Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, except for Amos Sanders, who is mine. Mainly because I haven't the courage to stick in a Mary Sue. Also because Joss is awesome. Will continue to live vicariously through Mal.

This is Chapter 5 of the story that began here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5474

and continued here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5523 http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5547 http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5578 http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5625

and is a continuation of Our Co-Pilot Tam, which can be found here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5386

It would be very shiny if anyone could tell me how to stick in actual links.

*****************************************

Simon and Mal carried River into the float truck and rested her carefully on the back seat, slipping in on either side of her behind the secure barrier. Gabriel took shotgun, and the impassive driver, Eiriks, brought the truck into the air. The truck turned, making River lean on Mal's shoulder. He stroked her hair, righting her. “She looks so peaceful,” he said to Simon. Simon nodded. “I wish she could look that way awake.” “So who is this doctor?” Mal asked, looking out the window as the truck got on the main route into the city. “Amos Sanders,” said Simon, “An old friend of mine from med school. If I was Zoe, he was you. Ai ya, the pranks we pulled.” “You? Pranks?” Mal asked. “Oh, I was a wild one,” Simon smiled. “Would have finished in the top one percent if it wasn't for Amos. Of course, he graduated second in our class.” He looked out the window on his side. “Hey, we're coming through the historic district!” He pointed, and Mal's eyes followed. “I don't see anything special,” Mal said. “That building there,” Simon explained, “Is an exact replica of the American White House, back on Old Earth. Except closer to the road. About a hundred years ago, a man moved here, very wealthy, complete history nut. He built that...there's the Eiffel Tower a bit farther north...a couple others I don't recognize.” “Anyone live here isn't stinking rich and insane?” Mal asked. “Quite a few,” Simon said. “In fact, most folk. Of course, nearly everyone's got better amenities than what we're used to, but there is quite an economic range. Amos's parents were farmers, never went to college.” “Farming,” Mal said. “I didn't know that was still done here, thought the Central Worlds were all one gorram garden.” “There's a lot of people to feed,” Simon said. “There are a lot of gardens, though. Osiris's specialty is tomatoes. Two hundred varieties, exported throughout the system. Junior high school,” he explained. “They made us memorize the principal exports of every world and moon.” “What comes out of Shadow?” Mal asked. “Shi-niu wiseass captains,” Simon said jokingly. “Oh yes,” Mal replied, “They grow us on vines out there.” The truck turned off the road into a smaller side street, then into a garage, nestling up next to a brilliant white convertible. “We're here,” said Simon. “Let's do this,” Mal said. Carefully, they got River out of the truck and carried her through a set of automatically-opening doors, emerging in a spotless waiting room. They sat River down in a cushioned chair, and waited as Gabriel approached the receptionist. “Gabriel Tam is here to see Dr. Sanders,” Gabriel said. “Our appointment is at two o'clock.” “He'll be right with you,” said the receptionist, pressing a button on her console. Gabriel came and sat beside Simon, watching River with a weary look on his face. Shortly a man emerged from the back corridor, white coat tossed on over a suit and tie. He panned his gaze around the empty waiting room until it reached Simon, then broke into a wide grin. “Doctor Tam, you have returned!” he said. Simon rose, taking his hand and hugging him. “Doctor Sanders...so you did go into psychobiology after all!” “It's where the cutting edge is,” Amos explained. “Is that River?” He dropped Simon's hand and approached her unconscious form. “She sure stayed cute,” he said after a moment. “What happened to her?” Looking up at Gabriel, he continued, “Mr. Tam, welcome. All you could tell me over the com was that her brain had been injured.” “I think we'd better continue this conversation in the examining room,” Gabriel said. “Simon will know better than I how to explain to you her condition.” Amos's office had a wheeled stretcher which they put River on, and wheeled her down the corridor into a round chamber with an examining bed in the middle and computer hardware all along the sides. “A 3-d neuroimager!” Simon said, impressed. “It's nowhere near as fancy as what they have at the hospital,” Amos explained, “But it works. Of course, the large majority of our practice involves its use.” “Your practice is going well, then,” Simon asked. Amos nodded, smiling, as Mal and Simon rested River on the examining bed. “You'd be surprised how much work we get. Spinal reconstruction, age-related neural rebuilding, even elective surgery now—memory enhancement and the like. There have been a whole raft of new techniques coming out in the last few years.” He checked River's position on the bed, still talking. “Interestingly, a lot of them have been coming from this place called the Academy. The Academy recruited me in med school, remember, Simon, the place that was only offering twenty-year contracts?” He fell silent, realizing he'd lost his audience. “Anything the matter?” “The Academy is who did this to her,” Simon explained. “She's one of their test subjects. They tortured her for their experiments. In specific, they implanted a psych block over Osiris.” Amos's jaw dropped. “Psych blocks! But those are illegal—oh.” He looked down at River, lying peacefully on the cot. “This sounds big, Simon,” he said at last. “Government stuff. Are you sure I won't get shut down or worse for doing this?” Simon looked back at him with a devilish air that Mal had never seen before. “Would that stop you, Amos?” he asked. “No. Let's see what they've done to her,” Amos said, “And what we can do back.”

