Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly or any of the characters.

Past, Present, & Future By KaySky Part Seven

He didn’t see it coming. The music was blaring, he was singing to the song in between bites of doughnut, and he didn’t have a care in the world. That was his first mistake.

“Hey!” He screamed as Jayne pulled him out of the hover car.

“Hey yourself.” Jayne grunted. “Got anymore of them doughnuts?”

“Take him upstairs with the other two.” Mal ordered Jayne. “When you get back you can have a doughnut.”

“Those are mine!” The man yelled.

“You’ve got several guns pointed at you and all your worried about are your doughnuts?” Zoe could hardly believer her ears. Surely Niska had to have more competent men working for him than this.

“I’ve been flying around for months. First time I’ve gotten to have anything other than protein.”

“Well then,” Mal began to speak, “Guess it’s a mighty fine thing then that your last meal turned out to be something you enjoyed.”

“Last meal?” His voice was panic-stricken.

“If you don’t cooperate it will be.”

“And how would you like me to cooperate?”

“How many men are with Niska?”

“Niska always has men around, maybe thirty or so.” His eyes starred at the ground when he spoke. A clear sign he was lying.

“So he’s got thirty men and yet he sends two of the stupidest I ever met to capture Kaylee?” Mal laughed for a second, but then an angered look appeared on his face. “Maybe you don’t know what cooperation means.”

“It means ya don’t lie.” Jayne provided.

“My mercenary’s right.” Mal took a step closer to the man. “You got a name?”

“They call me Bread.”

Not one person could withstand from laughing.

“Any particular reason why?” Mal said as he managed to control his laughter.

“I go after the money—the bread.”

“Oh well now it makes perfect sense. Jayne, why don’t you escort Mr. Bread to his friends?”

* * * *

“That was…”

“Incredible.” Kaylee was glowing. Simon didn’t let a little thing like restrictive movement get in his way of showing her a good time.

“So, what do we do now?” His eyes looked down at her. They were filled with love and compassion.

“Stay here.” She rested her head against his chest. “I like it here.”

He smiled. “I never knew how much fun linen closets could be.”

“I’m still impressed by how much fun doctors can be.” She giggled.

* * * *

Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Cole, Mac, Ryan, and Andrew were all just outside the docks. They stared at Niska’s ship, which stood about fifty feet from where they were, hidden behind a patch of foliage. Two men were standing outside on the ramp. There were undoubtedly more men inside.

“I’ll go up first, say I got some business with Niska. Zoe and Cole you cover me. Any of them try somethin’, make sure you shoot first. Once we take care of those two, Jayne and Mac make your way inside after us. Ryan and Andrew, the both of you stay out here. Use your judgment.” Mal spoke softly and the others nodded in agreement with him.

Mal rested his hand conveniently on his holstered gun. He held to a steady pace as he walked up the ramp of Niska’s ship. The two guards aimed their guns at him.

“I’ve got some business with Niska.” Mal said.

“Don’t know who you’re talking about.” The one man said. “I think you’ve got the wrong ship.”

“The wrong ship? I don’t see how that’s possible. Mr. Black and his buddies Roberts and Bread assured me this is where I could find Niska.”

The guard looked at each other. Both were confused. No one was dumb enough to sell out Niska. “I think you’re mistaken.” The one said. “I don’t know those men.”

“Hmm…” Mal raised his hand to his chin, rubbing it. “Maybe I should take a look inside anyways.”

The guards were quick, but Mal and his crew were quicker. He pulled his gun out and dodged a bullet while Zoe took down one guard and Cole the other.

Mal motioned for Zoe and Cole to follow him inside.

Three men were waiting for them. The gun shots probably alerted the whole ship of their presence.

Ship, they were on a ship, Mal thought. Ships can fly away. That wouldn’t be good. “We need to make sure this doesn’t start to fly away.” He turned to Zoe who nodded in response.

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll get that covered.” She shot at the first man. Down he fell.

