A/N: This is the second to last chapter in this story. Hope you like!

“We’re in orbit around Paquin, Cap’n.” Wash had his boot-clad feet on the controls because his hands were cushioning his head. If he were any more relaxed, he’d be asleep. The view visible through the glass was breathtaking. Paquin was a large planet distinguished by colorful bands of rock and dust. It had one smallish ocean that shone like a turquoise jewel in the equatorial regions.

“Shiny. Set down near the water. But not too close to town. Don’t need no civilization.”

Civilization was a nice word for the loosely organized collection of little towns scraping out a living on this hot, dry planet. The Alliance largely ignored this remote system; hence the reason Mal had chosen to set down here. That, and the fact that he had been able to get work here on more than one occasion. The warm equatorial ocean surrounded by white sand beaches had also played into his decision to park Serenity here for a week or two, at least until they’d picked up a few supplies, done some overdue maintenance on their ship and smelled out any jobs that might bring in income.

Kaylee was the first one outside when the hatch was fully opened, but River and Simon were close behind. Wash had set them down a few hundred yards from the edge of the sea. Kaylee ran barefoot through the sand and into the waves up to her knees. Her whoop of delight blew back to Serenity on a brisk breeze.

“Nice choice, Cap’n,” Zoe said.

“I’m inclined to agree,” Mal answered. He followed his second down to the water’s edge and watched his crew playing like delighted children. Simon looked over Mal’s head back at the ship and nodded to Mal. Mal turned and saw Inara standing in the shadow of the hold, still inside the ship as if she couldn’t make up her mind whether to chance coming out or not.

“Is she well enough to walk around, Simon?”

“For a short while, yes; I think it would be good for her.”

Slowly and casually, Mal walked up to her with his hands in his pockets. He watched her for any sign of fear before extending his hand.

“The water’s warm,” he said.

She didn’t move but just stared at him. She looked exhausted; she seemed almost on the verge of collapse. After a moment during which Mal held his breath, not at all sure how she would react, Inara slowly reached out her hand. She hesitatingly slid it into his outstretched palm. Mal breathed. Step by step, taking care to not rush her, he led her down to where the others were now thoroughly soaked and throwing handfuls of sea water at each other with great shouts of glee. Kaylee splashed wildly at Simon. He returned the gesture with abandon. A spray of water rained down on Inara.

“Ai ya!” She cried breathlessly.

“Hey, watch where you’re… Inara! What did you just say?” Mal stared at the woman at his side with delight.

“Ain’t that somethin’; her first word’s a cuss,” Jayne commented behind them.

“Atta girl,” Mal crowed. The wild water fight paused and everyone stared at Inara. She looked down at her feet and nonchalantly drew in the sand with her toe. Within seconds the hilarity began again, but this time hearts were lighter, for Inara had finally broken her silence.

“You okay?” Mal asked her after a few minutes.

“I’m tired,” she replied softly. Indeed, she looked frail and ashen. Mal lost no time heading back up to Serenity with her hand tucked into the crook of his arm.

After that, Inara improved quickly. By the next evening she was talking almost normally. But she still seemed off to Mal; he found her in the galley a few days later and he decided to do a little probing. She was absorbed in the task of cleaning the cook top. She seemed mesmerized by the repetitive motions of polishing the metal surface. He watched her work for a few minutes before speaking.

“Inara,” he said.

“What?”

“What’s the last thing you remember before waking up in the infirmary?”

She put down her cleaning rag and turned around. She wore the same confused expression he’d seen on her face a lot in the past two days.

“I’m not sure.” She looked at him hopefully. “Can you tell me?”

“How about you tell me.”

Her face grew closed and she tried to leave. Mal stepped in front of her and prevented her from leaving the galley so as to force an answer.

“I can’t,” she said with frustration. “The last thing I remember, I was flying the shuttle to… somewhere. Then I woke up in the infirmary. Did I crash-land somewhere?”

“No, you, uh…”

“It’s important that you remember it yourself, Inara,” Simon interjected from the doorway. “You’ve had a trauma and you’ve lost some of your memory. Can you tell us what you do remember?”

“Nothing, not since I flew off by myself to… well, to wherever I went. Where was I going?” Her eyes welled with tears and she abruptly turned away from the two men.

“We can talk about tomorrow. Don’t fret,” Mal encouraged. “Do you want I should make you some tea? Or dinner, or something?”

“I do remember enough to know you don’t know how to make tea,” Inara retorted.

“Course I do. That’s downright insulting.” Mal tried to look outraged but his continuing concern for Inara took the edge off his tone.

“I’ll make it. Simon…tea?” Inara said.

