River was again pacing the foyer when her father returned, clearly agitated from his run-in with Simon. Her eyes blazing with anger at his actions, River accused, “You just couldn’t leave it alone, could you?”

Taking a step back, Gabriel studied his daughter for a moment, wondering how he could have missed such a drastic change in her. She was so painfully not the fourteen year old he and Regan had packed off to school, and yet, when she’d first come back to them, that was the only girl he could see. But this young woman, with fiery eyes and lithe muscles, was made of much firmer stock than he had ever estimated. What else had he missed?

Raising a hand to block her next tirade, Gabriel strode towards the parlor, knowing that’s where he’d find his wife. “River, your mother and I need to discuss some things and then we’ll-“

“No!”

The loud shout was punctuated by the sharp bang of the parlor door closing as River slammed it shut behind her. Whirling, both parents eyed her with wide-eyed expressions, stunned into silence by her abrupt action.

Seething, River stood her ground. She could feel their confusion, mixed with a bit of fear, and she didn’t care. Simon was suffering, more than he ever had before and she would no longer sit by and let it happen. She was done trying to play the good daughter, done trying to be diplomatic and understanding; this ended now.

Using every ounce of her self-control, River forced her voice to even out and told them, “Simon didn’t do anything wrong. I know that’s hard for you to accept, but it’s the truth.” Her eyes darting between them, River watched as neither parent moved and then continued. “What Simon told you about what happened to me in that place, it’s all true.”

Swallowing thickly, she admitted, “I wish it was a lie. I wish I hadn’t lived through it, I wish I’d never gone to that place.” With wide eyes full of sadness she added quietly, “I wish I was still the daughter you remembered. The carefree girl who always danced and laughed, but I’m not her.” Dropping her voice to a low growl, she told them, “Not anymore.”

Regan’s hand had risen to her mouth, either to stifle a gasp or withhold bile from spewing from her lips, it was hard to tell. She was horrified by River’s assertions and even more terrified by the fact that she was starting to believe her. Doing her best to collect herself, she asked brokenly, “River, how could it be true? Your father and I researched that Academy, talked with the Dean. Those captures, the letters …” Faltering Regan sank slowly into a chair, her hand clutching at Gabriel’s as she sat. Gripping it firmly within his own, his own gaze remained focused solely on his daughter.

“It was a ruse, mother, designed by the government. They were training assassins.” Unable to hide the gasp this time, Regan found herself straining to her the next words from River’s mouth over the beating of her own heart. “The only thing they taught me was fear, and the most efficient way to kill a man three times my size.”

Working his tongue in his mouth, Gabriel struggled to speak. “River, that … it can’t be true.”

With lifeless eyes, River stared at him. “Take me to the doctor, have my brain examined. It’ll show you all that Simon has been saying is the truth.” Moving forward again, she noticed as both of her parents tensed at her approach. Saddened, but refusing to show it, she added, “Simon is your son. He is the best brother anyone could hope for and you’re ruining his life. You’re taking away everything he’s fought for.” Her eyes boring uncomfortably into Gabriel’s she said harshly, “You took his sunshine away.”

Puzzled, he asked, “What are you talking about? The confinement?” When River’s expression did not change, he sputtered, “It’s for his own protection. He’s become violent.”

“He needs to be loved, father.” River approached him now, grabbing at his shoulders, ignoring the way he tried to avoid her touch. Forcing his eyes to lock with hers, she told him, “He needs his happiness. He deserves it, after everything he gave up from me. And you still took it away.”

A tense silence settled over them and no one moved. River refused to let her father go, her eyes burning him with their intensity. His cheeks flushed hot as he felt his guilt rising; whether he believed his daughter or not, whether he believed his son or not, what he was doing to them now, separating them, keeping Simon in jail, was wrong. He had no justification for this; self-righteousness maybe, but not justification. And he should have realized it before.

But, if poor judgment was Gabriel’s weakness, than pride was his downfall. He couldn’t admit to his shortcomings now, not without proof. Taking his daughter’s pale hand from his shoulder he said softly, “River, if your mother and I asked you to be examined by a doctor, would you agree to it?”

Nodding eagerly, her face lit with hope for the first time since they’d seen her. “Let’s go now,” she said hopefully, turning towards the door and trying to tug him along.

