Sorry for the late update, but this is double chapter.
"Relax, I had a friend in college that has schizophrenia. And before I realize that, it's been 3 years. He slept my sholder one time, because he saw a spider. And he was looking in his palm and smile at the dead spider. Then he look at me and realize that his palm was empty and he was only imagining it. So he told me and since then I made sure that no one else knew, except his girlfriends. And now why don't you tell us the hall story." He said that looking at Mal.
~6 monts ahead in both worlds~
~Serenity~
In the last 6 monts everything that could go wrong, actually did. Jayne left the crew to join another crew that rob ships. River was getting even more crazy, she injure Simon and almost kill Kaylee, but when Inara question her about the reason, she just replay "she had a bug on her" that made everyone to just drop it. Inara choose to go to a companion camp, a requirement from the guild.
So in a meather of monts, Zoe lost pretty much the entire crew. Only one left, where Shepard and Wash.
Kaylee goes with Simon and River on a deserted moon, unmap. They found a house, where Simon tried to keep River in check and Kaylee away from going crazy. A week after they land, River get into Kaylee room, while she was still asleep. River climb into Kaylees bed, witch woke Kaylee. She hug her and River just let her. Simon get into the room and saw the view and can't help a smile. "I'm sorry." River almost whisper, that made Kaylee hug her even tighter.
After 6 monts of staing together, Kaylee and Simon where even closer and both tried together to keep River safe. One day, Simon took River for a trip around the moon. They found a lagoon not far from the house, that made River behave like a kid on Chrismas day. Knowing she will be alone for few hours, Kaylee tried to made herself busy. Out of a sudden, she heard a knock on the front door. She go to check and when she open the door, all she saw was Alliance guards. Two men push her into the house.
"Hello, I'm the Operative, from Alliance." a tall, muscular and very scary man appear from behind the two soldiers that push Kaylee into the house. "I'm looking for the Tam brothers and I have a very realiable information that I could find them here." He continue and Kaylee was completely scared.
"You better leave this place." A voice made itself heard from behind the group of soldiers. A very familiar voice to Kaylee. It was Zoe. But she appear to be alone.
The Operative turn to Zoe and introduce himself like he did with Kaylee, only this time, he invade Zoe's personal space witch made her to put him on the ground. He get himself back on two feet and wanted to punch Zoe. He was ruthless. Only mistake he made, was to consider Zoe an easy target. She is woman, but a really smart woman. In the moment the Operative move to hit Zoe, all of his soldiers where sent to the ground, unconscious. Zoe was still fighting with the Operative, until he felt to the ground, uneable to move. Zoe came closer to him and just told him "Come close to eather of my friends and next time we will kill you." She left him and goes to Kaylee. They hug and then Kaylee saw the army Zoe came with.
"I get a wave from Inara, about a week ago, about an operative that is send to hunt Simon and River. And he got this location from someone. We had to come." She told Kaylee and hug her again.
"Do you think it was Jayne?" Kaylee was very worried and saw that Zoe kinda feel the same way.
"Let's find Simon and River and leave. They will not be down forever." Zoe inform her and both leave to the location of Tam brothers. But in the moment they left the house, Simon and River where right in front of them, Simon really scared and River still happy.
"Good, Serenity is right behind those trees" Zoe point to a bunch of trees right in front of the house.
The house was surrounded by trees, really thick bunch of trees. After about 2 minutes of walking into the woods, there was Serenity. The group practicly running to the ship. When they get to the cargo bay, Shepard was there, with a gun ready to take down any soldier. He inform Wash about the group getting into the ship.
Kaylee, Simon and River greaded Shepard and Zoe. Wash gread them minutes later in the kitchen. Then they start talking about everything that happen in the last few monts. Kaylee, Simon and River, where the first ones to left, right after Jayne. So, Jayne didn't know where they leave.
"So, what's next?" Kaylee ask the people from the table.
"Inara said that she have some information about Alliance, I think it's a good idea to pay her a visit, maybe she know where Mal is."everyone could hear the lost and sorrow in Zoe's voice at last part.
"And then?" Simon ask the question all had.
"Alliance have a bounty on Mal, bigger then the one on you two. Finding him before anyone else is the main objective. After we get Inara and Mal, maybe even Jayne, we fight back. I'm sick of Alliance soldiers coming after one of us. Fighting back is our only way." Wash pationate speech made everyone feel they have a chance. A good one.
A week later, they get to Inara's moon. Because it was a possibility to be spotted by Alliance, Zoe and Kaylee took the small ship. When they landed, Inara was wainting for them.
"Hey Inara!" Zoe and Kaylee said in the same time. Kaylee hug Inara tight.
"Hey, we need to talk." Inara told them, with a very serious voice.
She invite them into a very nice house. Made by Inara expansive taste. Inara was silent and Zoe could see that she was scared and confused.
"Inara what's going on?" Zoe break the ice and Inara took a deep breath.
"I think I know where Mal is." Her voice break at his name. Both could see that she is really in love with the Captain.
