Title: The Truth of Things Author: Gwenfrewi Characters: Mal/Zoe/River Rating: PG Fandom: Firefly Spoilers: None Summary: Set during the BDM, Mal had just given the order to decorate their ship like a Reavers, shot the Alliance shuttle man and then stomped back to Serenity to find something to use as red paint. Zoe comes in to talk to him. She gets a big surprise as does River. Length: 408 occording to Word. Disclaimer: The great, almighty and powerful Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. own the universe and characters. I'm just playing with them.

Author's Note: For my mei mei,luxuria_oceanus, I love ya sweetie. This sprang full formed from my head this morning, after the beginnnings of a delicious dream about Nathan Fillion.

Copyright (c) March 2007 Patricia Flynn

As always, feedback is shiny!

* * * * * Mal was looking through the various boxes they normally kept stored in hidey-holes scattered around the cargo bay. He was pretty sure there was some red paint left over from when they’d painted Serenity’s name on the hull the last time.

He heard footsteps behind him and chose to ignore them.

“Sir?” Zoë inquired.

Mal continued to search the container. He really didn’t want to have this conversation. He'd made himself clear earlier and there was no need for a post-mortem on the situation.

“Sir, you mean to tell me we’re…” Mal turned around and the look in his eyes brought her words to a halt.

Those were the eyes of Sergeant Reynolds. The man who had a fierce belief that what he was fighting for was right and true.

Zoë’s body unconsciously drew itself to attention as she waited for him to speak.

“We are. The Alliance and that man are after River with a powerful will. They just slaughtered several hundred people, maybe more to get me to give her up.

“If this is what they’ll do to innocent citizens of their Alliance, just imagine what more they’ll do to that girl they consider theirs if they have her back.” Mal spat bitterly.

Zoë stared into his eyes a moment longer before turning and walking away.

Mal sighed heavily as he turned back to his searching.

“Ask Simon.” River’s voice broke his concentration.

Turning, he spied River who’d been seated on the catwalk. Great, she'd witnessed that. My day is getting better with each passing second.

“What was that, little one?”

“Simon knows how to mix fake blood.”

“Uh…thanks.”

“Wiser man would just give the prize to those who want it.” River had a flash of what could possibly happen if they followed this course and knew that more death was headed Serenity’s way.

She hoped the Captain would listen to her. She loved Serenity and she loved the crew, her family, but it was ultimately each person’s right to decide what they were going to do.

A few of them were deliberating staying on Haven even as they followed Mal’s instructions.

“Not gonna happen. I protect me and mine.” Mal’s gaze bore fiercely into hers for a moment before he turned and walked out.

River was stunned by his words and intentions.

So, that’s what it’s liked to be loved by someone other than Simon.