It took Zoë's eyes a moment to adjust to the lighting in the bar. It was dark and crowded, which she liked. As was usual with the border planets, it made for a nice place to plan crime. She couldn't immediately see Morton, so she made her way over to the bar, where Jayne was already making short work of his first drink.
"You see him?" Mal asked her in a low voice, sliding a couple of notes over the bar in exchange for his own beverage.
"Not as yet, Sir."
"He'll be along. He's a good man."
"Hm." People were usually good, in her opinion, till it was to their benefit to be otherwise. But Morton hadn't done them wrong yet, so she kept her peace and ordered a coffee before settling in to watch Jayne beat Mal at pool.
In the cockpit of Serenity, River sat folded comfortably into her seat, eyes closed, mind guarded, but open to unforeseen complications. She thought it could be a little while before the Alliance would make another attempt to infiltrate her mind, but that didn't mean they weren't out there, looking. Not to mention the risk of either Jayne or Mal getting the group into some kind of situation that required her to fly in and pull them out. She hoped they wouldn't. She knew Mal was trying to avoid notice, but it was hard to control Jayne, and sometimes Mal's temper got the better of him. At least Zoë was sensible.
She heard Inara come up the stairs and opened her eyes, turning to face the Companion. "Thank you for the tea." She smiled. Inara smiled in return and put down the tray, pouring them each a cup.
"I thought you'd like this blend. It's one of my favourites." She handed River a cup. "I thought I'd used it all, but I found another package this morning."
River inhaled the steam. "Rose and..." She didn't recognise the other scent. She looked up at Inara questioningly.
"Blackcurrant. They're hard to find, but they do have an amazing flavour." Inara sipped her own tea, which reminded River to do the same. She pulled her eyes away from Inara's face to take a sip. A deep fruit flavour poured across her tongue, intermingled with the rose.
"It's wonderful." She slipped her hand into Inara's "Thank you."
Inara squeezed her hand. "My pleasure, love." Looking out the windows, she asked "how's the job?"
"Quiet, so far." River leaned against Inara's arm and took another sip of tea, enjoying the flavour.
"I hope it stays so." Inara commented mildly.
"Me, too." River whispered.
"How was it?" Inara questioned as Mal came up to the cockpit. She was seated on the arm of River's chair with River asleep against her arm.
"Looks good. Possibly more'n one job. Morton thinks his team mighta been ID'ed."
"Alliance?" Inara questioned swiftly, looking down at River.
"Do I look stupid?" Mal questioned indignantly. "Of course not. Just a group of locals who want to play cowboy. Causes problems with the flow of business. Needs a third party." He eyed River's sleeping form. "She's meant to be awake." He commented.
"She's exhausted." Inara replied defensively. "She barely sleeps, because -"
"Whoa." Mal cut her off. "I don't need the details, thank you."
Inara rolled her eyes. "You know that's not why."
"I know, I just couldn't resist the opportunity." A half smile crossed his face before he turned serious again. "Still, though. I can't have her sleeping through jobs." He sighed, looking at the sleeping girl. "C'mon. I'll carry her to her room."
"Thanks, Mal." Inara gathered up the tea things as Mal picked up River, glad the Captain's propensity to pick fights with her seemed to be diminishing as the crew's focus had turned to protecting the young girl they all had a soft spot for.
River woke in the dark, disoriented. Last she remembered, she'd been drinking tea in the cockpit with Inara. Realising she'd fallen asleep on the job, she got out of bed quickly and made her way up there.
She found Mal with his feet propped on the console, looking up at the stars. "I'm sorry, Captain." She said contritely, though she knew he wasn't mad.
"Can't sleep through jobs, mèimei" he said without turning around.
"I know" She whispered, making her way to the other console and sliding into the seat.
Mal pulled his feet down and turned to face her. "Anything I need to know?"
She shook her head. "But sooner or later they'll try again." She looked him in the eye. "Eventually, they'll get in, you know that don't you?"
