"The Monkey Chased The Weasel"
Warnings and Declaimers': Same as before. Serenity references courtesy of IMdB, they say to share.
Summary the story so far Chapters 1-10.
A small boy, supposedly a survivor of a Reaver attack is found on an abandoned ship. They discover that he has been raised by Reavers for nearly two years. He also has a rare medical condition which at this stage is life threatening. It is also discovered that the boy has a rare immune genealogy, which would make him of interest to Alliance in particular. Anthony and River have a special bond. But it's not long until the all the crew bond with the boy and will go to great lengths to protect him. Zoe and, in particular, Wash also have a way that can cure him. Now, they must decide whether to take on a mission to save him, or let nature takes its course.
In amongst all this drama the crew will come to love the little boy known as Anthony, They will protect him and help him grow up to be the special person he already is. Sorry the plot does get a bit thick. Any questions please feel free to ask.
Plenty of twists and turns to come and some fun family firefly moments.
Chapter 11
Decisions and Quiet Time.
With a belly full of good food and their mindsfilled with information and questions, the crew of Serenity tried to sleep. Tried being the operative word.
Zoe took the watch on the though they were in dock, it was still a quiet place; the sky was up there, the sky that couldn't be taken away from them. Mal would have been there with her, but he had let her be. Tonight the sky was hers. Zoe had more to consider than anyone and she needed to be by herself, with the sky and the memories of Wash in the chair next to of his last words "I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar." They kept playing in her head over and over again. "I am a leaf on the wind – watch how I soar."
"We're not going to get to you in time."
"Keep moving, honey. We're coming to you."
That last conversation haunted her; haunted her as surely as a ghost.
Simon woke early and decided to go over some of the medical information that Ash had waved over. He was quite confident about a lot of what was going to be expected from them. Going over the medical facts, procedures and needs kept him focused on the desired outcome. He had always admired Ash's spirit and her drive in developing new vaccines and her work with those less fortunate; but, he worried that her drive would diminish her ability to think logically and ethically. He hoped that her dealings with black marketeers and Maggie Niska were a justifiable means to a worthwhile and moral end.
Once Simon had left her bed Kaylee had gone and curled up in her hammock in the engine room, where the music of her engines' helped her think. She couldn't blame Simon for wantin' to be alone with his thoughts. It was understandable considerin' she had drilled the poor guy about his past with his good friend Ash. She didn't trust the woman, but she wondered if that was just the girl in her, a little jealous of what might have once been between Simon and the lady doc. She heard Mal call her the pretty young doctor. Though that don't necessarily mean nothin' to Simon, when he was all science and medicine, he couldn't see nothing else. Took him near on two years ta even kiss her. And it took a near death experience for him at that. Still, she didn't much like the pretty Ashleigh Harvey. And make no mistake if the doctor did anything to harm any of her family, the doctor wouldn't be so pretty anymore.
Jayne had slept for hours; he'd a good meal, best one he'd had in ages. Once awake, he began cleaning Vera, thinking about what Mal and Simon had told them and what they were askin'. Some of the medico talk was too complicated for him but he got the general chance to earn some coin, some good coin, was the first thing that grabbed his interest. Course he didn't like the thought of having to deal with Niska, even if it was jist his woman; but, the idea of a bit of action wasn't so unappealing either. Since Miranda Jayne had found that fighting for a cause, or more importantly someone ya loved or respected added extra strength. He wasn't sure when it all happened, when he'd come to love them, and he'd pull out his own teeth before he'd tell them that; but fact was fact, an' truth was truth. And now he'd fight with them, for them no matter what the coin. Moonbrain River and now the kid, they were their kids. Anthony was easy, just jumped in there, into his being, with the rest of them. Anthony trusted Jayne like no one had trusted him before. Jayne had never been willing to give his life for anyone. Anthony was staying with them. And the fight was for him.
Inara had spent the evening in meditation. She knew very well what her decision would be, her vote. It was to be counted, just like the last time. While she didn't have the brawn, the military intelligence, or the sheer genius that the some of the crew had, she had a place. Long before dawn Inara rose and decided to take that long awaited soak in some of the oils she had purchased over the day. Her mind was relaxed but her muscles cried out for the same comfort. She missed these little extra moments of her once civilized world. Well, what she once believed there had been a civilised world; but, Serenity had changed that for her, even before Miranda. This was a civilized place, her place, a home that flew true. A new civilized.
