Title: Mismatched

A/N: Umm. No note except I'm getting tired of action. Expect some mulling over things in chapters to come.

"Well, isn't that a clever trick." Enclosed, alone, Warner had been cued by River's sudden alertness almost immediately.

She slid her gaze up to his face and had just a moment to loathe the sight of him before she had to roll to avoid a boot in her stomach. She rolled again and found her feet.

Warner smiled, "You going to fight me River?"

River didn't have time to answer - he came after her. It was the same as the night in town. Every move she used, he'd taught her. He anticipated her, neutralized her. With each assault she retreated closer to the door.

She caught at the lock but was hauled away, "You never could seem to get it in your head that you can't beat me." She went for him then, though she seemed slow in comparison and sluggish; her vision blurred momentarily as his elbow connected with her jaw. He laughed as he deflected her punch and slammed her against the door of the shuttle, his forearm against her throat, "All the meddling they did with your mind can't compensate for an eighty pound weight advantage... unless you are faster than your opponent." River struggled for breath, clawed at his arm, but he was immovable, "Which, you are not."

River didn't answer, didn't try, she twisted her arm behind her and forced the door of the shuttle open. They both toppled onto the grates of the catwalk over the bay. River scrambled backwards, regaining her breath while Warner brushed off his hands and smiled wryly.

"And what now?" He advanced a step, "You don't honestly think you could stay here? They'll know you deserted - they'll know you were going to come away with me. Do you think your Captain will take you back? After you disobeyed? After giving away a part of his ship?"

River scuttled farther back as he crept closer, "Face it, River, you're trapped, you know it. Come with me," Warner was all amiability again, "You can escape Liu - you could escape anywhere with what I talk you. You can still start over, just like you wanted."

River's hands hit the stairs, she'd reached the end of her path and her patience. The time had come. Mal was pissed off already anyway. Granted, on surveillance she probably looked worse than she felt and he could hardly know she'd suffered far worse at the hands of Warner's training daily; after surgery, that had added particular insult to great injury.

Warner hesitated. Some waft of the change in her attitude had reached him. He sneered, aimed to break her confidence, "You know the other reason you could never beat me?"

"Because you would use the safe word if I came close?" River asked innocently.

"No!" Warner faltered again, breathed, "Because you could never handle the blood on your hands. Too prim and proper to fight. You never cared about anything enough to sacrifice for it. I will always beat you River, because you're weak!"

River stood up, "And you, Matthew, lost your venom three years ago."

Warner frowned for a second and swallowed passed a dry mouth, switched tactics, "River. If you don't come with me now, I will punish you. I will hurt these people. You're rusty. You won't be able to stop me." Sensing no argument from her, Warner took a step closer, "You wouldn't want to be the cause of your brother's suffering...or... is it the Captain that would break you now?"

River drew herself up to her full height, "Enough," she said. And then, she was on him - a fury. He had hardly oriented himself to her attack when he tasted blood in his mouth, pain in his chest. The shock of her speed, the difference in her fighting style shook him clear off his game. Out of instinct, rather than training, he retreated until he was free of her.

Warner shook his head and checked his nose for broken bones. He laughed softly, "I take it... you're beginning to better remember the extent of our time together."

River smiled serenely, "This isn't about you," and she struck again. But, though Warner was ready this time, he had no greater success. For each hit he'd scored in the shuttle, River repaid it threefold. Every time he tried to regroup she shut him down - keeping him busy, not letting him dwell long enough to understand. She was still waiting for one more signal.

When Warner started retreating down the stairs toward the bay, he was limping and fairly sure his wrist was broken. He whistled, out of breath, "I have to admit, you're turning me on here. Maybe... I should keep you for myself after all."

River followed him down the stairs, shook her head sadly, "Now, now, we both know that isn't possible, Matthew. The funds have already been transferred, there's no going back now."

Warner nearly fell as he stumbled down the last few steps. He frowned at her, his mind working. River felt them gather before Warner did. The heartbeats of those she loved. She dropped the pretense from her mind, stopped shielding him from the thoughts of her crew. No more lies. No more pretense.

The whole charade hit Warner all at once, in one lump revelation, "Why you little -"

Warner came at her with a growl, for the first time causing her to work, though still no match for her speed. While his mind and body were a storm of anger, River was completely calm, the eye of the hurricane. It was only a dance, though the moves were clear to her only a few moments before they were called. Still, there was no point wasting any more time.