Holding his ground, Gabriel was about to explain they would need to wait until the morning when the door across the room opened and Chen stepped in, flanked by three guards, all with weapons raised.

Freezing, River’s entire body tensed, her muscles coiling in an instant, ready to attack. She knew this man, remembered him from that awful time and she was not happy to make his re-acquaintance.

Chen noted the way the girl froze and he allowed the barest of grins to grace his lips. Taking a step forward, his men still guarding the door, he inclined his head to her slightly and said, “It’s good to see you again, River.”

Dropping her father’s hand, River positioned herself solidly between her parents and this intruder. Crossing her arms over her chest, she said firmly, “Get out.”

“River,” Regan scolded in a whisper, her eyes apologizing for her daughter’s rudeness even as her grip on Gabriel’s hand grew tighter.

Explaining quickly, Chen told her, “It’s all right, Mrs. Tam. I understand that River is a very confused, very troubled young woman. I can excuse her behavior.” Turning his attention back to the woman in question, he said carefully, “I understand that your brother has been filling your head with tall tales, River. Convincing you of things you know to be lies.”

Shaking her head firmly, River felt her anger growing. Her palms itched with the desire to fight, the urge to knock some heads together possessing her in much the same way it often possessed Jayne; odd. “Not lies, truth. Simon only tells the truth.” Cocking her head to the side, she seemed to be listening to some silent sound and finally a slow smile spread across her face. “Of course, truth is a very foreign concept for you. Isn’t it, Chen?”

Forcing his blank expression to remain intact, Chen told her, “River, I only want what’s best for you and your family. Isn’t that what you want?” Refusing to be baited, she simply continued to stare him down and so he went on. “What would be best for your brother, River? To live out the remainder of his life in an institution or to come home and resume his life here, with you and your family?”

“Our life isn’t here anymore.” It was a fact, one that her parents did not like, but one that existed all the same. Ignoring the wave of sadness that rolled off of her mother at the statement, River told him, “Our life is far from here. Somewhere you can’t get to us.”

Smiling tightly, the man stepped forward. Lowering his voice, he told her, “River, my dear, there is no where in this ‘verse that you can go, where I can’t get to you.”

Returning his tight grin with her own, River told him, “You’re wrong.”

And then she attacked. Driving her knee sharply into his stomach, Chen doubled over and River took the opportunity to grab for his gun. Whipping it from the holster, she used the butt of the weapon to strike his skull, and he fell heavily at her feet. Leveling the firearm to the officers along the wall, she told them, “Don’t.”

All three men dropped their guns to the floor, raising their hands in the process. Moving towards them, River stepped over Chen’s unconscious form, ushering the three soldiers back towards the center of the room with a few wild waves of the pistol. As they circled away from her, River spared a glance to her parents. Both of them were completely dumbfounded by all they had just witnessed. Hardly able to comprehend what they’d seen, both Regan and Gabriel stared at their daughter now as she said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to be this way, but Simon and I have to go. We don’t belong here, not anymore.”

With one last regretful glance, River opened the door and breezed out, breaking into a sprint the minute she was able. Bursting through the back doors of her home and into a wide expanse of garden, she focused on escaping, on eluding the men who were already circling the area looking for her.

If she focused on that, maybe she’d be able to avoid feeling the dread welling in her chest. Maybe she’d finally be able to keep her promise and rescue her brother.

---- ----

“Inara, dear, is everything all right?”

Closing her eyes for a moment and muttering a silent prayer to Buddha, Inara turned to face her friend with a look of pure calm. Smiling placidly, she said, “Yes, Penny, thank you. Everything’s fine.”

The older woman eyed her skeptically and Inara knew she’d been less than convincing. Of course everything wasn’t all right; she’d awoken that morning to find Kaylee gone, no note, no nothing and Inara was a nervous wreck. It was already mid-afternoon and yet her young friend had still not reappeared. And now Penny had caught her in the middle of her nervous pacing on the training house’s front porch.

Stilling her hands at her sides from where they were fidgeting with her shawl, Inara asked calmly, “Did you need something?”

