River pulled Riddick's arm around her waist as she rested her head against his bare chest. Dried blood still crusted her arms and face; she couldn't summon the energy to care. Instead, she closed her eyes and lost herself in the rhythm of his heartbeat; the steady rise and fall of his chest. She had banished her brother from the infirmary; closed the doors, dimmed the lights, and drawn the blinds. She could not will the rest of the universe away; instead she chose to ignore it. It was unfortunate the universe does not like to be ignored.

Little one.

River's body tensed. The lyrical voice sang inside her head and the smell of wet foliage tickled her nostrils.

Do not be alarmed.

River's body twitched in time with the sensation of the cord between herself and Riddick being severed. Panic shot through her veins and the only thing which kept her silent was the reassuring beat of his heart. Reassured Riddick was indeed still alive and breathing; she found it in herself to be more than a little angry that she had been so unceremoniously forced from Riddick's mind.

A low and very Riddick-like growl of irritation rolled past her lips. It was with no little smug satisfaction that River finally relaxed; realizing whether or not she was present for the conversation was inconsequential. Riddick had promised to conceal nothing from her; she would just read it from his mind when he awoke. She could wait until then.

*T*F*C*

Riddick opened his eyes as the smell of sulfuric ash wafted into his nostrils,

the scent was laced with wet foliage and damp earth.

He inhaled deeply.

Your time has not yet run its course.

Her voice was lyrical and light with amusement.

Your timing's shit.

Riddick rumbled as he pushed himself up. He was unsurprised by the lack of pain and yet not naïve enough to think it would extend back into the real world.

Coulda used a pop of whatever the hell it is you got before I passed out.

Again you assume I have any tangible influence over the world outside this realm.

She answered idly as her gaze drifted out and over the mountains.

A storm is brewing.

That some kind of cryptic bullshit?

Take it as you please.

Riddick repressed the urge to growl.

Where were you?

Shirah's head tilted to the left slightly, an amused smile played at the corners of her lips.

I was where I always am.

Don't fuck with me.

Shirah's eyes flashed and Riddick took an involuntary step back. The weight of the slender woman's presence seemed to multiply and grow heavy in the air.

You forget yourself.

Her voice retained its lyrical quality but Riddick felt the edges of it bristle again his skin.

The night with the Blue Sun Agents.

Riddick refreshed her memory.

I heard you in my head, I felt you in my veins, you made me stand. Where the fuck were you tonight?

He snarled against his better judgment.

You honestly believe that had anything to do with me?

Her laughter bubbled out of her lips.

I told you, Furyan.

I enlighten.

I do not interfere.

Then enlighten me.

The Furyan gritted out; unaware his veins had begun to pulsate, his eyes glow.

Anger, rage, Fury.

Love, bliss, Passion.

Emotion, instinct; that is our life blood.

Your ignorance grows tiresome.

You treat yourself as one of them.

The distaste and contempt in her voice was apparent.

You are Furyan.

Look at yourself.

Riddick looked down at his arms; words failed him as he watched the color pulsate beneath his skin.

She will bring you to me.

You rose, fueled by her memories; by her fear.

You rose for her.

She rose from her perch; the air around her crackled with energy.

Not for me.

You answered my call only after her influence.

Do you think this pleases me?

Her laugh was bitter.

Fate is cruel.

Leave me.

What do you want from me?

Riddick roared at her.

What is this shit? What the Fuck am I?

If you have to ask, you are not ready to know.

Leave me.

Not until I get my answers.

Shirah spun on him violently.

Several meters of space separated them; but Riddick felt her blow as if she had physically struck him.

His body flew backwards and slammed into a rock wall.

Fuck you!

Riddick roared as he propelled himself back to his feet. He lunged for her; moving so quickly he was nearly taken aback by the speed at which he reached her.

She spun easily out of the way.

The atmosphere crackled.

Lightning bolts tore through the sky as the violet clods churned wildly; turning almost onyx in their fury.

Shirah moved at a speed in which Riddick had no hope of tracking.

He was on his back; coughing and gasping for air before he realized he misjudged his lunge.

The tip of a sword pricked his jugular.

One day, Furyan, you will have the right to challenge me.

One day I will kneel before you.

Today is not that day.

