25 Loose Ends

"Capt. I have a wave from Genia Xang." Thaïs' voice came over the comm. with a hint of curiosity as to the name she didn't recognize.

Mal grumbled under his breath, he didn't think the comm. had gotten as much use before Thaïs signed on.

"Kaylee-."

"I know." She replied raising a grease smeared hand from beneath the engine. He left her alone, heading up to the bridge ignoring the sounds of Inara's packing. She'd been at it the past two days and though he hadn't been in there he couldn't help picturing his shuttle as it had been the last time she left.

Empty.

It suddenly bothered him, the fact her leaving wasn't bothering him as much as the first time.

Mal headed past the mess and into the corridor quickly catching up to Zoë.

"Genia." She said and he nodded.

"Been a while." He noted preceding her up the steps and into the bridge.

"Malcolm." Genia's smiling face met him, a little more weathered than he remembered. Her once red hair was shot with gray and dull. "Don't you look busy?"

"Yeah, just getting some work done." Mal replied wiping at the grease on his hands.

"Good. Work is always good." Genia agreed with a nod. "It's mainly why I waved you."

"You got some work for me, Gen?" Mal asked leaning absently against the pilot chair.

Thaïs raised an inky eyebrow but otherwise said nothing. Her attention went back to the older woman on the screen, studying her. For some reason, Thaïs felt the woman was too happy.

"Mater of fact, just got some fēngfù de shǎguā needs some cargo transported. Figured you'd be best for it. Did say it was of a 'special nature', all delicate like." Genia winked.

"My kind of work." Mal noted with a slight nod and half smile. "Where and when?"

"Verizon. Three days from now, Mal. Client's Nel Khova." Genia read off the sheet in her hands. "Well, that's my end of things."

"Xie xie, Gen." Mal reached down and closed the wave.

"Sir?" Zoë moved towards the empty chair and sat down.

"That planet isn't safe." Thaïs said turning towards them.

"She's right." Zoë agreed.

"There was a Reaver attack... Alliance cleaned it up but they haven't gotten around to re-populating."

"It was a few months after Miranda." Zoë reminded him. "We had a lay over in Tarahil on Amavia."

"I remember." Mal frowned, dark eyes studying Thaïs. "Where did you hear about it?"

"It was on Aeron."

"A core planet?" Zoë frowned.

"I was staying in Lichna, looking for a transport out." Thaïs revealed, though she sounded stiff. "My contact passed on the information before I left."

But she said nothing about who that contact was, if she still had that contact or why she was leaving Lichna in the first place. Mal had more questions about Thaïs and that put him in a bad mood.

"Set a course." Mal ordered heading out of the bridge. Zoë stood and hurried after him.

"Capt." she called as he turned into the mess where he wired on her. "Sir, are we sure this-."

"Is smart?" Mal cut in with a raised eyebrow. "Hell no." he scoffed.

"I know we don't want to rely on Talus or Charlie for work, Mal." Zoë conceded. "But taking on this contact from Genia… Sir, she's not exactly honest."

"It was…" Mal sighed. The woman had shortchanged them-stole. He hadn't forgotten, which was why they didn't really go her way for work. Mal was a little surprised the woman had waved him with the offer but… work was work and he wasn't about to get picky on which jobs he'd take or leave.

"Tzao-gao." Mal grumbled on a breath.

Thaïs glanced over her shoulder at the clomp of boots on the grates to find Mal entering the bridge.

"We'll be in orbit soon." She said turning back to the controls. A part of her wondered why he wasn't asking the Companion to stay on but it wasn't any of her business. The past few months with the crew of Serenity had been… well, it almost felt like she'd found a place to belong. That thought was unsettling on it's own but then Thaïs had begun to like Inara. The Companion was beautiful, inside as well as out and the meditation sessions- Inara hadn't had to do that for Thaïs. She'd had no reason to help…and yet she did. For that, Thaïs was grateful and it was why she felt the need to ask about things that weren't any of her concern.

"I'll be taking the shuttle." Mal stated a bit gruff. He noticed the inky eyebrow barely raised but Thaïs didn't make a comment. "What?" he muttered glowering darkly at her. Thaïs shrugged barely flicking a violet gaze in his direction. Mal had a pretty good idea of what she was thinking and her words seemed to echo in his brain. Well, he wasn't going to do anything. There was nothing to do, Inara was who she was and Mal wasn't going to pretend it didn't bother him. Hell, he'd never hidden his 'distaste' for her line of work.

