"So," Wash said, taking a deep breath of the sweet musky smell of her neck.  "You mind tellin' me what reminded you that you loved me?"

                "I never forgot I loved you," Zoë laughed. 

                "Yeah, but still," Wash insisted.  "I need to know who I can thank for this sudden turn around in your disposition.  I'm thinking about sending them a thank you card."

                Zoë laughed again.

                "You know, somethin' plain, 'Your kind words meant a lot to me . . . they got my wife in bed.'"

                "Oh, be quiet," Zoë said, nudging his gut with her elbow.

                "No, seriously, what changed your mind?" He said, kissing her neck as added incentive.

                "Well," Zoë sighed.  "If you must know. . . ."

                "E o!" Wash moaned, "I'm dying to know."

                "It was River."

                "River?" Wash asked, pulling himself away from his wife just a touch so he could look at her with a somewhat critical eye.  "You're taking romantic advice from a seventeen-year-old whose idea of a coherent sentence is 'Two by two with hands of blue.'"

                "That would be the River."

                "I suddenly feel less confident in your critical judgment skills."

                Zoë laughed again, "How about if I told you the good Doctor Tam inspired me."

                "Slightly more assured," Wash said, kissing her right behind her ear.  "Although the fact you can't tell the difference between the brother and sister is still concerning."

                Zoë sighed contentedly and rolled over so that she was looking her husband in the eyes.  "'Member couple nights back when River was screamin' like a banshee?"

                "Not easy to forget," Wash said gamely.

"Well, when I was in there she started talking crazy,"
                "The girl is nothing if not consistent."

                "She was sayin' that all these things happened in that big old book she's been readin' were real, were happenin' ta us."

"I hope her book has a happy ending."

"Sometimes it do, as it turns out," Zoë said, running her fingers up and down her husband's arms.  "For instance, she called you Hippomenes."

                "A hippopotamus?"  Wash asked.  "I know I'm not as buff as Jayne or gangly like Simon but . . ."

                "No," Zoë laughed.  "That's a character, in her book.  I'd been meaning ta ask Simon 'bout it but boy's been so busy with that sick girl."

                "And the continually difficult task of avoiding Kaylee," Wash added.

                "That too," Zoë chuckled.  "But I got my chance today."

                "And?  Why am I a hippopotamus?"

                "It seems that Hippomenes was a prince who fell in love with a beautiful warrior princes named Atalanta."

                "A warrior princess, hum?  I like this story already."

                Zoe giggled a little, then continued with the story, "But this girl, she liked being a maiden, being able to run off in the woods and hunt all day."

                "I can see the appeal," Wash conceded.

                "So she swore off men.  Said she wouldn't marry any man who couldn't beat her in a footrace."

                "Clever girl."

                "Not clever as Hippomenes.  He went through a host a tests and trials so he could get a batch of magic golden apples."

                "Ah, apples."

                Zoë laughed again, "And when he had his foot race with her, every now and then he'd throw an apple off to the side and she'd chase after it, so he'd get ahead of her, then she'd catch up and he'd throw another apple and she'd go after it, and so on till he won."

                "And they were married?"

                "Atalanta wasn't going to break her word."

                "Because he threw apples, wasn't that cheating?"

                "Guess not."

                "And did they live happily ever after?"

                "Very much so."

                "I like that story."

                "Me too."

                "So River thinks your Atalanta?"

                "Seems so."

                "And I'm the hippopotamus?"

                "Yes," Zoë chuckled.

                "Well maybe that girl's only half crazy," Wash said, leaning forward so he could kiss his beautiful warrior princess.  He was interrupted by a banging on their door.

                "We're asleep," Wash muttered.  "We don't hear it."

                "Zoë," Mal's muffled voice yelled through the door.  "Wash, I need you."

                "We're not that heavy of sleepers," Zoë moaned, pulling away from her husband.

                "We could be if we tried," Wash said, not letting go of her hand as the rest of her body slipped out of bed.  "Who knows, maybe we were drugged?  Maybe the vents in here don't work and we asphyxiated on the CO2."

                "Well then I'd better go tell Mal all about it so he can have Kaylee fix them vents," she said slipping her hand out of his as she walked over to the ladder and pressed the button to open the hatch.  "Yes sir?"