Mal couldn't sleep and long before dawn had decided to head for the cockpit. He hesitated when he spotted Zoë from the corridor and turned away to leave his second in command to her thoughts. Within minutes he found himself at Inara's door; and in a rare moment of politeness she knocked and entered.
Inara quickly wrapped herself in a towel, "Come in."
"I'm in."
"Mal, you knocked? Mal! I'm bathing."
"You invited me in."
"I thought you were somebody else, and I was getting a towel to cover up."
"You're covered."
"Yes, well, if you will just go out again, I'll dress."
"Hell, no, I'll jest turn my back."
"No you won't."
"Okay, I won't."
"Yes you will…..Ahh, now leave, for just a moment."
"No.I'll go, let you finish your relaxing bath, smells pretty. I jest couldn't sleep is all."
"Me neither."
"Well, then no use cuttin' ya soak short, here I'll wash ya back."
"Mal!" She warned.
"Ah, don't go all girlie on me."
Mal walked over and sat behind the old copper tub, "'sides, I can't see nothin'."
"This from a man whose motto is; I'm aim to misbehave."
"You've got a , no need to go presumin'.You knows I don't need to be seein to know what you actually look like. Now pass me that sponge, I'll do yer back."
Inara passed back a sea-sponge; she preferred the texture of natural sponges over the synthetic, "Well, fine but my backs a lot different than my front. So just stay focused."
Mal squeezed the sponge over Inara's smooth shoulders. There was atime where he could not have stayed in the same room as a clothed Inara and stay focused. That was still hard, after all he was human. But he was sure glad she was here. He could spend a lifetime just in her presence.
"So couldn't are thinkin' about Anthony?"
"Yes, and Zoe. What are you going to do Mal?"
"Gonna let the crew decide, gonna let the family decide. But, Zoe makes her own choice."
Inara looked down at her fingers swirling the water in front of her, letting the warmth of the water and Mal's touch relax her physical being, "I'm proud of you Mal, for making the decision about Anthony staying. It doesn't surprise me, though."
"Oh well can't have that, you're deservin' of a little surprise every now and then."He offered her back the sponge. Inara looked up into Mal's face and that smirk. Mal bent down and kissed her, gently but deeply. Relinquishing the sponge simultaneously with the kiss, he stood up and left but not before knocking again on the doors frame.
River had slept well, again. It was certainly true that since Miranda and now since Anthony, River would sleep more often well than not. She could block out a lot of the dreams. Though, it was difficult especially if the crew were all hyped up about something. She was also very conscious of Anthony's connection to her, his ability to empathise with her. She was very cognizant of not unsettling the child especially if he was a sleep in the same room, or as was in most cases, the same bed. As most of the crew woke and started thinking and reminiscing, she found it more and more difficult to sleep and near impossible to block them out.
River didn't want to be meddlesome; she didn't want memories that weren't hers. But she did want to belong. And that she was; broken or not, Moonbrain, Not Quite Right, or a bit Bazoomaney, she belonged to Serenity, home, and its family belonged to her. They had protected herand she had protected them...She might still be crazy but she was their crazy.
Anthony woke and sat up looking at her with a befuddled expression, he didn't understand what was going on; but, the energy that River was expelling had bought him from the warmth of slumber. He wandered over to her bunk and climbed in, cuddling up to find more warmth and the feeling that things were only going to get better. And better they would, but not without some drama, not without danger and not without heartbreak. River knew this; but, for now, she didn't want Anthony knowing this. She kissed his thick black curls and then gently pushed him from her bed. She stood him on his feet and sent him away. He was needed somewhere else.
No words were spoken as a little boy wandered the quiet corridors of Serenity, then entered the cockpit and crawled up into the lap of the figure sitting there. The night sky merged into the pink dawn of Emrata, chilling the air as the contrasting skies met and transposed. Anthony snuggled in closer as Zoë wrapped her arms tightly around him.
DAWNDAWNDAWNDAWN
Mal was the first to arrive in the galley. He put the coffee on and rummaged around for the crew's morning meal. Actually there wasn't that much searchin' to do. Kaylee had well truly gone a little overboard on the fresh fruit and vegetables, ita be kinda wasteful not to eat them fresh, he thought. So this morning they would again eat well, with fruit, bread and cereal. Simon insisted that Anthony have cereal for breakfast. The carbs were good for building up some strength in the boy. Anthony also needed to have eaten before his immune therapy sessions.