While the house mistress knew that Inara was lying, she was far too genteel to call her friend on it – they had, after all, known each other for quite some time. Moving to stand beside her, Penny commented, “Your young charge, Kayla, was not in any of her classes today.” Watching as Inara digested this news with no reaction, she prompted, “Is she ill?”

Lying, she told her, “Yes, she told me last night when she turned in that she wasn’t feeling very well. I suspected she might have a touch of the flu.”

Frowning, Penny was disappointed she’d been unable to pull the truth from her friend. But, because she’d known Inara for years Penny also knew that if the other woman was playing things this close to the vest she had her reasons. And Penny would not uncover them. Companions, after all, were nothing if not discreet.

Touching her arm lightly, she said, “Well then, please tell her that I hope she’s better soon.”

Smiling gratefully, Inara nodded once and watched as Penny left. Once the woman was out of sight, she released a huge sigh. Turning back to scan the courtyard in front of her and the street beyond its gates, Inara murmured, “Kaylee Frye, where are you?”

“Inara?”

Turning sharply, Inara’s eyes widened in shock as she took in the shadowy figure that had spoken her name. Squinting in an effort to make her out, she knew in a second who it was. “River?” she breathed, her heart rate slowing once recognition came.

Stepping from her hiding spot along the side of the wraparound veranda, the young woman nodded solemnly and whispered, “I need help.”

Compassion welling in her chest at the purely dejected tone in River’s voice, Inara moved to her side quickly, clutching the girl to her as she all but fell into Inara’s embrace. Burying her face in the crook of her friend’s neck, River muttered, “Everything’s wrong. Simon’s in jail and my parents …” The statement died and Inara did not push. She had seen River bereft before, especially in her early months on board Serenity, but the level of despair she now read from the girl far surpassed those trying times.

Stroking her fingers gently through River’s soft hair, Inara told her, “It’s going to be all right. We’ll figure something out.”

Nodding against her shoulder, River squeezed her once more and then stepped back. Doing her best to put on a brave face, she said quietly, “Kaylee’s on her way back.”

Releasing a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, Inara prayed again, this time thanking Buddha for his intervention. “Is she all right?”

River began to nod and then shook her head slowly, more sadness filling her eyes. “Saw Simon. Her heart hurts, filled with his pain.”

Her eyes clouding with confusion and more compassion, Inara took both of River’s hands in her own and only then noticed that the younger woman was holding a gun. A steeliness in her voice that had not been there only moments before, Inara asked evenly, “River, where did you get that?”

Glancing to the weapon, she looked back to Inara and shrugged lightly. “Everything’s wrong,” she repeated in way of an explanation.

Wondering if a truer statement had ever been spoken, Inara took the weapon from her friend, hiding it inside her robe before she wrapped her arm around River’s shoulders. “Let’s get you inside, sweetie. You need to get some rest.”

“I need to get Simon out,” she said fiercely. She came willingly with Inara, but the older woman could feel her tense with conviction at the statement.

“And you will, but first, we need a plan.” Inara continued to steer her towards the cool interior of the training house. She was praying again as well, but this time her thoughts centered on deliverance from a certain ship’s captain whom she had no doubt would be gloating right now if he knew how badly Inara wished he were there.

---- ----

“Who am I again?”

Rolling his eyes, Mal fought the urge to curse and turned to face his mercenary. “You’re Jayne, dumbass. How many times I gotta explain this?”

Frowning, the larger man glanced to the buildings as they whizzed by and then asked, “How come you get a different name?”

“’Cause I’m the captain, that’s why,” Mal retorted easily.

“Boys, don’t make me turn this mule around,” Zoe intoned dryly. Mal shot her a warning look while Jayne only scowled. Breezing through the streets of Capital City, they were at least five hundred yards from where they’d docked the ship, and so far, so good. Apparently, Mal’s “Captain Harbatkin” persona still allowed him some sway with bored, overworked and underpaid port authority guards. There was no other explanation as to how they had so easily found a berth for the ship on a Central planet. Unless of course, it had been Mal’s winning personality, but that was doubtful.

Zoe slowed the mule as they approached the outskirts of a nightclub district. It was by no means a collection of the classiest joints on Osiris, but for their purposes, it was perfect. Pulling the mule up to a sidewalk, Zoe brought the engine down to an idle and then swung her legs out and over the edge, dropping easily to the ground.