Forget not your place.

Honor your ancestors.

Honor your mate.

Look to your clan before yourself.

Avenge blood with blood.

And perhaps one day, Riddick,

You will be worthy of your birthright.

Shirah pulled away her sword and turned her back on him.

Leave me.

She awaits you.

She made no attempt to conceal the bitterness in her voice.

Watch over her, Furyan, she holds the key to your salvation.

Riddick's eyes snapped open; it took several moments for reality to shift fully into focus. Gradually a familiar scent wafted into his nostrils; recognition was slow coming as his body fought the effects of the drugs which were pumping through his system. He didn't risk movement of any kind. He wasn't afraid of injuring himself; he was unconcerned with which parts of his body still functioned and which didn't. None of it mattered. That smell was River, the weight on his chest was her small frame, the breathy snore came from her lips as she slept; her hair fanned out across his chest. He made no attempt to wake her. He inhaled her. He ran his fingers over her skin.

She holds the key to your salvation.

"River." He rumbled softly as he tucked a loose braid behind her ear, letting his fingers dawdle over a length of silk ribbon entwined in it.

River's eyes fluttered open and focused themselves intently on Riddick's silver gaze. She did the only thing which seemed rational; she leaned her head up and kissed him.

Riddick did not push her away, he did not rush her lips, nor force anymore than what she gave him. He savored the taste of her lips against his. His tongue fumbled as images began to bombard his mind; as she showed him everything that had occurred after he had been shot. She broke away as the final shot blew through Niska's brain and resettled herself against his chest. He felt her pain and sorrow radiate through her skin; he felt her reluctance to kill war with the satisfaction of a justified kill. He felt her guilt for killing each man and heard the echo of their fall ricochet through her mind. It was the warmth of her silent tears which brought him to speak.

"Don't you cry for them, River." His hold tightened despite the flare of pain the action caused.

"Not for them." She whispered so quietly he wouldn't have heard it if not for his enhanced hearing. "For her. There is no going back. She came when he called."

"I'm not sorry." Riddick answered her honestly.

"Nor am I."

*T*F*C*

"Sure this thing's gonna stay on, Doc?" Mal asked as he approached the doctor who was packing up the equipment which enabled said ear to be reattached.

"The dermal mender creates an excellent tissue bond. It should be fine." He frowned as he looked up at the captain. "Just don't fiddle with it."

"Well, that's reassuring." Mal snorted but ceased his fiddling. "Be sure to uh, thank the Councilor for me. Awful nice of her to pull those strings and lend us the equipment." He cleared his throat uncomfortably as he thanked Inara.

"It was the very least she could do." The Companion replied sadly as she took in the captain's battered face. "I just wish you had killed that old bastard."

"Yeah, well I got regrets on that score myself." Mal replied quietly. He wasn't entirely sure Niska was in fact still alive. River's sudden disappearance and even more sudden reappearance as she dropped from a ventilation shaft nagged at him. She hadn't spoken on where she had gone or what she had done; in fact, she hadn't spoken at all other than to throw every one out of the infirmary. A point in which she had been ear-bleedingly vocal on. He had plans to talk to the Little Bit on that account. "So, I hear ya'll took up arms in that little piece of action back there." He said to Book and Simon. Both the doctor and the preacher appeared disinclined to speak on it and rather than look at Mal they looked everywhere else but. "How you farin' with that Doctor?" Mal asked, genuinely concerned. Simon was a doctor; it was his job to save lives, not try to end them. The preacher, Mal could see the weight of the night hanging heavy on his features.

"I don't know." Simon admitted. "I've never shot anyone before."

Book rested his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I was there, son. I'm fair sure you haven't shot anyone yet."

Mal had to chuckle a bit at the look which crossed the boy's face; his chuckle was followed quickly by a flinch of searing pain which made him regret it instantly. He opened his lips to address the preacher again but the look in the man's eye told him the question was better left unasked. He turned and headed up the stairs to reach the mess.

"Get that equip back to its owner, I wanna be off this rock and headed the hell out of this quadrant. We still got this run for Mr. U to make." He called over his shoulder as he slowly made his way up the stairs. "That beach Zo keeps talkin' 'bout is lookin' more and more appealin'. Captain's sick of being stabbed, that's for damn sure." He added under his breath to no one but himself.

