The Goldwater Caper Part 3: The Morning After By ShadyBeing

These characters and their verse are all property of mastermind Joss Whedon.

Simon had been watching over River all night, and the effects were beginning to show. His eyes drooped, he felt deflated; and completely exhausted. The burning feelings of guilt were the only thing keeping him awake. He had slept on the job; and River had emptied an entire half a bottle of Jayne’s alcohol.

River was a hand full; no he corrected himself, 2 hands full. But she was his sister, and that meant certain responsibilities for him; she needed him. What if she had hurt herself? Or what if the alcohol had reacted with her drug therapy? He would need to be more careful.

Simon had almost fallen asleep again when Kaylee appeared behind him. “How’s she doing” She asked concerned, handing him a warm mug. Simon yawned, taking a sip “She’s fine, sleeping like a baby”. “What is this?” Simon inquired drearily. “Coffee, with grated rat liver.” She replied casually. Simon spat and coughed “What!” Simon said turning a strange king of purple. “Damn you’re an easy mark” Kaylee gave Simon a sly grin.

River moaned, flipping on to her stomach “blue eyed, he is hollow”

Simon stole a concerned glance at River, before turning back to Kaylee. “Kaylee, have you had any sleep?” Simon asked, eyelids almost fully closed. “I was sleepin’ while River was runnin’ round, have you had any?” Simon finished his mug, and gave Kaylee a glazed over look “Had any what?” Kaylee frowned “That’s it Mr Tam! You need to stop sittin’ here, ‘stead of sleepin’. Only four hours till we land, why don’t you catch some shut eye; I’ll watch her for a bit”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if she need me?” Simon asked with a hint of frustration in his voice. “Simon if you don’t sleep, your no good to her anyways” Kaylee stated, assuming the ‘don’t argue’ stance that she had used on him many times before.

“Are you sure that’s alright? Simon replied in a half yawn, scratching his head. “It’ll be al’righ, you have a break.” Kaylee shoved Simon out of the room and closed the door, not giving him a chance to protest any further.

She was worried about Simon, he was spending no time for himself. Sure he had River to take care of; but that don’t mean he couldn’t relax occasionally. Kaylee made a note to herself to get the Simon off the ship somehow. She’d resolved to talk about it with the captain when they landed. Snuggling into the chair beside River’s bed, Kaywinnit Lee fry promptly drifted off to sleep. -------------------------------------------------

Little River sat in a large chair of the academy; it was metallic, cold. Everything was so beautiful, so perfect; too perfect.

The room was open, like a void. There was red carpet; a deep bloody red, and every shelf was perfectly stacked. Light danced across the walls, revealing the mosaic like design of glass in the windows. A blue sun surrounded by Chinese characters; progression, the future they said.

Numbered. Everything was the same distance apart, even the furniture. The potted plants all had the same number of flowers, 5 flowers, each with 4 pedals; all yellow. In front of Little River’s chair was a middle-aged man sitting behind his desk, resting his hand 2.35 inches to the left of hers. Her father stood behind her; hands resting on her shoulders. River could feel how proud he was of her; she wanted him to feel proud.

She sat staring at the man with bulbous blue eyes. He wore a suit, rigid with no creases or marks. “I’m sure your daughter will love it here Mr Tam, she is…a very special little girl” He smiled at River. She didn’t smile back.

River opened her eyes; there was bright light burning, burning her eyes. She blinked and saw the laboratory, the man was standing in front of her. She glared at him.

The blue eyed monster turned toward others wearing white “Note that subject River is not responding to Neural stimulus; increase the dosage to 4 milligrams”. The suited man turned back to her “Now River, we are going to try something new” Then they put the needle back in. -------------------------------------------------

Inara was awoken to the sound of screaming coming from River’s room. “Oh no” she thought “Not again”. Inara quickly covered up and rushed to the young girl’s aid. Simon also heard the screams and tripped over in the rush. He pushed open River’s door frantically and saw a terrible sight.

