Disclaim, disclaim, disclaim, all kneel before Joss' glory that is Firefly.

A/N:So I gave up on the whole holding out for a longer chapter. I'm just way too eager to share it with you guys. I know what's going to happen and I'm killing myself with the suspense, so I thought I'd torture you guys too. *Smile* Love me...

Chapter 3

Simon’s face was confused and alarmed. “Kaylee? River, why is Kaylee scared?” River was looking off into space, not being able to keep her eyes on one thing for long. “Doesn’t taste good …got the wrong one and doesn’t even know it…and now it’s ripped…” River looked into Simon’s eyes. “…she’s sad.” Simon’s mind raced and did all manner of flip flops in the small span of mere seconds. He was aware that his sister sometimes knew things that she couldn’t, but even the idea of Kaylee hurt…well. That hit him in the scary place. Simon gathered himself together and shook her shoulders lightly, “River. Mei mei, you have to tell me where she is. Where is Kaylee.” “Cold and dark…cold and dark…can’t see from all the blood.” Simon’s heart sunk into the pit of his stomach. He quickly moved River off of the infirmary bed and guided her to the bridge, where Wash and Zoe were talking. At Simon’s face they both stopped and stood. “I think Kaylee might be in trouble.” Wash grabbed the com and clicked it on. “Captain.”

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Mal nodded at the salesman and walked over to Inara and Book. “He said he saw a girl in here bout an hour back, matched my description, but she was only in the store for about five minutes.” His voice held that serious tone that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. “Did he happen to see which way she went?” This came from Book, who even when worried held that no nonsense tone. Inara’s eyes were wide with fear, but she tried to verbalize her self-consolation. “Maybe she’s back on the ship.” Just then Mal heard his com click on and Wash’s voice say, “Captain.” “Yeah, Wash.” Mal clenched his jaw tightly. Wash offered the handset to Simon and he took it readily, “Captain, River thinks Kaylee might be in some sort of trouble. Do you know where she is in town? Or Inara?” Simon’s voice held a little more edge to it than usual. “Inara’s here with me. No sign of Kaylee. Zoe, you and Wash come on to town. We got some lookin’ to do. “

Mal sent Inara back to Serenity against her own wishes, but if folk were disappearing’ around here, the last thing he needed was her to get gone too. “See if you can’t River to tell us where she is.” Mal, Book, Zoe and Wash all met up and divvied up directions to search in. For good measure Mal added, “And if you see Jayne, get ‘im all filled in, dong ma?” They each dispersed and not a single one wanted to think on what kind of trouble Kaylee might be in.

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Jayne sneered at the bartender and took another shot. Weren’t right. Not a single woman in the whole gorram bar. He mumbled to himself and held out his glass for another shot. While the bartender was giving Jayne a refill, there was a bit of a disturbance comin’ from the back room. Jayne thought to himself, ‘well, at least ifn’ I can’t get some trim, a nice tussle’s good entertainment.’ One very beaten up man came flyin’ through the back door to land roughly on the bar floor. A not so smallish man followed him quickly, towering over him. Everyone in the bar seemed alarmed and quieted until Thayer walked in casually as if nothing were wrong. Then every patron seemed to start that uncomfortable forced kind of chatter He nodded his head at the henchman and then nodded to the door. In response, the bruised and bleeding man got pulled up off the floor and shoved, none too gently, out of the front door. The henchman walked over to Thayer and joined him at the bar. The bartender poured a couple of regulars for the men and quickly scurried away. “So you’re certain we’ve got her then?” Thayer spoke in a softer voice but he also spoke as though he wasn’t worried that anyone would challenge him, no matter how legal his conversation was. “Yes, sir. The men say she didn’t even put up a fight.” Jayne’s interest was piqued, so he hung over his glass and listened intently. “Good, good. He’ll be happy to hear that his wayward companion is due back.” Thayer grinned and took a long sip from his glass. At the mention of the word companion Jayne’s interest had gone from piqued to full blown. Thayer and his man left the bar without another word. Jayne waited about thirty seconds and stood, flinging some credits on the table and leaving to follow them. He had been trailing them for about two blocks when Mal popped out of a store and blocked Jayne‘s path. Jayne moved to see where Thayer and his man were headed, but they had just rounded a corner. “Mal, we might wanna follow ‘em. They got ‘Nara.” Jayne sounded irritated. “What, Jayne? Inara’s on the ship.” Mal's face mussed up in confusion for a split second and then clicked into comprehension. “But Kaylee’s missing.” Both Men clenched their jaws and turned to follow Thayer and his man.

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Kaylee shivered uncontrollably and huddled in the corner of the very tiny, very cold room. She thought she could hear voices in the next room, but her head wasn’t letting her brain function properly. Suddenly, the door flung open and the light was so bright that it blinded Kaylee. She blinked and tried to stand up but was shoved back down roughly. “Wh-what do you want?” her voice quavered and shook. “Well now that’s the question, ain’t it darlin.” he leaned down to her and ran his finger down the side of her face that wasn't covered in blood. Kaylee jerked her head away and tried to scoot away from him but she was already in a corner. “No need to be shy.” he said as he played with a piece of loose fabric on her left shoulder. “What are you doin’?” Another man appeared in the doorway. “Aw, Jackee-boy, I’m just havin’ a little fun with her.” “Don’t call me Jackee-boy and DON’T mess with the girl. We’re getting a fair amount of coin fer her and I don’t want any of your niou-se muckin’ that up.” He looked at him squarely and then turned his eyes on Kaylee. “Go on now.” The man leered at Kaylee and winked before he stood to leave. “She’s all dirty and bloody, anyhow.” Jack moved to shut the door, but Kaylee’s voice stopped him. “Please. Please, I…I think I need a doctor. My head-” “This here’s just a holdin’ place for you. You’re not long for this little moon, so don’t cause a fuss. And with that he slammed the door shut.

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Inara walked up Serenity’s ramp into the cargo bay to find Simon and River waiting. Simon looked up at Inara expectantly but she just shook her head. After revealing her newfound knowledge River had been very tight lipped. Barely speaking at all. Both Inara and Simon tried to get River to talk to them but they were both becoming quickly frustrated.

(And now for the three words I hate reading myself but get some kind of perverse joy out of writing for you guys.)

To be continued….in part 4

Dong ma…..understand Niou-se……cow dung