                "Hate ta interrupt ya," Mal said.  His voice was tight and he looked nervous.  "But we got us a situation.  I'd appreciate it if you both could join me in the common rooms as soon as you're ready."

                "Of course sir," Zoë nodded.

                "Oh, and, ah, you ain't seen 'Nara recently, have you?"

                "Inara sir?"

                "Naw, 'cours you wouldn'a," Mal muttered.  "Just move it along, quick as ya can."

                "Yes sir," Zoë said, closing the hatch as the captain walked away.

                "He said quick as you can," Wash observed.

                "That he did," Zoë said, grabbing some cloths to put on under her robe.  Between the roaming eyes of Jayne and the multiple Kubat men Zoë didn't want to show off more of herself than absolutely necessary.

"I just could not, under any circumstances, get up there in less than . . . Oh, two hours at least."
"Baby," Zoë scolded, grabbing the edge of their blanket and pulling it aside. 

"Hey!" Wash said, suddenly freezing.  "Tryin' ta give me a heart attack."

Zoe glanced at her husband noncommittally and threw him his pajama pants.  "Up and at em, ya lazy old hippo."

*    *    *

                "Kaylee, what's the news?"  Mal said very softly.  The whole of the Kubat family was in the infirmary (Simon had graciously allowed the prefects wife in the room so long as she didn't touch anything) so Serenity's crew stood conversing very quietly in the common area, looking nervously and suspiciously through the windows.

                "She's gotta be in the shuttle," Kaylee said, her childlike brow knit with very unchildlike worry as she stood close to her captain. "She ain't anywhere else, been lookin' fer over an hour. 'Sides it's locked from the inside now."

                "Did you knock?" Book asked.

                Kaylee nodded, "Weren't no answer," she said softly.

                "Why exactly do we need to find Inara again?" Zoë asked.  "She didn't attack the Prefect."

                There was a weighty silence. 

                "Did she?"

                "Good Pa Kubat says that Inara was drunk," Mal said.  "He spoke ta her respectful and fer no reason he can see, she attacked him.  Probably thought he was tryin' ta make a pass or some such.  Leastways, that's what he figures," Mal said. 

                "What's Inara care?" Jayne muttered, obviously resenting the fact he'd been dragged out of bed.  "Ain't like a Prefect couldn't pay."

                "Jayne," Kaylee gasped, clearly horrified. The hours of searching had obviously worked on the girl's nerves.  She was jittery and nervous and looked like she was about to burst into tears.

                "They'll be none a that," Mal snapped at his mercenary.  "We all know 'Nara and we all know she's got more tact than all us here put together.  She could talk her way outta most any situation, drunk or not."

"Was she drunk Captain?" Book asked.

"I don't see how that matters one way or another," Mal insisted.  "We gotta get her outta her shuttle, we gotta make sure she's all right, an my gut tells me she ain't. But, once we find her, if you wanna ask her 'bout her blood alcohol level, well, then, I guess that's your prerogative."

"Have we tried hailing the shuttle with the comm?" Wash asked.  "I mean, I know it's obvious but . . ."

                "We sent a message, no one answered," Mal said quickly.  "First thing we did."

                "Why don't we just break inta the gorramn boat?" Jayne demanded.  "We could pry that door open easy."

                "I'd rather not," Mal said.  "Beyond the fact I'd have ta fit the shuttle with a new door, Y'all've done a nice job a makin' them boy's feel ta home.  Which means they ain't gonna just accept they can't be there when we do somethin' as excitin' as break open an air lock.  There gonna get tetchy an' their ma's gonna get tetchy and their pa's gonna get tetchy and then we got a whole passel a alliance blue bloods wonderin' what we're hiddin'  or worse, discoverin' what we're hiddin.'"

                "River," Kaylee said softly.

                "'Xactly."

                "She could open it," Kaylee said, glancing to the captain.  "From the inside."

                "Ain't we sposed to be hiddin' her?"  Jayne asked.

                "Maybe 'Nara don't want us in there," Kaylee said, glancing at Mal with uncharacteristic timidness, as if she were afraid to speak loudly.  "Maybe she's hurt or scared or somethin'.  But if we could get Simon ta talk ta River over the comm, she'd do what he asked."

