Simone Tam watches her cargo being unloaded, this is it, this is what she has been waiting for ever since she decoded her sister's riddles. She lets out a sigh of relief and runs her fingers through her long hair, playing with the ends as she has done so for years, a nervous habit her mother frowns upon.

She glances up at the ship, it looks strong, sturdy, or so the young mechanic claims. She hears her name being called and she turns to her smiling, feeling a sense of calm for the first time in years.

"Simone," she states once more as she waves her hand to the man standing next to her. He's tall, strong, and she can't help but notice his breathtaking blue eyes. The sudden wave of emotions startle her and she blinks, suddenly feeling self-conscious of her appearance, she wants him to like her and she shouldn't.

"Kaylee," Simone manages to reply, pushing back her thoughts and schooling her emotions as she has been taught over the years by her more than proper parents, nannies, and the such- showing ones emotions is weak.

"This is the Cap'n. Cap'n this is Simone, she's a fancy core doctor and she's gonna fly with us all the way to Boros." Kaylee explains her eyes twinkling as she looks between her and the Captain.

"Dr. Simone Tam," she offers as she holds out her hand, feeling slightly nervous and even more self conscious as he stares her down.

"Captain Mal Reynolds," he nods taking her hand, looking almost confused at why it was being offered.

"Nice to meet you, Captain Reynolds," Simone smiles wearily as she shake his hand. "Kaylee was just telling me all about you."

"I reckon it was all good," Mal winks as he continues to study her.

"It's all shiny Cap'n," Kaylee giggles.

"Naturally," she replies as he lets go of her hand, the warmth of his fingers lingering.

"You flyin' alone?" He asks and she suddenly remembers why she is there in the first place.

River.

She sucks in a quick breath and straightens her back. "Shr ah," she snaps, staring back at him. "I have business on Boros."

"Huh." He nods, running his hand over his chin. "Don'tcha let Jayne bother you none," he quickly adds, a smile tugging at his lips.

"I'm sure we will get along just fine," she replies shortly, suddenly wanting to be very far from where she was standing. "Jane sounds like a fine young lady."

Kaylee snorts and doubles over in laughter. "Don't let him hear you say that," she gasps in between her laughter.

"Like I said," Mal grins. "Don'tcha let Jayne bother you none."

Simone stares blankly at them, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Oh."

"Jayne!!" Kaylee calls out and waves to someone behind her, she feels her face flush even more as she turns around.

"Wo de ma," she exclaims breathlessly. "That's Jayne?" Simone asks incredulously, unable to understand how a man of his size could have a name such as Jayne.

"What?" He begins as he crosses over to her and stops before her. He looms over Simone- he's taller than the Captain and more intimidating. He grins, leering at her as he looks Simone over.

"Reckon you have work to do," Mal intercedes and her heart skips a beat. It's then she realizes that she is in trouble, she has always craved this time of protection, devotion. Her mind wanders, she wants more, her heart insists, but that's not why she is here.

"Ah, Mal." He groans, interrupting her thoughts. "Just wanted to meet our new passenger 's all."

"Simone," she offers as he smiles at her.

"Jayne," Mal insists and Jayne glares briefly at Mal, before he shrugs.

"Nice meetin' ya," he adds quickly before he turns away.

"Come on," Kaylee grins as she loops her arm into Simone's. "I'll show you to your room."

"Have fun," Mal calls after them and Simone can't help but smile. She's sure that this trip will be interesting to say the least.

~

Her name is Inara and she is everything that her mother wished her daughters were. She exudes grace and sensuality. Mal takes notices, he always notices her, and Simone can't help but be jealous.

She watches him, watching her. It takes up more time than she would have thought, she should be more concerned about her sister, but she know she's well, she waits to be free, so she watches.

Jayne notices her, Kaylee adores her, and Inara knows.

She closes her eyes and excuses herself from the table, she can't do this anymore. She's being selfish and she knows her sister would agree.

River.

She sneaks back to the cargo bay and runs her fingers over the blue box. Simone sighs, knowing that her sister sleeps in the chamber hidden within the box. She has high hopes for her, she just hopes that she has saved her in time.

She pauses as she hears footfalls approach and she instinctively knows that it's Mal. Her heart skips a beat and she turns to him.

"What did you tell them?" Mal urges, looming over her, threatening her.

"Shuh muh?" She gasps, confused at his tone of voice and actions. Simone desperately wanted to be alone with him, but not like this.