"Will get him back." Kaylee and Zoe said in the same time, Kaylee with a happy voice, but Zoe's was carefull.
"I'm not that sure." At that sentence Zoe broke. "What do you mean? Where is he?" Zoe was now on edge.
"Not where, but when." Inara replay broken and send both women into a spiral of thoughts.
"What?" Zoe ask confused.
"I got a wave from a man that I don't know and he told me that he saved Mal from Alliance. He is a fan of him and he is sorry for the hall think, but Mal's safety is more important for success of the rezistence than a crew or a ship." Inara's voice was broken. She was looking into Zoe's eyes and broke even more.
"Inara, just told me when." Zoe was desperate than made Inara really uncomfortable.
"He said that Mal is on Earth that was, in about 2012, in a place named New York. I don't know the details. He just told me that Mal is safe." Inara replay fast, but her voice was broken.
"I want to talk to that man." Zoe replay ice cold.
"He said his name is Mister Universe. But we can't find him. … I'll try to send him a wave." Inara was now scared of Zoe. Kaylee was silent, lost in her thoughts about Mal and all the time they spent on Serenity. "What if they didn't get to him in time? Where is he? He is alone in a time what they only hear in stories."
~Castle~
It's been six monts from the moment he woke up in a different time. A time that he only heard in stories. He was here. He leave the life of a person from the Earth that was.
Rick and Kate made him feel comfortable, after he told them the hall story. Rick manage to trust him faster then Kate. He manage to talk to Alexis and Martha and he really get to know them. He told them stories about his adventures with his crew. His fights with Alliance, the jobs he take for Badger. How he met every member of his crew and how Shepard, Simon and River manage to become members of his crew from customers. Everytime he talked about Serenity and his crew, he felt them closer to him. He look around the table and saw how they enjoy his stories. He made them get out of their comfort zone and step into something new.
Mal saw how Rick and Kate grew together with every day that past. In just a week after his show up, they start dating. Kate manage to trust him, she even talk to her boss, someone name Montgomery about him and Mal was helping them around. For everyone else, he was Malcom Reynolds, Rick twin, that Martha gave for adoption and after all this time, they reunite.
One day, Alexis came home after school very sad. Mal was in the kitchen, she say "hey" and rush on the stairs.
"Alexis!" Mal yell before Alexis can reach the top floor. She turn a little confused at him.
"What?" she yell back, sorrow filled her voice.
"Can you help me a little. I'm a little confused how this work." He replay out of her sight.
She came down, throw her bagpack on the floor and get into the kitchen. She find him crouched next to washing macine. She smile at his face, "this man is exactly like my dad" came across her mind.
"Let me do that." She told him, a little confused about him being alone in the house. "Are you alone?" he smile and turn to the fridge and open it.
"Yes. Kate and Rick are doing paper work. I think Kate will start shotting if I asked her one more question. Ryan give me a ride here, Martha was here when I get in, but she said that she have a rehearsal and you will be home in few minutes." He come back from the fridge, holding some veggis and some bacon.
"That bad?" she was all smile. "Dad acting like a kid with Kate." Alexis clarified when she saw Mal confused face.
"Somethink like that. Can I ask you a question?" now was her turn to be confused. "Sure."
"Who made you feel so sad?" her face was all kind of red.
"Wh….Wha…. What are … you…. Talk….!" She was lost
"it's so sweet how you do that. You remind me of Kaylee." He was all smile. "Alexis, I know that is not my business, it's your life and I'm pretty sure you could handel yourself better then most people. I'm from another time and place. But that could made me the perfect parter to talk to." She never hear him that serious, just like her dad, this man make her feel safe to talk to him.
"If I told you what I'm about to, I want you to tell me more about Kaylee and River." She inform him, his face lighten and hold his hand in front of her. She shake it, when he added "Deal."
"Ok. It's about a girl. We used to be really good friends. But about 2 monts ago she stopped talking to me. Just like that. And today, right before the last class, another girl came to me and slap me. She and her group was close and when that happen, they start laughing." When she finish, she was really close to burst into tears.
"What happen two monts ago?" Mal ask coming closer to her.
"I don't know." Alexis say that almost yelling. Mal give her a hug and she hug him back.
"Maybe she act like that because she feel that you somehow exclude her from your life." That stopped Alexis from crying and she start thinking.
"Two monts ago… I join the cheearleading squad, she is a cheearleader too, I start working at the school newspaper…. and I start dating Ash." Lost in her thoughts, she felt Mals hand on her shoulders.
"When you start dating Ash" he made a funny face when he pronounce his name, "how much time did you spend with her?" his question made her think a little and realize that she was ignoring her friend. "Why don't you call her and ask her if she want to come over?" with this Alexis get his phone and call her frenemy.
20 minutes later, a knock announce them that her friend is here. Alexis give a look to Mal and open the door. She invite a young girl, about Alexis age, inside. She was a little shorter then Alexis, slimmer, blonde hair and green eyes, but she was wearing make up that make her look a lot older. Mal could swear she was at least 20 years old.
