Disclaimer: This story was written just for fun and is not an attempt to make money or infringe on any copyrights or trademarks belonging to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox or Universal. No disrespect is intended; imitation is the truest form of flattery. For any BDHs that might stumble across this, please know that this is a foray into fantasy with the characters we love without ever truly wanting to alter our beloved ‘verse. Anyone who might read this and consider associating the actual actors who play these characters on the screen with any of the events following should seriously consider therapy. Special thanks to Keltiknot for inspiration.

This story is a stand-alone sequel to The Innocents(http://fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=6234) It is a work of erotica fanfiction (NC-17, adult language, situations and sexual content including explicit BDSM, very explicit male slash; M/s, and very light m/f; K/S). You have been warned, so please read no further if you will be offended or are under the age of consent. For the rest of you, read on... ** Feedback is encouraged ** (January 2006)

Finding Solace By Kessa (YoSaffBrig)

It seemed like everyone needed the infirmary for something that day. River woke up extremely fidgety and on edge. She had been rambling constantly all morning and Simon had been afraid to let her out of his sight for even a moment. Jayne had nearly ripped a tendon in his leg lifting something earlier in the cargo bay and had been laid up in the infirmary whining about it since the incident. Zoe was tending to Wash who was lying down uncomfortably on the side bunk sick with some 24-hour stomach virus. Kaylee had cut her arm on a piece of Serenity’s inner workings in the engine room and the doctor was in the middle of stitching her up when Mal strode in bellowing loudly.

“Where the chiang-Bao Hoe-tze duh guay is my crew?”

Ever since Simon, Kaylee, Mal and Inara had returned from Sundale Estates having rescued the 150 men and women slated for slavery, Simon’s mind was in a constant spin. He and Kaylee had volunteered to be part of a mission and act as servants for the Captain and Inara in order to secure the illusion that was needed to get the job and free the group of people that were planned to be shipped as menial cargo to the small, privately owned, terra-formed moon. The young doctor and mechanic hadn’t expected themselves to be degraded and punished as slaves though, nor did they ever expect their punishers to be Mal and Inara.

Simon had definitely been having trouble focusing since their return and lack of concentration was never a good attribute for any doctor. The din in the infirmary was grating Simon’s nerves and Mal’s yelling triggered his anxiety. Unlike his usual self, he dropped the stitch-kit he had been using to patch-up Kaylee and, awkwardly scrambling to pick it up, appeared to the rest of the crew like a chastised child trying in painful desperation to make things right.

The friends looked at each other, unsure of how to react to the apparent psychological breakdown of their stalwart doctor. Only Kaylee and the Captain, presently, understood the possible reasons behind their doctor’s inner turmoil.

“Simon, galley, right now.” The Captain ordered understandingly.

Simon’s hands fidgeted as he stumbled on his words, “But, aahh, Kaylee…I need to, umm, finish….”

Mal motioned for his first in command to take the doctor’s place, “Zoe’s patched-up her share of battle wounds, Doc, don’t worry ‘bout Kaylee. Come on.”

Kaylee nodded to Simon, indicating that she’d be okay as Mal reached for Simon’s upper arm to guide him out of the room. At his Captain’s touch, Simon acquiesced. He mechanically put the parts of the stitch-kit he had picked up from the floor down onto the nearby metal tray and blankly followed the Captain into the ship’s galley.

“Simon, what’s going on? I thought things were okay. I thought you and me, we were good.” The Captain asked concerned.

“We are…I am…I mean, I think…I guess I am.” He stuttered.

The Captain gave him a sideways glance, “You think you guess you are? Not very reassuring there, Doc.”

Simon grabbed at his head, pacing and ranting, “Runtse de Shang-Dee, ching Daiwuhtzo!”

Then, Simon’s eyes fell soberly onto Mal and the Captain could clearly see that the windows to his crewmate’s soul were pierced with pain and confusion.

Mal went over to Simon and affectionately reached for his arm. Simon pulled away and backed himself into a corner of the galley.

The Captain slowly backed away. He pulled out a chair from the long wooden table and motioned toward the doctor. “Simon, please, come sit down.” He spoke soothingly to his crewmate.

Simon’s eyes were watery as his self-anguish exploded. “I can’t.” He spat out as he swiped at tears with his long sleeves.

The Captain tried to remain calm but was getting noticeably frustrated, “What do you mean you can’t? Just sit down so me and you can talk ‘bout this rational-like.”

“Rational?” Simon imparted a sarcastic eye roll and a half-hearted smile in defiance of his emotions, “It’s way past rational, Captain.”

“It’s about Sundale Estates, Simon, I get it. I used you to free those slaves and even went so far as to whip you to make my part believable. I betrayed you, Simon, I’m sorry… I have always been sorry ‘bout that. Don’t know how else to tell you that, son. Was for a greater cause but I know that don’t make it right. I thought we talked ‘bout it that night and things were good between you and me.”

“They were…but…” Simon stammered.

“But what?” Mal tried to keep his voice calm but his aggravation was growing.

“The nightmares.” He turned away from Mal and whispered the rest, “…and the dreams. They don’t stop.” He turned back toward the Captain in exasperation and yelled at him, “I don’t know what to do, tell me what to do.” With that, Simon crumpled to the floor and started crying aloud.

Mal stood there silently for what seemed like an eternity. He wasn’t sure what he should or shouldn’t say for that matter. Simon was confused, but his confusion was real enough. Mal thought about everything the young doctor had been through in his recent past, how he had acted at Sundale Estates and how he had been acting presently.

The Captain walked over to his crewmate and knelt down beside him. He was starting to understand what was bothering Simon. He spoke softly again, “Simon, were you partial to what happened back on that moon…to me punishin’ you like that?”

Simon closed his eyes. He couldn’t look directly at the Captain. He leaned back and purposefully banged his head hard against the galley cabinets.

