Long Road Home – Chapter Eight
Just a reminder that I own none of these characters, not the 'verse in which they reside
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Mal was awakened by a call from Zoe. He'd been dozing beside Inara in what the entire crew still considered her shuttle. The bed there was larger and more comfortable for two people.
He ran down to the cargo bay, where Zoe stood in the opening door, looking off into the distance. When he reached her, he noticed a bright glow in the distance. Just about the right distance, he thought, for. . .
"I think it's the house, sir," Zoe informed him, face stoic as always.
"Looks like we moved out just in time," Mal observed, trying to keep his voice light. Inwardly he was sad. He'd hated to leave the rambling place, and had hoped the crew could return there once things were settled again. Now it looked that wouldn't be happening.
"Good thing we moved everything, as well," Zoe nodded. They had debated on leaving some things behind, but had decided at the last to simply vacate the house, and hope to re-rent it when the time came.
"'Spect the landlord won't be pleased," Mal said thoughtfully. One more person angry at them.
"You told him why we were leaving, sir," Zoe reminded him. "To avoid something just like this."
"Won't make it any better, I conjure. Dammit, Zoe, why is it that we can't just have some peace?" Mal exclaimed suddenly. Zoe looked at her friend carefully.
"Some things ain't meant to be, sir," she said after a minute. "Might be this is one of them."
"I don't believe that," Mal shook his head. "We've earned the right to have some peace, Zoe. Paid for it coin, sweat, and blood. I aim to make us a home here, and I don't mean to be put off that by a pack o' drunken cowards."
Zoe smiled at the steel in his voice, taken back to another time, and another place. A time and place when it was Sergeant Reynolds, not Captain Reynolds.
"Glad to hear you say it, Mal," she told him, using his name, something she rarely did. He looked to her, seeing the smile.
"You didn't think I'd just give up, did you?" he asked with a grin.
"Never have, sir," her formality was back. "Not in the years I've known you."
"And I ain't now," he nodded firmly. "We're on the defensive now, I admit. But once we're all back here, together. . ."
"We'll take care of it, sir," Zoe nodded. "You should try and get some rest. Still my watch for three more hours. Just thought I should tell you."
"Thanks, Zoe," Mal nodded, an turned to go. Inara would be heart-broken over the house, he knew. After so long in the black, she had been over-joyed at having a place to decorate and call home. The others had too.
"We'll get another," he declared to himself, nearing the shuttle. "Or build our own." With that he returned to the warm bed and his companion.
Startled at that thought, he suddenly smiled. His private companion. Now there was a thought.
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Simon Tam had not been able to sleep well since his fiancé had left. He missed Kaylee more than he could have possibly imagined. Not just her warmth in his bed, either. He missed her smile, her voice, her presence. In a way, he was almost glad for their separation. After so much time together in space, it was always possible that both had mistaken their passion for simple loneliness. That they were drawn together by a lack of options, rather than love for one another.
He knew, now, that this wasn't so. He not only missed her, he yearned for her in a way he'd never known. She'd always been close by, and he'd never had to go a day without her, save recently when she made the run to Astra. Those short days had seemed an eternity, but this. . .this was hell. He smiled as he realized that he was almost thankful for his life being miserable. He had thought he knew his own heart, but he didn't mind the reassurance that her being gone gave him. Kaylee Frye was it for him. The one woman every man looks for in his life.
Had he not foregone his former life for River's sake, he would never have found her, either. Odds were they never would have met. He still couldn't bring himself to be thankful at how River had suffered, but he no longer regretted leaving his life on Osiris. He'd never truly regretted it anyway, willing to sacrifice anything to save his sister.
But now? Now he knew that not only had it been the right thing to do, it had been right for him as well. He knew he'd never have become the man he had, a man that someone like Kaylee could love, in his pampered life on Osiris.
Still musing over his life, and it's possibilities, Simon walked out onto the small balcony of the apartment he now occupied. He'd been sad to leave the house, and knew Kaylee would be upset. But the Captain usually knew. . .
His thoughts trailed off as he saw the night sky glowing in the distance. Without being told, he knew it was the house they had all called home for the last few months. Their enemies had decided to up the stakes. Simon felt a chill as he realized that the danger wasn't past.
Would it never end? Would there always be someone trying to take from them, hurt them, kill them? Would they ever know peace of any kind? It seemed like years since Simon had known any peace or relative safety, and now the illusions he had harbored about them were gone again.
There had to be a point, he hoped, when these things were behind them. A point where they could look forward and not see only danger, hard times, and sadness.
But not yet, he thought, as he walked back inside. Not quite yet.
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Morning revealed to them that the house was, indeed, gone.
"Arson," the sheriff was saying to Mal as Inara walked down the stairs to join them in the cargo bay. "Clear cut case of arson." He looked closely at Mal.
