Chapter 2
Mal stormed into Weir's office more angry than he could ever remember. If the old saying of being so mad you saw red was true, then he clearly was there.
"Captain Reynolds?" Dr. Weir looked rather shocked to see him.
"What'da ya mean tossin' Inara out!" he shouted.
She rose from behind her desk a no nonsense look on her face. "I am not tossing Inara out." Elizabeth came around it to directly face him. "I told her she had to stop practicing her 'art' or else leave the city. I also told her she didn't immediately have to leave."
"That ain't the way I heard it."
Poor Kaylee had been tears when she'd told him. He tried to calm her down and ended up having to find Simon to get her quieted down. Mal didn't want his engineer getting so upset she'd loose her baby.
"Captain Reynolds," she paused. "Mal, I can't afford to loose even one person. We're among the few surviving human colonies and we have a responsibility to re-establish our race."
"She ain't hurtin' no one."
Elizabeth took a deep breath. "I've had a number of complaints."
"From whom?" He wanted to take his anger out on someone!
"From a number of single women." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm under no obligation to give you names, but as the leader here, I had to act."
He snorted. They were as bad here as in his own time.
"Inara is free to stay if she finds another profession."
"Companion is an honorable profession," he defended even as he wanted to take back every time he'd called her a whore.
"But not acceptable in Atlantis."
"You throw her out, I'm goin', too." He cringed inwardly. Hadn't Inara threatened to do the same once?
"I'd hate to loose you." She uncrossed her arms and reached out to lightly touch his arm. "You're a great asset here. Not to mention one of our best pilots."
"So I'm of value and she ain't."
"I never said that." She glanced down. "Problem is, I don't know if she'd be accepted anywhere. Most of the cultures we've encountered so far seem to have very strict social guidelines."
"Then where's she supposed to go?"
"I don't know."
"Kaylee, are you alright?" Inara rushed into the couple's quarters. She found her friend lying quietly on her bed.
"Fine," she groused. "Simon's makin' me rest for awhile."
"I heard what happened." The whole city had, that was why Inara had come as soon as she'd been told.
"Cap'n's mad. Went to see Dr. Weir."
Inara didn't imagine that went well. Mal could do or say stupid things when he got angry. Serenity's crew was pretty much at the mercy of Atlantis's good will. Maybe she should talk to the leader.
"Feeling better, Kaylee?" Simon poked his head into their bedroom. The companion noted his worried expression.
"Can I git up now?"
"No," he gently admonished. "I want you to stay there."
"Fine," she sulked kicking at the covers.
Inara smiled. Kaylee was a bundle of energy and always on the move. Staying still would be punishment for her.
"Hi, Inara," Simon greeted her, coming in to sit beside his wife.
"Hello, Simon." She smoothed her blue silk skirt.
"I can't imagine Captain Reynold's meeting with Dr. Weir went very well." Simon grinned even though she was sure he hadn't meant to.
"Well," she agreed. "we all know he doesn't negotiate very well."
"Cap'n negotiates just fine," Kaylee objected.
"Sure, when he has the odds on his side, which isn't very often, and if he can use that gun of his," Simon reminded Kaylee.
"That ain't fair."
"What is?" He gently pushed the hair away from his wife's face. Inara glanced away suddenly jealous. She so longed for someone to care about her that way.
"Have you thought about what you're going to do, Inara?"
She turned her attention to the young doctor. "Not yet."
Kaylee grabbed her hand. "Please, stay, Inara. I needs ya."
"You have Simon."
"But he ain't like havin' you around." Her brown eyes pleaded. "You're like a sister ta me."
The words touched Inara and she felt tears sting her dark eyes. "Oh, xiao Meimei."
"We'll all talk to Dr. Weir," Simon promised. "Convince her that making you leave is a mistake."
"I need ya here, Inara. I surely do." Kaylee squeezed the hand she still held.
Inara squeezed back. Could she change her profession and accommodate the request made of her? For Kaylee's sake? For her own? She just didn't know.
Jayne was happy. In fact, he couldn't really think of when he had been lately. No more running from the Alliance. No more bad plans gone wrong. No more crazy girl making their lives nuts. But then, he did have to watch for those hungry Wraith and not get the life sucked out of him or anyone he was responsible for keeping safe.
"What's the hold up?" he shouted at McKay.
The scientist glared back at him. He knew Rodney didn't much like him. The little man had protested very loudly when the mercenary had been assigned to the security detail attached to their expedition.
"That gun happy baboon will get us all killed!" he'd yelled at Colonel Sheppard.
Sheppard had just grinned. "Just the kind of back up you need in the event you run into the Wraith. He'll shoot first, second and third and then maybe ask questions."
"Nah," Jayne had said. "Just throw a gernade at them."