Mal ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. He spoke tenderly, “Simon, the last year or so, you lost the support of your family, risked your life and livelihood to rescue your sister who you found damaged, faced Reavers on the fringes of civilization and run clear ‘cross the ‘verse from a corrupt government. That’s a’ hell of a lot for anyone to manage, ‘specially an upstanding citizen such as yor’self. Much as a part of you wants to keep your gentility intact, I’m bettin’ another part of you might just be in need of handin’ control over to someone else for a while.” Mal gave the doctor a kindhearted smile. “I’m thinkin’ it’s only human to feel like that. You’re okay, there ain’t no need to be actin’ so dramatical, son.” He stood up and stepped back.

“Captain…please, don’t go,” Simon begged.

The Captain stopped, “What is it? What exactly do you want?”

Simon’s eyes met the Captain’s, “I want more…I mean…I want to know more. What was it like for you? On the moon…you were powerful and compassionate…even when you were using the leather strap. Captain, what was real and what wasn’t? Help me understand…I need to understand.”

“You want to know if that was really me, Doc, that it?” The Captain ran his hand though his hair again.

Simon bit his lower lip and nodded.

“Well, was a bit like being Captain, I guess, but a captain during crucial times, ya’ know. Felt meaningful, in control, powerful, and the adrenaline rush was…” The Captain stopped suddenly realizing his increasing enthusiasm for the subject was perhaps becoming inappropriate.

“So, it meant something to you too, didn’t it? Did it?” Simon asked Mal with a pleading tone in his voice.

The Captain’s demeanor changed and the authoritarian in him took over, “Enough, Simon. This ain’t the time or place to be goin’ on about this. “But I need…” Simon fumbled toward the Captain.

“We all need things, Doctor, don’t mean we get them.” Mal stated flatly.

Simon closed in on the Captain’s space. He reached up to touch the Captain’s face inquisitively, pleading with him, “Mal, please.”

The Captain grabbed Simon’s wrist and held on to it firmly as he spat out his retort in a harsh whisper, “That is IT…you want to continue down this path, Simon, then you come to my quarters alone later…you understand me? And gorramit, don’t you ever presume to know my thoughts!”

He shoved the doctor aside as he turned and strode out the galley, heading up the stairs toward his bunk.

Simon stood in the dimly lit galley for a moment, alone and confused but with a stirring deep within his gut. He took a deep breath to try and help pull himself together before heading back toward the chaos in the infirmary.

* * * * * * * *

It was late into the ship’s sleep cycle but Mal couldn’t sleep. His earlier actions with Simon played over and over again in his head. Why was he so hooked on the power? He left his quarters to wander the ship…his ship. There it was again…HIS ship. Why was the power of being a captain so damn important to him?

He walked passed the metal staircase leading down to the cargo bay and heard voices. He headed down to the corner of the bay where he found Shepherd Book spotting Jayne as the recuperated boxing glove-clad brute worked his energy out on a large punching bag hanging from metal beams. “Don’t anyone sleep on this ship?” Mal wondered aloud.

“Hey Mal,” Jayne stopped what he was doing and motioned for the preacher to hand him his towel. With boxing gloves still on, he clumsily wiped the sweat from his face and neck. “Got me ‘nother set a’ gloves, feel like goin’ a few rounds for the hell of it?”

“Think I’ll pass on that one, Jayne…thanks.” Mal retorted kindly.

“Suit yor’self.” Jayne threw the towel back at Book and continued his aggressive workout.

The Shepherd continued to converse with the Captain as they both watched Jayne lay into the defenseless punching bag, “Captain…don’t usually find you roaming around this time of night. What brings you down here?”

“Lack of ability to sleep, Preacher.” Mal crossed his arms, still watching the one man fight. “So, Shepherd, I got a question maybe you might have some wisdom on, on account a’ what you do. I mean, you must have a certain insight on the behaviors of different people…bein’ a preacher man an’ all.”

“Question away, Captain.” Book folded his arm as well.

Mal motioned his head toward Jayne, “Why is it human nature always comes down to violence? I mean, what is it about the fight?”

“That it? Kind of surprised you’re the one asking that, Mal. Seems to me that if anyone understood, would be you.” The preacher gave Mal a knowing smile. “Not so much the fight as the power behind it. Look at Jayne. He’s got very little influence on the way things run ‘round here but put a weapon in his hand or push him toward the fight and he comes alive…is in total command of his situation. Control and power are what make people feel important, Mal. Makes them feel worthy of playing a part in humanity; without it, they’re lost and often times lack self-dignity. I suppose it just depends on the person as to how much power they need to reflect their positive self-worth.” The Shepherd turned to Mal, “Why such an interest in psychology all of a sudden?”

“Just figurin’, thinkin’ on somethin’ like that might help the sleep come faster.”

“Better slumber through edification…could catch on.” He smiled sarcastically.

Mal looked down at the deck and back at Book, “Have a good night, Preacher.”

“You too, Captain.” The shepherd replied.

“Jayne.” Hands in pocket, Mal nodded to the large man who waved back at him as he turned to head back up the stairs.

* * * * * * * *

As he reached the top deck, the Captain heard noises coming from the cockpit and stuck his head in the doorway. He saw Wash curled up in his pilot’s chair with a blanket tucked in around him. Two old and one current cups of tea, as well as a small plate of toast littered the control console. Wash leaned his head back as he listened to the different stations of mostly mindless chatter coming off the cortex.

“Feeling better?” Mal stepped inside and pulled a stool up close to the pilot’s seat.

“Yeah, thanks for asking, Mal.” Wash looked tired and in need of getting and keeping some substantial food in his stomach.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed? Don’t want Zoe comin’ after me ‘cause I force her husband to slave away when he should be in his quarters sick in bed.”

“Had enough sleep in the infirmary today. Zoe took good care of me….always does.” He said with a loving smile. “Wash, can I ask you somethin’ kinda personal-like?”

“Yeah, sure, Mal.” Wash was curious.

“Zoe and you…you’re both so different, I mean, she’s a warrior and…well…”

“I’m not.” Wash chuckled.

“At times, ain’t that troublesome to you…I mean, that she’s the stronger?”