He nodded. "We'll deal with it as it comes. I know you try your best."
She looked down. "I could leave. Maybe draw them away from you." She felt tears welling up inside her. There was nothing she wanted less. Her Inara, Simon...Even Jayne. This was her family, and Serenity her home.
Mal watched her for a moment. "We're sitting ducks without you, River. You know full well they'd go for us first, see what we had to say." He paused, looking away. "Besides, it would destroy Inara, and we've got enough broken souls on this crew as it is" He mumbled softly.
River looked up at him. "Mal, -"
He raised his hand, stopping her. "You aren't going anywhere, River. We're with you till the end."
She smiled crookedly. "I was going to say thank you. For everything."
"Oh...Well..." Mal looked awkward. "We aren't all mind reading geniuses, girl." He said gruffly.
"That's why you've got me." River pointed out.
"Hmmmph" was Mal's grumpy reply.
"Want me to sit up here, watch a while?" River asked hopefully, running her fingers over the control panel in front of her.
"You need to explain to your big brother why you missed dinner, and you know it" was Mal's reply. "Off you go."
"He'll make a fuss" River pouted, but she went.
Mal chuckled once she'd left. "Don't I know it."
"Well, why were you too tired to stay awake during the job?" Simon questioned. "Are you staying up too late talking with Inara?" He raised a hand to stop her from speaking, so she just kept on glaring at him, jaw set stubbornly. "River, I know that you two are close, and I think it's wonderful. Inara has been very kind to you, but your work on the ship comes first. Kaylee and I have those rules too."
"Hey now, that's not fair." Kaylee said from her seat on Simon's bed. " 'N besides, 'Nara and River are good for each other. 'Nara wouldn't keep her up like that, Simon."
"It's my dreams." River interjected, taking advantage of the awkward pause. "My nightmares. That's what keeps me up. Not Inara."
Simon's stance changed. He sighed, coming to her and rubbing her arm in comfort. "Why didn't you tell me? Talk to me?" he asked softly.
" 'Cause you'll drug me." River replied honestly. "You can't drug me, Simon."
"But, I could..."
"No drugs." River responded urgently. "Not for sleeping, Simon. They find me in my sleep. Don't want to sleep. I have to be able to wake up."
"River..." Simon started, but she could feel the seed of doubt inside him, that she could be right, it might not be paranoid schizophrenia that caused her fear and her nightmares.
"They'll find us, Simon. Sedating me – I won't be able to escape. They'll crack open my mind like a nut and pull out all the insides. The information they need to find us. " She pushed on. "Do you want me to go back to the Academy after all you went through to get me out? After all you've seen? Why don't you believe in me?" She cried, frustrated with his warring feelings. She ran out of the room, knowing Kaylee would do a better job of talking to him than she could.
Upset, she went to Inara's room, secretly pleased to find the lights still on. " 'Nara?"
"River!" River felt Inara's pleasure on hearing her shoot through her, and smiled through the tears streaming down her face. The feeling evaporated very quickly. "zěn me gǎo de ma" (What's wrong?) Inara questioned as River ran to her, burying her face in the Companion's shoulder. "Was he mean to you because you fell asleep?"
River shook her head. "Why doesn't Simon believe me?" she asked bleakly, raising her head to examine her lover.
"Ah, Simon." Inara used her thumbs to wipe River's tears away, leaving only tracks, and kissed her gently, slowly, before resting her forehead against the younger girl's. "Simon can't believe you, my love" she said quietly. "It would shatter him. To believe you will never be the sister he knew. He knows in his heart, but not in his mind – do you see? He's your big brother. He wants to help. He's trying the only way he knows how."
"I know." River whispered. "But I can't tell him what I told you. Cracks run through me like a mirror dropped too hard. His meds, they help for a little while. Separate the River shard from the rest of the pile. Who knows how many pieces..." The tears started down her face again, she couldn't help it.
