Hi everyone! The last chapters were mostly action but I promise the next chapter will be a lot of Mal and Inara!

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Blake's ship

'Well, well, well. Look at you. Another fine specimen of them Companions.' Blake said as he walked around Inara. They had strapped her to a chair in the middle of an old empty room. He looked her up and down and smiled as he saw the angry look she gave him.

'What is it that you want?' Inara asked in a controlled voice. She felt anger.

'I want Sivella.'

'Why? What do you want from her?' Inara would really like to know what was going on.

'You were on that piece of scrap metal with her for days and you don't know?' He grinned widely as he looked in the distance. 'It must be true then. She is ashamed of what she did.' He bended towards her. 'That's a very good sign. It means that she didn't get any help.'

'She does have help, from us.' Inara stated.

'You would help your friend while you don't even know what she's done?' Blake asked. 'I don't know whether to call that courageous, or just plain stupidy.' He straightened himself. 'I choose the latter.'

'You will not get away with this.' Inara said.

Blake laughed out loud and then he sighed. He brought his face to her eye level. 'I'll tell you what I want. Once I have that bitch I'll beat her until she can't stand no more, and then I'll take a very large knife and tear her apart before I break all the bones that haven't been broken in her wretched body.'

Inara looked away at that.

'Are you shocked? Sweet Companion?' He said challengingly as he took her face to make her face him.

Inara felt his filthy fingers push in the soft skin of her chin and jaw.

'The Guild won't let you.' Inara said as she conrolled her voice again. She didn't want him to hear her fear.

He smiled broadly and sighed. 'She didn't inform the Guild sweety. Think about why she didn't, it's because she did things they would never approve of. No one would.' He straightened his back as he let go of her forcifully.

What would Sivella have done that she didn't want anyone to know, even the Guild? Was it something that worse?

He began to pace again. He laughed out loud. 'They will be glad that someone else handled this. Glad to be rid of her. They won't even miss her.' He said with a glare. 'And now, it won't take long anymore. I saw the look in your Captain's eyes. He will do everything to get that whore to me in return for you.'

'You're wrong, he won't.' Inara bit at him. But she knew Mal would do everything possible indeed to keep her from harm. And although she was in a horrible situation, that quick thought made her feel a rush of warmth in her heart shortly.

'He will. You better hope he will.' Blake said as he bended over to her. 'Because if he won't, I'll start sending him pieces of you. And something tells me, he wants you in one piece.' He said as his finger played with her earlobe. She pulled away from his hand by facing the other side angrily.

She couldn't believe Sivella had done anything wrong. But then she remembered Sivella's painful words. The ones that said that they weren't friends anymore, for a very long time already. And that she had used her. The cold look in her eyes, that side of Sivella that Inara didn't know.

And there had to be a reason that Sivella hadn't informed the Guild. And that made Inara fear that Sivella had done something very wrong… If she had angered a man like this-

Hotelroom

Sivella turned surprised when she heard stumbling in the hallway. Her breath caught in her throat when she heard two sets of heavy footsteps. Her eyes went to her cupboard as she froze in her spot. It was probably nothing. Did they find her? Every sound, every noise made her jump. It was nothing.

Her door slammed open and before she knew it she was pressed up against the cold wall and looked in two aggressive eyes filled with fury.

'Where is Inara!' Mal shouted as he looked in Sivella's dark eyes. Finally they had found her.

'Mal.' Sivella swallowed. Her eyes went to the other person and she recognised Zoe.

'What is this supposed to mean?' She asked confused. She didn't dare to move. So much anger was radiating from him.

His nostrils widened. 'I won't ask you again!'

'Don't threaten me.' Sivella stated angrily as she answered Mal's angry stare.

'Threaten you? Woman, you haven't seen the way of it! If Inara is hurt in any way-' He stated as she felt the grip on her blouse become even tighter.

'-Inara?! What are you talking about?!' Sivella snapped.