Kaylee wandered in rubbing the remnants of sleep out of her eyes, "Hey, Capt'n you becoming all domesticated or something? Ain't never seen you prepare breakfast."
"Actually, yángguāng, sunshine, I hapin' ta be a mighty fine culinary coordinator."
"Ya mean cook."
"Yep, didn't ya know I was no sergeant of a whole regiment, I was actually jist the short order cook, ceptin there was no food so they give me something easier ta do."
"Yes, well, Sir, if I remember rightly you were a much better sergeant than a cook." Zoë said as she entered the galley in the middle of their conversation.
Mal took Anthony from her and proceeded to sit at the big table, "come on shǎo yīgè, little one, let these women folk do what they're supposed to be doing. I'll have black coffee and toast and the young heir here will have his protein cereal."
Zoe and Kaylee just laughed. It was good to hear laughter echoing through the ship and before long the entire crew was seated at the table eating and chatting. All except for Anthony, he wasn't that interested in protein cereal, when everyone else was eating the fruit.
Kaylee noticed, "Can't he have some fruit now, Simon."
"Sure, actually put it in with the cereal, he hasn't really eaten enough of that, cut it in small bits and leave the Pectin on it is full of antioxidants and quercitin which will be good for his immune system also."
Kaylee followed the instructions and Anthony quickly resumed eating the meal now in front of him.
"Well, I suppose, people its decision time. So? Do we take the job? Ya know the risks and ya know the benefits. Whatcha want ta do?"
The table erupted with a variety of colourful affirmatives.
"Wait, first off, one at a time. But, before ya say what ya wanna say ya gotta know, that I'm in. And iff'n there's anybody who don't want ta take the risk, ya can take a sabbatical till we come back, and no more will be said."
Again everybody tried to speak at once. It was a cacophony of sounds; Wash would have said it was like a gaggle of geese or a clutch of hens all chirping at once.
"An jing! Hold on! I ain't through saying what needs ta be said. If ya agree, I will be given the orders, we need to be careful here and I want everybody safe and sticking to the plan. That's everybody. We gotta be ready if some unpleasantness should arise with Niska. She ain't no mother goose."
This time there was no chaotic babble, just a chorused, "We're in!"
"We're in," echoed Anthony.
"We're in." echoed River, "We're in, we're in, round and round we're in, the baby chased the weasel, blood is thicker than water, love and she fly's true."
"River?"Asked Simon.
River looked to Mal."We will be safe Mal, no use being afraid."
"I'm not a feared, River, but I'll be a might wary."
"She is Maggie and she's mad. I'm there and she's mad, not Moonbrain bazoomaney crazy mad; but, chasing little monkeys chasing weasel mean mad." sang River.
"Exactly… I think?... So, you listen good, mei mei. Do I as I ask, dong ma?" said Mal.
"I is She. She's always hearing, Capt'n."
Simon frowned, "River won't need to go with you, she can stay on the ship when we get to Niska's Skyplex."
"We'll work out who goes where and who don't later. But, I'm a mind to keep her with me. We might'n always understand her words exactly, but we ain't ever got confused when it come to a warning. She's a reader and I want her with us when we meet Niska."
Simon went to object, though he didn't know why, well he did, he didn't want his sister there. He wanted her safe in the ship, or the shuttle maybe ready to take off if anything went wrong. But he knew if Mal wanted her there he would have her there. He agreed to follow his orders and he would; but, he really didn't have to like it.
"Simon, you're a brother and Mal is not a short order cook," said River.
"See," said Mal, "Little Albatross makes perfect sense."
"Sir? So, what's next?" asked Zoë.
"Simon you get onto your pretty doctor friend, and get that cargo delivered here, with the paper work shiny. I don't want no physical checks from port officials or ambitious young purple bellies. As soon as the cargo's loaded we'll be taken off."
"So she is pretty, then?" asked Kaylee.
Simon blushed, "Kaylee we went over this, Dr Harvey and I are both professionals."
"That don't mean she ain't pretty, Simon."
The group looked on with amusement.
"You know what I mean, Kaylee, you're being immature."
"Oh, Oh, that ain't so, I'm just curious is all," she said flippantly, nibbling on a slice of apple she had subconsciously plucked from Anthony's mushy breakfast.
"Really, curious? Well, I think its best if you kept curiosity in check and let Ashleigh and I do what we do best."
