Long Road Home – Chapter Twelve
And here once again is where I say ::: I own none of the rights to the Firefly Universe, I'm just playing with the shinies.:)
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Mal was almost beside himself in frustration. Over night was quickly turning into two nights, and stretching for three. If Kaylee was along, they'd not have had to wait, but their newest addition simply wasn't up to Kaylee's ability. Wasn't his fault, and Mal didn't blame the boy. Kaylee was just a gorram miracle worker.
"Mal, you may as well calm down," Inara chided gently, watching him pace back and forth in front of Serenity's open cargo door. "There's nothing you can do."
"I know that," he admitted. "Just chafing, sittin' here is all," he told her with a grin. "And anxious to get back. Won't be long now, till they get back with Companion." He'd taken to calling the new boat that openly, now that he knew it wasn't going to cost him dearly.
"I know," Inara smiled, secretly enjoying the new ship's name. She had to admit it had a nice ring to it.
"I know," she repeated. "But, again, there's nothing you can do about it."
"Don't make it no easier to bear, darlin'," Mal told her with a laugh. "But, 'spect you're right, as usual." He sat down next to her, taking her hand in his. "And, I gotta admit, if I'm gonna be stranded on a ship, dockside, on a planet raging with the flu, I couldn't have better company."
"Oh, be still my heart," Inara fluttered her fan against her face. "You say the nicest things, Malcolm Reynolds." Her gentle kiss took the sarcasm out of her words.
"We still. . .oops," Zoe cut her question off, realizing she had interrupted a 'moment'. There had been a lot of those lately. She was used to Jayne and River on her runs, and while they were a passionate couple, they were usually very proper around others.
"Nice timin', Zoe," Mal grumbled, but Inara just laughed.
"I was just wondering are we still waiting on the yard, sir," Zoe bit back a grin. "And if we are, is it safe to go off ship."
"We are still waiting on the yard," Mal confirmed. "And I don't know how safe it is. I haven't been able to raise Simon, seems Argo is on the long leg of it's orbit, or some other such nonsense, and it's near on impossible to get a message through for the next day or so still."
"So we don't know if our shots are good for this," Zoe stated rather than asked.
"That'd be the size of it," Mal nodded.
"Well, that's. . ."
"Annoying?" Inara offered. "Aggravating? Maddening?"
"All of the above," Zoe laughed. "But, it is what it is." The first mate went back through to the galley, leaving Mal and Inara alone again.
"Weren't we discussin' something, just afore my first mate walked in and interrupted?"
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River eased the new ship into orbit around Argo, taking her time as this would be only the second time she'd entered atmo in the vessel. Jayne was in the co-pilot's chair, more to be with her than because she might need his help. Kaylee was in the engine room.
"We're good," the engineer called over the comm.
"Very well, Kaylee," River replied. "We're entering. . .now." The ship shuddered slightly as the thrusters aligned for re-entry.
The Firefly glided effortlessly into the moon's atmosphere, and half-an-hour later they were settling onto the pad at Guilford's. Simon was waiting at the ramp when it opened, and an enthusiastic Kaylee practically leapt into his arms.
"Oh, Simon! I have missed you so much!" she gushed, eyes filling with tears of joy. Simon's eyes were likewise wet as he engulfed his fiancé in a crushing embrace.
"Welcome home, ai ren," he breathed, trembling slightly in relief that she had returned safe and sound. Their lips met in a hungry kiss that lasted so long that River began to worry for their safety. Jayne just smiled in understanding. He knew if he and River had been separated that long, he'd be dragging her away already.
"Love that animalistic instinct, ai ren," River whispered, her voice husky, and Jayne suddenly thought about dragging her away, anyway.
"I wouldn't mind," she grinned wickedly. Jayne shook his head in amazement. He'd never imagined being glad someone could read his mind.
"But's it's such a naughty mind," River went on, and Jayne growled low in his chest, making her sway slightly. He laughed and hugged her too him.
"You really are something, little Angel," he kissed her.
"If I wasn't, would you still want me?" she teased. Jayne looked at her seriously.
"I can't imagine not wanting you," he told her frankly, and she leaned into him, sighing contentedly.
Finally Simon and Kaylee broke for air, Simon red-faced from such a public display of passion, Kaylee smiling ear to ear. Simon noticed River and Jayne, and smiled sheepishly.
"Um, hi. Welcome back," he offered.
"We've been here for an hour, already," replied River, with a dramatic roll of her eyes, teasing. Simon smiled again, and stepped forward to hug his sister.
"Welcome back, mei mei," he said quietly. "And you Jayne," he added with a smile. "Thanks for seeing to. . .things."
"We need to talk about that," River said quietly, and Simon grew concerned. He looked at her cautiously.
"Are you alright?" he asked. "Are you hurt? Sick?"
"I am fine," River nodded, "thanks to Jayne. If not for him, I would likely be on my way back to the academy."
"What?" Simon yelled. "What happened?" he demanded.
Before River could explain, Harwell walked up.
"Welcome back, gang," he shook hands with everyone. "I'm glad you made it home. This young man has gone around here for weeks looking as if someone had shot his puppy." Everyone laughed, including Simon, though he was still alarmed by River's declaration.
