River's hand pumped the IV bag as her eyes trained on the captain's calloused hand rubbing an unconscious newborn's chest. Her patient was hooked up to the monitors, that blipped slowly to indicate an obvious problem. Suddenly the blip jumped as the electrolytes charged the feeble body through the freshly placed IV line.

Mal glanced up to the monitors. "That's it." He coaxed "Come on, make a fuss."

The pale skin flushed with a touch of color as the child tightened her fists and squirmed on the table. Drawing in a deep breath, she let out a cough, then a cry.

"Cry some more." He whispered, "More deep breathin' let's see it. None of that shallow stuff, work those lungs. Scream, you got every right to."

River let go of the back and walked over to a drawer. Taking out a mask, she connected it to the oxygen source and turned it on. Going back over she put the too large mask over the baby's face and watched as the vitals rose again to the pure air. Looking up, she stared at Mal, reading his knowledge and understanding what he knew about the all too common but unspeakable practice that had left the newborn for death.

"Knew what to do." She noted out loud.

"Seen my share of winter born calves and babes birthed in war torn localities." He responded quickly, gruffly. "Regardless the species, sucklings are pretty much all the same. Want ta live, they don't give up easily."

Kaylee's boots could easily be heard thundering into the cargo bay. Skidding to a stop, she hurried into the infirmary with a milk crate of baby supplies. "She better?"

"In high dudgeon and hungry as hell but it's justifiable seeing how she's spent her first hours." Malcolm explained. "Take a bottle and some formula and fix her some milk. We'll clean her up."

As the mechanic left, still weepy and not understanding why someone would try to destroy such an innocent little life, River took the oxygen mask off of the screaming waif and headed over to retrieve more supplies as Mal grabbed the milk crate and dug through it for a cotton diaper, onesie, footed pajamas and little cap. "Been on here not even an hour and she's spoilin' ya with good clothes." He muttered under his breath. Catching the sound of running water, he gazed over to see River filling a small basin with warm water before shutting it off and taking it with a washcloth and towel over.

"Smells like afterbirth and garbage." River commented, wringing the washcloth out before gently applying it to the bonafide new skin.

"And you smell like posies." Seeing the child was not too happy about being on the table, he picked her up gently. "Keep howlin', need ta learn how to use those pipes, nobody's breathing for you anymore." As his pilot wiped the baby clean, Mal inspected the little figure for any signs of bruising or harm. There was none he could see, just a tuft of black peach fuzz for hair, and a cry that sounded very frightened and hungry. His blood boiled at the situation, and his mean old heart couldn't help but tug some when a wee hand reached out and grabbed his shirt.

River did her job carefully, gleaning from Mal that he would possibly string up the parents if he ever learned who they were. She was on the same boat, for she was in tuned with all, and feeling the child's anguish made her sick. There was also the thought of hunting down those responsible. She could do it, it wouldn't take much, surely leaving a newborn to die would be on the culprit's mind. As River plotted out a slice of justice, she finished her task. "Done."

Mal, cradling the naked babe, looked down at the cloth diaper. "Um.... I dunno how ta do one of those." Looking around, peeved, he checked River.

She shrugged. "I no everything and nothing at the same time. Sorry."

"Kaylee?"

"Mind is slightly overwhelmed at the current time. Being Simon, can't be Kaylee at the same time."

"KAYLEE."

Kaylee hurried down the ladder. "What's wrong?!"

"Couldn't you have gotten the ones with the sticky tabs?!" He growled.

Jumping down, she went into the infirmary. "Ain't much of a selection, 'sides you just wash cloth ones and they're as good as new." Kaylee explained, swooping in and taking the baby. "Here, I can do it." Laying out the diaper, she gently folded the white cloth in place and reached into the milk crate to take out a package of safety pins. Securing the pins, it was all done in over a minute, astounding Mal as she continued to put on the onesie. The baby fought back, yet Kaylee got everything in with the exception of the arm with the IV needle.

"I don't think she'll need that as soon as she gets the bottle." Mal quipped, watching as River moved in and removed it. Turning he disappeared and climbed up the ladder, heading into the galley to check the heating bottle. Rubbing his face and grunting, the captain let out a sigh that was laced with an incoherent grumble. Checking the bottle, he took it out of the water, turned off the stove as Kaylee had heated it double time, and headed back to the infirmary. Once down there, he found Kaylee gently tugging down the small woolen cap that had animal ears, the baby dressed warmly. "Kaylee, get her started, figure you know the most."

