A/N: Here is the next installment. What happened when Zoe and Simon got Mal back to Serenity? I hope you like it.

“We have to get him back to the ship, mah shong (now)” Simon said. “And we have to do it fast or we will lose him.”

Zoe nodded and the both of them lifted him into the mule. As they pulled away, Zoe took a quick look around.

“What about River?” she asked solemnly.

“She’s gone,” Simon whispered. “They would have taken her off world quickly. There’s nothing I can do for her now. I can only help Mal.”

Zoe floored the mule. She got on the comm.

“Jayne, we’re on our way back. I want to be in the air as soon as we get there.”

“Kaylee has her heated up. We’re ready to go,” Jayne said. There was a long pause before Jayne said anything more. Zoe almost didn’t hear him. His voice was laden with concern. “How are they, Zoe?”

“It’s happening. Just as we knew it would,” Zoe told him. Her voice was flat, devoid of all emotion.

“But how are they?”

Zoe said nothing more. Simon answered for her.

“Mal’s hurt bad. He’s been shot three times. They went through his armor like he wasn’t wearing any. It doesn’t look good,” Simon answered softly. Simon eyed Zoe warily. He took in a deep breath. “We lost River. They took her.”

“Tiān xiǎo de (in the name of all that’s sacred),” Jayne muttered. “We’ll be off as soon as you hit the cargo bay. Zhu yi, Doc (watch your back).”

It seemed like an eternity before they reached the ship. As soon as they pulled in, Zoe jumped off the mule and hit the button to close the cargo bay.

“We’re on!” Simon yelled through his comm.

Almost immediately, he felt the ship lift off. Zoe and Simon carried Mal into the Infirmary. Simon started surgery without delay, frantically trying to repair the damage. Zoe stayed and helped him as best she could. When they finished, he found Jayne and Kaylee hovering in the common area. Kaylee’s face was red and puffy. She had obviously been crying. Jayne stood with one arm around her. Mal’s situation was weighing heavily on everyone. Simon quickly noted Zoe’s demeanor. She reminded Simon of a robot. She was going through the motions. He realized she hadn’t said anything since they started back to the ship. He started to ask her if she was OK, but was interrupted.

“How is he?” Kaylee asked softly.

“I’ve done all I can. I’m not sure if it is enough,” Simon said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know what else I can do. I’m not sure if I fixed it all. He’s pretty torn up.”

“He’ll be OK. He’s the Captain,” Zoe said all too calmly. She stood transfixed, looking at Mal through the infirmary window.

Simon sagged into a nearby chair and put his head into his hands. He shuddered a bit.

“I can’t believe this is happening. I mean, I knew it would sooner or later,” he said, clearly exhausted. “The Alliance would never let us be after what we showed everyone, but I always held out hope that somehow we could avoid this.”

“Never thought we’d be down three people ‘fore the Plan even got started,” Jayne lamented. “Inara. River. Mal. All gone.”

Simon let out a groan.

“River. I should have protected her better. I failed her. Failed miserably.”

“That wasn’t the way of it, Simon,” Kaylee consoled. “You did the best you could. We all did the best we could.”

Zoe threw her beacon against the wall. Everyone jumped.

“We’ll find them,” Zoe said with resolve. “Captain will be OK and we’ll find both Inara and River.”

“We don’t know where they got took,” Jayne stated. “Either of ‘em.”

Zoe whirled around on him, with both fire and pain in her eyes.

“We’ll do it. Ain’t no other way. Lost too many crew as it is,” Zoe said. She turned and started upstairs towards the bridge. “Ain’t losing no more.”

Everyone stood still for a moment from the shock of Zoe’s outburst. Then Kaylee burst into Simon’s arms and clung to him while she sobbed. Jayne moved to the doorway of the infirmary, looking at Mal.

“Capt’n be OK, won’t he?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve done what I can for now. We’ll have to watch him,” Simon replied.

Kaylee sobbed harder into his shoulder.

“I’m with Zoe. Lost enough as is. No more,” Jayne added. Just then, the proximity alarm sounded. “What the ruttin’ Hell now?”

“It’s the Alliance,” Zoe called out over the comm. “They’ve locked onto us. I will try to shake them so we’ll have some time, but that won’t keep us forever. The Plan goes in motion now. We practiced this, now let’s get it done.”

Kaylee’s eyes widened. She looked at Simon.

“What ‘bout the Captain? He can’t do his part like that.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Simon whispered. “It’s the least I can do. He looked after River and I for so long.”

“Love you, Simon,” she said. “And if I don’t get to say it and things go bad. Good…“

“Don’t say it,” Simon pleaded as he hugged her tight. “Don’t say goodbye. We’ll get through this. We always do.”

She kissed him passionately, smiled weakly and ran off to her station. Simon smiled slightly in her wake.

Jayne started to go towards his station, but Simon stopped him.

“Jayne, I need your help.”

“Whatcha need?” he asked.

“I need help with the Captain,” he told him as he led him towards the infirmary. “I have a plan.”

Thanks for reading. Please comment.