here...I don't even own the idea of *spoiler* Zoe's daughter because it's in the comics. I can only call what you are about to read a series of connected oneshots that will eventually lead up to a long conclusion, following a what if plot bunny that I tried to resist but just quite couldn't. I always say I'm never going to write for any new fandoms because I feel like I would never be able to do them justice but then fic ideas and oops, there's a story. First time I've delved into the world of Firefly fic so please be gentle on me.
Part I: Time.
"The sand falls and the clock ticks and there is he, an innocent lamb to the merciless slaughter."
"Mal! Mal, are you listening to me?"
When the man in question finally turns to face her, Inara folds her arms and gives him that look – the one of pure irritation that only he can manage to inspire within her with the many ways in which he infuriates her so.
"Loud 'n' clear, darlin'," Mal replies with a false smirk. Inara rolls her eyes at the 'endearment' and the false sense of confidence he is currently projecting, "and nothin' you or anyone else on this boat says is going to stop me."
"So I'm not the only one who thinks this is suicide. Oh, I wonder why that would be."
Mal shakes his head and continues to walk. With a sigh, Inara follows him. He goes to step into the spare shuttle but she manages to catch up to him and grab his hand before he can open it. "Mal, please listen to me," she pleads softly.
He doesn't look at her, keeps his eyes on the ground and all of his false confidence shatters. "I have to do this 'Nara. Shepherd's God is playin' one cruel trick if he thinks I'm lettin' one more young 'un on this boat grow up without a father." He's holding onto the railing and his grip becomes tighter as he thinks of his own absent dad.
It's bad enough that every time he looks at Zoe's daughter all he can see is his former pilot smiling back at him from his seat in the bridge, saying he was a leaf or some other go se before he was impaled, carrying out an order that Mal had given him. If he can help it Kaylee and her unborn child won't have to deal with the same ghosts and as the Captain he's going to damn near assure it.
"Not too many years ago you tol' me you'd help the Doc and his sis' if I wouldn't," Mal argues, once he's regained a sliver of his composure. He can feel Inara's hand on his arm now and to be so close is just another part of their never-ending dance. Here and there, back and forth, over and over again.
"Yes but…" Inara trails off, trying to find the best way to phrase it. "Simon understands that it's either this or all of us. He made you promise you weren't going to come and try and rescue him."
"What? You think that this'll be the end of it?" Mal asks, and he finally looks at her. "They're just gonna keep comin' at us, 'Nara. Not sayin' I regret bringing the Doc and the Lil' Albatross on board but you think they're really gon' give up on gettin' their assassin back? And if Grandpa and Grandma Tam find out about Kaylee and the baby. We got a whole load of hurt comin' on us, I'd say we always will, and Simon dyin' don't help any of it."
"And if it did," Inara asks forcibly, and she almost can't believe she is asking this question. "Would you respect his wishes then?"
"Prob'ly not," Mal says. "'Cause if anyone gets to murder him for leavin' it should be me and it should be outta the airlock."
"Mal…"
"What? 'Nara, what?"
What more can be said about it.
And then he sees the pure concern that crosses her features.
"You're worried 'bout me?"
"I always worry, Mal."
"Not somethin' I thought a Companion would admit to, if I'm being completely honest."
Now Mal is facing her as she stands at the bottom of the shuttle steps. She takes one of his arms and gently tugs him down so that he is standing right in front of her.
"This is a suicide attempt, Mal," she implores. "Give me time. I once said I'd help Simon and River and I'll stand to that, Mal. But don't do this now, when you'll go off and get yourself killed."
"But-"
She shakes her head. "I have contacts I can use to find out the exact details of the trial. It'll take at least a couple of weeks for them to come to any sort of decision."
They both ignore the fact that that decision had probably been made the day that Simon broke his sister out of the high-security Academy and anyone with any thoughts to the contrary were in denial.
"We might not have a couple o' weeks, 'Nara," Mal argues but she shushes him once more. She goes to speak but footsteps stop them and they turn to the sound.
"The sand falls and the clock ticks and there is he, an innocent lamb to the merciless slaughter."
Inara rushes to River who has just appeared from around the corner. Since Simon was arrested a few days ago the girl has been practically impossible to find on the ship, only coming out to speak to Kaylee once and for five minutes during a quiet dinner the night before.
"Come on, sweetheart, we can go to my shuttle."
River shakes her head and shrugs out of Inara's grip. "No more time, why is there no more time, it makes no sense!" Inara watches as River falls into Mal's arms, and Mal, while unsure, receives her. River begins to sob her words. "Give me more time with him, just more time. Give time to the brother and the husband and the father who will never hold his child, just more time!"
Inara walks over to the pair and is surprised but also relieved when River recognises her presence and opens her arms to her also. She and Mal hold the girl until she is as calm as she can be expected to be. When she is, the two aid her to her bed, and stand in the doorway as she drifts to what will probably be anything but a peaceful sleep.
Inara checks on Kaylee and when she returns to where Mal still watches over River she tells him that the pregnant mechanic is as peaceful as she'd expect.
"You've got your time, 'Nara. We're gonna' need all the help we can to pull this one off," Mal says quietly. With a low voice he turns to her. "As far as you know we're not goin' back for him. I don' care how much Kaylee asks, she or," he jerks his head to where River sleeps, "can't know."
"Won't River already-"
"If she does, she does, and there ain't nothin' I can do 'bout that, but we don't need to be givin' Lil' Kaylee any false hope here." He gives a shake of his head, as he nods to Inara and turns to leave. "We're gonna need one gorram miracle, that's all I can say."
"I didn't think you believed in miracles, Mal."
Before he actually leaves, he looks to River. "Not as a general rule, I don't. 'Night, 'Nara."
Time. That's all they need.