“Jayne, grab Vera, nobody gets onto Serenity until I OK it.” Mal was in full captain mode. “Zoë get Wash, search the ship, no strangers, first take Inara to get Kaylee, a smother, food and water. Bring them here. Get a move on people!”

Jayne’s efficiency of movement was a wonder to watch, if anyone had been watching. Inara kicked out of her shoes and ran to her shuttle with Zoë. Wash grabbed the smoother and some food, dropping them down to Mal before grabbing a pistol. Inara helped Kaylee down the ladder to Mal, then followed sealing the door.

Inara and Kaylee stayed near the ladder while Mal put a hand on the shivering form and pulled the quilt down.

-----

“Wash, you watch my back!”

“Sure thing Sweetheart.”

“Jayne, get that ramp up!”

The search took an hour before Zoë was satisfied. “Wash, give Mal the all clear.”

“Aye, aye wifey. I’ll be on the bridge; we’ve got people due in.”

The crew minus Kaylee massed on the bridge.

Jayne started. “How’s Helen?”

“It’s not Helen…” Mal began.

“Sure it is. I seen her myself. It weren’t that long ago that she and I were rutting like… She’s not someone you forget. At least not that fast.”

“Jayne,” Inara began looking to Mal for support,”it’s not Helen, it’s River.”

There was silence in the room.

-----

Kaylee watches River’s sleeping form, wasted away to skeletal thinness. She cried herself to sleep, holding River’s hand.

-----

If Mal hadn’t been there nobody would have believed Inara.

“Listen up people, Inara’s right, but I saw something she didn’t. At first I saw Helen, and then I didn’t. It would seem that our resident psychic has picked up a new trick,”

“Is that even possible?” Wash queried.

“I saw Helen too. When Jayne brought her on board.” Zoë remembered. “Sir, did she say anything?”

“Just some nursery rhyme.”

“Rime?”

“Yes a nursery rhyme:

Round and round the spaceship yard, The Reaver chased the ‘chanic, Oops he slipped, ‘Way she went, Pop goes the spaceship.”

Jayne scoffed, even Zoë smiled but Wash’s eyes got big.

“What is it Wash?” Mal asked.

Wash didn’t answer, he just spun around and accessed the Cortex.

Mal started forward, Zoë put a hand on his arm, her eyes asking that Wash have a moment.

“Mal, “Inara said softly, “River changed the words when you left. She changed ‘chanic to soljer, then pilot, lyre, preacher and,” even more softly, “’panion.”

Mal put his arm around her. “Sounds like you get away at least.”

“Kaylee thinks we all do.

“Then why weren’t I included in her ditty?”

“You were, in a more extensive revision.”

“Then out with it, no sense waiting on the weirdness.”

“That moon brained brat don’t…”

“Shut it Jayne. A whole lot of her nonsense adds up looking back. Now I’d like to hear this, might give me an edge. Now,” taking Inara’s hands,” give it to me.”

“”River grabbed my arm, stared straight into my eyes, never blinking. She said:

Round and round the spaceship yard. The Shadoe chased the Reavers, Oops they slipped, Down he came, Pop goes the Reavers.”

“Don’t make no kind of sense, Mal's as good at running from the Reaves as anybody.”

“Shut it Jayne. Sounds like the Reavers should fear the Captain.” Zoë added.

Mal just looked at Inara, her eyes showing a fear that he felt in his gut.

“River might not be talking ‘bout Reavers.” Wash absently piped in. “Captain you should see this….”

Announcer: “An Alliance frigate exploded on impact with the floating Alliance shipyard, orbiting the moon Rush. It is rumored that all hands were dead before impact…”

“That’s no Alliance news.”

“No. it’s on of those underground rags.”

“That’s my man.”

“It would appear our River’s been busy. When was that time stamped?”

“About nine week’s age.”

Static erupted from the comm., then:

“Serenity this is shuttle two, preparing for docking, we have the book.”

“Permission granted…, welcome home.” Mall added.

“Zoë you and Jayne, go greet them.”

“Aw, Mal, I wanna get something to eat.”

“Captain wants us to make sure there’s no surprises on the shuttle. Ain’t that right Sir?” Zoë led a scowling Jayne off

“Inara, it would be a kindness if you’d go to my cabin.”

Inara hurried out, knowing full well that she was going to tease Mal about that sentence later.

Alone on the bridge with Mal, Wash couldn’t look him in the eye.

“One down Wash, two to go.”

“Two, Sir?”

“I want you back too…, for Zoë’s sake.”

“Understood Sir.”

“And Wash, Good Job.”

“Thank you Sir, and, I may have more news, but I need to talk to Inara first. It’s a long shot and I want to make sure.”

“I’ll send her…”

“No need Mal, Kaylee’s asleep. I didn’t want to disturb her.”

“Good idea. Any idea why River chose my bunk to hide in?”

“Mal, she went to where she felt safest, to her ‘Captain Daddy’.”

“I’m not…”

“Mal it’s a complement. She trusts you. In a way you’re all our ‘Captain Daddy’.”

“Inara’s right Mal. We all know why River came to you. This crew’s your family. And you’re the head of that family, you watch out for us, keep us safe, heal our hurts, celebrate with us, mourn our losses and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Well then… I’ll just uh… I’ll just leave you two to talk. The new arrivals may need some looking to.”

-----

Mal found them in the Mess

“Shepherd, it’s good to see you.”

“Far too long Captain.”

“Dani, Mac, Kaylee has missed you.

“How is she?”

“Sleeping, with River. I know you want to see her, Mac, for now let her sleep.”

“Would it be alright if he sits with them?”

“Mal, I sense them in a sound sleep. I think Book’s suggestion would be alright.”

“Don’t wake them Mac. And take some bedding with you. Be careful, trauma seems to cause River to spew.”

“Thanks Mal.” Mac said rising, giving his wife a peck and left.

“According to Zoë, you’ve had quite a morning.”

“The witch turned into Helen.”

“Jayne…” Mal said warningly. Walking to the intercom, “Wash!”

“Sir?”

“Get us off this rock; we’ve got cargo to deliver.”

“Aye, aye Sir.”

“There is some news Mal.”

“Do tell Shepard.”

“With a little help from Dani, and contacts within the order, we know who grabbed Simon and River, where his offices are and, I think his motives.”

TBC

Next: Why make a plan when dumb luck seems to work best.