Into the Blue Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

This fic takes place just over two years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/OC and Jayne/River.

A/N: Here comes the action folks... And a bit of that hanging over a cliff feeling.

Thanks again Chris for the beta…

Into the Blue

Chapter Seven –

Serenity broke atmo over Whitefall a little rougher than usual… Mal was flying. The reason being that his two usual pilots were currently sitting in the second shuttle ready to set up a surprise for anyone who wanted to muck up his cargo delivery.

At the com call from Inara that Serenity was subsonic, Zoë launched the port side shuttle, curving away from the larger ship with easy grace. Dropping low to the terrain, Zoë flew following the contours of the land. After about twenty minutes of flying, she approached the drop off point for her passengers.

In a cloud of dust, the shuttle settled to the ground. Engines still running, two figures exited the craft. As soon as they were away from the door, the shuttle rose into the air again, having been on the ground a few moments.

Shielding his eyes from the dust kicked up by the shuttle’s departure, Allan looked at his smaller companion, “All set to move out River?”

“Yes, we will need to move quickly. The sun will be fully up soon and it is still almost a mile to the overwatch positions.”

“Well, lets be off then Kiddo,” Allan replied.

As the pair approached their destination, they both stopped. Silently they began to put on the strange looking suits they had brought in their packs. Each one was made from an old flight suit, Olive drab for Allan’s and tan for River’s. Each suit had strips of old cloth and canvas torn into strips glued along the body and limbs. Shreds of an old cargo net filled in the gaps, further hiding their shape. They also had a matching pair of floppy hats with cloth strips attached as well. Dressing quickly, Allan began to pull bits and pieces from the nearby vegetation and began weaving it around the strips on River’s suit and hat. As soon as he was done with River’s camouflage, Allan turned and River began to do the same for him. Soon the pair looked like slightly human shaped shrubs. As a finishing touch, Allan pulled out a tube of dark green makeup. Quickly using it to cover all of River’s exposed skin. River giggled slightly as Allan applied the makeup.

“Feel like I’m playing dress up with Kaylee,” River said quietly, trying not to laugh.

Allan smiled, “Getting dressed to kill Kiddo,” Allan said as he applied a stick of black makeup on all the area’s of River’s face that would normally be highlighted. Particularly her cheeks and nose. Soon River’s face was unrecognizable. The human eye and brain looked for familiar patterns. By reversing the normal light and dark area’s on River’s face. At any distance the girls face was nearly invisible against the materials of her suit.

River took the makeup from Allan and repeated the process on him, quickly camouflaging the older man’s face.

“All set, River?” Allan asked.

“She is,” River said in the third person speech she tended to slip into when she was concentrating.

Allan nodded as he put on his sunglasses, making sure River did the same. Whitefall was a mostly desert environment. It reminded Allan of the Nevada or California desert areas back on Earth.

“Make sure you keep hydrated Kiddo, gonna get hot before long and these suits will get pretty uncomfortable. Eat the protein bars you have about half an hour before the meet time. That way they will be hitting your system before any trouble starts. Might need the extra energy.”

River nodded, “I will Allan. As soon as I am in position I will do a com check.”

‘Okay Kiddo, good luck and be careful, Jayne might get a bit peeved at me if I let anything happen to you.”

“Zoë would have the same attitude if I let anything happen to you.”

Allan nodded, “That’s for sure. We better get moving.”

Allan crept up the small ridge near the small ranch that was the drop point for the meet. Finding a good spot just below the top of the ridge, Allan set up underneath a group of bushes. Pulling an old green army blanket out of his pack, Allan laid it out on the dirt. Quickly he began to reassemble his rifle. The big fifty caliber gun too unwieldy to be carried assembled for long distances. In moments the barrel, bipod and scope were attached. Moving slowly, Allan lay down on the blanket. Carefully he pulled sand and dirt around the edges of the blanket, hiding its edges. Once settled and relatively comfortable, Allan began to see if he could spot River, somewhere on the opposite ridge. Not being able to spot her after five minutes of hard scrutiny with binoculars. Allan was sure she had a good spot.