"I have exactly no time for games. What do they know?" He snaps, his arms institutively reaching out to hit her, to hurt her.

She jumps back, her eyes widening as he reaches for his gun and aims. "You're insane," Simone snaps.

"And you're a gorramn fed." He accuses, his eyes glaring. His accusations hurt more than she can imagine. He can't believe she is a fed, he just can't.

She doesn't know what to say, she suddenly wishes that she could confess to being what he accuses- her heart aches.

The Shepard intercedes and he speaks on her behalf. He turns Mal's attention away from her and onto the person who seems to be the one he's seeking. Lawerence Dobson.

Simone turns to meet his gaze and she gasps, he knows.

"Drop that firearm, Captain Reynolds," he urges and Mal concedes after a slight pause, mumbling to himself as he drops the gun to the floor.

Simone stands still, not knowing what to do, wishing that Mal didn't relinquish his firearm. For a split second she wants to run, but she realizes that there is nowhere to run to.

"Simone Tam, you are bound by law to stand down." Dobson announces, pointing the gun at her. She curses to herself and look to the Captain to intercede but he looks relieved.

Tianna.

"You want the doctor?" he questions as he glances at her, grinning slightly. "Oh, hey, is there a reward?" He inquires, her heart clenching at the thought. He would have given her up, he doesn't care, he never did.

Dobson continues to glare at Simone, ignoring the Captains inquiry. "Get on the ground." He orders her, pointing the gun at her in quick jabbing movements and for a second she thinks he'll shoot her right there. "Get on the ground!"

"You're making a mistake," she pleads dropping her voice softly. "Please."

Her mind switches off and everything feels wrong, as if she is in a dreamlike state. This really isn't happening, it can't be. She has to save her sister.

They are shouting, voices are raised and she knows nothing good can happen because of this.

"Just take the girl!" Mal's voice shoots out clear as a bell and she feels his hand on her shoulder.

His touch is burning and she wants to curse and scream. This isn't how she wanted this to be. "Get your hands off me," she manages to reply as she pushes him away, there is another flurry of activity and voices.

A gun shot echoes and than there is silence.

"Kaylee!" Inara screams and Simone turns her attention away from the lawman. Her eyes widen and she gasps as what she sees, Kaylee's been shot.

Simone's training clicks in and she runs over to Kaylee, ignoring everything else at the moment. "Lie back." She instructs as she helps her lie down. "How do you feel?" She asks softly as she inspects the wound.

"A little odd." Kaylee whispers in reply as she glances down at her hands and the wound. "Why'd he- oh."

It's a gut wound, she curses as her mind reels, knowing that it can be fatal. Kaylee didn't deserve this. Simone quickly takes off her wrap and places it under her head as she begins tearing pieces off her dress. She places the scraps against the wound, hoping to quench some of the bleeding.

"Well, that ain't hardly a mosquito bite." Simone hears Mal state behind her.

"Big- mosquito," Kaylee manages to whisper in reply and Simone can't help but smile sadly at her response.

"Kaylee, can you move your feet?" Simone asks as Kaylee blinks up at her, her eyes closing slightly. "Kaylee, stay with me." Simone urges and she opens her eyes. "Can you move your feet?" She asks, trying to ascertain if she has any spinal damage.

"Are you," she smiles, "asking me to dance?"

Her eyes roll back and you know the worst is starting to happen. "She's going into shock." Simone announces and looks back at Mal. "Is the infirmary working?"

"We got it stocked," he replies curtly, his eyes flashing dangerously at her. He blames her.

Simone nods and before she can request that they move her to the infirmary Wash's voice crackles to life over the intercom. "Uh, Captain, we've been hailed by a Cruiser. We've been ordered to stay on course and dock for prisoner transfer."

She gasps and stumbles back away from Kaylee, she turns to the Captain. Simone glances at Kaylee, she knows she has to heal her, but she is here for her sister, she can't be caught. Not now, not yet. "Change course, run."

"Hell with you." Mal growls. "You brought this down on us, I'm dumping you with the law."

She can't help but stare at him, she knows he will be true to his words, that's the type of man he is. He is loyal to his crew, not her.

"Mal-" Inara intercedes and Simone is grateful, she hopes he will listen to her.

"She's dying." Simone states, more calmly than she feels. She glances at Kaylee, your heart aching at the thought.

