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Serenity

Mal remembered how Inara had told them with a calm face that she was going to her shuttle and that she wanted to be alone. But he hadn't forgotten the iron grip she had had on his upper arms the moment Sivella had been taken. And the way her voice had sounded so broken, her breathing had been so shallow, and the moment her eyes had become flat. It was just a second that he had seen an immense pain in those deep dark eyes, before she had put that serene look on her face again. No one understood how Sivella had acted. She had seemed so nice. Mal looked up the stairs Inara had just gone.

How could everyone have been so fooled by that? Even Inara? He still couldn't believe it. He had run through his head every time they had talked, every time he had seen Sivella. And he hadn't found anything suspicious about her. He simply just didn't understand.

Inara's shuttle

Inara sat next to her bed on the ground. All she could do was stare at the floor while memories flashed through her brain. She didn't know how long she was sitting there. It might have been only minutes, or maybe hours. She didn't care.

She couldn't believe what had happened. An extremely awful feeling had spread through her whole body from the moment Sivella had pushed her away. Inara felt so much pain, so much hurt, that it paralised her. Sivella had been like a sister to her. She loved Sivella.

Inara's back bended as the first sobs began to take over her body. She didn't even hear the heavy footsteps walking into her shuttle.

Mal squatted next to Inara's sobbing body and sat himself down next to her.

'O 'Nara.' He said softly. His voice sounded sweet, worried.

'Mal.' She uttered shocked as she noticed that Mal was sitting next to her all of a sudden. She looked away and tried to hide her tears. 'I am okay.' She said in a tearfilled voice.

Mal ignored her attempt to hide her feelings.

'I am so sorry.' He said as he took her arm that was hiding her tearstained face and he pulled her towards him softly.

'What are you doi-' Inara uttered weakly. But she felt too weak to resist. The moment her face connected with his warm chest tears began to flood freely from her eyes. He hugged her thightly as he closed his eyes. He caressed her head softly. Her body was warm and he felt his blouse getting wet by her many tears.

'Cry as much as you want.' He said comfortingly as he put a kiss on the top of her head.

If he would be upset by the way Sivella had acted, then Inara would be hurt thousand times more. For a friend, someone she felt was a sister to her, to act like that must feel horrible…

'She was my friend.' Inara brought out between sobs. I am in Mal's arms! She thought shocked. This is not appropriate for a Companion, this is- Alarm bells started ringing faintly in the back of her mind but the pain washed over her so quickly that she couldn't think clearly anymore. She felt so broken that she didn't care anymore about any of her training. She let go of all pretense. She grabbed his shirt in her fists and clung to him as if for dear life.

'She meant so much to me- How could she…' A new wave of sadness washed over her and her body shook heavily under the strain.

She just wanted to feel his solid body near her, against her. 'She's like a sister to me. I love her so much. She is so important to me. I don't understand.'

She just wanted to know why Sivella had done this. How she could have done this.

'I don't understand either.' Mal said softly. She cried again as she hid herself in his warmth. After minutes she wasn't talking anymore, but just crying as if a floodgate had opened. Mal pulled Inara as close as possible to him. He wanted to take her pain away so badly. He rested his cheek against her hair as he softly rubbed her upper back to calm her.

Jayne stood outside staring at his cigar. He still hadn't smoked it. Such a precious thing. He spat in the sand.

'This Serenity?' A man asked who had come to stand next to him.

Jayne looked up. 'Yep, what's it to you?' He asked as he eyed the other two men who seemed to have suddenly appeared out of no where.

'We heard you brought a Companion with you? Sivella Thenar? We are looking for her.'

The man said.

'Who are you?' Jayne questioned.

'I am Rogan Blake. I would like to see miss Thenar. It's urgent.'

'Nah, haven't heard of her.' Jayne answered as he shook his head and put his cigar in his mouth. 'What does she look like?'

'We have information that she did step onto your vessel from Sandria.' Blake insisted. He gave Jayne a cold gaze with his steely grey, blue eyes.

