Inferno – Chapter Twenty-two Author claims no rights to Firefly, and intends no infringement on those who do. All stories are written strictly as fan entertainment. -------------------- Serenity glided through the black, on her way home to Argo. Inara had kept a sharp eye on the sensors, and had added John Hagey to the watch roster. The man was familiar enough with the sensors to see to it they weren’t surprised, and it allowed Inara and Holly to get a bit more rest. There had been no sign of the pirates, as yet, but they were only now entering the area where the attack had occurred. Inara had set the watch so that she would be on duty when the ship went through that region, so she would be awake and alert if she needed to take any evasive actions. As she sat in the pilot’s chair, sipping on her cup of tea, she wondered how Companion had fared. If all had went well, they should be on their way home, by now. She considered waving Mal, to see if he had heard from them, but decided against it. He was likely busy, and they would be back soon, anyway. She’d find out first hand, then. ------------------- Mal was, in fact, rather busy, but would have welcomed the distraction. Harmon Fuller had once again decided to pay a visit to the Sheriff’s office. “Sheriff, these headlines are starting to bother me,” Fuller declared without preamble, flinging the latest addition of the News down on Mal’s desk. Mal glanced at the headlines, and chuckled. Sheriff Refuses Comment on Recent Slayings. “I don’t find this amusing, Sheriff Reynolds!” Fuller snapped. Mal eyed the man. “I don’t neither, Mister Fuller,” his voice was icy. “And, like I told you before, she just basically makes up what she want’s as she goes along. I can’t stop her from doin’ that.” “I spoke to Miss Jackson earlier, Sheriff,” Fuller scowled. “She assured me that every word of her stories are true.” “She can assure you all she likes,” Mal shot back. “That don’t make it so. And I got no control over what she writes. She has a remarkable talent for takin’ anything I say, and twistin’ it to suit her. I’ve decided that it’s best I don’t speak to her, except maybe through written statements.” “That’s a horrible idea!” Fuller exclaimed at once. “You have to maintain a good working relationship with the press! It’s of vital importance.” “Well, mayhaps she needs to work on maintaining a good workin’ relationship with me then,” Mal replied calmly. “I’ve taken the liberty of arranging an interview with her, for you,” Fuller told him loftily. “Today, in fact, over lunch.” “I’m right sorry you did that without consultin’ me, sir,” Mal held his temper, but barely. “Had you did so, I could’a told you that I won’t be available for lunch today.” “It’s in your best interests to keep that interview, Sheriff,” Fuller warned. Mal chuckled, further inflaming Fuller. “It’s in my best interest? Mister Fuller? Or yours?” Mal leaned forward. “It’s no secret you didn’t want me in this post. Now, you’ve ‘arranged’ an interview with the woman who’s doin’ her level best to make sure the entire community thinks o’ me as incompetent. Ineffectual. Despite that, we are makin’ a impact. And we’ll keep on doin’ so, no matter what she writes, or you think.” “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mister Fuller, I got somewhere to be,” Mal finished, standing and moving to the door. “You’re making a mistake, Sheriff,” Fuller warned, his voice full of fury. “Made’em before,” Mal nodded. “I’m used to it. Some might say I’ve got a real talent for it. Good day, Mister Fuller.” ------------------ “What have you two been up to?” Jayne demanded, seeing Goldie and Liam easing back aboard. Both almost jumped as his voice surprised them. “Nothin’,” Goldie replied at once. “Just lookin’ around some, kid,” he smiled warmly. Liam nodded eagerly. “Hm mmm,” Jayne looked at them. “We ain’t gonna have to go runnin’ outta here, are we?” “Not at all,” Goldie assured him. “Right, boy?” he elbowed Liam. “Right!” Liam almost shouted, and Jayne sighed. “Tell me it wasn’t something that will get us in trouble,” he pleaded. “It wasn’t something that will get us in trouble,” Goldie repeated dutifully. “Promise, kid.” “All right,” Jayne sighed wearily. “I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with that.” He walked away, leaving Goldie and Liam sighing in relief. “We shoulda told him,” Liam almost whispered. “Nah,” Goldie smirked. “Be good for him, havin’ something to yell about. Keep his blood circulatin’. Ease up kid. He likes us. He won’t hurt us.” Goldie looked at the younger man, and smiled again. “Much.” He laughed as the blood drained from Liam’s face, and headed for the infirmary. -------------------- River and Chelsa were near the shops located in the station’s core. There were only a few, intended to provide travelers who visited the station with the essentials. There was a general store, three small eateries, a parts and ship supply house, and that was about it. River had taken Chelsa to get a new suit of clothes, and some shoes of her own. She had also picked her up some ‘girly things’ as Jayne would have called them, since the girl had left her home with only what she wore. They had eaten in one of the small cafes, and were now strolling slowly back to the ship. “Thank you, River,” Chelsa said softly, and River