Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss Whedon. If this story works at all it's because of him

HAWKS AND DOVES (Part 2)

(Mal has decided Serenity's crew are going to rescue his old commanding officer from an Alliance jail. Meanwhile Simon is completing the last job)

It was getting late, way past the time they were supposed to have been back on Serenity and Simon had begun to panic. How had he managed to lose her? One minute, she'd been at his side, witnessing his vain attempt to haggle with the store keeper and the next she was gone. He went out onto the porch and scanned the market square and field beyond, shading his eyes against the dying rays of the sun.

No sign of her. And no real idea of where to start looking. He prayed that she hadn't been kidnapped because he really didn't think he could go through all that again.

One thing was certain; he couldn't go back to the ship without her. Mal would kill him. Jayne would kill him. And the others would probably help. He had a sudden vision of Book saying a few words over his dead body, his face set in an expression of grim satisfaction.

Not that he would go back without her. There was no question of him abandoning Kaylee in this one-horse town full of brawling yokels. She was as dear to him now as she was to the others.

“Lost summat, son?” a rough voice asked.

Simon turned to see a squat, middle-aged man with a ruddy face beaten by the weather, alcohol and life. His clothes were old and tatty, but on his chest he wore a sheriff's badge. Relief and fear battled within Simon.

“My fr.. maid servant, officer. Thank you for your concern.” He touched the ridiculous hat Mal had made him wear – supposedly so that he would “look more like normal folk” - in a gesture of respect and employed the Core-world accent that life on Serenity was gradually eroding. “She seems to have wandered off.... Frightful nuisance.”

The sheriff nodded wearily. “Women's all the same. See summat pretty an' away they go in search of it..” He spat the tobacco wad he'd been chewing onto the dusty ground. “What she look like?”

“Smallish. Long, brown hair. Big smi...” Simon broke off. A gentleman surely wouldn't remark on a servant's smile.

“Think I saw a girl of that description heading out towards the Marshes' homestead.” He pointed a gnarled forefinger to indicate the path. “That way. Follow the track.”

Simon smiled nervously. “Thankyou, officer. You've been most helpful.”

* * * * *

Kaylee was sitting on a rock under a tree, her hands cupped gently around something soft and grey. On hearing Simon approach she looked up, her face a mix of happiness at seeing him and concern.

“Ain't it beautiful,” she asked in awe, looking down at the bird she was holding, as Simon sat next to her. “Poor thing's wing is damaged. Thought we could take it back to the ship an' you could fix it.”

Simon looked doubtful. “I'm not a vet, Kaylee. I don't know much about birds.”

“Aw, come on now. How hard can it be, Mr Top Three Percent?” she asked, playfully tapping his chest with one hand, whilst continuing to cradle the dove in the other. “What you don't know, we can look up on the Cortex. Bet River knows anyhow.”

“OK. Bring the bird.” Simon feared he could never refuse Kaylee anything. “But let's get back to the ship. I don't like this moon.”

* * * * *

Mal was hanging about in the cargo bay when they reached the ship. Something about his body language told Simon his busy-ness was feigned. He looked up, gave Kaylee a brief smile and turned a full glare on Simon.

“Sure we said get back here for 18.00 hours,” he snapped. “You're over an hour late. No problem with the meet?” Simon shook his head. “Well, Doc, you wanna stay on this boat, you gotta follow my rules. Includin' time-keepin', dong ma?”

“Wa'n't his fault, Cap'n,” Kaylee said cheerfully. “'fraid it was mine.”

Mal cocked his head to one side and regarded her sternly. “Clearly not afraid enough.” Then he smiled again. “So, what kept you li'l Kaylee?”

She said nothing, but held out the dove to him.

He looked at it blankly for a moment. Then seemed to understand. “Aha! Fresh meat for the Shepherd's pot! Good thinkin'.”

Kaylee opened her eyes wide with horror. “No, no! Not meat. Look. It's hurt its wing. Simon's gonna mend it, “ and she smiled admiringly at Simon.

“Not on my boat, he ain't,” Mal declared. He held up a hand to silence her protests before they began. “No arguin'. Creature like that needs to fly free. It'll die of despair cooped up in here. Better to give it a quick death now. And besides, we ain't got so many medical supplies we can afford to be wastin' 'em on wildlife.”

“We're not eatin' it,” Kaylee muttered, pouting a little.

'She's adorable,' Simon thought. 'Look at the way she stands up to Mal.'

'Just cos she's adorable don't mean I'm gonna let her tell me what to do on my own gorram boat,' Mal thought.

“Fine. Just get it off Serenity. Now. And be in the dining room in thirty minutes. We've got a new job.”

* * * * *

One by one the crew began gathering in the mess, each taking a place at the dining table. Mal sat at its head, looking resolute.

“So,” he began. “The job is this - there's a situation needs remedyin'. Good man – innocent man – has been jailed by the Alliance. We're gonna get him out. Any questions so far?”

Simon raised a timid hand. “How do we know he's innocent?” he asked.

“Served with him in the war, “ Mal said simply. “Man saved my life on more than one occasion. Time for me to repay him.”

“His life's in danger?” Simon looked anxious. “Are they going to execute him?”

“Might be kinder if they did,” Mal replied grimly. “Spare him spendin' the rest of his days in some stinkin' cell.”

River took Simon's hand and peered into his eyes, her own filling with tears. “Nailed down the lid, but sleep won't come,” she whispered.

Jayne grunted. “Don't see the percentage in no jail-break.” He looked at Mal hopefully, “Unless he robbed a few Alliance banks in his time?”

Mal just glowered at him by way of answer.

“It would be the right thing to do, Jayne,” Book said gently, placing a hand on the mercenary's shoulder.

“'Xactly. No percentage in it.”

“I'll give you half my share from the last job, “ Mal said quietly, fixing Jayne with a look of resigned disappointment.

Jayne reflected a moment. “Done.”