                "Can she?"  Zoë asked.  "Would she know how?"

                "Doc said she's gao ming, how hard can picking a lock be?"  Wash asked.

                "That ain't a half bad idea," Mal said softly.  "We'll be wantin' Doc to look after Inara anyways, make sure she's all right." He glanced through the windows.  "We gotta get the boy outta that room."

                Clapping and rubbing his hands together, the Captain took a deep breath.  "Zoë, Wash, you get the comm set up.  Jayne, Shepherd, you stay here with the family.  Keep'em in the Common area an kitchen, no one's left unsupervised.  Kaylee you're with me."

                "What we gonna do, sir?" Kaylee asked a little nervously.

                "We're gonna pull Simon out, then break in on Inara and River."

                The girl looked hesitant and nervous, "Cap, I don' wanna . . . ."

                "I ain't askin', Little Kaylee," Mal said very seriously.  "It's late and I was woke up ta find one a my passengers assaulted and one a my crew suspect.  I'm in no kind of mood for you ta be a little girl in a lover's spat."

                "We ain't . . ." Kaylee started, one sharp look from Mal quickly hushed her.  "Yes sir," she muttered.

                "Well then, come on," he clipped, walking towards the infirmary.  He could hear her following him and felt just a little bit better.  It was illogical, of course, to think that she was in danger.  Every person on the ship, with the exception of Inara and, possibly, River, was accounted for, and Kaylee was certainly not in any danger from Inara or River.  There was no unknown dark shadowy figure to accost the young mechanic.  But his laxness had already set Inara up for God-knows-what kind of assault.  He wasn't going to risk letting Kaylee out of his sight. 

When Mal opened the door to the infirmary and entered as dramatically as possible.  All eyes were on him, which was exactly what he wanted.  If he was in command of the moment he was more likely to keep his command of the situation.

                "Doc, how's the patient?"

                "Hairline fracture of the cheek bone, very painful but not serious.  Second degree burns on the face that could cause scarring, still, easily treatable."

                "You much needed here?"

                "Ah, no, sir," Simon said.  "I think I've done all I can do."

                "Then you're with me, we're gonna go check on Inara."  

                "No!" Mrs. Kubat said, stepping away from her maternal post to the left of her husband, with her worried children clustered around her.  She was wearing an elegant black silken robe covered in embroidery which was, Mal guessed, about as expensive as his entire wardrobe.  It was very impressive as it flowed behind her, very dramatic.  Of course, it couldn't hide the fact that she had a decidedly sexless flannel nightshirt on under it.  "That harlot attacked my husband."

                Mal's jaw tightened and his glare became less gracious and more determined.  Simon and Kaylee shot each other worried glances, the first communication they'd had in almost three days.

                "She did, ain't no question," Mal said, his voice made it clear that he was furious at the Kubat's but all that anger was well capped.  "An we're gonna find out why."

                "Damn Biao Zi was drunk!" Prefect Kubat muttered, although half his face was anesthetized and his speech was slurred. 

                "Be that as it may, she ain't in the habit a throwin' kettles in men's faces."

                "I demand . . ." Mrs. Kubat started.

                "I don't much care what you demand," Mal said with perfect calm.  "I am the captain, you are my passengers.  I decide what is best for the ship and her crew, that's what a captain does. It's my job.  You're job is ta sit tight and wait till we get ta New Dallas."

                "How dare--"

                "I dare," Mal continued his temper never rising above icy, "Because, as previously stated, I am the Captain, Serenity is my ship.  You chose to ride on her and, when ya did that, you chose to put yourself under my rule.  Once we get ta New Dallas it'll be different, I understand that.  But here, on this ship, I'm in command."

                No one dared answer.

                "Fine then," Mal said, taking a deep breath and relaxing a little.  "My crew's been right generous in lettin' y'all have the run of the ship.  But tonight, in light a what's happened, I'm gonna ask you to limit yourself to the infirmary, the common area, the kitchen and your rooms.  Shepherd Book and Jayne'll be hangin' round ta see that you respect my request."

"Are we prisoners now?" Mrs. Kubat asked in a huff.