"I'll plot our course for Verizon." Thaïs replied with another knowing look in his direction. Grumbling under his breath Mal left the bridge demanding she make sure his boat was still in one piece when he got back.

Thaïs' lips twitched in amusement at his grumbles.

River quietly slipped into the shuttle frowning at the difference, not at all pleased with the empty and run down look of the once plush interior. Inara's departure was unavoidable; she'd known it would happen just like she knew it had never been more than a dream… Inara wasn't going to leave her life to follow Mal, she didn't like that they stole and she hated the worry of waiting for them to return from a job. Most times she was just worrying about them getting shot though she tried not to picture them dead somewhere.

"She was never going to stay."

The softly voiced words drew Mal's attention. He was alone in the cockpit, just staring at the stars coming to terms with his choice.

"So you knew." He murmured drawing in a breath and standing up. "It's best."

"It is." River concurred walking towards him, her brown eyes disconcertingly clear and intelligent. "She doesn't fit. Not for you. Too grand, too fancy, too much." She shook her head but all Mal heard was how Inara had been too good for him.

"Xie xie, River. Makes me feel all warm inside to know that." He snapped walking past her and out of the shuttle.

She stared after him, her lips slightly pursed in disapproval for his behavior. Whatever Mal had…felt for Inara- it was nice. He'd had a safe outlet- an excuse for not really getting involved with a woman, not that there was much opportunity for it on Serenity. But Mal had a bad habit of making up reasons for not allowing himself the closeness and companionship of a woman. He didn't want to be vulnerable and allowing himself that weakness was…

"Impossible." River sighed.

Kaylee snuggled into Simon, upset by Inara's departure but she understood. This time around it had been different.

"I know it aint the Capt.'s fault." Kaylee murmured shifting beside Simon. "She just wasn't happy here anymore. Wasn't home…"

That's what bothered Kaylee because it brought up her insecurities about Simon and River and how maybe they didn't feel like Serenity was home to them… Her worry that one day Simon would leave… And then what would she do without him?

"Her life is in the Training House. It's where she is happy." Simon consoled.

"Well, of course but it aint like she wasn't able to- well, maybe she wasn't all the time but Inara still worked. Maybe if Mal hadn't -."

"Kaylee…" Simon warned gently.

"I know." She sighed giving up on the 'what if' and 'maybe if' of her moping. There was nothing she could do about Inara being gone and they could always wave her. The one thing she could affect was Simon and Kaylee wasn't about to let him leave.

"Simon…?" Kaylee slowly inched onto his chest trailing her fingers lightly over his skin.

"Aint in the mood." Mal said walking past Zoë. The echo of her booted feet followed him out of the mess and into the passage leading towards the bay. He really had no idea where he was going, just that he needed to be moving until it was time for the job.

"Sir-."

"What?" Mal growled turning to his Lt.

"I'm going."

Mal was silent a long moment trying to figure out her meaning. He was pretty positive she didn't meant 'going' as in off his boat and the only other possibility he could come up with was that she intended to go on the job with him. As far as he knew Zoë was still pregnant and he wasn't about to take her anywhere that would put her in danger. Or the baby…

"Shen me?" Mal asked quietly.

Zoë frowned slightly. She'd known it would be a difficult conversation to have with Mal especially with how 'protective' he was over the women on his boat. Now that she was pregnant it was practically impossible to continue with her daily routine. If it wasn't Simon forbidding her to do one thing, it was Kaylee fussing over her, or Jayne staring at her like she was some… hell, Zoë had no clue what the big oaf was thinking but he acted differently around her. Everyone did.

"I'm not an invalid Mal." Zoë growled. "And I'm not going to stop performing my duties until it's absolutely necessary-."

"It is necessary." Mal cut in glaring.

"No. It isn't." Zoë contradicted and the fact she was calm about it only annoyed Mal more.

"You aint fit to do any jobs." Mal ground past his clenched teeth.

"We're going to a meet." Zoë replied looking at him coolly. "I'm fit for that."

And so long as Simon didn't contradict her Mal would have to keep quiet. All Zoë had to do was make sure Simon kept his overly undue concern to himself.

