SO SO SO SO VERY SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! this chapter just didn't want to be written. its not even really finished but, i felt i had to give you something. so here you go
It was noisy; on almost every corner a screen streamed the daily universal news to the public. Hardly anyone paid attention to the screen though. Even in the slums of Artemis, business was booming and people had better things to do then here about the news ramble on core politics.
"What day is it?" Kaylee asked Dinah. They were strolling through the streets, peeking in at the store windows displaying all their wares. What day was it? Dinah honestly couldn't remember.
"Oh, god. I'm not sure. Planet time or common universial time? Pshh, I never know what day it is any way. Hold on a sec," Dinah said as she grabbed as stranger by his arm. "You know what day it is?"
"Please don't hurt me!" the startled passerby begged, putting his hands up in defense in surrender. He was short and skinny and kind of mangy. "I don't have much money and I wasn't trying to start anything and I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Don't get ya knickers in a twist! I ain't gonna hurt ya. I just wanna know the day," Dinah said, glaring at the man. "I ain't gonna mug ya."
"Planet or universal time?" he stuttered.
"universal."
"November 11th," he said as Dinah let him go. He ran quickly into the crowd.
"November, the eleventh. If my calculations are correct," Dinah teased, as Kaylee and she walked on. Kaylee had this look of concentration on her face, as if she was counting.
"You didn't have to be so mean to him. Poor man. You terrified him," Kaylee said.
"Yeah. 'pose so. Why'd you want to know the day anyways?" Dinah asked. Kaylee looked a little devious. "ooh! You've got a secret! Tell me!"
"Well, actually. You know when we were at your mother's home? And how we saw the wanted posters for-" Kaylee looked around quickly, making sure no one could hear them. "Simon and River."
"Yeah?"
"The wanted poster had his birthday on it. its in a week. And I was thinkin', maybe we should all do something for him," Kaylee explained. "not something big. Just something nice. To show that we're thinkin' about him and-"
"by 'we' you mean 'you' right? Kaylee, if you like him, tell him! Time waits for no woman. Fortune favors the brave. Do something about it!"
"This ain't about me. Or my feelings," Kaylee explained. "Sure. I like him and I make my feelings plain but, I just wanna do somethin' nice. Like a cake! Dinah, will ya make him a cake?"
"Fine. I'll make him somethin' special for his birthday," Dinah said with a sigh, looking up at the sunny sky. If you looked very close you could see the honeycomb pattern of the auto controlled atmosphere. She felt her stomach twist as she recalled all the times she had thought that was what the sky was supposed looked like. "I can't believe it. I actually miss this place. Say, why don't we stay a bit longer? "
"Dinah!"someone called. Ah, Wu de tyen ah.
"Never mind. Lets go back to the ship," Dinah hastily said, tugging on Kaylee's arm. Someone was shouting her name and that never ended well. She hadn't done anything recently. Well except steal a precious religous text. Oh no. she hoped it was someone she didn't know.
"Dinah Rosenberg Meltzer!" turns out the person was a lot familiar. It was her mum. Of course it was her mum! Who else would call her name, her full name, in a crowded marketplace? Dinah let go the breath she had been holding.
"Tian xiz shou you de ren dou gai si. Hi, mum. Again. Oof!" Dinah said as something small and compact collided with her and wrapped its tiny arms around her.
"Mummy!"
"Leah!" Dinah exclaimed. Dinah tried to keep her balance as the Leah gripped her waist tightly.
"Mummy! You're here!" Leah cried, burying her face in Dinah's shirt.
"Bao bei! My girl! I thought you had school!" Dinah said, squatting to look at her little one. She looked so pretty, her dark black hair neatly combed and parted. Her face was clean and her hazel eyes shone brightly with joy. And she must have grown; she was so strong. She had nearly knocked Dinah over.
"I did. What it got cancelled and grandmummy said you were here!" Leah smiled, flashing her pearly whites in a giant grin. And was that a gap?
"And you lost your tooth! Well why didn't you message me, sweetheart! You're growing up every other minute. Why didn't ya tell me? You've been keepin' it safe?" Dinah asked as she pulled Leah's head closer to look at her toothy grin. Her teeth were straight and clean. Good.
