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Chapter Four

For the second time in less than a twenty-four hour cycle, all eight of Serenity's accounted for members found themselves sitting around the table. Everyone looked to Mal to begin the discussion.

"Now," he said slowly. "It's no secrets to anyone that the mood on this boat hasn't been good these last few weeks." He paused, and watched everyone around the table nod. "Now, I don't want to blame this on anyone. I think we've all done our fair share of disagreements, and I'd like to apologize to anyone who's feelings I've hurt in the last while." He fixed Kaylee with his eyes, moved them to Inara, and then gave Wash a glance to apologize for criticize his flying several days prior. His eyes found the Shepard, he knew that man hadn't taken the recent criticisms of his beliefs to heart, but he found himself apologizing anyway.

"I know we've been vesselside for longer than we normally go, and I know that's been tough on us all. That I can partially take credit for, I need to get us all a break on the ground soon. However, that's no excuse for some of what's been happening on this boat, and we all need to get things fixed up. That's an order."

Simon turned to Mal, breaking an awkward staring contest he was having with Jayne (perhaps if he won, he wouldn't be to apologize first). "River…"

"I'm gettin' there, doc. Now, we all know that River's been unaccounted for an entire day and night cycle. The way I see it, she was probably upset by all of our fightin' on board. I'm hopin' that seeing us get our quarrels worked out will make her willin' to come out from her hiding place, but I also ask all of you to do your part to find her. Doc says she had been getting some mighty strong headaches…"

"Migraines," Simon cut in. "They're called migraines. They come from the damage done to her brain."

"Migraines," Mal acknowledged, "and she hasn't been takin' her medication on account that no one knows where she is. So we need to find her before she starts gettin' sick."

"Perhaps she already has," Zoë said calmly, and an outside glance would let you think that she wasn't concerned about the implications of that statement at all. However, a slight softness in her eyes betrayed her concern. "I've known folks to have migraines before, though not from Alliance meddling, and periods without eating might be making her worse, sir," she said to Mal.

Mal nodded to everyone. "You heard her. Everyone back to their places." As everyone stood, he gave them all a look. "Get yourself sorted. There's no room for bad moods on this boat anymore."

Jayne nodded, and glanced awkwardly at Simon. He wasn't about to tackle that problem now.

There were teeth in her brain.

Shapes exploded in front of her eyes, and the jellyfish was wrapped around her brain, squeezing and burning.

They were cutting her again!

Bright splotty pinks and yellows were on her hands, and she'd be happy that the sunbeam was back if it didn't hurt so bad. Rich reds and purples on her back. It hurt. It was good, but it hurt.

Take it out take it out.

Jellyfish in space. Can't be quantified. Not logical.

She was going to die. Serenity was going to sing her death.

Zoë walked into the kitchen, grabbing a package of seaweed crackers. She turned, and found Inara standing right behind her.

"Ambassador," she said curtly.

"Zoë, please, I don't want to have anymore tension on board. What are you doing with the crackers?"

It was a valid question. Wash and Kaylee had been known to take snacks for later, but no one had seen Zoë do that since the time Wash got some rim-planet flu. Zoë looked down at the green shrink-wrapped package, and then back up. "Wash put a glass of water out for River yesterday, and I figure I'd put these with them. Girl needs to eat."

Inara nodded, and began washing her tea mug. She had her own washing supplies, and Zoë knew it was an excuse to carry out the conversation. "Have you had a migraine before?"

"No," Zoë said, not offering anything. Then she stopped, and relaxed, letting her guard down just enough to let something slip out. "But I knew someone who did. That was some time ago though."

Inara nodded, and then took something out of her pocket. It was a tiny bar of chocolate. Zoë's eyes grew wide.

Inara smiled sheepishly. "I was saving it for a rough day, what with all the fighting onboard. Figured it could be a morale boost. Thought I could give it to Kaylee if she and Mal had another fight, but they seem to be doing okay. Put it out for her for me, will you?"

Zoë took the precious token, and smiled genuinely. "Will do. Have a good night Ambassador."