*T*F*C*

Despite everything, Wash could not bring himself to wipe the shit-eating grin off his face as he smoothed out the placemat in front of him. The smell of Wife-y Soup tickled his nostrils. Zoe knew damn well he was wearing that smirk; she couldn't have cared, her men were alive and, thanks to the Councilor's dermal mender, relatively in one piece.

"Mmm Wife Soup. I must have done good." He grinned up at her as she set the bowl down and tucked a napkin into his shirt.

"Yes, dear, you done good." She leaned down and kissed his cheek; thanking every God she had ever heard of that she still could.

"Ow." Mal groaned as he stepped down onto into the mess from the rear stairwell.

"Captain, come sit," Wash waved his hand rather dramatically. "Get some Wife Soup. Unlike some wives, mine makes enough for everyone." He said smugly as he devoured the first spoonful.

"Thought we agreed we'd never mention those days again." Mal grunted as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"No, sir, I believe you ordered us to never speak about it and we've resorted to pointed looks and veiled remarks behind your back." Zoe smirked as she squeezed her way onto her husband's lap.

"Don't forget snickering. We do a lot of snickering behind your back, captain." Wash added cheerfully as he carefully navigated his spoon around his wife's hair.

Mal choose to ignore that as he carefully took a seat at the table. "One of these days, I'll fire the lot of you, and get myself a crew that knows how to give their captain the respect he deserves."

"Empty threat." Wash snorted, the action hurt slightly and he made a mental note to not snort until his broken nose had healed completely.

"Try all you like, sir; you won't find a better lot than what you got."

"Speakin' on the lot I got. I still am havin' some difficulty believin' the stories I've heard about the Little Bit's role in all of this."

"Would have been humped without her, sir." The lightness retreated from Zoe's tone.

"You have to admit it's a little scary." Wash said nervously. "Least she's on our side."

"Never seen anything like it, sir; not in the war, not ever. Girl was unstoppable; fired with her eyes closed and nailed every one."

"She kicked off a wall and shot two men square in the head with her eyes closed." Wash added. A bit incredulously. "We ever get an answer of where she disappeared to?"

"I got a clue." Mal said as he sipped his coffee. "Got a feelin' she went after Niska."

"Think she got him?" Wash asked.

"I do." Mal nodded.

"I owe her another shirt."

"Apples or chocolate, ain't that what she asks for?" Zoe asked seriously.

"I'm thinkin'more along the lines of a permanent position as a part of the gun crew." Mal answered.

"Wasn't she already?" Wash asked as he slurped down another spoonful.

"She was; but I'm thinkin' it's time we outfitted her right. Zoe, you'll see to it?"

"Yes, sir." Zoe agreed.

"Right then." Mal groaned as he pushed himself up. "That only leaves one other order of business."

"Sir?" Zoe arched her brow curiously.

"You didn't tell her, Wash?" Mal asked with feigned surprised.

"Tell her what?" The pilot looked up from is soup.

"You're husband has demanded we sleep together." Mal informed Zoe quite seriously.

"Really?" Zoe asked as she stood up from her husband's lap.

"What? Mal, come on." Wash groaned.

"He seems to think it would get all this burning sexual tension out in the open." Mal explained to Zoe, ignoring Wash. "You know, make it a fair fight for your womanly affections."

Zoe bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. She feigned a creased brow.

"No. That was the torture talking. Remember the torture?" Wash clarified with a pointed jab of his spoon.

"I know it's a difficult mission but you and I have to get it on." The captain said neutrally as he placed Zoe's hands on his body and tried to not be utterly weirded out as he touched her as well.

"I understand, sir." Zoe cleared her throat and tried to not shudder. "We have no choice. Take me, sir. Take me hard." She managed to say evenly and without bursting into hysterical laughter.

"Now something about that is just downright unsettling." Jayne said from the foredeck hall, grimacing slightly.

Wash threw down his spoon with an eye roll and stood as Mal and Zoe made an attempt to kiss. The motion was awkward and unsettling in every way possible. Zoe was actually quite relieved when she felt her husband pull her away.

"We'll be in our bunk." Wash said pointedly as he turned Zoe in the direction of his desired destination. He slapped her ass for good measure as he followed her up the stairs.

