Kaylee drew the blinds on the infirmary windows closed before turning back to the young woman seated on the examination table, smiling brightly. "I'm glad to see you're awake."
"That makes two of us then," Jo found herself returning the cheerful girl's smile. She held in her hand a long black skirt belonging to River and one of Zoe's tight cotton tops, usually worn under a leather corset.
"Ok," Kaylee began as she walked over to the table. "How we gonna do this?"
"Do what?"
"Get you changed without it hurting you... or pulling out stitches." Kaylee suddenly looked mischievous. "I swear if I have to hear Simon tell me how easy it is to accidentally pull out stitches one more time..." She put her hands in front of her, grinning broadly as she strangled the air.
Jo chuckled softly as the young mechanic took the clothes out of her hands and began helping her change.
"Are you sure you all don't mind letting me have these?" She held the mechanic's shoulder for support as she slid the skirt up and around her waist.
Kaylee shook her head vehemently. "Course not! And don't go worrying about it, you ain't putting us out none." She gestured for the other girl to sit back down.
"Still," Jo continued as she sat, "I'd think It would be hard parting with clothes when you live on a ship. Not able to just run out to the stores."
Kaylee shrugged her shoulders and walked behind her. "We don't get off Serenity much, it's true. But if we need something the Captain makes sure we can get it." She raised Jo's arms above her head. "Keep those raised for a minute."
"He seems like a nice man," Jo said, her arms in the air and a hint of skepticism in her voice.
The mechanic's smile widened as she lined the sleeves up with Jo's arms and pulled it over her head. "He'd probably argue with you about that." She either didn't pick up on the skepticism or chose to ignore it. "There we go, all done!"
They both looked up suddenly as the doors to the infirmary were thrown open with a loud bang. Mal entered, looking angry... and armed, which Kaylee immediately took for a bad sign. Zoe hurried in right behind him, looking irritated. The Captain walked determinedly to where Jo was sitting, his weapon drawn, but she jumped up out of instinct and quickly put the table between them, standing next to Kaylee.
"What is going on?" Kaylee eyed Mal in confusion, but he ignored her as he stared angrily at Josephine. She followed his gaze and was pleased to find Jo unflinching, staring haughtily right back at him.
"You haven't been completely honest with us," Mal spat as he poked a finger at Josephine for emphasis.
"I never lied to you," she spoke quietly, eyes darting back and forth from the gun to his eyes.
"No I don't reckon you lied. You just 'conveniently' forgot to mention a few things is all," he said sarcastically. "Like for example, that it wasn't gonna be just dear old hubby looking for you!"
Her eyes widened at the mention of Rawley. "What do you mean?"
He ignored her question and stepped forward suddenly, making Jo jump back in surprise. "What did you steal from Rawley?"
"Steal?" She looked confused. "I didn't take anything from him. I don't want anything to do with him!" She began to sound panicked.
Mal regarded her for a moment, disbelief in his eyes. "Well the Feds seem to think you did." He paused. "They also seem to think you killed somebody. Somebody by the name of Neven."
She let out a startled gasp at the name as Mal moved to stand in front of her. "You know the name?"
"I do," she whispered eyes staring at Mal's chest but not really seeing anything. "I didn't think I'd... I just..." she stammered.
Mal reached out suddenly and grabbed her upper arm with his free hand, shaking her enough to get her attention. "Did you kill him or not?"
Zoe stepped forward suddenly, as if to stop Mal from hurting her, but Jo's next words halted her.
"I... I might of... I don't know." Mal let his hand drop from her arm. "I thought I just knocked him out... I was trying to get away..." she trailed off suddenly and hugged her arms to her chest, one hand running over the sore spot where the Captain had grabbed her.
They stood in silence for a moment, until Kaylee hissed suddenly and touched Jo's shoulder. She looked up at Kaylee who was staring at her back. "You're bleeding," the mechanic spoke softly. Jo touched a hand to her back and raised it in front of her. It was wet with fresh blood. She must have ripped out a few stitches when she had jumped off the table and moved about so quickly. She looked from her hand to Mal, an odd sort of bewilderment on her face, as though she weren't sure what she was looking at.
"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?" Simon had walked through the doors, drawn by the noise. His eyes raked over the scene before him. Kaylee looked frightened, Zoe looked worried, and Mal was standing dangerously close to his patient, his gun drawn. He took one look at Jo, blood on her elevated hand, and his eyes widened in anger. "GET OUT! All of you... out!"
