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

This story is set fifteen years into the future from the story I have written called “Big Blue”

AN: Just some family fluff before the hunt for the Wing boys begins in earnest. Sorry about the delay... the real world kept interfering with the 'verse.

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Thanks to my Beta, Chris

Cast of characters:

Parents: Malcolm Reynolds 51 Inara Serra-Reynolds 44 Allan Bryant 68 Zoë Bryant 48 Simon Tam 43 Kaylee Tam 40 Jayne Cobb 52 River Cobb 36 Kids: Jefferson (Jeff) Reynolds 15 Emma Reynolds 10 Sara Bryant 14 Rebecca Tam 15 John (Jack) Tam 11 Rachel Cobb 8 Jesse Cobb 6

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Heritage-Chapter Fifteen

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“I... Uhh...”

“Relax Atherton, my wife won't shoot you... yet,” Allan said quietly.

Atherton Wing looked like a deer caught in a set of headlights. His mouth opened and closed a few times finally he was able to speak.

“I didn't have anything to do with...”

“I know,” Allan replied, cutting the younger man off. Allan looked at wing closely. He was impeccably groomed as always but there was a weariness to his posture. Also it looked like Wing's nose had been broken sometime in the past.

At one time, Wing would have been a customer here. Now he was wait staff. How far the mighty have fallen.

“You... you do?” Wing stammered.

“You wouldn't still be here waiting tables if you were in on what your nephews were planning.”

“Oh.”

Allan smiled. He almost felt sorry for Wing... almost.

“Hello Atherton,” Lord Harrow said grinning, “What are the specials tonight?”

The look of contempt that flashed across Wing's face told the story. It surely wasn't the only time the former aristocrat had bumped into Sir Warrick since his release from prison.

Zoë, who had been silent, carefully covered her gun with a napkin. She nudged Allan's foot under the table. The Matre'd was approaching.

“Wing!” the Matre'd said in a loud stage whisper, “Stop hobnobbing with the customers. Take the orders and move on. You have other tables waiting.”

“Sorry Mr. Colletti,” Atherton replied in a cowed voice.

“My fault sir,” Allan said smiling, “I haven't seen old Ath here in over fifteen years. We were just catching up a bit.”

“Thank you for saying Mr. Bryant. But we are quite busy this evening and I need my waiters to be moving quickly.”

“Understandable Mister... Colletti was it?”

“Yes sir.”

“I won't keep Ath from his duties.”

With a smile an nod, the Matre'd strode away.

“Thank you,” Atherton said.

“We need to talk... later. In the meantime I'll have the London Broil, medium well with a baked potato.”

“I'll have the same, medium for me,” Zoë added.

“And you Lord Harrow?” Wing said with some distaste.

“Prime rib, Baked potato and mixed vegetables. Please have it delivered to my table over there. I won't be eating with the Bryant's. I think they would rather spend some time alone.”

“Thank you Sir Warrick.”

“Anytime my friend.”

Wing nodded and took the orders. Head held high, he headed for the computer terminal to place the orders.

Lord Harrow excused himself and headed back to his table.

“What are you doing?” Zoë asked her husband.

“Intel. Wing might know where his nephews would go to ground.”

“Think he'll tell?”

“Won't know without asking.”

XXXXXXXXXX

After Allan and Zoë's meals were brought, Atherton Wing quietly slipped out the back door of the restaurant. Carefully he snuck down the alley. So intently was he watching behind him that he didn't notice a man standing in front of him.

“Going somewhere?”

Israel Schneider grinned at the startled squeak, Wing uttered as he nearly jumped out of his skin.

“What do you want?” Wing yelled.

“Information.”

“I don't know anything!”

“Your Nephew, Rafe murdered a good friend of mine in cold blood. Where is he?”

“I don't know.”

Israel grabbed wing by the front of his shirt, “Wrong answer.”

“I swear...” Wing stammered in fear

“Speculate then...” Israel growled. Despite his short stature, the former Fed could be just as intimidating as his boss, Oso.

“Could be anywhere...”

“Yeah, and they could be somewhere too.”

“Well...”

“Well what?”

“There is somewhere they might go.”

“Where is that?”

“St. Albans.”

“Why there?”

“My grandmother had property there. It's not in the Wing name.”

“What name is it in?”

“Richardson.”

Israel let go of the man's shirt, “You have been most helpful Mr. Wing. Good evening.”

