Chapter 9
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Over the next couple of days everyone spend time getting to know each other and for those who the ship is new to getting to know the ship. Those who don't know how also get a crass course in how to speak Chinese in this time they have a long way to go but their getting there. 2 days after they leave from Persephone Kaylee, Alexis and Simon are down in the cargo bay shooting hops through the hop that is hung from the roof.
"We should play a game." Kaylee suggests.
"We need one more person." Simon points out, just as Simon says that Jayne walks out.
"Jayne, want to play we need another person." Alexis yells up to him.
"Sure." Jayne answers running down the stairs to join them.
"Me and Jayne, you and Simon." Alexis tells Kaylee.
"First to 15 goals." Kaylee tells Alexis.
The four play their game together, all having fun trying to bet the other team for no other reason aside from wanting to win. Despite not knowing each other to well Alexis and Jayne work well together both having a good amount of skill, proving a hard appoint for Kaylee and Simon who work together amazingly and both have a fairly decent amount of skill.
Hearing the noise Inara comes out of her shuttle to watch the four play the whole time having a smile on her face.
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While Alexis, Kaylee, Simon and Jayne are in having fun, Lanie and Jenny are in the infirmary still learning how everything works. Wash and River are in the bridge flying Serenity. Mal, Kate, Zoe, Ryan, Esposito, Shepard Book, Martha and Jim are all in the dining area listening to Mal's and Zoe's stories about the war.
"You sure you're going to be ok with going back there Rick?" Kate asks worried about how this trip is going to affect him as she has never seen him like this before.
"I have to be Kate." Mal tells them.
"Now about what is going to happen when we get there Kate, Ryan, Esposito, you will come with Zoe, Jayne and I to the job , the rest of you can stay on the ship or explore a little but don't go too far, and be careful about where you walk.' Mal says as Lanie and Jenny come in from the infirmary and River and Wash do from the bridge. They all spend some time talking until Kaylee, Alexis, Simon, Jayne and Inara walk in.
"Come on Kay, we bet you fair and square." Alexis says as they do.
"You sat on Jayne's solders at one point Lexis, that's again the rules" Kaylee responds.
"You did the same thing a minute before." Alexis reminds her.
"I still say we won, we defiantly got to 15 before you two." Kaylee responds as the four of them sit down totally oblivious that every pair of eyes are on them.
"No Little Kaylee, we did." Jayne tells Kaylee.
"I agree with Kaylee we did." Simon answers.
"Of course you agree, you're on the same team." Alexis objects.
"That's why you a Jayne are agreeing." Kaylee tells her.
"Inara you were watching the whole thing who won?" Alexis asks.
"It was close but I think Lexis and Jayne got the 15 basket before Kaylee and Simon." Inara says.
Alexis and Jayne high fiving and smelling and Alexis turns to Kaylee "I knew we one."
"Re match, 1 on 1 me gainst you." Kaylee tells Alexis.
"When?"
"Now, Shepard Book can referee right?" Kaylee asks feeling that if a Shepard is the ref neither side will argue with the outcome.
"Right." Shepard book says and follows the pair out.
"What was that all about?" Kate asks Simon and Jayne.
"First to 15 in space ball, Alexis and Jayne against Kaylee and I." Simon explains.
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2 nights later Zoe is sitting in the dining area drinking a cup of tea when Kate walks in "Hey." Kate says to Zoe "Hey" Zoe responds.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Kate asks.
"Not at all." Zoe responds.
"So you know Rick the best right?" Kate asks after a few minutes of silence as she has questions about Ricks life here and feels that maybe Zoe is the person who can answer them.
"Know him the best that's Inara, I apart from his mother is the person who has known him the longest, what do you want to know?" Zoe asks.
"What was he like before the battle of Serenity?" Kate asks once again feeling jealous about Mal and Inara's relationship.
"The first thing you have to understand is we met when we were assigned to the same unit so the war was already happening, when we first met we didn't get along I was career military Mal, he was basically the opposite, after spending a few days in the thick of it I discovered what kind of man he was I began to respect him, trust his judgment, even when some of his idea's seemed insane at the time. After most of the officers had gone down he took over like it was nothing he became the leader we needed at the time, you ask what's the most different about him back then he had faith in good, he was hopeful, he lost that then, and it changed him more than I could ever tell you, became who he is today." Zoe explains to Kate.
"Sounds a little like me." Kate mutters though not quite enough for Zoe not to hear.
"What do you mean?" She asks.
"My mother was murder when I was in collage I was on my way to becoming a lawyer at the time. The detective that investigated said it was just an act of random gang violence but it wasn't, after that I changed I became a police officer instead and I put walls up I didn't let anyone in, I didn't want to be hurt like that again." Kate explains to Zoe.