'A bunch of men came and took her.' Zoe clearified angrily from behind Mal.

Sivella inhaled breath and shock was written over her whole face and in her eyes. After a few seconds she masked this with an tranquill expression. 'You can let go of me now.' She stated in a calm voice.

Mal looked daringly at her and kept her pinned to the wall. 'You don't get to manipulate me into anything no more. Answer the question before I'm going to hurt you, because believe me, when it's about Inara I'll even hurt a woman or Companion, I don't care!'

'I know that.' Sivella said as she looked him in his eyes. 'I know you might think the worst of me now, but this was not supposed to happen.' Sivella stated.

'You know them.' Mal concluded.

'Yes, they are after me.' She said softly as she looked away.

'And now they took Inara.' Mal said bitterly.

'I never wanted this.' Sivella said as she shook her head and looked up at Mal with big eyes. She still felt his iron grip that held her to the wall.

'What did you want then? You used her remember?!' Mal snapped.

'No I DID NOT!' Sivella suddenly shouted heatedly 'I just said that to hurt her.'

'You managed well!' Mal shouted at her in anger. He remembered Inara's broken body, shivering and crying down on the floor of her shuttle.

'And why would you want to hurt her?' Zoe demanded angrily.

Sivella shook her head.

'I'd like to breathe a bit if you don't mind.' Sivella said as her hand went around Mal's wrist. He loosened the grip and took a step back. But he still hovered above her threateningly.

'They are after me since I left Sandria.' She explained as she looked up at Mal and then to Zoe.

'I thought I could travel with you without bringing any danger to you. But then, when I tried to contact my family, Blake somehow intercepted my wave and threatened me. That's when I knew I had to leave as soon as possible. Everything went well!' She eyed Mal now. 'Until you two came back after me!'

She took a step towards Mal.

'I love Inara deeply, she is my family! I knew that she would never let me go if she knew that I was in any trouble. So I had to make sure she would stay away from me.'

Things began to fall into place for Mal now.

'I needed you away from me before someone would see you with me. But she didn't let me leave… She wanted answers, over and over again.' Sivella stated angrily as a tear left her eye. 'I thought you would be safe when I was gone… I really thought so.'

'You were wrong.' Zoe said.

'I never meant to hurt anyone. That's why I didn't tell Inara about my scars.' Sivella explained to Mal. 'You know Inara, Mal. She would have wanted to help me. So I had to push her away. And it didn't work, you were there. So I had to push-' She swallowed some emotion away. '-Harder.'

'It worked.' Mal said between clenched teeth.

'Who is this Blake? Was he your client?' Zoe asked.

Sivella shook her head. 'No, Rogan Blake is my clients brother. Edward Blake was my client.'

'Where are they?' Mal stated.

'I won't tell you.'

'What? You're willing to risk Inara's life-' Zoe began while Mal stepped towards Sivella threateningly and his hand rose to grab her again. Zoe stopped talking to moment Mal's hand froze in the air and stayed there.

'Step back, slowly.' Sivella instructed in a strong voice.

Zoe raised an eyebrow in surprise when she saw that Mal obeyed her.

'Further! Until I tell you to stop.' She stated.

Zoe noticed the gun Sivella had in her hands, pointed at Mal.

'And please don't think I won't use it because I will.' Sivella threatened as she looked from Mal to Zoe. ' First of all, this is not your fight.' She began.

'The minute Inara got involved you made it our fight.' Mal snapped.

'No.' Sivella said as she shook her head and still had the gun trained at Mal's forehead. 'I'll make sure that nothing happens to Inara. I promise you that.'

'Then we seem to be on the same side.' Zoe tried.

'No, we don't.' Sivella said in a sad voice as she shook her head. 'You don't know them.' Her nostrils flared. 'You aren't going to get involved.'

'Who do you think you are? An army soldier?' Zoe asked sarcastic as she eyed the thin Companion. The woman had never been in battle, had probably never even seen battle, Zoe was surprised that she even knew how to point the gun at Mal. 'You can't go up against them.'