“I’ve got all the power I need right here.” Wash patted the steering column of the ship. “The times we really need it, especially on this ship, I know I’m the only one who can really clear us of danger. That’s a lot of control and responsibility. Just as soon pass on the rest of the power struggles.” Wash pulled the blanket up to his chin, “ There’s a comfort knowing Zoe can take care of me and herself…besides, she knows I’m there for her, too. Hell, Zoe should ever need a strong man to come out fighting…I’d do it…I just don’t have the need to do it all the time. Why so interested?”

Mal shrugged, “Just curious.”

“I’ve said it before, not many people understand Zoe and me…but I’m okay with that.” Wash smiled like a schoolboy in love. “So Mal, since we’re being all introspective right now, let me ask you; don’t you ever get burdened by all the responsibility and control you have?”

“What do you mean?” Mal preferred to be evasive rather than truly think about the question.

“Come on…Look at Simon, taking care of his sister... and all of us, the stress made even him kinda lose it today. Don’t you ever feel like that?”

“Can’t say as I do, Wash.” He said fairly honestly.

“Guess that’s what makes you a good captain.” Wash turned to the console and started playing with switches.

Mal smiled. “Thanks Wash, I’ll take that as words of kindness. Now you should go get in bed with that lovely wife of yours.” “Just finishing the check on our current nav stats” Wash pressed a few more buttons and the radar screen glowed a hazy blue, “and it looks like clear sailing through to Persephone. We should be there in just under ten hours.”

The Captain nodded and stood up to leave.

Wash turned in his chair, “Also, before you go, there hasn’t been much chatter on the cortex but there was one thing of interest. I was going to wait till morning but since you’re here.”

“What is it?” The Captain asked.

Wash called a message up onto one of the screens, “Came through ‘bout an hour ago from the private sector. Someone looking for a Firefly with one Malcolm Reynolds as Captain.”

Mal raised his eyebrow, “Government trap?”

“Don’t think so.” Wash pointed, “Look at the electronic signature. Location stamp is S.E., I’m betting it’s someone looking for us from Sundale Estates. Think they want their cargo back?”

Mal leaned in closer to Wash, “Technically, ’r slaves cargo or passengers, Wash?” He pulled back agitated and annoyed, “Didn’t really think they’d be idiot enough to come lookin’ for us. Ain’t there some kinda law for stupidity? They’re the gorram bad guys here, you’d think they’d be smart enough to keep quiet to keep the authorities from noticin’.”

“That’s just it, Mal.” Wash looked concerned, “I pulled the existing message soon as I saw it, but they keep posting on the cortex like that, eventually it’s gonna draw attention to us from the wrong types, government types.”

“Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si! Don’t ever take kindly to bein’ pushed up against a gorram wall!” Mal was incensed. He paused a moment and turned to his trusted pilot, “Wash, get on the cortex and answer that Chiang-Bao Hoe-tze duh hwoon dahn. Set up a meeting time on Persephone at the docks. Sooner the better. I really don’t need this mei yong-duh gos se right now!”

Mal turned and stormed off still swearing in Chinese as Wash turned around in his chair realizing he was alone once again. “Good night,” he called out into the ether.

* * * * * * * *

The Captain was still fuming and swearing to himself as he pushed open the door and climbed down into his bunk.

Simon stood in the dimly lit quarters nervously waiting for him.

Mal saw the doctor and rubbed his chin to give himself a moment to calm down a bit, “Simon, now might not be such a good time.”

“Please Mal.” Simon had that imploring tone to his voice again.

The message on the cortex forcing him to meet up with thugs he wanted nothing more to do with and now this entrapment by Simon was pushing every button inside of Mal’s psyche. Simon was here to discuss, what? Control versus subservience. Right now, Mal wasn’t feeling very much in charge of anything.

“Look son, this hasn’t been the best day ever. B’tween you and me, I’m not feeling mighty powerful right now. So why don’t you just head on back to your bunk.”

Simon looked at the floor and then back up into Mal’s intense eyes, “Maybe I could help with that…with finding your power, I mean. You said yourself that it made you feel meaningful, in control and powerful. Maybe we can help each other.”

“Been thinkin’ on that matter a lot as of late, Doc, and I think I understand a good part of it, but still…don’t quite know why it’s so important for someone like me to be in complete control while someone like you is lookin’ so hard to get rid of it.”

“Does it matter, Mal?” Simon offered in a small voice.

“I think it does.” Mal stated definitively.

Simon was frustrated. He covered his eyes with the palms of his hands, “I want to feel, Mal, but right now I am so inundated by everyone else’s needs that my mind is completely full of useless noise.” He looked up again at Mal with tears welling up in his eyes, “It was…comforting to have someone tell me what to do and how to feel for a while…to have you tell me. It was liberating in a way. I don’t know if that makes any sense or, hell, if I’m making any sense.”

“You trust me, Doc?” Mal asked.

Simon gave one of his half-hearted smiles that betrayed his emotional suffering, “I guess I really do, Captain.”

Rubbing the back of his own neck, Mal turned away from Simon. The young doctor just stood there waiting for the Captain to say something else but after a while the silence started to become unsettling. Simon shifted, thinking perhaps maybe he should just leave.

Then, Mal turned back to the doctor. “Strip down, Simon,” he commanded softly.

Simon felt a stirring in his stomach and just beneath. He let out the breath he had unconsciously been holding and slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. For the first time, Mal noticed that Simon had the hands and fingers of, well, of a surgeon.

Simon believed he was glad for the way things appeared to be turning out, but he was still apprehensive. What was he doing? Was this right? What was actually going to happen here and was he really ready for it?

Simon took off his shirt and draped it over the back of the desk chair. He looked to the Captain.

“All of it.” The Captain ordered.

Simon felt the clenching just below his gut again. He removed his boots and socks and placed them under the chair. He unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned the top of his pants, letting his pants and underwear fall together into a pile on the floor. He stepped out of them and stooped down awkwardly to pick them up and place them over the chair as well.