"You're not gonna let her." Mal orders and Simone stand strong, knowing that this is the only thing she can wager. It's desperate and horrible, but it's the only thing she has.

"Yes I am," she replies, her gaze locking with his. This has to be the most she has talked with him since she has boarded and she curses at the fact that it has to be like this.

"You can't." He orders once more and she pulls her back straighter, not looking away, knowing if she glances at Kaylee you won't be able to pull off this bluff.

"No way the Feds'll let us walk," Zoe chimes in to his side and Simone hope he listens to her, to give her more time.

"Then we dump her in the shuttle and leave her for them." He states crudely and she feels her strength fading.

"Everybody's so mad," Kaylee whispers deliriously and Simone grits her teach. She should be helping her, not debating this.

"You know what a stomach wound does to a person?" She asks and she is slightly pleased at the flicker of recollection and pain on Mal's face.

"I surely do." He replies dryly and she frowns.

"Then you know how crucial the next few minutes are." She urges, needing to take her to the infirmary.

"You let her die," Zoe adds, her voice sharp. "You'll never make it to the Feds."

"She'll still be dead," Simone states almost matter-of-factly, knowing that if she goes with the feds she would die and so would her sister.

"You rich kids," Mal begins, his voice rough, and she realizes that he hates everything that she stand for. "You think your lives are the only thing that matters. What'd ya do? Kill your folks for the family fortune?"

"I don't kill people." She protests, wishing she could explain, to make them understand, but she doesn't have time. Kaylee doesn't have the time to wait.

"Then do your job!" Mal orders, his hands twitching slightly at his side and she knows if she weren't a women she'd have slapped you.

"Turn the ship around!" She cries out, desperately, needing him to agree.

"Enough!" Inara demands and Simone glances at her, almost happy that he will listen to her. "Mal, do it."

"Don't ever tell me," he begins to protest as Kaylee moans once more in pain. Mal continues to stare at her, but she won't change her course of action, she has more than just one life at the stake.

"Zoe. Change course." Mal orders once more and Simone immediately sighs with relief and turns to help her up.

In the background she can hear Zoe instruct Wash to change course. They were running. She has more time, and that means everything at the moment.

~

Simone washes her hands and leans heavily against the sink, she has done everything that she can and all she can do is wait. She closes her eyes briefly as she feels his presence.

"She goin' be okay?" Mal asks and she notes the sadness and concern in his voice. She instantly knows that her safety depends on Kaylee's recovery.

"I have done all that I can," Simone replies, turning to him. "It is up to Kaylee now."

He continues to study her, assessing her, she feels vulnerable and lost. "Was it worth it?" He questions sharply and she cringes.

"Shuh muh?" She gasps, slightly confused.

"Let's find out." He states and spins quickly on his heels and walks out the door. She stares after him for a second, when she realizes what he intends to do.

"No!" Simone cries out and flies after him. She runs to the cargo bay in time to see him open the chamber with a hiss. "Chun zi!" She spits out angrily as she tries to push the captain away, but he grabs her and forces her to stand still and look into the chamber.

The smoke clears, and her heart skips a beat as she stares at her sister's lifeless form. Simone takes Mal's moment of shock to pull away from him.

"Huh," Mal grunts and she glares back at him. "Didn't take you for-"

His words are drowned out as her sister screams and sits up in the box. "River!" Simone calls out, reaching out to her.

Tears spring to her eyes as she tries to get her sister to focus on her. "River, it's Simone. It's me."

River blinks and turns to her, her eyes clearing slightly as she gazes at her. "Simone?" She gasps and falls into her embrace. "They talk to me- they want me to- to-"

"Shh-" Simone soothes as she wraps her arms around her sister. "They're gone, we're here, we're safe-"

"Flying free," River whispers as she buries her face into her chest.

"Flying free," Simone smiles in reply, glancing over at Mal, hoping that they would be safe.

"What the hell is this?" He questions as their gazes lock, breaking her small thread of hope that he may help her.

Simone closes her eyes and holds her sister close. "This is my sister," she explains, glancing down at her sister, running her hands through hair. "I have given up everything to help her."

She looks up at Mal, and she is startled by the sudden look of compassion and understanding in his eyes. She smiles at him, and suddenly she feels the surge of hope renewing.

They were safe.

Translations:

Chun zi: moron
Shuh muh?: I'm sorry?
Shr ah: Yes.
Tianna: oh God
Wo de ma: Mother of God