Zoe took a step towards her but Mal held his hand up and looked at Zoe to stop her.

'No, I am just a Companion. But don't underestimate me Zoe, I know how to use several weapons, including this one. So I wouldn't move any closer if I were you.'

She looked at Mal again. 'They are after me because of something that I did. I don't want anymore people to get hurt. Too many people have been hurt already. And that's why I am urging you to let me take care of this.' Sivella said as she looked at Zoe. Then she looked back at Mal. 'But I know you, you won't let me. So that's why I have this gun trained at your head now. Because I really want to do this my way.'

'Got a point there. The chance that you'll get Inara back unharmed is too small. I saw those men. They are with many, and they are very angry.'

'I have valuable information, I won't give them any information if they hurt Inara. They need me.'

'You don't have to do this alone.' Zoe tried.

Sivella smiled ruefully. 'I do.' She said sadly. 'You are good people. I am happy that Inara knows you. I can be sure that you'll take good care of her.'

'Let us help you.' Zoe tried again.

Sivella shook her head as she studied Mal. 'I can't. I don't trust you.' She said as she looked at Mal. 'You are doubting me. And I don't blame you, I am a very good actress I managed to fool you and even Inara. The minute I put my gun down, you'll overtake me and do things your own way. Because that's who you are. And you…' She said to Zoe. 'You will follow. Because Mal is the boss here. I can see in your eyes that you don't believe me. You doubt me. And I don't have time to convince you. So I'd better stick to my own plan.' Sivella said as she swallowed and backed away from Mal slowly towards the door.

'You want to get killed?' Zoe asked.

Sivella laughed. 'Zoe, I will get killed. That's a certainty. I should have been killed earlier. Then Inara wouldn't have been in this mess because of me. I was a fool to even think that I could get away from this. I over-estimated myself.'

'And you are over-estimating yourself again.' Mal said as he began to walk towards her.

'Stop! Right there!' Sivella ordered.

'You won't shoot me.'

Sivella pointed the gun at his kneecaps. 'I can hurt you.'

'No bullit will stop me from gettin' Inara back.' Mal snapped as he looked Sivella in her eyes. 'I want Inara back and I will go to whatever lenghts are necessary.'

Sivella looked in his eyes to measure him. 'I believe you.' She said as she lowered her gun. 'Then the two of you can come with me to make the exchange right now.'

Zoe nodded.

Blake's ship

'Thenar is here.' A tall man said from the door opening.

'Ain't you lucky.' Blake said as he released Inara.

Inara got pushed through the ramp of the ship and was standing on the soil again.

Sivella sighed in relief. Inara was still alive. Mal swallowed. He studied the gunmen behind Inara.

'Everything will be okay now.' Sivella said as she looked at Mal and Zoe. 'Please take good care of her.' She said as she looked from Zoe and then pointedly at Mal. 'You are a good man. Remember what we talked about, I meant every word I said.' She spoke. She nodded as she turned away from them and began to walk to the ship.

'You can go.' Blake spat as he pushed Inara away.

Inara swallowed as she moved away from the ship. She could feel the guns pointing at her head eventhough she didn't see them. She saw Sivella walking towards her. Mal and Zoe in the distance. Where was the rest?

Inara stopped walking when Sivella was one meter away. She noticed that Sivella's face stood soft and sweet. So different from the last time she had seen her. And she also read something else in her eyes, sadness.

'Goodbye Inara. I hope you can forgive me for what I have said to you. I never meant a word-' A shot rang through the air.

'Hurry up!' Blake shouted angrily as he had shot in the air.

Both woman jumped in shock.

'I love you.' Sivella said as she put her hand to her heart.

'What did you do?' Inara questioned urgently. She just had to know what had gotten Sivella into trouble like this.

Sivella began to walk. 'Go Inara, go. Get out of the shooting range now!' She said urgently.