“Allan, com check,” came River’s tinny voice through the ear piece of his com.

“Loud and clear kiddo. Flash me your location.”

A small flash of light came from underneath a bush about one hundred feet below the top of the opposite ridge. Allan smiled and looked through his scope. Even with the flash he couldn’t see the girl as more than a lump of greenery.

“Good spot River, here comes my flash,” Allan said as he blinked a small flashlight once in the direction of River’s position.

“I have you Allan, You look like a bush,” River’s voice giggled.

“That’s the point, Kiddo. Now let’s keep our eyes, ears and in your case brain, wide open so we don’t get surprised.”

“Affirmative, Allan.”

Allan settled himself in for the long wait. Praying that all the preparations were for naught but knowing in the back of his head that where the crew of Serenity was concerned, they probably weren’t prepared enough.

Allan took a long look at the valley before him. Narrow at one end widening out into some meager pasture land. A small barn and house stood near the narrow end of the valley. A small stream ran down the center with a small dirt road to one side. Allan knew that the Mule would be coming through the narrow part of the small valley with Mal, Zoë and Jayne aboard.

While no one was around, Allan triggered the laser rangefinder built into the scope of his rifle. Taking ranges on the house, barn and a stone wall gave him the data he needed to calculate windage and bullet drop if he needed to shoot.

Switching the scope into its thermal-imaging mode, Allan could see another laser doing the same thing he had. Following the beam back, Allan could see the source came from River’s position.

Good Girl. Allan thought. Switching the scope back to visible light he adjusted the zoom back a bit to see more of the terrain. The scopes on both the rifle he was using and the one River had were state of the art… four hundred years ago. But they would surely do the job.

“Allan, you copy?” Mal’s voice crackled across the radio.

“Go ahead Mal,” Allan whispered.

“We’re about two miles out. See anything?”

“No one about that I can see.”

“Clear on my side as well Capn’,” River answered.

“We’ll hold here for a bit. We’re a might early anyway.”

“Copy Cap,” Allan replied. So far so good, he thought.

XXXXXXX

Twenty minutes later, Allan spotted a dust cloud approaching on the road in the direction of the pasture. Flipping his scope to maximum magnification Allan looked over the approaching vehicles.

In the lead was a small SUV looking ground car followed by a cargo truck. Allan keyed his com, “Cap, two vehicles on the way in… truck and a ground car… looks like maybe five people that I can see.”

“I concur,” came River’s voice.

“Okay, we’re moving,” Mal replied.

“River, cover the car, I’ll take the truck,” Allan called. Static was his answer.

“River? River do you copy?” Allan wondered if his com had malfunctioned. Keying up again his ear was assaulted by loud feedback. Dammit, we’re being Jammed. Gotta be a setup, Allan thought. Suddenly Allan heard a twig snap somewhere above and behind him… Shit!

Allan froze, hardly breathing. Using his peripheral vision, he spotted a man slowly making his way down the slope not ten feet from where he lay. Not good.

Allan slowly moved his hand down to his pistol. Wondering if he could draw in time before he was spotted. The man settled himself in next to another bush a short distance from Allan, a bolt-action rifle with a simple optical scope mounted to the top. Allan’s hand was just brushing the side of his pistol when he heard a wet thump, followed by the supersonic crack of a bullet. The top half of the sniper's head disappeared. The body falling back lifeless.

Allan smiled wickedly. The shot had to have come from River's suppressed rifle. Looking to her position, Allan’s breath caught for a moment. Two men were standing literally next to her, one on each side. Both had pistols out, looking for the source of the muffled shot that they heard.

Allan swore to himself. River could conceivably swing and fire on one man but the second could shoot her before she could shift her aim back. To top it all off the Mule had entered the small valley below Allan. Jayne and Mal weaponed up and looking around. Allan hopped that they knew that the coms were being jammed.