Mal seemed to realize he still had his gun in his hand and holstered it embarrassedly as Zoe put a hand on the Captain's shoulder and was able to lead him, distracted and surprised by Simon's outburst, out the doors. Kaylee followed quickly, and Jo, who was so taken aback at the Doctor's forceful voice, tried to follow them.
"Not you! You... sit!" He pointed to the table and she immediately sat down. Simon turned swiftly to the doors, muttering under his breath about no one listening to doctors, and slammed them shut, locking them from the inside.
Mal, Zoe and Kaylee stood in silence outside the infirmary doors, staring at each other and listening to the Doctor clamoring through drawers in frustration. The mechanic's face contained a knowing smirk, probably dreaming over the implications of this newly forceful Simon, and Zoe's held a small amount of amusement. Only the Captain still looked stunned.
Did I just get kicked out of the infirmary on my own gorram ship, Mal thought, by... Simon?
"It would appear so."
They all looked up to see River gliding towards them, eyes twinkling. She stopped in front of the Captain and he looked down at her, frowning. "You made her bleed." Her tone was light but Mal could sense the accusation as she brushed past him, on the way to her room.
He looked up at the women still in front of him. It appeared River's words had struck a nerve with them as well. Kaylee's smile had disappeared and she was looking at Mal in indignation. He turned to Zoe, silently asking for her to back him up, but she shook her head, eyes cold.
"Not on purpose," he said sheepishly.
"What is going on?" Kaylee repeated her unanswered question from earlier.
Zoe spoke, eyes still on the Captain. "Warrant came through a little while ago, for Jo." Kaylee's eyes widened. "Charges were theft and murder. But I'm starting to think they may have been a fabrication. Wouldn't you agree sir?" Her tone was only slightly mocking.
Mal scowled at her. "The theft part maybe. She didn't seem to be too sure if she killed anyone."
"Yeah but she admitted she hit some one. Maybe she just didn't know they died," Kaylee said, trying to believe the best. "And besides," her voice became somber, "I know if something ever happened to me, like what's happened to her, I wouldn't care who I hurt, as long as I got away from it."
"Kaylee..." Mal put a hand on her shoulder. "That's all well and good... until we're the people she doesn't care about hurting."
Kaylee furrowed her brow. "But... you're not going to make her leave?"
"I'm not saying that." His voice softened. "Listen Kaylee. I know you want to believe that everyone's shiny and good, but sometimes that just ain't the case. All I'm saying is... be careful."
She pulled away from his hand. "I'm not stupid Mal." She walked quietly towards the stairs, stopping on the first step and turning back to them. "But sometimes ya gotta trust people to."
Mal watched her head to the engine room, a curious expression on his face, before turning back to Zoe. "She has a point sir."
The Captain sighed heavily, raising a hand to rub his forehead. "Fine." He turned back to the infirmary doors, fist hesitating over them, before rapping loudly.
"What!" Simon opened the doors in irritation and stared at Mal, blocking him from entering.
"Simon... get... out... of... my... way," Mal spoke through gritted teeth.
He narrowed his eyes at the Captain before continuing. "I want to know what your intentions are. I won't have you messing up my work again!"
Mal threw his hands up in exasperation. "I'm not going to hurt her Simon, I promise!"
He looked like he wasn't quite sure if he believed Mal, but stepped aside so he could pass.
She was sitting on the table again, Zoe's shirt pulled up to expose her stomach and lower back. Mal's eyes drifted over the malicious looking scar on her belly before meeting her own. She seemed weary, but alert, ready to defend herself if necessary. Simon stepped around Mal and bent down to examine the stitches.
"Luckily," he said tersely, a pointed glance at Mal, "she only ripped two stitches, and her blood seems to coagulate rapidly." He paused, looking at the Captain. "Coagulate means to..."
"I know what the word means!" he spat at Simon, raising an eyebrow slightly when he saw Jo stifle her laugh.
"Fine." Simon stood up straight. "I'm all finished here. I trust I can leave you two in here together without any more blood shed?" Mal frowned at him and he turned to the girl on the table. "Don't let him bully you..."
"I'm right here," the Captain protested weakly.
