AN: I have to say, this chapter was one I have been waiting to post for a while. I think you will all figure out why. ;)

Chapter 7: What the hell are they?

XXX

River's POV

I'm watching them all as they sit around the table. Joking, laughing, smiling… just as they were… just as they will always be in my memories. Everything looks just like I remember it; the worn table, the mismatched dishes and cups, the way that everyone always seemed to find their way to the same seat.

Shepherd Book is telling a story… he always did tell the best stories. His face would become so animated, and you would finally get a glimpse of the real him. Not the person he was hiding behind.

Wash and Zoe are curled up into one another. Not overly so, but symbiotically. Almost as if they needed to be touching in some way to feel whole. Two puzzle pieces that just fit together.

Jayne was content. He would try to say he was some stone-cold killer, and to others he would be. But not here. Here, he was home… even if he would never admit it out loud.

Mal and Inara laugh easily, each one letting their guard down. Sly little glances and touches. I missed that before. But it's easy to see now.

Kaylee beams sunshine and sweetness. Her face radiated the happiness she feels and when she laughs at Book story, it's as if the sun was shinning on a summer day. It even manages to make Simon glow.

They all look so happy. But then I realize something is off. There's a seat missing…

There's no longer a space for me.

…Back in Midway City…

Just before my eyes snap open, the strong smell of smelling salts hits my nostrils. I sit up so rapidly that I nearly head-butt GQ.

"Oh goody, she's awake." Harley says as she claps her hands in excitement.

GQ helps me sit back. "Easy there shorty."

"What happened?" I ask as I look up at the faces of GQ, Harley, and Boomerang. There is a mix of concern and curiosity coming from all three of them. Great, just what I need, more scrutinizing looks from people.

"You passed out, luv. The next thing we know the chopper's crashin' and burnin'." Boomerang responds.

I groan as I try and stretch the ache in my shoulder. "Nice to see we're all still in once piece then."

"She's awake." GQ calls over his shoulder to Flag, who stomps over a second later.

"Rise and shine sleepin' beauty." Flag says as he crouches down next to me. "GQ can you take these two over there and give us a minute." He tells GQ.

"Come on, lets give her some air." GQ says pointedly to Harley and Boomerang.

I watch as the hesitantly move over to where the others are all gathered. Everyone is stealing quick glances in our direction, and I feel a few ears trying to listen in. This is not how I wanted things to start.

"Care to tell me what happened?" Flag asks me quietly but direct.

I can hear his unspoken question, about Enchantress. But he is really in no position to be asking or demanding answers on that topic. I narrow my eyes at him. "Irrelevant." I say as I pull my backpack over towards me.

But Flag isn't having it. "Tam…"

I sigh as I pull my weapons, a Walther P22 sidearm and kerambits, out of my bag and then close it up. "We're in for a fight… Mental and psychical." I say as I stand up, secure my weapons and heft my bag onto my shoulders.

The weight of my words sink in. "You ready for this?" Flag asks me quietly.

I sigh. It's not like I have a choice. "Are you?"

He doesn't answer my question out loud, but his apprehension and reluctance are written all over his face. "Come on, the others are waiting." He says as he turns and starts to walk over to where the squad, Katana, Alpha, and Bravo teams are standing.

"Have a nice nap?" Slipknot asks with a sneer.

His attitude is really getting to be quite irksome… to more than just me. I can feel the prickle of irritation coming from some of the others too.

"You should try it some time Weiss. With your ugly mug, you look like you could use some beauty rest."

Deadshot and Croc both chuckle at my retort, but Weiss is just seething inside. He is going to be a problem that needs to be dealt with.

"Alright, Alpha team will lead Tam's team to the rendezvous point up ahead. Bravo will bump out two squad blocks to the East. We get into any trouble, we will leap frog through you. Clear?" Flag asks his soldiers.

"Everyone move out." Flag says as we begin shuffling into the city.

Everyone falls into their positions. Alpha team leads the way, with Flag and Katana just behind them. I let Deadshot, Harley, Croc, and Chato walk ahead of me. There was no reason to have a rear guard with the squad, that was my detail, and by staying close to the back I could cover the field.

It also allows me to pick up on interesting side conversations. They're trying to be quiet…hushed voices and low whispers, but I can't help but smirk.

XXX

Deadshot and Harley are walking together, 10 meters or so behind Flag. "If that man threatens me again I'm gonna kill him." Deadshot says as he glares at Flag's back.

Harley chuckles. "Well, you better make it quick 'cause he's gonna kill all of us one by one."

