Disclaimer: I only own ideas and Serenity.
We get up, we go down, then we go one more round. It's wrong, they say. I can't stay a-I can't stay away. No I can't stay a-I can't stay away.
Lord and behold, Phil Brooks was waiting for his sister at her room. Oh crap…she knew she was dead now.
"Where were you?" Phil got up and hugged his sister.
"I was just out…that's all. I needed to get away from here".
"Did he do anything to you? The Sandman, I mean".
"No" she answered, "He was actually…sweet to me. You know Phil…I'm actually starting to wonder if I'm on the right side".
"I know how you feel" Phil released her, "You don't have to stay here, Serenity. I can take you back to Chicago-".
"No, that's out of the question. I wanted to see you, and I'm happy I'm here".
"I just don't wanna see you get hurt. He may have been nice to you this time, but god knows what he'll do the next time he sees you. I'll go talk to Burke about this. He shouldn't be ordering you around".
He left her alone for a minute, but she followed after him. This was bound to be good.
"Elijah!" Phil called out to Burke.
"Oh, Punk, my man what is up?".
"I'll tell ya what's up. What was that with my sister last week?! You left her in the ring with that…that drunk monster".
"Monster?!" Serenity thought, appalled.
"Look, she could've run out whenever she wanted to. She chose to stay. And what's worse, she even conversed with him".
Phil turned and faced her. "Why?" he asked.
"He helped me up. He talked and I talked back. I didn't think there was anything wrong with talking to a person".
"We'll talk about that later. Elijah, you were supposed to look out for her, not abandon her!".
"Look, we're in the middle of a war, here Punk. When it comes right down to it, it's every man for himself, including her".
"I was counting on you! And you betray my trust by doing this crap!".
"It was her choice!" Elijah exclaimed, "I think…she's on the verge of betrayal, Punk. Either you keep your sister on a leash, or I'm getting her a ticket back to Chicago!".
"You can threaten me like that! I won't let ya!" Serenity objected.
"See? She's even talking like him".
"I am not!".
"Look, Serenity, we'll talk about it later. Right now, let's just get outta here".
"We've already seen it! Serenity's a traitor!" Elijah yelled as they left.
"Shut up, you lying bastard!".
"Serenity, stop! Now I wanna know…did James Fullington do something to you or not?!".
"No! I swear to god, he didn't. And he's not a monster! If you'd get to know him, you'd see that!".
"Look, Serenity, I'm only looking out for you…I don't want you seeing the Sandman or any of the other Originals".
"What?! That's not fair!".
"I'm your brother, I don't need to be fair!".
"But Phil-".
"Did you not understand what Elijah said…do you want to go back to Chicago?".
Serenity hung her head in defeat. "No".
"Serenity, do understand that I'm doing this for your own good. I promise, he would turn on you or use you to get to Elijah. And I know that sounds good to you right now, but we need to stick with him for now".
"Whatever!" Serenity broke out of her brother's grip and ran off. She ignored him as he yelled out for her to come back.
"Take me away…dream giver…time giver. Just burst in my door and we can run away!" she thought about Jim.
Well, he was the Sandman, so he was her dream giver and he gave her the time of day, unlike most. She just wanted this to end. Jim was her friend…she didn't wanna lose him to this. She had to choose a side, and fast.
When she couldn't run anymore, Serenity crumpled to the floor, face in her hands. She couldn't stop herself from crying, but a voice in the dark, it started to sing to her.
"Once again there is pain. I bring flames. I bring cold. I'm the blood red sandman coming home again. On this unholy night I will make you my own. Blood red sandman, coming home again. I'm coming home again".
Serenity stood. "Jim?!".
"You said it, Kid. Not me".
"Jim!" Serenity ran to him and let him embrace her.
"You okay, Kid?".
"No…just hold me, please…don't let go. I don't wanna be a part of this anymore. I can only take so much".
"Yeah, Rob's not happy with me either. He doesn't want me seein' ya anymore, Serenity".
"I'm sorry".
"What you apologizin' for? This ain't ya fault. It's mine if anyone's".
"If we never met…none of this would be happening".
"And what? Not feel as great I do right now? Serenity…what's goin' on?".
"Elijah's threatening to send me back to Chicago. I don't wanna go back to Chicago. I wanna stay here…with you".
"With me…or because of me?".
"Both".
"Both…both is good. Both is really good right now. Serenity, I'm not gonna let him get away with this. He can't make you go back".
"He'll find a way".
"No he won't. He won't lay a finger on you, kid. If he does…he's gonna be in for a ton of trouble".
"Phil wants me to stay away from you too".
"And? Will you?".
"No".
"Why?".
"I can't. I think…no, I know, you're my best friend. Nothing should break that".
"Just a best friend, or somethin' more?".
Before she could say anything else, Jim bent his head down and planted a kiss on her head.
"I love ya, Kid. I don't know what it is about ya. I just saw ya…and I liked ya. You got somethin' I like. I don't know what it is yet, but I like it".
"I don't wanna leave…don't let them take me".
"I'll protect ya…if it takes my life".
He let her stay there, nice and safe, where she needed to be. He didn't mind her crying there. She was home here, and home, Jim was highly sure, she was going to stay.
A/N: Had to add a cute moment here. Next chapter: Jim's and Serenity's friendship is put to the ultimate test. Can Jim hold on to the one he loves? Will Serenity go back to Chicago? Keep reading to find out! By the way…The song he sings to Serenity in this chapter is actually not mine. It's the chorus to Blood Red Sandman by Lordi. Awesome song, guys if you love rock music.