River was lying on top of Kaylee, pinning her to the floor; with her hands wrapped around her neck. Kaylee’s cheeks were turning purple, she was gasping for air. “River what are you doing!” Simon yelled horrified, trying to work out what to do. Confused, River crawled back into the corner; she was screaming, tears streaming down her face. “Needles, hands of blue” she whispered hoarsely, rocking back and forth.

“Simon! Help her” Inara screeched, looking at him in fear. Simon snapped to his senses his medical training taking over. Kaylee needed him more; she could be hurt. He ran to Kaylee’s side “are you all right, can you hear my voice”. Kaylee gasped, managing only a slight nod. She looked at him, confused and terrified. Unable to cope any more, Kaylee fainted.

“Inara watch Kaylee” Simon demanded loudly. Stunned, and not knowing what else to Inara rushed to her side. Simon crawled over to River, almost overcome with fear for her safety. “River, can you hear me?” Simon gripped her by the shoulder.

“Huh?” River murmured, confused.

“What?” Simon looked at River with confusion. “River, why did you hurt Kaylee?” Simon demanded, shaking his sister. “Kaylee’s fine, she is such a good actress” River stated, unsure what he meant. Simon’s gaze shifted to Kaylee, who was still unconscious. “River, Kaylee is unconscious” Simon was becoming more and more concerned; his sister didn’t seem to know what was going on around her.

River shuffled over to Kaylee; Inara guarding her charge jealously. “Kaylee, it’s ok now. You can get up” River giggled. Kaylee didn’t move. “Kaylee, get up!” River demanded, reaching to shake her.

Inara grabbed her hand, giving her a detached stare. “River, I think you should go”. River looked at Kaylee horrified, scrapping backward until she was pressed against the wall. “No, No, No!” she screamed.

Kaylee’s eyes blinked open. “Whoa, that was weird” she said dreamily. “Kaylee!” River rushed to her side, beaming with joy. “Hi River” Kaylee said meekly, “you was a bit too rough, I think you might have had a nightmare”. River hugged Kaylee, tears still streaming down her face “I’m sorry sis, I’m sorry”. “Sis?” Kaylee thought bewildered. “Am I dreamin’?”

-------------------------------------------------

Mal stood dumfounded as Inara explained the situation to him; he was sure she was speakin’ but it just wasn’t registering proper. “Hang on a sec, you’re sayin’ that River choked Kaylee; and it’s all fine. Am I missin’ somethin?”

“She didn’t even knowing she was doing it Mal; she was asleep!” Inara replied agitated by his sarcastic attitude. “Oh and I s’ppose that makes it right understandable; she was trying to kill Kaylee, and probb’ly snorin’ too. Remind me how this makes it any better. Now we have our own snoozin’ assassin on board; oh and she drinks too.”

“You are so pig headed. If you just opened your eyes for a change, instead of your mouth, you might see that River is just a confused girl; not a killer.” Mal turned away, hiding his raging face “Yeah. A girl that can read minds and kill folk blind”. Inara furiously tried to rebut, but Mal was already storming off to the kitchen.

Inara was shocked, but the more she thought about it the more it worried her; niggling at the back of her mind. Inara felt numb, unsure. Her hands were shaking; even her breath felt cold on her skin.

However much she might try to deny it, River scared her too. -------------------------------------------------

Simon sat at the table, looking at his soup intensely; as if it’s murky waters held the answers, but would not share. He didn’t feel hungry at all, more than anything; he felt sick to his stomach. To him River’s pain was almost palpable; and for a brief moment he wondered to himself “huh, maybe I’m psychic too”. “Don’t worry. You’re not.” River grinned from across the table. “Your sad” River stated passively, a discerning look on her face. “Yes River” He replied grimly, not really listening to what she said.

River smiled “Clouds will be gone soon, Jayne’s coming”

Simon groaned inside. The last thing he needed was Jayne stirring up a fight over his stupid gun. Jayne slumped down at the far side of the table, as far as he could from Simon or River. He focused intensely on River, as if he was straining something; a muscle he rarely used.