“Sure, I’ll have some, too,” he agreed. He and Mal exchanged a glance. It would seem they’d postponed discussing the issue, at least for now.

* * * * *

Town was full of exciting sights, sounds and smells. Inara looked happier than she had in a long time walking down main street with Mal and Kaylee. Kaylee was holding a small cloth sack which from time to time she dipped into to extract a sugar-coated pistachio. She ate them with such enjoyment that Mal stuck out his hand for one. He ambled along easily, enjoying the day and chewing on pistachios, content to watch the two women gaping at the trading post window up ahead.

“I guess we’re not going to escape a visit to that pile of junk?” Mal said.

“No,” Kaylee confirmed. She grabbed Inara by the hand and the women went inside. Mal trailed behind them.

“Look at this!” Kaylee cooed at a pretty pink parasol. “So frilly.”

“Those shawls are quite good lacework,” Inara said, pointing to several delicate creations hanging on the wall behind the main counter. She stared in appreciation.

“You should get one,” Kaylee urged.

“I’m watching my funds, Kaylee. Been a while since I’ve had any real work.”

“I know what you mean,” Mal commiserated.

“I don’t think you do,” Inara teased. Kaylee laughed at Mal’s sudden discomfort.

“Inara!” All three of them turned at the sound of a stranger’s voice greeting one of their own. Mal was instantly filled with an overpowering protectiveness when he saw a well-dressed, tall gray-haired man standing in the doorway drinking in the sight of the beautiful woman at the counter.

“Sir Benton!” Inara said, surprised. “Why, you’re a long way from home!” She walked up to him with a pleasing smile.

“No, I’m not, actually. This is my home now. I own a ranch just north of here. I make a decent living and Paquin is about as peaceful and quiet as one can hope for in the ‘verse. You’re the one I’d say is a long way from home.”

“I’ve also changed my residence since we last saw one another,” Inara said. “I have a business arrangement with a transport ship. I guess you could say the stars are my home.”

“How appropriate,” the man said with a syrupy grin. “So, how long will you be onworld?” Mal hated the way he looked at Inara; all gooey-eyed and leering. He wanted to go to Inara’s side and lay claim to her somehow, but he knew she’d feel disrespected if he interfered. Kaylee’s hand crept into his; she’d seen his mood and was offering reassurance.

“Might I have a word with you, Inara?” The man asked.

No! Mal wanted to roar.

“Of course,” said Inara. She followed him outside the shop and out of earshot.

“Now, Cap,” Kaylee started, but he shushed her with an upheld hand.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Well, she just said she’s running low on funds!” Kaylee whispered in protest. “It’s what she does.”

“Right,” Mal muttered. He dropped a small armful of supplies on the sales counter. “Here’s some coin, Kaylee. Get these for the galley. I’m headed back to Serenity. Make sure she comes back with you.” He jabbed a finger in the direction of the open door.

“Cap’n, don’t be like that,” Kaylee pleaded. He ignored her and stalked away.

Mal was slightly appeased to see both Kaylee and Inara come on board shortly after he had arrived back at the ship. He did his best to ignore them by continuing to poke around under the solar sheeting array. He’d been trying to increase the solar energy pulled in by the panels by rewiring the array, but it was confusing and he still wasn’t finished. Now he was anxious to get all the repairs done and get back into space. The sooner he put some distance between Inara and that love-sick man in town the better. She didn’t remember what had happened to her; he knew better than she did that she wasn’t ready to start entertaining clients. He thought Simon should talk to her as soon as possible and explain how things were, although Mal didn’t want anything to do with that conversation.

“What are you doing down under there, Cap’n?” Kaylee asked curiously.

“Gah, I can’t get the wires hooked up in the right order.” Mal closed his eyes and blew out a breath.

“Let Inara have a look,” Kaylee suggested.

“Here, let me see,” Inara agreed.

“What do you know about the solar sheeting?” Mal demanded petulantly. He slid out from under the array and bumped his head on the underside of the bulkhead.

“Ai ya, hwoon dahn.” Mal rubbed his forehead. Kaylee tried not to laugh.

“You okay, Cap?”

“Never better. Just get under there and fix it.”

Wearing a smug grin, Inara slid underneath the panel and began to rearrange the wires with an easy confidence.

“I’ve been teaching her how the ship’s systems work for months now, Cap’n. She’s a quick study. She’s been helping me keep up with this old girl for a while.”

“Really?” Mal’s eyes widened.

“I thought I should learn a useful trade for shipside, since we tend to go longish between ports of call,” Inara explained from under the panel. “Kaylee is a great teacher.”

“Well I’ll be.” Mal sounded pleased. “Listen, ladies; I’ve got some things to take care of. You two carry on.”