Jayne stepped away to let them pass utterly confused and disturbed by the situation he had walked into. His confusion was quickly replaced by excitement as he spied the abandoned soup on the table. "Hey, free soup."

Mal chuckled. "Ow."

"Imagine that'll hurt like a bitch the next couple of days." The merc snorted as he helped himself to the forgotten bowl of soup.

"Imagine it will." Mal groaned slightly as he retook his chair.

"What its worth, glad you ain't dead."

Mal's face scrunched slightly at the merc's remark. "Thanks?"

"Would have been iffin' it wasn't for crazy killer woman."

"Keep hearin' that."

"Girl's got a hell of a shot."

"You got any objections to making her a gun?" Mal raised an eyebrow.

"Why the hell would I?" Jayne looked up incredulously. "Girl's gonna keep us all from gettin' dead." He looked at Mal with a half smirk. "'Tween her and Riddick, they'll make us a shitload of coin, too." Jayne's smirk faltered. "He up yet?"

"Ain't rightly sure." Mal narrowed his eyes.

"Took those bullets for me, Mal." Jayne admitted as he pushed the bowl of soup away; suddenly no longer hungry.

"That play any role in River becomin' a gun?" Mal asked curiously.

"Wasn't for her, he woulda bled out on that floor. That woulda been me, Mal. Don't rightly know how I feel 'bout a man dyin' in my stead. Wasn't for her, Kaylee woulda been dead in that explosion; weren't for her and Riddick that bullet on Canton woulda had my name written all over it; woulda been pinched for sure in that hospital job and we sure as hell wouldn't have made if offa that Skyplex. Girl's got a hell of a shot and can sniff out a set-up from a rock away. Can't rightly see a reason not to trust her. Seems kinda dumb to not."

"Jayne, I do believe that's one of the longest and most eloquent speeches I've ever heard you make." Mal said as he wondered if he would ever figure out the man seated across from him.

"What's eloquent?" The merc's brow furrowed as he debated whether or not he should be offended.

Mal shook his head and once more pushed himself out of his chair. He clapped Jayne on his shoulder as he headed out of the mess.

"Hey," Jayne barked. "What in the ruttin' hell didja call me?"

*T*F*C*

"I don't have any answers." River spoke suddenly, breaking the comfortable mental and verbal silence which had fallen over them.

"Does it matter?" Riddick asked her.

"She doesn't know." River sighed.

Riddick chose to ignore the pronoun slip; though, if he were to be honest, the constant switching between first and third person was more annoying than the constant third person.

"Can't help it." River answered his thoughts omitting the pronoun altogether rather than deal with the complications of its misuse. She was mildly amused that she hadn't thought of it earlier.

Riddick smirked. The doctor hadn't skimped on the drugs and he decided, at the moment, he couldn't be brought to really give a shit about any of it all. He had held true to his word and moved out of River's bunk. He'd missed the way her hair felt against his skin and the way her scent would cling to his skin in the morning.

You fucking pansy. He meant to think only to himself; the drugs however let the thought slip cleanly though. He knew she'd caught it when a sudden eruption of giggles tickled his chest.

*T*F*C*

Mal wasn't beneath eavesdropping; though it hadn't been his intention as he made his way down to the infirmary to speak to the last two members of his crew. The blinds were still drawn on the infirmary and the doors closed; but there was a slight crack and the distinct sound of the Little Bit's laughter caught him completely off guard. Laughter was the very last thing he had expected to encounter and so, as he found himself carefully positioned outside the door ,he told himself it was a captain-y right and didn't think on it again.

"Fuck you." Riddick rumbled out; the smirk on his face betrayed any pretense of annoyance.

"Likes him better on Prekocadrine." River continued to giggle.

"That what your brother gave me?" Riddick asked.

"Five hundred milligrams."

"That alot?"

River frowned suddenly and pushed herself up.

"His blood is wrong."

Riddick gave her a look somewhere between curiosity and indifference. He didn't quite understand how the question had required her to pull away to answer. "What's that got to do with dosage?"