"Ya ain't prisoners," Mal asserted.  "Just folks who are bein' kept outta the way of those doin' some work.  All yer needs have been attended too, so you got no call to complain."

                "I'll decide if I have a right to complain," Mrs. Kubat asserted.

                "Guess that's true," Mal mussed.  "I just got no call ta pay you head.  Doc, come on."

                Mrs. Kubat turned her furious countenance towards the young doctor, as if she expected his loyalty in this situation. "I just have to get my med kit," Simon said, brushing past the aristocratic woman to pick up his compact red case before following Mal and Kaylee out of the infirmary.

                "Is Inara badly hurt?" Simon asked with concern as the trio exited the common area and started through the cargo bay.

                "Don't rightly know," Mal said.

                "You . . .?"

                "She's locked herself in her shuttle," Kaylee said, glancing at Simon and then quickly glancing away again.  "Leastways, that's what we hope."

                "What we hope?"

                "She ain't ta be found," Mal said.  "So either she's locked herself up with your sister or she took a space walk without a suite."

                "Cap'in don' say that!" Kaylee gasped, freezing in her spot.  Mal and Simon took a few steps before they realized that the mechanic was not with them.

                "Come on now, girl," Mal snapped, turning around to look at her.  "We got . . ."

                The mechanic was trembling visibly; blinking furiously, trying to hold a stream of terrified tears at bay. She looked pail, small and weak and Mal found he had absolutely nothing he could think to say to her.

                "Kaylee," Simon said softly and soothingly as he took a step forward.  She didn't shrink back.  "It's ok, you don't have to be afraid.  I'm sure Inara's fine."

                "That man," Kaylee said, tears were streaming down her face.  "What if he really hurt her, ya know, what if she's . . ."

                "Shhh, shhh," Simon said, putting his hand gently on her shoulder.  "Inara's fine," he said with a confidence he couldn't possibly have.  "She's not badly hurt.  If she was she wouldn't have been able to lock herself in her shuttle."

"Doc's right," Mal said, taking a step closer to his terrified mechanic.  "Someone unlocked that shuttle door from the out side, that ain't River's doing, so we know she's in there hiddin'.  And there's no blood, not anywhere.  Not in the kitchen, not on the catwalks, not outside the shuttle.  Got no call ta be so 'fraid."

                "Can't help it," Kaylee choked out.

                Mal tried to swallow his frustration, "Ain't got time for this, Little Kaylee, we gotta see ta Inara."

                "I know," The girl said, she was practically sobbing.  "I'm sorry."

                "Come on," Simon said, very compassionately, wrapping his arm around her and pushing her gently forward. 

                Mal sighed as the pair went past him and started after them as Simon eased Kaylee up the metal staircase. This was not his best night ever. His ambassador had been assaulted and was now hiding; his passengers were in a snit that could, potentially, lead to serious ramifications with the alliance.  But at least the two dumb kids had started talking to each other. "Shiny," Mal grumbled.  "This is just shiny."

*   *   *

                "River," Simon said passionately over the comm system. "I know you can hear me and I know you can answer."

                There was no reply but static.

                "River, please," Simon pleaded.  "Please answer.  We need to know if Inara's in there.  We need to know if she's all right."

                There was a crackle, as the comm link was established on the other side, and then River's hushed voice.  "Penelope's asleep. Be quiet."  There was another crackle as the comm link went dead.

                "What the . . .?" Mal asked.

                "It's a thing she does," Zoë offered helpfully.  "She says everyone in the crew's part a the story in that big ol' book a hers."

                Kaylee, who was slouched in co-pilot's chair wrapped in a blanket, let out a short gaspy, irritated sniff.

                "What kinda book is it?"  Mal asked.

                "Writings of Accent Greece of earth-that-was," Simon said.  "Plays and epic poems about mythology."

                "An' she thinks Inara's Penelope?" Mal laughed.

                "Why's that funny?" Wash asked.

                Mal was snickering too hard to answer the question.

                Simon took a deep breath; "Penelope is famous for her chastity, staying loyal to her husband.  She had hundreds of suitors after Odysseus was assumed dead. But she waited for him and she was rewarded, he came back.  That's why she wouldn't let you or Jayne enter the shuttle, in the story Penelope knows her husband has returned because he's the only one who's ever seen her bed and he can describe it."

