Simon Tam swallowed nervously. He had done it, he had gotten his sister, River, out of that horrendous academy and she was safely hibernating in a cryogenic box. At least, he hoped it was safe. All the reading and research he had done beforehand was not comforting him in the least when his entire world rested in the steel box beside him. But it was the only way, he couldn't just have her walk down the street at his side. It was dangerous enough for him to be out. Persephone wasn't exactly a bastion of Alliance control but troops still could be seen here and there on the corners. He was still getting used to the idea of being a fugitive. He never thought things would come to this but looking back, if this was the way to keep his sister safe, he'd do it. With that thought, he tilted his sunglasses a bit further down upon his nose. He should have gotten a hat. Maybe even a gun. Being a doctor who put people back together, he was leery of weapons designed to put holes in the very bodies he stitched back up. Also the fact that he swore an oath to never do harm. Then again, the government was also responsible to do no harm. Things were different now. He would never again let anyone take his sister away. He clenched his fists in suppressed rage at the thought of what they had done to River. Never again, he vowed. He made a mental note to look into acquiring a weapon at a later date. Hopefully, he'd never have to use it. If so... he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. At least he had managed to arrange passage off this world. Boros, one of the Border worlds, hopefully far enough from Alliance control would be their new home. He allowed himself a smile as he thought of the pretty girl he had arranged passage through. Kaylee, that was her name. With a smile as sweet as the 'verse was wide, she had been incredibly charming. The ship didn't look like much, but then again he supposed he was not used to the life of booking travel on a something less than a luxury vessel.
A blond-haired man with a friendly face drove up on a motorized mule, interrupting his thoughts.
"Ready to go, Dr. Tam?" the man said with a smile.
"Yes, thank you Mr..." Simon realized that he didn't know any of the other crew yet. He'd have to be wary of them. He hated doing so but now there was something much more important than being polite. After working in a hospital, he depended so much on trusting the people around him. Now, now trust was a luxury he could scarcely afford. He sighed inwardly. One more aspect of his old life gone.
"Just call me Wash, certainly not mister. Just as well none of the crew wasn't around, they'd all laugh at the thought of someone calling me mister. My wife wouldn't let me hear the end of it. Anyway, just this one crate?" Wash asked appraisingly.
"Yes, please be careful with it, I'd like to minimize jostling, if at all possible. It contains something very delicate."
"I live to serve. No problem at all, if you'll just back up a bit, I'll get it loaded up." Wash backed the mule up to the cryo box and with a little maneuvering, got it loaded it. "You know, I've never seen a crate like this before, seems different than what we normally get."
Simon thinking quickly answered, "It is different, the salesman assumed me it was the best quality to move my... my belongings with. Rattled off a lot of specifics and measurements. Probably just wanted to make a larger commission though."
Wash laughed out loud at that. "Yes, I can see that happening, those sales monkeys will do anything to squeeze another credit out of you. By the way, tips are accepted" he said with a grin.
A small smile crossed Simon's face. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." As he climbed in next to Wash, Simon couldn't help but like the man. He seemed so carefree but then again he probably wasn't smuggling something the Alliance wanted. Wash fired up the mule and swung it in the direction of the Firefly-class transport that would be his ticket to a new life. As Simon glanced up at the ship they were approaching, he mentally corrected himself. "At least I hope they are not smuggling anything the Alliance is interested in."
Boarding the ship which he learned was called Serenity, Simon glanced around. Besides Wash and Kaylee, he had just met the captain, a man called Malcolm Reynolds. Simon recalled the glint of steel in his eyes and thought this was not a man to cross.
"Watch it, boy". A large man shouldered him roughly aside coming up the cargo ramp.
"Jayne! " Kaylee called out. "Be nice, this is one of our guests, Dr. Simon Tam".
Simon inclined his head as he had done to Captain Reynolds earlier.
Jayne looked at him, sneered, and without a word stomped off into the ship.
Kaylee looked at his retreating figure and then back to Simon. "Sorry about him, he's like that to...well, really just about everybody. One thing you never have to worry about is where Jayne stands on an issue. I'm sure he'll warm up to you...eventually" she finished lamely.
Simon forced a smile onto his face, "It's not a problem. It's not a long trip and I'll stay out of his way. Can you tell me where my room is?"
Kaylee's smile brightened visibly. "Sure can! Go through these doors and past the infirmary. It will be just past the common room. Thought we'd put ya close to a place that might feel like home."