The planet was deserted just like Thaïs had said and seeing it reminded Mal of Miranda. He stared out at the empty buildings with crossed arms as Thaïs gently set them down. Zoë was dressed and armed, something he wasn't happy about. Jayne shifted uncomfortably but the mercenary kept his mouth shut and a firm grip on Vera. No one said anything for a moment and then static crackled over the comm.

"That would be our contact." Mal said into the silence. He nodded at Thaïs and she put the wave on the screen. All four had a clear view of the thin face staring back at them.

Nel Khova was not a handsome man. His hair was different shades of ashy brown streaked with gray. A large forehead with sunken eyes a darker shade of blue-gray and hooked nose perched above two lines, supposedly lips. His skin was pale with a slightly grayish cast and liver spots. The neck tie didn't hide the adams apple that protruded from his neck like another appendage and when he spoke his voice whispered unnaturally.

Nothing about Nel Khova inspired trust but Thaïs kept her mouth shut and let the Capt. deal with it.

"I wish to speak with Captain Reynolds."

Mal took a moment to answer. He knew right away that Khova wasn't going to be one of his 'favorite' people but he told himself they wouldn't have to deal with the man again.

"That'd be me." Mal gave a slight nod.

"Very well." Khova agreed and ignored the others. "Madame Xang has spoken well of you, Captain Reynolds. I only hope it was not an exaggeration." The thin lines pressed into one, a bushy eye brow rising. "The cargo I would have you transport is delicate and rare. I trust you will not be requiring I describe it?"

"Nope." Mal shook his head not that he'd forgotten about the job he'd lost an ear for... The question didn't bother him though the tone… Khova was one of those uppity high born bastards.

"Good. The co-ordinates are there." Khova pointed a thin finger towards Thaïs. Glancing at the console she saw the numbers clearly displayed. "I will have the rest of your instructions waiting."

The screen blacked out before Mal had a chance to question Khova.

"It's a warehouse. Four clicks from our current position." Thaïs brought up an image of the building, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she typed. The image shifted, the grainy pictured sharpened and she gave them a view of each entrance. "There's movement…"

"Sir." Zoë shifted, eyes moving over the screen already pinpointing tactical advantages.

"You got grenades, Jayne?" Mal asked ignoring her.

"Yeah…" Jayne frowned wondering why Mal was asking when he already knew the answer. Anytime Mal was intent on doing some stealing, Jayne made sure there was at least a couple grenades on his person. Going on a job didn't seem any different to Jayne either…

"Good. Let's go." Mal ordered heading out of the bridge. "Thaïs!" he called.

"Diu." She muttered getting to her feet. Somehow she was going to end up doing a lot more than she'd want to.

----

'Atleast it aint a space station.'

The thought did little to cheer Mal considering he'd walked into a trap. Thoughts of what he'd do to Genia when he saw her… Mal was pretty sure Zoë had some expletives she'd like to say regarding his person but that would have to wait as well.

"Don't suppose you'd let the women go…" Mal half asked. "No." he glanced at Zoë but she was focused. Behind her, Jayne grumbled about fools just loud enough for Mal to hear it.

"You ruined my uncle." Nel stated coldly. His gray eyes skipped over Mal to rest on Zoë. He looked smug but then he had a reason. It wasn't everyone who had their prey hand themselves over on a silver platter, so to speak.

Mal was more concerned for Zoë. She'd accompanied them on strict orders not to over exert herself. He should have just locked her in her bunk.

"For that, I will kill you." Nel flicked his pale eyes to Thaïs standing on Mal's left. "They will amuse me. Possibly." He shrugged, the dark gray suit crinkling with the motion.

"If you're going to kill me, you mind telling me who your uncle is?" Mal asked though he already knew. It was there in the eyes, and the shrug of his shoulder had fully confirmed his suspicions.

"My Uncle." Nel's face pinkened with anger. "My Uncle was Adelei Nishka."

"Nǐ bǒ háng jiāhuo." Jayne groused. "Aint gonna die for you Mal." He warned shifting on his feet.

"Don't expect you to." Mal replied annoyed by the insult. He didn't see why people were always commenting on his Yīnjīng.

"Take their weapons." Nel ordered. One of the big oafs strode forward and took Mal's gun from the holster. It galled him but Mal kept silent watching as they took Zoë's gun. Jayne grumbled but handed over his guns, even Vera though he threatened bodily injury vowing to get her back. It was Thaïs who caused him trouble.

The littlest one…was always trouble.