                "An' who," Mal managed to ask between his snickers, "Does River think is Odysseus?"

                "You," Simon said.

                "Wha-who?" Mal said, his chuckles gone.

                "She thinks you're Odysseus," Simon said slowly, an idea clearly unfolding itself behind his blue eyes.  "She'd let you in."

                "Wait, wait," Mal said holding his hands up.  "She thinks I'm Odysseus?  Shouldn't I be someone else? Jason, maybe, or Icarus?"

                "In her game she's Cassandra," Simon said, ignoring Mal's protest.  "I bet if you call her that, if you say you're Odysseus and you want to see your wife, she'll let you in."

                "Now, who's Cassandra?" Wash asked.

                "Why not you, Doc?" Mal asked.  "Why don't you call her with your Greek name.  Who are you anyways?"

                "She wouldn't let me in," Simon insisted.  "My character, Phryxis, had nothing to do with the Trojan war, Cassandra or Penelope."

                "Why'd she give ya that one?" Wash asked.

                The Doctor turned to Wash, there was something very serious in his eyes, like he was talking about more than an old story.  "Phryxis rescued his sister from becoming a human sacrifice only to have her fall off the golden ram they were flying and drown in the sea."
                "Was everything made of gold in Ancient Greece?"

                "Only stuff what was important," Mal snapped. 

                "I already asked River to let me in," Simon said, turning back to Mal.  "My story doesn't cut it, But I think yours will."

                "Doc. . ." Mal started.

                "Sir," Zoë said, "It's worth a try at least."

                "Jin yuan shen hua gai si," Mal muttered as he stepped up to the comm.  "I feel damn foolish."

                "It'll work," Simon said encouragingly.  "You're obviously familiar with the myths, you should be able to lead her on, convince her."      

"Did River give you a character?" Wash asked, turning to Kaylee.

                "I da'wanna talk 'bout it," Kaylee said, sniffing and wrapping her blanket a little more tightly around her.

                "I may'a read a ratty ol' copy a the Odyssey when I was a boy," Mal said.  "That don't make me no expert."

                "I can help you," Simon offered. "Besides, this is something she wants to believe.  She won't make it too hard."

                "This does seem to be the best option sir," Zoë said.  "Lot cheaper than having to repair the shuttle door after we cut it open."

                "Fine," Mal said trusty, stepping up to the comm.  "Cassandra, this is Odysseus."

                There wasn't an answer. He glanced at Simon and Zoë, as if to prove that he'd been right.

                "Keep going," Simon urged.  "Talk about Troy."

                "You, ah, you remember me, right?" the Captain said.  His cheeks were a burning red. "We, ah, we met in Troy."

                "You burned the city," River's timid voice came over the comm.  "You killed my family."

                "Yeah, well, those things happen."

                "You let Ajax rape me."

                Mal glanced at Simon.  The doctor's mind was obviously racing to think of a way out of that accusation.  "Ah, tell her that, that's not your fault," he started uncertainly.  "In fact, I think Odysseus had Ajax, ah, stoned for what he did to Cassandra."

                "Cassandra," Mal said, trying to make his voice sound confident and defensive.  "You know perfectly well there was no lettin' there.  As, ah, as I recall we all got together and stoned Ajax for what he done ta you."

                "Who's Ajax?" Wash asked no one in particular.  "'Cause I don't remember stoning anyone."

                "I'm a prophetess," River said defensively.  "I know the truth inside the pretty lie, I've heard the voices inside the hoarse."

                Mal glanced at Zoë and Simon again, clearly annoyed.  "This ain't workin'." 

                "Try bringing up Penelope," Simon said.  "She doesn't open the door after that we can try something else."

                "Cassandra, listen, I don' wanna talk about Troy or the war," Mal said earnestly.  "I'm worried about In . . . Penelope.  Let me in.  You know I got the right."

                "You do," River said softly.  "I can open the door."

                "Thank you," Mal said, closing the comm link.  He glanced around at the crew around him, Kaylee was still a trembling mess, Simon seemed about as concerned as relieved that his plan had worked, Wash was mostly confused and Zoë, as ever, was attentive.  "Well, to the shuttle I guess."

