Author: Tinadoll (aka Tina- That’s me!) Setting: After BDM Rating: PG-13 to NC-17. This chapter is kinda Pg. Next is going to be hard NC-17 Spoilers: probably-But who cares? We have all seen the episodes? Author’s note: I have written fan-fic before. But this is my first Fireflyfic and my first serious (kind of) one. Scorpion is mine. All Spanish, Latin or any other language will be in parenthesis. This could get messy folks. My spelling and grammar is horrible. And my humor is odd. And I’m a fan girl. LOL ENJOY Disclaimer: Firefly et al. Are properties of Josh Whedon- Those who don’t like that will get punched in the Kidneys. Some one told me i needed to work on my tense- so i tried to. Hopefully this chapter refects that Next chapter there is going to be smut(maybe) and violence. Edit: Edited by Jetflair- Thanks for the help!

Chapter 4: Between heaven and hell- There is the black

In the black you can never go back. You can never be whole again.

Maria stepped out of the darkness and into the light. At first she was blinded, but after the initial shock wore off she saw a table, set for five people. She looked down at her clothes and she was wearing white. She looked around again and saw her parents. Her mother kept setting the table and her father was behind her unsetting it. She went to step forward and she blinked and for the first time in a long time- She saw with two whole eyes.

"Where am I?" she asked. She looked around there was nothing except the table and her parents. Where were her brothers?

Her parents remained silent.

"Am I dead?" Maria asked.

Her mother looked up. "You do not belong here," she said.

Here? Where was here? Was this heaven? "Where are my brothers? Where are Pierre, Juan, and Julian?"

Her mother moved forward. She looked angry. "Move along home!" she said as she shooed her.

Maria stepped back and fell into the darkness.

…

She screamed, awaking to a sharp pain in her shoulder which reached to her hand. She hadn't felt pain in a long time and she was almost afraid. She looked around to see where she was. Serenity.

She was tied down tightly to the med bed in the infirmary. There were straps holding down her arms and feet as well as a belt around her waist. It was hopeless to escape.

After rolling her eyes she silently cursed her situation, pondering what the dream meant. Perhaps her brothers were alive and perhaps she wasn't meant for heaven but for…

She gulped at the thought of hell. She had to make this right.

She heard the doors of the infirmary open. Dr. Simon Tam stepped forward; followed closely behind him was Captain Reynolds again. Simon did his best not to look her in the eye.

"How is she, Doctor?" The Captain asked.

"She is alive at the moment," he said as he checked her vitals. Maria didn't look at him; she didn't have the heart to. She didn't feel guilty at what she had done or attempted to do. However , she felt embarrassed for failing so miserably and not getting up the courage to leave her situation sooner.

"Good." Captain Reynolds said. She finally looked at him. His face was blank and unreadable. "You did a fine job considering…" he said.

The captain pondered for a second, and then added "You may leave." Simon hurried out but not before stealing a glance at her.

Considering what? That she was there for his sister? His mei-mei? In his eyes there were several emotions, but hatred and sorrow were the two prevalent. She shifted her gaze to Mal.

He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in days. His complexion left something to desire- poor guy looked pale. Not from fear but perhaps from malnutrition and too many days in the black. But his eyes. Oh his eyes. She stared into those fishers of pale blue. They were filled with complex emotions and hidden secrets. Her own eyes stared back at him. Her eye patch was missing and she stared back at him with the brown and blue eyes filled with the usual sorrow and defiance. This exchange wasn't going to be easy for either of them.

He grabbed a chair and sat in it. "Tell me everything," he ordered.

"Jien tah-duh guay (Like Hell)! I told you everything I could tell you. It's all a blur," she responded.

"I don't think you understand your situation, missy," he said, sounding all defiant. "Jayne is itching to get his hands on you. And I am this close to letting him in here and letting him question you instead."

Oh Jayne. The big bad mercenary wanted round two. Well she couldn't resist smiling at that. "Bring it on ," she said

A look of confusion came across his face. "Are you trying to tell me that you actually want him to come in here and give you a talkin to?" he asked as he put his palm to his forehead.

"Actually, I'd rather gen hou zi bi diu shi (engage in a feces hurling contest with a monkey) but at least screwing with stupid will be fun."

Before he could react, Jayne came stomping in. Half of his jaw was still black and blue from the last encounter but at least it wasn't wired anymore. "It'll be a pleasure ," he said with a sadistic smile on his face, pulling out Binky and waiving the knife around

"Well it ain't fair that I am all tied up," she said as she batted her eyes. "How's about you handcuff me to a chair?" she looked around the room. "Perhaps in a room with less….toys ," she finished, smiling

Capt Reynolds opened his mouth to say something but Jayne but the mercenary interrupted . "It's on, you jien huo (cheap floozy)."

"Dung ee hwar...(Hold a second) This is my ship, gorram it!!" Reynolds said, turning red at Jayne.

"Shuddup Mal" Jayne said, pouting. "I wanna finish this once and for all. My way, " he said, smiling. He really looked pleased with himself.

Mal looked at Jayne and then at the strapped Scorpion. "Fine," he said to Jayne . "Just make sure you clean up the mess when you're done. I don't want no blood stains scarin off potential business partners."

He turned to leave. "Captain, If I may have one small request?" she asked. He turned and crossed his arms. "May I have my eye-patch back?"

The Capt Snickered