'Ya think I wouldn't remember whether a Companion travelled with us?' Jayne stated insulted.

'You tell us.'

'What's going on here?' Zoe asked as she walked towards them and studied the three men quickly.

'Men looking for some woman.' Jayne answered as he eyed the cold-eyed man in front of him.

'A Companion, by the name of Sivella Thenar.' Blake clearified.

'Told them we haven't heard of her. They don't seem to believe me.' Jayne explained to Zoe.

She raised an eyebrow. 'Your information must be wrong.'

'It never is.' Blake said as he walked up to Zoe and threatened her with an icy stare.

'Kaylee? Get the cap.' Zoe yelled at Kaylee who was inside in the Cargo Bay. Kaylee looked at the three men, seized them up quickly and then nodded as she hurried to the com.

'Mal? There's some big trouble down here.' Kaylee said urgently. It was obvious that there was something wrong.

Mal looked up at Kaylee's message as he straightened his back automatically. He studied Inara who had gotten out of his embrace the moment Kaylee called for them. She gave him a confused look. Her eyes were puffy and red. She looked so vulnerable that it hurt Mal.

'I have to-' He said as he tenderly wiped away a tear under her eye with his thumb. She nodded and tried to smile. 'I am sorry.'

'It's okay.' She uttered as he stood up. She understood.

He hated leaving her like this. 'I am so sorry 'Nara.' He said again.

'Just go.' Inara said urging him. She had heard the fear in Kaylee's voice.

'What's the matter?' Mal said as he walked down the ramp.

'Men seem to be looking for a Companion. What was her name again?' Zoe asked.

'Sivella Thenar.' Blake said angrily, loosing his patience.

'You are the owner of this vessel?' Blake asked as his cold eyes were directed at Mal now.

'Yes, I am the owner of this Firefly.' Mal stated proudly as he stood straight and put his hands in his sides.

'I have information that Miss Thenar travelled with you to Persephone.'

'That's a mistake, I don't know her.' He denied instantly.

'D'you care to repeat that?' Blake said as he suddenly pointed a gun at Mal.

Jayne and Zoe pulled their guns and the other men did too.

Mal looked at the barrel of the gun and then back in Blake's cold eyes. Trouble, it always seems to follow me around.

'I do care to repeat that: I don't know her!' Mal snapped.

'You are lying!' Blake stated.

'Captain!' Kaylee's frightened voice came from behind him. When Mal turned he saw another man holding Kaylee in a death grip with one arm around her small neck and with the other holding a gun to her head. Mal swallowed as he looked back at cold-eyes.

'Search that piece of junk!' Blake ordered as suddenly eight men seemed to appear from nowhere and entered Serenity.

Zoe's eyes grew big as she eyed the men who moved around quickly. They were professionals.

'Let's get this inside will we?' Blake ordered as they all moved inside.

'Well well, won't you look at that.' Blake said the moment one of the man had found Inara. He had a gun against Inara's head and pushed her down the ladder.

'That's not the woman you are looking for!' Mal bit at him.

'What's your name?' Blake bit at her.

'Let her go, that's not-' He smacked Mal in his stomach which made him buckle over. A man behind Mal took him by his arms and held him there.

'I am Inara Serra.' Inara said quickly before anymore harm was done to Mal.

'Inara, yes I know that name. Another Companion. What a small world isn't it? Let me guess, you don't know Sivella Thenar either?' He said sarcastically.

'No, I don't.' Inara said as she eyed him with big innocent eyes.

Mal swallowed.

The man who was standing next to Inara slapped her right in her face. He slapped her so hard that she fell to the other side against the railing and nearly fell over but the man took her arm just in time.

Kaylee squinted in shock and fear.

Mal broke free from the man that was holding him but got kicked against his ribs instantly by one of the other men. When Mal fell on the ground the man kept kicking him against his ribs and even in his face. Mal jumped up angrily and slammed his fist in his attackers face but got kicked in his back from behind.