"Yes...home" he replied.
"Oh, but the Captain will be wanting a word with you and all the other passengers in the dining room in about 5 minutes. If you just want to wait to grab your stuff, we can head over there right now and be a little early, maybe give us a chance to talk more" she said as she slyly grinned.
There was no mirror or even a reflective surface nearby but Simon could tell that by the burning sensation in his ears that he was slightly blushing. He crossed the bay and made sure his crate was safely secure. The last thing he wanted was it to be shifting around a lot during take-off.
"Kaylee!" Captain Reynolds called. "I'm closing her up".
"Oh shoot, I've got to get my chair, I'll see you in the dining room" She called as she dashed off.
Simon barely heard her, one hand resting on the cryo box and looking out as the door closed on Persephone. He patted the box reassuringly, as if its occupant could feel the touch through the steel. They had made it, well the 2nd of many steps to go but so far things were going fairly well.
He should have known better.
After the meeting in the dining room, Simon followed the statuesque first mate Zoe back down to the cargo bay. He had learned that this woman was also Wash's wife. He thought back to his earlier conversation with him. He smiled, remembering Wash's remark about his wife not letting him hear the end of him being called a Mister. As a doctor, he was pretty good at reading people and it seemed that both Zoe and Jayne, the irritable brute who ran into him earlier were both extremely hard people. Zoe did seem to have a soft side, especially with her husband and even to some extent, the passengers. Simon doubted that Jayne had a soft, emotional bone or feeling in his body. Probably not evolved enough. Definitely not what one would call a people person. It was interesting to him that Zoe and Jayne were both fairly well off-set by Kaylee and Wash in terms of personality on the ship. Also, he had been briefly introduced to the ship's Companion, Inara. His own experiences with Companions were limited to being introduced to them at parties back on Osiris. There was a certain elegance to those women but he didn't understand how or why anyone would pay for something that someone who loved another person would do and be with for free. Then again, he was a bachelor so he could see the flip side of the credit. Regardless, Inara greeted him politely and in a warm manner. He wasn't sure how much was based on her training but she seemed to be a genuinely friendly person. He even heard her call Kaylee, her mei mei. Hearing those words brought a lump to his throat. It was his affectionate name to call River. While it literally meant, little sister, the way River responded when he said it always brought a smile to his face in happier times. Now, he constantly worried about her, even though she wasn't far. Now with an additional delay to take medical supplies to Whitefall (or so the captain said), it was another thing going on in the back of his mind. The pressure in his head increased slightly. Soon enough, they'd be safe. No one is ever safe, the tiny voice in his head argued back. This is what going mad must feel like, Simon mused.
He wasn't the only passenger on this trip either (well, the only legal passenger). A black Sheppard named Book with kind eyes was also on board for the trip to Boros. Simon had only spoken in passing to Book but saw a man that seemed trustworthy. Not having much experience with men of faith, Simon wasn't certain as to the proper protocol around him. Religion and faith on Osiris seemed to be only taken seriously as a social event rather than any path to everlasting life. However, Book gave off an air of tranquility and peace. Another man named Dobson was also onboard. Simon wasn't sure why but he got a sense of trepidation when he looked at this man. He wasn't sure why as there didn't seem to be anything extraordinary about him. Truth be told, he seemed clumsy and out of place. Dobson hadn't mentioned why he was traveling so far but then again, neither had Simon. Perhaps this man also had his own secrets to keep. Still, the situation warranted further attention. He would keep his eyes and ears open. Again, he sighed. Paranoia was not exactly something he was accustomed to.
Sitting on his bed back in his room after dinner, Simon replayed parts of the conversation through his mind. Being a doctor, he had been trained to pay attention to the slightest details and one benefit of that brought about an enhanced memory which was useful for times like this. It appeared that Jayne truly didn't care for him at all. Jayne had mainly ignored Book and Dobson, only answering Dobson's remark about medical supplies with a quip. But he seemed to take great delight in embarrassing Kaylee and himself. After some rather off-color remarks about Kaylee's desire for Simon's medical talents, Mal had angrily ordered Jayne out of the room. More and more, Simon saw the captain as the father figure of the dysfunctional family/crew. Well, maybe only Jayne was dysfunctional. He had walked around the ship a little, being given an unofficial tour by Kaylee. In another life, he could see himself being drawn to her. She was pretty, full of life, and seemed to like being around him. She had shown him the infirmary and pointed out that it wasn't as nice as something he was used to. He focused on that part of the day in his mind again.