Mal and Cole took care of the other two men as Jayne and Mac made their way inside the ship.

“You two,” Mal pointed at Mac and Jayne. “Go with Zoe. Make sure this ship doesn’t take off. Cole, let’s find Niska.” Mal headed down the first hallway in the ship. If memory served him right, it would lead him to the room he was tortured in. How he would love to torture Niska in that room. Hopefully, he’d get the chance.

* * * *

Just like she had promised, River watched over Wash. He had finally been awake for longer than five minutes without falling back to sleep.

“She will be fine.” River’s voice was firm. “Captain takes care of us.”

“Yeah, the Captain does that, doesn’t he?” Wash didn’t mean to sound jealous, but the pain medication was rather good at making people express the truth.

“She loves you and the Captain. You are her husband. She’s a friend—a sister even, but nothing more to the Captain. Different kind of love.”

“I know you’re right.” He sighed. “After all, you are the brilliant one around here.”

“I prefer genius extraordinaire.” She smiled.

“Alright, genius extraordinaire River, how long have they been gone?”

“Only long enough to kill men, not enemies.”

“Uh huh…”

* * * *

Along the way to the torture room, Mal and Cole took down three more men. When they got inside the room they expected at least three more. Needless to say they were shocked to find the room empty.

“Ain’t no one here.” Cole said.

“Thanks for cluing me in.” Mal didn’t mean to snap, especially not at Cole, but he was frustrated. “If Niska wasn’t down this hall that means…”

“Zoe and my boy…”

“Māde!” Mal yelled as he went running out of the room and back down the hall to find the others.

* * * *

Zoe’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Niska and five men waiting for her in the cockpit.

“Interfering with the girl’s debt only creates liability for you, no?” Niska smiled. He had them outnumbered. “Take care of these before Captain Reynolds gets here.” He said to his men. “I want him to myself.”

“Sorry Niska, but Kaylee doesn’t have a debt. We were just coming here to set things straight.” Zoe told him.

“She’s responsible for the death of Vincent Aarons, yes?”

“No. He is.” Zoe pointed towards Jayne.

“Gôu pì!” Jayne yelled at Zoe. “I ain’t had nothin’ to do with that!”

“Captain seems to think differently.” Zoe turned to Mac. “You were there. Tell him.”

Mac was just as confused about Zoe’s actions as Jayne was, but he figured there had to be something to it. He’d play along. Hopefully he was making the right choice. “You gave him the gun. He shot himself.” He managed to spit out. “You’re responsible.”

“Tāmāde húndàn!” Jayne was furious. The veins in his forehead were about to burst. If taking out those two didn’t chance losing two of his own, he’d done it in a heart beat.

“All very interesting.” Niska was amused by the crew turning on one another. Obviously this Kaylee was worth more than the silly looking fellow with the gun. “But I have to say no.”

“No?” Zoe questioned. “He’s responsible.”

“Responsible for death yes, but Kaylee Frye is the reason he’s responsible, no?”

Zoe wanted nothing more than to shoot Niska right then and there. She couldn’t though. She needed to keep stalling until Mal showed up. Five against six was better odds than three against six.

* * * *

“They’ve been in there awhile.” Ryan turned to Andrew. “Mal said to use judgment.”

“And your judgment says we should go in there?” Andrew had never been in a situation like this before, but neither had Ryan. They had nothing to base their judgment on.

“My judgment says if we don’t go in there and they all get killed, Kaylee is still a target.” Ryan looked his brother-in-law in the eyes. “Ain’t no guaranteeing they’d stop with Kaylee.” His voice was intense. “No one messes with one of the Fryes’ and gets away with it. That goes unsaid for the Lands, too. We’re family. We look out for one another.”

That made sense. “Let’s go.” Andrew said before quickly running towards the ship.

* * * *

She opened up the door and screamed. She was startled. No one could blame her. With everything that was going on, when she saw the figures, she just assumed. She screamed again and reacted. She made a fist and swung. It was a perfect punch. When she heard the one she punched yell her name, the heat of the moment cooled. She was calm and she realized who the figures were.

