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Chapter 9
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Kaylee sat in the lobby of the hotel, wishing they didn't have to go back to the ship quite yet. She could still remember the feel of the soft and silky sheets against her skin and Simon's warm touch from just an hour ago. Closing her eyes and trying to hold onto the sensation, Kaylee smiled softly, thinking of how lucky she really was.
Blinking her eyes open, she let them wander the room, looking for Simon. He had gone to settle their bill and Kaylee watched with an appreciative eye as he stood across the lobby from her now, giving her a more than generous view of his well-defined backside.
Just the thought of his body and the things he could do with it caused a small shiver to race down her spine and suddenly, Kaylee found the prospect of returning to Serenity not in the least bit disappointing.
"Whatever he's paying you, I'll double it."
Interrupted from her deliciously wicked thoughts by a smooth voice off to her right, Kaylee turned abruptly, eyeing the man who had spoken. He was well-dressed, as were most of the patrons at this hotel. Despite the early hour, he was wearing a suit, his shirt white and immaculate, his pants pressed to perfection. Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, "Shenme?"
Sitting beside her, and a bit too close for Kaylee's liking, the man's eyes darted across the lobby to Simon and then back to Kaylee, a leering grin turning up the corners of his mouth. "Trust me," he said, dropping his voice to a husky whisper and edging even closer. "I'm worth it."
Scooting away, Kaylee felt her mouth go dry as she caught on to the other man's meaning. "Look, mister, I'm thinkin' you got the wrong idea 'bout me."
Maintaining his closeness, the man told her, "Come on, babe." Reaching for her hand and grabbing her wrist firmly, he said, "Let me show you what a real Core bred man can do."
Doing her best to pull away, Kaylee said angrily, "It ain't like that. He's my boyfriend."
Snorting derisively, the man sneered as he tightened his hold on her wrist causing a stab of pain to shoot through her arm. "He's not dating you." As his dirty gaze roved over her form, he added slyly, "At least not more than one night at a time."
"Let me go," Kaylee bit out, wrenching her wrist in an effort to pull away.
Yanking on her arm forcefully, the man forced Kaylee against him, his eyes flashing with anger at her resistance. "If you keep refusing, maybe I'll just stop asking," he growled and Kaylee felt her eyes widen at the implication.
Just as she was about to scream for help, throwing any kind of decorum out the window, she heard Simon's steady and strong voice. "Is there a problem here?"
Looking to him with annoyance, the man who had propositioned his girlfriend spat, "No problem, friend. The pia liang de xiao jie and I were just getting acquainted."
Taking a step forward as he still would not release his firm hold on Kaylee, Simon allowed his voice to grow deadly as he said, "Unhand her immediately."
His eyes offering Simon an unspoken challenge, he countered, "You've had your fun. Why do you have to ruin-" The rest of the man's insult was cut off as Simon's fist connected firmly with his face. Reeling back at the ferocity of the blow, the man fell onto the small settee. The hold on Kaylee's hand finally released, she rose swiftly, standing close to Simon's side.
Turning to her, he asked quietly, "Are you all right?"
Nodding once, her eyes were still wide as she looked back to the now very angry hun dan. "I think we better go," she whispered, her voice a bit shaky from the encounter.
Reaching for their bag, Simon's arm was firmly around her waist as he led her towards the door. "I think you're right."
Exiting the building quickly, Simon was so concerned with Kaylee's well-being that he missed the curious pair of eyes that followed him from the room and the muttered curse that issued from the same man's lips.
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"Crazy? Where'd you get to?"
Jayne circled through the cargo bay for the fifth time since returning to the ship. He'd set off as soon as they'd landed, looking for a bit of trim and some fine liquor and had been lucky enough to find both. Of course now he was feeling a might guilty for leaving the moon-brained girl on the boat by her lonesome, but it had only been two days. How much trouble could she really get in?
Grimacing at the thought, Jayne absentmindedly rubbed a hand over the scar she'd given him a few months back and headed for the galley, choosing to pass by the infirmary on the way. Glancing quickly to the dimly lit room as Jayne had assumed it would be the last place River would hide, he stopped abruptly, his mouth falling open with a bit of surprise.
Heading for the hatch, he peered inside and asked, "Crazy? What're ya doin'?"
River was lying on the exam table in the middle of the room, perfectly still and perfectly awake. Her eyes stared at the ceiling above, her body unmoving and Jayne wondered if perhaps she weren't having some type of relapse.