"So, this is our infirmary, I know that can't be anything like what you're used to." Kaylee had said with her perpetual smile.
"No, but it has some similarities." Simon had replied. "Like...a chair and a sink over there...and umm... Hey!"
Kaylee had playfully punched him on the arm at this point. "I know it's not the Core worlds, DOCTOR Tam, but it's shiny enough for us out here in the Black. Besides, if you ever need liquid painkillers, I've got a still set up in the engine room. Makes a drink that's sure to put anyone out" she winked.
Simon smiled at her, "Well, I hope nobody gets shot. Things might be tricky then."
However, at this point, he couldn't afford to be distracted. There was someone who needed him more and he had to be there for her. His own mei mei, River.
As always, his thoughts again turned to the steel crate down in the cargo bay. Mal had said the cargo bay was off limits to anyone not accompanied by a crew member but he just had to reassure himself that she was still there, still safe. Simon hurried out, not noticing that another door next to his slid open as well.
Simon nodded at Book sitting in the common room reading his Bible.
"Doctor, how are you this evening?" Book asked.
"Fine, thank you Sheppard, how are you?"
"Very well, there's nothing like the quiet of space to aid mediation." Book replied. "You seem a little tense, is everything all right?"
"Fine, just that I...forgot something earlier in the cargo bay, I'm going to go grab it real fast." Simon had a feeling that the Sheppard knew he wasn't being entirely truthful but was grateful that he chose not to press the point.
Simon walked as quietly as he could to the crate and squatted down. "Oh mei mei", he murmured to the box. "I'm sorry that I've had to put you through all this, what with everything else that's happened. Soon this will be over, I promise." His hand lingered a moment longer on the box. "Sweet dreams, sweet sister."
Simon stood up and turned to see a very irate Malcolm Reynolds.
"Forget your toothpaste?" Mal asked and punched Simon square in the jaw.
Growing up, Simon had his fair share of playground tussles but they mainly had ended before he turned ten. He thought it was probably more because he figured out how to avoid them. Plus, being more academic then athletically minded, those fights he did get into didn't always go well. Most had been simple fights between boys but occasionally someone had mentioned something about his sister. That was enough to usually throw caution to the wind and dive headlong into a fray. Those tended to be more aggressive encounters. Regardless, it had been over ten years since Simon had taken a punch. He'd forgotten how much it hurt.
Staggering to his feet, he exclaimed " Are you out of your mind???"
Mal replied "Just about. What'd you tell them?"
"Tell who?" Simon shot back. If this...man knew anything about Simon, he'd know the last thing he'd be doing would be telling much of anything to anybody.
Mal pulled his gun and Simon felt a twinge of fear. Regardless of being punched, Simon could honestly say he'd never had a gun pulled on him before. If Mal shot him, who'd look after River? He didn't seem like the kind of man who'd kill another without getting his answers but that wasn't much comfort at this moment. Simon resolved to defuse this situation as quickly as possible.
"I've got exactly no time for games" Mal said. "What do they know?"
Simon said the first thing that popped into his head. "You're a lunatic". Mal cocked his pistol. Ok, definitely not the best thing to say to a man aiming a gun at you.
"And you're a gorram fed." Mal growled, the steel back in his eyes.
"Hate to say it Captain..." Book said as he entered the bay "but you're got the wrong man."
Simon and Mal both followed his gaze to the upper catwalk where Dobson stood, pistol in hand.
"Son of a bitch." Mal mumbled.
"Drop that firearm, Captain Reynolds"...
Simon thought the whole thing seemed surreal. How had things spun out of control so fast? All he wanted was to take his sister away from those who were hurting her. For the second time in 5 minutes he was at gunpoint, only this time by an Alliance lawman. Not that it really mattered at this point but he supposed he'd rather be held at gunpoint by Captain Reynolds than Dobson. For a lawman, he certainly seemed unsteady with a gun. It'd be just his luck to be apprehended by a lawman fresh out of the academy. Simon only partially heard Book try and reason with Dobson, only to be rebuffed and have the pistol aimed in his direction for a brief instant. Malcolm also tried reasoning with him only to be rewarded by the pistol swinging back in his direction. This is going to end badly, Simon thought.