Circling the craft, she and Jayne faced Mal as he shifted his position into the driver’s seat. Looking to them both, he said, “You know why you’re here. We need to know all we can ‘bout what’s goin’ on with Simon.”

With a grunt, Jayne acknowledged his understanding of his orders and then trudged towards the first dimly lit bar. Watching him go with an upraised eyebrow, Zoe looked back to Mal and said wryly, “I can’t thank ya enough for givin’ me this assignment, sir.”

Smiling himself, Mal revved the engine and told her, “Well, Zo, I felt it was only fair to share the joy.” Growing serious once again, he told her, “Be careful.”

Nodding once, she took a step back as he pulled the mule away from the curb and headed off into the approaching night. “You too.”

---- ----

Simon heard the cell door open, but did not look up to meet his newest visitor. It was probably the man from before, the one who had drugged him and hit him. He wanted it to be Kaylee, but he knew it could not be her again; they had dragged him away from her and Simon knew they would not allow her to come back to see him. Not when he was such a “danger.”

With his head down and his body slumped forward, he didn’t see the pained look that crossed his mother’s face as she stood just inside the door. Her hands were clutched tightly in front of her, knuckles white from the tension she was holding in as she stared at her son. The sight of him, bruised and broken hurt her more than she’d ever thought possible. Almost as much as watching his sister brandish a weapon at a government official no more than four hours ago.

Why wasn’t he saying anything? Simon was really not in the mood for company, especially stalwart company whose only desire was to make him more insane than he already was. With a heavy sigh of annoyance, he finally lifted his face and said, “If you’re not going to-“

The words died on his tongue as he saw his mother standing before him. She was standing tall and proud, as she so often did, but Simon could read the tension in her stance, in her face. Her forehead was creased with extra lines of worry and her eyes were shining in the little light there was. As she continued to stare, Simon recovered from his momentary shock and asked simply, “What do you want?”

Swallowing hard past the lump in her throat, Regan found her voice. “Simon. How are you?”

Looking to first one side and then the other, Simon frowned and told her sardonically, “Just great. And you?”

Moving towards him swiftly, Regan kneeled in front of him, her eyes pleading with him for something – whether it was forgiveness, understanding or some other emotion he was currently incapable of feeling, he was not sure. “Oh, Simon, we never wanted this.”

“Wanted what?” His tone was dry and harsh; it even hurt his own ears to hear it. “Never wanted me locked away in a jail cell? Or never wanted a son whom you thought was a criminal?” Glowering at her, he muttered, “Because if you didn’t want either of those things, I’d take a good look around. You got them.”

“Simon, please don’t be harsh with me.” It was a plea, plain and simple and Simon refused to listen.

“Why shouldn’t I?” Rising, he almost bowled his mother over as he paced away from her. “You and father have done nothing to make me feel any differently towards you.”

“We didn’t know.” Regan was whimpering now and she hated it. She had never wanted her son to see her so weak, but she was. She was clinging to old arguments and justifications and she knew they were losing their momentum; if they’d had any to begin with. “We didn’t know.”

“You didn’t want to know, mother,” Simon pointed out. He’d made it to the other side of his ridiculously small room and leaned against the wall, arms over his chest in a posture of defiance. “You and father both were content to bury your heads in the sand rather than listen to your son. It was easier for you to convince yourselves that I was crazy than to accept that the government you’ve trusted blindly for your entire life is corrupt.”

“Yes, it was easier,” Regan admitted, pushing herself up from the floor and turning to face him. “It was easier, more convenient, less heart breaking to believe in the Alliance. To not believe you,” she confirmed, stepping closer. “Your father and I made a mistake Simon, a big one. One we will be atoning for the rest of our lives.”

His eyes narrowing as he tried to decipher all she was saying, Simon told her, “I’m still in this cell, mother. Obviously your need for atonement only goes so far.”

“Your father and I still need to … well, I can’t make this decision unilaterally Simon, I’m sorry.” And she was; Regan had never in her life felt as much remorse as she did in that moment. Casting her eyes to the floor, she reminded him quietly, “And you did hit him.”

Releasing a frustrated snort, Simon threw his hands in the air. “Great, then just add assault charges to my already long rap sheet.” Staring at her for a moment, Simon allowed his eyes to burn into her before biting out, “Are we done?”

