Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Firefly. They are property of Joss Weadon and Fox. Just borrowing them :)

It has been a month, since I boarded Serenity. The bond the crew, makes my heartache at times for Sunnydale. They are like I was with the gang, before I was brought back. That is where everything fell to hell, when Willow brought me back. That caused...all this havoc in this universe and mine. Yet, when I am with Mal or River I forget my old life. I already know I am falling for Mal, but I am trying to keep my focus on River.

River, she is a tortured miracle, a natural slayer. At night, we slip quietly to the cargo bay to spar. We have kept it light so far, but I can tell she is wound tight. Her nightmares have been worse. I cannot help but feel she is picking some of it up from me. Between my nightmares...and what those Alliance bastards already put her though, she needs an outlet. Tonight, I want her to let loose. I am standing in the cargo bay, waiting for her to sneak away.

"Buffy." I turned to her, she is an exquisite creature. She moves gracefully, quietly as if on a breeze.

"River, tonight we are going to try something different." I smiled at her. "You need to let off steam." River tilted her head looking at me questioning. "I can tell you are stressed." She looked away and I knew I was right. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Reavers...s'always reavers, but the last few nights I saw a man burning." I flinched, knowing this was my nightmare.

"I'm sorry, that is my nightmare." I knew he was alright now, per my deal with the powers...but that doesn't stop the dreams.

"Who is he?"

"Spike...William." I felt a tear run down my face. "He was a friend, a good friend. He died saving my world. You are seeing my fear, that he suffered before he died."

"Sorry." River's voice, was so sincere. I smiled at her, she was like Faith and Dawn rolled into one. I loved her.

"Enough sad stuff." I grinned at her. "No holding back tonight, let's dance." River took a swing at me, I leaned back avoiding the blow. I kicked, she moved just as gracefully out of the way. We were in a fluid dance, reminded me of when I spared with Spike. Good attempts, but never anything to cause true damage. I knew the second Mal appeared, I caught glimpse of him on the catwalk above, causing me to misstep, throwing off the dance for a second. He didn't interfere, just watched. Simon showed up as well, but Mal stopped him from interfering. River needed this. I was grateful for Mal holding him off. River's full focus was on us and she saw nothing outside of this moment. She was magnificent. I understood how Giles felt when he trained me all those years ago. After a while we broke apart and she grinned. "Want to try something new?" River nodded. I grabbed the two wooden Bokkens, that I had on my shuttle. "When fighting with a weapon, you must make it one with your body. It should be just as fluid as when you fight unarmed, an extension of your body." I took the Bokken and gripped it, pretending to fight an invisible opponent to show River.

Mal stood on the catwalk, unable to take his eyes off of Buffy. The way she moved made his heart swell. Her movements like a graceful dance. The longer she was with them, the more intrigued he became. He wanted to find out more about her and could not help but wonder why she wouldn't open up to him.

Simon was absorbed in his sisters movements, reminding him of her hours of dance practive when they were children. He had not seen this much joy in her, since he rescued her from Alliance.

River giggled when Buffy twirled the Bokken, which made Buffy laugh as well. The men could tell they were wrapping up, slowly slipped away to not reveal their prying.

River slept well that night, no nightmares plagued her.

It was the next day that caused a change to the norm. Everyone was sitting at the table, about to cut into a cake for Simon's birthday.

"Fire..." River whispered it and the explosion shook the ship.

Zoe ripped Kaylee out of the way of the blast and was thrown across the room. Jayne and Mal ran to seal the doors and find out what happened. Wash and Simon took Zoe to medical. Kaylee stood outside watching, rattled.

"Kaylee, I need you figurin out what happin'd." Kaylee nodded and left. Mal fought with Wash ordering him to the bridge. He was hated at the moment, but none of them understood that was what needed to be done when you lead. Mal went to the engine room to see what Kaylee found and I followed a few minutes later.

"Ain't nothing I can do capt'n, somethings just can't be fixed." Kaylee was upset and Mal was staring at something in his hand.

"What's up?" I looked to Mal, who looked for the first time unsure of what to do.

"We're in trouble. Ship is dead." Mal tossed the part in the air. "Cause a this one little part." His gaze spoke volumes. "No air. No heat."