"I wanted to! But, dad said it might be a while before you got the message so I should wait till I hear from ya next but, here you are! So I can just tell you!" Leah said giggling madly, reaching into the her pockets. She pulled out her special little box. "See! I've got them all right here. All my teeth!" In the box were all of Leah's baby teeth, small and pale, like little pieces of soap. Leah had always been fascinated with her own teeth; she had been saving them since the day she lost her first one. If it was anybody else kid, Dinah probably would have thought it was weird and creepy. But, with Leah, it was adorable.
"That's brilliant!" Dinah said, taking her daughter face and giving her tons of kissing on her cheeks. Leah squirmed away and wiped her face.
"eww! No more!" Dinah laughed and picked her daughter up and swung her around.
"My teeth! Mummy! I am going to lose all my teeth!" Leah cried, cradling her precious box. Dinah promptly put her back on the ground. She was getting a little too tall to swing anyway.
"Dinah?" Dinah's own mum growled, hands on her hips as she finally got her daughter's attention. Oh gosh, here comes the emotional breakdown.
"...oh. Hiya, mum. About the...thing, I just-"
"The thing! That's what you call it! Your own father's lifework and its a thing! If he could hear you now! And you just hand it to me, like a box of common Xiang-jiao! All these years! And god knows how you got it! Please don't tell me what you had to go through. I couldn't bear!" her mum said, on the verge of tears. "and I haven't heard from you and for all I know you were deserted on the outer rim, doing lord knows what and-"
Dinah quickly embraced her mum, not wanting to risk a bigger emotional outburst from her mum. Unfortunately for Leah, she was squashed between her mum and her grandmum. Dinah sneaked a peek at Kaylee who had quietly been watching the whole thing.
"Mum, I'll watch Leah for a bit. Maybe get a bite to eat with her. How about you got back home and I'll drop her off at your place? All right?"
"So eager to get me away? Never mind, sweetheart. I do have to get going. Things to wash and clean. Came here on my break and you know how rigid the bosses can be. You know how it is. Aaron will be around to pick her up after sunset so have her back by then. Goodbye, granddaughter," Miriam said, kissing Leah on the forehead. "Dinah. Good to see ya again, Kaylee," her mum said disappearing into the crowd.
Dinah brushed some hair out of her face. As annoying as it was to have her crying mother around, Dinah wished she could have stayed a little longer. Sure the planet might technologically have longer hours but, everything moved so gorram fast. No body had a spare moment around here. Leah looked up at her mum and slipped her tiny hand in hers. Dinah gripped it tightly, not wanting to ever let go.
"Bye, Miriam! So who's this little one?" Kaylee chirped, looking at Leah, who had suddenly become shy and was hiding behind Dinah.
"Who's the lady?" Leah whispered.
"That's Kaylee. She's an engineer. She works on ships, with the engines," Dinah explained. "Kaylee, I'd like ya to meet Leah, my daughter."
"Morning, Leah."
"Its afternoon," Leah lied trying to confuse Kaylee. Yeah, she was a weird kid.
"No, its not," Dinah scolded. "You know as well a I do, its still morning." Leah giggled mischievously.
"I was trying to trick her! Mummy, are you going to take me off world soon?" Leah asked, pulling on Dinah's hand. Dinah bent down to look at her again.
"Not yet. You still got school and I don't think your dad would like that very much and I am sure we don't won't him to be angry. Look, as soon as you've got a holiday, I'll fly down here and spirit you away to some far off world. you like that?"
"Yes," Leah said, obviously disappointed. "You promising?"
"'Course I promise! Here look, with Kaylee as my witness, I'll come and get you as soon as you're on holiday. Right, Kaylee?" Dinah said looking at the engineer.
"Oh yeah. And Serenity would be here real quick and nobody on board would really mind I think. Maybe Jayne but, he' always complaining," Kaylee explained, with a grin. Dinah thought about that. Would it be the best idea to have Leah on board? Could she put her daughter in that kind of danger? Dinah looked at her daughter intently; something was bothering Leah. Dinah pulled her over to the ledge of a store window; the street was getting a little two crowded for her taste.
"Why don't you wanna stay here?" Dinah asked. "on Artemis? Are you not happy or something?"
"No," Leah said, devoid of life. Kids had this little way, Dinah had discovered, of closing off when ever you started talking about something emotionally trying for them. Leah was like that. She could close off like an oyster if she wanted to.
