Title: Tales of a Would-be Hostage

Chapter: 8/??

Author: hisalbatross at livejournal

Characters: This chapter: Inara, Simon, Mal, Wash, Kaylee

Spoilers/Warnings: Completely Alternate Universe. River never went to the Academy; certain characters have WAY different backgrounds, others are very similar if not the same as the ones they had in the show.

Note: plot bunny passed on to me by lj user whitemoonflower: Thank you so much for sharing this idea with me! I sort of ran a completely different direction with it… but still! Yay! And as always Comments are Shiny and make me happy (and let me know people are actually reading and enjoying. Lol)

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Chapter 9: Sudden Yet Inevitable Betrayal

Inara approached the bridge quietly, her nerves singing, the smoothed out warrant for arrest clutched tightly in her hand. Mal was sitting on the bridge, starring out at the world beyond, and she paused, watching him for a moment. She was reluctant to admit it, but there had been an attraction between the two the moment they had met. He was handsome, brash, headstrong, and he intrigued her more than she could possibly describe. He was also loud, rude, obnoxious at times, and utterly vexing, and she had slowly grown to love him despite this.

Inara watched her captain and cursed the situation silently. She hated that things had to change, hated River Tam and her rag tag crew for coming into their lives and disturbing the peace. Most of all she hated that it took another woman's presence to force her into action, and that that action might have come too late. With a sigh, she shook her thoughts free of her head and stepped onto the bridge. Mal turned, hearing her enter and he smiled at her, a smile that almost buckled her knees. "Quiet night." She said, leaning against the co-pilot's chair to steady herself.

"Yep."

"How's the hostage?" Inara asked, hoping she appeared more genuine than she felt.

"She's right broken up, but she'll mend. Just needs time 's all."

Inara shifted uncomfortably, playing with the edges of the piece of paper behind her back. "Do you think she's well enough to move once we reach Jiangyin?"

"I reckon we could chance movin' her, if we had to, but we don't so we ain't." Mal said, looking at Inara, focusing in on her with a look that made her fidgeting increase. "Why're you askin'?"

"I just..." Inara started, trying to think of something that would sound right. "I...this came in tonight." She finally said, revealing the warrant from behind her back and presenting it to Mal.

Mal took the paper, examining it closely for a while, and then looked up at Inara, handing it back with a shrug. "Way I see it," he said. "We're halfway cross the 'verse from where we picked 'em up, and we ain't made contact with the Alliance since. We should be fine till the girl's back on her feet enough to walk out on her own."

Inara turned away then, guilt and anger creeping into her cheeks in the form of a blush. "That's not entirely true."

Mal sat up then. "What ain't entirely true?" He asked, concern finally creeping into his tone.

Inara whirled on him then, her anger seeping through, "They don't belong here Mal! They're hostages, not bosom pals. They didn't sign up to be here they were forced, what is going to happen to us all if you don't get rid of them soon? Do you honestly think that after one reaver attack they will suddenly bond with the crew and want to stay? This isn't reality, this is a temporary measure, and the longer we have them aboard this ship the more danger we ALL are in!"

"Inara, what did you do?" He asked standing.

"I did what you should have done. I called the Alliance. I arranged a drop off point for them. All they have to do is meet the officers there, turn themselves in and explain this all and everyone will be better off."

" i span title"Stupid inbred stack of meat" Bun tyen-shung duh ee dway RO /span /i !" Mal shouted, moving quickly turning on the com. "Wash, get up here we've got an emergency."

"What? Mal, no!" Inara said shaking her head watching him. "I told them they were on Jiangyin. We're safe."

Mal gaffed at Inara and shook his head. "And did you make that call from a secure line?"

Inara's eyes flicked towards the floor shortly and Mal had his answer before her reply came. "I used the comm in the shuttle. I think it was secure."

Wash appeared in the door of the bridge them, looking slightly disheveled. "Mal, what's going on?" He asked, his voice still holding some of the gruffness of sleep.

"Don't know yet." He said, moving to the side, allowing the pilot to take his seat. "Ain't got confirmation, but I reckon we might get some company soon." He shot a look to Inara.

Wash's hands moved skillfully over the controls, flicking switches, pushing buttons and after a moment of silence his tongue peered out from between his lips, his features contorted in concentration. "That's a positive." He said finally. "We've got company off the starboard bow, creeping, but closing in."

Mal swung a fist downward at the air, a mere thrust of anger and his jaw clenched with the effort. "Wash, evasive maneuvers. It's the Alliance here to pick up our hostages."

Wash's brow knit together. "I know this doesn't seem to be the time for questions, but two real quick ones. Why are they after their people, and why aren't we giving them to them?"

Inara gave Mal a look, as if she'd won the battle and he reached forward snatching the paper from between her fingers, handing it to Wash. "I got the feelin' it won't be a happy reunion." He explained.

Wash looked over the report and then back up at his captain. "This doesn't make sense, you took them captive."

"Wash, I'd appreciate more flying, less talking." Mal commented as he picked up the comm. "Doc, you and Kaylee are needed on the bridge: Now." He added firmly.

"Mal..." Inara began, extending a hand out to him.

"Inara, I ain't the sort who'll throw a man to the wolves when all I ever done was cause him trouble and all he'd done was kindness. If they wanna to leave, that's their choice, but the Alliance ain't the forgiving kind, and this is not our call to make." He said sternly.