                Mal turned and left the cockpit, Zoë and Wash followed.  Simon was about to fall in line when he noticed Kaylee, still in her chair, shaking.
                "Come on," he said gently, walking over to her and putting his hand on her shoulder.  "Inara's fine.  She'll want to see you."

                "What if she ain't?" Kaylee asked, looking up at him with her large brown eyes, made all the deeper by her fear.  "He scares me so much.  Before he did . . . whatever it is he did, he gave me the willies, ya know, like he was bad news.  But I never . . ."

                "Kaylee calm down," Simon said solidly.  "You know that Mal would never let anything happen to you."

                "Ain't scared fer me," Kaylee said.  "I'm scared fer 'Nara.  'Sides, Cap'in didn' let anythin' happen ta her. Sometimes things jus' happin'."

                "Listen," Simon said, brushing a few wisps of her hair out of her eyes so he could look into them.  "I understand why you're scared.  But you can be brave."

                "I jus' keep thinkin' 'bout everything that coulda happened," She said glancing away.

                "We need to go find out what did," Simon said.  "Kaylee, please."

                The beautiful mechanic nodded and let Simon help her out of the chair.  Once they got to the shuttle the doors were open and everyone was inside.

                "Get lost on your way?" Wash asked as Simon led Kaylee in.  Simon's cheeks burned but Kaylee was too relieved to be embarrassed. 

                Inara was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking perfectly composed, if not a little annoyed at the crowed in her shuttle.  The only sign that anything had happened was a bandage wrapped neatly around Inara's right hand.

                "'Nara," Kaylee said, pulling away from Simon and practically running towards the Companion. 

                "Oh Mei mei," Inara said, clearly taken aback by Kaylee's overwhelming affection as displayed in an almost desperate hug.  "It's alright."

                "I thought you was hurt," the girl said, pulling back from Inara.  Her worry was still painted clearly on her face. 

                "I'm fine," Inara said with a very composed smile.  "I just got spooked."

                "Spooked enough to smash a kettle in a mans' face?" Mal asked, looking at the Companion critically.

                Inara didn't answer and she didn't even look towards Mal. "Kaylee, dear," Inara said, "You don't have to cry."

                "I was just so scared," the mechanic explained. "We couldn't find ya."

                "I'm sorry," Inara said to Kaylee, and then turning to everyone else in the room.  "I really am, I had no idea there was such a devoted search going on." 

                "Fei hua" Mal said, then he ordered, "Everybody out 'sept Nara and the Doc."

                "What about . . ." Simon started.

                "Yeah, River," Mal nodded.  "'spose she can stay too.  Where is she?"

                "Hiding in the cockpit," Inara said.  "You can clearly see I'm fine so, why is Simon staying?"

                "'Cause there are big bits a you that I can't clearly see," Mal said, looking the companion in the eye.  "You gonna tell me what happened between you and that Prefect?"

                "You don't want to know."

                "Details, no, big picture, yeah."

                "I'm not telling you." Inara said with a cold determination. "Companion's are specifically trained to  . . ."

                Mal didn't let her finish. "Then you're gettin' yerself looked over by the good Doctor.  That's an order."

                "I'm not part of you're crew!" Inara said, detaching herself from Kaylee, standing up and walking forcefully towards Mal.  "You have no right to order me around."

                "You're under my protection," Mal said very, very softly so that no one but her could here.  "I need to know what happened."

                "It's none of your business," Inara spat.

                "What if it'd been Kaylee?" Mal asked very quietly. 

                Inara's bravado faltered.  "I don't need a doctor," she said, a little bit louder, glancing in Simon's direction.  "I have a few bruised ribs and a burn on the palm of my hand.  He couldn't do any more for me that what I've already done." 

                "That sound right Doc?" Mal asked.

                "If her injuries are what she says they are, and I have no reason to suspect that they are not, then she's right.  There're not much more I could do."

                "I'll tell you," Inara said.  "When we're alone."

                "Fair's fair," Mal said.  "Everybody out."

                Simon started to open his mouth.

                "River can stay," Inara sighed.  She turned to Mal.  "I have a feeling she knows the whole story already anyways."

To be continued . . .