"Shhh" Inara murmured. "I know." She lifted River's chin and looked her in the eye. "I know what they've done to you, River Tam. I don't forget what you've told me. But I love you. All of you. No matter what."
River cried harder, wrapping her arms around Inara, because hearing the Companion's mind as she could, she knew it was true.
"How are you?" Inara questioned, a little worried.
"Wonderful" whispered River, her cheek resting on Inara's shoulder, and her legs entwined with the Companion's. They were both fully naked for the first time. "I'm sorry I was hurrying you towards sex. This is nice." She ran her index finger delicately down Inara's chest, past her belly button, and then paused, enjoying Inara's small gasp as her nether regions spasmed. She could feel it, reflected, in her own. She laughed in delight, truly full of wonder.
"Are you teasing me, River Tam?" Inara questioned, letting River's head fall gently to the pillow as she moved herself so she was looking down at the girl, her dark curls tumbling beside her arms. "And me a bona fide Companion?"
"Not teasing" River informed her, eyes wide. "I was enjoying you." She frowned a little. "And also that your physical response created an equal physical response in my..." she paused at the amused expression on Inara's face.
"Someday you're going to have to explain to me how that works" Inara raised an eyebrow, and lowered herself gently so her head rested on River's chest, smiling at the shiver she felt through her partner's body. She so wanted to trace a delicate circle around the nipple on one of River's perfect breasts, watch the hairs stand on end in the wake of her finger, but settled instead for reaching for River's hand, intertwining their fingers. She knew they should sleep, though she didn't want to.
"Me, neither" River sighed, and Inara knew the younger girl could see what was on her mind and moved her head so she could look up at her, eyes twinkling.
"There's crime to be done tomorrow." Inara pointed out. "And we'll both be in trouble if you can't stay awake."
River sighed again, more heavily. "I know."
Inara lifted herself up and kissed River sweetly. "We have a whole lifetime ahead of us. Be patient." River pouted, making her chuckle. "I'll get the lights." Quietly the companion lifted herself out of bed, turning off lamps, aware of River's eyes following her as she did. She was enjoying how much it aroused her, that simple thing. She'd been idolised, objectified, and even truly loved, on occasion. But never like this. She'd never felt like this. She made her way back into her silken sheets and River's arms, one of which slid delicately under her own and wrapped around her, the other resting lightly against her back. River lifted her hair and grazed her lips across her back, making her shiver. Long after the limbs encircling her relaxed into sleep, Inara lay awake, just feeling. She felt complete, and, searching herself, couldn't remember ever having felt so before.
River woke as Inara moved carefully out of her arms, trying not to wake her. "Morning" she said through a yawn, drawing a hand across her eyes to wipe out the sleep.
Inara stopped getting out of bed and turned to face her instead, lying back down. "Good morning." She said quietly. "How did you sleep?"
River snuggled into her. "Like I haven't slept in a long time. No dreams, just rest."
Inara pulled her even closer. "That's wonderful."
"Mmm." River's voice was growing heavy again.
Inara ran a hand gently down her back. "I hate to tell you this, but you need to be in the cockpit in 40 minutes, and you should probably eat breakfast seeing as you missed dinner."
"Ohhhh" River protested.
Inara pulled away a little and kissed her nose. River smiled. "Come on, darling. Time for us both to put some clothes on."
River opened her eyes. "Well, that's not going to make me want to go to breakfast!" she grinned. "I'd much rather we both stayed naked."
Inara chuckled. "Me, too. But it might offend the others."
River yawned. "I doubt it. Jayne would be in heaven." Inara raised her eyebrows, making River laugh. "Alright," she agreed, "I guess we can go to breakfast. I can feel Simon worrying from here."
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me" Inara commented, brushing a piece of hair out of River's eyes. "Shall we?"
River's smile as she made her way into the mess with Inara behind her caused both Simon and Kaylee's eyes to widen. "Good morning!" She offered, hopping into the chair beside Simon. Kaylee raised her eyebrows at Inara as she took the seat across from River a little more sedately.