"Leah, what's the matter? talk to me," Dinah asked. Kaylee shared her look of concern as the little girl just shrugged her shoulders.
"I just- I don't wanna stay here. Its borin'. Nothing ever happens and everyone tells me what to do. I go to school and I hate it."
"Most people don't like school, honey," Dinah asked. She pulled her daughter into a hug. "I know its hard. You just gotta put up with it."
FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIRELFLY***FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIRELFLY***FIREFLY***
"What are we transporting?"
"I just told you Jayne!"
"I was oping you said it wrong. C'mon Mal. You can't be serious! How could stoop so low! This ain't decent crime! Ain't decent!"
"I never thought i'd say this but, Jayne brings up a few good points. Why are w doing this captain?" Zoe asked as they weaved through the street.
"'Cause they're paying us and-"
"But, mal-
"Enough! We're gonna transport these gorram dolls to Persephone and that's that! Ai ya! You two are as nosy as go hwong tong!" Mal said. "We'll just get Kaylee and Dinah and head back to Serenity and wait for the cargo." They spotted their crew mates sitting on an old fashioned bench with a child.
"Hey, what's that little person with the women, over there?"
"I think they call them kids nowadays," Zoe said, a slight grin on her face. "I bet my gun that's Dinah's little one." Kaylee suddenly caught sight of them and waved. Dinah and the little girl seemed to be in deep conversation.
"And, it just popped out. There was blood everywhere and daddy was going crazy and- people." as soon as they approached, the girl went quiet and tried to hide behind Dinah.
"Who's this, now?" Zoe asked, her voice surprisingly tender and warm. Mal stared at his second in command in cofusion. Since when was Zoe a fan of pint sized people?
"M'name is Leah," the little girl murmured, not looking at them.
"Yep. This is my daughter. Leah, I want you to meet Zoe, Jayne and Mal. Mal's the captain of the boat." Leah still hid, watching them with cautious accusing eyes.
"Ah, don't worry about them, Leah," Kaylee said, stroking the girl's hair. "They're nice."
"I lost all my teeth," Leah finally said, offering the container. Mal, Jayne and Zoe all peered inside to look at the professed teeth. Jayne tapped his own teeth as he looked in the box.
"Cute," was all Mal said.
"How was the cr- I mean, did you get the cargo job?" Kaylee said, avoiding the illegal part because of the little one.
"Oh, yeah. Badger's source turned out all right. A little eccentric but, beggars can't-"
"The tah mah de has moving dolls. Ow! Wou de ma!" Jayne yelped as Zoe hit the mercenary in the shoulder Not hard, just enough to pain him.
"Jayne, mind the language!" Zoe hissed.
"Didn't your mama ever teach you not to swear in front if kids?" Mal scolded too, glaring at Jayne who rubbed his arm.
"I don't know! She ain't that little!" Jayne defended, looking a little like a hit puppy. Leah smiled and Dinah frowned at her.
"Wait. So we're moving dolls?" Kaylee said, laughing a little.
"yes! Its the most decent job we've had in awhile and its gonna set us for a while so quit complaining! You'd think I'd made a deal with the devil," Mal muttered, standing a little taller. "also, the doll's head bobble."
"Ah, that's some cargo you've got there, captain. I am not sure if I should bring my girl on board if we're going to be transporting that," Dinah teased. Dolls. Who would have thought the bandits and fugitives illegally transporting dolls. Leah however did not get the joke.
"I can handle dolls! I am not scared of them. Anymore."
"I was teasing. So when are we getting off this rock?" Dinah asked.
"We'd be set to go before nightfall. Just need to get the cargo loaded then we off into the 'verse."
FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIREFLY***FIREFLY***
Wash was in trouble. Deep trouble. Really deep fei hua. He froze, paralyzed where he stood. This was real danger. Like the Reavers. Only the danger was sitting on the kitchen table not miles out on some torn apart shuttle. The uninvited guest was smirking at him. Or maybe he was imagining that.
"Oh, crap."
the giant cat's tail twitched as it stared at Wash, its golden eyes lazily looking around. It was muscle and bone. And it was obviously very strong if the shattered chair on the floor indicated anything. Wash was just a man. A scared man. A scared unarmed man who was in the process of escaping. He really wished Zoe were suddenly.