"Just take the kid" Malcolm said, grabbing Simon's arms and putting them behind him.
"Take your hands off me", Simon exclaimed.
"What's going o-" Kaylee started to say as she entered from the common room, Jayne right behind.
BANG. Dobson had spun around at the unexpected entrance and fired.
Simon looked first to himself then to Mal next to them, neither had a gunshot wound. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a look of shock cross Kaylee's face before she slumped to the ground. His mind only briefly acknowledged Sheppard Book disarming and knocking Dobson unconscious with a series of moves that few men of God would know.
He rushed to Kaylee's side, Mal right behind him. Gunshot wound to her lower abdomen. Painful, possibly fatal if medical attention wasn't administered quickly. His mind on auto-pilot as the doctor in him took over, he barely registered Inara clambering down the steps to hunch beside him.
Over in the corner, Book and Jayne exchanged heated words regarding Dobson's fate before Zoe took control of the situation.
"Is your infirmary working?" Simon spoke quickly.
"We've got it fully stocked." Mal replied.
Just as they were about to move Kaylee, Wash announced that an Alliance cruiser was requesting them to hold their course for a prisoner transfer.
Simon's blood ran cold. This was it. They'd found him. They'd found her. Death would be preferable to what would happen to River if the feds got their hands back on her. He looked at Kaylee's dazed face then stole a quick glance back at the cryo box. His whole world...sealed in that box. He swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. There was no other way... He made a decision that went against all his medical training, one that would make the crew think he was the most heartless bastard in the 'verse. Let them think that, he only needed to get away.
"Change course." Simon stood up and said. "Run."
If there hadn't been more important things going on and if they hadn't needed him, Simon was sure that Mal would have shot him then and there.
"Hell with you, I'm leaving you with the feds." Mal shot back.
Simon played the card he'd hope never to play in his life. "She's dying, I'll let her die if you don't run. The next few minutes are extremely crucial with a stomach wound like that."
Zoe responded, "You let her die, you'll never make it to the Feds."
"She'll still be dead." Simon replied, hoping the fear inside him couldn't be seen on the outside. River... I have to get her out of here. For her sake...
Mal gave Simon a death glare. "Zoe, tell Wash change course. We're running. You." He pointed at Simon, "Get her to the infirmary."
For the next few hours, Simon worked to rescue Kaylee from death's door. Mal thankfully kept his comments to himself during the operation, tending to Kaylee with a tenderness Simon hadn't seen yet.
After the operation was completed, Simon stripped off his gloves and turned to see Mal striding towards the cargo bay.
"What are you..." Simon started to say, then realized where Mal was heading. The cryo box. "NO, NO, stay away from that!"
The hired muscle Jayne grabbed him from behind. He must have been lurking near the infirmary. Simon struggled against Jayne's half-nelson but wasn't a match for the man's strength.
"No don't!!" Simon cried out as Mal unlatched the box and kicked the top off the crate. Simon struggled fervently against Jayne's grip, trying to reach River. They don't understand, he thought.
While Mal went off on a self-righteous rant, a piercing shriek rang out and Mal jumped back. River...she's awake. Part of Simon was overjoyed that she had awakened. Another part was terrified at additional damage that might have been caused by being awakened so abruptly.
Still crying out, his sister clambered over the side of the box, her naked form shivering violently whether from cold or shock, he couldn't tell. Glancing around with terrified eyes, she shrank back against the crate, whimpering.
Simon broke free of Jayne's slackened grasp and made with way cautiously but quickly to River's side.
"River..." he stammered as he reached out with his hands trembling as much as her body. She twisted and pulled in his gentle grasp before her eyes locked onto his. A flare of recognition flashed across her brown eyes.
"Simon..." she whispered back. "Simon they talk to me! They want me to talk!" River spoke in a voice approaching yelling in the confined cargo bay.
If Simon had cared or paid any attention to the rest of the crew, he would have noticed the stunned and shocked faces on the assembled crew. However, he didn't hear Jayne's quiet cursing or Inara's whispered prayer. He didn't feel Mal's gaze on his back or notice Wash's slack-jawed expression. His whole world was in front of him, in pain, a pain that one of the best trauma surgeons in the 'verse couldn't fix.
"It's ok, it's ok!" Simon spoke quickly trying to reassure her. "I'm here, we're safe, we're safe." He kept repeating this as his sobbing sister clung to him.