Chapter 2

Present Time

“Alright folks, listen up.” Mal stood in the cargo bay, addressing his crew as the fading light of evening crept in through the open door. The rest of the crew spread out around him, standing or leaning against boxes and crates. “As ya all know, Wash’s a little too late getting’ back for my liking. Might be nothing, might be trouble, but either way, we’re gonna go find out. Jayne and Zoë, yer with me. The rest of ya hang out here, but keep yer eyes open.”

“I’d like to go with you,” Shepard Book spoke up.

“Preacher, I appreciate the offer but-”

“Captain,” Book cut the man off mid-sentence. “Another pair of eyes will significantly increase the search area, and the doctor and ladies are more than capable of watching your ship. I’d like to help.”

Mal paused, thinking. He didn’t like being interrupted, or having his orders questioned, but Book had a point. It was getting late and they needed their pilot back.

“Fine,” he agreed curtly. “You ‘n Jayne go check the taverns and bars. It maybe Wash just got a mite distracted. Zoë, you ‘n me’ll go scout out the marketplace.” He tossed Jayne one of the hand-held comm. units. “Anyone see somethin’ interesting, or find the man, holler. Iffin he beats us back ta the ship, Kaylee give us a wave.”

Book and Jayne nodded then left, Jayne’s swagger as he marched down the ramp strangely complimentary to Book’s steady, purposefully gate. As he watched them leave, Mal motioned Kaylee over to him.

“Yeah, Cap’n?”

“Keep yer eyes open, little Kaylee, an’ keep the doc and his sis outa sight. This ain’t an Alliance planet, but Wash being this late is makin’ me nervous. Better safe ‘n sorry. You notice anything suspicious, anything at all, you lock this boat down tighter than a drum and call us back.”

“Okay, Cap’n,” Kaylee agree, nodding solemnly. She could tell Mal was worried about their friend, even though he was trying not to let it show. “We won’t do nothing stupid, I promise.”

Mal gave her a gentle smile, the one he reserved just for her, and then nodded to the waiting Zoë. “Let’s go find that husband of yours.”

*****

Wash opened his eyes to darkness. As he lay there, wondering if perhaps he’d gone blind, low moans filled his ears. It took him a few more minutes to realize the moans were coming from his own mouth. With a particularly loud groan, he managed to roll over onto his back, an action which sent all kinds of fiery agony racing up and down his body.

But, on the bright side, at least he now knew he wasn’t blind. The reason it was so dark was because he was in a dark alley, it was night, and he’d been staring into a slimy corner. Now on his back, he could vaguely see the stars in the sky above through his swollen eyes.

Gradually, as blessed unconsciousness fled, a few very unpleasant memories of the last couple hours drizzled back into his brain like scattered, random snapshots. They flitted around his mind, but actually left him more confused than before. He wasn’t sure what they all meant; he just knew that everything hurt, even his hair. Bruises throbbed, skin burned… He hadn’t hurt this bad since…well…never. The pain left him feeling fuzzy and disoriented, like he was viewing his own thoughts through a bad Cortex connection. Only one of those thoughts managed to push through with crystal clarity: he needed to get home.

Calling on an iron-will that was usually buried so deep most people forgot he even had it, Wash struggled to his knees, and then lurched to his feet, trying not to close his eyes as the world tilted drunkenly to one side. He leaned against the alley wall for support, the cement rough against the skin of his arm and shoulder. His bright, floral shirt was just gone and the top half of his jumpsuit hung down around his waist, but that didn’t mean his upper body was bare. He forced himself to ignore the mess, which was pretty easy given how much his head was spinning.

Home. Focus on getting home. Focus on Serenity, Wash told himself firmly. Once back at the ship he could blissfully pass out again and let the Doc and Mal and Zoë do the thinking for him. He looked around with fever-bright eyes and his gaze fell on the mule, not three feet away, waiting, still loaded. He couldn’t comprehend how odd that was right now, his brain feeling like jell-o and all, just knew it was something that could get him home.

Start-up was torture, and he realized distantly that his hands screamed at him and refused to work right as he tried to steer, but he gritted his teeth and let adrenalin keep him going. The mule and its rider oozed out of the dark, little street and headed in the general direction of the docks, its pace a slow, laborious crawl. Slumped gracelessly in the seat, Wash prayed he could get there before the dots swimming in front of his eyes all decided to join forces and he passed out again.

*****

A cool, evening breeze gently caressed Kaylee’s cheeks and toyed with the wisps of hair that escaped from her braids as the girl sat on the open cargo ramp, leaning back against the doorframe with her knees drawn up to her chest. Stars twinkled at her from above and the pleasant sounds of night drifted around her. It was just the kind of night she would normally take delight in, remembering evenings spent on the front porch, swapping tales and lies and pieces of homemade pie. But not tonight. Tonight she found no comfort in the calm night while she sat watch as the captain had asked her to, only worry and fear, fear for a friend.

Kaylee was sure something was desperately wrong. Wash would never, ever be this late getting back, not if there was any way he could prevent it. He was just not that kind of guy. She’d known Wash as long as she’d known the captain and Zoë; Wash was funny, and irreverent, and a tad child-like, but he wasn’t reckless or irresponsible. Two things could sober him up real quick, the thought of harm coming to either Zoë or Serenity, and being this late put both in a bad spot. She knew he’d never do that on purpose.