With that, the Blue Sun security man melted back into the night.

“Wing! Break's over, get your pi-gu back in here!”

“Yes Mr. Colletti,” Atherton sighed.

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan and Zoë stepped out of the restaurant and into the waiting limo.

“Well?” Allan asked Israel once he and Zoë had seated themselves and the vehicle began to pull away.

“Atherton Wing's maternal grandmother's family owned a mine on St. Albans. Uranium and other minerals. Rafe and Johnny know about it.”

“St' Albans is the ass end of the 'Verse,” Zoë said, “No one goes there unless they have to.”

“Good place to run,” Allan said thinking, “Bad weather, cold and right now it's at the furthest point in it's orbit from the core. Take almost three months to get there from Persephone.”

“And they have almost that in a head start,” Israel commented.

“Any Alliance forces there?”

“A three man Fed station,” Israel answered, “And no fleet units anywhere close either... I checked.”

“Okay, we do this in house best we can. Wave the Fed's there. See if they can ID the Wings and keep an eye on them. If they leave, have them try to track them. Saddle up Teams two and three on Heracles and Challenger. Start them heading for St. Albans, best speed.”

“What about us, Husband?”

Allan smiled at Zoë, “First we get Sara home. Then we set things to rights.”

“You got it boss,” Israel replied. A bit subdued.

“Don't worry Israel, I want you and Olivia there too. You're riding with us.”

The guard smiled, “Thanks boss.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan and Zoë stepped into the suite they had been using ever since they came to Persephone. In all that time they hadn't spent one night together in the room. The couple alternated sleeping in Sara's hospital room.

Not tonight however. It had been almost three months since they had spent the night together.

They nearly ripped each others clothes off in their haste to get into bed.

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan and Zoë Arrived at the hospital just as Sara was heading to physical therapy. When the family reached the room, Allan noticed that Most of Sara's medical team was in attendance.

They all acknowledged Sara and for the most part were there to lend moral support for her test.

If Sara could walk unassisted across the room and back with only a cane, she would be discharged.

Sara's primary therapist, also named Sara, had trod the fine line between therapist, big sister and coach. She had done it well.

After some warm ups on an exercise bike, both Sara's decided it was time. Sara had been walking short distances for the last few days but this was the big one.

With obvious effort, Sara Bryant stood from her wheelchair and with cane in hand began to cross the room. Slowly and in obvious discomfort she made the trek across the room.

Allan and Zoë stood side by side, both immensely proud of their daughter. They were encouraging Sara every step. The whole team was, except for Dr. Peng, Sara's neurosurgeon. Allan eyed him suspiciously.

Sara reached the end of the room and eyes smiling despite the grimace on her face, she started back across the room. One stumble almost made her fall but she quickly regained her balance and finished the trip. Proudly dropping into her wheelchair, a light sheen of sweat visible on the teens brow and soaking her t-shirt.

“Now... can I please go home?” Sara asked.

“You sure can baby,” Zoë grinned as she hugged her daughter.

“I'm proud of you, daughter o' mine,” Allan smiled.

“Excuse me... Mr Bryant?”

“Yes Dr. Peng?” Allan answered in an exasperated tone.

“I really think that Sara should... Urk...” the man gurgled as Allan grabbed him by the front of his lab coat and shoved him against the wall.

“Listen here doctor. We made a deal. If Sara could walk across the room and back, she could go home. She did that. What is your problem now?”

“Unhand me,” Peng snarled, “I will have you arrested.”

The threat didn't faze Allan. He leaned in nose to nose with the doctor, “Don't threaten me doctor. You wouldn't survive it. I know all about you. I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt due to your current reputation but after this I'm sure that you will no longer be practicing medicine.”

“What... what do you mean?”

“I know all about the little project you worked on as an intern about nineteen, twenty years ago on Osiris. No one gets near my family without being checked out. Your name came up with a red flag. Is that why you are so interested in my daughter? You want to see if you can do things to her brain like you helped to do to River Tam?”

“I... I don't know what you are talking about,” The man stammered, his face pale.

“The academy project, human experimentation, torture... need I go on?” Allan snarled, he felt Zoë move up to his side.

“Husband?” Zoë asked.

“It was for the greater good...” Dr. Peng stammered.

Allan saw red. He slammed Peng back into the wall hard enough to crack the drywall. The doctor gasped in pain.