She jabbed him maliciously in the windpipe, "You're trapped now aren't you Matthew? Liu will expect the prize for the payment. Though I suppose," River grabbed his arm as he went for her again and pulled it around, then twisted until his knees as well as his face was against the grate, "you could legitimately claim that the funds went missing not moments after they arrived. But then, I don't think Liu will have much sympathy for that. And the government... well you can't go back there. There's been a tip, you see... a tip about how you helped their multi-million dollar science project escape."

Warner was swearing as the crew filtered into the cargo bay, taking positions and training guns on Matthew Warner. He struggled against her grip, shocked that he was in this position, at her feet - going over and over how neatly he'd been tricked. She' let him see it all. How she'd opened a rigged cortex - set so that someone from the crew could track his keystrokes, his account number, his password, his message to Liu, the coordinates of the meeting place, the amount of the rest of the ransom. Warner stopped struggling.

River leaned down close to his ear and whispered, "I have your blood already, and will take your life and Liu's and anyone who threatens my family, my crew, my Captain or my home. I will fight, I will win, be aware."

"River!" Mal's voice cut through their little tableau as his boots stomped closer against the metal, "Since when does 'stall him' mean 'let him use you as a punching bag'?"

River twisted Warner's arm tighter, "I was improvising. You took longer than I expected to finish transferring the loot."

"Is that a shot?" Mal gestured over his shoulder, "It was Kaylee typing - she's got little fingers."

Kaylee's voice filtered out from over Jayne's shoulder, "I heard that Captain."

Mal didn't seem to hear her, however. He reached out a gentle finger, smeared the blood from under River's eye and shook his head without comment. He squatted down so that he could look Warner in the eye, "You're going to tell us more about the guy that sent you."

Warner's eye was swollen half shut already, "And why would I do that?"

Mal raised his eyebrows, "What? Oh, because we're going to drug the hell out of you."

Mal gestured to Simon who tossed Mal the truth cocktail he'd mixed up based on River's instructions, "See, we couldn't get the coordinates or the account number out of you if your mind was all fuzzy with drug, but River is confident that she won't need you very coherent to pick up the rest of what she needs."

Fifteen minutes later, Warner was sprawled, numb, but conscious on the floor of the cargo bay, restrained in the manner of rabid livestock three times his size. Simon was patching River up in the cockpit while Kaylee cooed over both of them. Jayne, Zoe, Mal and Inara stayed where they were in the bay, waiting.

River's voice came over the speaker, "They're here. Docking in three. Simon is on his way."

Mal nodded to no one in particular and headed back to Warner, "I suppose you'd like to know what we're planning for you."

Warner nodded, too doped for pride.

"You may have noticed we're close to Mercury Two. Just so happens there's a mental hospital there River recommended to us as a suitable drop off for you."

"I'm not insane."

"Maybe not," Mal cocked his head, "But seems your DNA has recently been tied to someone who is. River's a whiz at computers you know, especially passwords and records that need changing. Your old identity is still there, but, just so you know, attached to a rather ominous looking arrest warrant. But even so... I bet you're thinking, after the drugs we give you wear off," Mal looked up as Simon and Kaylee came forward, "You'll be able to get yourself out of this."

Simon looked down at Warner in disgust, stuck another syringe into Warner's arm, "Of course, that may take a while considering the medical regimen we're suggesting they keep you on... for your own safety, of course."

"It's nice having a doctor on board, I guess I've got you to thank for that," Mal shrugged, "The real question is, if you'll last long enough to get through to someone."

"Captain!" Warner wet his cracked lips, croaked so only Mal could hear, "You take her like you want to - and you make her a common whore."

Mal edged dangerously closer, "Much as I'd take pleasure in killin' you Warner, you ain't going to goad me into it. Your ride is here."

Everyone's attention shifted to the door as a thundering sound signaled the secure docking of another ship.

Warner saw the men in white coats walk into the bay - had just enough time to feel fear as he recognized the leader before the final dose of hallucinogens took him into spiraling blackness.

Simon walked forward, his electronic chart in hand, to greet the Doctor flanked with several large orderlies, "Doctor Schroeder, thank you for answering my plea."

