OK... so first of all let me apologize for how long it's been since I've updated. I'm horrible, I know. I can now say with absolute certainty that writer's block is the bane of my existence and I didn't want anything to feel forced! So here's to hoping this doesn't feel forced.
And again, thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed! It means the world to me, really.
Silence stretched over Serenity's cargo bay as Mal continued to stare at the young psychic. The others looked from River to the Captain and Kaylee stepped away from him quickly, not wishing to be too close in case he lashed out suddenly. A fine trembling had begun in Mal's shoulders and quickly spread down his arms, which he clenched tightly to his side, but his face betrayed nothing and somehow he managed to remain calm.
"So... we goin' to Persephone then?" Mal's head jerked at the sound of Zoe's voice and he turned to look at her, his expression puzzled, as though he hadn't exactly heard her.
"Sir?" The first mate prompted him again and this time Mal nodded his head slowly in recognition.
Jayne grunted from his position on the floor, getting everyone's attention. "Well ain't that great. Personally, can't wait for a little payback. But at the moment..." He moved his large hand, coated in his own blood, off of his stomach and just like that, reality seemed to rush back to the others. Zoe and Kaylee helped Simon get the large man off of the floor and slowly made their way to the infirmary. Only the Captain and River remained motionless.
Mal turned back to the young woman and found her eyes already on his. Her expression was the same as it had been before, eerily calm, but he could sense something else.
"What is it?" The sound of his own voice startled him somewhat. It sounded as though he had just woken up.
River stared at him a moment before answering. "Still alive, but not on Persephone."
He tilted his head slightly, waiting for her to continue, but getting no response. "What do you mean Albatross?"
Before River could explain herself, Mal heard quick footsteps coming from the infirmary and turned in time to see Kaylee approach. She opened her mouth as though to speak but the Captain held up a hand to silence her.
"Not now Kaylee." He turned back to River. "Well?"
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and Mal was surprised to see that she looked somewhat embarrassed. "He's moved everyone off of Persephone. Nothing but an empty shell."
Mal frowned at her vague words. "Who?"
"Rawley."
"Alright. So where'd they go?"
River looked the Captain in the eye, uncharacteristically serious and calm, but still noticeably embarrassed. "I don't know."
Mal blanched at her words. "You don't know? You have to know," he spat, finally letting the anger wash over him as he raised his voice. "I mean, how can you know everything that you know... and not know this!"
River just looked at him, the steely glint in her eyes indicating that she was starting to get angry too. The Captain fought the urge to strike out at River. He knew he wasn't really upset with her, but it had to go somewhere. She'll kill you, a small voice in the back of his head spoke to him, almost making him smile despite everything, and he held a hand up between them.
"Fine. We'll find another way." He raised a hand to his forehead, trying to rub away the beginnings of a headache. "What did you need Kaylee?" Mal turned to where the mechanic had been standing only moments before, but she was gone. He turned back to River in confusion, but the young woman only shrugged as she left the cargo bay quietly.
Kaylee waited until she heard the last soft thunk, indicating that Serenity's final crew member had gone to his or her bunk, before sliding easily from underneath the engine. She had already resolved herself to the task earlier that day, and now only needed the courage to take that last step.
After the initial shock had worn off and they knew that Jayne would be alright, River told the others the information she'd picked up from Rawley and Zoe took it upon herself to begin the search. The first mate waved contact after contact, looking for any sign of the odious man, but no one seemed able to help. It seemed Rawley had more of a reputation that they originally thought, and no one was willing to cross him. Kaylee had watched as the Captain looked on, his face a taciturn mask, and her heart wept for him. Mal had gone to his bunk after leaving the cargo bay, only to find it in ruins. The desk had been broken in two pieces and flipped onto it's side, as did his bed. The sheets Jo had been laying in were ripped and thrown haphazardly around the room. Kaylee had stumbled upon it just after he did, eager to tell the Captain about her idea. But as he began putting his room back in order, lumbering about slowly, she couldn't bring herself to give him hope, not until she knew for sure.
"You forgot one contact Zoe," Kaylee whispered to herself as she slid silently into the abandoned shuttle. She made her way quietly to the console and screen that used to be concealed behind fine fabrics and punched in the wave numbers from memory. Kaylee waited, grim faced, for the beautiful face to appear on the vid.
"Kaylee, what a treat!" Inara's elegant face and smile appeared on the screen and the companion managed to look cheerful despite the lateness of the wave. "Absolutely worth being woken up for... how are you?"
Inara's smiled wavered in worry at the uncharacteristically cheerless and bitter expression on the mechanic's face. "Oh mei mei, what is it? Is someone hurt? Is Mal..." The companion trailed off as Kaylee began to shake her head quickly.
"No, no, no... he's not hurt. We're all fine, physically at least... It's someone else." Inara listened patiently as Kaylee began to recount Josephine's unusual arrival aboard Serenity, her face unable to conceal the revulsion at the mechanic's description of her various scars and the man who had made them.
"Runtse de fwotzoo..." Inara mumbled softly. "How long has she been with you?"
Kaylee shook her head again. "I don't know, it doesn't seem that long really. A few months maybe."
"And this Rawley is looking for her I take it?"