Simon was completely naked. He felt vulnerable. Instinctively his head was down in a humble manner but he looked up at Mal through the dark hair that hung just over his tormented blue eyes.

“You want to make me proud of you again, son?” The Captain asked in a calm and commanding way.

“Yes, Captain.” Simon shivered at hearing his own voice give such a servile response.

“Then you do as you’re told, first time I tell you to, from here on out…dong ma?”

Simon closed his eyes, “Yes, sir.” Mal walked over to the metal drawers in his quarters and rummaged through them. He pulled out a pair of Alliance-issue handcuffs. Both Simon and Mal looked at the cuffs and then back at each other. “You are not in a position to be askin’, Doctor, so…don’t.”

Mal crossed the room and stood directly in front of his new submissive, “Give me your hands.”

Simon obediently did as he was instructed and Mal efficiently restrained his hands by cuffing the young doctor to a metal bar that hung down from the ceiling close to the bed. Simon’s hands were held up above his head and he was facing the bunk, giving Mal a good view of his muscular back and well-rounded ass. “Spread your legs apart, Simon, and leave them.” Simon did as he was told.

“Good.” The Captain tenderly put his hand on Simon’s bare shoulder and there was an irrepressible stirring within the doctor’s loins. Mal noticed and whispered into his crewmate’s ear, “You do continue to surprise me, Simon.”

Mal walked over to the chair Simon had laid all his clothes on and freed the belt from the doctor’s pants. Simon’s back was turned to Mal and the anticipation of the unknown was playing with his psyche. What was Mal doing? Should he ask? The moments of silence seemed endless. Again, Simon wondered if he was ready for what might happen. He had already said yes, though and he was no longer in a position to argue. Then, Simon realized something more about what was going on within him and his mind settled a bit. If he was restrained, then he had no choice but to allow the things that were about to happen to him, and, well, if part of him liked it, it wasn’t his fault. That would mean he could still consider himself a gentleman after tonight since anything that might happen would totally be beyond his control.

Simon took a deep breath to try to relax into his new train of thought. As he exhaled, he was not ready for the first sharp blow of the leather belt to cut across his ass. Simon yelled out and instinctively moved his feet to try and hide his backside from any more of the intense impacts.

“Simon, you moved. I thought I told you to leave your legs where they were.” The Captain said in a calm, flat voice.

An apprehensive wince crossed Simon’s face as he obediently moved his legs back to their original position.

“That’s better. Now, don’t make me tell you again, son.” The Captain moved closer to Simon and the Doctor could feel his breath on the back of his neck, “I know you can get through this. We may not be in a public forum this time, but you still want to make me proud of you don’t you?”

Whether it was a chill in the air or Simon’s anxiety at work, a shiver ran through his entire body, “Yes Captain, I do.”

“I would suggest, then, not yellin’ so damn loud either, Doctor, lessen’ you want the whole of Serenity to be seein’ this for themselves.”

Simon shook his head.

“Alright then, seems we have an understandin’. By the way, Doc, nice belt.” The Captain stepped aside and pulled back his hand to continue his whipping of the doctor’s bare backside.

Simon grunted forcefully with the brunt of each blow. Rectangular welts emerged on his toned round ass and well built back. The discomfort of his bonds mixed with the trials of being flogged had an impressive effect on the doctor’s muscular shoulders and backside. His taut muscles undulated as they instinctively tried to escape the abuse but Simon held his ground and arduously kept his legs firmly in place. Sweat beaded his body and dampened his hair. Irrepressible tears streaked his face from the pain, but this is how he had longed to feel once again; the activity in his brain shut down, all he had room to think about now was obeying the Captain…HIS Captain and making his Captain proud of him.

Mal’s strokes were steady and precise. The frustrations from the day were pouring out and his concentration and intensity were returning as he skillfully beset upon flogging his crewmate. Right now, Simon was like Serenity to him, both well-oiled machines that he was in command of…and after all, it was all about power and control.

Simon’s body was vibrant and alive with pain. His now-crimson back and ass endured the intensity of each strike until he absolutely could withstand no more. The stinging feeling turned into a cutting sensation. He rode the cutting. Each blow began to blend into each other until his flesh reached the other side of pain and the rawness of each thrash became unbearable. He could no longer remain quiet.

Simon cried out, “No…no more! Please.”

The Captain stopped cracking the belt against Simon’s fatigued body, “You ready for it to stop, Doctor?” The Captain questioned him gently but confidently, “You really ready for it all to stop…just like that? That what you’re askin’?”

“I can’t, I just can’t. I’m sorry.” The doctor hung his head in shame. Tears and sweat dripped from his face and hair.

“Hey, you did good, Simon.” The Captain leaned around and stooped down slightly to tenderly peer up into Simon’s dangling head. “I’m proud a’ the way you handled yourself. Okay, no more whipping.”

The relief in Simon came by way of a clutching sensation within his loins. His lingum stirred and Mal had noticed. The Captain thought for a moment and decided the power play between the two of them was too exhilarating to altogether end presently. Though neither he nor the doctor was particularly sly, the Captain was not quite ready to end the subjugation of his most obedient crewmember.

Mal reached up and gently unlocked Simon’s hands from the handcuffs. He held both his wrists in one hand and affectionately lifted Simon’s chin with his other. Mal looked deeply into Simon’s piercing blue eyes. “You okay?”

Simon nodded, “Thanks Captain,” he murmured.

The Captain walked over to his sink and ran a washcloth under the cool water. He tenderly wiped away the tears and sweat from Simon’s face and returned to the sink to rinse the cloth. Then, from neck to calves, he carefully cleansed the rest of the young doctor’s fit body. Mindful of the doctor’s reactions to his touch, Mal glided fleetingly over Simon’s bulging cock, planning, in the near future, to pay special attentions to its obvious needs.

The cool water felt good on the doctor’s hot skin. He stood next to the Captain’s bunk with one hand resting on it for support. Simon closed his eyes and let the Captain take care of him. The Captain’s gentle but dominant touch sent unbridled currents throughout the doctor’s body; his lingum grew a good deal in size, as it stood erect against his confused desires.

