Can't Say No To ====================================== based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

His eyes had grown accustom to the dark, the only light that seem to pour in was the colored beeps from machines he wasn't sure did anything. Noises filled his ears, but most of them were as foreign as the last week seemed to be. Was it not but a few years ago, that all he wanted was to fly his ship, do the job, and get paid? His only concern had been his crew and whether or not they would live long enough to eat. Now, well, now was something he was beginning to think would never end.

Scratches at the door made him reach for a gun that wasn't there and instead, Mal grabbed the only thing he could find laying on the floor. It felt like a rock and that was good enough for him. Taking a stance to meet whatever was coming, he prepared himself for a fight, shifting to protect his damaged side.

"Reynolds, you in there?" A familiar voice, one that even Mal was glad to hear echoed through the tiny room.

Parched throat made his voice turned to gravel as he answered. "Never thought I'd be glad to hear your voice, 'Ski." He almost whispered the next part." Cat there, too?"

"Honestly think he'd come and get you if I wasn't. Hold tight, we've almost got this lock." The sound of his lover brought a mixture of emotions. Could he really face her after what he had done?

With a pop and a creak, fresh air poured into the small room as well as a beautiful green eyed woman. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her to him as she merely kissed him. Dropping the rock in his hand, Mal held her tightly, not quite sure he would ever let her go, even when his hand met the gunshot hole in her tank top.

"Cat, I... oh god, Cat, what did I do..." He breathed in her scent as the words he wanted to say just jumbled.

"What you had to, nothing more." She spoke against him, her soft voice barely audible.

"But, I shot you." "And 'Ski here stabbed me. Don't know about you, but I think I need to rethink who I hang out with." As she pulled away from him, her fangs colored by the lights, she grinned. "Totally changes the meaning behind the expression, with friends like these, huh?"

"Guess that makes us even." 'Ski spoke as Mal nodded.

"Might need to rethink the way I feel about you."

"Don't bother, Reynolds. There's only one person who knows me and even that is one too many." 'Ski tossed the rock Mal had a hold of back at him as the captain caught it. In the dim light, its true shape came out. Eye sockets stared up at him, the skull in his hand completely human and long since dead.

"Not sure I want to know who once owned this."

"Someone who stuck their nose where it didn't belong." Cat growled and watched as her lover tossed it back in the room.

"Might as well leave it. Somehow I don't think even burying it would give his soul peace."

"After what he was exposed to here, I wouldn't be surprised if the bastard didn't take his own life." Her partner looked different without the long guns strapped to his sides. The shirt he had worn in was gone to reveal long gashes and toned muscles. Scars littered his back and arms, from wars long since gone, ones that had been known to all and ones that even secrets had not heard of. Strangely, even he looked like he once belonged here in this nightmarish land.

"Where to next, Babe?"

"We need to find the rest of the crew. Need to get them out of here before Falcon decides they are no longer of use to him."

"You mean if he hasn't already," 'Ski spoke, receiving a glare from Cat.

"They're alive, husband. I can smell them." She hissed at him.

"Well then, Wife, why the hell are we standing here discussing when we could be actually doing?"

Mal shook his head, They reminded him of Simon and Jayne, the way they bickered, and it only made him more anxious to find them. "Might want to find something to arm ourselves with on the way. Don't know about Cat, but I think 'Ski would agree. We feel a might naked without a gun."

"Men and your boom sticks...." She grinned at them. "I know. You all like it when things go boom." "You've never complained in the past when my boom stick went off." 'Ski shot back, giving Mal a wry glance.

"But, you also never complained about having to use your hands. Seems like now you always want your gun to do the heavy work." She turned and let the multicolored lights play with her fangs. "Getting lazy in your old age, Husband."

"Well... the 'ol hand cannon's gettin' heavier in my old age." He smiled and Cat turned from him, hearing Mal laugh.

“Let's go find the crew before I leave you both here to rot.”

“What in the gorram hell did I do?” her captain asked.

“You're male.”

“Hell, woman, thought that's what you liked about me.”

“Unfortunately, it is, but the first woman I find that's got a penis, you both are hitting the road.”

“Everything about that statement is all manner of wrong.” Mal touched her back as they began to walk. “Besides, no woman I know would be able to survive you.”

“The same could be said about you two.” She snapped back gently, her hand rubbing the pain in her side away as she gasped from a bite in her chest.

“That would kind of be why we have you." 'Ski replied, Mal nodding in agreement. "Now, Babe, about those guns?"