**********************************************

“So this is the cutting edge,” Amos said, coming back into the waiting room. Simon looked up from his paperscreen. “What?” “Crazy stuff,” Amos continued, “Real go tsao de workings. The imager's about done and I'm getting ready to work on the psych block, but it's total madness. I didn't know half these things were even possible.” “Zhen de hun dan!” said Mal. “You can heal her, though,” Gabriel asked. “I can do this,” Amos nodded. “It'll take a few hours, though. I'll keep a copy of the imaging and see if there's anything in the literature on getting the other things out. It'll be hard, not going through the cortex, but that kind of search would have to be a red flag for the Academy.” “I'm surprised you're willing to risk the anger of the government at all,” Mal said. Amos's eyes lit up. “It's one guay of a challenge, trying to undo work like this. These people could have been my teachers. Besides, Simon's my friend. I used to play wei chi with River before her ballet classes.” He chuckled. “She always beat me.” “You heal her, though,” Gabriel said with forced calm. “First, do no harm,” Amos said with a mock salute. “I'll do my best, Mr. Tam.” With that, he returned to the imaging room. ********************************************

Once more Amos came trudging out of the operating theater, this time mopping his brow. The three men waiting looked up at his approach. “We're almost through,” he said. “Just waiting for some of the drugs to take hold. Just thought I'd keep you updated.” “Just return her to us in good health, Amos,” Gabriel said. “I'll do that,” Amos replied. “Mr. Tam, do you have any idea how hard it is to hand-reknit individual neurons with laser stimulators?” With a sigh, he saluted and returned to his work. “He's not what I expected,” Mal murmured to Simon. “What do you mean?” Simon asked. “He's...” Mal thought. “He reminds me of my crew. Witty, enthusiastic, competent...I'd expected to worry about him alerting the feds.” Simon patted his shoulder. “Captain, you've been reading the Browncoat press too long. We've got all kinds of folk in the Central Worlds.” They fell silent and waited for the surgery to be done.

*******************************************

A scream rang out from down the hall, loud and piercing, terror-stricken. It was followed by a crash and a dull thud. Wordlessly, the three men leapt to their feet and raced down the hall. Simon reached the door first, and burst into the operating theater. River had awoken and was sitting up, desperately clawing at her forehead and upper spine. On the ground, Amos held a hand to his forehead and clambered away across the floor. Simon ran to River, gently but forcefully pushing her arms to her side and holding her close. “Get them off me!” River screamed right in his ear. “Can't stick twenty needles in my eyes--” She recognized Simon. “Where am I?” she asked. “Home,” he explained. “On Osiris. You had a psych block that was making you hurt. Amos took it out.” He gestured to Amos, now getting up halfway across the room. “You did, didn't you?” Amos nodded, straightening his coat. “That should be fine now. I'll put the imager results on a card for you, to save time later. I do suggest you get the other...additions...looked at. There are some that can be repaired, others that can at least be diagnosed, and still others whose existence I could barely confirm.” He whistled. “Those doctors were good.” “Simon,” River said, burying her face in his chest. Gabriel walked over carefully, approaching from behind Simon. “River, darling, I'm so glad to see you well,” he said. “Who are you?” River asked, pushing away from Simon and getting to her feet. She looked around panickedly again. “Mal...Mal, are you here?” Mal rushed to her, holding her closely. “Always, my albatross,” he whispered. River turned around and planted her lips fully on his, sending him staggering back into the wall of the room. Gabriel turned to Simon, searching for the right words. “Now that is going to take a great deal of explanation,” he finally said. Mal broke the kiss briefly, whispering “It's good to have you back.” “Love keeps her up in the air when she ought to fall down,” replied River, kissing him again. Mal's world narrowed until it encompassed only the girl in his arms, and he kissed her back. “Welcome home,” he whispered between breaths. Simon's eyes met Mal's, briefly. He turned to Gabriel. “Dad,” he asked, “Can we talk in the hallway?” “We'd better,” Gabriel said, stalking out. He closed the door behind Simon and asked, “What is going on?” “River and Mal...I found it weird at the beginning too,” Simon said. “But she seems to be more stable around him--” “Stable?” Gabriel asked. “She doesn't look very stable to me!” “If you'd seen what she was like when I first rescued her,” Simon began. Gabriel cut him off. “Don't play that card with me! I've already admitted I should have helped you, so leave it.” “Dad, I wasn't bringing that up,” Simon said. “I was just making the point that she's a lot more together than she used to be. Look,” he continued, “You're getting along fine with Kaylee and me.” “You're twenty-seven, Simon,” Gabriel replied. “It's about time you settled down. She's seventeen, and should not be that excited about seeing anyone, least of all a criminal twice her age.” “I was disturbed too at first,” Simon said. “In fact, I nearly stabbed him with a scalpel. But you can't pry River off him with a crowbar, and he's crazy about her too.” “The man is a smuggler,” Gabriel explained. “What kind of a future can he offer River? Piloting that firefly and engaging in common theft? Kaylee is a pretty young woman, and I can see why you're attracted to her, and she doesn't harm your career prospects. Reynolds ruins River's future!” “River's future is her own to ruin,” Simon riposted, moving down the corridor. “That is, what's left of it, and what's left of it Mal did more to save than anyone.” “She is brilliant and talented,” Gabriel shot back, “And can make groundbreaking contributions to human knowledge in any of ten different fields! But not if she spends her life haring around the system with crooks.” “Is that all you care about?” Simon replied. “Contributions to human knowledge? River will do what she wants to do, and she will succeed. And if that entails staying aboard Serenity with people who love her--” “River doesn't know what she wants!” Gabriel roared. “She's seventeen!” “At seventeen I knew what I wanted,” Simon said. “To be a doctor and make you proud.” “Exactly,” replied Gabriel. “And if River knows what she wants and it's not what you desire?” “She didn't even recognize me!” “That could have any of a dozen potential reasons, which if you'd asked Amos--” “I hope he didn't damage her memory!” Gabriel said. “I hope he did,” Simon replied, “Because if you're this bu-hui-hen and she's harboring resentment like that, the house is going to be unlivable for the foreseeable future.” “You will run, then,” Gabriel said more calmly, “Despite hating my guts.” “I will run,” Simon said, “Because the Academy must be destroyed. Thank you for making it possible, but know that I'm not running to make you proud. Now be civil or take the floater home.” “My own son, talking to me like that,” Gabriel grumbled, but calmed down. “Thank you, Dr. Sanders,” Mal was saying as he come through the doorway, arm in arm with River. To Gabriel, he added in his most courtly tone, “Mr. Tam, may I date your daughter?” “Pleeeeze, Dad,” River said, mocking the teenage supplicatory voice, “We'll be back home by ten every night, and won't get kidnapped by feds!” This drew a laugh from Simon. “We'll talk later,” Gabriel replied. “It's not like I'm asking for anything expensive,” River continued, grinning, “Like a dedicated sourcebox.” She broke into a laugh. “You are all right,” said Gabriel, taking her arm from Mal. “No, I'm traumatized and my brain is injured and I can read people's minds,” River replied wryly. “Can we go out for ice cream on the way back?”