Taking the bottle, Kaylee adjusted her so, and pressed the rubber nipple gently against the bottom lip. The three watched with baited breath. "Come on little one," She coaxed.

The baby fumbled, not knowing what to do. However through quick trial and error her mouth found it's way around the nub and after her first taste she ate with gusto. Instinctively, she huddled in close to Kaylee, noisily sucking all the while.

They all relaxed some, yet before long Mal began to talk. "O-k, we need ta head out." Stepping in, he took the child and cradled her, holding the bottle up as she had been. "Kaylee, go get us ready..."

"What are we gonna do with her?" She quizzed rather meekly, wishing to coddle the orphan and promise her no harm would ever come to her again.

"Reckon your sweetheart needs ta examine her." He answered. "We aren't picking up speed though just because we've got an extra bundle. She'll be fine for six hours, figure as long as she's fed, clean and warm."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon didn't even get to the cabin.

The day had been spent tending the cows; pulling a few out of the mud, injecting some ill appearing ones with the panacea, and riding along the fence to make sure it wasn't in need of repair. Just as he was going in for the day, Zoe had come on the mule and explained the situation. So, he rode Brave over to the cabin, put him in the small stable, and left with her. The ride was quick, and soon he was at the house, and Serenity landed.

Inara had also heard the news, so she joined the beta and doctor. When the hatch opened, they all hurried in, River holding the door as Simon was clutching a bag and Inara had a blanket.

Seeing the interior of the ship, Simon glanced over his shoulder at River.

"Went to town and unloaded it all, except Kaylee's basket and the wood." She detailed, following him and the rest of the crowd to the infirmary.

Laying his eyes on the child Kaylee was holding, he immediately slipped into a more professional persona. "How is she?" Setting his bag down he went over and sterilized his hands.

"Alot better." Kaylee's voice was hushed as she transfered the newborn to his arms. "She just finished a bottle and she's exhausted."

"Understandable from what I heard." Looking down, he peeled back the blankets to survey the wee features.

The baby fussed, scowling fiercely at the loss of heat.

Mal, coming in from the engine room entrance, nodded his head to his crew. "Hows about we give the doc some space? I don't think he needs everyone crammed into his infirmary." Ushering them out and closing the doors, the captain couldn't help but curse the heavens for sending him a baby with a group of four women to contend with.

"Is she alright?" Inara asked worriedly.

"So far, but the doc needs to suss out what's goin' on." He began soberly, blue eyes sweeping the common room's faces. "His scans and tests will bring more to light than what we can see."

"Cap'n," his normally cheerful mechanic stepped forward, face brimming with sorrow "why would someone do that?"

"Alota reasons." Putting his hands on his hips, he clenched his jaw for a moment and rolled his eyes down to glance at the floor for just a second. "It's an endeavor for everyone out here, and folks don't got much ta do for recreation..."

"The Alliance has a safe sex program." Inara countered. "That doesn't allow for that excuse...."

Zoe couldn't help but scoff. "You think that reaches out ta holes like this? They may be passin' out prophylactics left and right in the core, but they sure as hell don't hypo women or give them a pack of trojans out here."

"Right," Mal nodded his head. "there is nothin' of the sort out here that resembles a clinic or any other place that would take care of preventing or curtailin'. Folks get bored, they do what they can, and when the family gets too big some times they do this. As horrible as it is, they feel they gotta, it's one too many mouths to feed."

Inara and Kaylee were utterly horrified. River was sitting on the couch, seemingly out of it and holding Boston like he was her baby, and Zoe was understanding yet obviously feeling the same emotions as the first two.

"Nonetheless," he continued "she's with us now, and we need to discuss her lot in life."

"She needs to stay here." Inara gawked at her lover incredulously. "What else would we do with her?"

"Sell her to the highest bidder." River announced aberrantly as she rocked Boston.

Mal had never seen three angry women give him the look of death before. And afterwards he never wished to again. With his thumbs in his belt, the captain backed up with wide, somewhat startled blue orbs. "Hey...."