smiled at her. “You’re welcome, sweetie. We’ll get you more and better things when we get home. We’ll recruit Kaylee, and our friend Inara, and go into town shopping.” “Who is Inara?” Chelsa asked. “She’s the pilot of our other ship,” River told her. “She is Baba’s woman. They will marry, one day. Probably sooner, than later,” she added with a smile. “So both pilots are women?” Chelsa asked, her eyes twinkling. River nodded. “That’s right. So there’s no reason you can’t be a pilot, as well.” “Well, now. What have we here?” River looked around at the comment, seeing three men eyeing her and Chelsa. Three very large and quite unsavory looking men. “Can we help you gentlemen?” River asked. “Well, I’m sure you can help us, little lady,” the leader laughed. “We’ve been out in the black a long time, and was looking for some company. What say you and your friend, there,” he nodded at Chelsa, who had moved behind River, “join us for a drink.” “While I’m sure your offer is kindly meant,” River smiled back, “I don’t think my husband would appreciate it. Nor would he want me to take our underage daughter into an establishment that serves alcohol. So, if you’ll excuse us?” River started to walk past the men, keeping between them and Chelsa, but the man moved to block her way. “Now that ain’t friendly,” the man grinned, in what he probably thought was a winning way. “No sir, ain’t friendly at all. We asked you politely to join us, so the least you can do is have a drink.” “The least I can do,” River sighed, setting her bags down, “is let you walk away, unharmed. Which is what I’m trying to do.” “Oh, so now, you’re gonna hurt us, are you?” one of the other men laughed. “Little bit of a. . .” River struck without warning, her left foot swinging up to catch the leader in his left jaw. The man reeled from the kick, and stumbled back, falling. Without waiting, River turned to the next man, bringing her foot up again, this time to the groin. The man managed to block the kick, but it was a only a feint. River’s elbow slammed into his nose when the man’s head lowered as he moved to protect his groin. He reeled backwards, and River leapt into the air, landing a spinning kick to his temple. He went down and stayed there. The third man, seeing his friends in trouble moved to help. River had anticipated that, however, and whirled to meet him. The man wasn’t as large as his associates, and as he rushed in, he met River’s fist with his nose. Blinded by tears, he halted momentarily, shaking his head to clear his vision. It wouldn’t get the chance, however, as River whirled again, smashing her elbow into his mouth. Bones crunched loudly in the confines of the passageway, and the man bellowed in pain, reeling away from his attacker. River gave him a kick to the kidney as a parting gift that sent the man to his knees. Another foot to the head laid him on the floor, unmoving. The leader, as River thought of him, was back on his feet, swearing. River didn’t bother to reply. Instead, leaping into the air, she delivered a roundhouse kick to the man’s right jaw. He reeled once again, his head snapping around behind the power of the blow, and found himself once more on the floor. “You should stay there,” River told him quietly. He moved slightly, as if to get up, and River kicked him again, this time across the bridge of the nose. He fell back to the ground, out cold. River turned at once to see about Chelsa. “Are you okay, Chelsa?” she asked. The girl was rooted in place, eyes wide. “You beat him,” she whispered, almost in awe. “You beat them all!” “Well, he didn’t give me much choice, sweetie,” River explained, misunderstanding. “Can I learn to do that?” Chelsa asked, her eyes lighting up again. “We’ll see,” River smiled, taking her hand. “We’ll see.” She gathered their packages, and the two resumed their trek back to the ship. They met Jayne at the ramp. “Have any trouble?” he asked, spying the bruises on River’s knuckles. “No,” River smiled. “She beat up three men!” Chelsa almost squealed, and River sighed. She looked at Chelsa. “Tattle tail.” Her grin robbed the words of any sting. Jayne’s eyebrows rose slightly. “They asked us to ‘have a drink’,” River explained. “They did not handle rejection well.” “Uh huh,” was all Jayne said, and River beamed at him. “They dead?” he asked. “Just injured,” she assured him. “Broken bones and headaches. They’ll be fine, with proper medical assistance, and a few months of recuperation. Minor facial reconstruction at the most.” “Okay.” Jayne shrugged. River smiled, kissing him, before taking Chelsa into the ship. “That’s it?” Chelsa asked. “That’s it,” River nodded. “Jayne is a very good man,” she smiled at the girl. “He does not try to make me something I am not.” ------------------- The ship refueled, scrubber repaired, and Kaylee and Goldie having given Companion a thorough checking over, they prepared to depart. The count was made, ensuring that everyone was aboard. River eased them out of the station, then set a course for home. “At this speed, we will arrive on Argo in approximately eighty-four hours, thirty-two minutes, and twelve seconds,” River informed the crew. They all chuckled at her exact approximate time. “Sounds like a winner to me,” Kaylee sighed deeply. “I’m so tired, I could sleep for a week.” “Me too,” Jayne nodded, ignoring