Title: Just Keep Lying
author: Jmaria
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Joss made em, I just play with them.
Summary: A stowaway finds herself in Serenity's cargo hold. Questioning and threatening ensue.
A/N: Sing the chapter title the same way Dory sings "Just Keep Swimming" in Finding Nemo. It's funner that way. Also, totally made up the name of the planets/moons.

Just Keep Lying

"At present we have, at most, a terribly frightened girl locked up for no apparent reason," Shepherd Book said, standing just outside the room she was being kept in.

"Because she tried to rob me a my man-bits," Jayne snapped, rubbing at the spot River'd hit with more force than a girl her size was supposed to have. Crazy little -

"Doesn't liked to be called names," River said, pointedly glaring in Jayne's direction.

"Everybody's makin a fuss. First off, that ain't no scared little bunny we got in there. Gotta keep on remindin' everybody that she appeared outta thin air in the cargo bay. Hatch'd been locked and bolted, add that and the fact that we're in atmo, tends to make one a mite suspicious," Mal snapped.

"If that's true, where did she come from?" Simon frowned.
"Just joining us doc, cuz we all been askin that same question," Jayne snorted.

"Keep comin' back to that," Mal sighed, his eyes on Shepherd

"Left Loki's atmo about two weeks ago, can't imagine we'd not notice an extra body on board," Zoe replied.

"Mebbe she got on at the last fuelin' station, who cares?" Jayne snapped.

"Not now, Jayne."

"Or we can choose to believe what the girl says is true," Book said quietly, his eyes traveling to the small trail of blood on that led to the girl.

"Portal opening blood?" Mal said flatly.

"Quick, explain how a tiny little thing like that can travel dimensions with her blood?" Wash asked.

"Rightly don't know, could be she's gone off her ruttin rocker. Sounds like that, at least. Tell me why you're so eager to believe her, Shepherd."

"Used to be legend, hidden for her own sake, till the green glow was made flesh. Very costly, paid in blood and death and dimensions," River interrupted.

"While I can't claim to know what River does, nothing about that girl has suggested that she's truly a threat to us," Shepard Book replied to no one in particular in the lull of silence that normally followed most of River's sentences.

"'Xscuse me? You call that crazy bitch threatenin' my man-bits not bein a threat to us on this boat?" Jayne yelled.

"Zany thought, but that actually might be a good thing for all concerned," Inara said quietly.