"Slavin' is a bit below you, Sir." Zoe growled.

Kaylee didn't say anything, she just glowered like she was about to take a wrench to his kneecaps.

"I can't believe you, you no good...."

"Er-zi de yi.... I would NEVER sell her to slavers!" He cut the ex-companion off, snapping at all of them. "You know how I view that sort. I was theorizing more along the lines of finding a nice family on Londinium or somethin' and sellin' her ta one of the many rich folks that want kids but can't have THE DAMN THINGS."

"Do you know what the feds would do to you if they even suspected child trafficking?" Inara chastised crucially, her dark brown eyes furious. "You'd sa feng all of our work on this ranch to sell her for a few hundred credits?"

"Well I ain't given her up to the system, be raised by some zi-fu yang-yu guan-xin and brainwash 'er."

"Then she stays here." Zoe concluded, much to the agreement of the other women.

"Wha...?" He was taken back by her lack of loyalty. "You too? NO." Glaring at them all, Malcolm Reynolds gave an authorative voice. "I don't want another mouth ta feed, especially one that can't pull it's weight around here. She's best being spoiled silly on a core planet, grownin up with the world at her fingertips and all that manouch."

Inara walked over to him and locked eyes with the captain, resolve to steel exuding her pretty face. "Ni bing zhi, wo BI shi ni jiao zai cang jie dong. Ni ke shi dui-zhang er ni-shi de na wo-shi ye-bu WU fang."

Kaylee and Zoe raised their brows, impressed.

Staring her down, he knew that it was in every aspect her house. She kept it clean, she cooked, she mended, she provided the ground for them to be stable on. The rest of the ranch was his, but dear fluffly lord, that was her domain, and she was finally announcing it and throwing her weight around. Scowling, face red, he drew in a deep breath and snorted the air out. "Fine. But you prairie hens better settle who her mother is. Somebody's gonna raise her and it sure as hell ain't me."

"But she needs a daddy." River told him alarmingly. "Hero of Canton doesn't fit the bill, neither does...."

"I am not ANYONE'S daddy!" He threw his hands up in aggrivation. "I got papers to prove it! I don't want her here and I certainly don't want somthin' knee high to a cabbage seein' me as a daddy!"

The women watched him storm off in a huff laced with words that spelled out his frustration.

Zoe, Inara and Kaylee turned to one another.

"I'll babysit." Kaylee offered, her voice wary. "But I sure ain't ready to be motherin'. Hell I'm not even legal ta smoke kef yet."

"You don't smoke." River corrected. "Never will."

"Just sayin'. Figure it might be a few years before I'm ready. I don't think Simon is either. Sort of enjoying the throws or... well you know."

Inara and Zoe looked at one another, both trying to fathom the responsibility the one tiny child in the infirmary would be. Kaylee was a loving soul, but it was true, she possibly wasn't ready for that responsibility yet.

Zoe swallowed, eyes trained to the window as Simon was running tests. Thinking of raising a baby made her think of Wash in a painful way. Something they never accomplished, something that would never be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jayne stripped down to his long johns and settled in his sleeping bag for the night.

Tired he curled up, hugging his clothes to his chest as they kept that part of his warm whilst his head nestled on his saddle. Donner was tied to a tree, the fire's warmth was licking his face, and he smacked his lips as sleep took him. Laying beneath the stars themselves.

It was a mighty fine night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mal went back to the ranch house.

He brooded for a long while, ate a cold supper, let Chester eat the rest of said supper and realized that the reason the others were possibly taking so long was because of the decision of who the little rugrat was going to bond to. So, the captain took the opportunity to climb the stairs and draw a steaming hot bath. Stripping his clothes, pouring in some of the salts that Inara had for de-stressing moments, he slid his tanned hide into the porcelain tub.

He sighed.

A cat yowled.

Looking up, befuddled, his eyes fell upon York, who was perched on the toilet seat. The cat seemed either fairly interested in the exhibition of the captain, or just wanted someone to pour some cream. Either way he had successfully opened the door to get to the only human in the house.

"Gorram fluff pile." Reaching down, Mal fished a sock from the floor and hurled it at the animal that defied his quest for piece. "Git!"

York protested as the balled up sock hit his side, but disappeared, only after picking up the sock in his mouth and retreating with it.