“Serves you right!” She yelled into the linen closet. “Kaylee Frye what if momma would have walked in on you?” She started laughing. The embarrassment on Simon’s face was hilarious. “What if Mac would have walked in on you?” She turned her back to the closet so the two love birds inside could get dressed. “You wouldn’t be gettin’ married and you know why? Because Mac would have killed Simon.”

“Nah, roughed him up a bit, but not killed.” She glanced at Simon, smiling at him as she rubbed her abdomen. Her sister had one hell of a punch.

“Really then why haven’t we ever seen Billy since Mac caught the two of you in the barn?”

“Because Billy moved.”

“How convenient.” She smirked. “Simon, I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I realize a little more of that with every minute that passes.” He was feeling slightly less embarrassed and slightly jealous of Billy, but one look at Kaylee’s adoring eyes assured him he was the only one she looked at like that.

“I was going to take some pillows down to the den and put in a movie for all the kids. I’m sure they’d love to hangout with their Aunt Kaylee and Uncle Simon.”

“Uncle?” He didn’t think he said it out loud, but the look on the girl’s faces indicated otherwise.

“Well you’re just about an Uncle. Once you marry Kaylee you’ll have eleven nieces and nephews.”

“Eleven?” Kaylee was confused. Emma had three children, Becca, Trent, and Gabriella. Sam had four children, Sammy Jr., Colton, Nathan, and Angela-Lee. Ryan had two children, Rory and Ruthy, plus one more on the way. All together that made ten.

“I can’t have just one boy, Kaylee. His sisters would torment him.” She said playfully. “Hopefully in about six months odds will work out in his favor.”

“Emma!” Kaylee exclaimed as she threw her arms around her big sister, offering a huge embrace. “How long were you gonna keep this a secret?”

“Well I thought news of a wedding took priority. After all, this will be my fourth child, but it’s only your first wedding.”

“First and last.” Kaylee looked towards Simon, smiling. Her eyes locked on his. “With a lifetime of good stuff in between.”

* * * *

As soon as Mal walked into the cockpit his eyes fell on Niska. If the opportunity of a clear shot came up, he was taking it.

“Captain Reynolds, good to see you, yes?” Niska smirked. He never did get to finish torturing Mal. There were so many more things he wanted to do. “I say you all put down your weapons and maybe I will be nice and let one or two of you go.”

“Ain’t happenin’ that way Niska.” Mal took a few steps forward, standing in front of Zoe and Jayne. “We’re gonna have to come up with a different set of rules.”

“This is my ship, yes? My ship. My rules.”

“Then I guess we’re just gonna have to be breakin’ some rules.”

“That is not a wise decision, Captain Reynolds.”

“I ain’t never said I was wise.”

“Boys,” Niska addressed his men. “Teach Captain Reynolds what happens when we disobey.”

The man to the far right of Niska fired his gun.

“Chùsheng xai-jiao de xiang huo!” Jayne yelled as his left hand rushed to cover the fresh wound on his upper right arm. “He shot me!”

“Yes, Mr. Arnold did not do a very good job.” Niska whined. “You are still standing.”

Jayne started rambling hundreds of curse words in Chinese at Niska and his men. They stared at him, confused and annoyed. It was only going to be a matter of seconds before they put another bullet in him to get him to shut up.

Luckily Ryan and Andrew had impeccable timing. They came storming into the cockpit, firing away at open enemies.

The focus on Jayne was forgotten as the cockpit turned into a battlefield. It was shoot or be shot. The gun shots, the screams, the bangs, and the low visibility inside the cockpit, all played a part in keeping either side from really knowing who was winning.

Finally the last gun shot was fired.

“Perhaps, I misjudged you.”