Drawing her knees up closer, she sighed deeply. They didn’t talk about it much, but she and Wash shared a special bond. Nothing romantic, nothing at all like what he shared with Zoë, but it was strong and binding nonetheless. He was like a goofy older brother to her, but it was more than that. Together, Wash and Kaylee kept Serenity in the sky, brought her to life. They spoke the same language, felt the same love and pride for the old boat; a love that only those who knew her inside and out could feel.

Now Wash was missing and it was almost as if Kaylee could feel Serenity holding her breath around her; as if the old ship knew one of her charges was in trouble.

“Birds are cold. Want their coats back. Need them more than he does.”

Kaylee jumped and stifled a scream at the soft voice that spoke right in her ear, whirling around to find River kneeling there, long hair partially obscuring her face as she gazed knowingly past the mechanic and out into the night. It freaked her out to no end that the girl was able to sneak up on her like that, just suddenly be there. For just a second, Kaylee felt a spike of fear flash through her as she remembered River, and the gun, and Niska’s skyplex, but she shoved it purposefully aside and replaced it with images of the girl that was her friend.

“River, sweetie,” she said softly, brushing the girl’s hair out of her eyes and tucking it behind an ear, “you ain’t supposed to be here. Cap’n wanted ya to stay back from the door where folks ain’t like to see ya.”

“Sh!” River chided urgently, ignoring Kaylee’s words. “I’m listening to the feathers.”

“Honey, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what yer talkin’ about,” Kaylee replied, sadness in her voice. “There ain’t any feathers around here. But maybe if ya went back in, Simon could find ya some?”

River gave her a look, that one that said ‘just because I’m crazy doesn’t make me an idiot.’ “Not here,” she said, rolling her eyes. “There. He’s bringing them.” She pointed out into the night.

Tiredly, Kaylee followed River’s finger with her eyes, and then harshly drew in her breath. One of the colorful, Chinese curses she was always urging the good doctor to try slipped from her lips as she stared. There, about fifty feet down the docks and well-hidden in the darkness, sat the mule. It was unmoving, and a black lump lay on the ground at its wheels, just as still. The mechanic leapt to her feet, covering her mouth in shock as she strained to see through the darkness.

“River,” she said urgently, grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her around with a little shove, “go get Simon and Inara! Now!” The girl blinked at her, then ran across the cargo bay, yelling for her brother.

Kaylee didn’t wait for them. She sprinted down the ramp and rushed to the still mass by the mule and slid to a stop, tears filling her eyes as she crouched down.

“Oh, Wash,” she whispered brokenly, fingers reaching hesitantly to touch his face, but stopping short out of fear and uncertainty. Almost every inch of skin that she could see – chest, back, arms, face – was covered in a black, sticky substance that still radiated noticeable warmth as her fingers neared it. Stuck in it, all over, were feathers, along with dirt and gravel from the streets. It was even in his hair.

“Wash…” she whispered again, in shock and her heart literally breaking at seeing her friend like this. She couldn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt him; he was just so fun and happy and gentle.

A low moan came from the man on the ground beside her and he rolled over and opened his eyes. After a few seconds the blue eyes lit up with recognition, followed instantly with relief and a large amount of concern at seeing her next to him in tears.

“Hey,” he croaked. “Sh... s’alright… Made it home…” His words had a decided slur to them.

“Wash, what happened?” Kaylee asked, her voice sounding suspiciously like a sob. “Who did this ta you?”

“Tried to rob a chicken farm. Sick of protein, wanted fresh meat,” the pilot mumbled with a very small smile. Then his eyes slid shut once more, and he drifted off to unconsciousness again just as Simon and Inara rushed to their side. Farther back, River gazed at them fearfully from just inside the ship.

Kaylee stumbled back as Simon firmly pushed her out of the way, his expression blank as he took her place and focused on the job and his patient. She watched as he gave Wash a cursory glance-over, holding her breath. She could tell it unnerved him to see the kind pilot like this, but his professional training allowed him to shove his feelings aside for the moment. “I don’t think he’s in any life-threatening danger,” he said, rising to his feet again, “but we need to get him back to the ship and into the infirmary.”

As she listened to Simon, the young mechanic watched Inara out of the corner of her eye, wondering at her grace and composure, even under pressure and distressed for the welfare of a friend. Kaylee was exerting every ounce of willpower she had to keep the tears streaming from her eyes from becoming an uncontrollable flood, and yet Inara stood by silently, only her strangely sober expression betraying the depth of her concern. “I’ll go get the stretcher,” she offered quickly, and Kaylee thought she sounded glad for something to do.

Kaylee was right. Inara’s training was too ingrained to let it show, but she was very glad to get away for a moment and collect herself. Lifting her silken skirts slightly, she rushed back to Serenity. She didn’t spend as much time with Wash as she did with others on the crew, but she always appreciate his light-hearted presence on the ship and knew he was a kind, gentle soul. And she had to admit he often made her laugh. It wasn’t right that someone had hurt him, whatever the reason, and she didn’t like seeing him injured and in pain.