"You let Mal in." Zoe points out.
"That took time, he slowly broke down the walls I put up." Kate explains.
"There's one difference Kate the person you were before you mum was killed was still there you just had walls protecting you. The person Mal was before hand is just gone. The only people I have ever know him to let in is this crew, Alexis I'm not surprised about she's his daughter. What I am surprised about is that he let you in, don't get me wrong Kate I like you but for Mal to let you in you're lucky Kate and you must be pretty important for it to happen." Zoe says before putting her cup on the sink and heading to her bunk.
Kate is in shock if she interprets the conversation correctly she just got the "Don't hurt my brother or you'll pay." Conversation from Zoe the one the boys gave Rick when they started dating. Kate puts her cup on the sink and heads to bed when she begins climb up the latter River pops her head out "It was a warning" she says before going back to her bunk.
Kate is surprised but understands that Rick is very important to the crew.
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2 days after Kate's conversation with Zoe, Alexis knocks on Inara's door.
"Can I come in?" She asks.
"Of course you can Lexis I told you that." Inara tells Alexis who walks in and takes her normal seat on Inara's couch.
"Tea?" Inara asks.
"Thanks." Alexis says with a smile.
Inara makes the two tea then sits on the couch as well, she can tell that there is something bothering Alexis so she makes a guess of what she thinks might be the most likely problem "You missing you Mom?" she asks.
"No, don't get me wrong I love Mom, but it's hard to miss someone who's never there." Alexis tells Inara.
"What do you mean?" Inara asks confused.
"You know Dad raised me didn't you ever wonder why, Mum was never around her acting was always more important she didn't even say goodbye when she went to Malibu and never came back, as I got older she made an effort to visit but she always talked about what she wanted had us do what she wanted, she didn't do what I want or see that the idea of who I was in her head isn't the me I really am." Alexis explains to Inara then adds "I've known you about a week and we have already talked more about me and I want than what Mom and I ever have."
Inara is speechless so she does the only thing she can think off and pulls Alexis into her side "So I'm assuming you didn't come in here to talk about you Mom. I'm not saying you had a reason because your always welcome whether you need a place to think, to get away or someone to talk to or anything else your welcome to come here but I can tell something's wrong what's bothering you, so what's wrong Lexis?" Inara asks running her hand through Alexis's hair and using the nickname that her and Kaylee started using a few days ago.
"I decided when I was planning to go to Stanford that I was either going to do Pre-Med or Science, more recently I decided that Pre-Med is what I wanted to do and I know that I can't go to school here because technically I don't exist and my Dad is wanted by the Alliance , but what I was wondering is do you think Simon would teach me? Train me," Alexis asks.
Inara smiles "I think he would. He always loves to share his knowledge you just have to ask." She tells her, Alexis smiles a little but looks down.
"You're scared to ask him" Inara realizes. "I though you and Simon were friends."
"We are but this is different from me asking if he wants to help Kaylee, River and I play a joke on Jayne, Wash, Ryan and Esposito, this is me asking if he would be willing to teach me how to be a doctor." Alexis tells Inara.
"So it was you four who started it." Inara says laughing "Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No, I can do it I just need time don't mention it to him, I just needed to know what you thought." Alexis tells Inara.
"Well you got it Lexis I think it will be amazing." Inara tells her.
"Thanks I've got to go meet Kaylee, River and Simon." Alexis says sitting up a little more.
"Getting the boys back for their attempted prank?" Inara asks.
"Yes, they deserve it." Alexis says.
"They didn't actually get to do what they were planning." Inara reminds her.
"They would have if it wasn't for River, we have to get back at them." Alexis tells her.
"Didn't you Dad say no more pranks?" Inara asks as she remembers Mal having conversation to that effect yesterday.
"He said no more dangerous ones once he discovered what the boys were going to do ours isn't dangerous, though you may want to close the door to your shuttle at 8 tonight, bye Inara." Alexis says giving her one more hug before she leaves.
"Bye Lexis"
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2 days later Kate and Rick are lying in each other's arms in his bunk, one of the few times they have had to be alone.
"How you doing Rick?" Kate asks.
"I'm worried about going back there about what I'm going see, going to feel, I just want to get this job done as soon as possible." Mal tells Kate
"You don't have to do this job, neither does Zoe, Jayne, Ryan, Esposito and I can go and collect whatever It is and bring it back, you guys can stay on Serenity." Kate offers.
"Zoe and I talked, we decided that it would be best if we did the job like we always does try our best to put our mind everything else." Mal tells Kate.