Mal put the washcloth down and stood close enough to Simon so that the doctor could feel his warm breath on the side of his face. He whispered enticingly into his crewmate’s ear, “Simon, this could end now. You could open your eyes, get dressed and head on back to your quarters. It could all stop here.” Mal put his warm hand on the nape of Simon’s neck sending another round of electrical charges racing through the doctor’s recharging body. “Or, you could stay right there and our…digressions into this here power play could continue. Your choice, son.”

The Captain walked back over to the sink and splashed water on his own face. He toweled himself off and stretched his neck from side to side. The Captain pulled his arms through his bracers and let them hang down from the top of his pants. He casually took off his boots and removed his socks. He then looked over at Simon who shifted timidly but unmistakably stood his ground.

Mal slid up behind Simon, putting both his hands on the doctor’s hips. He leaned over and whispered seductively again in his ear, “That’s good, that’s real good.”

Simon felt the fabric of Mal’s trousers brush up against his exposed bottom and the clutching sensation that had been pulsing within the doctor’s loins sent a spasm rocketing through his entire body. Mal held onto the doctor’s hips firmly as he felt him shudder within his grasp.

Mal chuckled softly. “Looks to me like someone might be startin’ without me.”

Mal slid a hand up Simon’s back and ran his fingers through the bottom of his hair. He grabbed a handful and gently but purposefully pulled Simon’s head back. His voice regained its soft but commanding tone, “Don’t even think of finishin’ without me…dong ma?”

Head back, Simon closed his eyes again and bit his lower lip. He took a deep breath to try and calm the jitters ravaging his entire body. Mal found he was enjoying not only the power, but the sadistic pleasure of sexually tormenting his subordinate as well.

The Captain continued to hold onto Simon’s hair as he took his other hand and stroked the doctor’s neck. “Fact,” he whispered temptingly, “don’t do anythin’ more without me, Doctor.”

He slowly moved his hand down to Simon’s chest and caressed each of his pecs. His nipples stood erect and Mal squeezed each of them firmly. Simon let out a groan. “That’s it, Doctor.” Mal tugged a bit more on each of Simon’s responsive nipples and then let go. He released Simon’s hair and stepped back with a cocksure grin.

“Unbutton me, Simon.” He mandated. Nervously, Simon’s delicate surgeon hands and long slender fingers fumbled to release the buttons on Mal’s shirt.

His shirt finally fell away revealing his smooth muscular chest from beneath. The Captain then looked at Simon with one raised eyebrow. He looked down at the buttons on his pants and back up at the doctor without saying a word. The implications sent Simon’s insides spinning. His fingers slowly reached out for his Captain’s fly. This wasn’t like him. He shouldn’t be taking pleasure in any of this but it was his Captain…HIS Captain…and somehow, within the moment, that comforted him, even excited him.

The power play had gotten this far. Mal was enjoying the ride and he had already decided that if Simon stayed, he would see the night through to a fitting completion. It wasn’t normally his thing, but then taking journeys was and this certainly had been and promised to be one hell of a trip.

Mal pushed his unbuttoned pants down to his feet and kicked them off along with his underwear. In contrast to Simon’s feelings of vulnerability when exposed, Mal was completely comfortable with his naked self.

“Give me your hands Simon.” The Captain gently ordered.

Simon presented his graceful hands to Mal. The Captain took them and, pulling Simon closer, put the doctor’s cool hands on his warm bare chest. “Why is it a doctor’s hands are always cold?” He quipped.

Simon looked up at him and responded with a coy shrug and the hint of a small smirk.

Mal cupped his own warm hands on each side of Simon’s face. He pulled Simon ’s face closer. Instinctively the Captain kissed him fervently on the lips. Simon was at first hesitant. It hadn’t been at all what he was expecting. Nor did he expect the Captain to investigate his mouth further with his nimble yet forceful tongue. The kiss was passionate. The Captain consumed Simon with his tongue’s compelling exploration, making the doctor weak in his knees. Finally, Mal gently pulled back. He released Simon’s face and put his hands over Simon’s where they still lay on his chest. He guided Simon’s hands down his chest, over his abdomen and onto each side of his waist. Mal looked directly into Simon’s eyes, “Kneel.”

Simon felt the gripping sensation in his loins again as he knelt down submissively. The metal floor was cool and hard on Simon’s knees. He was just above eye level with the Captain’s generous cock and still holding onto the Captain’s waist. “You ever done this before, Simon?” The Captain asked imposingly curious.

Simon’s answer was an almost inaudible whisper, “No.”

The Captain softly placed a hand on Simon’s head and continued his instruction, “Well, son, surely as I’m standin’ here, you are about to. You just make sure to take the same care you’d want done to your own self.”

With that, the Captain guided Simon onto his growing cock. Simon tentatively parted his lips to allow the lingum to enter his mouth and throat. Working to take it all in, he was overwhelmed by the fullness. Simon pulled his head back to keep from gagging. He moistened his lips and swallowed to give himself a moment.

The Captain assertively took hold of Simon’s head and guided him back, “Do it right, Simon, or it all stops now.”

Simon didn’t know if he was ready for this, but he sure as hell was not ready for it all to end. With conviction, he leaned closer and breathed in the Captain’s scent. He licked up and down the shaft of his Captain’s bulging cock and circled the head with his tongue, tasting the prelude stickiness of his superior.

Simon closed his eyes and tried to relax into the experience. He took the whole of the Captain’s lingum in, letting it fill his mouth and claim his throat. He kissed, sucked and licked every inch of his commander’s shaft, wanting nothing more than to please the man dominating his actions. Pumping in and out, he could feel the strength of his Captain growing longer and harder within him. He was truly taking pleasure in being this close to such power, without being fettered by being in control himself.

