Chapter 4- Home again
Summary: The rescue

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She knew that he was right. They were there. She could feel him. It was time to break out.

The restraints would be a mite tricky to get out of. She started to wiggle her hand out of the metal wrist cuff. She pulled her arm back as hard as she could. The cold steel bit into her flesh. She ignored the pain and the hot blood dripping across her skin.

Her hand broke free. The doctor glanced back at her.

"SHE'S BREAKING OUT!" he bellowed as he darted over to her.

She gripped the end of one of the needles in her head and pulled it out quickly. She held it out and pushed it into the doctor's jugular just as he arrived at her side.

She was able to get one of her legs free. Her boot connected with the needle sticking out of his jugular, shoving it all of the way through. He stumbled back clutching his throat and gasping for air.

She shakily undid the other restraints and stood. Her leg buckled underneath her bodyweight. She must have twisted something, but she didn't have time to let it slow her down. She made her way over to the dying doctor to finish the job off.

The assistant returned with a new tray of needles. He dropped it when he saw River standing over the doctor. She broke his neck and then looked up at him. She swiftly moved to the door and locked it from the inside.

"I was just doing my job…" he stuttered nervously.

Despite the injuries and the needles in her head, she gracefully walked towards him with death in her eyes.

"P-Please…I was just doing what I was told…"

"And I was just a girl…" she whispered. He cringed at the danger in her voice.

He backed into a wall. She slowly pulled another needle out of her forehead. He was horrified by the sight. The blood from the wound trickled down her pale skin.

"Please…River…" he choked.

She shoved the needle into his head. He screamed. She stepped over him and moved to the computer. In one final push, the assistant reached up and hit the alarm. He hit the ground and the life drained from his body.

"Hello, this is your subconscious speaking. There are bad guys on the way and your family is here to save you. It's time to go now," Wash's voice called from behind her.

"The 'verse has to know," she snapped.

There was a crash outside of the door. She darted to the door and rewired the door to keep it shut for a little while longer.

She hobbled back over to the computer and got to work.

****

"Are we goin' the right way?" Jayne growled.

"Yes, it's up ahead…" Simon nodded as he consulted the encyclopedia.

"I'd say we're on the right track," Shepherd gestured to the group of Feds hanging around a door with the Chinese characters for, "Restricted Area."

"Sir?" Zoe asked.

"Simon?" Mal asked.

"That's it. It's well guard-"

Jayne, Mal, and Zoe had already started taking out the Feds.

"Do we have our clearance?" Shepherd asked.

Mal pulled the clearance card off of one of the dead bodies and handed it to Wash to scan.

"We do now."

Jayne took one door and he took the other. They kicked them in and started spraying the hallway with bullets.

"HOLD IT! HOLD IT!" Mal shouted over the gunfire. They had taken them all down. He walked over to one of the still-but-barely-alive men. He grabbed him by the vest. "Where's River Tam?"

"The lab. Fifth door on your left…" he coughed.

"Thanks. For that, I won't kill you."

Jayne shot him. Mal glared at him. "You said that you wouldn't. You didn't speak for me!"

"Let's just get goin'…" Zoe sighed.

They walked down the hallway together. A group of Feds was desperately trying to break into the fifth door on the left. There was a screechy alarm howling in the background along with shouting from the two men in charge. Mal recognized them right off.

"I'm goin' after the blue hands. Get her out," he ordered.

"Sir," Zoe nodded.

The gunfight began and Mal chased the blue hands down the hall. They could get River out, but the blue hands would still chase her. Besides, he had a score to settle.

****

"Hurry hurry hurry! We're here! Simon, Jayne, Shepherd, Zoe, and the real me! Right out there!" Wash cried.

"Not ready," River hissed.

She was busy hacking the federal mainframe cortex to find the Miranda files. She saw that he hid the file folder within a folder between the data code. She finally found the right folder and started a code to separate the data. She inserted a data stick into the hard drive to copy the information. A window popped up.

"Password please."

Gunfire echoed in the hallway. She ignored it and continued to work. The name dripped off of her tongue, "Billy."

