A/N hey guys put up a bit of history on Madeline in a seperate document; you don't have to read it but it makes her a bit more whole :) anyway enjoy

The fresh air of Osiris' shipyards came as a blessing; polluted as it was. Mal took a lungful of air and sighed. He handed Madeline to wash before pulling himself out. Wash Stared down at the small girl, Zoe looking over his shoulder.

"She doesn't look good," Zoe said. Mal nodded.

"No. If you guys wouldn't mind takin' her up to serenity and settlin' her in the infirmary, I'll send the doc to you as soon as he's out."

"Come on, baby, let's get out junk bucket fired up," Zoe said. Wash and Mal glared at her.

"I mean… our ship."

Mal snorted at her and turned to pull River out of the sewer.

"Hurry up doc, you've got a patient waiting for you!" he called down. River was looking worriedly after Wash and Zoe.

"You run along if you want, gal, I'll take care o' your brother." Mal said to her. She flashed him a half smile before running to join them. Mal waited. Simon's head appeared two minutes later. Mal gripped his arm and helped him out.

"You okay?" he asked cheerfully.

"Never better," Simon spluttered. Mal patted him forcefully on the back.

"That's the spirit! We'll be needin' you, think your sister's friend might be requiring some medical assistance." Simon nodded.

"Mal… I'd really like to know something." He said slowly. Mal sighed.

"Why did you agree to help us?" Simon pressed. Mal faced him.

"You're on my crew. That's all you'll ever need to know," He said seriously. "Now let's get back to the boat. They'll be waiting for us."

River hovered anxiously as Simon check Madeline for injuries. Most of the crew stood outside the infirmary, waiting for the verdict. Simon took a small amount of blood for testing and turned to them all.

"She's fine… At least physically. I don't know when she'll wake up or what she'll be like. I'll watch her closely though."

"She's awful pretty," Kaylee was standing in the doorway, "but so thin… are you sure she's okay?"

"As sure as I can be until I get this back," Simon waved the blood slightly, "but if she has been damaged the same as River," he looked apologetically at his sister, "then we can be quite sure she's not okay." Kaylee looked worried.

"'t ain't right," she whispered. Jayne held his stony silence.

"no, it isn't," Mal agreed, "but we got her out, that's all that matters," Mal looked at River, who had taken Madeline's limp hand and was staring hard at her, as though her gaze could draw her into consciousness. Wash was looking distressed; Zoe kissed the side of his face.

"Doc said she'd be okay," she whispered comfortingly. Wash nodded.

"We should let her rest," Simon said, walking out of the infirmary, "River… if you want to stay…"

"I do," River whispered. Simon nodded.

"Be quiet then, don't wake her, just watch." River nodded.

"Do you have some spare living quarters for her when she comes around?" Simon asked Mal as they climbed the stairs out of the Cargo hold.

"How long you plannin' on having her here?" Mal asked.

Simon was stumped by the question. "um… I wasn't planning on having her not here."

"She got family?"

"I don't-"

"Don't you think they would like her back?" Mal said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Simon gaped.

"And if she doesn't?"

"If she doesn't, she can stay," Mal said simply, "what did you think I was getting at?"

Simon walked into the infirmary the next morning, looking around for River, who had refused to Leave Madeline's side. She had fallen asleep on a bench with one arm dangling over the edge. Simon smiled, running his fingers through her hair before checking on Madeline. The girl was still deathly pale. Simon frowned concernedly, rummaging in the draw for a small butterfly needle. He carefully lifted Madeline's arm in search of a vein. He had just slid the needle under her skin when the girl reacted. Her eyes snapped open and she gripped Simon's hand. Simon froze, shocked.

"its okay," he began, "I'm-"

His words were cut short as Madeline dealt him a hard kick to the stomach. Simon flew across the room. Madeline leapt to her feet, Jumping to the floor and Pinning Simon to the ground. Her eyes were wild as she pulled a gun from his belt and held it against his neck.

"Nee tzao ss-ma? Nee-yow wuh-kai chang?" she hissed, "bun tyen-shung duh ee-dway-ro!" her voice shook as she pressed the weapon harder against his neck. Simon gurgled.

"Bai-tuo, an-jing-eedyen!"

River had woken up and was glaring hard at Madeline. Madeline turned at the sound of her voice.

"Wuo dway-nee boo woon, boo jen," Madeline challenged.

"dahng ran," River responded calmly.

Madeline forgot Simon immediately. She ran as fast as she could to River and embraced her.

"Wuh de tyen, ah, I knew you'd come for me," She sobbed. River held her tightly, smiling though tears of happiness.

"always, mei-mei," she whispered. Madeline smiled. Simon pulled himself to his feet, coughing. Madeline saw him; she gripped River tightly and began to scream.

"Tyen-sah duh uh-muo! Keep back! Keep back!" She screamed. Simon halted, looking at River for help. River talked over the top of Madeline, trying to calm her.

"Hush, Mei-mei," she said soothingly, "this is Simon. Do you remember me telling you about Simon?" Madeline's wide eyes looked nervously around at Simon.

"Your brother?" She asked. River nodded. Simon continued to remain still as though afraid of spooking her. Madeleine looked away cautiously.

"Wizard?' she whispered. River smiled.

"Yes, the wizard. Remember what we always said?" Madeline smiled shakily.

"There's no place like home," she said. River hugged her.

"And now you're home."