DR: Well, it's that time again. Today, Mal and Atherton settle things. I'll warn you all now: there is a serious wince moment near the end.

Inara: Ahem...

DR: Oh, and some Mal/Inara fluff at the end.

Inara: Better.

DR: Now, before you all start... my Beta is having some Real Life(tm) issues right now, so he has been unable to do any betaing for this story. Thus, this and later chapters like liely be unbetaed. Just warning you...

Chapter 12: Duelling Dance

As it had the last time they had met here, a fine, ground level mist clung to the grasses and curled about their boots. Nearly everything else was the same too. Some of the bushes and trees had been cut back a little, revealing the half dozen stately homes that had been hidden. Mal wondered just how many duels had been fought here, with the duellists' homes close enough to fetch aid.

Mal dragged his attention back to Atherton, who was going through a couple of practice swings to loosen up.

A low, quiet rattling clanking sound drew his attention, and Mal looked over his shoulder, past Inara, to see a small tracked vehicle approach. One that Mal recognised as a Colonial Sled. In essence it was a striped down, smaller scale version of their Land Ram APC, unarmed and without the thick armour that enclosed the passengers and crew.

Riding up front in the crew area were Starbuck and Boomer, while in the rear were Jayne and Zoe, with River standing up in the centre, looking like she was enjoying the ride tremendously.

Still, Mal knew that he had to focus on Atherton. There was a predatory look in his eyes, and the smile of before was nowhere in sight.

Then with a gesture the duel was begun.

Atherton came on quickly, bringing the fight to Mal. Lightning quick lunges and swings were only barely deflected by Mal. The ringing of steel of steel resounded throughout the clearing.

From the sidelines Inara could see that Atherton was still toying with Mal, but not by much. There was intensity to his actions that was frightening.

Mal himself was under no illusions about what was going on. He knew that Atherton was a better swordsman. Mal focused solely on defence for the moment, while he waited for an opening.

Another exchange of blows, and then Atherton's blade whipped out and slashed down Mals left forearm. Mal staggered back for a moment, before forcing himself to stand upright and ignore the wound. As Atherton moved in to strike, Mal swung in attack, but his attack came from over the shoulder and Atherton was not only able to deflect the blow, but continue the motion in such a way as to bring his blade towards Mal gut.

Mal leapt backwards just in time, Atherton's blade slicing through his shirt but not his skin. However he had no time to compose himself, as Atherton pressed hard, keeping Mal off balance. Mal staggered backwards, staying just ahead of the whirling blade in Athertons hand. It was only a matter of time before he fell, the shock of another cut on the side of a knee the final blow.

Mal hit the ground heavily, but he knew he had no time to catch his breath. Atherton was already swinging, and only a sharp roll got him out of the path. A sting in his backside however showed that Atherton had adjusted his aim.

Another blow, aimed for his outstretched arm, and Mal yanked it back to safety. The blow landed on the guard with enough force to cause him to drop his sword. Mal rolled again as Atherton swiped at him again, but it didn't stop him from hearing a metallic snapping sound. 'kwong-juh duh...' Mal thought as he managed to get up on one knee. Sure enough, Atherton had broken this sword like before.

"Okay Ath." Mal gasped for breath. "You win."

Atherton grinned, and a dark light entered his eye. "Forgot to mention Captain. This fight is to the death!" He lunged once more, but Mal managed to throw himself aside.

Mal was worried now. He'd seen that look in other men's eyes before. The fanatical killers. Atherton fully intended to kill him, no doubt about it now.

Pushing himself onto his feet, Mal backed away from Atherton, who was grinning now, clearly anticipating his victory.

"Mal!" Rivers call grabbed his attention, and he turned his head enough to look at her... as she threw another sword from the back of the Sled. It travelled only a short distance before landing point first in the dirt, quivering only slightly.

It was her Centurion sword.

Mal looked back at Atherton, who was partly between him and the blade. Atherton also turned his head to look back at him, smiling cruelly.

He began to make small lunges, forcing Mal to react and back away. Mal quickly understood what Atherton was doing. 'He's trying to pin me in one place, well away from that sword, leaving no escape except through him.' His thought was interrupted by the feeling of his back rubbing against a tree. The he felt the bark give a little.

Atherton was grinning wildly now, as he jabbed again, forcing Mal back another step. His grin widened when Mal turned side on, his back pressed against the tree.

His grin vanished however when Mal's right hand whipped around from behind him, launching a large chunk of bark at his face. Atherton brought his left hand up to block it, and the lump of wood thumped into it and fell. As he lowered his arm, he realised Mal had used the bark to distract him as he ran around Atherton's left side. Snarling, he swung around, his blade slicing through the air to score down Mal's shoulder blade.

Mal hissed as he felt his flesh part under Atherton's blade, but he was free and clear. Three quick strides took him to the sword River had thrown, and he wrapped both hands around the hilt, remembering the weight of it. Behind him he could hear Atherton closing in.

With a gasp he yanked the sword out of the dirt, swinging it around as soon as it was clear. His wild swing battered Atherton's thrust aside, giving Mal another breathing space, time which he used to get a proper grip on the blade.

For a long moment they stood there squared off, Atherton side on, his thin blade held in one hand. Mal stood more head on, the large and heavy blade held in a two handed grip. Then Atherton attacked in a flurry of short, snap blows before making a strike that would disembowel Mal.

Mal managed to fend off the first few blows, but he realised he couldn't block that final blow. He brought the heavy blade down, trying to divert the blow into his leg instead.