“Wrong answer,” Allan growled.

“Dear, you need to let him go. You're scaring Sara,” Zoë said quietly.

With that, Allan shoved the doctor again and turned away, trying to calm himself.

“I'll have you arrested,” Peng growled, “Your money won't save you.”

“Wrong,” Zoë snarled. Peng's eyes shot wide open as he suddenly found himself staring down the barrel of Zoë's pistol.

Hospital security arrived and tried to draw their weapons but immediately backed down when Olivia Little and Israel Schneider blocked their path. The security guards knew that the two Blue Sun security agent's were not to be trifled with.

After getting her point across, Zoë holstered her weapon and went to join Allan at their daughters side.

The gathered medical staff let out a collective breath and looked at each other wondering exactly what had happened.

“Dr. Indenbaum?” Allan asked Sara's orthopedic surgeon.

“Sir?”

“I have something I want you to give the hospital administrator... Olivia?”

Olivia Little produced a data stick from her pocket.

“That contains everything that Blue Sun has on Dr. Peng. I'm sure it will be enough to terminate his employment here.” Allan continued, “If you would be so kind as to prepare Sara's discharge paperwork... I feel we've outstayed our welcome.”

With that, Allan moved behind Sara's wheelchair and began to push her in the direction of her room, Zoë, Israel and Olivia in tow. All the while Dr. Peng stood fuming in the corner.

As they went down the hall headed for the lifts, Sara looked up at her father, “Daddy? What was all that about?”

Allan sighed. He didn't really want to tell her but he knew Sara deserved the truth, “Dr. Peng was one of the doctors who... experimented on Aunt River as well as Audra and Andy.”

“Oh,” Sara said quietly. Then a smile came across her face, “You should have decked him.”

Their laughter could be heard as the lift doors closed.

XXXXXXXXXX

An hour later, Sara was helped into a waiting Limo along with her parents and Olivia and Israel. The vehicle pulled smoothly away from the curb and began picking it's way through the heavy traffic, heading for the spaceport.

“How exactly are we getting home Husband?” Zoë asked.

“It's a surprise.”

“Uh, huh,” Zoë replied, her eyebrow climbing.

“Really... you'll be surprised.”

“Can't be Serenity,” Sara mused out loud, “Everyone is either working or in school.”

“It's not Serenity,” Allan grinned.

“Probably a liner... First class cabin,” Zoë said.

“Nope.”

“Heracles?” Sara asked.

“Nope.”

“Daddy...”

“Gotta wait for it.”

Zoë shot her husband an inquisitive look while Sara fumed.

The limo entered the executive section of Eavesdown docks and wound their way through the maze of ships and support equipment. Rounding a corner, the limo slowed to a stop. With a grin, Allan exited the ground car. Sara followed, leaning on her mother

“It's a Firefly.” Sara muttered, “But... it looks like it's new.”

“That's because it is,” Allan smiled, “The latest ship class to be built by the Blue Sun Shipbuilding Division. The K64-04 Firefly.”

“An ought four?” Sara asked.

“Yep.”

“Well it will certainly be... homey,” Zoë deadpanned.

Allan chuckled.

“Who's the captain?” Sara asked, and why is there a tarp hanging over her name?”

“That's the surprise,” Allan grinned as he pushed a button on a remote in his pocket.

The electromagnets holding the tarp in place deactivated. As the plastic fluttered to the ground, the ship's name was revealed.

'Sara Jane'.

“Me?” Sara whispered.

“Happy fifteenth birthday baby girl,” Allan smiled.

Sara stood stunned, the pain in her hips forgotten.

“A ship... you got her a ship for her birthday...” Zoë muttered, “Sara's birthday isn't for another week.”

“So... she gets one present early.”

Olivia had retrieved Sara's wheelchair from the car and made sure she sat down. The teenager was still too stunned to speak yet.

Zoë desperately wanted to be mad at Allan but she couldn't help herself and began grinning, “So who's gonna fly it?”

“At first, me and you,” Allan replied, “When she's able... Sara”

“What about a crew?”

“She's pretty well automated. You can run everything from the bridge.”

“Sara can't be climbing stairs yet.”

“There's a wheelchair lift on every set of stairs. And ramps over the bottom of the hatches.”

“Thought of everything haven't you,” Zoë smirked

“I am a genius you know...”

“Daddy...”

“Yes princess?”

“Lets go home.”

TBC