Disclaimer. Joss Whedon is a genius. I merely worship at his feet.

HAWKS AND DOVES (Part 3)

* * * * * *

Kaylee snapped the last of the connectors into place and screwed the top panel back down. “There y'are. All set.”

But Mal needed to be certain everything would go smooth. “So, we'll be able to divert any wave they try to send the Alliance so's it comes through here?” he asked her.

“Yep,” she replied, as though all that tinkering and rewiring she'd done were child's play. She shooked her head indulgently at his technical ineptitude and began to explain.“Our system will track the official two-six-two channel. I've rigged it to capture any wave comin' off Hera. It'll come up right here...” she pointed to the screen. “Don't worry, Cap'n,” she smiled at the bewildered face he was pulling. “Book knows how to work it.”

“Shiny. OK Wash. Set a course for Hera. Fast as you like.”

* * * * * *

Kaylee got to the top of the ladder leading from her bunk and peered around anxiously. It was late and all was quiet. Holding the dove close against her body, she crept down the walkway to Simon and River's bunk and knocked softly. The door opened.

Simon nodded and just as cautiously mounted the ladder, River following behind. All three were barefoot and made their way noiselessly to the infirmary.

Once the swing doors shut behind them they felt able to speak, but kept their voices low. Just in case.

“Here, let me.” Simon held out his hands and Kaylee passed the bird over. River watched fascinated as Simon placed it in a plastic container fitted with a hose.

“I'm just going to anaesthetize it in here,” he explained. “Should reduce its fear. But you've got to remember, Kaylee, in all probability it's going to die. Of shock, if not the injury.”

“Asleep in a box.” River said wistfully. “Forget to be afraid.”

“We got to give it a chance, is all,” Kaylee replied. “Do our best for it.”

Simon smiled at her naïve faith in him and began the task of removing torn feathers and setting the broken bone. Kaylee stood close by in rapt attention, anticipating his requests for plaster and gauze. Simon worked quickly and soon his task was finished. He handed the still unconscious dove back to Kaylee who rewarded him with the sweetest of smiles. “Thankyou.”

* * * * *

Mal replaced the maps and star charts above the table in his bunk and drained his now cold cup of coffee, shuddering at the bitter taste. It had been a long day. Next few days were likely to be longer. He knew he should get some rest but the twitchiness in his muscles told him sleep would be hard to come by.

Desperate measures, he thought, as he climbed up his ladder. Some of Kaylee's engine-still firewater might do the trick.

Book, retiring to his own bunk, gave him a knowing look as they passed in the walkway and wished him good night. Mal nodded and was about to walk on when the Shepherd placed a hand on his arm.

“God keep you, son,” he said gently.

For a brief moment it seemed Mal might accept the blessing. Then he frowned and said bitterly “Got enough trouble as it is. Don't go bringin' your God into this, Shepherd.”

Unperturbed, Book looked at him steadily. “Oh, I think he's been here all along, Captain.”

Irritation began to build in Mal. “What makes you think that?” he demanded.

“Never seen so much faith in a man as in you, Captain,” Book replied. “Sometimes I envy that.” And he walked off to his bunk, leaving Mal gazing after him more than a little confounded.

Then, faintly, he thought he heard something. Coming from the infirmary.

* * * * * *

“A cuckoo in the nest,” River suddenly remarked loudly, “will kick out the other hatchlings.”

The others turned to her quickly, gesturing her to be quiet. But it was too late. The swing doors crashed open and Mal stomped into the room. They'd scarcely had time to register his presence before he'd brought his right fist up to connect with Simon's jaw.

“That's for disobeyin' a direct order,” he snarled as Simon staggered backwards against the counter.

“And that,” Mal continued, as he punched him a second time, knocking him to the floor, “is for incitin' my crew to mutiny. You think I don't have enough to be dealin' with without your sorry attempts at impressin' my engineer?!”

River began sweeping boxes and trays off the counters, screaming. “Tidy. Everything must be tidy. No loose ends. No complications.”

Kaylee dropped to her knees next to Simon. “Oh! That looks awful. There, there,” she cooed, touching the developing bruises gently. She stood up again, hands on hips and looked Mal angrily in the eye.. “He did it 'cos I asked him to,” she spat. “What ya gonna do? Hit me as well?”

Mal blinked twice and gave his head a little shake as though he'd been hit with something himself. He gave her a cold, hard stare.

“You... You are confined to your bunk until further notice.”

“Fine.” She tossed her head defiantly to cover her misery at the trouble she'd caused and went off to her bunk, still carrying the dove.

* * * * *

Inara descended the stair to the cargo bay looking unusually self-conscious. When she reached the bottom, she pulled at the hem of the skirt of the sombre blue suit she was wearing, feeling oddly exposed with her legs on display.

She gave Mal a hesitant smile. “I'm beginning to regret joining the caper...” she began.

“No need to be nervous,” he told her firmly, with a confidence he didn't feel “Simon'll be doin' most of the talkin'. You're there to keep him calm and use your feminine wiles to make the feds all compliant-like. Oughta come easy, all the practice you've had.”

She shot him a look. “I'm afraid of saying something stupid.” A beat. “I wouldn't want to encroach on your territory.”

Mal bit his lip. No time for bickering. He turned to Simon, who was wearing the same expensive suit he'd worn the day he boarded Serenity for the first time. The same sunglasses hid a slight black eye and Inara had provided a cream to mask the bruises on his jawline.

“Got your wire on?” Mal asked and Simon nodded. “Checked it?” Simon nodded again. He and Mal might not be on the best of terms at the moment, but Simon could see the Captain's cause was just and his plan workable. Besides, he was going to be the one walking into the lion's den. Ofcourse he'd checked his only way of communicating with the rest of the crew.

At that moment Jayne appeared dressed in the porter's uniform he'd worn for the hospital raid on Ariel. Maybe its unpleasant associations were the reason he was looking far from happy..

“Somethin' on your mind?” Mal asked him.

“Hell, Mal!” Jayne complained. “Why can't I be with you?” He glanced quickly at Wash who, also in porter's uniform, had followed him down the stairs looking dismal. “I wanted to give Vera an outin'. An' I'm sure Wash'd rather be with Zoe....”

Wash nodded vigourously and sidled up to his wife and gave her a quick kiss. “At last! Someone making sense. 'Til death us do part, lamby-toes. Which might be sooner rather than later.”

“That ain't the plan, Jayne,” Mal said slowly, fixing the mercenary with a steely look. “Zoe an' me's known on this ruttin' planet.”

Jayne looked at him blankly.

“From the war,” he said slowly, emphasizing the last word. In truth he was astonished that an event like the Battle of Serenity Valley, which had turned his own world upside down, seemed to have been already forgotten by Jayne. And probably by many more like him.

“We stick to the plan,” he continued. “You're with Wash. Me an' Zoe will provide back-up if needs be. Book will stay here an' take care of River an' Kaylee.”