Mal rested both of his hands on Simon’s head and maneuvered his submissive’s pumping to match his own pulsing from within. The whole encounter had been exhilarating so far and this moment was not disappointing. The energy was intense and the control was exhilarating. He was glad the doctor had not decided to leave. He, himself, was more than ready to see this night through to its now compulsory climax.

Mal gave a half-laugh and abruptly pushed Simon off of him, “Ha-whoa, Doc, think that best be enough for now, ‘less the evening end a might too soon.”

Simon sat back on his knees and looked up at the Captain, waiting, in anticipation, for what was to happen next.

“That was a mighty fine job, Simon. I’m thinkin’ it might be time for a little reward of your own. Get up and stand closer to the bunk.”

Simon did as he was told. The Captain closed in on his space once again, standing directly in front of the young doctor. He took his hand and brushed it up against Simon’s face, bringing it to rest around Simon’s neck. Simon breathed deeply. The Captain gripped Simon’s neck firmly, pushing on Simon’s windpipe and then letting up and then pushing down on it again; playing with the control he had over every aspect of the doctor. Simon closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He was willing, even amenable to surrendering even his ability to breath easily to the man who stood before him. He felt completely conquered, surprising even himself. His mind wanted to ride the feeling, to continue to let Mal do whatever he wanted with him, to free him even further from any thoughts or concerns the universe was pitching him. In that moment, Simon succumbed completely to the Captain’s control over him; he no longer existed apart from his Captain. Mal felt Simon dissolve into his powerful touch. He knew that he now utterly dominated the doctor’s body and mind. He slid his hand down to Simon’s pecs and rolled his fingers around his nipples again. He squeezed them tightly, eliciting another groan from between the doctor’s lips. Mal moved his other hand to Simon’s ass and began to fervently massage the doctor’s warm mounds. Then, he slowly moved his first hand along Simon’s chest, over his abdomen and down to Simon’s pelvis. He grabbed a handful of the doctor’s pubic hair just above his cock and gave it a small tug, sending a shiver through Simon’s compliant body. He ran his fingers through Simon’s pubic hair and encircled his hand around Simon’s erect lingum. Simon quivered. The Captain caressed the shaft of his subordinate, eliciting more and more groans with each stroke. Simon seemed to be falling into the rhythm as his cock throbbed with every measure. He tensed up and could feel himself about to surge when the Captain stopped all physical contact.

Temporarily jilted, Simon opened his eyes. He saw the wicked grin on his Captain’s face. “Thought I told you not to finish without me, son.”

The Captain walked over to his metal drawers and pulled out a bottle. He crossed back over to where he stood next to the doctor, emptied some of the bottle’s contents into the palms of his hands and rubbed them together. The massage oil smelled of almonds. “Turn ‘round and bend yourself over the side of the bunk.” Mal ordered. “You are about to get your reward, Simon.”

Simon obeyed. The Captain resumed his activity, once again taking hold of Simon’s cock in one hands and his ass in the other. He manipulated his submissive’s shaft and balls, playing with them and lubricating them while his other hand kneaded the doctor’s lithe bottom. Simon breathed deeply. Mal took the opportunity to push a well-oiled finger into the doctor’s virgin anus. The unprepared doctor let out a yelp but obediently held his ground. Mal continued to slide his hand up and down Simon’s shaft as his other hand worked to open the doctor’s blossoming asshole. Mal plunged another finger into Simon, working him even harder. The doctor shuddered but Simon’s ass seemed receptive to its deliberate unfurling. Mal let go of Simon momentarily and placed his hands on his own cock. He rubbed the oil up and down his rod, preparing it for its final power play of the evening.

The Captain grabbed a hold of one of Simon’s hips. He guided his cock to the doctor’s back hole and gradually drove his slick shaft into his subservient’s accepting ass. Simon groaned with abandon at the invasion. Mal firmly grabbed both of Simon’s hips and gradually began pushing into him, rocking slowly back and forth. Simon felt himself stretch further and further until he thought he might explode. His ass was filled more than he ever thought possible and his anus burned from the distention. He was being brought to his limit and driven beyond. There was whiteness, dizziness and pain.

Mal took hold of Simon’s cock again and began sliding his hand steadily up and down his shaft in rhythm with his own cock’s thrust. With his other hand, Mal grabbed the back of Simon’s hair and pulled his head back, using the tugging as leverage. The Captain put his face up against his neck and the doctor could feel and hear the cadence of Mal’s hot breath resonating in his ear. Simon was beside himself with raw sensation. The shock waves in his body climbed and climbed until he pushed beyond it all; there he found the pleasure in his fullness, in his sensory overload, and in his utter and complete subservience. He was excited and nauseous. He wanted it to stop but was afraid of it ending. The nerve endings in his anus and in his lingum were going wild and the doctor was driven to an uncontrollable climax. Simon bucked and shuddered within the Captain’s strong grasp. Mal thrust harder and deeper and grabbed hold more firmly as he felt the doctor’s tightness envelop him. He had never experienced such pressure, such constriction. Mal drove faster and faster as his whole body surged and the doctor’s embrace coaxed the seed from within him to spill as well. The Captain spasmed and released an unprecedented moan of self-indulged satisfaction.

“Ha..ho-kay…hay,” Mal laughed as he shuddered a couple of more times upon slowly releasing himself of the doctor. “You okay, Simon?”

Simon exhaled deeply and paused for a moment, “uh, yeah, I think I am.” He looked back and gave Mal a modest smile.

Mal walked over to the sink and grabbed the washcloth again to clean himself off. He rinsed it and handed it to Simon.

“Thank you.” Simon said softly, looking self-conscious as he began to clean himself up. “Could you please hand me my pants?”

Mal, a bit manic from the experience and still comfortably walking naked about his quarters, passed the doctor’s clothes over to him. Simon looked down at the floor, as he silently got dressed. The Captain leaned back against his desk, “Simon, hey, thought you said you were good? Why am I feelin’ then, like we might be headin’ back to square one again?”

The doctor stumbled on his words, “No, Captain, I’m…glad…about tonight…I…needed it…It’s just a lot to process, I guess.”