Deadshot nods his head in agreement and starts spitballing his plan. "I'm gonna drop him, the Tam girl, sword lady, and one or two of these SEALs. After that, I'm gonna need some help. You down?"

Harley stops walking and grabs Deadshot's arm to stop him too. "I don't think you gotta worry about Tam."

"And why is that? She's the reason we're in this mess."

Harley rolls her eyes. "Yeah, but I get the feelin' it ain't as much her idea as you think."

Deadshot is puzzled. "How you figure?"

"Little things… things she's said to me. What she's told Digger, about gettin' mixed up with the wrong crowd… And things she's done." Harley says as she covertly shows Deadshot the purple burner phone.

Deadshot arches an eyebrow in surprise. "Really?"

Harley shakes her head in confirmation.

"So what? Your friend's gonna help us out with the shit in our necks?"

Harley blushes and acts coy. "You're my friend, too."

"Stay evil, doll face." Deadshot says as he continues walking ahead.

XXX

…A little bit further behind…

"Mind games." Captain Boomerang whispers over to Slipknot as they trail the group.

But Slipknot hadn't been paying attention and missed what Boomerang had said. "What's that?"

"All this bomb in the neck crap. That ain't real, mate. See, they're trying to trap us with our own minds. right? But you look around, we're free, brah." Boomerang says as he motions around them.

Slipknot looks skeptical. "How do you know this?"

"The copper. I'm workin' on gettin' her to trust me and she let it slip. It's a con."

Slipknot looks over at Boomerang and tries to weigh the merit of what he is telling him. He isn't sure about Boomerang, but it does seem like he's trying to get closer to that little bitch for a reason.

"Now I'm going. because I got a life to live. Question is, are you coming?" Boomerang asks a still skeptical Slipknot.

Slipknot takes a minute before he finally concedes. "Yeah!"

"Smart!" Boomerang says as he nods in Slipknots direction.

XXX

River's POV

I have to say… hearing what Boomerang was saying and plotting… it was ridiculous. I mean, granted Weiss is an unmitigated ass, but really? Was Weiss really so stupid as to fall for that bullshit from Boomerang? How in the hell had he not gotten himself killed before this?

I slow my steps so I am a few feet in front of Boomerang and Weiss. As Boomerang gives Weiss a small nod to signal him, I stop abruptly so I end up bumping into Boomerang, and quickly move to disarm the boomerang he's drawing from his jacket. Boomerang is all show though. He has no intention of throwing the boomerang or running, he just wants to see Weiss get his head blown off.

Weiss, however, has failed to pick up on any of this, and is rapidly scaling a nearby building.

"Flag!" I yell to alert his attention.

As Flag turns, the rest of Alpha team begins to fire at Slipknot.

"Hold your fire!" Flag yells as he quickly fishes his smartphone detonator out of his pocket and detonates the nanite in Slipknot's head. His body stops mid jump and collides against the building, his decapitated body hanging for everyone to see.

Harley cackles insanely. "Now that's a killer app!"

"What the fuck is going on!" Flag yells as he stomps over to where I am standing with Boomerang. Katana, GQ, and Alpha team are hot on his heels, and everyone is glaring at Boomerang, especially GQ.

I motion towards Boomerang next to me. "He thought it would be funny to get rid of the asshole."

This just makes Boomerang laugh hysterically. "Prick had it comin'. 'Sides, less bullshit to deal with."

"I second that!" Harley exclaims to throw her two cents in.

"They do have a point." Croc mumbles.

Flag is not amused though. "Okay. you wanna keep playing ...the Hollywood Squares version of "I'll Blow your freaking Head Off?" He threatens Boomerang, who is still laughing.

"No trouble from me mate." Boomerang says as he holds his hands up in surrender.

"You deal with this scumbag Tam. Move out." He says as he, Katana, and the rest of Alpha team move back up into position. GQ throws a few more pointed glares at Boomerang before he continues.

I turn and glare at Boomerang, who is merely laughing with sick glee. "Sorry… It's what I do." I roll my eyes. He really needs to learn to play with others.

"You really need to work on your people skills." I say not bothering to hold in my disgust.

"Oh come on! Guy was a tosser, no big loss." I can hear the other squad members agreeing, and I can't say I blame them. Weiss was going to be a problem. At least this way I didn't have to worry about him knifing me in the back.

"Let's just get going." I say as I motion for the others to go in the direction that Flag had. Deadshot, Harley, resume walking together… continuing their earlier conversation, while Croc and Chato keep to themselves. I turn towards Boomerang and he gives me a half bow.

"Ladies first." He says with a small flourish.

I roll my eyes, turn, and keep walking.

