TITLE: "THE RIGHT THING TO DO" AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL FANDOM: "FIREFLY" PAIRING: Kaylee/Simon. RATING: PG-13. STATUS: SEQUEL to "BETTER AND BETTER" ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where. FEEDBACK: Welcomed. EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com WEBSITE: http://unilelu.net/Alison/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "The crew fine tune their plan. But the Devil, as they say, is in the detail." The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly' are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No infringement of copyright is intended.

"THE RIGHT THING TO DO"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Once the euphoria of fooling the Levington had run its' course relief gave way to caution. Simon couldn't help thinking this could all backfire in the most spectacular way. "Do you think they'll check?"

Shepherd Book nodded. Everyone was in the commons room, not sitting or lounging about but balls of frenetic energy wanting to get on with the Big Damn Rescue but wary of screwing up. The deep rolling sound of Book's voice was all manner of comforting. "Bound to. The one thing the Alliance can be counted on is its' ability to be thorough. And mark my words." Book leant forward, hands on the back of a chair, eyes locking with Zoe's as they stood on either side of the table. "They will investigate this outbreak vigorously. There can be no margin for error."

The mercenary looked like he was sucking a lemon, his glee at outwitting the gorram *hundan* on the Levington like a distant memory now. "Huh, then we did all this for nothin'."

Book shook his head. "Not for nothing."

"At the least we bought a little time." Said Zoe.

Kaylee nodded, trying to sound as if this was the best news ever. "Two days."

Zoe looked around at the others, letting her eyes lock with each and every one of them. As if her own unyielding commitment was the force that would bind them all together. At times like this, Simon thought she and the Captain were so alike it was scary. "Best we use every second of every hour, *dong ma*?"

"To do what?" Growled Jayne.

Zoe didn't blink. "We do what we came to do." Her looked flicked over to the Shepherd. "How much longer before we can retrieve the Cap'n?"

"A little over an hour."

Before anyone could say anything else River's head shot up, her eyes wide with worry. "Have to hurry!"

Zoe frowned at her. "We're doin' this as fast as we can."

The girl shook her head. "*Wo zhidao*, we know but he doesn't."

A horrible thought nagged at Simon. "Are you saying the Captain doesn't have an hour?"

"No, but he's worried. Tried to protect them."

Zoe, Book and Simon exchanged a puzzled glance. Jayne stared at River as if she had finally lost it completely. Kaylee wasn't sure what to think and Wash looked worried. Afraid that the Big Damn Plan would be too late to save their Captain. Zoe crouched down in front of River's chair. "River, what are you talkin' about? Protect who?"

"The baby."

With a huff Jayne shot the crew a disbelieving look. "Cap's got someone pregnant? Why can't I go to a *jianyu* like that?"

Everyone glared at him but then River was speaking again. Her voice small, sad. "No, not his. Hers. She tried to help him, now he wants to help her. Save the baby."

Zoe didn't like this. She wanted simple in and out. No complications. "We don't have time for this."

River reached out and grabbed Zoe's hand just as the first mate was about to stand up. Zoe froze and stared at her. She didn't like to be touched as a rule, it was just one of the many things she had in common with her missing Captain. The others didn't need to know the why of it or how the thought of Mal in an Alliance prison camp sent the kind of pain through her that not even Simon could find a cure for. Twisted her up inside so hard that it was almost unbearable. River shook her head, eyes glued to Zoe. "Won't leave without her."

"Is this person with the Captain now?"

River looked up at her brother. "No. He didn't do what they wanted so he had to be punished but they'll hurt her more."

"What will they do to her, *mei mei*?"

Her eyes took on a bleak look. "The price of failure is death."

Kaylee gasped and put a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock. "Ya mean they'd hurt the baby?"

All emotion seemed to have drained out of River Tam's voice making her words all the more chilling to hear. "Kill the mother and the baby dies."

Even Jayne looked shocked. After a few moments of stunned silence, Book stirred himself to speak. "There's something else. We need to find a way to create something that will mimick a virus."

Jayne looked at him askance. "Ain't it enough they's locked up without givin' them the pox?"

"Oh, it won't be the real thing Jayne. It just has to look like it."

That confused Kaylee as much as the mercenary. "*Weishenme*?"

Before Book could answer Simon cut in. "I think I know where the Shepherd is going with this. If we can make the virus look real enough the Alliance will be so busy worrying about wiping it out that they won't be looking for us."

"Also," Book continued "we have to get the tapes wiped."

This was news to Zoe. She didn't like details being thrown in at the last minute. Her eyes narrowed. "What tapes?"

"Place this efficient will have cameras throughout the complex. I've already been inside so I'm already be on it. When we go in for the Captain we'll all be recorded on those tapes. We can't afford to let the Alliance have captures of us in that facility." Book paused and looked at Kaylee. "Kaylee, think you can find a way to wipe the tapes?"

"I'd have to take a look but yeah, I should be able to do that."

"Not all of the footage just the last few hours. Perhaps make it look like there was some kind of electrical problem."

"I'll help."

Everyone looked at River. Alarmed, Simon moved closer to his sister. "I think you should stay on Serenity, *mei mei*."

She shook her head and got to her feet. "Have to go. You won't know where to find her without me."

Simon couldn't let her do that. "River, it's not safe."

"Safer to take her with us than for the Captain to come back for her."

That made them all think and not happy comforting thoughts either. Jayne wanted to get the Captain back as much as the rest of them but River's words were making his thoughts even darker. "If'n what you said before is true Mal ain't gonna be in any condition to come back."

"*Ni bu dong*. He won't forget. As soon as he can he'll come back. If that happens we won't be able to get him out again."

"Huh, ruttin' *baichi*'s gonna get himself killed."

"And if he goes back," said River solemnly "everyone dies."

For several moments no one spoke. Biting back a heartfelt sigh, Zoe finally nodded her acquiessence. They would do this but she didn't have to like it. "Okay, we take her with us. Find the Cap'n and the woman then get the *diyu* as far from this place as we can."

Even though no one was praying, Book said a silent Amen to that.

* * * * *

CHINESE GLOSSARY: (Mandarin - Pinyin)

*hundan* = bastard *dong ma* = understand? *wo zhidao* = I know *jianyu* = prison *mei mei* = little sister *weishenme* = why *diyu* = hell *ni bu dong* = you don't understand *baichi* = idiot