Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly characters, that belongs entirely to Mr. Whedon. Roz belongs entirely to me.
Chapter Nine
Roz's eyes blinked open and immediately she scanned the room for him. Looking at her surroundings and remembering she was safe on the ship Firefly, Roz took a breath and relaxed on the comfortable bed. The nap proved to be very beneficial as it renewed her strength. She felt as if she were ready for anything. Pushing herself up to a sitting position Roz glared at the shoes she had been wearing earlier. The pair was falling apart with holes in the bottoms; clearly not protecting her feet and her feet were so swollen from the pregnancy she could barely put them on anyway. Deciding to forgo the shoes Roz stood up and exited the room, intent on stopping by and seeing Kaylee. Afterwards, she hoped Jayne we would be back from their meeting because she was a little worried about him…them…all of them.
Roz argued with herself as she walked along the hallway towards the infirmary. She was wishing a safe return for all the crew members who were outside the ship and not just Jayne. But you really want Jayne to come back safe and sound. Scowling at how close she had become to Jayne in such a short amount of time, she rounded a few boxes that were stacked along the walkway and nearly ran into a man standing outside the infirmary…a man who looked suspiciously like Dobson…a man who was Dobson…who was supposed to be locked up…and had a gun to the head of River.
"Wha…what's going on?" Roz stammered shaking her head and desperately wishing she was still asleep and this was all a dream.
"What's it look like girly?" Dobson sneered down at her, digging the gun maliciously into River's temple. "I'm getting out of here and I'm taking Crazy with me."
"Roz," a small voice pleaded and she turned her head and looked into the infirmary. Kaylee was trying to sit upright but it was obvious she was in pain. She shook her head at Roz and attempted to mouth something to her when she felt a palm connect with the back of her head. Rubbing her head, Roz looked at Dobson with contempt as he placed his forearm against River's throat and shifted the gun between Roz and Kaylee, keeping both in his line of fire.
"Oh, I'm sorry about what happened before," he spoke to Kaylee in a sarcastic voice. "But if either of you so much as make a sound, the next one goes through your throat." The threat was aimed more at Kaylee, but Dobson's cold eyes lighted on Roz as well and she knew he wouldn't think twice about killing a pregnant woman.
He kept his eyes on both women as he backed down the hall towards the cargo bay. Once out of sight, Roz scurried into the infirmary and placed a hand on Kaylee's arm. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine Momma, just fine," Kaylee gave her a tense smile as her eyes lighted on the communication device on the wall.
"What are we going to do?" Roz asked as she thought of the young girl in the arms of that madman.
"Well, first, you're going to help me up," Kaylee whipped back the sheets and with a grimace turned her body so her legs swung off the side.
"I don't think you should be moving around Kaylee," Roz shook her head warily.
"I'm fine Roz. We need to help River." Kaylee pushed Roz's hands out of the way and attempted to struggle off the hospital bed.
"No," Roz uttered sternly and put a hand on Kaylee's shoulder. "We have a young girl kidnapped by a mad gunmen, you who have been shot, and me a pregnant lady. Now, I'm not going to be responsible for you getting hurt anymore. I'm not going to take any unnecessary risks with this here baby, but I will fight you tooth and nail as long as it keeps you from going on up there."
Kaylee simply stared at Roz for a long moment before sighing and sagging in defeat. "Go to the comm. and press the button. You'll reach Wash."
Roz let out a quick breath of thankfulness. Never before had she stood up to a person like that…and it felt great. Nodding to Kaylee, Roz turned towards the comm. and pressed the button. Glancing quickly at the door to make sure Dobson wasn't lurking nearby; she spoke quietly into the machine.
"Dobson's loose. He took her. He took River."
There was a moment of dead silence as Roz and Kaylee waited anxiously for any response.
"You must be Roz. Where is Dobson?" A quirky voice echoed over the communication device and Roz instantly feared the gunman would hear.
"I don't know. He left the infirmary in the direction of the cargo bay."
"Okay, you stay there. Simon's on his way."
