Author's Note: Thank you very mcuh for all the reviews. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Two Days Later…
Zoë's fist collided with Badger's face. She was immediately pulled to the ground with a thud. Mal was hovering above her, his face still with fury. "Zoë, go back to the ship," he sneered through his teeth.
"I had heard the rumors that your little soldier there had gone suicidal," Badger said rubbing his jaw. He signaled for his posse to put away their weapons as he watched Zoë leave.
"She may have been out of line, but you best watch your mouth."
"Apologies, Captain," Badger tipped his hat.
"Can we deal?" Mal was feeling edgy. Zoë was always on the job with him and now he couldn't trust her.
"As you wish."
Badger milked the fact that Zoë had slugged him to lower the price, Mal accepted resentfully and he and Jayne headed back to Serenity.
They boarded the ship and Mal headed up to the bridge. He found River in the co-pilot seat as usual. She was often there even if she wasn't helping him out. He sat down in Wash's old seat and gazed over the dinosaurs that were sprawled across the pilot area that no one seemed to have the heart to take down. Mal had grown accustomed to them and they would probably always remain there. Wash had been the best pilot he had ever flown with and a good friend.
"I miss him too," River said quietly.
Mal gave her a weak smile.
"Recovery is a part of life. It takes time for wounds to heal."
"I don't know if these will ever heal for Zoë and they might not heal right."
"She's lost in the darkness but she hasn't stop searching." River tilted her head. "Just like you haven't."
Mal jerked his gaze to her. Her expression was soft and innocent. He didn't respond. He turned and hit the intercom. "Heat her up, Kaylee. Let's get off this rock."
"What is that hair brain girl up to?" Jayne asked stepping up next to Simon and Mal who were watching River in the kitchen.
"She wanted to make dinner for everyone," Simon replied tilting his head as he watched her.
Jayne rolled his eyes and stomped out of the dinning area.
"Doc, can I have a word?" Mal and Simon both turned to see Zoë standing in the doorway.
"Sure." He followed her to the infirmary where she closed the doors behind them. "What can I…"
"I want you to abort it."
Simon's eyes widened slightly and his mouth opened and closed like a fish before he spoke. "Zoë, I think that you need to take some time…"
She interrupted, "I appreciate the concern, Doc, but I can't…"
Simon nodded slowly. "There are a couple of things I need to perform the procedure. We'll have to wait a couple of days."
She nodded. "I'd appreciate it if you would keep all of this between you and me."
"Of course."
Simon watched her leave and ran his hands over his face, letting out a deep sigh.
"You all right, Simon?" Kaylee stepped through the doorway.
"I'm okay," he reassured her opening his arms to her allowing her to nestle against him.
"You looked sad." Kaylee ran her fingers over his arms lazily.
He relaxed into her comfort. "I am sad for someone else."
Kaylee tucked her head into the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around him. Simon inhaled her sweet scent and held her close for a long time.
"Hi, little albatross, what are you doing?" Mal said as he entered the bridge.
"Just listening."
Mal listened for what she might be hearing. "To what exactly?"
"Everyone's thoughts are very loud tonight; it's quieter up here but not silent."
Mal shook his head and sat down at the helm. "I bet it'd be nice to have an off switch."
River nodded. "People wouldn't be so annoyed to be around me if I could switch it off."
"You're sure up here a lot." Mal changed the subject.
"I like it up here."
"It's not just the quiet that attracts you," he stated.
"Wash still lives here. I hear him up here some times."
Mal's brow furrowed.
"Echoes," she finished.
Mal glanced at the dinosaurs again. "Echoes," he murmured. He looked back up at her. "You like flying."
"Improbable action, people can't fly," she stated. "High aptitude for piloting."
Mal smiled at her. "Definitely a high aptitude."
"I've spent the last four years having my brain cut on and running from those people, I missed the years of school where I was supposed to decide what I was going to be when I grow up. I need to pull my own weight; I'm almost eighteen, time to be an adult." She pulled her feet onto the chair and hugged her knees in close. "There is no hurry. I just wanted you to know."
Mal nodded.
Long after Mal left, River wandered back toward her quarters when she saw Zoë. River slowed her pace wondering if she should say anything.
Zoë acknowledged River with a nod.
"She knows her name even though you don't want to give it to her," River muttered.
"I'm sorry?" Zoë asked.
"She knows her name." River's eyes dropped to Zoë's stomach. "She understands that you…"
"She?" Zoë's hands splayed across her own abdomen.
River felt Zoë's pain and wanted to sit down and cry. River approached Zoë and put her hand to her stomach. "Wash lives here too."
Zoë slapped River knocking the girl to the floor. River touched her hand to her cheek and Zoë looked shocked.
"No compliance," River mumbled.
Zoë felt her stomach twist and she realized she was going to hit another round of morning sickness. She ran past River into her bunk.
"What are you doing down there, girl?" Jayne asked as he stepped off his ladder leading down to his room. He towered over River who was still staring after Zoë. Jayne followed her gaze but saw nothing unusual. River turned and looked up at Jayne. He held out his hand for her to take, she accepted and he pulled her to her feet.
"What happened there?" Jayne reached for her, cupped her chin and angled her head so he could see the very clear hand print on her cheek that was glowing red. "Who took a swing at you, girl?"