Boomerang jogs up next to me after a second. "So, he your boyfriend?" He asks as he motions ahead towards Flag.

I am entirely surprised by the question and look over at him with confusion. "Flag? No!"

"What about the other one? The one who keeps trying to burn a hole in me head with his looks."

"GQ?" I ask laughing. "No… he's like a brother."

"Ahh, that explains it. Doesn't want the ol' bogan gettin' near his lil' sis."

Again, I laugh. He really does think the world revolves around him a little more than the average person. "Maybe they're tryin' to protect you Digger." I say offhandedly.

"I told you luv, I like a bit o' trouble… and you do look tasty." He says as he throws an arm over my shoulder.

I contact startles me, and my adrenaline immediately kicks in. Before he knows it, I have spun out of Digger's grasp, used his surprise to my advantage, and have flipped him over on to his back. He lands and releases a groan loud enough to alert the rest of the squad and Flag.

I feel my face flush as they turn and look in our direction, and quickly pick up my pace away from Digger so I am walking closer to the front. I try my best to avert my face from Harley as she walks past me to where Digger is picking himself up off the ground.

XXX

"What did you say to her?" Harley ask Boomerang as he starts to dust himself off.

"Nothing, just havin' a laugh." Boomerang says as he begins walking again.

But Harley is not dissuaded from continuing to grill Boomerang and walks with him. "What did you do?"

Boomerang does not like Harley's appraising look and is getting frustrated. "All I did was be friendly and the next thing I know I'm on me back."

Harley chuckles while Boomerang glowers at her. "So… I'm thinkin' she ain't one who likes to be touched much."

"You don't say?" Boomerang says with a hint of mocking in his voice but he immediately regrets it as Harley continues to examine him further.

After a second Harley breaks out into a wide grin. "You like her, dontcha?"

Boomerang immediately blushes. "She's a pretty copper Harley. Just havin' bit of fun."

"Nuh-uh. I've known you, for what, few years now? This ain't how you normally act around 'just a pretty girl.' This is different. You likkeee her." Harley says drawing out her words like a child would to emphasize her point.

"What are you bloody Socrates with all the questions Harley?" He says refusing to answer her.

And now Harley's smile is a cheshire cat grin. "Oh you definitely like her."

XXX

River's POV

I'm walking along, trying to block them all out when I feel him slide up next to me. But unlike Digger, he knows it wouldn't be good to touch.

"So why did you do it?" Chato asks me in a low voice so only I can hear.

He's making it easy to read him. He's confused and a little angry. Angry that I pulled him out that night. He was ready to die after what he had done; to accept what waited for him. But something or someone had saved him. Again, I feel bad for what my decisions have done. "How long have you known?"

"That it was you that pulled me out? There was a presence that night… I felt it again when you came up to us."

I don't say anything and keep walking, thinking about how best to answer him. I can feel it… his anguish, his guilt. But death wouldn't have taken away that pain.

"Death won't take away your pain."

"How do you know?" It's only half his question. The other half is how do you know what happens when you die.

"I don't. But I know you have a gift, and it would be a shame to waste it."

He sighs and talks more to himself than me. "This is the Devil's gift."

"We all are cursed with gifts."

He slows a step or two and starts to walk by himself again. He wants time to be by himself and think. But since there isn't really anyway to be truly alone right now, he settles for walking by himself.

We're coming up to one of the main intersections when several thoughts prick at my brain. "Boss, we got people up here."

"Copy that." Flag says as he motions them forward. I quickly jog up to him and Katana behind one of the abandoned cars. "Keep the rest of them back until we can assess." He says quietly before he and Katana move to join the rest of Alpha team.

I silently motion for the squad to hold up at my position. Deadshot is the first to stop near me. "What's going on?" He asks as the others gather around.

"People up ahead, Alpha is checking out the situation." I reply. But Deadshot is no longer paying attention to me, something behind me has caught his eye and he quietly follows Flag.

"Deadshot!" I hiss, but he doesn't stop. But that's when I feel it. An all too familiar memory.

Except this isn't a memory. This is in front of me. A chill runs down my spine as I realize what Enchantress has done. What she's brought to life… Because there is no other explanation for what I am seeing in front of me.

"Rick, why do they look like that?" GQ asks from his crotched position.

"Just stay cool." Flag responds as he sets his sights from the right of GQ.

Deadshot stops just to the right of Flag. "The hell are they?"

"Reavers." I respond as I move behind Flag and Deadshot. "They're Reavers."

XXX

AN: Yes, an evil cliffhanger (hides behind Croc). I'll try and update soon.