*******************************************

“Now this is a dress,” Zoe said, drawing out a grey silk item from the rack and holding it up to her. “What do you think?” “Ooh, that is slinky,” Kaylee said. “How much does it cost?” Zoe turned to look in the mirror. “Kaylee, we're rich. We can afford these dresses. Tell me, how far down does the back go?” Kaylee peered over Zoe's shoulder. “All the way to your waist, almost,” she said. “Definitely slinky.” “Such a pretty color, too,” Kaylee said. “All silvery grey. Goes real well with your hair.” Zoe hung the dress on the end of the rack and looked around. “See anything for you?” she asked. “Oh, I don't know,” Kaylee said. “There's just so many pretty dresses. I wish Inara was here.” “Where is she anyway?” Zoe asked. “She said she had something companion-y to do,” Kaylee said. “But she hadn't screened any clients. Ooh!” she added, pointing across the sales floor at a dress on a mannequin. Zoe's eyes followed her finger. The dress she was pointing at was a metallic gold, fading to black under the arms, at the hem, and at the bust, where it had fine lace going nearly all the way up to the neck. Its several underskirts were black, with flashes of gold at the hems. Her eyes widened along with Kaylee's. “If it fits, it's mine,” Kaylee said, making her way over to the dress. It fit, and it was hers. Ten minutes later, their prizes boxed and ready to be shipped back to the Tam Estate, the two women were in a cab on their way back. Kaylee gazed out the window, a dreamy smile on her face. “You all right?” Zoe asked. “Yeah,” Kaylee replied. “Just thinking about the shiny new dress. And I'll get another one for the wedding.” “When are you two getting married?” “We haven't set a date yet, we're waiting to see what happens with Simon's parliament run.” Kaylee looked back over at Zoe. “What's getting married like?” she asked. “Can you give me any hot tips?” Her face fell. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--” Zoe waved her arm. “No, it's all right. I should move on, or at least be able to talk about it. Weddings are fun,” she continued. “Big thing is, don't worry about them. Let someone else plan it, just sit back and relax and think of your husband.” She laughed softly. “What is it?” “I was just thinking,” Zoe said, “You could always get us all back in Serenity and send us to orbit, then get Mal to marry you two. Ship's Captains still have the right to perform weddings. That's why Wash and I did it groundside, we didn't want to see what kind of vows Mal would cook up.” Kaylee laughed as well. “I think Simon's father would object to that. He's working on a big wedding at the estate, in between working on the campaign.” “Just so long as he doesn't make you help him,” Zoe said. “Inara's your maid of honor?” Kaylee nodded. “She said she'd help with everything.” “I'm sure she knows all kinds of helpful things,” said Zoe. “I wonder what she's doing now.”