“Ah, Mal,” Inara stopped him. “How much longer were we going to stay on Paquin?”

“Two, maybe three days. We still have a few repairs outstanding. Why, you got plans?” He gave her a sharp glance.

“Just wondering.” She ducked back under the panel and appeared to be working on something with great concentration.

“Uh huh.” Mal looked like he was going to say something for a second. Then he shook his head and left.

“Kaylee, I’ve made plans for the evening,” Inara confided once she was sure Mal was gone. “I don’t think Mal approves, but business has been scarce lately. If he asks just tell him I’ll be back soon. Can you cover for me?” Inara gave Kaylee a pleading look.

“I’ll try.”

It was after sunset when Mal walked out to the shoreline. The waves were rough and the wind had picked up. Mal sniffed at the heavy air. Jayne was already out in the gloom and he joined the Captain.

“Smells like rain,” Jayne commented. “Funny how the smell of rain is the same on every planet.”

“Yeah, that’s true enough.” Mal kicked at the pebbles beneath his feet. “Ai ya! Did you see that?” Lightning had just forked down along the horizon, lighting up the water. Another stab blazed into the sea, and another, and then the wind began to blow in earnest. A cold splash of rain hit Mal’s cheek.

“Let’s get inside,” Mal suggested. They ran up the cargo bay ramp and Jayne hit the controls to close the hatch. Mal hurried up to the engine room where he knew Kaylee would be tracking the storm.

“What we got?” He called to her.

“Looks bad, Cap’n. Paquin has some wicked storms as I’ve heard tell. I wish Inara was here… oops.”

“What? I thought she was in her shuttle resting. Where is she?”

“She went to town about an hour ago,” Kaylee confessed. “She went with that man we run into at the store earlier.” Kaylee prepared herself for the Captain’s disgust, or even anger, but nothing she had previously observed about the Captain could have prepared her for the raw fear that immediately bloomed in his eyes.

“Do you know where?” He asked urgently. “Where did she go?”

“No, I don’t know exactly. She said she was going to his ranch on the north side of town. He was supposed to come pick her up here, she said. That’s all she told me, I swear.” Kaylee felt a flood of fear for Inara at the sight of her Captain’s shocked face.

“I’m going after her.” Mal ran up the ladder that led to the other shuttle. “Loose the docking clamps, Kaylee,” he called.

“Y-yes, sir,” Kaylee answered with a leaden heart. She felt terrible; she wished now she’d stopped Inara from going. Her gut had told her it was too soon, but she wasn’t in the habit of telling people what to do. Mal’s horrified reaction to the news that Inara had gone to meet a client told Kaylee her instincts had been right and she should have followed them. And this storm was getting worse by the minute. Listening to the spare shuttle lift off she squeezed her eyes shut with worry for her Captain as well as her friend.

Mal flew low over the town and followed the only road that ran north. It only took him a few minutes to find a large, newly erected house surrounded by barns and outbuildings. He set the small ship down near the gate just as rain began falling in wind-driven sheets.

“Hwoon dahn,” he muttered, taking a look at the raging storm. He’d seen few this intense. He didn’t relish the thought of going out in this weather, but for Inara he knew he’d march through worse. He prepared himself for a very uncomfortable run to the front door. He still wasn’t sure what he was going to do once he got there. He only knew that he had to be sure Inara was safe from harm; if that meant facing an embarrassing moment so be it.

Wait; was somebody out in this storm? Mal peered out from the hatch into the rain and dark. It looked like someone was stumbling along against the wind, heading away from the house. He jumped down the ramp and headed for the figure. In no time he was soaked to the skin and gasping against the onslaught of the wind. Lightning crashed around him. Mud sucked at his boots and threatened to pull him to the ground.

“Mal!” He heard a familiar voice call. He looked in the direction of the voice. There was Inara lurching wildly toward him through the mud, soaked and wide-eyed with fear. He was sure, as she reached him and threw herself into his arms, that if her face hadn’t been drowned with rain it would still be wet with tears. She was hysterical. Back at the house, Mal saw a man framed against the light of the doorway, looking frantically around the grounds. The man called out over and over but his voice was all but swallowed up in the wind.

“Oh Mal!” Inara sobbed against his throat. Desperate fingers dug holes in his back.

“Did he hurt you? Want I should kill him?” Mal demanded.

“No, no, don’t. He didn’t do anything to me. Please just take me home,” she cried.

With a final look at the man back at the house, Mal decided the best thing to do was to get the two of them into the shuttle and return to the warmth and shelter of the ship.