Simon sat at the table absently tapping the cup between his hands. Kaylee was humming to herself, a smudge of engine grease on her cheek. Maybe this wasn't part of his life plan but it was his life now. He'd been stuck on what he'd given up for too long- according to River he'd been a 'boob'. That made his smile. Sometimes his sister was… he sighed. There was so much about their lives he'd wished different but more for River. He hated not being able to help her, and maybe he missed the way she'd been but he still loved her the same.

"Trouble." River called running past them and up to the bridge.

"What?" Kaylee frowned, glancing from Simon to the hatch and back.

"River, what trouble?" Simon asked quickly following in his sister's wake. Serenity came alive before he stepped through the hatch. "River."

Serenity rose into the sky, flying low over the empty buildings until they were over the warehouse Mal and the others had gone to meet with Khova.

"River- what are you doing?" Simon demanded glancing at the buildings beneath them.

"She's in trouble." River said, her eyes locked on the warehouse. "Bad."

Simon went cold, his first thought was of the baby and he ran out of the bridge to his infirmary.

Why was he always getting shot at? It just didn't fail, anytime he went to a meet or did a job-hell it was practically expected. His crew certainly planned for it but this time Mal wasn't taking the blame. He hadn't thrown the knives at the guards. He hadn't dropped the goon with their guns and he certainly wasn't going to complain about their sudden dash out of the warehouse. Well, not until he was safely on his boat. Then…then he'd lay into Thaïs for the reckless, dangerous stunt she'd pulled.

'She's liable to get us killed!' he thought with a scowl as he ducked around some canisters. He could see Zoë up ahead, ducking behind some empty crates. She leaned out firing two rounds before Thaïs yanked her back behind their cover. The wood splintered and Mal watched as Thaïs pulled his lieutenant further down out of the way.

Mal was pissed; he had a pregnant crew member being shot at and as he leaned around his protective barrier Thaïs rose up. She held both guns aimed and started firing. She aimed for Khova's men but they had their own protection. Mal started shooting slightly stepping out from behind the canister.

"Go." Thaïs ordered. "Zoë, get out of here!"

"Aint leaving-." Zoë snapped starting to rise only for Thaïs to duck down and shove at her. "Watch your hands!"

"You're pregnant!" Thaïs hissed, violet eyes flashing in anger. "You forget about that? You can't be in here. You can't afford to get hurt- get back to the ship, Zoë. You can't do anything here."

Zoë wanted to argue, anger bubbled up but there was no denying the girl was telling the truth. She wasn't any help, only a liability because they'd be thinking of protecting her instead of paying attention, finding a way out. She was the weak link…

"Alright." Zoë agreed and Thaïs didn't miss the protective hand she placed on the slight bump protruding from the un-tucked shirt.

Thaïs didn't waste time or gave Zoë an opportunity to rethink her decision. She grabbed the woman's arm and led her through the stacked crates, easily threading through the stacks. They were close to the entrance, Thaïs could tell by the difference in light. The shadow that fell was sudden and didn't give her time to call a warning. Thaïs fired her weapon turning to cover her six and found Zoë hunkered down with her gun aimed.

"Clear." Zoë nodded and slowly got to her feet.

"Come on." Thaïs hurried but the warehouse wall was past the second stack and reaching it they pressed their backs to it sliding down and taking cover.

"I'll distract them. You run and don't think of looking back, Zoë." Thaïs warned.

It galled Zoë, having to cut and run while they stayed to fight. But she was a distraction and concern for her child was making her nervous. What if she died? What if this, right now caused her body to abort-. Zoë clenched her jaw blinking away the sting of tears.

She'd protect their child.

'No more risks. I swear it.' Zoë vowed, not after today. There were other things to live for.

Thaïs waited for her, gave her time to catch a breath all the while thinking Zoë was not going to change. Maybe she'd slow down or take some time off but in the end Zoë was too much of a soldier to ever completely give up the only life she'd known. Something would always bring Zoë back…

"Now. Move." Thaïs ordered getting to her feet and stepping around the stacked crates, both guns firing.

Zoë paused a moment then stepped out behind Thaïs. She caught sight of Mal pinned behind the canisters and taking heavy fire. Her rifle came up automatically; no thought required seeing the Capt. in need of assistance.