“There ya’ go, son, that’s you’re problem. Why the hell do you NEED to process this…it was what it was…don’t go analyzing your life, Doc, ‘cause it sure as hell ain’t in any gorram textbook.”

Simon thought about what the Captain had just said. He rolled his eyes and smiled, “That is true.”

“See? Best listen to me, I am in charge here after all.” He gave Simon a flirtatious wink.

Simon was fully dressed and looking ‘all-proper’ once again, “I should get back and check on River.”

“You do that, Doc. But, I’ll be right here if you start thinkin’ too much again.” Mal reached out and warmly touched Simon on the shoulder as the doctor walked toward the door, “Tonight, this was just b’tween you and me.”

Simon nodded. He looked up into Mal’s eyes and smiled, wanting to thank him but not certain of as to how.

The Captain smiled back, “I’ll see you in the mornin’. Now, git goin’, your sister’s waitin’.”

Simon climbed up out of the Captain’s bunk and pulled the door shut behind him. He stood alone in the dim corridor, his head feeling a bit clearer from the respite. He had insecurities about what he had just done, that was for sure, but he had to admit that at the moment he was feeling better than he had in quite awhile.

* * * * * * * *

“Captain?” Wash’s voice came in over the intercom in Mal’s bunk. The Captain clumsily stumbled out of bed and pressed the com’s button, “Yeah, Wash?” He responded through obvious grogginess.

“Got a reply message off the cortex from those criminal friends of yours. They set up a meeting time. We should be arriving at Eavesdown Docks in about an hour and they shouldn’t be far behind. They said they’d find us.”

“Thanks. Oh, and uh, relay our arrival time to the rest of the crew, would ya’, Wash?” Mal stammered, still bleary.

“Sure thing. And Mal? Good morning.” The amusement in his pilot’s voice boomed through.

Mal walked over to the mirror and painfully glanced into it. He rubbed at his face. Had he and Simon really done everything he remembered last night? It felt like he had been drunk, but he hadn’t had a drop. Mal picked up the handcuffs from off of his desk and put them back into his drawer. He paused in the center of his room and mused, smiling; hell, sly or not, it was one hell of a time last night.

He finished getting dressed and headed toward the galley to find something to eat. Everyone but Wash was in the galley eating or trying to scrounge up something to eat for breakfast before the ship set down on Persephone. Mal strode into the galley humming a tune to himself. The doctor, who was fixing something for he and River, looked up at the Captain and the two of them met eyes for a moment. Self consciously, Simon quickly looked back down at the food he was preparing.

“You’re in a good mood this morning, Captain.” The preacher commented. “Ruminating over elements of psychology seems to have done wonders for you last night.” Shepherd Book smiled.

Mal grinned back, “Indeed it has, Shepherd. Mornin’ all.”

The crew all looked at their Captain as though he had been taken over by space monkeys. “What, can’t a guy wake up on the cheerful side? ‘Sides, it promises to be an eventful day. We’ve got criminals at ten this morning and a meeting with Badger at noon. Now, a day can’t get much better than that.”

Wash’s voice came over the galley’s com system, “We’re breaking atmo, people, in four, three, two, one.” Serenity experienced a slight shudder as the ship entered the planet’s atmosphere. “We’ll be docked at Eavesdown in about 20 minutes, travelers.”

“See there? Day’s shapin’ up already.” The Captain continued cheerfully after the pilot’s interruption, “Once we land, some hwoon dahns from Sundale Estates will be swoopin’ down on our asses but truthfully, I can’t see them as too much of a problem to deal with. Fact, Wash and I sussed out the situation and are pretty damn sure they’re just a couple a’ renegades from the colony, unhappy with the way we mistreated their little slave ring. So, plan is, myself, Zoe and Simon will go and meet with them.”

Simon looked up surprised, “Me? But I thought you just said that you didn’t see them as being too much of a problem to deal with. So, tell me then, why you plan on needing a doctor?”

“Not A doctor, Doc…YOU doctor.” The Captain replied, still chipper.

“Why me?” Simon tensed up.

“Way I figure it, you got ‘bout as much grievance as anyone ‘gainst these Wahg-ba Dan duh biao-tze. Think it might do you some good to fight somethin’ like this out, Doc.”

“But I don’t…” Simon raised his voice.

Mal raised a finger at the doctor, “Bee Jway! You do now, son.”

“Sir,” Zoe spoke up, “I would tend to agree with…”

“Why are we still discussin’ what’s already been decided? I don’t plan on hearing any more opinions on this. Dong ma? ”

“Yes Sir.” “Yes Captain.” Zoe and Simon uttered simultaneously.

The rest of the crew remained silent except for Jayne who laughed aloud. The Captain glared at him and the large man cleared his throat and snorted, crudely swiping a hand across his nose.

* * * * * * *

Serenity’s ramp lowered as Mal, Zoe and Simon descended with it onto the docks of Persephone. The Captain and his First in Command immediately saw the two men with guns in their holsters standing about 30 meters away.

“Zoe, I want you to help disarm them, then stand aside.”

“But Sir, I really don’t think…”

The Captain glowered at her. She raised her hands slightly in quiet concession.

Mal, Zoe and Simon then noticed the two distant men had most definitely spotted the three of them. The men quickened their pace toward the ship and as they closed in, the larger of the two drew his pistol. Without a second thought, Zoe pulled the shotgun from under her coat and aimed from the hip, shooting the gun out of the approaching man’s hand. Mal pulled his own pistol and aimed it at the second man’s head, “Lookit this Zoe, Doctor; seems we have a coupla’ trigger happy Bun tyen-shung duh ee-Dway-Ro. I suggest you put that down, son, b’fore someone..and by someone, I’m meanin’ you…loses more than just a fine weapon.” The man threw his pistol down at the crewmembers’ feet and Zoe kicked it under a nearby pallet.

Putting away his own gun, Mal continued, “That seems a might fairer, don’t ya’ think gentlemen?”