"Nice, giant man eating cat. Good, man eating jaguar," Wash said as he slowly exited the kitchen. He was in the corridor and if he was lucky the jaguar wouldn't follow him.
"He's not hungry."
"Haabbageeb! River!" Wash gasped as he quickly ducked into the hallway, pulling River with him.
"There's a cat in there," River whispered, childlike glee written on her face.
"Yeah, River. We don't like that cat. Its-"
"Just because he ate your bacon, doesn't mean you should judge him. Should have shared. Couldn't have. Wouldn't have. And he's still hungry. Doesn't want to hunt. Falling all around him, leaves soaring through the air. Can't find it. Still wants it," River babbled. Then she frowned as if she was thinking something very important. "He's...sleepy. Too much tryptophan and no one to rock him to bed."
"Sure, River. Whatever you say," Wash stage whispered, not paying attenion to her. He was trying to figure out how to leave without making too much noise. What to do? What to do? This was bad. How the hell had a feral cat gotten on board? Sure, Dinah had warned them all about the local wildlife; but, Wash had been under the impression that wildlife referred to small birds and small monkeys and smaller animals. Not enormous cats that wander on board, eating everyone's bacon. They could sneak away. Probably find Book and Simon and formulate some sort of plan. But, what could a preist and a doctor do? They really needed Mal or Zoe or Jayne, someone who was okay with shooting. What in god's name were you suppose to do when you find a jaguar on your kitchen table? He quietly peeked around the corner to see the jaguar. The cat was cleaning its paws.
"I want touch it. Bond emotionally. Maybe find the way out of the woods and into the forest," River said, reaching her hand out. Wash gabbed it and held her back.
"No. no, River. Not right now. We really need to be getting away. Like, now," Wash said. He put her in front of her as he warily watched the kitchen doorway, hoping the jaguar was staying where it was. Right about now Wash was really regretting landing in the jungle. River was silent. Unsettling. She seemed completely unfazed by the animal on the table. He, on the other hand, may or may not have been hyperventilating and he might have possibly been on the edge of panic. The cat was probably getting hungry right about now.
"Don't worry."
"oh, I am not worrying. I am panicking. A very calm inverted controlled panic, of course. I have to be the adult here. There's a difference."
"If it was hungry now, it would have already killed us. Hunted actually. Predatory creature. Likes to see it bleeds. Rows of red rosebuds, rapidly rushing. Alliteration."
"Not helping, River!" Wash said as they successfully neared the med bay. "Shepherd Book! Simon!"
"That's what everyone thinks," River said with a sigh as she curled up on the couch in, an ironically, feline postion.
"We got a problem, guys," Wash said, as he found Book and Simon in medical center.
"What's going on?" Simon asked, taking in the pilot's slightly panicked demeanor. Wash attempted to speak several times but, he couldn't find the right words.
"There is a cat. a jungle cat. in the kitchen," he finally murmured.
"A what?" shepherd asked.
"A feral cat. Of sorts. But not like a cat-cat. Like a wild cat. Really! This thing had teeth and a tail and claws and it ate my bacon and I am kinda freaking out here! What is it doing on board!"
"What are you saying?" Simon asked, thoroughly confused. How could an animal get on board?
"There's a cat onboard. What do you not understand?" Wash demanded.
"Panthera tigris not Panthera onca," River murmured as she gazed at her out stretched hand.
"See! Its real! She saw it too!"
"Well. I am crazy," River said, with a grin.
"We're back!"
every visibly flinched as they heard the sound of their crew mates returning. Thye hadn't been expecting them for another two hours at least.
"Honey- honey? Mal, where's my wife?" Wash asked, entering the cargo bay. Zoe wasn't with them. Neither was Dinah.
"Oh, she stayed behind with Dinah. Not sure why though," Mal said."Jayne! don't spit! we want to seem respectable somewhat when the cargo get here!"
"its because of Leah; she's so darn cute!" Kaylee cheered, carrying a box of engine parts, she had managed to scrounge up.
"They'll be back in a while. don't worry. we won't fly off without them. I for one am glad to be off this planet. Too proper for my taste. Not enough excitement."
"Speaking of excitement, Mal. We may have a problem. In the kitchen."
"Don't tell me River tried cooking something again!"
"Actually, we have tiger in the kitchen. It won't move," Wash said.
"Huh."
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