"There are three alleles of the Blood type gene-," River started; trying to phrase her explanation in a way to make Riddick understand, "- A, B, and O. Two of these genes are present in blood; resulting in six possible combinations. These are genotypes-,"

"River-," Riddick groaned, "- I didn't understand shit of that."

River rolled her eyes. "You are genetically different."

"Knew that." Riddick smirked although he wasn't entirely sure why he was smirking.

"Simon did not." River informed him. "He wants more tests."

"He ain't gettin' them." Riddick shrugged; he wasn't seeing the issue still.

River's frown deepened and her eyes darted toward the door. The action did not go unnoticed by Riddick; his nostrils flared. "Lurking is considered creepifying." River scolded loudly.

"Wasn't lurking." Mal said indignantly as he opened the doors. "Ain't lurkin' when you're the captain."

"Suppose you got questions now." Riddick said easily even though a part of him was pissed the man had gone unnoticed for so long. A much larger part of him however didn't really give a shit at the moment.

"A few." Mal conceded.

"Warn you, captain; River doesn't have any answers." The convict smirked.

"How 'bout you?"

"Just as fucking confused as she is."

"Suppose you got the time to figure it out, seein' as you're lookin' to be bedridden for a bit." Mal mused.

"Shame I'll miss whatever job that creepy little shit has in store."

Mal snorted. "Not a chance in hell, Riddick. I told Wash to take the long ways; figure a two week haul will give ya plenty of time to get back on your feet."

"Kind of you."

Mal's brow furrowed slightly. "That's the drugs talkin', ain't it?"

"Most like." Riddick shrugged pleasantly.

"Kinda prefer you this way." Mal chuckled and once more regretted it instantly. "Ow. Had a reason for coming down here."

"Would be honored." River answered his unspoken words.

Mal quirked an eyebrow at her odd phrasing but didn't remark upon it. "Been told I got you to thank, Little Bit."

"I got shot for you." Riddick complained.

"People get shot around here all the time, Riddick; you want a medal or somethin'?"

"Wouldn't go bragging about it, Mal." The convict deadpanned.

"Anyway-," the captain shot the man a glare. "Just so's we're clear, Little Bit, you're acceptin' an official position aboard our girl here."

"She's a ruttin' mind reader, Mal; guarantee you she got the point before you even walked through the door." Riddick rumbled.

"Ain't the point, Riddick. I didn't offer if the words didn't come out."

River leaned over the edge of the bed and, in a very uncharacteristic display, threw her arms around a very surprised Mal; ignoring Riddick's sudden spike of jealousy. It took the captain a moment to recover from the shock of the gesture before he returned it.

"First Zo and now River." Jayne shook his head as he leaned against the infirmary doorframe. "Captain or not, I catch you huggin' up on Kaylee, I'll have to break your gorram arms on principle."

"Zo?" Riddick quirked an eyebrow as he tugged River back against him on the bed and out of Mal's embrace.

"It's 'cause I'm too damn pretty." Mal said unabashedly as he pushed himself off the stool. He had a feeling Jayne's appearance wasn't random. "Little Bit, you got your brother worked into all sorts of knots, you best go and check in with him 'fore he ruptures somethin'."

Riddick tightened his grip slightly in an almost reflexive action. River, however, was well aware of Jayne's purpose and she reluctantly pulled herself away.

Jayne waited until River and the captain disappeared up the stairwell before entering the infirmary.

"Got something on your mind, Cobb?" Riddick rumbled as he idly picked at one of the bandages on his chest.

Jayne dropped onto the stool Mal had occupied moments before and unscrewed a flask of whiskey. "Suppose I owe you, Riddick. Would be me iffin' you hadn't of knocked me outta the way. Know better than to do what I did. I didn't even look 'fore I stepped out." The merc took a long swig off his flask.

"You pass that this way and I could be convinced to call it even." Riddick replied eyeing the flask. A drink sounded real good at the moment.

Jayne took another swig and handed the flask over. "Hardly call it even." The merc grunted.

Riddick tossed back a mouthful before answering. "Ain't that what crew does?"

"Mal give you that one-open-eye-blinking speech too?" Jayne chuckled.

"Sure did." Riddick smirked. "To trim and crime, Cobb." The convict tipped the flask; took a quick sip and passed it back off to the merc.

"Trim and crime, brother." Jayne grinned.