Title: Tales of a Would-be Hostage
Chapter: 11/16ish
Author: thefalloficarus at livejournal
Characters: This chapter: River, Mal, Wash
Spoilers/Warnings: Completely Alternate Universe. River never went to the Academy, certain characters have WAY different backgrounds.

Note: I really have no notes this chapter. Lol. But if you read please comment! Comments make me happy!
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Mal awoke to find River slowly sliding back into the pair of pants she'd shed before climbing into bed the night before. "Bao bai, " He said sleepily, a smile spreading lazily across his lips. "What are you doing?"

River grimaced and paused in mid-motion. "Simon will be up soon. He'll be looking for me."

Mal looked at her puzzled. "So, let him look." The blissful fuzz of the previous night was starting to fade and he began to worry that he'd done something wrong between their first kiss and her rising.

"Mal..." She started and then paused. "Mal, this was stupid of us." She shook her head and sighed.

He sat up with a start hearing those words. "Now wait a minute! What 'n the hell happened?" He asked, agitation and confusion filling his voice.

"You fought for the independents and moved on to lead a life of crime; I became a fast tracked captain for the Allied Federation. This," She gestured back and forth between the two of them, "is for a moment. This whole kidnapping thing has been an interesting experience, but I can't honestly say a life of crime is what I had in mind for myself."

Mal glared at her then, "So what you're saying is you can't imagine slumming it with me another minute?"

River gave a bark of angry laughter. "Yes Mal. I am the mother of whores of the whorish prudes of the Alliance, and I like to try and worm my way into space pirates' beds for kicks." Her tone was cold and sarcastic. "Or, could it be that I like the idea of spreading civilization to the stars? That I think the Alliance is doing the right thing?" She pulled the pants up gingerly being careful of her bandaged abdomen. "Mal we don't agree on fundamental differences. No matter how I feel about you this just can't work, so why get attached more than we are?" She sighed then, the fight draining out of her. "A fish and a bird can fall in love Mal, but where would they live?" She asked with a defeated shrug.

Mal's scowl faded and he leaned forward on the bed. "Well, I ain't a fish, and you ain't a bird, but I'm pretty sure you just said you loved me." He smiled triumphantly.

"Wha... I... I didn't..." River fumbled. "That was not the point of the statement. I don't even know you."

Mal smiled, scooting forward on the bed, moving so that his legs dangled at the knee over the edge on either side of her. "I know, which makes fallin' for me a mite rash on your part, but I'm willin' to work with that. It's that kind and generous nature you always attribute to me."

River rolled her eyes and pushed Mal's shoulder. "You're denying the inalienable truth of my previous statement."

"Fine, we'll live here, or on your ship... so long's you let me take my crew and boss you around some, and don't throw us in jail. Hell we can live in a bungalow by the sea." His expression grew serious then. "I don't even know if we could live together, and frankly that ain't the point. The point is, your brother ain't here, and you should come back to bed." He said, taking her hand and pulling her gently back toward him.

"Your conclusions are erroneous." River stated, resisting his pull. "I am not some moon-brained girl, and I don't want some flash in the pan romance. I..." She paused, her gaze falling from Mal's sleep tousled face. "I allowed myself to be carried away last night, emotions went haywire, a dysfunction of the brainpan." She shook her head. "It's not something I'll let happen again."

Mal frowned, still holding River's hand. "No."

"What?" She asked, pulling slightly.

"No, unacceptable."

"You don't have a choice." She replied, pulling for her hand once again.

"Yes I do." He replied, pulling back on her. "Now listen here little Albatross, I ain't felt… hell I ain't been this... happy in a long time. That ain't easy for me to admit either, but it's the truth. And it sounded be. Near half the people on this boat, got bullet wounds in 'em, we're almost out of fuel and everyone on this ship is wanted by the law for some reason'r'other. But I'm still… well…I don't know what'll happen and I know it don't make sense, but if I don't do everything in my power to stop you from going up those stairs like this, well... I don't think I'd ever be able to live with myself." He said, pulling her closer. "Now, please..."

River stopped her resistance, moving neither forward nor backward. "You seem to be saying that a lot."

"I know, and it pisses me off. So, don't make me beg, ain't proper, or manly."

River laughed then and with a sigh she let the oversized pants slip back off her slender hips, leaving her t-shirt in place, covering her down to mid-thigh. Mal leaned forward then kissing her first on the forehead and then again on the lips. "I didn't even ask you to take your pants back off. This must be my lucky day."

"Especially considering you're a blanket hog." River said, sliding back under the covers and curling up against the Captain.

"Hey now." Mal chuckled, setting in beside her, wrapping an arm around her small frame. "These here are my blankets. Possession's 9/10ths little lady."

River yawned and smiled. "Well that puts me in quite the spot. I Don't even own the set of clothes on my back at the moment."

Mal smiled, "We'll you've got your brother and your friend Kaylee." He murmured into her hair.