"See?" John had spread his hands. "Perfect."
"That isn't the way it works," Rodney argued dragging Jayne's attention back to the present.
"Yes, it is." Sam turned the device they'd been studying to the right and a distinct click was heard.
"I'm still smarter than you." McKay had almost a little boy look.
"What's it supposed to do?" The mercenary poked at it with the gun barrel.
"Stop that! You'll damage it, you big over grown,"
"Rodney," Sam's voice held a warning. "Be nice to him."
"No."
"Don't matter." It didn't really. Jayne was used to folks being not nice to him.
"Yes, it does. Hmmm." A bright light began to glow. "What do you make of that?"
He suddenly grabbed the two of them and shoved them behind a big boulder. A loud boom vibrated tossing dust, leaves, and who knew what else into the air. When it stopped they poked their heads up to see what was left.
"Turn it to the right." McKay put his hands on his hips. "You should have listened to me. I've been in the Pegasus galaxy longer than you have."
Sam glared back at him. "And I've been on more off world missions than you have.""
"Says you!"
"Says me! And I out rank you!"
"This is my expedition!"
Jayne squeezed off a round into the air. They both jumped and rounded on him.
"What was that for!" Sam demanded.
He shrugged. "Thought it was a good way to stop you two yammerin' at each other." He pointed. "Made a big hole."
"Yeah. It did," she agreed.
"Should have listened," McKay muttered again while he hurried over to check out the hole
Sam sighed and followed.
"Be glad to go back so's I don't have ta listen ta ya all bicker anymore." He took his place not far away where he could watch and make sure no one jumped them. He'd had enough surprises for one day.
Mal stood on the balcony his eyes not really seeing the sun reflect off the waves sending rainbow light into the air. His thoughts brooded on Inara and what he'd do if she slipped out his life a second time.
"I'm going to have a baby," Zoe announced as she joined him.
"What?" Her shocking pronouncement jolted him out of his dark thoughts.
His second in command smiled in a prideful motherly sort of way. "I'm going to have a baby."
"Been seein' someone I don't know about?" It stung to think of her with anyone but Wash.
"No." She quickly filled him in on the details. "They're goin' to put my baby inside me in a couple of days."
"You want this?" He'd counted on having her at his side in the event of an armed confrontation. If that is what it would take to keep Inara in Atlantis. Zoe wouldn't willingly put her baby at risk. And he didn't want her to. "You heard what Weir told Inara."
"I have, sir." She drummed on the rail as if uneasy about something. "If you don't mind me sayin', you could put a stop to it."
"I planned on it."
"You don't understand."
"I'll hold Weir hostage if I have ta."
"Wouldn't advise it. Sheppard will shot you if he has to."
Deep down he knew that. John would do anything to protect Dr. Weir.
"What I was goin' to suggest," Zoe continued. "Is that you give Inara a reason to stay."
"Kaylee's all the reason she needs."
"Men," Zoe muttered under her breath.
River giggled as Sara and Shelly played a game of chase around what they called 'The Garden Room'. Mike sat on the sidelines disdainfully ignoring them. Sara ducked behind one of the potted plants trying to dodge Shelly who tagged her.
"You're it!"
"Not for long!"
The two girls took off at a run again their happy laughter filling the room. River sank cross legged on the floor seriously contemplating the ball and several jacks sitting there.
"I played that game when I was younger," Cassie said as she sat down across from her.
"Kaylee and I played it on Serenity."
"It's just a kids game."
"You do a lot of things on the ship for entertainment." She bounced the ball and picked up the first jack. "Captain Reynolds and the others even played what you call basketball."
"Can't imagine being that bored."
River looked at the other young woman knowingly. "You've never had to spend months cooped up in a firefly."
"I've been on the Deadalus."
"Only for a few weeks." The two of them though close to the same age hadn't really become friends. They'd spent some time together, but mostly involved in some activity with the children.
"Whatever." Cassie stretched. River sensed resentment about something. The blonde however had learned how to block so she couldn't read her mind and find out.
"There's a plant blooming," Shelly shouted grabbing Cassie and River's hand and trying to drag them up.
"Just a sec,' Cassie protested. She gracefully rose to her feet.
They followed Shelly to a tank of flowers. Sure enough a flower was just beginning to open its red petals.
"Isn't it pretty?" Sara asked.
"What did you find?" John joined them giving them all a warm smile.
"See. Flower!" Sara beamed at the soldier.
"You're right." He kneeled down so he was eye level with the little girl.
He's going to make a wonderful father one day, River thought watching him with Sara and Shelly. She glanced over at Cassie and suddenly understood why the other girl resented her. "I'm sorry. I didn't now," she said.