River reached up to feel where she had been struck. "Projection of anger, nothing more," she replied.
"Huh?" Jayne's eyes narrowed. "What are you sayin'?" He released his hold on her face.
"It means…" She stopped and her eyes widened. She charged down hall and into the cargo bay and headed for Inara's shuttle. Mal was standing just outside of it. "Captain, we're headed toward Reavers."
Mal didn't hesitate. He charged for the bridge, River on his tale. They passed a still very confused Jayne. "Where are they?" he asked.
"Here." She pointed to a place on the map. "Take this course and we'll stay completely off their radar," she instructed.
He didn't question her. She watched as he put in the trajectory that she had given him.
He felt relieved when she sat down looking relaxed. "You are a might handy to have around, little one. Thank you."
"What in the ruttin' hell was that?" Jayne asked as he stepped onto the bridge.
"Nothin' but a close call," Mal replied.
"She say who smacked her?" Jayne asked not wanting to know what they had just avoided.
"What?" Mal turned to River.
"It's nothing."
Mal noticed the large hand print on her face. He handed been paying attention, his entire focus was on avoiding Reavers. Mal wasn't psychic but he knew who had struck her. Mal wouldn't intervene unless River said something but he imagined Zoe felt pretty bad. He knew she was found of the girl.
Mal nodded. "It's her call, Jayne. Don't bug her about it."
Jayne shrugged and headed back toward the mess where he had been going originally.
River turned Mal as she stood up. "She was waiting for you to knock."
Mal just watched her leave.
"Kaylee, if you don't stop that, we're never getting out of bed," Simon moaned against her mouth.
"Shiny," she murmured as she kept working her hands and lips.
Simon collapsed back against the pillows allowing her to have her way with him…again. They had spent every night together since his confession when he wasn't sure if either of them were going to survive against the Reavers and the Alliance. Two in a half blissful months together and he knew that he would not be able to live without her for the rest of his life. He loved her, now if only he could tell her that.
He had never been particularly good at the whole "girl" thing and he had never been in love. How did one go about it?
"Kaylee?" he questioned while her hands found his bulge under the covers. He gasped as her fingers curled around him.
"Hm?" she asked as her lips worked across his neck and down his chest.
He could no longer think as she began stroking him. He was helpless and putty in her hands. She delighted in having him surrender. She straddled his hips and impaled herself onto him. They both cried out.
Her pace was hard and fast and both of them climaxed quickly. She collapsed against him, her hair falling over his shoulder, her scent surrounding him and her slick body pressed against his. This was most certainly heaven, now if only he could find the right words and the right time. Post copulation was not a good idea, Simon didn't know much but he knew that. Girls didn't respond to being told they were loved right after the male orgasm, it seemed faux to them.
"Kaylee, where in the ruttin' hell are you?" Mal's voice came over the intercom.
She swore in Chinese and peered up into Simon's eyes. "Duty calls." She slid off of him and began to dress. Simon watched with an amused look on his face. She kissed him briefly and headed to the engine room.
Simon began thinking about the most romantic way to confess his love. Each scenario seemed to get more elaborate and dreamlike. As he was pulling on his pants, he missed stepped, lost his balance and fell to the floor with a loud thud.
"I'm going to mess this up," he muttered.
"You are not helping on this job, Inara," Mal snarled.
"This is ridiculous. You've let me help before. I stood with the crew during the Reaver attack."
"I don't give a gorram what the hell you've done. You're not helping with this job!" Mal stood in front of her with his hands on his hips glaring at her.
"It seems to me that you're a man down right now and could use the back up." Inara wasn't backing down. She stood toe to toe with him looking up into his very annoyed face.
Mal's hardened expression wavered. "Inara, I don't want you in danger."
"That's so hypocritical! It's okay for you to be in danger, but the poor defenseless…"
"Now hang on a minute," he interrupted. "I never said you were defenseless, I just said that I didn't want you in any unnecessary danger, that don't mean that I don't think you can't take care of yourself."
"Mal, I have to find a way to contribute to this ship some how."
"Gee, if only had a profession to fall back on. Hmm?" He tapped his finger on his chin and pretended to be deep in thought.
"Mal," Inara growled. "My career is over as a companion. I'd like to try being a criminal."
Mal let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Woman, you are getting on my last nerve."
"You'd prefer me 'whoring' around instead of helping you with one measly job?"
"No!" he yelled. "I mean," he cleared his throat. "I mean, yes, that is what I prefer you doin'."
"Why were you standing outside my shuttle last night?" Inara asked.
Mal opened his mouth and stared at her for a moment. "Why were you waiting for me to knock? Why not just open the door then?"
"What are you talking…"
Mal interrupted, "River said that you were waiting for me to knock."
Inara blushed and looked away from him. "You didn't look like you were quite sure if you wanted to see me or not," she replied, her voice was quiet now.
The ship started to quake and Mal knew they were headed down to their new job site on Pecorino.
"Mal, I could be of value to you." She tried once more. "I can read people and…"
"You're already invaluable." He turned and stormed out of her shuttle.
Inara stormed out after him, but ended up colliding with him. He steadied her and held her against his chest. His gaze was fixed on Zoe who was staring into space on the platform above the cargo bay. Mal tore his eyes from Zoe and looked at Inara with a pained expression. He set her away from him and headed toward the bridge.
To Be Continued...