Knowing that his shot would give the game away as he didn’t have a suppressor on Bertha, Allan took aim at the man on River’s right. He then concentrated in his mind on what he was going to do in the hope's River could sense what was about to happen. Cross hairs centered on his target’s chest, Allan took a deep breath. As he slowly breathed out, Allan's finger squeezed the trigger. Bertha barked.

The effect of the fifty-caliber round fired from Allan’s rifle was impressive. In a detached way Allan thought that it looked a great deal like what would happen if you hit a watermelon with a sledgehammer. The center of the man’s chest virtually ceased to exist in a cloud of red. Before his partner could do more than turn he dropped to the ground as well, a knife buried in his throat. Allan never even saw River move.

Things were going downhill in a hurry. Allan shifted his aim to the cargo truck. Waiting for the right moment.

At the sound of Allan’s shot, Zoë stopped the Mule. Allan could see her out of the corner of his eye trying to call on the com unit in her ear. Come on Baby. Get some cover, Allan thought.

Shifting his attention back to the truck, Allan zeroed in on what he hoped was the engine compartment and fired two rounds in quick succession. The truck slid to a stop in a cloud of smoke. Allan began to smile at the sight until he saw at least eight men, all armed pile out of the back. Gunfire erupted from both the ground car and from the men running from the truck.

Two dropped immediately felled by shots from River. Zoë swung the Mule around to try and escape, when to Allan’s horror, Zoë suddenly slumped across the seat. A quick glance through his scope made Allan’s blood freeze…

There was blood on Zoë’s arm and in her hair…

A moment later the Mule itself was hit and it crashed to the ground, throwing Jayne and Mal out with the momentum it still carried. Zoë lay on the floor, not moving. Allan’s mind went blank except for one thought…Kill.

Allan’s next two shots went to the ground car. The vehicle blew itself apart in a huge explosion as his shots pierced the hydrogen fuel tank. Four men were taken down in the blast. No expression on his face, Allan began to hunt for more targets. Bertha barked again and a man’s head exploded… another shot and most of another mans chest disappeared.

Suddenly, Allan head a faint and pained voice over his com. Zoë’s voice, full of pain, “Allan… baby?”

Relief washed over Allan, she was alive, “Zoë, can you hear me?”

“Hurt… not… doin good…”

Zoë’s simple statement raised a lump in his throat. Allan also realized the jammer must have been in the ground car. Looking down to the Mule Allan was startled to see that it had started to burn, Allan could see that Mal and Jayne were pinned down behind a large boulder and couldn’t get to Zoë, the fire from the remaining four men keeping their heads down. The assailants had also taken cover.

Sighting carefully Allan shot one man through the wooden horse trough he was hiding behind. Seeing the opportunity he needed Jayne broke cover and sprinted to the Mule. Carefully, the big man picked Zoë up from the floor and pulled her clear.

Moments later the fire reached the Mule’s fuel cells and it erupted in a fireball. The explosion knocking Jayne and Zoë to the ground. As Jayne fell he cushioned Zoë's body with his own trying to prevent her from being injured further.

One of the gunmen broke cover to try and escape but was cut down by a shot from River. Allan switched his scope to thermal mode and sighted along the stonewall where he knew the remaining two men were hiding. Quickly the small computer in the scope collected the imagery and displayed the fuzzy multicolored image of two men behind the wall.

Bertha roared and stone flew in all directions. The two men jumped to their feet and started to run. River dropped the pair of them before they had gone more than a few steps.

Allan and River broke cover simultaneously, scrambling down the slope to where Mal was tending to Zoë and Jayne.

Jayne had taken a piece of the exploding Mule in his left leg. He held Zoë’s head in his lap, ignoring his own pain, his big hands trying to staunch the flow of blood from Zoë’s right arm.

Allan slid to a stop on his knees next to Zoë, dropping his rifle in the dirt. River took up a guarding position.

Allan’s paramedic training from so long ago kicked in. He found his hands moving to treat the woman he loved automatically. Allan realized Zoë’s brachial artery must have been damaged but the gunshot she had received to her upper arm.