Simon went on as if he hadn't heard him. "You need to sleep. And I don't want you getting up and walking around." He opened a drawer near the wall and pulled two small, identical objects out, handing one to Josephine. "You press here," he pointed to a small red button on the top of the device, "and you speak into the bottom, right here. I've got the other one, and it works the same way, so you call me if you need anything alright?" He waited for her to nod before heading to the doors, giving Mal one last pointed look, and shutting them behind him.
What does everyone think I'm gonna do, shoot her? Mal thought as he watched the Doctor leave. He turned back to the young woman and regarded her curiously. She was looking at her hands, slowly turning over the portable com in them. River's skirt seemed to fit her fine, but Zoe's shirt was a mite big on her and she had to roll the sleeves back a few times to free her hands. She looked so tiny in it, so frail and vulnerable. And yet he seemed to be the only one to see the strength in her. It was there in her eyes when she looked at you, the tenacity of her very existence. She certainly seems to inspire my crew to do nothing but look after and want to protect her though, Mal mused.
He cleared his throat audibly and she looked up at him, startled, as if she had forgotten he was there. "I'm sorry," he said, gesturing to her back. It was said quickly as if it were a formality that needed to be completed before continuing, but not as if he really meant to apologize. Jo suspected Kaylee had made him promise to say it, but nodded for him to continue.
He leaned against the wall opposite her, crossing his arms across his chest. "There are a few things we need to clear up and I expect you to tell me the truth."
She nodded. "To the best of my ability."
He frowned at this, but it looked like the best he would get so he continued. "Did you take something from Rawley, something of value?"
Jo shook her head emphatically. "No. I told you before, he has nothing I want."
"And the bodyguard, Neven?"
She exhaled slowly and looked down at her hands. "I honestly don't know. I thought he was breathing when I left him, but I could have been wrong. I might have hit him harder than I thought," She paused, looking up at him. "I'm assuming there's a warrant out there with my name on it and that's why you know about Neven?"
The Captain nodded.
"Well does it say how he died, cause then maybe I'd know for sure?"
He shook his head. "No, no cause of death. It also didn't exactly say anything about Rawley having more than one wife."
"Well bigamy's not exactly legal on Persephone is it," she said in disgust. "I'm his wife in the public's eye. The others never leave his estate."
"And do they all..." he gestured to the scar on her stomach uncomfortably, "have they all been...?"
She pulled her shirt down, hiding the cicatrice. "Yes," she spoke quietly, "some not so bad... others worse." Her voice became more serious and hurried suddenly. "Listen Mal, I appreciate everything you and your people have done for me, I do," she paused for a moment, "but I wouldn't think less of any of you if you left me somewhere. Rawley will come for me, and I don't expect perfect strangers to come to my defense."
Mal scratched his cheek absently. "How do you know he'll come for you?"
"He has every other time."
"How many times have you done this?"
She thought to herself for a moment. "This is the fourth. But this is the first time I've gotten so far, I've never been able to get off Persephone before, and that's probably gotten him extra angry... hence..."
"The warrant," Mal cut her off and she nodded. "It did say they thought you had got on a ship, but I don't think they have any idea which one."
"He'll put two and two together, if he hasn't already. He'll realize I disappeared the same day he shipped out those crates. As much as I'd like him to be, he's not stupid... just..." she trailed off, unable to find the right word to describe him. "It's probably best that I get off before you deliver his cargo."
Mal put his hands on his belt and stepped away from the wall. "You think he'll have someone waiting?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. I wouldn't put it past him to cover all his options."
He stared at her quietly for a few moments. "And where would you go?"
"I don't know... I'd hide somewhere."
"The way you keep talking makes me think he wouldn't have any problem finding you like he did the other times. No, I think the reason you got this far this time is cause you've had people looking out for you since you came out of that crate," he said softly.
"But..." she tried to argue but was interrupted.
"But nothing... you're staying. This crew ain't in the habit of turning away young women that need it's help. Dong ma?"
She looked slightly taken aback at the Captain's speech and answered him in a subdued voice, "Yes."
"Good." He turned to leave. Calling back over his shoulder he said, "We'll reach Acorus in a day or two. You'll need to stay hidden when we land."
"Ok. Captain?"
He turned to face her.
"Xie xie ni," she said softly, her voice barely audibly over the sounds of the infirmary.
He flinched silently but nodded to her as he stepped through the doors. He turned one final time, a hand on both the sliding doors. "Besides," he began, "if I kick you out now, Kaylee'll throw me out the airlock." He smiled quickly and closed the doors softly on her shocked expression.