“Will he be alright?” Kaylee asked Simon as they waited with Wash for Inara to return, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know,” the young doctor answered seriously. “I need to get him inside.”

They fell silent after that. Kaylee wished she could hold Wash’s hand to give him a little comfort, but she didn’t dare. Something seemed seriously wrong with his hands and she didn’t want to hurt him more.

It was not even a full five minutes before Inara returned carrying the stretcher, River with her this time, but to Kaylee and Simon it seemed like forever.

Quickly, they got the bulky body of their pilot carefully onto the stretcher and then lifted him off the ground.

“But the mule…” Kaylee said, throwing a glance back over her shoulder as she helped Simon and Inara carry the heavy stretcher. “We shouldn’t leave it out here…”

“Well come back for –” Simon started to say but was interrupted by River.

“The girl can do it,” she said firmly, climbing gracefully onto the seat and starting the vehicle. “Wash taught her.”

Simon wasn’t happy, but realized now was not the time to argue and nodded. Still, he made a mental note to have a long conversation with the pilot about appropriate activities for mentally unstable teenagers at a later date.

Carefully, they carried Wash up the ramp and into the cargo hold, River following behind with the supplies. As soon as they were all on board, River jumped off the mule and raced over to the door controls and slammed the button to close the large door. Kaylee and Inara looked at her, puzzled.

“Birds might come looking for him,” she explained solemnly. They didn’t have time to think about that or form an answer because Simon was snapping at them to keep going and help him carry Wash up to the infirmary.

It wasn’t easy, but Simon and the two women managed to get Wash up the steps and into the small medical room. Once there, they heaved the stretcher up onto the main bed and slipped it out from underneath the barely conscious man. It left them all smeared in the black goo that covered him and feeling breathless and more than a little guilty for each time Wash half-woke and moaned in pain from the ordeal, but there was nothing they could do about that.

The doctor drafted Inara to help him with Wash but firmly kicked Kaylee out.

“Simon!” she pleaded. “I wanna help! Wash is my friend!”

“Kaylee, this isn’t going to be pleasant. Wash doesn’t need you to see this and I need space to work,” Simon spoke more harshly than he normally would to the young mechanic, but he was in full doctor mode and not really concerned with hurt feelings right now.

“Why does ‘Nara get to stay then?”

“Because I need her help,” Simon responded distractedly as he rummaged quickly through various drawers.

“Kaylee,” Inara cut in gently, ushering the girl to the door, “you should go call the others back. The Cap’n needs to know about this, and he and Zoë should be here. Don’t worry, Simon will take good care of him.”

Realizing her protests would fall on deaf ears, Kaylee took one last watery look back at the horrible mess that was Wash, lying so still on the bed, and then she reluctantly turned and left. Her heart heavy, she slipped through the passenger lounge and headed toward the bridge. On her way, she passed River huddled on the stairs, her eyes large as saucers.

“Didn’t know the birds would hurt him,” she whispered as though somehow this could all be her fault, her fault for not understanding her own thoughts.

“I know you didn’t, and I’m sure Wash does, too,” Kaylee assured her, even though she really didn’t know what this conversation was all about to begin with. She gave her friend a pat on the shoulder then climbed up the stairs before River could see her start crying again.

*****

“Man’s really done it this time,” Mal groused, working his way through the crowd that had come out to enjoy an after-hours concert in the marketplace on a warm summer’s evening. “If he ain’t already dead, I’m gonna kill him myself when we find him. Man knows better ‘n ta make us late fer a job!”

Next to him, Zoë said nothing, but she stiffened slightly and her dark, brown eyes glinted with just a little flash of anger as they scanned the crowd of people around them. Anyone else saying that about her husband would have been on the ground with a gun leveled between his eyes two seconds later, but Zoë knew in this case it was just Mal’s way of distracting himself from how worried about his friend he actually was.

“If I find out all this was just sos he could buy another one a’ them gorram creatures a’ his ta sit on my bridge and glare at me with their beady, little –”

The comm. unit in his pocket beeped suddenly. Quickly, Mal drew it out and pressed the “talk” button.

“Yeah?” Mal asked as Zoë stepped closer to be able to hear better.

“Hey, Cap’n,” Kaylee’s unmistakable voice came through.

“Hey, little Kaylee. You got news for me?”

They heard a deep sigh from the other end. “Yeah, I got news,” she said, sounding tired. “Ain’t the good kind though. Cap’n, you and Zoë better oughta head back here quick like. Wash’s back, but he don’t look so good. Been hurt real bad.”

A sliver of fear ran up Mal’s spine even as a large fist of anger slammed into his gut at her words. He had no idea what had happened, or how his pilot had managed to find trouble and get himself injured, but it made him angry nonetheless. Wash wasn’t supposed to end up in the line of fire; that was his job.

Seething inside, he turned to Zoë to tell her they were heading back only to see her already disappearing into the crowd at a fast sprint, her deadly glare alone enough to clear a path through the throng. Mal swore under his breath and shoved the comm. back into this pocked, hurrying after her.