"Shepard Book told me that there is a grave yard full off everyone who died in the valley there do you plan to go visit it?" Kate asks genially as she's not sure if it is a good idea for her to ask that or not.
"When did you and Shepard Book talk?" Mal asks.
"Yesterday when we were making dinner." Kate asks. "So are you?" she asks not sure if repeating the question is the best idea.
"No, to get there I'm goin to have to go near that Valley an I can't do that Kate I just cant." He tells her and Kate can her the pain the anger in his voice so decides to let it go but it seems like he isn't finished talking "I buried some of those bodies myself if I go back there another part of me won't be returning."
Kate can't imagine part of Rick disappearing as she only knows this rick the after so she cuddles herself into his body, shows herself that he's still there that he hasn't disappeared.
"The smell is finally gone." Kate tells Rick.
"About time I don't know what those girls were thinking." Mal tells Kate.
Kate laughs "You realize it was Alexis, Kaylee, River AND Simon not just girls." She reminds him.
"Yeah well." Mal says and Kate laughs.
After a little while the talking stop and they are just lying there together, in such comfort. It's not too long before Kate falls asleep but Rick doesn't. He thinks about everything about Serenity, the valley the people he cares about the most and not for the first time wonders if taking this job was the best idea, and wonders if this planet is going to take anymore of him.
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4 days after her talk with Inara Alexis finally gets up the courage to go and talk to Simon.
"Hey Simon." Alexis says walking into the infirmary.
"Hey Alexis, you Kaylee and River haven't came up with another crazy idea have you because my ears are still ringing after you Dad yelled, and my arms are sore from the cleaning we had to do when the prank war went wrong." Simon says to her.
"It wasn't that bad." Alexis tells him.
"Wasn't that bad the prank we set up for Ryan, Esposito, Jayne and Wash ended up going off on your father he was so angry." Simon reminds her.
"That was a timing issue, and I think River new the outcome and let it happen for her own enjoyment." Alexis says with a smile.
"I agree it defiantly sounds like something she would do." Simon says also smiling.
"But that's not why I'm here." Alexis tells him.
"Oh then what can I help you with?" Simon asks.
"As you know I was planning to go to college before I came here, and you don't have to tell me I can't go here I already figured that out for myself what I wanted to talk to you about is what I wanted to study. You see I decided that I was going to be pre- Med I wanted to become a doctor, and I know I would never be able to get properly qualified by I was wondering if you could teach me, train me in the basics so I would at least be able to help when people get hurt, what do you think?" Alexis asks.
"I think it would be a great idea." Simon tells her.
"Really?" Alexis asks.
"Yes, your smart Alexis I know you work hard, and for you to be asking me your dedicated. " He says before walking over and grabbing his Encyclopedia and putting the medical Science tab in, he walks over and hands it to Alexis "Here this is 100 chapters in length I want you to read the first 10 chapters then I'll give you a test, if needed you can help me with medical procedures. I'll give you 10 chapters at a time to read followed by a test and I will slowly increase the amount of practical things you can do on your own, but even when you read every chapter in the book and are doing procedures by yourself you learning isn't done, Alexis what I'm teaching you isn't going to be exactly like what you would be taught in a Medical Academy and it may not be everything you need. But yes I will teach you what I know." Simon tells her.
"Thank you Simon." Alexis says giving him a hug.
"You're welcome." Simon tells her.
Alexis walks out of the room happily.
"You made her very happy, you gave her something she really wanted, something she thought she wouldn't get." River tells her brother as she walked passed as Alexis left.
"If she's willing to put in the hard work there is no reason why she shouldn't learn." Simon tells his sister walking over to put his arm around her.
"You're going to be glad you did that." River tells her brother.
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2 Days later Lanie and Kate are in Lanies bunk talking.
"So Zoe gave you the don't hurt my brother talk a week ago and your only telling me now." Lanie says surprised.
"We've both been busy haven't had much time to talk." Kate defends.
"I guess, what did Castle say when you told him?" Lanie asks interested to know how Castle would react to Zoe giving Kate the don't hurt my brother talk.
"I didn't." Kate answers.
"Why not?" Lanie asks confused as to why she didn't.
"Because he doesn't need to know, his sort of sister threatening me in her own way is something that he doesn't know besides, there is some good in it Zoe and I talked and she said she likes me which is good." Kate explains.
"Your right there it is good, Alexis and Martha are both ok with you which means that all the important woman is his life are ok with you which is good." Lanie says.
"You're forgetting his best friend and two little sisters." Kate tells Lanie.
"Two little sisters?" Lanie asks confused.