She typed the name in and was granted access. The files popped up all over the screen. She copied them to the data stick and pulled it out of the computer. The annoying pangs of pain that she had been ignoring finally got to her. She pulled the rest of the needles out of her head with trembling hands.

"They've won. Time to go, River…" the subconscious version of Wash told her.

She limped to the door and opened it.

Jayne had just shot the last Fed.

"River!" Simon cried as he rushed to her side.

"Simon…" she said weakly.

He wiped some of the blood away from her forehead before it ran into her eyes. She grabbed the real Wash by his shirt and put the data stick into his hand.

"Send this to Mr. Universe. Tell him to send it to everyone he can. The 'verse has to know…promise me you will."

"I promise," Wash nodded.

"Time to go home," she gave them a small smile and then passed out. Simon picked her up and they started to leave.

"Where's the captain?" Shepherd asked.

"Hopefully takin' out the trash," Zoe replied.

****

"Excuse me, but I believe that you've been doggin' one of my crew for awhile now…" Mal called to the two blue hands.

They stopped and turned around to face him.

"You're gonna leave my crew alone from this point on," he added.

"She belongs to us, Captain Reynolds."

"She's a danger to society. Only we know how to use her."

"She ain't an object to be used or owned."

"She is ours and there's nothing you can-"

He shot the one talking in the head. "Don't got armor on your head apparently."

The other one pulled a stick out of his pocket. Mal shook his head and shot the other one.

He walked over to the bodies and kicked them to make sure that they were really dead.

"SIR!" he heard Zoe call.

He ran towards the direction the shouting came from, missing the slight movement of the blue hands' chests that resembled breathing.

****

He met up with Zoe and Shepherd and they ran out into the shuttle to make their getaway.

River looked pretty rough. She was bleeding from everywhere and as white as a ghost. Simon carried her down to the infirmary the second they got back on the ship.

"Mal, I need you to come with us…" Wash called.

He looked at the path Simon had just taken and then at his pilot and first mate. He figured that Simon could take care of River, so he went with them onto the bridge.

They took off through the atmo. Wash looked at the data on the stick.

"Tianya!" Wash cried. "Reavers…they made them!"

****

River sat up with a jolt. Simon rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms.

"It's okay mei mei. You're home now."

She hugged him back and took in the surroundings.

"You found me."

"We did. River, are you alright? Mentally?"

"I will be."

"What did they do?"

"Tried to work with me again, but I was different."

"Different?"

"Stronger. I could block them out. Fought back this time. Didn't let them win. I'm not a broken toy anymore."

He smiled at her. "How did you become so strong?"

"I have my moments."

"What did you give to Wash?"

"The secret. They feared I knew and I did. Miranda."

"Miranda?"

"Reavers…the Alliance made them."

"What?"

"Ask the blonde. He saw the files."

"Alright. You should get some rest."

"In my room?"

"Yes. In your room."

****

"I can't believe it," Inara gaped after Wash announced what River had uncovered.

"I know. Mr. Universe has sent it out to everyone. The Alliance is gonna have a lot to answer to," Wash sighed.

Everyone had gathered around for dinner with the exceptions of Mal and River. River was still resting and Mal was changing.

"Look who decided to join us," Shepherd smiled kindly when River limped in.

"Mei mei, you should be resting!" Simon exclaimed. He went to stand, but Kaylee pushed him back down.

"I want to be with you tonight," River said softly.

She went from person to person, hugging them gently. Jayne jumped when the crazy girl's arms looped around him. She hugged Wash and gave him a little peck on the cheek.

"Thank you."

"For what?" he asked.

"Keeping me company."

He looked at her curiously, but just smiled.

Mal walked in just as she let go of Wash. She caught his eye and walked over to him with her heart pounding in her chest.

He stood there as her little arms snaked around him and she set her head on his chest. He cautiously put his arms around her.

"Told you he'd hold you again."

River smiled, taking in the soothing sound of his heartbeat. She was home again.

(Tianya- Heavens/oh my goodness)

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