Cassie stared in horror at her. She quickly covered herself by yelling. "I don't know what you're talking about!" And stalked away.
"What was that all about?" John looked at Cassie puzzled and glanced up to met River's eyes.
"She likes you."
"Oh." He got up and suggested. "Why don't I take everyone down to the cafeteria and we all have ice cream."
The girls jumped up and down and Mike suddenly took an interest. After John got the children settled at a table he took River aside to another. He sat down across from her.
"I didn't know Cassie liked me."
River took a bit of chocolate ice cream. She closed her eyes savoring the taste. She hadn't had the sweet stuff since - what ? Her thirteenth birthday party?
"I didn't either," she finally answered, taking another spoon full.
"Sam's gonna kill me."
"You haven't done anything wrong."
He seemed to consider that and took a bit of ice cream himself. "Call me crazy but I really do like vanilla."
"Most popular flavor."
"Even in your time?"
She smiled and nodded.
John reached across and took her hand. "Wish I hadn't promised your brother I'd wait a couple of years before we got married."
"Simon just wants to make sure you're serious."
"He thinks you're too young for me and hopes I'll find someone else."
She couldn't resist teasing him about what she'd heard. "Well, I hear ascended women have quite a thing for you."
He laughed.
Inara sat in the dark listening to the breeze and the sound of the waves crashing against the lower docks of the city. She'd canceled all her appointments for the evening. She needed time to meditate.
Carefully she placed incense in holders adding the sharp smell of sandalwood to the salty air. Taking the lotus position she closed her eyes and thought of nothing but the steady rthym of her own breathing.
Unwanted thoughts of Kaylee's pleas entered her mind, followed by moments she'd always cherish with Mal. His hand on her shoulder when he'd told her to get to her shuttle and that they'd try to lure away the Reavers. Her deeply hurt feelings when he'd slept with her close friend. Stunned shock when he'd come to rescue her himself from the Alliance operative. Touched that he'd allowed her to stay afterward. And the night he'd almost confessed his love for her before Wan had interrupted them by knocking over all of Wash's dinosaurs.
She shook herself awake aware of a warm furred body on her lap. "Hello, Wan."
The cat purred loudly, butting her head against Inara's hand. She scratched behind the cat's ear and yellow eyes closed contentedly.
"I think you interrupted us on purpose aboard Serenity. Did you?"
A paw wrapped itself around her wrist. Since she wasn't a reader like River she had no idea if that was an answer or not.
She sighed. "Maybe it was better that you did. I think Mal would have denied it all the next morning."
Wan opened her eyes and blinked. A pink tongue licked the companion's finger.
"I'm surprised you aren't with River."
Inara got the impression that Wan knew she was needed here tonight.
"You're right there. I do need the company. Thank you."
The cat's purr increased in volume and the companion wanted to both laugh and cry.
Morning brought a rare storm. Rain drizzled down over the city and deep thick clouds obscured the normally beautiful view. John stood before the large window of the 'garden room' scowling. He sipped the hot strong brew trying to wake up.
"Morning, John." River appeared beside him.
"Mornin'," he mumbled. Smelling chocolate he spared a glance at the cup she held. It had marshmellows bobbing around in it.
"I like hot chocolate."
"Guess it's better than being addicted to caffience."
"We drank a lot of tea. Sometimes coffee."
"Can't imagine a place where coffee doesn't rule."
"My time is different."
"Yeah, I know."
He found a chair. There were a few scattered about. The room was a favorite place to hang out. River found another and sat beside him.
They sat in companionable silence as drops splattered against the glass.
"You still want me to read the Wraith." Her voice broke the moment.
"I was trying not to think about that." He rubbed his eyes.
"You're worried." She set her cup aside and pulled the cream colored shawl she wore more tightly around her shoulders.
"Cold?"
"Sort of."
John wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms. He wasn't sure why he didn't.
"We've got to find out why they haven't attacked us." The need to know nagged at him.
"They're afraid."
"Of us?"
She shook her head. "I'm not sure. Too far away."
How had her hand found its way to his? He stared at their fingers intertwined. It was so natural it scared him.
"It's okay, John."
"Reading my thoughts again?"
"Yes." She got up and kneeled in front of him. "We belong together."
"You're so young."
"I don't feel young."
They'd talked for many hours so he knew why she said that. He'd found out more about what the Alliance had done to her than probably even her brother Simon knew. He also knew about much of her life growing up in a time he didn't really understand but accepted because he loved her.
"I'll talk to Simon. We need to know why the Wraith are staying away."
"I can't put you in danger." He touched her face.
"You know I can defend myself."
"Yeah. I know." That part really disturbed him.
"You have no reason to fear me."
He knew that, too. In answer he leaned down and lightly kissed her. "Let's go wake up your brother."
