Standard disclaimers apply. This story was written for fun, not profit. No copyright infringement is intended.

Rating: PG for language and adult situations

Pairings: Kaylee/Simon; Wash/Zoe; Tom/Jenny.

AN: I left these guys hanging for far too long. It won't make much sense unless you read the rest of the story.

SOMEWHERE DARK AND CONCRETE INTERIOR

Wash and Tom and lying on a bare concrete floor in a TV-dark, bunker-like room. They are just coming around from being out cold.

WASH: (Confused and groggy) What the...where are...? (Tentatively) Mal?….Niska?

TOM: (Less groggy, but just as confused) Just me, I think. (He tries to sit) Aaaagggghhh! (Then silence.)

WASH: Tom? (Terrified) You dead? Please don’t be dead!

TOM: (Whimpering) Not dead. Ribs…., lots of broken ribs. Where are we?

WASH: Don’t know.

TOM: So this wasn’t part of the plan.

WASH: (Fading) Uh uh.

TOM: Those men weren’t from the prison, unless they were out of uniform, which doesn’t make sense.

Wash doesn’t reply.

TOM: Wash, WASH!

WASH: (Very groggy) Sorry, passed out. Back of my head really hurts. Gotta concussion I think.

TOM: We need to stay awake. The terrible cotton mouth leads me to believe they doped us, but I think I remember them hitting you in the head too. (Humor in his voice) You were fighting pretty hard for a man who usually talks his way out of trouble. You bleeding?

WASH: I think I am. (beat) Yeah, a little.

TOM: I’m sorry I got you into this.

WASH: (A little slurred) You didn’t. Jenny did. S’okay though. S’what we do. On Serenity, it’s what we do…. S’okay ‘cause I love you.

TOM: (Laughing and then gasping in pain) You aren’t going to throw up, are you?

WASH: Heh?

TOM: Last time you told me you loved me you threw up.

WASH: I was drunk. You married my sister and I was really, really drunk. You’re my brother and I love you.

TOM: You do this often?

WASH: Tell men I love them?

TOM: No, rescue people, or try to. You said “it’s what we do.”

WASH: (Sounding more coherent) Yeah, it’s kinda been our thing lately. (Trying to sit and making pained noises) Things are different, on Serenity I mean. Stuff’s happened. It was just supposed to just be a job, but it’s gotten…complicated.

TOM: Pull me up. (Pained noises and gasping) You got married. It complicates things.

WASH: It’s not just that. (Beat, slightly indignant) Are you saying my sister complicates things for you?

TOM: What? No! Well yes, but not in a bad way. I meant life is more complicated when there is someone else to worry about, and I know you’re inclined to worry.

WASH: I just didn’t think it would get like this. It’s more than Zoë. I even worry about Mal now. We’re like some weird, dysfunctional family, alternately between being kind to one another and stepping on each other’s toes. Even Jayne. I actually trusted him today. I mean I trusted him completely, no reservations.

TOM: Now that is disturbing. Aagghhhh. Zoë know how to set ribs?

WASH: Assuming we get out of here, doc will take care of you.

TOM: You guys have a doctor now? Does he or she cook?

WASH: (Confused) Not really, why?

TOM: Last time we were on board Mal was talking about finding a cook.

WASH: Yeah, well, we need a doctor a lot more than we need a cook these days. Like I said, it‘s complicated; somewhat amusing and ironic too, (Leaning in and whispering in Tom’s ear) but I can’t go into details. I’m an old hand at this getting captured thing, and the walls may have ears.

The conversation continues at a whisper.

TOM: (Worried) God, I hope Jenny’s okay. I hope Jayne got her out of there. (Annoyed) I can’t believe you let Mal use her as bait.

WASH: It was her idea, and believe me, we all tried to stop her, especially once he knew about the babies.

TOM: (Voice rising) Babies??? What babies?

WASH: (Nice and slightly sarcastic turning to very sarcastic and angry) Shhh. Oh, yeah, about that. Congratulations you careless jerk. You’re having twins. What were you thinking?

TOM: I’m ha’ ha’ what?

WASH: (With the exaggerated care people use to speak to foreign language speakers and slow children) Your wife, my sister, is pregnant. Our resident witch says it’s twin girls. Our resident physician says it’s too early to tell the number or gender, but that you are definitely going to be a father; a homeless, fugitive father.

TOM: Son of a bitch!