the wicked little grin that River shot him. “Well, I think I’ll turn in,” Goldie announced. “Me and the boy’ll take the next watch,” he volunteered. “Give us five, six hours, maybe?” “We can do that,” Jayne nodded. “Kaylee, I know you’ve got to be worn out, and Simon’s exhausted. You two get to bed, and take the third watch. River and I will take the first one. She’ll need time to make sure everything’s on course and all that, anyway.” “Okay, Jayne. Night.” The others left the bridge, and Jayne closed the door behind them. “We need to talk, I think,” he turned to face his wife. “I need to tell Zoe something. It ain’t right to leave her hanging like this.” “What do you want to do, Sean?” River asked him. “I think we should talk about that, first.” “I don’t really care, anymore,” Jayne shrugged. “I think you were right, though. That I made my decision in anger. I really didn’t think I had, but now, I ain’t so sure.” “I understand,” River nodded. “Hindsight makes things clearer. But now, what is it that you desire?” Jayne smiled at her. “I desire you, most of all,” he said honestly. “I want you to be happy, no matter what. That’s really, and honestly, all I truly care about in the world, Angel. I want you with me, and I want you to be happy.” River closed her eyes against the flood of raw emotion she felt coming from him. His love for her was one of the things that kept her balanced, kept her sane. When everything around her threatened to close in, his touch, his presence, his love, helped her to keep it at bay. “So long as we are together, then I will be happy, Sean,” she whispered into the darkness. “That’s all I need to be happy.” “You need to fly,” he pointed out, and she smiled. “I want to fly,” she corrected, “but I do not need to, to be happy, or to live.” “If you want to fly, then that’s what I want,” he told her firmly. “So, should I tell Zoe I’m staying?” River bit her lip at that, and Jayne was reminded for perhaps the hundredth time how cute it was. “I would like us to stay,” she finally admitted in a long breath. “But not if you are unhappy with it.” “Then we’ll stay,” he nodded. “I told you, long as you’re happy, then so am I.” She embraced him then, hugging him so tightly that she wondered that he didn’t cry out. But of course, it would take more strength that she had to cause that. “What say I tell her a little later,” Jayne whispered in her ear, and a delicious shiver traveled down her spine. With Chelsa staying in their cabin, their alone time had been severely limited. “I’ll lock the door,” she whispered back. ----------------- Jayne found Zoe awake, looking as peeved as ever. “‘Bout time someone remembered me,” she groused, seeing him. “What’s going on?” “Well, we took on fuel, repaired the scrubber, and now we’re in the black, headed for Argo. That’s it, really, unless you want the cost of the fuel.” “Save that for Mal,” she snorted. “He’s paying.” Jayne nodded. “I know you don’t want me to ask,” Zoe said quietly, “but have you thought about what I said?” “I have,” Jayne surprised her, and she sat up a little straighter, wincing with the effort. “And?” she prodded. “I’ll stay on,” he said simply. Zoe’s heart dropped. “You will?” she smiled. “Jayne that’s great!” “Happy about it myself,” he nodded. “You need anything?” “That’s it?” Zoe demanded. “Just I’ll stay? You ain’t got a list of demands, more pay, promises of some kind? Nothing like that?” “No,” Jayne shook his head. “I don’t.” Zoe looked at him for a moment, unsure of how to respond. “River musta talked you into it,” she grumped, suddenly realizing that she hadn’t persuaded Jayne to stay. “No,” he shook his head again. “I did talk to her, about it, cause that’s what married folks do. They talk about things, ‘fore they decide on them. But she went out of her way not to convince me to stay. Wanted me to do what made me happy.” “So staying makes you happy?” Zoe asked, trying and failing to reclaim her normal stoicism. “It does,” Jayne said simply, not bothering to tell her that it was because River was with him. “Well, I’m glad, Jayne,” Zoe told him. “I woulda missed your ugly mug, stomping around here.” Jayne laughed. “I expect that’s so,” he told her. “There is one thing, though,” he told her. “River and I, we’re adoptin’ a girl we rescued from slavers on Aberdeen. She’ll have to be with us when we’re flyin’.” “How old is she?” Zoe asked, frowning. “She’s a teenager,” Jayne assured her. “River’s gonna see to her schoolin’ herself. Maybe let her learn to fly. I’m sure Mal won’t be able to tell her no,” he added with a chuckle. Zoe snorted. “He ain’t yet,” Zoe nodded. “Well, that’s fine by me. There’s an empty crew bunk, once things are back to normal. She can use it.” “Thanks,” Jayne nodded. “Well, I need to get back to the bridge,” he said, rising. “I’ll talk to you later. Hopefully after I’ve had a chance to sleep,” he added. “You look tired, Jayne,” Zoe told him. “Get some rest. Can’t have you zoning out.” “I’ll try. You do the same. I’ve had about all of being in charge I can stand.” Zoe’s laughing followed him out of the room. --------------------

-------------------- Hope you’re enjoying the story so far. Little ways to go, just yet, building into the new story. Let me know how I’m doing, or if you’re getting tired of ole Shade. Happy New Year everyone!