'But… What about you?' Inara managed to utter. Her feet weren't able to move.

Sivella smiled reassuringly at her. 'Don't worry about me, I've got this all planned! Everything will be fine, I promise you.' Sivella said.

Inara swallowed. She had to trust Mal, she had to trust that he had a plan.

'Inara!' Mal shouted from the other side.

Her eyes went to Blake and his men. The idea of Sivella in their hands… She knew for certain that they would hurt her. Trust Mal, he has a plan. He will help her. He always helps people. She managed to move her feet again and began to hurry herself to Mal and Zoe. If they had a plan they probably would come into action when she was safe.

Inara was almost near Zoe and Mal when she turned away from them. She looked at Sivella who had reached Blake now.

Inara saw that Blake said something to Sivella. Just the thought of her in that cold man's power made her feel sick. He suddenly slapped her cheek.

Inara's mouth fell open. No!

She witnessed how Blake grabbed Sivella by her hair to drag her towards the ramp. But Sivella hit Blake in his face with her fist. He fell to the ground.

Inara held her breath in shock as she looked a the other men around Sivella. She knew what was coming now, Sivella don't! In the short moments she had been with Rogan Blake she had already noticed how extremely aggressive he was. Sivella should know better then to anger him further!

'No!' Inara shouted as she began to walk back. 'Sivella no!' Inara shouted.

'Inara stay here!' Mal shouted as he grabbed her upper arm to stop her from going to Sivella. It cost him a lot of trouble to keep her away and he tried to drag her back, away from their guns. He grabbed her other arm too and forced her against his chest.

'Sivella!' Inara shouted. She couldn't, she couldn't let them take her.

Inara froze in Mal's hard grip.

Sivella quickly kicked Blake in his stomach when he was down and turned around to run away. Blake steadied himself quickly, he was on his feet in no time and grabbed her at her throat in only seconds.

'God no, please.' Inara urged. She had stopped fighting Mal, was as paralised in his arms now as they both looked without breathing at the scene further away.

'I'd like to squeeze the life out of you right here, but my brother won't take that too kindly.' Blake bended to Sivella's ear. 'He wants you in one piece.' He whispered threateningly. He hit her in her stomach and threw her against the ground. He kept kicking against her body.

'NO!' Inara shouted as she wanted to run back to them but Mal kept her in an iron grip.

'Inara stop it! They will kill you!' Mal urged.

Sivella moaned shortly in pain. 'On the trip home I'll think of many things I'd like to do to you.' He said as he looked down at her form, she wasn't looking at him anymore. She was staring at the ground with her eyes half open, her arms protecting her upper body.

'Clean that mess up and bring it to the back room.' Blake ordered one of his men who got Sivella up and pushed her towards the ramp. She could barely walk.

'Sivella!' Inara uttered in shock. Inara turned around in Mal's arms. 'Do something!' She shouted angrily at the crew as she tried to loosen herself from Mal.

'We will.' Mal promised. 'But not now.' He looked at the many men that still had their guns aimed at them.

They dissapeared into the ship and the door closed.

When the ship dissapeared Mal let go of Inara.

'How could you have done nothing!' She shouted in his face. 'How could YOU?!' She slammed her fists in his chest. 'You just did NOTHING, you could have helped her!'

'Inara!' Mal stated as he tried to grab her wrists. 'Stop it!' He had never seen her out of control like this before.

'THEY WILL KILL HER!' She shouted at him as she grabbed his shirt now and looked at him with clenched teeth. She suddenly let go of his shirt. 'They will kill her.' She said softly as she walked away from Mal and stared at the spot where the ship had been.

'Inara they won't. Not yet. It's Blake's brother that wants her. They'll first bring her back to his castle and we'll follow.'

'He'll beat her, hurt her.' She uttered.

Mal stepped towards her and raised his arm to touch her.

'Don't.' She snapped as she took a step back and gave him a painful look. She left for Serenity.

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Please let me know what you thought!! Thanks