Fic: Stages, Part 7 Decision
Title: Stages
Chapter: 7, Decision
Author: RayneSupreme
Disclaimer: If I didn't own the last 6 chapters, I guess I don't own this one either.
“I said it before and I guess I’ll be sayin’ it one more time,” Mal shouted above his arguing crew. “This here ain’t a democracy. And last time I checked, I’m still the leader of this here dictatorship. So what I say goes.”
“But Cap’n,” started Kaylee.
“’Nuff lil’ Kaylee,” Mal interrupted. “We’ve all said our peace on the subject.”
He nodded to Zoe and Inara. “Now you two got a point. It was River’s decision to leave and her decision to leave the way she did. She ain’t no child no more, on that point I think we are all agreed. There’s a certain respect due that fact the girl made a choice that was her own to make, despite what the Doc here might say on that account. We should honor her choice.”
“She’s all the family I have left,” Simon mumbled, exhausted from the argument.
“On the other hand, Kaylee and Simon make a good point. The girl is family and whether or not she wants to come back, she should at least know she’d be welcome back. And even though we could send her a wave sayin’ as much’, now that we know where she’s at,” Mal hissed at Inara, “seems only proper ta’ be delivering that kinda message in person.”
Mal dared to turn his attention to his merc, sittin’ unusually stoic at the end of the table. After Jayne had come ta’ him two hours ago, demanding he change course to the Companion House on Georgia and Mal havin’ to remind him who was in charge, the big man had been near motionless and hadn’t said a word. Mal would of liked to believe it because he was waitin’ to hear Mal’s discussion on the matter, but it was more likely that the Jayne was thinking up a plan to get ta’ River, ‘specially if Zoe and Inara were right about them being involved. And while Mal couldn’t figure out how exactly, if Jayne wanted River as much as he suspected, the man would find her, regardless of what was decided here today. And with the thought of losin’ yet another crew, Mal knew his decision.
“With all things considered,” Mal resumed, “seems to me there’s no harm on checkin’ in on the girl. We’ll set a course to Georgia and should be there in ‘bout three days.”
Mal found himself with an armful of Kaylee, kissin’ on him and thanking him. Simon was pattin’ at his back, sharin’ his fair share of gratitude. Inara simply smiled sweetly and nodded to him. Not exactly an endorsement of the decision but not a condemnation either.
For a second, Mal thought he saw Jayne’s eyes roll closed but a second glance showed him sittin’ as a still as a statue, just as before.
“Pipe down, pipe down,” Mal said, pushing Kaylee off. “I’m sending Inara and Simon down. Inara you meet with your friend down there and find out if River even wants visitors. Simon, if she don’t wanna’ see you, you’ll at least be able to find out how’s she’s been farin’ these past few months.”
Mal walked the length of the table. “Jayne, I want you to go with Inara and Simon,” he put his hand gently on Jayne’s shoulder, hopin’ not to startle the man. “Think ya’ can do that for me? Need ya’ to see if that place our girl’s hidin’ herself in is safe enough, dong ma?”
For the first time in months, Mal saw a genuine smile stretch across his merc’s lip. “Sure, Mal, I can do that. In fact, got no problem with that at all.”
“I’ll set course, sir,” Zoe rose to move toward the bridge. “Figure we’re in a bit of a hurry?”
Mal patted Jayne’s shoulder. “Sooner would sure be better than later,” smiled Mal.
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