Mal walked as lightly as possible, trying not to jostle Inara more than necessary. Even so, she began to moan and struggle against him.

"'Nara, darlin', it's okay. I got ya'. You're safe. We're almost home," he whispered like a mantra. Whether she truly understood or not, she quieted in his arms, curling her bruised fingers around his suspenders in a surprisingly strong grip.

River, Zoe, and Kaylee met him at the ramp. Simon was already in the infirmary, preparing for the emergency.

"She alive, Cap'n?" Kaylee's voice was small and hopeful.

"Course," Mal answered, mindful of Inara's ears.

Zoe aked, "Where's Jayne?"

"Takin' out the trash, " Mal answered shortly. Passing River, he said, "Warm Serenity up. We're leavin' soon's we can."

"You don't want me to stay and help Simon?" she asked.

"I'll help Simon. I need you on the birdge," Mal said somberly. "Don't wanna stay here too long, considerin' the circumstances."

Watching him gently disentangle Inara's fingers from his suspenders as he lay her on Simon's table, River said, "I'll be ready when you give the word."

Sparing a moment to look at his wife, Mal said, "I never doubt it, bao bei." Then, he turned his attention quickly back to Simon. "What do we need, doc?"

"Help me get her out of this coat, so I can see properly," Simon answered, gently lifting Inara so that Mal could slide the coat away. Simon let out a slow hiss at the sight of the damage, then reigned in his emotion.

"Pulse is getting stronger, as least," Mal observed.

"Good," Simon said. "That means as soon as I can rule out any significant brain injury, I can give her something stronger for pain."

Mal nodded, beginning to clean out some of the lesser scrapes and cuts, while Simon began a more thorough assessment. "Left cheekbone's broken, so I can't check that eye, but the right pupil reacts normally to light stimulus. Was she conscious at all when you found her?"

"Moved a mite on the trip here, but I ain't sure she was really conscious," Mal said. "Kinda' hope she wasn't, considerin'."

Simon continued, "Three broken ribs, but her breathing sounds good. No punctured lung then. Pour some of that antiseptic into the bite mark there on her right breast. Looks like it might be infected."

Mal complied, hand shaky as he noticed other bites as well. Hundan was a gorram monster, he thought darkly. Shoulda' killed him the first time.

Unaware of Mal's grim thoughts, Simon continued his list. "Must have kicked her fairly hard to cause that kind of bruising. Help me turn her over, so I can assess any damage to her kidneys."

Mal winced as he saw the dark red bruising around Inara's lower back in the shape of a man's fist. For a moment, he regretted leaving the job to Jayne.

"All right. Let's get her on her back again." Having accomplished that, Simon said,"I don't think her pelvis is fractured, miraculously, considering the trauma to her abdomen and thighs, but I'll need to examine her pelvic area more closely."

Mal nodded. "I'll just be outside." **************************** Jayne looked at the watch he'd taken from Wing's arm. "Well Ath," he said, looking down at the quivering lump of flesh that was Atherton Wing, "I guess it's true what they say. Time does fly when you're having fun." A weak whimper escaped Wing's cracked lips. Pushing his blade slowly into Wing's chest, Jayne watched the last spark of life fade. Satisfied, he pulled the blade out swiftly, wiped it on his shirt, and set the small grenade atop Wing's groin. Gorram things did come in handy, he thought, as he pulled the pin. **************************** Simon came out of the infirmary, where Kaylee, Zoe, and Mal sat. "She's stable. I've given her pain meds, taped her ribs, and stitched up the lacerations around her wrists and ankles. I need an extra hand in surgery to repair the cheekbone, but I think it can wait until we leave Persephone."

Zoe nodded. "I'll help you, doc."

Kaylee gave Simon a hug. "I knew yuou could fix it,Simon. Best doc flyin'."

Simon smiled tiredly. "Thanks, ai ren. Captain, may I speak with you privately for a minute?"

"Zoe, tell River I'll be up in a bit. Kaylee, get to the engine room. Soon's Jayne gets back, we're leavin'." The women moved to comply.

Mal followed Simon back into the infirmary. "What is it, doc?"

"I did all the standard tests for rape victims. It doesn't appear that she's pregnant, but I'll check again in a few days to be sure. There's alot of tearing and abrasion internally. Even so, she should recover physically. But this kind of experience.." Simon paused, momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer savagery Inara had endured. I don't know how, or if, she'll be able to recover emotionally."

"She's one of the strongest women I know, Simon. And that's not nothin', considerin' the women I know."

