BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

LATTELADY6

Something’s Gotta Give: Part - 2 - Nothin ’ Left To Lose
Saturday, October 7, 2006

M/I romance takes place between Objects In Space. The night before Inara leaves Serenity she decides she may be making a mistake, so she leaves something behind.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2423    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Disclaimer: Belongs to Joss Pairing: M/I Spoiler: Minor ones for Objects In Space and Serenity the Movie

Part 1 - Shattered

Something’s Gotta Give: Part 2 - Nothin ’ Left To Lose By Lattelady

Captain Malcolm Reynolds’s footsteps echoed through his quiet ship. The usually empty cargo bay had a pile of crated furniture and a number of large trunks tucked into one corner. It was late and the rest of the crew was asleep, even Wash had closed down the helm for the night, but no matter how tired Mal’s body was, nervous energy kept him from sittin’ in one spot long enough to close his eyes.

‘He’…no he corrected in his head…‘they was headed for a life changin’ event early the next mornin when Serenity made a quick stop on a mountainous moon so’s one of the crew could leave, never to return.’

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath and climbed the stairs to the catwalk. “T’was ‘Nara’s decision, can’t conjure why I feel so gorramn guilty ‘bout it.” But he did, and Kaylee wasn’t helpin matters none with her dirty looks and cryin’. The girl had taken it into her head that he was somehow responsible for the Companion’s sudden need to move on to greener pastures.

“Mal,” Inara stood facing him at the other end of the walk. “I…ah…wanted to…ah…”

“Evenin’ ’Nara,” he tried to sound casual-like, but it was hard when he knew it was her last night on his boat. It was a good thing he hadn’t let him own self warm to her any, t’otherwise tomorrow would be a right painful day.

“I wanted to thank you for this detour. I realize Sheydra’s Training House isn’t exactly on the way to New Melbourne where you’d been headed.” The wave had come two days earlier, with an offer of employment and it was exactly what Inara needed. She knew her days as an active Companion were over. This way she could continue in the Guild, but as a teacher. Mal wouldn’t know the changes he’d wrought in her life. It was a small thing, but necessary to her pride.

When they met in the middle of the ‘walk, his hand moved to gently caress her still swollen lip and bruised cheek. He’d figured it was the shadows that had marred her otherwise flawless skin. On closer inspection he realized it was damage left over from Jubal Early’s time on Serenity. “Damn good thing I already kilt that gorram bounty hunter,” he growled. “Though, now I’m thinkin he met a might kinder death than he deserved.”

“I…ah…” Unlike the last time Mal had touched her, Inara didn’t pull back. Instead she covered his fingers with her palm and pressed his hand against her cheek. A Companion’s life was filled with touches, but never ones she received for her own pleasure. On that last night, standing on a darkened ship that she cared about almost as much as the man who owned it, she let herself have that touch. It would have to last her a lifetime.

“For a woman with as much learnin’ as you got, you seem to be a might lackin’ in communication know-how tonight.” He hadn’t often see ‘Nara flustered and it was just beginnin to be apparent that he was the cause.

“I’m not very skilled at good-byes.” Her hand slid over his until she gripped his wrist. For just a moment she read something in Mal’s eyes, something she’d wanted to see for a long time. Maybe her leaving was premature? Maybe she was making the biggest mistake of her life?

“Well, given your profession, I’d think sayin good-bye to a man would be second nature.”

Inara gasped and pulled back as if he’d struck her. “You are correct, Captain, in some cases good-byes are no problem at all!” She turned on her heel, the last of her icy words shot at him over her departing back. A moment later her door slammed echoing through the cargo bay.

Mal let lose a string of Chinese cuss words that would have done Jayne proud. He hadn’t meant to insult her, but somehow it always happened. He just couldn’t stop takin’ a dig at what she did to earn a livin’.

Inara leaned against the locked door of her shuttle. The room was bare of all her beautiful things. Where the couch had been there was one small trunk and two suitcases. The place was almost exactly as she’d found it, only cleaner. She was shaking with anger and hurt, emotions she felt too often recently.

She’d tried, she’d really tried. She had left her Companion’s mask behind and met Mal on the catwalk as ‘Nara but he’d refused to acknowledge the woman over the professional. She slid to the floor and bit her already sore lip battling tears that threatened to fill her eyes. “I will not cry over that man anymore,” she whispered as one small tear made her left eye glisten, but she blinked it into submission.

The night ticked away, but Inara didn’t sleep. The conversation on the catwalk kept playing over and over in her head. In the morning as she was putting the finishing touches on her make-up, she remembered the look on Mal’s face when her hand had traveled over his and gripped his wrist. Was she remembering correctly or was it wishful thinking? Had his expression really been one of longing and caring? “Hmmm,” she ran one finger over her swollen lower lip in wonder.