"River and Kaylee, though River does seem to be ok with me but it's hard to tell with her and Kaylee and I haven't really had a chance to talk." Kate explains not really sure why she feels she needs the approval of all the important people in Castle's life she just knows she does.
"Is It just me or are Castle and Inara not talking?" Lanie asks as even though she knows that Kate doesn't like talking about Inara she wants to know what is going on and she was the one who bought up the topic of Castle's best friend.
"They had a fight a couple of days ago, haven't talked since." Kate explains.
"What did they fight about?" Lanie asks curious.
"No idea."
"They seem to fight a lot." Lanie comments.
"Apparently it's just how they are, they fight but there best friends, and are always there even if they had just had the biggest fight ever." Kate explains.
"Odd relationship"
"You're telling me" Kate tells her best friend.
"Have you noticed that Inara and Alexis have been spending time together?" Lanie asks as she has noticed that the young Castle and the companion have been spending a lot of time together.
"Yeah I think Alexis, wants to get to know the person that she is named after." Kate explains.
"And that doesn't bother you?" Lanie asks.
"A little." Kate reluctantly admits as she has noticed that Alexis talks to Inara who she has only known a little while a lot but she barely talks to her who she has known a long time.
"I gotter go, Wash and I have to make dinner tonight." Lanie tells Kate.
"Try and make it something good." Kate requests.
"It's packaged protein there is only so much you can do with it you know that." Lanie tells Kate before leaving her bunk.
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Finally the day that Mal and Zoe have been dreading arrives the day that they are due to arrive at Herra. Zoe spends most of the morning in the bridge with Wash and River who are both flying. Mal spends his time walking around the ship before finally finding himself at the door to Inara's shuttle.
"Hey." Mal says as he walks in.
"Hello"
"I know we haven been talkin for the last few days and I'm sorry, but I need you Nara, about to go to the place where I lost everything, I can't act like that though I gotter be the Captain can't let emotions get in the way of the job. But I don't know if I can, can I stay here for a little while?" Mal ask.
Inara nods and Mal sits down on her couch, Inara walks over and stands in front of Mal "Your Malcolm Reynolds the only thing you can't do is go a day without callin me whore" She jokes trying to get him to smile which she does succeed in doing "You can do this it may be hard but you can. When we land you walk of this ship and you go do your crime, you both allow and don't allow yourself to think about where you really are, if you need me to I'll be right by your side. But Mal, you got this, you got to stop overthinking this you've never done that before don't do it now." Inara tells him.
"Thanks Nara. "
Before Inara has a chance to respond Wash's voice come over the intercom. "We'll be landing on Herra in 10 minutes."
"I got to go to the cargo bay go do captinly things." Mal tells Inara.
"Then go Mal, do what you got to do." Inara tells him.
Mal goes to leave but stops and turn back to Inara "Nara, I'm going to need you to kick me back together if I fall apart, remind me that I got a job to do." Mal asks.
"I can do that Mal, but what about Kate shouldn't she be the one to do that?" Inara asks not really waiting to bring up Kate but knowing that the question has to be asked.
"Usually Kate would kick my ass if I needed it but she won't here she would let me remember try and get me to deal thinking its best but it's not. If I fall apart I need someone to kick me to I'm as together as I can be, the one person who can do that Is you." Mal tells Inara.
"We'll then, if you fall apart I'll kick you back together." Inara tells Mal.
"Thanks Nara."
"No need to talk me Mal I was just reminding you of things you already knew, and doing what you would do for me if I was in your shoes." Inara tells him.
Mal makes his way to the cargo bay where everyone already is Alexis gives her dad a hug when he arrives and Kate gives him a hug, Inara follows him down and stands with Kaylee and Alexis. Zoe and Wash walk through to join them to.
"Wash who's landing her?" Mal asks.
"River." Wash answers.
Everyone feels the familiar thump of landing. After a few minutes Mal walks over and presses the controls to open the outer door and air lock, just as he does that River arrives.
"By my side Zoe." Mal says.
"Of course Sir." Zoe says as together they exist Serenity and walk out together like they did so many years ago, everyone else allows the pair to walk a little in front and then the follow.
Mal and Zoe look around and once they realizes where they are they both fall to their knees, they landed on a spot that overlooks the black that is Serenity Valley. Seeing his wife fall Wash runs up and kneel next to his wife pulling her into his arms. Alexis not being able to see the pain her Dad is in does the same. Kate looks at the two and stays where she is feeling that Mal needs to be with the person that is the most important person to him, his daughter.
Mal and Zoe just kneel there being held by the people that loves them the most overlooking the place where they lost so much with the rest of their family standing behind them, wanting to do whatever they can.
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