Cautiously, he entered the room and asked again, "River?"
"Guinea pigs have no choice." Her voice was thready as though she were fighting to keep it steady and Jayne felt an uncomfortable tightness form in his chest at the sound. "I have a choice."
"Ya got plenty o' choices," he reassured, not at all sure why he felt the need to pull her back from whatever insane precipice she'd wandered upon. Moving to her side, he tentatively reached for her hand, surprised by how cold she was. "Like now for instance," he continued, pretending not to be affected by her odd state. "You're choosin' to be all morbid an' creepifyin'."
With a heavy sigh that seemed too belabored for her frail form, River rolled her head to the side, regarding him intently. "The truth is not morbid or creepy, Jayne. It simply is."
Yeah, just like you're simply crazy, Jayne wanted to retort, but fought the urge. Tugging gently on the hand he held, he told her, "C'mon, I'll make ya some breakfast. I'm bettin' you ain't 'et since I left."
Rising slowly, River hopped down lightly off the table and headed out the door, seemingly oblivious to how strange her behavior had really seemed or how much it had unnerved the big man. "Your cooking is morbid, however," she shot back at him over her shoulder. "I do not wish to be an experiment for that." Heading up the stairs towards the galley she was out of sight in seconds, leaving a truly baffled mercenary in her wake.
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Inara awoke to the steady sound of Mal's heartbeat. Smiling softly, she kept her eyes closed, content to listen to the gentle thump-thump for the rest of her days. She had never felt so safe or secure; his arm was still around her shoulders, his other hand clutching the one she had placed across his chest. And she was warm; so warm, she knew her cheeks were probably flushed, but she had no intention of moving.
But even with her eyes closed and her deep-seated desire to maintain the perfection of the moment, Inara remembered the events of the previous night and felt more tears sting her eyes. Vivi was gone, and whether or not Mal had understood all the hateful things Marina had said, Inara's secret was out.
Sniffling, she rubbed her cheek against Mal's chest, trying to get closer, as though there was still an inch of space between them. Her slight movement caused him to stir and with a small sigh he opened his eyes slowly. Catching sight of the dark, curly head of hair splayed out across his chest, he felt the smallest smile creep onto his face. Dropping his lips to her scalp, he whispered, "Mornin', beautiful."
Smiling despite her sadness at his offhanded sweetness, Inara tilted her head back and pressed a long, warm kiss to his cheek. "Good morning," she murmured, resting her forehead in the crook of his neck.
It took Mal a few more minutes to become fully awake and in that time he felt a spectrum of emotions. The first was unbridled happiness that he had awoken with this incredible woman lying tight in his arms. Of course, the joy gave way to panic that he would mess it up which quickly transformed into disbelief that it might all be a dream and then finally swung back to plain old nervousness. Swallowing thickly, he made no move to unwrap his arms from her, but instead cleared his throat …
… And was prevented from saying anything when Inara's finger pressed against his lips. "Please don't," she murmured, her eyes back on his face. Propping herself up on one elbow so she could look into those blue eyes, she said softly, "Please don't tell me you regret this or make some hurtful comment." Caressing his cheek, the feel of his slight stubble under her hand caused her to shiver with delight. "I want-"
"What, bao bei?" Mal reached for the hand against his cheek, kissing it lightly before resting it over his heart. His gaze piercing her with its intensity, he asked again, "What do you want, 'Nara? Tell me."
Swallowing hard, Inara's heart fluttered in her chest. Vivi's words rang through her head, reminding her that keeping her feelings locked away was selfish and cowardly. Closing her eyes, Inara resolved to keep her promise from the night before; she was going to stop pretending.
"I want to keep waking up next to you." The words were soft and a bit shaky, but Mal heard them and his heart leapt in his chest. Slowly, Inara reopened her eyes as she felt his hand curl around the back of her neck, his fingers slipping through her curls. Gently guiding her face to his, Mal could not contain his glee. "That's what I wan' too, 'Nara," he whispered, his breath warm against her mouth.
Surrendering to the undeniable emotion she felt, Inara sank into his embrace and kissed him hungrily. She possessed his mouth with her own, her tongue and lips seeking to find solace and comfort in his. Moving her hands to his face, Inara cradled both cheeks in her hands, moaning softly when Mal's strong arms encircled her and he rolled her over, pressing her back into the soft mattress.