Kaylee handed Jayne a plate. He took it without looking at her; he didn’t even speak. Mal looked curiously as he ate at Jayne; he was sweating profusely. “Ah, Jayne?” Mal questioned, raising an eyebrow. “Shhh Mal, I’m busy” Jayne continued to stare.

Wash sat down beside Jayne. “Did I miss something?” Wash inquired. Noticing where he was staring Wash quipped “Ahh, if only looks could kill”. “Yeah and who says they can’t?” Jayne grunted.

River took this opportunity to take up a gaze of her own. “You can’t see inside, Jayne” she stated in a matter of fact tone. “Oh yeah, who says I can’t!” Jayne roared. “Soup says so” River replied with a blank expression.

“What’d you mean soup, Gorram moonbrain!” Jayne stood up defiantly, knocking his carefully placed bowl clear from the table in the process. The greasy liquid drenched over Jayne’s pants, leaving a stain over his groin.

“Arghh! Damn it!” Jayne flailed around in fury.

River made dripping noises, everyone laughing hysterically. Even Simon cheered up, cackling so hard his throat hurt. “Heck, this ain’t that gorram funny!” Jayne pushed his way past Inara, who stood quietly at the door.

Wasting no time Inara entered the kitchen, quickly grabbed a soup bowl and managed a cold stare at Mal; all in one graceful motion before quickly leaving the room the way she came. “Why’s Nara so gloomy?” asked Kaylee cheerfully, wiping the tears from her eyes. Mal briskly sobered up, looking decidedly less cheerful.

“Inara and I have been talkin’; about River.” Mal glanced at River. “About what happened durin’ last night.” Everyone went quiet, Simon looking even paler than usual. “Now some of you know; but for Wash and Zoe I’ll run over the basics. Last night River here had a nightmare” Kaylee jumped to River’s defence “Captain, it’s fine, River just got frightened s’all”.

Mal cut back in “I know Kaylee, but kindly let me finish.” Mal continued, Kaylee showing her silent disproval. “River attacked Kaylee in her sleep, gorram nearly choked the life outta her too. I’m not so sure it’s safe, her being alone with anyone.”

River looked at Mal in disbelief “But, its not. I didn’t…” she looked to Kaylee for support. Mal waved his hand “I know that all this messin around the alliance did to you can’t be helped, but I can’t take the risk. From now on your to stay confined to your room; and you don’t go nowhere without 2 crew. “Captain, she hasn’t done anything wrong; she just had a nightmare” Simon protested

“Well, as much as I’d love to watch the fireworks; I hear that flying thing calling again” Wash slipped out briskly; ducking back in for one more sip of soup before fleeing.

“This ain’t a negotiation Doctor, she is a danger to this crew and I won’t have her runnin’ around causing no end of harm; especially after last night.”

“And what about River’s treatments, she needs her privacy.” Simon said angrily. “You administer those in the infirmary and someone can gorram wait outside!” Mal clubbed his fists on the table; almost knocking over his own soup bowl.

“You know, I believe it might be time for me to say a morning prayer,” Shepard Book added. “Looks like someone may need one” he added under his breath.

“And would you like me did give her tranquillisers too; I’m sure that will help her sleep. Or maybe we could just ask Jayne for something from his liquor cabinet!”

“I’ll be in checking Serenity’s engine if anyone needs me; like for stuff…” Kaylee said embarrassed, not that anyone was listening.

“Yeah! Maybe you should! While you’re at it you can pick up the gun she cut up.”

“Sir I think Wash might need a hand” Zoe exclaimed, patting Simon on the shoulder on her way out “Good luck; you’ll need it”. “Oh so now you’re taking his side too! This is just great!” Mal yelled after her.

River remained seemingly oblivious to the argument; she was busy resuscitating a bug that had fallen in her soup.