Chapter 3- Greenleaf
Summary: They reach Inara's friend's estate

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It took almost an hour for her to fall asleep. He planned on staying there until they landed, but a knock at the door got his attention. His neck snapped to the reader at his side. Luckily she slept through it.

He got up carefully and silently padded over to the door. Shepherd was waiting on the other side.

"May I have a word, Captain?"

He looked back at River. "Make it quick," he whispered as he slipped out of the room for just a moment.

"I…why do you smell like rum?"

"Long story. Speak your piece."

"I wanted to know how she was doing."

"She ain't feelin' too shiny," he spat bitterly.

"What did she say?"

"She said that they triggered her through subliminal to find her."

He considered this with a low "Mhmmm…"

"Shepherd?"

"They won't want a fuss. They'll come for her themselves with a small special force group. We can't avoid them forever. They'll find a way to get to her."

"I know. So when they do, we'll take care of 'em."

"They won't be easy to beat."

"I know that too, but I don't plan on lettin' them take her again. I already made that mistake the first time. Anything else?"

"Wash says we'll be on Greenleaf in a two hours time."

"Fetch me when we do."

He went back into the room to find River sitting up. Gorramit.

"Sweetheart?" he asked timidly.

"She felt you leave."

"Sorry. The shepherd wanted a word."

He sat beside her. She didn't move towards him. Instead, she studied him carefully.

"Guilty."

"Weren't your fault, little one."

"No, you are. For letting her go the first time and for letting them live."

She shut her eyes and struggled with the words as if it was the hardest thing in the 'verse to talk in first person in her current mindset, "I chose to go so you'd live. They would have killed you. I don't blame you. You brought me home. They aren't like us. You couldn't have known…"

He felt all sorts of bad for feeling better when she was still a wreck. His arms reached out to her and she moved into them. "Get some rest," he whispered soothingly.

"She…I will."

His heartbeat lulled her into a deep sleep and he found himself drifting off. Before he could join her in slumber, the door opened to reveal Inara.

"Mal-"

He shushed her, gesturing towards River's form which he still held oh so tenderly.

"We're here. I want you to come meet my friends."

He returned his gaze to River. He didn't know if he should leave her or not. Inara saw the struggle written on his face.

"Simon is staying. I'll go get him."

Mal inclined his head in thanks and took the opportunity to let her know that he'd be leaving. "River darlin'…I gotta go for a bit. I'll be back…" he murmured.

She stirred and mumbled something he couldn't make out. Simon walked in and took Mal's place, situating River in his arms. Mal took it as a good sign when she didn't wake up or reach for him as he left.

****

"How do you know these folks?" Wash asked while they walked towards the fancy mansion in the middle of the woods.

"Lihua and I grew up together. She intended upon becoming a Companion, but her husband, Michael, swept her off her feet. He's done very well for himself."

"I'll say," Jayne commented as he eyed the pretties all around the grounds.

"It was awful nice of 'em takin' us in! I'll bet they're jus' shiny," Kaylee forced a smile. She would much rather have stayed with Simon, but he insisted that she go.

"They have their own lake! Hey baby how about some-"

"No husband. I will not go skinny-dippin' after the last time!" Zoe snapped.

"Last time?" Jayne leered.

"I can so hurt you."

Shepherd chuckled. "Don't give Jayne any more ideas."

"Hey!"

Mal smirked. He was a little distracted. Inara gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm. It hurt her to see him acting so…human. She ignored the pang of jealousy towards the younger woman, focusing on the situation at hand.

****

Simon, although usually astute, hadn't picked up on the same talent Mal developed regarding his sister. So, he didn't notice how the pattern of River's breathing gained speed. He was oblivious to the fact that she was having a nightmare.

"We've got it," the young raven-haired Alliance officer announced proudly.

"Where?" one of them asked.

"Newhope. She was triggered in a general store with a Cortex screen. She reportedly took down five people, possibly six. She was carried out by a man identified as Malcolm Reynolds. She took down two others, but they fled with them. According to my sources there were only two survivors."

"We knew about Captain Reynolds. Pertinent information only."

"We have yet to locate his ship, but we believe that it has taken off and headed for a planet to lay low for awhile."

"Where?"

"We intercepted several communications between the ship and their shuttle, currently leased to Inara Serra. We also pieced together bits from one of her outgoing waves to Michael and Lihua Chi. They are going to their estate on Greenleaf."

"Good work, Alexander. We will be there before they are. Free up the airspace."

The young man beamed. "I will. Thank-"

The wave was cut midsentence.

Daniel Alexander quickly moved to the nearest station, ordering all of the ships between Greenleaf and the Fed station on Boros to clear out. After that, he collapsed in the nearest chair with a heavy sigh. For the first time in several weeks he could breathe easy. They would be at the Chi estate before Serenity could get into the Red Phoenix…

****

Inara rang the bell and waited for the servants to get the door. A small Asian man smiled at them warmly.

"Jinlai," he motioned them inside. They all stepped in and he closed the door. "Welcome to the Chi estate! I'm Ty. Miss Serra and party I take it?"

"You would be correct. I'm Inara and this is Captain Reynolds and his crew."

"You may follow me to the sitting room for tea."

They all followed Ty down the long, sleek halls. The rooms looked small, but there were plenty of them. Mal thought that he saw a shadow running along the rice paper dividers, but he ignored it figuring that it was his mind playing tricks on him.

They reached a large room with cushions on the floor and a fountain wall on one side of the room complete with pillars and marble flooring.

"Please sit. I will go get Mr. and Mrs. Chi," Ty gave them another little smile and started shuffling quickly down a separate hall.

"This place is huge!" Wash gaped.

"Lots of fancy stuff," Jayne added. He tripped over a pair of porcelain chopsticks set neatly on the floor/table. Inara cringed.

"Jayne!" she snapped.

"Sorry…" he grumbled.

Mal got an odd feeling. Something wasn't right. He turned to Zoe. "Zoe, do you feel that?"

"What are you talkin' about, Sir?"

"I don't know. I just got this feelin' that somethin' ain't-"

The room quickly filled with fifteen or more Feds with fancy guns aimed on everyone in the middle of the room.

"Your friends wouldn't flip on ya, would they?" Jayne asked as he put his battered hands up.

"Of course not!" Inara spat.

"Hands in the air!" one of the Feds ordered. Mal rolled his eyes. Here we go again…

He did a double take when the two bastards in blue gloves strutted in.

"Gather the others. They'll be persecuted for harboring fugitives. Captain Reynolds stays with us," the darker haired one said calmly, verging on politely.

"Um, no. They ain't movin'," Mal said through gritted teeth.

"Where are the Tams?" the other one asked.

"We chucked them into space," he shrugged.

"Take the others into the next room. Who do you want us to kill first? Miss Serra? The shepherd? Or perhaps Corporal Alleyne?"

"It's Washburne now," Zoe commented.

"Corporal Washburne?" he corrected.

"Didn't I kill you two?" Mal responded evenly.

"Tried to," the darker haired one pointed to a faint round mark in the middle of his forehead with a long, slender blue-gloved finger.

"I ain't gonna try nothin' this time around…" Mal gritted out. He reached for his gun.

One of the Feds noticed and shot him square in the chest. He hit the ground with a loud thud.

****

"I ain't gonna try nothin' this time around…" her dashing captain said before he hit the ground.

River sat up with a gasp and a single shaky word hanging off of her tongue in a terrified whisper, "Mal."

(Jinlai- come in)