"River!" Simon said in surprise as his sister grabbed a cup and poured herself some tea. "I was looking for you last night."
River took a bread roll from the basket on the table. "Oh. Sorry." She said without much real contrition. "I was talking to Inara and I guess I fell asleep."
Simon looked a little awkward. "Actually, I'm sorry." He said slowly, watching River pull a piece off of her roll and eat it. He took her free hand gently, causing her to pause and look at him. "I won't make you sleep, I promise. No sedatives."
Inara's gaze slid to Kaylee, who shrugged nonchalantly.
River smiled and put down her roll, placing her hand on top of Simon's. "Thank you." She focussed in on his mind and could see that though he was still unsure what he believed, her words and Kaylee's had made enough of an impression that he meant what he'd said. Hopefully that would help her keep them safe for a while longer.
"Well, isn't this heartwarming." Mal said as he strode into the mess.
River turned to look at him. "Won't sleep through the job, Captain. I slept right through last night." She half smiled. "Not to mention my nap."
"Glad to hear it." Mal informed her. "We've got real work to do today. Soon as you're done eating, come on up to the front. You, too, Kaylee."
" 'K, Captain." Kaylee agreed.
"Did you really sleep right through the night, River? That's wonderful!" Simon squeezed her hand.
"Well, River had'ta have been pretty tired to fall asleep on the job" Kaylee pointed out, winking at River.
"I think Inara's shuttle has soporific qualities, personally." River commented, looking at Inara from under her eyelashes.
"I wish it did for me..." Inara said, yawning. "I was up half the night!"
River smiled, knowing the reason why. Kaylee's e yes were travelling back and forth between the two of them knowingly, a smile rapidly forming on her lips.
"Don't outstay your welcome, River." Simon warned her, oblivious to his girlfriend's glee.
"She's not, Simon." Inara assured him. "I was just thinking up ways I could participate in the petty thievery" she joked. "Otherwise I'm going to be awfully lonely."
Kaylee grinned at her. "Actually," she looked at River "River and I oughta get up front if we want the Cap'n in a good mood." She got up and winked at Simon. "See you later, sweetie."
Simon looked at Inara across the table. "Maybe I should consider what I could do, as well" he said in all seriousness, not catching the joke. "It's not very often my services are called on."
River burst out laughing, covering her mouth with one hand. Kaylee, trying very hard not to laugh as well, patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry, honey, but what would you do?"
Simon looked indignant. "I could..."
"He and I could play a well to do couple if it were ever required" Inara put in. "The young doctor doing a tour of kindness on the Border planets, and his wife accompanying him? Part of my arrangement with Mal is that my status can get us into places we otherwise couldn't." She looked up at Kaylee "It's come in handy before."
Kaylee nodded. "True enough." She turned to Simon. "I'm sorry."
"Me too" River added. She looked to Kaylee. "We should go."
"Right. See y'all later!" She and River disappeared.
"So," Mal informed the gathered group "this one's easy. Simple pick up from a fellow in town, deliver the goods to a few guys on the other side of Paquin. Mortman says these men have goods need moving off-planet - to Greenleaf. He's done business with them before, should be solid." He looked at River. "You're up here. Kaylee, you're in the engine room. Don't expect the need to make a quick get away, but you never know. 'Specially of late." He turned to Jayne and Zoë. "You two're with me. We're taking the mule. Now, let's go. We've been parked on this rock more than long enough already."
River agreed. One night on the surface was one night too long. She'd be happier when they were back in the sky. Easier to hide on the move. Soon enough they'd be on their way to Greenleaf and then hopefully they could get out of this system. Tactically, it was tempting to head somewhere in the Core, as she felt it wouldn't be expected of this crew or of someone on the run. On the other hand, Alliance presence was obviously much stronger in the White Sun system. She'd talk to Mal and Zoë. Come up with a plan.