Roz nodded and instantly felt stupid, as if Wash could see her. She walked back to where Kaylee was laying and looking rather pale. Giving herself something to do, Roz poured a small glass of water and forced Kaylee to drink. The two women waited anxiously for any signs that the hostage situation was over. Roz began to pace after a couple more minutes and then took to poking her head out the door to see if there was a scuffle.
After her third time of staring out she felt a slight grinding of the ship and Kaylee sat straight up with only a soft moan. "Those are the cargo doors. The captain must be back."
"Oh thank God," Roz lifted her gaze up to the ceiling as if attempting to lay eyes on the Lord himself. "The Captain and Jayne'll want to know what's going on. I'll be back right quick."
Roz walked down the hallway happy that the situation involving River and Dobson would be over and that Jayne…and the crew…were back safe and sound. Just before entering the cargo bay Roz heard two sharp clangs as if something fell to the ground. Frowning, Roz rounded the corner and was shocked to see Dobson and Simon rolling on the ground throwing punches, each trying to gain the upper hand.
Roz frantically looked around and noticed neither Jayne or the Captain was on the ship. It looked as if Dobson was trying to escape and the only person keeping him at bay was Simon. Roz paled at the thought of the nice doctor standing in the way of the kidnapper and potential murderer. In the corner of the cargo bay Roz saw a huddled figure shivering on the floor. Sparing a glance at the two men Roz walked as quickly and silently as she could towards the scared girl.
"River," Roz whispered quietly. The girl's hair hung in wet clumps over her eyes as she rocked herself back and forth, muttering incoherently. "River, sweetie, your safe. Come with me."
Roz held out her hand to the girl but it was if she were invisible or else River was in her own little world. A groan of pain caused Roz to turn her head towards the brawling men. Simon had managed to grab a gun and had it pointed at Dobson. The lawman looked as if he was going to grab the other gun but Simon shook his head and barked his command. "No, don't. Don't move!"
Roz was about to let out a sigh of relief when Wash's disembodied voice echoed throughout the ship. "Reavers! Reavers incoming and headed straight for us. We are in the air in one minute."
"Could this really get any worse?" Roz groaned as she knelt next to River.
"River," Roz cooed as she pushed the young girl's hair out of her eyes. "River we need to go."
"Reavers," the girl's teeth clattered together and Roz had to fight back the urge to hold her close.
"Yes River. The Reavers are coming. We need to get to the infirmary. To Kaylee."
"Kaylee? With the wound. Nice. Too cheerful."
Despite the circumstance Roz let out a soft laugh. "Yes, she can be a bit cheerful at times. But let's get out of here."
River stood up just as Dobson looked back and sent both women a cold glare. "You gonna do that?" He asked as he turned his attention back to Simon who was holding a shaking gun. "You gonna kill a lawman in cold blood? I know what you did for your sister. I understand. It doesn't make you a killer."
Roz hugged River tight to her body and it seemed both women were keeping each other upright. As they walked slowly past the men with guns a barely conscious Shepherd Book stumbled into sight, blood dripping down the side of his face.
"Book," Roz gasped as she hurried towards the older man's side. River stood against the corridor wall glancing furtively around her. "What happened?"
"My fault," Book shook his head as if attempting to clear his mind. "I tried to help…but he hit me."
"Okay," Roz nodded furtively only half listening as she looked over her shoulder. She was more worried about getting them to safety then hearing Book's explanation.
"I don't wanna hurt anybody." Dobson continued speaking to Simon. "I have a job to do. I uphold the law, that's what we're talking about here."
Roz attempted to ignore what was going on behind her as she tried to push both River and Shepherd Book back down the hallway. River was lost once again inside her own head and Book appeared to be having a hard time speaking from the head wound.
"There's nowhere you can take her the law won't find. Nobody is going to hurt her. Unless you hurt me."
"No, I said…I said don't – don't move!"
"It's your call," Dobson replied calmly.
Roz turned frightened eyes back towards the men as she heard the panic in Simon's voice. Dobson seemed to be getting closer and closer to the gun. Roz had a crazy notion of grabbing the gun before the lawman could get to it but that would mean putting her baby at risk and she wasn't willing to do that.
