Serenity Called Her

Author's Note: Written for the 2by2fics community on LiveJournal. Much of this is based off of a spoiler revealed by Morena Baccarin at a convention.

This is part of If's & Maybe's, a series of unrelated pieces dedicated to exploring the characters of Mal and Inara, and the relationship between them.

Warning: Character death.

Disclaimer: Firefly, Serenity, and all related characters are copyright 2002-2005 Mutant Enemy, Inc., Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. This is a work of fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Seeing Serenity for the first time was like an awakening for her. She loved the ship. She had from the moment she’d first seen it. It was old and comforting, like the embrace of family that she’d never had. It was as if the ship called out to certain people in the ‘Verse and said, ‘Come to me and I’ll keep you safe.’

Inara felt safe on Serenity. The gentle thrumming of the engine and the various creaks and groans the ship gave could soothe her mind, take her to a place where she had no worries and peace was all around her.

If Inara gave comfort to her clients, then surely it couldn't compare to the comfort that the ship gave to her. Her clients could leave satisfied and centered and at peace, but Inara could feel the ship centering her even as she worked. Her clients would compliment her on her shuttle and how comforting and relaxing she had made it and Inara would simply smile, knowing that it wasn't her that had done it. It was the ship.

Her shuttle was like a little Serenity, a little piece of the ship that was just for her. She treated it like the lady it was, decorating it in rich reds and golds, giving warmth and life to the space that was her sanctuary. The red looked at home in her little shuttle and she knew that Serenity was pleased with her efforts. Her shuttle became a temple, and when no one was around, she’d lock her door before stripping and kneeling on the cold metal floor.

The ship did what no doctor or treatment could have done for her. It soothed the pain that would shoot suddenly through her body when she wasn’t careful. It dulled the aches that would torment her joints and leave her lethargic and vulnerable. It drained the weariness and loneliness from her mind, stripping away the migraines that plagued her.

Serenity had called to her, had told her to come aboard so she could keep her safe.

She’d had no choice but to listen. And she’d found a family. She’d found love and safety and warmth. She’d found a release from the degenerative disease that had evaded every treatment that the best doctors in the system had put to her. She’d found peace.

And when she knew that her worst fear was going to pass, she’d surrendered herself to the loving embrace of the ship that she had shed blood for, the ship that had healed her soul. She drifted away, calm and at one with the universe, secure in her knowledge that Serenity would guide her to her final place of peace.

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I hope you enjoy! Questions, comments, and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated!

GG