'Mal stop!' Inara cried out. 'Stop, please.' She said as she watched the blood that ran down his nose. Mal's attacker twisted his arm behind his back now to stop him from moving away.

'I'll advise you to not make me angry.' Blake stated. 'It will only cost extra energy and I am in a hurry.' He said as he looked at Mal and then back at Inara.

Inara held her breath as Blake's cold eyes seemed to look right through her. She straightened her back and put a calm look on her face. Although she knew that she looked unmoved now she felt an immense anger towards this man for hurting Mal and threatening the crew. And in the pit of her stomach she felt a cold feeling creeping up. That fear was for Sivella. If a man like this was looking for her, then she was in very much trouble.

Blake motioned the man next to Inara and he dragged her down the stairs towards the man in question. She steadied her breathing intentionally. This man would not see anything on her. She looked right in his eyes as he began to talk again.

'An Inara Serra once was in the Training House together with Sivella Thenar. She grew up together with her. Coincidence? I don't think so. Where is she?!' He spat as he took her jaw in his hand.

'Get away from her!' Mal warned.

Blake drew his gun and pointed it at Mal without even looking at him. He kept staring right in Inara's eyes. He sighed loudly. 'You are really annoying me!' He stated through clenched teeth.

He moved his finger to the trigger.

'No please! I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything you want to know.' Inara said urgently.

Blake grinned at that. 'I knew it. The Companion cares for the Captain. Very usefull. Speak up woman.' He ordered.

'I did train with her.' Inara admitted.

'Good, that's all I need to know.' He said as he holstered his gun.

Inara raised her right eyebrow in astonishment.

'Huh.' Mal uttered surprised. That was all? He would leave now?

'So we good now?' Jayne asked hopefully because they really had nowhere to go at this point.

'Yep, you are.' Blake said as he ushered his men away. He began to walk away.

'O, wait.' He said sarcastic as he stopped. 'I almost forgot.' He signed at one of his men.

'Take her.'

'What?!' Mal snapped as he looked from Blake at Inara.

'I am giving you a lot here browncoat.' Blake stated.

'O yeah, and what is that.' Jayne snapped.

'I'm letting the rest of you live. That is…. If you behave.'

'NO, you are not taking her!' Mal shouted.

The man took his gun again. 'You are really testing my patience! And I have none left.'

'No don't hurt him. Mal, stop it!' Inara shouted at him as the man next to her grabbed her again.

'Listen to the lady.' Blake said with a grin on his face.

'Now…' Blake began as he looked at his men who had all left except for the two on either side of him. 'You listen very carefully. You bring me Thenar on my ship in six hours from now. If she doesn't show up I'll sent you miss Serra back… In pieces.' He turned towards Inara in thought. She was standing meters away. 'And I'll start with…. Hmm, let's see..' He acted as if he was thinking deep. 'Her fingers.'

Kaylee made a shocked sound.

He laughed as he looked back at Mal. 'And you know how important fingers are to a Companion.' He laughed again.

'If you hurt her in any way I will come down and find you, where ever you are and I'll tear you apart!' Mal shouted as his face turned red in fury.

Blake looked at his watch. 'Five Hours and 58 minutes to go… I'd better start looking if I were you, the clock is ticking… Tick tock, tick tock….'

'We don't even know where she is!' Zoe snapped.

'Then you just have to be smart and find her. I don't care what you do.' He turned around and walked away.

Mal had to take all of his willpower to keep standing there instead of ripping the man's head of his body. He clenched his fists in anger as he watched them leave.

'You have to find Sivella.' Kaylee said.

'That's one sick man.' Zoe stated.

'Did Sivella come into trouble with him?' Kaylee asked shakily as she looked with fear in her eyes at the others. Because if she did, then she was really in trouble. What a threatening, cold and dangerous man. He had something sadistic around him.

Mal turned around towards Kaylee. 'Believe me, if Inara get's hurt in any way, Sivella will find out what real trouble is, she'll have to deal with me then.' He spat as he walked towards his weapons. He wasn't finished with Sivella yet.

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