"Even so, it's going to be a long time before she'll be able to..."

"To what, doc?"

"To do her job," Simon blurted out. "I don't see how she'll be able to trust someone enough to be a Companion again."

"That's a train we'll catch when it gets to the platform, doc," Mal said, turning to leave. "Anything else?"

"Yes," Simon said. "I hope you killed the son of a bitch."

Mal looked up at the infirmary's choronometer. "Should be done by now," he said. The two men stood for a moment, for once completely in agreement. *********************** Mal stood on the ramp, scanning the docks for Jayne. In the distance, he saw an explosion. He smiled slowly, guessing that Jayne would be along any time now. As if by command, Jayne sauntered up the ramp.

"Grenades again?" Mal said, smiling.

Jayne grinned. "Seemed like a good idea at the time." Tunring serious, he said, "How's she doin'?"

"She's stable. Looks like Simon knows his job too," Mal said, as close to praising Jayne as he could get while still sober.

The sentiment meant more to Jayne than he'd admit. Gruffly, he said, "Might check in to see her, if'n ya' think it's all right."

Mal nodded, looking at Jayne's blood-soaked clothes. "Might want to change first, in case she should wake up."

Jayne went to his bunk, leaving Mal to raise the ramp and secure Serenity for flight. Hitting the comm, he said, "River, everybody's on. Take us outta the world."

He felt the smooth upthrust as Serenity cleared the atmosphere. 'Best crew flyin', he thought, heading for the bridge. ***************** Jayne stood looking down at Inara's sleeping form. Rubbing his goatee thoguhtfully, he said, "Hundan who done this won't be layin' hands on no one else, 'Nara. Seen to that right enough." And standing there, he made another promise. "Chau ain't seen me for the last time neither. Don't know when, but I got some good ideas as to the how." He paused. "Well, that's all I got to say. Thought you might like to know." He touched her hand gently. Then, shaking his head at his own tenderheartedness, he walked out in search of a good bottle of whiskey. ******************** Simon admired Zoe's steady hand. For a woman with only rudimentary field training, she was a fne surgical assistant. He wondered fleetingly if there was anything she didn't do with beauty and natural grace. He carefully placed the scalpel along Inara's hairline. Wanting to avoid any unnecessary scarring, he took meticulous care as he bonded the two pieces of broken bone firmly together. Zoe gingerly dabbed at the incision as Simon closed it carefully.

"Looks good, doc," she said.

"Thank you for your help, Zoe. I can't think of anyone else on this crew I'd rather operate with."

Zoe smirked. "Best not be saying that to your lovely bride-to-be, doc."

She walked out, laughing silently at Simon's bright red ears. Kaylee was right. He really was an easy mark. ******************** Mal awoke to the sensation of River's hands gently running across his back. Kneading the knots out of his broad shoulders, she delighted in his low purr of pleasure.

"Seems like this is how we started out in the beginning, darlin'," he said in husky whisper. He moved to turn onto his back.

"Lie still," River said with mock firmness. "I'm not finished."

Mal settle back onto his stomach. "That sounds all kinds of promisin'."

She laughed softly. "My hands have been hungry, ai ren," she said, letting those hands move tantalizingly along his spine. She moved lower, lightly skimming the backs of his thighs and calves, then spent more time on his ankles and feet.

Mal was fairly certain that he might slip completely over the edge if River continued. Wiggling his toes, he said, "When's it gonna be my turn?"

River's laugh was like a balm to his soul. Running her hands back up to the smooth curve of his bottom, she slipped a sly hand between his legs, eliciting a a moan of pleasure from her lover. Feeling the delicious tension building in his body, she nudged his hip gently.

He turned onto his back, freeing his bulging manhood. Pulling her on top of him, he guided her hips as she took his length deeply inside her. She began to rock back and forth, and his own hips began to thrust in time with her motions.

Breath hitching with every push, River panted, "Ta ma de, ai ren."

Rolling her onto her back, Mal thrust harder and more deeply, feeling River's inner walls begin to squeeze more tightly around his straining length. "Ai ya, bao bei, you feel so good," he breathed as she began to unravel beneath him. Coherent thought ceased as they rode the waves of pleasure, arching together in utter ecstasy. Feeling Mal's release flood into her core, River shook as her own orgasm roared through her body in endless swells of pleasure.

Eventually, their movements stilled, and they lay panting on the narrow bunk. Never losing their physical connection, they turned so that River lay draped bonelessly over Mal's body. They slept thus, Mal still buried in River's warmth, until morning. ************* TBC