Chapter 17: Plan to Pray

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"What the hell was that?" Jayne yelled running into the cockpit.

"Get your guns Jayne. Everyone weapons now." Mal said raising his voice so that the group outside of the room that now included Inara and Book heard him as well. "We won't go down without a fight."

"Mal what—" Jayne grabbed Mal's arm.

"Reavers caught us in their net." Mal said moving out of Jayne's grip. "So go get your guns Jayne."

"Guns, shit I'm getting my grenades." Jayne rushed out of the room.

"Jayne." Zoe called after him, "we don't want to blow the ship just yet."

"Shepherd go with Zoe and get the weapons." Mal ordered.

"I'm going with Zoe too." Wash said following his wife out of the room.

"Oh God, the walls are going to bleed and the floor will match the décor. Bits and pieces. We'll make a ten course meal and a wardrobe to match." River pushed her brother away and started screaming.

"Mei-mei, please," Simon tried to pull his struggling sister into a hug. "calm down."

"Let me." Oz placed a hand on Simon's shoulder. Simon looked for a moment like he was going to refuse but then he stepped back. Oz gently took hold of the screaming girl, and caught her chin in his hand. "Stone, River. Block the thoughts, become a stone." Oz said soothingly.

"I can't. I can't." River cried.

Oz let go of her briefly to take off his bracelets and necklace beads. Then he placed them in her hands. "Concentrate on these. Just run them through your hands. And think only of them." River quieted down and began to breathe regularly.

"How did you do that?" Simon asked.

"Now's not the time Doc." Mal said as Jayne, Zoe, Wash, and Book returned with the weapons. "Now that she's quiet we need to go over the plan. The only way they can come in is through the front door in the cargo bay and that's where we'll be. Kaylee, you and Simon and Inara will be on the stairs shooting the reavers that come through the door. Oz can you handle a gun?" Oz nodded before Mal continued. "Good. Then you'll be on the ground floor with me, Wash, Jayne, Zoe, and Book."

"What about my sister?" Simon asked looking at River whose lips were moving silently as she stared at the beads in her hands.

"She can either stay here or be on the balcony with you. It's your choice." Mal said as they began to pass out the weapons.

"She stays here." Simon said after a moment.

Suddenly there was a bang that rang throughout the ship. "Let's go. Take your positions." Mal shouted before racing to the cargo with everyone but Simon and Oz on his heels.

"Mei-mei I want you to stay here." Simon said placing his hands on River's shoulders. "I love you."

River raised her head and cupped her brother's cheek. "I love you too." Simon kissed her on the forehead before running out, not noticing that Oz was still there.

River glanced at the werewolf who hid in the shadows, "Don't be afraid. I know what I hold. The chains that bind you will be ready at a moments notice. Be free."

"Do you see?" Oz asked coming closer to River.

"More than you know." River replied.

"And?" Oz stopped an inch away from the girl.

"The beauty of the outside matches the inside." River smiled. Oz started to lean in but River placed a finger over his lips, "You're needed."

"Oz get your ass in here!" Came from the cargo hold.

Oz sighed before turning towards the cargo hold and running. 'Mate!' Fenir seemed to say in an almost teasing voice.

'Shut up!' Oz growled.