“C’mon.” He turned, struggled back to the open hatch and lifted her in. Half the shuttle was rain-soaked by now thanks to the hatch having been left open while he went after Inara, but he barely noticed. He fastened Inara into the co-pilot’s seat and took off as quickly as possible. The shuttle was so quiet compared to the howling gale outside that it took him a few moments to adjust to the change in volume. When he had recovered from their ordeal enough to speak, he glanced over at Inara where she sat shivering and crying.

“Why did you go off without telling me?” He growled at her. Bad idea, he realized a second after he spoke. She only cried harder and was barely able to get her breath. He looked around on the ground below the ship. He landed the shuttle on a barren stretch of range so he could focus all his attention on the hysterical woman beside him. He jumped out of his chair and closed the distance between them with two strides.

“Hey, I’m sorry. It’s okay now. Tell me what happened.” He was afraid to touch her until she calmed down; he opted for sitting on the arm of her seat. Her sobs subsided to miserable hiccups, but she said nothing in return. She was shivering violently.

Mal got up and rummaged around in the gear compartment behind the pilot’s chair until he found what he was looking for: an old coat made of sheepskin, dirty but dry and warm. He unfastened Inara’s restraint belt and slipped the coat around her shoulders, carefully tucking it all around her from her chin to her knees.

“Phew,” she protested at the animal odor emanating from the garment. A faint smile appeared for a moment. Encouraged, Mal reclaimed his seat on the arm of her chair and circled one arm around her shoulders.

“Warmer?”

“Yes, thank you.” The words sounded nasal and shaky.

“Are you going to tell me what happened back there? Did that man do something to you?”

“No. Well, yes, but it shouldn’t have upset me. I went with him, you know, for business. I’ve been with him before; he’s a good man, a fair man. His wife died many years ago and his lifestyle has always been very nomadic, so he…”

“I don’t want to know his life story. I want to know what has you so upset you would run out into a storm like this one.”

“He kissed me,” Inara whispered. She began to tremble again. “When he kissed me I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was like somebody was choking me to death. I went completely crazy; I think I hit him. All I could think of was that I had to get out of there. I felt afraid for my life, Mal… it was insane. I acted like an insane woman.” She began to cry silently.

“He’ll report me to the Guild,” Inara blubbered on. “My career is over. Why did I react like that? I don’t know what came over me.”

“Uh, I think I do,” Mal finally said. “Inara, I didn’t want to tell you what happened to you back on Icarus. I know you can’t remember it, and for good reason; it was terrible. But maybe I should have told you, or Simon should have. It might have helped you.”

“Mal, tell me what happened,” Inara asked. “I want to know. I think.” She turned to him with dread in her eyes. “I have dreams, and they’re full of awful things. Just tell me. I’m tired of guessing what happened.”

“You may not want to know,” Mal countered.

“Tell me.” Inara wore a steely expression.

“Okay. The reason you reacted so badly when that man kissed you, I’m guessing, is because back on Icarus a man tried to kill you by choking you around the neck. He put his mouth on yours while he was choking you. I wanted to stop him so badly, I swear; we just couldn’t get to you fast enough. By the time we got there, you were unconscious. I wasn’t even sure you were still alive.” Mal closed his eyes against the pain of the memory.

“Mal,” Inara breathed shakily. “There’s more, I know.”

“Yes.”

“Please go on.”

“He kidnapped you and raped you.” Mal knew of no other way to tell her the awful truth than straight up.

“Wu de tyen ah. And Fariah. He raped her too, and then he killed her,” Inara rasped out. She gasped in agony. Her eyes filled with horror as the buried memories of that awful day now flooded into her mind unchecked. “He killed her husband right in front of us. He died right there. I reached out and took him by the hand, but he was already gone.” Another sob exploded out of her.

“I can see it all like it’s happening right now,” she cried.

“No, Inara. It’s over. Those men are all dead and they will never hurt you again,” Mal vowed. He reached down and pulled her close. Her cheek pressed in against his and her tears wet his face. There was nothing for several long healing minutes except the steady drum of rain on the roof and the feel of her body curled trustingly in the curve of his embrace.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t get to you any sooner,” he said against the top of her head. “I’m sorry you lost your friend. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about all this before you came out to meet this guy tonight.”

Her hair smelled so good; like lilac mixed with rain.

“It’s over. I’ve got you now, bao bei.” He rocked her in his arms. He was relieved when he felt her arms creep up over his back and around his shoulders in response. She wasn’t shaking any more and her hold on him was strong and sure.

“Thanks for coming after me.”

“Any time.” He was content to hold her for as long as he could get away with it. He felt her head sink onto his shoulder like a dead weight and it dawned on him that she needed to sleep soon.

“Are you ready to go home?” He asked.

“Yes. Let’s go home,” she repeated with a delicious emphasis on the word “home”.

* * * * *

Thanks for reading! More soon...