Ripping a strip of cloth from his ghillie suit, Allan quickly fasioned a turniquit above the wound. Pulling it tight, he was relived to see the flow of blood slow signifigantly. Allan then checked her head wound

“Nara, can you hear me?” Mal said into the com, eye's searching for any new threats.

“Loud and Clear Mal.”

“Get here with a shuttle quick as you can. Zoe’s down and Jayne’s hurt. Valley’s too small for Serenity, better bring Simon.”

“On our way.”

“How’s she doin Allan?”

“Not good. Looks like the bullet in her arm hit the artery, she lost a lot of blood. Head wound was just a graze, but I think she might have a skull fracture.”

Grim faced, Mal nodded. Turning to River he spoke, “Tross, go see if any o’ them hundan’s is still breathin’. If any are, see who set this up if ya can. I’m not about to let this lie.”

River nodded and with pistol in hand ran in the direction of the burning ground car.

Having done what he could for Zoë, Allan turned to Jayne, “How’s the leg?”

“Hurts like hell, but I’ll be fine… You worry on Zoë. Doc can fix me up later.”

Allan nodded as he heard the sound of Inara’s shuttle approaching.

XXXXXXXX

River slowly made her way through the carnage left in the wake of the battle, her mind open and feeling for anyone who might have survived. A flash of fear popped into her mind and she smiled a grim smile. Not the smile of River Tam, pilot of Serenity but River Tam, Alliance trained assassin.

Rounding the corner of the still burning ground car she saw a man trying to crawl. Hearing something behind him the man rolled over to find River, still in her ghillie suit and holding a pistol.

River stood there a moment looking at the man, looking like some monsterous aparition in her camoflaged suit. The man tried to raise his gun but River kicked it away, breaking the man’s hand in the process. Kneelling down she cradled the man’s face in her left hand.

“Who sent you?” she said simply.

“No… nobody, just got caught up in the crossfire,” the man said to the strange being with the green and black face that sounded like a young girl.

“You’re lying.”

“Naw I ain’t.”

River smiled, her white teeth contasting against her painted face. Tilting her head she gazed into the frightened man’s eyes.

“Patience,” she said quietly.

The man’s eyes widened, “No, no, Don’t know no Patience,” he stammered.

“You are frightened about what she will do to you… Should be scared of what I will do,” River said, her voice flat.

“What…what’s that?”

River’s reply was a single gunshot.

XXXXXXXX

River jogged back to the Inara’s shuttle, arriving in time to help Jayne hop through the hatch. As soon as they were aboard, Inara took off heading for Serenity, just six miles away. The trip only took minutes. As soon as they docked, Mal opened the door to find Kaylee outside with a very concerned Gabriel Tam. The elder Tam had a stretcher. Quickly Zoë was moved to the stretcher from Inara's sofa. Mal and Allan carried her quickly to the infirmary, Gabriel helping Jayne hobble down to the lounge.

As soon as Zoë was on the exam bed, Allan began to grab equipment to help Simon. Allan suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he came face to face with Simon.

“Inara and I have this, Allan,” he said calmly.

“I just need to help…”

“I know,” Simon replied, “But right now I need Inara to help me with Zoë and I need you to take care of Jayne’s leg.”

“Simon I…”

“I don’t doubt your skills, but it would be for the best if you see to Jayne. Besides, you still look like a walking bush.”

Allan smiled a bit at the last part of Simon’s statement, then nodded, “Okay Simon, I’ll see to Jayne. Call me if anything changes.”

“I will Allan. She's in good hands.”

XXXXXXXXX

Allan shrugged out of his ghillie suit and moved to where Jayne sat, injured leg propped up on the coffee table. River had already taken off her suit and was examining Jayne’s wound. She had cut Jayne’s pantleg to better see the damage. There was a piece of Jagged metal protruding from the meaty part of the big man's left calf.

Taking a deep breath, Allan, through force of will, put on his paramedic game face. Kneeling down next to Jayne, he bgan to examine the leg.