"Mal, this is Melanie. This my friend from 4th grade." Alexis introduce her, but he could see that Melanie was not happy to be here.
"Melanie, this is…" she was stoped by Melanie, "Your father." She replay sharply.
"Actually, I'm her uncle. Alexis, why don't you go and see what's the problem with my laptop" he look at her and she just vanish.
"I'm going home." Melanie said without even looking at Mal.
"Actually Melanie, I already talk to your parents." That made her turn to him and give a death stare. "If you think that will scare me, be my guest. Now, I heard about you bulling my niece and I don't like people who hurt my family." She still look at Mal like she was trying to give him cancer.
"Yeah? And what are you going to do about it?" she was jubilant.
"Me? Nothing." She thought she win this argument. But then the front door open and Kate enter.
"Hey, Mal. What's going on?" she ask a little confused
"Kate, this is Melanie, Alexis friend." Mal introduce Kate to a very bored Melanie.
"Hey, you are a cop!" Melanie, just become interested. "This men just treat me. He said that he will make me suffer if I don't undress myself." That made Kate look very confused at Mal. He was frozen. "What the hell just happen?"
"Actually Melanie. Alexis call me when you came in. I heard the hall conversation you have with both, Alexis and Malcom. I also heard what you did today, how you made a collegue of yours slap Alexis, without a reason. I'm going to call the principal and inform her about your behavior. Oh… " She then turn to Mal "Did you want to press charges?" Mal was confused.
"Him? I'm the victim here" Kate turn to her. "You're a cop, arrest him or something." Kate start to laugh.
Alexis was now behind Melanie. She heard the hall conversation. Kate and Mal looked at her, that make Melanie turn around. She froze.
"What do you think you're doing? You little bitch!" Melanie yell at Alexis, who was holding her phone to her ear. Kate grab Melanie, Mal help her, both carful to not hurt the girl.
Alexis put down the phone. Melanie's face was red. "What the hell are you doing? Do you think…" she take her phone out and look at the screen. She laugh "You call my mother? YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT BITCH! I have my mother at my pinky!" she answer her phone and in about three seconds, her face turn red. She couldn't finish any sentence. She turn at her heals, mumble an "I'm sorry." But before she get ourside the apartment, she turn again, come closer to a frozen Alexis, "I'm really sorry for my behavior, I regret everything and I'll make up to you." Her voice was shaking, Mal and Kate could hear a male voice yelling from the girls phone. That made both look at eachother and shake. "Something bad just happen." Kate whisper to Mal. "I'll fallow her to make sure she's safe." Mal whisper back with a bad feeling.
Melanie was now shaking. She turn to the door, but then turn back to the grown up "What is the address?" her voice was almost a whisper. Kate give her the address, she repeated to the phone that she put her phone back to her pocket.
"My mother will come to pick me up in about 20 minutes. Can I wait her here?" the cocky girl just turn in a shy 5 year old. That made Kate, Alexis and Mal to feel sorry for her. All three give her a smile and invite her in.
In about 20 minutes, they hear the door bell. About a minute later, some was at the door. Kate open it and she invite a woman in.
"My name is Claudia Spade. I'm Melanie's daughter." Kate greed her. Mal came closer.
"I'm Katherine Beckett and this si Malcom, Alexis uncle. Can we talk to you?" Kate invite Claudia to the kitchen.
The woman spot her daughter and Alexis in the living. "Yes, sure."
"I know that Melanie's behavior is unacceptable. But the way she just transform when she talk to her's father made me ask myself about her safety." Claudia realize that both grown up where seriously consearn about her daughter.
"Something happen about two monts ago. I'm not sure what. Maybe Melanie just felt left out, but since then she start acting like a bully. I know it's your daughter but …." Claudia just look at Mal when she..
"Her father is really mad. Alexis call my cell, but I switch it to my husband this morning. I need the international minutes that my phone have. Anyway, when Alexis called, he manage to get me into the conversation. We heard the hall story. How Melanie behave in school, how she talk to both of you and expecially how she talk about me and with Alexis. Two monts ago, her best friend move away and we all found out a tragic news about my father. Those, plus Alexis spending more time with her boyfriend, made my daughter who you saw before. But, my husband and I, have a lot on our heads. We try to keep her away from everythink that could hurt her. It's time to have a serious talk with my daughter. I never hear my husband this mad, like we he start yelling before, but I also heard what he said and I can tell you, that we both love Melanie very much, she is the light of our eyes, but she need to understand that this kind of acting out only make thinks worst. She is safe and she will keep being safe, I can promise you that." They both feel that Claudia was saying the truth, but to make sure, they ask Alexis to keep an eye on Melanie and inform them if she saw any sign of abuse. She didn't saw, but Melanie turn back to her behavior, as soon she understand that Alexis is there for her.
"Where is Rick?" Mal whisper to Kate, as soon as Claudia and Melanie left the apartment.
"He is… fetching a surtain type of pizza, that he say is the best in the world, also it's in Jersey. " she replay with a smile the cover her entire face.
"Naughty, detective." His smile mirroning hers.