Chapter 6

They landed on Messaline in the morning, the bay doors opening onto a bustling city. Rose watched the crew as they prepared their delivery, strapping the heavy silver boxes carefully to the much-used cart. Something was off this trip, she was sure. Captain Reynolds had seemed angry and unhappy for as long as she'd known him, but this morning he was so tense a bullet would've bounced off him. Remembering Simon and Kaylee's hastily constructed excuse, Rose winced. Or at least I hope it would.

He seemed to notice her watching him, and sent Zoe and Wash off with a harsh order before walking up to her. "I need to talk to you." He glanced over at Kaylee, laughing with River while Simon watched with a slight smile on his face, and clenched his jaw. "Follow me."

Rose raised an eyebrow, but did as he commanded. He led her through the streets and into a small alleyway, crossing his arms stiffly. "Now I'm not sure what game you're playing with River, but I'll tell you this: if you ever even think of hurting that girl, you'll have me to deal with—an' if you're up against me, you won't like me much."

"'Cause you seem so lovable right now." His jaw tightened, and she snorted. "I'm not playin' a game with River, Captain. She's a wonderful girl, and she's a hell of a lot more than just a basket case or a victim. It seemed about time somebody around her recognized that."

There was a stir behind them, and Rose and Mal turned to see a pair of bulky men looming at the entrance to the alleyway. The blonde was playing with a knife the length of Rose's forearm, grinning widely. His partner had his hands rested on a pair of matching silver pistols.

He spoke, his voice low and gravelly. "Well, well. If it isn't Captain Malcolm Reynolds. We'd heard about some blonde piece pokin' her pretty little nose where it doesn't belong, but this only makes it better." He grinned ferally. "Mr. Niska sends his regards."

Mal's hand hovered over his holster, and the tattooed blonde waved his knife warningly. "Oh, no. You can send that right over here, Captain."

"I ain't about to do that, boys." Mal glanced over at her. "Rose, get behind me."

"Not gonna happen, Captain." She raised her chin, watching the thugs warily. "What's this about Niska?"

"He wants to talk to you, missy." The brunette grinned. "Actually, I got that mixed up. How foolish of me." He pulled out his guns and cocked them. "He doesn't want you to talk to anyone." He fired, and as Mal shoved her out of the way, the murmur of the city went abruptly silent.

Rose landed on the dirt ground heavily, breathless from weight of Captain Reynolds. After a long moment, she groaned and poked him. "'Scuse me, d'you mind moving?"

He sat up, blinking, and came face to face with the pair of bullets that hovered in midair right where Rose had been standing. He yelped and stood to the side quickly, staring at the thugs. They were frozen in place, the brunette's arms recoiling from the shots and the blonde's eyes caught in mid-blink. "What the diyù is going on?"

"Somethin' they're not supposed to know about, so if you don't mind, I'd like to get a move on." When he just stared at her, Rose rolled her eyes and snapped, "Now."

They edged their way around the unmoving bully-boys, and Rose winced. Looks like I've been a bit clumsy, this time. The city streets were silent and unmoving, the evening after-work crowd frozen in place. A teenage boy was caught staring at his waiter's bum while his boyfriend smacked his shoulder. A businesswoman was frozen while she attempted to dodge a pigeon's droppings.

Mal's voice was hushed. "This ain't canny."

"Captain, we need to get back to the Serenity. If they've come after me, they might've found the others first." That seemed to break him out of his stupor. With one last unnerved look at Rose, he led them back to the ship. Rose stopped him before he walked around the corner, checking for witnesses.

The men seemed to have either missed or ignored the Serenity—Kaylee and River were frozen out front, Simon watching them, unmoving, from his perch in the bay. Rose let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Oh, thank god." She closed her eyes and concentrated, and with a rustle of the pigeons above, time started again.

Mal was watching her warily. "That wasn't just some glitch, earlier. That was you."

"Yeah, it was." Rose stumbled suddenly, and he caught her around the shoulders carefully. "Thanks. Always wipes me out a bit, doin' that."

"Seems like more than a bit." She chuckled tiredly, and he frowned. "You all right?"

"I will be, once I get some rest." He protested, and she raised a hand feebly. "I know you've got questions, but I'll be a lot easier to talk to once I'm not fallin' asleep on my feet."

He frowned, but supported her as they returned to the ship. River glanced up nonchalantly as Kaylee and Simon both exclaimed and started forward. Rose grimaced. "I'll be okay, really. Jus' think I picked up a bug somewhere. All I need's some sleep."

"You sure, Rose?" Kaylee was watching her closely, her eyes wide and concerned.

"'M sure, but thanks for askin'. Really, I just need rest." The other girl nodded worriedly, but let Mal cart Rose off to her bunk. He paused in the doorway as she flopped down face-first on her bed.

He cleared his throat, straightening his shoulders. "We'll be talking later."

Rose smiled into her pillow and spoke, her voice muffled. "I've no doubt about that, Captain Reynolds. For now… I need to sleep."

He nodded brusquely and left, shutting the door behind him. Rose closed her eyes, gratefully sinking into unconsciousness.

(diyù- hell)