The older man had a look about him that said he had seen more than he cared to, lived longer than he would have bothered to. His days were were there to be used up and thrown out. The only thing about him that held some spark of life, of power, was his eyes. He looked around and took in everything from the crew to the detained man, saw more, it was obvious, than he was intended to see.

"This is most uncommon. Most abnormal," He said while his men checked the DNA swab of Warner.

Simon managed to look sympathetic without apologizing, "Yes, Sir, I agree. You'll see my notes are in order."

The man glanced over the notes, raised his eyebrows at several different passages, "It seems you've done all you could by the book." He signaled his men to take Warner. Before following, however Schroeder said warily, "If I find out there is anything untoward going on here, Dr-"

"Tam." Simon supplied unflinching.

Schroeder narrowed his eyes, "Tam..."

Simon inclined his head, "I'm not surprised the name is familiar to you. Your son went to the same school as my sister. I confess, that is why I requested your involvement in this matter," Simon paused, his voice softened, "I'm... sorry for your loss."

Schroeder opened his mouth to reply, but no sound came. He took in a sharp breath as River walked through the threshold to the cargo bay. It was as if the rest of the people did not exist, as if she were walking through time itself to reach him. No one moved but the dangerous beauty herself.

The old doctor had tears in his eyes as she took hold of his shaking hands, "I was sure they had killed you, little dancer."

River shook her head, "They learned much from your loss." Then, she raised up to her tip toes and began to speak softly in his ear.

Though the rest of the crew could hear only shadowed words, the old man's emotion, his head bent as he listened fervently, thickened the very air. Tears were streaming unguarded down Kaylee and Inara's cheeks. Jayne fidgeted uncomfortably until Zoe put a hand on his arm to still him. Simon and Mal stood a few feet away, at either side of River, looking weary, but resolute.

Finally, after what seemed an age, River stood back. Dr. Schroeder seemed to take longer to emerge from the connection. Slowly, as he released a long, labored breath, he leaned down and kissed River on the forehead. When he looked up, he'd changed. His posture had renewed strength, his face was set with determination and his eyes were piercing... this was not a man who'd lost his purpose, this was a man that had gained one. When he surveyed the crew again, he saw none of them.

He turned on his heel, and returned to his ship.

Mal let a moment settle around them before following in the doctor's footsteps and closing the bay door.

He turned to River, "You ready?"

River was still staring after Hughes, "Yes."

"Then, come on, Darlin', we've got an appointment to keep."

In the quiet that followed River and Mal's departure in the shuttle, Inara approached Simon, "His son was at the Academy?"

Simon took in a breath, "Yes. Schroeder was a surgeon for the program."

Kaylee gasped and put her arm around Simon's waist, "He cut into his own son's brain?"

Simon pulled her closer, "He had no idea of the damage. His son was the first subject... Died on the table. Schroeder was forced out and buried here when he started protesting the treatment of the students."

Inara frowned, "But, he'll know Warner is who he says he is. He'll recognize him and-"

Simon glanced at Inara, who's expression had changed as she'd caught on. He nodded, "We're counting on him recognizing Warner for exactly who he is."

Zoe nodded with approval, "Justice isn't always pretty."

Jayne whistled, and followed Zoe to the cockpit, muttering, "Yeah, but I think the moral of this story is don't piss off the Tams."

Back to the morning after Simon's wedding:

"Hope you're satisfied," River said, tossing Mal's shirt over the side of the bed lazily and wrapping his sheets around her, "Must sleep now."

Mal and Simon stood at the end of the bed. As if her words were a cue they turned to each other. Mal ran a hand through his hair, "You go back to Kaylee, Doc. I can hold things down here."

Simon nodded, "Thank you, if you're sure. Kaylee will be..." Simon snorted, "I'd better get going."

Mal turned, half asleep already, moved the chair that blocked the doorway, and held the door open, "Best take the day to be with her. I don't need a cranky engineer tossing things around on my ship. I'll stay with River. You don't have to worry."

Simon turned and looked at Mal thoughtfully, "I don't anymore, you know... not when she's with you."

Mal met his look sharply, but finally, too tired to fight, he nodded - accepted it. Then he turned back and stared at the girl taking up half his bed and most of his bedding.

He stripped off his boots and shed his over-shirt, and took a good hard drink before, carefully as he could, climbing into the bed beside his pilot. Feeling silly, but determined none the less, Mal went to sleep on his back, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes fixed firmly on the ceiling until sleep quickly claimed him.