His warm, bare skin was pressed against her now and Inara craved the sensation. Running her hands down his muscled back, she caressed every inch of skin she could find, amazed at how good it felt. She had never been with a man she loved before and she found the experience more than a little overwhelming.
Mal's lips trailed from her mouth down her neck, his light stubble scratching a line down her smooth skin. Trembling from the sensation, Inara actually cried out as his lips and teeth closed over a sweet spot on her neck and lavished it with attention. With skill, Mal bathed the area with his tongue, tasting the incredible mixture of perfume, incense and Inara and then sucked on the flesh, knowing he would leave a mark.
As Inara's hands dug into his shoulders due to the incredible sensations he was causing within her, Mal allowed one hand to drift over her thin nightgown, cupping her breast in his hand and pinching her nipple between his fingers. When she mewled again, this time a deep and throaty sound, he felt his own arousal stiffen, and groaned in response.
Panting, Inara felt every inch of him as he continued his ministrations. She wanted to feel more; she desperately wanted Mal to make love to her, to fill her completely and push her into a state of pure ecstasy before she did the same for him. But it was all too much, too fast and without much warning, Inara heard a sob escape her lips and whimpered when the noise pulled Mal's mouth from her skin.
His eyes dark with desire now lighted with a hint of concern as he pulled away to see tears again running down her face. "Bao bei?" he whispered, turning her face back to him so he could look into her eyes. "Did I hurt ya?" he asked, fear consuming him.
Shaking her head, Inara fought to rein in her emotions and found the effort completely useless. "No, no," she murmured, running a light hand over his shoulder and down his chest to his heart. "I just … I …" The words again died in her throat and Inara felt overwhelming grief and fear grip her.
Turning away from him, Inara rolled onto her side, her face buried in her pillow as more tears came. Mal let her go still a bit baffled until, like a heel, he remembered why they were on Sihnon in the first place.
Silently cursing himself for his stupidity and his animalistic behavior, Mal spooned himself against her and murmured, "I am an idiot." When Inara only continued to sob, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close. "M'sorry, 'Nara. It weren't the right time an' I never shoulda-"
"Don't, Mal, please." Her plea stole the rest of his apology and he waited as she rolled around to face him. "I want you," she whispered, the words hitching in her throat as another sob caught them. "I do, so badly, but I just … Not right now," she finished in a whisper, more tears falling.
"I know, 'Nara. I'm sorry, I jus' …" Mal brushed some of her curls behind her ear, resting his hand against her shoulder and Inara felt the heat from his palm radiating through her. "Well, you're so gorram beautiful, I jus' got a mite carried away."
Smiling weakly, Inara brushed a kiss to his mouth and then whispered, "Can you just hold me?"
The pure vulnerability in her voice and the look of pain in her eyes tugged at Mal's heart in ways he never would have suspected. Wordlessly, he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tight, thanking a God he no longer believed in for Inara's presence in his life.
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"Kaylee, let me take a look, please."
"No, Simon. It ain't nothing."
With a frustrated sigh, Simon followed her hurriedly up the ship's open ramp, more than confused by her reaction. As they'd left the hotel she had been practically glued to his side and Simon had felt the small tremors of fear that raced through her due to her encounter with that hun dan.
But the closer they'd gotten to the ship, the more distant she'd become until she was rushing ahead of him and refusing to let him treat what he assumed was a sprained wrist.
Catching up with her in the middle of the cool bay, he reached for her other hand and spun her around. "Kaylee, please." Taking a step closer, Simon rested his hands lightly on her shoulders, wishing she would look at him. "I just want to be sure you're all right."
"I'm shiny, Simon," she muttered and then turned away hurrying from the room.
About to follow and demand some answers, Simon's path was blocked by his wisp of a sister. Frowning at her, he was about to order her out of his way, when she cocked her head to the side and said, "Old friends don't forget."
"What?" he questioned, wishing he had the patience to decipher his sister's words. "Riv-"
"Simon?"
The sound of a deep and familiar male voice set Simon on edge. Eyes wide and heart racing, he turned slowly on his heel to take in the visitor and found his head swimming as recognition came. Taking a hesitant step forward, he breathed, "Mica?"
Grinning, his old friend walked forward and hugged him quickly, clapping him soundly on the back before releasing him. "Tam, I can't believe it's you," he said jovially, eyes shining with mirth and disbelief. "How've you been?"