In one move, Mal punched the man in the jaw, spiraling him toward Simon. Mal then turned and tackled the larger man, trying diligently to bring him down. The slighter of the men paused in front of the doctor. Before Simon had a chance to decide what he should or shouldn’t do, the man hauled back and punched him hard in the stomach. As Simon doubled over, he recognized the man as one of the brutes who controlled and restrained him at Sundale Estates. Simon felt the anger flood though him. The helplessness and the anguish quickly seethed up within him until it finally erupted with abandon. The Doctor started shouting with rage and thrashing his fists about, hoping to come into contact with the unfortunate thug. Zoe winced as she watched the Captain and Simon fight. If she and Jayne had been in the fight, it would have been over before it even began. All this dancing around was definitely not her style. Finally, with only a split lip to show for it, Mal subdued the gruffer of the two men who now lay unconscious in the dirt. The doctor continued to swing at the smaller man. The experienced attacker had gotten in quite a few good punches; Simon was hurting. His left eye was swollen and his lip was bleeding. He, himself, knew that at least one of his ribs was probably fractured, but the pain did not hinder his fury from breaking through with determination. Most of the doctor’s out of control punches connected and, though primitive in his fighting style, he eventually managed to force the second man to stay down.

The Captain yelled at the barely conscious man with scorn in his voice, “Don’t want to see you boys or anyone else from that insignificant little moon a’ yours again. Just be glad the proper authorities ain’t knockin’ at your doors. Now, get you and your partner here the hell away from my ship.”

The Captain hit his hands together to emphasize his words and dirt fell from them. Mal looked suitably content with himself, the doctor, and the moment.

Arms crossed over her chest, Zoe looked at the two of her crewmates with a raised eyebrow and a subtle shake of her head. “Glad you’re both done provin’ something ‘cause I think I’m about as pained as they are just watchin’ you.”

“Don’t listen to her Doc. Damn good fight if you ask me. Didn’t think you had it in you.” The Captain hit Simon on the back in congratulatory fashion.

Simon winced in pain but offered up a secretive smile, “Yes you did.”

The Captain winked at him, “Hell no, why do you think I had Zoe tag along. I, sure as gorram hell, wasn’t gonna take these two hwoong dahns by myself.”

The Captain ushered Zoe and the limping Simon back up Serenity’s ramp. * * * * * *

Simon made his way toward the ship’s infirmary to check himself out. River met him half way in a state of disorganized distress.

“Simon…the pain, it needs to stop.”

“Are you okay, mei mei? What’s wrong?” He asked feeling her forehead.

River pushed his hand away, “It’s too much, YOU need to stop it.”

“It’s okay, River, I’m okay…really.” He offered her a genuine smile and it seemed to calm her immediately.

“You’re okay?”

“Yes, I’m really okay.” He reassured her. “You okay?” He asked concerned.

“The tea kettle in the galley chipped when the dish ran off with the spoon…it wasn’t my fault.” She said matter of factly; her big brown eyes staring up at her brother.

“We’ll fix it later, don’t worry.” He answered.

River nodded and then continued on her way toward wherever it was she was heading. She stretched her arms out so she could feel both walls of the cool metal corridor at the same time. She placed one bare foot directly in front of the other. Simon watched her for a moment and then turned around to head on to the infirmary. He finished patching himself up and looked at himself in the infirmary’s mirror. Despite his black eye and butterfly stitches, he looked different. He looked much more confident then he had in quite awhile. Hell, he felt more confident. There was a time when he was one of the top surgeons at the government hospital on Osiris. He had money, a great apartment, and beautiful nurses. He had it all. So he lost it; so what? He still had his surgical talent, still had his intelligence, and still had his sister. That was what was really important. Simon smiled to himself as he closed the infirmary’s door behind him and headed toward his quarters.

As he passed the ship’s lounge, he spotted Kaylee sitting there. “Hey, you.” She volunteered.

“Hey, yourself.” He smiled at her. “Heard you showed some steel today.” Kaylee stood up and walked over to him.

“That what folks have been saying?”

“Word travels.” She got even closer and whispered flirtatiously, “Tweren’t very ‘appropriate’ of you, Simon, bein’ such an upstandin’ gentleman an’ all…I’m proud of you.” She remarked coyly.

Simon rolled his eyes and gave her a modest half-smile, nearly blushing at the play but returning it anyway. “I can be inappropriate if the occasion warrants it.”

“Really?” She stood very, very close and her whisper became clearly seductive, “‘Cause that’s not what I’ve been steered to believe.”

Simon wasn’t use to such sensual repartee but he held his ground. “Perhaps you’ve been steered wrong,” he enticed as he nervously reached out and brushed a piece of Kaylee’s hair out of her face.

“Maybe you should steer me right.” She said softly into his ear.

Simon closed his eyes and nuzzled her neck and hair. He breathed in deeply, drawing in her musky scent mixed with the sweet aroma of strawberries. He kissed her neck and worked upward toward her ear. He nibbled on her earlobe and lightly flicked his tongue inside. Kaylee’s whole body tingled. She threw her head back and giggled. Simon held her shoulders in his hands and took the opportunity to cover the front of her neck and chin with butterfly kisses as he worked his way up to her moist, sensuous lips. He felt his heart beat in unison with Kaylee’s. She put her arms around him tenderly as he moved his hands up to hold her face in his hands. He pulled her even closer and began to kiss her passionately.

Just then, an oblivious Jayne barged through, boisterously scouting for crewmembers, “Bunch of us are startin’ a game a’ hoops in the cargo bay…you both up?”

River obviously overheard and ran from her room excited, “Come on!” She stopped briefly to coax the ensconced two from the once private lounge and then continued on her way.

Simon took a step back and raised his eyebrows at Kaylee. He offered her a playful expression, “I suppose it would be ‘appropriate’ to go and play.”

“Fine.” She laughed, trying to shake off her feeling of being utterly teased, “but I will beat you, Simon Tam.” She poked a finger into his chest.

Simon mused, “I’m sure you will.”