Turning quickly she opened her travel bags and began rearranging her packing. Ten minutes later she exited the shuttle, and locked the door behind her. Jayne met her on the catwalk and took the two suitcases she had with her. No one noticed the absence of one small trunk that had been left almost hidden on the far side of ‘Nara’s bed.

The End or on to ‘Of Companions And Whores’

Part 3 - Of Companions And Whores

COMMENTS

Saturday, October 7, 2006 4:52 PM

HEWHOKICKSALOT


Very impressive. You handle the interior dialogue nicely. Since there were only two, possibly three moments during the series where we truly witness Inara's feelings regarding Mal, some insight from your perspective is welcome.

Keep up the good writing. Nice grammar as well.


"Faster, faster, faster would be better!"

Rob O.

Saturday, October 7, 2006 5:01 PM

TAMSIBLING


I like this internal moment as well, trying to examine exactly what made Inara leave that trunk - I love the notion that she left it on purpose, just to taunt him ... atta girl!

I love these, more please!

Sunday, October 8, 2006 12:07 AM

AMDOBELL


Like TamSibling I think Inara left the trunk on purpose, a subconscious wish to have an excuse to return at some future date, when both her heart and her pride are able to weather facing up to what she is leaving behind. The tangle that is Inara and Mal can only be unravelled if both are completely honest with the other yet they are volatile fragile creatures. Each being the spark to the other's flame. This was another masterful job. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Monday, October 9, 2006 6:27 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


Definitely loved how you had Mal take that one last shot at Inara before her departure...and the accompanying regret. I think we would want to see the private goodbye a lot more smooth and fuzzy...but I doubt it would have happened that way;)

Still...awed and impressed with what you got here, Lattelady:D

BEB


POST YOUR COMMENTS

You must log in to post comments.

YOUR OPTIONS

OTHER FANFICS BY AUTHOR

Ghosts Of Christmases Past
The first Christmas after Miranda, the crew goes to Haven to spend a few days. Jayne/River; Mal/Inara; and Simon/Kaylee romance

Precious Commodity - Ch 6/? Waiting Time
J/R; M/I romance. Still caught on Mr. Universe's moon, things begin to fall apart. River and Jayne hide on Serenity as Alliance troops clear away the damaged Reaver ship. Mal's life is in question when he begins to bleed again. **Chapters are link for ease of reading**

Precious Commodity - Ch 5/? Pivot Points Of Fate
Jayne/River; Mal/Inara romance: Jayne makes up his mind about his future with River. Mal discovers how important Inara is to him. **chapters are linked for ease of reading**

Precious Commodity - Ch 4/? - Flying Without Wings
J/R; M/I romance: Mal finally discovers the lengths Inara will go to in order to protect his crew while he is too ill to do so himself. Jayne finds out why River would rather die than go back to the Accadamy.**Please note the change in rating** Chapters are linked for reading ease.

Precious Commodity - Ch 3/? - Falling Without Gravity
J/R; M/I; S/K romance - 24 hours after the battle on Mr. Universe's moon, the Operative offers the wounded crew a deal. His search for River Tam is not complete.

Precious Commodity - Ch 2/? - In The Black Of Night
Jayne/River; Mal/Inara story - River and Jayne spend the first night after the battle on Mr. Universe's moon hiding on a broken Serenity. The rest of the crew spent it in an Alliance Med-Tent.**Chapters are linked for easy navigation **

Precious Commodity - Ch 1/? Echoes
Pairings are Jayne/River, Mal/Inara, and some Simon/Kaylee. Hours after Miranda, a blood spattered and frightened River keeps watch over the wounded crew in an Alliance Med-Tent, until she is helped by Jayne. Ratings will change with chapters as needed. **Chapters linked for easy navigation**


Chaos Theory - parts 1 and 2 - COMPLETE
J/R romance - With help from the torn-out pages from Book's book, River helps Jayne find his way back after Jaynestown. He uses those same pages to help her find her way back after Miranda.

Voices And Visions - ch 12/12 - Where Strength And Courage Are Found
FINAL CHAPTER: J/R; M/I; S/K; Z/Wash memories. The future is set to rights and there is happyness of all as they come full circle. - Chapters linked -

Voices and Visions - ch 11/12 - Dark And Fearsome Places
J/R; M/I; S/K; and Z/memories of Wash - River pulls back as she sees a different future in the shadows. Mal and Inara move another step closer. - chapters linked