"Can't get a moment's privacy." Wiggling his toes in the water, the magical bath that smelled like vanilla and hazelnuts seemed to work the knots out of his gnarled muscles. Mouth slacking open, he propped an arm up on the side of the tub and shut his eyes, recollecting the day. Dropping off the cargo had been rewarding, he had made alot of friends, for the businesses now depended upon him to retrieve supplies. Another good thing was he had been able to buy posts and lumber at the skyplex. As mundane as that sounded, it was exciting, because the next few days he and Kaylee were going to take the lumber and build a decent pasture behind the barn for their horses. A place where they could run and graze when off work.

Thinking about the layout of the pasture made Malcolm sleepy, therefore he eventually dozed off until the front door opened and his crew tromped inside, all chattering. Someone thundered up the steps, and shut the door to the bathroom.

"He's taking a bath."

"Good, maybe that'll help him relax."

Talking stirred him, and what came after that he didn't pick up because his mind was adjusting. Still, Mal washed himself and got out of the tub, pulling the stopper out before taking a towel and drying himself off. Once throughly dry, and hearing everyone talking about going to bed, which included Kaylee and Simon driving back out to the outpost cabin, he wrapped the towel around his waist, gathered up his clothes, perplexed over a missing sock, and headed to his room. Dumping the clothes in a pile on the floor before shutting the door.

"I really wish you wouldn't do that." Inara's voice commented from their bed.

"Oh, so we're back to loving each other again?" Dropping the towel unceremoniously, he went over to his dresser and found a pair of sweats, as it was supposed to be colder than the night before. That, and he doubted Inara was going to want any play. It seemed to be the type of angry that didn't warrant the fabulous makeup sex their relationship had been based on for the first few months. "Gonna smooch me goodnight?"

"Mal listen...."

"Listen to...."

He couldn't talk.

The captain gawked, because she was in bed, in one of her warmer nightgowns, and a baby dressed in fuzzy pink was sleeping in the middle of their bed.

Their bed.

He blinked a few times. "Ohhhhh no. Hell. No." Jerking back around he grabbed a sweatshirt and pulled it on. as if covering up further would deflect the baby. "You women were supposed ta figure out a mother..."

"We did." She replied softly.

"What about Zoe and Kaylee?"

"Kaylee feels she's not ready and Zoe feels she isn't ready either. Both of which are highly understandable." Sitting up in bed, she watched as he stood there, refusing to get any closer.

"So you gotta be mother bear?" Annoyed, he gestured to the baby.

"I want to." Inara began to sound firm in her belief. "I think I'm fit. I take care of everyone right now I think I am perfectly capable of raising a child."

"It's in my bed."

"She is in our bed," Correcting him, she continued, wanting to get loud however the sleeping babe was prohibiting that. "because there isn't a crib, and I think it might be beneficial if she actually was given proper human contact during the night." Gently, she rested a palm on the child's rising chest. The poor infant had gone through the first hours of her life not knowing any love, it seemed sleeping with her in the bed may give her the attention she had lacked.

Blue eyes shifted from Inara, to the baby, and back to Inara. There would be no pleasing her if he left to sleep on a couch or one of River's bunk beds. Shifting his weight, he sidled in. "What did Simon have ta say?"

"From his scans he thinks she's a few weeks early, but there's no trauma and all she needs is someone to take care of her." She waited, watching as he slowly got closer to the bed. "Mal, she doesn't bite."

"I'll play along tonight, but I gotta work in the morning." He exclaimed tersely, pausing and seeming to ponder the thought of laying down with a baby wedged between him and her.

"Fine." Inara voiced indifferently. "I can do this myself."

*** *** *** TRANSLATIONS/DEFINITIONS

Er-zi de yi: Son of a...

sa feng: piss off

zi-fu yang-yu guan-xin: purple belly foster care

Ni bing zhi, wo BI shi ni jiao zai cang jie dong. Ni ke shi dui-zhang er ni-shi de na wo-shi ye-bu WU fang: You get rid of her, I WILL make you sleep in the barn all winter. You may be the captain but you are not the dictator of that bedroom nor MY house.

*** **As always, the writer appreciates all comments whether they be positive, negative, or suggestions.**