“River, Can you get me some weaves, forceps and a local antistetic so I can pull this out?” Allan asked.

“Of course Allan,” she said quietly. With a quick smile to Jayne, River stood up and entered the infirmary to get the needed supplies.

“Jayne I need you to lay on the sofa on your stomach. That way I can get to this easier.”

“Sure thing, Allan,” The big man replied as he laid down, “How's Zoë?”

“Not so good. She lost a lot of blood and started getting pretty shocky before we got her on board,” Allan paused a moment, then continued, “Jayne... thanks for getting her out of the Mule. If not for you...”

“Don't think on it Gramps, I know you'd a done the same for me or River.”

“I know, but it needed to be said,” Allan replied.

A moment later, River returned with the supplies Allan needed. A few minutes later, the shrapnel had been removed and the wound bandaged. Throughout it all, Jayne never said a word.

Allan sat down heavily in the recliner, his eyes seemingly boring a hole in the closed door. Reagan Tam had made sandwiches and brought them into the lounge. No one wanted to eat.

“Allan?” Kaylee asked.

“Huh? Oh, sorry Kaylee, Kinda spaced out there for a minute.”

“Iffin you want, I'll get the gunk off yer face,”

“No thanks Kaylee. I think I'll go take a shower instead. Be back in a few.”

Allan stood and with a long glance at the infirmary door, headed for his and Zoë's bunk for fresh clothes and a towel.

Allan stood under the hot water trying to wash the images of the day away. Not only had he killed several men. He had almost lost the most precious thing to him in the 'verse... Zoë. Allan knew he still might loose her yet. Coming to a decision, he shut off the water, toweled off and began to dress.

Donning his good white dress shirt and some jeans, Allan left the crew showers and climbed back down into his and Zoë's bunk. Allan strapped on his low riding tactical holster and slipped his colt into place. Next he donned his ankle holster containing his small backup automatic. Allan slipped two spare clips for the colt into his pocket. Then he reached for the old worn navy blue baseball cap that had once belonged to his Grandfather.

Embroidered in gold on the front in an arc, were the letters and numbers, VMA-214 and the words “Black Sheep” underneath. The name didn't mean much to anyone besides Allan. It was the designation of the Marine Corps squadron Allan's Grandfather had commanded before he retired. The hat had always brought Allan luck. The way he figured it, right now he could use all the help he could get.

Climbing out of the bunk, Allan began to walk aft. Not to the infirmary, but to the port shuttle. Stepping onto the catwalk, he ran directly into Mal.

“Goin somewhere Allan?” The Captain asked.

“Just need to pay a little visit.”

“Don't think I can let you do that just yet.”

“Why not?”

“Cause once we know Zoë's gonna be okay, we'll do this as a crew.”

“Yep and in the meantime, Patience figures out we killed her men and holes up somewhere. Maybe we can get her then, maybe not. Maybe someone else gets hurt, or worse... No Mal, this ends right now.”

Allan started to push past Mal but the Captain shoved him back, “I'm not lettin you leave.”

“Dammit Mal, What would you be doing if it were Inara down there in the infirmary?”

Mal dropped his gaze to his boots for a moment, “Same thing you are, I reckon.”

“I'll be back soon Mal,” Allan said sincerely, “I gotta be there when Zoë wakes up.”

“I'll hold you to that Allan,” Mal replied.

XXXXXXXX

Allan lifted the shuttle away from Serenity, heading for town. After he had steadied the craft on course and set the autopilot for the short flight, he turned around in his seat.

“You can come out now River.”

The door to the small lavatory in the back of the shuttle opened and River stepped out. Dressed in her usual working clothes of cargo pants and T shirt. Her automatic slung low on her right hip.

“How did you know I was there?”

“Just a guess. If Jayne was up and around he's be here too I bet.”

“Of course.”

“Well, any ideas where we should start looking for Patience?”

“The bar in town, I got that from the mind of the man I questioned.”

“Okay, let's go pay the lady a little visit.”

TBC