Niska’s voice created the taste of vomit in Mal’s mouth. He turned around and there was Niska standing right in front of him, gun aimed. “You’re out numbered here. I’d rethink that if I were you.” Mal’s eyes wandered as far as they could without having to leave Niska. He saw Jayne down on the floor. He looked unconscious. He didn’t see anyone else. He couldn’t risk turning around to see how many were still with him. He wanted to kill Niska, he had one shot. He hoped his gun was carrying the bullet intended for Niska’s end. He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. His gun was jammed. “Māde!” So this is how it was all going to end, he thought.

*gunshot* Pause. *gunshot* *gunshot*

How in the gorram hell Niska could miss him standing only four feet away was a mystery to Mal. He opened his eyes. Niska wasn’t in front of him anymore. He looked down. “Huh?”

* * * *

Emma and Kaylee were going to make lunch for everyone in the kitchen. As soon as they left the room, the den had become a circus. Eight children were running around, screaming, laughing, playing, and carrying on. As for the ninth child, well she was too tiny to be at that chaotic stage yet.

Simon held little six month old Angela-Lee in his arms. It felt good. Maybe one day he’d be sitting on this very couch with his own daughter in arms.

“Bet you never imagined you’d want this.” Danielle said as she sat down next to Simon.

“What nine children?” Simon sounded a bit panicky. “I don’t want nine children.” His eyes followed them as they continued to run in circles. It was making him dizzy. “I don’t think I could handle nine children.”

“Not the children, Simon. This kind of life, a life made up of family and love, not of careers and loneliness.”

“Do you want this type of life?” She was right about him. He never thought he’d want something so completely different than anything and everything he had ever known. He was glad he wanted this. He was glad he found Kaylee. And he was glad she could give him this someday in the future.

“There’s something about being in the Frye house that feels right.” Danielle looked down at the baby. She had her daddy’s eyes, her mommy’s nose, and her Uncle Mac’s cute little dimples.

“Like this is how life was meant to be? Simple and filled with love and happiness?”

“You and I come from the same luxurious world, Simon Tam, and no matter how marvelous it was, we’d both never go back if it meant we’d have to leave where we are now.” She laughed. “Could you imagine what our families would think of us?”

“So you and Mac…”

“I think I ruined that.” She signed. “He knows that I’m different.”

“Not different.” Simon corrected her. “Special.” He saw her blush. “And if Mac can’t see that you’re special, then maybe he’s not who we both thought he was.”

“You think he’s massively handsome, too?” She laughed.

“No, I was going for the good guy angle.” He chuckled. “Besides, if he’s anything like his sister, he’s not going to let one thing stop his pursuit of love.”

Danielle smiled. It had been a long time since she had butterflies in her stomach. She forgot how good that could feel. She wasn’t going to give up on Mac Frye. He was too special.

* * * *

“Sorry Sir, but I made a promise to Wash that I wouldn’t leave Niska alive.” Zoe fired her gun at Niska’s body once again. “Just needed to make sure he’s really dead.”

“And his men?”

“All five of them dead.” Mac walked towards Zoe and Mal. “I figure if there were anymore they would’ve been here by now.”

“And you? Everyone’s okay?” Mal’s thoughts were processing slowly. He was in shock. Niska was finally dead. He was relieved. His little Kaylee was going to be fine. He turned around, eyes searching for his crew.

“Ryan’s been shot and Jayne…” Cole began to say, but was interrupted by a loud grunt. “Jayne’s been shot, too, but looks like he’s going to be fine.”

“Mal, you know you’re bleeding, right?” Andrew saw the blood seeping through the back of Mal’s shirt.

“Guess that’s what that feeling is.” Mal reached his hand around to his back, feeling the wound. “I thought…” His mind was going blank. “I thought…”

“It’s okay, Sir. You can think later. Let’s get everyone back to the Fryes’. Simon’s got some work to do.”

* * * *

Translations: Māde = fuck! gôu pì = bullshit! tāmāde húndàn = fucking bastard! chùsheng xai-jiao de xiang huo = animal fucking bastard

* * * *

To be continued...