"Let's go," Roz whispered vehemently towards Book and River and physically pushed them out of the cargo bay area. They would have been safely out of harm's way if it weren't for the airlock opening, effectively distracting Simon and giving Dobson the moment he needed to pick up the gun.
Dobson fired on Simon but thankfully missed. Book and River ducked down at the sound of a gunshot. Roz couldn't move so quickly for fear of landing on her belly thus making her a prime target for Dobson's new hostage. She felt a tug on the back of her shirt and found herself pressed against his front with his arm locked around her throat and a gun pointed at her temple.
"I'm not playing anymore," Dobson growled menacingly as he dug the gun farther into her skin.
Just outside the ship Roz saw three riders pull up on their horses and leap off. Jayne, Mal, and Zoe walked purposefully onto the ship as their eyes quickly assessed the situation. Roz focused on Jayne whose face paled slightly at the sight of the gun pointed at her head.
Dobson turned Roz so she was standing directly in front of him, acting as a personal shield. Roz closed her eyes tightly and prayed for her and her baby's safety.
"Anybody makes so much as a…" Dobson snarled but his sentence was quickly cut off. Roz felt Dobson's body go slack and fall backwards dragging her with him. Opening her eyes as she fell, Roz crossed her arms over her stomach protecting her unborn baby and anticipating a jarring hit. However, just before she was about to make contact with the hard floor, a pair of strong hands encased her shoulders and pulled her roughly forward. Instead of hitting the floor she found herself held against a strong chest with a pair of arms wrapped around her tightly. Breathing in deeply, she smelled a strong scent of dust, sweat, and a unique smell that only came from being on the Serenity; she knew instantly it was Jayne.
Realizing how close she came to dying, she let out a soft sob, grabbed the front of his dusty jacket, and clung to him in search of the comfort she so desperately needed. His hand brushed her back lightly up and down and his head lay gently atop her red curls.
"Jayne!" Mal shouted irritably, interrupting the oblivious couple.
"Be right there," he rumbled back. Jayne pulled away slightly, lifting her head gently to look up into his blue eyes.
"Shepherd's goin' to take you back to your room. We got Reavers comin' in. Once everythin's all right, I'll com'in get ya. Dong ma?"
Roz's head nodded jerkily as she felt immediately comforted by his heavy gaze. "Everything's going to be okay…right?"
"Rozalynn, I ain't gonna let nobody hurt you. That's a promise." His fierce voice sent tremors up and down her spine making her want to cling to him longer in hopes he would only continue to speak in that wonderfully low tone.
"I'll wait for you Jayne."
"That's what I wanted to hear darlin'." Jayne smirked down at her, letting his large ego edge into his voice.
"Jayne, now!"
"Come now Rozalynn, I think I need some help getting back to the bunks." Book appeared to the right of her shoulder and gently placed a hand on her arm.
"Of course Shepherd Book." She suspected he was trying to 'handle' her, but she appreciated not being treated like a fragile doll. She had just lived through a hostage situation and didn't fall completely to pieces. It was true she enjoyed the brief moment of comfort from Jayne but she could continue on because she had to. There were more pressing matters to be concerned about.
Roz let Book lead her away, along with River who Simon was attempting to comfort. She allowed herself a last glance back at Jayne who was helping Mal dump Dobson's body outside before the cargo bay doors closed shut. Roz felt Serenity rumble to life beneath her feet and quickly grabbed onto the stair rungs as the ship lifted off quickly in hopes of outrunning the dreaded Reavers.
"Shepherd Book, would you like to pray with me?" Roz asked hesitantly once they regained their footing and walked slowly down the hall.
Despite Book's haggard appearance and drooping eyes, he focused on her and tightened his hold on her arm with a small smile. "I would be honored Rozalynn." Each helping each other walk down the long corridor, they settled in comfortable silence each praying for the lives of everyone on Serenity.
So sorry about the wait. Summer has been a lot busier than I thought it would be. Good news is there should only be one more chapter, two at the most if it gets too long. Thank you all for sticking in there with me. Let me know what you think!