Neither they, nor anyone around, expected for his blade to smash Atherton's apart.

Atherton staggered as the shock of the blow travelled up his arm, the remains of his sword spinning wildly down to land at Mal's feet. Mal, finding himself with the advantage, swung back upwards, towards Atherton.

He tried to block with what was left of his blade, but Mal's smashed through that just as easily as it had before, before the point sliced up the inside of his left thigh and up his body to finally emerge under his right collar.

Cruelly, it also ran right through his crotch on its way up.

Atherton went as white as a sheet before collapsing to the ground, clutching at his ruined groin as he did so.

Mal sighed as he lowered the heavy blade. The duel was over, he could go home now. Wincing, he turned and walked towards his friends and crew. Behind him Atherton's remaining courtiers crouched down to attend to him. However, he fought past the pain to snatch a device from the one courtier, before yelling towards Mal's back.

"Don't think you've won this Captain! You ruined me, now I'll ruin you!" And with that he pressed the button on the remote.

There was a muted crump like sound, then smoke billowed out from one of the manors nearby, near the ground. Licks of flame leapt into the air as the building collapsed.

Atherton stared in horror at the rising plume of smoke and flame. Mal frowned, then look at Zoe, who was barely keeping a smile off her face.

"Zoe?"

"Oh, River discovered Atherton's men planting the bomb. After she kicked their asses, we decided to return it." She turned to regard Jayne as another ball of fire rose. "You were messing around with those cylinders, weren't you?"

Jayne, grinning, just shrugged.

Chuckling, Mal walked towards the Sled, Inara at his side the whole way.

He was laughing even harder later, despite his injuries, when he learned that the small crate that had been sat in the cargo area of the Sled had been filled with Atherton's money, 'liberated' from his personal vault as Jayne was placing the main charge.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Mal slowly eased down the ladder to his bunk. Unlike last time, Simon had allowed him to climb down. However, he was under strict medical orders to 'take things easy'.

Mal snorted at the thought. He was no hero like Achilles. Their stop on Persephone had been a little too 'interesting' for his tastes.

Reaching the bottom, he nearly missed the last rung when he got a look inside. Because there, sat on his bunk reading, was Inara.

"Okay... what are you up to?" He asked, stepping down on to the deck. He kept one hand on the ladder though.

Inara slowly closed the book – a real book, one she must have picked up on Zi – and looked up at him. "I figured that you could use some help Mal."

A flurry of images rushed through Mal's mind. He was hard pressed to push them back. "Inara... I've been getting myself ready for bed for a long time now."

She sighed. "I remember how you were after your last two duels Mal. What has changed since then?"

She had him there. Feeling exhaustion sweeping through him, Mal sighed.

"Okay, I give in Inara."

Nodding in silent thanks, she rose. He noted, as much as his injuries allowed, that she was also dressed for bed. It took him a minute to realise it was the same nightgown and dressing robe she'd worn the night before his first duel with Atherton.

He hesitated when it came to remove his pants, prompting an eye roll from her. "Honestly Mal. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before."

At last he laid down on the bunk, the one luxury he had allowed himself Before ZI, and now only better. After sleeping most nights on cold, hard ground or rock, or equally as hard – and nowhere near as comfortable – army bunks, he had been sure to get a real, soft comfortable bunk.

Inara sat on the edge as he laid there, her expression confused and worried. He looked at her.

"I thought I would lose you..." She half whispered after a long moment.

Saying nothing, he clasped one of her hand in his own, her fine-boned fingers vanishing within his own solid ones. She smiled, then bent down to gently kiss him.

While they had finally admitted to each other that they had feelings for the other a little over a year ago, things had been progressing very slowly. A few chaste kisses were about the sum of what they had done, with a couple of searing ones when they knew they would not be undisturbed. The previous night, Inara had pushed them both with her coaching, to the point were she had been too tired to return to her own room. They had ended up sharing a bed, but had both been too exhausted to fully explore the options.

This kiss was at once desperate and soothing. Mal allowed himself to luxuriate in the slightly spicy taste that was Inara.

Slowly they parted, and he watched as she held her eyes closed until she had half straightened. He looked into her eyes, and saw a wide range of dancing emotions, most of which he couldn't label.

He cleared his throat, pushing down the lump that suddenly filled it. "You'd best get back to your shuttle." He whispered hoarsely.

"I know. Perhaps." She answered, her tone regretful. After a long pause, she hung her head. "But I don't want to." She whispered barely loud enough for him to hear her.

That lump returned, and this time it produced words. "Neither do I."

She looked up at him sharply, before a small smile formed on her face. She stood and stepped towards the entrance. Before Mal could feel disappointment however, she stopped at the side of the alcove that contained the ladder up, and tapped the controls. Mal heard the hatch above closing and sealing, then the main lights dimmed, reducing her to little more than a silhouette. She stepped back, and then shrugged off the dressing gown. With a small purr, she slid in next to him, one arm snaking across his body as her head came to rest just below his collarbone. One smooth, gloriously bare leg twined with his own, and she purred once more.

Smiling, he reached up with his free hand – the other was already wrapped round her – and turned the lights off completely.

DR: There you all go. I hope that satisfied all you love junkies. And no, Atherton will not be making a return appearance.

Zeke: So what's next?

DR: Next time... we have some more ship battling, as a small fleet of Alliance ships takes on the Thunderchild...(evil laughter)... till then!