Not my ‘verse, I stole it. Not my story, I stole it to. Just wanted to tweak things my way for fun. I believe the only original line is “Simon says”.

You can take the boy out of Hera…

By: Jailbird

Chapter Seven “Where to go”

“Simon where would we go?” Kaylee wonders as she playfully runs her fingers through his chest hair.

“I don’t know, when I rescued River. I never had a destination. I just knew. I had to get her out of the core.” Simon says as he pushes a stray hair from her eyes.

“Anywhere you want to go?” Kaylee asked with perk.

“Not really so long as I’m with you.” He bends down to give her a peak on the forehead. “However what the Captain says make since.”

“What part?” Kaylee ask with a wrinkle of her nose.

Simon replies sincerely. “The Alliance will use you or the crew to get to River.”

“No…the captain won’t let them.” Kaylee says fiercely.

“O.K. then what about you parents.” Inquires Simon.

“You mean you want to go stay with my parents, Shiny.” Kaylee says with a bright smile.

“Well, actually I mean how can we protect them.” Simon had never though of meeting her parents before.

“You mean the Alliance could use my parents to get to you and River.” Kaylee says without worries.

“Yes, they would.” Simon states rather firmly.

“No, don’t worry about them, theirs no Alliance on our world and if you hadn’t notice record keeping isn’t so good out here on the rim. What about your parents won’t they be targets, too” Kaylee looks at him with puppy dog eyes.

“No, the Alliance can find them anytime. Probability just keep tabs on them in case I send them a wave.” Simon wasn’t worried for his parents either.

Kaylee asked sadly. “So you never going to talk to them again?”

“Not any time soon.” By that Simon means never.

“Why not?” Kaylee wonders.

“Beyond the fact of emanate violence, They had their chance before I left.” Simon informs her.

“What’ya mean?” Kaylee say never imagining that Simon wouldn’t want to wave his folks.

“I mean I told them what was happing to River, I went to them for help, they thought I was crazy. Probably still do.” Simon says with a shrug.

“Well I am telling the Captain I’m not leaving.” Kaylee states firmly.

“Well you can do that, but I’m not.”

“Why not, bao bei?” Kaylee says while trying to look alluring.

“For the first time he’s treating to throw me out somewhere with an atmosphere. I think I should get while the getting’s good.”

“Don’t worry Doctor Tam, I sure the Captain’s got a plan.” Kaylee assures.

“Yeah, on how to get rid of his troublesome medic.” Simon wasn’t joking this time.

“Well that just might be plan B.” Kaylee taunts her sweetie.

***

Hera Seven years ago.

In the dark of night with only tracers and burning debris for light, Mal is cowering in a trench under heavy Alliance fire as he speak with Book.

“Preacher, why are you here? Are you haunting me?” Mal asked jokingly.

“Maybe, or maybe just continuing my ministry to the heathens.” Book replies as he places his hand together as if to pray.

“Well you still ain’t converting me.” Says Mal as he looks up when two angels fly by.

“We’ll see, what are you going to do if they all leave? Hmm.” Book asked.

“You mean like my back-up plan?” Mal says answering a question with a question.

“Always good to have a plan B.”

“Well, lets see, Zoë isn’t going anywhere if she wanted to leave it would have been long before now. And I think she already knows I am only bluffing. Kaylee won’t want to leave her ship. I’m betting the Doc will stay with her, which means River, too.” Mal states with confidence.

“What about Jayne and Inara?” Book continues his interrogation.

“Well now, you see the beauty of the plan.” Mal ducks as a shell explodes quite close to the trench and then continues. “Them’s the one I’m trying to get off.”

“O.K. I might be able to understand Jayne but why Inara?” Book asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Well Inara is the only honest one on the boat. Something like this could destroy her; also if anything ever happen to her I could never forgive myself and Jayne…” the Captain sighs. “Well Jayne will turn us in as soon as the coin is right.”

“No, he won’t. I won’t let him.” Little River says from behind to Captain as he spins around and takes aim with his rifle.

“O’ albatross, don’t do that.” Mal says relived.

“Don’t worry Captain you won’t accidentally shoot me your sleep…And by the way, Jayne staying too.” River says, again she looks like a child.

“Really, you sound rather sure for a figment of my imagination.” Mal says with certainty.

“Nope, none of us will be abandoning our Captain.” Little River informs with confidence.

***

As the Captain wakes he begins to wonder if he’ll ever get a full night sleep again.

*** TBC