SERENITY BRIDGE

This scene picks up where the last chapter left off. Mal, Zoë, Inara, Kaylee, and River are all present. Mal is sitting in the pilot’s chair at the com. Zoë is behind him, and the others are clustered around the co-pilot’s chair where River sits, swinging her legs.

MAL: (Incredulous tinged with anger) You what?

SIR RICHARD: (On the video monitor, smiling) I have your men, Captain Reynolds. I assure you, they are safe if a bit worse for wear. They are not on the penal moon, so I’d advise you to stop scanning for your shuttle lest you hit one of the sensors and get caught. It is also safe with me.

MAL: Is this some kind of joke? If you’re wantin’ payment for your help we can arrange something'. There’s no need to take my crew.

SIR RICHARD: Ah, but there is, Captain Reynolds. For, you see, the payment I seek may not be one you wish to give freely, and I thought it wise to hold a bargaining chip.

MAL: (Hiding his growing fear with annoyance) Just what is it you want from me.

SIR RICHARD: Captain, you may not realize it, but you are in possession something, or rather some things, of great value. I apologize for not being upfront about wanting payment for my assistance. For Inara I would have helped, gladly, for nothing, but when I learned who she is sailing with, well that was another story.

Mal shoots a loot at Inara, who looks helpless and horrified, and then at River, who continues to swing her legs as she rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at in the general direction of the monitor. Kaylee looks terrified and as if she’s about to run for Simon. River holds her by the wrist.

MAL: (Swallowing) I don’t know what it is you think I’m holdin', but I ain’t got nothing of great value ‘cept Serenity herself, and even she ain’t worth the lives of my crew.

SIR RICHARD: You misunderstand me. It isn’t material goods I am after, Captain. I am a business man, and what you have is far more valuable than your ship and its contents. I work extensively with the Blue Sun corporation, a tenuous relationship at best. I am looking for leverage.

MAL: (Envisioning River and Simon being hauled away, and not liking it one bit) Go on.

SIR RICHARD: Foremost you have a reputation as a man of honor. A rare thing among those who call the black home. You also have a highly skilled and decidedly loyal crew.

MAL: (Swallowing and relaxing just a bit, smiling) Sir Richard, I don’t know who you’ve been talkin’ too, but just so you understand, I am, as Inara will surely tell you, a petty thief, and my crew...well they ain’t exactly easy to lead when they don’t wanna be. So what is it you think I can do for you that is worth two of my crew? And, by the by, you are holdin' my pilot. Without him Serenity don’t fly nowhere, dong ma?

SIR RICHARD: We both know that isn’t true. I saw your creative landing at the prison. Whoever did that was able to do a lot of cosmetic damage to the dock and absolutely none to your ship.

Mal looks over at River, who grins. He looks back at the screen and inquisitively at Sir Richard.

MAL: Saw that, did you?

SIR RICHARD: Come now Captain, didn’t you think that went a bit too smoothly? The official you dealt with owes me, so he made sure everything went well. He was, however, instructed to end your little adventure if you, or any of your crew, slipped up in the slightest. You did very well. No one else in the prison is aware it was a set up.

MAL: (Swallowing) So what’s the deal?

SERENITY INFIRMARY

Simon is cleaning up the infirmary, throwing away bloody sponges and gauze, spraying down surfaces. Jenny is sitting on the fold down bed, an ice pack on her knee. She is watching the IV bag slowly drain blood into Jayne’s arm. Jayne is on the table, covered with a sheet. He is pale.

JENNY: He was amazing.

SIMON: (Who has been off in his own little world) Huh?

JENNY: Jayne, he was really amazing. It’s easy to assume he’s just some great, hulking brute, which he is, but all his moves were calculated, smooth. I felt strangely safe.

SIMON: I know the feeling. When our heist on Ariel went south he got us out of there. It was like watching a violent ballet. (He turns and looks at Jayne) Of course it was him that tipped off the feds to begin with and he was saving his own skin.

JENNY: (Looking surprised) He turned you in??

SIMON: Yep.

JENNY: And he’s still alive?

SIMON: Yep.

JENNY: Why?

SIMON: Because he’s useful and he’s the devil we know.

JENNY: Do you think he’ll do it again?

SIMON: Probably not. He learned his lesson about trusting the Alliance and Mal would probably kill him. (He smiles) Besides, I think River and I scared him pretty badly when he found out we knew. Still feel safe?

