Read: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14

-----

“Where are we?” Inara squinted at the sprawling metropolis in the distance.

“Outskirts of Boros City,” Book replied as he clambered out of the pod.

“I guess it was fortunate the cruiser was going our way.”

“Perhaps,” Book replied, regarding River. She was sitting cross-legged in the dirt, her head craned back to catch the sun. Simon’s stethoscope glittered in the sunlight.

“There’s a guild house in Boros City, we can take shelter there. But we should get moving – it won’t be hard for the Alliance to locate the pod that headed straight for the nearest city.”

“Which one? All of the pods had been programmed to land within walking distance of the capital city.” Book smiled down at River, who was now listening intently to her own heartbeat with the stethoscope. “I’d say we have a little time to catch our breath.”

Inara approached the Shepherd. “So what next? Do you still think the Abbey is the right place for her?” she whispered.

“Maybe we should just ask River,” he replied.

Book sat down next to the girl. “What do you think, River? Do want us to try to get you home?”

“Simon’s gone.” She replied flatly, fingering the stethoscope.

“Yes, sweetheart, your brother is –”

“Shouldn’t have gone.”

Inara kneeled down on the other side of River, cradling the girl’s head. “I know honey, but he was trying to protect you. He loved you very much.”

River leaned into Inara, crying softly. “You don’t understand…can’t understand…we’re supposed to be there for each other…supposed to…”

Hugging the sobbing girl to her, Inara finally allowed herself to mourn as well, shedding long overdue tears for Kaylee. And for Mal.

Book bowed his head in silent prayer.

Neither of them noticed when River looked up and gazed calmly off into the distance, her tears spent.

“We ought to look after one another.”

-----

Continue to The Epilogue