Nodding stiffly, Regan knew it was the best she could have hoped for. Moving back to the door, she knocked quietly and waited for the guard. Simon circled back to his bunk, dropping onto it unceremoniously, a heavy sigh escaping his mouth. Closing his eyes for a moment, Kaylee’s face floated into his mind’s eye and he felt his heart rate slow a bit. He’d die if he never saw her again.

“I will make this right, son.” Turning his head to look at her, Simon watched as his mother blinked back a few tears and reaffirmed, “I will. And then you and your father and River and I, we can all be a family.” Not waiting for his response, Regan fled quickly and the door was once again shut and Simon was once again alone.

Looking back to the ceiling another heavy sigh came and Simon closed his eyes. “We’ll never be a family again.”

---- ----

“River, is he gonna make it?”

Looking up from her plate of untouched food, River’s big brown eyes met Kaylee’s equally large green ones. The other woman had returned from the police station just shortly after River had arrived and now they sat in Inara’s chambers, the Companion doting on them like two small children as they tried not to despair.

Swallowing past the lump in her throat, River put her fork down gently and told her, “Yes, Kaylee. But I don’t know how much worse it’s going to get before it gets better.”

Nodding slowly, Kaylee averted her gaze, wiping hurriedly at her cheeks. She hadn’t told Inara and River the whole story, but she hadn’t had to. Just the look on her normally cheery face and the way her voice broke at the mention of Simon’s name had told the two women all they’d needed to know.

Trying to rein in the sadness she felt overwhelming both of her friends, Inara said firmly, “We’ll figure something out.” Turning to River, she asked, “Do you think your parents can be convinced to drop the charges?”

Shrugging lightly, River said, “I don’t know. They were so adamant that Simon was crazy, that I was wrong. They might, but father’s pride and ego are going to be damaged. He’s going to need proof.”

“How ‘bout the fact that his son is sufferin’ in a jail cell?” Kaylee asked hotly, rising swiftly and surprising both of her friends. Anger having replaced her sadness, she asked, “What ‘bout the fact that you ain’t the same girl they sent to that place? What ‘bout the-“

“Kaylee, they didn’t know any better,” River interjected, tugging on her friend’s wrist and encouraging her to sit back down. “They didn’t know what else to do. Thought loyalty was better than suspicion.”

“But you’re their kids,” Kaylee reminded her needlessly, reaching for both of River’s hands and squeezing hard. “Where I’m from, that would mean somethin’ to a parent.”

Smiling sadly, River told her, “We’re from two far different words Kaylee. I wish it were different.”

Kaylee let it drop at that, knowing that River was right. Besides the issue at hand had nothing to do with what had or had not happened in the past; it had to do with what they were going to do about the present.

“What if Simon stands trial?” Inara asked, glad to see the two women slowly calming back down. “Surely he can convince a jury.”

“Won’t make it to trial,” River explained. Her eyes were boring a hole into the pile of green beans on her plate. “Doesn’t want him to testify, to air the dirty laundry.”

This sobered them all. Inara glanced to Kaylee, seeing the way her young friend’s face had blanched at River’s words. She was worried about Simon that was plain, but it was more than that. She was anxious and nervous and so distraught she could barely think; it was a reaction Inara knew well. For while she would be loathed to admit it, it was the same reaction she had every time Mal was injured.

“Then your parents are the only option, River,” Inara said firmly, meeting the woman’s brown-eyed gaze. “We need to-“

Abruptly, River straightened in her seat, startling Inara into silence. Viewing her quizzically, she asked, “River, what is it?”

With a wide smile that they had not seen for days, River whispered, “Daddy’s here.”

More puzzled then before, Inara and Kaylee shared a look just as a sharp rap could be heard against the door to her quarters. Rising quickly, Inara reached for the handle, taking a deep breath first and straightening her shoulders. Praying it wasn’t either more bad news or some Alliance guards looking for River, she swung the door open, her chin dropping to the floor in shock.

His thumbs hitched into his belt, his brown duster covering his tall frame, Mal Reynolds smirked at her knowingly and asked slyly, “Somebody call for a big damn hero?”

---- ----

TBC