Thaïs heard the shot and turned knowing as she did that it was a mistake. There was no time to correct it and as Zoë came into view Thaïs cursed the stupid woman who wasn't making her way outside. That's when she felt it, the burning sting in her shoulder and a second a bit lower and much more painful. Her arm went numb as the nerves were hit, the gun clattering to the ground as she tried to breathe past the agonizing pain. Behind her, Zoë cried out and Thaïs didn't think of what she was doing.

Mal cursed, he waved at Zoë to take cover at the same time Thaïs was shot twice. She dropped her gun and Mal took a step away from his protective cover intending to help and knowing he couldn't do anything from where he was. The next second Zoë's coat bloomed with a patch of red and she fell back. Mal was beyond angry. All he'd done was come to a meet, to do a job and what did he get?

"You gorram nǐ xiǎobiàn de jièkǒu-!" Mal roared as rage filled him threatening to cut of the air supply to his lungs. He barely noticed as Thaïs hauled Zoë behind the crates. He stepped around the canisters, aiming. Two shots took down the goon foolishly perched atop another canister.

"Jayne!" Mal barked and as if reading his mind, a little black sphere sailed towards the door they'd exited.

Thaïs felt the building shudder and the noise of the explosion cut through her focus but she didn't turn from the bleeding woman at her feet.

"Aah!" Zoë cried out in pain, clenching her jaw as Thaïs pressed on the bullet wound.

"It went through." Thaïs stated in clipped tones. Her own pain was still present but she ignored it. She forced her mind to forget it, to ignore the blinding pain- as though a small sun had burst under her skin-. "Press here."

"You were shot." Zoë ground past her teeth, obediently pressing down on her shoulder. She couldn't see any blood on Thaïs and her jacket had no bullet holes-

"Drop it!"

Thaïs' head jerked up at the order, violet eyes glaring at the goon holding her at gun point. She tossed her gun at his feet without argument, still kneeling beside Zoë.

"Get up, slow." He ordered waving the barrel.

"Your boss got blown to bits." Thaïs said as she stood up. "There's no point in killing us."

"No…its gonna make me feel a whole lot better." The goon smirked. He pulled the trigger hitting Thaïs point blank in the chest. She fell back grasping at the crates on her left. She barely felt the ground impact with her bruised shoulder. Her side just went numb and she lay still, struggling for breath when she heard Zoë. The woman was still flinging threats, weaponless and bleeding.

"Bye."

Thaïs kicked out, her heel connecting with his leg. The gun went off, ignored as Thaïs struggled to her feet. She was drawing in shallow breaths, pushing past the pain burning in her shoulder and chest. She focused on the goon, on his gun as he tried to shoot her again but the gun clattered harmlessly on the ground as she kicked him.

He snarled, turning towards her, arm slashing across and Thaïs felt the sting from the blade on her collar.

'Stupid. Focus yourself. Do not be an easy kill.'

"That's bad." Kaylee yelped as the big puff of smoke and fire rose towards them. "Real bad. Simon-."

"They'll be fine." He assured but even he wasn't convinced. All he could see was black smoke and fire licking at what had been the roof of the warehouse.

River circled the building, hovering lower.

"Should we go…check?" Kaylee asked softly. She didn't want to go down there; her mind kept picturing all the dead bodies- people she'd known and the children…

"Set her down somewhere safe, River." Simon ordered. "I'll take a look." He didn't want to go either but there was no one else around and they had to know if any of them had survived.

"Zoë!" Mal yelled running towards the exit. He turned the corner, gun aimed at the struggling pair.

"Help her." Zoë grunted from the floor as she craned her head to get a look at Thaïs.

But Mal didn't move. He watched Thaïs twist around, the goon's arm in a firm grip. Something shone in her hand, the same one she jabbed into his chest and under his chin. The goon went still, sort of jerked then dropped at Thaïs' feet.

"She don't need it." Mal said as Thaïs drew in a deep breath. She finally looked at him, the bloody knife in her hand

"What're you waitin' on for?" Jayne demanded.

"Get Zoë." Mal ordered tucking his sidearm in its holster and grabbing Zoë's rifle. "Haizi-!" he called but Thaïs was already striding towards them, both of her guns in hand. She fell in beside him, blood streaking her cheek, violet eyes searching the shadows and fire as they covered Jayne.

Time to get on with the job.

There's no reason to delay it anymore. The Tam's need to be brought in. I know this.

It's my job.

My life.

I know what I am.

Who I am.

AN: Explanations will be forthcoming in the next chapter as to how she survives the bullets.