"I know you just got here," Harwell went on, "but I was wondering if you feel up too making a run? I have a very urgent shipment that needs to go right away, and Captain Reynolds is overdue. Not surprising, as Astra has been hit by the Invarian Flu. He remarked he needed maintenance and fuel, and I suspect that the docks are behind on their work, if the situation is as bad as I hear."
Jayne looked to River and Kaylee. They were the ones who'd have to fly the bird. So far as he was concerned, it was up to them. River simply shrugged, as if it made no difference to her, and looked to Kaylee.
"We can't go full burn," Kaylee hedged. "Ain't got the fuel for it. We can go, though," she said almost sadly, looking at Simon.
"I think we can do without the good doctor for a few days," Harwell said seriously, holding back a laugh. "Might do him good to get away from here for a while, anyway. He's been cooped up too long."
"Cooped up?" Jayne asked warily.
"A lot's happened while you've been gone," Simon told him. "If we're going, let's get started. We can swap stories on the way to Astra."
"Suits me," Kaylee was instantly happy again, since Simon was making the trip.
"I'll get my bag, and some vaccine, just in case. I'll innoc us before we leave, and take enough for the rest. Their current shots don't include Invarian Influenza." He offered Kaylee his hand, and she took it, leaning her head on his shoulder as the two went toward the infirmary.
"I'll get the crew over here with the load," Harwell said, leaving as well. Jayne watched him go, then turned to River, his face concerned.
"Something ain't right," he said quietly. River nodded.
"House burned," she said sadly. "Captain Daddy has troubles with former shippers. Feel like we stole from them, want old jobs back."
"That ain't gonna happen," Jayne said firmly. River nodded again.
"Captain Daddy agrees, and has said as much. Harwell is on our side, refuses to break agreement. Believes that the others took pay from Zhang to leave him hanging."
"So we fight, then," Jayne stated. River looked up at him.
"Yes," she said quietly. "We fight."
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"I really am sorry, Captain," the Dockmaster was telling Mal. "We're down to less than a third of our work force, with the outages. It will be another three days, at best. And that's only if I don't loose too many more workers."
"I thought the virus was on the decline," Mal tried to keep his tone calm. It wasn't this man's fault.
"It is," the Dockmaster nodded. "New cases are being reported at a lower rate everyday. The trouble is that the virus was rampant before the Health Ministry caught on. As a result. . ."
"I get it," Mal nodded. "Seen it before, matter o' fact, even Coreward. Well, can't say I'm pleased to hear it, but I can't rightly be upset with you for something beyond your control. We'll just wait."
"I appreciate your attitude, sir," the Dockmaster thanked him. "Not everyone was so understanding. And," he added with a smile, "to show you my appreciation, your maintenance and fuel will be given you at cost." Mal's face lightened at that.
"That won't get you hung up, will it?" he asked, unwilling to see the man in trouble for his generosity.
"No, it won't," the other man assured him. "I have that authority under adverse circumstances, and these are certainly trying times, in my opinion. And," he added, "I value your patronage."
"Well, then I thank you for the kindness," Mal said, offering his hand. As the manager went on down the line bearing bad news, Mal walked back onto the ship.
"Well, we have the old good news, bad news. Which you want first."
"I'll take any good news I can get," Zoe said grouchily. The others nodded.
"We'll be three more days, looks like," he said flatly, to the groans of all and sundry. "But, we get our fuel and fixin' at cost," he added, "which means a little bonus all around for the delay."
That cheered them somewhat, but it was still a hard blow. Hollins dropped his head.
"My fault, Cap'n," he stated sorrowfully. "If'n I could fix things, we coulda done been gone."
"Hush that," Mal said at once, and the rest agreed. "You ain't but been at this but a few months, and done a fine job." And he had, Mal knew. "Ain't your fault no more than the Manger's there. Things just happen. Can't be blaming yourself that you ain't as good as Kaylee, no longer than you been at it." He didn't add that, as fine a job as Hollins was doing, he'd never be the mechanical genius that Kaylee Frye was.
"Still," Hollins said, refusing to be mollified.
"None o' that," Mal said sternly. "Now let's have no more fussin'. Stead let's all up to the galley, and fix us some eatables. I done got spoiled to good food, and I'm hungry." The rest grinned at that, and headed upstairs.
"You took that well," Inara offered, leaning against him as they walked toward the kitchen.
"Amazing the effects a good woman can have on a man," he told her, proving with a kiss.
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"Reynolds new boat just got in," Ball informed Withe. "Merc's back."
"Well, Jenkins is already on his way, so he oughta be able to take Reynolds down before they can. . ." He trailed off as Ball shook his head.
"Already loadin' the new boat," he said with a frown. "Be off the ground in an hour at most. We need to call Jenk and tell 'im." Withe nodded.
"I'll see to it right now," he promised. "You get on over to Jovy's. We gotta keep up our routines, or the finger'll be laid right on us, for sure." Ball nodded and left, on his way to see the waitress he was leeching off.
Withe grinned an ugly grin as he watched Ball go. Yes, he'd get right on that, let Jenkins know. Soon as he'd had a nap, and a bite to eat. And checked his ship from bow to stern.
Too bad that by then, the orbit lag would keep him from contacting his partner. Former partner he corrected mentally. Yeah, be a shame. He'd miss old Jenk.
Now if he could just get rid of Ball that easy.