"No, not anymore. He caught up with us early yesterday. The Captain and Zoe were out seein' about a job." Kaylee scoffed quietly before continuing. "Turns out it was all a set up, to get them away. We weren't ready..." She looked away from the screen in an attempt to hide her embarrassment that wasn't lost on the intuitive companion.
"Oh Kaylee... you've no reason to feel guilty. I'm sure you did all you could."
The younger woman snorted, startling Inara somewhat. The derisive and dejected young woman on the screen in front of her in no way resembled the carefree Kaylee she'd known.
"I don't know about that. I can't help feeling guilty, we all do. Captain's takin' it real hard." Inara's eyes widened as Kaylee continued. "I haven't seen him like this since Nandi was killed... or when you left the second time."
Inara flinched slightly at the two painful memories brought up in the same breath. "He feels like he failed her," she whispered more to herself than to Kaylee. She looked up, speaking louder. "Are they... are Mal and this Josephine involved in some way?"
Kaylee smiled softly. "I don't know anything for sure, though I have suspicions... we all do."
Inara regarded her friend silently for a moment before nodding as though suddenly coming to a decision. "What is it you want me to do?"
"Help us find her. Find Rawley I mean. River said he isn't based off of Persephone anymore and Zoe's been trying to get a lock on his location all day. It's like they vanished or something and everyone is too scared to help."
"Well with the way you've described him I can see why." Inara paused for a moment, feigning confusion. "Why do you think I can help you?"
Kaylee fought the need to roll her eyes. "Oh come on Inara, I've heard stories about the Guild, most of them from you. I know the power they have... and I know you've already decided to help us."
Inara smiled at the young woman, noting silently how much Kaylee had changed in the short time she'd been away. "I have. You're in my shuttle aren't you?"
The mechanic couldn't help but grin at Inara's possessive choice of words and nodded quietly.
"Alright. Stay there and I'll see what I can do. I'll wave you soon." Inara moved her hand to disconnect the feed but Kaylee stopped her.
"Inara?"
"Mmmm?"
"Thank you."
The companion smiled again, but softer this time. "Don't thank me yet."
Kaylee watched as the screen went black.
The next morning, Mal and Zoe waited patiently at the mess table for the other crew members to join them. The first mate had asked his permission to gather everyone early in order to discuss the situation. The "situation" she'd called it. Why not just come right out and say it: their failure. My failure, he thought as he futilely attempted to rub the lack of sleep from his eyes. He looked up suddenly to find Zoe staring at him, her well schooled expression almost hiding her concern and... pity. I don't need your pity... save that for Jo, he thought. He opened his mouth, as though to tell her as much, but fell silent as the others began to file in.
Not one of them grumbled about the early hour as they took their seats, not even Jayne. Zoe looked around the table before addressing them.
"Where's Kaylee?"
Simon looked around in surprise, as though he expected her to already be there. "I don't know, I haven't seen her."
"Just get on with it Zoe," Mal grumbled. "We can fill her in later."
The first mate nodded quickly and turned to the others. "I've been waving everyone we know since yesterday. No one can give us any clue as to Rawley's whereabouts."
"So what are we gonna do?" Jayne grumbled from Zoe's left.
"I figure the only thing left to do is stop on the nearby moons and planets, see if anyone's seen them. There's a good chance they might of stopped for supplies or fuel."
Simon cleared his throat loudly to get everyone's attention. "I don't want to play devil's advocate, but don't you think that could potentially take an extensive amount of time and it would be like..." he trailed off as though looking for the right words.
"It'd be like lookin' for a gorram needle in a haystack the size of the universe," Jayne finished for him.
Simon nodded. "Not exactly how I'd put it, but true nonetheless." The doctor glanced nervously at Mal before continuing. "And I can't even begin to imagine what could be done to Josephine in that amount of time."
Mal looked up sharply at Simon's words. "It's true, but I don't see what other option we have," he said quietly.
"Well lets not go lookin' for any needles just yet!" The others looked up in surprise as Kaylee came bounding into the room, a small scrap of paper clutched in her right hand.
"Kaylee! Where have you been?"
The mechanic ignored Simon's question and went straight to where the Captain was sitting, placing the piece of paper in front of him.
Mal glanced at Kaylee in confusion before picking it up and examining it closely. He only glanced at it a moment before he had jumped out of his seat, startling everyone but Kaylee, who couldn't stop grinning. Mal walked swiftly to where River was sitting and thrust the paper under her nose.
"Can you get us there... and soon?"
River took only a second to read Kaylee's scribbled words before nodding and standing gracefully. A small smile slid over her features as she turned to head for the bridge. Jayne, Simon and Zoe all looked as though they'd like to ask the same question but Mal stopped them with a wave of his hand.
"Later. Jayne, weapons. Zoe, mule. Simon... do whatever it is you do in these situations."
Simon frowned at Mal but left with the others, leaving the Captain and Kaylee standing in the kitchen. Mal turned to the young woman.
"No need Captain. I know where I need to be," she said, still smiling. She turned to follow the others quickly.
"Kaylee."
She stopped at the door and turned back to Mal, a question plain on her face.
Mal glanced back down at the scrap of paper still in his hand before turning his attention back to her. "Thank her for me," he spoke softly.
Kaylee's smile softened as she stared at him a moment before nodding and leaving the room, eager to make sure Serenity's engine was up to the trip.