"Oh..." I looked to Kaylee and back to Mal. "What's the plan?"

"Abandon ship. Everyone splits up half in one shuttle, half in the other shuttle. I am staying here."

"What? Capt'n that's crazy." Kaylee looked shocked and I didn't say a word. This was his ship, he would go down with it. That was Mal.

"I'm not leavin my ship. Someone needs to be here in case help comes." Mal walked off and informed the crew.

"He's crazy." Kaylee was freaking out.

"No, he is being the Captain. He won't change his mind." I looked at her and she looked at me like I was nuts too. "Let's go." Everyone was grabbing bare necessities and I went to speak with Sheppard.

"Buffy, shouldn't you be getting ready to go?" He was a kind man, I enjoyed talking to him. We had many conversations the last month, he was hard to refuse.

"I am going to stay and help Mal."

"He won't allow that." Sheppard smiled, he knew I wasn t changing my mind.

"He won't know till the shuttles leave." I smiled at Sheppard.

"I see. Telling me, so nobody worries when they realize you didn't join us."

"Exactly. I will tell River. I just...can't leave him here alone, something doesn't feel right."

"Not going to question that, you and River tend to be correct." He smiled. "Be careful."

"Always." With that I left and went into a shuttle to talk to River and slipped out, hiding till both shuttles departed. The shuttles left and Mal was standing on the catwalk about to leave and I stepped out behind him.

"So how soon till we freeze or run out of air?" Mal turned surprised.

"Ma De! You were to be on the shuttle!" He was pissed.

"Nope. Not leaving you alone." Instead of waiting for him to yell more, I turned and headed to the bridge.

"Hey!" I heard him following me, closing up doors behind him. "Gorram woman! Why the hell, did you disobey my order?" We had reached the bridge and I stood looking out into space, watching the shuttles as they disappeared from view.

"Mal, I have been the Captain going down alone. You don't have to." He stood next to me, our eyes locked and I could tell he believed me.

"Will you ever tell me that story?" He smiled, his anger gone.

"Yes, I do believe I will." I grinned at him. You could now see breath as the temperature was beginning to plummet. I shivered and he wrapped his arms around me. We stayed wrapped in each others arms for warmth for awhile till we heard someone on com. A passing ship, the man seemed off, but they had the part we needed. They agreed to supply the part in exchange for something in the bay. Mal disconnected and we made our way to the cargo bay. "I don't trust him."

"Me Neither, seein we don't have much choice." I knew he was right but my slayer senses were tingling. "You stay put." I looked at him to protest but changed my mind. I would just help anyway. After he went below, I climbed to the upper rafter and positioned myself above the bay doors. Mal opened the doors and five men came aboard. Dammit! I knew this was a bad idea. I saw the gun Mal had put in reach but I could see this going badly.

The man from the com, pointed a gun at Mal who backed towards his gun holster. I jumped down as he fired and punched him. I grabbed the gun from his hand, spinning him in front of me, blocking anyone from hitting me, if they fired. A tight grip on his neck, pointing his own gun at his head. Mal grabbed his gun and pointed it at the other crew.

"This was fun. Put the part down." The men glanced to the man I held and complied. I kept my back to the ship, as they walked past me.

"Get off my gorram ship." Mal shouted at them, gun still aiming at them. The crew walked back through the bay doors and Mal hit the button for the doors to close. Just before they were shut, I shoved their crew member through. I leaned on the door, watching the crew through the window to ensure they were leaving.

"Thank you...for not listening." Mal laughed.

"Anytime." I kept my voice light, hoping he didn't push for more. I heard him pick up the part.

"I am going to put this in and recall the crew." Mal ran up the stairs to the engine room. As soon as I knew he was out of sight, I swayed. My arm gripped across my abdomen, the bullet wound burned. As I fell to the ground, the edges of my vision darkened. I don't know how long I laid there before I heard Mal. "Buffy? Where you at? We are all fixed. Crew is on their way back..." Mal reached the cargo bay, seeing me lying there, leaping down the stairs to the landing and running toward me. "Ma De, you were hit."

"Sorry..." I smiled

"Hey now, nothin to be sorry for you saved my ass...again." I felt his arms around me, picking me up. "Let's get you to medical." That was the last thing, I heard before the darkness took me.