"Mmm-hmmm." River nodded, closing her eyes.

"And... I suppose you could even say you've got me... well a little anyway." He said, his voice almost a whisper.

River smiled and kissed the bare expanse of his chest her head was rested on. "And yet I can't even get some blankets."

"Well, I never said I was perfect." Mal replied, and with a laugh they snuggled together tightly and both drifted back to sleep.

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"I... oh...naked..." Wash stammered turning to flee back up the ladder in Mal's bunk.

Mal Blinked sleepy eyes open and caught sight of his pilot. He sat up alarmed, shifting River sharply, causing her to groan and wake.

"Mal what'd you..." She began before noticing Wash.

"Wash." Mal called after his pilot. "Wait, stop, this ain't what it looks." He shouted. "I got breeches on." He added feebly, embarrassed.

River scrambled then, and pushed the blankets down exposing her t-shirt that had been previously covered. She groaned and moved, as quickly as her injuries allowed, out of bed and into the rumpled pair of pants lying on the floor next to Mal's shirt and pants. She groaned.

Mal followed suit, climbing out of bed, pulling his pants on over his breeches. He looked up to see Wash turned, giving the two privacy. The pilot clung to the ladder as if it were a life raft, and it struck Mal that it looked as if every inch of the man's skin was blazing a bright neon red. Starring, Mal wondered for a moment if the blood rush to the head would make Wash pass out or not. "Wash, I trust there's a good reason why you didn't knock." He said sternly, slipping into a shirt and beginning to button it. He watched as the pilot visibly flinched.

"I did knock." He replied. "I knocked for about a minute. I thought something was wrong... I just came down to see that you were okay. I didn't know you'd be...otherwise occupied."

"We were just sleeping..." River blurted, looking to Mal blushing. "No occupying." She added. "I... should go... I think Simon will be looking for me." She said feebly, walking to the ladder. Wash let her pass and after a moment of awkward climbing, she was up and out.

Wash turned to Mal once they were alone. "With all due respect Mal, but what in the hell are you thinking? She's our captive!"

"And we're both grown-ups." Mal retorted. "So whatever we do behind closed doors is our business."

"She changed the coordinates Mal."

"What?"

"The flight coordinates. She changed them. She's put us on a direct course for suicide!"

"What? No." Mal said, confused and angry.

"Mal." Wash said, his own tone cool and tight. "Follow me." And with that he turned and exited the bunk, quickly followed by the Captain.

The pair entered the bridge in silence and Wash immediately sat in the pilot's chair and began pulling up flight maps. "Okay." He said, speaking slowly, condescendingly, for Mal to understand. "We're heading here now." He said pointing to Miranda.

"Yes." Mal said, folding his arms across his chest.

"This is a black rock, uninhabitable."

"River explained this all too me. There's a chance that there's fuel there though. She said there were colonies at one time, there might be supplies."

"Fantastic." Wash said sarcastically. "Did she also mention that this," He pointed to the open space between Miranda and the nearest star system. "Is Reaver territory?"

Mal's cool exterior cracked then and he leaned over Wash's shoulder studying the map. "What in the hell'r' you talkin' 'bout?" He asked distinctly not happy.

"Mal." Wash said. "Even if we find fuel here." He pointed to Miranda. "Reavers just set up raiding parties here. We'll never get through. Your new girlfriend has essentially set us up to walk almost directly into a suicide mission."

Mal stood there, starring at the map, unsure of what to say or think. He shook his head. "What are our options?"

"Turn around, surrender to the Alliance, continue on and hopefully hail help out in the deeper sections of space, or take our chances on maybe finding fuel, and then quite possibly be devoured alive by Reavers. Of those options, I personally vote for not being eaten alive." Wash stated deadpanned.

Mal clenched his jaw and stared out at the black beyond. None of their options were very bright, and he hated the idea that River could have purposely led them into danger. It just didn't make sense. He bit back whatever mistrust he had then, and spoke with more confidence than he felt. "We stay on course. We ain't got fuel enough to run and if we keep heading into space we'll likely starve, which in my opinion ain't any better than being eaten. As far as the Alliance, let's take our chances gettin' fuel first. Maybe see 'bout out running them." Mal shrugged. "I don't know, but anything's better than nothin' and worse comes to worse we turn ourselves in and have them pick us up on Miranda."

"Mal, that's suicide!" Wash shot back.

"Ain't nothing but the only option I see. If you don't agree you and anyone else can load up in the shuttle and get the hell off my boat. I ain't quitting, not when I got another route to try."

Wash glared then, starring Mal down. After a moment, he blinked and then sighed. "If you're making this decision with anything but your brain Mal, so help me..."

"Trust me Wash, even without River this would be the course of action." And even as he said it, he wondered if it were the absolute truth Before Wash could see his doubt he turned and headed out the door. "Just get us there Wash. We'll deal with the next bridge when it comes."