Frowning, Simon decided to lie and said, "Just fine. And you?"
Nodding once, the man surveyed his surroundings, answering absentmindedly, "Good. Good." Seeming to finally realize how out of place his old friend was on such a ship, Mica looked back to Simon and asked, "What in the hell are you doing on this scrap heap?"
Instantly defensive, Simon bit out, "It's not a heap, Mica. It's my home." Glancing over his shoulder, he saw his sister hovering in a shadow and added, "It's our home."
Following his gaze, Mica's breath caught in his throat. "Is that River?" he asked quietly, stepping around Simon and approaching her hiding spot as a hunter might approach his prey. Reaching out a hand, palm up, he beckoned, "River, don't you remember me?"
"Memory serves, doesn't forget." Her voice was disembodied as she sunk further into the dark crevice. "Cutting and probing, testing."
Even more on edge at her choice of words, Simon stepped between Mica and his sister and asked, "Listen, it's not that I'm not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?"
Forcing his gaze away from River's trembling form, the other man smiled again and this time Simon caught the tension in his eyes. "I caught sight of you and your lady friend back at the hotel." As Simon cringed at the memory Mica assured, "Trust me, I would have pummeled him a good deal harder than you did."
Resting a hand to Simon's shoulder as he recovered from his embarrassment, Mica steered him back towards the center of the cargo bay, throwing a cursory glance back to River in the process. Lowering his voice, he confided, "Listen, Simon, I've heard the stories. About Miranda and the Alliance." Again glancing in River's direction, he added quietly, "About what they did to her. What she can do."
Simon's throat constricted as his own memories of what had been done to his baby sister came rushing to the surface. Focusing back on his friend, he felt the air rush from his lungs as Mica asked, "Is it true?"
Wondering why he was so curious, Simon answered guardedly, "Some of it is, most of it, really." Furrowing his brown, Simon again positioned himself between Mica and River, uncomfortable with the thought that his old friend was so close. "Why?"
His voice lowering even more, Mica began to explain, his eyes lighting with an excitement that Simon recognized as professional pride. "Since you left Osiris, I've made great leaps in my research."
Simon's mind struggled to remember just what his friend's area of interest had been and felt his heart thud sharply against his ribcage when he remembered – neuroscience. Unheeded by his friend's pale countenance, Mica continued, "I've learned staggering things about the human brain and how it works."
Stepping back towards where River was still hiding, he whispered, "But there's so much more to learn." Looking back at Simon, he admitted, "If even half of what I've heard about River is true, then she could be the key to finally unlocking the secrets of the human brain."
Fists clenching at his sides, Simon asked evenly, "What do you want, Mike?"
Looking to him, eyes shining with the thought of success, he said, "To study her, Simon. If I took River back to Osiris, back to the hospital, there are things-"
"No!"
With a graceful leap, River had ascended upon them, kicking out towards Mica and causing him to stumble backward or suffer her foot in his solar plexus. Eyes blazing with anger, she approached him, growling, "Not going back. Not a guinea pig."
"I just want to help. We can help each other." Mica's voice was almost desperate now as he watched the young girl whom he'd seen dance with the grace of an angel advance on him with the fury of a hornet's nest. "If I can understand you then-"
"No one can understand," River ground out, blocking out the shock of pain she felt from Simon at her words. Her poor brother; he wanted to believe he could understand, that he could fix it. But it was not meant to be. Humpty Dumpty had had a great fall and all the king's horses and all of Simon's drugs could not put her back together again. "Broken beyond repair."
Eyes still filled with determination, she whispered vehemently, "No more needles, no more tests." Backing up once, she looked to Simon with a pure plea in her eyes, one that made his heart hurt, before rushing up the closest set of metal stairs and fleeing the room, the sound of her echoing footsteps all that was left of her.
Mica watched her go, his heart falling as he realized he'd just lost his only chance at truly completing his life's work. Simon watched her go, his heart breaking as he realized he would never again have back the sister he'd grown up with.
The two men stood in a stunned silence, before Simon finally said, "I think you'd better go."
Looking to him quickly, Mica said nothing, but simply headed for the ramp while Simon watched another piece of his old life leave him behind.
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Simon made sure the ship was locked up good and tight, his encounter with Mica shaking him more than he wanted to admit, before heading towards his bunk. Dumping his and Kaylee's bag into the empty room, he released a sigh. Although he was tired, he couldn't bear the thought of lying in his bunk alone; he wanted Kaylee, wanted to be sure she was all right.