"You rang?" Came Simon's deadpan voice from over Mal's shoulder, causing him to turn and face he and Kaylee.

"There's been a development." He said, taking the warrant from Wash and handing it to his hostages.

Both Kaylee and Simon read it over, and Kaylee was the first to speak. "But this don't make sense." She said, bewildered. "We didn't help you, you kidnapped us."

Mal nodded. "I know. A fact I rightly admit, but ain't too keen on going to jail for."

"So what you're saying is we should?" Simon asked, teeth gritted.

"I didn't say nothin' of the sort. I think we should wait this out a minute, you contact your superiors talk this out with them, arrange a drop and that way we all get off all shiny." Mal answered, his arms crossed, his voice calm. He understood the position Simon was in, and were it up to him this whole mess would have gone differently.

"Okay, so, why the page? If that's what'll be best, why are we discussing this right now?" Kaylee asked tentatively, her hand sliding onto Simon's back rubbing gently in soothing circles.

"Well... seems that somehow the Alliance has caught wind of us."

"What? How?" Simon asked, baffled.

"I'm not entirely sure, but we're at a crossroads. You can stay here on the ship, we can try to out run 'em and settle this in due time, or we can load up your sister, you folks can take one of the shuttles and you can explain this to the men that are currently following us." Mal said, glancing at Inara momentarily, noting the relief her face showed.

After a moment of silence Simon finally spoke. "We run." He said through clenched teeth.

"Simon!" Kaylee exclaimed, her hand slipping into his. "Simon, I'm sure we can talk this all out."

Simon sighed, shaking his head. He turned to her, his hand squeezing hers. "Kaylee, I don't even know if they'll listen to reason right away, and River's not in any shape for being moved i and /i facing an inquiry. We can't risk it."

They stood that way for a moment, facing each other, something intense and intent passing over their faces, and Mal felt awkward being present for their private moment. Finally, they broke apart and Kaylee turned to face him. "We'll run."

"Ahh... Mal?" Wash interrupted from his corner seat. "You might wanna ask Bester if we even have it in us to run."

"Well, there ain't much to it." Kaylee said, looking more confident than Mal had ever seen. "This ship's a little old, but she's got kick." She said nodding.

"Kaylee's a mechanical genius." Simon said, noticing the looks that swam across the crew's faces.

Mal watched Kaylee's cheeks pink. She didn't strike him as a real machine wiz kid, but she was an Alliance mechanic so she must know something. "Well, Ms. Genius, if you'd give our mechanic a hand I'd appreciate it." Mal turned to look at Simon. "I can't promise a smooth ride Doc, you might wanna see to your sister."

Simon nodded, but did not look entirely pleased, and then followed Kaylee off the bridge, his hand on the small of her back, guiding her out.

With a sigh, Mal turned to wash. "Wash, you get us out of here, lose them if you can. Inara, come with me." Without another word, he moved out of the bridge, his demeanor pointedly stormy, his expression fixed in a scowl. He continued walking until he was well inside the shuttle opposite Inara's, and when she followed him in he hit the switch to shut the door, sealing them in the silent transport.

"Mal, I..."

"No, Inara. I don't give a gorram about your excuses, and I don't want no apologies. You sold me out and you fixed yourself to send them down the river all for what?" He asked, his anger coming through as a quiet rage.

"For you Mal." Inara snapped, her voice steady but her tone betraying her. Her eyes were fixed on her finely polished nails, and when she finally turned to face Mal, they held venom, guilt, and something he didn't recognize.

"What?"

"They don't belong here Mal. Already one of them has almost been killed, they are wanted fugitives, and now they are running from their own people! It's only going to get worse and when the Alliance does catch up to them, and they will Mal, everyone will feel the repercussions. You owe it to your crew to hold their best interests at heart." Inara said, her eyes narrowing, arms crossed defensively across her ample bosom.

Mal paused for a moment, feeling the sting of the truth in her words. This was his mess and in the end if it wasn't handled right everyone was going to end up covered in it. Watching Inara, he narrowed his eyes, studying her. She had a point, but there was something in her mannerisms that betrayed her. "Okay, now what's the real reason?"

Inara faltered then, her efficiently built look of self-righteousness crumbling for a moment. "ái rén"

"No, Inara. You've been on this boat, what? 4 years? And in that time, you've never second-guessed me to this degree. Now what in the sphincter of hell's goin' on?"

"They don't belong here Mal." She spit back, without the same passion as before.

"Why does that matter to you Inara?" He watched her, watched her build up the walls around her, and then suddenly in clicked. "Well I'll be..." He murmured shaking his head, and then he felt his rage again and his eyes grew dark. "Inara, I swear to your dear and fluffy maker if you ever put any of mine in danger again over some petty jealousy, I swear I will end your bright and illustrous career as the 'verses' most desired call girl."

And with that comment, she closed the gap between them and slapped him hard on the cheek. "Because petty thievery is so attractive to the youngest and brightest the Alliance has to offer."

Mal stood there stunned, his hand on his stinging cheek, and he watched her turn to go.

"You are a stubborn, stupid fool of an old man, Malcolm Reynolds." She hissed, turning to face him one last time and he watched, still stunned as she walked away, leaving him reeling in the wake of her angry retreat. As he stood there, one thought came to him: If he ever were to love the vivacious Inara Serra, she would always know what to say to knock the wind out of him or drop him to his knees.