"Funny how trouble seems to follow you, Reynolds," he said after a time. Mal's eyes narrowed at that.
"Seems to me you had plenty o' trouble 'fore we got here, Sheriff," he replied.
"Some," the lawman nodded. "But it seemed to escalate after you arrived. Like that trouble with Zhang, gettin' himself all blowed up like that."
"That was a misfortune," Mal nodded. "More for Zhang than anyone else, I conjure."
"Didn't hurt you any, either," the sheriff pushed.
"You got something to say, sheriff, come on out with it," Mal's voice was friendly, which Inara knew was a danger signal. She rested a hand on his arm, and he smiled at her reassuringly.
"Ain't but makin' talk, Captain," the sheriff raised a hand in supplication. "Just statin' the obvious. You're doing right well, runnin' cargo for Guilford. Others is been doin' that for a spell, and might not be too pleased at you musclin' in."
"We didn't," Mal told him flatly. "We delivered a cargo here, were attacked for our troubles, and then Mister Harwell offered us a job, and we took it. Simple as that."
"Others might not be inclined to see it that way," the sheriff kept pushing. "Fact, they might take exception to your bein' here at all."
"Sheriff, I done told you once, you got somethin' to say, trot it out. Got no time nor inclination to hear you rattle off whatever might happen to find it's way down from your head to your mouth." Mal was getting angry now. Inara wished Zoe were here. Or even Jayne.
"Well, that crew o' yours is right handy, Captain," the sheriff said. "That big one, mercenary from the look, seems a mighty fine fit to the description given by the women what say they was run outta Zhang's house for it blew itself up."
Okay, maybe not Jayne, Inara decided. Just Zoe.
"And that bit of a girl, always going about with him. That rifle she totes ain't no toy." Definitely not Jayne, Inara grimaced. The sheriff wouldn't likely survive.
"My crew looks after me, my ship, and themselves," Mal said icily. "My people been shot at, shot, and threatened ever since we set foot on the ground, and I ain't seen nothin' from you but talk. We ain't one's to be done to, 'thout doin' some in return. Best you take that to heart, Sheriff. Last I checked, ain't a law 'gainst a man, nor woman, protectin' themselves, and what belongs to 'em."
"No," the sheriff agreed. "There ain't. Is a law 'gainst murder, though," he added.
"And against shootin' up a place o' business? I imagine?" Mal asked.
"Done all I could to prevent that," the lawman's face turned red. "And you got no call to question me on it."
"Just as you got no call to question me about anything," Mal retorted. "We moved from that house three days ago, for just this reason. I told you how Withe and his friends threatened us. So far I ain't seen no sign you've done anything 'bout that. But after someone," Mal stressed, "threatens me and mine, and the house we lived in burns, seems like you'd be havin' words with them as did the threatenin', rather than them as was threatened."
"And I plan on doin' just that," the sheriff nodded. "Just wanted to make sure you know how things stand, that's all. I'll be keeping an eye on you, Reynolds."
"So long as you keep an eye to them as what looks to do us harm, I got no problem with that."
The sheriff turned to go, and Mal watched him walk off the ship. He was seething with fury. Inara laid her hand on his chest.
"Mal, he's trying to anger you. Don't let him."
"Too late for that," he said, anger dripping from his words. "I'm inclined to think that bum was on Zhang's payroll, and now he's looking to find a way to regain his missin' coin. And aims for us to pay for what other's has done."
"Mal, we're vulnerable right now," Inara stressed. "You said it yourself. Wait until everyone is back together, and then we can plan on what to do about this. Meanwhile. . ."
"Meanwhile we got a job to do," he nodded, smiling slightly. "You're a right blessin' to me, you know that?" He kissed her gently.
"Well, someone had to look after you," Inara chided gently, laying her head on his shoulder. "We need to move carefully, that's all. Things have been good lately. Let's concentrate on getting that back, and not worry about people like the sheriff until we have to."
"You're right," Mal nodded firmly. "Though I admit I'm thinking more and more 'bout settin' Jayne on that hundan when he gets back." Inara repressed a shudder at the tone of Mal's voice.
"Let's just see what develops, okay?" she asked.
"Right. Take us outta the world, darlin'. We got a run to make." Inara nodded, pecked him gently on the lips, and started for the bridge. Mal looked around, and was unsurprised to see Zoe standing there.
"You heard?" he asked. Zoe nodded.
"I did. I'm inclined to like your idea. Though I'd like to tag along as well when Jayne goes."
"Comes to that, we'll all be goin'," Mal said grimly. "I ain't givin' this up without a fight, Zoe. I ain't," he repeated, his voice unyielding.
"Good."
They stood like that for a long time, as the ship rose into the air.