Turning out of the passenger dorms, he almost headed straight for the engine room, assuming that's where she'd be when something told him to stop by the infirmary. Going for his bag, as he hoped Kaylee would let him take a look at that wrist, he froze in the doorway as his eyes set upon her.
She was still shaking a bit, cradling her injured hand to her chest and sniffling lightly. Feet swinging off the edge of the exam table, she turned to face him as she heard his sharp intake of breath. Smiling weakly, she murmured, "It hurts," gesturing to her wrist.
Returning her smile with a sympathetic one of his own, Simon moved to her side quickly, pressing a light kiss to her forehead before gently taking her hand in his. Turning it over, he tried to pull lightly on her fingers, and stopped when he heard Kaylee wince. Muttering an apology, Simon turned the wrist, noting the way Kaylee's body tensed as he pushed it too far.
Holding their palms together, he looked in her green eyes and felt the breath rush out of his lungs. The look of sadness in her features made his heart and head ache. Swallowing back his impulse to hold her and never let go, Simon said quietly, "I want you to push against my hand as hard as you can, all right?"
She nodded once, biting her lower lip as she obeyed his order, crying out softly as the effort finally made her wrist throb. "Okay, okay," Simon whispered, gently placing her hand in her lap before moving to get a bandage.
Returning to her side, he sat on the stool and began to wrap her wrist saying, "It's just a mild sprain. In a few days, it should be fine."
She watched him in silence, her heart touched by the gentle way he cared for her, by the look of compassion in his gaze. It was one of the main things Kaylee loved about him, his capacity to love. Despite all Simon knew of the 'verse, despite everything that had happened to his sister, his heart had not hardened or shriveled, it had simply grown a bit wary, choosing those it would love with a critical eye and Kaylee was honored to know she was a part of that inner sanctum.
As his eyes remained focused on his work, a question that had been bothering her since the hotel fell from her lips. "Do I really look like that?"
Looking up to her, Simon asked softly, "Shenme?"
Swallowing thickly, she couldn't look into those deep blue eyes, her shame overwhelming her. "Do I really look like a jian huo?"
Simon's mouth fell open as her question left him speechless and Kaylee feared his response. Interpreting his hesitation as confirmation, she said hurriedly, "I know I sometimes act a mite too excited an' I can get awful worked up, but I ain't really like that." Her eyes finally meeting his, she pleaded, "You know that, right? I ain't some-"
Simon propelled himself to his feet, kissing her firmly and swallowing the rest of her words. Kaylee leaned into him, sighing into his mouth as his kiss grew more passionate. Winding her good hand around his neck and into his hair, she lazily traced her tongue along his lower lip and Simon's lips parted easily, their breaths mingling, the taste and feel of Simon overwhelming her.
Forced to part for air, Kaylee rested her forehead to his cheek and forced back a sob. "I really ain't like that," she murmured.
"Of course not," Simon assured. Tracing her ear with his finger, Simon's hands rested against her cheeks and he pulled her back slightly so he could again meet her gaze. Studying every inch of her and again wondering how he could ever have gotten so lucky to have her, Simon said softly, "You are the most beautiful, caring, loving and amazing woman I have ever known." A lone tear leaked down her cheek at his words and Simon caught it deftly with the pad of his thumb.
"That hun dan at the hotel made an assumption he had no right to make," Simon told her firmly. "Wo ai ni, Kaylee," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips before sitting back on the stool and finishing his wrapping, his eyes never leaving hers.
Waiting until he was done, Kaylee slid off the exam table and into Simon's lap, her arms wrapping firmly around his neck and her face buried into his shoulder. Simon held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head while the other rubbed small, soothing circles along her back. "Meili Kaylee," he murmured against her ear, pressing soft kisses to her cheek and hair. "There aren't words to describe how much I love you," he added with a sigh, squeezing her tight.
Releasing a sigh of her own, Kaylee tightened her hold on him and whispered against his neck, "I love you, Simon. I ain't never loved anybody as much as I love you."
Smiling softly at her words, Simon was about to offer her another reassurance, when the sound of a throat clearing interrupted them. Turning towards the door, they were met with one of Jayne's annoyed scowls. "'Nara's ma passed," he told them gruffly, immediately noting the tears that welled in Kaylee's eyes. "We got a funeral to go ta."
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