Chapter 7: the Companion and the Archaeologist... in bed, bath, and beyond.
Inara- when River wanders back from the bridge, seeking whatever passes on this Firefly for a cuppa, she's surprised to find the entire crew still in the kitchen. The Washburnes are cuddled up in the same chair, happily engaged in a snog. Jayne, Simon and the Shepherd are playing some sort of card game and discussing the "combat exhibition" earlier. The other River is reproducing a Cezanne sketch on a box of protein. Kaylee is rebuilding an engine piece in the middle of the floor while a stunningly beautiful brunette combs her hair, but notices River hovering in the doorway and pops up with a grin.
"River!" Every eye turns to follow as Kaylee tugs her in by the hand like a child eager to show off a toy. "'Nara? This is River Song. She's a doctor a sorts- not like Simon or nothin', but... well, she sure is shiny." The girl glows in her admiration of the woman before turning to complete the introductions. "River, this is Inara Serra. Lady and Companion... and my friend." She starts to slip her other arm around Inara's silk-clad waist, but then stops, noticing her grease blackened fingertips. She swallows and pulls back, spotting the smudged handprint she's stamped on River's hip and blushing a delicate pink. "Oh. Sorry. Guess I better go... wash up. Scuse me." Stooping to scoop up the engine piece from the ground, the mechanic ignores the ladies' attempts to forestall her and runs from the room.
Zoe and Wash scramble up next. "I think it's probably about time for bed, anyway," Zoe states in a casual tone that still dares anyone to challenge the suggestion. Jayne starts to argue, but that particular look Zoe shoots him is almost as terrifying as either unpredictable River on board. He shuts his mouth and collects the cards into an untidy pile without another word.
At the realization she's not sure where she's supposed to sleep, River asks for blankets, figuring she can rack out in the hold- when Inara offers to let her spend the night in her shuttle. In fact, everyone offers to let River bunk with them, even Zoe- who pipes up when Wash swallows back his invitation. (Actually, she offers to share their quarters if River doesn't mind 3 to a bed... and follows that if she does, Wash can always sleep on the bridge.) But the Companion is the somewhat obvious choice, being the only one besides Mal and the mechanic without any one- on- one time with the stranger as of dinnertime. She had arrived back late from a 3 day rendezvous in a nearby port town, and been greeted with the flurry of excitement over their guest when she came to the kitchen for a late supper.
River bids everyone a good night- hugging Zoe, other River and the Shepherd, sharing a Roman handshake with Wash, pressing a kiss to Simon's cheek and slugging Jayne on the shoulder- before letting Inara lead her off to the shuttle.
She prepares tea even though River is no client, and lays out silk dressing gowns, and they bathe each other in the steamy water chamber Kaylee had rigged up in her docking station. Inara's silky perfumed tresses prove a source of fascination for the traveler, and she takes great care unpinning them and gently threading her fingers through once theys head on her breast, and soothes her to rest with a song of Derillium.
Gathering the bundle of her clothes with a last kiss to her sleeping lover's ruby lips, River wraps a gown of midnight blue around her and leaves Inara swathed in spiced silk and sweet dreams, inhaling in the scent of River's pillow.
A/N: so I had to put in a bit of hot and sweet. hope you liked it.
just one more chapter to go. thanks for reading and I hope you like what's coming next!