"Well, boys, you best be glad I know where I'm heading."

=====++++=====

His hand stroked the barrel of the state of the art shotgun like it was a beautiful woman ready to be seduced under some spell. Weapons he understood, women, though, even the one he called wife 'Ski did not. She laughed and acted like some high school girl around Mal, the man who had not three or four hours before, shot her because she was not human. Oh, how he loved his guns. Unlike her, they were not able to make mistakes and most of all, they did exactly what he told them. Maybe they were truly all he needed in life, but if that were true, why did he stay by her side, even after she had made her decision to stay. Dammit, Cat!

"I know it ain't your pistol, but we'll find it." Cat watched as Mal strapped the gun to his waist, even though she could tell it wasn't the familiar sight of his brass revolver.

"As far as I figure, this will give us a hand up on Falcon. That'll work for now." He smiled and she saw the glint off the silver chain of the cross. At least, the monster had left him that. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"You got one of those on you. As I recall, they are very hard to come by." She smiled at him, eyes sparkling like the gems they could double for.

"Kiss then?"

"Just wondering why the hell i came back and brought you into this mess? Should of just stayed away."

"Same reason why I asked you to join me on that hill instead of placing one in your head." Mal leaned over and kissed her cheek before whispering the answer in her ear. With that, he moved over to the other side and collected a rifle with some more ammo.

"So, what did Reynolds have to say? And make it a much less mushy version." 'Ski had shouldered the shotgun and she could feel his hot breath stirring her hair. He could smell the sweetness of her as well as the musk of her captain's touch.

"You were listening."

"You're not the only one with ears, Babe."

"Must not be as good as mine. I wouldn't have had to ask that question." Her voice was at first defensive, but slowly it softened. "We've been through a lot, Husband, but never did we ever had to deal with war. Maybe it was war inside of us, but not the way it was with him. So dually note this...whatever he says to me about the war, is not mushy, sappy, or lovey dovey."

'Ski shook his head and then snapped back at her with an anger she had not seen in a long time. "I was part of that war, if you remember the stories I told to you while you were pining for that son of bitch and I damn well know it wasn't a walk in the park. the difference is you didn't lose family. I did, so the next time you get all indignant on me and correct me for god knows what, take a look at those tags around your pretty little neck, that was all that was left of my fucking life after the war."

He walked off grabbing the black duffel he had filled and headed back the way they came. "Ski." Cat called at him, turning back toward Mal as he motioned for her to follow him. "I'll be right back."

She caught up with him quick, the hallway forking so they were out of sight. Her hand fell to his arm, the muscle under her fingers tense and firm. 'Ski slowed at her touch, but she knew if she released him, he'd continue until he found Falcon. "You can't do this alone."

"To hell, I can't. You realize we are the only two Falcon wants."

"Actually, I'm the only one he wants."

"We're an orange."

"What?" Cat shot him a questioning look.

"He wants the juicy meat, but you first got to get rid of that annoying peel."

"Are you calling me juicy meat?"

"Got to be better than the annoying peel." He smiled at her, somehow within seconds the anger melting.

"I'm sorry. I just..." Cat began as her partner hushed her.

"Hey, what's marriage without the occasional fight. Would do that whole makeup sex thing, but might make your lover a bit peeved."

"You really are an annoying peel. “ She let her other hand slap him. Afraid even now to let go. “Are we okay?"

"When are we not? You make me want to kill you sometimes, but for some reason, I've almost died twice trying to save you from yourself, and walked away from you only to turn around to come back. You're my mystery, Cat. I don't know why I do what I do when I'm around you, but one way or another, I'm going to find out."

"And when you do?"

"Guess that will be an interesting day." He brought his hand down on hers and lightly squeezed it.

"There are some things you just can't say no to." She whispered.

"What's that?"

"That's what Mal said. The reason he let me live, the reason I returned after all those years. The reason he now is here with me. There are some things you just can't say no to."

"Smart man." 'Ski looked back toward the room that had held the guns. "Better get back to your captain before he gets himself killed."

"Was more worried about you. Mal has half a brain not to rush into a situation that is beyond his reach."

"We talkin' the same man here." 'Ski looked at her as Cat reflected back.

"Might want run." She growled as the two took off towards the room they had left.

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To all the people who keep me wanting to write, this toast is for you. Cheers!!!

(not responsible for any underage drinking of virtual wine) LOL!!!

Thnks for riding and the feedback!!!!