TITLE: "NOT SO GILDED CAGE" AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL FANDOM: "FIREFLY" PAIRING: Mal/Casy. RATING: PG-13. STATUS: SEQUEL to "BARE BONES" ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where. FEEDBACK: Welcomed. EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com WEBSITE: http://unilelu.net/Alison/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Mal finds out exactly what happened on the journey to Argent and has a decision to make." The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly' are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No infringement of copyright is intended.

"NOT SO GILDED CAGE"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He wasn't sure how to broach the subject or even if he should but being crammed together as they were it was not as if she couldn't sense his unease.

"*Shenme shi*?"

Mal squinted at her. Not because he couldn't open his eyes this time but because of the harsh light in the compound. The swelling on his face had gone down but the lumps and bruises had now turned black and blue with a fair amount of yellow. The worse cuts she had already treated for him though some wounds kept reopening and bleeding. Soaking through whatever bits of cloth she could find to bind them. "Why you think somethin's *cuode*?"

She squinted back at him. No sun in her eyes, just sending his look back at him to underline the fact that she didn't believe him. "I'm pregnant not stupid, Mal. Spit it out, what's eatin' you inside out?"

"Besides the lack of food?"

When she didn't crack a smile at his poor attempt at humour he relented and sighed. Gorramit, he hated this kind of *goushi*. The only good thing was that because of the poor state of the prisoners no one was paying them any mind.

"It's just... what you did for me." He broke off, embarrassed and awkward.

"You were thirsty."

His eyebrows rose in surprise. "That what you call it?"

Silence echoed back at him. She wasn't going to make this easy he could see. Mal leaned in towards her, not wanting anyone else to hear what he was saying.

"When you, you know."

"When I what, Mal?"

He could hear her amusement and bit back a sharp sarcastic retort. Losing his temper would just make this harder. "You know, washed me with your tongue."

She blinked, eyes widening before definitely crinkling up with laughter. With an effort she managed to speak normally. "That wasn't my tongue."

Shock. Was there another word for it? "Then what the good gorram was it?"

Now she did laugh, but it was soft and gentle and kind of a comfort to his ear. "Mal, I tore a piece of my shirt, *dong ma*? You were covered in blood an' bleedin' so much I couldn't see what was from your wounds an' what was purplebelly blood."

The Captain blinked at her, a mite suspicious that she was just trying to make him feel better. "I felt..." He trailed off, his neck reddening as he blushed. A hand reached out and gently lifted his head, her eyes locking on his not to mock but to reassure. Her look was gentle, compassionate, her touch heaven.

"I washed you, Mal. You couldn't open your eyes so I'm guessin' I became part of some wet dream."

Now he was so embarrassed he wished the gorram guards would just come in and shoot him in the brain pan. Did she have to be so graphic? Her hand brushed over his bruised cheek, lightly enough to cause no pain but leaving a trail of growing fire as if she had branded him.

"I undressed you, had to see what I was workin' with. They don't give you water for cleanin' an' such Mal but I did what I could."

"Then what did you use?"

Her eyes slid from his and catching the glance he noted the battered metal bowl by the fence. The one the guards left for drinking water. His mouth dropped open. "You used your drinkin' water on me?"

A genuine smile came to her cracked lips. "What did you think I was doin'?"

"Don't make no never mind now, just call me a ruttin' fool."

Her laughter was light, musical. Something that definitely needed to be set free not caged in this foul pit of lost humanity. "I couldn't bear to see you like that." She said softly.

"Like what?"

"Hurt, broken."

"They never broke me, Casey."

"A poor choice of words but it was what they were aimin' for an' we both know it."

"So if you didn't..."

Her smile made his heart flutter, just a mite. "I admit I enjoyed touchin' you but I didn't do anythin' until you were awake. You were tryin' to speak but your throat was too dry. I had no water left for drinkin'. The on'y thing I had was what Mother Nature gave me so I shared it with you."

Realisation kind of humbled him. She knew. Could see it in his eyes and looking deep she liked what she saw staring back at her. "Huh, if you knew what I'd been thinkin' you wouldn't be talkin' to me now."

Another laugh. Low and light and just for him. "I'm not sayin' I didn't wanna."

That brought his eyes to hers, discomfort forgotten. "You did?"

She leaned in, her voice all husky now. "Still do."

"Casey, we're in the middle of a ruttin' prison yard."

"So? Still a man an' a woman."

"A beat up man an' a very pregnant woman."

Casey sat back on her heels and took a good look at him. "You sure are a shy one."

"Ain't shy, just think some things oughta happen in private is all."

"So you don't want me to kiss you?"

Now he was smiling back. "Didn't say that, darlin'."

* * * * *

The two guards were watching on their hidden survellience cameras, dirty little smirks on their hardened faces. "Think they'll do it?"

"I think she could get him to do anythin'."

The first guard wasn't too convinced. "He don't seem too willin'. Don't suppose he's sly do ya?" The second guard laughed, an odd sound in the metal skinned office. Made everything tinny and unreal. "You never heard of Malcolm Reynolds? I tell you if there's anythin' that'll break him this is it."

The first one scowled and continued to watch the screen, his expression lightening up a little when Casey leaned in and kissed the Captain. Seconds into the kiss he was kissing her back. They pulled away then put their heads together, whispering too low for the condensed mike to pick up what they were saying. "Maybe you're right."

The second guard got to his feet and began to walk to the door.

"Where you goin', Maltby?"

"Gonna see the *laoban*. See if we can't give 'em that bit of privacy, *dong ma*?"

"This ain't a brothel, Malt."

"No it ain't but we just found Reynolds' weakness. Would be a mighty bad oversight not to use it now wouldn't it?"

The second guard said nothing. As the door slammed shut behind Maltby he watched the screen and told himself that what they were doing was for the good of the Alliance. Wasn't like Reynolds or Casey were real people anyway. They lost that right when they stood on the wrong side of that gorram line. People on the wrong side didn't have rights. Maybe if he repeated the party line long enough by the time Maltby came back he would believe it.

* * * * *

CHINESE GLOSSARY: (Mandarin - Pinyin)

*shenme shi* = what's the matter? *cuode* = wrong *goushi* = crap/dog shit *dong ma* = understand? *laoban* = boss