Jenny is about to answer when there is a commotion of people coming down the steps into the common area.

ZOE: (off screen) We don’t have to do this Sir.

MAL: (Walking into infirmary but looking back at Zoe) I don’t see that we have a choice if you want your husband back. (Turning to Simon and nodding toward Jayne) He gonna live?

Zoe, Inara, Kaylee, and River all crowd into the infirmary behind Mal.

SIMON: Yes, (smiling at Jenny) unfortunately.

KAYLEE: (Shocked) Simon, you don’t mean that.

Simon gives Kaylee a look that indicates he means it very much. She looks unhappy.

MAL: We got ourselves a situation…

KAYLEE: (Interrupting, still looking at Simon) Cap’n’s gonna run slaves.

Mal sighs and motions for everyone to move from the infirmary to the common room where they distribute themselves on the furniture. Simon moves to sit by Kaylee, who flinches when he touches her.

MAL: (Grim) Jenny, Sir Richard has Wash and Tom. They’re safe, for now, but the only way we can get ‘em back is to run some unpaid labor out to the new moon he’s bought himself. Blue Sun fronted the money and wants a return on their investment, but he’s havin’ a problem getting’ folks out there. Seems the Alliance is cracking down on slavin’ operations they ain’t runnin’. Looks like Tom’s intel. might have reached some of the right people and the Alliance ain’t too happy with Blue Sun right now. Richard thinks we can run under the radar.

SERENITY ENGINE ROOM NIGHT

Kaylee’s legs are poking out from under the engine. Simon steps through the hatch and sits on the grating next to her leg. He reaches out to touch her.

SIMON: Hey.

KAYLEE: (Flinching, not happy) Hey.

SIMON: Please don’t be mad at me.

KAYLEE: (Sliding out from under the engine) Simon, that was just mean. Jayne risked his life today. He’s saved you too, and you’re nasty to him.

SIMON: He’s nasty to me all the time.

KAYLEE: Yeah, and I call him on it, but I expect it from him. You’re better ‘un that.

SIMON: Maybe I’m not. Kaylee, there are extenuating circumstances. Jenny and I were talking about it and I let my feelings spill over for a moment. I shouldn’t have.

KAYLEE: Great, somethin’ else you can tell her you can’t tell me.

SIMON: (Abrupt) He turned us in...on Ariel, Jayne turned us in. The Feds turned on him and arrested him too. I didn’t know for a while. River told me and Mal confirmed it.

KAYLEE: (Mouth hanging open) No, that ain’t true.

SIMON: I’m afraid it is.

KAYLEE: But Mal…. (She looks at him with huge eyes.)

SIMON: For some reason, Mal let him live. I can understand why Jayne did it. He wanted the money, but he was also tired of the danger. I decided it was best to let it go and Jayne and I have been trying to come to an understanding. What I said in the Infirmary was sort of a joke, to Jenny. She was talking about how she saw him in a new light and I didn’t want a fellow fugitive to get too comfortable. I’m sorry.

Kaylee crawls over and puts her arms around Simon.

KAYLEE: No, I’m sorry. I shoulda known.

SIMON: Kaylee, please don’t say anything to anyone. I don’t know who knows. I don’t think Mal wants everyone to know. He didn’t say anything to me until I confronted him and he couldn’t deny it. Am I forgiven for being mean?

Kaylee pulls him into a kiss.

SERENITY BRIDGE NIGHT

Mal is sitting in the pilot’s seat reading bulletins on the cortex. River is in the co-pilot’s seat working out navigational trajectories. Inara steps onto the bridge and puts a hand on Mal’s shoulder. He shrugs it off. She looks hurt.

MAL: (Irritated) You need something?

INARA: There are ways around this Mal. I know how you feel about human cargo, about slavery. I could use my connections….

MAL: (Interrupting her, angry) Your connections? Seems to me your connections got us here. Never again, Inara. You stick to your whoring and I’ll stick to my petty thieving. Get off my bridge.

Inara turns on her heel and leaves. River heaves a huge sigh. Mal looks over at her.

MAL: What? You got something to say to me too?

RIVER: (Shaking her head) Ship’s like a ruttin’ soap opera. Lover’s quarrel on the Bridge. Lover’s tryst in the Engine room. Surprised we don’t fall out of the sky.

MAL: We ain’t lovers.

RIVER: (Smirking) You sound like Simon. You think about everyone but yourselves. Denial is not a river on Osiris.