"Well, I surely have no problem with that, after all we are all adults here. And I will do what I do best and that's fixing engines and keeping ya all in the air. And when I go pick up the repaired left handed Master Bator FeedTool and insert it in its appropriate orifice. I'll be doin my professional best." With that, she tossed the apple slice at Simon's head.
"Very mature, Kaylee, I'm going to wave A…Ummm…Doctor Harvey."
Kaylee laughed as he left the room.
Mal looked at his mechanic "Hmm Kaylee, I wasn't aware that Serenity had a left handed Master Bator Feed Tool."
"Well, maybe that ain't its technical name, Mal. Just the same I gotta pick up some parts. Actually the hospitals real close by. I may go calling on the doctor, you know just to say thank you an all."
"You stay away from the Hospital, Kaylee. That's an 't want any of us going there before we lift off. So, you be keep ya little green eyed monster outta this job until we got what we want and the coin. Dong ma?"
Kaylee screwed up her face, grabbing another one of Anthony's apple slices. "Ai ya, Cap'n, I never git ta have any fun."
"You won't be findin' it much fun, or pleasurable if I take a bian dah pāijī nǐde pìgu, for disobeying a direct order,yángguāng."
Kaylee had taken the last slice of Anthony's sweet apple and the little boy searched what was left of his soggy cereal for another piece, but to no avail.
"Hey, all the fruit not there," he complained.
"Well, then you best be finishing your cereal short britches. Then you can have some more."
"No, want more now. Kaylee git more now."
Kaylee went to cut some more; but Mal stopped her, "No, Anthony throw down the rest of your cereal and then you can have more."
"But Cap'n," interjected Kaylee." I threw… "
Anthony slammed his spoon down on the table.
"Hey!"Scolded Mal. "Pick that spoon up and use it properly, then finish your breakfast. I won't be asking again."
Inara had taught Anthony to eat with both a spoon and a fork. Anthony had picked up the fine motor skill in no time and decided to put them to the test. With a determined expression he picked up the spoon, shovelled a huge scoop of the runny sloppy mush and with a flip of his wrist sent it flying into Kaylee's face.
Kaylee grasped and Mal grabbed Anthony, pushed back his chair and in one fluid motion flipped the small boy over his knee. Before he could apply the first smack, Jayne came to his little maa lau's defense.
"That don't seen right fair, Mal, she did eat his last piece."
"And, you did tell him to throw down the rest of his breakfast, Sir. He just took you literally is all… Sir."
Mal flipped Anthony back up and sat him on his lap. "Okay, Anthony next time you throw food or anything for that matter I will paddle your bottom, no matter what the reason. No throwing, dong ma?"
Anthony nodded. He then looked aver to Kaylee and shook his finger at her, "No throwing, Kaylee, dong ma? Cappy smacks hard."
"Hmm," said Mal, "You have a point there, Anthony. Young Kaylee should be leading by example, and maybe a demonstration is in order," said Mal, as he handed Anthony to Jayne and moved menacingly towards Kaylee.
"Capt'n you gotta be joshin' I'm the ones got mush stuck ta ma face." Defended Kaylee.
Mal did not change course, so Kaylee took off. She started squealing as soon as she realized Mal was in hot pursuit. The galley echoed with laughter for the second time that day as the crew watched the mock chase their captain played out. Before long everybody joined in, picking their sides, either helping Mal to corner the mischievous engineer, or trying to hide Kaylee in the cargo bay. River giggled, Anthony climbed and jumped, eventually perching on his climbing frame above to watch the fun.
Zoe laughed and puffed, just a little, on her way back to the galley. Passing the infirmary she stopped just as Simon had finished his wave to Doctor Harvey. They could still hear the others laughing. Simon smiled at Zoe but stayed silent,sensing her contemplative demeanor.
"Simon? She asked."Do you have a moment? I've made a decision."
Quán juédìng gshi shu yúyi hésuàn xíng chéng. Tāmen kě xi jiānkǔbin xīnkǔ yu yóu dàn zāo juédìng fei juédìng shǒuxiān.
All decisions are part of one's worthwhile journey. They may be difficult to make and harder to travel; but, bad decisions were not a decision in the first place.
TBC
Chapter 12
A.N. Another big Shout out to MissGuenever. Again her help has been amazing, especially with some Firefly verse talk. Please review. How did we do? Do I need more detail in the re-cap? Sorry for any messy formatting I had some trouble when I uploaded, and had to reformat. Hope I didn't miss too much.